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Cover Reveal: Unlawful Desire (ALFA Private Investigations, #2) by Chelle Bliss

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Title: Unlawful Desire
Series: ALFA PI Book #2
Author: Chelle Bliss
Release Date: September 22, 2015
Cover Photo by: SC Photography
Cover Models: Lance Jones & Brit Love

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My fiancée ripped a piece of my heart out when I caught her with another man. It made me jaded, and I swore off relationships. But as with any plans, life had a way of making me its bitch.

When a way too young bombshell walked into my world, my heart began to beat again. Georgia asked me for one night—nothing more—and with no strings attached.

Our night of passion turned my universe upside down.

When she almost slipped out of my life, I knew I had to make her mine. Willing to do anything to protect her, I took justice into my own hands. My feelings for her brought out a side of me I thought I’d left behind.

I had to lose myself to be found again.

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BlissChelle Bliss, USA Today Bestselling author, currently lives in a small, west coast town near the Gulf of Mexico in Florida. She’s a full-time writer, time-waster extraordinaire, social media addict, and coffee fiend. Currently she’s written thirteen books and has three series available. She loves spending her free time with her boyfriend, 2 cats, and her hamster.

Before becoming a writer, Chelle taught high school history for over ten years. She holds a master’s degree in Instructional Technology and a bachelor’s in history. Although history is her first love, writing has become her dream job and she can’t imagine doing anything else.

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Book Review: Racing the Sun (Where Sea Meets Sky, #2) by Karina Halle

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RACING THE SUN
Karina Halle
On Sale July 28th!

 

From the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of Where Sea Meets Sky comes a new adult novel about a young woman who becomes a nanny in Capri and falls for her charges’ bad-boy brother.
When I’m traveling, I feel like the secret to my life, to myself, to really becoming, is one step ahead. It’s in thenext destination, the next town I get lost in, the next stranger I talk to. It’s always next but never here . . . 
After six months of backpacking and soul-searching across the world, Amber MacLean is flat broke. There are worse places for a twentysomething to be stuck than the Amalfi Coast, but the only way she can earn enough money for a plane ticket home to California is to teach English to two of the brattiest children she has ever met.
It doesn’t help that the children are under the care of their brooding older brother, ex-motorcycle racer Desiderio Larosa. Darkly handsome and oh-so-mysterious, the young master of the crumbling villa tests Amber’s patience and will at every turn—not to mention her hormones.
When her position turns into a full-time nanny gig, Amber grows dangerously closer to the enigmatic recluse. But can she give up the certainty of home for someone whose closely guarded heart feels a world apart from her own?

 

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Book Review

 

*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.*

 

Wow, Racing the Sun is one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read. I fell in love and I fell hard. I was hooked from the very first page and I didn’t even realize how quickly I went through the book until I glanced at my kindle and realized I was 91% in. I still have no idea how that happened. I mean I dove in hard and nothing else around me existed, but a part of me still grew sad knowing the story was so close to the end. I loved every complicated bit of this story. The romance is that once in a lifetime love that leaves you swooning and hoping for a HEA. I felt every heartbreak and every joy. The accomplishments each character experience make you connect with them in a unique way and you begin to feel as though you are experiencing their growth with them. Karina Halle’s expressive writing draws you in and brings this story to life in a way that made it so real, it was heartbreaking at times, alluring and it will definitely leave you with a bit of wanderlust.

 

The story is beautiful and there are so many different layers. It is a love story where you begin to fall in love with not only the romantic aspect of the story, but also with each characters growth, the travelers discoveries, their woes, but every complication creates a perfect story that leaves you in awe. I felt every word and the descriptive elements made me feel as though I was in a foreign city experiencing every new revelation with them. I sat and read and could feel and see clearly even the tiniest of details.

 

Racing the Sun tells the story of Amber MacLean who finds herself broke after months of travel. She secures a job as an English tutor for two children, but the families complicated story leaves her wondering if she’s cut out for the job. Amber buckles down and rises to the challenge, but when she begins to take on more responsibility and finds herself growing fonder of the brooding older brother Derio, things get beyond complicated. She’s falling, but Amber’s heart is not the only one that remains guarded. Their time together draws them closer allowing each of them to slowly open up, but will the past haunt them or will this be nothing more than another stop on Amber’s world tour?

 

Beautifully romantic, exotic and complex Racing the Sun will leave your heart racing and keep you utterly mesmerized. You’ll fall hard for Derio, Amber will amaze you and you’ll love every minute of it. I’m already counting down the days until Karina Halle’s next release! 5+ exceptional stars for an extraordinary book! This is a must read!

Happy Reading Lovelies xo 

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RACING THE SUN by Karina Halle

Atria Books | July 28, 2015 | Paperback ISBN 9781476796444, $15 | eBook ISBN 9781476796482, $7.99 | 384 pages

 

Learn more at S&S.com

 

Get Your Copy!

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ABOUT KARINA HALLE

Karina Halle is the New York Times bestselling author of Where Sea Meets SkyThe PactLove in English, and other wild and romantic reads. A former travel writer and music journalist, she lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband and her rescue pup, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails, and devours a lot of books.

 

Find Karina Online
Twitter   |   Instagram   |   Facebook   |   Website

 


 

GIVEAWAY – Enter to Win!
Atria Indie Authors and Karina Halle are giving away: 
(1) grand prize of a $50 AMEX Gift Card + 1 signed copy of RACING THE SUN and 1 copy of WHERE SEA MEETS SKY….PLUS: (6) Runner Up Prizes of 1 signed copy of RACING THE SUN.
Enter to win at: http://gvwy.io/ok5i5nc

 

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Book Review: Sinful Intent (ALFA Private Investigations #1) by Chelle Bliss

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Title: Sinful Intent
Series: ALFA PI Book #1
Release Date: July 14th
Author: Chelle Bliss

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Synopsis

 

The moment I saw her, I wanted her.
I tried to resist her, but Race had other plans.
One night, in a moment of weakness, I gave in to my desires.
I still had a job to do before her world collapsed.
If I failed at finding the person behind the threats, I could lose her forever.
Temptation can be dangerous. 

 

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Book Review

*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. 

All thoughts and comments are my own.*

Chelle Bliss became a favorite author when I was first introduced to her Men of Inked series featuring one of my favorite fictional families, The Gallos. I fell hard and fast for her writing and how she easily brought you into this world that made this family so real that you wanted to crawl into the books and live there. As the series and family grew so did my love for her art of storytelling. She became an author who was able to capture all the perfect elements of love, passion, humor and a true sense of family all in the same book.  I have a love for her books and will likely enjoy anything she dips her hands into. Naturally, Sinful Intent, the first book in her newest series (and Men of Inked spin-off ::happy dance::) – ALFA Private Investigations won me over instantly. Not gonna lie to Chelle or the readers and I mean no offense or disrespect when I say this because while I understood the choice to use the name Race True, it is quite possibly my least favorite named character of all the books I’ve read by Chelle thus far. However, as I got used to the name and got a better understanding of the choice I continued on with enjoyed the story as much as I did the Men of Inked books. This book had everything you look for in a good romance/erotic romance – love, passion, friendship, mystery, action and of course family – yup, that’s right, the Gallos are back and you will definitely get plenty of updates on the happenings of their lives as well as the introduction of some new faces which I absolutely love.

 

Sinful Intent introduces Morgan DeLuca and the story of how he came to join ALFA PI. His story is real enough where it could be someone you knew growing up, he’s a kid from the “wrong side of the tracks” that was fortunate enough to get his life together in most ways, but now he’s trying to figure out…what next? I love how he came to join the ALFA PI family and the story that leads up to him meeting Race True.  We are introduced to Race True who becomes Morgan’s first client and after their initial meeting, it is clear they are both attracted to one another. Race suffered insurmountable loss in her life and it only made her work harder. Morgan is a distraction she isn’t sure she can afford to welcome into her life, but she feels hope when he’s around. Lines become blurred one night and their walls come down allowing the two to give in to the overwhelming need they’ve felt since their first encounter, but can they get beyond the reasons that initially brought them together or will everything fall apart before they have a chance to begin?

 

As much as I loved Sinful Intent, Chelle did what she does best – gives you a taste and makes you want more. I’m salivating for the next book in the series, Unlawful Desire. I am so curious about Frisco and I can’t wait for his story. This series, as with the Men of Inked series is perfect for Contemporary Romance/Erotic Romance/Erotica fans. It is the perfect blend of romance, intrigue and the steam factor, as always, remains off the charts! You won’t be disappointed!

 

Happy Reading Lovelies xo

Excerpt

“You’re really purdy,” she slurred with a lopsided grin, running her finger down my cheek.
“That’s it. No more drinks for you,” I said, dragging the glass away from her.
“No! I’ve only had three,” she said as she lurched forward, pulling the drink out of my hands.
“I’m enjoying myself. I’ve had a bitch of a week and I deserve to let loose a little.”
I held my hands up. “You’ve actually had four martinis, but anything you want, princess.”
Her eyes grew into little slits. “I’m not your princess,” she slurred, sounding completely adorable.
My cheeks hurt as I smiled. “I’m going to take you home now. I think you need to sleep it off.”
“Last time I checked,” she said before hiccupping, “you’re not my daddy.” A slow smile crept across her face. She scooted closer and whispered, “Unless that’s your thing.” She tried to wink, but both eyes closed, one after the other.
I leaned into her space, a breath away from her lips. “It’s not my thing, but I’m happy to act out your fantasies. But I don’t think you want to cross that line. Once you go there, there’s no going back.” I stared into her eyes.
“Oooh.” Her eyes grew wide. “Is that supposed to scare me, Mr. DeLuca?”
I didn’t move. “I’m just giving you fair warning. You’ve had a few drinks, and I won’t take advantage of that. I’m just telling you how it is.”
“You’re full of yourself.” Her warm, sweet breath caressed my lips as she spoke.
All I wanted to do was reach out, pull her face to mine, and kiss her full, beautiful lips. “I’m sure of myself and confident in my abilities, yes. That’s entirely different than being full of myself.” I licked my lips, testing her.
Her eyes dropped to my mouth as her lips parted.
“Another?” Lisa interrupted.
“We’re good,” I replied, keeping my eyes pinned to Race and waving Lisa off.
“Pfft,” Lisa scoffed, stomping away.
Race glared in Lisa’s direction. “She wants you,” she whispered.
Was she jealous?
“I don’t want her.”

“She’s a sure thing though.”
I leaned closer, leaving very little space between us. “I never liked easy.”
“All men like easy.” Her body swayed, moving so close our lips almost brushed.

Purchase Sinful Intent
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Unlawful Desire – ALFA PI #2 is available for pre-order
**Special pre-order price of $2.99**
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About the Author
Bliss

Chelle Bliss is a USA Today Bestselling Author of the Men of Inked series.
She loves to write happily ever afters filled with alpha males and sexy women.
Chelle spends her days writing, chatting on Facebook, and working on her craft.
The ALFA PI series a spin off of her Men of Inked series and she’s excited
to introduce a new world of characters to readers.

 

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Book Review: Bleeding Love (Hope Town, #2) by Harper Sloan

Meet Liam & Megan in the newest stand alone

in the Hope Town Series by Harper Sloan!

NOW AVAILABLE

Amazon US   |   Amazon UK   |   Barnes & Noble (Nook)


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Blurb
(Stand alone)
I’ve loved once. I gave everything that I had to that love. Blindly believing that nothing could ever take that feeling away from me. Away from us. And when my little world of happiness was ripped from my fingers, I felt a loss that still haunts me to this day.
Now I use that lingering grief as a shield to keep my heart from loving again. It’s that fear that keeps me from letting anyone, except my daughter, get close enough to make it hurt. To make my heart bleed when I inevitably lose again.
Until the day I met Liam Beckett and everything I thought I had protected myself from was shoved back in my face.
He’s on a mission to prove to me that a love worth having is a love worth fighting for.

 

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Book Review

*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. 

All thoughts and comments are my own.*

 

“When you grow up with parents like mine, you know without a shadow of a doubt that a love worth fighting for is a love worth keeping. The fight—that drive—the desire to have the person you love, love you back just as fiercely? That’s all it’s about. They showed me that when you want something, you don’t stop until it’s yours.”

Harper Sloan never ceases to amaze me. Bleeding Love  the second book in the hope town standalone series is a beautiful story that at times gutted me. The raw intensity and passion you feel as you read Megan and Liam’s story will leave it’s mark forever branding a place in your heart. As far as I’m concerned, Harper Sloan has never disappointed me with any of her books and this is just another example of how she brings her characters to life making you love them all.  
Megan was dealt a rough hand in life, but when she meets Liam she sees how getting close to him can possibly disrupt the order she’s created for herself. She’s basically living in a bubble made to protect herself and keep away any pain.  All the things that scare her, all her uncertainties come rushing to the surface when Liam is around. She can’t handle his desire to let him in, but his persistence is wearing her down. Will she allow him in or will she push him to his limit? 
Megan and Liam’s story is reminiscent of Beck and Dee’s. I loved every second of getting to know these two. As usual with Harper Sloan’s books,  this one was hot and my kindle sizzled from the very first page…no seriously holy shit this book was hot. I thought Unexpected Fate had its moments, but Bleeding Love O-M-G. Liam I didn’t know you had it in you…majorly crushing on him now. Never a dull moment, Harper.
I fell in love with not only Liam, but also Megan. She had been through more than her share of pain and I understood her. I even found myself tearing up at times. This book makes you feel and if you’re not laughing, you might cry, if you’re not swooning, you might want to yell, either way you’ll feel something. The culmination of emotions will leave you hopeful and completely sated. Although these series are standalone books, I do recommend reading both the Corps Security and Hope Town series in the order they were published. Reading Unexpected Fate got me acquainted with Megan and Liam,but reading Bleeding Love brought their stories to life in a way that made me appreciate all the hurdles they met along their journey. The story is beautiful and as with all of the authors stories this one brings to life “realistic” characters that make you feel as though they could be your own friends or family. The struggles they face are not only in love, but all areas of life and how they look to one another for love and support only makes me love her books and characters more with each release.
The blurb holds back so much of the story that I’m afraid to reveal too much so I’ll just leave it at this, Harper Sloan is amazing, this book rocks, this series rocks, I need more….no seriously I need more and I recommend this book to all New Adult, Contemporary Romance and Erotic Romance fans. You won’t regret it. 
Happy Reading lovelies xo
 
“A love worth having is worth fighting for.”
 

Excerpt

His mouth leaves mine and with his hand still on my leg, he demands, “Dig your heels in deep, baby.”
I give him what he wants, but not because he told me to. I give him what he wants because when his hand leaves my leg and pushes into the mattress, bringing his body up he goes even deeper into my body and those heels push hard.
Just as he demanded earlier, my hands go to his shoulders on my own accord and as he takes my body hard, my nails dig in with my heels still pushing hard against the small of his back. Our eyes never leave each other’s probing gaze. Never once do I take my eyes away from his, so full of lust that I know there isn’t an ounce of control left in his body.
He drops his head and I lift up to meet him in a kiss so sweet it doesn’t match the powerful way that he’s taking my body. A kiss that gives me more than words ever could at this moment. His hips slow and as his tongue rolls against mine, his hips start to take me in slow, deep rolls. He doesn’t pull back, just rocks his hips against mine.
I push up and cry out when he slips even deeper.
His lips come from mine and his hooded eyes open a sliver. “Feels like heaven,” he says softly. “Everything, darlin’. Feels like everything.”

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About the Author
harper sloanHarper lives in small town Georgia just a short drive from her hometown of Peachtree City. She (and her 3 daughters) enjoy ruling the house they dubbed ‘Estrogen Ocean’, much to her husband’s chagrin. Harper has a borderline unhealthy obsession with books; you can almost ALWAYS find her with her eReader attached. She enjoys bad reality TV and cheesy romantic flicks. Her favorite kind of hero–the super alpha kind!
Harper started using writing as a way to unwind when the house went to sleep at night; and with a house full of crazy it was the perfect way to just relax. It didn’t take long before a head full of very demanding alphas would stop at nothing to have their story told.

 

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Book Review: TOXIC by Kim Karr

Will they or won’t they? #ToxicLove
Meet Phoebe & Jeremy in this second chance romance!

NOW AVAILABLE

Amazon   |   Amazon UK   |   B&N   |   Kobo   |   iBooks   |   GooglePlay

 

RELEASE DATE: July 7th, 2015

toxic

New York Times bestselling author Kim Karr turns up the heat in a smoking hot, emotionally compelling romance that takes you into the world of Manhattan’s elite. Meet Jeremy McQueen, a sexy, intense, brooding entrepreneur who goes after what he wants, and Phoebe St. Claire, a socialite-turned-CEO who’s been drifting through life searching for something she thought she’d never find again–the right man to share her future.

 

Phoebe St. Claire has devoted herself to saving her family’s hotel empire–but her best efforts have not been good enough. With her whole world in turmoil, the tenacious go-getter turns to the once love of her life. Far from innocent, Jeremy McQueen was the guy from the wrong side of the tracks who her parents would never have approved of. Their years apart have only made the sexy bad boy more irresistible than ever–and their reunion is explosive.

 

When she asks Jeremy to help her salvage her family business, he agrees immediately, with only one condition–he wants her in his bed.

 

But soon surprising circumstances leave Phoebe reeling. Was this fairy tale romance just too good to be true? Will Jeremy’s secrets pull them apart all over again?

 

THIS IS A STANDALONE SECOND-CHANCE ROMANCE WITH NO CLIFFHANGER ENDING.

 

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Toxic Book Review 

*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. 

All thoughts and comments are my own.*

This second-chance romance will have you swooning. I fell in love with Jeremy and Phoebe’s chemistry, but I had moments of frustration and doubt. Phoebe and Jeremy met one summer and quickly became hot and heavy. Things were intense and the fire that once burned never seemed to fully extinguish. Years later Jeremy and Phoebe have a run in and although there is an uncertainty between the two, their attraction to one another is undeniable, but the mistakes of their past have a way of coming back to haunt them. Can they trust one another and find a way to rebuild what was once lost or will they allow outside forces to create a wedge between them? 

 

Toxic is my first Kim Karr read (I know, I’m ashamed!) I don’t really know what I was thinking putting off her books until now, I’ve always been interested, but I hadn’t gotten around to reading any of them yet. Let me just say, I should’ve been reading every Kim Karr book ever published and stalking her for any unpublished work. This book is hot, steamy, mucho caliente and completely addictive. The story is engaging. You will get sucked in from the very first page. I felt as though I were watching a film where flashbacks were featured to weave the pieces of the story together. I loved every minute of it. It was incredible how easily I visualized everything. (It might also be because I’m a native New Yorker that I was able to picture everything.) Either way the story grabbed my attention and held it until the very last page. I was ashamed of myself for having thrown Kim Karr books onto my TBR list without having read one. I’m sorry Kim from here on out I’m reading every release the minute I can one-click them. 

 

I can honestly and unequivocally say Jeremy is my newest book boyfriend and shall forever remain on my list of favorite swoon worthy men. Phoebe at times frustrated me, but so did Jeremy. Although these two drove me nuts at times and I wondered which direction this story would take, I absolutely loved them together. I wasn’t certain these two would ever find a way, but I hoped they would. I could not put this book down and read it in one sitting. I laughed, I cried, I even shouted at my new fictional friends, but in the end these two taught me some very valuable lessons and made me take a look at how easy it is to allow not only your internal doubts to affect your decisions,  but the voices of all those around you. Sometimes you just have to believe in not only the love you have for one another, but in yourself. Excellent book, excellent author. I cannot wait for more books by Kim Karr. This book is definitely steamy with substance and is an absolute MUST read.  It is a perfect summer read for Contemporary Romance & Erotic Romance fans.

 

Happy Reading my lovelies.

 


 

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Excerpt 

Phoebe St. Claire
Feeling a bit drunk and overwhelmed with so many and so few choices at the same time, I needed some time alone and snuck off toward the beach path.
I ran toward the ocean and twirled in the sand as the wind blew around me. Once I started to feel dizzy from twirling, I still wasn’t ready to head back to the party, so I took the path that would lead me to the large Olympic-sized pool. I tugged my sandals off with thoughts of putting my feet in the water to rinse the mud and sand away. As I approached the pool, I noticed how it glowed like it was lit by small pale fires. Lost in the enchantment of it, the sudden movement beneath the surface startled me.
A fair-haired boy emerged from the water. He pulled himself up and out so quickly that I was momentarily stunned. And then when he drank me in with his eyes, I shuddered.
I couldn’t help it, the way he looked at me just made me shiver. No one had ever looked at me like that before and I found myself gazing back into his intense eyes.
He was utterly beautiful. His bare chest was sculpted but not overly bulky like Danny or Jamie. They worked out every day pumping obnoxious amounts of iron to look the way they did. In contrast, the boy standing before me had a swimmer’s build.
He stood stoic and a cautious look crossed his face. He was long and lean in a pair of bright green neon swim trunks.
Right away I could tell he didn’t care what anyone thought about him.
I loved the idea of that.
So I smiled at him.
He shook his head and his hair fell into his eyes.
I wanted to reach out and push it away. It wasn’t long, but it wasn’t short. It was perfect.
“Hey,” he said, grabbing a towel off the ground.
It didn’t belong to the club. It was small, beige, and a bit worn—not the large hunter-green fluffy ones monogrammed in white I’d always gotten when I used to come here to swim as a kid.
“Hey,” I said back, swinging my sandals nervously.
He grabbed a pair of jeans that lay next to where the towel had been and walked right by me.
I turned to watch him as he strode into one of the cabanas and dropped his trunks. I froze and squeezed my eyes shut, thinking I shouldn’t be watching him but then opened them quickly when I couldn’t resist maybe catching a glimpse.
“Didn’t your parents ever tell you it isn’t polite to stare?” His voice was low and sexy, and it tugged me out of my own head.
I put my hands on my hips. “Didn’t your parents ever teach you not to undress in mixed company?”
He pulled his jeans on and laughed. “My mother might have mentioned that once or twice but I’ve never been good at following the rules.”
And it didn’t escape my notice that he didn’t put any underwear on first.
Hot. Totally and completely hot.
I didn’t see anything I shouldn’t have seen, it was too dark, but something inside me electrified at the thought of seeing him naked and I stepped closer. That’s when I noticed the scuffed-up black work boots on one of the lounges with a T-shirt thrown next to them.
I raised a brow. “Is this your changing room?”
He laughed again but this time added a smile and put his hands up. “Okay you caught me. I better get out of here before anyone else does.”
He was adorable and charming and my heart skipped a beat or two.
Then I stepped even closer and entered the cabana entrance, effectively blocking his way. “Why? You’re not doing anything wrong.”
He shrugged but he didn’t try to move around me. “I usually swim in the ocean but when the water is too rough, like tonight, I come here.”
I bit my lip in contemplation before speaking. “Does it really matter if you get caught?”
He crossed his arms over his bare chest. “Let’s just say it’s not just the swimming. It’s more that I’ve been caught doing a few too many things that I shouldn’t have been doing in the past.”
A bad boy.
The thought made my pulse thunder. “So you’re not a member at this club?”
He cleared his throat and shifted from foot to foot. “No,” he laughed but his laugh was anything but genuine. “Are you?”
I hesitated as I considered my answer. “No, I was just walking the beach and wanted to rinse my feet. I’m Phoebe,” I said extending my hand. Technically, I wasn’t lying. I wasn’t a member, my parents were. I hadn’t even been here in years. And I was out for a walk.
Amusement danced in his blue eyes. “Jeremy,” he said back.
When I chewed on my lower lip, I noticed how his eyes focused on it.
Mine focused on the entirety of his mouth—his strong, firm jaw, his sensuous lips, and his tongue that had snuck out to lick his lips.
That mouth.
It was almost too much.
Almost.

 


About the Author 

kim karr bio

I live in Florida with my husband and four kids. I’ve always had a love for reading books and writing. Being an English major in college, I wanted to teach at the college level but that was not to be. I went on to receive an MBA and became a project manager until quitting to raise my family. I currently work part-time with my husband and full-time embracing one of my biggest passions—writing.
Stalk Her:
Website   |   Facebook   |   Twitter   |   Goodreads

 

 

 


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Release Blitz: THE HURRICANE by R.J. Prescott

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THE HURRICANE by R.J. Prescott (July 14, 2015; Forever E-Book; $0.99)

Emily McCarthy is living in fear of a dark and dangerous past. A gifted mathematician, she is little more than a hollow, broken shell, trying desperately to make ends meet long enough to finish her degree. Through an unlikely friendship with the aging, cantankerous owner of an old boxing gym, Em is thrown into the path of the most dangerous man that she has ever met. 
Cormac “the Hurricane” O’Connell is cut, tattooed and dangerous. He is a lethal weapon with no safety and everyone is waiting for the misfire. He’s never been knocked out before, but when he meet Em he falls, HARD. Unlike any other girl he’s ever met, she doesn’t want anything from him. Just being around her makes him want to be a better person. They are polar opposites who were never meant to find each other, but some things are just worth the fight.

 

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EXCERPT

He grabbed my hand and pulled me to a stop facing him. He moved in so close that our noses were almost touching.
“Tell me you can feel this. I need to know I’m not the only one,” he spoke gently.
“I feel it,” I whispered, staring at the ground. “But I’m not doing anything about it. Everything that you make me feel is completely overwhelming, and I can’t give you what you need, not even close. I don’t want to talk about why I am this way, but just offering you friendship is a big deal for me right now.”
I finished my rant feeling more desperate than ever. This big, strong, beautiful, terrifying man had feelings for me, but seriously how long would they last? I was getting better, but I was afraid of my own shadow most of the time. I was small, weak, and lacked any self-confidence. O’Connell was dangerous, addictive, and so sexy that I was consumed by lust every time we were in the same room together. He used his body like a weapon and the danger attracted women like a magnet. With that many women, all vying for his attention, what little charm I held for him would fade like mist in the morning sun. If I let him in, he had the power to break what little of me was left whole when I couldn’t keep him.
Reaching out one giant, scarred and calloused hand, he tucked a wayward curl behind my ear. He lifted my chin with his knuckle forcing me to meet his gentle gaze. He looked so happy and intense right now that I could feel my eyes welling up. I never thought that anyone would ever look at me like that.
“I know I’m scary and loud. I’m fucked up, and I’m gonna fuck up with you a lot because I’ve never done this before. I don’t date girls, I fuck them and walk away because that’s what they expect. It’s all they think I’m good for. I’m not smart like you, and I know I don’t deserve you. Right now, I’m dirt poor, but one day, I’m not gonna be. I will fight to make something better of myself, to be someone better. Someone you can be proud of. If you need time, then I’ll give you time. If you need friendship, then I’ll give you friendship. But you’re mine, and when the time is right, when you’re ready, I’m coming for you.”
I nodded, so close to tears I knew that if I tried to speak, I’d completely break down. I swallowed hard, and the tears fell anyway. O’Connell wiped them away with his thumb and gently pressed his big firm lips to mine. Just like that, my fears were forgotten. The kiss was gentle, but fireworks exploded all over my body. It was like he had invigorated every cell with life. The touch of his lips wasn’t enough to satisfy, only to feed my addiction. I knew in my head that I wasn’t ready for a relationship, but my body wanted to drown in the revelation that it could feel something other than cold, hunger, and pain. It was a kiss both chaste and pure and everything I hoped that my first kiss would be, because everything I gave to him, I gave freely. Slightly out of breath, our lips parted, and he rested his forehead back against mine.
“I’m gonna give you the fuckin world, baby,” he whispered against my lips.
He kissed me again quickly and grinning like a kid, threaded his fingers through mine.
“You know friends don’t hold hands,” I whispered, knowing that there was no way that I was letting go first.
“Huh,” he grunted. “Me and Kier hold hands all the time.”

 

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R.J. Prescott
About the author:
R.J. Prescott was born in Cardiff, South Wales and studied law at the University of Bristol, England. Four weeks before graduation she fell in love, and stayed. Ten years later she convinced her crazy, wonderful fire fighter husband to move back to Cardiff where they now live with their two equally crazy sons. Juggling work, writing and family doesn’t leave a lot of time, but curling up on the sofa with a cup of tea and a bar of chocolate for family movie night is definitely the best part of R.J. Prescott’s week. “The Hurricane” is her debut New Adult Novel.

 

Social Media Links:
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COVER REVEAL: Cam Girl by Leah Raeder

Guys. GUYS! Leah Raeder’s third novel, CAM GIRL doesn’t go on sale until November 3, 2015…BUT…we’re itching to share the book’s absolutely gorgeous cover with you right now! Take a peek!!!

 

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BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Vada Bergen is broke, the black sheep of her family, and moving a thousand miles away from home for grad school, but she’s got the two things she loves most: her art, and her best friend and soulmate, Ellis Carraway. Elle and Vada have a friendship so consuming it’s hard to tell where one girl ends and the other begins. It’s intense. It’s a little codependent. And nothing can tear them apart.
Until an accident on an icy winter road changes everything.
Vada is left deeply scarred, both emotionally and physically. Her once-promising art career is cut short. And Ellis pulls away, unwilling to talk about that night. Everything Vada loved is gone.
She’s got nothing left to lose.
So when she meets a smooth-talking lothario who offers to set her up as a cam girl, she can’t say no. All Vada has to do is spend a couple hours each night taking off her clothes on webcam, and the “tips” come pouring in.
It’s all just kinky fun till a client gets serious. “Blue” is mysterious, alluring, and more interested in Vada’s life than her body. Online, they open up to each other intimately. Blue helps her heal. And he pays well, but he wants her all to himself. No more cam shows. She agrees, because she’s starting to fall for him. And when he asks to meet, she says yes. Because she’s dying to know the real man behind the keyboard.
Even if one of his conditions is to bring Ellis. The girl who wants nothing to do with her anymore.
Now Vada must confront the past she’s been running from. A past full of devastating secrets—those of others, and those she’s been keeping from herself…

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Leah Raeder is a writer and unabashed nerd. Aside from reading her brains out, she enjoys graphic design, video games, fine whiskey, and the art of self-deprecation. She lives with her very own manic pixie dream boy in Chicago. Visit her at LeahRaeder.com.
Fan group   |   Twitter   |   Facebook   |   Goodreads   |   Instagram   |   Tumblr   |   Pinterest

 

PRE-ORDER:

 

US LINKS:

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UK LINKS:

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AUS LINKS:

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COVER REVEAL: Sinful Intent (ALFA Private Investigations, #1) by Chelle Bliss

Sinful Intent Ebook Cover

TITLE: Sinful Intent
SERIES: ALFA Private Investigations Book 1
AUTHOR: Chelle Bliss
COVER DESIGNER: Chelle Bliss
COVER IMAGE: Darren Birks Photography
RELEASE DATE: Summer 2015

SYNOPSIS
It was supposed to be simple. Find the bad guy and save the girl.
I hadn’t expected Race True—a golden-haired beauty with a silver tongue that made me want to toss the rules aside.
I tried to fight my attraction to her, but she made it impossible.
Our chemistry became too much to ignore.
Temptation is dangerous.
In a moment of weakness, everything changed. We gave in to our carnal desires, letting ourselves drown in the passion we could no longer deny. 
The problem was that I still had a job to do before her world collapsed.
If I failed at finding the person behind the threat, I’d lose Race forever.

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READ THE PROLOGUE NOW:
Prologue

Sinful Intent Paperback


MEET THE AUTHOR

Bliss

Chelle Bliss is a USA Today Bestselling author of the Men of Inked Series.
After working as a History teacher for ten years, she now writes full-time.
She loves talking with readers and making new friends.
Chelle currently resides in Florida with her two kitties,
Nola and Peanut, her hamster Chip, and the love of her life.
CONNECT WITH CHELLE
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS | TWITTER
PINTEREST | GOOGLE+ | NEWSLETTER
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CHECK OUT CHELLE BLISS’ BOOKS

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Cover Reveal: SHUTTERGIRL by CD Reiss

SHUTTERGIRL FINAL

 

Author Note: If you know me, you know my Submission and Corruption books. This is different. This is about love and loss, ambition and talent, and our commitments to ourselves and each other. I don’t close the door on the expression of love, but this is not the usual dirty pleasure.

 

Release Date: May 20th

 

Blurb
I am not hurt.
I don’t need a second chance with him, or a life I thought I had.
While he was out forgetting me to become a movie star, I was building a career out of nothing. A career as a paparazzi, but a career. For a foster kid who bounced around every home in Los Angeles, that wasn’t easy.
This camera is all I have.
He’s nothing to me. Every time I take his picture and sell it, I remind myself that I did it all without him or his approval, his cinnamon smell or his clear green eyes. He lights up the screen like a celestial body, but he’s nothing but a paycheck to me.
He can throw my camera off a balcony, and nothing has to change. We can stay king and queen of the same city, and different worlds.
Except this is Hollywood, and here, anything can happen.

 

Add the Hollywood Project aka ShutterGirl to your TBR list: 

 

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ShutterGirl Book Trailer:


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cd reiss new bio

CD Reiss is a USA Today and Amazon bestseller. She still has to chop wood and carry water, which was buried in the fine print. Her lawyer is working it out with God but in the meantime, if you call and she doesn’t pick up, she’s at the well, hauling buckets.
Born in New York City, she moved to Hollywood, California to get her master’s degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere, but it did embed TV story structure in her head well enough for her to take a big risk on a TV series structured erotic series called Songs of Submission. It’s about a kinky billionaire hung up on his ex-wife, an ingenue singer with a wisecracking mouth; art, music and sin in the city of Los Angeles.
Critics have dubbed the books “poetic,” “literary,” and “hauntingly atmospheric,” which is flattering enough for her to put it in a bio, but embarrassing enough for her not to tell her husband, or he might think she’s some sort of braggart who’s too good to give the toilets a once-over every couple of weeks or chop a cord of wood.
If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.

 

Stalk Her:
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Book Review: Without Me (Men of Inked #5) by Chelle Bliss

WMTourBannerTHE LAST MEN OF INKED BOOK IS NOW AVAILABLE!
WIthoutMeBiggerVersion

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Synopsis:
I’d led a selfish existence.
I liked who I was. Hell, I loved myself.
Women threw themselves at me and I took what they offered without remorse. I promised them nothing.
I sank my teeth into life, holding on to the bitch like my very existence depended on it.
Time passed.
Women came and went.
The second I let my guard down and released the hold I had on life… What was my award for such carelessness?
A love so spectacular and heart wrenching that it threw me for a loop. When I was in too deep to escape, my greatest fears became reality.
This is my story. My downfall. My salvation.


REVIEW 

*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.*

Tears! Chelle, you brought me to TEARS!!!! God, I loved this book. It is by far the best in the series, but I suspected it would be since I’ve always had a soft spot for Anthony. I knew he would be knocked down when love finally came his way. Chelle did not disappoint.  

 

Without Me is a raw, deeply moving and heart wrenching account of a love so deep it inspires you. Anthony’s story is as tumultuous as I’d envisioned. Despite all the obstacles Without Me is a beautiful story. As with all the Men of Inked books, this one felt familiar, like you were experiencing everything through the eyes of friends or family. There’s something about Chelle’s  writing that makes you feel so connected to these characters and their stories. Without Me gutted me at times. I was so invested in this story and the outcome I read it in one sitting…COULD NOT put it down! The story is told in dual POV which I absolutely loved. Chelle nailed both characters. Before the release of Without Me I had my suspicions about Anthony’s love interest and I nailed a few things which made me happy, other things were unexpected curve balls that just made this story come to life for me. 

 

I found it incredibly difficult to write this review because as much as I adore this book I don’t want to spoil one moment for you when you pick up a copy. The synopsis is vague enough that I feel I should leave the love interest out of my review. I think experiencing what Anthony does as it happens is the best way to read this book. I swear I never thought I’d see the day where Anthony Gallo would be knocked out by love. To say he was persistent when it came to this story is an understatement. You will see a kinder, softer, more caring side of him, but you will also see an angry, dark side one that is at times overcome by the emotions sizzling between the two. You’ll experience both their feelings and desires. I think I connected with this book on so many different levels.  Chelle never failed to bring the heat we’ve grown to love and swoon over from the Gallo clan. When I wasn’t going through emotional turmoil, I was fanning myself and attempting to stop my kindle from bursting into flames….man oh man was this book HOT!  

 

Warning, this book may cause tears…big fat ugly ones, or maybe just a few, but it will get to you.  You know that one stray tear that falls down your cheek as you read a story so beautiful you can’t help but feel for the characters…even as you try to avoid it, it happens. One teardrop that you quickly swipe away and continue reading only to get hit again and again by all the emotional ferocity and fire that is Chelle Bliss…yeah, it just might happen. 

 

This story hit me hard because of the content and I know if you have experienced similar things as Anthony or the other characters you’ll understand that this was an emotional journey for not only the reader, but also Chelle. I urge you to read the Letter to Readers at the end so you understand just how personal this story is. It was beautiful. I loved every minute of it and I’m glad that although this is the end of the Men of Inked series, we won’t be seeing the last of the Gallos. A definite must-read for Erotic Romance/Contemporary Romance readers. 

 

Grab your copy today!

Amazon   |   Barnes & Noble   |   iTunes   |   Kobo

 


Muscular and sexy torso of young man


About the Author

Bliss

USA Today bestselling author Chelle Bliss is an American author who writes stories about real-life scenarios with fantasy Alpha males. Her works include humor as well as steamy sex.
Website   |   Facebook   |   Twitter
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Listen to the Without Me Playlist on Spotify

bookmark-2inx8in-h-frontStart Reading the COMPLETED Men of Inked Series!
Throttle Me ~ Book 1
Hook Me ~ Book 2
Throttled ~ Book 3
Resist Me ~ Book 4
Resisting ~ Book 5
Uncover Me ~ Book 6
Without Me ~ Book 7
Also available on Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iTunes, and GooglePlay!

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Book Review: Deep (Stage Dive, #4) by Kylie Scott

deep

SYNOPSIS
Positive. With two little lines on a pregnancy test, everything in Lizzy Rollins’ ordinary life is about to change forever. And all because of one big mistake in Vegas with Ben Nicholson, the irresistibly sexy bass player for Stage Dive. So what if Ben’s the only man she’s ever met who can make her feel completely safe, cherished, and out of control with desire at the same time? Lizzy knows the gorgeous rock star isn’t looking for anything more permanent than a good time, no matter how much she wishes differently.
 
Ben knows Lizzy is off limits. Completely and utterly. She’s his best friend’s little sister now, and no matter how hot the chemistry is between them, no matter how sweet and sexy she is, he’s not going to go there. But when Ben is forced to keep the one girl he’s always had a weakness for out of trouble in Sin City, he quickly learns that what happens in Vegas, doesn’t always stay there. Now he and Lizzie are connected in the deepest way possible…but will it lead to a connection of the heart?

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Amazon US   |   Amazon UK   |   Barnes & Noble   |   Kobo   |   iBooks

 


REVIEW

*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review.

All thoughts and comments are my own.*

As far as rock star romances go, Kylie Scott’s Stage Dive series is the cream of the crop. She absolutely nailed this series. I fell in love with Lick, then Play stole the show and had me in stitches not to mention hot and bothered, Lead made me fall in love with love and now Kylie pulls together a remarkable ending to a much-loved series. Ben and Lizzy’s story comes to life in the best possible way with Deep.
 
My heart broke a little by the end of this book and not because the story ended badly, in fact, I think I loved the ending a little too much because I was grinning like a Cheshire cat. My disappointment or heartbreak was related to the series coming to an end. It has been a much beloved series and I will definitely revisit when I need my rock star fix. It’s hard for me to pick favorites in the series, Deep hit me on a different level. The connection between Ben and Lizzy frustrated me at times, but the combo was absolutely perfect for so many ways…I got it and I loved it. I was upset, enchanted and utterly smitten all at once. I laughed a lot (as I did with all the Stage Dive books.) Lizzy is loveable and fierce. I fell in love with her bravery and ferocity. I fell hard for Ben the minute I heard about the bearded bass player…. must’ve been the B 😉
 
Lizzy Rollins has had a crush on bass player Ben Nicholson since the day she laid eyes on him, she attempted to pursue him only to be repeatedly shut down, but one night in Vegas will irrevocably change their lives. Sorry Ben, what happened in Vegas won’t be staying in Vegas after all. Ben, the man we knew never wanted to be tamed. He’s got a thing for Lizzy, but keeps her at an arms length, but will their connection bring him to his knees?
 
This book had me crushing on Ben something fierce. He was a brooding mess at times, but there was also such a tender side to him. He was always the mysterious one to me so it was interesting to finally learn more about him. His relationship with Lizzy is anything but smooth and the two compliment one another well. They have a ton of hurdles to work through, but by the end you’re completely smitten and satiated with the outcome.
 
Deep weaved its way into my heart and left a lasting imprint. The Stage Dive books are hands down my favorite rocker series. Ben and Lizzy’s story will take you on a witty and emotional journey, with plenty of magical moments. There are interconnected stories featuring the other stage dive members and their significant others, plus new characters are introduced. I must mention Mal because he has been one of my favorites from day one and he made this book an even better experience for me. He always adds just a little something extra and his presence in this book is absolute perfection. This book is entertaining, humorous and off the charts steamy. I hope Kylie finds a way to bring back my favorite characters in the future.

 


 

EXCERPT

His laughter, it didn’t really sound the smallest bit amused. “Christ. You’re done here.”
“Ah, no. I’m actually not. Now see, this is where we have a problem.” I folded my arms. Then unfolded them because like fuck I’d look defensive. He was the one in the wrong, not me. “You’re not prepared to take me, or my feelings, seriously. What you want is to hide away in Mr. Too Cool for Commitment land and just play with my affections when it suits you. Okay, I’ve accepted that. But none of that means it’s okay for you to come in here and act like you’re the boss of me. None of it.”
“That so?” he asked, leaning down so that we were almost nose to nose.
“That’s so, baby.” I play-punched him in the shoulder, which it should be noted, I barely came up to. Okay, so maybe the alcohol on a mostly empty stomach had made me slightly/lots braver/sillier. “So why don’t you take your little caveman jealous tantrum bullshit somewhere else. See, I do this funny thing I like to refer to as whatever the fuck I want. Understand?”
He just stared.
“And as pretty as you are with your beard and your muscles, you are too damn tricky and . . . complicated and shit for me.”
“I am?”
“Yes, you are. Are you finally seeing my point here?”
“You bet.”
“Excellent. So take your hotness elsewhere, kind sir. I want no part of it!” Huh. I had so told him. Drunken bravado was the best.
 
deep teaser 4 

 About the Author

kylie scott

Kylie is a long time fan of erotic love stories and B-grade horror films. She demands a happy ending and if blood and carnage occur along the way then all the better. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and one delightful husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet.
 
Kylie is represented by Amy Tannenbaum at the Jane Rotrosen Agency, New York.
 
Stalk Kylie Scott: 
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Stage Dive Series Reading Order

 

Lick (Book One)

 

Amazon US   |   Amazon UK   |   Barnes & Noble   |   Kobo   |   iBooks

 

Play (Book Two)

 

Amazon US   |   Amazon UK  |   Barnes & Noble   |   Kobo   |   iBooks

 

Lead (Book Three)

 

Amazon US   |   Amazon UK   |   Barnes & Noble   |   Kobo   |   iBooks

 

 

Deep (Book Four)

Amazon US   |   Amazon UK   |   Barnes & Noble   |   Kobo   |   iBooks

 


 GIVEAWAY

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Fisher Amelie’s Cover Reveals & Announcement

The much anticipated release of Fisher Amelie’s third standalone installment of The Seven Deadly Series, FURY, finally has a release date! Stay tuned below for the reveals of her new covers for VAIN and GREED, a chapter from FURY, as well as the heart-stopping trailer for FURY, due out May 4th, 2015.

Prepare Yourselves.

 

About FURY:
Revenge is an euphoric thing. Trust me on this. Nothing compares to the release you get when you ruin someone’s life. When they’ve stolen important things. Things that didn’t belong to them. Things I revel in making them pay for.
What? Have I offended you? I’m not here to appeal to your delicate senses. I have no intention of placating your wishes or living within your personal belief system nor do I care if you hate me. And you will hate me. Because I’m a brutal, savage, cold-blooded murderer and I’m here for my revenge.
I’m Ethan Moonsong…And this is the story about how I went from the world’s most sacrificing man to the most feared and why I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

Fury May 4

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The new cover for the first standalone in The Seven Deadly Series, VAIN.

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The new cover for the second standalone in The Seven Deadly Series, GREED.

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 And now for an excerpt from FURY, due out

May 4th, 2015…

I heard a snap and the light cracked on, piercing through my closed lids. My head pounded and I groaned then rolled over, pulling my cover over my head to drown out the source of my pain.
“Get up,” a deep voice commanded. “Get up,” he continued, kicking my shoe.
“Dad,” I rasped. “I’m hungover and feel like shit.”
He was silent for a moment so I pulled the cover down just enough to see his face. He was not amused.
“Ethan, watch your language, get your butt up, and find a job.” I didn’t answer him. I had nothing to say that would please him. “And while you’re at it, stop this ridiculous drinkin’, son.”
I sat up, ran my hands through my long black hair and wrapped the length around my fist. I sat back against the wall, reveling in how cool it was, and tried not to vomit.
“Did you see them today?” I asked him, unable to help myself.
My dad removed his hat and leaned against the jamb, scrubbing his face with his free hand. “You like to torture yourself,” he said, shaking his head then sighing. “You remind me so much of your mama.”
The mere mention of my mother sent me spiraling down once more in depression. We’d lost her a few years before and I was still in agony. That, coupled with the fact that Spencer Blackwell stole my girl right out from underneath my nose, was enough for me to drink to excess every night. I hate him.
“Are they,” I swallowed, afraid of his answer, “are they together now?”
My father sighed again. “Ethan, get dressed.”
“Are they?” I asked again, letting my hand drop to my side. My hair slid with it and cascaded down my back.
“You are a stubborn boy. Yes, okay? Yes, they’re together. All the more reason to move on, son.”
My body suddenly weighed a thousand pounds and I felt my head reeling. So it was true then. They were together and they would probably get married and I was going to have to sit there in that godforsaken small town and watch it all happen. I was going to get a front row seat to my own misery.
I nodded once, rested my hands on my knees for a brief moment, then ran past my dad, shouldering him as I did so and nearly knocking him over before making it to the small bathroom across the hall and retching everything in my stomach into the toilet.
My dad stood in the bathroom doorway shaking his head in disappointment. When I was done, I fell back into the wall. That look shamed me to my core. Any time my dad felt let down, I felt the weight of my disgrace so heavy the only thing I could think to dull the ache was to drink myself into a stupor. It was a vicious cycle.
I let my hair cascade over my face. I heard the old wood floor creak beneath his feet as he left without another word and jumped when the front door slammed. My eyes closed as my head pounded.
The claw foot tub sat to my left so I leaned up and turned on the water, slowly removing my clothing one piece at time. Each movement felt like a hammer slamming into my head.
“God,” I groaned. “I am an idiot.”
I stood then stepped underneath the warm water and just stood in silence, letting the water absorb into my hair and seep into my skin. I breathed in the steam deeply. I was miserable. Not just physically but my heart was the heaviest it’d felt since my mom passed and I had no one to blame but Spencer Blackwell for that.
The asshole who rode into my life under the guise of helping his sister only to yank what I thought was a stable foundation right out from underneath me. He stole from me, a bona fide thief, and I wanted to make him pay. No, I needed to make him pay.
But how?
I finished showering and threw a towel around my waist, stepping from the tub and toppling onto my bed when I reached my room and fell to sleep, not even bothering to dress myself. I fell quickly, fantasizing about my revenge.
I must have slept for hours because when I woke, it was pitch black outside. I rolled onto my side and checked my alarm clock. Eleven o’clock. Perfect timing, I thought.
I sat up and tucked my towel around my waist a little tighter, stood and went straight for my dresser. I grabbed a pair of boxers and socks and put those on before heading for my closet and tossing an old, worn pair of jeans on, a thermal and an old tee. I brushed my teeth, grabbed my wallet and keys, threw on my boots and headed toward my piece of shit truck.
I knew exactly where I was going because it was where I planned on going every night until I forgot about Caroline Hunt.
My truck started but barely and I tore out of our driveway not bothering with my seatbelt, kicking up dust and rocks as my tires spun against the loose gravel. I’d replaced my stereo because I couldn’t stand radio, at least not Kalispell radio, and plugged my phone into the audio cable. Bastille’s Dreams remake blasted and I turned it up, letting the painful lyrics wash over me, fueling my desire to get plastered as quickly as possible.
I entertained myself with thoughts of strangling Spencer Blackwell with both hands then beating the crap out of him with my fists. Bastard. I pulled into the local pub and put my piece into park before tucking my left foot into the emergency brake.
I disconnected my phone and the stereo went silent, reminding me of how alone I really was. I turned the engine off and absolute silence surrounded me. I couldn’t take it. My door creaked with age as it swung open and I slammed it shut, unable not to. The fury raging in my blood was more than I could contain.
Before heading inside, my hand went to the empty space between the cab and the bed and searched for the bottle of whiskey I always had wedged in between. I took a large swig, not wanting to spend too much of my savings on the liquor inside the crap establishment. After all, I was going to need it. Revenge was a costly business.
I took one more swig for good measure and wedged it back in its usual place then wiped my mouth on the back of my sleeve. My hair swung heavy in my eyes. It was still a little wet from my shower and I thought about tying it back with the extra leather tie I usually kept in my glove compartment but thought better of it. It helped me hide and I wanted to hide.
I looked around me. The lot was full but I only recognized a few cars this time which was good because I had no intention of making conversation. Regardless, most of Kalispell had stopped trying because I’d rarely done any responding since Cricket cut out my fucking heart and ate it raw. The hair was only insurance.
I took two deep draws of air, gulping it down, desperate for it to soothe me but, of course, it didn’t. I let each escape my lips in shaky breaths and clenched my fists over and over before deciding to head inside.
My boots crunched the gravel beneath my feet as I headed toward the door. When I entered, I ducked my head toward the floor and let my hair cover me, not that it did any good other than to conceal me. I could still feel the heat of their stares, though, still feel the pity in their gazes. I wanted so badly to yell at them to fuck off but I kept as much composure as possible. I couldn’t get kicked out of the only real bar in Kalispell.
I picked a stool at the end of the bar, the same stool I always did in the corner and in the back because it was dark. I sat and met Vi’s eyes. She sauntered over to me, placing her elbows on the bar top, giving me a clear view of her generous chest. I held back my eye roll.
“Hello, darlin’,” she drawled. “You look like shit.”
“The usual, Vi,” I told her as quietly as I could.
“How ‘bout a kiss then first?” she asked, leaning in a bit more.
“Christ, Vi, how many times? Huh? Just get me the gosh damn drink.”
She laughed. “Already worked up then, I see. I like it,” she said, winking.
Vi, or Violet, was thirty-nine years old, had lived in Kalispell her entire life, and had worked as a bartender for over fifteen years. I could tell at one time Vi had been a beautiful woman but I could also tell she had heard many hollow promises from equally hollow men and that she obviously believed them all. Otherwise, why would she still be there? I watched her tired eyes and her slightly too-forced smile. She had the look of someone who used to be chased but had graduated to the chaser. She looked miserable.
She left and returned with an empty glass and a bottle of Jack. She set the glass on the bar and filled it to the brim. She was being generous. She was always this way. She told me once she hoped I would drink it all away and decide to take her up on her offer. I told her that would be a cold day in hell, to which she only laughed.
“Drink up, buttercup,” she said, smiling lasciviously.
“I will,” I told the bar top.
I watched the world around me through the breaks in the hanging strands and six glasses later, I was starting to finally feel numb. I lifted my head a little feeling slightly relieved, feeling like I could breathe a little deeper now that the ache wasn’t so severe. I continued to search the crowd, not knowing who I was really looking for.
A quiet but persistent nagging awareness took residence in my chest for some unknown reason as I watched a girl dance on her own in the middle of the dance floor. Others around her paid no attention to her but she was the first person my eyes were drawn to. I studied her.
Her hair was tucked into a blue scarf, little tendrils peeking through and grazing across her neck whenever she moved. She was extraordinarily tall and her hips and rear end were more indulgent than I’d ever considered before. She turned slightly, giving me her silhouette. Her stomach was flat and her breasts were full. She was beautiful, I could tell, even if I couldn’t see her fully through the low lights.
“Jeez,” I said, swiping a hand down my face. “I’ve had too much.”
But I still couldn’t stop watching her. She wore worn jean cut offs, a fitted button up with the sleeves rolled up her forearms and ankle boots. She rolled her shoulders playfully, enticing someone she knew just off the dance floor. Another girl joined her side and they did the robot. She threw her head back and laughed.
This shocked me almost sober. “That laugh,” I whispered to myself. “That laugh,” I repeated. I knew it but couldn’t quite place it.
She took her friend’s hand and twirled her around the floor vivaciously. She was so full of life. So my exact opposite.
She lightheartedly skipped in place and raised an arm in salute to her friend before turning toward me.
That’s when I got a good, clear look at her. I gasped out loud and placed my hand on the back of my head, my elbow on the bartop, ducking my head down lower to hide myself further.
Please, please, please do not recognize me, I thought, still watching her from the corner of my eye.
She stood two seats down from me. “Vi!” she said, laughing a little. “Vi!”
Vi turned toward her. “Hey, baby! What’ll it be?”
“Can I have a water, please?” she asked, sitting down and releasing a breath of exhaustion. She continued to smile, though, and it ate a little at my gut.
“Of course,” Vi answered and started to pour water into a clear plastic cup. Vi’s eyes pinched a little. “Hey?” she said.
“Yeah?” she asked.
“How come I never see you drink anything harder?”
Her face fell a little but picked right back up. No one would have noticed it but me. “I’ve never had good luck with alcohol,” she admitted a bit sadly.
Vi was quick enough to recognize something there that didn’t want to be said and let it go with a nod, handing over the water without another word.
“Vi!” someone else called out and she walked their direction.
She took a long drink from her water and set it down, turning toward the crowd and surveying the dancers. A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, some private joke she shared with herself.
I looked on her for a long time. Long enough for my heart to calm itself. Long enough to struggle with myself in an internal argument. Finally, I decided that I wasn’t watching her because I found her attractive, though I knew she was. Only that I was wondering what she was doing there.
She turned around in her seat after catching her breath and glanced at me. For a moment, I believed she didn’t recognize me but I was wrong. A second scan confirmed it for her. She leaned in and narrowed her eyes. Shit.
Ethan?” she asked. “Is that you?”
“Hello, Finley,” I answered.

 


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FisherAmelie

About Fisher Amelie:
Fisher Amelie resides in the South with her kick ace husband slash soul mate. She earned her first ‘mama’ patch in 2009. She also lives with her Weim, ‘Jonah’, and her Beta, ‘Whale’. All these living creatures keep the belly of her life full, sometimes to the point of gluttony, but she doesn’t mind all that much because life isn’t worth living if it isn’t entertaining, right?
Fisher is the author of The Seven Deadly Series, The Sleepless Series, and Leaving Series, and was a semi-finalist in Amazon’s Breakthrough Novel Award.

 

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