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RELEASE TOUR – The Right Guy by Mel Walker
In THE RIGHT GUY by Mel Walker, Hunter Farro is looking for a fresh start on his own, but after a kiss with a stranger, his plans derail when he finds himself in a fake relationship. Hunter’s secret relationship with Catherine March isn’t the only thing he is hiding behind, and when the truth comes out, he will risk everything important to him, including Catherine. Fans of Sealed by Laura Pavlov will delight in this sweet must-read fake relationship, small-town romance from the Meet Cute Book Club Series.
Amazon → https://amzn.to/3MOBfSR
Catherine March is what many would call an unparalleled success. With tons of friends from coast to coast and outstanding success as the manager of a premier event space in the state, she has overachieved in every aspect of her life except one – finding a partner. Finding the right partner.
Returning to her hometown for a friend’s wedding she is confronted by her ex, the man who predicted she’ll always be alone. And to make matters worse, he’s trotting his replacement all around town.
Faced with a tough choice, Catherine decides the solution to her problem is to find the perfect fake boyfriend for the week.
But being an overachiever has its own set of challenges, even her fake relationship appears real to everyone, including herself.
New city, new job, new challenges.
Hunter Faro is far from home and he’s looking to stand on his own without the assistance of his powerful family.
It sounded simple enough. That is until a stranger kisses him and ropes him into being her pretend boyfriend for her friend’s wedding
She is a beautiful distraction and he has his reasons for agreeing but as the charade grows he realizes the danger. The fake relationship isn’t the only secret he is hiding behind and if the truth comes out everything he’s worked for may disappear.
If you love small towns, fake relationship stories, moments that will tug at your heartstrings, and a swoon-worthy happy ending, then you’ll love this sweet romance.
Goodreads → https://bit.ly/3DDi9Mv
Excerpt
Copyright 2022 @ Mel Walker
Home is where you go to find peace, but not today. My shaking hands and the throbbing in my chests only confirm my fears – disaster awaits.
My Uber flies down Market Street and I duck down to hide as we roll by Mr. Paul’s Ice Cream shop as if I’m expecting the ghost of boyfriend past to be sitting at our favorite booth sipping on a black and white milk shake staring out the window on alert.
I sit on my hands but still fail. I form tight fists, squeezing to the point that I feel the pain of my nails digging hard into my palm. This trip is different. He knows I’m coming home; he knows my schedule; there will be no avoiding him this time.
I don’t trust myself to even think his name, let alone speak it out loud. The fear of his name on my lips activating some horror movie spell, conjuring him in front of me, a smug smirk on his face and a condescending attitude on his shoulder.
I’m only two hours removed from the pep talk from my former college classmate and good friend, Shannon, but I don’t hesitate to dial her. Anything to pull me out of the anxiety hole I’m slipping down.
“Catherine!” she answers on the first ring, surprise in her tone, “don’t tell me you left something here at the Inn.”
I shake my head, knowing she can’t see me. “No. At least I don’t think so.” Her question merely pulls me from one rabbit hole to another. I’ve spent the last three days with Shannon and the rest of the women in our book club back in our college town of Abbot Ridge, North Carolina. Three amazing days of kinship, reconnecting and refilling my cup with positivity. Nearly all of it evaporating when I stepped on the plane and flew cross-country back to my hometown. “I’m almost to my parent’s home and I wanted to hear you tell me once again that everything will work out?”
“Ok,” she whispers, and I imagine Shannon pulling on the sleeves of her bohemian top with more colors than Joseph’s Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. It’s early afternoon and all of her bed-and-breakfast patrons should have either checked out or have left to enjoy the charm that is Abbot Ridge. I picture her sitting in her favorite rocking chair with a cup of herbal tea nearby. “It’s been too long since you’ve gone back home. You miss your family. You love your family and they love you. That’s all that matters. Palmer Easton is ancient history.”
I squeeze my eyes tight with the mention of my ex. The man whose heart I broke and who now seems to be on a mission to make my life a living hell.
“You are the kick ass hero in this story.” Shannon pulls me back to the present, her voice filled with love and admiration, the two things my heart needs the most right now. “You only have to see him once for a few hours with lots of other people around to act as a buffer. You’re going to be just fine. And when you leave town again, he’ll be the one wishing he had made different life choices.”
I know she’s right, but it’s nice to hear it out loud. Logic and fear aren’t exactly great bedfellows. “Thank you. In every other area of my life, I have no doubts, but anytime I come home to Mesa my nerves are on edge, fearing I’m going to run into Palmer.” My tongue clicks against my teeth, “only this time it’s one hundred percent guaranteed that we’ll cross paths.”
I think back six months to the arrival of the wedding invitation from my childhood friend, Ava. The hand written note slipped into the invite. Don’t you dare say no. She knows my history with Palmer, everyone does. Mesa, Arizona, may be home to nearly half a million people these days, but in many ways it’s still a small town.
“And I’m one hundred percent sure you’re gonna shine. Do I need to fly out there?” Shannon asks and for a second, I consider it. I RSVP’d with a plus one six months ago, figuring I had all the time in the world to find a date. The last thing I wanted to do was show up to the wedding and sit at the singles table subjecting myself to even more barbs and slings from Palmer. His parting words to me after I left him were that I would never find happiness or another man. I found out too late that Palmer and the high road never intercepted.
About Mel Walker
Mel Walker is a rare bird, the male romance author. Specializing in heartfelt small-town romance, he enjoys telling compelling romances with all the feels. A native New Yorker and life-long frustrated NY Mets fan, he enjoys long walks, bike rides, and taking in the energy of the city.
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About The Meet Cute Book Club Series
Escape with the Meet Cute Book Club where meet-cutes don’t only happen between the pages of romance novels and members find their own happily ever afters.
Eight single women bound by their love of books take a monthly break from real life to lose themselves in the chapters of romantic fiction. From friends to lovers to fake relationships and more, each story features a brand new couple and their journey to find love from an amazing lineup of authors including Louise Lennox, Tracy Broemmer, A.M. Williams, Mel Walker, RJ Gray, Rebecca Wilder, Julie Archer, and Kate Stacy.
These eight standalone romances are packed with meet-cutes, heat, and of course a happily ever after!
This promotional event is brought to you by TheIndie Pen PR
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RELEASE TOUR – Speeding Hearts (Blue Collar Romance) by Claire Wilder
Upon returning to his hometown, Dean Hughes makes a deal with his best friend Stella Archer. However the more time they spend together the more the lines between friendship and romance blur, will they risk their friendship to take a chance on love?
Fall for this hard-working hottie in Speeding Hearts by Claire Wilder, a Friends to Lovers Romance, the next book in the Blue Collar Romance Series.
Amazon → https://amzn.to/3nc1No2
About the Book:
STELLA
Stella Archer has never been afraid of a challenge.
She was the first woman mechanic in her hometown. She runs her own garage.
And when her best friend and fellow mechanic Dean announces he’s moving back to his hometown, instead of being devastated, she jumps at the chance to work part-time at his uncle’s dirt track—and finally fulfill her dream of racing cars.
But with plenty of time to train with her best friend, for the first time in my life, Stella’s scared. Scared that racing isn’t really what she wants.
Scared that Dean is.
DEAN
Dean Hughes knows he can handle moving back to his hometown to care for his sick—and surly—father. He can even deal with returning to the scene of all his past mistakes.
The only thing he can’t take is the idea of losing his best friend Stella.
Now that she’s here in Oak Bend, she’s going to see what a screw-up he really is.
Worse, he might see the truth he’s been hiding from himself: he wants more from Stella than just friendship.
And when Stella finds out?
There’ll be no putting the brakes on what comes next.
Goodreads → https://bit.ly/3vU7Tdt
Excerpt
Copyright 2021 Claire Wilder
As it turned out, work kept me busy enough all day that I didn’t have time to think much about Dean at all.
Or at least, not much. I still felt the littlest fluttering in my stomach when I thought about tonight—he was going to come by the motel at seven-thirty and take me on a little tour of his hometown.
It almost felt like a date.
Except that it was my buddy, Dean.
But those thoughts only happened a few times that day. Most of the time, I concentrated on working my ass off.
By the time the closing time rolled around, I was shocked at where the day had gone. John gave me a begrudging nod as he left. He’d nitpicked my work all day, but before clocking out, he actually said, “You’re better than the last kid by a mile,” which I took to be the highest compliment.
Freddie showed me how to lock up, which I’d be doing on my own a couple days a week, and then, mercifully, I was on my own. Throughout the day, a couple of drivers had come by to practice on the oval, and each time, I’d looked up longingly at the sound of them but turned quickly back to whatever engine I was working on. It was imperative I showed Colin what I could do.
Now, with the track silent, I stood next to one of the nicer cars parked outside in the lot. I looked around. The place was completely deserted, and I happened to have the keys Freddie had handed me.
The keyring in my hand, I knew, contained the key for this particular car. I’d seen Freddie drive it around front earlier.
Colin had said I wasn’t supposed to go anywhere near the oval.
But he didn’t say anything about not test driving any of the cars.
I knew I was interpreting his words more liberally than his intention, but I was a grown adult, damn it. And what harm would there be in taking it in a circle around the lot?
Just slipping behind the wheel made adrenaline shoot through my stomach. When I turned it on, I was nearly sick. For a moment, the adrenaline running through me went cold and slick. What the hell was I doing? I’d never actually gotten this close to my dream of racing cars before. I’d driven nice cars in my career, sure. I’d topped the speed limit on the highway a hundred times over. But actually sitting in a street stock car with my hands wrapped around the wheel, my foot on the gas, the stick in neutral… I wondered for the first time if this dream of mine was really mine or something I’d cooked up to show everyone how tough I was.
No. This was mine. It had to be. Checking to make sure the car was in neutral, I revved the engine.
It roared under me, making me laugh with the thrill of it. I did it again.
Man, this felt better than sex.
Not quite, but in the moment, it felt close.
Then I chickened out. I cut the engine and got out, slamming the car door behind me. Then I raised my fists in mock triumph, imagining the crowd screaming around me. I even made the sound I used to make as a kid playing with my brothers. Then someone clapped behind me.
I couldn’t help it, I yelped.
Whirling around, my ponytail hit me in the eye just like it had the last time I was caught out here.
“Shit!” I swore, both at the sting in my eye and the mortification at getting caught by the boss playing make-believe.
But when I blinked, I saw it wasn’t Colin. The figure before me was tall. Broad across the shoulders. Covered in tattoos.
Looking at me with a grin that made my insides melt into taffy.
Dean.
About Claire Wilder
I write steamy lakeside romance novels (and the occasional sweet & sexy short story). When I’m not writing I’m either reading, taking long walks by the ocean (which I consider a giant lake!), or frolicking in the trees with my husband and three kids.
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About The Blue Collar Romance Series
Escape to Oak Bend where blue-collar hotties work hard and love even harder.
From broody carpenters to sexy electricians, these eight standalones are packed with small town feels, heat, and heartwarming happily ever afters.
Enjoy your favorite tropes written by an amazing group of authors: Jaymee Jacobs, Alexa Rivers, Evelyn Sola, Kate Carley, Tracy Broemmer, Mila Nicks, Claire Wilder, and Moni Boyce.
Fall head over heels for swoon-worthy book boyfriends who aren’t afraid of a little hard work for that happily ever after.
This promotional event is brought to you by Indie Pen PR
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SPOTLIGHT TOUR – 5 ROUNDS by Nikki Castle
When Remy suddenly finds herself apartmentless, she’s offered a temporary place to stay, but her new roommate, Tristan, a notorious womanizer, and MMA fighter, has never been her favorite person. After one steamy encounter, the two are forced to deal with their developing feelings. Will they risk their hearts and let themselves fall in love?
Fans of Kennedy Fox and Christina Lauren will love 5 ROUNDS by Nikki Castle, an enemies to lovers, forced proximity, sports romance.
Blurb
She’s a feisty workaholic that hates his guts.
He’s an arrogant MMA fighter that can’t afford any distractions.
This isn’t the kind of fight they’re used to…
When Remy is suddenly evicted from her apartment, her best friend offers to let her crash at his house while he’s traveling for work. The only problem is, she can’t stand his roommate, Tristan. Now, they’re stuck living together for 10 days. But after the tension breaks with one very steamy night, and then again, and again… they’re forced to reexamine their long-standing enemy relationship.
While Remy struggles with her developing feelings for a notorious womanizer, Tristan has to decide if his feelings for Remy are worth it, or if they’ll distract him from his longtime goal of becoming a world champion. To make matters worse, their deadline is looming because Remy is moving out soon.
Will they risk their hearts and let themselves fall in love? Or will they go back to hating each other before they’ve even had a chance to be together?
Add to Goodreads Here!
Goodreads → https://bit.ly/3vf8ZQv
Buy Now or Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon → https://amzn.to/2SoF4Yy
Excerpt
Copyright 2021 @Nikki Castle
Without thinking about what I’m doing, I step closer to him and run my fingers through his hair, trying to understand the sudden shift in his mood. His eyebrows shoot up in surprise, but he stands still and lets me play with strands of his hair. Without the tequila coursing through my veins, I never would have let myself touch him like this. But right now, I can’t find it in me to care.
“It must be exhausting being so mean all the time,” I observe thoughtfully. Something flashes in his eyes, but I can’t put a name to it, and then it’s gone just as quickly.
I turn away from him, completely oblivious to how much I just overstepped our normal boundaries. “Not to mention you would be so much hotter with just a little less snark,” I call over my shoulder. I’m too busy drunkenly fumbling with my keys in the lock to notice his eyes widen at my honest comment.
“Ha!” I exclaim triumphantly, pushing the door open and stepping inside. But before I can take more than two steps in, I feel myself being pushed to the wall, Tristan’s body pressing tightly against mine. “Hey!” I cry. His moody expression is gone, replaced with the smug face that I know so well.
“You would hate me if I was a nice guy,” he drawls.
I roll my eyes at him, trying to push him off me. “Guess we’ll never know, because you being a nice guy is as likely as me using the word ‘literally’ wrong.” He grins, knowing how much I hate when girls use the word to describe something that is very clearly not literal.
“Admit it,” he says softly, pushing me harder into the wall with his body. My breath catches as his face nears mine. “You like me the way I am.”
“I—I don’t—” my brain no longer seems to be able to form a coherent sentence. All I can do is stare into his hungry gaze and try not to picture what it would feel like if he fucked me against this wall right now.
His lips brush against my cheek, at the same time that he kneads my hips with his fingers. Every touch, every whisper of his breath, is further uncoiling the heat that’s growing between my legs.
“You don’t want someone to pull your chair out for you, or ask you what you want to eat,” he continues. “You want someone that doesn’t need your permission. Someone that will call you on your shit.” He tangles his fingers in my hair and, without warning, yanks my head back. I gasp in surprise. “You want someone that will spank you when you’re acting stupid.”
I can’t escape the whimper that slips from my lips. I squeeze my legs together, trying desperately to think of a response. But when he pulls back to wait for my reply, I know that no words could answer his unspoken question.
There are so many things that I hate about this man—he’s arrogant, and selfish, and rude. He’s a player that uses women for sex, and the only thing he actually gives a shit about is fighting. He’s the definition of self-absorbed. I should be shoving him away from me, telling him to fuck off and to stay on his side of the house for the rest of the week. I shouldn’t be thinking about what he tastes like, or how his cock might feel inside of me. I shouldn’t be wondering how hard he could make me come.
But his words remind me that the same alpha qualities that make me hate him… are also the ones that are making my knees weak.
Buy Now or Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
About Nikki Castle
Nikki Castle is a 29 year old wife and bulldog mom who writes steamy love stories about alpha MMA fighters and the women that melt their badass, playboy hearts. She spends her days working for a technology company and her evenings running a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) gym with her husband, who is also a retired fighter.
Nikki has been writing in one way or another since she was a teenager. She pursued an English and Philosophy degree in college, and finally decided to sit down and fulfill her longtime dream of writing an entire novel when quarantine began in 2020.
Follow: Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon
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RELEASE BLITZ – 5 ROUNDS by Nikki Castle
When Remy suddenly finds herself apartmentless, she’s offered a temporary place to stay, but her new roommate, Tristan, a notorious womanizer, and MMA fighter, has never been her favorite person. After one steamy encounter, the two are forced to deal with their developing feelings. Will they risk their hearts and let themselves fall in love?
Fans of Kennedy Fox and Christina Lauren will love 5 ROUNDS by Nikki Castle, an enemies to lovers, forced proximity, sports romance.
Blurb
She’s a feisty workaholic that hates his guts.
He’s an arrogant MMA fighter that can’t afford any distractions.
This isn’t the kind of fight they’re used to…
When Remy is suddenly evicted from her apartment, her best friend offers to let her crash at his house while he’s traveling for work. The only problem is, she can’t stand his roommate, Tristan. Now, they’re stuck living together for 10 days. But after the tension breaks with one very steamy night, and then again, and again… they’re forced to reexamine their long-standing enemy relationship.
While Remy struggles with her developing feelings for a notorious womanizer, Tristan has to decide if his feelings for Remy are worth it, or if they’ll distract him from his longtime goal of becoming a world champion. To make matters worse, their deadline is looming because Remy is moving out soon.
Will they risk their hearts and let themselves fall in love? Or will they go back to hating each other before they’ve even had a chance to be together?
Add to Goodreads Here!
Goodreads → https://bit.ly/3vf8ZQv
Buy Now or Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon → https://amzn.to/2SoF4Yy
Excerpt
Copyright 2021 @Nikki Castle
I have a lot of thoughts about Tristan, but the one thing I can’t deny is that he’s gorgeous. He’s over six feet tall and a solid 200 pounds of muscle. I know him from the MMA gym I joined because of Jax in college—and it’s an understatement to say they both look the part of a fighter. Tristan is the pretty boy of the two, with just-woke-up tousled, dark brown hair and piercing blue eyes that always feel like they’re staring straight into the secrets of your soul. His jawline is defined and he’s got just enough stubble on his face to give him a rugged look, but not enough that it comes off as a scruffy beard. His skin has a warm tan, most likely from all the shirtless runs he does around the city for his cardio workouts.
I also know from my time at the gym that he’s completely shredded from his training. Every pound of him has a purpose, his body built to be an efficient fighting machine with a low body fat percentage and muscles defined not by lifting weights, but by training with a real purpose and a fuck-ton of hard work. His dedication to the sport is unrivaled and it definitely shows in his appearance. I’ve never met a man as comfortable in his body as Tristan, and that fact coupled with the physical result of his workouts gives him an air of confidence and raw masculinity.
Basically, an effortless Adonis.
He’s also a total ladies’ man and a shameless pig. Or maybe that’s just to me, since I assume there has to be a reason why women all fall into bed with him. Either way, he and I have been at each other’s throats since the first day I stepped in the gym and he gave me directions to the ballet studio down the street.
“Of all the women I know, you’re easily the least ladylike,” he drawls.
I glare at him and push past, heading for the bathroom. “I guess that’s really saying something, huh? God knows you’ve been with half the women in this city,” I throw over my shoulder.
By the time I come out of the bathroom, he’s sprawled on the couch and back to watching whatever MMA fight he was analyzing before I pounded on his door.
“Where’s Jax?” I ask as I plop onto the loveseat next to the TV.
“Still out at happy hour,” Tristan responds without even looking at me. I notice he’s watching a UFC title fight, most likely analyzing the champ’s fighting style for his own arsenal of skills.
I glance at my phone. “Jesus, still? It’s 9pm. How much do those corporate assholes drink?” I throw my head back with a groan.
“Look, Remy—” I immediately growl at the condescending tone, knowing I’m not going to like what’s about to come out of his mouth. “I don’t mind if you hang out until Jax comes back, but could you be a doll and shut the fuck up? I’m trying to work.” He smiles sweetly. “Actually, I take that back, I do mind. Can you just wait for him in the kitchen like a good woman? Maybe make me dinner while you’re in there.”
I glare and launch a pillow directly at his head—which he deflects easily.
“I can’t believe chauvinists like you still exist in this day and age. Hasn’t the women’s movement stomped you out yet?” I snarl. Then I pause, thinking of something. “Actually, what surprises me the most is that you still find women to sleep with you. Although I doubt the women you fuck even know the definition of chauvinist, so maybe that’s my answer.”
He chuckles and gives me an exaggerated once-over. “Everybody knows your hatred for me is just a cover for how badly you want to be under me,” he says with a smirk.
Buy Now or Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
About Nikki Castle
Nikki Castle is a 29 year old wife and bulldog mom who writes steamy love stories about alpha MMA fighters and the women that melt their badass, playboy hearts. She spends her days working for a technology company and her evenings running a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) gym with her husband, who is also a retired fighter.
Nikki has been writing in one way or another since she was a teenager. She pursued an English and Philosophy degree in college, and finally decided to sit down and fulfill her longtime dream of writing an entire novel when quarantine began in 2020.
Follow: Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon
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RELEASE TOUR – Minor Trouble by Julie Archer
Seth Hudson’s relationship with the teenage son is hanging on by a thread. Guidance counselor Ainsley Coren is ready to help the father and son reconnect. Will Seth and his son be able to move forward and with Ainsley by their side, or will this minor trouble become too much?
Readers will swoon for this redeemed hero romance featuring a sexy but lovable bad boy dad. Fall in love with your next book boyfriend with Minor Trouble by Julie Archer, the last book in the Single Dad’s Romance series.
Seth Hudson has a reputation for being the “bad boy”. Trouble in his teen years led him down the wrong path but now, at almost thirty, he’s gotten his life together and things are going well. Until the fateful phone call that changes everything.
Thirteen years ago, Seth fathered a child and was all but forced out of the boy’s life. With Noah’s mother passing away, it’s up to Seth to step up to the plate and raise the son he barely knows. But what does he know about parenting a teenager?
Ainsley Coren has just moved to Cali Cross and is starting over as the high school guidance counselor. It doesn’t take long for her to encounter the troubled teen and his single father who are holding on by a thread.
Making it her mission to help save this broken family, Ainsley steps in and goes above and beyond with the father and son duo. The more time she spends helping them, the more she slowly finds herself falling for the reformed bad boy/single dad.
Can they make things work or will Ainsley bolt at the first sign of minor trouble?
Minor Trouble is an angsty contemporary romance featuring a redeemed hero and the guidance counselor who steals his heart. Download today and get ready to fall in love with your next favorite book boyfriend.
Excerpt
Copyright 2021 Julie Archer
“I know it’s a lot to take in, Seth. You can contact me any time if you’ve got any questions.”
Numb, I swallowed hard and nodded. Then, realizing that Carol from Child Protective Services couldn’t see me, I found my voice. “Sure, of course I will. Thank you.”
“I’ll be in touch again so we can finalize everything.”
I almost nodded again. “Thank you. Talk soon.”
The line went dead.
It had been a Thursday just like any other.
Fixing cars, making plans for the weekend, chatting shit with Maddox.
Until the call that spun everything off its axis, turned the world upside down, and any other cliché you’d care to toss in for good measure.
My vision swam, legs trembling as I walked out of the office and back into the main part of the garage and over to the car I’d been working on. I grabbed the wrench to pick up where I’d left off, but it tumbled out of my grip clattering on the concrete floor with an almighty crash.
“Seth? You okay, buddy?” Maddox Riley called from the other side of the garage.
I tried to dislodge the huge lump in my throat, anything but okay. “Yeah, all good,” I managed.
“Shit, you look as if you’ve seen a ghost. You’ve gone really pale.”
Ha, she was haunting me already. I raked a hand through my hair. If I didn’t tell Maddox what was going on, he’d find out soon enough. I had to hope he was as flexible a landlord as he was a boss.
“You got a minute? There’s something you should know.”
He glanced up from the engine he’d been looking over. “Sure, gimme a sec.”
I headed towards the open door, inhaling a lungful of fresh air.
After a couple of minutes, Maddox joined me. “What’s up? Who was on the phone?”
“Child Protective Services needed to talk to me about Noah.”
Noah was my thirteen-year-old son: the result of an illicit relationship when I was sixteen with a cheerleader two years older than me.
“Is he okay?”
Slowly, I nodded.
He was fine.
He hadn’t been in the truck with his mother, her boyfriend, and her parents. He’d been hanging out with one of his buddies playing video games. For once, I thanked God for Noah’s Fortnite obsession.
“Then why did CPS need to talk to you?” Maddox rubbed at an oil mark on his wrist, eyes focused on trying to remove it.
“There was a car accident.” The lump grew even larger, making it increasingly difficult for me to get the words out. “Hannah, her mom and dad, her boyfriend—” My voice cracked. “Didn’t make it out. They’re gone.” Saying it out loud took some of the burden off of me, and I could at least share it with Maddox.
His eyes grew wide, staring silently at me.
Disbelief, confusion, anger, grief.
Without another word, he pushed me out of the way and pulled on the chains to shut the doors to the garage.
“We’re closing,” he stated. “I can’t let you go through this on your own.”
Once Maddox had made a few calls to let customers know about the unexpected early finish, we headed upstairs to the tiny apartment above the garage. After I’d come out of jail—a six-month stint for petty theft—Maddox had been my lifeline. He’d offered me a job through an offenders’ rehabilitation program, which had come with the apartment. Its one caveat was I could never be late for work.
Taking charge, Maddox got two bottles of beer out of the refrigerator, popped the caps, and handed one to me. We went over to the sofa and sat down at each end.
“Have you spoken to Noah?”
I shook my head, gulping down the beer. “Not yet.”
“What’s going to happen to him?”
I chewed on my lips, fingernails scratching at the label on the beer bottle. “I’m his biological father and the only living relative he has. I have to step up. There isn’t anyone else.”
About Julie Archer
Julie Archer is the author of contemporary romance featuring rock stars, small towns, a healthy dose of angst, some steamy times and always a happy ever after!
When not writing, she can usually be found binge watching teen drama series on Netflix, or supporting Spurs (the English Premier League football team, not the American basketball team!) from my armchair, and running around after her two feline children, Corey and Elsa.
Real angst. Real romance.
Follow: Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | BookBub | Website| Newsletter | Amazon |
About the Single Dad’s Romance Series
Seven single dads, all from different walks of life and doing the best they can to raise their children – are ready to make you fall in love.
From the celebrity dad just trying to protect the ones he loves from the spotlight…to the silver fox who’s out to prove it’s never too late to have a family of your own – this single dads collection guarantees to bring you a whole lot of love and of course, a happily ever after.
Look no further, your next book boyfriend is here!
Follow the @IndiePenPR FB Page for all the Single Dad’s news: https://www.facebook.com/IndiePenPR
This promotional event is brought to you by Indie Pen PR
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EXCERPT TOUR – The Changeup (Boys of Summer #1) by A.M. Williams
What happens when the man of your dreams proves fantasy is better than reality? One minute we’re fighting and the next we’re given a glimpse of what could be. Should we rock the boat and tempt fate despite all the curveballs that have been thrown our way? Fans of the Brentwood Baseball Series by Meghan Quinn will devour The Changeup by A.M. Williams, an enemies to lovers, workplace romance.
What happens when the man of your dreams proves fantasy is better than reality?
Emma
Chase Anderson is everything I want in a man. Tall. Handsome. Compassionate. Confident. He makes me feel things I haven’t in years.
There’s just one problem: me. He can’t stand me and I’m getting to where I can’t stand him either.
The glares stiffen my resolve to forget about my dream man and concentrate on my new job.
Except…eventually those stares turn to something more. More heated. More promising. More everything.
Chase
Emma Carlisle is what I didn’t know I needed in my life until I saw her.
I don’t want her in my life, though. I have too much riding on my shoulders to concentrate on a relationship. A sick mom. A team owner who’s breathing down my neck to win a baseball championship.
It’s easier to ignore her and pretend like she doesn’t exist than to think about how pretty she is or how I feel alive whenever she’s around.
But one surprise kiss and I’m left wanting more. One glimpse into what love could be like and I can’t think of anything else.
We have to decide if it’s worth tempting fate and the flames of desire to see what love might be like.
The Changeup is the first book in A.M. Williams Boys of Summer baseball romance series. It’s a workplace, enemies-to-lovers romance that features two perfectionists struggling to come to terms with the curveballs life has for them.
If you love men in tight pants and the sassy women they fall for, this series is for you.
This book was previously published as Coached in Love. It has been updated with new content and re-edited.
Excerpt
Copyright 2021 A.M. Williams
My eyes widened and my mouth dropped as I caught sight of the man stepping down from the cab. I was very thankful for the sunglasses I’d slipped on my face that morning because I didn’t have to worry about him seeing my eyes eating him up.
Whoever this guy was, he was ripped. He was wearing a pair of gray sweatpants—the sweatpants that women loved looking at—and a t-shirt that he’d torn the arms off of, displaying every delectable inch of his biceps, which bulged as he grabbed a bag from his backseat.
I swallowed thickly as I grabbed my bag and opened my car door. I tried not to make it obvious I was looking at him as I stood, but it was hard. So hard.
Much like the abs I was sure he was sporting.
Jesus. Get your mind out of the gutter, Emma!
I cleared my throat and tucked a piece of hair behind my ear as I slammed the car door.
I glanced his way, noting that we’d pass close to each other on our way to the door. My heart beat wildly in my chest as I coached myself on not being awkward. It was just a greeting, being friendly, with someone that I worked with.
I took a deep breath and plastered a smile on my face as he stepped close enough that we could almost touch at the hood of my car. He looked up at me, meeting my eyes, but said nothing. The smile froze on my lips as he kept his eyes on mine while he passed by.
Nothing was said, and the only sound was one of the gravel under his feet as he walked toward the sidewalk that led to the door to get inside. The smile slowly wavered on my face before dropping completely when he turned so that his back was to me.
I cleared my throat and tried to look busy as I worked to throw off the rejection I felt. So, yeah, it wasn’t like we knew each other. But dang! He could have said something, anything, to me in greeting. Instead, he’d stared at me and seemed like he made a point not to say anything.
About A.M. Williams
A.M. Williams is just a simple girl from the south that found herself living abroad. When she’s not annoying her cat or reading, she’s spending time with her husband and traveling as much as possible. She has a serious case of wanderlust and wants to go as many places as possible while she can. She loves Cheerwine, sweet tea, and North Carolina (eastern style) BBQ as well as those crystal clear waters on the North Carolina coast.
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RELEASE TOUR – Then I Saw You (Single Dads Romance) by Kate Stacy
Firefighter Marshall Knight wasn’t expecting to become a father but here he is kicking butt and taking names, until a trip to the ER lands him in the path of Kaitlynn Bennett, the sweet nurse, who’s made their visit more bearable. Their relationship shouldn’t grow into more, but when fire strikes, they have to decide if their love is worth the risk. Readers will devour this off-limits romance featuring one sexy unsuspecting dad. Fall in love with your next book boyfriend with Then I Saw You by Kate Stacy, the next book in the Single Dad’s Romance series.
Firefighter Marshall Knight is more than happy living the single life and working toward his next promotion with the fire department until his world is flipped upside down when he finds out that he has a child. Abandoned by his own mother as a small boy, he’s determined to do the right thing and take care of his son, stepping right into the role of a single father and leaving no time for things like a relationship and romance.
One trip to the ER with his baby boy changes all that and he finds himself instantly enamoured with Kaitlynn – the compassionate nurse who’s been assigned to them.
Kaitlynn Bennett made herself a vow a long time ago to never date a firefighter. Between her father’s job as Fire Captain and losing her own mother in a fire when she was twelve, she knows all too well the heartache that comes along with all of it.
Which is exactly why she had no clue that the sexy single dad in the ER was actually a firefighter. Their attraction is undeniable and with a little nudge from a friend the two find themselves in an inferno of their own. That is, until Kaitlynn discovers he’s a firefighter and Marshall realizes that Kaitlynn is his Captain’s daughter. It’s the perfect excuse for both of them to give in to their own insecurities and put plenty of distance in their already complex relationship.
But when a fire strikes and they both end up in harm’s way, will they finally realize that building a life together is far better than a lifetime apart?
Excerpt
Copyright 2021 Kate Stacy
“Oh my god.”
Her knees buckle, but Captain is close enough to keep her from hitting the floor.
“Please let me hold you. I can’t stand seeing you like this.”
She shakes her head and presses herself closer to her father.
“I can’t. I… I need…” She’s damn near hyperventilating. Ignoring my pain, I sit up and swing my legs over the side of the bed, ready to go to her, but she stops me. “I need to sit down for a minute. Please.”
My eyes meet Captain’s, and he nods again, silently telling me to stay put. I fucking hate it, but I listen. He leads Kaitlynn to the nearest chair while I settle back onto the uncomfortable hospital bed.
I watch as Captain squats down next to her. He wraps an arm around her back and murmurs quietly in her ear. I don’t know what he’s saying to her, but I can see it’s working. She’s starting to calm down, but it pisses me off that I’m not the one comforting her.
“Now,” Captain says sternly, “which one of you wants to tell me how long you’ve been together?”
I look to Kaitlynn, not wanting to break my promise to her, even though there’s no longer a secret to keep.
“Since a few days after we had that late-night conversation on the phone,” she admits.
I expected him to be angry when he learned the truth, when he found out we were both lying to him. He’s not angry. He’s disappointed, and honestly, I think that’s worse. I’d rather deal with his anger.
“Did you have any plans to tell me?” he asks, but the question is directed at me.
“Yes, sir. When Kaitlynn was comfortable with me sharing our relationship.”
“When Kaitlynn was comfortable?”
“Yes, Dad. I asked Marshall not to tell you.”
He pins me with a cold stare. “I thought you had more respect for me than that.”
My mouth opens and closes repeatedly, but no sound comes out.
“Don’t get mad at him. It’s my fault.”
“He still should have told me.”
It’s Kaitlynn’s turn to be offended. She cocks her eyebrow and pins her father with the same glare he just gave me. “You’re saying if you made a promise to me, you would turn right around and break it?”
“Of course not!” he sputters.
“Then why would Marshall?”
Properly chastised, Captain drops into the other chair and leans forward on his elbows. “I wish one of you would have been honest with me. I don’t like being kept in the dark.”
“I love you, Dad, but you and I are only recently mending the cracks in our relationship. I wasn’t ready for you to know.”
He hangs his head and sighs before lifting it to look at his daughter.
“You’re right, Kaitlynn. I have to earn back the privilege of knowing everything about your life. I’m sorry for the way I reacted.”
She leans in and hugs him, and almost instantly, the air in the room feels less stifling. Captain doesn’t offer me an apology, nor do I expect him to. Despite the promise I made Kaitlynn, I was never comfortable with keeping our relationship from him. He has the right to be angry with me. He deserves better from me.
A nurse pops in my room to check my vitals and leaves almost as quickly as she appeared. Captain excuses himself to get something to drink, disappearing when we both decline his offer to get us one as well.
“Can I hold you now?”
It’s all I’ve wanted from the moment she rushed into the room, but the expression on her face tells me I’m not going to get what I want.
She stands, wrapping her arms around herself. She looks at me again, but whatever I saw in her expression before is gone, replaced with steely resolve.
“I think I’m going to head home. It’s been an emotional day… I… I think I need some time.”
I can’t say I’m not disappointed, but I understand. This has to be hard on her.
“Okay, beautiful. Will I see you in the morning before I’m discharged? They’re only keeping me for observation, so I’ll be sprung first thing tomorrow.”
She chews her bottom lip, then shakes her head.
“I don’t think so, Marshall.”
Her tone makes my blood run cold.
BLP REVIEW – Tracy
This was my first introduction to Kate Stacy and I really did enjoy the read.
Marshall was a great male lead. He fully immersed himself in the role of sole parent and fell hard and fast for his little one. I liked Kaitlyn.
I got why she was reluctant to get involved with a firefighter but I loved that she went with her heart and saw Marshall for who and what he was. She fell as hard for his little boy as she did for the man himself!
The little bit of angst was understandable – even if I wanted to smack both of their heads together!!
A great supporting cast of characters that I’m looking forward to finding out more about in the future, along with an engaging storyline made this an enjoyable read.
4⭐️
About the Author
Kate Stacy lives in North Carolina with her husband, three children, and her extremely sassy cat. After nearly a decade of being a stay-at-home mama, Kate decided to use her love of books to bring readers steamy romances full of emotion and angst. She stays up too late, swears too much, and loves hard. When she’s not nose-deep in her next manuscript, or spending time with her family, you can usually find her with her Kindle in hand.
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About the Single Dad’s Romance Series
Seven single dads, all from different walks of life and doing the best they can to raise their children – are ready to make you fall in love.
From the celebrity dad just trying to protect the ones he loves from the spotlight…to the silver fox who’s out to prove it’s never too late to have a family of your own – this single dads collection guarantees to bring you a whole lot of love and of course, a happily ever after.
Look no further, your next book boyfriend is here!
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RELEASE TOUR – Takeover by Evelyn Sola
I’ve known powerful, arrogant men my entire life. Men like Ethan always have to win, no matter the cost, or so I thought. A chance encounter with Ethan and his son has me questioning everything I thought I knew. Readers who enjoy diverse contemporary romances will devour Takeover by Evelyn Sola, an enemies to lovers, single dad, billionaire romance.
TARA
I was supposed to be in charge. That was always my intention.
Until that slick corporate raider, Ethan Bradford, clicked his fancy pen and poof!
Just like that, I was under him, instead of on top.
Rich and powerful men–especially arrogant, handsome ones–are all the same.
I know exactly how to handle him, but when my father pulls rank and orders me to play nice, my plans of putting him in his place vanish.
I know his type. I’ve been around men like him my entire life, but one chance meeting with him and his son, makes me question everything I thought I knew.
ETHAN
When it comes to business, I always come out on top. Not even being a single dad can slow me down. I never let a good investment get away, and that includes Taylor Toys. After all, business is business, right?
How was I supposed to know a friendly meeting would set me on fire? Tara Taylor is a spoiled princess, used to getting everything she wants.
Sure, her good looks and smart mouth turn me on like nothing else. Despite her hostile stares, she triggered feelings I thought were long dead.
She dares to judge me while she stands there in her designer shoes, looking more beautiful than any marketing exec I’ve ever met. Instead of being grateful that I saved her family’s legacy, she blames me for their failure.
What was meant to be a formality turns into a game of wills.
I never lose. Except this time, I find myself wanting her more than I want to win. I find myself wanting her to take over.
Excerpt
Copyright 2021 Evelyn Sola
I know her type. Spoiled little daddy’s girl, upset because her life isn’t going according to plan. No manners. Someone needs to teach her a lesson and knock the smug look off her face. Wipe that smirk off her full lips. Lift her right off her short legs and spank her little ass.
Even now I know she’s seething with rage in her chair. She’s so tense, her shoulders are practically to her ears. I’d like nothing more than to walk over there, take the seat next to her and watch her squirm in unease, but this seat gives me a much better view.
She’s across the room in her designer clothes looking daggers at me with those big brown eyes. A man older than her father enters the room, and she stops the dirty looks to smile at him. She pats the seat next to her, and he happily takes it. He whispers something in her ear, and she laughs, the sound melodious to my ears. This is the first time I’ve seen her unguarded and imagine this is what she’s like. I think she forgot she’s supposed to hate me.
I want to hear her laugh again. And I do. He says something else, and this time, she throws her head back, laughing loudly, uncaring that she has an audience of one. All too soon, she sobers up, and I watch in awe as the tension returns to her body. She’s so rigid she looks like she’s going to snap.
The room fills quickly, and her father stands up to speak. I tune him out as I wait for him to introduce me. My eyes find her again, and I almost smile when I see the daggers are back and directed at me.
I hold her gaze, and she doesn’t back down. The humor she had just seconds ago now a distant memory. Her full lips are no longer smiling but are in a firm line. There’s no happiness in her gaze as she looks at me. Her eyes are a storm cloud, and I can see the brown orbs all the way from here. Neither one of us is willing to look away first. In fact, she lays her hands on the table and arches her eyebrows as she waits. I make no moves, and as much as I want to study the rest of her body, I don’t dare look away from her eyes. I never lose, and I don’t intend on losing to her by looking away first.
Unfortunately, my phone buzzes. It’s my private phone, the one the nanny uses. Carla has been with us since Vince came home from the hospital. She doesn’t text unless it’s necessary, and that’s what causes me to break the stare and pull out my phone.
I respond to the text, slide the phone back in my pocket and look back at her. She’s still looking, but I can see by the slight upturn of her lips that she’s claiming victory.
About Evelyn Sola
A Boston native, wife, mother, and wine enthusiast. If she’s not writing, thinking about writing, you will find Evelyn with a book in her hands. While a new publisher, she’s been writing for years, and she will continue to write for many years to come.
Evelyn is obsessed with assertive and confident men who will stop at nothing to get their woman. Her stories are filled with love, passion and humor.
She currently lives in Chicago, IL with her husband and two daughters.
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