Release Day Blitz…Closer by Kylie Scott

We are beyond excited to be sharing this release from Kylie Scott with you today! CLOSER is part of her Stage Dive series and it is releasing as part of 1001 Dark Nights. It just went live today! Check out an excerpt and book trailer from the title below. Click here to grab your copy now.

 

Purchase your copy of CLOSER today!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

About CLOSER:

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kylie Scott comes a new story in her Stage Dive series…

When a stalker gets too close to plus-size model Mae Cooper, it’s time to hire some muscle.

Enter former military man turned executive protection officer Ziggy Thayer. Having spent years guarding billionaires, royalty, and rock n roll greats, he’s seen it all. From lavish parties through to every kind of excess.

There’s no reason some Instagram stylista should throw him off his game. Even if she does have the most dangerous curves he’s ever seen…

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

 

Add CLOSER to your Goodreads TBR here!

Purchase your copy of CLOSER today!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

Excerpt:

I’d had bodyguards before. But only for events like fashion week or a big shoot. Just for a limited amount of time. My contract with Ziggy, however, was open ended, dependent on the heart in the box situation. Once he’d grilled me about what the police were doing (investigating my entire life), my routine (I don’t really have one. It’s consumed by work), and my calendar for the next few days (I’d freed up time to finish unpacking and then back to work on my lingerie line), he drove me to the gym. There was one I used a couple of times in the apartment building, but I generally do better with some active encouragement and guidance.

Guess Ziggy approved of my Land Rover because he gave it another one of those almost-smiles. I, however, continued to receive the full professional cold front face. This was definitely going to take some getting used to.

“Who’s your shadow?” asked Kwana, my awesome trainer.

I paused mid-lunge, my breath coming hard and fast. “My bodyguard, Ziggy. You like him?”

“He’s pretty. Don’t stop, keep moving.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“You don’t usually have one of them around. Have you been getting hassled or something?”

Kwana stood with her arms crossed, all lean muscles beneath brown skin. Since we were in an open area at the end of the main part of the gym, Ziggy waited over by the wall, just out of earshot. He stood with his arms loose at his side, his gaze constantly wandering a circuit from me—around the room, over to the exits, and back again. Always on alert.

“More a precaution than anything,” I said.

No matter how much I liked Kwana, no one outside my inner circle needed to know about the incident. The fewer people who found out about the gross cow heart and knife the better.

There’d been no further news from the police. Though it was never likely they’d track down a suspect and charge that person the next day.

Case closed, hooray!

BOOK TRAILER

REVIEW QUOTES FOR KYLIE SCOTT’S NOVELS:

“Both light-hearted and deeply passionate, this book was pure rocker perfection.” ― Natasha is a Book Junkie

“Yep, this is one of those. My perfect book. Everything at just the right pace, the right time, the right intensity.” ― Maryse’s Book Blog

“This was absolutely fantastic, I loved it so much! … The plot was original and unique and the characters lovable.” ― Read More Sleep Less

“This was one wild ride that will have you laughing out loud!” ― Miss Petite Brunette Book Blog

“Packed with adrenaline, suspense and red-hot chemistry, this is certainly one to be devoured in a single sitting.” ― Vilma Iris


About KYLIE SCOTT:

Kylie Scott is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. She was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year, 2013 & 2014, by the Australian Romance Writer’s Association and her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She is a long time fan of romance, rock music, and B-grade horror films. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet.

 

Connect With Her:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Twitter | Bookbub

Release Day Blitz & Review…Darkest Sinner by Rachel Van Dyken

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Darkest Sinner, an all-new standalone paranormal romance in The Dark Ones series by Rachel Van Dyken is LIVE!

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I’ve always known pain. Existence. Night.

Made a sinner.

Without a soul to keep me tethered to the world I so desperately want to be a part of but am damned to rule…

Life isn’t living.

Not when everyone sees you as enemy number one, King of the demon race and yet something much more… powerful and sinister pulses beneath the surface of my skin.

It started when I met her, the power surging under my fingertips like the cruel universe was finally answering my screams at night for something more.

And just like that, the memories come, only I don’t know if they’re mine or someone else’s entirely.

Long ago, I made a bargain with a god.

A soul for a soul.

I spent thousands of years without this awareness and now?

Everything I touch turns to ash.

Even my own immortal friends fear what I am.

Everyone but her. The day to my night.

Part of me doesn’t want to know what I am.

But it’s too late, too all-consuming.

Darkness is coming.

That darkness, I’m afraid. Is me.

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Download your copy today!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2mek4DB

Amazon Worldwide: mybook.to/DarkestSinnerRVD

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2l9Z2Ws

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The Darkest Sinner is part of RVD’s The Dark Ones Saga but it can easily be read as a standalone.

I have enjoyed all the books so far in this series because each story is so well developed. Timber and Kyra’s story I felt wasn’t as fully developed as the others so I was a bit letdown with this one. However, it’s still a great story and one I thoroughly enjoyed.

RVD does a great job of explaining the backstory of who Timber and Kyra were and came to be, but I felt that their present day story wasn’t as fully developed. I wanted more of interactions between them and banter before everything came to a head.

RVD really knows how to keep her readers engaged in the story and keep things not only interesting but highly entertaining. Timber is trying to figure out why he’s suddenly having changes to happen and no-one has the answers. Kyra’s on her own since her parents have once again gone off another trip and she is working at Timber’s bar.

There is a lot of attraction between these two but that also creates a lot of tension between them. This is where I wanted more depth in the story because it felt that things quickly moved to the next phase of the story and this tension is never truly expanded upon. It is in that next phase where RVD excels and has her readers enthralled with the plot and characters.

Overall, I did enjoy this story. I did want more of certain aspects, but I still blasted through this story quickly and loved the majority of it. I am really hoping we get to read more in this series.

About Rachel:

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

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

Connect with Rachel:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RachelVanDyken
Website: http://rachelvandykenauthor.com
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/RVDNewsletter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachvd
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachVD
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2cNVwL9
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/RVDGR
Rachel’s Rockin’ Readers: http://bit.ly/RachelsRockinReaders

 

Release Day Blitz….Enchanting Sebastian by Kristen Proby

 
Enchanting Sebastian 
by Kristen Proby
A Big Sky Royal Novel
Release Date: September 24, 2019
The first in an all new stand-alone trilogy set in Kristen Proby’s Big Sky world, Enchanting Sebastian will take your breath away! 


Turning thirty-five doesn’t mean much to most men. For Sebastian Wakefield, it’s the end of life as he knows it. 
When your father is the King of England, thirty-five is the year that a marriage will be arranged, a suitable bride cementing a future you didn’t choose. The obvious solution for escaping the archaic laws of the throne is for Sebastian to leave the country. And where better to go than America? 

Nina Wolfe has spent her career avoiding scandal. As a Hollywood publicist and minor celebrity in her own right, she knows exactly what it takes to keep the media at bay—and what will send them into a frenzy. 

Prince Sebastian hiding out in Cunningham Falls, Montana is an unlikely story. Ending up in his bed, even more so. And keeping their arrangement out of the press might just be impossible. The ring on her finger is about to spark a firestorm that will change her life, and no professional spin will help Nina fit into the world of royalty. 

Only love could write an enchanting new beginning—if they’ll let themselves fall. 


Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2jXf5Xf

Kristen was born and raised in a small resort town in her beloved Montana. In her mid-twenties, she decided to stretch her wings and move to the Pacific Northwest, where she made her home for more than a dozen years.

During that time, Kristen wrote many romance novels and joined organizations such as RWA and other small writing groups. She spent countless hours in workshops, and more mornings than she can count up before the dawn so she could write before going to work. She submitted many manuscripts to agents and editors alike, but was always told no. In the summer of 2012, the self-publishing scene was new and thriving, and Kristen had one goal: to publish just one book. It was something she longed to cross off of her bucket list.

Not only did she publish one book, she’s since published close to thirty titles, many of which have hit the USA Today, New York Times and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists. She continues to self publish, best known for her With Me In Seattle and Boudreaux series, and is also proud to work with William Morrow, a division of HarperCollins, with the Fusion Series. 

Kristen and her husband, John, make their home in her hometown of Whitefish, Montana. 

 

 

Cover Reveal…Awk-Weird by Avery Flynn

 

 

 

There’s more to me than just being awk-weird. I own my own
flower shop, have some great friends, and I have my eye on adopting the most
adorable kitten. But sadly, hot guys don’t tend to be blown away by my trivia-spouting, dorky self.


So when a Thor-lookalike who happens to be a professional hockey player hits on me at my bestie’s wedding rehearsal party… You better believe I climbed that tree like a cat. And the fact that it happened not once,
not twice, but three times? Yeah, that’s pretty much a once-in-a-lifetime
experience for a woman like me.


There’s zero chance I’ll end up ever seeing him again…right?

Until the pregnancy test comes up positive. What happens next?

Oh my God, I wish I knew…
 
PREORDER TODAY
Amazon AU | Nook | Kobo | Apple
 
USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling romance author
Avery Flynn has three slightly-wild children, loves a hockey-addicted husband
and is desperately hoping someone invents the coffee IV drip. Avery was a
reader before she was a writer and hopes to always be both. She loves to write
about smartass alpha heroes who are great with a quip and relatable heroines
who are feisty, fierce and fantastic.

 

Cover Reveal….Tempt the Hookup by Natasha Madison

 
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Getting pregnant after a booze cruise hookup was not what any parent wanted to hear, so I picked up my entire life and moved to Paris to start over. Six years later, I was ready to go home. 
I was a single mom and the only thing I knew about my son’s dad was his name—Luca. I didn’t need to know anything else.
The universe had other ideas because on our second day back home, the man came crashing back into my life.
Luca 

 

Attending a welcome back party for my boss’s daughter wasn’t how I wanted to spend my Sunday. But walking in and seeing my hookup from a cruise six years ago knocks me on my ass. 

 

It was a weekend of fun and now I’m seeing a pair of eyes, identical to mine, staring right at me. The boy standing next to her is my son. 
Now we’re living next door to each other and attempting to co-parent something that would be easy to do if the pull that brought us together wasn’t still there making things more complicated.
For six years she haunted my dreams, now she’s haunting my every waking moment.

 

I let her get away once, now I want to make her mine. 

 

This time, permanently. 

 

Only one thing left to do. I have to tempt the hookup.
 
Pre-Order NOW:
When her nose isn’t buried in a book, or her fingers flying across a keyboard writing, she’s in the kitchen creating gourmet meals. You can find her, in four inch heels no less, in the car chauffeuring kids, or possibly with her husband scheduling his business trips. It’s a good thing her characters do what she says, because even her Labrador doesn’t listen to her…

 

Stalk Natasha Madison Here:





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Release Day Blitz & Review….Neat by Kandi Steiner

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Rival families. Deep secrets. Exact opposites who can’t help but cross all the lines. Neat will leave you thirsty for more Becker Brothers!” — bestselling author Staci Hart


Neat, an all-new standalone contemporary romance by Kandi Steiner is LIVE!

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My life is over.

I swore I would never work at the whiskey distillery with my last name on it, that I would never be a part of my father’s legacy. But when I graduated with my art degree and realized there were no jobs, the devil appeared, and I sold my soul, agreeing to work in the family business if he’d give me the art studio I’d always dreamed of.

It can’t be that bad, I thought.

Until I realized my new boss was Logan Becker.

The Becker brothers have a reputation for being trouble, and since I love trouble, it’s no surprise to me that I’m infatuated by that forbidden fruit the first day I walk into the distillery. That lean, whiskey-eyed, too-hot-for-his-own-good man hates me — and I can’t blame him. His family has been at war with mine for decades, and for good reason.

The Beckers and the Scooters are the Montagues and Capulets of Stratford, Tennessee.

But if he’s Romeo, and I’m Juliet? Well… we all know how that story ends — and for that reason, I tell myself to steer clear.

Because if my father finds out I’m falling for Logan Becker, my life actually will be over.

And Logan’s will be, too.

Neat is a stand-alone book in the Becker Brothers Series.

➔ Small town

➔ Country

➔ Romeo & Juliet vibes

➔ Angst paradise

➔ Holiday romance

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Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2Qg5p9D

Amazon Worldwide: mybook.to/NeatKS

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2LOF0N8

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Excerpt:

“So… I guess we should just be…” Logan swallowed. “Friends?”

The way he asked it, the way his eyebrows bent together, his lips flattening — I knew it was a hollow offer.

I nodded. “Sure. Of course.” A smile that felt like a wave of nausea found my lips. “Friends.”

Logan watched me, and I watched him, both of us waiting for something more. It seemed like there were a million unborn words between us, floating in the air, waiting for us to reach out and grab them and bring them to life. When a long moment of silence had passed, Logan bit the inside of his cheek, picking up his highlighter he’d abandoned on the desk when I’d walked in like he was ready to get back to work.

“But,” I said, and his eyes snapped to mine, the highlighter frozen over the page. “I mean… there’s another option, isn’t there?”

Logan dropped the highlighter, leaning back again. “There is?”

“I’m just saying,” I said, voice shakier than I wanted it to be in that moment. I took a sip of my coffee, shrugging. “What if we kept things low key… casual… just between us?” My eyes found his again. “It is what it is, and it’s not what it’s not. Right? No need for anyone to know.”

“Low key,” Logan repeated, like he was tasting the words, checking them for poison with his tongue. “So, friends… with benefits.”

I snorted. “If you want to be twenty-one about it, sure.”

Logan nodded, over and over, just a slight movement of his chin up and down as he considered it. I watched him as he stood, and I expected him to start pacing the office, but instead, he crossed it, closing his door and turning to face me.

His eyes swept over me, sparking a fire low in my stomach.

He wet his lips.

He took a step.

And then I was out of my chair, meeting him in the middle, the two of us crashing together like magnets.

His hands weaved into my hair when he captured my mouth with his own, both of us sighing on an inhale, moaning on the exhale, leaning into each other like we could somehow melt together completely. All the electricity I’d felt that night came back like a tidal wave, and I surrendered to the waves, letting them drown me. I wanted him to fill my lungs, to conquer every breath, to imprison me.

It was a kiss that told me we were both lying. We both wanted more.

But if it was a choice between this, or nothing at all?

There wasn’t a decision to make — not where I was concerned. It had already been made for us, without either of us having a say, without either of us having an ounce of control to throw this story in another direction.

We were inevitable, me and him.

And maybe we knew it from the start.

Logan backed me up to the desk, and when my ass hit it, I hiked both legs up, wrapping them around his waist and squeezing. He hissed, sucking my bottom lip between his teeth and releasing it with a pop, his hips rolling against mine. I broke the kiss to let out a gasp, and his mouth was on my neck in an instant, sucking and biting, my eyes rolling back at the contact.

He paused with his lips by my ear, breathing heavy. “I think this could work for me,” he whispered, running his tongue over my ear lobe. “This… friends agreement.” His hands squeezed where they held my hips, and the familiar pressure sent flashes of Saturday night barreling through my memory. I gasped, mouth still hanging open when he kissed my neck over to the opposite ear to whisper again. “What do you think?”

Against the voice inside me warning me not to, I ran my fingers through his hair, gripping those dark strands and pulling his lips back to mine.

That kiss was an answer.

That kiss was a lie.

And distantly, I realized that kiss might be the biggest mistake of my life.

 

Kandi Steiner is going to do me in with these Becker brothers and this is only the second book!!

Logan is the quiet, reserved brother and tends to have everything planned out. He’s always had a crush on the one girl who he could never have, Mallory Scooter.

These two families have been at “war” for decades and it’s due to the distillery that their ancestors started together. Other things happened over the years that have caused this war to stay strong and it’s why aside from working together, anything else is forbidden.

Mallory has always done her best to steer away from what her family is known for and forge her own path. She wants nothing to do with the distillery. But then when her dreams are practically dashed, she is forced to turn to her father for help and assist in the distillery. Her passion is art and she won’t allow her free spirit to be contained.

Logan is unlike any other male character I have read before. He is this quiet and reserved man but he is so full of passion. I had no idea how quickly he would win my heart over. He and Mallory are complete opposites and it’s truly their opposing attributes that draws them together.

Kandi writes an amazing, and swoon-worthy romantic story. I love the small-town atmosphere along with each and every character. You feel each and every emotion and you so easily and quickly blast through these stories.

I am so excited to see what Kandi brings us next with the Becker brothers.

About Kandi:

Kandi Steiner is a bestselling author and whiskey connoisseur living in Tampa, FL. Best known for writing “emotional rollercoaster” stories, she loves bringing flawed characters to life and writing about real, raw romance — in all its forms. No two Kandi Steiner books are the same, and if you’re a lover of angsty, emotional, and inspirational reads, she’s your gal.

An alumna of the University of Central Florida, Kandi graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Advertising/PR with a minor in Women’s Studies. She started writing back in the 4th grade after reading the first Harry Potter installment. In 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.” She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a diehard hopeless romantic, and likes to highlight all the challenges of love as well as the triumphs.

When Kandi isn’t writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, talking with her extremely vocal cat, and spending time with her friends and family. She enjoys live music, traveling, anything heavy in carbs, beach days, movie marathons, craft beer, and sweet wine — not necessarily in that order.

Connect with Kandi:

Mailing List: bit.ly/NewsletterKS

Facebook: facebook.com/kandisteiner

Facebook Reader Group: (Kandiland): facebook.com/groups/kandischasers

Instagram: www.instagram.com/kandisteiner

Twitter: twitter.com/kandisteiner

Pinterest: pinterest.com/kandicoffman

Website: www.kandisteiner.com

Kandi Steiner may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events” tab to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future:

www.kandisteiner.com/events

Release Day Blitz & Review…The Dugout by Meghan Quinn

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The Dugout by Meghan Quinn

Release Date: September 19th

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2lRZDMK

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AVAILABLE NOW!!!

FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

AMAZON US: https://amzn.to/30v08us

AMAZON CA: https://amzn.to/2kSRIP0

AMAZON UK: https://amzn.to/2mpG92d

AMAZON AU: https://amzn.to/2mjMPyF

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Blurb:

Let me ask you a question:

If someone is vying for your spot on a team and just so happens to injure you during practice, would you believe it was on purpose?

Word around campus is . . . it was no accident.

That injury has cost me everything; my starting position, my junior year—and the draft. Now, I’m a senior fresh off recovery, struggling to find my groove, until the day I run into a nervous, fidgety, girl with freckles, in the dining hall.

They call Milly Potter The Baseball Whisperer, The Diamond Wizard, and The Epitome of All Knowledge. She believes in baseball. She breathes it. She’s the queen of an infamous dynasty, but no one actually knows who she really is, and she plans to keep it that way.

One mishap in the panini line, one miscommunication in the weight room, and many failed attempts at an apology equal up to one solid truth — Milly Potter never wants to speak to me again — no matter how good my forearms look.

Little do we both know, she’s about to become more than just my fairy ballmother.

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Excerpt:

**CARSON**


Everyone knows me as the easygoing, fun-loving guy without a care in the world. You know who I’m talking about, right?

The guy who cheers when a couple kisses, who says stupid shit like YIPPEE when he’s excited, the guy who has no shame in shimmying his bare, bright white ass to his friends just to make them laugh.

I’m also the guy who is magically smart, can lead an entire bar to harmoniously sing any Taylor Swift song, lucks out in everything he does, and has impeccable taste in clothing—despite wearing a baseball hoodie every Monday. A dude must make himself feel better when the Monday blues hit and a hoodie does just that.

But have you guessed it? Do you see where this is going?

I’m not that guy anymore.

Nope.

Easygoing and fun-loving? Not anymore.

I spit venom at whoever dares to be in my presence. You know the old man who throws endless piles of shoes at the street youths as they walk by? That’s me, minus the incontinence problem and mothball smell.
My days of singing Taylor Swift with a crowd are over.

Instead—if I even make it to a bar—I bury myself in a corner and sneer. Oh boy, do I fucking sneer. I sneer at anything and anyone that even
attempts to look at my face.

That impeccable fashion sense I was boasting about? Gone. I think I’ve been wearing the same pair of athletic shorts for a month—not really—but maybe it’s a little true.
And the guy who lucks out in everything he does? Ha, my luck was cut short at the beginning of the season thanks to the square ass, dirty dick named Kirk Babcock, also known as Kirk BADcock by my team.

What did this Badcock do, you ask?

If you’re thinking he poked me with said bad cock, you need to get your mind out of the gutter.

What he did was even worse than winging his willy around on the baseball field.

So bad that you might need to brace yourself . . .

**FLAILS ARMS**

He committed a sin against all baseball etiquette.

The cardinal sin.

The biggest sin of all sins.

Are you sitting? I don’t want you to faint from the blasphemy I’m about to share.
Deeps breaths, everyone . . .

He . . . damn it, he slid late . . . at practice.

Gasp, I know.

I told you it was bad . . . my balls are shriveling up into my taint just thinking about it.
The dumbass freshman, who had too much juice in his junk, decided to book it to second during a practice game while Holt and I were fleshing out a double play. The dingleberry slid into second base two seconds too late.

Why is this a problem?

For those of you who might not be in the know—don’t worry, I won’t hold it against you—back in 2016, the gods of baseball developed a new rule; all players sliding into second must hit the ground first before touching the bag to avoid injuring the opposing players.


Layman’s terms: don’t be a dickhead and hurt people.

Apparently, Badcock didn’t get that memo, because the little turd nugget charged second base like an out-of-control steam train . . . just as I slid my foot across the base for the out. His dirty slide took my leg out, twisting me in the process, and tossed me to the ground.

As I fell, I heard a resounding snap that would make any grown-ass man throw up into his lap, followed by an immense amount of pain shooting up the back of my leg.
The motherfucker—stenchy bad cock—ruptured my Achilles tendon.

Like Achilles himself, I buckled to the ground and wallowed in pain while holding my leg, as if I let go, it would detach from my body and float right on up to heaven where it belongs for the many good years it gave me.

Badcock proceeded to fling his helmet off his head, get in my face, and apologize profusely, making up some excuse about tripping over his own damn feet. Yeah, okay, fart breath.

I’d like to see the tape for a full review, because I’m questioning the shit out of that statement. Tripped, my left nut.

If I was a freshman and got hurt, I wouldn’t want to rip the skin off Badcock’s scrotum, maybe just give him a swift lodge of my foot up his ass. But ripping scrotum skin, nah.
But guess what? I’m not a goddamn freshman.

I’m a fucking junior, and if you know anything about baseball, you know being a junior in college is one of the most important times in a guy’s life.

Because that’s the year you’re eligible to be drafted.

DRAFTED.

Brentwood University is known as a breeding ground for exceptional baseball players; it’s where the scouts come to find their next top prospects. If you want to play professional baseball, you either choose to go into the draft right after high school or be recruited by Brentwood. I chose an education so I had a possible career to fall back on in case something happened to me . . . like rupturing my Achilles tendon.

Can you guess where this is going?

Strike up the violins, because a sob story is coming your way.

I was ushered off the field and straight to the state-of-the-art training room where, after an excruciating physical exam, I had an ultrasound. It was then confirmed I’d be out of commission for the season. I underwent surgery, had the stupid thing stitched back together—let’s take a moment to be physically ill over the thought of that—and then put through an extensive rehab, missing my chance to be drafted.

You read that right, I was not drafted. My best friends were . . . I was not.

Because no one wants an injured player, even if he has tons of promise.

Even if he was the best second baseman in the country.

Even if he was supposed to be drafted in the first round.

Not one single team wanted to take the gamble to see if I could make a full recovery.
Isn’t that just peachy?

So needless to say, Kirk BADcock stays as far away from me as possible. As for me, I’d like to say I’m not a bitter man with a chip on his shoulder, but that would be a massive lie.

I have the biggest damn chip on my shoulder, so big that I named him Aloysius and I high-five him every morning, agreeing that we’re going to try to make at least one person’s life miserable that day.

My suggestion, if you see me around campus? Steer clear, run away, duck and hide, because I’m a polluted motherfucker with an equally rotten Aloysius on my shoulder ready to raise hell in your life.

Carson Stone is out for vengeance thanks to one moronic badcock.

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The Dugout is the next book in her sports romance following The Locker Room. They are complete standalones and can easily be read in any order.

I wanted to love this book so much more than I did. I love Meghan, her writing style and her characters. She will always be an auto-read for me. However, this book is sadly, not one of my favorites of hers.

The Dugout is definitely full of humor with the bromance and interactions of the characters along with some angst thrown in. Something that I have to throw out there is that Meghan’s characters are very unique with their characteristics and antics.

We met Carson in The Locker Room and he is definitely more than just the funny best friend of Knox. He’s sweet and charming but when an “accident” thwarts his dreams and forces him to adapt. He knows that he needs to figure out how to get back on diamond and his best bet is Milly.

Milly’s life is baseball. She has three older brothers who all played baseball so she ended up finding herself extremely absorbed in the sport and knows everything and then some about the sport. She lives to help ball players become better and improve their game.

I loved the interactions of these characters. While they were definitely realistic in certain aspects, they are also entertaining with their funny personalities which makes them well-rounded characters.

So if I loved so much about this book, why not 5 stars?? For one, and this may get me a few side-eyes, but I had some issues with Carson. He just seemed to far-fetched at times with his mannerisms and personality. But what we really hurt this book for me was the twist at 75%-80% mark. It was way too similar to The Locker Room in too many ways and came across as a “cookie cutter” story and that just let me down, especially with Meghan’s books. It’s why made me drop the book a full star in rating.

Overall, yes this is a really funny read and most will enjoy the story. I enjoyed the majority of this story and the parts that did not work for me are more than likely a me thing. I would still definitely recommend this to anyone to read.

 

About the Author:

USA Today Bestselling Author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. Author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book.

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Connect with Meghan:

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7360513.Meghan_Quinn

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorMegQuinn

Website: http://authormeghanquinn.com

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Amazon: https://amzn.to/2LitE4x

Fake Date by Monica Murphy….Excerpt

 

Fake Date by Monica Murphy

Release Date: September 17, 2019

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Fake Date, an all-new standalone contemporary romance by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Monica Murphy.

Working at Bliss Lingerie, Sarah Harrison deals with all sorts of—interesting clientele. Yet no one sparks her interest more than Jared Gaines, the ultra-rich, ultra-sexy businessman who frequents her shop, buying delicate little “gifts” for the women in his life.

But one day, Jared sends her a gift from Bliss. Then another—and another. So when Sarah walks into his office demanding to know why he can’t stop sending her gifts, he makes her an offer she somehow can’t refuse: be his fake girlfriend for the weekend while attending his brother’s engagement party.

Next thing Sarah knows, she’s in San Francisco, pretending to be in love with Jared. Not that it’s a hardship. Once you get the man away from the office, he’s much more relaxed. Sweet. Funny. Even…thoughtful? Oh, and sexier than ever, of course.

Their pretend relationship feels very real, very quickly. Soon Sarah’s in over her head. Could what she and Jared share turn into something real? Or is it all actually…fake?

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Download your copy today!

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Excerpt:

“Mr. Gaines,” I say, pasting on my best customer smile when he lifts his gaze to mine.
His dark brown eyes flash with an unfamiliar gleam and my breath catches in the back of my throat. “Back so soon, I see.”

“You know I can’t resist you, Miss Harrison.” His smile is slow. Wolfish, if that’s really
a thing. I read it in a romance novel once, thought it was kind of silly, but right now, it’s working for Jared.

His entire demeanor right now reminds me of a predatory creature. His face is all hard lines—stern, straight nose, granite jaw, sharp cheekbones, steely eyes. Yet his mouth, his lips are soft. Full. Lush.

Kissable.

Shaking my head at the wayward thought, I return his smile, trying my best to remain
polite. Professional.

“Is there anything in particular you’re looking for this afternoon?” I’m surprised by how steady my voice is, considering I feel like my insides are sloshing back and forth, like I’m on a boat in the middle of the ocean.

“You don’t have anything pulled aside for my appointment?” He raises a single brow, the expression on his face practically daring me to say no.

Well, guess what? I’m about to say it.

“No, I didn’t pull anything aside.” I shrug when he glares at me. “You never told me the nature of your visit.”

He glances about, making sure no one is around, I’d assume. And lucky for him, there’s no one in the store currently. It’s the middle of the week, early afternoon. We normally don’t get too many customers at this time.

We are the only two people in here. Even Marlo has disappeared.

“Perhaps you can show me some of your newer items,” he suggests.

“I can do that.” All new arrivals are at the front of the store, so we’re in the right spot. I lead him to a table showcasing our latest bra and panty design. “Celestial is the theme for spring into summer.”

I point to the bras made of thin, sheer netting and pink silk, tiny pale pink stars stitched in a scattered pattern across the tulle fabric. They leave nothing to the imagination, and the panties are the same.

“They hide nothing.” He holds up a pair of brief-cut panties, turning them this way and that. Every time he holds underwear in those big hands of his, I melt a little inside. I don’t know why he affects me like this.

“You’re right. They don’t,” I agree, grabbing a thong and flipping it over to the thin
string of lace that makes up the backside. “But they’re terribly sweet.”

“Sweet?”

I glance up to find him watching me. “Sweet yet sexy,” I counter, my cheeks going hot
from the way he’s studying me so carefully.

“You like the celestial theme?”

I nod. Press my lips together so I don’t say something I regret. Like, I love this theme, or Do you want me to model the panties for you?

Yeah. That’s a bad idea.

Meet 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 both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and HarperCollins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives 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 angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

Connect with Monica:

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

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

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Website: http://monicamurphyauthor.com

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/IW5U0y

The Open Door by Laurelin Paige…Excerpt

We are so excited to be sharing this release from Laurelin Paige with you today by being part of the blog tour! THE OPEN DOOR is part of her Found Duet and it is releasing as part of 1001 Dark Nights. Check out an excerpt and book trailer from the title below. Click here to grab your copy now.

 

Purchase your copy of THE OPEN DOOR today!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

About THE OPEN DOOR:

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Laurelin Paige comes a new story in her Found Duet series…

I knew JC was trouble the minute I laid eyes on him.

Breaking every rule in my club. I never forget how he made me feel that night. With all the women in that room, all those bodies on display, but his eyes were only on me.

Of course I married him. Now years have passed. Kids have been born. We’re still in love as always, and the sex is still fantastic…

And yet, it’s also not. Like many who’ve been married for a while, I long for the high intensity of those days of the past.

I’ve heard rumors for years about the Open Door. An ultra-exclusive voyeur’s paradise. A place to participate in—or watch—any kind of display you can imagine.

My husband’s eyes would still be on me. And maybe other eyes too. If that’s what we want.

So when an invitation to come play arrives, how could we turn it down?

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

 

Add THE OPEN DOOR to your Goodreads TBR here!

Purchase your copy of THE OPEN DOOR today!

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BOOK TRAILER

Reviews for Laurelin Paige and her Titles

“Paige is unflinching in her depiction of a complicated relationship, and the results are explosive.” – Kirkus Reviews, about First Touch

“Laurelin Paige writes an addictive mix of emotion and sexy that draws the reader in and doesn’t let go until long after the last page is read.” – K. Bromberg, New York Times Bestselling Author of the Driven Series

“Laurelin Paige has woven a lewd adult romance that’s easily the most disciplined, depraved and delicious story I’ve read in ages.” – KC Caron, Goodreads reviewer on Slay One: Rivalry

“This is Laurelin Paige’s domain. She knows a complex character, how to make them come alive through the pages of her books. This one is no exception.”– Becky, Goodreads reviewer on Slay One: Rivalry

“Visceral, enticing, shining with white lies and dark truths, seductive twists and turns, and a love that takes your breath away.” – Katy Evans, New York Times bestselling author about First Touch

“Read it if you like hot, dominating, and tortured alpha asshole heros who wear a suit 24/7 and like it rough in bed. Or read it because you like fantastic writing, which Laurelin Paige, no doubt, delivers here.” – Steamy Reads Blog on Dirty Filthy Rich Men

  “Do you want to go to a kinky sex party?” she asked after I’d been quiet for too long.

  Yes. I did.

  But I didn’t want that to be the wrong answer.

  But I really did want to go. The more I thought about it, the more the fantasy came to life in my head, the more my curiosity bloomed. 

  But what if we went and someone found out? Or someone we knew saw us there?

  I threw myself back with a frustrated sigh. “This is stupid, isn’t it? I shouldn’t even be entertaining the idea.”

  She scowled at me. “Why the hell not?”

  “I’m a respectable woman. I’m a mother of three. I should be responsible.”

  “That’s right, you are a respectable woman.” Her tone was fierce and energized, and I knew before she went on that she was launching into one of her typical passionate Alayna Pierce sermons. “And because you respect yourself, you should give yourself what you want. You should do something for yourself—and your husband. Something that isn’t at all about your identity as a mother. Is that really all you exist for now? To feed and clothe and protect and shuttle around these little humans? Yes, they’re important, but if you start acting like the only part of yourself that you’re obligated to is your motherly side, you’re not going to be any good for them. You need to be a complete person, whole and entire, and, by damn, that means going to a sex party and watching other people kink it up if that’s what fills your cup.”

  She made it sound so easy. Was it really that easy?

  Yeah. I was pretty sure it was.

  I folded my arms and smiled at her. “Thank you. I knew that, but I needed to hear it.”

“And I need you to go to a party and tell me all the details after.”

  I laughed. “I’m still getting up the nerve, but, for sure, if I go, I’ll tell you everything.”

  It was a lie. I’d already made my decision. She was right―if I wanted to go, I should go, and I definitely wanted to go. Not to do anything, but just to check it out. See what all the fuss was about.

 And I would tell Alayna about it, eventually. 

  First, I needed to tell my husband.

 


About Laurelin Paige:

USA Today and New York Times Bestselling Author Laurelin Paige is a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching Game of Thrones or The Walking Dead, or dreaming of Michael Fassbender. She is represented by Rebecca Friedman.

 

Connect With Her:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Newsletter | Bookbub

Holding On To Forever by Siobhan Davis and S.B. Alexander…Review

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Secretly dating Coach Parker’s daughter was never part of the plan. Neither was becoming her dealer…

Holding on to Forever, an all-new edgy, new adult romance from USA Today bestselling author Siobhan Davis and S.B. Alexander is available now!

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ADAM

Returning to my drug-dealing past wasn’t on the agenda when I accepted the full ride to play ball at Cypress U. But Mom lost her job. And my sister’s medical bills are mounting. So, I’ve no choice but to change the playbook.

When Emily walks into my life, like a fallen goddess with the ultimate power to destroy me, I know I’m screwed. I should steer clear, but I’m the one supplying her poison of choice. Falling for her is a complication I don’t need, but the more she’s around, the harder it gets to walk away. She needs me, and I crave her more than the sport I love.

Now, it’s all on the line. Including the NFL career that’s tantalizingly close.

The stakes are high, but family means everything, so I’ll take my chances.

EMILY

It’s only a problem if it’s out of control. And I have it in hand.

Except a certain a-hole discovers I’m using again, and he threatens to rat me out to my folks. Mom’s president of Cypress U, and Dad’s the illustrious football coach. Appearances mean everything to them, and I’m a continuous disappointment.

They told me I’d be out on my ass if I fell off the wagon, so keeping it a secret is my number one priority.

Until the super-hot all-star QB takes more than a passing interest in me. Adam gets me, in a way no guy ever has, filling my head with ideas of forever—and now, I want more.

Dating my dealer is a recipe for disaster, especially when it’s forbidden, but I can’t help myself.

Because I’ve fallen too deep.

And the hole is too large to crawl out of.

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Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

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Excerpt:

I’m half-tempted to call Donnie to make sure he gave me the correct address when headlights brighten the narrow alleyway.

The SUV is crawling toward me, and my nerves are jacked. I shouldn’t be doing this. I should find a decent part-time job to pay for my sister’s medical expenses, but I see no other way. We have to get her vest fixed or buy a new one. Selling drugs is the only way to make some quick cash. Besides, I’m good at it. I sold dope and pills for years, and I’d never been arrested. I always had my pulse on the neighborhoods, and I knew where cops loitered at night.

You’ve been out too long. Things might have changed, and you’re in a new state.

I push my inner thoughts aside. None of that matters. I’m always alert. I always know what’s around me, and as Mom tells me, I’m perceptive as hell. I have to be. Taking care of Mom and Phoebe—especially Phoebe—I have to be alert to her sounds, her breathing, and her emotions.

Thinking of my sister sends pain slicing through my chest. I can’t let anything happen to her. She spent two days in the hospital, where the doctor pumped her with antibiotics, until she started feeling better.

The SUV pulls to a stop, and a short stocky guy gets out of the front passenger seat brandishing a gun. The driver, a taller man than his compadre, follows.

I lift my hands as if a cop is arresting me. “I’m unarmed.”

Aiming the gun at my head, he stalks toward me. His dark eyes are hard, his mission resolute. “Move and you’re dead.” His deep voice is lethal.

An all too familiar wave washes over me, and I’m tempted to back out of this stupid idea to sell drugs and run before he pulls the trigger. I’m not any good dead to Mom and Phoebe. But I know his words are just a scare tactic while he frisks me.

I stand statue-still while the second dude, sporting a thin beard and no mustache, pats my sides, my lower back, down my legs, and straight down to my ankles. He sticks one finger in the air. “All clear.”

The stocky dude lowers his gun, and, inwardly, I grin. The goon didn’t find the blade in my boot. I’m not about to use it though. But I don’t walk into situations like these unarmed. Still, I make a mental note of the type of men I’m dealing with.

A tall man climbs out of the back seat. He’s sporting baggy jeans and a New York Yankees ball cap, and the gold bling around his neck probably weighs ten pounds as it glints off the dim light on the side of the car repair shop.

It’s all I can do not to roll my eyes. Donnie doesn’t show off like this dude. Donnie’s motto is blend in with the crowd. Standing out only draws attention.

“You must be Wrangler. I’m Ray Diaz.” Ray struts over to the metal garage door. “You understand I have to be careful.” He punches a code in on the keypad tacked to the frame of the door. Within a second, it opens.

I tuck my hands in my jean pockets. “I’m well aware of the industry.”

A deep chuckle erupts from Ray. “I heard. Donnie told me you were a cocky punk too.”

It’s my turn to laugh. “When I need to be.”

 

It’s been a few days since I finished this book and I really wanted to wrap my head around it and get my thoughts together.

The synopsis of this book grabbed my attention and knowing that Siobhan Davis was one of the two authors, I had high expectations of this being executed very well.
This book hits on a few subjects that may be tough for some to handle (drug addiction, rape, abuse).  Siobhan has always been able to handle tough subjects in her book by keeping it real but also doing it respectfully.  However, in this book I felt that the drug aspect came across as a bit surreal or more on the lighter side of addiction/drug use.  By no means will this hurt most people’s reading of the book but for me, what I anticipated and what I got, did hurt the story for me.
Emily has a drug problem.  She turned to drugs when she didn’t get the support from her parents when a terrible incident happened when she was 15.  She’s been to rehab but was never able to truly kick the drugs.  Both her parents are fairly absent in her life, but her father does try more than her mother.
My issue with Emily and her drug “addiction” is this:  Emily has no problems staying off the drugs during the week and only taking them on weekends.  For me, that’s a user and not an addict (yet).  You do see her dependence kick in when life starts to get tough for her and her demons start to haunt – that is when the addiction kicks in. I won’t go into details but there’s more to her story than just the drugs and it is quite an intense story.
Adam is the star quarterback at their university but has a sister with cystic fibrosis and his mom struggles to pay the bills with a mediocre job (father left leaving mom to find a job to support them).  He’s helped out in the past with selling drugs to keep money coming in and comes to a point where he has to again.
Now here’s my issue I have with him selling: he’s the star quarterback!!  Even though he’s not selling on campus, he’s selling at raves and places where college students attend – they’re going to know who he is and that news will travel fast in college. Again, there’s more to Adam than just that but I won’t give away the good stuff.
Outside of all that, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  I felt most of the actions and nuisances of these characters were true to life and handled certain situations well.  Now there a few things that are slightly exaggerated or fabricated but that’s needed to make the story entertaining.
These book flowed well and it was very hard to tell that two people wrote this book.  There were times that chapters moved a bit too far ahead in the timeline and sort of made you stop quickly and realize we’ve jumped to a new day or so many days ahead.  I understand the need for this to keep the timeline of things realistic and also prevent from adding filler and elongating the book, but at times it hurt the flow.
Overall, it was a good read.  It kept me captivated and the characters were likeable.  It’s a nice intro into what you can get from these two authors and the subjects they delve into.

 

About Siobhan

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

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

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

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

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Connect with Siobhan

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About S.B.

I’m Susan Alexander, and you’ll find my books under S.B. Alexander. I’m an independent author with close to 20 titles to date. I write young adult and new adult romances that span the sub-categories of coming of age, sports, paranormal, suspense, and military fiction. My stories are emotional, angsty, and character driven.

In between writing, I spend time with my soul mate of 21 years who got a bad deal in life. Four years ago he was diagnosed with ALS. It’s a horrible disease, but we both have been making the best of life, laughing, smiling, and doing what we can together.

But writing is a great outlet for me to take my mind to another place. Plus, I have a great network of family, friends, fans, and so much more. I truly have an angel on my shoulder. My mantra is make the best of life because it’s too darn short.

I love to hear from readers and fans. Drop me a line by filling out the contact form on my website or you can email me at susan@sbalexander.com or stalk me on social media.

Connect with S.B.

Facebook: http://bit.ly/33zTiGU

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2KL1LP8

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http://sbalexander.com

Release Day Blitz….Wylde Fire by Sarah Robinson

Today we have the release blitz for Sarah Robinson’s WYLDE FIRE! Check it out and be sure to grab your copy today!

Title: Wylde Fire

Author: Sarah Robinson

Genre: Contemporary Romance

About Wylde Fire:

Sam Wylde is ready to prove he’s more than just the privileged son of a wealthy Southern dynasty.

Wyldefire Whiskey is poised to take Nashville by storm—and with any luck, overshadow the scandal of his cheating ex-girlfriend marrying his brother. The only problem? This gruff country boy has no idea how to throw a launch party that will get people talking.

The answer to everything might just be Holly Glen.
A party wrapped up in one tiny woman, Holly is tattooed, tempting, and exactly the event planner Sam needs to liven up his brand—and his life. He can give her what she needs, too.

All it will take is a ring on her finger.

Falling in real love with his fake wife was not part of the plan—but one shot of Holly isn’t going to be enough.

Get Your Copy Today:
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Exclusive Excerpt:

“You cannot do this to me, Cassie,” Sam Wylde argued over the speakerphone attached to his truck’s dashboard. He cringed as his Southern drawl came out a little thicker than usual. Frustration did that to him, and right now it was taking everything in him to not start cussing.

With a deft twist of his wrist, he steered his truck into the parking lot next to Town Hall, cutting off another car with a halfhearted wave of acknowledgement. He needed to pick up several permits before the city offices closed, leaving no room for pleasantries.

Damn, for a Saturday, the lot sure is packed.

He sighed and forced his attention back to the phone call. “We’ve got a few months until the launch of the entire brand. Everything I’ve done the last two years is riding on this.”

“I’m really sorry,” Cassie, his event planner, said from the other end of the phone. Or former event planner, apparently. “But I can’t be in two places at once, and neither can my influencers and vendors. We’re booked for that day now.”

Teetering on the brink of exploding, Sam breathed in slowly. “But. You. Signed. With. Us. First.” He ground the words out slow and steady.

“Technically, I haven’t signed an actual contract. I was helping you out as a favor to Noah,” Cassie informed him. “And where I go…so do my connections.”

Sam needed no reminders that his cousin was a major pain in his ass. There was no doubt in his mind Cassie quitting on the launch was directly related to Noah Wylde breaking things off romantically between the two of them yesterday. Yes, yesterday. Sam was pretty out of touch with the small-town gossip vine, but even he’d heard about the messy, public break up last night. Bringing his cousin into the business had been at the not-so-subtle suggestion of his father and uncle, and Sam had never regretted acquiescing to their demands more.

Despite his frustrations with his cousin, Wyldefire Whiskey was still Sam’s pride and joy. He and his cousin, along with a silent partner, Caleb Daughtry, had built their own distillery from the ground up and begun crafting their own brand of Tennessee whiskey. The first batch was being bottled now, and, in a few months, they’d be on liquor store shelves nationwide. He’d hired Cassie to plan their giant grand opening launch party at a swanky hotel in Nashville, only a short distance from the distillery—and Sam’s hometown—in River Ridge, Tennessee. It was the last step in a massive public relations campaign for the entire brand.

“There’s no one else in town who does events this large, Cassie. Especially last minute.” He hated begging, but right now, he had no other choice. Cassie was an extremely well-connected socialite across the South who had come highly recommended by his PR company. He’d already put thousands of dollars into the brand’s publicity, and a launch party filled with celebrities and social influencers she’d bring was supposed to be the final piece they needed to make their whiskey a household name.

“Like I said, I’m sorry,” Cassie continued, zero remorse in her tone. “I’ll make sure you get your check back on Monday. Have a great weekend!”

The line went dead and Sam slammed his foot against the brake, coming to a dead stop in the middle of the parking lot. His hands were clenched so tightly around the wheel, there was a good chance he’d snap it in half.

“Sonofabitch!” His anger bubbled over, exploding at no one in particular.

Disconnecting the call, he placed his foot back on the gas and turned into the next aisle of cars to look for a spot. Pulling his truck past the open spot just enough to give him room to reverse, he shifted gears and anchored his arm behind the passenger seat, looking out the rear window.

A little blue coupe turned into the spot seconds before he could. So quick, he almost missed it entirely. Are you kidding me?

Sam shifted into park right in the middle of the aisle. Shoving the door open, he hopped down from the cab and stomped around the bed of his truck toward the coupe.

“Hey!” he shouted at the driver, throwing his hands up in the air. “What the hell was that? You stole my spot!”

Sam’s next words jammed in his throat, startled for a moment when the perpetrator, a tall, slender woman with fiery hair, climbed out of the driver’s seat as he approached. As angry as he was, he was first and foremost, a hot-blooded, all-American man. It was impossible not to notice her curvy figure as she crossed her arms over her chest, or the way the sun, just beginning to drift lower in the late afternoon, illuminated the varying crimson hues in her scarlet hair. She leveled intensely silver eyes at him.

Sam pushed away the distracting thoughts, trying to manage his irritation—and growing arousal. “Darlin, you parked in my spot.” He tried for the nicest tone he could muster, but it still came out sounding terse.

“Looks like I did.” Molten eyes, somehow both angry and intoxicating, stared back at him, unrelenting.

She’s admitting it? His anger dissipated slightly, which he realized was a bit odd since the admission should have infuriated him. Something about her blatant honesty was disarming and…refreshing? Or maybe it was those soft pink lips that smirked up at the corners, that had him feeling…forgiving. “Excuse me?”

The tiniest flash of guilt crossed her expression, but she masked it quickly, firming her jaw and pushing back her shoulders. The seductive smirk returned. “I almost crashed when you cut me off pulling into the lot. Maybe if you were paying a little more attention, rather than yelling at your dashboard, you wouldn’t have nearly killed me, and you wouldn’t have lost your spot. Really, I’m doing you a favor. You can take a few laps around this pretty parking lot and find your inner Zen.”

His mouth twitched, but he held tight, refusing to let the smile come. “So, you’re…what? The karmic delivery man?”

Woman, actually, but…yeah. I guess today I am.” A black tank top hugged her gentle curves and showed off one arm full of colorful tattoos as she reached into the trunk of her car and pulled out a large cardboard box then set it on the asphalt. “Someone needs to be.”

Her last words were quieter, as if to herself, but he heard them nonetheless. He noted the strain and tightness in her tone, and found himself wondering what the story was behind it.

But then she bent down. Every coherent thought fled his brain as Sam paused to admire her blue jeans molded to a firm round ass. Damn. It’d been too long. Starting a business and having his heart broken all at the same time will do that to a man.

Forcing his eyes away, Sam glanced back at his truck, resigning himself to finding another place to park. He didn’t have the time to fight with this woman who was making his blood heat, in more ways than one. Plus, admittedly, he had cut her off and not even given it a second thought.

She kept her back to him, continuing to unload boxes from the trunk of her car.

“Sorry about cutting you off,” Sam grumbled, though he knew she could still hear him. He didn’t like apologies. He rarely gave them, but he felt caught off guard by her and didn’t like it. “I’ll let you have the spot this time.”

She paused slightly while he spoke, but didn’t look back at him. “Let me?” When she did whirl around, her hands were straight down and fists balled. “Samuel. Jed. Wylde. You didn’t let me do anything. I took that spot to teach you a lesson in manners—something you’re sorely lacking.”

Sam raised a brow, a small smile on his lips despite the tightness in his chest. She knows me? Shit. Was she a one-night stand he’d forgotten? Another one of Noah’s conquests with a vendetta for the Wylde boys now? He racked his brain, sweating when he couldn’t place her.

“Honestly, I don’t know why I even bothered. You haven’t changed one bit.” Hands on her hips now, she was shaking her head in that same disapproving manner he’d gotten most of his life. He was familiar with disappointing women, and it was one of the many reasons why he kept most of his relationships to only a night or two.

Between the sheets, he never left a woman less than completely satisfied. It was his life outside the bedroom that seemed to be the problem.

Sam let his eyes rake over her body—from her cowboy boots to her bright pink lips. How could he have forgotten those lips? “We’ve met before?”

She exhaled sharply, obviously annoyed. “High school.”

 

About the Author:

Aside from being a Top 10 Barnes & Noble and Amazon Bestseller, Sarah Robinson is a native of the Washington, DC area and has both her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in criminal psychology. She works as a counselor by day and romance novelist by night. She owns a small zoo of furry pets and is actively involved in volunteering in her community.

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