Cover Reveal - Unseen Messages by Pepper Winters

Title: UNSEEN MESSAGES

Author: Pepper Winters

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: Approx Early 2016

Cover Design by Kellie Dennis at Book Cover By Design

 

Blurb

There is a message for everything. From handwritten to verbal, seen and unseen. Messages exist all around us. But what if you don't see? What if you don't understand? What if by ignoring the message, your life is never the same again?  

 

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Prologue

LIFE OFFERS EVERYONE messages. Either unnoticeable or obvious, it’s up to us to pay attention. I didn’t pay attention. Instinct tried to take notice; the world tried to prevent my downfall. I didn’t listen. I’ll forever wonder what would’ve happened if I did pay attention to those messages. Would I have survived? Would I have fallen in love? Would I have been happy? Then again, perhaps just like messages existed, fate existed, too. And no matter what life path we choose, fate always has the final say. I didn’t listen but it doesn’t mean I didn’t live. I just lived a different tale than the one I’d envisioned. Away from my home. Away from my family. Away from everything comfortable and familiar. But I wasn’t alone… I was with him. And he became my entire universe.  

About Pepper Winters

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Pepper Winters is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling Author. She wears many roles. Some of them include writer, reader, sometimes wife. She loves dark, taboo stories that twist with your head. The more tortured the hero, the better, and she constantly thinks up ways to break and fix her characters. Oh, and sex... her books have sex.

She loves to travel and has an amazing, fabulous hubby who puts up with her love affair with her book boyfriends. She's also honoured to wear the IndieReader Badge for being a Top 10 Indie Bestsellers, best BDSM series voted by the SmutClub, and recently signed a two book deal with Grand Central. Her books are currently being translated into numerous languages and will be in bookstores in the near future.  

Author of Bestselling Titles: Monsters in the Dark, Destroyed, & Indebted Series

Purchase Monsters in the Dark: Tears of Tess | Quintessentially Q | Twisted Together

Purchase Destroyed

Purchase Indebted Series: Debt Inheritance | First Debt | Second Debt | Third Debt | Fourth Debt | Final Debt

Purchase Pure Corruption Series: Ruin & Rule | Sin & Suffer

 

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Blog Tour & Review - Burning Ember (Book One Harbinger's Of Chaos) By Darby Briar

Title: Burning Ember (Harbingers Of Chaos #1)

Author: Darby Briar

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: August 27, 2015

Synopsis

The last thing she needs after running from one monster is to land in the lair of the Devil.

Twenty-one year old Ember flees her past with soot on her face, ash in her hair, and a promise. She’ll never let another man take away her freedom and treat her like she means nothing. But that is exactly what Maverick Gunn, leader of the notorious Harbinger’s of Chaos Motorcycle Club seeks to do from the moment his lethal gaze locks on her. He burns her with every look. Every touch. Every word. Ember’s only hope is to convince him she’s nothing like the woman who blackened his soul before he drags her down into the darkness with him.

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Judy Miracle (Wild and Dirty & Wicked Babes Blog)'s review 

5 of 5 stars

This book had me hook....line... and sinker from the very first page. I fell in love not only with the main characters Mav and Ember but also the secondary characters.

Ember has not had an easy life growing up with a mother who never really gave a crap about her or her sister and left when Ember was 16. She dropped out of school worked different jobs to pay the bills and keep a roof over her & her sisters head. Then she met a guy who she fell hard for from the beginning. he ahd money was easy on the eyes, did everything to make her swoon. All too soon she realized he was far from the nice guy she first met. After finally escaping him she meets Mav

Mav.. ooh that man yes hes sexy, broody, dark, and a straight up jack ass a majority of the time. But you realize through the book there is more to him than that and he as well has been through some dark things. He grew up with a perfect family went to school but there was something missing. He met the Harbingers Of Chaos guys and immediately fit. Hes done things and seen things hes not completely proud of one of them was his ex-girlfriend who he thought he loved and she was it for him. He couldn't have been more wrong now 5 years after the end of that relationship hes still holding on to the hate.

Ember makes it even harder on Mav because she has some similarities to Mav's ex. He tries everything to hate her and push her away. But the tension and chemistry between them can only be denied for so long.

Maverick had me wanting to beat the crap out of him numerous of times in this book. Gah that man frustrated me. The plot in this book will have you on the edge of your seat wanting to know their entire back story as well as seeing if Ember is going to last in the MC or if she walks away.

Brilliant writing by Darby cannot wait to read more in this series and get the rest of the MC guys stories. you will want to as well there are still some unanswered club questions at the end of this book!!

 

About The Author

Darby Briar is an American author who loves writing stories about men with broken souls and women who don’t know their own strength. Most of her stories are dreamed up in the early hours of the morning, while driving, or while listening to music. She’s a business woman by day and a wife, mother, writer, and reader the rest of the time. She’s a lover of fiction whether it be a movie or book, but prefers stories with some romance, and ones that include a happy ending. Darby grew up in Utah and still lives in the northern part of the state. She’s married and her and her husband have three adorable kids.

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First Chapter Reveal & Giveaway - Tattooed Hearts(Martha's Way, #3) By Mika Jolie

Title: Tattooed Hearts (Martha's Way, #3)

Author: Mika Jolie

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: June 29, 2015

 

Synopsis

  Being someone’s first love is unforgettable. Being their last is immeasurable. Claire Peters should be on top of the world. She owns the radio waves and has a budding movie career. But her heart longs to be rooted. Ten years ago, she fled Martha's Vineyard to pursue her dream and to make something of herself. But there’s still a void. After a decade of running, she returns to the island hoping to find her happiness with the man she’s loved all her life. When a tragic event shatters Dr. Forrest Desvareaux’ well-balanced world, the Vineyard’s hometown good guy discovers everything in his life is based on lies. Angry and betrayed, he turns to Claire - the one woman who has indelibly marked him. Is it possible to run back to the person who broke you? Forever linked, Forrest and Claire are an unending continuum. But she’s a wildflower and Forrest’s roots run deep on the Vineyard. Can they accept home is not a place but a feeling.

Chapter One

“One of the hardest things in life is having words in your heart that you can’t utter.” James Earl Jones Vineyard Haven, Martha’s Vineyard, thirteen years ago… Claire ran her tongue over her lips, checking their current state. A soft, smooth, and slightly-moist mouth was ideal for kissing. Hers didn’t feel chapped or dry, but to be on the safe side, she swiped the shea butter pomegranate chapstick over her lips, pressed them together then blew into her hands for a breath check. Minty fresh. Perfect. The girls she knew were experts in the art of kissing. It embarrassed her to admit at fifteen, she hadn’t kissed anyone. But they didn't pass judgment. Rather, her friends had given her pointers and informed her fresh breath was essential for a French kiss. For that reason, she managed to avoid garlic, onions, milk, and her favorite, corn. The tasty grain was on the Cosmopolitan list of “What Not to Eat” before a kiss. Last thing she wanted was Forrest pushing her away because of corn residue in her mouth. Her gaze swept over Herring Creek Farm. The August sun shone on green everywhere. The edge of woodland sloped down gently to a bramble-filled ditch, overgrown with cow parsley. Beech trees lined the fence to the north, their overhanging boughs provided dapple shade for the horses that stood idle, flicking away flies with their tails. Chirping birds and humming bees filled the air with the sounds of their daily duties. Male laughter rose as Jason, Adam, and Blake tossed a football between them in the yard. They rarely let her wander away from their view, not that she had a wild streak or anything, but they were Alphas and they hovered. Always uncertain of what the band of brothers might throw at her, she didn’t dare get too close to the boys. They loved to throw questions at her or worse, ask her to participate in their football tossing game, just so they could play the big brother role. Big brothers tended to be overbearing. Phooey! She wasn’t even related to any of them. Her gaze swiveled to Forrest. He stood not too far away in cargo Khakis and a fading Transformers T-shirt, throwing tennis balls to his father’s two black Labs. Warmth spread inside her chest, a sensation that was now synonymous with Forrest. The sight of him held an intriguing allure. Tall, athletic, with tousled dark brown hair that flopped over his eyes. Woven leather bracelets encircled his left wrist, drawing attention to the lean, hard muscles of his arms. All that football and skiing had done wonders for his amazing frame. His face wasn’t too shabby either–sharp, angled jaw, full, firm lips that curved into a proud yet pleasant smile, and a nose that was just a little too big. The slight imperfection only made him more appealing. Women often stopped in their tracks and stared at him. Claire noticed the admirers every time, but Forrest seemed oblivious to the sudden pauses and clandestine stares. When he did bestow them with a glance, his fans overcompensated with a weak smile or a blush, a dead giveaway of their admiration. He always took it in stride, never flaunted, and without a trace of arrogance. He was modest and unaware of the chaos he caused, this made the girls fall for him all the more. According to the few conversations she overheard between Jason and the others, teenage boys were horny all the time. They thought about sex every second of the day. If the wind hit them just right, they would get excited. Not Forrest. He thought with the head on his shoulders, not the one south of his waist. He was different that way and stood apart from the others. Despite the opportunities that came his way, he dated very little. She once overheard him telling the other guys he was a one-woman man who prized genuineness and thoughtful conversation above lipstick and high heels. He was handsome, breathtaking. Her racing pulse and breathlessness proved it. However, what she really loved about him was his inner beauty. From the way he cared for the animals on the farm, to his warmth with everyone on the island, and his commitment to his family and friends. He was eighteen–if a day older–and he stole her heart without even knowing it was in his pocket. For the last two years, these new and strange feelings often left her befuddled. They were too strong, too intense. Physically and mentally, she reacted to him in a way she never had with any boy. The slightest touch, whether it was tugging on her hair or fixing her backpack, sent her heart spiraling out of control. On days they weren’t around each other, she missed him. When she saw him, heard his name, happiness filled her. At night, his face was always the last thing she’d see; her stomach would backflip and she’d tingle all over before drifting into a dream where they held hands and kissed. Now in a few days he’d leave the island and head to Boston for college. Her heart screeched in anguish, its flesh lay bare in the raucous collision between reality and fantasy. She had to kiss him. And for that she needed complete privacy. She studied the stoned-faced, two story red barn with an old, worn-down tractor collecting dust next to it. She glanced at the boys, still lost in whatever they were talking about. Probably all the college girls they would be meeting when they arrived on campus. Which meant Forrest would be meeting college girls, too-knowledgeable, sophisticated girls living away from their parents, who no doubt would be on him as quick as lightning. Panic set in. Fear. Her chance with Forrest was slipping through her fingers. She needed to kiss him and let him feel everything in her heart. Here goes nothing. Stealthily she moved around the farm and hauled open the unwieldy door, tired hinges creaking like a testy old man. She paused and waited for one of the boys to call after her. When they didn’t, she rushed inside, closed the door behind her, and sucked in a deep breath, calming her nerves. A puff of the sweet, musty summer's straw odor pressed into her nose. The barn had recently undergone extensive renovations by Luc and Marjorie, Forrest’s parents. Old flooring was removed and replaced with a new tongue and groove floor. Claire walked passed the stalls with rubber mats and hay racks to the corner away from the windows...in case the boys peeked around. She dug inside her second-hand hobo bag for the ripe plum carefully picked from her mother’s kitchen. Her friends had told her to find a nice piece of soft fruit that tasted good. Tilting her head to one side, she bit a mouth-sized hole into the plum. The taut skin of the fruit was tangy, a complete contrast to the sweet juice that rolled down the side of her mouth. With a flick of her tongue at the corner of her lip, she licked away the sweet nectar. It was delicious, just like how she’d imagined Forrest would taste. She went in for another bite. Her eyes lulled shut as she drowned in the fantasy of kissing Forrest. She pushed her tongue into the flesh of the plum a little more and surrendered to the sheer pleasure of experimenting. “Claire.” Startled, she jumped back and almost toppled over. The plum slipped from her hands onto the ground. Oh. My. God. Utter humiliation. Forrest saw her kissing a freakin’ plum. She stood frozen, silently praying he’d turn and walk out of the barn, instead she listened to his steps closing in on her until they stood facing each other, barely inches apart. He picked up the plum, brushed off the collected dirt, and examined it for a second or two. His eyebrows knitted close together. “Were you kissing a plum?” “No.” She tried to grab the fruit from him, but the big goof was already six feet tall and built like a quarterback compared to her small, five-feet-two-inch frame. He lifted his arm out of her reach. “Then what were you doing?” Pretending I’m kissing you. Pathetic. “Um…nothing.” His gaze searched her face. Claire’s first reaction was to make a run for it, but then Jason would think one of his best buds did something to her. Mortified, she lowered her head and focused on the floor. “Claire, look at me.” His voice was low, with a trace of huskiness and authority. There was no rescue from this embarrassment. Pure absolute torture. She coughed and pushed her hair back behind her ear, even though it was already there. He caught her chin and raised her face, forcing her to look at him. His eyes were gray, not a dull, unremarkable gray like that of concrete or stone, but a combination of misty gray and blue like the ocean at dusk. They were sensual, alluring, and warm. They beckoned her to reveal her deepest secrets, and to lose herself in their warmth. “Who is the guy?” A thick fog dampened her ability to think. “What?” “The guy you want to kiss. Your crush.” His eyes searched her face for answers. “Who is he?” You. She wanted to scream. Instead her heart tripped and stalled. “Claire, who’s the guy?” His voice racked her brain as she scrambled for a name of any fifteen-year-old boy from her class. But they lived on an island where everyone knew everyone’s business. If she was brave enough to lie—for the record she wasn’t—the boy would have to live his life in fear with her four protectors breathing down his throat. “I don’t have a crush.” He smiled. “So I didn’t just catch you making out with a plum?” She turned hastily and tried to run off, but mortification followed. Forrest stepped in front of her, blocking her escape. “Have you kissed your crush?” “No.” She tried to walk past him. He inched closer to the door. “I need to go,” she said and hoped she sounded annoyed and angry. Unfazed, he made no attempt to move. “Have you kissed anyone?” Something in his voice grabbed her attention. It was low and gravely as if he cared whether or not she’d been kissed before. Chin up, she stared into the eyes that had captured her heart, caught the twinkle of amusement, and her stomach flopped in disappointment. Silly of her to think Forrest might actually look at her and see an actual girl with feelings instead of Jason’s shadow. As if that wasn’t bad enough, he was one of the Vineyard’s elite. She was the half African-American, half-Japanese, flat-chested girl who lived in the same house with his best friend. Not that he was ever rude just… indifferent. Unlike the others, he never went out of his way for her. Once or twice, she’d caught him looking her way, brows knitted, an annoyed look on his face. No, never rude. But his opinion of her was clear. She was the little girl who followed his best friend everywhere, a nuisance, plain and simple. Humiliation quickly turned to anger. She planted her legs wide and crossed her arms over chest. “How did you know I was in here?” He shrugged. “You weren’t outside.” “I could have been by the lake.” The corners of his mouth lifted up, then his smile widened into a grin “I saw you come in.” “You were watching me.” His eyes narrowed. “We all watch over you. That’s what we do.” Not exactly what she had hoped to hear. Realizing she stood no chance to win this banter, she quickly opted for plan B. The truth. What she wanted most in the world. To be kissed by him. She edged further into the room and leaned her elbows on the window sill, her denim shorts brushing against the dusty wall. “Fine. You were right,” she started in a low voice, her back to him. “I was practicing kissing because I’ve never been kissed.” “Go on.” “Cosmopolitan has a step-by-step guide on how to practice kissing and I was following the instructions.” She paused and inspected her battered red Converse, building courage to spill everything. “But it also says the best practice is with another person.” She turned to look at him. “Will you kiss me, Forrest?” “No,” he answered without a beat. The swift blow of rejection knocked every wisp of air from her lungs. Claire struggled to inhale, to exhale, to do anything. Stunned and disoriented, she swiftly turned her attention back to the window. The sun stung her eyes, they watered. She quickly batted away escaped tears. “Claire,” he said, his voice a bit more soothing. “You’re so young.” “I’m fifteen,” she said in a desperate voice caught between frustration and crying. “And I’m eighteen.” She whipped around and looked straight at him. “We’re only three years apart.” He smiled. “Right now, it feels like ten.” They stood, staring at each other in a companionable silence, broken only when Forrest let out a deep breath. “I’m leaving for college in a few days.” Although it was summer, the words chilled her spine. She needed to kiss him and let him see, feel everything she felt inside but could find no words to express. “What if I wasn’t fifteen?” “Still no.” The rejection, although gentler this time, still cut deep into her heart. “Am I that unappealing to you?” He dragged his fingers through his hair. “Claire.” She held up a hand. “It doesn’t matter. Most of the boys here are trying to figure out what to make of me. An African-American-Asian girl. Is she pretty or just weird-looking?” She shrugged with indifference, but deep down the quick glances here and there bothered her. “What do you care what others think? You’re beautiful.” An equal mixture of pure ecstasy and excruciating pain made her heart go pit-a-pat. “You think I’m beautiful?” He nodded. “Definitely.” “So why won’t you kiss me?” With quick strides, he came to stand next to her and gently stroked her cheek with the pad of his thumb. “You should be kissing boys your own age.” She looked into his eyes and her heart swelled from the emotion bottled inside. Feelings even she didn’t understand, let alone try to express. He gave her a quick smile then walked back to the door. The bitter taste of regret stung her tongue like a rusty razor blade. The moment she had planned, spent so many sleepless nights imagining, had slipped from her hands. He opened the door and turned to look at her once more. “When you do kiss your crush, I hope it’s everything you imagined it to be.” He smiled—a sweet, sexy smile that got her all flustered—and then he walked out of the barn.   * * * *   Rain lashed down on Claire in cold, icy pellets bit into her skin. Wet grass and dirt mushed under her shoes, slashing up her legs and staining the skirt of her dress. Focusing on Forrest, she quickened her pace. She had fallen asleep watching her favorite soap opera. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. She’d almost missed him. “Forrest,” she called after him, heart in her throat, fearful he would enter his parents waiting pick-up truck and drive away forever. “Forrest,” she screamed his name again, a dozen needles dancing in her stomach. She stopped, her breathing stuttered in her lungs, exhausted from fear. Please look at me. He slowed his steps and after a second or two he turned. “Claire,” he said, squinting. Her heart leaped with joy. She caught him just before his parents drove away to catch the ferry to Falmouth. Smiling, she ran forward, closing the distance between them, and said through ragged breaths, “You’re leaving.” “I know.” He looked over his shoulder at his parents’ truck. “What are you doing? It’s pouring.” She launched herself at him, strong arms clamped around her waist. “I love you,” she whispered and squeezed her eyes shut. For a minute neither moved, time stopped. They stood still, holding on to each other, their bodies drenched from the downpour. She shivered, not from the coldness of the rain but the string of electricity shooting through her veins. Her heart, like a fly in a cobweb with nothing to do, waited for his laughter to confirm how ridiculous she sounded. But it didn’t come. Sucking in a breath, she waited a little longer. Except for the huge raindrops splattering with charged energy, there was absolute silence. Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked into the depth of his gray ones. A fluttery feeling took over her body. “Forrest.” He swept back her matted hair, and his lips cracked into a smile. “I’m your crush.” She shook her head. A crush was the lowest level of romance. Her feelings ran beyond that. “It’s not a crush.” “Claire, you’re fifteen.” The world around her started collapsing. “I’m in love with you,” she said emphatically. “It’s an infatuation.” No. No. This was bigger than an intense, naïve, adolescent admiration. She searched his face for any hint that just maybe deep down he believed her, only to come up short. Empty. Nothing. Feeling weak and hopeless, her shoulders slumped. She was losing this battle. “You’re going to have sex in college.” He let out a heavy sigh. “Claire.” “I know about sex.” “Jesus, Claire, if you’re having sex with some douchebag…” “I’m not having sex,” she cried, fighting back the tears threatening to spill. “But I know what it is. I don’t want you doing it with girls in college.” She grabbed his arms. “Please wait for me.” “What makes you think I haven’t had sex?” Raindrops, hard and thick, hit her face like bullets. With a quick brush of her hand, she swept matted hair away from her eyes. “I overheard you telling the guys you were waiting for that person.” She was making a fool of herself but at this point what did it matter. “You want it to be special…your first time.” She swallowed the panic choking her. “I want to be your first, Forrest, and you mine. I love you.” He looked at her for a long moment. His eyes became shadowed. Hope bubbled in her stomach. And then he sighed, took a step back and broke their connection. Her heart dropped all the way to her toes. “This is a crush. It will pass,” he said quietly. “No.” He owned her heart. Forever. It didn’t matter she was only fifteen. Some things only happened once in a lifetime and had nothing to do with age. “Promise me, you’ll at least try to wait for me.” “I have to go. I’m sorry, Claire.” He touched her face and stared at her for a long beat. “One day you’ll look back at this and laugh.” “No,” she choked. “Yes.” Their gazes locked. The pitiless rain continued thrashing her skin. Forrest took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. “I have to go.” He released his grip and walked to his parents’ truck. For a brief moment, he hesitated and looked back. Hope stirred low in her belly, then he tossed his backpack in the truck and shut the door. Nausea pained her stomach, heart and chest. She had waited for this moment to come forward with her deepest feelings and bring to life those three words she’d been harboring. She fought and lost. Her world collapsed. Emotionally bankrupt, she stood in dazed isolation and took the onslaught of the chilled rain. Her wet dress hugged her, its weight heavy and oppressing. With blind eyes to the world, she stared at the shadow of the pick-up taillights until they faded. It was hard to tell when she started crying and even more difficult to discern between her tears and the rain as she turned her face to the sky above. Her eyelids fluttered to deflect the water, she wanted to move, to run, but her legs were weak and incapable of doing anything. So she stood in the pelting rain and let her body and mind drown in the cold, wet afternoon.

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About The Author

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Author of contemporary sensual, empowered romance, with fun relatable characters. Member of Secret Cravings Publishing. I live in New Jersey with what I often refer to as my Happy Chaos or my three men, which comprise of my husband and our two energizer bunnies. When I do have time to breathe, I like to run, hike with my camera at hand, and work on my gardening and knitting skills. For latest news on my current WIP, interviews with fellow authors, or just to see what I’m up to, check out my blog: http://mikajolie.com/ While there, sign up for my newsletter for latest news and giveaways. No spamming.  

The Martha's Way Series

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Blog Tour & Giveaway - Lost Prelude (Alexander & Maya, #1) by Ella Maise

Title: Lost Prelude (Alexander & Maya, #1)

Author: Ella Maise

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Release Date: April 14, 2015

 

Blurb

My name is Maya, and I'm not the same girl I was a month ago. There is an emptiness I carry around in my chest now. A broken heart caused by grief. There are also dark nights where I have trouble breathing as I feel the heavy weight of loss rushing through my veins, painful moments where I can remember my entire being scream in agony as I held onto my father's cold, lifeless hand. Then there is always a hero to every story, isn't there? A hero who I despised from the moment he opened his mouth. His name is Alexander. He is my inevitable I never expected to find. The one my broken heart leads me to. His existence, his touch, everything he did to make my pain bearable will leave a mark on me forever. Yet, I know that when I'm gone, he'll only remember me as a fading memory. 

    

Excerpt

A knock on my door startled me out of my thoughts, and I hesitated. Hearing another insistent knock just a few seconds later, I made sure my towel was secure around my body and went to answer the door. As I peeked out from the small opening, I saw Alexander standing just a few inches away from me. Our eyes met, and my pulse quickened. As I was still dripping wet, the cold air coming from the hallway caused me to shiver. His eyes broke away from mine, taking in my body from head to toe. I tried to cover my half-naked body behind the door, but it was pointless. “What do you want?” I asked, annoyed that he was doing the silent thing and just staring. I heard the elevators ping open down the hallway, and his attention shifted from me for a second. Being done with the scrutinizing look he was giving me, I started to close the door on his face, but his hand stopped me from pushing it all the way. With his next forward move, I had to let go of the door and take a step back as he strode into my room. Into me. “What the hell—” His hand shot out, and he gently grabbed me at the back of my neck and pulled my body toward him as his lips made contact with mine. He took another step into me, and I found my body plastered to his. Putting both of my hands on his chest, I tried to push him off, but he urged my lips apart with his, and his tongue sneaked into my mouth, forcing me to respond to his kiss. Because when he looked like he did, how could you not? As my body slackened against him, his sudden kiss turned into something different, something more and unexpected. It was hard, yet still gentle and slow—something I wouldn’t expect from a jerk like him. He looked more like someone who would take what he wanted the way he wanted it. Not like that would have been a hardship, but still. He splayed his warm hand at the small of my back and slowly pulled my lower body into his. I grabbed the lapels of his suit, pulling him down to me, leaning into the kiss as I melted around his body. “What was that?” he whispered against my wet lips. “What?” I muttered, dazed. Before I could realize what I had done with whom, he groaned and gently pushed me back against the open door, his hand still protecting the back of my head. Caressing my lips with his tongue, he claimed my mouth in another drawn-out kiss. A mind-numbing kiss. A kiss that made me lose my judgment. A throat cleared behind him, next to him, somewhere—and the moment was lost. 

  

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About the Author

 

  I'm an avid reader. Therefore, a big dreamer. I love nothing more than to escape real life to find those very few magical moments in a book. I love how it has the power of stealing your worries away, putting a smile on your face, and of course sometimes making you crush on fictional characters. I can't even begin to describe how exciting it is to give life to new characters and fall for them. It's definitely a different kind of addiction. I'm still searching for my own happy ending. Until that happens, I'll live vicariously through my own characters.

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Release Blitz & Giveaway - Still Into You (Never Over You Series Book 2) By Ryleigh Andrews

Title: Still Into You (Never Over You Series Book 2)

Author: Ryleigh Andrews

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: April 21, 2015

Cover Designer: Naila Qamber Design

Cover Photography: Perrywinkle Photography , MH Photography

Synopsis

What happens when you continually run from your demons? When Mia watched Ethan walk out of her life, she did what she did best—she ran—ran from the only person who ever made her feel safe; home. They work even harder to try and find you. He was her everything and she let him slip away. And when they do … they’ll come at you full force, guns blazing. Hitting rock bottom forced Mia to stop. Now she needed to dig herself out. Figuring out how to do that required help, maybe a plan. She had to face those demons. Not an easy task when she spent her entire life running from them. Would Ethan still be there for Mia after all was said and done? Or would she find that he had moved on? Or would he still be into her?  

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Excerpt

With her lips above his stomach, her tears tried to make an appearance, but she fought hard, not wanting them to ruin this moment. His hand pushed aside her fallen hair, tucking it behind her ear as he caressed her cheek and then her mouth. She kissed each finger as they slowly crossed her lips. He rolled them over and stared down at her. Lowering his head, he lightly kissed each closed eye, causing a lone tear to slip down her cheek, puddling by her earlobe. “Open your eyes, suga,” he beckoned her, situating himself between her legs. She felt him hard against her center, waiting, yet she kept her eyes shut. “Look at me,” he ordered again before kissing her lips. Mia finally opened her eyes, focusing on his as he slowly entered her. She couldn’t help it—her eyelids slid closed at how good it felt to have him inside of her. Ethan stopped moving and held her chin between his thumb and index finger. “No, keep them open. Look at me,” he repeated as he pushed himself all the way inside with one swift stroke. “Ah, fuck,” she said on an exhale of breath, loving the way he filled her so completely, so perfectly.

About The Author

During the day, Ryleigh is an analyst, but even then, she’s writing, sneakily crafting scenes on post-it notes. She's been told she's a bit of a geek...some say nerd. She'll agree to it all. She loves music. It's been a force in her life for as long as she can remember. Her love of Star Wars and superheroes has probably been going on just as long...see, this is where the geek/nerd thing comes into play. But, most of all, Ryleigh loves the written word. She's been writing for a long time. Her first story came to her during one of her history classes. She wrote it in the margins of her notebook in teeny tiny letters so no one knew that she was writing a book instead of taking notes on 16th Century Europe. She currently lives in Chicago, Illinois, with her husband and son, along with her Siberian Husky, Mick Jagger, and her cat, Winston Churchill.

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Release Blitz & Giveaway - Instigation (The Clandestine Trilogy, #1) by Tessa Teevan

Instigation, Book 1 in The Clandestine Affairs Trilogy

Genre: Contemporary Romance/ Romantic Suspense—Full Length Novel

Author: Tessa Teevan

Release Day: April 20, 2015

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Blurb

Breaking up is hard to do.  Three years after her life changed forever, Gabriella Latham finally has it all. Killer job [if working for her boyfriend counts]. Killer closet [even if she doesn't technically own any of it]. Killer boyfriend [who refuses to let her leave him, even when she tries]. Unfortunately for her, the last part isn't hyperbole. She just doesn't know it yet. Adrian Morningstar was a dream come true. No one had ever loved her more, and for the first time, in longer than she could remember, she was no longer alone. He was the Prince Charming to her Cinderella, until suddenly he became the Beast from whom she could not escape. Until him. When Rafe Matthews is hired to oversee the guest home construction of one of the most powerful businessmen in the country, he finally has his in. Nothing will get in the way of what he sets out to do.  Until her. Watching from the shadows, he's drawn to the beautiful, isolated woman of the house. His curiosity is piqued and he has to have her. She may be taken by the boss, but that's not enough to stop him. Or her. Nothing is quite as it seems, and this is only the beginning. Passions ignite. Tempers flare. Secrets kill.  

 

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Excerpt

A devilish, almost villainous grin graced his lips as his eyes filled with amusement. “Oh, Gabriella, you’ve no idea,” he said. “I shouldn’t do this. I shouldn’t be here, but I can’t seem to help myself.” His words caught me off guard as his hands gripped my hips and he pushed me backwards until the brick of the wall bit into the skin of my lower back. He leaned down until his lips were dangerously close to mine. My insides quivered, and my heart leaped into my throat. For an entire week, I’d been waiting for his hands to be on me again, and now that he was right there, I knew I’d die if he didn’t touch me. Kiss me. Take me home and ravish me like he had that first night. “Adrian,” I whispered, surprised at the breathy, sultry tone of my voice. God, it’d only been a week and I was already dangerously addicted to him. His eyes gleamed as if he could read my mind, and I wondered if this has been his plan all along. To give me a taste, a perfect sneak peek at what being his would be like, and then take it away, only to keep showing up to tease me. To dangle the proverbial carrot on the string that was too high for me to get a taste or even the slightest nibble. It would suffice only for a moment, but it would be just enough to keep me from going insane. He was a deranged Pavlov and I was his little dog, salivating and panting, wanting him, that torturous bell ringing over and over again, but instead of giving me what I wanted, he kept it too far out of reach.  

Author Bio

I'm a twenty something book junkie who is also obsessed with sports. Bengals, Buckeyes, Reds are my teams! I work for the government during the day, hang out with Air National Guard on the weekends, and have been married to my own book boyfriend for over seven years. We currently live right outside of Dayton, OH with our two cats. If I’m not writing or looking through tons of photos of hot men, all in the name of research, then you can probably find me curled up with my Kindle, ignoring the rest of the world. I love my sports almost as much as I love my books. My other obsessions include red wine, hot men, country music, and all things Grace Potter.  

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Blitz - Lost Prelude (Alexander & Maya, #1) by Ella Maise & Giveaway!

Title: Lost Prelude (Alexander & Maya, #1)

Author: Ella Maise

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Release Date: April 14, 2015

 

Blurb

My name is Maya, and I'm not the same girl I was a month ago. There is an emptiness I carry around in my chest now. A broken heart caused by grief. There are also dark nights where I have trouble breathing as I feel the heavy weight of loss rushing through my veins, painful moments where I can remember my entire being scream in agony as I held onto my father's cold, lifeless hand. Then there is always a hero to every story, isn't there? A hero who I despised from the moment he opened his mouth. His name is Alexander. He is my inevitable I never expected to find. The one my broken heart leads me to. His existence, his touch, everything he did to make my pain bearable will leave a mark on me forever. Yet, I know that when I'm gone, he'll only remember me as a fading memory.    

Excerpt

My hands trembling on his hard chest, I opened my mouth, and the words just tumbled out before I could stop myself. “Maybe at another time this could’ve turned into something.” “I believe it’s already something, Maya.” “Yeah…” He was right. It was already something. But it wasn’t something that would be enough. Not for me. Not when he had someone else in his heart. Not when I couldn’t be the one he needed, wanted. Craved even. “Maybe it could have been something more, then.” “Yes. Maybe,” he murmured and brushed a gentle kiss on both of my closed eyelids. The act was so tender that it hurt my heart, and I was forced to close my eyes again. Tighter this time. “Tomorrow, I’ll get over you, Alexander Ross. As soon as I’m on that plane, I’ll get over you,” I said breathlessly. His hands froze on my thighs, and I opened my eyes. He couldn’t even meet my gaze. “What else would you like to do tonight?” he asked instead. I forced a smile on my lips. We had reached the end of my dream. “I think I’m done for the night. I have to get up early tomorrow.” I got up from his lap—ignoring the hands that were trying to hold me down. The frown I came to love so much appeared on his face again. I was going to miss everything about this man.

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About the Author

 

  I'm an avid reader. Therefore, a big dreamer. I love nothing more than to escape real life to find those very few magical moments in a book. I love how it has the power of stealing your worries away, putting a smile on your face, and of course sometimes making you crush on fictional characters. I can't even begin to describe how exciting it is to give life to new characters and fall for them. It's definitely a different kind of addiction. I'm still searching for my own happy ending. Until that happens, I'll live vicariously through my own characters.

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Release Blitz - Better With Sugar (Cranefly Romance #1) By Katrina Kirkpatrick & Giveaway!

 

Title: Better With Sugar (Cranefly Romance #1)

Author: Katrina Kirkpatrick

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: April 10, 2015

Synopsis

War veteran Ethan Quill's horse doesn't like people. And that's okay because neither does he. Broken by their pasts and shunned by the community, they keep to themselves on Ethan's rundown farm. And then along comes a brown-eyed baker who turns their world upside down. Heiress by birth, optimist by heart, Elly Baptiste has left Manhattan behind and picked up her spatula in Cranefly, a quaint Adirondack town. She's looking for love and finds the promise of something unexpectedly delicious with the local recluse. But how does a woman who’s running from life find happily ever with a man who’s hiding from it? Elly knows sugar. Ethan knows war. She knows sweet. He knows defeat. When put to the test, can they prove that love and life really are better with sugar?    

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Excerpt

"I am not crazy." She scratched again. "Really? Because you seem pretty damn crazy. You shaved me—you took my jeans—" "Borrowed. I borrowed them." "You keep your mother in the fridge." Her fingernails dug at her back, irritation only making her itch worse. "It's a jar of yeast!" "That you call your mother! Why are you scratching like a stray dog? Just what exactly is the problem back there?" "I don't know!" Elly snapped and tried to stop. The slow crawl of movement tickled her again and she froze. There was something in there. Not on her. But in the robe. She prayed she was imagining it and tried to speak. Her mouth flapped twice, no sound came out. "What? What is it?" Her fingers knotted together, she forced in two deep breaths of air. It moved again. She wasn't imagining it. There was something in there. Oh, God. There was a spider in her robe. Elly raised her gaze to Ethan, begging him to understand what she had to do. "Are you alright?" He took a half step towards her. And Elly did the only thing she could do. She threw her robe off and leaped naked at Ethan Quill.  

About The Author

A love of language led Katrina Kirkpatrick to a degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of Illinois, a love of her babies led her to the illustrious title of Stay-At-Home-Mommy, and a never-ending, lifelong delight of storytelling led her to pursue publication. She infuses love with laughter because love might make the world go round, but laughter lights up the scenery.

She has two daughters who call her Mommy Queen, two dogs, two cats, lots of chickens and a husband happy to call this chaos home. They reside in central Illinois.

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Excerpt Reveal - Lost Prelude (Alexander & Maya, #1) by Ella Maise & Giveaway!

Title: Lost Prelude (Alexander & Maya, #1)

Author: Ella Maise

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Release Date: April 14, 2015

 

Blurb

My name is Maya, and I'm not the same girl I was a month ago. There is an emptiness I carry around in my chest now. A broken heart caused by grief. There are also dark nights where I have trouble breathing as I feel the heavy weight of loss rushing through my veins, painful moments where I can remember my entire being scream in agony as I held onto my father's cold, lifeless hand. Then there is always a hero to every story, isn't there? A hero who I despised from the moment he opened his mouth. His name is Alexander. He is my inevitable I never expected to find. The one my broken heart leads me to. His existence, his touch, everything he did to make my pain bearable will leave a mark on me forever. Yet, I know that when I'm gone, he'll only remember me as a fading memory.    

Excerpt

A knock on my door startled me out of my thoughts, and I hesitated. Hearing another insistent knock just a few seconds later, I made sure my towel was secure around my body and went to answer the door. As I peeked out from the small opening, I saw Alexander standing just a few inches away from me. Our eyes met, and my pulse quickened. As I was still dripping wet, the cold air coming from the hallway caused me to shiver. His eyes broke away from mine, taking in my body from head to toe. I tried to cover my half-naked body behind the door, but it was pointless. “What do you want?” I asked, annoyed that he was doing the silent thing and just staring. I heard the elevators ping open down the hallway, and his attention shifted from me for a second. Being done with the scrutinizing look he was giving me, I started to close the door on his face, but his hand stopped me from pushing it all the way. With his next forward move, I had to let go of the door and take a step back as he strode into my room. Into me. “What the hell—” His hand shot out, and he gently grabbed me at the back of my neck and pulled my body toward him as his lips made contact with mine. He took another step into me, and I found my body plastered to his. Putting both of my hands on his chest, I tried to push him off, but he urged my lips apart with his, and his tongue sneaked into my mouth, forcing me to respond to his kiss. Because when he looked like he did, how could you not? As my body slackened against him, his sudden kiss turned into something different, something more and unexpected. It was hard, yet still gentle and slow—something I wouldn’t expect from a jerk like him. He looked more like someone who would take what he wanted the way he wanted it. Not like that would have been a hardship, but still. He splayed his warm hand at the small of my back and slowly pulled my lower body into his. I grabbed the lapels of his suit, pulling him down to me, leaning into the kiss as I melted around his body. “What was that?” he whispered against my wet lips. “What?” I muttered, dazed. Before I could realize what I had done with whom, he groaned and gently pushed me back against the open door, his hand still protecting the back of my head. Caressing my lips with his tongue, he claimed my mouth in another drawn-out kiss. A mind-numbing kiss. A kiss that made me lose my judgment. A throat cleared behind him, next to him, somewhere—and the moment was lost.  

   

Guest Post from Author Ella Maise

My Playlist For Certain Scenes in Lost Prelude

There is one song in Lost Prelude that plays a heavy role in the book, which I will mention just in a sec, but there are also other songs I listened to as I was writing it. And somehow the music just fits into the story. Even if the words don’t exactly match with it, the feeling I get is simply perfect for certain scenes. And I wanted to shared them with you so if you decide to give Lost Prelude a chance, maybe you’ll add to the experience with these songs. * Maurice Ravel – Pavane pour une infante défunte (Piano Solo) This piece is seriously breathtaking, and it plays a huge role in the story. While I can’t pinpoint a specific scene for this one, I do mention it in the story. At least whenever Maya is listening to it. All I can say is, it is a special one for her father. If you’ve never listened to it, you are missing out. * Until The Ribbon Breaks – One Way Or Another I LOVE this song. I loved it before I even wrote Lost Prelude, and I definitely LOVE how it is the perfect song for the end scene. I’m sure if you read it, you’ll agree with me. It’s an awesome cover for the classic One Way Or Another. Everytime I listen to it I get goosebumps. * Snowhill – Be My Baby Did you hear this version? I know I keep saying the same thing over and over, but this one is beautiful too. And this one works great for the scene where Maya is with Alexander in his penthouse. And it’s from Alexander to Maya ... I adore every word in this song. * Sam Smith – Not in That Way Okay, I have to admit that this one isn’t specifically for a scene, but it is an awesome song. And it kind of gives you an insight of how Maya is feeling.  

About the Author

 

  I'm an avid reader. Therefore, a big dreamer. I love nothing more than to escape real life to find those very few magical moments in a book. I love how it has the power of stealing your worries away, putting a smile on your face, and of course sometimes making you crush on fictional characters. I can't even begin to describe how exciting it is to give life to new characters and fall for them. It's definitely a different kind of addiction. I'm still searching for my own happy ending. Until that happens, I'll live vicariously through my own characters.

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