Dazed

Connections #2.5 by Kim Karr

© 2014 by Kim Karr

Published by the Penguin Group

Release date: April 1, 2014

Synopsis

A Connection Series Novella featuring Aerie Daniels and Jagger Kennedy (River Wilde’s cousin)

Jagger Kennedy never went looking for fame, he just fell into it. After scoring a major modeling contract, his clean-cut good looks and charm catapulted his career. But when his actress girlfriend breaks his heart, he moves to L.A. to try his hand at acting. He needs to make a change, and the last thing he’s looking for is love…

Aerie Daniels is a woman in control … until she meets Jagger. Her surprising connection with him leaves her stunned, and it’s unlike anything she’s ever felt. But just when she lets her walls fall, she makes a startling discovery about him that breaks her fragile heart into a million pieces.

To keep from losing the one woman he can’t bear to be without, Jagger is willing to give up anything—including his career. But even that might not be enough to regain Aerie’s shattered trust…

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Exercpt

Aerie Daniels

There’s something deliciously perverse about staring through the clear glass. All of

my senses engage as I wait in line—the fragrance that fills the air as the fire crackles

beneath the foil wrapped treats wafts under my nose, the beauty in each and every small

package as they line the shelves with tiny dots and colored sprinkles mesmerizes me, the

sound made as the silver sheet is peeled back to reveal the magnificence it holds

captivates me, and the anticipation of the taste makes my mouth water. Ummm… just

thinking of the first bite into the moist brown exterior with its bittersweet Belgian

chocolate complimenting the flavor of the Madagascar bourbon vanilla that oozes from

its inside has me trembling. The black and white cupcake—it’s simply perfection.

Amidst the skyscrapers in Los Angeles’ South Park neighborhood, Sprinkles is a

gem tucked away for those of us who seek out a small piece of heaven. I don’t come here

often, but when I do it’s for that one special treat. The menu describes it as, “Yin and

Yang.” An ancient proverb that says, “Complementary opposites, such as light and dark,

day and night, and masculine and feminine, seemingly may exist as contrary forces, but

are actually interconnected.” Simply put, it says one gives rise to the other and it’s true—

opposites attract. Without the vanilla inside, one could not possibly crave the chocolate

outside—looking at the two parts united has me drooling.

“You know what they say about staring through the glass,” a deep husky voice says

from behind me.

His words tingle my skin and my gaze snaps up. “Excuse me?” I stop short, in a

daze, not even sure what he just said I was so lost in my thoughts.

He chuckles. “You know what they say about staring through the glass,” he repeats.

My eyes blink and come into focus on the upward tilt of his full lips. Then my eyes

move to his smooth pale skin flecked with a light stubble, his nose seemingly sculpted

even with a slight imperfection in its slope, large eyes with the most unusual gray color

swirling from within, and chocolate brown colored hair framing his face in pieces—I’m

not sure if he has just rolled out of bed or if product molds it just so. Either way, he is

utterly beautiful.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Just be careful so you don’t fall in like Alice.” He smiles, displaying his bright

white teeth.

“Again, I’m sorry but I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I notice his eyes

sweep over me and my heart starts pounding.

“Through the Looking Glass,” he responds in a dangerously husky voice.

This time when he speaks I catch an accent, ever so slight but extremely sexy.

It reminds me of how Robert De Nero talks, just not as loud or fast. I continue to stare,

unable to respond. I notice that his physique is long and lean. He’s dressed in worn jeans

that fit him perfectly. His orange laced hiking boots scream I don’t conform. A pair of

tortoiseshell sunglasses hang from the V of his gray sweater, which clings to his body

perfectly. And an outdoor vest tops the outfit. It throws me off. It makes him look more

like an Abercrombie model than a James Dean type. It’s a navy blue down and quilted

one with a silver zipper. I don’t know why, but something about his outfit, about this

man, captivates me.

“Number 98,” calls the girl from behind the counter.

He steps closer. His warm breath whispers across my neck. “Through the Looking

Glass is the sequel to Alice in Wonderland. When Alice gets too close to the glass, she

falls in and starts on a crazy journey,” he tells me as his arm waves in the air with a green

ticket on display. Stepping closer, his gaze cuts from mine to the glass case as he hands

his number to the clerk whose wearing a cute brown apron with the word Sprinkles

scripted across it.

“Can I have a dozen of the black and white cupcakes?” he asks.

Suddenly alarmed, my eyes dart to the case as I watch the single remaining row of

beautifully crafted cupcakes diminish until there are none left. My irritation flares as I

glance at my number—97.

The beautiful stranger hands the clerk his credit card and waits to sign the slip.

“I was number 97, my number was before yours,” I say as he’s handed the bag that

holds his treasure.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Here let me get the sales clerk’s attention so you don’t have to take

another number,” he says.

I want to stomp my feet. I want to scream. I don’t want her attention. I don’t want

another number. I want the cupcakes that he stole from me.

“Miss,” he calls draping his perfectly fit body over the case. She looks his way and

with a charming grin he says, “Can you help this lovely lady? She missed her number

being called.”

“Of course, I’m so sorry. How can I help you?” the girl asks averting her eyes from

the man who looks like he should be on the cover of GQ magazine, over to me.

He smiles at me with a face that belongs on a billboard. “Don’t fall in.”

I swear he’s goading me. But then he tips his chin and a sexy, smoldering grin passes

over his lips and I’m not so sure anymore. He turns to look at me one more time before

he exits, and excitement flushes over my face. I nod a slight cursory acknowledgement,

then he disappears and disappointment washes over me—he’s gone. Crap. The cupcakes

are also gone. Double crap. And now I’m left wondering if he saw me staring at that

flavor? Did he distract me on purpose so he could purchase them first? Urrr…I’m so

angry right now I consider walking out, but when the clerk asks me what I’d like I settle

for the Vanilla Milk Chocolate cakes—they are the mirror reflection of the black and

whites, with vanilla cake and chocolate frosting, but they are not nearly as good.

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About The Author

I live in Florida with my husband and four kids. I’ve always had a love for reading books and writing. Being an English major in college, I wanted to teach at the college level but that was not to be. I went on to receive an MBA and became a project manager until quitting to raise my family. I currently work part-time with my husband and full-time embracing one of my biggest passions—writing.

I wear a lot of hats! Writer, book-lover, wife, soccer-mom, taxi driver, and the all around go-to person of the family. However, I always find time to read. One of my favorite family outings use to be taking my kids to the bookstore or the library. Today, my oldest child is in college and my twins are juniors so they no longer go with me on these outings. And although I don’t need to go to the actual store anymore because I have the greatest device ever invented—a Kindle, I still do. There’s nothing like a paperback. So now my four year old and I make dates out of going to the bookstore–it’s time I love and cherish.

I like to believe in soulmates, kindred spirits, true friends, and Happily-Ever-Afters. I love to drink champagne, listen to music, and hopes to always stay young at heart. <3

Connect With Kim Karr

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

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Giveaway

The giveaway is for 5 signed sets of Connected and Torn paperbacks (open internationally)

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Title – Three Rivers
Author – Chloe Barlow
Genre – Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense
Release Date – March 25th 2014

Synopsis

“A heartbreaking tale of letting go and learning to love again. A jaw-dropping debut novel you have to read.” – Helena Newbury, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author.

How do you start over when you gave everything to one life, one plan, and lost it all?

Althea refuses to allow herself to love again. Imprisoned in grief at twenty-four after her husband’s sudden death, she’s convinced her heart died along with him. She spends her days honoring his memory by clinging to the legal career he helped her to build and to the remaining pieces linking them together.

Griffen’s been running from his past. Despite success as an author and investigative journalist, he’s been traveling through life on autopilot. For a decade, he’s chosen perilous adventures and meaningless sex over the danger of any attachments. When he finally returns home to Pittsburgh, he’s slammed by the awakened memories and regret he’s spent years trying to escape.

A chance encounter brings them together. Their instant desire for each other – and the bond they discover between them – shocks them both. Despite her best efforts, Althea can’t resist Griffen’s charm or his intriguing proposition – if she agrees to a no-strings affair with him for the two weeks he’s in town, he swears he’ll walk away when their time is up. Assured she can test the waters of a new life while keeping her vow never to betray her husband’s memory by opening her heart to another, Althea throws herself into the escape Griffen provides her.

Their perfect plans go awry when the intensity of their connection overwhelms them. Will they risk it all on the chance of something great together…or will the power of their secrets and guilt tear them apart?

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Three Rivers SOUNDTRACK

• River — Joni Mitchell

• La Vie En Rose — Madeleine Peyroux

• All I Want — Kodaline

• Little Talks — Of Monsters and Men

• Ol’ Man River — Ray Charles

• Change The Sheets — Kathleen Edwards

• SexyBack — Justin Timberlake

• Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) — Katy Perry

• Blurred Lines — Robin Thicke

• Let Go — Frou Frou

• Sex On Fire — Kings Of Leon

• Fallen (Live) — Sarah McLachlan

• Sail Away — David Gray

• People Gonna Talk — James Hunter

• Love Is Blindness — Jack White

• Into Dust — Mazzy Star

• Live Like a Warrior — Matisyahu

• Over the Love — Florence + The Machine

• Things Will Change — Treetop Flyers

• Many Rivers to Cross — Jimmy Cliff

• Try — P!nk

• Agape — Bear’s Den

• Stronger — Kanye West

• Althea — Grateful Dead

• No One’s Gonna Love You — Band of Horses

• Safe and Sound — Capital Cities

• Reservoir — Hem

Follow Chloe on Spotify to hear this and other soundtracks from future novels:

http://open.spotify.com/user/chloetbarlow

Excerpt

Althea leaned back and forced a smile and laugh as she looked around. Her brazen pretense was tossing kerosene on Griffen’s fiery emotions.

With each nervous dart of her eyes, Griffen’s heart pounded with more anger. He leaned closer and whispered hotly in her ear, “Is that better? Am I making you uncomfortable? God forbid someone thinks you aren’t a perfect widow pining away alone after all these years. That you’re still living an adult life,” he growled. “Maybe I should ignore your rules and touch you anyway. I know you like it when I do.”

“Stop it, please.” She breathed slowly, calming herself. “We can touch. Just not here.”

“Fine. I get it.” Griffen couldn’t stop how angry he felt.

The irony wasn’t lost on him. Most women he’d been with begged him to be serious with them and tell the world they were together. That had never appealed to him, until now. Yet here was this beautiful, desirable woman that he wanted to express affection to and she couldn’t bear to let anyone know they were together. He hadn’t even realized how furious it made him until he found his heart was racing and he was feeling hot with anger.

Althea must’ve sensed it because she leaned over and whispered, “No. You don’t get it, and you shouldn’t have to. This is my thing. My issue.” She looked around to see if anyone was staring at them and looked into his eyes. “I do want to touch you. I want you to touch me.” She swallowed and lowered her voice even more. “Very much.”

“Fine,” he gritted out. When he looked down at her, with her eyes turned up so full of concern while her lips parted and she panted just a little from the desire that coursed through them every time they were near each other, his heart pounded for a different reason. “I need to touch you, too…everywhere.”

“Yes, please,” she whispered.

Author Bio

Chloe is a contemporary romance novelist and practicing attorney living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her husband and their sweet puppy. She is a native Washingtonian that graduated Duke University with a degree in English and Chinese language. She met her husband at Duke and he brought her to Pittsburgh over a decade ago, which she has loved ever since and made her adopted hometown. She also attended the University of Pittsburgh Law School where she continued to be a book-loving nerd.

Chloe has always loved writing and although she does do it professionally as a lawyer, she cherishes the opportunity to craft her fictional novels and share them with the world.

When Chloe isn’t writing, she spends her time exploring Pittsburgh with her husband and friends. She also enjoys yoga, jogging, and all Pittsburgh sports, as well as her Duke Blue Devils. She is an avid reader and wrote her debut novel Three Rivers in her spare time. She continues her tireless legal style of research in her fiction work as well. For example, in an effort to bring authenticity to Three River’s treatment of grief and loss, she consulted with a psychologist and grief counselor during its preparation.

Connect with Chloe

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chloe-T-Barlow/446666692117051

Newsletter and Blog:

http://chloetbarlow.com/newsletter/

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/chloetbarlow

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18759506-three-rivers

Amazon Author Page:

http://www.amazon.com/Chloe-T.-Barlow/e/B00IXAHC64

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In life my name was Sophia Lucia Cruz. In death it is simply missing girls. Not even singular, but plural, as if there was never one single part of me that was unique or separate from all the other girls that were buried in that harsh Mexican dirt; victims of circumstance, irrevocable choices, and just plain bad luck. If I still had the capacity to cry, I would, because it is that sad and tragic. But when the knife slid deep into my belly and the blood gurgled at the base of my throat I knew that tears wouldn’t save me and they won’t change my story now.

Sophia Cruz was what many would consider an average 17-year-old girl from Mission Valley, until the day she had a knife put to her stomach and fear inserted into her heart. Some may have called it stupidity. She called it a necessary sacrifice. Why else would she leave everything behind to walk arm in arm with the devil into a world of prostitution and human imprisonment?

This is Sophia’s story. She wants you to know who she was before that day. Before she became just another missing girl . . .

Missing Girl, is a powerful, provocative story that explores the depths of familial love and the horrors of the human trafficking epidemic that plagues our global community. Sophia’s story is a fictional account of what so many real- life women and children experience every single moment of their lives when they are forced into sexual slavery and human imprisonment.

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About this playlist: When I write, I rarely listen to music. But I often hear songs that have a phrase or a word or even a vibe that remind me of characters or settings in my story. Missing Girl isn’t very long and neither is my playlist, but sometimes it’s about quality not quantity.

1. Put Your Lights On – Santana/Everlast

2. Miss Missing You – Fall Out Boy

3. Lights – Ellie Goulding

4. 10 2 10 – Big Sean

5. Rabiosa – Shakira/Pitbull

6. Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen

Piper Punches grew up in a rural Missouri town in the far west suburbs of St. Louis. As early as kindergarten, Piper began her adventure as a storyteller. It wasn’t long before others caught on that her talented storytelling was actually a disguise for her tendency to be a pathological liar. Luckily, by the time high school rolled around she got her act together and began to channel her bad girl tendencies into something constructive.

By the age of 16 she had written her novel, Silent Witness; a John Grisham- like tale about the treachery and brutality of the Colombian cartel. Before ever hitting the book shelves, Silent Witness was adapted into a screenplay that was picked up by a major Hollywood studio. It was at this time that Piper learned the harsh lessons of Hollywood and the literary world. NEVER pay an agent one measly dollar until you have a contract in your hands and listen to your parents when they advise you against blindly sending $500 to have your dreams come true overnight. Sometimes parents actually know what they are talking about.

For the next several years (okay, about 20 years) Piper held onto her dream of becoming a published novelist, but decided to take up procrastination instead. It didn’t pay well, but it sure felt great to get nothing accomplished and pursue other random dreams. Finally, in 2012, after an eight year period as a social worker and a seven year stint as a business owner Piper decided it was time to get back into the habit of storytelling . . . err, writing. She began freelancing and ghost writing for several popular websites, while continuing to postpone writing her original work.

Piper’s mother had told her during her teenage years that writers write what they know. Of course, she didn’t take her mother’s advice back then and continued to write about drug cartels (because didn’t you know that every 16 year old living in rural Missouri knows about drug cartels? Meth – maybe. Colombia drug runners – no). However, in true Piper fashion, after 20 years she finally took that parental advice.

In late fall of 2013, Piper debuted her first novel as a bona fide adult. The Waiting Room is a novel that started as the title of a short story collection, but quickly proved it could be so much more. It evolved into a story about the complexities of family, the invisible bonds that connect people, and the pain that can reverberate through the choices we make.

Piper Punches lives 45 minutes from downtown St. Louis with her husband and two daughters. She continues procrastinate and write on a daily basis and is excited to share her stories with new readers each and every day!

1. I met Mario Lopez and Tiffani Amber Thiessan during a Saved by the Bell Mall tour. Somewhere I probably still have the autographed headshots.

2. A trip to India and Africa is on my bucket list.

3. I could eat sour cream with a spoon.

4. My parents decided public school was a bad influence on me when in the 7th grade I decided to use the school’s copy machine to alter my report card. I was promptly sent to a catholic school for 8th grade and went to a Catholic high school.

5. During that 7th grade year, I spent the majority of my lunches using a payphone trying to contact the New Kids on the Block to schedule a concert at our school.

6. I wrote my first full-length novel at the age of 16.

7. I have ran three half marathons, but I have no desire to run a full marathon – EVER!

8. At the age of 27, I decided to stop trying to dye my hair lighter and go for the natural look. That is when genetics decided to laugh in my face and began weaving gray throughout my hair. Needless to say, I now have to dye my hair every three weeks.

9. I visited NYC in 2010 and had the opportunity to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. But, because I hate the cold, I ended standing inside of a mall and watching the parade from a window.

10. The most moving experience I ever had was when I visited the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Atlanta.

11. I love to read, but I am not someone that plows through books. I like to take my time and fall in love with the story. Sometimes I will purposely take a month or more to finish a book because I don’t want it to end.

12. Aside from writing, I also teach music and movement to preschoolers.

13. The job that shaped and molded me into the person I am today was at a domestic violence shelter where I worked for 8 years.

14. If I were not a writer, my dream job would be a profiler with the FBI.

15. Following that train of thought . . . I have an unhealthy obsession with serial killers and international terrorists.

16. My husband and I applied for The Amazing Race. Still waiting on that phone call. . .

17. Once I find a pair of shoes I love, I never want to let them go. I have stapled, glued, and taped shoes back together because I couldn’t fathom throwing them away.

18. I am only 5’1, so high heels are my best friend.

19. Someday I want to star on General Hospital and play a backstabbing villian.

20. Lastly, I used to think that Miami was a person like “My aunt, my uncle, my cousin.” I wasn’t the quickest kid. Good thing I outgrew that!

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/piperpunches

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Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/1eHmE9U

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We are beyond excited to share the cover of Elizabeth Lee’s SHATTERED! SHATTERED is Elizabeth’s first New Adult Contemporary Romance novel and is receiving a new cover to celebrate the last amazing year in Elizabeth Lee’s publishing career. She will be releasing a new edition of SHATTERED on April 29^th!

About SHATTERED:

Alyssa Boyd had big plans. Big plans that included getting the hell out of the little town she’d grown up in with her two best friends. When she decided it was time to let one of them know her true feelings for him; a change of plans resulted in a tragic turn of events. Now, Alyssa is left alone to find her way out of the darkness that an untimely death has left in its wake.

Jesse Vaughn was never good at letting people in. He’d learned a long time ago that it’s easier that way because people leave, or, unfortunately, die. The one person he wanted to let in doesn’t want him anymore. The only problem is he can’t stop thinking about her. Jesse returns to the childhood home he left behind with one goal in mind… to convince her that they should be together.

When Jesse finds Alyssa she’s not the same girl he left behind. She’s wild, reckless and hell-bent on not giving Jesse a second chance. Lucky for Jesse, his stubborn streak has always been a mile-wide and he’s not about to give up on her.

When your life has been shattered can you really pick up all the pieces and move on?

About Elizabeth Lee:

When I’m not writing or playing the part of wife and mother, you can find me dancing back-up for Beyonce, singing back-up for Miranda, or sunning myself on the beach with a drink in hand. Here’s the thing about being born and raised in a small town—you have a very vivid imagination! Now, I channel it all to create stories where the girl always ends up with the right guy, first kisses are magical, and a happy ending is just that!

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All Lined Up

(Rusk University Novel)

by Cora Carmack

ALL LINED UP Synopsis:

 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cora Carmack follows up her trio of hits—Losing It, Faking It, and Finding It—with this thrilling first novel in an explosive series bursting with the Texas flavor, edge, and steamy romance of Friday Night Lights.

In Texas, two things are cherished above all else—football and gossip. My life has always been ruled by both.

Dallas Cole loathes football. That’s what happens when you spend your whole childhood coming in second to a sport. College is her time to step out of the bleachers, and put the playing field (and the players) in her past.

But life doesn’t always go as planned. As if going to the same college as her football star ex wasn’t bad enough, her father, a Texas high school coaching phenom, has decided to make the jump to college ball… as the new head coach at Rusk University. Dallas finds herself in the shadows of her father and football all over again.

Carson McClain is determined to go from second-string quarterback to the starting line-up. He needs the scholarship and the future that football provides. But when a beautiful redhead literally falls into his life, his focus is more than tested. It’s obliterated.

Dallas doesn’t know Carson is on the team. Carson doesn’t know that Dallas is his new coach’s daughter.

And neither of them know how to walk away from the attraction they feel.

Excerpt

Excerpt Reveal: All Lined Up by Cora Carmack by WilliamMorrowBooks

About The Author

Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She’s done a multitude of things in her life– boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.

Author Links

Website: http://coracarmack.blogspot.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CoraCarmack

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoraCarmackBooks

Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6535659.Cora_Carmack

ALL LINED UP Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18505845-all-lined-up?ac=1

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