Illicit Desire Synopsis:

Raphael is everything I should run away from…

Cora Milan came to Miami to get a fresh start, away from the memories and stigma that followed her and her brother at home. When she’s mugged, Raphael Ortiz rescues her. He’s sexy, successful, and dangerous—Miami’s most eligible bachelor and it’s most elusive. A cartel lord who lives on the wrong side of the law, with only a veneer of respectability. He is the exact opposite of a clean slate, and he makes no apologies for wanting her.

When Raphael forces his way into her life, Cora knows she should run. But the attraction between them is undeniable, and Raphael is a man accustomed to getting what he wants. The more she loses herself in him, the deeper she is drawn into Raphael’s criminal world.

But when her past, and his present collide, both of them will be left grasping for the only thing that can save them from the darkness around them—each other.

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Excerpt

We spend the day at a flea market and thrift stores. Paul keeps me distracted with silly hats and shameless flirting with every woman we see, and arguing for the most hideous furniture we come across.  After shopping all day, we get comfort food for dinner—greasy pizza and hot wings—and he gives me a smirk. “Movie night?”

I nod and glance back as we go over a bump, the couch we found wiggling ominously.

“How are we getting everything upstairs?”

“Colt is meeting us to help me move it. Why do you think I got so much pizza?”

I hesitate. Colt is a great guy and one of the only people who knows the whole truth about Graham. But he’s also a little too interested and friendly. I swallow my concern and focus on the warmth and comfort of being with my brother.

That bubble of comfort bursts when we park and a familiar Mercedes pulls in behind our truck. I stare at it in the rear view mirror as Raphael climbs out. Aggression is coming off him in waves and I feel a shiver of fear as he stalks to my door.

“Who is that?” Paul asks softly. I give him a quick look and then the door is open and Raphael hauls me out. I have a moment to take in his wild eyes before he pins me to the truck, and kisses me. His lips move over mine urgently, desperately, and it triggers my own hunger, until I’m whimpering and anxious under him.

And then he’s gone, jerked away abruptly. I blink stupidly at the empty air and see my brother between us, a wall of muscle and anger. “Back off, man,” Paul snaps.

Three things happen. Raphael swings at Paul, Lou emerges from the Mercedes, fury written on his face, and Colt pulls up on his motorcycle.

Colt comes off his bike at a flat sprint, and tackles Raphael from behind, and I see the flash of steel a second before Lou lifts the gun.

A bad situation just turned really fucking ugly.

I dart forward, and yank on the bodyguard’s arm. “No,” I snap. His eyes soften a fraction, and I hear a grunt, and the distinct sound of flesh hitting flesh. Raphael is on his back, my brother above him, fury in his eyes, while Colt prowls on the edges of the fight. Paul’s lip is bleeding, and he’s enraged, while Raphael sprawls on the ground, his entire body coiled to strike.

“Paul, stop,” I yell, and his head snaps up. Bad idea. Raphael hits him, hard, a right hook that has my brother’s eyes rolling back as he goes boneless.

Taylor Michaels Bio:

Taylor Michaels is the pseudonym for Nazarea Andrews. Her books tend toward dark adult romance. She still likes chocolate and wine and book boys a little sexier than they should be. She can be found on Twitter and Facebook and loves hearing from readers. When not writing, she can most often be found playing taxi driver for her three daughters, hanging out with her husband at their small business, or burning dinner. She lives in Georgia.

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Conner Burke never expected Sofie Callahan to come back.

That kid that could be mine.

I get up and let the empty bottle drop to the floor. The woods are eerily quiet, as if it can sense my anger. As if it knows the bitterness that lingers in my veins, as if it knows the burn of not knowing anything.

Like the woods, I’m left in the dark. Completely.

Branches and twigs crunch under my feet as I increase my pace to a gentle jog. And again, to a slow run. Then to a sprint.

The need to know increases with every footstep, as evenly paced as the ticking of the clock. It doesn’t matter that I’ve probably drunk too much beer to be here or that we’ve only been back for a matter of days.

I can’t be in this shithole full of memories without knowing. I can’t move on until I know. I can’t forgive her for a single fucking thing until I know—and even then, maybe I won’t be able to.

Maybe she’s unforgivable.

Instead of knocking on the back door like I did yesterday, I round the side of the house to the front door. The front room light glows softly through the curtains, but the rest of the house is dark.

My chest heaves with the exertion of my run here and I grab the doorframe to balance myself. I’m definitely too fucking drunk for this conversation, but what the hell.

I bang on the door, once, twice, again and again and again. “Sofie! Open the fuckin’ door!”

“Shut up!” she hisses, yanking it open. “The hell’re you doing here?”

I smirk, leaning against the wall. “Shouldn’t I be askin’ you that, princess?”

“Are you drunk?” Her voice rises a little at the end, and her eyes widen.

Those eyes. Fuck, those baby blues that have always undone me.

“Drunk? No. If I was drunk I’d be sitting at home like a miserable bastard and not here facing the cause of my misery.”

“You’re being an asshole. I don’t have to listen to this.”

She pushes on the door, but I wedge my foot in front of it. I let go of the wall and grab the edge of the door.

“Actually, you do.”

She can’t overpower me, and she knows it, because she lets up and the door swings open. “Why are you here, Conner?”

“You have a kid.”

She smacks her lips together. “Yep.”

“When? When did you have her?”

Sofie takes a deep breath in and presses her hands to her stomach. They’re shaking, even as she links her fingers to hide it. I can see that fucking tremble.

She whispers something but I’m too pre-occupied by her hands to hear it.

“What?”

“August last year,” she repeats, still a whisper.

August. Last year. My stomach clenches as I meet her eyes. “When? When in fuckin’ August, Sofie?”

“August fifteenth.” Her voice hitches halfway through the ‘fifteenth.’

Almost seven months to the day she walked out on me and the rest of Shelton Bay.

Adrenaline hums through my body, and I stare at her. At the tears building in her eyes, the quiver of her lips, the bob of her throat as she swallows harshly.

It’s no different from the burn in my chest, the twisting of my stomach.

“Is she mine?”

She shudders and a tear drips from her eye.

“Sofie. Is. She. Mine?!”

By day, New York Times and USA Today bestselling New Adult author Emma Hart dons a cape and calls herself Super Mum to two beautiful little monsters. By night, she drops the cape, pours a glass of whatever she fancies – usually wine – and writes books. Emma is working on Top Secret projects she will share with her followers and fans at every available opportunity. Naturally, all Top Secret projects involve a dashingly hot guy who likes to forget to wear a shirt, a sprinkling (or several) of hold-onto-your-panties hot scenes, and a whole lotta love. She likes to be busy – unless busy involves doing the dishes, but that seems to be when all the ideas come to life.

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Title: Hourglass Squared

Authors: K.S. Smith & Megan C. Smith

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Blue Tulip Publishing

After recovering from being scorned by the same man, best friends Brooke and Savannah have not only mended their friendship, but also their hearts. With both girls finally married to the Worthington twins, these women have found it all and are living in pure marital bliss.

But not all honeymoons last forever. When Brooke and Josh announce they have a baby on the way, Savannah realizes this is all a bit more than she signed up for. With pressure coming from Jake to start a family, tempers flare and relationships are pushed to the breaking point; driving her to the brink of insanity as she is propelled toward the house in suburbia with the white picket fence.

Brooke tries to stand by Savannah, and be the best friend she has always been, but soon the tables turn and Brooke will need everyone’s support as her world comes crumbling down atop of her.

Join Brooke and Savannah in Hourglass Squared as they fight any obstacle that comes their way, together. Relationships will be tested, friendships strained, causing the course of their lives to be changed, forever.

Rolling my head in the direction of the voice that just spoke my maiden name, I came face to face with none other than Luke Wellington. Utterly surprised by his presence I quickly tried to regain my composure, “It’s actually Savannah Worthington,” holding up my four carat diamond ring and matching wedding band I flashed it in front of his face and smiled, “I got married a little less than a year ago, so did Brooke.”

Luke smiled, reaching up to run his fingers across my cheek and I shuddered at his familiar touch, “I heard the two of you settled down, and with none other than our biggest competition, Worthington Squared.” Winking at me as his hand lifted his drink to his mouth.

“We did, Brooke and Josh are so in love, they’re even expecting a baby. We are so thrilled for them; all she talks about is being a mom.” I took a sip of the delicious rose colored drink that filled my champagne flute.

“And what about you,” Luke asked, “are you happy too? Will you and Jake be bringing a baby into the world anytime soon?”

Taking in a deep breath I pondered his question before answering, “Of course I’m happy, I love Jake, he is perfect, it’s just…” Faltering slightly I tried to form the rest of my sentence.

Luke’s eyes peered into mine. He may have turned mine and Brooke’s lives upside down, but regardless of all of that he still knew me like that back of his hand.

“What is it Sav?” He probed, sounding concerned.

Standing up I leaned in and hugged Luke tightly, “I’ve got to run; it was great seeing you, Luke.” Rotating on my heels I darted out before he could say goodbye and hustled back toward Hourglass to retrieve my car. Praying for the sake of my own relationship that this was as close to Luke as I’d ever be again.

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K.S. Smith

K.S. Smith is an aspiring new contemporary romance author. When she is not writing you will most likely find her tanning on the beautiful Florida beaches, spending time with her family and friends or dedicating her time to the military through her favorite non-profit organization.

K.S. Smith was born and raised in Tampa, FL and continues to build her life there in her new home with her boyfriend of ten years who will hopefully one day put all book boyfriends to shame with an out of this world proposal.

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Megan C. Smith

Megan Smith was born and raised in beautiful Tampa, Florida where she spent her days falling in love with fictional characters from a very young age.

After marrying her best friend she relocated to North Carolina to support her husband’s career as a U.S. Marine. During her time in North Carolina Megan was blessed with 3 beautiful children who have kept her constantly busy chasing after them and enjoying the daily routine of motherhood.

Most recently Megan and her family have relocated to St. Petersburg, Florida where she has spent the past few months achieving her lifelong dream of publishing her very first novel; as well as continuing to submerge herself in some of her favorite books while appreciating a glass of wine and her favorite, salted pretzel Milanos.

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