The Protector by Jodi Ellen Malpas…Release Day Blitz & Review

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THE PROTECTOR by Jodi Ellen Malpas (September 6, 2016; Forever Trade Paperback and Forever eBook; stand alone novel)

THE NEW NOVEL FROM THE #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE THIS MAN TRILOGY AND ONE NIGHT TRILOGY!

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People think they have Camille Logan nailed: daddy’s girl; beautiful, spoiled young woman with her father’s bank balance to fund her lifestyle. But Camille is determined to have a life free from his strings. Out on her own, she’s made mistakes, including one that found her clawing her way back after a stint in rehab and plenty of bad press. Now, after fighting so hard to be independent and happy, she finds her life threatened as a result of her father’s ruthless business dealings. Caught between resentment and fear, Camille prepares herself for the measures her father will take to protect her. But nothing could prepare her for the ex-SAS sniper who crashes into her life.

Jake Sharp resides in his own personal hell. He was distracted from duty once before, and the consequences were devastating–both personally and professionally. He vowed never to let that happen again. Accepting the job of bodyguard to Camille Logan isn’t the kind of distraction from his demons he should take. Women and Jake don’t mix well, yet protecting the heiress seems the lesser of two evils. But Jake soon discovers that she isn’t the woman she’s perceived to be. She’s warm, compassionate, her presence settling, and his duty to protect her soon goes deeper than a well-paid job, no matter how hard he fights it. He needs absolution. He comes to need Camille. But he knows he can’t have both.

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my-review

Jodi has another hit on her hands!!! The Protector is a fantastic romantic suspense.
Jake Sharp is a war veteran that returned home with alot of demons and issues.  He’s been trying to cope these last few years with his multiple vices and yet never seems to move forward.
Camilie is the daughter of an extreme wealthy man.  And the way she’s seen to the public isn’t exactly who she is.   Her problems have been the front page news but no-one truly knows what goes on behind closed doors.
Jake is hired to protect Cam.  What Jake wasn’t expecting was a fierce, level-headed, independent and very strong woman.  He’s knocked off his feet and isn’t sure what to expect each day.
Cam isn’t exactly thrilled when her dad hires someone to watch her every move.  She just wants to prove to everyone that she’s not this princess who just spends daddy’s money.  And she enjoys keeping Jake on his toes!!  But he somehow gets under her skin – in many ways.
I absolutely love the banter and hot/cold interactions between these two.  They may badger and throw snide comments towards each other and because they are both so headstrong, neither will back down.  But underneath all that animosity is a very large attraction that neither understands causing them both to have a hard time keeping that attraction at bay.
What kept me glued to this book and hooked on this story was the underlying suspense story.  I kept trying to figure out what Cam’s father is up to and what’s behind the threat. The suspense is perfect and is delivered perfectly with the rest of the story.  Jodi has written another great hit!
A romantic suspense you must read!!

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5LovesRLB

Videos:

Sneak peak trailer: http://bit.ly/2aJocTK

Full trailer: http://bit.ly/2bMPCIQ

About the Author:

Jodi Ellen Malpas author photos

Jodi was born and raised in the Midlands town of Northampton, England, where she lives with her two boys and a beagle. She is a self-professed daydreamer, a Converse & mojito addict, and has a terrible weak spot for Alpha Males.

Writing powerful love stories and creating addictive characters has become her passion – a passion she now shares with her devoted readers.

She’s now a proud #1 New York Times bestselling author – all six of her published novels having hit the New York Times bestsellers list – as well as a Sunday Times bestseller and international bestseller. Her work is published in over 20 languages across the world.

Social Media Links:

www.JodiEllenMalpas.co.uk

www.twitter.com/jodiellenmalpas

www.Facebook.com/JodiEllenMalpas

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Giveaway:

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Challenge by Amy Daws….Cover Reveal

Title: Challenge
Author: Amy Daws
Release Date: Sept 23, 2016
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He’s her patient. She’s his doctor. They shouldn’t. But God, do they want to. 

Camden Harris, the famously hot, hulk of a footballer is laid up in a London hospital. But his busted knee doesn’t stop him from running his well-practiced game on Indie Porter—his redheaded spitfire of a doctor. She’s not his type, not even close. But she could be the perfect distraction from the soul-crushing damage this injury could cost him.

Indie’s tired of her naivety putting a target on her back. As a gifted child, she’s let her education take the front seat her whole life. But a fling with a footballer like Camden might be just what she needs to grab life by the balls.

And he could be the perfect guy for the plan she’s been sitting on for over two years.

But when feelings make a final play, there’s no amount of medicine that can heal the damage to their hearts.

Here’s a behind the scenes look at the cover shoot of Challenge. 
What can readers expect with Challenge?
Hot and humorous is what one of my beta readers called it. But it’s so much more than that. Challenge is a spin off from my last release where the heroine had four brothers that all played football in England (soccer to my American readers). These four brothers stole everyone’s hearts when their opening scene involved three of them attempting to climb the fire escape eleven stories to break into their sister’s flat and surprise her for her birthday. They are crazy, hilarious, ridiculous, and incredibly passionate…and of course HOT! So you can expect a whole lot of that.
Who is your cover model and photographer and how did you come to pick them? 
Adam Spahn is my model and aside from his body being amazing for this cover, it was also super convenient because we live in the same town. My sister-in-law have shot all of our own covers in the past with friends or people we know, but for this spin off series I wanted a completely different look than my London Lovers Series covers. So I hired Dan Thorson to shoot because I love his work!
What was the process like? 
Dirty! 🙂 I rubbed that mud on Adam myself! LOL. He was such a smart alec about it too, but that was great because it made it really fun. I’ve never felt abs like that before. And OMG, they were hard. My heroine in Challenge, Indie Porter, describes the heroes abs as “bones” in one of her inner narratives and that is taken from my true life experience after rubbing that mud on. Holy cow!!!
Was it hard to pick the cover photo? 
Yes! Dan got so many great shot…But I hope to use the others in promos and stuff someday!
Who designed the cover? 
I’ve done the design work on all my previous covers but I have to give most of the credit on this one to Staci Hart! Staci is a fellow author friend of mine and we’ve become really close since we met in England this past June. In addition to being an incredible writer, she is also a very talented graphic designer. She spearheaded the whole look and feel. I did a few things on my end, but she really nailed it. I’m so lucky to have her in my corner. She’s one of the most generous authors I’ve ever met.
So…seriously? Pink? 
Hey! Athletes love pink. Have you ever seen their soccer/football socks? Pink is everywhere is sports. Plus this book is a rom com and the picture was so hot and intense, we needed something to lighten the feel and represent what you’ll get inside. There’s definitely some intensity…but there’s also a lot of laughs.
Is Challenge a standalone? Will there be more Harris brothers coming?
For now it’s a complete standalone. We shall see what the future holds for the rest of them.
Amy Daws lives in South Dakota with her husband, and miracle daughter, Lorelei. The long-awaited birth of Lorelei is what inspired Amy’s first book, Chasing Hope, and her passion for writing. Amy is a lover of all things British and her award-nominated contemporary romance series, The London Lovers Series, is centered around Americans in London. It’s emotional and self-deprecating with lots of humor sprinkled in. 
On most nights, you can find Amy and her family dancing to Strawberry Shortcake’s theme song or stuffing themselves inside children’s-sized playhouses because there is nothing they wouldn’t do for their little miracle. 
   

 

Cover Reveal…Threesome Bonds by Sienna Matthews

It gives us great pleasure to bring you the Cover Reveal for THREESOME BONDS by Sienna Matthews!

Threesome Bonds delivers hot, sizzling and sensual romance…the long-awaited, much-anticipated, reader-requested sequel to Sienna Matthews’ Threesome series. Check it out now!

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About Threesome Bonds

The long-awaited, much-anticipated, reader-requested sequel to Threesome Interlude and Threesome Play is here!

What happens after Lynne Morrison’s passionate elevator interlude with hunky twins Mark and Ash Thompson? Well, they realize it isn’t enough so they had to try out the bedroom and the kitchen table and the wall…er, you get the picture. When Lynne finds herself unexpectedly pregnant, she faces a serious dilemma: she doesn’t know who the father is! When the truth is out, will it derail her growing relationship with Mark?

Meanwhile, her best friend Cara Wilson, aka Hot Blonde, isn’t feeling so hot. In a relationship with lovers Kyle Lockwood and Max Brannigan, she comes home early one day and stumbles upon Kyle secretly proposing to Max. Her world shatters. Amidst her heartbreak, she decides to take the biggest gamble of her life, even if it means losing the thing Kyle cherishes the most…

Product Warnings

This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, male/male sexual acts, anal sex and ménage a trois (m/f/m and m/m/f).

Note

This book can be read as a standalone. Enough backstory has been provided to help new readers understand the characters’ situations. However, if new readers would like to read how the characters met, the previous books, Threesome Interlude and Threesome Play, are now discounted at $0.99 for a limited time only.

Pre-order your copy of Threesome Bonds today at Amazon.com.

 

Other books by Sienna Matthews

Grab these equally tantalizing books in the Threesome series by Sienna Matthews. Available now with new covers!

Threesome Interlude Cover

Threesome Interlude

It’s no hardship being stranded with two gorgeous guys…

Limited time offer: $0.99 special promotion price!
Buy now at Amazon.com

Threesome Play Cover

Threesome Play

When opportunity comes, grab it. Or them.

Limited time offer: $0.99 special promotion price!
Buy now at Amazon.com

About Sienna Matthews

Sienna Matthews writes deliciously erotic romance. She goes wherever the muse calls. Check out her stories which are no holds barred sinful and seductive and where anything can happen. Visit her blog at http://siennamatthews.wordpress.com/. She welcomes readers’ feedback on her books. Write to her at SiennaMMatthews @ gmail.com.

Visit the Official Sienna Matthews Website: http://siennamatthews.wordpress.com/

Connect with Sienna Matthews on Social Media: Facebook, Twitter


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Book Unleashed

Challenged By You by Steph Nuss….Blog Tour Stop

Title: Challenged by You
Series: Love in the City #5
Author: Steph Nuss
Release Date: Sept 1, 2016

Paige Abram never faces a problem she can’t solve until her high school sweetheart comes back into her life, and she’s bombarded with memories of their relationship. His presence is almost suffocating, but he’s still just as beautiful as she remembers.

His heart beat differently after its first love.

The moment Drake Wilkins sees her again, the numbness he’s felt since he walked away disappears. But she’s not the same girl he fell in love with back then. She’s colder, not as easy going; she’s a complete stranger now.

Her heart nearly quit after its first loss.

When a funeral has them returning to their hometown, a secret she’s kept from him all these years is revealed. She expects him to push her away but he doesn’t; he tests her just like when they were kids.

Their hearts resuscitate, but in the city, their love will face its biggest challenge of all: survival.

  
The next day after work, I walked into Jones Jym in complete awe of the place. It was an athlete’s dream workout facility—even better than the one I frequented during college ball. It had multiple floors of equipment and machines, and several trainers on staff. The place buzzed with people who were eager to sweat away their workday. Since moving to the city, I’d yet to find a gym to join, and a guy at work named Owen had given me the name of the gym he and several of his athletic clients used.
I signed up and paid the membership fee. The lady at the front desk gave me a keycard and all the necessary information that came with becoming a member, and then she had a young guy give me a tour of the place. It wasn’t until we got to the floor with the pool that I recognized the body swimming toward the other end.
Paige was doing laps in a one-piece black swimsuit. Seeing her in the water reminded me of the times we spent swimming and the bikinis she used to wear, especially the ones I enjoyed taking off of her.
“Dude,” the kid said, shaking his head. “Don’t even bother. That lady is like the ice queen around here. She specifically requests the pool to herself, and the only reason she gets it is because she’s friends with the boss.”
“I see,” I commented, never taking my eyes off her. Ice queen, huh? That was a new nickname for her I hadn’t heard around work yet. “If you don’t mind, I think I can take it from here. I appreciate you showing me around.”
“Just doing my job.” He shrugged and picked up a few towels that had been tossed to the side before heading toward the door. “Have a good day.”
“You too.”
I was alone with her. It was like one of my teenage wet dreams come to life all over again: Paige all wet in a swimsuit. Except this time, she was in a one-piece that covered way too much of her, but I really didn’t mind. The suit molded to her, showing off her excellently toned body and how much she still cared for it.
As she swam toward the end of the pool nearest me, I walked to the edge and squatted down to watch her. She pushed harder and harder through the water, kicking her legs and pumping her arms fast toward me. When she got closer, instead of somersaulting against the wall and pushing back to the other end, she reached for the edge and accidentally grabbed my shoe.
“What the hell?” she sputtered as she removed her goggles and moved into a standing position. She brushed her hair out of her face and peered back at me with a pissed off gleam in her eye. “What are you doing in here, Drake? I requested time in the pool to myself.”
“I know,” I said, smiling. “But I was getting the Jones Jym tour since I’m a new member and when I saw you swimming, I thought I’d say hi.”
She rolled her eyes and ticked a brow up at me. “You joined my gym?”
“I didn’t realize it was your gym. I thought it was open to everybody.”
She sighed. “You know what I mean. How did you know I worked out here?”
“Well, if you must know, I asked Owen his opinion on the gyms around the city, and he suggested this one. Your name was never even brought up.”
“Goddammit, Owen,” she muttered under her breath loud enough for me to hear.
Amused, I stepped back as she lifted herself out of the pool. I admired the body that I missed in an unhealthy manner, feeling suffocated in my three-piece suit as my eyes roamed. She grabbed a towel and started to dry off, and all I could do was stand there and watch. Her suit dipped low in the front, exposing the contours of her breasts, and it was cut high on the thighs to show off her legs and the cheeks of her taut ass peeking out the backside. It wasn’t like the one-piece suits with the ugly floral prints. No, this black beaut was one I imagined myself stripping off of her in a slow, seductive manner until I had her begging me to get her out of it.
“Don’t,” she stated harshly, knocking me back to the present.
“What?” I asked, confused as I refocused my attention to her face, where her eyes were narrowed on me, brows furrowed in annoyance.
She used to love it when I watched her like this.
She wrapped one towel around herself and knotted it, and then proceeded to wring her hair out with another towel. “You don’t get to look at me like that anymore.”
I cocked my head to the side and shot her a mischievous smile. “Do you realize what you’re wearing? How am I supposed to not look at you in a swimsuit? Do you remember all the good times we had with you in—and out—of a bikini? Because I do.”
“I can tell.” She nodded toward the slight bulge in my pants and tossed the towel in the used barrel. Slipping her feet into a pair of sandals, she threw her bag over her shoulder and made her way over to me. She tugged on my loosened tie and pulled me forward with a playful smile lingering on her lips as she ran her fingers over the silky material. “I remember that one night we decided to go skinny dipping,” she stated, her voice taking on a sensual tone that hypnotized me. “You helped me out of my suit, taking your sweet time untying the strings and sliding my bottoms down my legs, and then you took off your shorts.” She laughed softly and then shoved me away from her. “But the water was so cold that your genitals shriveled up to unnoticeable proportions.”
“Hey, it was really fucking cold!” I exclaimed defensively.
Reaching for the door, her laugh turned devious. “Don’t ever interrupt my swim session again, Wilkins.”
“Don’t act like that’s the only swimming memory you have, Abram!” I called back.
Like hell I was going to let her have the last word. One glance at my groin, and I knew the skinny dipping story still had the same damn effect that it had back when we were kids.
Fuck. Getting her back was going to be more of a challenge than I thought, but I’d endure every embarrassing story she recalled about me if it meant hearing her laugh like that again.
Wanted by You (#1)
Carter was captivated by Ellyson Evans the moment he laid eyes on her, but she was the one girl who didn’t beg for his attention.
He wanted her.
Ellyson vowed to never fall in love, because love can destroy you, but then she met Carter Jennings.
She wanted him.
Unwilling to risk their comfortable friendship, neither confessed their desires.
Losing touch after college, a chance meeting reconnects them.
They want each other.
But love in the city is never quite that easy.

Fantasized by You (#2)
Celebrity fashion designer, Harper Jennings is only months away from turning thirty, and her dream of living a happily ever after has yet to come true.
She’s given up on her fantasy.
Personal trainer and gym owner, Maverick Jones isn’t thrilled about having a designer mentoring in his new clinic, but after meeting the brunette beauty face-to-face, he dreams of having his way with her.
He’s ready to turn his fantasy into reality.
But when their fantasies collide, love in the city becomes more complicated than they ever imagined.

Pleasured by You (#3)
One night of pleasure turns into a summer full of lust.
Fletcher Haney owns several businesses all over New York City, gaining him access to tons of beautiful women. He has no intentions of stopping his womanizing ways, until he sees her again.
She’s the ultimate heartbreaker he can’t forget.
Pastry chef bombshell, Bayler Jennings knows she can have any guy she wants, but when her only memorable one-night stand confronts her, she breaks all of her rules.
He’s the love ‘em and leave ‘em flavor she craves.
But as the seasons change, this two-of-a-kind pair fights falling in love in the city, and they’ll soon realize that with pleasure always comes pain.

Cherished by You (#4)
“Move in with me,” he said. 
Being cherished is how Tessa Wilder always imagined falling in love. But for years, she’s always gone for the wrong guys. Now that she’s fallen for one of the good ones, she fears rejection.
“I can’t,” she replied.
Justin Jameson quit looking for a woman after being used so many times for his brains. A bit of an introvert and completely oblivious to women’s advances, he can’t even see that his friend cherishes everything about him.
When Tessa needs a place to stay, Justin’s the first to offer her a room. Hearts are opened; feelings are ventured. They’ll finally know what it’s like to be cherished in the city until one moment threatens the relationship they’ve built.
“I can’t lose you.”
  
Steph Nuss was born and raised in rural Kansas, where she currently resides with her black Labrador son named Gunner. She grew up with a passion for reading and writing. When she’s not immersed into the land of fiction, she enjoys listening to music that came before her time, watching movies and reruns of her favorite shows, and hanging out with her family and friends. She also has a bachelor’s degree in psychology that she’ll never use…unless she’s profiling her characters of course.
   

 

Dirty Talk by S.L. Scott…Release Event

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Because first love deserves a second chance

Standalone Contemporary Romance.

When love gets messy, it’s not just the talk that’s dirty.

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Dirty Talk by S.L. Scott is LIVE!

ONLY .99 for a very short time & FREE on Kindle Unlimited.

**Bonus book inside!**

NOW AVAILABLE!!!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2bDgz3k

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2bKORz1

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Blurb

From the New York Times Bestselling Author of The Resistance comes this new STANDALONE contemporary romance.

Because first love deserves a second chance

One month.

One movie.

One shot at a second chance.

I fell madly in love at first sight with Jane Lewis.

The girl with bright green eyes, a pretty smile, and great ass owned my heart. I thought she was happy with the status quo, but ten years later, I foolishly let her go. Despite dating other women, no one compares to my first love. We are meant to be together, and I’m going to try my damnedest to convince her of that.

Luke Anders tricked me. The deal was sealed before I knew he was behind it.

We agreed to be just friends. Simple. Easy. But it’s not just the weather that’s hot in Texas. I was a fool to think I could resist him. He knows how to work his charms and those kissable lips, that great jaw, and biceps. We are here to work, but he has become downright distracting.

I’m strong. I can handle one month of his flirtatious sexual torture. But if I happen to fall in bed with that sexy bastard for a night, or three, does that make me weak? Asking for a friend, of course.

I guess I’m about to find out when love gets messy, it’s not just the talk that’s dirty.

**BONUS BOOK EDITION of Dirty Talk includes the full novel of Sweet Talk. “Sweet Talk is a fun, sexy, emotionally-rich second chance romance with a charm-your-panties-off hero.” ~ New York Times Bestselling Author, Violet Duke

 

luke by S.L. Scott

 

Meet S.L. Scott

s.l. scottNew York Times and USA Bestselling Author, S. L. Scott, was always interested in the arts. She grew up painting, writing poetry and short stories, and willing her days away lost in a good book and the movies.

With a degree in Journalism, she continued her love of the written word by reading American authors like Salinger and Fitzgerald. She was intrigued by their flawed characters living in picture perfect worlds, but could still debate that the world those characters lived in were actually the flawed ones. This dynamic of leaving the reader invested in the words, inspired Scott to start writing with emotion while interjecting an underlying passion into her own stories.

Living in the capital of Texas with her family, Scott loves traveling and avocados, beaches, and cooking with her kids. She’s obsessed with epic romances and loves a good plot twist. She dreams of seeing one of her own books made into a movie one day as well as returning to Europe. Her favorite color is blue, but she likens it more toward the sky than the emotion. Her home is filled with the welcoming symbol of the pineapple and finds surfing a challenge though she likes to think she’s a pro.

 Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | Goodreads

 

Playboy Pilot by Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward…Chapter Reveal

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Are you excited to read Playboy Pilot on September 19th?  We have a link for you to read Chapter 1 NOW! 

Read Chapter 1 of Playboy Pilot early: http://www.subscribepage.com/i1a4m5

Exclusive pre-order on iBooks: http://apple.co/1Wb06Cf

Paperback pre-order: http://www.amazon.com/Playboy-Pilot-Penelope-Ward/dp/1682304310/

Add Playboy Pilot to your TBR list on Goodreads!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29533192-playboy-pilot

Playboy Pilot will be available on Amazon, B&N, Kobo & Google on release day.

Teaser for Friday 9_2

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Knocked Out By Love by Abby Niles…Blog Tour Stop & Review

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Knocked Out By Love

by Abby Niles
Love to the Extreme #5
Publication Date: August 15, 2016
Genres: Adult, Entangled: Select, Contemporary Romance

Knocked Out By Love Cover

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Synopsis: Brody Minton has loved Scarlett Harris for years. But she’s his best friend’s wife, so he’s worked hard to keep his distance. Hearing the marriage is over shouldn’t change anything. Only an ass would make a move on a friend’s ex… Except Scarlett wants help getting back in the dating game, and Brody’s torn. If he helps her out, he can keep an eye on her and guard her vulnerable heart. But having the woman he’s longed for for years in arms’ reach is hell on a man’s restraint, no matter how iron strong his will.But loving Scarlett is only half the fight.

All Scarlett Harris wants is to get away for a while and rethink her life after filing for divorce from her lying, cheating bastard of a husband. The gorgeous Bahamas sounds like the perfect escape, except she’s booked in the very resort Brody “The Iron” Minton is staying at for his sister’s wedding. Now her ex’s best friend is dogging her every move, and is a witness to her first pathetic attempts at flirting in years. If Brody isn’t going to leave her alone, then she’ll just recruit him to help get her reacquainted with her single self.

NOTE: Although a part of a series, Knocked Out By Love can be read as a standalone novel. Each novel features a new hero and heroine!

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My Review:

Knocked Out By Love is part of Abby Niles’ Love to the Extreme series and while I haven’t had a chance to read the entire series just yet, I have read the first book and now this latest installment…and loved it!

One of my favorite things about a series like this one is being able to pick it up at any time and not be lost.  Each book focuses on one couple and although you will see the other characters in the series pop in and out of the book, it doesn’t affect the reader’s ability to enjoy a great read.

This story focuses on Brody and Scarlett. I really enjoy a friends to lovers story and in this case, a dash of forbidden romance was added in when Brody had been hiding his love of his best friend’s wife, Scarlett.  Luckily for Brody, Scarlett’s husband turns out to be one heck of a giant asshat and Brody may finally have a shot with her.  Of course, he has to battle all sorts of internal struggles when it comes to her and is he really should go after her.  Man, I love those battles and I love when a woman has the power to bring a big, strong fighter to his knees.

Scarlett is a gal on a mission and is determined to get her groove back when life throws her a curve ball.  I loved her tenacity and I love her with Brody.  Together they are sexy and sweet and I loved reading their relationship go from friendship to so much more.

The Love to the Extreme series is one I will continue to look forward to more of and I can’t wait to see what’s next!  Thank you, Ms. Niles, for a kick butt read!

4LovesRLB

Four Loves

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DON’T MISS THE OTHER BOOKS IN THE LOVE TO THE EXTREME SERIES…

Extreme Love #1 Cover

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Synopsis: Dante “Inferno” Jones is used to winning in the ring. But when the MMA fighter meets pretty Caitlyn Moore, he seems to be striking out left and right. The more Cait denies his advances, the more intrigued he becomes by the sharp-tongued beauty. She’s a challenge he cannot resist.

Comfortable with the average Joe, Cait doesn’t get it when the ultra-masculine Dante walks into her life and expresses an interest in her. Sure, she’s shed eighty pounds and her confidence is building, but there’s nothing spectacular about her. Certainly not enough to hang onto a ripped babe-magnet like Dante, whose violent profession, catty groupies, and cruel competitors are already making her life a living hell.

Dante’s light-hearted pursuit quickly becomes a battle to win her heart as they find themselves thrown together again and again and it’s affecting his training. Cait won’t let him lose the biggest fight of his career because of her, but when her plan to keep him focused lands her in the dangerous clutches of Dante’s vicious opponent, there is more at stake than just the championship belt.

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Fighting Love #2 Cover

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Synopsis: Talk about kicking a fighter while he’s down.

Former Middleweight champion and confirmed bachelor Tommy “Lightning” Sparks has lost it all: his belt, his career, and now his home. After the devastating fire, he moves in with his drama-free best friend, Julie. One encounter changes everything and Julie is no longer the girl he’s spent his life protecting but a desirable woman he wants to take to his bed. Knowing his reputation, he’s determined to protect Julie more than ever—from himself.

Veterinarian Julie Rogers has been in love with Tommy since she was ten, but would love to get over the man. She’s quiet nights at home and a glass of wine. He’s clubbing all night and shots of tequila. As friends they work great. As a couple? No way in hell. She just can’t get her heart to agree. When she starts spending time with another fighter, the man who’s always treated her like a sister is suddenly not being very brotherly and enflames her body like never before.

Can two childhood friends make a relationship work, or will they lose everything because they stopped FIGHTING LOVE?

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Winning Love #3 Cover

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Synopsis: Mac “The Snake” Hannon has spent years throwing himself into cage fighting as a way to lash back at the natural disaster that destroyed his future. A call for help has Mac returning to the one place he swore never to return: Kansas—in the height of tornado season.

There he meets free-spirited Gayle Andrews. At first he wants nothing to do with the infuriatingly, persistent woman, but the crazy challenges she tosses his way are impossible to resist. As she thaws years of bitterness, bringing back the Mac he believed long gone, he starts to make peace with the past and see the future again. Until he learns she chases his worst nightmare, then he can’t get away fast enough.

Meteorologist and storm chaser, Gayle Andrews is no stranger to being left behind and now believes in living in the moment. She wants to do just that with the handsome extreme fighter with the achingly sad eyes. As she works to replace the sorrow with desire, she finds herself breaking her one rule: have fun, but don’t fall in love. When he suddenly pushes her away and she discovers the horrifying reason why, she issues one more challenge: face his fear and come on a chase with her.

Will squaring off with the past lead to a victory for heartache or love?

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Healing Love #4 Cover

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Synopsis: Doctor Ella Watts wants her old life back. Desperately. But the past has returned for its rematch, and going back home—even telling anyone her real name—isn’t an option until she’s confident in her MMA abilities. Personal trainer Lance Black is the man to help her reach her goals. Not only is he toned, muscular, and gorgeous, he’s patient, a great teacher, and willing to treat her like a worthy opponent. Except his size makes her freeze whenever he gets too close. If Ella can’t learn how to overcome her fear of being attacked, she’ll never be able to move on with her life.

Underground fighter Lance Black knows there’s more to the mysterious blonde ninja than a beautiful woman determined to improve her fighting skills. She can best anyone close to her size – man or woman – but insists on working out with him, even though he’s got a good 70 pounds and several inches on her. Despite her reticence, he’s determined to get her to open up so he can help her get over her mental block. And if that means he can get to know her outside the gym, all the better.

As long as she never learns his secrets.

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ABOUT ABBY NILES

Abby Niles

Abby Niles is the author of the contemporary MMA series, Love to the Extreme, and the paranormal series, The Awakening. She is also the author to the geeky romantic comedy, Defying Convention, where Live Action Role Players (LARPers) set out to teach their favorite author a lesson, but end up playing matchmaker instead.

Abby lives in North Carolina with the love of her life and their combined gaggle of kids. When she’s not writing, she’s trying to catch up on an endless pile of laundry and find time to get some much needed reading in.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Newsletter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Profile

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The Debt by Karina Halle…Blog Tour & Review

 

 

 

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The Debt AMAZON

Her life changed in an instant.

And he’s the only one who could have prevented it.

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Pact and The Lie comes a new standalone contemporary romance about those McGregor men.

Jessica Charles shouldn’t have even been in London when the unthinkable happened.

She should have been back at home in Edinburgh, perhaps hanging with her boyfriend, having drinks with her sister or doing yoga with her group of friends. She should have been going on in her normal, dependable life as always.

But on that fateful day in August, when a mentally-ill ex-soldier opened fire in public, Jessica’s world changed forever.

Now single and crippled from the gunshot wounds, Jessica finds herself scared and alone, losing faith in herself and humanity with each agonizing moment that passes.

That is until a stranger enters her life. A stranger who makes her live again.

Keir McGregor has always been the strong, silent type. Throw in tall, dark, and handsome and you’ve got pretty much the perfect Scotsman.

Except Keir is anything but perfect. He’s got a past he’s running away from and a guilty conscience he can’t seem to shed. But the more time he spends with Jessica, the more he falls in love with her.

And the more his secret threatens to tear them apart.

He may have been a stranger to her.

But she’s never been a stranger to him.

 

 

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my-review

 

Another amazing book by Karina Halle.  The Debt is about finding love while healing from pain and suffering.
This might be the shortest review I have ever written for one of Karina’s books. And it’s because I refuse to giveaway too much of this book.
What I love so much about this book is the strong characters. Keir and Jessica refuse to allow their issues to define them.  However, they are both haunted by what has happened to them.  They are both suffering from PTSD.  They become each other’s light in the darkness that is there demons.
The Debt is full of very detailed scenery and while that may not play into the plot, I enjoyed reading about where they were located. Karina does a great job of recreating everything she herself experienced while on her trip.  I felt that it added another layer to the story and helped bring their story to life – making it more real.
Another highly recommended book from Karina Halle!

 

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EXCERPT

“You’re not going anywhere,” he says. “Sit. I’ll get you another drink.”

“It’s getting late,” I say feebly but I sit down anyway, my leg giving a protest of pain.

“You need something for that?” he says, noticing my wince.

“The scotch will do fine,” I tell him quickly, not wanting him to make a fuss. “But really, I should go.”

“Why?” he asks from the kitchen. I hear the top pop off the bottle, the slosh of liquid in the glass. “Where do you have to be?”

I have to think about that for a moment. He comes over and holds out the glass. “I won’t keep you here if you don’t want to be here. But if you do want to be here, you don’t need to make any excuses.”

I take the glass from him, holding it delicately in my fingers. He stands over me, a massive wall, waiting for some kind of response.

“I just…” I begin. “I…” I take a sip for bravery. Swallow. “I’m not very good at this.”

“Good at what?”

“At…this. Being with a man.”

When he doesn’t say anything to that, I look up at him. He’s got a peculiar smile on his face, his brows raised. “You call this being with a man?”

I clear my throat, feeling my cheeks grow hot. “I mean. I’ve told you before –”

“Yes, how you don’t do relationships, how you don’t do sex.”

“I never said I don’t do sex,” I remind him quickly.

His eyes never stop searching my face. “Then what is it? What are you afraid to say?”

I have the sudden urge to flee and I know it must show because he suddenly points at me and says, “Don’t you dare say you have to go again. I want you to go back to what you said, that you’re not good at this. What is this? Us? You and me? There’s nothing mystifying about you and me, Jessica. You know quite well how I feel.”

I stare at him in shock. I do? “How?”

He looks off with an air of impatience. “I invited you to dinner, you turned me down.”

“But then you said just as friends.”

“And I meant it. But there are different types of friends. It’s up to you to decide what kind we are.”

I put my drink down with a clunk. “Holy pressure.” And now it’s not just my face going hot but my entire body, flushed from head to toe.

“You’re on fire, little red,” he says, his gaze skirting over my limbs in such a hungry way I can almost feel them on my skin. “I have to say, I like this look on you. Hot and bothered.”

“Back with the innuendos again,” I comment but my voice is weak.

“No, no innuendos this time. You came looking for me tonight not because you wanted to confess but because you want something from me. What is it? What do you want from me? What do you think I can give you?”

Jesus. This is so utterly unnerving. His words slice right through me, his eyes still peeling under the layers, trying to get at something I’m not even sure of myself.

If I lie, he’ll know. I can only be honest with him.

“I want…” I take in a deep breath, my eyes breaking away. “I want…company.”

“Company?” He sounds surprised.

I nod. “That’s the truth. I’m lonely. And I’m afraid. And I’m tired of being both those things. I want to be with someone who makes me forget who I am. You make me feel fearless in a way I didn’t think possible.”

There. That’s the truth. Most of it. It hangs in the air, thickening the tension like flour to stock.

He sits down next to me, has a mouthful of Scotch. “Wow,” he says, running his hand over the beard on his jaw. “And here I was thinking you wanted my cock.”

I burst out laughing. So does he, a big wonderful bellow. The tension in the room eases up a notch.

“Sorry,” I tell him when I catch my breath. “I guess they can both mean the same thing.”

He sucks in his lip briefly, his eyes taking a lustful turn. “If you want it to.” We stare at each other for a few heavy beats. Then his focus trails back to my gaze and he says, “Why don’t you stay over?

And there I have it. The chance to know what those full lips would feel like on mine, what his skin would taste like. I swallow hard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Halle HeadshotKarina Halle is a former travel writer and music journalist and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author of The Pact, Racing the Sun, Sins & Needles and over 25 other wild and romantic reads. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband and her rescue pup, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails and devours a lot of books.

Halle is represented by the Waxman Leavell Agency and is both self-published and published by Simon & Schuster and Hachette in North America and in the UK.

Hit her up on Instagram at @authorHalle, on Twitter at @MetalBlonde and on Facebook. You can also visit www.authorkarinahalle.com and sign up for the newsletter for news, excerpts, previews, private book signing sales and more.

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Challenged By You by Steph Nuss…Release Day Event

Title: Challenged by You
Series: Love in the City #5
Author: Steph Nuss
Release Date: Sept 1, 2016

Paige Abram never faces a problem she can’t solve until her high school sweetheart comes back into her life, and she’s bombarded with memories of their relationship. His presence is almost suffocating, but he’s still just as beautiful as she remembers.

His heart beat differently after its first love.

The moment Drake Wilkins sees her again, the numbness he’s felt since he walked away disappears. But she’s not the same girl he fell in love with back then. She’s colder, not as easy going; she’s a complete stranger now.

Her heart nearly quit after its first loss.

When a funeral has them returning to their hometown, a secret she’s kept from him all these years is revealed. She expects him to push her away but he doesn’t; he tests her just like when they were kids.

Their hearts resuscitate, but in the city, their love will face its biggest challenge of all: survival.

  
Wanted by You (#1)
Carter was captivated by Ellyson Evans the moment he laid eyes on her, but she was the one girl who didn’t beg for his attention.
He wanted her.
Ellyson vowed to never fall in love, because love can destroy you, but then she met Carter Jennings.
She wanted him.
Unwilling to risk their comfortable friendship, neither confessed their desires.
Losing touch after college, a chance meeting reconnects them.
They want each other.
But love in the city is never quite that easy.

Fantasized by You (#2)
Celebrity fashion designer, Harper Jennings is only months away from turning thirty, and her dream of living a happily ever after has yet to come true.
She’s given up on her fantasy.
Personal trainer and gym owner, Maverick Jones isn’t thrilled about having a designer mentoring in his new clinic, but after meeting the brunette beauty face-to-face, he dreams of having his way with her.
He’s ready to turn his fantasy into reality.
But when their fantasies collide, love in the city becomes more complicated than they ever imagined.

Pleasured by You (#3)
One night of pleasure turns into a summer full of lust.
Fletcher Haney owns several businesses all over New York City, gaining him access to tons of beautiful women. He has no intentions of stopping his womanizing ways, until he sees her again.
She’s the ultimate heartbreaker he can’t forget.
Pastry chef bombshell, Bayler Jennings knows she can have any guy she wants, but when her only memorable one-night stand confronts her, she breaks all of her rules.
He’s the love ‘em and leave ‘em flavor she craves.
But as the seasons change, this two-of-a-kind pair fights falling in love in the city, and they’ll soon realize that with pleasure always comes pain.

Cherished by You (#4)
“Move in with me,” he said. 
Being cherished is how Tessa Wilder always imagined falling in love. But for years, she’s always gone for the wrong guys. Now that she’s fallen for one of the good ones, she fears rejection.
“I can’t,” she replied.
Justin Jameson quit looking for a woman after being used so many times for his brains. A bit of an introvert and completely oblivious to women’s advances, he can’t even see that his friend cherishes everything about him.
When Tessa needs a place to stay, Justin’s the first to offer her a room. Hearts are opened; feelings are ventured. They’ll finally know what it’s like to be cherished in the city until one moment threatens the relationship they’ve built.
“I can’t lose you.”
  
Steph Nuss was born and raised in rural Kansas, where she currently resides with her black Labrador son named Gunner. She grew up with a passion for reading and writing. When she’s not immersed into the land of fiction, she enjoys listening to music that came before her time, watching movies and reruns of her favorite shows, and hanging out with her family and friends. She also has a bachelor’s degree in psychology that she’ll never use…unless she’s profiling her characters of course.
   

 

For the Love of English by A.M. Hargrove….Cover Reveal

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For The Love of English by A.M. Hargrove
Release Date: September 15th, 2016

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Synopsis:

From USA Today Bestselling Author, A.M. Hargrove, comes a New Adult, Single Dad, Sexy, Stand Alone Romance.

Single dad, Beckley Bridges, is sexy as hell.
No, really, he’s the hottest thing since the sun was created.
Honest to God, crack an egg on him and the thing will sizzle.
So what’s the problem?
He’s also a gigantic jerk.
I hate the bastard.
I try to avoid him at all costs.
But for some reason, everywhere I go he seems to show up.

Only the real issue is his daughter, English.
She’s an adorable quirky first-grader who’s the sweetest thing since iced tea.
And she’s one of my students but also the love of his life.
So I have to deal with him on a professional level.
It’s not easy.
On a scale of easy to hard, dealing with Beckley Bridges is like nails screeching across a blackboard.

But when English’s mother tries to gain custody after abandoning her on Beckley’s doorstep as an infant, he’ll do anything possible to keep English under his roof.

That’s how he ends up propositioning me.

And crazy as it sounds?

I find myself considering it.

This is a full-length novel that includes mature content not suitable younger readers.

 

Add to your TBR on Goodreads

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Pre-Order Links:

Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon CA / Amazon AU / iBooks / Kobo

 

About the Author:

One day, on her way home from work as a sales manager, USA Today bestselling author, A. M. Hargrove, realized her life was on fast forward and if she didn’t do something soon, it would be too late to write that work of fiction she had been dreaming of her whole life. So she made a quick decision to quit her job and reinvented herself as a Naughty and Nice Romance Author.

She fancies herself all of the following: Reader, Writer, Dark Chocolate Lover, Ice Cream Worshipper, Coffee Drinker (swears the coffee, chocolate, and ice cream should be added as part of the USDA food groups), Lover of Grey Goose (and an extra dirty martini), #WalterThePuppy Lover, and if you’re ever around her for more than five minutes, you’ll find out she’s a non-stop talker.

Connect with A.M. Hargrove:

Website: http://www.amhargrove.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AMHargroveAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Amhargrove1
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/amhargroveauthor
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/A.M.-Hargrove/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5338829.A_M_Hargrove

 

 

Daring the Bad Boy by Monica Murphy…Blog Tour & Review

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Daring the Bad BoyDaring the Bad Boy by Monica Murphy

Published by Entangled Crush

Published on August 22nd, 2016

Genre: YA contemporary/romance

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30332862-daring-the-bad-boy?ac=1&from_search=true

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/daring-the-bad-boy-monica-murphy/1124207006?type=eBook

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Daring-Bad-Boy-Monica-Murphy-ebook/dp/B01JGMCCGM

Entangled Teen: http://entangledpublishing.com/daring-the-bad-boy/

Truth or Dare was never this much fun…

 

Annie McFarland is sick of being a shy nobody. A session at summer camp seems like the perfect opportunity to reinvent herself—gain some confidence, kiss a boy, be whoever she wants to be. A few days in, she’s already set her sights on über-hottie Kyle. Too bad her fear of water keeps her away from the lake, where Kyle is always hanging out.

 

Jacob Fazio is at Camp Pine Ridge after one too many screw-ups. Junior counseling seems like punishment enough, but the rigid no-fraternizing-with-campers rules harsh his chill. When a night of Truth or Dare gets him roped into teaching Annie how to swim, she begs him to also teach her how to snag Kyle.

 

Late-night swim sessions turn into late-night kissing sessions…but there’s more on the line than just their hearts. If they get caught, Jake’s headed straight to juvie, but Annie’s more than ready to dare him to reveal the truth.
Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains references to drinking, sexual situations, adult language, and an intense bad boy hero who will melt your heart.

 

my-review

This is a very sweet and cute YA romance.  And I read it quite quickly. 

This story is based around summer camp – ghost stories, arts and crafts, lake activities, etc.  Along with the forbidden romances.  All very cutsie. 

I enjoyed the overall story of this book.  Monica does a great job keeping this book moving at the right pace.  The characters are young and the drama that goes down is perfect at their age.  However, my biggest issue is that sometimes, not all the time, their mannerisms and they want they talked was almost too young – like 13/14 instead of 16/17. 

Monica does a great job of building the scene and visualizing all the camp ground activities.  The interactions are entertaining and will make you feel young again.  Awww…young love.

But overall, its a good read for young readers or for anyone who wants a storyline that is not full of angst and has that young love vibe.  It’s a refreshing and quick read.

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3LovesRLB

About the Author:

Monica

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is a traditionally published author with Bantam/Random House and Harper Collins/Avon, as well as an independently published author. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance. She is also USA Today bestselling romance author Karen Erickson.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives with her family in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere, along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through many angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

Website: http://monicamurphyauthor.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5934418.Monica_Murphy

Twitter: @MsMonicaMurphy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monicamurphyauthor/

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

Newsletter: http://monicamurphyauthor.us6.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=f1ced7b830&id=f985eea9cd

 

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Read Below for an excerpt from Daring the Bad Boy:

Annie

“Don’t forget to pack extras of everything,” Mom stressed, her voice high, her entire demeanor anxious. She really didn’t want me to leave, though she was the one who’d suggested I go to camp in the first place. And I guess I can’t blame her, since I am her only child, but it’s just for a few weeks—I had to be wait-listed, and when a spot opened up for the second session, I begged my parents to let me go.

But with the way she’s fretting over my leaving, I realize she needs to cut the umbilical cord sometime. At least I’ll be outside getting fresh air, not stuck in the air-conditioned house with my nose in a book. That’s how I usually spend my summers.

Well, no more.

Not that there’s anything wrong with reading, but…it was my escape, my safe place. I’m tired of living in someone else’s imaginary world—I want to live in my world for once. But it’s hard making a new impression on people you’ve known your entire school life, some of them since preschool.

To them I’m quiet little Annie McFarland. The girl who cried so hard on the first day of kindergarten that she blew a bubble of snot out her nose. The girl who was so petrified to perform in the third-grade Christmas play that her knees literally knocked together and everyone could hear them. The girl who had a major crush on Wade Johnson in sixth grade and wrote him a heartfelt Valentine’s Day poem—and he shared it with all his friends.

I endured their teasing for the rest of the school year. Sixth grade was definitely not my favorite year.

Yeah. I could go on and on.

I’d just finished my sophomore year, and while everyone was busy pairing off, being social, actually doing something with their lives, I was stuck. Stuck in my quiet shell, stuck with the nerd-girl label, stuck as the teacher’s pet. I hated it.

More than anything, I was beyond ready for a change.

“Extra T-shirts, extra shorts.” Mom ticked off the items with her fingers, her gaze meeting mine. “Extra, um, feminine products.”

My cheeks went hot. “I’ve already packed extra everything.” I waved a hand at my open but mostly stuffed duffel bag.

“Okay, good. Good. Wouldn’t want you to run out of necessities. Though I fully plan on sending you care packages. And there’s parents’ weekend, too, so I can always bring you whatever you might need.” Mom was rambling. A sure sign she was upset.

“Mom.” I went to her and took her hand, giving it a squeeze. “I don’t leave for another twenty-four hours. It’s not time to cry yet.”

“I’ll just miss you.” She brushed a stray hair away from my forehead, her gaze soft. “You’ve never left us like this before, for this long. A whole month, hundreds of miles away. With strangers.” She stressed the last word.

That was my favorite part of the plan. Being with strangers, people who don’t know the real me. I could totally reinvent myself. Be whoever I wanted to be. I could demand they call me Ann, tell them I’m the most popular girl at my school, and win the attention of all the hot boys within hours of my arrival.

Though I doubted any of that would really happen. Just because I’m with people who don’t know me doesn’t mean my real self won’t make an immediate appearance. It’s hard for me to open up to new people. Plus, I really don’t like it when someone calls me Ann—I think Annie’s a much cuter name. And I’ve never gotten the attention of a hot boy in my entire life. Well, I have—hello, Wade Johnson—but that was unwanted attention. That I’m great at.

I’d like to change that particularly annoying trait of mine.

Okay, I’m not drop-dead gorgeous with a bubbly, flirtatious personality, not by a long shot. I’m not a hideous troll, either, but come on. Hot guys have never noticed me—unless they’re six and I’m blowing snot bubbles out my nose. Or I write really bad poetry that makes adolescent boys howl with laughter. And that’s not the way I want boys to notice me.

“I’ll be fine,” I reassured Mom, offering her a smile in return, which somehow only seemed to upset her more. Her chin got all wobbly, and she yanked me into her arms, holding me close. I let her smother me with Mom love for a few minutes before I disentangled myself from her embrace. “Seriously, it’s going to be okay. I’ll write you and Dad as much as I can.”

“Which shouldn’t be very much at all. I want you to meet new people and try new things. You need to stay busy and have fun. Don’t worry about us.” She wagged her finger at me before her hand dropped to her side. “I know you feel a little stifled here, so this will be good for you.”

Mom understood. She always had. We moved here when I was two, back to Dad’s hometown; he felt right at home because he was home. Mom, on the other hand, was still considered an outsider, and they’d always treated her that way. So she knew what it was like, to feel like you didn’t fit in. She understood my problems at school, when Dad always blew them off. Not that he was mean about it. He just didn’t get it.

“It’s going to be great,” I told Mom with a genuine smile. My heart did a funny little flip in the center of my chest and I breathed deeply, telling myself everything really would be great.

Going to camp was going to change my life.

***

Jake

One month earlier

“You’re going. I know this is a last-minute decision and you’re probably pissed that you have to leave tomorrow, but too damn bad, Jacob. You’re out of here.” Dad’s voice was firm, simmering with anger. His eyes blazed with barely withheld fury as he glared at me. He was super pissed, but what else was new? “And that’s final. No arguments, no defiance, no threats that you’ll run away. The second you leave this house without my permission, I’m calling the cops. And they will lock you up. Thanks to your latest mishap, that’s guaranteed.”

I stared at him, my arms crossed in front of my chest, my jaw clenched so tight I felt like I could crush my teeth into powder. My uncle’s summer camp held good memories. Back when I was a kid and had no cares in the world, and my main priorities had been swimming in the lake and hanging out with friends.

But those days were a long time ago.

Now I didn’t want to go back. There was no point. I was a different person. Not just older, but freaking wiser.

Well. Maybe not wiser. I kept fucking up, like I couldn’t help myself. That latest mishap Dad was talking about? Stealing hubcaps off fancy cars in the middle of the night with my so-called friends. We’d been drinking. I’d been dared. The moment the cops showed up, they all bailed on me. Every last one of them, and I was royally busted. They booked me like a real criminal, taking my photo, getting my fingerprints. I’d nearly pissed my pants I was so scared.

Never let them see it, though. Just kept my mouth shut and glared at everyone. When Dad showed up to bail me out, I almost went weak with relief. I believed I was home free—until he got me into the car and proceeded to yell the entire drive home.

That was the first clue that I’d have to finally pay for my sins.

Dad went with me to my court appearance and asked to speak to the judge. I thought he would plead my case. Tell the scowling middle-aged woman with glasses perched on the tip of her nose that I really was a good kid. I just needed another chance.

Nope. Dad chucked me so far under the bus, I still have tire marks across my stomach. He told the judge I was a screwup, a failure, a disappointment, and that he was afraid for my future. He then promised her if she gave me community service, he’d make sure I did my time by working at my uncle’s summer camp under strict supervision.

She’d agreed.

And now here I am, going to camp and having to work with a bunch of asshole kids who’ll give me nothing but crap over the next two months. The only thing that was giving me hope? The possibility there would be plenty of pretty counselors with a bad-boy fetish. I’ll be willing to fulfill whatever fantasy they have, as long as we can do it on the down low. My uncle gets one whiff of me doing something wrong, and I’m a dead man. I’ll end up in juvenile hall or, worse, in freaking jail. My dad’ll make sure I pay for my mistakes.

“Fine,” I muttered, dropping my head so I didn’t have to look him in the eye. Seeing the disappointment there, all the anger and frustration, I couldn’t take it anymore. “I’ll go.”

His deep sigh of relief was loud, and hearing it didn’t make me feel any better. We sat in the living room, Dad in his recliner, me on the couch. I let my arms drop to my sides and took a deep breath, glancing around the room. It was small, narrow, no pictures on the wall, no homey touches. A total bachelor pad, Dad had told me when we moved in to the place, like that was going to appeal to fourteen-year-old me.

After Mom died, Dad sold our house—too full of memories, he’d said, his expression pained—and we rented this shitty little two-story condo. A temporary move, he’d reassured me. The place was old but centrally located in single-dom paradise. As in, there were plenty of divorced women who lived in this complex who were hot for my dad.

And it sucked. Mom’s dying had completely messed with my head. But Dad’s moving us away from the only home I’d ever known had pushed me over the edge. The more trouble I got into, the more attention I received. It didn’t matter if it was bad or good; at least someone was looking at me. Acknowledging me. Telling me I mattered.

Sort of.

“Spending the summer with your uncle Bob is just what you need,” Dad said, his expression softening, the anger slowly dissipating because I didn’t protest or get angry. Why fight it? At least at camp, I’d have some freedom.

I’d be working my ass off and under Uncle Bob’s thumb all the time, but what else could I do?

“Though just because you’re surrounded by a bunch of young girls doesn’t mean you should touch any of them.” The pointed look Dad sent my way almost made me want to laugh.

Almost.

“They’re off-limits. Forbidden. The campers, at least. You have to follow your uncle’s rules. The counselors, they’re your peers, but I wouldn’t recommend you messing around with any of them, either. You don’t need the distraction.” He paused. “You mess up once, and you’ll end up in juvie. Understand?”

I nodded. Whatever. I’d mess around with whoever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I’d freaking need the distraction so I wouldn’t lose my mind having to work for Uncle Bob all summer long.

“You’ll get out of here.” Away from my friends. “You’ll meet new people.” Who aren’t my friends. “You’ll earn a little money and save it up.” So I can buy my own cigarettes or weed or whatever I want and not have to ask for cash from you. “And you might learn a thing or two.”

Yeah, right.

But instead of saying any of that, I nodded like I agreed and stood, finally meeting his gaze. His eyes weren’t blazing with so much frustration anymore, and I felt like I’d jumped over the first hurdle. “I’d better go pack, then,” I told him, and left the room.

Never looked back once, either.


 

The Tour Schedule:

August 29th

Alice’s Book Vault – Promo Post

Just One More Chapter – Promo Post

August 30th

The Phantom Paragrapher – Review

The Book Beacon – Promo Post

August 31st

Bookish Escapes – Review

Roxy’s Book Reviews – Promo Post

September 1st

Daydreaming Books – Review

Read Love Blog – Review

September 2nd

Dana’s YA Bookpile – Guest Post

September 3rd

Beanie’s Book Blog – Review

September 4th

PBC – Promo Post

September 5th

The Cozy Little Book Nook – Review

September 6th

Never Too Many To Read – Review

September 7th

We Found Wonderland in Books – Author Interview

September 8th

A Leisure Moment – Review

YaReads – Guest Post

September 9th

RoloPoloBookBlog – Review

Swoony Boys Podcast – Character Interview

September 10th

The Bookish Introvert – Review

September 11th

Adventures in Writing – Review

Novel Knight – Promo Post