Wilder by Rebecca Yarros….Sale Blitz

 

 

 

Title: Wilder
Series: The Renegades #1
Author: Rebecca Yarros
Genre: New Adult
Release Date: September 19, 2016

 

Blurb
I’m Paxton Wilder.
Twenty-two-year-old, five-time X Games medalist.
And I have more tattoos than scars.
I’ve never seen a stunt I couldn’t pull off–
Or a girl I can’t get off.

Until she walks in.My new tutor is sexy, smart, more stubborn than I am, and one hundred percent off limits.

That’s right–the only rule this semester is Don’t Touch the Tutor.
For the first time in my life, I want someone I can’t have.
She’s the girl who obeys every rule.
I’m the guy who breaks them.

Our biggest risk is falling for each other, But I live for risk…

 

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99c for a limited time only

 

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

 

 

Excerpt

“Do I get a good-luck kiss?” he asked after checking for cameras, his hands framing my waist.

“Paxton.” I tried to make it sound like a warning, but it came out too breathy, too wanting. For crying out loud, I couldn’t even control my own voice against this guy.

He squeezed lightly and then groaned. “Did I ever tell you that I love this dress?”

I shook my head. The spaghetti-strap maxi dress had been a last-minute choice, but Penna said she was going to burn all my pants if she saw me in them for the twenty-first day in a row.

He leaned down, his mouth against the shell of my ear. “I can feel every curve under my hands, which makes me pretty damn desperate to slide this up your legs and really get my hands on you. But I won’t. You know why?”

I shook my head.

“Because you haven’t said yes—yet—and I’m a goddamned gentleman.”

My fingers traced the lines of the Chinese symbol tattoos that ran up his neck, simply unable not to touch him. “Do I have to say yes to everything to get to kiss you?” I asked.

His breath stuttered. “Do you want to say yes?”

Our eyes met, and it would have been so easy to say it, to throw my hesitation overboard and jump. But that wasn’t me, and it didn’t matter that I was in a breezy dress under the Italian sun with the hottest extreme athlete on the planet, I was still…me. “I’m thinking about it.”

His forehead puckered for a millisecond before he relaxed and smoothed the line of my waist. “Then I think we can take yeses on a case-by-case basis.”

My heart pounded in anticipation.
“Leah, would you like me to kiss you?”

“Yes,” I answered instantly.

Our hips met first as he drew me in. My hands slipped down the edges of his T-shirt to grasp the inked lines of his biceps. Arms like his should be modeled, sculpted, revered… or maybe just outlawed.

“Do you want to kiss me?” I asked.

“Hell yes,” he answered, then brushed his mouth against mine once before settling over me. 

I opened for him, and he dove in, his tongue filling my mouth while my ass filled his hands. Gentleman, indeed.

 

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Releases February 20, 2017
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
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Author Bio

Rebecca Yarros is a hopeless romantic and a lover of all things coffee, chocolate, and Paleo. She is the author of the Flight & Glory series, including Full Measures, the award-winning Eyes Turned Skyward, Beyond What is Given, and Hallowed Ground. She loves military heroes, and has been blissfully married to hers for fourteen years.

When she’s not writing, she’s tying hockey skates for her four sons, sneaking in some guitar time, or watching brat-pack movies with her two daughters. She lives in Colorado with the hottest Apache pilot ever, their rambunctious gaggle of kids, an English bulldog who is more stubborn than sweet, and a bunny named General Fluffy Pants who torments the aforementioned bulldog. They recently adopted their youngest daughter from the foster system, and Rebecca is passionate about helping others do the same.

Rebecca is represented by Louise Fury of the Bent Agency.

Author Links

Mack Daddy by Penelope Ward….Excerpt Reveal

 

mack daddy release date

 

pwmackdaddybookcover5x8_bw_high-fixedFrom New York Times bestselling author, Penelope Ward, comes a sexy, STANDALONE second-chance romance.

They called him Mack Daddy. No, seriously, his name was Mack. Short for Mackenzie. Thus, the nickname. Perfect, right?

So was he: perfect. The perfect physical male specimen.

At the private school where I taught, Mack Morrison was the only man around in a sea of women.

Everyone wanted a piece of the hot single father of the sweet little boy.

I was riddled with jealousy, because they didn’t know that—to me—he was much more.

They didn’t know about our past.

He’d chosen my school for his son on purpose, because Mack and I, we had unfinished business.

As my friend Lorelai so eloquently put it: “Unfinished business between two people who are clearly attracted to each other is like an eternal case of blue balls.” And I was suffering in pain from my case.

I was still intensely attracted to Mack. I tried to resist him, immersing myself further into a relationship with another man just to protect my heart.

Not to mention, getting involved with a parent was strictly against school rules. But seeing Mack day in and day out was breaking me down.

And soon I might be breaking all the rules.

 

Author’s note – Told in alternating points of view, Mack Daddy is a full-length standalone novel.

 

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MACK DADDY EXCERPT

Copyright © 2016 by

Penelope Ward

It was the evening of our monthly PTO meeting. On the agenda was to designate the volunteers for several fundraisers that would take place in the spring.

Setting up the refreshments and a coffee urn in the hallway outside of the classroom, I couldn’t wait to get this over with so that I could go home, get into my pajamas, and relax. It was always exhausting to have evening commitments when the workday ran so late to begin with.

A deep voice from behind startled me. “A keg would be much more fun, wouldn’t it?”

I turned around to find Mack standing there, holding a box of chocolate chip cookies from the supermarket.

“What are you doing here?”

He placed the cookies on the table. “This is the parent and teachers meeting, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but…” I hesitated, not even knowing what to say.

He finished my sentence. “But I’m not supposed to be included in that group?” Mack snapped his finger. “Oh, I’m sorry. I thought PTO stood for ‘pissing teacher off.’ My bad.”

“Well, if that were the case, you might be in the right place.”

“This is the right place for me tonight.”

“This meeting is for serious participants.”

“I’m serious about the teacher. Does that count?”

“No.”

“Actually, in all seriousness, I’d also like to help. It’s the least I can do after crashing your school year. I really would like to be as involved as I can in Jonah’s education. That’s the truth, okay? Getting to spend time with you is an added benefit.”

What could I say? He had just as much right to be here as anyone else.

“Just be aware that this isn’t the right place to be joking around or distracting the other attendees, for that matter.”

“I don’t plan on distracting anyone but you.”

“Yeah, well you have quite the fan base here. We have a very strict agenda to adhere to.”

He moved in closer and just stared me down for a bit. The contact caused my skin to prickle and my nipples to harden. “Don’t worry,” he said as he looked down, seeming to notice that my nipples were piercing through the fabric of my shirt. “Your points are well noted, Miss O’Hara.” He wriggled his brows. “I’ll see you inside.”

I hated that he knew he was having an effect on me. If my body had this kind of response now, what would have happened if he’d actually done more? Spontaneous impregnation? Some things just never change, and my reaction to this man was an example of that.

A long table sat in the middle of the spare classroom where we held the meeting. There wasn’t a single man in the room besides Mack. He was like the centerpiece.

I took my seat at the end of the table. “So, shall we get started?” Looking down at my list, I said, “First on the agenda is the book fair. We need to elect someone to be in charge of it and coordinate the volunteers.”

Mack raised his hand.

“Yes?” I asked.

“That sounds like it’s right down my alley. I’d like to volunteer to run the book fair.”

“What makes you want that task? It’s a lot of responsibility.”

He thought about it for a moment then said, “I write children’s books. I think I’d be a perfect fit.”

“That’s a good point,” one of the women said. “He might be the perfect fit.”

I’m sure you’re thinking he’d be the perfect fit, alright…in your vagina.

“Okay…but I hope you know that there is a tremendous amount of work that goes into organizing that particular event. It takes place over the course of an entire weekend. You have to place orders with the bookseller, do inventory, delegate tasks, and arrange for an onsite food vendor because many people just come for the food. Ultimately, the food is the bait.”

“I can bait people. I’m a master baiter.” He paused. “I mean…I can handle it. I’ll get a shitload of people to sign up.”

An attending nun gave him a dirty look for his use of foul language.

He cleared his throat, seeming to regret his choice of terminology. “I’ll get people to attend. Don’t worry.”

“I’ll put your name down as a possibility. We’ll take a vote at the end.”

“Thank you.”

Looking around the room, I asked, “Is there anyone else here who is interested in taking the reigns on the book fair?”

Not a single person budged.

One woman said, “No, but I’ll be happy to help Mack with whatever he needs.”

I’m sure you will.

Mack nodded then offered a smug smile. “Thank you.” He then took a bite of his cookie and winked at me.

 

 

 

Jeans Teaser

 

 

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. She’s a fifteen-time New York Times bestseller of twelve novels.

Having grown up in Boston with five older brothers, she spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor, before switching to a more family-friendly career. She is the proud mother of a beautiful 12-year-old girl with autism and a 10-year-old boy. Penelope and her family reside in Rhode Island.

 

Connect with Penelope Ward

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Singe by Aly Martinez…Release Day Blitz

SINGE is the first book in an ALL NEW smokin-hot standalone series by Aly Martinez!

 NOW AVAILABLE!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2kfNgXh

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**Additional Retailers to follow**

 

Blurb

She was my nightmare. Every time I closed my eyes, I watched her fall into that inferno. Over and over, I failed to save her.

I hadn’t been able to reach her, and the guilt only burned hotter over time. Four years later, I was the unreachable one.

Heroes aren’t always saints. Sometimes, we’re nothing more than jaded sinners driven by sleepless nights and hearts full of darkness.

And then I met her. She was a dreamer who managed to soothe my scars and heal my wounds.

But, as the flames closed in around us, I feared I wasn’t the right man to save her. That is until I realized she was the one woman I’d burn the world down to protect.

 

About the Author

Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Aly Martinez is a stay-at-home mom to four crazy kids under the age of five- including a set of twins. Currently living in South Carolina, she passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a glass of wine at her side.

 STALK HER: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

For Finlay by J. Nathan…Blog Tour with Excerpt

For Finlay BT Ban

Today we have the blog tour for For Finlay by J. Nathan. Check out this fantastic new release and grab your copy today!

 for finlay cover

Title: For Finlay

Author: J. Nathan

Genre: Contemporary Sports Romance

 

About For Finlay:

Finlay Thatcher is a lost soul, guilt-ridden after the death of her twin brother. When Alabama’s football coach gives her the opportunity to work for him, she knows it’s her chance to move on, even if it means living her brother’s dream.

 

Caden Brooks is Alabama’s star quarterback. He’s got it all. The attention of adoring fans. A girlfriend who’d do anything to hold on to him. And a future in the pros. He’s getting along just fine until Finlay steps into his life, despising him at first sight and pushing his buttons like no other.

 

Unfortunately for Finlay, and her attempt to keep Caden at arm’s length, there’s nothing Caden loves more than a challenge. The problem with this challenge is she comes with a secret that has the power to destroy everything.

 ForFinlay Teaser2 Final

Get Your Copy Today!

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Excerpt

“I think we got off on the wrong foot,” Brooks said, breaking the silence—and my counting streak.

I glanced over. “I didn’t think we were on any foot.”

He smiled, not easily put-off by my distaste for him. “I’m Caden.”

I tilted my head.

He smirked, well aware I knew who he was. “And you are?”

“Despite what most of your teammates think, I’m not Hey You, Sweetheart, or Water Girl. I’m Finlay.”

He pursed his lips as if considering if my name fit. “Well, it’s nice to meet you Finlay.” He didn’t say my name with a southern drawl, the way the local boys said it. It rolled off his tongue smoother. The way a west coaster would say it. “Finlay what?”

My heart drummed faster, and it had nothing to do with the run. It had to do with him being the last person I’d open up to about who I was—who my brother was. “Grace.” My middle name shot out, technically making it a half-truth and not a total lie. I pressed the button on my machine to slow my pace, needing to cool down before stopping completely.

“I like you,” Caden said.

My eyes cut back to his.

“Without the chip on your shoulder.”

“I don’t have a chip,” I growled.

He leveled me with unconvinced eyes, my tone speaking for itself.

“Ever think you just bring out the worst in me?”

He smiled. “Nope. But so you know, we’re not all Grady. I, for one, am a pretty decent guy.”

“So, the rumors should be ignored?”

“At all costs.”

 

 

 ForFinlay Teaser 1 - Final

About J. Nathan:

JNathanLogoNathan is the author of the new adult novels For Finlay, Before Hadley, Until Alex, and Since Drew. When she’s not writing, she’s a total romance junkie! Add an alpha male who’s unlikable in the beginning…even better. Happy endings are a must. Love triangles and negative people are the bane of her existence. Her family, friends, guys in backwards hats, and watermelon margaritas are the light…

 

Connect with the Author:

https://www.facebook.com/jnathanauthor

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https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8202337.J_Nathan

www.jnathan.net

https://www.pinterest.com/jnathanbooks

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Subscribe to my newsletter: http://bit.ly/2fXAOLQ

 

 

ForFinlay Teaser3 Final

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Cover Reveal…Girl In The Mirror by Elizabeth Reyes

Title: Girl In The Mirror (Looking Glass)
Author: Elizabeth Reyes
Genre: Romantic Thriller
Expected Release Date: Spring of 2017


BLURB

A girl without a past.

Margaret Hellman awoke in a hospital with no memory of the horrific accident that claimed the lives of her sister and their best friend.

After years of struggling to regain a fraction of her memories, Maggie is left with no choice but to accept her past is gone. Despite the tormenting void in her heart.

Then the triggers start.

Tiny indiscernible but profoundly emotional glimpses of her past. The day she meets him, at her sister’s graveside sets off the most explosive trigger to date. It’s so overwhelming Maggie’s convinced she’s supposed to remember—she needs to.

As the puzzling pieces of her past start to come together, it’s clear something’s amiss. But nothing can prepare her for the shocking reality of what really happened that fateful day seven years ago.

Girl in the Mirror is a psychological romantic thriller with a twist you’ll NEVER see coming!

Goodreads

Okay so Monday when I announced the cover reveal was coming I mentioned this “stand alone” has now turned into a series and that I’d explain a little more today. Here goes.

Behind the Series

Want to read the first Two Chapters of Girl in the Mirror???   Purchase Eli’s newest release, Lila and she gives you those two chapters as a bonus!!!

Amazon US

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iBooks

Smashwords

Kobo

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AUTHOR BIO

 

“I write because I must. It’s not a choice or a pastime, it’s an unyielding calling and my passion.”

USA Today Bestselling Author, Elizabeth Reyes continues to answer to her calling on a daily basis. Since releasing her debut novel Forever Mine (Moreno Brothers #1) in 2010 she has now published 24 full length novels total and fast at work on the next. The excitement her Moreno Brothers, 5th Street, and Fate series have garnered has far exceeded her wildest dreams. It is with as much excitement that she’ll continue to put out books related to these series as well as introduce brand new ones very soon.

Stay tuned for more exciting news about what’s in store for 2017!

Author Social links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Newsletter signup | Instagram | Radish| Wattpad| Printerest |

The Tattered Gloves by J.L. Berg….Blog Tour & Review

ttg-amazonAbout THE TATTERED GLOVES

Head down.
Don’t look up.
Never make eye contact.

Those were the words I lived by growing up, the words that protected me in an unsafe home. But words are only letters and eventually even they couldn’t keep his hands off me.

Hoping to leave behind the shattered life of my past, I find myself in a boring, small town, with an aunt I’ve never met and at a school I loathe.

But soon I learn, not everything in this world is as black and white as I’ve determined. Sometimes those we are so quick to judge often need a second, third or even fourth time to make a first impression.

And often, there are friendships and even love waiting just around the corner, if we are brave enough to take the first step.

Am I brave? Or will I hide behind these tattered gloves of mine forever?

Add THE TATTERED GLOVES to your to be read shelf on Goodreads!

Get your hands on THE TATTERED GLOVES: Amazon | iBooks | Google Play | Kobo

Find out as soon as THE TATTERED GLOVES goes up for sale on other retailers by subscribing to J.L. Berg’s newsletter!

4.5 Stars

J.L. Berg I am so excited that you took a chance and wrote in a different genre. And let me tell you, you definitely have a future in YA books. This book is a must read!!!

The Tattered Gloves is another perfect example of why I have such a huge addiction to YA books. The storyline was amazing and the characters are very real and relatable. I can’t say enough how “real” characters always plays a huge part in YA books. Alot of times that teenagers are acting older than they should – talking as if they are in college or reacting to things as mature adults. Yes, some teenagers are more mature than most college students, but that’s very rare.

Anyway, I digress. Willow’s reactions to everything in this book follows her personality perfectly all because of how she was raised by her mother. She is a shadow; she keeps to herself and tries to stay hidden. It’s what she knows and how she feels most comfortable in her skin. And then when her world is turned upside down, she stays hidden and keeps her guard up. But slowly learns that not everyone is cruel in this world, especially teenagers. She is strong and brave without realizing it.

Sam is something else. Let me tell you. He’s the most sincere, patient, loveable and protective teenager I have ever come across. But he’s no pushover. He’s got this magnetism that draws anyone and everyone to him. But he himself has gone through some tough times that unfortunately alot of kids these days go through. But he’s the one that finally breaks Willow out of her shell. And he does it without ever once making Willow feel scared or being pushed outside of her comfort zone.

I want to say so much more about this book and these characters plus a few others – Addy and Allison. The way J.L. slowly brings these characters into Willow’s life is amazing. And it all flows perfectly. Nothing is out of sorts and everyone interacts together so well. They are never out of character or doing something that just doesn’t fit their personality.

J.L. wrote a very strong story line. The plot is about a heavy subject but it’s not gruesome, which plays into the YA genre. You get the level of intensity that J.L. wants you to have with this book and this genre. She tells a great a story and wrote it very well. And I can’t wait for her to write more in this genre.

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About J.L. Berg

J.L. Berg is the USA Today bestselling author of the Ready Series, The Walls Duet, and the Lost & Found Duet. She is a California native living in the beautiful state of historic Virginia. Married to her high school sweetheart, they have two beautiful girls that drive them batty on a daily basis. When she’s not writing, you will find her with her nose stuck in a romance novel, in a yoga studio or devouring anything chocolate. J.L. Berg is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, LLC.

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The Do-Over by Julie Richman….Blog Tour & Review

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The Do-Over, an all-new emotional, second chance STANDALONE romance by Julie A. Richman is now LIVE!!

~ Sometimes, one degree is all that separates you from the one you were meant to be with. ~

Wes Bergman was sex on a stick.

We’d been circling one another our entire lives, mingling at the same clubs… attending the same events…sharing mutual acquaintances…yet we’d never actually met.

Until . . . we both boarded a Windjammer Cruise in the Caribbean. And it was like meeting my long, lost best friend for the first time. I hadn’t ever connected with a guy that way before.

But Wes had a girlfriend. So, when the week was over, he walked off the ship, unknowingly taking a piece of my heart with him.

Now, over a decade later, newly divorced, I’m the proverbial fish out of water. Dating has totally changed. Apps. Swipe left. Swipe right. Catfishing. Men my age want two things: twenty-five-year-olds—like my ex’s new child bride of a wife—or just a quick hook-up.

After a string of bad dates, I finally did something I never thought I’d do. I had a hot one-night stand with a really handsome guy I met online who didn’t even know my real name.

Turned out Mr. Fling is a big shot for my company’s newest client. And just my

luck, that client’s CEO is none other than . . . Wes Bergman.

Now I’m separated by one degree again from the man who stole my heart.

And Mr. Fling could destroy my chance of what I want most –

A Do-Over with Wes.

thedoover_6x9_290pg_final-page-001

Excerpt:

His hand slowly stroking up and down the outside of my thigh is what roused me from my dream state. It was so soft and tender that I was getting more and more turned on with every movement. With my eyes still closed, I enjoyed the sensation. It wasn’t until his lips started brushing my shoulder, that I was unable to stifle a moan, revealing that I was awake.

“Good morning,” his whisper was hoarse.

“Mmm, good morning.” I stretched my body against his and turned my head to see his face hovering over mine, before our lips met.

“Sleep good?”

“Surprisingly, I did. I was so exhausted. Sorry for passing out on you last night,” I apologized.

“I think we both passed out the moment our heads hit the pillows.” Wes’ hand had migrated from my thigh to my stomach, where he softly drew circles with his fingertips.

Rolling over to face him, I pushed my hair out of the way, silently praying my humidity enhanced curls didn’t make me look like a deranged housewife, scaring the erection right out of the man. Slinging a leg over his thigh, I instantly got my answer. The crazy morning coif was not a cock killer. Thank God!

“You’re a morning person, I see.” Hiding my smile was not a possibility.

“Yeah, I am,” Wes laughed, moving closer to me, his eyes filled with the unmistakable desire to become lovers, something I’d dreamed about on the deck of a windjammer long ago.

“You can wake me up like this anytime.” I needed to let him know it was okay. He’d said he’d take it as slow as I wanted it and what I wanted right now was a slow rhythm of him plowing into me. Hard.

“Are you hard to wake up?” He was pressed up against me.

“I think you’ll figure out the secrets to rousing me.”

“You’ve already figured out the secrets to arousing me.” His voice still had that sexy edge of morning roughness to it, making me want to skip all foreplay and have him inside me.

“I’ll bet you have a few more secrets I can discover,” I said against his lips, as I shifted the leg I had slung over him, pressing my heat and wetness against his already throbbing cock.

Wes groaned and I could feel his smile against my lips. “You know you’re going to make it impossible to make slow, sweet love to you.”

“Good, because I don’t want it slow and sweet.”

Wes flipped me onto my back, “I can easily accommodate your wishes. Are you on anything or do I need to…”

“We’re good,” I assured him.

“Yes, we are.” He kissed my neck, then swiftly pulled my tank top over my head tossing it to the floor. “We’re going to be really good together. Of that, I have no doubt.”

And I knew he was right. Being with this man had been so perfect from the night we met. We meshed with ease and the result was pure joy.

The warmth in his eyes and smile made my breath catch, and in that moment, I was flooded with overwhelming emotion at how much I wanted him. How much I’d always wanted him. It was more than lust, beyond the heat of the moment. Wes Bergman was the man I had always wanted, from the night we met. That was clear to me now.

“I vote we skip the foreplay.” I wriggled out of my underwear.

“You’re on.” His smile told me he was taking on the challenge.

“You’re in,” I gasped, my breath catching in my throat, surprised at the swiftness with which he filled my request.

an-thedo-over

Read Today!

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JULIE! JULIE! JULIE!  You never cease to amaze me with your stories!!!  The Do-Over is another one to add to your list of awesomeness!!  I couldn’t put this book down once I started.

I have loved Julie since I started her Moore series (love that we see thpseudonym character in this book!) and I have loved every single book since then.  And The Do-Over is just another book to add to that shelf.  Julie always write these relatable characters (30’s and 40’s age group) and they are just so realistic.  Add that to her amazing plot and BAM – FABULOUS READING TIME!!!

Wes and Tara have been “involved” in each others lives in one or another but never truly met.  Until the meet on a cruise, but it’s just bad timing for them.  They feel that instant connection but could not act on it.  They go about their lives and when they meet again, you sometimes just can’t ignore what fate is trying to slam into  you.

I love that this story spans over a good chunk of their lives before things are finally falling into place.  But it’s not an easy journey for them.  Julie does a great job of building the tension and passion.  Without their past, this book just wouldn’t be the same.  Wes and Tara had to build their trust, faith and hope in another over the passing years to get the courage to take this further when the opportunity arises.

I can’t say enough about this book. The characters will yank at your heart strings.  You will find yourself captivated by these characters, including the secondary characters; they all added to this story.  The whole story flows beautifully.

Julie is an amazing writer.  If you have never read anything by her, I urge you to read this book.  She will win you over.

light

About the Author:

 

USA Today Bestselling author Julie A. Richman is a native New Yorker living deep in the heart of Texas. A creative writing major in college, reading and writing fiction has always been a passion. Julie began her corporate career in publishing in NYC and writing played a major role throughout her career as she created and wrote marketing, advertising, direct mail and fundraising materials for Fortune 500 corporations, advertising agencies and non-profit organizations. She is an award winning nature photographer plagued with insatiable wanderlust. Julie and her husband have one son and a white German Shepherd named Juneau.

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Connect with Julie:

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

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Website: http://juliearichman.com/
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Anything You Can Do by R.S. Grey….Release Day Blitz & Review

Title: Anything You Can Do
Author: R.S. Grey
Release Date: Feb 2, 2017
Add to TBR
Lucas Thatcher has always been my
enemy.It’s been a decade since I’ve seen him, but our years on
opposite coasts were less of a lasting peace and more of a temporary cease-fire. Now that
we’re both back in our small town, I know Lucas expects the same old war, but
I’ve changed since high school—and from the looks of it, so has he.The arrogant boy who was my teenage rival is now a chiseled doctor armed with intimidating
good looks. He is Lucas Thatcher 2.0, the new and improved version I’ll be competing
with in the workplace instead of the schoolyard.

I’m not worried; I’m a
doctor now too, board-certified and sexy in a white coat. It almost feels like winning will be too
easy—until Lucas unveils a tactic neither of us has ever used before: sexual
warfare
.

The day he pushes me up against the wall and presses his lips to
mine, I can’t help but wonder if he’s filling me with passion or poison. Every
fleeting touch is perfect torture. With every stolen kiss, my walls crumble a little more. After all
this time, Lucas knows exactly how to strip me of my defenses, but I’m in no hurry to
surrender.

Knowing thy enemy has never felt so good.

 

Once again, I am going to be in the minority with this book.  I wanted to love this book so much.  I really did.

Let me preface this first by saying I am huge R.S. Grey fan.  I love her books and I really enjoy her writing.  This is my first (and hopefully only) book that I just couldn’t get into.  I am huge enemies to lovers, when the story is told well.

Daisy and Lucas have grown up together and have always been competitive with another one.  Trying to outdo the other.  They both go off to college and med school and Daisy is able to avoid him during all that time, even with return trips home.  Now Daisy is moving back home with the hopes of taking over the local family practice.  Then she learns that Lucas is also going to be working there too.  And so beings that competition as adults – well at least for Daisy it’s a competition.

I think Lucas was the only one of the two who actually grew up.  Daisy just irked me with her high school antics.  I truly wanted to slap her upside head quite a lot.  Lucas was beyond amazing and definitely have more patience than anyone I know.

You can sense the tension and friction between them but also the attraction too.  I did love the hate fucking but I had a hard time with HEA for these two.  It just seemed like all of sudden Daisy pulled her head out of her ass and realized she was 28 and not 18.  And that high school dance scene – I won’t even go there. It just proves my point of her not acting her age. 

Overall, it was just an ok book for me.  I most likely won’t remember this story in a few months and I hate that.  I love R.S. and will continue to read her books.  This book just wasn’t for me.

I am a lover of books, chocolate,
reality TV, black labs, and cold weather. Seriously, if I had it my way I would be curled up on the
couch with all of those things… everyday.I live in Texas where I spend my free
time writing and reading. My favorite authors are Mindy Kaling & Jonathan Safran Foer.
I’m a comedy geek and love all things “funny”. Women like Tina Fey, Amy
Poehler, and Mindy Kaling are definitely the biggest inspirations for my writing, though I think my
work tends to skew a bit smuttier than theirs.
  

Crown of Lies by Pepper Winters….Release Blitz & Review

“I met the boy I wanted. But then he vanished and a new man claimed me instead. My father approved, my colleagues congratulated, and behind closed doors, I was bedded by a stranger.”

 

Crown of Lies is NOW LIVE!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2kakDJB

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2kl3yi2

iBooks: http://apple.co/2kLTlfM

Nook: http://bit.ly/2kO1NqU

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2jPiFNJ

 

Full Blurb

“I met the boy I wanted. But then he vanished and a new man claimed me instead. My father approved, my colleagues congratulated, and behind closed doors, I was bedded by a stranger.”

Noelle Charlston lived a fairy-tale life: a doting father, a powerful job, and a future blessed with financial security.

However, two meetings with two men changed her happy existence forever. First, she met the boy who made her heart sing. Second, she met the man who made her blood quiver.

Noelle’s freedom was no longer hers. It belonged to the man her father believed was the perfect match. The man who pulled his lies over everyone he touched.

Including her.

Seduced and manipulated, Noelle lives two lives. The one everyone sees on the outside and the one no one sees on the inside. The lies he spins, the truth he hides, the mystery he webs—it’s all enough to slowly erode the woman she’d been and turn her into something else.

Until her past collides with her present.

And it’s her turn to lie.

To everyone…including herself.

 

Five huge fucking loves, man!

Crown of Lies made me fall in love with Pepper Winters all over again! I haven’t loved one of Ms. Winters’ stories this much since Tears of Tess. Oh, the feels! I felt all of them!
In typical Pepper Winters style, she led me on a journey full of love, hate, greed, and knock-down, drag-out, panty-melting passion!
Noelle Charlston isn’t your average rich girl. She was bred to take over the family business from the time she was born. It consumed her entire life. While the other girls from school went out with friends, Elle went to work as the future CEO of Belle Elle, the largest retail chain store in the US and Canada.
On her 19th birthday, she decides that she needs to get out and see the city that she lives in through the eyes of a normal 19-year old girl. She sheds her business suit for something a little more casual, and heads out into the city, alone, for the first time ever.
“The sensory overload slowly eroded my shame for sneaking out and forced me to pay attention to every minor thing. For hours, I walked. I stared. I breathed. I let life take me wherever it wanted for a change. I had no idea where I was going or how to get back, but I let my feet get me lost because I had money to catch a taxi home. I knew my address—I wasn’t that sheltered. I could afford to go wherever I wanted, and at the end of my adventures hop in a cab and return with a new depth to my existence. And a secret I would happily harbor forever.”
Soon, however, Elle finds herself in a life-changing situation she would never be prepared for. With the assistance of a dark stranger, she was able to salvage the rest of her evening. Elle and her mystery man ended up in Central Park where they both started feeling their attraction toward each other rise.
“He kissed me again, stealing my cry, pressing his hips against mine. “I feel you like this.” He squeezed my breast softly. “And I feel you like this.” He rocked erotically. “But I feel you most of all with this.” His touch climbed from my breast to my heart, pressing down over the rapidly beating muscle. ‘I don’t care that I don’t know you. I know enough.'”
Before long, their bond was broken when they are stumbled upon by park security and the police. They tried running and almost got away. As they were hiding in some park bushes, Elle can’t help but feel as though she has had some kind of breakthrough that night. The scared, sheltered business woman that she left back at Belle Elle was long gone at this point.
“This is crazy.” I hugged him close. “All things worth fighting for are crazy.” He kissed my forehead.”
Unfortunately, they were spotted and taken down by the officers. Her mystery man was hauled off to jail and she vowed to find him and help set him free. Her dad reluctantly helped her look at nearby police stations and prisons, but she was never able to track him down. For the next three years, Elle tried to forget about the mystery man and move on with her life.
Then one day, she meets Penn Everett. Cocky, brash, and undeniably gorgeous. He makes her feel things that she hasn’t felt in three years. When he propositions Elle and requests that she relinquish control of her life and decisions, she wants to scoff at him. She wants to tell him to take his proposition and shove it. But she also wants to give in.
 “Tell me to stop, and I’ll stop. Tell me to remove my hand, and I’ll remove my hand.” His fingers feathered over me, rocking his palm against my clit; his fingers pressing over the tight lace protecting me. “But if you tell me you’re all right with this, if you tell me to keep going, then you play by my rules. You become mine in every fucking sense.”
As hard as she tries to deny it, she quickly realizes that she doesn’t want to. She needs to let go of the past, forget about the nameless guy that she met in a dark and dirty alley three years ago, and take her life back. She needs to admit, once and for all, that she is never going to find her hero mystery man.
But did he find her?
Also in typical Pepper Winters style, this book ends on and MAJOR CLIFFHANGER! I have a love/hate relationship with Pepper Winters cliffhangers. I HATE it now, but when Crown of Truth releases on February 28th I know I’ll love it!

About the Author

Pepper Winters wears many roles. Some of them include writer, reader, sometimes wife. She loves dark, taboo stories that twist with your head. The more tortured the hero, the better, and she constantly thinks up ways to break and fix her characters. Oh, and sex… her books have sex.

She loves to travel and has an amazing, fabulous hubby who puts up with her love affair with her book boyfriends.

STALK Pepper: Website | Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Goodreads

Amoveo Legend series by Sara Humphreys…HUGE Announcement

Have you ever read a Sara Humphreys’ Amoveo novel? Well if you haven’t, it’s time to change that! In Sara Humphreys’ upcoming release Undiscovered, Sara introduces readers to a new Dragon Clan by blending them into her bestselling Amoveo world. Today it’s time for you to Discover Sara Humphreys! For today only, the entire Amoveo Legend series will be FREE on all e-tailers.

Sit back, relax, and discover Sara Humphrey’s award winning series!

Enjoy!

Download the entire Amoveo Legend series for free:
Kindle
NOOK
iBooks

 

Sneak peek of Undiscovered

“Darkly sensual, rich with emotion, a wild unsettling ride.”
New York Times bestselling author —Christine Feehan,
He’s the man of her dreams
A long time ago, Zander Lorens was cursed to walk the earth stripped of his Dragon Clan powers. Every night, trapped in a recurring nightmare, Zander relives his darkest moment. He can hardly believe it when the dream changes and a beautiful young woman appears. Zander believes she’s the key to ending his torment. Finding her in the real world is one thing, but how will he convince her of who—and what—she really is?

She’s the end to his nightmare
Rena McHale uses her unique sensitivity as a private investigator, touting herself as a “human divining rod” and finder of the lost. By day she struggles with sensory overload, and by night her sleep is haunted by a fiery dragon shifter. Nothing in her life makes sense, until the man from her dreams shows up at her door with a proposition…

Available March 7th 
Chapter 1

Mine. The deep, gravelly voice of the beast reverberated through the air and ripped through Rena’s mind, with terrifying force. Mine. Mine. Mine.

The ferocious, ear-splitting roars of the winged monsters rumbled through the forest and the earth trembled as the vicious battle raged on. The nightmare had persisted for months, and even though she was all too familiar with how it would play out, it continued to horrify her.

Frightened and exhausted, Rena McHale crouched behind the trunk of the towering pine tree and prayed they wouldn’t see her this time. Her heart thundered in her chest, and she pressed her hands against her ears, attempting to drown out the stomach-churning bellows of the monsters. Sweat trickled down her back, and she kept her eyes squeezed shut, trying to slow her breathing. She had been here countless times before, and though the nightmare was always the same, Rena prayed this time would be different.

It wouldn’t be. They would find her and they would kill her. She would wake up, terrified and drowning in pain, seconds after being swallowed by a sea of agonizing flames.

Wicked heat flashed behind her and seared her shoulder. She bit her lip and swallowed the scream, but she didn’t move from her hiding spot. The snarls and sharp sounds of gnashing teeth had gotten closer. Dirt, leaves, and bits of rock rained over her as an enormous clawed foot skidded past as one beast slammed into the other. Shrieks of fury filled the forest and the sound was more than she could bear because Rena knew what would come next. There would be nothing except excruciating pain while she burned alive.

“Not again,” she whimpered. “Shit, not again.”

The monster scrambled to its feet, and Rena opened her eyes in time to see its long spiked tail whip past. She yelped as the weapon-like appendage slammed into the tree above her head, and bits of bark showered down, stinging her skin.

“No more! Stop it!” The words ripped from her lungs in scream after scream, and she shut her eyes, not wanting to see the fire this time. “Go away and leave me alone! I want to wake up. Help! Someone, please help me! I can’t take it anymore.”

Rena didn’t know how long she sat there, screaming the words over and over again. She fully expected the fire to claim her as it had every time before. But this time, the flames didn’t come.

Exquisite silence filled the air, and other than the sound of her own breathing, Rena heard nothing. The earth no longer trembled, there was no more snarling or growling, and instead of fire, a cool mist drifted over her bare arms like a soothing blanket. Though her heart still beat wildly against her rib cage, Rena finally found the courage to open her eyes. The woods were now bathed in golden rays of sunlight, and a white fog rolled low along the ground, covering any evidence of the destructive battle that had been raging only moments ago.

With trembling hands, Rena pushed her stiff body off the ground and stood on shaky legs. She brushed leaves and dirt off the back of her pajama pants and her tank top, the outfit she had gone to sleep in that night. She gripped the tree trunk, the bark rough beneath her palms, and looked around warily, half expecting the beasts to spring out at her from between the trees, but she was alone.

“That’s it?” Her voice shook and sounded odd as it broke the silence. “All I had to do was have a crybaby fit to make those two assholes vanish?”

The words were barely out of her mouth when the earth shook with the familiar thunderous footsteps of the monsters.

“Oh great,” Rena whispered. She pressed her back against the tree before peering around the trunk in search of the threat. Another tremor rattled the ground and the tree branches wavered above as her heartbeat picked up. “Wake up, girl. Come on. Wake the hell up.”

Run. The man’s voice, a deep, gritty baritone, whispered around Rena out of nowhere, making her go completely still. This was new. Right now. You can’t let him find you. Not like this. He won’t understand.

Her eyes flicked open, and she scanned the dark, misty woods for the source of the voice. “Who won’t understand what?”

As far as she could see, there was no one there but her. Rena gasped as another tremor rocked the earth so hard she almost lost her footing. It was getting closer.

Now! His voice, filled with urgency and a hint of impatience, seemed to come from nowhere and yet he was everywhere. Run, woman. Move!

Another tremor. Stronger now. Dangerously close.

“Where the hell am I supposed to run?” Rena asked in a shaky whisper. “This is a nightmare, and there’s no place to run to, unless I wake up. Which I would love to do, by the way.”

A brilliant crimson light flashed past the trees to her left, like a mirror glinting in the sun, and that’s when she felt it.

The spirit stream.

The warm, soothing strand pulsed and wiggled through the air before sliding beneath her skin like ribbons of silk. Rena sighed at the pleasurable sensation as it seeped into her chest.

Moments later, she detected the source. It was coming from the red light flashing in the distance, calling her to safety like a siren.

Spirit streams, a term she had come up with years ago to describe the unusual phenomenon, were like an invisible trail of bread crumbs only Rena could see and feel. She had no idea why or how she was able to sense them, but she had never been more grateful for the gift than right that second.

Ever since Rena could remember, she had been able to detect the invisible trail left behind by all living creatures. She could find any person on the planet by simply connecting with their spirit streams. She had never found one in a dream before because she had to touch an object the other person had held in order to connect.

But then again, this was no regular dream. More like a recurring nightmare.

Move your ass! The man’s voice was louder this time and rife with impatience. Unless you enjoy getting fried like a chicken?

“Bossy and sarcastic?” Rena glanced over her shoulder as another tremor hit. “What a charming combination.”

Rena ran as fast as she could toward the otherworldly red light, her arms pumping with the effort. She ducked beneath a low-hanging branch but stumbled when the ground shuddered again beneath her feet. She regained her footing and an earsplitting roar filled the air but Rena didn’t look back. Fear gripped her by the throat and her heart threatened to beat right out of her chest, but she kept running toward the light.

If she followed the spirit stream, it would lead her to safety. She didn’t know how she knew that; she simply did. Deep in her gut, she was confident whoever was talking to her was inherently good. Spirit streams didn’t lie because they possessed the essence of the person they belonged to.

Good or evil, the truth was revealed every time.

A wave of heat flashed over her back as the deafening sound of the beast’s footsteps grew nearer still. Leaves crunched and branches cracked loudly as the monster tore through the woods, giving chase. With one final push, Rena broke through the tangle of branches and found what looked like a dead end. A rocky wall blocked her path, but the spirit stream drifted to the right and Rena followed it, even though it seemed to be going nowhere.

When she rounded the side of the mountain, she discovered a small opening in the rocks, and the crimson light flashed from within. With the beast bearing down, there was no time to ask questions. She dropped to her knees and crawled into the narrow space, inching along on her belly. Rocks and dirt scraped at her, but she kept moving toward the light, which glowed brighter and larger.

With sweat dripping into her eyes and panic creeping in, Rena finally came to the other end of the narrow tunnel, and what she found left her speechless. It emptied into an enormous cave with a glittering pool of bright-blue water lit from beneath. She climbed down the sloped, rocky wall carefully, and when she finally reached the bottom, she looked around in awe. The sheer size of the underground chamber and the serenity of the space was enough to leave her humbled, but it was what was buried inside the wall that left her speechless.

Curled up in a fetal position, behind layers of translucent quartz and stone, was one of the beasts that had been haunting her nightmares. Rena let out a shuddering breath and moved closer to the crystalline surface. The creature was as beautiful as it was terrifying. A prism of crimson and gold glinted behind the frosted wall in a breathtaking kaleidoscope pattern.

“Whoa. That is so cool. I’ve never seen one when it wasn’t trying to kill me. What is it? It looks kind of like a—”

She reached out to touch it.

Don’t! The man’s voice echoed through the cavernous space. Not in the dreamrealm.

Rena dropped her arm to her side and spun around, scanning the mammoth cave for any sign of her new friend.

You must go to him and find the others like yourself. The Amoveo can help you…and him. He must be awakened in the earthly plane by his mate. It’s the only way to break the curse, and we are almost out of time. If you don’t reach him by All Hallows’ Eve, he will be trapped here forever.

“Okay, first of all, what curse and who are the Amoveo?” Rena said slowly. “Second, there are no others like me. Trust me. I’m a total freak. Just ask any of the foster families I lived with and they’ll confirm it.”

Silence.

“Hello?” Rena settled her hands on her hips and looked around. “Yo! Mister? You still here? And what’s this business about a mate?”

You don’t know about the Amoveo? His voice was thick with surprise and a fair amount of confusion. How is that possible?

“Please,” Rena scoffed and swept her arms in big circle. “This fits right in with the rest of my weird-ass life. Listen, I appreciate you saving my ass back there and everything, even though this is only a dream. albeit a really weird dream, but what’s with the monster in the rocks? Why have those two assholes been killing me night after night and who must I go to?” She settled her hands on her hips again and arched one eyebrow. “And while we’re at it, who the hell are you?”

Silence, heavy and thick, filled the cave once again and Rena practically choked on it.

I’ve never encountered one like you before.

His voice and spirit stream bounced off the nooks and crannies of the rocks, effectively masking his location. Another first.

“Yeah? Well, I’ve never been interrogated in my own dream before. I call us even.”

What’s your name?

She answered the ludicrous question. “Rena McHale.” This dream was her subconscious. Why would she ask herself her own name? “Why? What’s yours?”

Pick up the stone.

“That’s a weird name,” she deadpanned.

Pick it up! We don’t have time to waste. Not anymore.

His voice boomed louder, from behind her this time. Rena spun around and spotted a jagged piece of red quartz perched precariously on a rocky outcropping along the wall. About the size of a large egg, it glowed from within, like the water in the pool. Rena let out a slow breath and ran both hands through her short brown hair before lacing her fingers behind her head.

“Does this have to do with that curse you mentioned?” she shouted to the empty cave. “I’m not buying what you’re selling, dude. I have enough problems without getting involved with some weird curse.”

Pick it up. Now! It’s the only way.

“It’s a good thing you’re a disembodied voice and not a real live guy.” Rena dropped her hands to her side and cautiously approached the stone. “I’d have to deck you for being so damn bossy.”

Please. He dragged out the word as though it was painful for him to ask her nicely. Pick up the stone.

“Jeez.” Rena rolled her eyes before scooping it up. “Fine.”

The instant the quartz touched her fingers, the cave erupted in an explosion of light. Another spirit stream that was almost identical to the other but far weaker in strength whispered beneath her flesh. Rena sucked in a shuddering breath and wanted to open her eyes but couldn’t. They were heavy with sleep.

As darkness closed in, the man whispered, You are his only hope.

***

Zander Lorens rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he reached around blindly for the cell phone that was somewhere next to his sleeping bag. Early morning sunlight streamed in through the vents of his tent, and he squinted against it while swearing under his breath. The dream was still fresh and the woman’s face securely imprinted on his mind, to say nothing of her energy signature.

For the first time in five centuries, Zander had hope that the curse could be broken.

When his fingers curled around the smooth, familiar device, he snatched it and sat up. Bleary-eyed, he scrolled through the screen, looking for the old witch’s phone number. It was one of the only non-business-related contacts he had in there. Referring to Isadora as a friend was probably a stretch, especially since it was one of her sisters who had cursed him and his brother all those years ago.

Over the years, in spite of the history between their families, she had become a trusted acquaintance. Hell, she was a powerful old broad, and if she wanted to hurt Zander, she could have done it a hundred times over. Complicated past aside, Isadora was his only surviving connection to the supernatural world.

Zander had no other options.

The early morning chill of the surrounding mountains crept in, but Zander barely felt it. Excitement and a healthy dose of nerves had his blood humming. He pressed the phone to his ear and unzipped his tent. Sucking in a deep breath of crisp morning air, he stepped out, uncaring of his nakedness. There was nobody there to see it other than the forest creatures, and since he wasn’t exactly Snow White, they wouldn’t be paying him any mind.

After six or seven rings, Isadora finally picked up.

“You better have a damned good reason for calling an old woman at this hour,” she croaked. “The sun is barely up.”

“I found her.” Zander tried to keep his voice even and his eagerness at bay, but it was no use. “Last night. In the dreamrealm. Arianna was gone, and a woman I have never seen before had taken her place. She was—”

“Hold on a damn minute,” she rasped. “Slow down.”

“Zed spoke, Isadora. He actually spoke.” He let out a short laugh of disbelief and pushed his shaggy, dark hair off his face while staring at the rising sun. “The voice was more beast than man, but he uttered the same word over and over again as soon as he saw her: mine. Don’t you see? The woman in the dreamrealm, whoever she is, has to be Zed’s mate.”

When the old witch didn’t respond, Zander thought the connection had been lost. He pulled the phone away and checked, but he had plenty of bars. He growled with frustration and put it back to his ear, but two seconds later, a crackling sound erupted behind him.

Zander spun around to see the old woman standing there, a cloud of purple smoke disappearing around her in the early morning light. Her long, straight, salt-and-pepper hair hung to her waist, and her tanned, wrinkled face was covered with a mischievous smile. Those dark eyes of her twinkled wickedly as they flicked over his naked body, lingering longer than he’d like on his dick.

“I thought we should talk in person,” she said with a wink. Isadora pointed one crooked finger at his crotch before leaning both hands on her tall walking stick. “You better cover up, or I’m going to get the wrong idea.”

“I’m too old to go diving behind a tree.”

Zander hit End on the phone and strode toward the tent as her cackling laughter filled the air. Nudity wasn’t a big deal for the members of his race. Shit. After five hundred years on earth, trapped in his human form, nothing was a big deal anymore.

“And I’m too old to take advantage of the situation,” she snickered. “In this body, anyhow. Now, if I had used my younger-self potion before my travelin’ potion, we wouldn’t be doing very much talking, if you know what I’m gettin’ at.”

“I have an idea.” Zander threw his cell phone in the tent and grabbed his jeans, trying not to imagine what the old woman looked like under her long robe-like dress. “You know, we could have continued this conversation on the phone.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” She leaned on her cane and gave him a sly smile as he pulled his pants up. “’Sides, given everythin’ you were goin’ on about, we need to be real clear about what comes next. Best to have this talk in person.”

Zander nodded his agreement and settled both hands on his hips as he studied the ancient witch woman closely. Her energy signature, like most supernatural creatures, was far stronger than a human’s. It was the spiritual fingerprint each individual possessed. After Zander had been cursed, being able to detect those powerful streams of energy was the only gift he had left.

Well, that and being immortal. But as far as he was concerned, immortality wasn’t any damn gift he’d ever wanted. At least, not like this.

“Now, let’s get back to business.” Isadora thumped her walking stick into the ground with her gnarled hands. “You think you may have found a way to break my sister’s curse? I thought the only way to get rid of it was for one of you boys to commit an act of pure, unselfish love?”

“Since Zed has been trapped in hibernation in his dragon form for the past five centuries, it cut our odds in half.”

“Fair point.” She let out a groan as she settled her round backside on a tree stump next to Zander’s makeshift fire pit. “But you’re still here. Why ain’t you been able to get rid of the curse? Ain’t you done any good deeds in the last half a millennium?”

“What a load of crap that turned out to be,” Zander scoffed under his breath. “I’ve spent the last five centuries doing good deeds and random acts of kindness all over the globe and not a damn one worked. Do you have any idea how many cats and drowning kids I’ve saved?”

“Nope.”

“Well, it’s a lot. Shit,” he huffed. “I’ve lost count. I’ve fought in wars for the greater good, built homes for the downtrodden, and bought groceries for strangers. I’ve tossed countless coins into paper cups that were clutched in the hands of homeless men, women, and children. Nothing has made a difference. The curse has remained in place. Zed is stuck in the dreamrealm and I’m…here.”

“Yeah,” she sighed. “You and your twin brother got screwed.”

“He got it worse than me,” Zander said quietly. “Zed has been languishing in the dreamrealm. Night after night, we relive that fight—the one that changed everything. I’ve tried to reason with him, but he stopped hearing me long ago. He’s…tortured.”

“Grief and regret will do that.”

“He’s been reduced to his most savage state. The man is gone and only the beast remains.”

“Right, I know all that,” she said with waning patience. “So what makes you think this woman is the key to breaking the curse?”

“He saw her, Isadora,” Zander said with a smile. “And he spoke. I can’t tell you the last time he did that. It was only one word, but it was a damn good one.”

“Mine,” Isadora said quietly. Worry edged the wrinkles around her eyes. “So you’re tellin’ me that you think this woman in the dreamrealm is Zed’s mate?”

“Zed sure as hell thought she was. Besides, why else would some random woman land in there with us?”

“Why do you think—”

“She’s Amoveo,” Zander said quietly.

Isadora’s eyes widened, and she nodded slowly as an expression of understanding washed over her. The Amoveo, an ancient race of shapeshifters similar to the Dragon Clan in many ways, found their mates in the dreamrealm. Once they connected there, they could find each other in the physical plane.

“She’s a shifter. Like you were.”

“No.” Zander’s jaw clenched. “The dragons were cousins of the Amoveo. We aren’t the same.”

“Pfft.” She rolled her eyes. “That’s what you call semantics. The Dragon Clan was considered the eleventh clan of the Amoveo by most everyone—except the dragons. Which of the ten Amoveo clans is she descended from?”

“From the Fox Clan, I think.”

“Like someone else we knew.” Isadora sniffed. “Seems a little too coincidental for me.”

Zander pretended to ignore that last comment.

“Her name is Rena McHale, but I don’t think she’s a pureblood. If she was, she would know what she is because she would have gone through her first shapeshifting episode during puberty, like all of the Amoveo do. There’s no way she knows there’s Amoveo blood in her veins, which is going to make this a hell of a lot more difficult. I had no idea the Amoveo could even breed with humans.”

“Most of ’em don’t know what they are,” Isadora said flatly. “Comes as quite a shock to ’em.”

Zander stilled.

“You mean there are more like her? Part human and part Amoveo?”

“Yes, sir. Prince Richard has had his men out looking for ’em and bringin’ ’em back to his ranch, over in Montana.”

An image of Zed in his hibernation cocoon flashed into his mind. His twin brother was deep beneath the earth, where no one would find him. Humans rarely ventured that far under the ground, and other than Zander and Isadora, nobody even knew Zed was there.

“They still occupy that land? I thought for sure they would have sold it off over the years.”

“You didn’t sell yours,” she said, referring to his property in West Yellowstone.

“It’s all I have left of my clan.”

“Maybe they feel the same. You aren’t so different after all.” She shrugged her narrow shoulders and waved one hand. “Richard and Salinda’s place is more of a compound, really. They had themselves some trouble over the past few years. Purist Amoveo caused a ruckus. Guess they were none too pleased about these hybrids popping up. The Council has been dissolved and—”

“You’re not serious.”

The Council was the Amoveo’s governing body and was comprised of two members from each of the ten clans. Eons ago, long before Zander and Zed were born, the Dragons had even been a part of it. He couldn’t imagine the kind of chaos that must have ensued with the dissolution of the Council.

“Deadly so, I’m afraid. There were assassination attempts. Nasty business. I ain’t seen the ten Amoveo clans fight among themselves like that since…well…since that business with you and your brother and that Fox Clan girl.”

“That was a long time ago, and this woman, whoever she is, isn’t Arianna but she is Zed’s mate.”

“Or yours,” Isadora whispered.

“No,” he said adamantly. “I’m not letting that happen again. She’s meant for Zed.”

“Who she’s meant for ain’t up to you, now is it?”

“This woman is his only hope.”

Zander grabbed two large, thick branches and snapped them in half, using his pent-up frustration to do it. Silence settled between them as Zander squatted down and arranged some sticks in the fire pit. He stuffed some newspaper underneath before lighting it up.

“’Bout time,” she groused. “It’s colder than a witch’s tit out here.”

Zander let out a huff of laughter at her silly comment and shook his head before sitting beside the fire. Isadora always did have a way of diffusing tense situations. He pulled his knees up and settled his arms over them as the heat washed over the bare flesh of his chest. The crackle of the wood as it was consumed by the flames filled the air, instantly putting him at ease.

For most people, the power of fire was frightening, but it made Zander feel at home.

“You miss it, don’t you?” she asked, her voice pulling him from his memories. “The dragon.”

“Embracing my dragon again is all I’ve wanted, and ironically, it’s the very thing that’s tormenting Zed.” He tossed another branch on the fire, sending sparks into the air. “If I can get this woman to the cave where Zed is hibernating and give her a spirit stone from our tribal land, she might be able to use it to wake him up.”

“That’s a big might,” Isadora said firmly. “Boy, you got nothin’ but maybes and could bes.”

“Yeah. That’s about all I’ve got and we’re running out of time. This Saturday is—”

“Oh hell.” She tapped her cane on the ground and pursed her lips. “It’s All Hallows’ Eve, ain’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Damn,” she said with a sigh. “Those five hundred years surely did fly right on by.”

Zed let out a bitter laugh.

The past several centuries had felt more like millennia as far as he was concerned. However, he clamped down on his moment of self-pity and reminded himself that nothing he went through could compare to Zed’s painful existence.

“That’s why I need your help. If we don’t break the curse before sunset on Saturday, then it will never be over, and Zed will be trapped there. Forever. Tormented. Alone. I can’t live with that, and thanks to your sister’s curse, I can’t even put myself out of my own misery.” He sighed wearily. “Living forever sucks…at least living like this.”

He turned his gaze to hers and threw a prayer to the universe that she would take pity on him. The old woman, her long white-and-brown robe draped over her thin form, stared into the fire but said nothing. He sensed she was weighing her options.

“Please, Isadora. Put me in touch with the prince or one of his people. I’ve got to get on that property. You and I both know that I can’t just walk up to the gates. And I can’t try and sneak on because they’ll sense my presence. You know I’m right.”

“Can’t say you’re wrong.” A look of understanding flickered over her weathered face, and she nodded. “But if you had an Amoveo hybrid with you…one looking for sanctuary…”

“We kill two birds with one stone: Rena can connect with her people, and I have a chance to free my brother.”

“Seems more complicated than you’re makin’ it.”

Zander let out a beleaguered sigh.

“Can you help me or not?”

“Yes.”

She pushed herself to her feet, using her cane for support. Zander hopped up before going around the fire and scooping the tiny old witch up in a big hug. Her frail, five-foot-tall frame was easily engulfed by his far larger one.

“My sister was a troublemaker and always sellin’ her magic to the highest bidder. It ain’t right, and if she weren’t already dead, I’d have a mind to kill her myself. It’s witches like her that gave all of us a bad rap. I swear. The fairies are a bunch of troublemakers and we’re the ones who look bad in the human stories. Ain’t right, I tell ya.”

“Thank you, Isadora.”

He set her down and planted a kiss on her soft cheek as his gratitude swelled.

“All right, now.” Her wrinkled cheeks pinkened, and she patted him on the arm. “Better be careful with all that kissin’ on me. We may be about the same age, but my body ain’t weathered the years as well as yours.”

Her brow furrowed and her smile faltered as her gaze skittered over his bare chest. She tapped one of several scars on his torso with a gnarled fingertip and made a tsking sound.

“I guess you aren’t exactly unscathed, are you?”

“No, ma’am.” Zander pressed both hands to his chest and stepped back before extending his arms wide. “But thanks to your sister, I am indestructible.”

“And handsome as ever.” She pulled a small glass bottle from one of the folds in her robe and flipped the cork out with her thumb. “Better stand back, boy.”

Zander did as she said and put a healthy distance between them.

“I’ll get a message to the Amoveo. If I had to venture a guess, you’ll be gettin’ a call from a Dante Coltari. He’s the one been wranglin’ the hybrids to the ranch, but that’s all I can do for you. After that, you’re on your own. I don’t like to meddle where I don’t have to.”

Zander arched one dark eyebrow at her and she shrugged.

“Yeah, that ain’t true. I love messin’ with people. Keeps my mind and magic sharp.”

She was about to swallow her potion, but Zander held up one hand, stopping her.

“Don’t give them my real name. Tell them—”

“Won’t matter. Trust me.”

“Isadora,” he began, “I hardly think they’ll welcome a dragon to their property. Even before my people were extinct, we were the outcasts. Some of the Amoveo even helped the human dragon slayers hunt us into oblivion, Arianna’s father for one.”

Anger surged at the painful memories, but he stuffed it back down. Better to save it for another day. If he was going to have to deal with a ranch full of Amoveo, he would need all of his strength. In his experience, rage was one hell of a weapon.

“Yeah,” she snorted. “But you ain’t a dragon no more. The dragons are all gone and only exist in human fairy tales and folklore…for the most part.”

Before he could protest further, Isadora swallowed her potion and vanished in a cloud of purple smoke. As the haze of her departure dissipated, Zander’s thoughts went to the woman from the dreamrealm.

If she didn’t know who and what she really was, how the hell was Zander going to tell her about him and his brother? Or that she was Zed’s intended mate?

What a shit show.

Yep. He was fucked. Again.

All he knew was her name and where she was located. Though the curse had stripped him of virtually all of his Dragon Clan abilities, he was still able to identify her unique energy pattern—and it showed him exactly where she was.

He wasted no time. Zander packed up his tent and backpack, and pointed his Harley in the right direction.


Liberty States Create Something Magical Conference Speaker Interview Series: Avery Flynn

I’m so excited to be returning to one of my favorite events this March: the Liberty States Fiction Writers Create Something Magical Conference in New Jersey.  It’s a wonderful event that I enjoy each year and highly recommend attending.  I am honored this year to be hosting an interview each week with the attending speakers!  It begins today and will continue each week leading up to the conference. I hope you enjoy! ~Jillian

Today the Liberty States Create Something Magical Conference Speaker Interview Series kicks off with author Avery Flynn:

 

  1. What made you want to become a writer? How early in life did you start writing?

I can’t remember not writing. I started writing about my stuffed animals before I could spell — and if you ask my editors you might find out that the whole spelling thing might still be an issue. 🙂

 

  1. Is there one piece of advice you would give an aspiring writer?

Don’t freak out about writing an entire book. Start with the first paragraph, then the first page, then the first chapter and so on. Before you know it, you’ll have a whole book.

 

  1. Who is on your bookshelf?

Everything! I read almost anything except for military history (snooze).

 

  1. Can you tell us about one of the most memorable moments in your writing career thus far?

Winning the RT Book Reviewers Choice award was pretty awesome, but really I love it anytime I get to chat books with a fellow reader.

 

  1. Tell us about your newest release/current work in progress.

I’m working on a really fun story in my B-Squad series. I just love writing about these characters. They’re all such sexy little badasses!

 

  1. Tell us a little about your workshop at the Create Something Magical Conference.

I’m part of a couple a really great workshops. One is with my besties, Robin Covington and Kimberly Kincaid about professional jealousy. The other is a great one I’ve worked on with several other authors about writing diverse characters and how crucial a diverse character base is to creating a well-rounded fictional universe.

 

 

About Avery Flynn:

AFlynnShoes

Award-winning romance author Avery Flynn has three slightly-wild children, loves a hockey-addicted husband and is desperately hoping someone invents the coffee IV drip.

She fell in love with romance while reading Johanna Lindsey’s Mallory books. It wasn’t long before Avery had read through all the romance offerings at her local library. Needing a romance fix, she turned to Harlequin’s four books a month home delivery service to ease the withdrawal symptoms. That worked for a short time, but it wasn’t long before the local book stores’ staffs knew her by name.

Avery was a reader before she was a writer and hopes to always be both. She loves to write about smartass alpha heroes who are as good with a quip as they are with their *ahem* other God-given talents. Her heroines are feisty, fierce and fantastic. Brainy and brave, these ladies know how to stand on their own two feet and knock the bad guys off theirs.

Find out more about Avery on her website, follow her on Twitter and Pinterest, like her on her Facebook page or friend her on her Facebook profile. She’s also on Goodreads and BookLikes.

Join her street team, The Flynnbots, and receive special sneak peeks, prizes and early access to her latest releases!

Also, if you figure out how to send Oreos through the Internet, she’ll be your best friend for life.

Contact her at avery@averyflynn.com.  She’d love to hear from you!