Tempting, inked and highly addictive. Alex is all that and more…

I’ve made a lot of mistakes – ones I’m not proud of, and definitely ones that have left their marks both mentally and physically.

Things got lonely; I got lost in my own fucked up mind and in the end it left me fucked out of my mind and unable to fight – or at least win. That life’s over for me and I’ve moved on.

Six months into tattooing at Blue’s and already I’m the most wanted and sought out tattooist. My biggest clientele consists of women.

They come into the shop, end up in my bed and we both come out happy. It’s been my release since I’ve stopped fighting. It’s become part of the “new” me.

But when Tripp reappears in my life, I can’t deny the fact that I would do anything for that girl.

So when she asks me to move in with her and her ‘boyfriend’ – our other childhood friend – I never expected for things to get so fucked up and twisted that I would find myself only more attracted to her by each passing second or wanting to protect her from everything that isn’t me.

I have worked so hard over the years to suppress my feelings for her but when I find out that her and Lucas have been having an open relationship, I have the strong urge to rip his heart straight from his chest – to destroy the very thing that keeps him breathing.

What I didn’t expect was for Lucas to ask what he did. For him to ask me to do the one thing I have secretly longed for since I was old enough to know what the need was. The second thing I never expected was the look of need that I saw in Tripp’s eyes when he asked.

One night of free passion could change our lives forever.

I never said that was a good thing either…

I hear my door push open, but I’m too tired to acknowledge it. It can’t be any later than seven thirty in the morning, so I just stay lying on my stomach.

I hear something get set down on my computer desk before I feel the bed dip down next to me. It must be Lucas saying goodbye before he has to get ready for work.

Groaning, I reach out and grip his upper thigh, surprised at how hard and thick it feels in my hand. I guess I never really paid his legs much attention before. “Ughhhh… my head. Why did you give me all those shots last night? I feel like hell.” I run my hand up higher, stopping just below his package. Why does he feel so good right now?

“You look like hell too,” Alex says playfully.

Shocked, I let go of his thigh and grip onto the sheet to cover my bare breasts, while maneuvering my way to my knees. I almost forgot that Alex finally moved his stuff in last night. Man, I really must’ve had a few too many shots.

“Crap, Alex. I thought you were Lucas.” I reach up with one hand to cover my face as my head starts pounding. “I guess I drank a little too much last night.” I pull my hand away and squint from the light shining in my room. “I almost grabbed your dick, Alex. You weren’t even going to say anything?”

Grinning, Alex stands up, and I can’t help but to notice how sexy he looks, wearing only a tight pair of boxer briefs. Not only do I get him as a roommate, but now I’ll also have to see him running around in his underwear. Talk about a distraction.

“Just a few too many.” He runs his hand through his wet hair. “And I’m not going to stop something that feels good. I’m sure your hand was enjoying it too much. Now sit up straight.”

I watch as Alex walks over to my desk and grabs a plate and a glass of something. My head hurts too much to even pay attention to his words. “What’s this?” I ask as he sets the plate on my lap. “You made me breakfast?”

He sets the glass down on the nightstand beside me and I peek over to see that it’s orange juice. “Yeah.” Without another word, he walks into the bathroom. I almost think he’s going back to his room, until he emerges a few seconds later, holding something in his hand. He places two pills into my hand and crosses his arms over his chest. “Ibuprofen. Take those and eat your food.”

Not questioning him, I do as told. The first bite of food causes me to smile at its deliciousness. “Oh my goodness, Alex.” I point down at the toast before taking another bite and quickly chewing it. “This is absolutely delicious. Wow.”

He smiles. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

I toss a piece of egg at his head. “Cocky much?” I laugh as he grabs my hand and takes a bite of the eggs that I was just about to eat. “Very much so.” He chews the eggs and rubs a hand over his stiff abs. “What you doing before work?”

“I was going to stop by and visit Tara. You want to come with?”

He nods his head and starts backing away to the bathroom. “Yeah. I’m sure she misses the shit out of me.”

I laugh, accidently spitting the mouthful of toast out. “Seriously?” I cover my mouth and smile. “It’s only been like a week. Trust me, she does not miss you.”

He flashes me his dimples. “We’ll see about that.” He gets ready to walk out of my room, but stops and grabs onto the frame. “Oh and Lucas left for work already. He said he’ll see you around one.”

Figures he wouldn’t say bye. “Alright… thanks.” I take a sip of my orange juice. “I’ll shower after I eat and then we can go. Sound good?”

“Everything out of your mouth sounds good.” He attempts to catch the egg in his mouth as I throw it at him. “You have a horrible aim. I’m going to go downstairs and work out for about twenty minutes and then take a quick shower. I’ll shower downstairs so I don’t slow you down.”

Eyeing his body up and down, I swallow, remembering the dirty sounds coming from the downstairs shower last night. I tried so hard to block them out, but it was pretty hard to miss. I have to admit that hearing Alex fuck, both turned me on and bothered me at the same time. A part of me wanted to imagine myself taking her place, while the other part wanted to pretend that I wasn’t imagining it at all.

Then Lucas came up here saying dirty things to me about Alex… once again, turning me on so bad that I practically knocked him down and jumped on his dick. We had wild, meaningless sex, and then I sent him down to his room. Sleeping in the same bed as Lucas is something that I haven’t done yet. I’ve only slept next to Alex, and for some reason… I want to keep it that way for now.

“Sounds good. We can take your truck.” I smile while taking another bite of food.

“You just can’t get enough of my awesome driving, can you? You like it fast and wild.” He winks. “I like that.”

I point my fork at him. “Just hurry up so we can get going.”

“Sure thing, babe.” He dodges out of my room, leaving me grinning from ear to ear. He always has a way of making me smile. I honestly don’t know what I would do without him.

Victoria Ashley grew up in Rockford, IL and has had a passion for reading for as long as she can remember. After finding a reading app where it allowed readers to upload their own stories, she gave it a shot and writing became her passion.

She lives for a good romance book with tattooed bad boys that are just highly misunderstood and is not afraid to be caught crying during a good read. When she’s not reading or writing about bad boys, you can find her watching her favorites shows such as Sons Of Anarchy, Dexter and True Blood.

She is the author of Wake Up Call, This Regret, Slade, Hemy, Cade, Thrust, and Get Off on the Pain. Victoria is currently working on more releases for 2015.

Victoria’s Facebook Page

Dragonfly By Lana Sky ♥ Cover Reveal

Title: Dragonfly

Author: Lana Sky

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: November 14, 2015

Cover Design: Imogenary Designs

Graphic Designs: Poppy Designs

Pre-Order

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA

Synopsis

Sheltered by an overprotective family, Amy Sager—a shy twenty something poet from Canada—just wanted to break out of her shell and be free to live her own life. What better way to assert her newfound independence than by moving to San Francisco?

However, when she meets a tall, blood-drenched stranger she gets more than she bargained for. Jackie is everything she should never want. Violence, lies, and even murder taint this strange man, but she finds herself irresistibly drawn to him…like a moth to flame.

When their relationship strains her loyalty and his livelihood, it isn’t long before violence consumes her independence and Amy’s quest for freedom turns into just another story of a good girl caught on the wrong side of the tracks, too far gone to turn back.

Excerpt

The scent clashes with the harsh aroma of sesame seed oil, coffee, and chai tea, burning the inside of my nostrils. I find myself sniffing deeper without meaning to, breathing him in—though I don’t dare look up from the book lying open on my lap, and I never stop reading aloud.

“These violent delights have violent ends…” My voice trails off as my grip on the page slips, accidentally smudging a neat row of printed font. Just like that, Shakespeare becomes a black stain on my sweat-soaked fingers, and I can’t stop thinking the same thing over and over again.

It has to be a lot of blood.

So thick, that the smell churns my stomach. I have to breathe in through my mouth, which doesn’t really help me escape the other flavors wafting from his corner. Smoke. Not exactly like that from a cigarette…it’s more pungent than that. Acrid—as if someone dumped lit charcoal on my tongue, and I’m instantly reminded of the time Rory took me to his precinct’s gun range on some misguided attempt to help me “break out of my shell.”

I will always remember that sound. The weight of the weapon in the palm of my hand. The smell that filled my lungs the moment I’d pulled the trigger.

The man watching me from the back of the semi-crowded restaurant smells like blood. He tastes like gun smoke. He has eyes like midnight that watch impatiently as I fidget beneath the spotlight.

“And in their triumph die.”

Scattered applause erupts from the audience, but it’s noticeably halfhearted. Rather than read one of my own poems, I’d recited a classic; the ultimate cop-out. Boo. Hiss. Snore.

On another night, I’d die of embarrassment and swear to try harder next time. Tonight, I’m shaking for an entirely different reason as I scramble up from the stool and make my way off stage. May, the host of Feng Noodle House’s poetry night, smiles at me. I try my best to smile back, but I can’t quite make my lips move when my eyes are too busy drifting in the opposite direction.

To him. His hands are hidden within the pockets of a black leather jacket, which shields most of his bulky frame. He’s paired it with a simple pair of jeans…but there are even darker splotches speckling the denim. They catch my eye and send my brain scrambling to come up with a logical explanation. The result of the earlier rainstorm? Or the cause of that fucking smell?

Breathe. The silent command helps. I suck in air and blow it out as I make my way through the narrow dining room while someone else takes the vacated stage. Her poem is original, and she recites each word clearly, displaying a distinct flow—though I only hear the opening line: “Life is but a series of cruel intentions…”

It’s still enough to resonate inside me, more deeply than Shakespeare’s words ever could as I shove my tattered copy of Romeo and Juliet into my bag.

Life is a series of cruel intentions. Some inflicted by others. Some we inflict upon ourselves. Like the way I take the time to button up my coat before palming the brass handle of the main door. For a moment, it’s almost like I’m a normal woman preparing for a normal walk home from a night of humiliating herself for the umpteenth time.

A normal woman who isn’t counting the heavy, abnormal footsteps following in her wake. One. Two. Ten. Fifty.

It’s like my shadow has substance, matching me step for step with every inch that I travel toward my apartment. Some nights, it’s easier to pretend that the sounds are just from the many other commuters heading home—I’m not the only person in the world, after all. If I try hard enough at make-believe, I can imagine that there is no specter who creeps closer once my apartment building comes into view. Neither is there any suspiciously warm air ghosting the back of my neck. Or the hand that shoots out the moment I reach for the battered door to my building, pinning it in place.

“Will you let me in tonight?” The voice is gruff—male—and the name he calls me isn’t in English. On his tongue, it sounds like “woo deep moie.”

Butterfly girl.

Altogether, it’s such a cheesy line that I choke on something that could have been a laugh in another setting. Tonight, however, when paired with the blood—God, I can taste it now that he’s this close—the words take on a bitter edge. There’s a challenge hidden in his tone. A challenge that’s always there, no matter how many times we play out the same scenario.

“Have you wised up, Amy?”

I mull that question over. It’s late, and it’s quiet enough to hear the sounds that drift through the paper-thin walls of the building. Someone coughs. A woman laughs. A television blares. My fingers tremble as they clutch my canvas messenger bag, and I shift it to my other shoulder in an attempt to hide the nerves.

“You’re afraid,” he deduces, each word heating the back of my neck like the blast from a furnace.

“You’re bleeding,” I counter, lowering my voice to a whisper.

Drip. Drip. I swear I can hear each telltale drop hitting the pavement while a familiar urgency shakes me to the core. Let him in, damn it! For some reason, it’s so much harder this time to wrestle one of my hands from my side and use it to swat his away. As he withdraws, I curl my grip around the metal handle and pull the door open, revealing a narrow hallway, painted gray.

“Come in.” I choke out the words, but he’s already on my heels, driving me up the three flights of stairs to my flat.

About Lana Sky

Lana Sky is a reclusive writer in the United States who spends most of her time daydreaming about complex male characters and legless cats. She writes mostly paranormal romance, in between watching reruns of Ab Fab and drinking iced tea. Only iced tea.

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Something for the Pain By Victoria Ashely ♥ Release Day Blitz

Cover Model’s Page (Robert Simmons)

Photographer’s Page (Eric David Battershell/FI Tography)

Cover Designer’s Page (Cover It Designs)

Tempting, inked and highly addictive. Alex is all that and more…

I’ve made a lot of mistakes – ones I’m not proud of, and definitely ones that have left their marks both mentally and physically.

Things got lonely; I got lost in my own fucked up mind and in the end it left me fucked out of my mind and unable to fight – or at least win. That life’s over for me and I’ve moved on.

Six months into tattooing at Blue’s and already I’m the most wanted and sought out tattooist. My biggest clientele consists of women.

They come into the shop, end up in my bed and we both come out happy. It’s been my release since I’ve stopped fighting. It’s become part of the “new” me.

But when Tripp reappears in my life, I can’t deny the fact that I would do anything for that girl.

One night of free passion could change our lives forever.

I never said that was a good thing either…

Amazon US § Amazon UK § B&N

I’m in my room getting ready when I hear the shower turn on. The party starts in about fifteen minutes so Alex must be getting ready too.

Just out of curiosity, I walk over to the bathroom door and turn the handle. It moves, but I don’t push it open. It’s unlocked. That thought excites me, making me realize that he didn’t care enough to lock it, and knowing that I could walk in at any time and see him naked elevates my core temp a little. I just find that to be so damn hot.

That’s an open invitation… right?

I release the handle and suck in a small breath when I hear him moan out, followed by what sounds like his hand slapping against the shower wall.

Oh. My. God. That is the sexiest sound I have ever heard. That low, deep growl is all it takes to get me wet.

Collecting myself, I back away from the door and take a deep breath. My legs feel shaky. “Don’t do this right now, Tripp. Dammit, don’t do this.” Shaking it off, I go back to stand in front of the mirror one last time, questioning the way I look in my newest little dress.

Dresses are my thing. It doesn’t matter how many I own, I can never have enough. Plus, I love the way Alex looks at me every time he sees me in a new dress. His wandering eyes always cause my heart to flutter out of my chest. I just hope this little red dress is enough to get his attention.

I’m in the middle of turning around to check out my ass, when I hear the bathroom door open, followed by a whistle.

Please be naked…. What am I saying? Don’t be naked.

Cautiously, I turn my head toward the bathroom door, with my eyes squinted, to see Alex standing there in a towel. He looks so damn sexy that I feel as if all the air has been sucked from my lungs. My chest aches as I stare him up and down, watching as the water drips from his beautiful, tattooed body.

He checks me out with a smirk before whistling again. “Damn, Firecracker. That dress was made just for you.” He places his hand over the bulge in his towel and bites his bottom lip. “You look beautiful. Stop second-guessing yourself. I’ll see you downstairs in five.”

He turns around, pulling the towel away right before he closes the door behind him. My mouth drops open from the glimpse of his ass that I am left with. It’s so firm and perfect that all I can think about is biting it… and the way it flexed when he walked. Is it normal for an ass to look that good?

“I hate you sometimes,” I whisper.

“Who do you hate sometimes?”

I shake my head and look at my doorway to see Lucas standing there, dressed in a black shirt and a pair of gray shorts. He raises his eyebrows, waiting for my response.

“No one.” I walk over to him and plaster on my best smile, trying to pretend that I’m not still thinking about those sounds I heard coming from the shower. “I was talking to myself. Just second-guessing my outfit, I guess.”

Wrapping his arms around me, he kisses my shoulder and brushes my hair behind my ear. “Well, I would have loved to see you in a pair of short shorts and a tank top tonight, but this dress works too.”

I roll my eyes before pulling away from him and bumping him out of the way with my hip. “I didn’t feel like wearing shorts, Lucas. This dress makes me feel good. If I feel good, then I have a good time and enjoy myself. That’s all I want tonight.”

“Me too, baby,” he responds. “We’re going to have a lot of fun. Trust me.”

I start walking into the hallway, but feel his hand slide up my dress, slipping a finger inside of me. I stop right outside of my room and swallow. Closing my eyes, I begin imagining it were Alex.

“Holy shit, you are wet!” Wrapping his arm around my waist, he starts sliding his finger in and out, while moaning in my ear. “So damn wet. You’ve never been this wet before.”

Opening my eyes, I look over to see Alex leaning against the wall next to his door, with his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes wander down to Lucas’ hand and then up to meet my eyes.

Out of instinct I push Lucas away and pull my dress down to cover my ass back up. My heart is pounding like crazy. “Holy shit, Alex. I didn’t know you were out here.”

Lucas doesn’t even seem to care that Alex just witnessed him fingering me. I bet he wouldn’t be too happy to find out that Alex is the real reason I was already wet and not because of him.

He sucks his finger into his mouth and smiles at Alex. “Hey, man. People are arriving and there’s some hot chick downstairs looking for you. I told her you were almost ready.”

I can see the aggravation on Alex’s face as he nods his head and walks past us. “Sure, man. Thanks.”

My heart continues to race as I watch Alex quickly descend the stairs to be with a random chick that will get the one thing I have wanted for as long as I can remember, but unlike her, I can’t have.

Clearing my throat, I tilt my head back as Lucas pushes me against the wall and kisses my neck. “Come on, Lucas,” I say stiffly. “People are waiting on us.” Not that I actually care. The truth is I don’t really want to fuck Lucas after seeing the look on Alex’s face. I have no idea what that look meant, but it was enough to make me want to forget it. He seemed bothered by our show.

Lucas spreads my legs open with his thigh, before running a hand up my leg and cupping my mound. “Shit, I’m so horny right now. Is it wrong that the thought of Alex watching me fuck you is turning me on? I might even like to watch him fuck you. Damn, baby.”

I feel a surge of heat shoot through me and can feel the wetness dripping through my bikini bottom now. The thought of Alex and fuck in the same sentence makes it hard to think straight.

“Yeah,” I whisper. “And do you think Alex would like that?” For some reason, I want to hear what he thinks about Alex. He’s been around us enough to know more than anyone.

“Are you kidding me?” He pushes me harder against the wall and kisses my neck again, lost in his lust to have me. “Alex probably fantasizes about fucking you every day… about sticking his dick into your tight little pussy.”

I moan out as he slips his finger back inside and slowly starts pumping. “Damn… so wet and so tight.” He starts pumping faster and harder. “You want Alex to fuck you? Huh, baby? You want him to bust his load inside of you?”

I find myself moaning louder as I picture Alex inside of me.

“Maybe he can slide his hand up this dress later and finger fuck you just like I am. Do you think about doing that with your best friend? Huh? Do you imagine him pushing his fingers deep inside you? The same ones that he holds that tattoo gun with… You like that, huh? All the girls do.” He speeds up again, going as deep as he can and I lose it. My whole body shakes from my orgasm and I have to grip onto Lucas’ shirt to keep from falling.

“Oh fuck!” I try to keep quiet, but the orgasm just seems to keep rolling through me, shaking me to my core. “Damn you, Lucas! You just don’t listen,” I say breathlessly.

“Fuck. That was fast though, baby. You loved it.”

I turn away and focus on catching my breath as the waves slowly begin to stop. He thinks that my orgasm was due to his abilities, but he couldn’t be more wrong. If I didn’t realize how much I wanted to have sex with Alex… well I do now. Lucas just helped confirm it.

She is the author of Wake Up Call, This Regret, Slade, Hemy, Cade, Thrust, and Get Off on the Pain. Victoria is currently working on more releases for 2015.

Victoria’s Facebook Page

Never Say Never By Emily Goodwin ♥ Release Blitz

Title: Never Say Never

Author: Emily Goodwin

Genre: Full length, stand-alone contemporary romance

Release Date: September 28, 2015

Amazon US § Amazon UK

Blurb

My life was full of nevers.

It was never supposed to go this way. I was never supposed to lose Mom so soon. I was never supposed to worry about making ends meet, to worry about losing the farm. I never thought I’d be working a job I hate, with a boss who was more interested in what was under my shirt than in my head. Saving neglected and abused horses had been my whole life. It was my reprieve, my sanity, my last saving grace in a cruel world. I never thought I’d grow to resent it, but I guess there is a first for everything.

Then I met him.

The Hollywood playboy. The entitled, cocky asshole that I can’t get out of my head. I never thought there could be more to him than sex appeal and an infamous reputation of loving and leaving. I never thought I’d fall for him, put my heart on the line, and risk letting him completely destroy me.

But you know what they tell you…never say never.

Excerpt

A tear rolls down her cheek and she bites her lip, trying not to cry. Then her face breaks and her shoulders slump forward. I stand there, shaking, terrified of the raw emotion. My heart breaks for her and I rush forward, wrapping her in my arms as she sobs. It’s beautiful and it’s tragic, and in that moment, I’ve never felt anything more real.

The pain. The sorrow. Her loss. The darkness I try to hard to keep out, that I fight tooth and nail but can never fully avoid. I hold her and feel it all. It swarms around me, filling me, hurting me, opening my eyes. I realize everything I’ve done to desperately hold it together slowly chipped away at me until there was nothing left, nothing but a shell of a man with an empty heart that I never though was capable of feeling anything but hurt. A heart I thought was never worthy of a second chance, was never capable of redemption.

It’s then that I realize I never, ever want to let her go.

And it’s crazy, because I don’t know her—really know her—but there is something so intimate about holding someone as they cry. It exposes so much, and you can’t hold back as the tears fall and the sadness comes out in waves. I feel my own eyes mist over. I close them and cradle Haley close to me.

“There’s nothing wrong with you,” I tell her. “I promise you that.”

“Look at me,” she repeats. “Have you ever had a date end this way?”

“Our date didn’t even start,” I say. “And hey, you didn’t go crazy and shave your head, so I say you’re doing all right.”

She laughs, and her arms slowly wrap around me. Something inside me relaxes. I sit and pull her onto my lap and we stay there in silence for a few minutes. Gently, I push her hair out of her face. “Want that drink now?” She laughs again and nods.

“I need that drink now.” She stands up and wipes her eyes, smearing her makeup across her cheeks. “And really, I won’t hold it against you or call the tabloids on you if you drop me off at home and call it a night.”

Tabloids? The word is jarring. For a few minutes I was the real Aiden again…and I didn’t mind. “It’s up to you, Haley. I’m not mad or upset, so don’t worry. I don’t like seeing you sad, and if you’d like, I want to try and cheer you up.”

“I’d like that.”

I stand and drape my arm around her. “Are you hungry? I can go get the food.”

“I am. And thanks, Aiden. I…I don’t know.”

“What?” I probe.

“I’m surprised by your kindness.”

“Ouch,” I say with a chuckle. “Thanks?”

She smiles and takes a step toward the restaurant. “Hey, you can’t really blame me, can you?”

I can’t, because I’ve fooled the world—and at times, myself—about who I really am. The partying, the women, the excessive spending, and run-ins with the American law…okay, so maybe I had a reputation. “No, I can’t. But I’m glad I surprised you.”

couple in love on the beach in autumn

About the Author

Facebook | Goodreads | Website

Emily Goodwin is the author of the twice banned dark romance, STAY, as well as over a dozen other titles. Emily writes all types of romance, from love stories set in the zombie apocalypse to contemporary romances taking place on a western horse ranch. Emily lives in Indiana with her husband, children, and many pets, including a German Shepherd named Vader. When she isn’t writing, Emily can be found riding her horses, designing and making costumes, and sitting outside with a good book.

Lovestrong (The Kingdom) By Nikki Groom ♥ Cover Reveal

Lovestrong (the Kinddom) By Nikki Groom

Title: LOVESTRONG (The Kingdom, #3)

Author: Nikki Groom

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: October 19, 2015

Cover Design by: Hang Le

Synopsis

Growing up wasn’t easy for Lottie. As an only child with self-absorbed parents, she soon learned that the one person she could depend upon was herself. A brave face and defensive self-preservation kept her strong.

Then Lottie met Spike.

He didn’t see her little habits as frustrating; he embraced them.

He didn’t run from her fiery temper and sharp tongue; he admired her for her tenacity.

He loved her and she loved him.

And somehow, despite Lottie’s reluctance to let her guard down, Spike King managed to burrow his way in to her gentle heart and penetrate that steely armour she surrounded herself with.

Then one night it all changed.

A family vendetta.

A life shattering hit and run.

A moment that would change their lives forever.

Will their love be strong enough to pull them back together?

Or will the damage from that one fateful night keep them apart for ever?

Authors note: Spike and Lottie’s story can be read as a stand alone.

However, to appreciate their personalities and the journey they have been on to get to this book, you should really read Holding Aces (The Kingdom 1) and High Stakes (The Kingdom 2).

Pre Order Your Copy Today for only 99¢!

Amazon US | Amazon UK

Holding Aces (The Kingdom, #1)

Amazon US | Amazon UK

They say that time heals all wounds.
But mine are set in so deeply, they’ve taken on a life of their own, lurking in the shadows at every turn and haunting my thoughts.

The girl I once was has been replaced by a stranger.
I don’t even know who I am anymore.

I run.
And I hide.
Pretending to be someone I’m not…

Until I meet Denham King.
My burst of color in an otherwise grey world.
And for the first time in my life, I find myself running towards someone instead of running away.

But fate can be cruel,
and I can’t escape my past.
Can I?

High Stakes (The Kingdom, #2)

Amazon US | Amazon UK

“Stupid. Beautiful. Girl. How did you ever think you could be free?”

The last words I heard before the darkness took me and my dreams were shattered

I was on my way to having it all.
Friends, family and a future.
Everything I had wished for but never thought possible.

Denham King showed me just how good life could be. A life where love and happiness were within reach.

Almost.

I should have known it would never last.
My past is a dark, damp cloud, that has seeped into my skin and left a cold promise.
A promise of hurt and pain.
A promise of a long, hard fight, where the stakes are high and the risks threaten lives.

When your world gets thrown in all directions, and your dreams for the future are torn from your grasp; how do you go on?

Can I fight the demons that haunt me?
Can love save me from fate’s cruel path?

About the Author

Nikki Groom is a hopeless romantic, lover of all things happily ever after and firm believer that love makes the world go around.
In her spare time, you will find Nikki laughing with her very treasured family, walking with her beloved dog in the hundred acre wood or curled up in a cosy corner with words and wine.
She lives in East Sussex with her husband and two children. Having turned her hand to many things over the years, Nikki is now proud to add ‘author’ to that list.
Having always been a dreamer, Nikki’s imagination stretches far and wide, which enables her to get lost in faraway places and imaginary people.

Nikki loves to chat, especially about books! You can find her here…

Aurora James By Jessica Ingro ♥ Release Blitz & 5 Star Review

Synopsis

WEARY. DESPERATE. BROKE.

I did what I had to do to save her.

I sold my soul to survive.

I fell in love with the devil himself.

I’m Aurora James, and this is my story.

DANGEROUS. MENACING. FORMIDABLE.

He is darkness and danger; I am his light.

He is cold and ruthless; I am his warmth.

He is a heartless pimp; I am his whore.

And this is our beginning

Buy Links
Amazon US ➜http://bit.ly/AuroraJamesAM
Amazon UK ➜ http://bit.ly/AuroraJamesAMUK
B&N ➜ http://bit.ly/AuroraJamesBN
Kobo ➜ http://bit.ly/AuroraJamesKobo
iTunes ➜ http://bit.ly/AuroraJamesiTunes

Excerpt

My mouth hung open as I took in the sight of the man standing in the doorway.

He was easily six foot three, with black hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed as if they saw right through me. His facial features were hard and masculine, like that of a gladiator—strong jaw, straight nose, high cheekbones. And good lord, he was built. His muscles were barely contained by the blue dress shirt that covered his upper body. And through his black suit pants, I could see large, muscular thighs.

“Please don’t tell me this is the situation,” he said to Ghost in an infuriated tone.

“Sure is.” Ghost’s grin stretched across his face and if I knew any better, I’d say he thought the whole situation was amusing, which only served to take me from self-pity to straight out pissed off. Nothing about a single mother struggling to make ends meet was funny in my opinion.

I narrowed my eyes and opened my mouth to curse when the man shut the door behind him, drawing my attention back towards him. He really was a fine specimen of eye candy. Muscles in my lower belly clenched at the unbidden thought of his large body over mine.

“Why the fuck did you bother me with this?” the man snapped, clearly pissed off and not finding the situation amusing either.

“She wants to dance out front,” Ghost explained.

“All the girls dance out front,” the man replied in agitation.

“She only wants to dance out front,” Ghost further explained.

A bark of disbelief came from the man’s lips, and he turned his full attention to me.

“What makes you think you’re better than the other girls here?”

“I… I don’t,” I stammered. His gaze was hard and his eyes were cold as they raked over my body with precision.

“Then bend over and show me what you’re working with or get the fuck out.”

The color drained from my face at his harsh words, even as those muscles tightened again in anticipation. This was insane. No way could I possibly be this turned on by a stranger who was a complete asshole.

And in the end isn’t that exactly what Kevin ended up being? A stranger and complete asshole? My inner voice taunted me.

“Who do you think you are coming in here and demanding me to bend over like I’m nothing more than a piece of meat?” I demanded. I was in full-on defensive mode. I hated being talked about like I wasn’t in the room, and I despised being treated like a piece of shit.

He closed the distance between us until he was so close his breath caressed the skin on my cheek. My heart galloped wildly in my chest at being this close to him. I had to fight the urge to lean forward, bury my nose in his neck and sniff his collar when his woodsy scent wafted around me.

“Don’t you ever question who the fuck I am. I’m motherfucking God as far as you’re concerned. No one steps into my den and shows me disrespect. No one. You got that?” His tone held a razor-sharp edge that I felt lash at my skin with each word.

“Yes,” I squeaked out, my head bobbing up and down in concurrence. If I’d thought Ghost was scary before, he had nothing on this man. He was on a whole other level from scary. The word scary would be closer to describing a tiny little bunny than it would be to describing him.

Coherent thoughts flew out of my head when I felt his hand on my hip. His touch was a hot brand against my skin, making my breath come in harsh pants. His proximity was breaking down all my defenses and making me feel like a bitch in heat.

The material of my thong tightened against my skin right before I heard the material rip. I looked down in disbelief at the torn lace dangling from his large hand.

Holy shit. He destroyed my underwear… with onehand.

First off let me say if you have never read one of Jessica Ingro, books you are missing out on so much. This women has amazingly wicked talent of telling stories!!!! I took this ARC on because I have always loved everything Jessica has put out for her readers. Let me tell you this one is no less proof of her talent. I was taken in from the first page and refused to lay this book down.

You are taken into the life of Alyssa, her only goal is to take the best care of her daughter, Sophie. Husband in jail leaves her no choice to take a job at an upscale strip club that has special perks for those wanting to pay extra.

She is given the job by Xavier owner and operator of the strip club. He can’t seem to get her out of his mind and has a fierce drive to protect her. He sees the women he employee change and refuse to let this happen to Alyssa who becomes known as Aurora James. Xavier refuse to see where the attraction between the two of them can go because of his enemies, yet he refuse to let anyone else touch her. How long can he resist the want of caring for Alyssa and her daughter that you will have to read to find out?

I loved the way that this story burned up the pages. I was beyond ready to strangle Xavier at time and then I wanted to pull him in and show him that he could be loved. This is one read that is going to have you yelling and screaming at all involved, too get their heads on straight!!!

The Cliffhanger in this read is to die for. Jessica you have surpassed yourself with the story. I am looking forward to the next book.

About the Author

Jessica is the author of the Love Square series. She grew up in Central
New York, where she spends her days as a Security Analyst at an IT consulting
company. In her free time, she enjoys reading books and developing ideas for
her own stories. Writing is her secret passion that she’s been fostering since
elementary school, when she wrote her first book about a puppy. It has always
been a dream of hers to be able to share her stories with the world.

Jessica currently lives in New York with her husband and three
dogs.

Social Media Links

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Perfection Is Just An Illusion by Rebecca Barber

Title: Perfection Is Just An Illusion

Author: Rebecca Barber

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: October 6, 2015

Synopsis

James Thompson is an Olympic swimmer with gold medals, world records, and million-dollar sponsorship deals…

But his fiancée Anna White is just an ordinary girl—or so she believes.

When James takes her home for a visit and encounters her childhood friends and sleazy, jealous ex-boyfriend, Grant, he sees for the first time just how far apart their worlds really are.

Anna’s so-called friends undermine and backstab, but James is up for the challenge…

James is determined to make Anna see that while she might have once been an ugly duckling, she is now a stunning swan, and the only woman for him.

As the London World Championships approach, media scrutiny of their relationship intensifies, and an intimate secret is uncovered…making their promise to each other nearly impossible to keep.

Caught up in a whirlwind of press coverage, and championship competition…

James and Anna find the stress almost overwhelming, and they struggle to maintain focus on their goals. But when victory finally appears certain, an old menace resurfaces and threatens to violate all James and Anna hold dear.

Is it possible to have a perfect life?

A perfect love?

Or is perfection just an illusion…

Excerpt

“When he comes over please don’t say anything stupid or act funny around him. Please. I’m begging you. He’s just a normal guy like you and me,” Anna pleaded, wide eyed.

At the mention of the ‘normal guy,’ Anna couldn’t help but notice the wide, suspicious eyes staring back at her. It was obvious that her comments had had the exact opposite effect than the one she’d been after. Instead of acting natural and normal, now Anna was worried what would fall out of their mouths. And what confused her more was why. After all, they’d all known each other for years, but now and all of a sudden Anna didn’t trust them. Not as far as she could throw them.

But in the same moment the thought crossed her mind, James edged his way around the bar toward them. Daniel was first to see and recognise him. Anna watched on, horrified, as his mouth fell open, his eyes firmly fixed on James’s approaching figure. And slowly but surely, one by one, everyone else’s gaze followed.

Anna hated her home town in that moment. And she knew James would have as well. This was why they never went anywhere or did anything. The whole bar was watching him. Every move he made was scrutinized, and as he passed by tables, Anna was disgusted to notice conversations fell short. People stopped pushing buttons on the poker machines, and even the bar attendants froze mid-pour as the entire club fell silent. But to James’s credit and Anna’s delight, he continued to walk purposefully across the room, his head held high, and took his seat next to Anna, offering her a glass of mineral water and a reassuring smile as she made introductions.

Anna had never felt so many pairs of eyes on them at once. She felt them boring into her soul. So she did something she never would have done if she had been thinking straight. It was Anna’s greatest weaknesses; she was rash and impulsive. And when provoked, she tended to react first and think later. So she kissed James. In the middle of the crowded room, with hundreds of eyes fixated on them, she kissed him. It worked, luckily. Shocked people returned to what they were doing, leaving Anna’s cheeks burning. She could hear their names being whispered amongst patrons, but at least the staring and deafening silence was over. She heard rumours beginning to take shape, about how she—a nobody—had just kissed the superstar swimmer.

About The Author

Rebecca, one of four kids to her parents who are both primary school teachers, was born in Wollongong on the south coast of Australia before moving to the country with her family. After a few years of embracing all that country life had to offer, the family relocated to Port Macquarie with its white sand beaches. After a brief period enjoying the sun and the surf they finally settled in Canberra where Rebecca still lives today. But all through her childhood a notepad and a book where never far away. These days Rebecca is an avid reader, and when she isn’t buried in a book or cheering on her beloved football team she’s spending time with her husband Robert and their overly spoilt dog Levi.

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Fates Divided By Jules Barnard ♥ Blog Tour

Fates Divided
by Jules Barnard
Halven Rising #1
Publication Date: August 31, 2015
Genres: Contemporary, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance

Amazon • Nook • Kobo • iBooks • Google Play

Elena Rosales has busted her ass to get into a good college. She’s the only one in her family ever to attend, and expectations are high. No pressure. But Elena’s got this one in the bag, because she’s as dependable as the molecules she studies, as reliable as the chemical reactions that comfort her in their predictability. Until they don’t.

Elena has always wondered why her mother abandoned her on her first birthday. It’s not until she turns eighteen and her chemistry experiments go berserk that she learns the truth: Her mother wasn’t human, and the Fae are willing to harm those Elena loves if she doesn’t use her power over the elements to cure them of a deadly disease.

Derek, Elena’s brooding neighbor, isn’t the friendliest guy, but he has access to an off-hours lab and is willing to help Elena create the antivirus. He has his own secrets to keep, and this business Elena is mixed up in could blow his cover. But when Elena and Derek get together, more than chemicals spark fire-and they soon discover just how complicated attraction can get when they find themselves on the other side of the portal, fighting for survival. Lives collide, and allegiance and love are tested, in Fates Divided.

About Jules Barnard

Before turning to storytelling, Jules earned a master’s degree in public health and spent many an hour running statistical analysis–until she realized her favorite part of the job was writing reports. She decided to cut out the math and add in some hot guys, and so began her career as a novelist.

Jules is a Northern California native living on the coast with her husband and two children. She has no impulse control around cupcakes and credits herself with the ability to read while running on the treadmill or burning dinner.

Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads

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Vengeance (The Journals Trilogy) By D.M. Earl ♥ Cover Reveal

Title: Vengeance (Book two In The Journals Trilogy)

Author: D.M. Earl

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: Coming Soon

Synopsis

I am a survivor.

Ten years ago, my world was shattered. One night changed my life forever by a sadist who took everything from me, just because he could. And while he did this, a green-eyed stranger watched and did nothing … or so I thought.

When my past and present collide, I am swept away by all the memories, horrors, and dreams of my past.

I want revenge.

And finally, after all the years of pain and sacrifices I’ve had to make, an opportunity presents itself. Within a twenty-four hour period, my tormenter and my green-eyed watcher enter my life once again.

Seeing this as my chance, I begin to make use of my blue journal, detailing my plans for revenge; taking matters into my own hands. Will I have what it takes to ignore what is right and wrong? To bring myself to make the men still alive pay for what they took from me? And how do I forgive the man I hold partially responsible when he’s the one supplying me with the means to get what I want?

With only a small window of time available, I have to be ready to take back my life, consequences be damned.

Because of my ANGUISHED past, my present will always be filled with VENGEANCE.

I am Quinn. This is my life—my story.

About The Author

D.M. Earl resides in Northwest Indiana. An avid reader for many many years she has finally taken the jump to start writing her own stories professionally. When not reading or writing D.M can be found on her Harley Dyna hitting the road beside her husband riding his own Harley Ultra Classic.

D.M. enjoys her “kids” 4 dogs, 2 indoor cats & 3 outdoor cats. D.M. loves to be outside be it reading, writing or sitting on the deck listening to the chimes with the dogs at her feet. Also her love of gardening is reflected in numerous flower beds and a large vegetable garden.

Please check out her Author pages at:

Amazon | Facebook | Twitter | Email

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Boss Me (Rivers Edge) By Lacey Black ♥ Cover Reveal

Boss Me
Rivers Edge book 5
Lacey Black

Last man standing. That’s the way it feels when Will Stevens looks at the happiness and fulfillment his siblings have found. Will isn’t necessarily looking for “happily ever after” but…what if? The one thing that helps him get through the loneliness of bachelorhood is his job. As a paramedic with Rivers Edge Health Care, Will is dedicated to saving lives. But one person has the potential to jeopardize everything he has worked for: his boss.

Carmen Brady is a woman working in a man’s world. Determined to be taken as a serious professional, Carmen is hard and ruthless on the job; not interested in being anyone’s friend. There’s no room for personal relationships in the workplace, and Carmen is unwavering in her pursuit to run a tight ship in the Emergency Department at Rivers Edge Health Center. Yet, as much as she tries, Carmen can’t seem to stop thinking about one man she can’t have: her employee.

What happens when the line between work and personal is crossed? Can Will and Carmen keep the two worlds separated? Everything comes down to a single choice: love or career?

Links to buy:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1YcjC24

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B015BS3LWE

Amazon CA: http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B015BS3LWE

Other Books in the Rivers Edge Series

Trust Me Rivers Edge Series – Book 1 (FREE)

After all of the devastating betrayals by the one she loved, Twenty-two year old Avery Stevens has spent three years raising her daughter alone, with her family and best friend as a support system, never leaving her small hometown of Rivers Edge, Missouri. Though Rivers Edge holds the pain of her past, it also holds the one person she wants but can’t have – her brother’s best friend, Maddox Jackson. When she learns the attraction might not be one-sided, will Avery be able to trust Maddox with the one thing she’s held onto tightly for the past few years?

Police officer Maddox Jackson is a ladies’ man with one foot out the door. Never planning to settle down, Maddox fights the attraction he feels for his best friend’s little sister, Avery. But can he continue to fight it when his body and his heart are leading him to the one woman he shouldn’t want?

When secrets are finally exposed, can Avery and Maddox trust each other enough to overcome the past, handle the present, and preserve their future? Can Avery trust Maddox with her heart? Will Maddox be able to convince Avery to take the chance?

**This book is intended for an audience of 18 or older due to graphic sex scenes and language.

Links to Buy:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Fight Me Rivers Edge Series – Book 2

Jake Stevens has it made. A local police officer with an open invitation to any number of beds around town, Jake has no desire to settle down with any of the ladies he entertains by night. After watching his best friend fall in love with his little sister, Jake is certain that love and marriage just aren’t in his cards. Heck, he’s not even playing with the same deck.

After Jake encounters a blast from the past one night, he finds himself swimming in uncharted waters. For the first time, Jake has found a woman he can’t get out of his mind. The kicker? The woman wants nothing to do with him.

Erin Anderson returns to the small Missouri town of Rivers Edge for a job after a twenty year absence. Erin spent years loathing the memory of Jake Stevens for his cruelness back in seventh grade. Now, Jake appears to be the same self-centered player he was in junior high, and no one seems to be able to push her button the way the cocky, yet devastatingly handsome cop does.

Between circumstances that keep thrusting them together and Jake’s persistence to annoy her, Erin struggles to fight her growing feelings for Jake. But, can Erin get past the hurt she felt all those years ago at the hands of a young Jake? Can Jake show Erin that what they have is worth fighting for?

Links to Buy:

Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble

Expect Me Rivers Edge Series -Book 3

Travis Stevens struggles to move on and forget about the one amazing night he spent tangled up in the sheets with a beautiful woman who disappeared just before dawn. Now she’s just a memory that he can’t ignore. But what do you do when the woman invades your thoughts day and night?

Josselyn McCray spent one perfect night wrapped up in the strong arms of a handsome stranger before running out in the early morning light. Now she’s out of money and luck and forced to make some life-altering decisions about her future. A future that is going to involve the man she hasn’t been able to forget.

Brought together by one night of passion, Travis and Josselyn are now linked forever. Will Travis and Josselyn be torn apart by demanding responsibilities and the stresses of getting to know each other? Or will they overcome the odds and find their way to happily ever after?

One thing is certain: life isn’t always what you expect.

*This book is intended for an audience of 18 or older due to graphic sex scenes and language.

**Can be read as a standalone but would be better enhanced by reading the previous books.

Cover by Gin’s Book Notes & Designs

Links to Buy:

Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble

Promise Me Rivers Edge Series -Book 4

Holly Jenkins watched her best friend finally get her happily ever after. While there’s no one more deserving than Avery Jackson, Holly can’t fight the longing and ache that settles in her chest when she thinks about her own solitary life. After kissing so many frogs, Holly starts to wonder if Prince Charming even exists.

Jase Bentley is worn out. As lead singer of the award winning rock band, Bent, Jase has everything he could possibly ever want at his fingertips. When you’re on top, the music industry moves everything within arm’s reach; money, fame, and women just ripe for the plucking. Everything except for the one thing he’s really looking for. The one dream he can’t seem to make come true.

What happens when two people from different worlds meet and are thrust into unfamiliar and unsettling territory? Can Holly navigate the demands of dating someone with a high profile profession? Can Jase walk away from the only lifestyle he’s ever known for the first woman who’s ever made him want to?

Promises are made, but can they keep them?

*This book is a novella. 36,000 words

Links to Buy:

Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble

Protect Me-Rivers Edge Book 5

Nate Stevens loves three things: Work, Family, Women. In that order. Having absolutely no desire to follow in three of his siblings’ footsteps by settling down, Nate lives for his work as a firefighter. That’s why his chance meeting with Lia leaves him unsettled like never before. There’s just something about the beautifully shy and reserved woman that he can’t walk away from.

Run. Hide. Keep moving. That’s exactly what Lia Walker has done for the last nine months. Escaping from her past, Lia continues to move from place to place before finding herself in the small town of Rivers Edge, Missouri. Following a chance encounter with her new boss’ brother, Nate, which leaves Lia feeling confused and vulnerable for the first time in months, Lia has to make a decision: to run or to stay.

When pasts are finally exposed, Nate and Lia find themselves at a crossroads. Nate will do anything to protect Lia from her past, but the question remains: Will Lia let him? When Lia’s past finally catches up with her, will running be the only way to protect the ones they love most in this world?

Links to Buy:

Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ iBooks

Author Bio

Lacey Black is a Midwestern girl with a passion for reading, writing, and shopping. She carries her e-reader with her everywhere she goes so she never misses an opportunity to read a few pages. Always looking for a happily ever after, Lacey is passionate about contemporary romance novels and enjoys it further when you mix in a little suspense. She resides in a small town in Illinois with her husband, two children, and a chocolate lab. Lacey loves watching NASCAR races and should only consume one mixed drink because she’s a lightweight.

Lacey’s debut novel, Trust Me, was released in August 2014. It spent several weeks in the top 100 in contemporary romance on Amazon’s Top 100 Best Sellers for e-books. Fight Me, book 2 in the Rivers Edge series, released December 2014 and was followed by Expect Me, Rivers Edge book 3 in February 2015 and Promise Me: A Novella in April 2015. All were Amazon Best Sellers in contemporary romance.

Email: laceyblackwrites@gmail.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthLaceyBlack

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/laceyblackwrite/

Tsu: https://www.tsu.co/LaceyBlack

Blog: https://laceyblack.wordpress.com

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Something for the Pain by Victoria Ashley ♥ Blog Tour

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Dragonfly By Lana Sky ♥ Cover Reveal

Something for the Pain By Victoria Ashely ♥ Release Day Blitz

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Never Say Never By Emily Goodwin ♥ Release Blitz

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Lovestrong (The Kingdom) By Nikki Groom ♥ Cover Reveal

Aurora James By Jessica Ingro ♥ Release Blitz & 5 Star Review

Perfection Is Just An Illusion by Rebecca Barber

Fates Divided By Jules Barnard ♥ Blog Tour

About Jules Barnard

Vengeance (The Journals Trilogy) By D.M. Earl ♥ Cover Reveal

Boss Me (Rivers Edge) By Lacey Black ♥ Cover Reveal

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