Captivated by Bethany-Kris…Cover Reveal

CAPTIVATED

by Bethany-Kris
Publication Date: July 9, 2018
Genres: Adult, Romantic Suspense, Organized Crime. Erotic Romance, Standalone

COVER CREDITS

Cover designed by London Miller
Cover photo  by Michael Stokes
Cover model: Antoni Bialy

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SYNOPSIS

A shadow meets the light …

When someone needs to disappear, the Chicago mob calls on Joe Rossi. A man who can move without a sound, and kill without a word, they don’t call him the Shadow for nothing.

This time, it’s a New York crime family in need of his skills, but it takes one glimpse of her to make him agree to the job.

Liliana Marcello is every inch a principessa della mafia. Her life has taught her to be wary of strangers, yet her ballet career contradicts everything by putting her on display.

It’s a man with a dark smile and a constantly changing demeanor that makes her feel safe again, but it’s the unknown that holds her back.

It takes one look …
One dance …
One word …
One smile to captivate a man.

And one second to kill a woman because of it, too.

Not all monsters hide in the shadows.
How are you supposed to see them coming?

EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT

“Drink?”

Liliana made a face. “You know, I probably shouldn’t.”

“Ah, dancer.”

She shrugged. “Everything needs to be exactly as they want it.”

“As long as one of the things they want isn’t for you to starve yourself, or work yourself dead then … whatever makes you happy, Tesoro.”

“Some girls do.”

“Hmm?”

“Starve themselves down to nothing but sticks in the hopes of being noticed, or whatever the case may be. Their brains and mind get so sick from it all that they don’t even realize how much they need help. It’s sad, really. Scary. Once, I might have been one of those girls, too. Not so much anymore.”

Joe glanced down at the glass of whiskey he had poured, and twirled it a bit making the ice inside click against crystal. “Can’t say that’s a bad thing, though.”

“No, growth is … good.”

“It can be.”

Joe kept his gaze on the whiskey, and Liliana suddenly decided to be a little bold. They weren’t outside where anyone could see, or where her sister was right there to watch and make her feel nervous. There was no stumbling over her words, or feeling skittish.

Really, Joe didn’t make her anything but comfortable.

And a little hot sometimes.

Crossing the distance between them, Liliana came to stand right in front of Joe. It was only then that he finally glanced up from the glass in his hands to give her one of his slow, easy grins. The kind that made her stomach do that weird clenching thing—like butterflies for big girls.

“Hey,” she whispered.

Joe tipped his head to the side a bit. “Hey.”

“Thanks for helping me today.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“Lucky you were there to help me, really.”

Joe quirked a brow high. “Yeah, lucky.”

Before Liliana could over think her next move, and while she was still feeling that bit of boldness in her heart, she stood on her tiptoes, and kissed Joe. It was a fast kiss—nothing too spectacular, and certainly not lingering. Just a sweet press of her lips against his, and then she was pulling away again.

As fast as it had happened, it was over.

Then, she waited.

For him, that was.

Joe’s gaze darted to hers, and she swore she saw a flash of heat behind his eyes. Without ever looking away from her, he set that glass of whiskey to the wet bar, grabbed her waist with a firm grip, and brought her even closer. She didn’t even get the chance to take a breath before he kissed her.

His kiss was not like hers.

Deeper, harder, and hungrier. A teasing stroke of his tongue against the seam of her lips, demanding she open up to him, and let him in. She couldn’t even help herself but to part her lips, and taste him.

Joe pulled her closer still until her chest was molded against his, and she found it hard to take in a decent breath. And only then did he pull away. His hand came up to cup her cheek, and his thumb stroked her cheekbone with a soft touch.

“I mean, if you’re going to kiss me,” he murmured as he pulled away, “then at least really kiss me, Liliana.”

She laughed breathlessly. “I wanted to see …”

“What?”

“I don’t know.”

“Did you see whatever it was?” he asked.

Liliana grinned widely. “I did.”

“And?”

“Would you like to go out with me sometime, Joe?”

ABOUT BETHANY-KRIS

Bethany-Kris is a Canadian author, lover of much, and mother to four young sons, one cat, and two dogs. A small town in Eastern Canada where she was born and raised is where she has always called home. With her boys under her feet, snuggling cat, barking dogs, and a hubby calling over his shoulder, she is nearly always writing something … when she can find the time.

To keep up-to-date with new releases from Bethany-Kris, sign up to her New Release Newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bf9lzD

Website • Blog •  Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads •  Pinterest • Mailing List • Amazon Author Page

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Why Not Me? by Ashley Erin…Blog Tour

Today Ashley Erin is stopping by to share her contemporary romance, WHY NOT ME. Check out this fantastic new release and grab your copy today!

 

Title: Why Not Me

Author: Ashley Erin

Genre: Contemporary Romance

 

About Why Not Me:

He didn’t choose me, and now he wants his second chance.

 

Allie Vincent has a good life. All of her boxes are checked off.

Sweet boyfriend? Check.

Awesome job? Check.

Great friends? Check.

Life is going according to plan. That is until the man who broke her heart seven years ago comes crashing back into her life.

 

Suddenly those checked boxes no longer seem important.

Her once neat life is now in turmoil as she’s caught between a past love and a current one.

A choice between two men.

One is her best friend and partner for the past six years.

The other makes her heart race, but he left her shattered.

One is safe, secure.

The other is a risk she doesn’t know if she’s willing to take . . . again.

Get Your Copy Today!

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Excerpt

Allie

 

Waking up after an awful night’s sleep, I drag myself out of bed toward the bathroom. Glancing behind me to a sleeping Brendan, his curly hair sticking out all over the place makes me smile. The hole in my heart that was reopened yesterday afternoon has a Band-Aid over it. The safe comfort of Brendan’s arms preventing me from leaping into a black hole of memories.

The same arms that put me back together, protecting the cracks from breaking even further all those years ago, held me together once again last night. It kept that question that taunted me for years, why not me,from resurfacing.

Brushing my teeth, I avoid looking in the mirror. I’m mad at myself. I’m angry that I’m so weak a person that someone from my past still has so much power over my emotions. That he still holds a large piece of my heart, even after he stomped on it. That even now, I’m still wondering why not me,even though I shouldn’t be.

After seven years, I should be able to look at him and be angry that he ended things over the phone, or better yet, not feel anything at all.

I should be able to look at the man who has loved me for six years and realize I have what I need. Yet, I can’t shut off the way he still permeates my thoughts on a regular basis. I’ve tried. I’ve tried every single day since that night.

Yanking a brush through my hair, I relish in the pain I deserve as it rips through the tangles.

He chose someone else. Someone he said I didn’t need to worry about. He picked her, not me. Brendan picked me. He loves me, every part of me. With him, I’ll never need to wonder or doubt his feelings. He is safe, he loves me, he makes me laugh, and we have a wonderful life together.

“Good morning.” Brendan walks into the bathroom, stretching his arms above his head before wrapping them around me. Looking up, I’m surprised to see he looks sad. His voice is muffled as he speaks into my hair. “You didn’t sleep well last night.”

Closing my eyes, I breathe in his comforting scent. “I had a nasty headache from the accident. I’m going to see a physical therapist this morning.”

Angling my head when he leans down to kiss my neck, I smile into the mirror as our eyes meet and ignore the wrenching guilt about not telling him the full story behind the accident.

“Do you want me to come with you?” He turns me to face him, lifting me onto the counter so he can step between my legs.

Panic fills me at the idea of Brendan seeing me near Landon. He knows me too well, he’ll know something’s up. Clasping his shoulders, I lean forward to kiss his cheek. “Nah, enjoy your morning. I don’t know how long I’ll be.”

He smiles as he kisses me once more before turning to switch on the shower, the warm steam doing nothing for the chills running through my body.

I finish getting ready for the day, tying my hair into a messy bun before throwing on sweats and a hoodie. It’s tempting to dress up, but I won’t give in. I shouldn’t need to impress him.

Maybe there’s a silver lining to this weird and uncomfortable situation. This will give me an opportunity to finally have closure on the Landon issue. That’s what I’ve needed all these years. A chance for the door that was left slightly ajar in my mind to finally shut. Not that I would ask him why he picked her instead of me, but an opening to say a real goodbye, not a heartless sever over the phone.

Two hours later I’m parked outside of Landon’s clinic, Freedom Physical Therapy, trying to find the strength I need to go in, get evaluated by Landon, and get out unscathed and hopefully ready to finally let go.

Slinging my purse over my shoulder, I take a few calming breaths before leaving my car and entering the building. No one is at the front desk, in fact the entire open space is empty. This is my opportunity to leave, to walk out and not look back. I start to turn, but before I can take a step Landon comes out of an office I didn’t notice in my cursory glance.

“Allie, I’m glad you made it.” His eyes scan over me, a trail of heat following the path of his gaze. He steps in close, pressing his thumb into the tender skin around the large bruise on my forehead. Before I can think about what I’m doing, I’m leaning into his touch, my eyes drifting shut.

There is something unique about the way his hand feels on my skin. The connection is powerful, the draw instant, and I find myself falling into another memory.

Landon is kissing my neck, specifically the spot that instantly makes me moan in need. The palms of his hands rub my back, before pressing into my lower back to pull me into his arms. It’s a stolen moment, one we shouldn’t be taking, but all common sense and morality flies out the window when we’re together.

“Allie . . .” His words are tortured. He needs this as much as I do, but his guilt is starting to eat at him. He needs to make a choice.

With a sharp breath, I jump back as I think about the consequences of what’s happening. He probably hasn’t thought about me since that night, or if he has they’ve been fleeting thoughts that don’t matter. He let go of us. Unlike me, I’ve never quite let go. Tears fill my eyes as pain shoots through my neck, but the pain in my heart is even worse.

“Oh—shit—ow.” The words are a low groan, the pain in them a mixture of physical and emotional.

“I hit you pretty hard yesterday. Hang your coat over there and then sit on that exam table over there.” The gravelly tone of his voice reminds me of every time we were together. It’s the first indication that he might be as impacted by my presence as I am his.

I hang my coat, the burn of his eyes as they track me feels familiar. When I turn around, I let myself meet his gaze straight on. He’s intent, his blue eyes darkening as we stare at each other. I examine every feature, every twitch. And I see it. He feels everything I feel.

 

About Ashley Erin:

Ashley Erin lives in Alberta, Canada where winter and summer compete to take over. She wears flip flops as soon as it’s above freezing, because her hatred of socks outweighs her dislike of snow. Her boyfriend stays with her despite a penchant for adopting rescued cats and dogs without permission. Their two dogs and four cats are spoiled rotten. When Ashley isn’t writing, she is reading or working with horses.

Ashley is a self-published author of contemporary and new adult romance. Follow her on Facebook to keep up with her current and upcoming releases.

 

 

Connect with Ashley:

Facebook | Reader Group | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram | Amazon | Website | Newsletter

 

Down Deep by Kimberly Kincaid…Review and Excerpt Tour

 

 

Are you ready to go deep and feel the burn?

From USA Today bestselling author Kimberly Kincaid comes DOWN DEEP, the next standalone title in the Station Seventeen series, releasing June 18th! Check out the excerpt below and grab you copy today!

 

 

Ian Gamble has a past he’d rather forget—which is exactly what he’s doing at The Crooked Angel Bar and Grill when the place catches fire. Between his active duty in the Marines and his experience as a firefighter, his instincts get him and hot, headstrong bar manager, Kennedy Matthews, to safety. But those same instincts kick into high gear when the fire is ruled an arson, and he discovers Kennedy’s got secrets of her own.

The only thing that matters more to Kennedy than her bar is her brother. When she finds out he’s in over his head with a dangerous arsonist, she’ll do anything to keep him safe—even if it means teaming up with Gamble, who’s too sharp-eyed and hard-bodied for his own good. With every step, their attraction flares hotter and the risks grow more dangerous. Can Gamble and Kennedy face their fears—and their secrets—to catch a terrifying enemy? Or will they go down in flames?

 

 

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * iBooks * Kobo

 

 

Order a digital or print edition of DOWN DEEP by Kimberly Kincaid and get an exclusive Epilogue from Kimberly! Each entry will also be entered for the chance to win a Grand Prize! 

The Grand Prize for 1 winner consists of:

~A 30-minute Google Hangout for the winner and ONE friend with Kimberly Kincaid and BT Urruela!

FILL OUT THE FORM HERE!

 

 

 

 

EXCERPT: 

Gamble dropped his gaze to his forearm, where Kennedy’s fingers still pressed gently over his skin, and her eyes went round as she followed his downward stare.

Oh. I shouldn’t…I mean, I didn’t…ugh, sorry,” she breathed, shifting to pull her hand away. But instinct collided with the desire already pumping through his veins, and he covered her fingers with his free hand, not hard enough to keep her from moving if she wanted to, but with enough intention to let her know he didn’t mind her touch.

In fact, he wanted it. Badly.

“I don’t want you to be sorry,” Gamble said, his heart beating faster as—instead of pulling away—Kennedy leaned in even closer.

Her fingers tightened, her pupils darkening her stare. “Then what do you want?” she whispered.

“This.”

He erased the space between them in one swift movement. But she’d moved, too, pressing forward to meet him at the same time he’d leaned in to slant his mouth over hers. Her lips were soft, yet full of purpose, quickly parting to give him better access, and fuck yeah, he took it. Sliding his tongue along the seam of her lips, Gamble tasted her once, then twice, before deepening the kiss. Kennedy was far from a passive participant—and didn’t thatjust make his cock stand up and pay all sorts of attention—angling herself closer despite the constraints of the Nissan’s front seat. A low sound rose up from her throat as he swept his tongue further into her mouth to let it tangle with hers. Her moan prompted him to drop the hand that had been covering hers in favor of reaching out to cup the back of her neck, hauling her closer for another hot, deep taste.

Christ, she gave even better than she got, and before Gamble could process the movement, she’d curled her fingers around the front of his T-shirt to grip the cotton by his shoulders and hold his body in place against her chest. His heart slammed against his sternum, each beat sounding off in his ears and daring him to kiss her harder, touch more of her, to not stop until she begged him for unspeakable things with that sharp, sultry mouth. Kennedy edged her teeth over the sensitive skin on the inside of his bottom lip, applying just enough pressure to send a bolt of dark, dirty want all the way through him, and the last of his already shaky common sense snapped.

“Be careful,” Gamble ground out against her mouth, his cock throbbing behind the fly of his jeans. “I bite back.”

One word…HOT! Fanning myself still over this book. Just when I thought Mrs Kincaid could not top the other books in this series..wow she hit this one out of the park people! I dare say that out of all of the Station Seventeen series, this is my favorite! Any reader can start with Down Deep because they can read this one as a standalone and not miss a thing from the series. I just love how Kimberly takes a reader write there, it is as if you are watching the whole story unfold right in front of your very eyes.

Gamble and Kennedy not only have attraction but they have known each other for some time. The action is there from the beginning and Down Deep had me binge reading (finished in a day and a half). I just couldn’t put it down. Gamble and Kennedy are fun to read. You get mystery, passion, love, and even fun banter. Plus a hot firefighter (did you see that cover)! What more could a reader ask for?

 

And don’t miss the first books in the Station Seventeen series! SKIN DEEP is FREE for a limited time only, and DEEP CHECK is just $.99! Grab your copies of the Station Seventeen series today!

 

 

About Kimberly Kincaid:

Kimberly Kincaid writes contemporary romance that splits the difference between sexy and sweet. When she’s not sitting cross-legged in an ancient desk chair known as “The Pleather Bomber”, she can be found practicing obscene amounts of yoga, whipping up anything from enchiladas to éclairs in her kitchen, or curled up with her nose in a book. Kimberly is a USA Today best-selling author and a 2015 RWA RITA® finalist who lives (and writes!) by the mantra that food is love. Kimberly resides in Virginia with her wildly patient husband and their three daughters.

 

 

 

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Tempting the Laird by Julia London…Release Blitz

 

 

From New York Times bestselling author Julia London, comes TEMPTING THE LAIRD—the fifth standalone novel in her Highland Grooms Series!

TEMPTING THE LAIRD is now available where all fine books are sold. Grab your copy today!

 

 

 TEMPTING THE LAIRD Synopsis:

Mystery and desire cloak the Scottish Highlands

Unruly. Unmarried. Unapologetic. Catriona Mackenzie’s reputation precedes her everywhere she goes. Her beloved late aunt Zelda taught Cat to live out loud and speak her mind, and that’s exactly what she does when Zelda’s legacy—a refuge for women in need—comes under fire. When her quest puts her in the path of the disturbingly mysterious Hamlin Graham, Duke of Montrose, Cat is soon caught up in the provocative rumors surrounding the dark duke. Never one to retreat, Cat boldly goes where no one else has dared for answers.

Shrouded in secrets, a hostage of lies, Hamlin must endure the fear and suspicion of those who believe he is a murderer. The sudden disappearance of his wife and the truth he keeps silent are a risk to his chances at earning a coveted parliamentary seat. But he’s kept his affairs tightly held until a woman with sparkling eyes and brazen determination appears unexpectedly in his life. Deadly allegations might be his downfall, but his unleashed passion could be the duke’s ultimate undoing.

 

Grab your copy of TEMPTING THE LAIRD here!

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Google Play | B-A-M | IndieBound | Powell’s

 

 

 

Add it to your Goodreads now!

 

EXCERPT: 

Kishorn Lodge, Scottish Highlands, 1755

There’d been a spirited debate among the Mackenzies of Balhaire over where to bury the remains of the ven­erable Griselda Mackenzie. Arran Mackenzie, her much beloved cousin, wanted her buried at the clan’s seat at Balhaire alongside two hundred years of Mackenzies. But Catriona, his youngest daughter—who had been as close to her “Auntie” Zelda as her own mother—wanted to bury her at Kishorn Lodge, where Griselda had lived most of her remarkable life.

In the end, a compromise was struck. Auntie Zelda was buried in the family crypt at Balhaire, but a fèillein her honor was held at Kishorn a month later. This arrangement satisfied Catriona, as it was the celebra­tion she wanted for a woman who had lived life very much on her own terms.

Unfortunately, the weather turned foul on the eve of her fèille. Kishorn was remote, far into the Highlands, reachable practically only by boat. Therefore, only the most immediate Mackenzie family was able to attend, rowing up from Balhaire, past the Mackenzie prop­erties of Arrandale and Auchenard, and across Loch Kishorn to the point where the loch met the river for which it was named.

There was scarcely anything or anyone this far into the Highlands. A village and prime hunting grounds had once graced the banks of the river, but they were long gone. A Mackenzie ancestor had built the lodge on the ruins of the village. Zelda, who had always pre­ferred her freedom to a confining marriage, and had been indulged by her father, had taken possession of the abandoned lodge as a young woman and had made it her home, lovingly repairing and adding to it over the years.

The only thing left of that ancient village was a crumbling abbey, built on a hilltop overlooking the river glen. It was small as abbeys went, and no one could say whose abbey it had been. Zelda had decided it was hers and had made half of the original structure habitable again. The other half—what had once been the sanctuary—was missing its walls, and only a few beams and arches remained of the roof. It served no useful purpose, other than to provide a wee bit of re­spite from the weather for the cows that wandered in from time to time.

If only they’d had a respite from the cold rain that continued to beat a steady rhythm against the paned windows on the day of the fèille.

Catriona was quite undone by it—she’d planned this event to rival all such celebrations for years to come. “I’m bloody well cross with God this day, that I am,” she said to the women gathered around the fire blazing in the hearth. They included her mother, the Lady of Balhaire, and Catriona’s sister, Vivienne. Also present were her sisters-in-law, Daisy, Bernadette and Lottie. “It rained the day we buried her, and here it rains again. She deserved better, she did,” Catriona said as she care­lessly held up her wineglass to be refilled.

“Zelda would not care a whit about rain, Cat,” her mother assured her. “She would care only that you car­ried on with the fèillein spite of it. Can’t you hear her laughing? She’d say, ‘Did you expect cherubs and blue­birds to herald my arrival? No, lass, heaven weeps when I knock at the door.’”

“Mamma,” Catriona said gravely, but she couldn’t help a small smile. Zelda would have indeed said some­thing like that.

“I miss that old crone,” her mother said fondly, and lifted her glass in solemn salute. “She was incomparable.”

That was high praise coming from Margot Macken­zie. She and Zelda had maintained a fraught relation­ship through the years, had never quite seen eye to eye for reasons Catriona still didn’t fully understand. She knew that Zelda couldn’t bring herself to forgive her mother for being English, which, to be fair, was a sin in the eyes of many Highlanders. But Zelda had also seemed determined to believe the absurd notion that Ca­triona’s mother was a spy, of all things. Once, Catriona had asked her father why Auntie Zelda said her mother was a spy, and he’d given her a strange look. “Some things are better left in the past, aye?” he’d said. “You canna believe everything Zelda says, lass.”

He had not, Catriona had noted, denied it.

 

 

About Julia London:

Julia London is the New York Times and USA TODAY best-selling author of more than thirty romantic fiction novels. She is the author of the popular Cabot Sisters historical romance series, including The Trouble with Honor, The Devil Takes a Bride, and The Scoundrel and the Debutante. She is also the author of several contemporary romances, including Homecoming Ranch, Return to Homecoming Ranch and The Perfect Homecoming. She has over 100,000+ Facebook followers, is the recipient of the RT Book Reviews for Best Historical Romance and a six-time finalist for the prestigious RITA award for excellence in romantic fiction. You can visit her website JuliaLondon.com. She lives in Austin, Texas.

 

 

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Survival of the Richest by Skye Warren….Blog Tour

SURVIVAL_BLOG TOUR.jpg

Survival of the Richest, an all-new emotional and romantic standalone from New York Times bestselling author Skye Warren, is available NOW!

SurvivalOfTheRichest

An heiress without a cause.
Two billionaires determined to claim her.
And a war fought on the most dangerous battlefield–the heart.

My story starts with a plunge into the cold water of Manhattan’s harbor.

A strong hand hauls me back onto the deck of the luxury yacht. Christopher was supposed to be my enemy. Instead he protects me with fierce determination.

That should have been my happily ever after, but then Sutton appeared–ruthless and seductive. He doesn’t care that my heart belongs to someone else, because he’s determined to win. No matter the cost.

It’s an impossible choice, but I can’t have them both.

SURVIVAL-AVAILABLE-NOW-V2

Download your copy today!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2reGmoo

Amazon Universal: http://mybook.to/SurvivaloftheRichest

iBooks: https://apple.co/2w5R2L7

Nook: https://bit.ly/2FAtmxX

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2FACXom

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Add to GoodReads: https://bit.ly/2IbzSR6

AVAILABLE NOW

Grab the FREE prequel Trust Fund today!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2JntW81

Amazon Universal: http://mybook.to/TrustFund

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Nook: https://bit.ly/2kHgNbZ

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2sku9hJ

Google Play: https://bit.ly/2sfAg7C

GoodReads: https://bit.ly/2JjDDEy

Excerpt:

My body heats at the words, at the remembered pleasure of Sutton’s mouth on my sex. Christopher looks down at me, as if he can feel the heat emanating from between my legs. His expression turns stark, as if he’s in pain. That’s only fair, because I’m in pain too.

“You deserve better than that,” Christopher says, but there’s no way to pretend he’s talking about Sutton. He’s talking about himself and we both know it.

“He gives me what I want, which is something you might try next time you like a girl.”

“It wasn’t that,” he says, harsh again.

“No?” I step forward and place a hand on his chest, feeling the way his heart beats strong and fast. He may want to be unaffected by me, but he isn’t. I tilt my face up toward him.“You didn’t imagine me naked in the cabin later?”

He sucks in a breath.“You were too young then.”

My words come out as a whisper.“What about now? Will you do what Sutton said—imagine me in this dress when you go home after this?”

“It’s not fucking decent,” he says, even though the silk covers every part of me. It’s a perfectly respectable dress, when it’s not hitched up around my waist.

“You can thank Sutton for this,” I say, because it’s true. He’s the only reason I lean forward and place my lips against Christopher’s, touching them in some terrible attempt to show him what he gave up, to prove to myself that I don’t care about either of them.

Christopher sucks in a breath. For a second I think he’s going to pull away. He stiffens and grasps my hair with his fist. Easy enough for him to stop the kiss. Instead he dips my head back and deepens it, exploring my mouth with his teeth, his tongue. Opening me wider until I whimper. Pulling me close until I can feel how hard he is beneath his slacks.

His other hand fists in the gauze of my dress, and I realize he’s holding me with both hands clenched—one in my hair and one in my clothes. I don’t know whether he’s doing it so he doesn’t have to touch me or because it’s a way to control me without bruising me. He uses both hands to tug me closer; I’m pressed so tightly I can’t imagine getting away.

Where Sutton had been raw sensuality and playfulness, Christopher is pure determination. He kisses me like he’s a conquering army, like I’m made of gold he has to grasp—or lose forever.

About Skye:

Skye Warren is the New York Times bestselling author of dangerous romance such as the Endgame trilogy. Her books have been featured in Jezebel, Buzzfeed, USA Today Happily Ever After, Glamour, and Elle Magazine. She makes her home in Texas with her loving family, sweet dogs, and evil cat.

SKyeWarren

Connect with Skye:

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

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Stay up to date with Skye Warren by signing up for her newsletter:

http://www.skyewarren.com/newsletter/

http://www.skyewarren.com

Down Deep by Kimberly Kincaid…Release Day Blitz

 

 

Are you ready to go deep and feel the burn?

From USA Today bestselling author Kimberly Kincaid comes DOWN DEEP, the next standalone title in the Station Seventeen series, releasing June 18th! Check out the excerpt below and grab you copy today!

 

 

Ian Gamble has a past he’d rather forget—which is exactly what he’s doing at The Crooked Angel Bar and Grill when the place catches fire. Between his active duty in the Marines and his experience as a firefighter, his instincts get him and hot, headstrong bar manager, Kennedy Matthews, to safety. But those same instincts kick into high gear when the fire is ruled an arson, and he discovers Kennedy’s got secrets of her own.

The only thing that matters more to Kennedy than her bar is her brother. When she finds out he’s in over his head with a dangerous arsonist, she’ll do anything to keep him safe—even if it means teaming up with Gamble, who’s too sharp-eyed and hard-bodied for his own good. With every step, their attraction flares hotter and the risks grow more dangerous. Can Gamble and Kennedy face their fears—and their secrets—to catch a terrifying enemy? Or will they go down in flames?

 

 

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * iBooks * Kobo

 

 

Order a digital or print edition of DOWN DEEP by Kimberly Kincaid and get an exclusive Epilogue from Kimberly! Each entry will also be entered for the chance to win a Grand Prize! 

The Grand Prize for 1 winner consists of:

~A 30-minute Google Hangout for the winner and ONE friend with Kimberly Kincaid and BT Urruela!

FILL OUT THE FORM HERE!

 

 

 

 

EXCERPT: 

“Turn around.”

Kennedy paused. She wasn’t in the habit of being bossed around; hell, she wasn’t even really in the habit of accepting help, mostly because she never needed it. But her shoulders really did hurt like a sonofabitch, and anyway, letting him manage the sore spot on her back would only take a couple of seconds. How hard could it be?

She turned to face the shelving unit, pulling her hair over one shoulder. Gamble stepped in behind her, his hands finding the middle of her back a second later. His touch was surprisingly soft, so unlike his work-hardened body and dark stare and gruff demeanor, and Kennedy relaxed against the contact without meaning to.

“I usually do this with a tennis ball,” he said, his fingers traveling over either side of her spine as if he were trying to read her through the cotton of her shirt. “You just put it against a wall, press your back against it to keep it from falling, then roll it around a little to get it in the right place.”

“Sounds easy enough.” He slid his fingers higher, resting them just above her shoulder blades, and ah, her muscles squeezed in a burst of pleasure/pain.

“The trick is finding exactly the right spot and applying enough pressure to get everything to let go,” Gamble said. His hands kept moving, seeming to take stock of everything they touched, and with each pass of his fingers, Kennedy felt the tension in her body unwind. Her frazzled nerves, her fatigue, all of it fell away, and the pure goodness left in its wake made her mouth act independently from her brain.

“For the record, I do have a college degree.”

“Sorry?” His voice rumbled from behind her, and she turned her chin toward her shoulder to look at him—at least, as much as she could—as she answered.

“Before, you said”—his fingers found a spot, deep in her musculature, that made her pause for an exhale—“that you didn’t think they taught hammerlocks like that at Remington University. But I do have a degree. In business management.”

“Ah.” He rubbed slow circles over her shoulders, his hands wide and strong on her back until they zeroed in on a bundle of muscles at the juncture of her shoulder blade and spine. He applied just enough pressure to make the last of her tension release in a rush, and Kennedy swallowed the moan drifting up from her chest.

“Good to know,” Gamble said. He’d shifted toward her, just enough to return the half-look she’d sent over her shoulder, and enough for her to catch the scent of him on her inhale. He smelled clean—not like soap or laundry detergent, and definitely not like cologne, but of something sexy and intoxicating all the same, and, suddenly, the pantry seemed to have all the square footage of a postage stamp.

Kennedy’s heart slammed in her rib cage, her nipples going traitorously tight beneath her bra. This was impulsive at best, and insane at worst, but right now, she didn’t care.

Right now, she wanted him.

She lifted her chin to look up at Gamble through the shadows. At five foot ten, she didn’t usually feel small around people, but between the seven inches he had on her in height and the wide expanse of his well-muscled chest so close behind her, he came as close to eclipsing her as anyone ever had. His hands were still on her shoulders, and although it was the only place their bodies touched, she felt the heat of him everywhere.

“Kennedy.” The glint in his already-dangerous stare told her he wanted exactly what she did. Kennedy nodded, just the briefest signal of consent, and in less than a breath, he moved. Skimming his hands to the tops of her arms, Gamble cupped her shoulders to turn her around. His fingers pressed against her bare skin below the cap sleeves of her top, and her sex clenched with greedy want.

But then he froze, every part of him going still except for his heart, which she felt beating swiftly against her chest. “Do you smell that?”

She blinked, trying—and failing—to make sense of the question. “I…what?”

He took a step back, his entire body coiling as he sent a calculating gaze over the pantry, then the kitchen beyond. “Your cook turned off all the ovens and the flat-top grill before he left, right?”

“Of course.” Marco had never once skipped such an important step in breaking down his station. “Why?”

Gamble paused, but only long enough to grab her hand before he said, “Because your bar is on fire.”

 

One word…HOT! Fanning myself still over this book. Just when I thought Mrs Kincaid could not top the other books in this series..wow she hit this one out of the park people! I dare say that out of all of the Station Seventeen series, this is my favorite! Any reader can start with Down Deep because they can read this one as a standalone and not miss a thing from the series. I just love how Kimberly takes a reader write there, it is as if you are watching the whole story unfold right in front of your very eyes.

Gamble and Kennedy not only have attraction but they have known each other for some time. The action is there from the beginning and Down Deep had me binge reading (finished in a day and a half). I just couldn’t put it down. Gamble and Kennedy are fun to read. You get mystery, passion, love, and even fun banter. Plus a hot firefighter (did you see that cover)! What more could a reader ask for?

 

And don’t miss the first books in the Station Seventeen series! SKIN DEEP is FREE for a limited time only, and DEEP CHECK is just $.99! Grab your copies of the Station Seventeen series today!

 

 

About Kimberly Kincaid:

Kimberly Kincaid writes contemporary romance that splits the difference between sexy and sweet. When she’s not sitting cross-legged in an ancient desk chair known as “The Pleather Bomber”, she can be found practicing obscene amounts of yoga, whipping up anything from enchiladas to éclairs in her kitchen, or curled up with her nose in a book. Kimberly is a USA Today best-selling author and a 2015 RWA RITA® finalist who lives (and writes!) by the mantra that food is love. Kimberly resides in Virginia with her wildly patient husband and their three daughters.

 

 

 

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest * Instagram

 

Love Like Crazy by Magan Vernon…Release Blitz

 

Love Like Crazy, an all new standalone Enemies to Lovers Romance by Magan Vernon is AVAILABLE NOW!

 

 

Friendship, Texas just got a little bit crazier with gruff Army veteran, Clay Carrington, and Q Ranch heiress Christy Quinn’s world’s colliding.

Vegas was a trip, and that was an understatement. An understatement I couldn’t remember and that included the brunette in my bed.
That is until my pounding headache had me getting up for a glass of water and I saw the marriage license on the ground.
The words: Clay Carrington and Christy Quinn and holy matrimony staring me in the face.
I came to Vegas to get away, and the bratty owner’s daughter of the ranch wanted to come with. I didn’t even like the boss’s daughter, let alone want to marry her.
I guess things the happened in Vegas had a way of following you home.

**This book is a standalone in a series of standalones taking place in the fictional town of Friendship, Texas. You don’t need to read any of the previous books to understand this one***

 

 

GRAB YOUR COPY TODAY!

Amazon Universal – mybook.to/LoveLikeCrazyMV
Add to Goodreads – https://bit.ly/2LJf6pL

 

About Magan Vernon

Magan Vernon has been living off of reader tears since she wrote her first short story in 2004. She now spends her time killing off fictional characters, pretending to plot while she really just watches Netflix, and she tries to do this all while her two young children run amok around her Texas ranch.

Follow Magan Vernon

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Only Him by Melanie Harlow…Blog Tour with Review

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MHOnlyHimBookCover5x8_MEDIUMOnly Him, an all-new sexy and emotional second chance romance from USA Today bestselling author Melanie Harlow is available NOW!

MHOnlyHimBookWrapFB

Sometimes your first love deserves a second chance…

He was my first crush, my first kiss, my first everything.

But I’m not a lovesick teenager anymore, and I’d never let that cocky troublemaker break my heart again.

So when he shows up out of the blue asking me to have dinner with him “for old time’s sake,” I say I will. After all, it’s been twelve years, and I’m stronger and smarter than I was back then.

Except…he still does something to me. He’s got those eyes that make me weak, those hands that drive me wild, and a body I can’t resist—especially once I see the tattoos. It doesn’t take long for our trip down memory lane to go from sweet to sizzling.

We’re just as good together as we were back then—better, even—and I’m willing to give the only man I’ve ever loved another chance.

But he’s got to tell me the truth.

* * *

All I wanted was to see her again. Tell her I’m sorry. Make her smile.

Okay, that’s a lie. I wanted to do more than that—a lot more. But I know she’s better off without me, and I promised myself I’d behave.

Except I’ve never been much good at keeping promises…or my hands to myself when I’m around her.

I can make her laugh, I can make her cry, I can make her body surrender to mine in ways that neither of us could have imagined back then. I can—and I do—love her more than she’ll ever know.

But I can’t tell her the real reason why I’m here.

And I can’t stay.

OnlyHim-AN

Excerpt

Maren glanced back at me, more puzzled than ever, but she started up the cement stairs. I couldn’t take my eyes off her legs in front of me. Her calf muscles were insane from all the ballet training. I remembered how flexible she’d been and felt my dick start perking up.

“In addition to all the history I just gave you,” Aiden said, his voice echoing off the walls, “this hotel was also the site of a certain prom a few years back.”

All of a sudden, Maren stopped moving and looked down over her shoulder at me. “No way.” The stunned, joyful expression on her face was worth every penny I had to pay to make this happen.

Goose bumps rippled down my arms inside my jacket. I smiled at her.

Her jaw dropped, and she continued up the stairs. At the top, Aiden moved ahead and opened the door to the rooftop. “Ballrooms were not available tonight, but when Dallas asked if you could have the roof to yourselves, I had to admit no one had booked it. In fact, no one has ever even asked to book it.” He laughed.

Maren stepped over the threshold onto the rooftop. “Dallas is definitely one of a kind.”

The three of us moved away from the door, and I saw the table that had been set for us, complete with white linens, flower centerpiece, and candlelight. Luckily, the air was warm, and the wind was soft. The sun was still setting beyond the skyline to the west, and to the east the Detroit River was visible; a little to the south was the Ambassador Bridge, and beyond the river, Canada. The view was breathtaking on all sides.

After turning around in a full circle, Maren looked at me with shining eyes. “Dallas. This is incredible.”

“You’ll have your own server for the night, and he should be up shortly,” Aiden said, checking his watch. “I should get back downstairs. Dallas, you have my cell if you need anything. Maren, good seeing you again, and I hope you enjoy your evening.” He gave us a smile before heading back to the stairwell door.

As soon as he was gone, Maren turned to me. “I cannot believe you did this.”

I shrugged. “I felt pretty bad when you said you’d missed the prom because of me. I figured I owed it to you.”

She laughed and rolled her eyes, which were filled with tears. “You didn’t, but whatever. I’ll take it.” Opening her purse, she hunted around in it for something. “God, I don’t even have tissues. I didn’t know you were going to make me cry.”

“No crying allowed at the prom. And I hope it’s okay I’m wearing jeans.”

“It’s fine.” She sniffed and closed her purse. “I’m not that dressed up either.”

“You’re perfect.” Our eyes met, and the air between us suddenly felt full of hope and possibility. In any other circumstance, I’d have kissed her.

But I couldn’t do that tonight.

“Oh, I almost forgot.” Reaching into the inside pocket of my jacket, I pulled out a wrist corsage. “Sorry if it’s a little smashed. I had to get rid of the plastic container to hide it from you.”

She giggled and held out her arm. “That’s okay. It’s beautiful.”

“Good.” I slid the elastic band with three deep red roses attached to it along with some other green stuff onto her wrist. “I told the lady at the florist to make it a prom corsage. Pretty sure she thought I was crazy. Or creepy.”

“You might be crazy. But I love it. Thank you for this.” Then she rose up on tiptoe and pecked my cheek. When she lowered her heels, she stood there for a moment, her hand on my arm, her mouth so close I could have simply tipped my head down and my lips would be resting on hers.

My heart stumbled over its next few beats. I wanted to do it so badly, but I’d promised her I’d behave. I’d promised myself I’d behave. There were so many reasons why I shouldn’t be here tonight, standing so close to the only girl I’d ever loved, tempted beyond reason by her legs and her lips and her laugh and her eyes and her ability to make me feel like I fucking mattered in the universe.

What was the right thing to do?

If only—

The door from the stairwell opened, and we moved apart.

Oh, how I love a second chance romance and really Melanie Harlow is one of my favorite authors of writing this kind of romance! Only Himis the second book in the series but honestly you can read this one as a standalone and not miss a beat.

Maren and Dallas loved each other in high school and it was that kind of epic love that is a whirlwind. They are a mismatched couple that you love routing for as a reader. Unfortunately, their love was ripped apart. Now here comes the second chance love my friends because twelve years later Dallas returns and it is too die for! The passion, the lust, the banter, the heartache and so much more kept me involved in their story. A great page turning read that will not lose your attention!

Buy Only Him Today!

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Start the Series of Standalones Today with Only You!

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About Melanie

Melanie HarlowMelanie 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 AFTER WE FALL series, 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.

Connect with Melanie

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Sign up for monthly text alerts: Text HARLOT to 77948

Healing Touch by Brenda Rothert…Release Blitz

Today we are celebrating the release of Healing Touch by Brenda Rothert. This is a contemporary romance, standalone novel. Check out the links, and an excerpt from the book below.

PURCHASE NOW OR READ FOR FREE ON KINDLEUNLIMITED

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Healing Touch by Brenda Rothert


Book Blurb:

She spends her nights treating patients, but Dr. Jocelyn Drake’s own wounds are unfixable. Her ex-husband and his younger, bouncier girlfriend work just a few floors away at Tulane Medical Center, and they serve as a constant reminder of what Joss lost. But a fierce determination to continue her research project and a shred of remaining pride keep Joss from transferring out of the Big Easy.
Carson Stephens recently returned from a tour of duty in the Middle East, and though willing women present themselves at every turn, his closest companion is loneliness. His night-shift work supervising the electrical and mechanical systems at the hospital is a perfect fit – it’s solitary work putting broken things back together.
When the electrical system on Joss’ floor goes haywire, she’s frazzled by the sexy electrician who sparks her dormant sex drive. He’s brooding and cocky – so not her type. But if Carson has his way, his hands will work their magic on more than just the wiring, and he’ll show Joss a night of passion that restores her shattered confidence.
But what happens after that night? As their relationship grows into something more, Joss and Carson face ups and downs, and they both realize that the healing has only just begun.

Add the book to Goodreads

PURCHASE NOW OR READ FOR FREE ON KINDLEUNLIMITED

Amazon USAmazon UKAmazon AU  |  Amazon CA

EXCERPT: 

I was smiling before I even opened my eyes. The smell of Carson on my sheets had that effect. We’d both worked third shift last night and then come to my place to sleep. Well, we slept after epic sex, followed by omelets from a nearby diner.

I wished he was still in bed next to me, but I’d heard him get up and leave a couple of hours ago. He just didn’t need as much sleep as me. Five hours seemed to be his max.

I was pretty sure I didn’t have a max, but my minimum was seven hours. I always had to be prepared for my next shift at the hospital to run over.

After a quick shower, I dried my hair and dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. When I walked into my kitchen to brew coffee, I smiled when I saw that Carson had already put in a filter and grounds for me. I pushed the brew button and went to unload the clean dishes from my dishwasher.

He’d already done that, too. The man was so incredibly nice to have around. He was sexy as hell and amazing in bed, but he was also considerate in ways I’d never known in a man. Even after just a couple of weeks, I was attached.

I wondered where he was. He’d been restless this morning when we’d gone to sleep. Lots of tossing and turning was his usual, though. I suspected he was plagued by bad dreams, but I didn’t want to bring it up. He’d tell me if he wanted me to know.

Hopefully, he was at the gym, which always seemed to clear his head. I’d gone with him a couple of times, but my workout game was . . . not strong. He’d patiently taught me how to lift light weights and skipped his own workout to oversee mine. And even the light weights were damn heavy and left me sore for days.

I preferred to get my exercise from walking. I picked up my cell phone and texted Hattie to see if she could meet me at a café a couple of miles from my place. It was a gorgeous, sunny day and I was in the mood to walk somewhere.

She wrote right back and said sure, so I put on my walking shoes and sunglasses and set off.

———-

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Brenda Rothert is an Illinois native who was a print journalist for nine years. She made the jump from fact to fiction in 2013 and never looked back. From new adult to steamy contemporary romance, Brenda creates fresh characters in every story she tells. She’s a lover of Diet Coke, chocolate, lazy weekends and happily ever afters.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | | Wattpad | Amazon

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Love Like Crazy by Magan Vernon…Excerpt Reveal

 

Love Like Crazy, an all new standalone Enemies to Lovers Romance by Magan Vernon is coming June 18th!

 

 

Friendship, Texas just got a little bit crazier with gruff Army veteran, Clay Carrington, and Q Ranch heiress Christy Quinn’s world’s colliding.

Vegas was a trip, and that was an understatement. An understatement I couldn’t remember and that included the brunette in my bed.
That is until my pounding headache had me getting up for a glass of water and I saw the marriage license on the ground.
The words: Clay Carrington and Christy Quinn and holy matrimony staring me in the face.
I came to Vegas to get away, and the bratty owner’s daughter of the ranch wanted to come with. I didn’t even like the boss’s daughter, let alone want to marry her.
I guess things the happened in Vegas had a way of following you home.

**This book is a standalone in a series of standalones taking place in the fictional town of Friendship, Texas. You don’t need to read any of the previous books to understand this one***

 

 

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

Amazon Universal –  mybook.to/LoveLikeCrazyMV
Add to Goodreads – https://bit.ly/2LJf6pL

EXCERPT

Christy was a natural flirt. Always flipping her glossy black hair over her shoulder and batting those long eyelashes whenever she wanted something. And today was no different as she stood there in a tight little black dress, showing off those perky breasts that practically spilled out of the top.

Not only did the girl look sexy as hell, but she raked her eyes over my body as if she was feeling the same way. I literally saw her gulp before her narrowed eyes met mine. “Why are you standing there in a towel?”

“Because I just got out of the shower. Are you upset I didn’t ask you to join me?” I asked, cocking an eyebrow.

“Ew. Showering is for getting clean. Not getting your tattooed man musk all over me,” she said, wrinkling her nose.

I smirked. “Obviously, you’ve never had good shower sex.”

She rolled her eyes. “Does everything have to be sexual with you? Can you just put your clothes on, so we can see these sponsors or whatever, get dinner, and then go out?”

“You and me? Go out?” I asked, holding my towel at my waist, where I noticed her eyes briefly flitted to.

“I’m a hot girl alone in Vegas. I know I could find plenty of cowboys downstairs to take me somewhere, but I don’t want to get roofied and wake up married to one of them.” She huffed.

“Kind of full of yourself, aren’t ya?” I smirked. She rolled her eyes. “Like you aren’t staring at my tits right now.”

“Listen, A-cup, I’m not interested, all right? So, you can stop getting high and mighty on my ass,” I said, already walking away from the conversation toward the bed where my clothes were laid out.

“Hey! I’m a full B, I’ll have you know!” she called from somewhere behind me, then gasped when I didn’t answer and instead dropped my towel.

“Did you seriously just get naked in front of me? And is there a donkey tattoo on your ass?”

 

About Magan Vernon

Magan Vernon has been living off of reader tears since she wrote her first short story in 2004. She now spends her time killing off fictional characters, pretending to plot while she really just watches Netflix, and she tries to do this all while her two young children run amok around her Texas ranch.

Follow Magan Vernon

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Mi23I9

Website: www.maganvernon.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/authormaganvernon

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Instagram User Name: @maganvee

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Knocked Up by Stacey Lynn…Release Day Blitz

First comes love. Then comes marriage. Then comes baby in a baby carriage. Just not necessarily in that order . . .

 
Braxton: I should probably be dead or in jail right now. Instead, thanks to some tough love, I worked my ass off and now I own a string of tattoo parlors throughout the Pacific Northwest. And yet the one thing I’ve always wanted—a family—still seems out of reach. When my best friend gets married, I’m just hoping to blow off some steam with the super-hot maid of honor. But after Cara Thompson tracks me down to tell me she’s pregnant, she’s more surprised than I am when I tell her I’m all in.
 
Cara: For the first time in my life, I’m living for myself—not for my parents and their ridiculous expectations. I gave up on my MBA, dropped out of the Ivy League, and moved to Portland to pursue my dream of becoming an artist. And what’s the first thing I do? Get knocked up. For a tatted-up sex god, Braxton Henley seems way too eager to “be there for me.” Is this guy serious? Maybe. He sure is patient. Because he won’t back down until I admit what I know in my heart: that our one night stand might’ve led me to the one.
 
 
Stacey Lynn is a simple girl raised in the Midwest. Over the long, frigid winters, she would read every book she could get her hands on, from John Grisham and Danielle Steel to Ann M. Martin and C. S. Lewis. She began writing poems and short stories long before she reached high school, and now, as a wife and mother to four children, she finds solace from the craziness of her life by creating steamy, sexy stories. After publishing her first book, what began as a hobby has now turned into an unending passion.

 Excerpt

She pulls the internal monitor out of the drawer, along with a bottle of lubricant and a condom, and Braxton’s grip on my hand turns almost bone-crushing.

“Is that—”

“Yup.” I cut him off.

“Um.”

“Now you see why I wanted the external one,” I mutter quietly.

I can’t look at him. My cheeks are on fire, and for some absolutely insane reason, other parts of my body are warming and this should not be happening at my midwife’s office.

“So,” Pam says, turning around and back to business. Except it’s hard to take her seriously as she waves what looks like a massive vibrator in her hand. “We’re going to insert this inside of you.”

“Holy shit,” Braxton mutters. And God, kill me. Please kill me now.

If Pam hears him, she ignores him as she steps toward me, and pulls out a set of stirrups from beneath the table. “I’m going to need you to lie down, Cara, and spread your legs, and slip down to the edge of the bed for me.”

“I feel like I’ve heard this before,” I say, unable to stop myself. My filter has evaporated along with my self-respect and all of this is so absolutely humiliating.

Pam pauses, glances at me and then at Braxton and nods, understanding. But I swear, as her gaze sweeps down Braxton’s arms, even she blushes. Which is great . . . my midwife thinks my non-boyfriend baby daddy is hot.

“I feel like I’ve said this before,” Braxton says, and both of our eyes whip to him. My gracious. He’s smiling, shoulders shaking like he’s holding back the world’s most boisterous laugh, and it’s all I can do to not kill him while he’s standing there, glancing between the monitor-slash-vibrator and my spread legs and I can’t hold it in anymore.

“This is embarrassing.”

Pam is back to business, already spreading the condom over the phallic-shaped instrument, and then she drizzles on the lubricant.

Braxton’s breath brushes over my cheeks. His dark locks tickle my temple as he whispers, “I feel like I should be offering to help with this.”

“Shut up,” I grit, my stomach muscles clenching from trying not to die or laugh. “This isn’t funny.”

“Oh. This is the funniest thing I’ve ever seen, I’m not going to lie.”

My fingers squeeze his hand and Pam is in front of me. She holds a small black box in her other hand and the tip of the wand against my center. “I’ll go slow, and it might be cold, okay?”

“Yup.”

“Sweet Jesus,” Braxton whispers. “I don’t know whether to be terrified or turned on right now, Cara.”

“Shut up,” I all but growl at him but then the monitor is inside me.

Based on Pam’s pressed-together, smiling lips, she’s pretending to pay us absolutely no attention as her gaze is fixed on the device in her hand and she clicks a button and . . .

Tha-thump thump thump tha-thump thump thump.

My vision goes blurry immediately as soon as I hear the comforting, whispered trampling. It sounds like horses racing inside my abdomen and Braxton’s hand grips mine so tightly my fingers might break.

“There’s that healthy baby.” Pam smiles at me, softly and kindly and genuinely. This is why I absolutely adore her.

I desperately needed this reassurance.

“Is that it?” Braxton asks.

I nod, my head moving rapidly, and I turn to him, compelled to see him, and when I do, my own heart rate kicks into high gear. “It’s the baby.”

“My God.” His eyes are wide and he swipes his hair off his forehead, staring at the monitor and my covered stomach area and back to me and I’m a trembling shaking mess as I see tears fill his own eyes and there’s nothing we can say. Nothing we can say to each other because this sound . . . this glorious whooshing, galloping sound is the most beautiful thing I’ve heard in my entire life.

“We made a baby.” A tear falls down Braxton’s cheek and he leans down, brushing his lips over my cheek, and his voice is so gruff, so broken and beautiful.

About the Author

Stacey Lynn

Stacey Lynn is the author of more than two dozen romance and erotic romance novels. Most of which have been best sellers on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iBooks!

Her latest release, Fake Wife, is available on all retailers and getting excellent reviews! http://bit.ly/2EuWcje

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