Masquerade By S.N. Williams ♥ Blog Tour

Title: Masquerade

By: S.N. Williams

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Have you ever felt like you were wearing a mask, like a
masquerade mask you were at ball? I have worn one before at a ball where I
felt my most comfortable in my own skin.

My name is Julia Falls. I felt like for some time now that I
have been wearing a mask. I had a horrible accident and don’t remember what
happened before it or even why I was in an accident. I have never felt like
myself until I meet a guy I fall head over heels in love with. Chris is truly
my soul mate but I still feel like things are still being hidden from me.
Things get worse when my nightmares return of the death of my parents and my accident.
Also dealing with raising my little sister is another stress to add to my life.

Will I ever shed the mask? Will Chris and I last through all
the turmoil of lies reaching the surface? Time will only tell.

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Flawed By Francette Phal ♥ Release Blitz

Blood.

That’s the only memory he carries from a childhood he does not remember. And now it is all he knows. Blood is his life.

Knox Bishop has done a lot of horrible things, all at the command of the man who holds his leash. It’s a matter of loyalty for him. Allegiance to the man who saved his life when he was a child. So he goes where he is needed and does what he is told. He tortures. He kills. He kills. He tortures. It is an unrelenting cycle that he constantly craves and can never quite satisfy.

Until her.

Eighteen year old Lacey Barnes distributes her assets to fund her dreams. Medical school is the end game and she is determined to get there by any means necessary. But a family member’s careless mistake derails her plans and now she must pay a price in order to save him.

She goes to Knox willingly offering him the only valuable thing she has. Herself. In doing so he allows her into his world, a world filled with darkness but rather than being scared it intrigues her. It lures her, calls to something in her that she hadn’t known existed until he awakened it.

Every bit of his flaws is reflected in her and Knox will do anything to keep her in the darkness with him.

Lacey

Sordid words echo off the sullied walls of the motel room, a disjointed symphony of grunts and groans as he labors for release. The sourness of his breath, the hot wet beads of his sweat, and the unrelenting grip of his fingernails burrowing painfully into my skin is all too familiar—a necessary evil of the oldest profession in the world. With his mouth poised at my ear, he whispers words meant to turn me on, and I arch my back, rotate my hips, and drive back against his cock to show that I enjoy his dirty little words. He likes it when I do that, pays a little extra when I play the bitch in heat. He smacks my ass to get me going, a precursor to his release, and I smile thinly. I send a silent thanks to the prostitute gods that it’s almost over. He’s done in a short countdown, filling the condom, and I’m out of the shadow of his collapsing weight. He lands in an unceremonious heap across the bed in an attempt to catch his breath.

“You were amazing, baby,” he pants, raising his head slightly to look at me. “As usual.” He grins and drops his head back on the bed with a great sigh.

“Glad you enjoyed yourself,” I reply tonelessly, twisting my arms to fasten my bra strap. I slip on my threadbare T-shirt and shimmy into a black mini skirt that hides very little from the outside world. Stepping into the pair of black and white low tops, I feel the wad of cash pushing back against my toes, a clear indication that it’s been a good night. Keeping my earnings in my shoe is a great hiding place because it’s probably the last place anyone would look if I ever got mugged.

“I’m out of here,” I say as a farewell, grabbing the two hundred-dollar bills on the nightstand on my way out of the cheap motel room.

Francette lives in Massachusetts with her amazingly supportive husband of ten years and her darling two year old son. Reading amazing books has led her to writing and she’s dabbled in fan-fiction before self-publishing her own works. She’s constantly thinking up new stories to write and does her best work when music is playing in the background. Romance is where she’s most comfortable but she hopes to one day venture in mystery novels. She has a weakness for coffee ice cream, tropical fruits and a good glass of wine.

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Rafael By Faith Gibson ♥ Release Blitz

Title: Rafael

Author: Faith Gibson

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Release Date: November 18, 2014

Amazon US § Amazon UK

♦Synopsis♦

There’s a new species of shapeshifter in town…

Rafael Stone is the King of the Gargoyle shapeshifters. His family, The Stone Society, has ruled the Americas for over seven hundred years. As an architect, he has spent the last thirty years helping to rebuild New Atlanta since the near Apocalypse. As King of the Gargouille, he has spent those same thirty years protecting his city from the dregs of society.

Kaya Kane is the New Atlanta Chief of Police. At thirty-six, not only is she the youngest, but also the first female Chief the city has ever had. She has dedicated her life to keeping her city safe. When a multiple homicide brings her face to face with the elusive Rafael Stone, her life will never be the same.

Rafael’s kind has never mated with a human but just speaking to Chief Kane on the telephone nearly brings him to his knees. Kaya has given up on ever having a relationship other than her career. When the two meet, sparks fly. Literally. Can Rafael give in to the fact that Kaya’s human? Can she overlook the evidence pointing to Rafael as the killer?

Rafael, Stone Society Book 1 introduces you to a new world filled with Bad Ass shifters and the mates who love them.

♦About the Author♦

Faith Gibson lives outside Nashville, Tennessee with the love of her life, and her two-legged best friends. She began writing in high school and over the years penned many stories, and poems. When her dreams continued to get crazier than the one before, she decided to keep a dream journal. Many of these night-time escapades have led to a line, a chapter, and even a complete story.

When Faith isn’t penning her crazy ideas, she is either reading, riding her Harley, or playing trivia while consuming craft beer.

♦Social Media Links♦

Facebook | Twitter | Amazon Page | Goodreads

♦Purchase Faith’s Other Books♦

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Full Circle Series By Casey Peeler ♥ Book Blitz

FULL CIRCLE SERIES

Casey Peeler

No Turning Back (Full Circle, #1)

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After getting involved with Dylan, the bad boy of the Dixon High Swim team, Charley decides to stay close to home for college. It’s just safer that way. Later, she realizes it’s a mistake, just like dating Dylan. She decides to put the past behind her and leave the small hick town of Grassy Pond. There is only one problem; she makes this decision three weeks before the fall semester begins.

Charley packs up her Honda and heads to Southern College. On the morning she’s about to leave, Cash walks back into her life. He has been her best friend since they were four and is the only one who knows the REAL Charley. She leaves her farm in Grassy Pond with all kinds of “what if” questions.

Charley decides to live her college career to the fullest. She finds a great group of friends, joins the swim team, and meets a guy named Joe. He’s got eyes that make ya wanna melt!

At college, she encounters a new problem. Charley has been away from home for only forty-eight hours before she breaks the two promises she made to herself. Will she be able to overcome her past? Find new love? What will happen with Cash now that he is back in her life? Will she find what she is wanting in Jackalope Joe? How will her first semester of college end? Joe, Cash, or alone?

Finding Charley (Full Circle, #2)

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One bottle of Jack and the words “I’m sorry” are all it takes for Charley’s world to turn upside down… again. Charley has a decision to make. Does she sink or swim?

After Dylan reminds Charley that he always has the upper hand, she decides it’s time break free. But how? She uses her past, present, and what she hopes to be her future to find her freedom.

With the help of Cash Money and the Kluft Girls, she devises a plan to take down Dylan. Will she succeed, or will she find that she will never escape his hold? Once this plan is put in place, who will be by her side when it comes to an end? And will this plan include Jackalope Joe?

Loving Charley (Full Circle, #3)

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When Charley decides to make Dylan famous, she never thought about the repercussions that might occur, and how it would affect everyone around her.

Now that she has followed through with the plan, she is unsure of what the future holds. She has to decide what is more important in life: living her dream, speaking the truth, or keeping quiet.

Charley’s life comes full circle when her freshman year comes to an end. Will Dylan be in her past and Cash in her future? Or will Dylan continue to be an eerie constant in her life?

About the Author

Facebook | Godreads | Twitter | Amazon Author Page

Casey Peeler grew up and still lives in North Carolina with her husband and daughter. Her first passion is teaching students with special needs. Over the years, she found her way to relax was in a good book.

After reading Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston her senior year of high school and multiple Nicholas Sparks’ novels, she found a hidden love and appreciation for reading.

When Casey isn’t writing, you can find her listening to country music, spending the day at the lake, being a wife and dance mom, and spending time with friends and family.

Her perfect day consists of water, sand between her toes, a cold beverage, and a great book!

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One To Leave ( One To Hold) By Tia Louise ♥ Cover Reveal

ONE TO LEAVE

By Tia Louise

Blurb

Some demons can’t be shaken off.

Some wounds won’t heal.

Until a pair of hazel eyes knocks you on your ass, and you realize it’s time to stop running.

Meet Stuart Knight Dec. 29, 2014. #SexyCowboy

Excerpt

One to Leave

By Tia Louise

*unedited draft, subject to change

Release Date: Dec. 29, 2014

Years earlier, behind enemy lines.

Long nights, sitting against the wall staring into darkness. We’d shared just about everything to pass the time, to keep from going insane from the monotony combined with the stress of knowing at any time we could be blown up or shot. We were walking targets, and we’d been lucky.

“You’re right,” Derek exhaled, looking away again, out at the expanse of beige. “I’m proud of my service, but when the time comes, I’ll walk away.”

“You’ve got another road ahead of you.” I didn’t think any less of him. Some guys in this outfit didn’t have the right stuff, the right attitude or the honor, but that could never be said of this guy. “I’m glad we served together.”

“Now who’s getting soft?” His deep laugh was the last sound I heard before the staccato CLANK! of a grenade dropped into the space with us.

We had seconds, if that long. No time to speak, only time to act. Reaching down, I grabbed it, and threw it as fast and hard as I could. It was just out the window when the BLAST! threw us both against the wall.

My back had been curved from the throw, and I hit a bare space. I was winded, but not hurt. Derek was out cold. White smoke filled the room. Our luck had run out, and we were under attack.

Shots fired outside as I made my way through the blindness to where his dark body was slumped on the stone floor.

“Fuck!” I shouted. He was as big as me and twice as heavy, but I’d be damned if I left him. With a deep grunt, I hauled him onto my shoulders.

His voice was a groan in my ear. “Stuart. Go on. Go.”

“You’re not dying today, soldier,” I shouted back.

Months of working out and not much else between the explosions and the darkness had me strong as a damn mule. I went up the short flight of steps to the exit. I had no idea what I’d be stepping into when I went through that door, but they knew we were in here. We couldn’t stay.

I held Derek steady on my back as I peered into the smoke and dust filling the air. Two bodies in robes right ahead of us. Not Americans. There wasn’t anything we could do for them, but I would do something for us.

A convoy had been preparing to transport the last of us two houses down. If I could make it that far, it was possible we’d be safe. I couldn’t see a damned thing as I made a break for it. My thighs burned with the exertion and the extra weight, and my lungs seized from the smoke. Derek was a fucking dead weight on my back, but I barely noticed with the adrenaline pumping in my veins. I was born for this.

Blinking hard, I could just make out the hulking shapes of the armored trucks waiting to take us away.

“We’re almost there,” I shouted, even though I was pretty sure he was out again.

Taking the first step, I dug in with my heel, trying to gain speed with traction. Combat boots, thirty-seven pounds of weaponry, ordnance, spying shit, and my commanding officer. I ran as fast as I could to the symbol of safety. I was just there when my feet went out from under me. My ears rang with the noise of the explosion, and pain shot like fire through the lower half of my body. I flew forward and landed on my chest in the dirt.

I couldn’t stop shaking. It wasn’t fear—it was adrenaline combined with the effort I’d been pushing to get us to safety faster. My brain tilted on its side. The trucks were near, but they couldn’t see us in all the smoke and confusion. Bodies were running all around us. I needed to get up, but I was dazed.

God dammit! I was made for this. I tried to force myself to get up, but my body didn’t respond. I was above myself looking down. Derek lay on my back exposed, unprotected. What the fuck was happening to me? I fought against this pansy-assed flake-out. I had to get back down there. I had to carry my brother to safety. I was stronger than this.

Somebody had to see us, but the whole place was in confusion. Another whistling rocket, another explosion. I struggled to open my mouth and yell for backup. Nothing came out. I saw a truck jolt and fly back. It was hit.

Then, like an old-fashioned television switching off, everything blinked to black. I didn’t see anything anymore.

Books by Tia Louise

One to Hold (Derek & Melissa), 2013

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One to Keep (Patrick & Elaine), 2014

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One to Protect (Derek & Melissa), 2014

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One to Love (Kenny & Slayde), 2014

Amazon | B&N

One to Leave (Stuart & Mariska), Dec. 29, 2014

Purchase Signed Copies: http://smarturl.it/SignedPBs

About the Author

Tia Louise is a former journalist, world-traveler, and collector of beautiful men (who inspire all of her stories… wink)—turned wife, mommy, and novelist.

She lives in the center of the U.S.A. with her lovely family and one grumpy cat. There, she dreams up stories she hopes are engaging, hot, and sexy, and that cause readers rethink common public locations~

It’s possible she has a slight truffle addiction.

Connect with Tia

Get Exclusive Sale and New Release text alerts straight to your device: Text “TiaLouise” to 77948*

*Max 6 messages per month; HELP for help; STOP to cancel; Text and Data rates may apply. Privacy policy available, allnightreads@gmail.com.

All You Need Is Love (Inevitable, #1.5) by Janet Nissenson ♥ Release Blitz

Title: All You Need is Love (Inevitable, #1.5)

Author: Janet Nissenson

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb

Was the wedding of their dreams about to become a living nightmare?

For those who fell in love with Julia and Nathan in Serendipity, see how their story continues to unfold in this sweet, funny and sexy novella.

After overcoming all of the obstacles in pursuit of their happily ever after, Julia and Nathan are determined to plan their dream wedding in just six months time. But the path isn’t as smooth as they had hoped, with bumps in the road that include Julia’s bossy twin sister, a moody bridesmaid, and Julia’s own obsession with perfection. In the end, will love truly be all she and Nathan need, or will they need a little help from their friends along the way?

Excerpt

He kissed her softly, tasting the blended flavors of their male and female essences on his tongue. It made for a heady, almost aphrodisiacal combination. Nathan smiled ruefully to see the mess he’d made of her hair, and how her dress was still shoved up almost to her waist. He didn’t have to look at himself in the mirror to know he was even more disheveled, with his pants still tangled around his ankles, his shirt clinging damply to his heaving chest, and his own hair likely sticking up in half a dozen places.

It was almost always like this with the two of them, however, he thought with a wicked grin. The sex was always hot, usually more than a little dirty, and starting to edge a bit towards the kinky side as well. Most of the time, Julia really, really liked it when he bossed her around in the bedroom, and especially the occasional encounters when he might bind her hands together with one of his ties, or blindfold her with a silk scarf. He hadn’t been kidding earlier when he’d told her that the two of them had already checked off a whole bunch of his sexual fantasies.

And while she was more often than not willing to cede him control of their sexual encounters, there were certainly numerous occasions when she took charge, and it was always a wild ride when she did. He loved both sides of her equally – the sexy submissive and the delectable dominatrix. She was the perfect woman, both in and out of bed, and he thanked his lucky stars several times a day that she was his. And in less than two months, she would well and truly be his – his bride, his wife, his partner for the rest of their lives together.

Julia gave a little squeal of surprise when Nathan gave her a fierce, almost possessive hug, and then buried his face against the side of her neck.

“I love you, Julia,” he told her, the passion evident in his voice. “So damned much. Sometimes I don’t think mere words can begin to tell you how much.”

“I know,” she replied softly, her hand stroking the side of his face. “You show me how much every day, Nathan. I feel loved every minute that I’m with you. And I love you, too, baby. Though I’d love you a lot more if we could get up off this wood floor and into our bed. My ass is starting to get sore.”

Serendipity (Inevitable, #1)

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Was meeting again an unfortunate twist of fate? Or was it just serendipity?

Julia McKinnon was convinced she’d found the one – the man of her dreams, the most seductive, experienced lover she’d ever known – and the night they’d spent together in New York was the stuff erotic fantasies were spun from. But with the dawn of a new day came only heartache and betrayal, and her dreams were snuffed out like so much fairy dust.

Nathan Atwood felt like the lowest sort of life form after seducing the incredibly beautiful girl he met in New York, only to break her tender heart with the confession that he was already involved with someone else. Leaving Julia was the hardest thing he’d ever done, and the memory of their passionate night together haunted his dreams for months afterwards.

Now fate has brought them together again, and they are forced to work alongside each other. Will Julia be able to put aside the feelings she still has for her handsome boss and forge a new life for herself in San Francisco? And how long will Nathan be able to resist the gorgeous woman he’s never really stopped thinking about or wanting?

Splendor (Inevitable, #2)

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British hotelier Ian Gregson had it all – wealth, good looks, power, and a share in his family’s worldwide, multi-billion dollar luxury hotel chain. His very name was synonymous with sophistication and elegance, and any woman he wanted could be his with just a look. But the only woman he truly desired was strictly forbidden to him for too many reasons to count.

Tessa Lockwood was young, beautiful, and lonely, despite the fact that she was a married woman. Her life had not been an easy one, and the extravagant world she caught glimpses of as an employee of the Gregson Hotel Group was far beyond anything she could ever dream of. She could no more imagine herself ensconced in that sort of luxurious lifestyle than she could attracting the attention of her handsome, debonair boss.

Ian and Tessa secretly long for each other from afar, never daring to reveal their forbidden attraction to the other, until circumstances bring them together in a very unexpected way. And from that point on, nothing will stand in Ian’s way to finally make her his.

AUTHOR’S NOTE – despite what you might be thinking at this point, there is NO cheating in this story – just an incredibly romantic hero who will make you swoon with the way in which he sweeps the heroine off her feet!

About the Author

Janet is a lifelong resident of the San Francisco Bay Area, and currently resides on the northern California coast with her husband Steve and Golden Retriever Max. She worked for more than two decades in the financial services industry before turning her focus to producing running events. She is a former long-distance runner, current avid yoga practitioner, is addicted to Pinterest, likes to travel and read. She has been writing for more than three decades, with her first book in the Inevitable Series – Serendipity – published in December 2013, and Splendor in June 2014. There are four more full-length books and at least two novellas planned in the series.

Rafael By Faith Gibson ♥ Cover Reveal

Title: Rafael

Author: Faith Gibson

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Release Date: November 18, 2014

♦Synopsis♦

There’s a new species of shapeshifter in town…

Rafael, Stone Society Book 1 introduces you to a new world filled with Bad Ass shifters and the mates who love them.

♦About the Author♦

Faith Gibson lives outside Nashville, Tennessee with the love of her life, and her two-legged best friends. She began writing in high school and over the years penned many stories, and poems. When her dreams continued to get crazier than the one before, she decided to keep a dream journal. Many of these night-time escapades have led to a line, a chapter, and even a complete story.

When Faith isn’t penning her crazy ideas, she is either reading, riding her Harley, or playing trivia while consuming craft beer.

♦Social Media Links♦

Facebook | Twitter | Amazon Page | Goodreads

♦Purchase Faith’s Other Books♦

Candy Hearts:

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Seek ( Delirious ) By Clarissa Wild ♥ Release Blitz

SEEK (Delirious, #0.5)

Genre: Dark Romance

Release Date: November 12, 2014

Blurb

When illusions come to life, how do you tell what’s real?

My life ended when I came back from vacation. Death was at my doorstep. Everything ceased to exist. To protect myself, I pushed the memories away.

All I remember is him: Sebastian Brand, my savior.

I trust only him.

I am obsessed with him.

But all I know about him is his name.

Stuck in this mental institution, I try not to think about the terrible memories that lurk deep inside me. Sebastian is the only one who can help me forget. I don’t care that they say he doesn’t exist, I need Sebastian and I will find him, no matter the cost.

This is a prequel to the Delirious Series. These books should be read in order.

WARNING: This book contains very disturbing situations, strong language, drugs and alcohol, and graphic violence.

* Author’s note: This story will unfold over the span of multiple Volumes. Not all secrets will be spilled yet in this prequel. Don’t let this stop you from reading, though, because this series will be one heck of a ride. So open your mind and let me take you on a journey of delirious passion, unbendable trust, frightening illusions, dangerous secrets, shocking revelations, and disturbingly dark mind games. *

AMAZON | KOBO | B&N | iBOOKS | GOOGLE PLAY

Coming November 25th – SNARE (Delirious, #1)

Pre Order

His secrets will destroy her.

Taken.

Humiliated.

Used.

With his smart mouth, dirty talking and possessive behavior, Sebastian Brand has me hooked in the most shameless way. I’m obsessed with him. However, now that I’ve escaped the mental hospital, he seeks to control my every move.

The overwhelming aloofness in his attitude and darkness in his mind tells me there is more to this man than sheer dominance. Depravity is his playground and pain is a necessary evil.

Keeping me away was his first instinct.

Capturing me was his second.

Claimed by a man with the exterior of an angel and the mind of a brute, I will do anything to unveil his secrets and face my own demons.

A body in exchange for freedom. A heart in exchange for truth.

Life is never a given. Only a certain death.

This is Volume 1 in the Delirious Series, which contains 3 volumes and a prequel. These books should be read in order.

WARNING: This book contains very disturbing situations, strong language, drugs and alcohol, dubious consent, and graphic violence. Contains a cliffhanger that will make your eyes pop.

About the Author

Clarissa Wild is the USA Today Bestselling author of FIERCE, a college romance series, but she’s best known for the dark Romance novel Mr. X. She is also a writer of erotic romance such as the Blissful Series, The Billionaire’s Bet series, the Doing It Series and the Enflamed Series. She is an avid reader and writer of sexy stories about hot men and feisty women. Her other loves include her furry cat friend and learning about different cultures. In her free time she enjoys watching all sorts of movies, reading tons of books and cooking her favorite meals.

Check out my sexy books: http://smarturl.it/clarissawildbooks

Join the Clarissa Wild FanClub

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The Album By Ashley Pullo ♥ Release Blitz

Title: THE ALBUM

Author: Ashley Pullo

Genre: Indie/Romance/Humor/Drama

Release Date: November 11, 2014

Blurb

Five Friends.

Five narratives.

One Epic Soundtrack.

Location: New York City (TriBeCa, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill)
Setting: 1996-2013

Characters:
Chloe LeGrange – talented musician searching for a purpose
Natalie LeGrange – lovable free-spirit chasing her dreams
Adam Ford – perceptive attorney longing for a surprise
Zach Parker – philosophical Marine defending love
Chris Brooks – charming Texan with perpetual bad timing

Objective:
Unexpected encounters and brushes with fate construct a web of stories about the journey of love and acceptance.

Themes:
Fate, acceptance, sex, drugs, and really good music.

The Album is a journey following five friends over the span of two decades. Set against the timeless backdrop of New York City, their story is a classic retelling of what it means to follow your dreams, accept reality, and have a lot of fun in the process.

Watch the awesome Book Trailer!

https://s3.amazonaws.com/embed.animoto.com/play.html?w=swf/production/vp1&e=1414942618&f=so9oMWKAu2f420KQt4609g&d=0&m=a&r=360p&volume=100&start_res=360p&i=m&asset_domain=s3-p.animoto.com&animoto_domain=animoto.com&options=

Purchase THE ALBUM

99¢ Today ONLY

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About the Author

Facebook | Goodreads | Website | Twitter | Newsletter

Hey y’all!
The Lone Star State will always be my home, but fifteen years ago, I took the plunge and became a New Yorker. NYC is an amazing place to find inspiration in my daily surroundings–the random and the ordinary that make up reality. My writing showcases inspired ideas, as well as my love for dichotomy, authenticity and humor.

When not sitting in front of the TV devouring my favorite shows, I can be found at a soccer game with my husband and two children.

Coming Soon

The Ballad 12.11.14

The Brat Pack (YA) Spring 2015

Giveaway Open internationally!

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No More Masquerade By Angel Payne & Victoria Blue ♥ Blog Tour

Behind every good man…is the love of an even better woman.
Those were just pretty words before I met Claire Montgomery. Before my fairy queen burst into my life, I didn’t recognize the bastard in my morning mirror—but her love has given me the strength to face the imposter, even embrace him. My tower in the clouds is no longer a sentence of isolation; it’s a jumping point to the stars. With Claire at my side, I’m the king I always wanted to be, the Killian Stone I always dreamed of becoming.

Which means for once, I want the mask guarding my secret to stay right where it is.

If you want the grown-up fairy tale…learn to love the dark side.
Profound sentiment. Wish I could get on board with it but the prince in pinstripes has other ideas. Life has been a dream since Killian burst into the ball offering the perfect fit—his heart and mine, not the shoes, the car or the jewelry—but the treasures have become his armor, hiding the man I yearn to know. I refuse to open his little velvet box until he opens himself, letting me see even the dark hallways of his soul…

Until he lifts all his masks for me.

Master of the masquerade…
Fate has always bowed to my bidding. I should have known it was just picking its time to exact the best revenge, to reveal the secrets that will destroy everything. Without my disguise, am I still the man Claire fell in love with…or another penniless prince vying for an unattainable dream?

Mistress of his ruin?
He always told me to be careful what I wish for. By demanding his truth, have I not only demolished the dream we had…but the man I’ve loved more than any other?

No More Masquerade by Angel Payne & Victoria Blue from Once Upon An Alpha on Vimeo.

“No more running in ice soup, Mr. Stone.” My admonishment was gentle but stern. “You’re going to catch pneumonia.”

“Psshhh.”

“Killian!”

“I grew up in the ‘ice soup’, baby. I’m not going to catch—”

“I can’t live without you.” I didn’t try to hide the hoarse crack in my voice. “Okay? Happy now?”

For a long moment, all he did was continue to stare. After that pause, he raised a hand to the space directly over my heart—and pressed it there. “You always make me happy.”

Slowly, he drew that hand down the center of my torso. Though the action brought a thousand shivers, his face still captivated me the most. I couldn’t stop picturing what he must have been like at five years old, so young and innocent, brought into the middle of a complicated mess by adults wrapped up in their warped and convoluted sense of “doing right”.

The heart he’d just warmed with his fingers now swelled from the power of his honesty. Then it swelled and ached, bursting with the love I felt for his beautiful, brave soul. If he asked me again to marry him, I’d shout my acceptance at the top of my lungs. As odd as it was, the pain of the last week had finally brought me the Killian I’d been searching for.

Unable to hold back anymore, I leaned over and kissed him. The pillows billowed around us with the force of my passion—and his in return. His powerful body, especially the part pressing most intimately against me, swelled and grew. He circled both arms around my waist and clutched me tighter, inviting my mouth to stay right where it was as he opened his lips for me.

Warmth. Invitation. Safety, Solace. Home. He was my home.

I lost myself in that kiss. Drowned in the luxury of his taste, the perfect feel of his tongue. Moaned as his tongue stroked mine with increasing urgency, growing desire.

There was so much more to our connection than the physical need of man and woman—and never more than in that moment. The force of his need filled me, pushed me, consumed me.

When we tore back by a few inches, Killian dug a hand to my scalp. “My queen. My Claire. You’re my anchor in this ocean. My compass in this storm.”

Peering into his eyes was looking to the depths of that uncharted sea. Fathoms of darkness lived there…gray and black and pewter, liquid and shadows as mysterious as the bottom of the Pacific or Atlantic themselves. When I gazed at him like this, the origins of the world’s labels for him were so easy to understand. Cryptic. Enigmatic. Secluded. Guarded. He was unbeknownst to so many, only allowing the most worthy into his sanctum—and now, all the reasons for that made such sense.

Right now, he’d made me the most worthy person on the planet. The way he held me in his embrace, touched my skin, kissed my lips…I’d never felt closer to him. I yearned to press him for more. Dammit, why did I always want more? I needed to thank the universe for what it had already given me this week. For now, this connection was enough. More than enough.

It was perfect.

“Killian,” I whispered. “When we’re together like this, when it feels like we are the only two people on the planet, I feel like I can take on the world.” I emitted a little girl growl as he reacted to that by slowly wrapping my hair around his fingers. “I know it sounds corny…”

“It sounds wonderful.” He rasped it, seating my hips more firmly against his, letting his engorged cock slide softly between the moist lips of my sex. “Don’t stop,” he encouraged.

Denying him wasn’t an option. “We can do anything we set our minds to,” I told him, “as long as we’re together. We’re a force, Killian—you and I. I’m not sure the world’s prepared for it yet. They have no idea what they’re messing with.”

He growled again, harder and louder. “Hmmm. My fairy has tiger claws, too. Always ready to fight for what’s right.”

“Damn straight, especially when it comes to the man I’m madly in love with.” I bent and kissed him again.

“And what about the Killian Stone you’re not so fond of?” He wasn’t playing at the question this time. “Answer me. I’ve seen the look on your face when that bastard comes out to play.”

“You’re right. He is a bastard. But I love you, Killian. All of you.” I seized the chance to splay my hand to the center of his chest now—to the heart inside that beat so strong and sure. “You’re just one man. And when you are this open and real with me, I love you more than my own life. I want our lives to be one. As sure as I breathe, that’s what I want.”

We kissed again, but I let my lips linger on his for a very long time, simply tasting him, savoring him. I fitted my body deeper to his, eliciting a deep groan from him, matched by my own aroused sigh. It was no longer time for talk. Nonverbal communication could speak our remaining words—a skill my man knew just as well as fancy boardroom speeches. Thank God.

No More Masquerade (Secrets of Stone #2)

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No Prince Charming (Secrets of Stone #1)

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Angel Payne

Hi there. I’m Angel: book lover, writing addict, hopeless romantic, pop culture geek and avid shoe lover.

**I have a monthly newsletter now! Sign up for it right here: http://eepurl.com/LoNkz. It’s a cool way to get exclusive info, talk hot heroes, learn about new items in the Angel Payne store, talk hot heroes, further the pie or cake debate…and oh yeah, did I mention talking hot heroes?

A bit about me…

I’ve been hooked on books since I was a kid but it got worse in my twenties, when I discovered romances–the hotter, the better. Growing up in Southern California, with lots of surfer manliness surrounded me, was certainly a good boost for reading about delicious alpha guys and the women who adore them. When I learned I had a knack for telling these stories too, I guess you could say I was doomed–though my path toward romance novelist took a few detours via a concert-reviewing gig for my college newspaper (free show tickets…backstage passes…that was a no-brainer), artist interviews for a Beverly Hills dance music mag, personal assistant work for a record producer, dance club disc jockey, and a lot of fun in the hospitality industry.

These days, I still live in California, and have found an amazing alpha guy of my own who was brave enough to marry me. We live on a street that looks like Brigadoon, with our beautiful daughter. I have the best life ever, and never forget to thank the Big Guy Upstairs for it, either.

Victoria Blue

Victoria Blue lives in her own portion of the galaxy known as Southern California. There she finds the love and life sustaining power of one amazing sun, two unique and awe inspiring planets and three indifferent, yet comforting moons. Life is fantastic and challenging and everyday brings new adventures to be discovered. She looks forward to seeing what’s next!

Angel Payne

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Victoria Blue

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