4.5 Smooches
Feb 14
Lost in Silence by Tracie Douglas Review
3.5 Smooches
Synopsis
ALICE IS LOST
Lost from her family, friends and the life she once lived. Alice Michaelson is held captive in the dark silence that had become a nightmare. Until one night when the door to her prison is left unlocked and she flees.
HUDSON FINDS HER
Living job to job, haunted by his own set of demons, Hudson Rivers finds himself disarmed by a single glance and he vows to protect the shell of a woman hiding in his closet. But protecting her means keeping her close and that threatens the emotionless life he’s been careful to create for himself.
They both fight their growing connection…
Will they find themselves lost into a world of silence, afraid to let one another in?
Or will they submit to the power of fate and all that it throws at them?
Review
“Every night before I fall asleep, I make a wish to never wake up.”
Twenty-five-year-old Alice Michaelson didn’t have a conventional childhood. Growing up as the extremely-sheltered, musical-prodigy offspring of a famous violinist who was determined to mold her into an improved version of himself, she had no childhood experiences that didn’t involve her violin. Lonely, desperate to spread her wings and experience life, she took off for Juilliard at 18 against her parents’ wishes. Finally on her own, it was there that she met and fell hard for the first man who showed her any attention. Despite dire warnings about him from her friends and family, she eloped with him at 19. Her nightmare began on the second day of their marriage, when her husband morphed into the monster that her friends and family told her he was. Years of captivity confined to a closet, or, worse, a bedroom ‘entertaining’ her husband’s sadistic clients, she has endured unimaginable physical, psychological and sexual abuse at the hands of her husband, Erik Scott, that has left her weak, haunted and unable to speak. Now, six long, hellish, horrific years later, Alice has escaped her captor. A shell of her vibrant, former young self, she has been on the run for the last few months, and it looks like her luck may have just run out – Erik has found her.
“…if anyone in the world could understand the self hatred and disgust I feel for myself, it would be her.”
Hudson Rivers, a retired Navy SEAL turned special-ops private contractor, has his own darkness and demons to battle. It seems that the people he loves leave him, and he’s decided that he’s not worthy of love – what’s the point? – so, he doesn’t let anyone get too close. He’s been deeply undercover on a huge case for the last two years – a case that’s this close to resolution – he cannot afford any distractions right now, too much is a stake. Returning to his run-down hotel room one day, he has an altercation with a man who instantly rubs him wrong way and is claiming the room next door is his. Hudson knows that it isn’t his room; he’s seen the small, fragile, frightened woman looking over her shoulder as she comes and goes. It is moments after this altercation that he meets Alice for the first time when she ducks into his room seeking refuge from that man. Seeing the terrified woman scurry into his closet, Hudson decides to enter the fray and help her.
“Don’t be afraid to live, brother. She’ll be worth it.”
Back in Oregon at Hudson’s home, the attraction between the two of them simmers. Both believe they are unworthy of the other, both have much to overcome. Hudson pushes Alice to let go of Erik, to fight, to speak, and Alice humbles Hudson with her bravery and manages to sneak past his his walls. His feelings for her take him completely by surprise, and he doesn’t initially handle the realization well. Alice is trying not to fall for Hudson, she is certain that someone as good, as heroic, as handsome as him couldn’t want possibly want someone as damaged, as ‘used’ as her. Just when they are both starting to come to terms with their feelings, Hudson’s case heats up and he’s called back into the field. Will Alice be safe back in Oregon without Hudson watching her? Or will she slip through his fingers and back into Erik’s grasp?
“You love me?”
“I love you, Alice. …You’re it for me.”
There were a lot of things that I really liked about this book. The writing was great, the premise was fantastic, and I loved the main characters. I adored them together and most especially the genuine gentleness and care that Hudson showered on Alice. But there were some inconsistencies that took away from the overall experience for me. We saw none of Alice’s childhood, it was only very briefly mentioned, and this was problematic for me as her entire childhood experience was the set up that allowed her to fall victim to Erik’s initial charms. We also did not see any of Alice and Erik’s early relationship. The biggest problem I had was that aside from a very rushed paragraph or two where she essentially blurted out a glossed-over, Cliff Notes version of some of what she endured, we don’t really know the full extent of what Alice experienced. Instead, hints were dropped, vague statements and inferences were made, but we didn’t get any detailed glimpses into her six years with Erik, and I think that because this is being billed as a “dark” read that a much more in-depth look into that was essential. Most importantly, we didn’t see – nor do we even know – what exactly what happened to Alice to cause her to stop speaking, we just know it was “bad.” This incident was the reason behind the source of what ultimately became book title’s inspiration, and it should absolutely have been explained in detail.
I also realize that while this is a dark tale, it is also a romance between two broken souls. But after all that apparently happened to Alice, I really struggled with how quickly she felt sexually attracted to Hudson. Her inner dialogue in her first scene alone with him was a significant problem for me, and I can trace my skepticism back to that. I had a hard time accepting, that after six years in captivity where she was essentially raped viciously and repeatedly, that without any sort of professional intervention, that she could actually have the thoughts about him that she was having, let alone actually have sex with him without incident. I wanted to believe, I really did, because I loved Hudson and Alice together – LOVED them! But something wasn’t working, it didn’t feel authentic, and the pieces of the puzzle just didn’t come all the way together in this book for me.
This is not an author I am writing off, though. No, I’m intrigued, she’s definitely peaked my interest, and I will read more from her. The potential is absolutely there, I can see her raw talent, and I think that with a little more experience, perhaps some more seasoned beta readers, she could develop the enormous potential I clearly see in her writing into true talent. I’d definitely read more from her in the future, and I plan to read the next book in the series, especially if it is King’s. A dark read like this is a tough nut to crack for a seasoned author, so I am impressed considering that this is Ms. Douglas’ debut. So, while this book was certainly not an epic fail for me, Lost in Silence needed some tweaking, a bit more development of the dark portions of the plot and a slower pace (and trust me, I can’t believe I’m saying that) for it to been a higher rated read for me. This was an all-around good showing for her debut, though, and Tracie Douglas is definitely an author to be excited about.
~ Danielle Palumbo
BUY IT NOW
Feb 14
The Player and the Pixie by L.H. Cosway and Penny Reid Cover Reveal and Giveaway
The Player and the Pixie
by L.H. Cosway and Penny Reid
Publication Date: March 2016
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Sports, Humor
THE PIXIE
Lucy Fitzpatrick doesn’t like rugby.
As the little sister of Ireland’s most infamous rugby player, Lucy can’t seem to escape the championship-sized shadow cast by her big brother, or her mother’s frequent attempts to micromanage her future. Her rainbow hair is as free-spirited as her quest for inner peace, yet overbearing expectations keep bringing her down. And when she’s down, her compulsive little problem lands her in seriously big trouble.
THE PLAYER
Sean Cassidy is a cold-hearted brute… or so he’s been told. Frequently. By everyone.
His blonde locks, baby blues, and rock hard bod make ladies the world over drool with desire. As the rugby world’s second most infamous player, he should be basking in his success. But Sean has never been content settling for second place, and his frequent confrontations with Lucy’s big brother leave him cold. And when he’s cold, his compulsive little problem lands him in the lap of Lucy Fitzpatrick.
THE PLAN
Sean has a problem only Lucy can solve. Lucy has a problem only Sean can fix. The solution seems obvious: you scratch my back, and I’ll bail you out of jail. But when their business arrangement unexpectedly leaves Sean scorching hot and Lucy on the precipice of inner peace, can they convince the world—and Lucy’s big brother in particular—that this is the real deal?
Either way, both the Player and the Pixie are about to teach each other some pretty monumental lessons about family, life, but most importantly, love.
iBooks: http://apple.co/
About the Authors
L.H. Cosway has a BA in English Literature and Greek and Roman Civilisation, and an MA in Postcolonial Literature. She lives in Dublin city. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favorite things in life include writing stories, vintage clothing, dark cabaret music, food, musical comedy, and of course, books.
She thinks that imperfect people are the most interesting kind. They tell the best stories.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest
SEX! It all started with sex, between my parents. Personally I don’t like thinking about it, but whatever works for you is a-ok with me. No judgment. The sex happened in California and much of my life also occurred in that state until I moved from the land of nuts (almonds), wine, silicon… boobs, and heavy traffic to the southeast US. Like most writers I like to write, but let’s get back to sex. Eventually I married and gave birth to 2 small people-children (boy-6, girl-4 as of this writing).
By day I’m a biomedical researcher with focus on rare diseases. By night I’m a knitter, sewer, lino block carver, fabric printer, soap maker, and general crafter. By the wee hours of the morning or when I’m intoxicated I love to listen to the voices in my head and let them tell me stories. I hope you enjoy their stories.
Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter
Giveaway
Feb 14
Texas With A Twist by C.C. Wood Release Blitz
In high school, Gabby yearned for Logan Westfall from afar,
unaware that he wanted her just as badly.
But Logan had a plan- to leave his hometown as soon as he graduated, so
he never made his move.
Fourteen years later, Logan returns and his sights are set
on Gabby St. John. He walked away from
her once, and it’s a mistake he won’t repeat.
She’s the one that got away, but not for long.
*Previously published in the Southern Comforts Anthology. This is the first time for the novella to be available individually.
A native Texan, C.C. grew
up either reading or playing the piano.
Years later, she’s still not grown up and doing the same things. Since the voices in her head never shut up,
C.C. decided to share their crazy stories and started writing books.
Now that she has a baby
girl at home, C.C.’s non-writing time is usually spent cleaning up poopy
diapers or feeding the poop machine.
Sometimes she teaches piano, cooks, or spends time bugging her hubby and
two beagles.
Feb 12
Live Without Regret by K.L. Grayson Release Day Launch with Excerpt and Giveaway
It’s release day for Live Without Regret by K.L. Grayson! Grab your copy of this sexy contemporary romance and check out the exclusive excerpt we’re sharing, and be sure to enter the giveaway!
About Live Without Regret:
L.O.V.E.
How can those four letters cause so much pain? Everyone talks about how great love is, with all the flowers and the butterflies, but that wasn’t my experience at all. Love wasn’t something I wanted or even needed.
Nope.
Been there.
Done that.
I have the sweat, tears and blood-soaked T-shirt to prove it.
The jagged edges of a damaged heart tell the story of my past, but just because I’ve sworn off love doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy men. Because I do. Few things feel better than being tangled up with a hard body. Grabby hands, moans of pleasure, and sighs of happiness are all part of a well-balanced diet, as long as no strings are attached.
Wild, crazy sex—yes.
Love—hell no.
But then Connor Jackson came into my life.
He’s the complete opposite of my ex. From his shaggy hair, scruffy beard, sexy tattoos, all the way down to his Chucks T’s.
I want Connor.
The only problem—Connor wants forever.
But forever doesn’t exist. It can be taken away in the blink of an eye, and this is one heartbreak I know I wouldn’t be able to survive.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1T9J9YC
Exclusive Excerpt:
Brittany
I push the door open and a small bell signals my entry. At best, InkSlingers is a complete dive, not near as sleek-looking as some of the newer tattoo parlors. But this place has one thing—one person, really—that sets them above all the rest.
Connor Jackson.
Not only is he one of the most highly recommended tattoo artists in the city, but two years ago he won top prize on the reality show Inked. If I recall, the grand prize was two hundred thousand dollars to be used toward the establishment of his own parlor. So why in the hell he works in this dinky building off the corner of Hampton and Third, I have no idea. And to be honest, I don’t really care.
“Hello?” I look around. The place is eerily quiet, not a soul in sight. Glancing down at my watch, I check the time. Sure enough, it’s fifteen minutes earlier than my scheduled appointment. That’s me…Miss Punctuality.
I spend the next five minutes pacing across the waiting room of the shop without seeing a single person, all the while wondering who in the hell leaves their shop unattended?
Just when I’m about ready to say screw it and walk out, the front door opens and once again the bell dings. I spin around on my heel, prepared to chew someone’s ass for making me wait, and then nearly trip over my own feet when I see the behemoth of a man standing in front of me.
Without permission, my eyes rake him over from head to toe. His dirty blond hair is shaggy and clearly hasn’t been trimmed for months. He could probably pull it into one of those man-bun things that seem to be all the rage, but instead it hangs loose with the stray strands tucked behind his ears.
My eyes travel south, taking in his plain black tee that stretches tight across his broad chest and even tighter around his biceps. A colorful sleeve of tattoos decorates his right arm, and as far as I can tell the left is completely bare. He’s sexy, in a rugged sort of way. He’s also the complete opposite of the guys I’m normally attracted to, yet I find myself enraptured.
The stranger clears his throat, and my eyes snap up to find piercing blue eyes staring back at me. When he cocks an eyebrow, I realize I’ve been caught checking him out. My first instinct is to avert my eyes and murmur an apology, but then I realize that’s what the old Brittany would do. And I dropped her off by the curb a long time ago.
“What?” I say, shrugging unapologetically.
“Were you checking me out?” The sound of his gravelly voice does things to me that a voice should never be able to do to another human being. I squeeze my thighs together to suppress the tingling it caused.
“Well, that depends.”
“On what?”
“Do you want me to check you out?” I ask.
He nods and moves past me, his shoulder grazing mine. “Bold. I like it. What can I do for you?”
Furrowing my brow, I tilt my head. I totally had him pegged for my next conquest—a.k.a. one-night stand—but I have a strange feeling he just brushed me off. I shake my head, trying to remember the question. Oh yeah. Connor. “I have a ten o’clock appointment with Connor. He’s late.”
The stranger looks down at his watch and then back at me. “He’s not late. It’s only nine fifty-five.”
I roll my eyes. “Okay, fine.” I walk over and plop down in a waiting room chair, then cross my legs, knee over knee. “Will you call him and see how much longer he’s going to be?”
“You in a hurry?” the guy asks.
Not really. No. “Maybe.”
He nods and sets his to-go coffee cup and brown paper bag on the front desk, then sits down and pulls out his phone. “He won’t be long.”
“Let’s hope,” I mumble, grabbing a Tattoo Weekly magazine off the table in front of me.
“Would you like a doughnut?” I glance up to see the man holding up a chocolate-covered doughnut. It looks delicious, and I’m two seconds away from accepting his offer when I remember my closet full of clothes that are becoming too tight. That one doughnut will easily take me hours at the gym to burn off.
“No, thank you.”
He shrugs. “Suit yourself.”
Smiling tightly, I look back at the magazine and spend the next several minutes absently thumbing through it. I skim a few articles then toss the magazine on the table and grab another, my frustration growing with each passing second.
“Are you ready?”
I glance up to find the sexy stranger standing in front of me. Putting the magazine back on the table, I look around. “Is Connor here?”
The man smiles, his full lips parting to reveal perfectly white teeth. There’s a smudge of chocolate near the corner of his mouth, and I briefly wonder what he would do if I stepped forward and licked it off.
“I’m Connor,” he says. His words catch me off guard and all thoughts of chocolate drift from my mind. My eyes roam his face, only this time I take a closer look.
“You’re Connor?” I ask incredulously.
“Wow,” he says, chuckling. “Don’t look so surprised. I take it I’m not what you expected.” His voice is clipped, and I instantly berate myself for the way that came out.
“No.” I shake my head vehemently. “I didn’t mean it in a bad way. You’re an incredibly attractive man. It’s just that you look different from when you were on the show. You didn’t have the facial hair—or the long hair, for that matter—both of which I find unbelievably sexy.” Connor’s eyes widen and I realize what I said. “I can’t believe I just said that. Damn it,” I mumble, averting my eyes. This is what happens when I get nervous, and for some strange reason, Connor makes me nervous. Sighing, I decide to give up. “I’m sorry if I offended you.”
My eyes are trained on the floor as I contemplate leaving to avoid further embarrassment. I’m still undecided when a pair of Chuck T’s enters my line of sight. I smile because those are my favorite shoes. “So you like the beard?” he says suggestively, causing me to look up. His blue eyes are swirling with a mixture of amusement and lust.
“I like the beard.”
Connor grins as though he just found out he won a prize. Without saying a word, he steps away and I follow behind. Leading me into a small room in the back of the shop, he says, “Did you find something in the magazine that you want?”
“I actually have a picture of what I want.”
“Let’s see it.”
I walk toward him and hold out my phone. Connor takes the phone, examines the picture then looks up.
“Where do you want it?”
“Here.” Lifting my right arm, I tug my shirt up and point to the location along my rib cage, just under my breast.
“I like that,” he says, handing me my phone. “But what if we angled it just a bit like this…” Connor puts a finger at the top of my ribs and a tiny zap of electricity jolts through my body. He looks up, his eyes searching mine before he drags the tip of his index finger along my skin. His touch leaves a trail of goose bumps. My pulse quickens, and it takes everything I have not to beg him to keep touching me when he pulls away.
“What do you think?” he asks. His pupils are dilated, his breathing a bit faster, and I get the feeling he was as affected by that as I was.
“I”—my voice cracks and I flush with embarrassment—“I like it. Plus, you’re the expert so I’ll leave it completely up to you.”
Connor swallows hard and my eyes follow the movement. “Good choice.” He turns away. “All right, have a seat here,” he says, gesturing toward the reclined chair, and I sit down. “Turn this way.” He angles my body to the left. “Is that comfortable?”
“Yep.”
“Good,” he mumbles, tugging my shirt up to expose my right side again.
The soft cotton slips down and he pushes it back up, only this time his hand brushes against my bra, grazing the outside of my breast. Another jolt passes through me, only this time it’s stronger. His eyes snap to mine, and I know—I know—that he felt that. As I bite down on my bottom lip, his sinful eyes flash with heat, and I watch him take a ragged breath before turning away.
“So…is, uh, is this your first tattoo?” he stammers, bringing his eyes back to mine.
“Nope. I have another one.”
“Good, so you know what to expect.” I nod, and then he smiles brightly before getting his equipment ready. “Okay,” he says. He rubs my skin with something cool and I presume he’s prepping it. “Let’s do this.”
The faint whir of the machine signals this is happening, and I squeeze my eyes shut as he gently pulls my skin taut. Okay, time to go to my happy place, which just so happens to feature none other than my sexy-as-hell tattoo artist.
My mind drifts into eroticland—as I like to call it—as I picture Connor sliding his hand up my bare thigh. He hooks a finger under the side of my panties, and with his wicked eyes on me he slips a finger in—
“I like the quote,” he says, pulling me from my fantasy.
“Do you know what it means?” I ask, opening my eyes and then quickly looking away. I’m a doctor, so you’d think the sight of blood wouldn’t bother me. And it doesn’t, as long as it isn’t my blood.
“I’ve put it on a few other people. Looked it up one time. It’s deep.”
“Yeah”—I take a big breath, holding it in for a few beats before letting it out—“well…” My words trail off because I don’t really know what else to say, and I sure as hell don’t want to talk about why this particular tattoo means so much to me.
Connor goes quiet, but I can feel his eyes burning a hole through my head. When I glance up, his eyes catch mine for a brief second before he looks back down. It was just enough time to tell me that he had my number.
“So it’s personal, huh?”
“What?” I scoff. “A girl can’t get a tattoo just to get a tattoo?”
“Of course she can, but you’re different. This is personal.” He cocks his head to the side, his hair falling in front of his face. I have to fist my hands together to keep from brushing it away so that I can see his face more clearly.
“Okay, fine, you’re right. It’s personal.”
“I’m always right,” he says, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “It would be prudent of you to remember that.” I tilt my head to the side just as the machine turns off and Connor looks up. He has one hand settled at the base of my waist, the other holding the tattoo gun off to the side. His eyes are smoldering, pinning me in my seat.
My tongue darts out, running a slow path along my lower lip, and I watch as his eyes follow along. Oh yeah, this is happening. Not one to beat around the bush, I decide to go for it. It’s obvious we’re attracted to each other, so there’s no reason for this not to happen.
“What are you doing when you get off work?”
Connor’s eyebrows push into his hairline. “Are you asking me out on a date?” he asks.
My heart clenches inside my chest and I take a deep breath, because as much as I’d like to say yes, that just isn’t who I am anymore. “Nope,” I state impassively. “I gave up dating.”
“You don’t date?” he asks incredulously.
“I fuck.”
Lips parted, he nods slowly several times as though he’s processing what I just said—and deciding what he’s going to do about it.
“Well, that’s too bad, because I gave up fucking.”
His cheeks flush, probably because he realized what he just admitted to, and I can’t help but laugh. “So you don’t have sex?”
Connor rolls his eyes, and even though I’m not a fan of the gesture, he makes it look sexy. My guess is that he makes most things look sexy. “Of course I have sex, I just stopped fucking. I gave up the meaningless one-night stands.” He shrugs. “I want more.”
“Ahhh.” I nod. “Well, good luck with that.” Connor doesn’t say another word. He puts the tattoo gun down and then holds up a mirror so I can check out my new ink. “It’s perfect,” I state, my eyes roaming over the beautiful script.
“I’m glad you like it.” Connor puts the mirror down and slathers some Vaseline on my tattoo. He follows it up with a bandage, all the while rattling off the aftercare instructions.
“Are we done?” I ask, secretly hoping he’ll tell me no. At least then I’d have a reason to stay.
“We’re done.” I push up from the chair. Connor nods his head toward the front desk and I follow him up there to pay. We seem to have fallen into a comfortable silence, and his presence alone is calming in a way I can’t explain. I wish like hell that he would’ve taken me up on my offer, because I have no doubt that it would’ve been fucking fantastic.
Without a word, Connor swipes my card, then I sign the receipt and shove my wallet back in my purse. When I look up, Connor is watching me intently. “Thank you,” I murmur.
His blue eyes are two swirling pools of liquid heat, and what I wouldn’t give to dive in and beg him to change his rules for just one night. “Don’t thank me,” he says, shaking his head. “It was my pleasure.”
We stand there for several more seconds, the air crackling around us as I search for something to say. “I’m Brittany, by the way,” I say, somewhat awkwardly.
Connor grins. “I know.” I furrow my brow and he points to the desk. “You made an appointment.”
“Right.” My phone beeps in my purse, and I decide that’s my cue to leave. “Well, I better go.”
“When will I see you again?” he hollers as I walk toward the door.
Spinning around, I give him my best come-hither look. “When I decide to get another tattoo.”
“Or?” he asks, a grin splitting his ruggedly handsome face.
“When you decide to fuck.”
His jaw nearly hits the floor.
Brittany, one. Connor, zero.
I think I’m going to like playing this game.
About K. L. Grayson:
K.L. Grayson resides in a small town outside of St. Louis, MO. She is entertained daily by her extraordinary husband, who will forever inspire every good quality she writes in a man. Her entire life rests in the palms of six dirty little hands, and when the day is over and those pint-sized cherubs have been washed and tucked into bed, you can find her typing away furiously on her computer. She has a love for alpha-males, brownies, reading, tattoos, sunglasses, and happy endings…and not particularly in that order.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/KL-Grayson/1403900879892076?ref=hl
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorklgrayson
IG: @booksbyklgrayson
Enter K.L. Grayson’s Giveaway:
Feb 11
Bite The Bullet by C.C. Wood Review
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4.5 Smooches
Synopsis
I don’t know what happened to my life.
Just a few months ago, I was independent and had an exciting job I loved. Now, along with my friends, I’m in hiding.
Why? Because I’m one of the Five, a group of human women bestowed with powers and abilities to fight and control supernatural beings. A prophesy was written about us centuries ago. We are supposed to save the world, though none of us knows how.
Now, Cornelius, the leader of a malevolent group known as the Faction believes that by killing us and absorbing our power, he will become unstoppable in his bid to control not only the supernatural domain, but the entire world.
After evading capture and an attempt on my life forced me into months of hiding, I finally have a chance to take action against the Faction — as bait.
Asher Leroux, the vampire tasked with helping me, makes me feel things I don’t understand. It’s as if he fills the empty places in my soul, spaces that I didn’t know existed.
As the final battle draws closer, I know that defeating the Faction won’t give me back the life I once had, but maybe that’s not such a bad deal after all.
Review
‘I was the only one still single. Not that it bothered me. Alpha men were sexy in books, but more of a pain in the ass in reality.’
While I am so sad to see this series end, we have been building to this moment from the start and CC did not disappoint. Asher and Shannon’s story has been long coming and much awaited. Desperate to see how Shannon’s powers developed and what role they would play in the final battle to set the five fully free, I was very eager to start this book and could not put it down once I did.
”Though I’d only been around him a few times, Asher stirred emotions in me I’d never experienced before.’
As a sensitive, Shannon is learning to trust her hunches and when one of those hunches leads her to living with the sexy vampire Asher nothing is ever the same. The more and more she is around all the supernatural the more her powers strengthen and develop. It doesn’t take long for her to see the way out of the massive ordeal the girls are in. The 5 girls are back together and show us the definition of strong heroines.
‘I wasn’t sure what came over me, I liked sex, hell, I loved it if the guy was right, but this was something different, something elemental.’
Epic fights, a sexy love story and characters we all now truly love this book was just what I was hoping for. I have loved this whole series and all these couples deeply and while I am sad to see it all end I am excited to see what C.C. brings us next.
~miranda
Buy It Now
Feb 11
Soulless by T.M. Frazier Excerpt Reveal
Excerpt
“I’ll deal with you when we get back to the house,” Bear snapped, his words loaded with so many different meanings I trembled with both fear and anticipation.
“You’re going to deal with me?” I asked. “How are you going to deal with me?” My attitude and confidence faded with each word until the last was merely a whisper.
“Yes, DEAL with you,” Bear warned, suddenly pausing to take in my appearance. Slowly, from top to bottom, like he’d only just realized I was standing there. His eyelids hung heavy over his sapphire blues as he licked my body with his eyes, drinking me in like he was thirsty.
No, not thirsty.
Hungry.
When he licked his lips I could have sworn he was about to eat me alive. I tingled all over. The awareness of him in such close proximity after so long washed over me. Angry or not, my body didn’t care. I didn’t care. I wanted to reach out and touch his face, reassure him that he had no reason to be angry, but part of me liked that I could draw that kind of reaction from him. He came alive when he was pissed, and something inside me loved that he became this primal possessive beast out to remind me who it was I belonged to.
Bear clenched his jaw and the muscles in his neck tensed and strained. He looked as if he were ready to either kill or fuck. All I knew was that, one way or another, I was about to de devoured.
I pressed my thighs together, trying to manage the pulsing between my legs, but the contact only ignited it further. Bear chuckled and glanced down to where my ankles were crossed. He closed the gap between us in two short strides, taking me off guard. I stumbled backward, tripping over a lose rock in the road. he reached out and roughly grabbed my arm before I could fall, pulling me flush into his hard chest. His warm skin radiated through my thin dress. I bit my lip, suppressing a moan. My legs grew weaker and weaker as he lowered his head, inching closer and closer, until I was sure his lips were going to meet mine, when without warning he released my arm and spun away. “Get in the fucking truck, Ti,” he called back to me.
I stood there, unable to move, and trying to catch my breath while he headed over to King’s truck like that moment never passed between us. When he noticed I wasn’t behind him he growled and stalked back over to me. He grabbed me by the waist, his fingers digging into my skin. He lifted me up, my short dress bunching up over my butt cheeks and slung me over his shoulder like I was a rolled up rug.
Wack.
He slapped my ass with his open palm. Hard. The bite of the smack stung where I was sure he’d left his mark. He tossed me into the truck with a caveman grunt and slammed the door behind me.
I was confused as all hell.
I was so angry.
I was also elated.
I was in lust so hard that I was in physical pain.
I was really fucking angry.
I was head over heels in love.
Motherfucker.
Bear & Thia’s epic finale releases on February 23rd!
PRE-ORDER SOULLESS NOW!
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1U0xEAg
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1NKiPfZ
iBooks: http://apple.co/1XgzApZ
Nook: http://bit.ly/1T4mmMK
Haven’t read this series yet?
Lawless
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1NGbEpb
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iBooks: http://apple.co/1QcsC1R
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Paperback Amazon: http://amzn.to/1YsctJZ.
About the Author:
T.M. Frazier is a USA TODAY bestselling author. She resides in sunny Southwest Florida with her husband and young daughter. When she’s not writing she loves talking to her readers, country music, reading, and traveling. Her debut novel, The Dark Light of Day was published in September of 2013 and when she started writing it she intended for it to be a light beachy romance. Well…it has a beach in it!
Stalk Her: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, and Goodreads.
Feb 11
Second Chances by Rebecca Brooke Cover Reveal
Just another one night stand…
Ryann despised the thought, but it was the only one she could draw when she woke up in an empty bed. Tired of being let down by everyone she cared about–aside from her brother–Ryann begins taking her life back, pushing back at all the bad and ugly life tosses at her.
Ryder knew the moment he left Ryann alone in bed he’d made a mistake. Running and hiding from his family for years, Ryder didn’t want to pull her into that life. She deserved more than constantly moving from place to place.
Ryann just can’t push again. Life is winning and she just wants to lay down and give up. Now, she must make a decision: to run from the truth, or step up and admit what she’s known all along. And Ryder… nine months later and he can’t get Ryann out of his head. He wants her more than he wants to run.
But there’s a terrible truth he has to face: it might be too late for Ryann to give Ryder his second chance.
Rebecca lives near the shore towns of New Jersey, with her husband and two kids. When she’s not writing she loves reading and watching SOA and TrueBlood.
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Feb 11
Ink & Lies by S.L. Jennings Book Tour with Excerpt and Giveaway
Are you ready to meet Rhys & Fi in the newest romantic
stand alone by S.L. Jennings?
INK & LIES IS NOW LIVE!
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1PiWzM6
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1PiWGqX
iBooks: http://apple.co/1S2GcJ4
Nook: http://bit.ly/1O05C2w
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1O05Gzp
Blurb
From International Best Selling Romance Novelist, Hope Hughes, comes a gripping, heartfelt tale of two lovers, fighting for the freedom to…
No. Scratch that. Too cheesy.
…two people, torn apart by the tumultuous tides of life, only to discover refuge in…
WTF? What does that even mean? DELETE.
…two people, confused as shit as to where they should be and who they should love and none of this means a damn thing because it’s all lies!
Lies.
I’m not Hope Hughes. I’m not some fierce woman romance machine. Hell, I’m not even a woman.
I’m a liar.
And while I refuse to believe my own BS, deceit masked in heartfelt phrases of love and devotion, I want to make her believe them. Because maybe—just maybe—if she can find the soul within my words, she’ll also be able to find the truth scribbled on my heart.
You see, I once lived for the perfect plot twist.
I just never expected to actually live it.
This is my story. Well, maybe her story. I just wish I could make it our story.
The one I’m still writing.
Excerpt
“Yeah, but…” Her eyes grow wide and glossy as she tries to sift through all the reasons why that theory shouldn’t apply to her. In the end, she relies on her heart. “You said I wasn’t like those other women…that those other women weren’t me.”
I should tell her she’s right. I should put her out of her misery and reassure her that the last ten years were as real and meaningful to me as they were for her. That even though I may sling gift-wrapped bullshit for the general public, only she knows the true, honest parts of my heart. But with my tongue possessed by the taste of her rejection, I play the petty card, and do just the opposite.
“I guess I was wrong, especially considering yesterday’s events. Maybe you’re no different from them. And maybe you were right about me…that I do sabotage with sex to keep people at arm’s length. Because in the end, that’s all I want anyway, right?”
“You don’t mean that.”
I nod. “Yeah. I do.”
“So what are you saying?” The hurt is so thick in her throat that I can barely hear the words.
I suck in a breath, and scrub a hand over my forehead. “You were right about me. About us. We shouldn’t have done…what we did. And we can’t move on and pretend that it didn’t change us. What’s done is done.”
“I agree,” she nods, with a tinge of hope in her voice.
“So, maybe we should just see this for what it is—the end. You’re starting your life with Joshua and moving away, and I’m going on with mine.”
“Wait, August. No, that’s not—”
“You didn’t actually think we’d be able to keep this up, did you? What, you thought we’d turn out to be the modern day Cathy and Heathcliff? I’m not some swoony, literary hero, Fi. I’m not here to rescue you from your shitty love life that stems from your shitty childhood.”
“I never said you were—”
I’m rambling, spewing verbal diarrhea all over her blue cashmere, but I can’t stop. I can’t shut off the bile that has been choking me since this morning when she disclosed her impending nuptials. “You have Joshua. He’s the one you chose. He’s the one you want. You made that perfectly clear. So what the fuck do you need with me?”
“I thought we were friends, August. I thought you and me were—”
“Well, I guess you were wrong. Friends don’t fuck each other and then five minutes later get engaged. And why would you want to be friends with some empty, misogynistic prick like me anyway?”
“I-I didn’t mean,” her voice cracks, and the first tear escapes. She quickly dashes it away, refusing to let me play witness to her weakness. But I’ve already seen it. I share that very same weakness that has her bottom lip trembling. I’m just too much of a coward to show it.
“Look, I’m sorry. I think we just need a break.”
“A break. Yes,” she nods, dashing away tears. “You’re right. We both said things we shouldn’t have. Let’s just take a few days to…”
“No. A break from this,” I clarify, gesturing between us. “From us. This isn’t working anymore.”
“You’re being melodramatic, August. We’ve had fights before. We’ve said things we didn’t mean, and we always were able to work it out.”
I shake my head and look away, refusing to acknowledge the dejection on her face. “But I meant everything I said.”
About the Author:
S.L. Jennings is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance, reality TV junkie, obsessive coffee drinker and collector of crazy.
Stalk Her: Website | Facebook | Twitter |Goodreads
GIVEAWAY
Mystery Box w/Signed Paperback
Feb 11
Sexiest Man Alive by M. Clarke Cover Reveal and Giveaway
Nathan Cross is a struggling actor waiting tables at a local restaurant to make ends meet while he attends endless auditions. Though his hopeful career moves at a slow pace, Olivia is the strength and sunshine in his life… until she leaves him. One day, he is offered a contract with a modeling agent, leading him to work for Knight Fashion Magazine—a dream job he never imagined would become a reality.
Olivia swore she would always put her career first and that’s precisely what she did when she left Nathan. Having a deadbeat dad and watching her mom work two jobs to make ends meet have been her driving force. When she is offered a modeling career, she drops everything—even the love of her life—and moves to New York.
Though Nathan and Olivia try to steer clear of one another, working for the same fashion magazine causes their paths to cross again and old emotions are awakened. Can Nathan forgive Olivia or will he take the next step with the woman he is currently dating? Will Olivia do everything she can to break them apart? Or will she choose her career over her heart… again?
Something Great FREE, Book 1
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Something Wonderful, Book 2
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Something Forever, Book 3
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Something Amazing, Book 4
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Something Precious, Book 5
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Twas the Knight Before Christmas
International Bestselling Author Mary Ting/M. Clarke resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Writing her first novel, Crossroads Saga, happened by chance. It was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother, and inspired by a dream she once had as a young girl. When she started reading new adult novels, she fell in love with the genre. It was the reason she had to write one-Something Great. Why the pen name, M Clarke? She tours with Magic Johnson Foundation to promote literacy and her children’s chapter book-No Bullies Allowed.
