Thomas (Le Beau Series) By V.A. Dodd ♥ Cover Reveal

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Julia is happy with her place in the shifter community as the owner of the famous shifter bar, The Backwater. But the life she’s created for herself isn’t enough to satisfy her crazy-ass mother, Lucinda, who shops her and her sister Krystal around to the pure blood shifters like a piece of meat. Only a born shifter mate is good enough for her girls.

Thomas James has his hands full as the shifter king’s head of security. He certainly wasn’t looking for a girlfriend during the first annual shifter gathering. He had the king and queen to protect, not skirts to chase.

A childhood of emotional and physical abuse by his birth father has left Thomas emotionally unavailable and uninterested in romantic relationships. His father Tim’s cruelty to his mother and brother molded him into an extremely protective person. No one messes with his loved ones without answering to him.

Even though Julia and Thomas are destined to be mates. The obstacles standing between them and their happy ever after seem insurmountable.

Lucinda insists Julia stay away from the filthy human.

Tim is trying to kill everyone Thomas loves.

The mysterious Benevolent Sovereign who is trying to over through the throne, has sent swampers attack Thomas and destroy Julia’s lively hood.

With family like theirs, who needs enemies?

Will Julia and Thomas’s happiness be snuffed out before it has a chance to begin or will they forge through – obstacles be damned.

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Chapter One

“Hello?” Julia yawned into the phone.

Her alarm never had the chance to go off, her mother Lucinda beat it by a good thirty minutes. She was convinced she could hear Julia’s biological clock ticking, which was ridiculous since she had another six hundred years for children. No matter what Julia said it didn’t seem to penetrate her mother’s ears, so, here she was having the same conversation again.

“Julia, are you still in bed? Did you forget I’m bringing another family to your house this morning?

“I thought I told you not to bring them. I’m done with your parade mother.”

“For Goddess sake, get showered immediately. We’ll be at your door in one hour.”

“I’m not going to answer the door so don’t bother.”

Her mother ignored her as usual and one hour to the minute later was at her door.

Julia hung her head in frustration. She lost count years ago how many men her mother brought for the ‘sniff’ test. Each time it was the same, no mate. Like the little engine that could, Lucinda refused to give up.

The last time Julia locked the door and ignored her mother’s knocking, it resulted in a very ugly scene. Lucinda in the throws of an angry tirade was not a pretty sight. Her face turned a mottled shade of red right before she broke the door down and dragged the shocked men in after her.

Since that day she grudgingly opened the door, if not for her houses sake, then for the men, she could at least spare them the humiliation of a tantrum that would surely happen.

An hour later, Julia’s stomach was churning. She loathed the questions that came after each ‘visit’. Couldn’t her mother forget to ask, just once?

“Well?” Her mother, Lucinda asked impatiently from the doorway.

“Nothing.” Julia mumbled not bothering to look up from the romance she was reading. “I had no attraction. No scent. No telepathy.” She didn’t even bother to say she was sorry this time, because she wasn’t.

Lucinda snarled in frustration as she came fully into the room.

“I met with all the single men you just paraded through my house and had none of the mating signs. I don’t know what more you expect from me.” She sighed wearily.

“I expect you to accept one.”

Julia’s chin fell to her chest as a heavy sigh escaped. “You know as well as I do that it doesn’t work that way.”

“I’m sure if you made the extra effort to at least date them something would shake loose. How hard can it be? Just look at Cade and the human, Anna, they met in a bar in the French Quarter of all places. Not to mention, Simon and his mate Rose, yet another human to dilute the royal gene pool. She showed up at Cade’s house after she lost her job in Denver and now the family is stuck with her. And I heard a rumor that Stefan has found his mate, and you guessed it, a human. He bought her at the auction Simon had. I can’t believe Isaac can still hold his head up in public with his son’s mating lowlife humans. My daughters will mate with pure blood shifters and maintain the integrity of the blood line.”

Julia wanted to scream. A mating didn’t just shake loose, and there was nothing wrong with humans. Heck, most mates were human. There was no reasoning with her mother anymore, that ability had left the building along with Elvis years ago. She wasn’t sure if the animal part of her mother was taking over and acting erratic or if the human side was slipping into insanity.

Her mother leaned forward. “For years you have rejected the males I bring to you. It’s time you made a…”

“Mother, I know you want your children mated, but no matter how badly you want it, you can’t force it.”

“Just watch me.” Lucinda spat. “We are in line to gain the throne, the lineage must be continued and ready at all times.”

It was true the family needed to continue but mates and children came into a shifters life when the Goddess deemed it was the right time. The last thing you wanted to do was push the Goddess or try to circumvent her plan. Thinking that way was suicide.

Lucinda turned on her heel toward the door and then paused. “There will be a group of available males here Friday. This pack is out of Arizona. Pray one of them is acceptable to you.”

Once she was in her car and headed down the road Julia finally breathed easy again. Krystal would be home in a few hours and available to talk. They needed a plan, somehow they needed to find a way to approach father about mother’s behavior. The problem was her father, Charles, was completely blind to her mother’s oddities.

Julia turned the page of her book and settled deeper into her favorite easy chair; there was nothing she could do until Krystal got home. Tonight she was going to suggest again, that they bring Logan and Quinton into the conversation. It was time the boys knew what was going on behind the family’s back. Thinking it through she shook her head, she wouldn’t bother the twins Rémi and René just yet, they were too young to be dragged into this.

Once Lucinda got a notion in her head, she had a tendency to twist it until it fit her needs and desires. After that, she could never be swayed.

And her mothers drive to force both Krystal and Julia to find mates had reached critical mass.

“What are we going to do?” Julia whispered to herself.

 

Two weeks later

Morning was Julia’s favorite time of the day. The bar wasn’t open yet, and she had it all to herself as she wiped down tables and checked the bar stock.

The only problem was, it sometimes gave her too much time to think. Today was one of those times. She had her mother on her mind.

It wasn’t that her mother didn’t love her—she did. At least, she was pretty sure she did. But her mother was having some pretty extreme ideas of late. She apparently believed shifters should only mate other born shifters and humans were a scourge and diluted the bloodline.

In her disturbed mind, she believed if she dragged her daughters around to enough eligible shifter males she could somehow force a pureblood mating.

Julia and Krystal were tired of being paraded before one shifter family after another. Tired of letting hundreds of males sniff them in the hopes of finding a mate. It was straight up embarrassing.

As much as she loved the bayou, she was seriously considering tagging along with Krystal to Lucas’s Texas ranch. She heaved a sigh and took a good long look at the bar. All right, she would do it. If her mother tried to drag her out ‘visiting’ one more time she was packing up and heading for Texas.

*****

It had been a busy shift at her bar The Backwater and she was ready to relax in a bubble bath with a good romance.

Julia Le Beau came through her front door to a horrifying sight. Her beloved romance novels lay shredded and callously thrown in a pile. It must be her entire collection to create a mountain of pages and covers this large in her living room. A few feet from the carnage, lay a note on a side table. The room smelled of anger, frustration and her mother.

She was going to have to store her books in a safer place from now on. Huffing out an angry breath she picked up the note.

You need to get your head out of the clouds and look for a mate. You won’t find him in one of these human books. I’ve had it with your lack of interest in settling down. Pick out a mate or I will pick one for you.

Pick one for me?

“She has completely lost touch with reality.”

Every shifter knows you can’t just pick any old mate, you had to find the one who held the other half of your soul. It was time to have a private talk with her father. He needed to know how crazy she was acting.

Sighing, at one hundred and eighty, she was well past the age she had hoped to be mated by. Every year her mother had paraded available men into her quaint little house. Or worse dragged her out to them. Not a single one had been her other half. How exactly was she to blame for that?

Then she read the last sentence of the note.

 

You will attend the dance at your uncle Isaac’s on Saturday, perhaps this time you will find your mate.

Your Mother.

She audibly groaned. She hated being sniffed at by every single male who came within five feet of her.  It made her feel dirty. First thing she did after these set ups was take a long hot shower.

Julia thought back to the beginning of her ‘shame’, as her mother would describe it. She had gone to yet another event where she was set out like a prize to be won. When none of the men were a match, her parents announced that they were buying the Gator’s Tooth bar and grill and she would be the full time bar tender. Their hopes were she would stumble upon her mate amongst the patrons and visitors. The first thing Julia had done was rename the bar “The Backwater” to spite her mother.

Has it really been twenty years?

“I have six days before Isaac’s party; time enough to stock up on new books. Take that mother.”

At least her uncle’s party actually sounded fun. Her cousins would be there and she could hang out with them while avoiding her mother.

 

The day of the gathering

Stretching, Julia considered what to do with her free day. The gathering didn’t begin until seven that evening, and since everyone was invited, the Backwater was closed for the day.

Grabbing her robe, she slipped on her bunny slippers and made a beeline to the coffee maker. Goddess she loved her new programmable machine. No more waiting for the coffee to brew for this girl.

With steaming cup in hand she grabbed one of her new romance novels. A friend had recommended it, saying the storyline and names sounded like her cousin Cade and his mate Anna. She’d never read V.A. Dold before, but she hoped it would be good.

Not two chapters into the book and the last person she wanted to see walked through her door. Her mother. Lucinda took one look at the book and turned an interesting color of purplish red.

“Do you always barge into a persons home without knocking?” Julia asked coolly.

“Where did you get that?”

“The coffee? From the maker in the kitchen.”

“You know very well I’m not talking about the coffee.”

“Well, if you’re referring to my NEW book, touch it and die. And, if you think I’m kidding, try it.”

Lucinda was dumbstruck; Julia had never spoken to her like that before.

“Since I have a day of relaxation planned, why don’t you tell me why you’re here so I can get back to it?”

“I bought you a dress for the gathering. I was shopping for one for myself and saw this. It’s your favorite color and I’m sure it will be stunning on you.”

Lucinda held it out to Julia a little hesitantly. Interesting, She’d never seen her mother unsure of herself before.

 I’m going to have to tell her off more often.

“I wasn’t planning on wearing a dress, but I’ll try it on later and see what I think of it.”

“Wonderful. We’ll pick you up at six thirty.”

“No. You won’t. I’m driving myself.”

“But you have to ride with the family.”

“Why?”

“Because, that’s the way you travel to these gatherings. You arrive as a family pack.”

“Then I guess I’m starting a new tradition, because I’m going by myself.”

Lucinda narrowed her eyes at Julia, she was so mad Julia looked to see if steam was rising out of her ears. “You wait until I tell your father.”

“Go ahead. I’m still driving myself.”

Lucinda growled at her, spun on her heel, and slammed the door on her way out.

“Well,” Julia chuckled to herself. “That was pleasant.”

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 V.A.Dold is the bestselling author of the Le Beau Brothers series, New Orleans wolf shifter novels. A graduate of Saint Cloud University, she majored in marketing. Prior to becoming a full time writer, she was a publicist to the authors, owning ARC Author & Reader Con’s. Still is.
Her idea of absolute heaven is a day in the French Quarter filled with nothing but her computer, her coffee mug and the Brothers, of course.
A Minnesota native with her heart lost to Louisiana, she has a penchant for titillating tales featuring sexy men and strong women. When she’s not writing, she’s probably taking in a movie, reading or traveling.
Her earliest reading memories are from grade school. She had a major fixation with horses, and the Black Stallion was a favorite. Then junior high came along and teenage hormones kicked in. It became all about the Harlequin Romances. She has been hooked on romances ever since.

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THE DARKEST FROST by Tanya Holmes ♥ Cover Reveal

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Title: The Darkest Frost, Vol 1 of a 2-part serial (TDF, #1)

Author: Tanya Holmes

Genre: A Gothic paranormal romance with a twist.

Release Date: June 22, 2015

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Blurb

When the ghost of her best friend begs for her help, psychic detective Denieve Knight goes undercover as a live-in domestic to catch a killer. She sets her sights on the most likely suspect: her friend’s mysterious employer, Doctor Braeden Frost.

Dubbed “Dr. Death” by the press, the notorious hematologist is linked to nineteen other suspicious fatalities—all are former patients. The brooding recluse is a man of many secrets, the darkest of which may be lurking beneath the leather gloves he never removes.

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Excerpt

THE DARKEST FROST,

Volume 1 of a 2-part serial, © Tanya Holmes

Fear all but crippled me as I listened to the wind beating the treetops. Listened to the creaks and groans of the house. Took some effort, but I got up and inched my way to the door with legs as steady as rubber bands. I yanked it open only to find the hallway empty except for a fiery trail of footprints. Strangely, the carpet didn’t burn.

Were I not buck naked, I would’ve followed right then. Instead, I backed into my room, fully intending to throw something on. But twin headlights skipped along the wall through a crack in the drapes. I shut the door and edged over to the window to brush the heavy curtains back. High beams sliced into the darkness as a vehicle cruised up the hill, breaking free of the wispy fog.

A gunmetal-gray Jaguar taxied into the courtyard and pulled in beside my late-model Chevy. My adrenaline spiked as soon as the headlights doused. Moments later, Dr. Braeden Frost climbed from the car and slung a gray satchel over his shoulder. It appeared to be a medical bag. He was dressed in dark clothes—leather coat, pants, boots, and gloves. Even his silky hair was black. He would’ve melted into the night if not for the security lights flooding the grounds and the white aura framing his body.

I’d witnessed a similar illumination on others in his profession. Doctors. Nurses. Orderlies. Most everyone in health care. I’d seen the glow on cops and morticians too. In fact, all who came in direct contact with the dead and dying had it. Still, on Frost the neon radiance was chilling.

The wind rushed past him, sending the tail of his trench coat dancing on a breeze. Then as if he sensed my presence, his gaze shot to my window. Our eyes locked. His narrowed and I froze. Unable to move, unable to breathe, I stood rooted in place like a petrified tree. The man gave the word “presence” new meaning. He had a stillness about him, an eerie calm that chilled my blood. I was surprised yet intrigued. Intimidated yet inexplicably drawn to him.

An eternity passed before I found the will to duck away. I plastered my back against the wall, my gaze doing a mad search around the ruined room for something to put on. A light breeze hissed outside, but still I didn’t hear him move. Finally, a trunk opened and slammed shut. Next came the slow but steady sound of footsteps crunching gravel as he trudged around the left side of the house.

Downstairs a door wailed open. Floorboards creaked, then a stair, followed by another. I dashed around like a headless chicken, tearing through my clothes, desperate to find something—anything—to throw on. But then the footsteps stopped just outside my bedroom and a menacing shadow crept beneath the door.

The lock. I’d forgotten to click it.

I stood motionless in the center of the room, my gaze latched on the knob, my blood pulsing in a crazy rhythm. I was still frazzled from Caryn’s appearance, and all I kept thinking was, please, please, please don’t let him come in here with me naked as the day I was born, and the room a complete mess.

Seconds passed, and still the shadow remained. Lurking, looming, waiting.

Normally, I had to be in the same room with people to read their emotions, but only five feet separated us, and a strong odor of sulfur—anger—wafted in from the hallway. No mistaking the owner. The essence belonged to him. The smell ebbed, replaced by a hint of saltwater and allspice. The former scent was fear, the latter smacked of uncertainty. So Frost was angry, afraid, and confused by my presence. The realization made my heart go from thumping to pounding.

Seemed like hours before his shadow finally retreated. The creaking staircase should have calmed me, but I was still unnerved. I slammed my lids shut and listened to his footsteps and the jingle of keys, followed by a door groaning open. When it shut soundly moments later, I collapsed on the bed, landing in a wet heap.

What the heck had I gotten myself into?

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About the Author

Amazon Bestselling Author Tanya Holmes is a Golden Leaf double-finalist, a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart finalist, a recipient of the Maggie Award, the MICA Award, as well as Overall Winner of the Sandy Haddad Award and a two-time finalist and one-time winner of The Emily (Best of the Best). She’s happily married with children and loves reading, writing and a good cup of coffee—but not necessarily in that order. She has two novels coming out in 2015: The Darkest Frost, a two-part Gothic paranormal serial romance with a twist, and in 2016, Temptation’s Edge, a contemporary romance.

Connect with Tanya

About Me page | Amazon author page | Tsu | Twitter | Homepage

Goodreads author page | The Darkest Frost Facebook page

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Beyond Fame and Beyond Trust by Eve Connell ♥ Cover Reveal

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Book 1: Beyond Fame

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Book 2: Beyond Trust

Series: Beyond serial
Author: Eve Connell
Genre: Romantic Women’s Fiction
Release Date: mid-2015

Add BEYOND FAME to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25081209

Add BEYOND TRUST to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25081229

About Beyond Fame:

This is a story of Hollywood meets regular girl, of old best friends to something more … BEYOND FAME is the first book in a swoony, emotional, sexy new serial from romantic women’s fiction author Eve Connell.

—————

He’s the Hollywood A-lister everyone knows. Women adore his dark chocolate eyes, toned physique, and Italian charm, but they don’t know the man behind the fame, Jonno Favero. When a movie role brings him to Melbourne, his star-studded life gets the slap of reality he never saw coming.

Taylor Mendel despises her childhood best friend Jonno for breaking his promises to her and discarding her the moment he shot to fame. Twelve years later, it appears she’s built a happy life, however, she’s hiding a life-altering secret. And upon his return, Jonno shakes her world upside down.

He’d be wise to walk away.

But he can’t.

Because from the moment Jonno runs into twenty-four-year-old Taylor, he finally sees what he let go all those years ago—she’s the only girl he’s ever truly loved.

Too bad he’s twelve years too late to claim her heart.

Add BEYOND FAME to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25081209

Add BEYOND TRUST to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25081229

— (Blurb for Beyond Trust coming soon) —

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About The Author:

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Writer, kid-at-heart, awesome partner, graphic design dabbler, book lover.

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In The Shadows By V L Waren ♥ Release Blitz

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In The Shadows\Growing up surrounded by wealth and privilege is normal for Ella. Enjoying all the advantages living on the vast estate of Carrington Hall offer, life couldn’t get any better. But it only takes one night for everything she has ever known to be snatched away from her in the most brutal of ways.
In the midst of such devastating loss Ella is forced to make drastic changes. Maturing quickly she has to overcome the mounting obstacles no seventeen year old should face alone. Discovering the darker side of sex at the hands of Alex, the deeply alluring heir to the estate and love of her life, she struggles with the emotional turmoil of his domineering demands and vicious punishments as she continues to come terms with her new life.
A chance encounter in London with the mysterious American Nick, has her questioning her entire relationship with Alex. Nick is as much an enigma to her as she is to him. But fearing he is running from his own demons she’s forced back into the ensnaring grasp of Alex.
When she unearths shocking family secrets, everything she ever believed in crashes down around her and with Alex’s continued threats and unpredictable behaviour escalating she’s lead to make the ultimate sacrifice.

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Five years after Ella’s suicide and Olivia’s escape from England, she has built a new life in California. Carving out a career as a successful model and actress, she is wife to one of the country’s biggest rock stars and mother to a four year old daughter.
To the outside world she is living a charmed existence, but tragedy is never far away. With the help of her new family, Margaret, Mac, and Gina, she is learning to adapt to her change in fortunes.
Following a freak accident, that maybe wasn’t an accident at all, Cole enters her life. Like a moth to a flame, she is drawn to this mysterious man, who stirs up long forgotten emotions in her that ultimately allow the shadows of the past to resurface.
Who is he? And why does she feel such a strong connection to him?
If only she could remember. But could all their lives be in danger if she does?

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About the Author:

I live in Essex, over looking the Thames, and I’m about 40 minutes outside London. I have two boys, aged 13 and 9. My hobbies, first and foremost I love to read. I can lose entire days in a good book. Of course I also love to write. And when the opportunity arises, which isn’t anywhere near as much as I’d like these days, I horse ride. It was about ten years ago that I actually started writing, but nothing ever grabbed my attention for long, so I have a drawer full of half finished stories. Maybe I’ll complete them one day. About three years ago I came up with a story that I thought could be a book. It was only going to be one book, but when I started writing it, it evolved and got longer and longer, and I knew at that point it would be more than one. My worry now is getting it completed in three. Even after I started writing In the Shadows, I never intended to publish it. It was just something I wanted to do for myself, to say I’d done it, but I showed it, very nervously, to my sister-in-law one day, (after a lot of red wine), and she loved it, and kept pushing me for more of the story. Once she’d finished the book, she urged me to publish it, so I did. I have an idea for another book, once free from the Shadows is finished. At the end of the day, I love writing, I love being able to create a story, and hopefully convey it, so others feel the same emotions I do when I imagine their story.

Feel free to stalk Facebook author page here!

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Rundown by Teresa Michaels ♥ Cover Reveal

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Rundown

Curveball Series #2

by Teresa Michaels

Cover Designer: Mayhem Cover Creations

Synopsis

Breanne Sullivan never expected to find love again. Allowing herself to move on wasn’t easy, and now it may be too late. Determined to give herself a second chance, she will go to any lengths to prove her love to Drew. If only she could find him.

Desperate to numb his heartache in the wake of Breanne’s rejection, with something other than women and booze, Drew Scott packs his bags for the West Coast. Distance and a fresh start are just what he needs to heal the wounds caused by the only woman to ever captivate his heart.

But when the past and present collide in an unexpected way, Breanne and Drew quickly learn that things aren’t always what they seem. Caught between solving the mysteries that haunt them and getting the happily ever after they deserve, the two once again find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that could destroy them both.

Answers come at a dangerous price. Sacrifices must be made in order to protect the ones they love. Can Breanne prove her love to Drew before its too late? Or will opposing forces interfere and destroy any chance of them having a future together?

Meet the Author

Teresa Michaels lives in the New England area with her husband and children.  Curveball is her debut novel.

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Sabato (Ties Of Steel) By M.J. Fields ♥ Release Blitz

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Title: Sabato: The Cross (Ties of Steel, #4)

Author: M.J. Fields

Release Date: March 31, 2015

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Blurb

la fame….

Sabato Efisto is a cursed man. Born from sin, raised in revenge, he’s made a name for himself doling out pleasure and punishment in the lush Italian Riviera.

io brucio….

When the sins of his father come to rest on his shoulders, Sabato trades his privileged—but dangerous—life as the son of a mafia kingpin for the untested—but willing—shores of New Jersey. Acquiring a sex club called Steelettos is only the first phase in his plan to seduce and tame his new American landscape. Phase two involves finding a woman who can meet his…very singular, and definitely less-than-legal needs.

io conquisto….

Enter Melyssa Chance, a sassy southern law student who is as untested as they come. From the first glance, Melyssa knows that the sexy Italian is going to leave a mark on her reputation…and maybe a few other parts of her, while he’s at it. But what she doesn’t know is why she somehow caught his eye in return, what he really wants from her, and how far he’s willing to go to get it.

che consumo…

 

Excerpt

Nobody’s Hero

May 27th

I prowl around the club in Florence. I need a release. Something warm to tease, taunt, titillate, tame, and tear up. It is not only the lifestyle I portray, it is truly who I am. It has never been my MO to waste time chatting up some romance novel junkie, saying all the things I know she wants to hear to get laid.

That is why I came here. It’s not one of my places. I won’t lose the respect of my girls, or my clients.

Tonight, I seek strange.

I’ve come to exactly the right kind of place. I know this because I planned it. I plan everything. I take in the leather clad wait staff with piercings and tattoos—some of whom are holding whips—this is a no-last-name kind of scene. All fetishes are welcome here. My eye catches on a tall redhead with a nose ring that’s chained to her nipple ring—totally exposed, for all to see.

Make that welcome, wet, and waiting.

Nothing good happens on today’s date. Hell, nothing good ever happens these days, aside from orgasms and creating desire. If not for causing the slow buildup to release, and the inevitable double-edged climax, I would feel nothing. But then, usually I like feeling nothing. For too many years, I felt too much. Rage, sadness, jealousy, obsession, more rage…it was fucking exhausting, caring that much.

Nowadays, I am a shark, coldly calculating without allowing anything to touch me on a personal level. Ironically, this seems to make me irresistible to the opposite sex. It also makes me notice things that most people are too nervous, too excited, too full of desire, or scared to notice.

In one corner of the club, there’s a man whose facial expression gives him away as a first-timer to the BDSM scene—eyebrows raised, wide shoulders cocked back defensively, and a scowl on his face that will likely keep any subs from approaching him. The way his eyes flit from side to side, it’s as if he’s trying to figure out how he got here, and what the hell is going on. I follow his gaze, more slowly and casually, expecting someone who works here to greet him, at least help the poor bastard feel welcome. But no one does.

As a businessman, it bothers me. But as an anonymous club patron—which I am tonight, I remind myself—I couldn’t give less of a fuck.

I saunter over to the bar, sit down, and order a drink. Manhattan, with rye whiskey—the only kind of Manhattan that counts. When my drink is in my hand, I turn and continue scouting the crowd for talent.

The majority have not picked their poison yet, and the ones who have are clearly all about being dominated. It seems like the place is crawling with prey, but not so many hunters. Good, I like those odds.

The ‘out of his scene’ guy comes up to the bar and sits right next to me. He orders a glass of wine, cheap wine. I almost snort into my drink. Rookie move. Feeling generous, I turn to him and offer my hand. “I’m Sabato, how are you?”

Immediately, his shoulders go up. “Dude, I like pussy. Okay? I’m not sure what the fuck about me screams I’m willing to swing that way, but—”

“It’s definitely the clothes.”

Excuse me?” His attitude is one I am not accustomed to. But then, after all, this is not one of my usual haunts.

I decide to cut the guy a break, since he’s obviously clueless. “Look around the room.” I gesture vaguely with my drink. “Tell me, what do you see?”

He shakes his head, looking confused. “Pussy.” He snorts, shooting me a glare. “And a bunch of guys who want to tag my ass.”

My patience is very quickly running out. “And, what else?”

He shakes his head again, more loosely this time. The wine must be getting to him already. What a light weight.

“Honestly, man, I feel like any second, half of these guys are gonna bust out doing the fucking YMCA. I mean….” He gestures agitatedly around the room. “You got the cowboys, the cops, the gay bikers—fuck, we’re just missing the Indians in here.”

I almost want to laugh, because he is right. “And if they see you checking them out, wearing…what you’re wearing…how do you think they will approach you?”

He shrugs, looking offended again. I signal the bartender to bring him another wine, before he really gets his skirt in a twist.

“What the hell is wrong with my clothes?”

“Nothing,” I tell him. “If you’re going to a different kind of club.” I gesture to his shiny, black silk shirt. “I mean, you have your dancing shoes,” I can’t hold back a mocking smirk, “that match your cute little dancing shirt.”

“Fuck you, dude.” His eyebrows push together, and he stares at me for a few seconds like he’s seriously thinking about kicking my ass. Then, slowly, he smiles. Shakes his head. Holds his hand out for me to shake. “Zandor Steel.”

I take his hand and shake it. I like a man who doesn’t take himself too seriously.

“So, what brings you here tonight, Zandor?”

He shrugs. “Just thought I’d wander in. I’m not from around here, so….”

My eyes widen in mock surprise. “Really?”

“Fuck you twice,” he laughs.

“Yeah, see,” I make a tsk-ing noise. “You can’t say that kind of thing in here, or one of these guys will take you up on it.”

“Oh,” he nods. “Good point. I meant ‘Go fuck yourself, twice.”

I find myself laughing, too, in spite of what day it is. It’s been so long, I’ve forgotten how refreshing it is to have people tell you to fuck off to your face. Eyes narrowing thoughtfully, I take out my phone and send a quick, subtle text to have this Zandor Steel looked into.

When I look up, I see him staring at me, appraising me with a certain shark-like look to him. My shoulders straighten. I shouldn’t have let my guard down so easily.

“I don’t know if I should be taking your advice, bro,” he says. “Doesn’t look like you’re any closer to slaying poon tonight than I am.”

I like the ease of this conversation, but I don’t like the innuendo. I nod to a petite platinum blonde woman who sits across the room, waiting for notice. In a blink, she is at my side. I nod toward the floor, and she drops to her knees in front of me, ready to service my every wish—in the middle of the club—if I ask.

“Well, fuck,” Zandor says, eyes wide. “My bad. You want to be my Yoda man, I will be your Padawan. Gladly. Just show me how to use the Force like that.”

I have no idea what he’s talking about, but he looks like he expects me to. I shrug. Shake my head.

The look on his face is incredulous. “Star Wars?”

“Let me guess,” I say, taking another sip of my drink. “It’s an American thing.”

“Actually, it’s kind of the most epic movie series of all…you know what, nevermind.” He nods “Carry on, oh wise one.”

I gesture down to the petite blonde. “What is your flavor?”

“My thing is pussy,” he repeats, like that is helpful. “Warm, willing pussy, in all varieties.”

I sigh with impatience. “No, Zandor. You’re in a bondage club. I mean, what is your scene? What fetish are you into? Are you a top, a bottom, a group player? Dominance is not for everyone, no matter how….” I gesture vaguely at his physique. “Physically suited for it they may appear to be. Perhaps you yearn to submit. If that is the case, I can recommend some very talented dommes in the area.”

Zandor Steel looks at me like I am deranged in some way—even though he is the one with the porn star name, who is wearing a ‘fuck me, daddy’ shirt.

“Bro, I just like to fuck and not have the bitch so enchanted or fucking needy that she pulls out the old sexual harassment card, trying to teach me some fucking lesson. I’m not into really fucked up. I’ll spank an ass and play with some toys.””

“So, no blood play? Animal transformation? Figging?”

Fuck no.” He looks vaguely nauseated at the thought—even though, I would bet good money he doesn’t know what any of those things mean. “That’s sick.”

“It’s not about mental health or sickness,” I tell him, more patiently than I should. “It’s about control. Losing it, and feeling free. Or maybe taking it, for the first time in your life. Every day, in all aspects of our lives, control is what we seek. Yet most people have no idea how to control themselves, and they don’t try. They are slaves to their urges, instead of the other way around.”

A feeling prods me then, something similar to guilt. What right do I have to be preaching to this stranger about self-control? After all, what am I doing here tonight?

But Zandor seems to consider—genuinely consider—what I’ve told him. “Not sure if you’re being a dick, or sincere, but as I said before.” He points to the blonde at my feet, who is still silently, patiently waiting. “I want something simple. Meat and potatoes. I want ass that goes away satisfied when I’m done and doesn’t sit outside my door banging on it, begging for cock.”

I can’t help but laugh at the visual image he’s created. “Begging is also a very big part of this scene, my friend. I wonder if you wouldn’t be more comfortable at a nice trucker bar. I hear there is one down by the gas station, near the freeway.”

“Don’t tempt me,” he says, rolling his eyes. “At least there, no one would have a chance at knowing who I was. Ever since my family came into some money, that shit has seriously fucked up my game. There’s no such thing as ‘anonymous’ or ‘no strings attached’ anymore. Now, they’re telling me I need to ‘lay low?’ That ain’t gonna happen. So, like I said, teach away.”

I’m intrigued by his story, and want to know more. New money is like blood in the water for a shark like me. But I’m also starting to like this guy, in spite of myself. So I indulge him, for the moment, and play mentor.

“You have to keep feelings out of it,” I look down at the blonde, finally giving her the attention she craves. She is a textbook sub, willing to wait as long as it takes—because waiting for approval only makes her wetter. I point her to Zandor, and she crawls over, instantly transferring her attention—and adoration—on him. “The only thing you ask of her is obedience, until the game is done. Sexual obedience. Release must be earned, and given like a gift. It cannot be taken.” Zandor slowly smiles, staring at the blonde’s tits. “I definitely like control.”

I nod to the redhead with the nose-to-nipple piercings, and she walks over to stand before me.

“Is Cindy to your liking, Sir?”

“She’s hot,” Zandor says. “So, yeah. I’d like to show her a good time.”

“No,” I correct him. “You want to take pleasure from her. In return, if she does exactly as you instruct, she will be rewarded.”

I look down at the girl. “Present yourself.”

She does as I say, without question. Whether they know my name or not at this place, it doesn’t matter. They obviously know enough to tell a Dom when they see one.

Leaning back on her heels, Cindy widens her legs slightly, clasping her hands behind her back. The position causes her breasts to jut out, pressing her nipples out against the sheer fabric of her costume.

“You see how she is dressed?” I ask Zandor. “She is wearing lace, not leather. She will be a good partner for your first time. But make sure you agree to the rules, between the two of you, before anything happens. Her presentation shows her desires. She wants to be treated like a lady, but she needs for you to be in control. Like you, she is not so very experienced.”

“What?” Zandor looks at me skeptically. “What do you mean? How can you possibly know that?”

I gesture for the blonde to leave us. “Go over there and wait for your master to claim you, Cindy.”

Immediately, she goes back to where she was sitting before, across the room.

“Everything is in the rules,” I tell him. “It’s part of the world we live in, part of the scene. That is the kind of woman who wants a stranger to spank her and fuck her, but still wants the illusion of romance. She needs someone who wants to dominate her full time, and take care of her. If she asked for my opinion, I would have told her to go somewhere else. This is a place for temporary engagements. Whereas this one,” I point to the redhead, who is smiling at me with open invitation. “Is a submissive of opportunity. She wants to lose control, for an hour…a weekend. But she is experienced enough to be comfortable in the scene, which tells me that she will be looking for something…special. A singular experience she can tuck away and revisit later, in her private moments.”

My eyes burn into hers, and my explanation takes a turn into something else. Something meant only for her and I. “She is looking for an eye-opening, stinging slap that will drive her over the edge at exactly the right moment. She wants a man who will fuck her, mind and body, like pleasure is her only purpose in the world. And when she’s screaming and begging for release, I will pull it out of her reach, at the last possible second. Because, more than anything, she wants the exhilarating feeling of being wildly…totally…helplessly…out of control.”

By the time I am finished with my description, the redhead is almost panting with desire. I have no doubt that underneath her leather harness, she is dripping with need, ready and waiting for my cock to penetrate her. For my body to conquer hers, completely. I glance over my shoulder, toward the entrance to the private lounge area. I raise an eyebrow. She nods, eagerly.

I turn toward him with a start. I’d almost forgotten he was there.

“So…can I go fuck Cindy now?”

I nod, because I am done mentoring for the evening. I have my target now, and nothing else matters but the slow burn, the build, and the eventual quench.

“Of course. Just remember that control is a responsibility, not a right. It can be taken away, just as easily as it is given.”

“Understood.”

Satisfied that I have done my part for my fellow man, I turn my attention back to the redhead.

“Go to the cross and wait for me.” I get up and slowly remove my jacket, folding it neatly over one arm. “It was nice meeting you, Zandor Steel.”

With a nod, I leave him to his fun. I circle the bar and go into one of the side rooms, where a Saint Andrew’s cross waits in the center of a dimly lit room. The redhead is there, on her knees, already assuming ‘the Position.’

“Get undressed.” I close the door behind me—but not all the way, in case there are any voyeurs who would like to peek in—and hang up my jacket. By the time I turn around, the redhead has taken off her scant leather thong, and is kneeling naked in front of the cross.

She is shaved bare, of course, and I can see for myself what my words have done to her. She is glistening already, and I have yet to touch her.

Behind me, I can hear whispers, and I don’t have to turn to know a small crowd of watchers has gathered outside. It’s not unusual for me, because they know who I am, I have a reputation, one I am proud of. Her chest is heaving, her nipples are hard and she waits in her pool of desire.

I unbutton the cuffs on my shirt as I look to my left and see Zandor, my new prodigy talking entirely too much to the girl wearing lace. I want to correct him but now is not the time. Now is show time, now is the time for me to release the anger of the date, to bring down sheets of glass and chaos on the lucky woman in front of me.

 

 

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Title: Eroe: St. Andrews: A Sabato Origin Story (Ties of Steel Book 3)

Author: M.J. Fields

Release Date: March 15, 2015

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Blurb

Sabato Efisto was born from an unholy union, the bastard son of a martyred saint and the Devil. At least, that’s what he’s believed, for most of his life.

His father is an Italian crime lord, a man so dangerous that Sabato’s mother died trying to get away from him. For that tragedy, which happened on his seventh birthday, Sabato blames himself. Every year, he practices the ritual of self-punishment, flirting with death the way most boys his age flirt with girls.

Until ten years later, when he meets a sweet girl named Luciana, at St. Andrews of the Holy Cross. For the first time in his life, Sabato doesn’t want to end it. The darkness in his soul is replaced by hope. But, as the priests will tell you, the sins of the father are not easily escaped.

And those who are born into darkness must carry that cross forever….

Purchase Eroe today for only 99¢!

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Ties of Steel Series Order

Abe: Four In Hand (Ties of Steel, #1)

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Dominic: The Prince (Ties of Steel, #2)

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About the Author

M. J. FieldsMJ Fields love of writing was in full swing by age eight. Together with her cousins, she wrote a newsletter for family members. The newsletter was put back into ‘publication’ in September of 2001 for the entertainment of her cousin on a Navy aircraft carrier in the gulf, (Her cousin is a female Navy officer and helicopter pilot).

She self-published her first New Adult romance in January 18, 2013. Today, she has completed four self-published series, The Love series, The Wrapped series,

The Burning Souls series, and The Men of Steel series.

Ties of Steel, (the first series spun off of some the Men of Steel series) book 1 ABE and Book 2 Dominic are now available.

The Norfolk series, has two titles available now, Irons 1 and Irons 2.

MJ is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author. She lives in central New York, surrounded by family and friends. Her house is full of pets, friends, and noise ninety percent of the time, and she would have it no other way.

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The Light House By Jason Luke ♥ Release Blitz & 5 Star Review

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Title – The light house
Author – Jason Luke
Genre – New Adult, Contemporary Romance
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The Light House Synopsis
 
‘The light house’ – A love story.
Art has always been Blake McGrath’s life. Scarred by tragedy, he’s hiding from the world on a lonely beach, struggling with loss and bitter regrets.
 
Connie is a disillusioned art dealer with troubled relationship issues of her own. Through her sudden mysterious appearance, Blake once again returns to the craft he has mastered to prove to himself that there is hope, that redemption is possible… and that love can last.
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I signed up for the release blitz for The Light House and was offered the chance to review the book. I tossed it around a little and decided to give in to the pull I had to this book. There was just something that kept pulling me to this book. I’ll be honest the first invite I received for this book I tossed. I have to tell you that I’m very glad the second offer came in. Jason has some amazing talent beyond what I could ever put in to words. This man takes you in to the story and has you living it, seeing it and feeling everything these characters are.

I was blown away by the feeling that was drawn out as I read The Light House. You are taken in to a Connie’s world and shown just what if feels like to be lied and taken down to the lowest point that anyone could be. Connie leaves to get away from the controlling relationship she is in. When Connie stumbles on to Blake, who trying to bury his troubles and hide from a life that was once full of promises for him, she shakes his world up.

I was pulled to Connie, she is a very strong willed person that is willing to do the work and not afraid to find the answers she is looking for. She goes full force when she finds something she feels is worth fighting for. Blake on the other had is closed off, making you want to find out what is holding him back. You are pulled to him wanting to know what has caused him to build walls around him and not let anyone in. I felt as though I was right there with them walking the beach, seeing the paint on the canvas of Blake’s work. Jason takes you in to points in this amazing story so well that you swear you can see everything that is being described to you. It’s like looking at the ocean always changing but, you never going to feel the same feelings about it.

I give The Light House a 5 star review hands down. There is so many emotions that you feel and experience within this book that you are amazed at the talent that Jason bring out. This man has been touched with the gift of words. Amazingly written book.

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The Light House Author Bio
Jason Luke is an Australian man who lives on the far South Coast of New South Wales with his long time girlfriend.
Jason publishes a Blog where he posts free snippets of erotic romance fiction every single day. To find out more about Jason’s daily Blog, click link → jasonluke
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There is also a Jason Luke Fan page on Facebook which is run by a team of dedicated fans. The page is not connected to Jason. It has currently around 10,000 likes. 
 

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Boss (Chianti Kisses) By Tara Oakes ♥ Release Blitz

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BOSS IS NOW LIVE!

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SYNOPSIS
******This book is intended for mature audiences, over 18 years of age
This book is a sequel, Book 2 in the Chianti Kisses series.

Everybody expects something of Dom, they have his entire life. His family expects HIM to lead, provide, and support them. His company and employees expect him to keep their business successful, intact. His wife, V, expects him to be the beST man he can be.

And then there are the expectations of his father and his “associates.”

Dom’s father, although long past, had left unfulfilled expectations of his own. Everything he built, bled for, killed for… died for, was left in Dom’s hands.

Dom tried to change things, set things straight, atone for the sins of his father and father-in-law. But, it hasn’t been easy. Many others benefitted from his business dealings, and aren’t willing to loose them so easily.

Emilio Rizzo has vowed to keep things the way they were. He’s waged a war to take full control from Dom, with no concern for the toll it will take on everyone involved. Innocents will be harmed, lives will will be taken, and hard-earned progress will be lost unless Dom steps in and fights the way he was born to.

Someone will be disappointed. Will it be his family, his employees, his father, or his beloved V, when he becomes…

BOSS.
If you’d like to purchase Boss, feel free to grab your copy here:Amazon US

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LEARN MORE ABOUT TARA

Tara is a thirty something newbie author from Long Island, New York. She’s a voracious reader, a passionate writer and obsessive junk T.V. aficionado. When she’s not doing one of those three things she is attempting to garden, hanging with her hubby or partaking in some retail therapy. She enjoys connecting with her readers and is having a blast entering into this new world of publishing.

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Claddagh & Chaos (Shamrocks & Secrets Series) By Cayce Poponea ♥ Cover Reveal

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Claddagh & Chaos
Shamrocks & Secrets Series #2
by Cayce Poponea
Publication Date: April 11, 2015
Cover Designer: Mayhem Cover Creations

Synopsis

Shamrocks left us with Patrick posing an intriguing question. What exactly happened during those twenty five years? We know that they got their happily ever after, but how did Patrick and Christi get there? Could love have a shelf life?  

Meet the Author

Cayce Poponea currently resides in Southern Georgia, with her three dogs and wonderful husband. A true romantic at heart, she writes the type of fiction that she loves to read. When she isn’t setting behind her computer screen, creating yet another heart stopping, page turning novel. You can find her enjoying down time with her family.



The Promies We Keep ( Mine To Love) By R.C.Martin ♥ Cover Reveal

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Title: The Promises We Keep (Made For Love, #1)

Author: R.C. Martin

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: April 14, 2015

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Synopsis

The promises you keep reveal who you are and define who you want to be…

With senior year of college just a breath away, Beckham and Grayson, brothers by fate, battle against their fears and surrender to their hearts’ bidding—consequences be damned; while Addison and Avery, sisters by blood, learn that in romance, all you need is love—except for when life is way more complicated than that.

Written in each of their perspectives, The Promises We Keep tells the story of a couple joined together and another split apart. As they make plans in preparation for life after college in the “real world,” they are each challenged with the reality that love can conquer all; but only if they choose to let it, which is never as easy as it sounds.

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Excerpt

Grayson

She slays me.

When she opens the door, the effect she has on me is comparable to being sacked on the football field—no joke. Every time I see her, whether the time lapse is a day, a week, or five minutes, it’s the same. She’s just so freaking beautiful.

She’s identical to my best friend’s girl. They’ve got some crazy attractive combination of ethnicities happening, making them both unique and worthy of a double take. I think their dad is a mix between African American and some sort of French Canadian background, while their mom is of Pacific Islander decent. Avery always says that their mother is to thank for her long black hair. I do her one better and thank God for their mother, their grandmother and their grandfather, too.

For a while, I couldn’t tell the difference between Avery and Addison. I’d always found them attractive, but because I couldn’t tell them apart, I never thought to pursue anything, from fear that I’d end up hitting on Beck’s girl. Then I got to know them—and while they are a lot alike, they are also incredibly different. Not that my ability to tell them apart mattered at that point. By the time I realized that I liked her as more than a friend, it was quite clear that she deserves far better than the likes of me…

But that doesn’t mean that I can’t look.

She’s more than a foot shorter than me; and even though I know she’s got her own little bit of strength, evident in her toned muscles gained from years of running and carrying that cello of hers, she’s so petite and delicate. Sometimes I wonder how her personality fits inside of her small frame. She’s incredibly talented, with a focus and determination that seems to be a reflection of my own. She can also be really shy, which I find to be just downright adorable. Then she’ll get really passionate about something and you can’t shut her up. But she’s always kind and genuine.

When she looks up at me with those big brown eyes, like she is now, and smiles at me with her full heart-shaped lips, she owns me. She doesn’t know it—but she does. What I want to do is scoop her up into my arms and tell her how pretty I think she is, only I won’t. Instead I simple say, “Good Morning.”

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About The Author

RC

R.C. Martin is a born and bred Coloradan. While she now resides in Virginia, her home will always be in the land of the Rocky Mountains, where she’s left a piece of her heart and where her characters come to life. As a woman in love with love and filled with compassion for young women on a journey to find themselves in today’s society, she aspires to inspire her readers to do more than settle. She hopes that her writing will remind, or perhaps teach women that they are valuable and worthy of the best kind of love—the kind that is gentle, patient, faithful, passionate, all consuming, never ending, and leaves them breathless.
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