Up In Flames by Abbi Glines Review

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4 Smooches!

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Synopsis

The villain of Rosemary Beach finally gets her own happy ending in the long-awaited final novel of the #1 New York Times bestselling new adult romance series by Abbi Glines.

The blockbuster #1 New York Times bestselling Rosemary Beach series ends with a bang when the troubled character readers love to hate gets her very own happily ever after in this eagerly anticipated and overwhelmingly requested story. Known for causing problems for everyone in Rosemary Beach, Nan has been growing up lately, and she’s finally taking center stage—and finding love with the man she least expected.

 

Review

‘Villains were created, not born.’

I admit that I was pretty excited for Nan’s books.  I just knew that Abby was going to redeem her and make me love her.  I was counting on it.   But the truth is, is that Nan is a hard one to redeem.  I mean, she has been so incredibly awful through this series.  I had such a strong hate for her so Abby went a completely different route with this book in my opinion.  Instead of redeeming Nan, Abby gives Nan a man that can handle her.  One that doesn’t put up with Nan’s mess.   One that will literally slap her down when she starts acting a fool….

“Sweet baby, you can’t toy with me.  I’m not a boy.  I’m a motherfucking man.  Understand?”

Honestly, I did grow to like Nan a bit more than I did before in this series but I still just didn’t connect with her.  She is still kind of a bitch.  But there were times that I thought that maybe just maybe I could like her and I did feel a bit sorry for her on and off through this novel.

‘I wanted to be someone’s Harlow.  Or Blaire.

But I’d always just be Nan.  And Nan wasn’t enough.  I never had been, and I was done trying to be.’

But like the quote said she was made this way.  Abby giving Nan a man that doesn’t put up with her crap was probably the best decision and I mean i throughly enjoyed watching him “handle” her in my minds eye.  Some might say that his handling of her is too rough or abusive but personally I think Nan needs that kind of man in her life.  And honestly I felt that he loved her just as fiercely as he controlled her.  It was pretty intense.

“I’ll love you until I take my last breath.  No one will change that.  Not even you.”

Also, this book has a bit of a love triangle so get ready.  And some pretty surprising stuff happens and this book is loaded with tons of action.  That said, I want to also say that this book is definitely a lot more of a contemporary romance than the NA stuff we usually get from Abby.  I still really enjoyed this book but I love her NA more than anything.  Still a great book, just not my favorite of Ms. Glines!  Maybe its because it is Nan or maybe it is because of the nature of the book.  Who knows.  But it is definitely still a must read.

~Amie

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Unexpected Circumstances #3 The Consummation by Shay Savage Release Blitz with Excerpt

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UNEXPECTED CIRCUMSTANCES by Shay Savage

BOOK 3: THE CONSUMMATION

 

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SYNOPSIS:

With steady patience, Sir Branford teaches his young wife the pleasures that are to be found in their marital chambers. Though still unsure of herself, Alexandra begins to open herself to the possibilities of her new life. As Branford expresses his desire to have more than a simple political marriage, Alexandra begins to see a brand new side of her husband.

Alexandra soon discovers there is more to being Sir Branford’s wife that sharing his bed. When the lives of nobles rest in her hands, she finally begins to understand the importance of her position in the court and in her husband’s life.

 Check out our 5 smooches review HERE.

Add to Goodreads

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Excerpt:

He ran his tongue first over one nipple, then the other, while his thumb and fingers continued touching between my legs and making my hips rise up of their own accord. Branford’s fingers dipped farther inside of me, and I felt them curl up as I stiffened and cried out in short, panting breaths. His fingers retreated quickly, leaving me suddenly empty and somewhat confused.

At the same time, he released my breast from his lips and made a light trail down the center of my body, stopping at my navel. My fingers moved from his shoulder to his hair, and I let the wonderfully soft strands glide between my fingers. Branford’s gaze tilted upwards, looking at me, smiling his half smile, and making my stomach clench inside. While his eyes were still locked with mine, he reached out with his tongue and ran the edge of it around my navel, and I shivered. Branford grinned, kissed the skin just below the little indentation, then started moving farther down. Much farther down.

“What are you doing?” I breathed, my eyes wide.

“Kissing you,” he responded with an arch of his brow. He tilted his head and kissed first one hipbone, then the other. He slid his hand down my side, over my hip, down my leg, and then curled around my knee. He lifted my leg, laying it over his shoulder while he continued to watch my face. As his intent became clearer to me, my breath caught in my throat, and I whimpered.

“Branford…”

“Shh…”

I felt his lips brush softly over the skin of my inner thigh, and he slowly continued a line of kisses up the inside of my leg while I lay back, horrified at what he was doing. I remembered the feeling of his fingers between my legs, stroking and fondling me until I was screaming out for him in the middle of the forest, and I remembered the feeling of his tongue across my bare nipples.

My breath escaped me in gasps as his tongue reached out and took a long lick from my opening to the tiny, intense spot at the top of my folds. His darkened eyes stayed trained to mine as he swirled the tip of his tongue in a small circle around the little nub. I whimpered, panted, and grasped at the blanket below me as his lips joined his tongue, wrapping around my flesh—licking and sucking as he had done to my breasts only moments before. An instant later, his fingers joined his mouth, and I felt him slide them slowly back into me—moving in and out leisurely as his tongue circled and pressed against me.

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shay savage

Shay Savage lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her family and a variety of household pets. She is an accomplished public speaker, and holds the rank of Distinguished Toastmaster from Toastmasters International. When not writing, she enjoys science fiction movies, masquerading as a zombie, is a HUGE Star Wars fan, and member of the 501st Legion of Stormtroopers. When the geek fun runs out, she also loves soccer in any and all forms – especially the Columbus Crew, Arsenal and Bayern Munich. Savage holds a degree in psychology, and she brings a lot of that knowledge into the characters within her stories.

Stalk Shay Here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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The Consummation by Shay Savage Review

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5 Smooches!

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Synopsis

With steady patience, Sir Branford teaches his young wife the pleasures that are to be found in their marital chambers. Though still unsure of herself, Alexandra begins to open herself to the possibilities of her new life. As Branford expresses his desire to have more than a simple political marriage, Alexandra begins to see a brand new side of her husband.

Alexandra soon discovers there is more to being Sir Branford’s wife than sharing his bed. When the lives of nobles rest in her hands, she finally begins to understand the importance of her position in the court and in her husband’s life.

 

REVIEW

 

Dang, Branford, you are such an alpha a-hole but I am deeply in love you. I mean, I’ve been cooking, cleaning, and slaving away all day. Branford, take me away. My husband won’t put up much of a fight, especially not after you lose your temper and kill him. No but seriously, I do love his character. He is the perfect balance of alpha sweet and bastard. I do so enjoy it.

So this time around we finally get some bow chicca bow bow. It is called The consummation after all. I feel like the sexual tension has been of the charts with these two since the very first time they met so I was definitely looking forward to them finally doing the deed. I do have to say that it was most definitely worth the wait. Smoking hot! I am so excited to see where this story goes next. Branford explosive temper and Alexandra’s naive ways have me glued to this entire series. Loving this historical romance!

~AMIE

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Top Bottom Switch by Chelle Bliss Release Blitz with Excerpt

NEW RELEASE! TOP BOTTOM SWITCH by Chelle Bliss

★STANDALONE NOVELLA★

ONLY 99 CENTS

Part of the Club Series, featuring interconnected novellas

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AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | IBOOKS | KOBO | GOOGLE

AMZN UK | AMZN AU | AMZN CA

BLURB

Ret North knows exactly who he is—a Dominant male with an insatiable sexual appetite. He’s always been a top, searching for his bottom…until a notorious switch catches his eye.

Alese Kane has grown tired of her usual partners. She’s been watching Ret for months, wanting to run her tongue along his hard muscles. But his need for total control stops her.

Ret worries that a relationship with Alese would be impossible, but his giant ego and even larger cock tell him otherwise. Unable to deny his attraction to her any longer, Ret convinces Alese to submit to him.

When Ret dominates Alese, will she submit or will she top from the bottom?

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I can almost smell her arousal from across the booth, and my mouth waters from the scent. “Lucky bastard,” I whisper so quietly that only I can hear over the music in the background.

Stella’s body starts to tremble, her creamy skin glistening under the lights. Her breathing changes and she lets out a small moan.

Misha’s hand stops and he whispers in her ear. She nods before his hands start to move again under the table. “Open your eyes, Stella. I want Master Ret to watch you fall apart in my lap.”

Her head slowly moves off his shoulder and her eyes flutter open.

I swallow, my mouth suddenly dry when our eyes meet. Without breaking eye contact, and with my hand still holding my hardened cock, I pick up the scotch and watch over the rim. I try to quell the thirst, but it doesn’t work.

I don’t need a drink. I need a submissive.

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ABOUT CHELLE BLISS

Bliss

Chelle currently lives near the Gulf of Mexico and is a full-time writer, time-waster extraordinaire, social media addict, and coffee fiend. Currently she’s written over thirteen books and loves spending her free time with her man, 2 cats, and her hamster.

FOLLOW ON FACEBOOKJOIN CHELLE’S NEWLETTERVISIT HER WEBSITE

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Ramsay by Mia Sheridan Review

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4 Smooches!

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Synopsis

Lydia De Havilland is shocked when Brogan Ramsay suddenly reappears in her life. Several years before, Brogan was the son of her family’s gardener, and the boy she hurt and betrayed. But Brogan is no longer the quiet, sensitive boy she remembers. Now he’s a man—gorgeous, powerful . . . and seeking vengeance.

Brogan Ramsay can’t let go of the memory of Lydia tricking him cruelly, leaving his heart shattered and his family penniless. And now he’s back to destroy her family the way his was destroyed. There’s only one problem . . . the girl who wounded him so badly years ago is now a woman who still has the power to render him breathless.

Ramsay is the story of betrayal and wrath, of the strength of regret and the power of forgiveness. It is the story of the thin veil between love and hate, and how more often than not, when we seek to inflict pain on others, the heart we wound is our own.

THIS IS A STAND-ALONE SIGN OF LOVE NOVEL, INSPIRED BY ARIES. New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

REVIEW

‘I know your flavor Lydia, and I can’t forget it.  No matter what I do, I can’t forget.’

Goodness gracious but this book started out so incredibly sad I didn’t know how I would recover.  I even had to pause for a bit and then pick it back up because I was just so angry at the character’s actions.  A little disgusted too.  And like Brogan Ramsay I wanted vengeance.  Years later Brogan comes back and gets his revenge but it comes with a price over and over.

“Then let’s at least destroy each other properly this time.”

This story was done so incredibly well.  As usual Mia Sheridan’s writing is just beautiful, lyrical even.  She is one of my favorite writers out there and this book proves why.  They writing was like WOWZERS but also the way that she managed to convey Brogan’s heritage, his language, his manner of speaking.  It was just so authentic and gorgeous.

‘It’s always been you, and no one else.’

This story really spoke to me on so many levels because all of our actions good or bad, all have consequences.  And although some of these actions may seem innocent so much wrong can come from them.  Both characters were so incredibly guilty of this, but the truth of their love was in their forgiveness.  This one was so powerfully poignant.  I loved it.  This is a fabulous story with an even better lesson to be understood and learned.  Mia Sheridan kills it again.

~Amie

 

 

 

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Man Candy by Melanie Harlow Blog Tour with Excerpt and Giveaway

MAN CANDY BT BANNER

Man Candy by Melanie Harlow

Release Date: June 20, 2016

Genre: Contemporary Romance

 

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Synopsis:

He’s back.

Not just back in town, but living in the flat right beneath mine. And he looks good enough to eat, which is just one more reason to stay away from him.

But I can’t resist.

The sex is incredible (pretty sure we’ve shaken the house right off its foundation), but he can’t fool me—not this time. A degree in marketing and five years in advertising have taught me that “true love” is a fairy tale used to sell lipstick, diamonds, and perfume. It doesn’t exist.

He thinks I’m wrong, and he wants to prove it.

I think he’s crazy, so I dare him to try.

It might be the biggest mistake of my life.

 

Check out our 4.5 smooches review HERE.

Excerpt:

 

“It’s so good to see you, Jaime,” he said. “You look great.”

“You too,” I said before I could stop myself. I didn’t want him to think I still cared—in fact, I wanted him to know I wasn’t fooled by his charm. I wasn’t that silly little girl anymore, the one who’d doodled his name in her notebooks and blushed when he said hi at school and cried herself to sleep when he asked another girl to his prom. That silly little girl was gone, and in her place was a confident, smart, professional woman who knew her worth and, even better, the truth about love. No more stars in her eyes.

But why did he have to be so hot?

OK, pull yourself together. No drooling.

“I’m so glad this worked out.” Quinn let me go but stood too close, his feet planted wide and his arms crossed over his chest. He wore jeans, a gray knit pullover that hugged his muscular chest and arms, and his feet were bare. His hair was damp and messy on top, just like it had been the last time I’d seen him in person. His full lower lip made me want to bite it. Maybe even draw blood.

“Sorry, I just got out of the shower,” he said sheepishly, ruffling his hair. “Want to come in and catch up? Or maybe go out for a drink? I just need to throw some shoes on.”

“No.” Trying desperately to shove the image of him in the shower from my mind, I elbowed past him and trudged up the stairs. My cheeks were hot, which meant they were probably turning scarlet. They ruined my poker face every time.

“Come on, it’s Friday!”

“I have work to do.” He was naked a few minutes ago. And wet.

“Did you have a bad day?”

“No.” Rivulets of water streaming over those muscles.

“You already have plans tonight?”

“No.” Steam rising as he stroked himself beneath the spray.

“You don’t love me anymore?”

I froze as the shower fantasy exploded into bits, replaced by a humiliation that paralyzed me, one foot on the top step, one hand on the banister. Slowly, I turned my head and glared at him over one shoulder.

Now the grin cocked up on one side. “Because you used to, you know. You told me.”

“You need to forget about that.”

“Have you?”

“Yes,” I snapped. “That was a long time ago. Back when I was young and impressionable and believed in love.”

His brows went up. “You don’t believe in love anymore?”

“Not the romantic kind. That’s a fantasy used to sell things like lipstick and roses and diamonds.”

“Pretty jaded for twenty-seven, aren’t you?”

I resumed heading up the stairs. “I’m not jaded, Quinn. I’m just a realist.” And I’ve been burned before, trusting guys way less attractive than you.

He said nothing more, and I let myself into my flat. As soon as the door was shut behind me, I leaned back against it, exhaling and fanning my face.

He still got to me. That was so aggravating.

I mean, how was I supposed to sleep at night? Quinn Rusek was one fine piece of man candy, and I had a sweet tooth for him that wouldn’t quit.

But he’d made fun of me! Again! A nice guy would have at least pretended not to remember what I’d said. Or maybe apologized for humiliating me. Or not have brought it up at all!

What an asshole.

A hot asshole—the worst kind.

Curse you, Alex, and your generous heart.

And curse you, Quinn, for getting under my skin again. You stay away from me.

But a traitorous little part of me hoped he wouldn’t.

(Bet you can guess which part.)

 

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Man Candy AN RS GREY

Buy Links:

Amazon US / Amazon UK

Now FREE on Kindle Unlimited

About the Author:

melanie harlow author pic

Melanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty bits left in. When she’s not writing or reading, she gets her kicks from TV series like VEEP, Game of Thrones, House of Cards, and Homeland. She occasionally runs three miles, but only so she can have more gin and steak.

Melanie is the author of the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series, the FRENCHED series, and the sexy historical SPEAK EASY duet, set in the 1920s. She lifts her glass to romance readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and pet rabbit.

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Man Candy by Melanie Harlow Review

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4.5 Smooches

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Synopsis

He’s back.

Not just back in town, but living in the flat right beneath mine. And he looks good enough to eat, which is just one more reason to stay away from him.

But I can’t resist.

The sex is incredible (pretty sure we’ve shaken the house right off its foundation), but he can’t fool me—not this time. A degree in marketing and five years in advertising have taught me that “true love” is a fairy tale used to sell lipstick, diamonds, and perfume. It doesn’t exist.

He thinks I’m wrong, and he wants to prove it.

I think he’s crazy, so I dare him to try.

It might be the biggest mistake of my life

Review

‘You might wonder how a perfectly sane, well-educated, completely logical woman such as myself ended up trapped in a man’s closet.’

Brother’s Best Friend books are my absolute favorite troupe. I devour them anytime that I can get my hands on a good one, so when I figured out that Man Candy was in that genre I could not wait to start. I was already a long time fan of Melanie Harlow’s work but this book has solidified her as an author whose releases I cannot miss.

‘Oh God, he’s so gorgeous – look at that body, that face, that cock! You know, it seems really unfair that he got the looks and the big dick. If I was a guy, I’d hate him . . . ‘

Jaime and Quinn have a bad history. When they were younger she had a crush on him in a BAD way and when she was 17 and he 18 and she tried to act on that he rejected her  . . . and LAUGHED. He went off to college and eventually became a famous male model. But now he is home and living in the apartment right below her. I honestly thought going in that Jaime was going to be the character I loved and Quinn was going to have to win me over. But within a couple of chapters it becomes apparent that it is actually the exact opposite. Quinn knows what he wants and it is not just sex from the temptress upstairs. Jaime however has strict rules and anything other than sexy times and maybe a bit of friendship is more than she can offer anyone, especially the man who already broke her once.

‘All my rules were broken. All my walls were down.’

Honestly, this book hits so many good notes – brother’s best friend, second chance romance – love/hate – romantic comedy. I could go on and on and each of those things is done incredibly well. I was entranced from the first page, the first line honestly (see my first quote.) Man Candy is equal parts sweet, sexy and hilarious and together they make for an unforgettable story. I really hope this is the beginning of a series because there were several other characters I would love to see get their HEAs as well. The writing was flawless and the story utterly enticing. Trust me this is one not to pass over!

~miranda

In Your Eyes by Babara Speak Blog Tour

 

 

 

Jase Jergensmeyer was the bully that tortured me growing up–the kind of boy who would pull my pigtails and call me names in elementary school. He was never supposed to be anything other than a menace. He wasn’t meant to be anything other than the definition of what I didn’t want. 

 

Things don’t always happen the way we plan, and sometimes we ask God why he puts things in our path, but the most important thing to remember is: Life is an adventure, and if we all knew how it would play out, we never really would be living, would we? 

 

You know me as Shelby, the eight-year-old girl that went through hell with my sister, Ari, but I have my own story to tell. 

 

In Your Eyes is a follow-up novel in the Let It Be series. The first two novels, Let it be Me and Let it be Us, do not have to be read first to enjoy this story, but you will get to know the characters involved in this novel if you do.

 

 

 

 

Arianna Dubray is nothing like the girl she left in Baltimore. Once a Prada shoe wearing, Michael Kors bag carrying, on top of the world seventeen-year-old girl, Arianna knew that her life would never be the same when she got out of the car in middle-of-nowhere Montana.

 

Canyon Michaels is the keeper of his own dark secrets. Plagued by his family name, he’s forced to prove the town wrong and make it on his own.

 

The last thing Arianna needs is a reason to stay, but with every passing day the decision to leave becomes harder. Once their paths cross nothing can tear them apart, other than the secrets that start to surface and the nightmares that soon become their reality.

 

 

 

 

 

Montana has become everything Arianna Dubray never wanted it be. Home. Now, with every part of her Boston life behind her, she has all she needs to watch her future unfold in her little country life: her sister, Shelby, and the man that captured her heart and never let go, Canyon Michaels. 

 

But Canyon was sure Arianna was never coming back, and in the midst of his excitement, he doesn’t reveal the one thing that could shatter his dreams of being with her for the rest of his life.

 

When every secret comes to light, the only thing left to do is to leave their love in fate’s hands.

 

 

Author Barbara Speak loves nothing more than being allowed to share her ideas and thoughts through books that so many enjoy. When she’s not writing she’s caring for her son and daughter along side her amazing husband in rural Missouri. She has 5 more babies but these are covered in fur. Bode the boxer, Tucker the beagle and Lily, Callie and Connor her kitties.

 

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Archangel’s Heart by Nalini Singh Cover Reveal

Archangel’s Heart is the 9th book in the

Guild Hunter series

Archangel’s Heart releases November 1st!

Now Available for Pre-order HERE: http://bit.ly/28P4Qel

Add it to your TBR: http://bit.ly/GoodreadsArchangelsHeart

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Blurb

One of the most vicious archangels in the world has disappeared. No one knows if Lijuan is dead or has chosen to Sleep the long sleep of an immortal. But with her lands falling into chaos under a rising tide of vampiric bloodlust, a mysterious and ancient order of angels known as the Luminata calls the entire Cadre together to discuss the fate of her territory.

Accompanying her archangelic lover Raphael to the Luminata compound, guild hunter-turned-angel Elena senses that all is not as it seems. Secrets echo from within the stone walls of the compound, and the deeper Elena goes, the uglier the darkness. But neither Raphael nor Elena is ready for the brutal truths hidden within—truths that will change everything Elena thinks she knows about who she is…

Nothing will ever be the same again.

Author Information

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Nalini Singh is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling, Guild Hunter, and Rock Kiss series. She lives and works in beautiful New Zealand, and is passionate about writing.

If you’d like to explore her other books, you can find lots of excerpts and free short stories on her website. Slave to Sensation is the first book in the Psy-Changeling series, while Angels’ Blood is the first book in the Guild Hunter series. The Rock Kiss books are all stand alone and can be read in any order.

STALK HER:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Love Tap by M.N. Forgy Excerpt Reveal

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Excerpt

Prologue

Sitting at my desk I chew on the end of my pen waiting for Professor Kelly to finish writing on the whiteboard. This class always drags and it being at noon I’m always hungry half way through.

Bored I trace the words stenciled into the top of my desk with my index finger.

‘Lick it before you stick it.’

Where do people even come up with this stuff?

“I love how her hand erases half of what she writes as she moves across the board,” Keegan whispers next to me, bringing my attention from my tracing to Professor Kelly. Sure enough, the sentence on the left is half wiped off as she continues to write along the board.

Keegan is the only person I talk to here at UCLA. I don’t know if I would call her a friend, more of a roommate, and study partner. College isn’t any different than high school and I’d rather stay to myself.  If you’re making friends then you’re a part of the drama. Who is screwing who, drugs, and mean girls, it’s a vicious circle.

Keegan and I click because she’s different. She has tattoos covering her arms and hands, and collects everything unicorn. Not to mention I love her outlook on life. She could care less what people think of her. She’s carefree and it scares people.

“Jacki, do you have your piece ready?” Professor Kelly asks.

Jacki who sits in front of me clears her throat, sitting straight in her seat.

“I’m just about done. I’m waiting for the owner of the restaurant to call me back,” Jacki replies.

I’m majoring in journalism. I figured if I can’t do what I love, I’ll do what comes next. Writing about it.

“Tatum, what about you?” I freeze.

“Yes, my piece is done,” I lie. I haven’t even started. Professor Kelly smiles at me, knowing I wouldn’t disappoint. Little does she know every piece I give her is last minute.

Jacki turns in her seat and eyes me with her fake green contacts. Here she goes. For some reason I am always the target of her bullying. I think it’s because a guy she was interested in sat next to me two classes ago. After ignoring him, he got the hint and moved back to the front of the class.

Either way, Jacki’s antics get old. I usually just ignore her. What is sad is she used to be friendly. Then she started sleeping with everyone and her ego became as big as the hole between her legs.

“Why do you dress like trash? It’s like, an embarrassment to the graduating class.” Her friends laugh and she smiles proud of herself.

“Ignore them,” Keegan mutters.

I always do.

Professor Kelly sits at her desk to work through the articles for the school paper, wasting the last ten minutes of class. Kicking my backpack out from under my seat I pull out my book and start to get lost in the pages of dragons and zombies.

“You know nobody has called me back?” Keegan interrupts my reading.

“All those applications, and not one news station has called. I should just give up, maybe I can be a maid,” she continues, and I know she’s about to go on her rant. I should give up reading, when she gets like this there’s no stopping her. Not one to give up, I narrow my brows to indicate I’m in some deep reading. “Ooh, I could be a sex maid. You know, the ones where I pretend to clean your house but then we have sex?”

I laugh, giving up on trying to read my book and close it.

“Yes, I know the kind.  But don’t give up, the right job will call you back. Besides, you hate giving head and I’m pretty sure that will be a requirement when you’re a sex maid.”

“Shit, you’re right.” She sags in her seat like I just ruined her life goals.

“Speaking of shit, did you buy that bag from someone homeless?” Jacki flips her blonde hair over her shoulder as she eavesdrops.  “I bet your mother is embarrassed to have you as a daughter, I mean, did you get your hair done by a hobo?” She continues to insult.

Something inside of me I thought was dead ignites, swimming through my veins like a wild fire as I pin Jacki with a stare.

“You should probably shut your mouth while you’re ahead,” I warn. Keegan looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. I’ve never reacted to Jacki’s insults. Today, though… I’ve had enough.

“Aww, did I hit a nerve?” Jacki laughs. Closing my eyes I try to push through the violence wanting to be released. “Do you even have a mother, or did she just give up when she had you?” She throws her head back and laughs, revealing the trashy pink lipstick that’s smeared on her teeth.

Anger thrusts through my arms and my hands curl into fists. I’m going to lose it. I’m going to lose my temper and become irate, right here.

“I need to get out of here.” I shove my book in my bag and stand, trying to leave before something horrible surfaces. I have been able to overlook anything and everything that triggers my temper, but my mom… that is one I clearly can’t overcome.

“Aw look, you made her leave.” One of Jacki’s friends taunts. I don’t even remember her name. They all sound alike anyway. Jacki, Judy, Janet.

“Good, maybe she can run back to her momma for some fashion advice,” Jacki continues.

I stall staring at the double doors that lead out of the auditorium.

Just leave. Keep going.

Closing my eyes, something I’ve suppressed for years breaks through it’s cage slamming full force in my chest.

I drop my book bag, and turn on my heel.

“What’d you say?”

Sitting sideways in her seat, tapping her desk with a pencil, Jacki giggles.

“You heard me, you’re a—“

I don’t let her finish. I leap over her friend and grab Jacki by the throat, pulling her from her seat. She screams, her fake blonde hair flailing everywhere as I drag her across the desks to the aisle.

The class screams with excitement as I drop Jacki like the sack of shit she is. God I feel fantastic! Like a tiger at the zoo finally being released into the wild.

I feel… alive. Day after day, I have sat in a chair behind a desk living a mundane boring life. Giving up on family, dreams, and most importantly, myself.

Jacki stares back at me with mascara smeared eyes, the look of fear fueling me to continue. I smile, and strike her in the face, throwing her back on the stairs.

But this, the violence, it’s what I long for.

She wails, cupping her nose. “You crazy bitch!”

Keegan jumps to her feet in her seat looking over Jacki laying in the aisle before looking up at me. “Holy shit!”

“What is going on?” Professor Kelly jumps from her desk making her way up the stairs.

“Run!” Keegan points at the double doors smiling just as big as I am.

Stepping over Jacki, I grab my bag but stop as I look at Jacki who is only a foot from me.

“Remember that next time you want to bully someone. Grow up.” I stand upright, shuffling my bag on my back, and I sprint out of class.

Quickly, I make it to my dorm room and throw what I can into bags. Drawers left on the floor and my mattress overturned, I make a mess of the room. Keegan is going to kill me when she gets back. Swiping my phone off the shelf where we keep the Ramen noodles, a pair of scissors fall to the floor nearly spearing me in the foot and landing on a magazine. I stare at the beautiful blonde on the front of the cover. I took this magazine into the mall months ago trying to imitate the model’s makeup. Hundreds of dollars later and I didn’t feel any prettier. I tried to fit into the LA lifestyle, I really tried but I’m just different. I don’t care about fashion, or chick flicks, or the so called normal shit that girls my age should like. If LA can’t turn me into a prima donna, then nobody can.

I glance up finding Keegan’s giant mirror with unicorn and mermaid stickers plastered all over it, my reflection looking back at me. My painted eyes and fake blush looking ridiculous on me.

Grabbing a couple of Kleenex I rub at my face, pressing as hard as I can to rub the shit off my eyelids and cheeks until my skin is near raw.

I’m done pretending.

Dropping the makeup smeared tissues to the floor I grab my bags and glance at the trashed room one last time.

My heart beats wildly as I flush my journalism career down the drain.

This isn’t what I wanted anyway.

I don’t want to report about the best fighters in the world.

I want to be one.

29

Meet Tatum and Camden in this

second chance fighter Romance!

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Love Tap releases on July 6th!

Add it to your TBR: http://bit.ly/GoodreadsLoveTap

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Blurb

All I ever wanted was to be a female fighter.

It was in my blood to smack people around.

Some girls wore pink dresses and makeup, I wore sneakers and bruises.

I was a loner, stuck to myself because I was different, until Camden Steel moved next door.

I punched him in the mouth, and he saw me through rose colored glasses from that day on.

I had everything I ever wanted.

The boy next door, inspiring career… until I didn’t.

He hates me. I deserve that.

They say you have to fight for what you want… What they don’t tell you… is it’ll cost you more than you’re willing to give to reach the top.

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About the Author

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M.N. Forgy was raised in Missouri where she still lives with her family. She’s a soccer mom by day and a saucy writer by night. M.N. Forgy started writing at a young age but never took it seriously until years later, as a stay-at-home mom, she opened her laptop and started writing again. As a role model for her children, she felt she couldn’t live with the “what if” anymore and finally took a chance on her character’s story. So, with her glass of wine in hand and a stray Barbie sharing her seat, she continues to create and please her fans.

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