Today we are celebrating the cover reveal for WHISKEY SOUR by Nazarea Andrews. Whiskey Sour is an adult contemporary romance, standalone novel, and it is the fourth book in the River Street Bar series. Pre-order your copy now. It releases on September 27th!
A Standalone Contemporary Romance – Coming September 27!
(River Street Bar series, #4)
Blurb:
Calvin Landers is a mess.
He has a great job and a steady string of men and women in his bed, and has been in love with the same couple for so long he can’t remember a time when he wasn’t. Coming off fresh heartbreak, he’s ready to move on, to give up on romance and sex altogether and moves in with his best friend, Davis, while he looks for something more permanent and tries to figure out what the hell he’s doing with his life.
Ava Liu isn’t looking for anything more than something to distract her from the book she’s supposed to be translating. Something to distract her from why the hell she’s in River City in the first place. But the boys who share a fence are more than a little distracting and pushy, when they realize just how much Ava needs someone–and how much they all need each other.
Sometimes life happens just when you stop looking.
You can get exclusive news, sneak peeks, giveaways, and more!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Nazarea Andrews (N to almost everyone) is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. Which means she writes everything from zombies and dystopia to contemporary love stories.
When not writing, she can most often be found driving her kids to practice and burning dinner while she reads, or binge watching TV shows on Netflix. N loves chocolate, wine, and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids.
N is a self-professed geek and enjoys spending her spare time lost in her favorite fandoms and can often be found babbling about them on social media.
She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, spoiled cat and overgrown dog. She is the author of World Without End series, Neverland Found, Edge of the Falls, and The University of Branton Series. Stop by her twitter (@NazareaAndrews) and tell her what fantastic book she should read next.
Brielle
He consumed my mind. I never even crossed his.
From the moment I met Michael, mysteriously brooding and dressed like a dark angel, there was something electric between us. Or so I thought.
What I believed was a seductive and undeniably raw attraction has ended up
being something else entirely, something I never foresaw.
Because he’s a skilled liar and a master manipulator, and I downright misread
his intentions.
And now I’m afraid that falling for the man in black might become my biggest
regret.Michael
An overwhelming remorse haunts me after losing my fiancée, but I’m not a man
who can afford to lower my guard.
I’m a ruthless criminal, one of the top members of the merciless mafia, the
Chicago Syndicate, and I moved back home to keep to myself and do a job.
But when a curvaceous pastry chef with a beautiful smile and a possible link to
my former life catches me in a reckless moment, I’m forced to watch her and
strategize a plan.
Because I’m not sure if she’s out to get me or if she’s just an innocent civilian who doesn’t know that the restaurant she works at is actually a front to launder Syndicate money.
And I intend to find out if she’s playing me while I’m playing her. But then the demons that haunt me force me to make a huge mistake…
Deceit has a price—I just have to make sure I don’t pay with her life.
A standalone novel from the Chicago Syndicate world.
Soraya Naomi’s writes love stories with a sinfully seductive
blend of lust, deceit, lies & men who love hard and at all costs.
Her #1 Organized Crime debut series Chicago Syndicate was released in 2014.
She’s honored that For Fallon won “Best Breakout Novel 2014” in the
Novel Grounds Semi Annual Literary Awards.
A best-friends-to-lovers standalone romance from New York Times bestselling author Kendall Ryan.
She says she needs some help … in the bedroom.
Come again? No, really come again.
Sweet, nerdy, lovable Keaton.
She’s my best friend and has been for years. Sure she likes numbers and math, and thinks doing other people’s taxes is fun. And I like … none of that stuff. She’s obsessed with her cat and reads novels I’ll never understand, and yet we just click. There’s no one I’d rather share breakfast burritos with or binge watch hours Netflix. She’s my person. And so when she takes off her glasses and asks me to help her improve her skills in the bedroom, I barely have to think about it.
Of course I’ll help her. There’s no one better for the job.
I’ve been there for her through everything, why should this be any different?
But what happens when she’s ready to take her new-found confidence and move on?
Love Machine was a very sweet, sexy and quick read.
And my review will be just as quick and sweet. Keaton and Slate have been friends for years and neither looked at the other as more than a friend. Even when Keaton asks Slate to help her in her “sexplorations” neither bat an eye at the thought of this messing up their friendship or things becoming awkward.
Keaton and Slate easily fall in love with one another without realizing it til they are both shocked at their revelations. Their banter and interactions is so natural, it’s no wonder neither could see what was so easily in their faces the whole time.
If you are looking for an easy and fast read – this one is definitely the right choice.
A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over 1.5 million books and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. She’s a traditionally published author with Simon & Schuster and Harper Collins UK, as well as an independently published author. Since she first began self-publishing in 2012, she’s appeared at #1 on Barnes & Noble and iBooks charts around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than three dozen times. Ryan has been featured in such publications as USA Today, Newsweek, and InTouch Magazine.
Sometimes we must let go of what was, appreciate what remains and fearlessly embrace what comes next.
Sebastian “Bas”
Born to a family of outlaws, I was destined to ride with the Satan’s Knights MC. With mayhem and havoc in my blood and chaos living deep in my soul, I learned the Devil don’t sleep. You never hear him creeping and he often comes disguised as everything you ever wanted.
I was just teenager when she first showed, masquerading as the girl of my dreams. A whiskey shootin’ spitfire who knocked me on my ass and helped me turn the town upside down. The girl who stole my heart with her smile and never gave it back. The same bitch who ruined me and turned my blood to ice.
It’s been six years since I turned my back on Mac, my family and my club. I’ve pushed her to the back of my head, wrote everyone off and damned the Kentucky charter to hell. But, where God built a church, the Devil built a chapel. Now, her life is on the line and it’s clear I’m still a sucker for her gorgeous chaos because I’m the one riding to her rescue.
Mackenzie “Mac”
I often dreamed of what it would be like to stare into Bas’ blue eyes again. To hear his raspy voice whisper his love for me and feel his strong arms around me. After all, it’s always been in his embrace that I felt the safest. In my dreams, he abolishes my sins and forgives me for breaking both our hearts. But this is no dream. I’m running from a nightmare and the one running with me, looks at me with enough anger to burn the world to ash. Once upon a time, we were in love. Once upon a time, it was us against the world. Once upon a time, he didn’t look at me and see the Devil. If only he knew the truth. If only he knew the Devil was a broken angel with tattered wings. An angel who sacrificed her heart and soul for him.
***NOTE: Contains explicit sexual situations, violence, offensive language, and mature topics. Not recommended for people under the age of 18***
#TheDevilDontSleep
#BringTheBas
Excerpt
Nothing will scare the shit out of a man more than waking up and feeling a pair of eyes drilling a hole in the side of his head. Especially, when you’ve been trying your hardest to sleep with one eye open because there’s a mark out for your girl and her kid.
Bolting up, I rub the sleep from my eyes and stare back at Ryder.
“Buddy, what are you doing?”
Crossing his little arms against his chest, he glances next to me at his sleeping mother. Thank fucking Christ she’s covered. The last thing I need to explain is why his mother is naked in the bed with me, his uncle.
How’s that for a family tree?
“Why are you in my mom’s bed?”
Dragging the sheet up to my waist with one hand, I reach behind me and cup the back of my neck with the other.
“Well, that’s actually a funny story…”
It’s not funny at all.
Not even a little bit.
But telling Ryder his mother and I fucked like rabbits after she rubbed her pussy all over me and woke me up, really isn’t an option.
“How about I tell you over breakfast?” I suggest.
“Pancakes?”
I have no fucking idea how to make pancakes.
“How’s about a bowl of cereal?”
“Okay,” he says, uncrossing his arms. He doesn’t move and suddenly, I’m intimidated by the little boy wearing SpongeBob pajamas and a scowl on his face. When did that happen?
The day you decided you wanted to be enough of a man to make him a better one.
“All right then,” I say offering him a smile as I look towards the door. “Why don’t you get a head start?”
I’ll buy you a puppy…hell, I’ll buy you the whole damn litter if you just let me grab my shorts, kid.
Debating, he glances at his mom again.
“Should we wake mommy?”
“Fuck, no…eh, I mean….” my words trail as I swipe a hand over my face. “Let’s let her sleep.”
“Okay, we can surprise her with breakfast in bed.”
Yeah, sure, if you want to get a peep show.
“Sounds like a plan.”
He takes another minute before he finally exits the room. I wait until I hear his footsteps on the stairs before, I lose the sheet and dig a pair of sweats out of one of my six bags of clothes. As luck would have it the day I decide to move my shit in here, Ryder catches me in bed with his mom the next morning. I’m not sure how I’m going to explain this one. Mac and I haven’t talked about telling Ryder about us and we’ve been cautious around him. I’m not sure why. I’m not going anywhere, and neither are they.
Making my way to the door, I pause and look back at Mac.
A man can get used to that.
He can die happy.
“Uncle Bas!”
Pulling the door closed behind me, I head downstairs and enter the kitchen to find Ryder trying to clean spilled milk off the floor.
“What happened?”
“I’m sorry!”
Lifting his head, he meets my eyes and I can tell he’s struggling to hold back tears. That fucking does something to me. It breaks my heart is what it does.
“It was an accident,” he cries. He tears his eyes away from me and I watch his hands fumble as he pulls the paper towels off the roll.
“Ryder,” I rasp, crouching down beside him. Gently, I take the towels from his hand and place a finger under his chin, forcing his eyes back to mine. “It’s okay.”
“You’re not mad?”
“No,” I say hoarsely. “It’s just spilled milk, Ryder,” I add as I wipe his tears with my thumbs.
“My dad would’ve been mad.”
Biting the inside of my cheek, I control the anger simmering in my veins.
“I’m not him, Ryder,” I say with conviction. “You never have to be afraid of me.” His blue eyes search mine and I pray he’s inherited his mother’s knack for reading me because they’re saying all the things I don’t know how to.
I love you.
I’ll jump off a cliff for you.
Run through fire for you.
I’ll kill for you.
Bleed and die for you.
Swallowing, I smooth down his hair and lean forward, kissing the top of his head.
“Let’s get this cleaned up and get started on making you and your mom breakfast.”
“We don’t have that much milk,” he says.
How fucking hard can it be to make pancakes?
“I thought you wanted pancakes,” I reply with a wink. His eyes light up and the smile he gives me is worth every bit of heartache that brought him into this world. I get it now. I understand what Mac meant when she said he was too precious to be labeled anything less than a blessing.
“Uncle Bas, I know you said I don’t have to be afraid of you but…”
“You don’t,” I assure him. “I would never hurt you. Never.”
“Does that mean you won’t hurt my mom either?”
Jesus.
It might not be my place, but I don’t give a fuck. It’s time Ryder, and I had a talk.
Man to little man.
Rising to my feet, I hold out my hand for him.
“C ’mere,” I tell him.
He places his little hand in mine and I pull him to his feet before leading him to the kitchen table. Sitting across from one another, we stare at each other. I’m not sure if he’s looking at me with curiosity or if he’s sizing me up trying to decide if I’m the guy good enough for his mom.
“Why don’t you tell me what you’re thinking,” I suggest. “And remember, anything you ask me won’t make me angry.”
“Okay,” he says. “I don’t want anyone to hurt my mom. She smiles a lot and I like it.”
“She has a great smile,” I agree.
He nods.
“The best,” he whispers. Then as if a light bulb has gone off in his head, he looks at me with wide eyes. “If I promise not to be afraid will you promise not to take her smile away?”
“Ryder, I want you to pay close attention to what I’m going to tell you, can you do that for me?” I ask him as I lean over the table and level my eyes to his.
“I’ll try my hardest.”
“Fair enough,” I say, taking a deep breath. “Ain’t no one in this world going to take your mom’s smile away ever again nor will anyone hurt either of you. As long as I’m alive, you and your mom will always be safe and if I have a say in the matter, the both of you will keep sharing your smiles with me.”
“Does that mean you love her?”
“I’ve loved your mom for a really long time. What it means is I finally get a chance to prove to her and to you just how much I love you both.”
I let my words sink in for a minute before continuing.
“When a man loves a woman, he isn’t afraid of expressing it and his actions sometimes speak louder than his words. One day you’re going to be a man and you’re going to find a girl who knocks you off your feet. You won’t see her coming, you’ll ask yourself why she chose you and you’ll pray you never lose her. It’ll be the most exciting time of your life and the scariest too. You might make mistakes, but they’ll never be intentional because you’re going to think back to this conversation and remember how you wanted me to treat your mom.”
“I want you to be nice to her,” he whispers.
“I want you to be humble and kind,” I counter.
“Take her nice places,” he continues.
“Always hold the door for her,” I say.
“Tell her it’s going to be okay when she’s sad,” he adds.
“Do your best to nevermake her sad,” I counter.
“Make her smile,” he whispers.
“Cherish every smile she gives you,” I reply.
“Love her,” he pleads.
“Love her,” I agree.
A beat of silences passes between us before I hold out my hand.
“A man’s handshake is his word. It’s his promise,” I explain, tipping my chin to my hand, urging him to take it. Lifting his hand, he slides it into mine and he gives it a firm shake, sealing our promise to one another.
For him to grow up and be a good man.
For me to set the example by loving his mother.
MEET AND GREET
Come meet Author, Janine Infante Bosco and model, Joe Adams at the “Tempted & Tantalizing Author Event” in Staten Island, New York this October!
I am hands down in love with this series! I adore MC series but this one is WONDERFUL! I love the passion, the second chance love story, and oh my goodness, Bas. Seriously, this book squeezed my heart so much. I adore Mac and Bas as a couple! I love the banter, the suspense and the passion that literally jumps off the page.
I would suggest reading the entire series from the beginning but this can be read as a standalone for sure. The complete series will give a new reader a great background on the characters. You will not be disappointed!
#SatansKnightsMC
ABOUT JANINE INFANTE BOSCO
Janine Infante Bosco lives in New York City, she has always loved reading and writing. When she was thirteen, she began to write her own stories and her passion for writing took off as the years went on. At eighteen, she even wrote a full screenplay with dreams of one day becoming a member of the Screen Actors Guild.
Janine writes emotionally charged novels with an emphasis on family bonds, strong willed female characters, and alpha male men who will do anything for the women they love. She loves to interact with fans and fellow avid romance readers like herself.
She is proud of her success as an author and the friendships she’s made in the book community but her greatest accomplishment to date would be her two sons Joseph and Paul.
When someone needs to disappear, the Chicago mob calls on Joe Rossi. A man who can move without a sound, and kill without a word, they don’t call him the Shadow for nothing.
This time, it’s a New York crime family in need of his skills, but it takes one glimpse of her to make him agree to the job.
Liliana Marcello is every inch a principessa della mafia. Her life has taught her to be wary of strangers, yet her ballet career contradicts everything by putting her on display.
It’s a man with a dark smile and a constantly changing demeanor that makes her feel safe again, but it’s the unknown that holds her back.
It takes one look … One dance … One word … One smile to captivate a man.
And one second to kill a woman because of it, too.
Not all monsters hide in the shadows. How are you supposed to see them coming?
CAPTIVATED MUSIC PLAYLIST
Sizzling, suspenseful, and sweet is how I would describe Captivated by Bethany-Kris. However, I enjoyed this book the most because I was not able to figure out the plot. Yes, I had some idea on how it would go but was pleasantly surprised as I continued to read. Bethany-Kris also wrote Joe, a mafia hitman, so well that I completely forgave him for being a killer. You will absolutely fall in love with this character as well.
Joe is summoned to New York to help the mafia bosses get rid of some high-profile people. It is in New York he sees the one of the boss’s daughter, Lilliana, and instantly is attracted. Now this is what I love about Captivated, it is not an instant fall in love with each other book filled with just sex scenes. Bethany-Kris takes her time writing the romance between Joe and Lilliana all the while adding in suspense. I have read a few books this year that have tried to combine these two genres together and I felt they did not flow as well as Captivated.The suspense did not feel like a second thought which was refreshing.
I will also admit having a hot mafia bad ass is always a bonus in a story. I love that Joe is tough but to those who are close to him, he is sweet and gentle. Lilliana is going through her own internal battles (I don’t want to give away some of the plot) but I like that Joe allows her to go through it. It is not just instantly written away by Bethany-Kris. This is for sure a hard copy worthy book.
ABOUT BETHANY-KRIS
Bethany-Kris is a Canadian author, lover of much, and mother to four young sons, one cat, and two dogs. A small town in Eastern Canada where she was born and raised is where she has always called home. With her boys under her feet, snuggling cat, barking dogs, and a hubby calling over his shoulder, she is nearly always writing something … when she can find the time.
To keep up-to-date with new releases from Bethany-Kris, sign up to her New Release Newsletter here:http://eepurl.com/bf9lzD
WE ARE THRILLED TO BRING YOU THE COVER FOR FLIRTING WITH FOREVER FROM NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER KENDALL RYAN!
FLIRTING WITH FOREVER RELEASES ON SEPTEMBER 3RD!
No women.
No sex.
No hooking up.
This is the oath I took in solidarity with my best friend after a particularly heinous breakup left him shattered.
No problem, right?
Wrong.
Because lately, I’ve begun developing big, messy feelings for our best female friend who we both swore was off-limits since we were sixteen years old.
I shouldn’t notice the way her hair turns golden when it catches the light, I shouldn’t make it a goal to see her dimples when she laughs, I shouldn’t find her knowledge on current affairs so sexy.
I’m pretty sure she’s oblivious, which is a good thing, I try to convince myself.
Until one night after too many cocktails when we fall into bed together.
I’m left with an awkward morning-after, and one of the hardest choices I’ve ever had to make.
Confess how I feel, and potentially lose both of my best friends in the process, or bury my feelings and watch her move on?
A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over 1.5 million books and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. She’s a traditionally published author with Simon & Schuster and Harper Collins UK, as well as an independently published author. Since she first began self-publishing in 2012, she’s appeared at #1 on Barnes & Noble and iBooks charts around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than three dozen times. Ryan has been featured in such publications as USA Today, Newsweek, and InTouch Magazine.
Incognito, an all-new standalone new adult romance from USA Today bestselling author Siobhan Davis is available NOW!
A troubled popstar forced into hiding… A sweet small-town girl overcoming tragedy… And the kind of love that only happens once in a lifetime.
Dakota’s dreams of attending Juilliard were shattered the night tragedy struck her family. It’s one year later, and she’s now enrolled at the local university trying to piece her life back together.
Shawn is one of the world’s most famous faces, having lived under a spotlight since his star exploded when he was fourteen. Now jaded by an industry forcing him to perform music he no longer enjoys, he craves normalcy and the opportunity to rediscover his muse. When a crazy stalker gets too close, and death threats start mounting, Shawn’s management team comes up with a plan—one which will allow him to work on his latest album while staying incognito on a middle-American college campus.
Romance is the last thing on Dakota’s mind, but after she crosses paths with a hot, prickly cutie with rock-hard abs and smoldering good looks, she can’t shake him from her thoughts.
Shawn can’t afford to bring any girl into his fucked-up life, but the gorgeous blonde with the sad blue eyes captivates him in a way no girl ever has, and he finds himself falling hard and fast.
But outside forces are conspiring against them.
When danger draws closer, and secrets are revealed, will their love survive?
I shriek the minute we step foot in the penthouse when he sweeps my feet out from under me, tossing me over his shoulder. “What are you doing, you crazy ass?!” I laugh, beating my fists against his back as he strides with purpose through the living area.
“Be quiet, woman,” he jokes, slapping my butt. “Trust me, you won’t be complaining in a few minutes.”
And he’s right. He strips my clothes off, tantalizingly slowly, before pushing me back on the bed and devouring every part of me with his mouth. When his head lowers to the apex of my thighs, I squirm with anticipation, shouting his name as his tongue goes to town on me. My orgasm catches me off guard, sweeping through me with urgency, and I’m shouting his name repeatedly as waves of ecstasy wash over me. Flipping me over onto my stomach, he pulls my knees up and spreads me, slapping my ass cheeks firmly, and warmth leaks from my still-quivering pussy. “Are you sore after last night baby?” he asks, as I hear the tear of a condom wrapper.
“Nope,” I lie. “Give it to me hard, stud. Just how I like it.”
He slams into me without warning and I scream.
“I love how enthusiastic you are,” he grunts, fucking me in sharp, quick thrusts. “And I love how you shout out my name when you come. It really fucking turns me on.”
“Oh, God,” I moan as he plunges deep, hitting the right spot.
“Not God, baby. Just … Levi.”
“Well, just Levi,” I say a couple of hours later. “I think I’m well and truly fucked.” I try to move but I can’t. “I can’t feel my legs anymore. I think you broke me.”
He chuckles. “I can’t feel my cock. I think you rode me to death.”
Incognito is Siobhan’s second standalone and I really enjoyed it. The blurb gives you all the information that you truly need to do know so I will do my best in not repeating any of that nor give anything crucial away. And yes, the blurb may sound similar or like another rock start romance, but it’s Siobhan’s twist and her writing that make this story so enjoyable.
Shawn and Dakota are both battling their own wars. Shawn is trying to stay under the radar and finally enjoy life as just a “normal” every day college student. He’s been in the limelight for many years and his life has been in overdrive since he got picked up years ago. Now that is he “forced” to be normal, he is really enjoying life as a much slower pace.
Dakota did more that put her dreams of Julliard on the backside – she has chosen to go into the family business. While it’s not her dream, it’s what she knows is best for her and her family’s future. But at night, she escapes her new reality and dances away in the moonlight.
Shawn and Dakota are both so wrong and so right for one another. As they try to fight against the attraction they have, the electricity just builds. These two are strong together and for one another. There is a lot of angst and suspense in this book – a lot of that comes from assumptions on both their parts. While I felt at their age their communication should have been more mature, Siobhan also does a great job of showing how social media and technology play a very key role in how people react to things.
As I said, this book blurb may feel like it’s the same but it’s the added twists and plotting that makes this book stand out. Siobhan has this way with her writing of putting in the characters shoes and just feeling everything – you become the characters.
Siobhan writes such amazing characters. Not only do I love her main characters but I love the secondary characters in this book. They all play such key and integral roles in this book that it just makes the story all the more entertaining
This book is a standalone and can be read solely on its own. There are characters from her other standalone, Inseparable, who make an appearance in this one. However, reading either book in whatever order will in no way impede one over the other.
Siobhan has written another story that I found myself devouring in hours and wanting more from her.
About Siobhan:
USA Today bestselling author Siobhan Davis writes emotionally intense young adult and new adult romantic fiction with swoon-worthy romance, complex characters, and tons of unexpected plot twists and turns that will have you flipping the pages beyond bedtime! She is the author of the international bestselling Kennedy Boys, Saven, and True Calling series’.
Siobhan’s family will tell you she’s a little bit obsessive when it comes to reading and writing, and they aren’t wrong. She can rarely be found without her trusty Kindle, a paperback book, or her laptop somewhere close at hand.
Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Siobhan forged a successful corporate career in human resource management.
She resides in the Garden County of Ireland with her husband and two sons.
Not every love story begins with a fiery explosion of lust.
Some are tiny embers of hope that smoulder slowly until the stars align…
I’d been living in a bubble.
It was meant to protect me from the things in life that hurt.
I could live, I could laugh, but at least I didn’t have to love.
Loving was dangerous and I would never do it again.
It was working just fine, until the bubble burst.
It let in danger.
It let in light.
It let in…him.
Unknowingly I’d been living in the dark, feeling my way.
He filled my world with starlight.
He showed me how to move on to the next level.
He made me feel again.
I thought the wounds from the past would never fully heal,
But perhaps they only heal when the time is right.
Sometimes you just have to thank your lucky scars.
This is the first book I have ever read by Kerry. While I have heard of her past books (a few are on my TBR list), I have never had the chance to read any. So I was extremely grateful to be the given the chance to read Lucky Scars and I thoroughly enjoyed this book – way more than I anticipated.
I have to admit that I got from this story is totally different than what I had anticipated and I am very happy with that. The setting was nothing like I read before and the characters were very unique in their own rights.
“I’m just afraid our scars will break us.”
Bea and Ziggy are two individuals who have been dealt shit hands in life. While they have moved forward in their lives, they are stills stagnant in life in other ways. Watching these two grow from friends to lovers was amazing. They are both broken souls who needed to heal on their own but also needed a bright light to awake them again. While there were some instances that I felt were a little too juvenile for their ages, it did not hurt the overall telling of their story.
“I thought I had captured him, but maybe he was setting me free.”
The story flowed easily and the writing was beautiful. The characters were not too complex and I enjoyed them all. While I may not have felt that real deep emotional attachment the whole way through like I have others, I still thoroughly enjoyed the book, felt the emotions of the characters and loved the ending. I would definitely recommend it to others.
AUTHOR BIO
London born indie author, iPhone addict & general ray of sunshine! Kerry writes: sometimes sweet, sometimes not, often funny, always hot, real romance, dirty romcoms and other such smut.
Not every love story begins with a fiery explosion of lust.
Some are tiny embers of hope that smoulder slowly until the stars align…
I’d been living in a bubble.
It was meant to protect me from the things in life that hurt.
I could live, I could laugh, but at least I didn’t have to love.
Loving was dangerous and I would never do it again.
It was working just fine, until the bubble burst.
It let in danger.
It let in light.
It let in…him.
Unknowingly I’d been living in the dark, feeling my way.
He filled my world with starlight.
He showed me how to move on to the next level.
He made me feel again.
I thought the wounds from the past would never fully heal,
But perhaps they only heal when the time is right.
Sometimes you just have to thank your lucky scars.
…You can read Part 1 of Chapter 1 on Life of a Bookworm’s blog and part 2 at The Literary Gossip…
I prepared myself to deliver those exact words when he turned to me, his smile much more contrite, and said, “I’m so sorry. You must think I’m a real arsehole.” He looked uncomfortable, regretful, making me feel guilty for thinking exactly what he assumed I was thinking. “It’s just that we were ordering the same exact thing, and well…I wanted a chance to introduce myself.”
He politely offered me his hand, which I took because that’s just what you do, even if you’re completely closed down inside. “Jonathan,” he grinned, “and I’m not an arsehole, honestly.”
The grin was disarming, or maybe it was because he’d cranked up the sex-fog again; I couldn’t tell. Either way, I smiled back involuntarily and introduced myself. “Bea.”
“B? What does that stand for?” his perfect forehead wrinkled.
“It’s short for Beatrix,” I told him, cursing my politeness.
“Oh Bea!” he said, elongating the syllable. “I get it. Sorry, I’m not too sharp until I get my coffee.” Another disarming grin shot my way. “It’s nice to meet you, Bea. I haven’t seen you in here before; do you work around here?”
I nodded reluctantly. “Yep, just around the corner. I’m in here every day.” Not that you would recognise me, since usually I’m invisible to the likes of you.
“Hmm. Just goes to prove that I need my coffee before my brain starts functioning properly. I’ve massively dropped the ball if you’ve been in here before and I haven’t noticed you. Please accept my utmost under-caffeinated apologies.”
I struggled not to roll my eyes as I moved forward and took my place at the other end of the counter to wait for my coffee. “Apologies are really not necessary, honestly,” I assured him dismissively. “I blend in. That’s how I like it.”
“I beg to differ,” he said, catching up with me and casually placing his hand against the small of my back, guiding me to a less crowded waiting spot. The sensation was so surprising to me, I almost fell over. I had to take a step away so that I could think straight.
“Blending in implies average,” he smiled disarmingly. “And I assure you, you are far from average.”
Oh Lord, I thought, recovering my wits. It was all bullshit, of course; I was in here every day in my normal clothes, and he had never so much as looked my way. But damn, he was going all out, and I didn’t really know how to handle it. I just about managed to refrain from calling him out on it because, as my assistant Mel, would say, I’d look like the frosty bitch I am.
I’d told her time and time again that the frosty bitch works for me because I do not have time to date, but she’s under the impression that one can simply make time. As if! I started a gaming company four years ago—alone—which was never my intention, and we produced three of the top ten free gaming apps of last year. Worldwide. I have zero personal life, and that’s exactly the way I want it. The frosty bitch defences are necessary, trust me.
Plus, really, who wanted a thirty-five-year-old career gamer girl whose high score is always going to come first?
I looked up at him because I realised he had been silent for as long as I’d been self-justifying.
He kept smiling, all confidence.
“You’re beautiful,” he said like it was the most normal thing in the world.
AUTHOR BIO
London born indie author, iPhone addict & general ray of sunshine! Kerry writes: sometimes sweet, sometimes not, often funny, always hot, real romance, dirty romcoms and other such smut.
When someone needs to disappear, the Chicago mob calls on Joe Rossi. A man who can move without a sound, and kill without a word, they don’t call him the Shadow for nothing.
This time, it’s a New York crime family in need of his skills, but it takes one glimpse of her to make him agree to the job.
Liliana Marcello is every inch a principessa della mafia. Her life has taught her to be wary of strangers, yet her ballet career contradicts everything by putting her on display.
It’s a man with a dark smile and a constantly changing demeanor that makes her feel safe again, but it’s the unknown that holds her back.
It takes one look … One dance … One word … One smile to captivate a man.
And one second to kill a woman because of it, too.
Not all monsters hide in the shadows. How are you supposed to see them coming?
EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT
“Drink?”
Liliana made a face. “You know, I probably shouldn’t.”
“Ah, dancer.”
She shrugged. “Everything needs to be exactly as they want it.”
“As long as one of the things they want isn’t for you to starve yourself, or work yourself dead then … whatever makes you happy, Tesoro.”
“Some girls do.”
“Hmm?”
“Starve themselves down to nothing but sticks in the hopes of being noticed, or whatever the case may be. Their brains and mind get so sick from it all that they don’t even realize how much they need help. It’s sad, really. Scary. Once, I might have been one of those girls, too. Not so much anymore.”
Joe glanced down at the glass of whiskey he had poured, and twirled it a bit making the ice inside click against crystal. “Can’t say that’s a bad thing, though.”
“No, growth is … good.”
“It can be.”
Joe kept his gaze on the whiskey, and Liliana suddenly decided to be a little bold. They weren’t outside where anyone could see, or where her sister was right there to watch and make her feel nervous. There was no stumbling over her words, or feeling skittish.
Really, Joe didn’t make her anything but comfortable.
And a little hot sometimes.
Crossing the distance between them, Liliana came to stand right in front of Joe. It was only then that he finally glanced up from the glass in his hands to give her one of his slow, easy grins. The kind that made her stomach do that weird clenching thing—like butterflies for big girls.
“Hey,” she whispered.
Joe tipped his head to the side a bit. “Hey.”
“Thanks for helping me today.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“Lucky you were there to help me, really.”
Joe quirked a brow high. “Yeah, lucky.”
Before Liliana could over think her next move, and while she was still feeling that bit of boldness in her heart, she stood on her tiptoes, and kissed Joe. It was a fast kiss—nothing too spectacular, and certainly not lingering. Just a sweet press of her lips against his, and then she was pulling away again.
As fast as it had happened, it was over.
Then, she waited.
For him, that was.
Joe’s gaze darted to hers, and she swore she saw a flash of heat behind his eyes. Without ever looking away from her, he set that glass of whiskey to the wet bar, grabbed her waist with a firm grip, and brought her even closer. She didn’t even get the chance to take a breath before he kissed her.
His kiss was not like hers.
Deeper, harder, and hungrier. A teasing stroke of his tongue against the seam of her lips, demanding she open up to him, and let him in. She couldn’t even help herself but to part her lips, and taste him.
Joe pulled her closer still until her chest was molded against his, and she found it hard to take in a decent breath. And only then did he pull away. His hand came up to cup her cheek, and his thumb stroked her cheekbone with a soft touch.
“I mean, if you’re going to kiss me,” he murmured as he pulled away, “then at least really kiss me, Liliana.”
She laughed breathlessly. “I wanted to see …”
“What?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did you see whatever it was?” he asked.
Liliana grinned widely. “I did.”
“And?”
“Would you like to go out with me sometime, Joe?”
ABOUT BETHANY-KRIS
Bethany-Kris is a Canadian author, lover of much, and mother to four young sons, one cat, and two dogs. A small town in Eastern Canada where she was born and raised is where she has always called home. With her boys under her feet, snuggling cat, barking dogs, and a hubby calling over his shoulder, she is nearly always writing something … when she can find the time.
To keep up-to-date with new releases from Bethany-Kris, sign up to her New Release Newsletter here:http://eepurl.com/bf9lzD
Incognito, an all-new standalone new adult romance from USA Today bestselling author Siobhan Davis is LIVE!
A troubled popstar forced into hiding… A sweet small-town girl overcoming tragedy… And the kind of love that only happens once in a lifetime.
Dakota’s dreams of attending Juilliard were shattered the night tragedy struck her family. It’s one year later, and she’s now enrolled at the local university trying to piece her life back together.
Shawn is one of the world’s most famous faces, having lived under a spotlight since his star exploded when he was fourteen. Now jaded by an industry forcing him to perform music he no longer enjoys, he craves normalcy and the opportunity to rediscover his muse. When a crazy stalker gets too close, and death threats start mounting, Shawn’s management team comes up with a plan—one which will allow him to work on his latest album while staying incognito on a middle-American college campus.
Romance is the last thing on Dakota’s mind, but after she crosses paths with a hot, prickly cutie with rock-hard abs and smoldering good looks, she can’t shake him from her thoughts.
Shawn can’t afford to bring any girl into his fucked-up life, but the gorgeous blonde with the sad blue eyes captivates him in a way no girl ever has, and he finds himself falling hard and fast.
But outside forces are conspiring against them.
When danger draws closer, and secrets are revealed, will their love survive?
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.
No women.
