Kaleidoscope Hearts By Claire Contreras ♥ Sale Blitz

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Blurb

He was my older brother’s best friend.

He was never supposed to be mine.

I thought we would get it out of our system and move on.

One of us did.

One of us left.

Now he’s back, looking at me like he wants to devour me. And all those feelings I’d turned into anger are brewing into something else, something that terrifies me.

He broke my heart last time.

This time he’ll obliterate it.

This is a standalone.

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EXCERPT

“Look at me, Elle,” he says, using the deliciously low demanding voice that once made my toes curl and my eyes roll back, and I have no choice but to tilt my head to give him my attention. “Forget those lame guys you’re dating.

Let me take you out.”

           My heart, if possible, spikes further in my chest, overriding all warning of the impending chaos that’s sure to come. I try turning my attention to the poster hanging beside me, but the kissing couple makes me look back at him and the deep green eyes that are burning into mine. My stomach does a flip-flop, the way it always does when he looks at me that way and I try to take my hands back because these feelings are too scary for me to deal with right now, but he holds them tighter, bringing them up to his mouth and kissing the tip of my ring finger. Why did he pick that finger to kiss? I pull harder and he finally lets my hand drop.

           “I can’t,” I say, my voice coming out hoarse.

           A myriad of emotions flash in his eyes before they settle on determination and I’m forced to take a step back, away from his scent, away from his warmth, and into the cold closet behind me.

           “Why not?”

           I sigh, finally looking away, back down to his naked feet. “I just can’t.” He knows why not. He shouldn’t ask me that question. “What’s Vic doing, anyway?”

           His body moves into mine so quickly that I don’t have time to react to his large hands clutching my arms or his face dropping until we’re nose to nose. I just stare, wide eyed, waiting for his lips to fall over mine, but they don’t. He just looks at me, breathes on me, lets me breathe on him, and he groans. And that fucking groan travels from his body into mine and crawls into the core of me, draping over every fiber inside of me.

           “What do you want, Oliver?” I whisper against his lips. “What do you want from me? You want to kiss me? You want to fuck me? You want to come into my life like the hurricane that you are and tear down everything I’ve rebuilt and disappear just as quickly?”

           His lips brush slightly against mine, just a breath of a touch as he stands there, crowding me like he’s about to devour me. But he won’t. He never goes in for the kill. He just lures me, casts me, reels me in and pulls away. His hands drop and his face leaves mine with the same quickness and I feel a pang deep inside me that I wish wasn’t there.

           “I’m sorry,” he says quietly, shaking his head in a movement that makes his hair sway back and forth. His eyes are soft on mine now and I can almost hear his thoughts: I should have never kissed her. I should have never—

           My brows rise in surprise at the apology, though. There are so many things I can say to him, but the sudden defeated look in his eyes keeps my mouth shut. Finally, I exhale and push off the wall, standing in front of him, with enough distance between us that we can’t reach out and touch each other.

           “It’s okay just… don’t do it again. The kiss the other day was a mistake…” I stop talking and walk past him, putting my bra away and sorting through my underwear drawer like it has some sort of hidden treasure or something. This time when I feel him come up behind me, I drop my head and exhale. He really needs to stop sneaking up behind me.

           “Oli—“ I start and gasp when I feel his lips on the back of my neck, soft and warm. My heart thunders and my hands begin to shake inside the drawer so I close my eyes and focus on breathing. He drops another kiss right beside that spot. I never knew the back of my neck was so sensitive. The feeling sends a ripple of sensation down my arms and through my body.

           “It wasn’t a mistake,” he says in a husky whisper that makes my flesh break out in goose bumps. “You’ve never been a mistake. You want me to tell your brother that I want to take you out? Is that what it would take?”

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About the Author:

claire bio

Claire Contreras graduated with her BA in Psychology from Florida International University. She lives in Miami, Florida with her husband, two little boys, and three dogs.

Her favorite past times are: daydreaming, writing, and reading.

She has been described as a random, sarcastic, crazy girl with no filter.

Life is short, and it’s more bitter than sweet, so she tries to smile as often as her face allows. She enjoys stories with happy endings, because life is full of way too many unhappy ones.

Website: http://clairecontreras.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClariCon

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Heartless by Kelly Martin ♥ Blog Tour

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HeartlessHeartless by Kelly Martin

Series: Book 1 of 3
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publication Date: January 17, 2016

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Some things can’t be saved.
What would you do if your guardian angel wasn’t sent to protect you from the world but to protect the world from you?
For thirteen years, Gracen Sullivan dreamed about a red-eyed demon named Hart Blackwell who tortured her every night. Her mother freaked when she found out about her daughter’s “hallucinations” and forced Gracen to go to the doctor, who prescribed some very powerful medication which kept Hart out of her head for five years.
A week ago, Hart came back and brought a friend.
But something has changed, and Gracen is seeing Hart when she’s awake too. And the other “friends” in her dreams? They have been found dead.
The police want to talk to her.
Her boyfriend has become distant.
Her dreams are becoming more and more intense.
Hell wants her.
Heaven has to stop her.
When push comes shoving, can Gracen fight the evil eating away inside her or will she be forced to embrace it and destroy the world?
Book 2: Soulless (2/14/2016)
Book 3: Breathless (9/4/2016)

EXCERPT
@sullyGray: What ya up to today?

I sip my decaf coffee—which totally defeats the purpose of coffee, I understand that, but regular coffee gives me worse migraines than I already get—and stare a hole into my monitor. Yeah, I’m still one of those people who have a monitor. I have a desktop, a keyboard, a computer chair, and the whole mid-2000s thing going on in my bedroom/office. It’s the one room in the apartment where I can get away from everything. My place to shut the door, turn up the music, and dance if I want to dance. And I do want to dance. Nineties’ music is my specialty, and I use that word very loosely.

My room is my place to shut out the world. To stay awake and not sleep. To hide from my nightmares. To hide from Hart.

Every morning for the past week, it’s the same routine. I get up and rub my throat, because it hurts like a mother from all the screaming I apparently do in my sleep. As a side note, this is why I try not to sleep now when Sam’s here. Which means I don’t get a whole lot of sleep, but what’s sleep when you are eighteen? Eighteen year olds don’t need sleep. We need parties and friends and boyfriends to not think we are crazy.

Oh, I’m sure Sam does, though, because he’s caught me on a few occasions. Screaming. Yelling. Trying to fight Hart. Especially that first night. I had the honor of falling asleep in Sam’s lap while we watched a movie downstairs. Then, BAM, Hart was there. I was on the table. The same table I hadn’t seen in five years. Hart smiled. Hart cut.

Apparently, I screamed.

Sam woke me up, all big eyed and scared. He poured me some red wine, covered my shoulders with a blanket, and waited for me to talk about it. I drank every bit in about three swigs—incidentally, the best wine ever—and told him it had just been a nightmare.

He knows about the five pills I take every night before bed and four I take in the mornings. He doesn’t know what they are for. We’ve been dating for two years, and I haven’t felt the need to tell him about it—okay, I’m scared the heck out. I’m afraid he’ll leave me if he finds out. Sam is, well, he’s Sam. Samson David Asher. He’s perfect and good and all that other stuff I’m not. And up until a week ago, he’s been wonderful. Bless him…. He tries. He’s at Crimson Ridge on a football scholarship, so you know he’s athletic. It’s just that I don’t want to ruin this. He’ll think I’m crazy. His father, the therapist, will know I’m crazy. I’ve met him one time. That was the one and only time Sam took me over to his house. Plenty for me. He spent all of supper not necessarily breaking his Hippocratic Oath, but damn well coming close. He never used names, but I could tell ole Jane Doe was as batty as a belfry.

And Doctor Asher would laugh.

And Mrs. Asher would laugh.

Sam wouldn’t laugh.

I’m so glad Sam didn’t laugh.

Didn’t mean I wanted him to know about me.

At the time, there wasn’t much to tell. It wasn’t that I was lying. I took medicine to keep the scary dude from eating me in my dreams every night. That’s all. And it worked. It all worked. So I didn’t have to tell Sam.

That’s why I didn’t.

Then we moved in together, which my mother hated even though I told her we weren’t sleeping together or even in the same room. Even then in the back of my mind, I was scared that maybe the dreams and Hart would come back.

Looks like I was right.

Yay me.

When I finally roll out of bed, Sam’s already gone for the morning. He gets up before God and goes running. Then he goes to the gym. Then class. I don’t see how he can keep that up for the rest of the semester, but if that’s what he wants to do, who am I to complain? Makes it easier to fake being normal when I’m alone.

I sit and fidget with my coffee in my hands, staring at the screen, waiting for a reply. I need someone to talk to. Someone human. I’ve talked to Hart all night. He cut me open and the girl… well, she watched.

You try living with the same nightmare. You try being ripped apart every night in your dreams. For the past week, I’ve had to do it all over again. I thought it was over. I still take my damn medicine and nothing—he’s still there. He’s still torturing me, and I have no idea why. It’s getting to me, though. Seeing those red eyes in the middle of that boyish face. In fact, it’s those red eyes that stand out with Hart. Not sure why I named him that either. He’s just always been Hart. Like I’ve always been Gracen, and Sam’s always been Sam.

He’s always been my tormentor.

If it weren’t for the eyes, Hart wouldn’t be very bad looking. Tall, tan, toned, big muscles, which he uses to pull my skin off. By the way he tugs and rips, it seems like difficult work. I have the easy job. All I do is lay there naked and scream.

Hart has longish brown hair, which gets coated in blood sometimes. Lovely. I totally blame him for it. It’s longer now that he’s been gone for a few years. Funny how the mind thinks of weird things like that.

He isn’t real, of course. It’s just my brain doing what my crazy brain does. Some people dream of rainbows and kittens. Occasionally, they will have a clown or a possessed doll thrown in for flavor. To remind them that their mind is a pretty screwed up place. Sometimes a person will see themselves hanging down from the ceiling and scream while they sleep. Me? I’d give anything to see a freakin’ clown in my dreams. All I have, all I’ve ever had, is Hart.

I’m a lucky duck.

But, despite all that, I try very hard to be normal. Whatever that means. I smile when I figure I should smile and laugh when it seems appropriate to laugh. Don’t get me wrong, I’m pretty socially messed up. I hate crowds, and if I don’t have a backspace, well, I’m screwed. Royally. I like backspaces. The world needs a backspace. Imagine how awesome everything would be with backspaces.

For the most part, except for a few glitches—like the one time I dated Earl Flynn… and my entire sophomore year—I think I’ve done rather well for myself in the I’m-just-like-you department. It’s been exhausting, worrisome, and entirely too stressful, but I did it. And I’d been fairly good at it until this week. Until I’d moved away from home. Moved in with Sam. Drank a little extra wine every night. Sam offered, and who am I to turn it down even if I’m underage. The one bad thing I do in my life. And then I started dreaming of Hart again. My inner demons came out in my dreams. Very deep.

I thought I’d gotten out of the woods. I thought Hart was gone, and everything until the end of time would be hunky dory, all sunshine and roses.

I never should have thought that.

Idiot.

Is Tina ever going to message me back?

Seriously, I have class in like thirty minutes, and I need to finish getting ready. I know she’s online. The little green dot tells me that. And yeah, I guess I could wait for her on my phone, but keyboards are so much more convenient. To me anyway.

Tina is from California. I’d think she wouldn’t be up at the central time crack of dawn—or seven a.m.—but she is. She’s usually up before me. Messaging me. Asking me if I’m okay. If I slept well. Typical friendly Internet banter. A side note: I enjoy typical friendly Internet banter. It’s relaxing. There are no expectations. There is no judging. And yeah… backspace city up in here.

Tina, apparently, is one of those up and at ’em folks. I want to be like her someday. She’s my happy buddy, which isn’t as weird or creepy as it sounds. My therapist actually suggested it once. To keep away the demons, he’d said.

Dr. Sheldon took Hart very figuratively. I don’t think he ever thought of him as a person or a thing. Just a crazy hallucination in a crazy girl’s mind.

Maybe Dr. Sheldon is right?

My foot will not stop shaking as I scroll down my page, waiting for Tina to pop up. I know she has a life and kids and a family and she’s never seen me, but still, I need to talk to her. Talking to her makes me feel less insane.

Talking to a person I’ve never met in a room, by myself, makes me feel less insane. Yep, I’m totally normal…

The world is weird.

The shaking of my foot causes the blanket, the one I always have draped over my legs when I’m sitting at my desk, to fall toward the floor. Thanks to my lightning quick reflexes, I grab it before it crashes to the floor and pull it back to its upright position.

I’m freezing.

Then again, I’m always freezing. Always. I can’t ever remember a time when I felt warm. I totally blame Hart—even if he has nothing to do with it. The doctor, an actual medical doctor, said she thinks it’s some kind of hormone imbalance. At eighteen?

I’m falling apart.

Because I needed something else to break me.

I don’t care though. Not really. I can just keep a blanket on me and live in a world of denial where everybody is cold, and the hot or warm ones are mutants. It would be totally awesome if I were the normal person in the world and everybody else were the freaks. It would make my life.

Anyway…

@tinaM Mornin’ Nothing much. Getting ready to head out. You? Everything okay? Did you sleep well last night?

Loaded question. I place my fingers on the keyboard to type out my usual: “I slept fine. I’m fine. Everything’s fine. Peachy. Awesome. Couldn’t be better.” But I freeze. Those words mean nothing to me. They sound like someone who is moving through the motions but her heart isn’t in it. And it’s not. Not really. I feel deflated. I thought Hart was gone, but he’s back. I thought I’d be able to have an awesome life in Crimson Ridge living on my own with Sam. I thought a lot of things. I thought wrong.

“I’m fine” is what humans say to each other if they are dying. Because we are polite and think our problems are nobody else’s problems. They are hurting worse than us—or someone in the world always is—so we shouldn’t complain. We shouldn’t tell anybody what’s bothering us. Not at all. Never. In the scheme of things, it isn’t important. We aren’t important.

I’m not important.

I should tell Tina I’m fine. This morning, though, for some reason, I don’t. My fingers seem to have a mind of their own as they type. Not really. Rough night…

My fingers itch to keep going. To share anything about Hart, the dreams, and the dark-haired girl who joined him last night. It has to mean something, right? It has to be a clue or an omen. I have to be dreaming about these things for a reason. Maybe if I talk about it, tell someone else about it, then I’ll be able to figure it out. A new, fresh brain on the matter, because, frankly, I’ve been thinking about it as long as I can remember. All I can come up with is “Why me?”

And lately, “What the hell are these new visions for?”

The old familiar beating pounds in my temples, and I know it’s coming. A migraine. I have them a lot unfortunately. And mainly when I’m trying to think about Hart. Trying to figure him out. I guess I’m trying to figure myself out, which is a whole new level of crazy. I’d make an excellent research project for someone if I told them the truth.

I can’t even tell Tina.

Even through my uncooperative fingers, my aching head, my anxious innards, I want to tell Tina some form of the truth, but I can’t. I just can’t.

But I’m sure it’ll be okay. I type back to cover myself. I’m a moron for even saying as much as I did. She’ll worry. I’ll have to explain. Lots of steps I don’t want to do.

I’m a thousand times sure it won’t be all right. Might never be all right again. But I say it because I’m supposed to. I’m human after all.

While I wait, the hardship of Internet chatting, my mind wanders. I really do like my apartment. It is nice and cozy. Two stories. The bottom has a ’90s-style kitchen with an eat-in area. A sliding door leads to the backyard. When I say backyard, I mean a little spot of land probably no bigger than a postage stamp. But it’s fenced in, and as a long as we pay the rent, it’s ours.

Ours… my mom doesn’t like me living with Sam. She likes Sam. Likes him as much as any guy I’ve gotten serious with; of course, Sam is the only guy I’ve ever gotten serious with. More for his determination than mine. That boy seemed to really like me when we first started dating, but now…

Anyway, my mom has enough to deal with, and I sure don’t help. Her sister, my Aunt Willow has been, well, she’s in a mental hospital. We aren’t sure exactly what made her snap, but snap she did. One morning she was fine and then… she wasn’t. Mom got a call that her sister was in the emergency room. She’d walked right in front of a car. Suicide they figured, which threw us both for a loop because Aunt Willow had always been full of life. I mean, yeah, she was a little weird at times, but aren’t all aunts? Actually, this all happened about a week before I met Sam. Aunt Willow used to live with us. Took care of me when I was little. She helped out because I didn’t have a dad. I mean, I’m sure I do somewhere, but I just don’t know him. Don’t know if I ever want to know him. That’s a lie. I would like to meet the man someday. Curiosity and all that.

So, Aunt Willow went insane, I met Sam, and two years later, we moved into our apartment at Crimson Ridge for school. Mama worries about the premarital sex since, apparently, that’s how I came into the world and she doesn’t want me to make the same mistake, which is an awesome thing to say to your daughter. Basically calling me a mistake. I know she didn’t mean it like that, but after all the grief I’ve put her through in the last eighteen years, I feel like maybe she meant it. She was young. Didn’t ask to have a kid. And BAM, there I was. It’s not like I was the easiest when I got to be a preteen either with the nightmares and the therapists.

But my mom, if she really knew Sam and me, she’d know that she has nothing to worry about. We’ve been good. No sex—not that I haven’t wanted to. Believe me, I have. But Sam hasn’t. He’s shot me down every time. It’s enough to make a person start to feel bad about themselves. Sometimes, I think that’s part of the problem with us. Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate that he’s a gentleman. Still, it’s not easy when it feels like even your boyfriend doesn’t like you.

Overdramatic? Yeah, probably. Can’t help my feelings, though. I can help them as long as I don’t talk about them. Talking is bad. Talking gets you new medicine, and if that doesn’t work, I don’t even want to think about it.

I wonder how many people in the world pretend to be normal. I wonder what normal would be if everyone stopped trying to be it and actually acted like themselves. I bet the geeks would inherit the world because everyone is at least a closet geek. Who doesn’t freak out over TV shows and Internet memes of their one true paring? Or fangirl? I do in the comfort of my own bedroom, staring at my own little computer, in my own little slice of Heaven. I love it here. Sam’s room is down the hall. The bathroom separates us. Like I said, he doesn’t venture to my end of the world very often.

I love my room. It’s white, clean, and cozy. I have dark purple curtains on the windows, shutter style doors on the closet, a starry fairytale lamp next to my bed, a quilt that looks homemade that I bought from the store, and my desk. All the comforts of home without having to hear my mom crying every night.

I should probably call her.

In here, in my little room, I’m safe. Or at least I used to be. I’d shut the door and everything would just go away. Now? Now I have Hart back, invading my dreams, killing me, bringing people to watch (which is extremely creepy, believe it or not). He invades my happy place and makes me feel uneasy in my own room.

I hate it.

I hate him.

I hate myself for not being strong enough to push through the nightmares.

I hate myself for having that little sliver of doubt—that little nagging feeling in the back of my mind—that maybe Hart Blackwell isn’t imaginary. That maybe he’s real. Or maybe I’m getting as crazy as Aunt Willow.

@tinaM: GRACEN! What’s up with you? Did you fall off your chair again or something? Helllllooooo…

So I sort of forgot to answer her. I suppose that happens. Happens to me when I start thinking and my mind wanders. #dangerous

@sullyGray Yeah, sorry. I’m here. Just thinking.

Like I said, thinking is a dangerous thing. And admitting to thinking when trying to act all fine is a dangerous road. I don’t like dangerous roads. I’d rather just stay on the straight and narrow. That sounds pretty good to me. Straight. Narrow.

Wait? Which road leads to Hell? Because I’d like to take the other, thanks.

@tinaM Panic attacks again?

Sometimes, I wish I’d never told her about the panic attacks. I’ve never mentioned Hart, obviously, but on the day the nightmares started coming back—has it really just been a week?—I messaged her. I guess I didn’t have my wall up completely yet, and I let it slip that I might possibly be having some anxiety issues. Now, my anxiety issues are all about the crazy dude in my head and not actually me… is it weird that I think of us as two different people? Yes? No? Maybe?

I so don’t want to think about that.

The thing is, I did tell Tina about the panic attacks and I regretted it exactly a millisecond after hitting the send button. I’d been careful to put the wall back up ever since.

I should tell Tina the truth, or some sane variation of it. I should give her some reason to stick around, because I do need to talk. Not to a therapist or a shrink, though I’m sure my mother wishes I would visit Dr. Sheldon more regularly. But a friend. An actual friend. Someone I can just talk to. Someone who understands…

Then again, who can understand this?

Part of me is afraid I’m going crazy.

Part of me is scared I’m not, because if I’m not, if what is going on in my nightmares is real, then I’ve got 99 more problems to deal with.

That’s why I can’t tell Tina. It’s why I can’t tell anybody. There is something inside me that will not allow me to have a meaningful conversation with people. It’s like part of me is missing. Not just the scary part either. It’s like I’m missing some important part of myself that everybody else has and God forgot to put inside me. Like everyone else has a nice awesome soul and I have… Hart.

So not a fair trade.

I sit up straighter and place my hands on the keyboard, ready to tell Tina something without telling her anything at all. It’s how humans communicate, right? I’ll tell her that, yeah, I’m having some anxiety issues. It’s the second full week of college, of living with Sam, of being away from home. College assignments are different from high school, and I’m a little stressed about doing well on them. I won’t tell her about Sam or the weird fight we had last night. Almost like he wanted to pick it so I’d go upstairs and leave him alone. I’ll tell her it’s anxiety and not that I haven’t slept more than two hours a night in a week. I’ll tell her a lot of things because she is my friend and that’s what friends do.

They lie to each other so they can make each other feel good.

@sullyGray I’m fine. Really. Just Monday morning, kwim? I’m ready for it to be Friday again. Whoot!

@tinaM Tell me about it! Mondays are so hard! Gotta go. Talk to you later. Have a great day!

@sullyGray You too!!!!!!

And then I add some smiley emoticons, because that’s just what a person does. I hit send and lean back in my computer chair. Monday morning. Time for Professor Mitchell’s class. Time to see Marcy, AKA the best Teacher’s Assistant in the world, and listen to the professor talk about some random event that happened in the Civil War. Because that’s what he does. He talks about random events that didn’t matter to anybody but does it in such a way that you care. Professor Mitchell is one of those teachers who just makes you want to learn, makes you want to listen. He has something special about him. Something no other teacher has had, and I’ve only had him three times. I have his class Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. A great way to start the week, and a great way to end it.

Can’t exactly say enough about Professor Mitchell. I mean, he’s him.

Sweet, intelligent, awesome, and at least twenty years older than me. Handsome in that old guy way. Not that I’d want anything to do with him—not in that way. Not feelin’ that, but I know some other people in the class wouldn’t mind.

The professor loves talking about the Civil War. More than just the war, the families involved, the real people behind the “Hollywood machine,” as he calls it.

I shut down my computer and stretch in my chair. Yeah, it’s Monday, but it’ll be a good Monday. It will. I’ll go to class with a positive attitude. I’ll listen. I’ll take notes. I’ll text Sam—funny how he’s not sent me one before now—and I’ll be happy.

Or, at the very least, I’ll pretend to be happy.

That’s all people really want, right?

Sunshine. Marcy, the T.A. for Professor Mitchell. Tina. Sam—somewhere. I’m living my life. I’m moving on. I’m totally ignoring Hart, who is currently whispering in my head about candles.

I’m fine.

I’m totally normal.

Heartless Teaser

 


Kelly MartinKelly Martin

Instragram | FB Group | Blog | Amazon | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Youtube

If you ever have a question or comment, feel free to email her at kellymartin215 @ yahoo . com ♥ You can follow her writing adventure at www.kellymartinbooks.com

Kelly Martin writes paranormal, contemporary, historical, and YA fiction. She has been married for over ten years and has three rowdy, angelic daughters. When she’s not writing, she loves taking picture of abandoned houses, watching horror gamers on YouTube– even though she’s a huge wimp– and drinking decaf white chocolate mochas. She’s a total fangirl, loves the 80s and 90s, and has a sad addiction to paranormal TV shows. {Basically, she likes creepy stuff.} Her favorite characters are the very flawed ‘good guys’–and ‘bad guys’ who don’t know they are evil. She loves giving her readers books with unexpected twists and turns, but (here’s a hint) most of her books have the ending spelled out in the first chapter. See if you can figure it out.

 

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The Fireman In Unit C By Kris Cook ♥ Blog Tour

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Title: The Fireman in Unit C

Series: A Mockingbird Place Novel

Author: Kris Cook

Genre: M/M Romance Standalone

Published: February 15, 2016

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A serial arsonist sets fire to the unit next to Jackson’s apartment—the unit the sexy fireman Eli lives in. 

Things really heat up when Jackson offers Eli a place to stay until Unit C is livable again. Jackson, being OCD, requires everything in his life to be neat and orderly, but Eli’s life is chaotic and messy, especially because of the man’s ex, who keeps pushing his way back into the fireman’s life. Living with Eli turns out to be much more than he bargained for. As much as he would love to just throw caution to the wind, Jackson believes it is best to keep things between him an Eli on the friend level. Nothing more. But an unexpected kiss rocks his world and he must figure out the real reason he’s terrified of the feelings Eli is bringing out in him. 

Will Jackson see that a future with Eli can help him let go of the guilt from his troubled past?

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Jackson McAllen – Unit D

After spending several hours at the university’s library studying for my forensic psychology test next week, I drive away from the campus, anxious to get into my apartment and warm bed. Though I love the class, the amount of required reading has kept me very busy.

Thankfully, I don’t have any classes on Fridays this semester, so I can sleep in tomorrow. I’ll need the rest for Saturday’s tennis match. The new coach doesn’t believe in canceling no matter the weather. I really hope the forecast for the weekend is correct. We’re supposed to have clear skies and temperatures in the sixties. That will be a relief since this entire week has been so cold, especially today, which is the coldest.

The car is registering the outside temperature at ten degrees below freezing. It gives me a chill just looking at it.

I pull into my parking space at Mockingbird Place, my home sweet home. Bracing myself to face the cold, I open my car door and immediately smell smoke.

I look around and see where it’s coming from. Shit. It’s Eli’s apartment.

God, I hope he’s at the fire station working and not inside.

I call 9-1-1.

The dispatcher answers, “9-1-1. What’s your emergency?”

“I’m reporting a fire at Mockingbird Place.” I give her the address. “Unit C. I’m going to run to the door and make sure no one is inside.”

“Sir, for your safety you need to wait until the fire department gets there,” she says in a stern voice.

As I’m running, I tell her, “No way am I waiting.” At Eli’s door, I try to turn the knob. It’s locked. I pound as hard as I can. “Eli! Eli! Are you in there?”

My neighbors come out of their apartments. More smoke billows out the front window. I see that it’s broken. This could be arson. That realization multiplies my worry. Where the hell are you, Eli?

“I know I’m not supposed to hang up on you, ma’am, but I have to call my friend to make sure he’s okay.” Not waiting for her to respond, I click off of 9-1-1 and call Eli’s phone.

Sirens begin to wail in the distance.

Fuck. No answer.

Out of the corner of my eye I see something move. Hoping that it’s Eli, I turn and see the white stray cat that we’ve all adopted running down the sidewalk.

I knock even louder. “Eli!”

Suddenly, the door opens, releasing a massive amount of smoke. Eli rushes out with a towel around his waist and another covering his mouth.

“Eli, are you okay?”

Coughing, he puts his arms around me. “Yes, I am.”

I’m overwhelmed with relief that he is safe, but I’m feeling so much more that I can’t explain. There’s no time to sort out these thoughts right now.

Eli coughs a few more times and then his demeanor goes into fireman mode. “Jackson, we need to step away from the building. It’s too dangerous. Please help me get everyone back.” He doesn’t wait for me but begins lifting his hands and motioning everyone to the other side of the pool. Following his lead, I do the same, directing our neighbors away from the fire.

Once he’s satisfied that everyone is safely away from the blaze, I take off my coat and give it to him. Then he and I run around to the back of Mockingbird Place and meet a fire truck, an ambulance, and a police car, which are pulling into the parking lot next to our units.

The firemen jump out and get to work like a well-oiled machine, pulling out the hoses and other equipment.

Still coughing, Eli steps over to the man in charge, who is broad shouldered with salt and pepper hair.

“Grayson? What the hell are you doing here wrapped in a towel?” the man asks.

“It’s my place, Captain,” Eli chokes out. “I was in the shower when I heard glass breaking and smelled gasoline. I ran downstairs and saw my sofa and curtains go up in flames. I grabbed my fire extinguisher from under the kitchen sink and tried to put out the blaze but it was already out of control.”

“Damn arsonists. This is the fifth fire we’ve had to deal with in the past two weeks.”

I curl my hands into fists, angry about the attacks on gays that have occurred in the area. First it started out as bashing. Eleven LGBT people ended up in the hospital. After the police increased their presence down on Cedar Springs, that’s when small apartment complexes around the area, like ours, were set on fire. Although there has been no evidence connecting the bashings to the arsons, the entire community is on edge.

The captain motions to the EMTs to come over. “He’s one of ours. Inhaled some smoke. Take good care of him.” He turns to Eli. “We are getting this under control. You know the drill. Stay put.”

“Yes, sir.”

As the EMTs give Eli oxygen and provide him blankets, the captain and his team put out the blaze.

“I’m fine, fellas.” Eli seems far from fine to me, at least not emotionally, which is no surprise considering all he’s gone through.

Even so, he’s still the perfect example of male beauty. He’s six-foot-one, just like me. Muscles for days. Piercing blue eyes. Thick, dark hair. Just like the old cliché says—tall, dark, and handsome. He looks like a very strong, tough guy, but still, who would be fine after their home caught on fire? I hate that this has happened to him.

A little while later, the captain walks over to us. “Eli, the good news is we were able to keep the fire from spreading to your second floor. The bad news is everything in your living room is toast. And you know the kind of water damage you’re going to have to deal with.”

“Yes, sir.” He sighs. “And the smoke damage too. The adjoining unit has a couple who are expecting a baby. I’m going to need help finding them a place to stay. Lashaya can’t take a chance breathing in the residual smoke.”

“You may be jumping the gun,” I tell him. I know how terrific a guy Eli is—always concerned about everyone else more than himself. “There might not be any smoke in their place. If there is, we’ll all work on getting them settled until it’s safe for her to return to their apartment.”

He nods. “I’m just glad no one got hurt.”

“We did find the remains of what looks to be a Molotov cocktail in the middle of your apartment,” the captain says. “Before you can get inside the investigators will have to go over your place first.”

Eli closes his eyes. “Maybe they’ll find a clue to who did this.”

Of course he’s still struggling with what has happened. Who wouldn’t be?

“I’m sorry but you’re not going to be able to stay here.” The captain puts his arm around him. “You can stay at the station until this gets all sorted out. I know it might be hard to get much rest but at least you’ll have a clean bed and a shower.”

Everything inside me wants to help Eli. “Why don’t you stay with me? I have the extra bedroom now that Trace is living with Luke, Ava, and the baby. And you and I are about the same size. I have plenty of clothes you can wear.” I don’t want him to think I’m only offering as a gesture of charity, so I add, “And quite frankly, I could use the company. I’ve been a little lonely since Trace moved out.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course I am. The first thing we need to do is get you out of the cold.”

He shakes his head. “I’d rather stay here until the fire is completely out.”

Knowing I would feel the same way if it were my place on fire, I nod. “Okay. But I’m going to get something for your bare feet. I’ll be right back.”

I run into my place and up the stairs. I pull out a pair of slippers from my closet.

As I rush back to Eli, I see the fire is already under control. The captain is talking with two police officers, a male and female. I also spot Sarah and Martha, who we lovingly call S & M, giving the firemen coffee and hot chocolate.

I hand the slippers to Eli. “I hope these fit you.”

“My feet feel like icicles. Thanks, Jackson.” Putting them on, he smiles. “Perfect, buddy. Already feel better. But let me give your coat back. You must be freezing too.”

I was so concerned with getting him the slippers I didn’t think about grabbing a coat for myself. “I’m fine. Keep it, Eli.”

The captain leads the police officers to us. “This is Eli Grayson. Eli, they have a few questions they need to ask you.”

“I’m Detective Soliz,” the female officer says, and then motions to her partner. “And this is Detective Morrison.”

I recall what the outside temperature registered on my car earlier. Ten degrees below freezing. “Officers, I know you have to ask him questions but could we please go inside my place so he can warm up?” I point to my back door. “I live next door to him.”

Soliz nods. “Of course. Lead the way.”

Once we’re all settled into my apartment, I turn up the heat and put on a pot of coffee. I wish my friend Detective Derek Stone could take Eli’s statement. But Derek only works homicides.

“Mr. Grayson, I understand Captain Murphy told you about his suspicions that this could be arson,” Soliz says.

“Yes he did.”

“Do you have any idea who might have done this?”

“No. I don’t have any enemies that I know of.”

Morrison asks, “Have you had an argument with anyone recently?”

Eli shrugs. “I did have an argument with my friend Scott a couple of days ago, but that’s not unusual. We’ve been arguing with each other since I kicked him out, but I’m certain Scott’s not capable of this.”

Of course the bastard is capable of this and so much more. Why can’t Eli see the guy for who he truly is?

Soliz looks directly at Eli. “What were you arguing about, Mr. Grayson?”

“Same old thing. He wants me to forgive him and take him back.”

We all know the asshole cheated on him, even if Eli has never said so. I saw Scott making out with a guy at a club when he was still living with Eli. And despite Eli breaking it off with the bastard and kicking him out, the creep somehow is able to make Eli feel sorry for him.

I bring out a tray with coffee, cups, cream, and sugar. “Officers, would you like some coffee? It’s freezing out there.”

“I sure would,” Morrison says.

Soliz smiles. “Me, too. Thank you.”

“What about you, Eli?” I ask him.

“Please. I’m still cold.”

After taking a sip of coffee, Soliz turns back to Eli. “What’s your friend’s full name, Mr. Grayson?”

“Scott Foster.”

“Do you have his address and phone number?” she asks.

“I do. In my cell.” Eli frowns. “Oh shit. It was on the table next to my sofa. Um…Scott lives in a condo on Cedar Springs not far from Oak Lawn. I think they’re called Whispering Pines.”

“Whispering Pines?” I’m stunned. “Those are really nice.”

“Where does Mr. Foster work?” Soliz asks Eli.

“He just started working part time at the 7-Eleven on Lemmon a couple of weeks ago.”

I wonder how in the hell his ex can afford to live in an upscale condo. Is Eli subsidizing him?

Eli takes a sip of his coffee. “But like I said before, Scott isn’t capable of such a crime.”

“But he certainly is a big jerk,” I blurt out and immediately wish I could take it back. “Sorry, Eli. You know none of us here like Scott after all he did to you.”

“What is your name?” Soliz asks me.

Damn it. I should have kept my mouth shut. “Jackson McAllen.

“What can you tell us about Mr. Foster?”

“I don’t really know him. I only saw him a few times when he and Eli were still together.”

She leans forward. “And?”

“And I don’t care for him.”

“Can you elaborate?” Morrison asks in a I-mean-business-so-don’t-try-to-bullshit-me tone.

“I’ve seen him throw a drink in Eli’s face, scream at Eli at a club, and throw Eli’s clothes in the pool.” Rage rolls up inside me. Why can’t Eli see his ex is a useless piece of shit? “Scott Foster is a total asshole.”

Soliz glances at her partner and then turns back to me. “Are you and Mr. Grayson dating now?”

“No, we are not,” Eli jumps in. “Jackson and I are only friends.”

His words sting me. “Right. Just friends.”

“I don’t understand why you’re wasting time, officers,” Eli says. “Stop trying to pin this on Scott. I told you, he’s not capable of this.”

The male officer’s eyebrows rise. “Have you heard the saying from Hamlet ‘The lady doth protest too much, methinks’?”

Is Morrison referring to Eli’s ex being the arsonist or that Eli and I should be together? God, I wish Eli and I could be more than friends. I like him. I like him a lot. But he and I wouldn’t work. His life is too complicated and messy for me. Blame it on my OCD. I must have things simple and orderly.

The Firemen In Unit C

 

Kris Cook

Though starting in straight erotic romance, Kris’s total focus now is on gay romance. When asked why recently, his answer was “My muse finally came out of the closet. Isn’t it about time? I’ve been out since I was twenty-five.” A voracious reader, Kris loves many genres of fiction, but this writer’s favorite books are romances that are edgy, sexy, with rich characters and unique challenges. Kris’ influences include Anne Rice, JR Ward, Lexi Blake and Shayla Black. Last year, Kris married the love of his life Stephen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Bound For Hell By Kendra Leigh ♥ 1st Anniversary Blog Tour

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*~*~* The Bound Trilogy *~*~*

Amazon bestselling Bound Trilogy is relentlessly sexy and emotionally deep — a tangled, twisted, intricately woven love story with romance and suspense. 

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Book: Bound For Hell (The Bound Trilogy #1)
By Kendra Leigh
Genre: Erotic Romance, suspense


Bound for Hell
Ethan Wilde. Billionaire. Business Man.
Passionate. Powerful. Persistent.
One of New York’s most eligible bachelors.
Angel Lawson. Photographer. Gallery Owner.
Burdened. Beautiful. Broken.

 

A woman bound by the ropes of her sins and forgotten past, fearful of her future
A chance encounter…
Consumed by guilt and tormented by the bonds of a tragic past, Angel Lawson’s life has been a solitary journey, condemned to live without love. In order to preserve her damaged soul from further rejection, sex is as close to a man as she ever plans to get.  She was already hell-bound for her sins. One more wasn’t going to hurt …

… or so she thought.

When a passionate encounter throws her into the world of Ethan Wilde, Angel is helpless to resist the irrefutable desire and depth of raw emotion he ignites in her.

Ethan is as intense as he is sinfully sexy. Irretrievably captivated by Angel, he seems just as intent on understanding her naked soul as he is desperate to possess every inch of her naked body.
Angel craves his touch like a drug and yearns for the love he promises, but surrendering to the feelings he’s unearthed will mean exposing her fears and releasing the demons buried for a lifetime.

 Exposing her heart will leave it at risk of being broken.

Will Angel choose to leave her life of solitude behind, or is the choice no longer hers?

Ethan Wilde is used to getting what he wants … and what he wants is Angel.

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Start this intensely erotic and suspenseful journey today …
Get it for $0.99/£0.99 for a Limited Time Only

#FREE on Kindle Unlimited.
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Bound For Hell – Excerpt
When we reached the apartment, I ran straight for the shower, leaving Ethan in the kitchen to start on the pancakes. I needed time to compose myself, cleanse my body and mind of the conversation which had seemed to sully the morning. Leave it behind, forget it. It was the first time I’d ever shared my shit with anyone, and it would teach me to leave it where it belonged. In my poisonous past.
     When I finished, I dressed quickly in jeans and a top, and padded barefoot toward the kitchen, squeezing droplets of water from my hair with a towel.
     Ethan had his back to me, unaware of my approach, and was slamming about in a rage, anger radiating from every pore of his body. As I came within a few feet of him, he seemed to lose it all together, and raising a bowl in the air, smashed it down violently into the sink.
“E, what are you doing? What’s happened?” I gasped, stunned by the vehemence of his demeanor.
My presence startled him and he swung around to face me, his eyes dark, nostrils flared with seething rage. Seeming to war with himself, he opened his mouth to speak, but the words failed, as if they’d already begun to evaporate before he could form them. Instead, he just stared at me, his eyes dark and intense with emotion boring so deeply into mine that they seemed to reach inside my very soul.
Suddenly he moved, striding swiftly toward me and without a word, flung his arms around me, squeezing me so tight it stole the breath from my lungs.
“What is it?” I asked, fear gripping my heart with the frightening possibilities raging through my mind.
As if the physical contact with me offered sustenance, he relaxed his grip, his face angling to look down at me through glistening eyes. A profound sadness seemed to have engulfed him, a helpless, angry veil shrouding his usually poised mien. Then, as if to dispel the emotion that even impeded his speech, he shook his head and closed his eyes. As he did, a solitary, angry tear escaped from the corner of his eye and spilled on to his cheek.
“E, please tell me. What’s wrong?” I pleaded.
When his voice finally emerged it was hoarse, barely above a whisper. “You.”
Me? I was causing him this apparent agony?

“Why? What have I done?”

BFH Teaser 2
************************************************************
Bound for Salvation

Hell was hot, but the flames of deliverance might be the ones
to burn …

For the first time in living memory, Angel Lawson feels cherished.
Ethan Wilde has taught her that love is possible for all, even the sinners among us. The bonds of his love free her from the shackles of her guilt. Inch by inch, he’s slid under her skin, folding himself around her soul like a soothing blanket. His love nourishes her starving heart, and his passion fuels the scorching flames of her deepest desires, driving her to the blissful edge of sweet insanity.

Brick by brick, she tears down the protective wall she’s built around her heart, and the ice inside begins to thaw.

To Ethan, Angel is the sole reason he exists, the blood in his veins, the drug to his addiction. He vows to mend her, to help her confront her demons and come to terms with a buried past that continues to haunt her.

But what lies beneath the surface of Ethan’s past?

Pasts left hidden to rot become dirty secrets. Secrets that can tear even the strongest love apart.


And secrets have a habit of revealing themselves when least expected…

Get it for #FREE on Kindle Unlimited, or
Buy Bound For Salvation on Amazon:
*********************************************************
Bound for Nirvana
The bonds of their love saw them through the ravaging storm to the promise of peace and the chance to breathe …Angel once believed her soul belonged to the Devil. Now she willingly gives every part of her—mind, body and soul—to the man whose love mends her a little more each day.

Ethan knows Hell is no place for an angel, especially not his Angel. He would sacrifice his soul every day of his life in order to save hers.

Fuelled by an almost obsessive desire, their need for each other ignites a passion that most couples could find destructive, but instead the flames of their possessive vigilance only seem to feed the fire of their insatiable hunger. The slaying of Ethan’s demons has made their fortress of love stronger than ever.

But Angel continues to paper over the cracks of her troubled past, running from the demons that chase her and the nightmares that plague her. When a twist of fate forces her to confront them, she finally begins to accept that her repressed memories need to be explored in order to attain the peace she craves.But in her search for Nirvana, Angel discovers far more than buried memories.

What happens when the worst nightmare you’ve ever encountered is the one you wake up in?


When the past comes face to face with the present to reveal a web of diseased secrets and lies?

And the only road you can take leads to one destination
Hell.
Get it for #Free on Kindle Unlimited or
Buy Bound For Nirvana on Amazon:
********************************************************* 
About Kendra …
Kenda Leigh
Kendra Leigh fell in love with words and reading as a young child. She was at her happiest when Enid Blyton whisked her away up into the magical lands at the top of the Faraway Tree with Moon-face and the rest of the gang.
Now, of course, she has more of a fondness for chocolate, cheese and hot men in suits – not necessarily in that order.
Kendra devotes her life to her devilishly handsome partner, scandalously beautiful daughter and cute as hell Shih-Tzu. She believes in love at first sight, and as well as writing and reading, Kendra has a passion for great movies and brilliantly written TV.
The Amazon bestselling Bound Trilogy is her debut series. She is currently plotting and weaving a spinoff series to feature well-loved characters from the trilogy.
Connect with Kendra …
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Tyrant By Nashoda Rose ♥ Book Tour

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Meet Kilter & Rayne in

Tyrant by Nashoda Rose! #ParaRomance

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New York Times & USA Today Best Selling Author Nashoda Rose brings a fresh twist to the paranormal romance world with ‘the Scars’.

“I don’t do nice. Period.” -Kilter (nickname: Off-Kilter)

Kilter is crass, reckless and stubborn. He has alienated everyone—just the way he likes it. Until the day he meets Rayne and emotions he buried long ago reawaken.

“I was nothing but a science experiment.” -Rayne

Rayne has been locked away and used for research ever since she was a child. The abuse caused her to withdraw into a tomb of numbness where she’s found a safe place to hide. But her safe place isn’t safe at all, it’s slowly killing her.

When Kilter rescues her and she is unexpectedly drawn to his raw honesty, Rayne must decide whether to trust him and fight for what she can’t see or drown into the depths of darkness.

For some Scars, it’s the story of healing and redemption, for others it’s the beginning of a tortured existence. Which will it be for Kilter and Rayne?

A band of fierce warriors walk in the shadows of the human world with capabilities derived from the senses: Trackers, Sounders, Healers, Tasters, Visionaries and the rare Reflectors. They are known as the ‘Scars.

*Stygian must be read first. 18+

Scars of the Wraiths Series

Stygian (Scars of the Wraiths, Book 1)

Tyrant (Scars of the Wraiths, Book 2)

Take (Scars of the Wraiths, standalone)

Credo (Scars of the Wraiths, Book 3) (coming 2016)

Author’s Note: Tyrant (Scars of the Wraiths, Book 2) was originally titled “Step” (Senses Series). The book has been completely re-written. However, please check your Kindles before purchasing.

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I sat on the cold cement floor of the bathroom, knees to my chest, arms tight around them as I waited for the door to open.

Booted steps strode through my adjoining bedroom toward me.

Closer. Louder.

Goose bumps scattered. My body trembled as raw fear gripped me. It was like I was hanging off the side of a cliff by my fingernails, knowing I’d eventually fall and the pain would come.

Unbearable pain.

He’d come. My husband or whoever he’d sent to get me.

There was no escape. No where to run.

The heavy thuds stopped outside the bathroom door, and I glimpsed the tall, dark shadow that filtered through the two-inch gape.

I put my chin on my knee and closed my eyes, afraid to look. If I didn’t look, then no one was here. My breath came in short, sharp, quiet gasps and I dug my fingers into the sides of my thighs so hard, blood trickled down my skin through my pants.

For almost a month, I’d expected this day to come, stomach churning every time I heard someone in the corridor outside my bedroom. Living in a black hole, I was desperate to get out, but knew the day I did, it was to face punishment for helping the Scars escape the compound.

The door pushed open with what sounded like a kick of a boot.

Tears pooled in my eyes and spilled down my cheeks. I squeezed my eyes shut harder as fear drilled into me like tiny darts piercing my skin.

Another step.

Then another.

Then nothing.

Please don’t let it be Ben. Anyone but Ben.

“Fuck, babe. What the hell?”

My breath hitched at the sound of the familiar, deep voice. A voice I’d never forget. A voice that gave me hope then snatched it away with his lies.

I raised my head and locked eyes on the Scar I’d helped escape.

Well, more like he used me in order to help him and his friend escape.

He was also the man who had haunted my dreams for weeks since then. And they were haunting because he was scary. Not ugly scary, far from it, but intense scary.

He had a chiseled jaw with a few days of scruff and defined cheekbones. His look was old-world, which made sense since the Scars were immortal, but he definitely wasn’t an old-world English gentleman. More like a Highland Scot.

A long, jagged scar dragged from his right brow to his ear and another across his neck, which attributed to the scary factor. But that wasn’t what did it—that gave him character, it gave him a story.

It was his eyes that really intimidated, black and cold without a hint of compassion. And after spending a night in an air duct with him, I knew, compassion was not part of his disposition.

Actually, he’d been an asshole and didn’t try to hide it.

“Get up.”

I didn’t move.

I didn’t know what to do. He’d used me before, so I guessed he was here to use me again, although the reason was unclear because my husband didn’t have any Scars in his compound for this guy to break out.

“Babe, don’t have time for this shit. Get the fuck up.” He didn’t wait for me to get up, but bent, grabbed my forearm, and hauled me to my feet with a rough yank. I landed against him, my palms on his chest.

I quickly shoved back, but his hand remained locked on my forearm, and he didn’t allow me further than arm’s length. Staring, he performed a quick assessment, his dark eyes narrowing and trailing down the front of me.

“You look like shit. Worse, actually.” With the calloused pad of his thumb, he haphazardly wiped the tears from my cheeks.

I had no response. I was confused as to why he was here and how he managed to get into the basement and find me without the alarms blaring.

He cupped my chin. “You hurt?”

Not really, but I was an emotional wreck. Did that count?

“You need to answer me when I ask you a question.”

He was right, I did, and not because he told me to, but because there was a sliver of hope. I always had it. Most of the time, it was buried deep, but when my eyes hit the Scar… it surfaced whether I wanted it to or not.

So, that hope was him, and pissing him off was going to kill it.

“No,” I said. He frowned. “I’m not hurt.” Then I had a moment of bravery that came with the hope. “Ummm, why are you here?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

Not really. But the answer wasn’t important, because he’d lied to me before, so no matter what he said, it was highly probable it was complete bullshit. And so was my hope.

His jaw clenched and his eyes narrowed; yet his hand on my chin was soft and gentle. “Do I need to fuckin’ carry you?”

What was he talking about? “Carry me? Carry me where?”

His lips pursed together as he glared at me with black, unforgiving eyes. “Listen, babe, I don’t feel like becoming some guy’s lab rat, so I need you to pull your shit together, answer my questions, stop asking them, and maybe we’ll get out of here alive.”

Get out of here? The hope plowed back into me, but I was afraid to grab onto it because I didn’t dare believe the Scar had come back to get me out of here. Why would he?

But there was something different in him than three weeks ago. Maybe it was the way he gently wiped my tears away or how he held me right now, his fingers no longer bruising, but holding me steady as if he knew I needed the support.

He was tall, probably six foot two, and I’d noticed when I was against his chest that my head tucked under his chin. I also noticed, beneath his black T-shirt, he was rock-hard with ridges and valleys of muscles.

His hand moved to the back of my neck. It wasn’t exactly gentle, but more like he was attempting to get my attention. He already had it, but I was still confused.

“You want to get out of this pisshole? ‘Cause if you don’t, tell me now so I can leave you here and get the fuck out.”

I tried to lower my head, but his grip on the back of my neck tightened and I was forced to meet his eyes. “I hate him.” Why did I say that? I mean, I did, but he didn’t ask me that.

His brows drew together and his grip on my neck tightened. “Yeah, I got that, babe.”

Logically, I should be terrified of him, yet I wasn’t. It was more nervousness than anything.

There was a hint of something I recognized in his eyes that was oddly comforting. And I recognized it because it was the same look I saw in myself; the haunting tornado of emotions trapped behind a wall.

Our walls were very different, though. His wall was a shield of anger. Mine was a shield of numbness.

He let me go, eyes scanning the bathroom before grabbing my sweatshirt hanging on a hook on the wall. “Arms up.” I did and he pulled it over my head. “It’s cold and you don’t have an ounce of fat on you,” he said while his gaze traveled the length of my body. “Jesus, you look like you’ll break in a gust of wind.” He swore beneath his breath and shook his head. “You good to run?”

My legs felt like uncooked spaghetti ready to crack in half at the slightest push and my heart beat erratically, having to work hard to keep my body functioning. I was falling apart, so probably the truth would be a hell no, but I nodded anyway.

He hesitated then nodded, as if satisfied that, regardless of my lie, he thought I’d be able to at least keep up.

He grabbed my hand and pulled me from the bathroom, through the bedroom, to the door.

He pulled a knife from a leather sheath at his hip and opened the door, peering out before looking back at me. “Keep close. Lag behind and I’m not coming back for you. Understand?”

I nodded.

I didn’t trust him, but I did know he would leave me because he’d done it before.

The fight inside me had died years ago, as had the ability to trust anyone. I had trusted. I had fought. Neither had done me any good. So now I trusted myself, and that meant killing parts of who I was.

It meant protecting me.

Burying me.

“Babe?”

I snapped my eyes to his. For a second, I thought his eyes softened, but it was more wishful thinking on my part. He was probably thinking he’d just made the stupidest mistake of his life by coming back here. Escaping my husband’s compound twice had a high probability of failure.

His fingers curled around my fragile hand, squeezed, then tugged me forward. “Let’s get the fuck out of this shithole.”

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Meet Nashoda Rose

Nashoda Rose

Nashoda Rose is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Toronto with her assortment of pets. She writes contemporary romance with a splash of darkness, or maybe it’s a tidal wave.

When she isn’t writing, she can be found sitting in a field reading with her dogs at her side while her horses graze nearby. She loves interacting with her readers and chatting about her addiction—books.

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Something More Series by Daneille Pearl ♥ Cover Reveal

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The Something More Boxed Set

Author: Danielle Pearl

Publication Date: April 18, 2016

Genre: New Adult Romance

Cover Design by Cover Couture

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Normal

NORMAL (Book 1)

It’s the kind of situation most people would dread. Starting at a new high school, in the middle of my senior year, in a new town, in a new state. I know no one. No one knows me. That’s what I’m counting on.

A year ago, Aurora “Rory” Pine was just a normal teenage girl – just as sweet and naive as the fairy tale princess she was named after.

But this isn’t a year ago.

Rory is broken, and suffering from a new debilitating anxiety disorder, wrought with precarious triggers, she moves across the country to escape the source of her troubles. Her plan is anonymity, but that’s easier said than achieved for the new girl having a panic episode outside of calculus. The worst part? There’s a witness – and a gorgeous one at that.

Sam is a walking trigger for Rory. Incredibly handsome, built like the star athlete he obviously is, and undoubtedly popular, Sam outwardly represents everything Rory despises about high school. But as the fates keep throwing them together, a connection sparks that neither ever expected, and certainly can’t ignore.

But Sam has issues too, and Rory’s past won’t just stay in the damned past. When friendship evolves into something deeper, can a girl utterly destroyed by the worst kind of betrayal and a boy battling demons of his own ever have a normal relationship? Is that even what they want? Find out in NORMAL, a gritty story of trust and abuse, heartbreak and salvation, and if they’re lucky – love. This is not a flowery romance – not for the faint of heart.

Recap

ReCAP (Book 1.5)

Rory and Sam fell in love in NORMAL, and we all fell in love right along with them. Now see it all unfold through Sam’s eyes, and learn just how the new girl with anxiety issues stole the heart of the gorgeous heartthrob, and turned his world upside down.

You already heard the story. The one of how Rory and I fell in love, supposedly, even if she couldn’t handle it in the end. You know how it all went.

Or you think you do.

You only know her side. But I have my own point of view, and even Rory couldn’t know my thoughts in those few months it took for her to go from being a stranger to my whole entire world.

Every moment is permanently ingrained in my memory. In my goddamned soul. From the moment I stumbled upon the girl panicking outside of calculus – the one with the tight little body, the angelic face, and the fierce attitude – to the night she abandoned me in Miami. It was the sum of those moments that changed me irrevocably.

Our story isn’t over. I won’t let it be. But this, this is what happened so far, the way I saw it.

I’m Cap. Or Sam, to Rory. And this is my story.

Okay

OKAY (Book 2)

After the horrors she’s survived over the past year, Rory never expected to find the one thing she certainly wasn’t looking for – love. But after the painful realization that her past has left her a dangerous liability to the person she cares for the most, she finally understands that for her and Sam, love means letting go.

Can two people hopelessly in love ever revert back to just friends? Neither Rory nor Sam knows for sure. But the one thing they do know – it’s the only choice they have.

As Rory recovers from a devastating assault, Sam will do anything to make sure it never happens again. But how far will he go to keep her safe? Their choices will change everything, and they will either bring them back together, or destroy them irrevocably.

Read an Excerpt from Normal (Book 1)

I climb into the passenger seat of Carl’s Audi. She tells me that Tina is already at the party and we’ll meet her there. I look at the clock on her dashboard and estimate that I’ll need to kill about three hours before Mom goes to bed and I can sneak back home.

When we arrive, Tucker hands us both red plastic cups and points us to the keg, but I set mine down on the first flat surface I can find. I haven’t taken a pill today, but I still don’t really like to drink. Tina and Andrew are laughing and talking with a group of people and Carl goes off to join them while I hang back a few feet from the crowd. I watch as a minute later Tuck jogs over, slings his arm around Carl and plants an exaggerated wet kiss on her cheek. She playfully pushes him away, but it’s clear she doesn’t mean it. Everyone looks so happy and carefree… normal.

I don’t belong here.

“Having fun?”

I startle but catch myself quickly. Somehow I recognize Sam’s voice instantly, and his tone tells me he can tell just how much fun I’m having.

“Didn’t mean to sneak up on you.”

I shrug. “Tons,” I murmur, unenthused. “You?”

“A blast.” He matches my level of excitement. “Can I get you a drink?” he offers.

“I don’t really drink.”

“How about some water?”

“I- uh-“

He hands me his unopened bottle of Poland Spring, and my lips part to thank him, but for some reason I stay silent.

“You don’t seem to want to be here,” he observes.

I frown. He’s right, I don’t, but it’s rude of him to point it out, isn’t it?

“Neither do you,” I counter. Sam smiles, and it’s an unexpectedly wistful smile. I’m surprised by it. I’d expect something more cocky from such a gorgeous, confident guy.

“Touché… I have a lot on my mind.”

If he expects me to ask him about it, he’s going to be disappointed. Even though I find that I am interested to know what’s plaguing the mind of this beautiful boy, I worry that if I ask about his problems, then he’ll have the right to ask about mine. But he doesn’t give me a chance to ask, and I think maybe he didn’t want me to after all – maybe he didn’t even mean to say it.

“You wanna go for a walk?” he asks, nodding in the direction of the open grassy area that leads to what appears to be a pond.

Is he seriously hitting on me?

He doesn’t even know me, and the one thing he does know is that I obviously have issues. He probably thinks the crazy ones are easy. My eyes narrow. I straighten my shoulders indignantly and square my stance. False confidence all the way.

“No. I don’t want to go for a fucking walk. I’m not gonna fuck you, or hook up with you in any way. Or anyone else for that matter. Spread the fucking word,” I growl. My throat is suddenly desert-dry, so I take a swig from his water bottle to soothe it, praying it doesn’t betray my anxiety.

Sam stares at me like I’ve just grown another head, so I turn and stomp away from the hordes of people, toward the pond, marching in the exact direction I just insisted I did not want to go. My heart pounds mercilessly, but this isn’t panic, this is anger.

Ugh! Guys! They’re all the fucking same.

“Hey!” Sam calls after me.

Can’t he just take no for an answer?

He catches up to me and his unexpected grip scorches the skin of my arm like wildfire.

I don’t think. I wrench out of his hold, turn, and smack him across his face. “Don’t touch me!” I hiss. “Don’t ever touch me!” We’re now far enough away from the crowd that no one notices us, but if I scream, they’ll hear me.

Sam’s fingers caress his cheek where my palm made contact, eyes wide and round.

“What the fuck is your problem, Rory?! I wasn’t fucking hitting on you!” He rubs his reddened cheek again. “Damn it!”

He wasn’t hitting on me?

My boiling blood starts to simmer and shame floods my veins. All of a sudden I can’t for the life of me remember what made me so certain his invitation for a walk was code for a hook-up – what made me think he’d want me that way at all. God, if he didn’t already think I was crazy…

Damn it, Rory, don’t panic.

Sam is glaring at me, but something in my mortified expression must warrant pity, because he sucks in a deep breath and I can sense his anger begin to dissipate.

“I was… you just didn’t seem like you were up for a party. I thought you’d want to get away from all those people.” He gestures to the crowds, now off some distance, and shoves his hand through his messy chocolate locks in frustration. “I wasn’t trying to fuck you. I realize that we don’t know each other very well, but what about me that you know so far, exactly, makes you think I’m the kind of guy who would lure you down to a lake, lay you down on the dirty ground, and have sex with you with a hundred of our friends not fifty yards away?”

I swallow anxiously. I’ve offended him. Moisture pricks the back of my eyes and I will it to stay put. It’s beyond reason how much I’ve humiliated myself in front of this guy in just one week.

“I-” I choke back what threatens to be a sob, close my eyes, and silently count back from ten in double time. When I open them again, I’m greeted by his expectant midnight blue gaze. “I’m so sorry,” I breathe.

Sam exhales sharply, his fingers raking that familiar path through his hair . “Look, I shouldn’t have grabbed your arm like that. I wasn’t thinking,” he murmurs. Now he’s apologizing and I’m more than certain he has nothing to be sorry for.

“Not just for slapping you.” Oh God, I freaking hit him!God, but I am so sorry for that. But I’m sorry for assuming- I wasn’t thinking. I…” I pause and look away. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” It’s a lie. I know exactly what’s wrong with me.

Sam’s expression warms, and it’s not full of pity either – it’s… compassion. Empathy.

He sighs. “There’s nothing wrong with you, Rory.”

I look away again, anywhere but at the deep blue oceans that unnerve me so. They seem to know more about me than they should. “Sure there isn’t,” I mutter bitterly under my breath.

Sam takes an abrupt step so he’s directly in front of me, silently demanding eye contact. His arm twitches, like he wants to touch me but thinks better of it.

“There’s. Nothing. Wrong. With. You.” He glares at me like he can convince me of this with just a look.

Everything in my gut screams that he’s a good guy. Like Cam. But if there’s anyone whose instincts can’t be trusted when it comes to guys, it’s me. I was even wrong about Cam. I thought I knew everything about him. But he was keeping his secrets, too.

But Sam saw me freak out. He knows I have issues, but no one else here does. Which means he’s kept my secret. Otherwise it would have been all over the school in a heartbeat. That’s got to count for something.

“Sam, you… thank you. I mean it, but you know that’s not true. And I know you didn’t tell anyone what happened my first day. When I…” I trail off and shake my head. He doesn’t need a recap, he was there. “Thank you for that. You’ve been nothin’ but nice to me. There’s nothin’ about you that would make me think anything bad about you,” I say meaningfully, answering his original question. “Except that you’re a guy,” I add quietly.

Sam looks sad for a moment, but offers me a weak smile anyway. “I was just hoping we could be friends. Just friends.” He covers his mouth and whispers conspiratorially, “no public fucking on the grass outside of parties. I promise Not even if you beg.”

I smile, but it’s a wistful smile, because I could never be Sam’s friend, even if something in my bones really wishes otherwise. But I no longer believe that guys and girls can really be just friends, and I’m too attracted to him to even try. I could never fully trust him, not really, and I could never trust myself with him.

“Why would you even want to be my friend?” I ask. Because really, if I were him I’d have fled screaming in the opposite direction.

He considers me a moment. “I don’t know, Ror, you just seem… real.” He shrugs. Something about the way he says “Ror” reminds me of Cam, and the memory of our friendship cuts me so deeply I wince.

“I wish I could be your friend, Sam,” I murmur.

His eyes are full of some unfathomable emotion, and I wonder how this conversation has grown so intimate. We barely know each other. When Sam speaks again his voice is so low it’s practically a whisper. “Who hurt you, Rory?”

I tell him the truth, matching his tone – barely audible. “Everyone.”

Praise for the Something More series

“Bound and riveted, readers will want to unveil the dark skeletons as a grappling strength simmers and beckons the heroes to keep on fighting. Pearl has written a thought-provoking and enjoyable story… Witty and heart-felt, Normal is a journey of self-reflection, a maze to personal fulfillment in the face of adversity, and a staggering road to recovery.” –Sandra Lopez, Author of Esperanza & Beyond the Gardens

Normal is the kind of book that opens your heart, examines its parts and then stomps all over it only to put it back together again, better than before. It’s feels overload!” – Young Adult Book Madness

“I cried, I laughed, I bit my fingernails in anticipation. It was AMAZING!!! I loved this book so much I couldn’t put it down!” – Trusty Page Turners

“This book is a gem. No. A masterpiece… The author does such a wonderful job crafting the story. The pacing was never too quick or too slow. The plot was smooth. The characters were easy to remember -and easy to love. I can’t wait to see what more Danielle Pearl has in store for us.” – Of Books & Book Thoughts

Normal was a hard-hitting, dark, contemporary novel that touches upon some heavy and emotional themes. While it isn’t an easy read, it’s one that captures your interest and moves you. When I first started reading Normal, I didn’t expect to not be able to put it down. The writing flowed well and each chapter made me want to read the next one, and then another after that.” – Lost to Books

“Rory, Sam and Cam’s story is gritty, a little dark, beautifully heart-touching with a steamy hot romance. Danielle Pearl has written an amazing New Adult story with so many fantastic characters. Normal is one of those amazing books that will totally take you by surprise with its in-depth storyline and a beautiful, hot romance. I recommend Normal as a must, must read.” – I Heart YA Books

“Wow, Normal was intense, gritty, dark, sad, uplifting, and heartbreaking all in one. This was a story rich in detail, and by the end I truly felt as if I lived in between the pages.” – The Book Hookup

Normal is a riveting and magnetic story of abuse, love, and hope. It pushes the reader in every way possible. Normal is one of the most thought provoking stories I’ve ever read.” –Biblio Belles

About the Author

Daneille Pearl

Website | Facebook | Goodreads

Danielle Pearl is the Amazon and iBooks best selling author of the Something More series. She lives in New Jersey with her husband three delicious chidren. She is a life long book enthusiast who has been writing ever since she could hold a pencil.

Danielle went to Boston University and worked in marketing before self-publishing her debut, Normal, in August of 2014. She writes mature young adult and new adult contemporary romance. She is represented by Erica Silverman of Trident Media Group.

Between The Sheets Promotions

Lost by Alyssa Rose Ivy ♥ Release Day Blitz

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Lost Release Day

 

Lost

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When all that you love is left behind, you are lost…

Owen is devastated. He was willing to give up everything for Daisy, but she refused. He wants to believe there is a way to bring her back, even if it means getting help from the unlikeliest of sources.

Daisy is numb. She has lost any ability to feel human emotion. Her dreams are her only escape from her dull existence, and even those are fading.

Owen and Daisy are both lost, and only their love for each other will bring them back together.

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Haven’t started reading The Allure Chronicles yet? The prequel novella Seduction’s Kiss is FREE and Lure (The Allure Chronicles #1) is on sale for 99¢!

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*Prequel novella to Lure (The Allure Chronicles #1)*

Never agree to a road trip to New Orleans with your roommate. At least not when your roommate is dragging you along while she reconnects with an ex-boyfriend. Possible consequences of failing to take my advice:

1) Unknowingly going out with a vampire stripper
2) Getting kidnapped by said vampire’s nest mates
3) Falling head over heels for your winged hero

Believe it or not number 3 is the worst one, especially when no one believes you that he exists.

Lure

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There’s danger in the beauty…

Two years, six months, and twenty-five days. That’s how long it had been since I’d seen my winged hero— not that I’d been counting. I’d suffered through years of counseling just to convince my friends and family that I wasn’t crazy and knew he didn’t exist.

But he did. And I was done waiting.

Days after college graduation I headed back down to New Orleans to retrace my steps and find Owen again only to find my life was about to get even crazier… thanks to the most beautiful and dangerous of all paranormal creatures, the Allures.

About Alyssa Rose Ivy

Alyssa Rose Ivy

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Alyssa Rose Ivy is the bestselling author of more than twenty-five novels with over half a million books sold worldwide. She loves to weave stories with romance and humor, and she is best known for writing about college boys with wings and skinny dipping. After surviving law school and earning her masters in library science, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.

Mark My Words

Gods of the Highlands by Bambi Lynn ♥ Spot Light Tour

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Gods of the Highlands Series
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Neala Comyn, wife of a powerful laird, wants to end the pain and suffering of an abusive marriage. She

is a woman without hope, believing God has forsaken her. When she is kidnapped by a rival laird who

claims to be a god himself, her faith is further shaken. Could Lucan Munro be the salvation she has

prayed for? Or will her sins condemn her to eternal damnation?

Lucan Munro, has the power of a Celtic god. He can conjure his heart’s desire from thin air. But can he

save the woman he loves from a demon hell-bent on claiming her soul?

Excerpt

From his vantage spot he saw her tiny bare feet touch the floor next to the bed. He crawled backwards

in the opposite direction. She rushed across to the table beneath the window and began an onslaught of

such proportions, he wondered again where she found the strength. He opened his mouth to speak, but

thinking better of it, clamped it shut again. She appeared completely without reason, lost in her heated

rampage. Perhaps it was best to let her calm down on her own.

“Ye gorbellied,” she threw the box containing his seal, “toad-spotted,” then the ink vial, “malt worm!”

ending with the empty food tray that crashed against the tub only a breath away from his head.

Lucan had had enough. He was laird of the mighty clan Munro. He was not about to let some slip of a

lass make him cower in his own chamber. He rose from his hiding place wrapping the plaid around his

waist as he did so. “Now see here -”

They both jumped when the door burst open. Lucan turned to see Evie standing at the threshold, her

mouth open wide in surprise. “Get out,” he bellowed at her. The maid barely had the door closed before

the clay pitcher Neala had been about to throw at him crashed against it, shattering to pieces.

He took the opportunity of her distraction to close the distance between them. He wrapped his arms

around her, trapping hers against her body. She struggled like a cat who’d fallen into the burn, cussing

and spitting insults at him that would rival the most battle-hardened soldier.

“Where did ye learn such language?” Lucan fought to control her, ignoring the effect her squirming

against him was having on every inch of his body. He had not been with a woman since well before he

had brought Neala here, and his cock responded eagerly to the pressure against it.

He fought the sensation, recognizing the debauchery in being aroused by a woman so obviously without

her wits. He twisted away, clenching his thighs and trying to fill his mind with thoughts of his long-dead

mother, the repairs that need to be done to the kitchens, his prized mare that was on the verge of

birthing a new foal. Anything to take his mind off the increasing hardening of his body. If only she would

stop writhing against him. He fairly growled when she deliberately pressed her thigh against his groin.

He tried to shield himself, turning his body at an angle, but it was no use.

“What’s yer pleasure t’night, m’laird? D’ye want me to fight ye?” She pressed harder,

painfully against him. “D’ye want me to play the whore?” She reached between them and boldly

grasped his erection in her hand, squeezing it through his plaid and glaring up at him with the look of the

devil. “Is this what ye want?”

Lucan clamped his teeth together, grinding them until an ache developed in his jaw. He would have

thought her a strumpet of some renown if not for the tear that trickled from the corner of her eye and

slid down her cheek. His grip around her waist softened. He reached one hand up to her face, wiping the

single tear away with the pad of his thumb. The gesture only brought more tears. His heart ripped in

half.

“Why did ye save me?” Her cracked voice was barely more than a whisper. “Another month and I would

have been dead.” She closed her eyes and went limp in his arms.

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Tanis:  Gods of the Highlands Series Book 3

Tanis Cleary, laird of a small Highland clan, wants to protect what’s left of his family from the pagan god

who hunts them. But even with his colossal strength, fed by the unholy blood in his veins, he cannot do

it alone. His only ally is an insatiable angel with a chip on her shoulder. Will he desert his clan to follow

the only woman who can save him from eternal damnation?

Kiah is an angel of God, tasked with guarding one of His most sacred vessels. Like any woman desperate

to win her Father’s approval, Kiah will stop at nothing to succeed in her mission. Distracted by the lure

of a man more compelling than any other, Kiah soon finds herself battling the fires of hell, her very

existence in jeopardy.

Excerpt

When Tanis spoke, Kiah let his voice wash over her. She nearly wept, so great was her yearning to feel

the vibration of its rich tone, accented with the lilt common among these Highlanders.

The only other time she had heard him speak, he had been bellowing at her. She could imagine what he

would sound like speaking of love play in that sultry voice, whispering her name, expressing his pleasure.

When the others left, Tanis stayed behind. He walked back to stand by the bed, his expression

unreadable as he stared down at the woman ensconced there. He was the finest example of man Kiah

had ever seen. Tall and broad-shouldered, his body was sculpted from years of fighting and living, and

from the influence of pagan blood in his ancestry. He wore his raven-colored hair long and wild. He had

rich brown eyes, windows to his spirit she longed to stare into. He was the kind of man who did

everything with a fierceness that made one long to feed on that essence. He was irresistible.

And dangerous. He had an allure that called to her, despite better judgment. He was proud and

arrogant, every bit her equal. She grudgingly admitted that Tanis was not as weak as most humans. She

recognized that.

He was the kind of man Kiah avoided.

I ken yer spirit, lass. Kiah drew up when he spoke directly to her.

Have ye come to sate yer desire for me? She was as tempted as if Lucifer himself was

standing there. Her wings twitched, anticipating her transformation. But she resisted, easier for her than

these weak humans.

Do ye have sin on yer mind? The urge was almost more than she could hold back. She

reminded herself of her recent failure. She was in enough trouble.

Perhaps ye are afraid of me? ’Tis no surprise. Most lasses flee in fear after just a few days in my

bed. Why should ye be any different?

She could only resist so much. She drifted around the bed and pressed against him. He was tall and

wide. She imagined herself in human form, laying her head against that broad back, wrapping her arms

around him.

Show yourself and learn the true meaning of sin. Kiah moved away from him, prepared to

change into her human form and give in to temptation.

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 Sirona:  Gods of the Highlands Series Book 2

She has the power to heal his body, but can she heal his soul?

Sirona Cleary tries to hide her unholy healing powers from everyone around her, denying her divine

heritage even as she saves those who would see her punished. When she is kidnapped by a rival clan,

she is sure her execution is near. Rhain Comyn is dying from a mysterious disease, and he couldn’t be

happier about it. After the atrocities he has committed, Rhain believes he has no right to a decent life

and welcomes the ailment that leaves him with unquenchable thirst and hunger, extreme fatigue,

blurred vision and ultimately drives him into a deep slumber from which no healer can awaken him. Can

a witch from the clan of his enemy save him?

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Excerpt

Alone with her patient, Sirona relaxed a little. She crept closer to the bed and leaned over him. Rhain

Comyn was by far the handsomest man she had ever seen. Long, thick lashes, dark as soot, laid against

cheekbones made more prominent by whatever ailed him. She wondered if behind that facade,

softened in slumber, was a cruel bully, equally revolting as his brothers.

Without remorse she realized that if Fergus were lying there instead of Rhain, she would not hesitate to

let him die. She was already damned to Hell, was she not? Everything about her existence went against

God. Saint Peter would never allow such an abomination past the gate. She tried to deny the powers

that marked her a pagan, in the hopes He would not punish her for her tainted blood. But in the end,

she could no more ignore her gift than she could refuse breathing.

What if she defied God and saved this man, only to discover he was the spawn of another sort, evil and

deviant, and she had unleashed him on the world? Was it worth the risk for the promise that she would

be returned to her home? Could she trust that promise?

Sirona eased down on the bed. She took one of his gaunt hands in both of hers. Warmth spread through

her at the touch. Her heart clenched at the possibility she could not save him. She closed her eyes and

let her thoughts fall away, focusing all her energy on the sensation of his skin against hers.

His hand was limp in hers, cold and frail. She sensed his longing for death, born of a sorrow so deep it

seeped into his bones. Tears clogged her throat as she was overcome with profound despair.

What had happened to him to cause such anguish and torment, such hopelessness? She tried to recall

what little she knew of the clan. The Munro had been feuding with them for generations, but it wasn’t

until the laird, Gregor Munro, had been killed, that the hatred and fighting had escalated. Now there

were skirmishes every few months.

Comyn men were renowned for their ruthless brutality. Legend stated they came out of the womb filled

with bloodlust and savagery. Comyn women seldom survived childbirth. The laird’s own sons had been

born to three different wives.

Despite the frailty of their women, the boys grew strong and healthy, populating the clan with a

merciless fighting force. Their only weakness was their small number.

Rhain, the youngest of the laird’s sons, was rumored to be the most ruthless of them all. He had hired

himself out as a mercenary, it was said because there weren’t enough Munros to quench his thirst for

blood.

Sirona shuddered and opened her eyes. Her heart tripped when she found him staring at the rafters

over the bed. She dropped his hand as if it burned and shot to her feet. She took several deep breaths as

she watched him. When he did not move, indeed he did not even blink, she inched closer. “Can you hear

me?” she whispered.

No reaction.

She pressed the backs of her fingers against his cheek. No fever. With one finger beneath his chin, she

gently turned his face toward her until she was in his line of vision. She stared into rich brown eyes,

windows to a deep, dark abyss that promised endless suffering.

“Rhain?”

His eyes focused on hers when she whispered his name.

“I’m here to help. Can ye speak to me?” His eyes wavered back and forth between hers. “D’ye want

something to drink?” She surveyed the room for the first time. Near the hearth stood a table, laden with

food and drink. She crossed to it and poured a cup of water from a flagon.

Returning to the bed, she sat next to him and slid her free arm beneath his shoulders. With her help, he

sat up enough to the drink from the cup she held for him. When he’d drained it, he fell back, what little

strength he had depleted from the exertion.

Sirona cradled him against her. She brushed silky locks from his face and spoke to him in a soothing

voice. “I need you to tell me what you feel. Do ye ache?” He was weak, but did not seem to be in any

pain. She cast relief over him just the same. “Can ye speak to me?” she asked again.

He seemed to be trying to say something, but his voice was so faint, she had to lean close to hear him.

His breath was warm on her ear, but sent a cold shiver down her spine.

“Let-me-die.”

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 Camulus:  Gods of the Highlands Series Book 1

Camulus Vass wants a simple life, absent the power and responsibility that can consume a man. But

being laird of a clan as large as the Munro does not offer such luxury. Always under the domineering

heel of his uncle, Cam has allowed himself to become a pawn. But the arrival of a mysterious newcomer

awakens a beast within him that will not be tamed.

Màili has been given the task of rooting out the spawn of an ancient god. It’s the only way to take her

revenge against the man who betrayed her. But getting what she wants means taking the life of the man

she loves. Will her hunger for a mortal man wreak further havoc on her already bleak future?

FIRST KISS:

Cam pulled the linen from his shaggy, ebony mane and locked his rich brown eyes, glistening with

excitement, on hers. He stepped out of the tub, dropping the linen to the floor. “Come to me, woman.”

Cam wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her against him. He claimed her mouth with his,

prying her lips open and invading her with the sweetest tasting tongue she had ever known.

Màili lost herself in that kiss. The power of it sent jolts of pleasure to every pore in her body. She tingled

all over, her senses melding until she could no longer remember anything other than the man before

her. She kissed him back with all the self–pity of a woman who had been betrayed by love and yearned

to get even a piece of herself back.

The power of her desire for Cam surprised her. Màili was certainly no stranger to the ways of men and

women. She had learned a lot over the centuries. This was the first time she had found anyone she

thought could teach her anything. A nagging possibility tickled the edge of her thoughts, but she pushed

it aside.

Màili dragged her mouth from his, nibbling along his jaw and across the pulse at his throat. With her

hands on his chest, she urged him back toward the bed all the while trailing her lips, her tongue down

his body. He tasted like nectar and all Màili could think of was more, more, more.

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Author Bio:

Bambi LynnYes, Bambi is my real name.

I grew up on a farm in South Georgia. My high school was very small with a graduating class of less than

100 people. Shortly after high school, I met my wonderful husband who took me to Belgium, where a

three-year tour turned into fifteen. While living in Europe, I nurtured my love of all things medieval. I

often get homesick for Belgium, but with the world wide web, I’m home with the click of a mouse. I now

live with my husband and son in North Alabama.

When not plugging away at my keyboard, I teach World History. I love to ride my big, black Tennessee

Walker, Jamaica. My husband and I each have a Harley to go with our collection of classic cars and hot

rods.

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Ice By Hilary Storm & Kathy Coopmans ♥ Release Blitz

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What happens when his mission is to get the girl?

Find out in ICE by Kathy Coopmans & Hilary Storm. #MilitaryRomance #ICE

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Blurb

Warning- This book contains explicit language and graphic sexual content.

Captain Jade Elliott of the United States Army spent her entire career working her ass off to get to this point and she couldn’t be more proud. She’s gained notoriety through her actions as well as the respect of her team. She’s one of the first women to graduate as a Ranger and has been called to serve on a secret mission. So why is she about to do something that could throw that all away?

Kaleb Maverick has been called to act as Commander for a vital mission and has done his research. He knows his team very well, in fact he hand selected them. He’s retired, but still very active in the private sector, leading his personal team to countless successful missions. Now he’s going back for one last mission.

What happens when his mission is to get the girl? What if she’s not ready to be captured? Their chemistry is explosive and the heat is intense, but can Maverick come back with his head held high or will she be the first mission he fails?

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Excerpt

Loyalty, Duty, Honor, Respect, Courage, and Integrity… Those are six of the seven cores embedded into a soldier’s brain when you enlist in The United States Army.

I remember like it was yesterday, placing my hand on the bible, while holding my other hand high along with my head, turning my life over to protect my country.  Only, it wasn’t yesterday, it was eight long, tortuous, agonizing years ago.

My reasons for thinking agonizing have nothing to do with the Army.  I live it.  I breathe it.  My life is consumed by it because it’s all I’ve ever wanted.

It’s agonizing because here I stand in complete darkness as one of the first women to graduate from The Army’s Special Ranger’s School.  Agony may be a harsh word to use.  However, no one was more relieved than I was when the law was lifted a few years ago and women were notoriously approved to serve our country in day-to-day ground combat roles.  Our nation has come a long way in allowing equal rights to women.  It’s about fucking time.

For two months I trained, barely slept, and pushed my now well-defined body to the brink of exhaustion.  My dream is now a reality and my right to be here is embedded into my soul.

My mental stability was pushed to the limits, physical strength tested to the point of pain so excruciating that I was ready to give up, surrender, and dare to show them weakness, but I never did.  I would’ve died first.

With the help of a fellow Captain, I pushed harder, became stronger, and passed.  Yet here I stand, ready and willing to throw my dream away, all for a simple quick fuck.  It’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever thought about doing in my life and god help me, I can’t control it, nor do I want to.

I’ve been in the desert a little over a month now, lucky enough to have been given the same orders as that same fellow Captain who encouraged me all those months ago to press forward and prove to myself and everyone else that I could live my dream and become who I wanted to be.

Captain Beau Harris and I have been flirting, eye-fucking each other since we first re-connected in this shit-hole country.  Both of us pissing the time away while we wait for our Commander to arrive so he can deal out our orders.  I crave the day we get to go behind enemy lines and destroy a substantial military target.  It’s a mission that should have been started weeks ago.  The higher ups have been tight-lipped and they’ve been pissing me the fuck off.

Hence, the reason I need sex.  I’m not a slut; in fact, I’m far from it.  But hell, after training and now waiting for someone who should’ve already been here, I’m sexually frustrated.  My pussy needs attention.  It needs to be pounded, fucked, and filled with a great cock before I lose my mind.

So that brings me to core number seven… Selfless Service.  That’s the one I’ve mastered.  Everything I do is for my country or for my subordinates.  I don’t do anything for me, it’s just not allowed.  Well, tonight I’m feeling selfish.

I’m Captain Jade Elliott of The United States Army and I’m about to break every single one of the seven cores I pledged.

Sweaty upper part of female body, hands covering breasts, camouflaged

About the Authors:

Kathy Coopmans

kathy coopman

Amazon Best Selling Author Kathy Coopmans, lives in Michigan with her husband Tony where they have two grown sons.

After raising her children she decided to publish her first book and retiring from being a hairstylist.

She now writes full time.

She’s a huge sports fan with her favorite being Football and Tennis.

She’s a giver and will do anything she can to help another person succeed!

Stalk Her: Facebook | Twitter | Website |  Goodreads | Newsletter signup

Hilary Storm

hilary storm

Hilary Storm lives with her high school sweetheart and three children in Oklahoma. She drives her husband crazy talking about book characters everyday like they are real people. She graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University with an MBA in Accounting. Her passions include being a mom, writing, reading, photography, music, mocha coffee, and spending time with friends and family. She is the international best-selling author of the Rebel Walking Series, Bryant Brothers Series, Inked Brothers Series, and Six.

Stalk Her: Facebook | Twitter | Website |  Goodreads | Amazon Page

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Snared By L.L. Collins ♥ Blog Tour

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Snared

 

Ardent Prose Synopsis

 

BEAU has never known a good life, only the torment that lives inside his head every day. The only way to block out the darkness that shrouds him is through the rhythmic beat of his drums. Knowing what happens when he opens up to anyone, Beau buries his pain deep inside, keeping it all to himself.

 

APRIL has lived a life of wealth and privilege, full of love and support. Her only insight into what it’s like to have a rough life is through her work with foster children. When she meets Beau, it starts as a challenge to get through to him but quickly turns into much more than either of them bargained for.

 

TOGETHER, they are mismatched, ill-fated, and COMBUSTIBLE. But when their connection is challenged by the collision of past, present, and future, will they be snared by love…or circumstances?

 

Ardent Prose Excerpt

I perched on the chair next to him. He started tapping on his legs again, and I moved my hands so they were over his. He immediately stopped. “Show me.” His hands were still for a few beats too long, and I figured he wasn’t going to do it. I was about to move when he put the drumsticks in my hands and began moving, tapping a rapid beat I’d never remember.

I turned my head so I could watch his face as he played my hands with his drumsticks. With my face so close to his, I was able to study the tattoos on his neck, the short dark hair on his beard, his nose ring, and his incredible eyes. They were so dark they looked black, but they were the one part of him that showed expression.

His hands stilled as he realized how close I was to his face. Beau slightly turned my way. My hands were still under his, clutching his drumsticks like they were the last lifeline I had. They just might’ve been. My eyes scanned his flawless face. He had the most beautiful skin, and I wanted to touch him again. My eyes flitted to his lips. God, what it would be like to press my lips to his, I could only imagine.

“Did you…keep your drumsticks?” I felt his warm breath against my lips, and I shuddered. Tingles spread from my spine down to my toes and back again, making goose bumps break out on my skin. I wanted nothing more than to grab him and show him exactly why he should want to get to know me better.

I licked my dry lips and nodded my head. “O-of course. I told you I’d save them forever.”

He nodded. His thumbs caressed my hands and I froze, wondering if he knew what he was doing and afraid if I moved he would realize it and stop.

“You’re so handsome.” My legs shook as adrenaline coursed through my body. “There’s nothing better than seeing you doing what you love.”

Beau’s eyes searched mine as if trying to read into what I said. Of course, he didn’t believe me. Why would he? I knew from experience kids who had been abandoned never quite got over the belief that nothing they did was good enough or would bring back the people they loved. He was no different.

But I had to keep my mouth shut because that’s what had gotten me into trouble before with him.

I wanted nothing more than to kiss Beau, to show him with my mouth what I couldn’t say in words. But I was terrified of what his reaction would be, and after the stress I’d been under over Robbie, I didn’t think my fragile psyche could handle one more thing.

One of Beau’s hands moved, and I knew the moment was over. He’d want me to get away from him now. But instead, I felt his hand touch the side of my face like I’d done to him on the rooftop deck.

“You…” Beau cleared his throat. I could physically see how hard this was for him to do. “April.” It came out a strained whisper, like it physically pained him to say my name. I didn’t want him to hurt because of me.

“It’s okay,” I said, putting my hand over his on my face. “You don’t have to talk. Just know I’m here, all right?”

He shook his head, moving his hand and entwining our fingers together. Then he shocked the hell out of me and kissed my palm, his eyes never leaving mine. “You…smell incredible,” he whispered against my skin. “You’re…beautiful. So beautiful.” If I hadn’t been listening to every syllable like they were the last sounds I’d ever hear, I might’ve missed what he said.

But I’d heard every damn one of them.

Beau stood, his fingers still linked with mine. He leaned over and brushed his lips against my cheek, stopping at my ear. “Stay after the show.” He dropped my hand and stepped around me, but I was frozen in place. Desire pulsed through my body like nothing I’d ever experienced before, and the biggest smile broke across my face.

Beau Anderson had kissed my hand. And my cheek. He’d asked me to stay after the show.

I thought my head just might explode right off my body.

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Snared Everything

 

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Ardent Prose About The Author

 

LL Collins is the self published author of the bestselling Living Again Series, including Living Again, Reaching Rachel, Guarding Hearts, Finding Forever, and Breaking Free: A Living Again Novella, all available now.

 

LL has been writing since she was old enough to write. Always a story in her head, she finally decided to let the characters out and start writing and try to make her lifelong dreams of becoming an author come true. She has been a teacher for over ten years and lives in Florida with her husband and two sons.

 

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