The Stand by A.L. Jackson…Release Day Blitz

 STAND is now live!

A Bleeding Stars Stand-Alone Novel

Don’t miss out on the unforgettable romance readers are raving about!

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“6 Devastatingly Beautiful and Brilliant Bleeding Stars but Worth the Whole Constellation.

I felt every burn…every blaze…every beautiful and brilliant word…I FELT IT ALL. ”

~Karen, Bookalicious Babes Blog


From NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author A.L. Jackson comes the next seductive, unforgettable Bleeding Stars Stand-Alone Novel…
Zachary Kennedy has never been known as a fighter, but he’ll never regret fighting for her…
I’m Zee Kennedy.
Quiet. Reserved. Predictable.
When my brother died, everyone thought I was just the good guy who stepped up to take his place in the band.
No one knew what I was hiding. The one thing I’ve been fighting for.
For seven years, I’ve never lost focus.
Not until one chance encounter with Alexis Kensington.
Now she’s become my greatest temptation.
I knew better than to touch her, but now that I’ve had a taste, I can’t get enough.
Her kiss becomes my air. Her body my salvation.
She needed a savior and somehow she became mine.
Taking her was a betrayal. But keeping her means risking everything.
One look at Alexis Kensington, and I know she’s worth the fight.
Will my past continue to keep me down or will I finally find the strength to pull myself up and Stand

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A.L. Jackson is the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance. She writes emotional, sexy, heart-filled stories about boys who usually like to be a little bit bad.
Her bestselling series include THE REGRET SERIES, CLOSER TO YOU, as well as the newest BLEEDING STARS novels. Watch for the next installment STAND, coming Spring 2017.
If she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out by the pool with her family, sipping cocktails with her friends, or of course with her nose buried in a book.
Be sure not to miss new releases and sales from A.L. Jackson – Sign up to receive her newsletter http://smarturl.it/NewsFromALJackson or text “aljackson” to 24587 to receive short but sweet updates on all the important news.
Connect with A.L.

Facebook: http://smarturl.it/ALJacksonPage
Reader Group: http://smarturl.it/AmysAngelsRock
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Twitter: @aljacksonauthor
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Lethal Lies by Rebecca Zanetti….Release Blitz & Review

Title: LETHAL LIES

Author: Rebecca Zanetti

Series: Blood Brothers, #2

On Sale: May 16, 2017

Publisher: Forever

Trade Paperback: $14.99 USD

eBook: $5.99 USD

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2omXm7v 

“4 1/2 stars! Top pick! This is a true thriller that will keep readers frantically flipping the pages as death and danger come at the protagonists from several directions.  Zanetti’s brilliance at storytelling is on full display…When it comes to high-octane thrillers, they don’t get better than Zanetti!” —RT Book Reviews on LETHAL LIES

“Zanetti’s stories are always woven with vivid detail and a breakneck pace. As a reader, there’s really no time to draw a peaceful breath until the story ends. Lethal Lies is another winner.” –Heroes & Heartbreakers on LETHAL LIES

“Zanetti balances the adventure and menace of Zara and Ryker’s lives with a relatable romance. The result is a story that’s sexy and emotional, and filled with a rich look at love in all its forms.” —The Washington Post on DEADLY SILENCE

“Budget your time, readers, because this is one that’s hard to put down.” — Heroes & Heartbreakers on DEADLY SILENCE

A deadly secret can’t stay buried forever . . .

Revenge. It’s the only thing that will help Anya Best sleep at night. The serial killer who murdered her sister is on the loose, and Anya will stop at nothing to put him behind bars—even use herself as bait to lure him out of hiding. But she can’t do this alone.

Private investigator Heath Jones’s job is to bring bastards to justice. This time it’s personal. He knew the Copper Killer’s latest victim so when her sister asks for his help, he’s all in. But when Anya uses the media to taunt the killer, she exposes Heath’s identity, putting them both in jeopardy. Now, secrets buried long ago are coming to light and the forces determined to destroy him are watching Heath’s every move, waiting to exact their own revenge. And they’ll use anything and anyone to get to Heath.

Lethal Lies is Book Two in the Blood Brother’s series and is Heath’s book. Even though each book is one brother’s story, they must all be read in order as their whole story overall throughout all the books. And you just get a better understanding of their backgrounds in each book.

Heath is one of three brothers that were genetically enhanced by a crazy mad scientists when they were younger and then placed in a group home where they were studied and tormented. During that time, these three became very close and vowed to always protect one another. They have since then escaped and created an agency that helps those less fortunate. All the while, they are trying to find answers about their past and stay hidden from the those who created them.

I really do not want to go into too much detail about this story and how it all plays out. Heath finds himself helping Anya, a professor of criminal psychology, when she becomes the target of the Copper Killer. When Anya’s sister is taken by the crazed killer, she places herself as bait and also puts Heath in the lime light. So yea – that causes a lot of problems all around.

Now that Anya has thrown this huge target on their heads, shit gets crazy. Not only do they have to deal with the Copper Killer, they also have to deal with the two nutjobs from the brother’s past hunting them down. It’s all woven together perfectly and gives us this crazy rush of a ride. And yes, all in between that, there is some hot ass romance firing up between Anya and Heath. I love how these don’t deny it and act on it at the right time.

And that is all you are getting from me. I read a few of the other reviews and felt like that gave away too much of the story and pretty much summed up the whole thing in a few short paragraphs and I do not want to do that. I hate taking away the excitement and suspense from the book because I know laid out exactly what happens and ruin everything.

Rebecca writes very exciting and thrilling stories and I feel that everyone should experience that intensity firsthand without much knowledge of what goes down and how things happen. Lethal Lies keeps up the fast-paced, action pack story that keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time and also gives you that hot romance to keep things steamy.

If you have not done so yet, read Deadly Silence and then come back to this one and read it right away!! I can’t wait for book three: Twisted Truths, which I am assuming is Denver’s story!!!

EXCERPT

She swallowed and met his gaze. “All right. Let me get this straight. We’re going undercover to flush out a killer who’s obsessed with me, and you’re offering to play at being my man for real with no strings or future?” She hoisted the bag onto her shoulder. “That’s some ego. Are you that good in bed?”

“Yes.” And that was definite interest in her eyes.

She clicked her tongue. “I’ll keep your offer in mind.”

“You do that.” He maintained a low and calm voice. “While you’re considering, let’s look at the situation. You have publicly made me your fiancé in order to draw out a killer, which means I have to act as such. Any halfway intelligent law enforcement officer or private investigator would keep his redheaded fiancée very close after the stunt you just pulled. If you’re not with me, the killer is going to be very suspicious.”

She stilled, expressions crossing her face rapidly. “That’s a good point,” she said slowly.

Yeah. Sometimes reality helped him out a little. Plus, the killer had a hard-on for her, and he must already have plans to take her at some point. She’d just upped the timeline. “In addition, you need protection around the clock now, and I’m willing to provide that. So while you’re keeping my offer in mind, we’ll be staying in the same hotel room or same apartment.” He made sure he had her full attention. “While we plan the wedding, of course.”

Her challenging smile thrilled something inside him. “That’s fair.”

He stepped back to give her some space. “Good. Are you ready?”

“Yes.” She looked around the room. “I do have to ask. What if I didn’t agree with you about your keeping secrets from me? Considering people shoot at you, and I’m going to be at your side, it seems fair that you tell me who these people are.” She cocked her head to the side and focused back on him.

“I have more immediate concerns than being fair,” he said smoothly. “You brought me into this mess.”

A frown drew down her eyebrows. “Listen. I want an answer about you.”

“I just gave you one.” At her mulish expression, he searched for better words that wouldn’t end in an argument.

Suddenly, the door blew wide open and bounced loudly off the table. “Anya!” he yelled, jumping for her.

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**Pick up the print edition for exclusive bonus content!**

THE BLOOD BROTHERS SERIES

DEADLY SILENCE, #1

LETHAL LIES, #2

TWISTED TRUTHS, #3

Series Page on Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2dcQsPD 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rebecca Zanetti is the author of over twenty-five romantic suspense, dark paranormal, and contemporary romances, and her books have appeared multiple times on the New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestseller lists. She has received a Publisher’s Weekly Starred Review for Wicked Edge, Romantic Times Reviewer Choice Nominations for Forgotten Sins and Sweet Revenge, and RT Top Picks for several of her novels.  She lives in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with her own alpha hero, two kids, a couple of dogs, a crazy cat…and a huge extended family.  She believes strongly in luck, karma, and working her butt off…and she thinks one of the best things about being an author, unlike the lawyer she used to be, is that she can let the crazy out.

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Double Cover Reveal…..Guzzi Duet: Unraveled & Entangled by Bethany-Kris

Unraveled: Guzzi Duet, Part One

by Bethany-Kris
Guzzi Duet #1
Publication Date: June 5, 2017
Genres: Adult, Mafia, Romance, Organized Crime

Cover Design: Mignon Mykel at Oh So Novel Designs

Guzzi Duet, Part One

Cara Rossi’s life has been a mess ever since her identical twin was killed. She blames the mafia, its ways, and the people within the caustic culture for a painful reality that turned her world on its side. In an attempt to momentarily pause her misery, a night out puts her on a path with a man she shouldn’t get involved with simply because of his last name—Gian Guzzi.

He’s the kind of man that makes it hard to say no.

Gian Guzzi’s problems are piling up fast. A murdered grandfather, an unpredictable mafia, and a new boss that threatens both his family’s legacy and his life. As a Cosa Nostra underboss, Gian has a duty. First to la famiglia, and only then to himself. In the midst of the violent uncertainty that has become unrelenting in his days, Cara Rossi should only be a distraction for him to enjoy.

She’s a happiness that he was never allowed to choose before.

His lies.
This life.
Their love.

It all unravels eventually.

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EXCERPT

“You could try not to antagonize him as much,” Bambi said quietly.

Gian turned to face the woman again. “Like he does for me?”

“That’s just Stephan’s ways.”

“And those ways will eventually get him killed.”

Bambi frowned, but wisely chose not to respond. Then, she turned and said something to the woman at her side but a couple of seats away in the booth, drawing Gian’s attention there.

To the redhead.

A woman he thought he hadn’t known from Adam. She had been so quiet at the table, her attention on the few people at a booth across the way from theirs, and not making a spectacle of herself as Stephan had done for him and Bambi. It suddenly made sense then why Constantino had not been treating the girl as a disinterested date.

It was his cousin, or rather, one of them.

At first, Gian thought Lea Rossi. But his mind quickly corrected that, as Lea Rossi’s death—an event that had been widely publicized due to the nature of the murder—had happened months ago. He only knew of the Rossi twins, as their uncle was an older Capo for the Guzzi famiglia.

Gian had met Lea Rossi on a scarce few occasions when their paths crossed for different events or whatever, but he had never sat down and had an actual conversation with the girl. He had been told by Constantino—the twins’ cousin—that the twins lived in Toronto.

He knew Lea had a twin. He did not realize her twin was identical.

That red hair of hers that had been so striking under the club lights from up above was even more stunning close up. A shade that a woman couldn’t buy in a bottle, and couldn’t quite be duplicated in a salon.

A black double-wrapped velvet choker rested around her throat, showcasing tanned skin and the delicate line of her neck. A simple bow was tied at the middle, making Gian wonder what she would look like with a choker on, looking up from her knees.

He wasn’t quite sure why that idea came on, but it was a good one.

Cara, he thought her name was. Wasn’t that what Constantino had said before about his cousins—Lea and Cara.

Gian didn’t pay attention to names unless it served him some purpose to.

Her ice-blue eyes looked him over, and Gian was taken aback by the lack of makeup on her pixie-like features. Most woman put too much makeup on instead of too little, determined to make a man focus on attributes instead of imperfections. But all she wore was just enough to shape her wide eyes, and a red tint on her full lips that matched the color of her hair.

From what he could see, her tight black dress fit to her curves perfectly, and guessing by the way she crossed her legs out to the side, she was not a short woman.

Beautiful.

Natural.

Sexy.

All of that and more came to mind.

“You stare a lot, don’t you?” the woman asked.

Gian came out of the daze with a bang. “Am I not allowed to stare?”

Bambi glanced away from the two, hiding her smile. “I think I’ll go find Stephan and see what’s taking him so long.”

Do that, Gian wanted to say.

He said nothing until Bambi was gone. The two men left at the booth quickly followed her lead, leaving Gian alone with the beautiful redhead. He didn’t sit, though, simply stayed where he was.

“It’s Cara, right?”

She glanced up, her blue eyes widening further. “How do you know my name?”

Gian smirked. “Family friends.”

“Right.” Cara flashed him one of her own smiles. “It’s Gian, right? Gian Guzzi.”

He lifted a single brow. “My name is well-known around this place.”

“The owner—I know. Constantino told me.”

“Oh?”

“And Guzzi isn’t exactly a … little name, either.”

“Would you like a drink, Cara?”

She didn’t even think about it before saying, “No.”

“A dance?”

“No.”

“Then why are you here?” Gian lifted a hand, waving at the club behind him. “That’s sort of what you do in a club, bella donna.”

“I do speak some Italian.”

“Good, then you know what I think of you. A very beautiful woman.”

She did manage a smile that was slightly truer than her first. “You’re terribly arrogant. Flash a smile, say a few pretty words, and I bet most women eat out of the palm of your hand.”

“The men of my family like to say it’s a learned talent, actually.” He grinned, and didn’t miss how for a moment, Cara was silenced by the sight. “And as of right now, I’m not trying any of those things on you.”

“How do you hold all that cockiness and those damn grins in then?”

“I don’t.”

“And everyone melts.”

“I’m not looking at everyone. I’m looking at you.”

Entangled: Guzzi Duet, Part Two

by Bethany-Kris
Guzzi Duet #2
Publication Date: August 2017
Genres: Adult, Mafia, Romance, Organized Crime

Guzzi Duet, Part Two

Synopsis Coming Soon!

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ABOUT BETHANY-KRIS

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

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

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Excerpt Reveal….Stand by A.L. Jackson

STAND

A Bleeding Stars Stand-Alone Novel

Coming May 22nd

“Stand is a lyrical dream of power and strength that will steal your mind, body and soul…A mind blowing 10 stars!!!” Queen Zany Book Blog

From NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author A.L. Jackson comes the next seductive, unforgettable Bleeding Stars Stand-Alone Novel…
Zachary Kennedy has never been known as a fighter, but he’ll never regret fighting for her…
I’m Zee Kennedy.
Quiet. Reserved. Predictable.
When my brother died, everyone thought I was just the good guy who stepped up to take his place in the band.
No one knew what I was hiding. The one thing I’ve been fighting for.
For seven years, I’ve never lost focus.
Not until one chance encounter with Alexis Kensington.
Now she’s become my greatest temptation.
I knew better than to touch her, but now that I’ve had a taste, I can’t get enough.
Her kiss becomes my air. Her body my salvation.
She needed a savior and somehow she became mine.
Taking her was a betrayal. But keeping her means risking everything.
One look at Alexis Kensington, and I know she’s worth the fight.
Will my past continue to keep me down or will I finally find the strength to pull myself up and Stand…

PREORDER NOW

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My hands lingered on the keys, and she reached out and set her hand on top of mine.
Warmth and light.
It invaded my senses. Clouded my judgment.
My hand flipped over, palm up, and she threaded her fingers through mine. Her head angled, so soft, this girl so fucking good.
“What is it you want, Zee? What is it you can’t have?”
You.
Flames leapt into that space between us. Alive and dancing and inciting.
A siren’s call.
My tongue darted out to wet my lips, and I was shaking as I lifted our entwined hands. I brushed my knuckles along the silky flesh of her cheek. I swore I saw the trail of pink it left behind, the simplest touch affecting this girl.
She released a shuddered breath. It mingled with mine.
Our mouths were close—too close—and our noses just touched as we hovered in that space.
“I want things that will only ruin me, Alexis. But you…you make me want to wish for them anyway. Make me believe there’s a chance that maybe they could belong to me.”
Tension tethered us, this rigid band that had me rocking in indecision, every second getting closer and closer as I fought the foolish ideas that tried to take root.
Giving in would only destroy me. But none of that seemed to matter when I leaned in and brushed my lips at the corner of her mouth.
Her fucking delicious mouth.
Because fuck. I just needed a taste. Something to take with me. Something to tuck away, even when doing it felt like some kind of brutal tease.
Alexis gasped at the contact. I edged back the barest fraction, and she was panting these tiny breaths.
Breaths I was breathing.
Her eyes locked on mine. Hungry and pleading. Brimming with belief and hope.
I ran my thumb over the corner of her mouth where my lips had just been. “You are so beautiful. I’ve never met a girl quite like you.”
Something so genuine took hold of her expression. “I hardly know you…and somehow you make me feel like I am. Like when you look at me…you see the person I always hoped I’d become.”
Everything stilled at her words.
At her confession.
Because that’s what I wanted.
For this amazing girl to know the way I saw her. That in her space, I felt something different from all the bullshit I’d dealt with for all my life.
I felt like someone different. Someone better. Like the person I’d once hoped I’d become.
I clutched her stunning face in my hands, searching for resolve. For that dedication that right then somehow felt out of reach.
“Zee,” she whispered.
That was all it took for that band to snap.
My hands drove into her hair. And my mouth? My mouth was devouring hers.
Frenzied in its demand. Pleading the same way as her eyes had been pleading with me. Saying all the things I couldn’t ever say.
Our tongues tangled, and my spirit coiled. Heat spread in a flashfire of need. Lust rose in the knitted air, like this intangible greed we both were grappling for, searching for the fastest way to get to the peak.
Our hands searched and clawed and explored. We were a mess of limbs as we struggled to get closer to each other where we sat side by side on the bench.
“Zachary…Zachary,” she whimpered, grasping me by the back of the head. She crawled forward so she could straddle me.
Motherfuck.
My hands sank into her hips, and she edged up and pressed those gorgeous tits against the wild beat thundering in my chest. A groan rumbled out from somewhere in my soul.
She felt so perfect. So good.
I wanted to touch her. Explore her. Claim her.
My dick raged against its confines, all that delicious heat at the apex of her thighs grinding against my jean-covered cock.
It’d been too long. Too damned long. I was goin’ out of my mind.

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A.L. Jackson is the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance. She writes emotional, sexy, heart-filled stories about boys who usually like to be a little bit bad.
Her bestselling series include THE REGRET SERIES, CLOSER TO YOU, as well as the newest BLEEDING STARS novels. Watch for the next installment STAND, coming Spring 2017.
If she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out by the pool with her family, sipping cocktails with her friends, or of course with her nose buried in a book.
Be sure not to miss new releases and sales from A.L. Jackson – Sign up to receive her newsletter http://smarturl.it/NewsFromALJackson or text “aljackson” to 24587 to receive short but sweet updates on all the important news.

Connect with A.L.

Facebook: http://smarturl.it/ALJacksonPage
Reader Group: http://smarturl.it/AmysAngelsRock
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/ALJacksonAmzn
Bookbub: http://smarturl.it/ALJacksonBookbub
Twitter: @aljacksonauthor
Instagram: @aljacksonauthor
Snapchat: @aljacksonauthor

When Danger Bites by Heather Long…Blog Tour

When Danger Bites

by Heather Long
Publication Date: May 8, 2017
Genres: Adult, Entangled: Select Otherworld, Paranormal, Romance

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SYNOPSIS:

Buttoned-up Corporal Kaitlyn Amador is dangerous on every level. As a human, she poses a threat to Marine Captain Jax Raymond’s special Force Recon unit. Though the team has a reputation among the other recon units, only their commanding officer knows their secret. As a woman, the danger posed is entirely different. Jax can survive the temptation for only so long before his wolf takes over and pursues what it wants.

Military intelligence specialist Corporal Kaitlyn Amador is the first woman in the Marines to be assigned to a recon team. And everyone’s watching her. Her mission? Not only prove herself worthy of her place in the group, but uncover the mystery of why Bravo Team is so successful. A mission that gets more difficult every time she’s near Jax…

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Excerpt

“That’s a long drive.” A hint of reproach toughened his tone, but he didn’t chastise her about the tires.

“Not too bad, but it’s nice to be out of the car.” In more ways than one. She’d changed into her blues at the last rest stop. Prior to that, she’d been in jeans. She kind of missed those jeans right now. It would be nice to just hang out with him, two random strangers…

“I bet.”

“How about you?”

“On my way back from leave.” He didn’t sound like he wanted to talk about work, assignments, or deployments. “Tell you what, let’s table the work convo.”

Kat chuckled. A man after her own heart. “Kind of hard to ignore the work aspect, considering I’m wearing a uniform.”

“I’m really good at pretend.” The promise of something wicked danced in his eyes.

“Are you, now?”

“Hell, yeah, and I’ve decided we’re going to have a good time over lunch. We’ll laugh, we’ll talk, and we’ll get to know each other.” God help her, he was temptation on a stick. Why couldn’t she have met him back at Quantico?

Where was the harm? I’m on my way to a secret assignment to investigate a classified force recon team. I can see lots of harm. Still, they were only having lunch.

Lunch and pie. “So you have a plan?”

“Absolutely. The only question I have is, are you onboard?”

Their food arrived, and the burgers smelled mouthwateringly good. Kat’s stomach rumbled audibly. With food in front of her, she could pour all her pent-up interest into eating.

Licking her lips, she unfolded a napkin then met his gaze. “I’m totally onboard,” she told him, especially since she could use a break before she immersed herself in Bravo Team culture. “But only for the burger.”

“Hard to compete with Martha’s burgers,” he agreed as he pulled his burger to him. The first bite she took was so good, she damn near groaned. The meat was hot, the onions crisp, and the tomato sweet. Damn. Then her gaze locked with Jax’s as he raised his burger. She found herself mirroring the action, and they both bit into their burgers at the same time and sighed. It went beyond intimacy, the way his eyes seemed to caress her and the warmth invaded her veins.

Trying to laugh off the crazy sensation, she lowered her burger. “Okay, that was a little more food porn than I’m used to with my meals.”

“We need to feed you more, then.”

“Sounds—meaty.” And I sound like an idiot. She grimaced. “I’m terrible at the flirting thing.”

“No, you’re not. Flirting is just play, and I think you’re playing fine. Besides, porn isn’t playing. Porn is good.” To illustrate his point, he took another big bite and lifted his eyebrows as though to invite her to join him. Lifting her burger, she repeated their earlier move and held his gaze as they took another bite. It was so ridiculous and fun in the same breath, she almost laughed.

ABOUT HEATHER LONG

USA Today best-selling author, Heather Long, likes long walks in the park, science fiction, superheroes, Marines, and men who aren’t douche bags. Her books are filled with heroes and heroines tangled in romance as hot as Texas summertime. From paranormal historical westerns to contemporary military romance, Heather might switch genres, but one thing is true in all of her stories—her characters drive the books. When she’s not wrangling her menagerie of animals, she devotes her time to family and friends she considers family. She believes if you like your heroes so real you could lick the grit off their chest, and your heroines so likable, you’re sure you’ve been friends with women just like them, you’ll enjoy her worlds as much as she does.

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Groupie by Susan Daugherty…Blog Tour with Review

 

Today is our stop for the Groupie blog tour! We are so excited to host Groupie and Susan Daugherty! Check it out and be sure to grab your copy today!

 

About Groupie:

Moving to a new city isn’t the magic fix Lexie Travis hoped it would be. Sure, she put some mileage between herself and her feuding parents, her miserable dating history, and the memories of a life-altering injury. However, she still feels like a former shadow of herself, hiding behind her diminished confidence and her thorough disbelief in true love.

Everything changes when Lexie’s best (and only) friend drags her to a country music concert. Lexie loves country music, but she loathes the top-selling heartthrob who sold out the arena. Jack Morgan became a sensation with a string of degrading, shallow songs that she can’t stand.

A startling trauma lands Jack in the hospital, and Lexie is the physical therapist assigned to the VIP treatment of the very man she despises.

Jack is drawn to the one woman who appears resistant to his charms and who loves to check his ego every chance she gets, yet gives him the honesty he needs. She’s the opposite of his usual groupies. He can only continue his tour if he receives rehab on the road, and Lexie is the lone person Jack trusts for the job.

Reluctantly, she agrees to take the journey on his luxury coach, joining the wild cast of characters on his crew. Yes, she was given many incentives to take the assignment, but the reason she wants to ignore is the dangerous one. Jackson Morgan is growing on her.

At every turn, another challenge pushes her away from him.

Stepping onto the tour bus is the domino that starts a chain reaction in their lives and challenges them both to change. Could they learn to believe in love and happily ever after?

*Please note: Groupie is Volume One in a two-part series

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Groupie by Susan Daugherty was such a sweet romance story to read. Yes, I could see some parts coming but in a way don’t you read a book hoping it will play out like you want? What was great about Groupie was that I could tell Susan Daugherty really enjoyed writing Lexie and Jackson. That is always a wonderful thing because there is an abundance of emotion in the story.

After an accident at Jackson’s concert leaves him injured and in need of a physical therapist, Lexie finds herself thrown into his world. Not only is she not a fan of Jackson’s but also not a fan of his groupies. However, Lexie is determined not to let Jackson get to her even through he is a hot country singer. Travelling with him on his tour so she can continue his PT, Lexie starts to find herself falling for him.

Jackson is hard to figure out at first. Does he like Lexie or is he toying with her like all his groupies? It is actually fun to read how he reacts to Lexie because she does not care for his music and is not a fan of him at all. Jackson, I liked, hated, liked, then loved. I really was on the roller coaster of feelings with Lexie.

This is an easy read and slow paced but a great first book with a cliffhanger that got me! I cannot wait to read the next book!

About Susan Daugherty:

Susan Daugherty is a freelance writer, and by some happy coincidence, also a licensed Physical Therapist and an APTA Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist. She is the author of the 2016 novel Groupie as well as its sequel, Muse. Her essay The Cycle of Inspiration was published in PT InMotion in April 2013. She is a member of Romance Writers of America. Raised in Kentucky, she now resides in Knoxville, Tennessee where she lives with her husband and two children.

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April 24th          

Booknerd1107   Review

Under the Cover Book Lovers     Review

The Phantom Paragrapher          Review

Love Between The Sheets            Review

April 25th          

Ramblings From This Chick         Review

The Silver Dagger Scriptorium    Excerpt

Books,Dreams,Life          Excerpt

April 26th          

Book Sniffers Anonymous           Excerpt

Sweet & spicy reads       Review

Jordan’s Romance Reviews         Review

April 27th          

kdrbck  Review

Mama She’s Crazy about Books Review

Hello Beautiful Book Blog            Excerpt

April 28th          

Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews  Review

The Lovely Books            Review

Best Book Boyfriends     Review

Zili in the Sky     Review

April 29th          

What Is That Book About            Excerpt

Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess           Review

Reflections Of A Book Geek        Review

April 30th          

Hike2Forty and beyond Excerpt

Crystal’s BookWorld       Review

Southern Vixens Book Obsessions           Excerpt

May 1st              

The book slayer               Review

Simply Infatuated           Playlist

a geordielass honest blog on reviews      Review

May 2nd            

My Favorite Things         Review

All Is Read          Excerpt

Book Haven Book Blog  Review

May 3rd             

Bitches N Books               Excerpt

My Slanted Bookish Ramblings  Review

Quesarasera Book Blog                Review

May 4th             

Adventures in Writing    Excerpt

Book Briefs         Review

 Short and Sassy Book Blurbs      Review

May 5th             

Sweet Reading  Review

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Angel Reads       Review

The Ordinary Housewife Book Blog         Review

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May 6th             

Tania’s Book Blog            Review

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AC Squared Book Blog   Excerpt

I’m A Sweet And Sassy Book Whore        Review

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May 7th             

Cutting Muse Blog Review          Review

Dog-Eared Daydreams   Review

Jeri’s Book Attic               Review

G & T’s Indie Café            Excerpt

 

Tempting Her Neighbor by Laura Jardine…Blog Tour

Tempting Her Neighbor

by Laura Jardine
Publication Date: May 1, 2017
Genres: Adult, Entangled: Scorched, Erotic, Contemporary, Romance

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SYNOPSIS:

Tired of big city life, software developer Cole Sampson moves to a small Canadian town to get some peace and quiet. Unfortunately, his keep-the-hell-away-from-me vibes don’t work on his gorgeous new neighbor.

Waitress Rachel Malone is intrigued by the hot curmudgeon living next door and his very sexy scowl. Sure, he keeps shutting down her every advance, but before long, she finally catches his interest.

A red-hot, sex-only relationship is what they want. But Cole can’t get over the fact he likes cuddling, and Rachel won’t let herself fall in love, not when she’s finally decided to follow her dreams and move to the city. Still, it’s just sex. Isn’t it?

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Excerpt

A few days later, Rachel did something for Cole that she’d never done for a man before.

 

She made him a lasagna.

 

Then she knocked on his door and waited.

 

And waited.

 

While she was debating whether to leave it on the porch or come back later, the door finally opened.

 

“What do you want?” he demanded.

 

He was just as hot—and grumpy—as she remembered. She figured he was about thirty, but there was a deep groove between his eyebrows from when he knit them together…like he was doing now.

 

“I made an extra lasagna.” She held it toward him. “Thought you could use it. With moving, you probably haven’t had time to cook.”

 

He looked at her for a moment, confusion etched on his face. “You brought me food?”

 

“Small-town hospitality.”

 

“This was a mistake,” he muttered.

 

“Come on. It’s just a fucking lasagna.”

 

A hint of a smile appeared on his face, and she felt a prickle of heat between her legs.

 

And also, strangely enough, on her cheeks. This was not the way she usually reacted to a man, especially when all he was doing was smiling—barely.

 

He was wearing a pair of black athletic shorts and a gray T-shirt that stretched across his broad chest. His hair was a touch wet, the dark strands clinging together. He must have showered not too long ago. She felt like she was getting a glimpse into his private world, the one he tried so hard to keep people out of.

 

Maybe he’d taken so long to answer the door because he needed to make himself presentable. Maybe he hadn’t been wearing a shirt… Now that was a pleasant thought.

 

She wanted to get closer to him, wanted to pull him against her and kiss his mouth, feel his chest against hers, his breath on her neck.

 

She jerked the lasagna in his direction. “Take it.”

 

He took it from her hands. Unfortunately, he didn’t touch her in the process.

 

“You can return the casserole dish when you’re done. No rush. If you don’t want to talk to me when you give it back, just leave it on my porch.”

 

“How thoughtful of you to notice I don’t like human interaction. What gave it away?”

 

She reached out and brushed her thumb over his hand, which gripped the lasagna. Might as well make it clear what she wanted.

 

And once she’d touched his rough skin, she yearned to touch the rest of him even more than before, to get her hands all over this man who was so unlike all the other guys she knew. Despite his standoffish nature, there was something about him that drew her in.

 

“Surely you don’t hate all human interaction,” she said in a sultry voice.

 

“Pretty close to all of it. It rounds down.”

 

She wasn’t sure he got what she was hinting at. But then his gaze slid down her body. And oh God, the way he checked her out, ever so briefly…she was practically blushing. How embarrassing. She never blushed.

 

ABOUT LAURA JARDINE

Laura Jardine decided she wanted to be a writer when she was in grade two, sometime between writing “The Heart That Got Lost” and “The Land of Shapes”. She later studied engineering and worked as a geophysicist before turning to writing romance novels.

Laura lives in Toronto with her husband, and despite living in Canada her whole life, she hates winter. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, hiking, eating too much gelato, and reading on the balcony when it’s raining.

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Remember Me Forever by Sara Wolf….Release Day Blitz & Review

Release Week Blitz: Remember Me Forever (Lovely Vicious #3) by Sara Wolf,
presented by Entangled Teen

 

Hello Readers! Welcome to the Release Week Blitz for

Remember Me Forever (Lovely Vicious #3)
by Sara Wolf!

If you haven’t checked out this series yet,
what are you waiting for? Grab your copy today!

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“What a rush! Brilliantly crafted, sharply written, and completely unpredictable–the perfect ending to an all-time favorite series! Sara Wolf is a fresh voice in YA, and her characters never fail to make me laugh and think. If you’re in the mood for an edgy, witty, one-of-a-kind romance, this is definitely for you!” —Rachel Harris, NYT bestselling author

AUTHOR TAKEOVER

 

 

 

 

Isis Blake hasn’t fallen in love in three years, forty-three weeks, and two days. Or so she thinks.

The boy she maybe-sort-of-definitely loved and sort-of-maybe-definitely hated has dropped off the face of the planet in the face of tragedy, leaving a Jack Hunter–shaped hole. Determined to be happy, Isis fills it in with lies and puts on a brave smile for her new life at Ohio State University.

But the smile lasts only until he shows up. The menace from her past—her darkest secret, Nameless—is attending OSU right alongside her. And he’s whispering that he has something Isis wants—something she needs to see to move forward. To move on.

Isis has always been able to pretend everything is okay. But not anymore.

Isis Blake might be good at putting herself back together.

But Jack Hunter is better.

Remember Me Forever (Lovely Vicious #3)
by Sara Wolf
Publication Date: May 2, 2017
Publisher: Entangled Teen

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EXCERPT

 

Jack Hunter turns to face me.
It feels like years, but it’s only been months. A few months.
He looks so much older—lines around his eyes that didn’t used to be there. His face matured somehow, the sharp angles of pubescence rounded off in a handsome, hawkish way. His eyes are the same frigid, clear blue, brows drawn tight.
“Isis, I—”
I pull my fist back and punch him.

Well I have to say that I enjoyed this whole series more than I anticipated. Sara is a new author to me. I was asked by Entangled to read this book in exchange for an honest review, but it was the third and final book of her series. The synopsis for this book intrigued me enough that I read the first two and truly fell in love with Jack and Isis. I didn’t think expect to enjoy this series as much as I did, for various reasons. I truly did not want it to end.

So about this series – it’s a YA romance that had me laughing a lot. Some people may find the ramblings of Isis to be a bit annoying, but I personally truly enjoyed her. She was unique and herself and didn’t apologize for it. Jack – we have all have a Jack in our high school days. He’s a popular one but is nice to everyone too. I love the bantering and the interactions of Jack and Isis. They annoy one another while at the same time, they keep one another on their toes. And then add in their friends, Kayla, Wren, Avery and Sophia plus a few new ones from this book, these characters really round out the whole story.

This book was probably my favorite of the three. Isis really grows in this book. Oh, she still has her quirky mannerisms and off-the-wall sayings, but she matures a lot. She gains personal strength and learns to stand up for herself, and just not fighting for others. Isis has always been one to help others fight their battles, but never face hers – it was her defense. If she was busy helping her others, her problems could hide in the shadows and never be seen. Until she realizes she has to face them in order for her to get what she wants.

Sara’s writing is a little different from what I am used, but it didn’t hurt the story telling. It just took some adapting on my part. I enjoyed how each book she dealt with issues that all teens go through in life. They may not deal with it directly, but they are affected by it through either their friends, family or acquaintances through school. Sara told a beautiful story overall – we are all different and loved the same. I also enjoyed the small bit of secrecy and espionage stuff that Jack dabbled in – it added a different element to the story.

Overall, if you are a YA lover like me, you really enjoy this series. Sara does a great job of building these characters and the plot lines. The writing is perfectly paced and everything pans out really well. I look forward to reading more from Sara in the future.

 

OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES

 

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I was not sure what to expect when I started reading this. I was asked to review the third book in this series, so I had to read the first two in order to read the third properly and well, I was pleasantly surprised. However, I will mention that if you can’t handle extreme immaturity of teens, don’t read this. There is a lot and it will drive you batty. For me, I found it funny most of the time and added some humor to this YA book.

“A boy broke my heart. No, more than that. He broke m soul, my heart, and who I used to be.”

Isis moves away to help her mom heal. She is getting her fresh start too. She was broken by Nameless and has sworn off love altogether. Isis meets Jack at a party when he makes the only friend she had made, cry. She makes her mission to take him down. Jack is known as Ice Prince and the whole school seems to avoid him for reasons unknown to Isis. But reasons she’s determined to find out.

This was a cute story to read. There were times where I felt certain scenes didn’t make sense and had me scratching my head. But the overall story line had me too interested to really care. LOL Sara’s writing style is a little different from what I am use to, so that took some time for me to get a handle on, but it didn’t hurt the flow or anything. The ending has me scratching my head a bit but I shall wait and see how Sara unfolds this in the next book before I judge too harshly on this one.

I have to admit I am quite interested to see how this plays out in the end. For a YA story, it’s definitely different than what I have read in the past, but unique and entertaining enough that I can’t not see where this all goes.

 

 

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Forget Me Always is the second book in this series and starts off where Love Me Never ended. Jack saved Isis and her mom from Leo but not until after Leo had already inflicted enough abuse of them and leaving Isis with memory loss – she remembers almost everything, but nothing about Jack.

As I stated in my review of Love Me Never, this is a YA with some eye-rolling antics and commentary, but it’s expected of teenagers. Isis is slowly gaining her memory back bit by bit, but has to piece it all together. All the while, she is learning more about Sophia, Avery, Wren and Jack as her memory comes back. And in typical Isis fashion, she inserts herself whether she is wanted or not; not thinking of the consequences and how that will affect everyone involved.

There are some things that are revealed that did surprise me and did add to the animosity amongst these once upon a time best friends. The characters don’t so much as grow in this book, but they try to become a better person than what they’ve been. Isis and Jack did give me some whiplash with their back and forth with one another and uncertainty of what they want from each other. But it’s expected too with these two because they both know how to push the other. They force each other to deal with things they’ve chosen to run away from before, even if they do it in a juvenile way.

“And Naomi! My, what big hands you have. The better to grab me with, am I right? Ack, gently, woman! I’m damaged goods!”

He’s Jack Hunter, the greatest douche who’s ever douched. Or not douched, because he’s a guy. Ugh, I really do gross myself out sometimes.

I have to say that Isis grew on me in this book. Her off the wall comments had me laughing and shaking my head at the same time. You can definitely tell humor is her go to coping mechanism but she’s never annoying with it. If I am seeing a theme here, Sara is trying to handle a different problem that teenagers face in their years and how each person deals with it in each book. I did see the ending coming in this book but that did not change my rating or thoughts on this book in any way.

I am much more curious to see where Sara takes this series in her final book. The one person tying them all together in ways they never expected is no longer alive – where do they all go from here???

 

Sara Wolf is a twenty-something author who adores baking, screaming at her cats, and screaming at herself while she types hilarious things. When she was a kid, she was too busy eating dirt to write her first terrible book. Twenty years later, she picked up a keyboard and started mashing her fists on it and created the monster known as the Lovely Vicious series. She lives in San Diego with two cats, a crippling-yet-refreshing sense of self-doubt, and not enough fruit tarts ever.

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Fraud by J.L. Berg…Release Day Blitz

USA Today Bestselling Author J.L. Berg’s FRAUD is available now – and you can get it for a special release week price of just $2.99! Read an excerpt below, enter to win an Amazon gift card, and pick up your copy today!

 

 

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About FRAUD

From USA Today Bestselling author J.L. Berg comes a sexy standalone about love, lies and every dirty little thing in between.

It wasn’t just a job.
It was my way back to the top.
After losing my position as a journalist for one of the biggest news publications in the world, I knew I’d do anything to get it back.
Even if it meant breaking a few hearts to get there.
She was the hottest author in the country. Known only by a pen name, there wasn’t a person alive who wasn’t dying to discover her true identity.
And I’d figured it out.

Her real name was Kate O’Malley and not only did I plan on finding her, but I fully intended on learning every dirty secret she had and exploiting it for my own gain.
But I underestimated my prey.
I didn’t anticipate how her words would intoxicate me, or how the curves of her body would consume me.
I never meant to fall in love.
And now I had a choice to make.

Do I give up everything for the woman I set out to destroy, or walk away, making me the biggest fraud of all?

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Read an excerpt from FRAUD

What had started as a fun little game to bring this timid beauty out of her shell somehow turned into a wrestling match.

And I was the one about to lose.

Katelyn O’Malley was nothing like I’d imagined.

What had I imagined?

I wasn’t sure exactly.

I’d diligently done my homework— reading Scandal not once, but twice— before I’d hopped on a plane to Oregon. I’d thought the novel would give me insight to this perplexing woman I was about to meet.

It hadn’t.

Not one bit.

If anything, it’d created a thousand more questions.

At first, cracking her ironclad shell seemed like a daunting task. She had come off dry and dull.

God-awful boring.

But boring women didn’t do tequila shots until two in the morning.

Boring women didn’t lie to waiters for free wine and dessert.

And boring women definitely didn’t make me feel this way.

Needy. Desperate. And fucking horny as hell.

Even the way she licked the chocolate off her fork was making me shift uncomfortably in my seat.

This was a job.

Get your head in the game.

“You were pretty good at that,” I said, trying not to stare at the way her pink tongue darted out to grab the last bit of mousse from the tip of her finger.

“Good at what?” she asked.

“Lying.”

She let out a choking cough, patting her chest with her palm. “I’m not a good liar,” she argued.

“Really? You seemed to have everyone around us fooled, including that charming elderly couple who offered their congratulations on their way out.”

“That really was sweet.” She smiled, a touch of whimsy in her gaze. “Did you see the way they held hands? I’m pretty sure he even grabbed her ass when she walked past him to go to the restroom.”

I laughed. “My kind of guy.”

“I just wonder what it’s like— to be that in love after all that time,” she said, bending forward and resting the curve of her chin on her hand.

“How do you know it has been a long time?” I asked. “Maybe they got married late in life.”

She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

“Why?” I asked, curious how she’d reached that conclusion.

“There was a familiarity in the way they touched. The way they leaned into one another, the way they walked. It was as if they’d been doing so forever.”

I studied her for a quiet moment, recalling the intensity of her words and the passion in her voice. It was the first time since meeting Katelyn O’Malley, I could actually see a sliver of Laura Stone, the author, somewhere inside.

“I do believe you are a bit of a romantic at heart,” I replied.

She smiled sweetly. “Maybe a hopeless one.”

My hand reached out to hers, a needless gesture since we’d already achieved our goal for the evening and sold everyone on our false marital status.

This time, I touched her because I wanted to.

“Definitely not hopeless,” I said softly, knowing that instant that I was crossing the line between business and pleasure.

And heading straight to the land of hell.

“So, tell me about technical editing,” she said, shifting topics. “How does one get into something like that?”

I suddenly felt like I’d been hit in the face with a bucket of ice water. Here I was, in a dimly lit room, romancing the hell out of a woman I’d just met, and then reality hit.

I was lying to her.

Flat-out lying.

I needed to remember that. “There’s not much to tell,” I said, straightening slightly in my chair. “Rather boring really.”

We continued to chat about our lives. She told me more about her work at the college. I rambled off more lies about mine until the check came around.

I was feeling quite good about myself as I led us outside.

My head was clear.

But then I saw the way the moonlight highlighted her golden-blonde hair. I became mesmerized by the sway of her hips and the soft curves of her body.

Katelyn O’Malley was casting a spell on me, and she didn’t even know it.

And I wasn’t sure I wanted her to stop.

 

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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By the Hour by Roni Loren…Blog Tour

Meet the Author:

Roni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her cooking, watching reality television, or picking up another hobby she doesn’t need–in other words, procrastinating like a boss. She is a RITA Award winner and a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author.

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About the Book:

 

From the New York Times bestselling author of Off the Clock comes a story of love, hate, and the fire that ignites when the two collide…

Dr. Elle McCray has a plan. Work hard. Be the best. And do it alone. After her ex-husband’s betrayal, she’s learned being feared is a hell of a lot easier than being humiliated. So when trouble personified, Lane Cannon, dares to flirt with her, she shuts him down cold. Too gorgeous. Too cocky. And his job as The Grove’s sexual surrogate is to sleep with patients. No, thank you.

Former escort Lane Cannon has spent enough years with people looking down on him. Stupid. Trailer trash. Rent boy. He’s heard it all. He’s worked too hard to shed his past to let some haughty doctor cut him down. But something about Elle’s ice queen act has his dominant instincts perking up and his body taking notice. He can’t walk away.

After an evening of verbal sparring turns into a night of steamy hate sex, Lane’s ready for round two. But Elle proposes a business deal. How better to keep things strictly physical than to pay him for his services?

Lane wants her, not her money. But he’ll play along in exchange for one thing—all the control. It’s only supposed to be a dirty little fling between colleagues, but these two are about to learn a lesson in love…by the hour.

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Excerpt

Every time she looked at Marin and Donovan together, that was all she could think about. I’ve become that woman. I screwed up and let myself feel something for a man. Once again, the man had reminded her exactly why she couldn’t let her guard down. He’d bailed, leaving her looking pathetic and petty. Runner-up to some other woman. Again.

Second place. First loser.

It was her own fault. She’d broken her rules. Lesson learned. Never again. That was the main reason she’d forced herself to this party—to show that she wasn’t bothered, that she was a grown-up. That, and the fact that it was her birthday and it felt a little too pathetic staying home alone for it. Not that anyone knew her calendar had clicked over to a new year today. The only birthday card in her mailbox had been from her mother. The inscription had been the same as the one on the Christmas card she’d received from her a few weeks ago. Best wishes. Love, Mom.

There’d been an expensive bottle of Pinot Noir delivered with it. Elle had brought it to the party as a gift, an olive branch of sorts. She’d even managed to congratulate Marin and mostly mean it. At the end of the day, it wasn’t Marin she was angry with. The situation with Donovan had been fucked up before the woman had ever arrived on campus.

As if hearing her name from Elle’s thoughts, Marin glanced her way, a wrinkle in her brow. The woman was probably wondering why Elle had shown up. They’d managed to forge a professional working relationship in the last month or so, but they were not friends who hung out after work and would never be. But before Elle could attempt to give some sort of polite, nothing-to-see-here nod, Marin walked with purpose over to one of the other guests. The man she singled out turned and offered Marin a smile full of warmth and affection, the expression lighting his already too handsome face.

An unwelcome ripple of awareness went through Elle.

Great. With all her ruminating, she hadn’t noticed him walk in.

Lane Cannon. Resident sex surrogate for The Grove’s sex therapy wing—or the X-wing, as most of the staff had dubbed it. Big. Blond. And way too cocky for his own good. Though, he probably should be, considering he’d figured out how to make a legitimate living sleeping with their wealthy, often famous clients. Therapeutic assistant. That was his official title. But in her opinion, getting some certificate in California didn’t make what he did much different than being a prostitute who happened to be a good listener.

She’d said as much to a colleague one day when he’d suggested one of the patients may benefit from Lane’s services. Of course, Lane had walked up and overheard her calling him a hooker. He hadn’t said a word, but the dimpled smirk he’d given her had held a big dose of go fuck yourself.

Then, he’d proceeded to talk to her colleague about the patient and ignore Elle completely.

First, it had pissed her off. It was her wing, dammit. Her patients. She’d started to interrupt, but then he’d sent her a look of simmering challenge, brow cocked, eyes daring her.  For some reason, it had sent a rush of wildfire through Elle, heating her from the inside out, and it’d had nothing to do with anger.

She was so used to people deferring to her, being exceedingly polite, being professional because she was a doctor, because she was a boss, because she was in charge. Because she could be a scary bitch and didn’t apologize for it. But with that one look, Lane had thrown down the challenge. You don’t intimidate me, doctor. You don’t impress me. Just try and play those games and see what happens.

It had been further proof that her wires were tangled now when it came to sex and men. Other women wanted romance, sweetness, love. She’d been that way once upon a time. Her ex-husband had promptly burned that fantasy to the ground, exposing it for the sham it was. Window dressing on lies. Now, she got turned on by the thought of a good hate fuck. Those were honest. Those were real. Pure physical release.

And everything in that look that day had said that Lane was more than capable of hating her right into a screaming, begging-for-more orgasm.

Dangerous.

So when Marin handed Lane a fresh glass of wine and nudged him Elle’s way, Elle should’ve known that it was time to get up and leave. She didn’t like Lane. He didn’t like her. And she certainly didn’t need Marin sending him over because she pitied Elle sitting alone. Screw that.

But Elle couldn’t seem to make herself get up and bail. With Lane eating up the space between them with those long, powerful legs, his green eyes locking with hers, she couldn’t seem to do anything at all. His lips curled at the corner, as if he knew the effect he had on her. To others, the expression probably appeared friendly. After all, he was the laid-back, good-time guy in everyone else’s eyes. The guy you’d call when you got a flat tire or if you drank too much and needed a ride. But she saw the wicked glint beneath. The one that said he liked to stir up trouble, that he liked to put people off balance. That he could put her off balance.

And damn, it didn’t help that he was nice to look at. Dark blue henley stretching over broad shoulders, jeans soft and worn in the right places, and thick-soled boots that made a heavy sound against the wood floor. Nothing pretentious or overdone. He looked like a guy who drank domestic beer and worked with his hands.

Hands. The thought snapped her back into reality. The guy did work with his hands. On other women. Hell. This is why she needed to steer clear of Lane Cannon. He scrambled her goddamned brain, especially after so many months of abstinence.

She sat up straighter in her chair and crossed her arms, sending the go away signal with a bullhorn. That always worked. She had a Ph.D. in that signal.

Lane ignored it. He grabbed the chair next to her, slid into it, and then plunked the glass of wine he’d been carrying onto the table in front of her. When she didn’t reach for it or acknowledge him, he draped his arm over the back of her chair as if she’d invited him there. He didn’t touch her, but his body heat warmed her neck as he stared out at the group like she’d been doing.

“You know, I’ve heard you can’t really kill someone with a look. But good on you for continuing to test the theory.”

She didn’t look his way and tried to keep her expression smooth as he did the man-spread next to her—knees wide, big body taking up too much space. He smelled like laundry soap and dark, rich beer. And when the side of his knee bumped against hers, soft jeans brushing bare skin, an uninvited spark of awareness shot straight upward, announcing his presence to her renegade lady parts.

She cleared her throat. “Brave of you to be a test subject.”

His lips quirked in her periphery. “I saw you give the death ray to Donovan earlier. Figured if he survived, I was safe.”

She frowned, hating that any of her emotions about Donovan had slipped through, hating that she even had emotions about Donovan. “Don’t be too confident. If you’re coming over here to tell me to smile or join the party, I may dial the look up to eleven.”

“Ouch, Spinal Tap level.” He took a drag off his beer. “But no. You do your thing. I don’t need you to smile and fake it to make me comfortable. I’m good.”

“Because you’re comfortable anywhere,” she said, not hiding the wryness in her tone.

He shrugged. “Pretty much.”

She grabbed the wine and sipped, enjoying the smooth warmth of it and hoping it would settle the jumpy feeling Lane’s presence was causing. “Must be nice.”

“It is.” He peered her way. “So why are you so uncomfortable?”

“Never said I was.” She took another long gulp of wine.

“Right. So you’re totally chill with watching the guy you used to hook up with fawn all over his new woman?”

The wine caught in her throat, making it burn and forcing her to cough. No one except Marin was supposed to know about her and Donovan’s history. They’d been so careful. “He’s not—we weren’t.”

“Calm down. Not judging. Just observant.” He glanced back at Donovan and Marin as the two goofed around and danced to some upbeat country song drifting from the jukebox. “If it helps, she turned me down for him. So that just proves that fate had a plan for them.”

She snorted. “Fate?”

“Absolutely. Because, let’s face it, I’m really hard to turn down. I mean, look at me.”

Elle turned automatically and he grinned.

“Made you look.”

She groaned. “Can you go away now?”

He swigged his beer. “Nope. This is fun. We should do this more often. Or are you afraid my hooker cooties are going to get on you?”

She sniffed. “If you’re expecting me to apologize for stating an opinion, don’t hold your breath. You get paid to get off. I call it like I see it.”

“Is that right?” He cocked his head. “Always so sure you know it all, huh? Must be a nice view from that glass tower.”

Her teeth pressed against each other.

He leaned in, getting way too close, and lowered his voice. “Truth is, you don’t see me at all, doc. You don’t try to see. Not me or anyone else at this party.”

 

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The Heart of a Texas Cowboy by Linda Broday…Spotlight Tour

 

 

Title: The Heart of a Texas Cowboy

Author: Linda Broday

Series: Men of Legend, #2

ISBN: 9781492630203

Pub date: May 2, 2017

Genre: Historical Western Romance

 

Three Brothers. One Oath.

No Compromises.

The MEN of LEGEND

 

The Cowboy

One bullet is all it takes to shatter Houston Legend’s world. He swore he’d never love again, but with the future of the Lone Star Ranch on the line, he finds himself at the altar promising to love and cherish a woman he’s never met—a woman whose vulnerable beauty touches his heart.

 

All Lara Boone wants is a name for her baby. She never expected to fall in love with her own husband—or any man—after the heartache she’s endured. Yet when her troubled past catches up with them, Houston will move heaven and earth to protect his bride…and discover depths to a marriage of convenience neither realized could be theirs.

Excerpt

With night wrapped around her like a cloak, Lara hummed while she washed the dishes and put everything away.

Houston sat on the ground with Gracie, his back against his saddle. The babe lay on his chest with his hand patting the small back. He caught Lara looking and winked as boldly as some scoundrel. Heat rose to her cheeks. She lowered her gaze and made quick work of the dishes.

“Do you want me to take Gracie to her bed?” Lara asked, joining him.

“If you can pry open her fist to get my vest out of it. For such a little thing, she’s sure got a grip.”

Houston was so near his soft breath fanned her cheek. Her pulse raced. This man she’d married invaded every thought. He’d shown kindness and caring and brought hope back from the grave where she’d buried it.

He laid a hand on her arm. “You’ll be back?”

“Yes. I won’t be long.”

“I’ll only be in camp a little while,” Houston said, yawning. “Have to spell the other drovers.” At her questioning glance, he explained, “Everyone shares guard duty, me included.”

She nodded and hurried to lay Gracie in her crib next to her crib beside the chuck wagon. With her precious daughter sleeping soundly, she returned to the fire to find no sign of Houston. Her heart sank with disappointment. She’d missed him, missed her goodnight kiss that he’d begged for.

Houston called quietly from the deep shadows. “Over here, Lara.”

Following his voice, Lara discovered him leaning against the trunk of a mesquite tree. Rays from the full moon lightened the dark brown strands nestling against his collar, adding glints of silver.

“I didn’t want to take a chance on us being interrupted so I walked out here,” he explained.

Lara wet her lips. “I thought you’d changed your mind.” That he didn’t want to kiss a woman so scarred.

“Not a chance, lady,” he growled low and pushed away from the tree. “It’s all that’s been on my mind since you agreed.”

When she moved to him, he opened his arms. She walked into his embrace as though it was door and pleasure awaited there. Inhaling the scented air, she laid her head against the hard wall of his chest. She wanted to stay there forever.

Houston lightly rested his chin on the top of her head. “I’m real glad you came on this drive. Nights can get lonely out here.”

His deep voice vibrated inside her. It was like he became part of her. “I’m glad I did too. Even though I had to work to convince you.”

“Yeah, well, I’m a stubborn fool.”

He put a finger under her chin and lifted her face. Without a word, he lowered his mouth. The minute his warm lips touched hers, Lara had to clutch his arm to keep from falling. Her heartbeat pounded as though trying to keep up with the blood racing through her veins.

A hot, demanding, achiness swept over her. She needed this man and at the moment didn’t think she could live without him. Nor did she want to try.

With a low cry, he placed his large hands under her jaw and deepened the kiss, sending a series of quickenings into her stomach similar to the ones she felt when Gracie curled in her womb. Maybe these stirrings signaled life much in the same way her baby’s movements did to let her know she was alive and couldn’t wait to be born.

Maybe she was being reborn.

Maybe she could forget the past and start fresh.

Maybe this was what she’d waited so long for.

As she leaned into him and gripped Houston’s vest, pleasure like she’d never felt swirled inside her. She clung to him afraid if she let go, he’d vanish and she’d discover it was a dream.

Could this be tiny stirrings of love?

Lara suddenly pushed away. No it wasn’t love because that didn’t exist. Not for her. It was too dangerous to believe in love. To believe she had anything to give any man.

What’s wrong, Lara?” Houston gently pushed back her hair. “Did I do something to upset or frighten you? I shouldn’t have grabbed you like that.”

“You did nothing wrong.” It was her. She almost let herself believe that someone could love her. One look at her reflection showed the impossibility of such a thing. “I’m sorry,” she murmured brokenly.

Through tears, she stumbled back to the light of the campfire, escaping all that brought pain.

The past.

Herself.

An impossible future.

Escaping everything. If only it was that easy.

Houston stole up behind her and touched her shoulder. “Talk to me. I want to understand.”

She owed him some explanation. Impatiently dashing away the tears, she turned and let anger spill. “It’s not you, Houston. It’s me. I’m broken. Too broken to fix. You can’t repair something that’s missing the pieces. Blackstone took a lot more than….” she paused, “He stole….”

“Your soul,” he supplied quietly.

About the Author

At a young age, LINDA BRODAY discovered a love for storytelling, history, and anything pertaining to the Old West. Cowboys fascinate her. There’s something about Stetsons, boots, and tall rugged cowboys that get her fired up. A New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Linda has won many awards, including the prestigious National Readers’ Choice Award and the Texas Gold Award. She resides in the Texas Panhandle and is inspired every day.

 Social Networking Links

Website: http://lindabroday.com/

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

Twitter: @LBroday

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1204489.Linda_Broday

To Buy

http://lindabroday.com/books/men-of-legend-series/heart-of-a-texas-cowboy/

 

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