Broken Love Story by Natasha Madison…Blog Tour & Review

 

 

 

 

Samantha:

I had the perfect life; a husband who loved me, and two kids who were my world.

Until someone else answered his phone and my perfect life shattered.

When he died, I was left with answers he couldn’t give me and a box full of lies.

He left me broken.

 

Blake:

I fell in love when I was fifteen, knowing she was the one.

For five years, she was my everything—my every breath, every heartbeat, every thought.

She made me promise to move on, promise to find love again, but I broke those promises because I can’t move on.

 

Two broken souls brought together by tragedy and heartbreak.

Can a broken love story be fixed?

Amazon | iBooks | B&N | Kobo

 

 

 

Samantha

 

Standing in front of the full-length mirror in my room, I smooth down my black skirt. My blond hair is tied up in a ponytail, my cheeks are sunken in more than normal, and the blackness around my eyes indicates I haven’t slept well since this whole thing happened. Since I found out that not only did my husband die, but that he also married someone else.

I sit on the made bed and look down at my wedding band. My thumb of my right hand touches it, and the lone tear that falls out of my eye lands straight on it. “Mommy.” I look back at Lizzie, who is standing in the doorway wearing a black one-piece dress similar to mine with ballerina flats.

My mother-in-law went shopping yesterday and bought us all new outfits for today. “We need to put our best foot forward,” she said as I watched her walk in with the six bags. “We can’t let people talk.”

I turned around and walked out of the room, going upstairs. Shutting myself in my bathroom with my back against the door, I cried quietly, trying to hide my sobs. “We can’t let people talk,” I whispered to myself. The hatred I had begun feeling when I remembered my husband.

Lizzie walks to the side of my bed and sits next to me. “I hate this dress,” she says when I put my hand around her shoulder and bring her to me, kissing her head.

“I know, baby,” I whisper, “but after today, it’s going to be all over.”

“That’s what Grandpa A said.” She mentions the name she calls my father-in-law. Grandpa A because you can’t get better than an A.

“Is everyone ready?” I hear Ethan yell from downstairs. “The limo is picking us up in twenty.”

“Let’s go, baby,” I tell her, getting up and holding her hand while we walk downstairs. My in-laws are both sitting in the kitchen. My mother-in-law in a black skirt and top while my father-in-law has on a black suit. “Where is Daisy?” I ask them.

“Elliot is upstairs changing her. She spilled milk on her dress,” Judy tells me, looking at Lizzie. “You look like such a big girl.” She blinks her tears away.

Elliot comes down the stairs with Daisy on his hip, smiling at me when he walks in. “Okay, you girls go sit in the living room while us grown-ups talk,” my father-in-law says, and the girls both know to leave the room. When he knows they are both out of earshot, he starts. “Today is going to be tough, tough for us all, but we have to stand together. We have to be the family that we are.” I lean against the counter while he talks. “The situation with the other one has been taken care of, and she has been served papers.” I look at him and then at Elliot and Ethan, both of them looking down when our eyes meet. It’s almost as if they feel guilty for meeting this woman. My father-in-law continues, “After all this is done today, we are meeting with the lawyers in person, so we can go over the will, start the paperwork for the insurance, and make sure she doesn’t touch a thing that belongs to him.” I stop listening at this point, turning to look out the window at the backyard.

The swing set that he built in one day to make sure the kids could use it when he left the next day. The patio set he had delivered to us, so I could have somewhere to sit while I watched the girls while he was living with another woman. I shake my head, walking out of the room. I sit on the couch, and the girls come to sit next to me, one on each side. “Today is going to be really hard,” I whisper to them, “but we have to be strong for Daddy.” They both look at me, their eyes exactly like their father’s. “But, if at any time, you need to leave or you need me… I don’t care who is talking to me or who is around; you come and get me.”

“Grandpa A said we had to sit and wait,” Daisy whispers just as Elliot comes into the room and kneels in front of us.

“What is this meeting about?” he asks, smiling at us. The circles around his eyes are just as black as ours. He hasn’t left our house since this happened.

“Mommy said if we need her that we can go to her,” Daisy says, looking at him and then me, “even if Grandpa A said no.”

He leans in, whispering, “You can come to me too, and I’ll make sure that you get Mommy.”

“Okay,” Lizzie and Daisy both whisper at the same time, and then the doorbell rings.

We get up, put our jackets on, and one by one file into the black limo that has come to take us to the funeral home. We arrive before everyone else. “We get an hour with him, and then they will open the door,” Adrian says as Judy grabs her tissue and dabs her eyes.

I look around the funeral home. I’m not sure what I’m looking for, not sure where he is. I haven’t seen him since he kissed me goodbye four days earlier. His last words to me were, “Call you when I can.” That phone call never came.

I follow my in-laws to the big brown door that is closed. “I want to go in before the girls.” Everyone turns to look at me.

“We can keep them in the lobby,” says the lady who greeted us at the door. She told me her name, but I just didn’t listen.

I nod at her as she turns to ask the girls if they want hot chocolate. Daisy’s eyes get big as Lizzie turns to look at me. I nod my head, giving her permission, so she can go with the woman.

The doors open, and I don’t even know what to expect. I’ve never been to a funeral. Never known anyone well enough to pay my last respects. Judy and Adrian walk in first, followed by Ethan, and Elliot waits with me. I step foot into the room, and it’s so cold that I shiver. The smell of flowers hits me right away, making me turn my head. The number of flowers and wreaths shocks me; the whole room is almost full. Some wreaths blocking others. Rows and rows of brown chairs line the room, all facing toward the front of the room. My eyes land on the brown wooden casket at the front of the room. The open half showing you the white satin inside. I walk down the aisle toward him, and then my eyes land on him. Eric. I can’t take another step forward because my knees give out, and I fall. Elliot isn’t fast enough to hold me up, and my knee lands with a thud. But the pain doesn’t matter because nothing could take the place of the pain in my heart. The sound of wailing fills the room as I look up at my dead husband.

I feel arms around me; I feel myself lifted; I feel myself almost floating. He isn’t the Eric who kissed me goodbye; he isn’t the Eric who I made promises to; he isn’t the Eric who made all my dreams come true. This isn’t him.

The man with makeup caked on his face isn’t my Eric. My sobs overtake my body as I look at him, expecting him to open his eyes. Expecting something, anything but this. “I want the casket closed,” I say, my voice soft. “I want it closed.”

“Samantha,” my father-in-law starts, “it’s—”

I shake my head. “I don’t want the kids to see him like that,” I say softly. I know that for me they wouldn’t even consider it, but for the girls, they would move heaven and earth. “They need to remember him alive and smiling, not like that,” I say, pointing at the casket.

“Dad,” Ethan says after me, “I agree.”

“Me too,” Elliot says from beside me. “Close it.”

He just nods at us, then walks to the man standing in the corner. The man looks at him as they have a hushed conversation and then just nods his head. “Do you need some water?” Ethan says to me, and I nod. I don’t bother listening to what else he says; instead, I get up and go to the casket. Standing before the brown box, I look at him, really look at him. You see some bruising under the makeup, and his nose is a little swollen. His hands are folded over his stomach, resting on his black suit. The suit he wore when we got married. Why? I ask him in my own head. Why did you do it? I ask him, hoping I can hear him whisper something to me, whisper anything back. To answer my questions, to give me something; anything to make me understand why he did what he did. Why he left me with so many fucking questions and not one answer.

The man comes over to close the casket. Eric’s face disappears slowly, the shadow filling his face till the casket finally shuts. “I’m sorry for your loss,” the man says, nodding at me. “If at any time you want it open, we can open it back up.” I turn around now, looking at the chairs that will fill up as soon as the people start coming in. Ethan consoles my mother-in-law, and Elliot stands where we were just sitting, his hands in his pockets.

“I’m getting the girls,” I tell them and then walk out with my head held high but my shoulders slumped. Defeated is a word that you use so many times not really understanding what can actually defeat you. I know now, my husband dying, him cheating on me, my kids without a father, my dreams of growing old with him gone. Beaten straight down to my core, straight down to my bones.

I walk over to them as they look up. “Let’s go, girls,” I tell them as they both get up and walk to me. Lizzie takes one hand, Daisy takes the other, and we walk back into the room that holds a piece of our hearts. The room where their father lies, with no answers and no tomorrow.

We stand in that room for four hours while people come up to me and give me their condolences. I nod my head and play the part of the grieving wife. I am the grieving wife, but I’m also the wife whose husband didn’t love her enough to just be with her. The wife who knew her husband was slipping away but couldn’t catch it in time. The wife he said he would love and protect. The wife who stands here between his girls wishing that for one second he suffered horribly. The wife who has to pick up the fucking pieces and lie to her girls about what a great guy he was. The wife who, at the end of the day, just wasn’t good enough.

We listen as people tell us how amazing he was, how much he loved his family, and how much he loved his girls. The whole time, I’m yelling on the inside, ready to stand in the middle of the room, throw my head back, and yell at the top of my lungs. But I don’t do what I want. I don’t tell them what a fraud my husband was. I don’t tell them that it was almost all lies. I don’t tell them that the day he died, they called his other wife and not me. I don’t tell them that I wasn’t the one with him when he died.

I stand here thinking about this other person—his other wife—and wonder how she would handle this. How she would be with my in-laws. Would she just let them control her and do everything for her? Would she want it to be open and weep for him beside the casket instead of standing next to it?

I look around the room at all the people who came to pay their respects, and my eyes find someone I’ve never met before. Someone I’ve never seen before, and our eyes connect. His green eyes stare into mine as I watch him nod to me and turn to walk out. As he walks out of the crowded room, I strain my neck to watch his back. I don’t have long to think because Elliot comes up and whispers, “It’s time.”

 

 

 

 

 

When her nose isn’t buried in a book, or her fingers flying across a keyboard writing, she’s in the kitchen creating gourmet meals. You can find her, in four inch heels no less, in the car chauffeuring kids, or possibly with her husband scheduling his business trips. It’s a good thing her characters do what she says, because even her Labrador doesn’t listen to her…
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The Downside of Love by Meghan Quinn…Blog Tour & Review

 

 

This isn’t a story about a love triangle. There is no triangle involved.

This isn’t a story about an accidental pregnancy. Although having a baby with her . . . I would.

This isn’t a story about lies and deception, even though at times I’ve lied to myself.

No, this is my story.

A story about sacrifice.

A story about a man who fell in love with the wrong girl.

A story I wish I never had to tell.

This is a story about the true meaning of the downside of love.

 

AVAILABLE NOW

AMAZON | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

 

 

 

 

This is probably going to be the most vague and non-spoiler review I have ever written.

You MUST read the Upside of Falling before reading this one. And then once you do, you will immediately want to read this one so you can try and patch up your heart. And well, there will be ALOT of patches after this one.

As I said to Meghan and others, this book left me in a puddle of emotions. I hated and loved everything I read. I hated and loved these characters simultaneously. And yes that is possible.

The ride that Meghan takes us on with this duet is one I have enjoyed and at times wanted to jump off while everything was still moving along. I won’t give you any specifics on names, scenes and whatnot. This book is best left to go in totally blind – the blurb gives you all that you need.

This duet was everything I needed and didn’t know it.

And that epilogue – WOW!!! Meghan is really outdoing herself with this one.

Now, if you need me – I will be rocking myself in a corner trying to figure out all these emotions.

 

 

 

 

Tucked away at the base of the Rocky Mountains lived a little boy with one singular dream: leave this broken and battered home and become someone.

Be somebody’s hero.

That boy was me—Colby Brooks. Except I’m not that same little boy anymore.

My dreams might still be the same, but my reality isn’t.

I’m smarter. Stronger. A man.

And I learned a long damn time ago, the only way to achieve my dreams was to avoid distractions—at any cost.

Focus. Resolve. Determination.

But all it took was one single night. One night and my entire life…changed.

One night had me colliding head first with the biggest distraction of my life; Rory Oaks.

Smart. Charming. Beautiful.

Rory changed everything.

Quickly, my one-track mind started to bend.

Each kiss faded decade-long dreams.

And with one single incident, I fly off course.

 

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Born in New York and raised in Southern California, Meghan has grown into a sassy, peanut butter eating, blonde haired swearing, animal hoarding lady. She is known to bust out and dance if “It’s Raining Men” starts beating through the air and heaven forbid you get a margarita in her, protect your legs because they may be humped.

Once she started commuting for an hour and twenty minutes every day to work for three years, she began to have conversations play in her head, real life, deep male voices and dainty lady coos kind of conversations. Perturbed and confused, she decided to either see a therapist about the hot and steamy voices running through her head or start writing them down. She decided to go with the cheaper option and started writing… enter her first novel, Caught Looking.

Now you can find the spicy, most definitely on the border of lunacy, kind of crazy lady residing in Colorado with the love of her life and her five, furry four legged children, hiking a trail or hiding behind shelves at grocery stores, wondering what kind of lube the nervous stranger will bring home to his wife. Oh and she loves a good boob squeeze!

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Incognito by Siobhan Davis…Blog Tour & Review

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Incognito, an all-new standalone new adult romance from USA Today bestselling author Siobhan Davis is available NOW!

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A troubled popstar forced into hiding… A sweet small-town girl overcoming tragedy… And the kind of love that only happens once in a lifetime.

Dakota’s dreams of attending Juilliard were shattered the night tragedy struck her family. It’s one year later, and she’s now enrolled at the local university trying to piece her life back together.

Shawn is one of the world’s most famous faces, having lived under a spotlight since his star exploded when he was fourteen. Now jaded by an industry forcing him to perform music he no longer enjoys, he craves normalcy and the opportunity to rediscover his muse. When a crazy stalker gets too close, and death threats start mounting, Shawn’s management team comes up with a plan—one which will allow him to work on his latest album while staying incognito on a middle-American college campus.

Romance is the last thing on Dakota’s mind, but after she crosses paths with a hot, prickly cutie with rock-hard abs and smoldering good looks, she can’t shake him from her thoughts.

Shawn can’t afford to bring any girl into his fucked-up life, but the gorgeous blonde with the sad blue eyes captivates him in a way no girl ever has, and he finds himself falling hard and fast.

But outside forces are conspiring against them.

When danger draws closer, and secrets are revealed, will their love survive?

AN

Download today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2JAcTk0

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

Add to GoodReads: http://smarturl.it/IncognitoGR

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Excerpt:

I shriek the minute we step foot in the penthouse when he sweeps my feet out from under me, tossing me over his shoulder. “What are you doing, you crazy ass?!” I laugh, beating my fists against his back as he strides with purpose through the living area.

“Be quiet, woman,” he jokes, slapping my butt. “Trust me, you won’t be complaining in a few minutes.”

And he’s right. He strips my clothes off, tantalizingly slowly, before pushing me back on the bed and devouring every part of me with his mouth. When his head lowers to the apex of my thighs, I squirm with anticipation, shouting his name as his tongue goes to town on me. My orgasm catches me off guard, sweeping through me with urgency, and I’m shouting his name repeatedly as waves of ecstasy wash over me. Flipping me over onto my stomach, he pulls my knees up and spreads me, slapping my ass cheeks firmly, and warmth leaks from my still-quivering pussy. “Are you sore after last night baby?” he asks, as I hear the tear of a condom wrapper.

“Nope,” I lie. “Give it to me hard, stud. Just how I like it.”

He slams into me without warning and I scream.

“I love how enthusiastic you are,” he grunts, fucking me in sharp, quick thrusts. “And I love how you shout out my name when you come. It really fucking turns me on.”

“Oh, God,” I moan as he plunges deep, hitting the right spot.

“Not God, baby. Just … Levi.”

“Well, just Levi,” I say a couple of hours later. “I think I’m well and truly fucked.” I try to move but I can’t. “I can’t feel my legs anymore. I think you broke me.”

He chuckles. “I can’t feel my cock. I think you rode me to death.”

 

 

Incognito is Siobhan’s second standalone and I really enjoyed it. The blurb gives you all the information that you truly need to do know so I will do my best in not repeating any of that nor give anything crucial away. And yes, the blurb may sound similar or like another rock start romance, but it’s Siobhan’s twist and her writing that make this story so enjoyable.

Shawn and Dakota are both battling their own wars. Shawn is trying to stay under the radar and finally enjoy life as just a “normal” every day college student. He’s been in the limelight for many years and his life has been in overdrive since he got picked up years ago. Now that is he “forced” to be normal, he is really enjoying life as a much slower pace.

Dakota did more that put her dreams of Julliard on the backside – she has chosen to go into the family business. While it’s not her dream, it’s what she knows is best for her and her family’s future. But at night, she escapes her new reality and dances away in the moonlight.

Shawn and Dakota are both so wrong and so right for one another. As they try to fight against the attraction they have, the electricity just builds. These two are strong together and for one another. There is a lot of angst and suspense in this book – a lot of that comes from assumptions on both their parts. While I felt at their age their communication should have been more mature, Siobhan also does a great job of showing how social media and technology play a very key role in how people react to things.

As I said, this book blurb may feel like it’s the same but it’s the added twists and plotting that makes this book stand out. Siobhan has this way with her writing of putting in the characters shoes and just feeling everything – you become the characters.

Siobhan writes such amazing characters. Not only do I love her main characters but I love the secondary characters in this book. They all play such key and integral roles in this book that it just makes the story all the more entertaining

This book is a standalone and can be read solely on its own. There are characters from her other standalone, Inseparable, who make an appearance in this one. However, reading either book in whatever order will in no way impede one over the other.

Siobhan has written another story that I found myself devouring in hours and wanting more from her.

 

 

 

About Siobhan:

USA Today bestselling author Siobhan Davis writes emotionally intense young adult and new adult romantic fiction with swoon-worthy romance, complex characters, and tons of unexpected plot twists and turns that will have you flipping the pages beyond bedtime! She is the author of the international bestselling Kennedy Boys, Saven, and True Calling series’.

Siobhan’s family will tell you she’s a little bit obsessive when it comes to reading and writing, and they aren’t wrong. She can rarely be found without her trusty Kindle, a paperback book, or her laptop somewhere close at hand.

Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Siobhan forged a successful corporate career in human resource management.

She resides in the Garden County of Ireland with her husband and two sons.

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Connect with Siobhan:

Subscribe to romance newsletter: http://smarturl.it/KennedyBoysList

Amazon Author Page: http://smarturl.it/SiobhanDavisAmazon

Author website: http://smarturl.it/SiobhanDavisWebsite

Goodreads profile: http://smarturl.it/SiobhanGoodreads

Facebook page: http://smarturl.it/SiobhanDavisFacebook

Twitter profile: http://smarturl.it/SiobhanDavisTwitter

Author Blog: http://smarturl.it/SiobhanDavisBlog

BookBub Author Page: http://smarturl.it/SiobhanDavisBookbub

Make Me Crave by Katee Robert…Blog Tour & Review

 

MAKE ME CRAVE, an all-new enemies to lovers story from Katee Robert is LIVE!

In MAKE ME CRAVE by NYT Bestselling Author, Katee Robert, Roman Bassani will do anything to close a deal. Even chase down Allie Landers on her Caribbean vacation to make an offer on her company.

Add MAKE ME CRAVE to your TBR pile on Goodreads then keep reading to get a sneak peek excerpt and enter the giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card or one of three (3) ebooks from Katee Robert’s backlist!

 

Title: Make Me Crave
Author: Katee Robert
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: July 1, 2018
Publisher: Harlequin Dare
Series: Make Me
Page Count: 144 pages
Format: Digital
ASIN: B0779DL61K

Synopsis:

“I crave you…”

Can their hunger be satisfied?

Roman Bassani will do anything to close a deal. Even chase down Allie Landers on her Caribbean vacation to make an offer on her company. He expects a challenge—but not their immediate intense attraction. After an accidental one-night stand they agree to put business aside—for now. The island lulls them into a heated sexual journey…but what happens to their opposing interests when they return from paradise?

“Dare is Harlequin’s hottest line yet. Every book should come with a free fan. I dare you to try them!”

—Tiffany Reisz, international bestselling author

Available at:

Amazon: http://bit.ly/MakeMeCraveAmazon
B&N: http://bit.ly/MakeMeCraveBN
iTunes: http://bit.ly/MakeMeCraveiTunes
Kobo: http://bit.ly/MakeMeCraveKobo

Praise for Make Me Crave
“Make me Crave by Katee Robert is such an amazing and captivating read that you will not put it down. Sexy, fiesty, hotness, chemistry, laughter and love Make me Crave is a must read for all book lovers. This is hands down in my opinion the best book that I have ever read by Katee Roberts.”—Goodreads review
“Wow! I can’t emphasize enough how much I loved Make Me Crave (Make Me #2). It has sass, steam and great characters with loads of chemistry. Katee Robert is definitely an author on my ‘must read’ list.”—Goodreads review
“Hello Adonis! Roman is just…yeah. I mean, sex on a stick with a good heart (despite his past misdeeds), and a more than capable brain! Allie is his perfect match and their time together sets the pages on fire while making you root for them to get more than just the pleasure they find from each other on the island! A great book!”—Goodreads review

 

Enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card or one of three (3) ebooks from Katee Robert’s backlist!

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Make Me Crave Excerpt
Copyright © 2018 Katee Robert

Allie was so furious, she could barely put two words together. “You don’t get to just decide that we’re having a conversation and haul me out here to do it.”
“If I was going to haul you anywhere, it’d be over my shoulder.”
Her body clenched at the thought of him doing exactly that, but she fought her reaction back. “You are insufferable. Do you know when the last time I had a vacation was? Ten goddamn years ago when I was still in freaking high school and on spring break. Ten. Years. Becka had to twist my arm to get me here, but I was enjoying myself—”
“I know exactly how thoroughly you were enjoying yourself.”
She ignored that because if she tried to deny it, she’d be a red-faced liar. “That changes nothing. The point is that I’m not enjoying myself now, and the only one to blame for that is you.” She went to push him back a step, but her hands had a will of their own. They stayed on his chest, and she sucked in a breath at how warm his skin was. The man might be a corporate suit, but he looked perfectly at home in his shorts without a shirt on here in the growing darkness near the beach. It was almost enough to forget all the reasons she never wanted to see him again.
Allie stepped closer and lowered her voice. “Nothing you say can make me believe you’re anything but a goddamn shark.”
“Who said I’m trying to convince you of anything?” The words brushed her mouth as he leaned down, just a little. “I am a shark, Allie. I’ve never pretended to be anything else.”
She started to call him a liar, but he was telling the truth. He hadn’t tried to seduce her with sweet words to get her into his bed—he’d offered her exactly what she wanted in as many words. Black-and-white. Simple.
It wasn’t simple at all.
“I despise you.”
“You want me.” His hands rested lightly on her hips. “It tears you up inside that you crave my cock, but you can’t fight it no matter how hard you try.” He backed her up, step by slow step, until she bumped a tree. Roman kept coming, the side of his face brushing hers. “Did you think about how good it’d feel to have my fingers sliding into these yoga pants?”
“No.”
“Who’s the liar now, Allie?” His lips caressed her earlobe. “I’d love a private yoga session. Just us. No friends, no instructors, no clothes. How long do you think we’d last before I was on my back and you were riding my cock?”
She couldn’t breathe. Her skin felt too tight, as if it were several sizes too small, and her core pulsed in time with her racing heart. “I would never—”
“No, Allie. No more lies between us. You’re pissed that I’m here—I get that—and you’re even more pissed that you want me. Trust me, I know the feeling. I was never supposed to fuck you, and if I’d known who you were…”
She leaned back enough to look at his face—or what she could see of it in the darkness. “If you’d known who I was, you wouldn’t have gone there with me.”
Roman cursed. “Even if I’d known your name, that wouldn’t have stopped me from wanting you. Needing you.”
She stroked her hands down his chest to the waistband of his shorts. “Do you need me now?”
“I never stopped.”
This was the worst idea. She needed her head clear, and it was nothing but muddled around Roman. He was too big, too beautiful, too overpowering. Even now, she leaned forward, the few inches between them too much distance. He let her, his hands on her hips branding her—but not trying to guide her. Allie inhaled deeply. “Do you drug your cologne? Because, seriously, how am I supposed to think straight when you smell so good?”
He chuckled. “I’m not wearing any.”
He was gorgeous and a god in the bedroom, and he had to smell good naturally. Because of course. “I don’t like you.”
“You don’t know me.”
She could argue that, but it didn’t feel completely accurate. Allie traced the waistband of his shorts with her fingers. She shouldn’t…but she was going to. She unbuttoned his shorts and slipped her hand in to grip his cock. “I don’t have to know you—I know this.”
“You’re playing with fire.”
“Maybe.” Definitely. If she was smart, she’d release him, walk away and spend the rest of her vacation in as close to bliss as she could get, throwing herself into relaxation before she had to go back to reality. She stroked him again, liking the way his body went tense but his hands stayed still on her hips.
As if he was waiting for permission.
The realization sent a thrill through her. She kept stroking his cock, teasing him. “Did you really think it would be that easy?”
“What would?” He spoke through gritted teeth, and her body gave another thrill of pleasure.
“Getting your way.” She squeezed him around the base and nudged his pants down a little farther so she could cup his balls with her free hand. “You thought you’d show up here, interrupt my vacation and, what? I’d fall all over myself to give you exactly what you wanted?”
Roman released one of her hips and braced his hand on the tree behind her. The move brought him closer to her, but not so close that he impeded her movements. She stroked him harder as he slid his cheek against hers, his breathing hitching with every downstroke. He nipped her earlobe. “Isn’t that exactly what happened last night?”
She glared and gave his balls a squeeze that was just shy of vicious. “You’re awfully cocky for someone who’s got their nether bits in my hands.”
“They’re very capable hands.” He shifted to press butterfly kisses along her jaw and down her neck even as his hand on her hip squeezed her. “Don’t stop.”
“I should.” She didn’t. “I should stop right now and leave you with a wicked case of blue balls.” Why was her breath coming as harshly as his? He’d barely touched her, but having his cock in her hands and him so close… Intoxicating. There was no other word for it.
Roman gave her collarbone an openmouthed kiss and dragged his hand up her side to palm her breast. “I’ll just go back to my villa and jack myself off thinking of your sweet pussy. Not as good as the real thing—nothing is—but you gave me more than enough inspiration to get the job done.” He tugged the strap of her tank top off her shoulder. It was one of those things with a built-in bra, so the motion freed her breast. He repeated the move with the other side, and she shivered as the breeze coming in off the water teased her nipples. “Beautiful,” Roman murmured.
“You go overboard with the compliments.” She kept up her leisurely stroking. It was like the rest of the world ceased to exist outside their little sphere. It was just her and Roman, driving each other crazy.
“I give credit where credit is due.” He bent and sucked one nipple into his mouth. The position meant she had to let go of his cock, which she did with reluctance. He cupped her through her yoga pants, the coolness of the tree against her back only highlighting how warm his body was. “If I slipped my hand in here, would I find you wet and wanting? I think so.” He traced a single finger up the seam of the pants—right over her clit. “I think having my cock in your hands turned you on as much as the fact that we’re ten yards away from the bar and anyone coming up from the beach will get the show of their life.”
She pushed back against him even as her hips rolled into his touch. “That’s not true.”
“Liar.” She felt more than heard the word as his breath caressed her neck. “You get off on this as much as I do.” Another stroke through the fabric. “Would you take my cock right here, right now?”
She started to say yes, but common sense reared its ugly head. “I’m not fucking you without a condom.”
“Mmm.” He kissed her neck. “I know.” Roman pulled her pants down in a swift movement. She started to protest, but he went to his knees in front of her and yanked her foot free. Oh. He looped one leg over his shoulder and she caught the glimpse of white teeth when he grinned. “Have a little faith, Allie. I’m not a complete monster.” And then his mouth was on her pussy and she didn’t have the breath to argue.

 

Make Me Crave is the second book in Kate’s Make Me series, which I would describe as short erotic romances. I did not read the first and still enjoyed this one.

This book read very quickly and what I would surmise as day beach read that will definitely leave you hot – so be by a pool. LOL

I won’t go into details because of how short the book is – I would end up surmising the entire thing. What I will say is that this book will appeal to some and to others (like myself) will be just be ok. It’s not that I did not enjoy the story, but I wanted more depth. So be prepared for a very fast paced book with what I would consider a “high level” plot line.

Katee is a magnificent writer and I love reading her other series and books. This is definitely a different side to her writing that many will enjoy for summer reading.

 

 

About Katee Robert

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert learned to tell her stories at her grandpa’s knee. Her 2015 title, The Marriage Contract, was a RITA finalist, and RT Book Reviews named it ‘a compulsively readable book with just the right amount of suspense and tension.” When not writing sexy contemporary and romantic suspense, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her children, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.

Connect with Katee at: 

Website | Facebook | TwitterGoodReads | Instagram  

The Fragile Ordinary by Samantha Young…Blog Tour & Review

 

 

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Impossible Vastness of Us and the On Dublin Street series comes a heartfelt and beautiful new young adult novel, set in Scotland, about daring to dream and embracing who you are. Order your copy of THE FRAGILE ORDINARY today!

 

 

About THE FRAGILE ORDINARY:

I am Comet Caldwell.

And I sort of, kind of, absolutely hate my name.

People expect extraordinary things from a girl named Comet. That she’ll be effortlessly cool and light up a room the way a comet blazes across the sky.

But from the shyness that makes her book-character friends more appealing than real people to the parents whose indifference hurts more than an open wound, Comet has never wanted to be the center of attention. She can’t wait to graduate from her high school in Edinburgh, Scotland, where the only place she ever feels truly herself is on her anonymous poetry blog. But surely that will change once she leaves to attend university somewhere far, far away.

When new student Tobias King blazes in from America and shakes up the school, Comet thinks she’s got the bad boy figured out. Until they’re thrown together for a class assignment and begin to form an unlikely connection. Everything shifts in Comet’s ordinary world. Tobias has a dark past and runs with a tough crowd—and none of them are happy about his interest in Comet. Targeted by bullies and thrown into the spotlight, Comet and Tobias can go their separate ways…or take a risk on something extraordinary.

 

 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indie Bound | Amazon Kindle

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“Endearing and relatable, Comet-the girl who is searching for her place in this world-will shoot through the sky and into your heart.”

— #1 New York Times bestselling author Erin Watt


 

 

 

 

Every so often a book hits me in ways I never expect and The Fragile Ordinary is one them.

While I was expecting a very well written and interesting YA read (and I did get that), I was blown away by Samantha’s poetry throughout this book. Reading her words had me stopping and reflecting on things in life that I never expected. For me, that made this book stand out even more.

The Fragile Ordinary is a story of growth for these young characters. Growing up in world where drugs are more easily accessible, high school tormentors are harsher and trying to be confident in ones’ self in a more judgemental world is hard for anyone, let alone a blossoming teen.

Comet and Tobias may come from different backgrounds, but their struggles are the same – to be accepted as they are. The main plot is a story of friendship between two polar opposites and shifting into more as they overcome their own obstacles. Life is the same no matter where you are – whether it be in Scotland where this story is set or in America. But Samantha also throws in the obstacles friends face and how to handle the outcomes of their decisions. There are so many interconnected small plots within this story that make this book as a whole really great.

I do have that point out that I loved the dialogue in this book. I am so used to reading books that are set in America, that the change in the dialogue and then settings, made this book all the more entertaining. I could hear the diverse and unique language in my head as I read the words and I loved it – kept me in the story more.

Samantha has written another sensational book that stands out amongst the rest!

 

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I became so preoccupied with the thought of meeting Tobias after school and walking to Stevie’s and his flat with him, and then working in close proximity in their bedroom again, I was utterly useless as a friend. I barely had any recollection of anything Vicki or Steph said to me all day, and it became clear to them why when we walked out of school at the end of the day and I told them I had to wait for Tobias.
“So that’s why you’ve been so distracted all day,” Steph said, sounding put out. “You get to spend the afternoon in Tobias King’s bedroom.”
My God, was she jealous?
It sounded like she might be a little envious.
“Oh, Comet, please don’t tell me you like him,” Vicki said, not sounding jealous at all, but very concerned.
“I don’t,” I lied.
“Good. Because he’s a bad boy. And you’re…”
“Comet,” Steph supplied, like that explained everything.
Ugh. It did explain everything.
Total opposites.
“Well I don’t. Now go, before he thinks we’re standing here gossiping about him.”
Steph laughed and threaded her arm through Vicki’s to lead her away. I gave Vicki a reassuring smile and a wave when she looked over her shoulder at me, still plainly concerned.
“Ready?”
I almost jumped out of my shoes as I spun around to find Tobias towering over me. He was alone.
Hmm.
I’d been partly nervous about meeting him to walk him to his flat because I’d suspected Stevie would be joining us. Relief moved through me. “No Stevie?”
Tobias’s brows drew together. “No. Why would there be?”
I shrugged, confused by his somewhat belligerent response. “You live together.”
“He skipped out after lunch.”
Of course he had. I turned away so Tobias wouldn’t see me roll my eyes. “I suppose we better go then.”
If I’d thought last night’s walk was quiet, this one was positively dead. We said not a word to one another. I was going to start up conversation, attempt to not be socially awkward, but Tobias seemed lost in his thoughts and his silence made me lose my nerve.
“You’re not afraid of me, are you?” He spoke up suddenly, only a street away from the flat.
The question surprised me so much my tongue loosened. “What? Why would you think that?”
“The way you reacted when Mr. Stone made me sit next to you. Your hands were shaking yesterday. You were nervous at Stevie’s flat. The way you’re acting now.”
“It’s not that I’m afraid of you.”
“So you’re just shy as shit?”
What a charming adjective. I wrinkled my nose. “Maybe.”
Tobias chuckled. “You don’t have to be shy around me. Contrary to popular belief, I’m not actually Satan.”
“No one thinks you’re Satan.” I shook my head. “Just…maybe not the kind of boy who would talk to a girl like me. I get that.” I wanted to assure him that I knew we were just presentation partners and not actually friends. “So let’s just get to your place and get our work done.”
“First…go back. The part about me being a guy who wouldn’t talk to a girl like you. Explain.”
I frowned at the demand. “I’m academic. I like school. You…you may be smart, but clearly you don’t like school.”
“I can see where you might think that.” He nodded and then flashed me that boyish grin. “But maybe you’re wrong.”
“Possibly.” I nodded. “I don’t really know anything about you.”
“I don’t know anything about you either. Most girls are pretty talkative about themselves. You’re not. You’re kind of a mystery.”
Tobias King thought I was a mystery.
That made me laugh, and his eyes widened as he watched me, his mouth curling up at the corners in that way it was wont to do in lieu of an actual smile. “I’ve never seen you laugh before.”
Did he think I was some emo, miserable teenager incapable of it? “It’s been known to happen once in a while.”
This time he full-out grinned at my dry tone. “Apparently.”

Samantha Young’s’ THE FRAGILE ORDINARY – Review & Excerpt Tour Schedule:

June 25th

A Book Nerd, a Bookseller and a Bibliophile – Review & Excerpt

Book Freak – Review

For The Love of Fictional Worlds – Review & Excerpt

Garden of REden – Review

Reading Between the Wines Book Club – Excerpt

The Book Boyfriend Addict – Excerpt

June 26th

Blog of Books – Review

Bookalicious Babes Blog – Review & Excerpt

Kick Back & Review – Review & Excerpt

liber_lady – Review

Miss Riki – Review & Excerpt

Read more sleep less – Review & Excerpt

White Hot Reads – Review

June 27th

A Literary Perusal – Review & Excerpt

Book Bitches Blog – Review

Kindle Friends Forever – Excerpt

LoveFades – Review

MrsLeif’s Two Fangs About It Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt

Smut Book Junkie Reviews – Review & Excerpt

June 28th

A British Bookworm’s Blog – Review

bad boys and bedtime stories book blog – Review & Excerpt

Catty Jane Book Lovers – Review & Excerpt

Novel Addiction – Review & Excerpt

the lovely teacher addictions – Review & Excerpt

Smokin’ Hot Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

The Reading Faery – Review & Excerpt

June 29th

Ali’s Reviews and More – Review & Excerpt

Bookish Proclivity – Review & Excerpt

Confessions of a Pinay Bookaholic – Review & Excerpt

Ficwishes – Review & Excerpt

Read Love Blog – Review & Excerpt

The Bookish Sisters – Review & Excerpt

June 30th

Lisa Loves Literature – Review & Excerpt

Movies, Shows, & Books – Excerpt

Nose Stuck in a Book – Review & Excerpt

Pervy Ladies Books – Review & Excerpt

Read. Eat. Love. – Review & Excerpt

The Escapist Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

July 1st

Crazy Chaotic Book Babes – Review

KDRBCK – Review & Excerpt

Once Upon A Page – Review & Excerpt

Reading with 2 book lovers – Review

The Coffeeholic Bookworm – Review & Excerpt

The Wandering Bookaholic – Review

July 2nd

Alpha Book Club – Review

Book Babes Unite – Review

Crazii Bitches Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Naturally Nerdy Books – Excerpt

Rad Babes Read – Review & Excerpt

Spellbound Stories – Review

The Book Dutchesses – Review & Excerpt

July 3rd

Adventures in Writing – Excerpt

Book Lovers Hangout – Review & Excerpt

gata leitora – Review & Excerpt

KM Sultry Reads – Review & Excerpt

Relentless Romance – Review & Excerpt

Sweet Red Reads – Review & Excerpt

July 4th

Bookaholic Confessions – Review & Excerpt

Margaux – Excerpt

Obsessive Book Nerd – Review

Sofia Loves Books – Review

Sultry Sirens Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Tales of the Ravenous Reader – Review & Excerpt

What Is That Book About – Excerpt

July 5th

After Dark Book Lovers – Review & Excerpt

Book Lady’s Reviews – Review

Literary Misfit – Excerpt

More Books Than Livros – Review & Excerpt

Ramblings From This Chick – Excerpt

Romance Book Explosion – Review

July 6th

Audio Killed the Bookmark – Review

Liezel and Angie’s Book Blog – Review

mustreadbooksordie – Review & Excerpt

Romance Schmomance – Review & Excerpt

Sentranced Jem – Review

The Bookish Introvert – Review

Witchy Richey’s Booktastic Reviews – Review & Excerpt

 

About Samantha Young:

Samantha Young is the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of adult contemporary romances, including the On Dublin Street series and Hero, as well as the New Adult duology Into the Deep and Out of the Shallows. Every Little Thing, the second book in her new Hart’s Boardwalk series, will be published by Berkley in March 2017. Before turning to contemporary fiction, she wrote several young adult paranormal and fantasy series, including the amazon bestselling Tale of Lunarmorte trilogy. Samantha’s debut YA contemporary novel The Impossible Vastness of Us will be published by Harlequin TEEN in ebook & hardback June 2017

Samantha has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award 2012 for Best Author and Best Romance for On Dublin Street, Best Romance 2014 for Before Jamaica Lane, and Best Romance 2015 for Hero. On Dublin Street, a #1 bestseller in Germany, was the Bronze Award Winner in the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2013, Before Jamaica Lane the Gold Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2014 and Echoes of Scotland Street the Bronze Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2015.

Samantha is currently published in 30 countries and is a #1 international bestselling author.

 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

 

Blood Match by K.A. Linde….Blog Tour & Review

 

 

As the provocative, sensual Blood Type series continues, the rare bond between Reyna and Beckham is threatened by betrayal, greed, and twisted secrets.

A desperate human. A powerful vampire. A world divided.

Reyna Carpenter was promised paradise. She was delivered into hell.

Giving up her body for money was supposed to be the hardest part of becoming a blood escort. She never expected to lose her heart to her dark, enigmatic boss, Beckham Anderson. After being taken by a depraved captor who plans to rule the world, Reyna will do anything to return to Beckham.

She just has to find the will to survive this game.

From the pawn, rises a queen.

Note: Reyna and Beckham’s story begins in Blood Type and continues in Blood Cure.

ADD TO GOODREADS

AVAILABLE NOW
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“Please.” She wasn’t above begging. “I’ve waited so long.”

“I won’t bite you,” he said, his face sliding down between her legs. A fang nipped at the sensitive artery in her inner thigh. “But I bloody well want to.”

Did she even care if he bit her? It would be a relief after what she’d endured. A relief to feel that connection so acutely. But she wouldn’t press him this time. She remembered how they’d gotten carried away. He’d taken too much, drank too deeply, and she could have died. They needed to take it slow.

The blood. Not the sex. She needed that right now.

His finger slicked through her wetness and began to massage her clit. She vibrated from the sensation. She didn’t know if she’d be able to hold out before he was inside of her.

Then his eyes found hers again. His boxers disappeared and then his cock was in his hand. He massaged the length of himself as he watched her walk on a tightrope. Any second she was going to fall off and into oblivion. Nothing and no one had ever made her feel so good. No. No one had ever made her feel.

“So . . . close,” she ground out.

One powerful thrust seated him to the hilt within her. She cried out as he stretched her to the max. No warning or preamble just his cock inside of her, filling her to completion.

Her walls clenched around him. She was so close, but instinctively, she knew he wasn’t going to let her release without him.

Then he started moving. A slow pull out and a quick drive inward. Once, twice, three times.

“Not yet,” he said, his eyes commanding.

She tried to hold back. She could wait. Oh God, she could wait.

Then he started up the rhythm again. Setting his own course, owning and claiming her body. Reclaiming everything that he’d lost in that one moment of stupidity on her part. In his one moment of weakness.

She could see in his eyes the weight that loss had cost him. The toll it had taken on him for giving into his urges, for finally relinquishing his hold on himself. His eyes said he’d never do it again. His eyes were a promise.

“Becks, come with me,” she cried, clutching the sheets.

He grasped her hips and owned her body where he refused to own her blood. Taking everything she would give him, but not everything he wanted. Not everything she wanted.

She was so close. She looked in his eyes and knew they would finish together.

Reyna woke up screaming.

She jolted upright in her overly plush king-sized bed with its too many pillows and too much softness. Her hair was plastered to her face. Sweat coated her body, soaking through the thin white shirt she’d worn to bed.

Her eyes adjusted to the dim lighting and she looked around the small room. Everything was in place. Nothing had changed. Not a damn thing.

Beckham wasn’t here.

It had been a dream. A sick dream. A desperate horrible dream.

Her hand moved to her cotton panties and found the slicked wetness still there. The ache still building in her lower half from lack of release. The aftereffects of the dream. It had felt so real. So very real.

She had felt him moving inside of her. She had seen the love in his eyes. She had known his remorse.

But none of that was real.

That was her imagination at work. Conjuring his face just to torture herself with his absence. Remembering the feel of his body and the love in his eyes, only to know that he hadn’t found her. Aching for one more view of him.

It had been fifty-five days since she’d last seen his face.

Reyna made a mark in the notebook next to the bed.

Fifty-six.

 

 

Holy Hell!! Kyla – you have definitely outdone yourself with this series!! WOW I am loving that this series is very unique in it’s tale and the spin that Kyla is taking on with vampires. It just makes this series so much enjoyable.

Blood Match starts out with a bang (or fang lol) and not once does this story line ease up at all. WOW! I love the pace of this story so much – pulse pumping and so intriguing. I felt my heart racing the entire time I read this book – so engaging and enticing.

Blood Match starts off where Blood Type ends. Reyna finds her in the prison of Visage – she is truly what she signed up for – a blood donor. However, it’s not the in way she anticipated, not that she minds in anyway. However, Reyna feels that he life is nothing since she does the same thing day in and day out with no escaping it. Until she is given the chance to see another side of Visage.

Reyna thinks things couldn’t be worse than they already are for her but has no idea how truly depraved and conniving Harrington really is. Beckham is trying to keep up pretenses with everything while also trying to win Reyna back into his good graces.

Kyla does not let us down at all with the second book in this series. There is so much still going on within this world and so many questions about things. I love all the new twist and turns she gives us. Kyla leaves us hanging on to each page as we read, desperate to know where things go from here. And that ending – OMG!!! I need book three NOW!!!

 

 

 

A startling new vision of paranormal romance: When a human ventures into the world of vampires—a decadent milieu of blood-bonds and betrayal—she discovers that not all is what it seems.

For Reyna Carpenter, giving up her body isn’t a choice. It’s survival.

In a civilization laid waste by poverty and desperation, Reyna accepts a high-paying position with the wealthy and hungry vampire elite. Her new job is as the live-in blood escort for the intimidating, demanding, and devilishly handsome Beckham Anderson. He’s everything she expected from a vampire, except for one thing—he won’t feed off her.

Reyna soon discovers that behind Beckham’s brooding, wicked façade lies a unique and complex man. And that, in a dark and divided world, she is more valuable than she ever would have believed.

For with each passing night, Reyna can’t shake the sensation that it’s Beckham who’s afraid of her.

Note: Reyna and Beckham’s story continues in Blood Match.

ADD TO GOODREADS

 

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The stunning conclusion to the Blood Type series finds the world in chaos and turmoil with one final battle left to determine who will survive—humans or vampires.

She had the world on her shoulders. Now she has nothing.

Reyna Carpenter was twenty-one when she became a live-in blood escort for the ruthless and darkly handsome vampire Beckham Anderson. She thought this was just a small price to pay for feeding her brothers back home.

But nothing went as planned. Not even her tumultuous relationship with Beckham. And now she wonders if anything will ever be the same again.

As she finds herself in the midst of a losing rebellion, she and her trusted friends must flee from a city conquered by the vampire elite. With their plans blown to pieces and everything they knew and loved gone, their future hangs in the balance.

Despite all she has lost, Reyna must rise from the ashes, reclaim the life that was stolen—and complete her mission, once and for all.

ADD TO GOODREADS
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KylaK.A. Linde is the USA Today bestselling author of more than fifteen novels including the Avoiding series and the Record series. She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Georgia, was the head campaign worker for the 2012 presidential campaign at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as the head coach of the Duke University dance team. She loves reading fantasy novels, geeking out over Star Wars, binge-watching Supernatural, and dancing in her spare time.

She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband and two super adorable puppies.

WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / INSTAGRAM

The Upside of Falling (The Blue Line Duet) by Meghan Quinn…Blog Tour & Review

 

 

 

Tucked away at the base of the Rocky Mountains lived a little boy with one singular dream: leave this broken and battered home and become someone.

Be somebody’s hero.

That boy was me—Colby Brooks. Except I’m not that same little boy anymore.

My dreams might still be the same, but my reality isn’t.

I’m smarter. Stronger. A man.

And I learned a long damn time ago, the only way to achieve my dreams was to avoid distractions—at any cost.

Focus. Resolve. Determination.

But all it took was one single night. One night and my entire life…changed.

One night had me colliding head first with the biggest distraction of my life; Rory Oaks.

Smart. Charming. Beautiful.

Rory changed everything.

Quickly, my one-track mind started to bend.

Each kiss faded decade-long dreams.

And with one single incident, I fly off course.

 

 

 

 

Head turned down, pushing the sleeves of his white Henley up his arms, he swaggers toward me. His jeans hang low on his hips, held up by the same brown belt he wore the other night. His narrow waist directs my eyes to the center of his jeans, and I can’t help wonder what might be behind the crotch of his pants.

And then there is his chest. Barrel like, broad and prominent. His thick biceps showcase his strength, and the fabric of his shirt stretches over his shoulders and forearms. Having spent a lot of time at the gym, I’ve seen every body type, but Colby’s is different. He’s strong, built, but not like a body builder. His body seems to suggest the only kind of weight he’s been lifting is his own body, pushup after pushup. I can’t imagine there being barbells in his workouts, but I can imagine logs, cadets, and heavy machinery. He has working muscles, the kind you earn from hard, dedicated work on the field. In a word? Impressive.

Walking up to Stryder, he grips his friend’s shoulder and says something into his ear. A smirk crosses Stryder’s face before he moves over to our side of the bowling alley and takes Colby’s place.

Is he leaving? Already?

Might as well at this point. It’s not like he’s going to talk to me, not after my pathetic attempt at a bet. I should have known I was going to hang out in the gutter all night. It’s where I usually am when I’m bowling. I blame the ball. The thing has a vendetta against me.

Sighing, I prop my chin in my hand and watch Stryder expertly toss his ball down the lane, getting a strike . . . once again. And just like every other strike, he pumps his arm up in the air and celebrates. We get it, you’re good, no need to—

“Hey.”

That voice . . .

Stunned, eyes wide, not able to move, not wanting to scare him away, I keep my eyes trained forward, soaking in that beautifully deep voice of his for a brief moment before saying, “Hey.”

“Can I sit here?”

Still keeping my eyes trained forward, I say, “Sure.”

My body tingles with awareness of how close he is to me, that fresh laundry scent invading my senses, prickling the little hairs on my arm. My body leans toward his, wanting a little more, searching for anything else he might give me. I don’t know why he’s choosing to engage me in conversation, but I’m sure as hell not moving while he does.

“Sorry about tonight,” he says and he actually sounds sincere.

“Why are you sorry?” I mumble.

Reaching around, he takes my cheek in his hand. The callouses on his palm rubbing against my skin is a welcome sensation. As I’m turned toward him, I steady my breathing. I’m having a hard time slowing my heart rate because of his close proximity, and the unexpected touch shooting a wave of heat through my veins.

“I’m sorry you didn’t get to ask me any questions. I didn’t think you were going to suck that bad.” A playful smile tugs at his lips, and my heart sinks to the floor. Oh God, he’s so gorgeous, especially when he smiles.

Matching his smirk, I say, “I didn’t think I was going to suck that bad either.”

“I feel bad.”

“You should.” That garners a laugh, deep and throaty, the sound cloaking me like a shield, protecting me from the outside world, bringing me into a little bubble where we are the only two that exist.

“Ask me a question.”

Shocked, I swallow hard and say, “Really?”

He nods and holds up his fingers. “You get three.”

“Oh, three? Wow, I feel like you just gave me the key to your soul.”

Rolling his eyes, he adjusts his stance on the barstool and leans back, giving us some space, our knees still knocking into each other. “Easy killer; it’s just three questions.”

“Yeah, three questions I didn’t have before.” Tapping my chin, I try to think of good questions, but now that I have him willing and waiting, nothing comes to mind. I wasn’t prepared for this, he caught me off-guard, and now I feel I can’t be strategic about my probing. “Hmm . . . what do you like to do on the weekends?”

“Jump,” he answers.

Searching his eyes, lips quirked, I say, “Uh, you’re going to have to be more specific than that. What kind of jumping are we talking here? Like jump roping? Because that seems kind of weird to do on the weekends, and if you tell me you’re in some kind of jump-roping club at the academy, I’m not going to believe you.”

His lips curve up as he scratches the side of his jaw. “Jump out of airplanes.”

Oh.

Oh.

That’s . . .

Uh, that’s really hot.

“So you just casually jump out of airplanes?”

“I’m part of the Wings of Blue, the academy’s parachute team. We jump every day, at least two to three times a day after class and before dinner, depending on wind and ceiling limits. On the weekends, some of the guys, including Stryder and me, go to Springs East Airport and do civilian jumps. The more jumps we get in, the higher the chance we’ll be considered for big demonstrations, like parachuting into football games and major sporting events for the Rockies and Broncos.” Ummmm. Did anyone else just hear how many words he gifted me? And seriously? Does the man have no clue how incredibly sexy he is when he talks about something he loves? The expression on his face . . .

“Wow, that’s . . . that’s really hot.” I chuckle. “Sorry, I don’t mean to fangirl over your parachuting, but I guess I wasn’t expecting that answer. You just jump out of planes?”

He slowly nods. “Every day.”

“Anything to get you up in the clouds, huh?”

“Yeah,” he answers shyly, rubbing his jaw. “Okay, next question.”

 

 

 

 

If I could, I would give this book 5+++++++ stars.

Meghan Quinn quickly became one of my go-to authors after I read her Bourbon (original) series and fell in love with her writing style. I have read every book by her since then and she has never let me down once.

The Upside of Falling proves why Meghan is one author who’s books I will forever read, no matter the genre. If you are first-time newbie of reading anything by Meghan, let it be this duet. She will forever become one your favorite authors.

Now onto the book! The Upside of Falling is just that; Meghan gives us the story of a sweet and endearing couple who fall in love with each other so beautifully. I have goosebumps and tears in my eyes as I am writing this just thinking back on this book and what I read.

It is so heartfelt and loving and makes you fall in love with their story. I won’t give you any details because it is best to read this story and feel the emotions as you read without having any preconceived notions on what is going to happen.

While I did have a feeling certain things were going to happen, it was the way Meghan told this story and how things came to be that made this story perfect. I don’t care that I was right, what I loved was the journey.

Meghan delivers a beautiful story that you know will deliver everything you want and more. I am forever grateful that we don’t have to wait long for the conclusion to this story. I am not sure that my heart could wait any longer to see where this story goes and how it all ends.

Bravo Meghan – you have done it again. <3

 

 

 

 

THE DOWNSIDE OF LOVE – July 5th

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Born in New York and raised in Southern California, Meghan has grown into a sassy, peanut butter eating, blonde haired swearing, animal hoarding lady. She is known to bust out and dance if “It’s Raining Men” starts beating through the air and heaven forbid you get a margarita in her, protect your legs because they may be humped.

Once she started commuting for an hour and twenty minutes every day to work for three years, she began to have conversations play in her head, real life, deep male voices and dainty lady coos kind of conversations. Perturbed and confused, she decided to either see a therapist about the hot and steamy voices running through her head or start writing them down. She decided to go with the cheaper option and started writing… enter her first novel, Caught Looking.

Now you can find the spicy, most definitely on the border of lunacy, kind of crazy lady residing in Colorado with the love of her life and her five, furry four legged children, hiking a trail or hiding behind shelves at grocery stores, wondering what kind of lube the nervous stranger will bring home to his wife. Oh and she loves a good boob squeeze!

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Mister Tonight by Kendall Ryan..Blog Tour & Review

 

 

 

From New York Times bestselling author Kendall Ryan comes a standalone romance about a swoony single dad and the new neighbor he falls for.

Last night was the most embarrassing night of my life.

I was THAT girl.

You know, the highly intoxicated chick celebrating her thirtieth with her two best friends—the ones who are happily married. And the more I drank, the more I wanted to do something reckless to celebrate.

By reckless, I meant the sexy and alluring man dressed in a business suit standing near the bar. You know his type—tall, dark, and handsome. I was sure he was out of my league, but I’d had just enough alcohol that things like that no longer seemed to matter. I’m not fat, mind you, but you can tell I like French fries, so there’s that.

He took me home and I enjoyed the hottest birthday sex of my life, well until it came to a screeching, and rather unwelcome halt.

There’s nothing quite like being interrupted mid-ride with a little voice asking:

“What are you doing to my daddy?”

Just kill me now…… or so I thought.

Come to find out the man I rode like a bull at the rodeo is my new landlord.

 

 

 

AVAILABLE NOW

Kindle US | ✦Kindle UK | ✦iBooks | ✦Nook | ✦ Google | ✦Kobo | ✦Audio

 

 

 

 

 

Mister Tonight is another perfect example of what Kendall excels at – writing really sweet and romantic stories.

This book starts off with Hunter and Kate meeting at a bar and having a one night fling – except things get interrupted mid-sexy time and thus ending anyone getting their happy ending.

As the blurb tells you, Kate ends up being Hunter’s tenant. However, things don’t just go right into them being hot and sexy immediately. Oh no, no, no. Kate was not lying when she said she was commitment-phobe. She is truly excited to finally live on her own with no roommates and live her single life, even with her landlord being the one night stand, interrupted.

I love that Kendall has both Hunter and Kate acting very mature about things and never muddling shit up. They are both upfront on how they feel and keeping things no-strings. I need to say one thing that I really loved so much about this book was Kate’s aloof approach on her causal hook-ups. I love that she owned who she was and was not apologetic about it; BUT I also loved the Hunter did not look at her any differently, if anything, he liked her even more for being confident in what she wanted in life and not holding back because of society’s view. OK – enough about that, but just wanted to point that out because that made me love Kate (and Kendall) even more.

Kendall played this book out perfectly. While the book was fast-paced, everything played out naturally. Nothing was rushed, there was no unnecessary drama and the sexy times were HOT!!! Another great romance from Kendall!

 

 

 

A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over 1.5 million books and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. She’s a traditionally published author with Simon & Schuster and Harper Collins UK, as well as an independently published author. Since she first began self-publishing in 2012, she’s appeared at #1 on Barnes & Noble and iBooks charts around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than three dozen times. Ryan has been featured in such publications as USA Today, Newsweek, and InTouch Magazine.

Visit her at: www.kendallryanbooks.com for the latest book news, and fun extras

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Unexpected Love Story by Natasha Madison..Review

Title: Unexpected Love Story
Series: Love Series
Author: Natasha Madison
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: June 5, 2018

When one man’s death exposes a complex web of lies, three couples discover the true meaning of love, loss and redemption.
 
Crystal
I was the strong one, they said, until two words brought me to my knees. 
It was a secret I didn’t share with anyone. A secret that made me promise I’d never fall in love. 
I no longer wanted that white picket fence of every woman’s dreams. 
Until the unthinkable happened. 
 
Gabe
I thought I had it all with the best medical practice in the state and the woman of my dreams. 
I wore a smile on my face every single day. 
I couldn’t wait to watch her walk down the aisle and start our forever, except she never did. 
My runaway bride made me realize love isn’t worth it. 
 
What happens when your dreams unexpectedly come true?
 
This is the story of unexpected love.

 

An enemies-to-lovers romance with epic chemistry, fantastic banter, and passion that practically explodes off the page. It’s fun, feisty, sexy and beautifully heartfelt, and I loved every moment! – Aj The escapist Book Blog

 

I finished this book in a couple hours, devouring every sentence, every page Natasha gifted the world with, until it was over and I was crying happy tears. – Cait’s Creatures

 

Unexpected Love was just that unexpected. The storyline at times has some heartbreaking moments for both characters that made you want to hug both of them. -Melissa BookSmacked

 

I really enjoyed Unexpected Love Story. Gabe and Crystal’s story was quite unique and pretty entertaining.

Gabe is like a large yet sexy teddy bear. His loyal and fierce with his friends and family. So when he’s left picking up the pieces of a failed relationship, his friends and family are there to help him move forward.

Crystal is the best friend we all love. She’s strong in herself, helps everyone out and is always there when you need her. But no one knows that underneath it all, she’s protecting her biggest secret. She erected a wall around her heart and moved on her with her nursing career – one of the best in her area.

Watching Gabe and Crystal were a hoot. As much as they grated on each other’s nerves, it was the sexual tension that drove them to it. These two were practically starting an electrical fire every time they were around each other. And as much as they thought they were being sneaky – everyone seemed to know that something was going on.

Overall, it’s a sweet and quick read. I definitely recommend reading these in order as they all blend together and would be slightly confused on things. My only gripe is that since each book has overlapping scenes, it felt slightly repetitive in ways and I felt myself skimming those scenes since they didn’t give any new insight to things. Other than that, the book was enjoyable.


Broken Love Story July 10th (PreOrder)

 
When her nose isn’t buried in a book, or her fingers flying across a keyboard writing, she’s in the kitchen creating gourmet meals. You can find her, in four inch heels no less, in the car chauffeuring kids, or possibly with her husband scheduling his business trips. It’s a good thing her characters do what she says, because even her Labrador doesn’t listen to her…
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Dirty Exes by Rachel Van Dyken…Blog Tour & Review

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Dirty Exes by Rachel Van Dyken
Publication Date: June 5th, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance

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They’re serving up some red-hot revenge. A sizzling series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Rachel van Dyken.

Blaire has never quite gotten over Jessie Beckett, the ex–NFL star whose kisses were hot enough to ignite the entire Eastern Seaboard. When he chose work over her, Blaire was left brokenhearted. Why else would she have married a skeezy two-timer, just to divorce him less than a year later?

Now Blaire is getting even by becoming one half of Dirty Exes, a PI firm fully committed to humiliating cheating jerks. If only the new jerk she’s been hired to uncover wasn’t Jessie Beckett himself.

Exposing Jessie isn’t going to be easy, especially when she still daydreams about his sexy smile. Further complicating matters is Colin, Jessie’s best friend. He’s gorgeous, a little bit cunning, and willing to help Blaire get the inside scoop on Jessie—for a price.

Now caught between two men—one totally right and the other totally wrong—Blaire will need to decide just how much she’s willing to risk…and whom she’s willing to risk it for.

DirtyExes-AN

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Excerpt:

It ended there.

Right. Forget about his mouth.

Or the way I sighed when he touched my shoulder.

The way my body quivered when his skin pressed against mine in the car.

“Stop!” I gritted my teeth and searched the kitchen. Cheaters often hid things in places that their spouse wouldn’t expect, like pantries and junk drawers, places that seemed obvious but weren’t. I’d once found a second cell phone in a cereal box.

Cheaters were like drug addicts.

They knew the perfect place to hide the drugs.

I shuddered.

Dirty. Toilets.

Not the best day I’d ever had, but marginally better than the sewer.

I spent the next thirty minutes with plastic gloves searching every crevice of that kitchen, patting down the inside of drawers, digging through trash. Nothing.

The guy was either a saint . .

Or we had a serious Dexter situation going on, and he knew exactly how to dispose of incriminating evidence.

Sexy male laughter jolted me from my search. I freaked, ran into the pantry, and shut the door just as Jessie’s face came into view.

Sweat trickled down my back.

Shit, shit, shit!

Oh, this was bad, so bad.

What man didn’twant to eat after coming home from the gym?

“Nice, man, she keeps the book on the bar?” Colin’s mocking voice at least made me feel like I wasn’t the only one who thought it was strange. “Fams always so classy.”

“Yeah,” Jessie agreed. “I think maybe it’s her way of reminding me how happy we were that one year.” He hesitated. “You know, the one where we actually did normal things like stay home and make dinner, and watch movies instead of going out all the time. That went to hell fast.”

Colin sighed.

“She writes a book about our best year, and then turns into this greedy person I don’t recognize and dream about murdering in her sleep.”

  • “Hey,” Colin warned. “I get it, I do, but she’s still my—”

“Sorry, man.”

“It’s fine, like I said, I get it.”

I plastered my ear to the door to listen harder. What did Colin mean? Why was he defending her? Why was Jessie saying sorry? I made a mental note to purchase the book and torture myself by reading it cover to cover.

“You contemplate murdering her while she sleeps,” Colin said in a weird tone, “and yet she’s still living here in this house with you? Tell me how that makes sense? You say she’s not the same person, but she never really was the person you thought she was. When are you going to get that?”

“She was different then, man. She was.” Jessie came to her defense so quickly I almost fell backward. He sounded like—he still had feelings for her. I turned my attention back to the door as footsteps neared the pantry. Oh hell. Not good.

I needed to get out. Fast.

I grabbed my cell and texted Colin.

And seconds later heard a ping.

“Another one of your sex buddies?” Jessie teased.

Colin paused and then, “Oh yeah, but this one’s been really hard to tame. You know the type, a bit schizo but so hot you don’t care that she asks to twist your nipples while she licks your nose.”

“Seriously?” Jessie choked.

“She likes noses. And snake tattoos, loves them.”

“Lucky for you.”

“I think it reminds her of the size of my dick, you know?”

I made a gagging noise, shifted on my feet, then texted again.

Me: Seriously! Trapped! And your dick can’t be the size of that python on your arm because that would mean you actually impale women on a daily basis.

Colin: Just call me Dracula.

I frowned.

Colin: Get it? The impaler.

Me: Look at that, basement dweller can joke! He’s got jokes! Meanwhile I’m going to starve to death in this pantry.

Colin: You mean around all that food?

“Wow, this girl must have skills if you’re that focused on your texts . . .” Jessie trailed off.

“She’s . . . unique,” Colin finally said.

My eyes narrowed. Was that a compliment? Did it matter? Why did I care? And why the hell did Jessie have ten different kinds of cereal—and all the boxes were full.

And alphabetized? Starting with Apple Jacks? Really?

Not that I’d resorted to more snooping.

Okay, so I’d resorted to more snooping.

But the fact that they were full was emotionally distressing. A full cereal box at my house lasts about one hot minute before I get a craving for Cheerios that even wine can’t cure.

“Hey”—Colin cleared his throat—“I need a favor.”

“Anything,” Jessie said quickly.

“I need a nice shirt for a date tonight, something . . . classy.”

Jessie laughed. “What? You can’t wear your own clothes?”

“You know I like your style better.” I rolled my eyes, has he seen that man’s closet? His white shirts are all ironed to within an inch of their lives. “Plus I want to impress this girl and I don’t have time to go grab a new shirt, we’re going on a late lunch date and I’m sweaty as hell, so please? Let me borrow a shirt, I’ll go home and shower, pair it with some nice jeans, and be inside her in no time.”

I glared at the door. Like I could actually see Colin’s smug expression. Why was my heart thumping? Why was I breathing like I was having trouble sucking in air?

He could date whomever he wanted.

I shifted on my feet as my face heated.

He was an attractive, successful man.

I crossed my arms.

Then uncrossed them nervously.

“Yeah, yeah,” Jessie finally said. “I’ll be right back, try not to burn down the kitchen or set the book on fire.”

“Shit, you read my mind,” Colin joked.

The sound of footsteps faded as Jessie walked toward the bedroom.

And then pantry door was jerked open.

I blinked up at him. “Thank you.”

“People . . . they pay you,” he said, leaning his large frame against the door while his muscles bulged beneath his sweat-soaked shirt, “for this?”

My eyes narrowed. “Yes! And I’m good at it.”

His smirk was wicked as he glanced behind me and then locked eyes. “Obviously.”

I shoved his chest. “I miscalculated the time, that’s all.” I tried squeezing past him, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me back into the pantry and closed the door.

“What the hell are you doing?” I hissed as he pressed me against the wall. “He’s going to find me!”

“A favor for a favor, spy girl.” Colin’s grin turned menacing. “I got Jessie out of the house, gave you my car, and saved your sorry ass. I get a favor.”

“I’m not sucking your nose and licking your tattoo, you psycho,” I said, repeating what he’d said earlier.

“Don’t knock it, you may love it.” He winked, and then stood his ground. “One favor.”

I sighed and gritted my teeth. “Fine.”

“A date,” he said triumphantly. “I want a date.”

“A date,” I repeated in a slightly panicked voice. “Like to dinner?”

“No, I was thinking the drive-in, we could make out, eat popcorn, I’d feel you up a bit—yeah, dinner.”

I smirked. “If I go to dinner with you . . . you’ll get me out of this godforsaken pantry with the full boxes of cereal?”

“Noticed that, did you?’

“He’s clearly not human.”

“I steal his Cocoa Puffs every chance I get.”

I nodded seriously. “I think my respect for you grew just now.”

“Ah, she likes cereal.”

“She’d also like to not get caught!”

“Go.” He shoved me toward the pantry door. “Run out the back and try not to trip and ruin your escape.”

“I don’t trip.” Of course, at that moment, I tripped over my own feet and almost face-planted into his lips.

He sighed, his expression worried and a bit stunned as Jessie’s voice carried to the kitchen. “Black okay?”

“Go.” Colin shoved me again. “Oh, and you’re picking me up. It seems I’m down a car.” He winked. “I’ll text you.”

Blog Tour (22).jpg

 

 

I think everyone knows by now that any book RVD writes, I am reading it. I am in completely – no blurb needed, it’s an ALL- IN deal for me. And she did not let me know with Dirty Exes.

I enjoy Rachel’s humorous and light side more than I realized. I have a high bar set for comedy in romance because if not done correctly, it can feel over the top and ruin a great book. But Rachel blends her humor in really well with this book giving if the needy light side so things don’t get too serious and annoying.

Dirty Exes is the first book in Liars, Inc and starts everything of well. Blaire is one of the two women who started their PI firm. They only work with top clientele looking to see if their SO is cheating. And let me tell you, no job is too dirty or too risky for these women.

After their last successful “catch” it’s Blaire’s turn to be the bait and try to catch the perp in the act. Until said perp is the one man she just can’t find herself getting over. She tires to now allow herself to get too personal with this one but when you have a history with someone, it’s hard not to let personal feelings get in the way.

I have to say that in the long run, I did enjoy this book a lot. I loved the characters and how they each held a perfect blend to the story. I loved that things panned out how I thought (wasn’t upset I guessed early because the story was perfect) and I loved getting to know each of the characters.

My only gripe is the timeframe Blaire and Jessie were together previously – 3 weeks. Three weeks isn’t enough to really be pining after the dude years later, but whatever – maybe the connection was that strong. But RVD does a great job of explaining things and working it all out.

Another amazing story from RVD. I am really looking forward to the next book in this series.

 

 

Meet the Author:

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she’s not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.

She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!

Connect with the Author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RachelVanDyken
Website: http://rachelvandykenauthor.com
Newsletter: http://smarturl.it/RVDNewsletter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachvd
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachVD
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Rachel’s Rockin’ Readers: http://bit.ly/RachelsRockinReaders

Release Day Blitz….The Surviving Girls by Katee Robert

 

Release alert for THE SURVIVING GIRLS! 

 Don’t miss this intense, and suspenseful crime novel by Katee Robert!  

 

 

“This is a must read summer read!” —Book Him Danno 

 

“Robert takes the story to an unexpected revelation of who the real killer is and the trip there is highly entertaining in a hang on to your chair kind of way. Every Robert book I’ve read has been filled with well defined, gritty characters and a well-paced plot. The women aren’t Cinderallas and the Princes Charming have an edge to them. Just the way I like it.” —Jeep Diva 

 

Download THE SURVIVING GIRLS or add it to your TBR pile on Goodreads! Then keep reading to get a sneak peek and your chance to enter the giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card or books from Katee Robert!  

 

 

 

Title: The Surviving Girls 

Author: Katee Robert 

Series: Hidden Sins #3 

Genre: Romantic Suspense 

Release Date: May 29, 2018 

Publisher: Montlake Romance 

Print Length:  282 pages 

Format: Digital and Paperback 

ISBN: 978-1503902442 

 

 

Synopsis:  

 

A fierce survivor and a fearless FBI agent battle a copycat serial killer in a gripping thriller from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katee Robert. 

 

Twelve years ago, Lei Zhang and her friend Emma Nilsson miraculously lived through the notorious Sorority Row Murders that left twenty-one of their sisters dead. Still wrestling with the trauma but finally out of the limelight, Lei and Emma are now devoted to helping other victims find closure. But most disturbing for Lei—beyond the gut-wrenching survivor guilt—is that the killer was her boyfriend. He’s behind bars, but she’ll never lower her guard again. 

 

When a copycat killer targets Lei and Emma, FBI Agent Dante Young is put in charge of anticipating the sociopath’s every move. But what he doesn’t expect is his immediate and overpowering attraction to Lei. The closer they get to each other, the more desperate and terrifying the questions become: Who wants to finish what the killer started—and why? 

 

Now Agent Young vows to protect Lei at all costs. If they have any chance of a future together, first they have to stay alive… 

 

Download at:  

Amazon:  http://bit.ly/TheSurvivingGIrlsAmazon 

B&N: http://bit.ly/2HcOsUZ 

 

Enter to win a grand prize of a $25 Amazon Gift Card or three (3) runner-up copies of a backlist eBook from Katee Robert! 

 

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The Surviving Girls Excerpt 

Copyright © 2018 Katee Robert 

 

Lei couldn’t breathe. Her chest closed painfully as if she’d been knocked flat on her back, and her lungs burned with the need for oxygen. Somewhere in the tiny rational corner of her mind, she knew there was nothing really wrong with her, but rational thought had no place in the midst of her panic. 

He’s back. Emma was right all along and he’s coming for us. 

Stop. 

You’re spiraling. 

Travis Berkley is still in jail. This is a copycat, and no matter how bad a copycat is, he can’t be worse than Travis. You survived before. You will this time, too. 

A whine cut through her thoughts, and then Saul was there, nudging her hand with his cool nose. She inhaled sharply, suddenly aware that everyone in the room was staring at her. The Feds had the blank-slate expression she’d come to associate with cops when they were in a difficult situation. Emma looked at her as if she was on the verge of her own panic attack. 

Lei stroked her hand over Saul’s head, forming a wall of indisputable facts in her mind to keep the fear at bay. She wasn’t twenty-one anymore, only a couple of years out of the stifling family home she’d grown up on, still drunk on freedom and the realization that she could do anything she wanted to with her future. 

She’d been an idiot. A child who was playing dress-up without realizing the pitfalls of adulthood. 

Though most pitfalls don’t come attached to a knife. 

Lei wasn’t that girl anymore. She’d seen the worst Travis Berkley could offer and had the scars to show for it. She could shoot. She could fight. She’d worked with enough cops over the course of her career as a trainer and search team that she had an inside view to how their minds worked. 

She would not lose herself to terror. 

Another stroke to Saul’s head and she was able to speak. “How close to the original murders are the details?” 

Agent Young exchanged a glance with his partner and leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. His big hands dangled between his legs, and she distantly noted that he had really firm thighs beneath the expensive slacks. He spoke slowly, as if gauging her response. “We haven’t had a chance to check the original case files, but the big details are almost identical. The murders were performed in the same way—girls kept in a main room and taken out individually. We think he snuck in through a window, because their condo was on the second floor and he used a knife from the kitchen.” 

She could almost hear Travis’s voice in her head, even after all these years. Let me in, Lei-Lei. I have a surprise for you. Stupid. She’d been so incredibly stupid, swayed by a pretty face and a boy her parents would approve of who made her feel. Smart, athletic, the right dollar amount in his family’s bank account. Someone bright and colorful and checking all the right boxes. 

Since she couldn’t bring herself to ask if one of the girls let him in, she focused on the rest. “If this is a fan, he must have been in contact with Travis at some point.” She put her hand on Emma’s leg when her friend flinched at his name. The Feds didn’t react, which made her sigh. “But you already knew that. You don’t need me telling you how to do your job. What is it you need?” 

Another loaded look between them. They’d obviously been partners for a long time, because they managed to convey an entire conversation’s worth of talking in a single look. 

Again, it was Agent Young who took the lead. “We can find the details of the case easily enough, along with your accounts, but what I’d like to know is your take on Travis.” 

“Because I dated him.” She stated it baldly, as if the fact she’d slept with a murderer was something she’d dealt with and moved on from. As if the fact didn’t still keep her up at night, moving beneath her skin until she wanted to take a wire brush to her body. There weren’t enough hot showers and bleach baths in the world to change the fact she’d willingly been with him. She could never take that back. 

“Because you—both of you—have known him longer than anyone.” 

“Agent Young—” 

“Dante.” 

She stopped short. Dante. It fit him somehow—strong and a little bit intense. He masked it well, but there was fire lurking in the depths of his dark eyes, in the way he clenched his fists as they spoke about Travis. She shouldn’t be forming personal opinions about any man, let alone one connected with the case. Lei’s track record had more than proven that fact. 

While she was still trying to process her strange and seriously inconvenient reaction to him, Emma had found her voice. She spoke softly, her southern accent giving her breathy tone a pretty lilt. She had a Dolly Parton thing going for her—at least before Dolly got a little crazy for plastic surgery—and Emma wasn’t above playing up the sweet-southern-belle thing when it suited her. “Travis Berkley is a sociopath with a healthy dose of narcissistic personality disorder—which you already know because you read the file. Everything is in the file. We have been doing our best to get past what he did to us—to our sisters—and that means forgetting as much as possible.” 

Maybe for Emma. Lei couldn’t afford to forget. It had been her mistake that tipped the first domino that destroyed so many lives. While it was possible Travis could have gotten into the house on his own, she’d been the fool who let him in her window. 

The knowledge made her hands shake. Emma might want to do everything to avoid that gory walk down memory lane, but Lei didn’t have that option. Guilt wrapped around her throat, tightening, ever tightening. “You have something specific you’re here for.” 

Agent Rowan leaned forward, a clear indication that she’d take it from there. As much as Lei wanted the calming force Dante—Agent Young—seemed to emanate, she turned almost gratefully to the redhead. She eyed her as if Lei was a particularly interesting bug. “We’re theorizing this fucker—” 

Clarke. 

She didn’t look at him. “These women have seen enough, Dante. You know as well as I do that a few choice curse words aren’t going to have them scrambling for their sniffing salts.” 

Lei understood now why Britton had paired these two together. Clarke was the blunt force designed to set a person back on their heels so they were too busy reacting to her foul mouth to stop and think that there might be a shrewd mind behind those deceptively big blue eyes. Dante on the other hand, was a cool summer mist, unruffling feathers and putting everyone in the room at ease with his calm presence. Both agents would be underestimated in different ways, which was only to their benefit. 

Clever. 

She eyed the dogs on the floor. Neither of them seemed overly concerned with the Feds in the room. Good. Lei had more than proven she could be fooled, but Saul couldn’t. Every time he reacted poorly to a person, she paid attention—and most of the time something eventually came to light to prove her dog’s instincts correct. 

Clarke followed her gaze and then refocused on Lei and then Emma. “A lot of sociopaths think they’re smarter than everyone else in the room—some of them are even right—and Travis sure as hell falls into the latter category. His IQ is 167, and from all accounts, prison hasn’t broken him. What we need to know is if he’d encourage a fan to take these steps.” 

“Of course he would. He’s a fucking psycho,” Emma snarled. 

“What do you think?” Clarke was looking at Lei. 

Because why not? Even now, cops thought Lei had some kind of inside track to the way Travis’s mind worked. She’d dated him for months, had slept with him countless times, and so she must have some insider knowledge to explain how the golden boy went so very, very wrong. 

She hadn’t been able to give them a satisfactory answer then. She didn’t have one now, either. But she could try. 

 

 

 

Katee Robert – you have outdone yourself with this book in this series. This is my favorite book so far in this series. I couldn’t stop reading (while I was awake). Hell, my brain even had me dreaming of this book.

The Surviving Girls gave me chills at so many points in this book – it was written that damn good. I got this sense that I was right there with these characters as this unwound this twisted path they were thrown onto.

I won’t give any details because you need to read this one blind (aside from the blurb). Lei and Emma survived that same brutal killings their friends unfortunately didn’t. But they both have moved on in different ways, but together.

But when a copycat killer starts things back up, they are thrown back into the thick of things. And even though it’s been over 10 years since they went through that whole ordeal, everything comes rushing back to them.

Katee wrote a very strong and intriguing plot. This book moves at the perfect pace; while everything may only happen in a few days time, it all makes sense and never feels rushed in any way.

The twists and turns are brought about very cleverly and she leaves just enough bread crumbs to string you along. I have so many different ideas as to who, what, why, how things happened. While I was right on one thing, it was how it played out that I was totally baffled on.

Bravo Katee for writing another amazing suspenseful read. You have this knack for writing books that keep your readers engaged and immensely emerged in the story.

If you haven’t read any of Katee’s books yet, I highly recommend giving this series a go!

Side Note – let me clarify something on all these books and it’s something that I have come to realize after now reading the third book. These books are classified as romantic suspense but there is very little romance in them; however due to the fact that there is some romance in them and due to standards, it can’t be listed as just a suspense/thriller. So please do not go into these books hoping for a lot of romance – it is definitely a subplot that is not really developed too much in the book, which I find to a be a great thing. The suspense and thrill are what really drives these books home.

 

 

Praise for The Hidden Sins Series 

 

“…a captivating read, made all the more rewarding when good triumphs.”—Washington Post on The Devil’s Daughter 

 

“Robert shows off her impressive versatility in this fast-paced and inventive new Hidden Sins series. The small-town setting is a masterful blend of quaint and oppressive, which ratchets the menace and thrill factor. The protagonists carry the full weight of their pasts with them, making their growing relationship as compelling as the mystery element in The Devil’s Daughter. With plenty of twists and betrayals, this is a book that is sure to earn Robert a wealth of new fans.” RT Book Reviews on The Devil’s Daughter 

 

“Katee Robert has definitely picked up the romantic suspense genre and made it her bitch. I can’t wait to see what we get next. Given some of the books I see she’s been using for research, I know it’s going to be frightening and amazing at the same time.” —Goodreads Review 

 

“Every bit as complex as book one but with a totally different storyline, The Hunting Grounds once again proved Katee Robert is more than capable of spinning a thrilling romantic suspense tale that will keep readers on their toes.” Harlequin Junkieon The Hunting Grounds (recommended read) 

 

“Filled with suspense and lot of unpredictable twists and turns…Gripping.” Life at 17on The Hunting Grounds 

 

 

Other Books in the Hidden Sin Series 

 

THE DEVIL’S DAUGHTER 

Get more information at:  Goodreads  | Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

 

THE HUNTING GROUNDS 

Get more information at: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

 

 

About Katee Robert 

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert learned to tell her stories at her grandpa’s knee. Her 2015 title, The Marriage Contract, was a RITA finalist, and RT Book Reviews named it ‘a compulsively readable book with just the right amount of suspense and tension.”  When not writing sexy contemporary and romantic suspense, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her children, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.  

Connect with Katee at: Website | Facebook | TwitterGoodReads | Instagram