Will they or won’t they? #ToxicLove Meet Phoebe & Jeremy in this second chance romance! NOW AVAILABLE Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Hu5onD Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1HiL7eA B& N: http://bit.ly/1FLtjHO Kobo: http://bit.ly/1g3Ih7e iBooks: http://apple.co/1efjb3Z Google Play: http://bit.ly/1KpMRcv RELEASE DATE: July 7th, 2015 New York Times bestselling author Kim Karr turns up the heat in a smoking hot, emotionally compelling romance that takes you into the world of Manhattan's elite. Meet Jeremy McQueen, a sexy, intense, brooding entrepreneur who goes after what he wants, and Phoebe St. Claire, a socialite-turned-CEO who's been drifting through life searching for something she thought she'd never find again--the right man to share her future. Phoebe St. Claire has devoted herself to saving her family's hotel empire--but her best efforts have not been good enough. With her whole world in turmoil, the tenacious go-getter turns to the once love of her life. Far from innocent, Jeremy McQueen was the guy from the wrong side of the tracks who her parents would never have approved of. Their years apart have only made the sexy bad boy more irresistible than ever--and their reunion is explosive. When she asks Jeremy to help her salvage her family business, he agrees immediately, with only one condition--he wants her in his bed. But soon surprising circumstances leave Phoebe reeling. Was this fairy tale romance just too good to be true? Will Jeremy's secrets pull them apart all over again? THIS IS A STANDALONE SECOND-CHANCE ROMANCE WITH NO CLIFFHANGER ENDING. Excerpt: © 2015 by Kim Karr Published by the Penguin Group Phoebe St. Claire Feeling a bit drunk and overwhelmed with so many and so few choices at the same time, I needed some time alone and snuck off toward the beach path. I ran toward the ocean and twirled in the sand as the wind blew around me. Once I started to feel dizzy from twirling, I still wasn’t ready to head back to the party, so I took the path that would lead me to the large Olympic-sized pool. I tugged my sandals off with thoughts of putting my feet in the water to rinse the mud and sand away. As I approached the pool, I noticed how it glowed like it was lit by small pale fires. Lost in the enchantment of it, the sudden movement beneath the surface startled me. A fair-haired boy emerged from the water. He pulled himself up and out so quickly that I was momentarily stunned. And then when he drank me in with his eyes, I shuddered. I couldn’t help it, the way he looked at me just made me shiver. No one had ever looked at me like that before and I found myself gazing back into his intense eyes. He was utterly beautiful. His bare chest was sculpted but not overly bulky like Danny or Jamie. They worked out every day pumping obnoxious amounts of iron to look the way they did. In contrast, the boy standing before me had a swimmer’s build. He stood stoic and a cautious look crossed his face. He was long and lean in a pair of bright green neon swim trunks. Right away I could tell he didn’t care what anyone thought about him. I loved the idea of that. So I smiled at him. He shook his head and his hair fell into his eyes. I wanted to reach out and push it away. It wasn’t long, but it wasn’t short. It was perfect. “Hey,” he said, grabbing a towel off the ground. It didn’t belong to the club. It was small, beige, and a bit worn—not the large hunter-green fluffy ones monogrammed in white I’d always gotten when I used to come here to swim as a kid. “Hey,” I said back, swinging my sandals nervously. He grabbed a pair of jeans that lay next to where the towel had been and walked right by me. I turned to watch him as he strode into one of the cabanas and dropped his trunks. I froze and squeezed my eyes shut, thinking I shouldn’t be watching him but then opened them quickly when I couldn’t resist maybe catching a glimpse. “Didn’t your parents ever tell you it isn’t polite to stare?” His voice was low and sexy, and it tugged me out of my own head. I put my hands on my hips. “Didn’t your parents ever teach you not to undress in mixed company?” He pulled his jeans on and laughed. “My mother might have mentioned that once or twice but I’ve never been good at following the rules.” And it didn’t escape my notice that he didn’t put any underwear on first. Hot. Totally and completely hot. I didn’t see anything I shouldn’t have seen, it was too dark, but something inside me electrified at the thought of seeing him naked and I stepped closer. That’s when I noticed the scuffed-up black work boots on one of the lounges with a T-shirt thrown next to them. I raised a brow. “Is this your changing room?” He laughed again but this time added a smile and put his hands up. “Okay you caught me. I better get out of here before anyone else does.” He was adorable and charming and my heart skipped a beat or two. Then I stepped even closer and entered the cabana entrance, effectively blocking his way. “Why? You’re not doing anything wrong.” He shrugged but he didn’t try to move around me. “I usually swim in the ocean but when the water is too rough, like tonight, I come here.” I bit my lip in contemplation before speaking. “Does it really matter if you get caught?” He crossed his arms over his bare chest. “Let’s just say it’s not just the swimming. It’s more that I’ve been caught doing a few too many things that I shouldn’t have been doing in the past.” A bad boy. The thought made my pulse thunder. “So you’re not a member at this club?” He cleared his throat and shifted from foot to foot. “No,” he laughed but his laugh was anything but genuine. “Are you?” I hesitated as I considered my answer. “No, I was just walking the beach and wanted to rinse my feet. I’m Phoebe,” I said extending my hand. Technically, I wasn’t lying. I wasn’t a member, my parents were. I hadn’t even been here in years. And I was out for a walk. Amusement danced in his blue eyes. “Jeremy,” he said back. When I chewed on my lower lip, I noticed how his eyes focused on it. Mine focused on the entirety of his mouth—his strong, firm jaw, his sensuous lips, and his tongue that had snuck out to lick his lips. That mouth. It was almost too much. Almost. About the Author: I live in Florida with my husband and four kids. I've always had a love for reading books and writing. Being an English major in college, I wanted to teach at the college level but that was not to be. I went on to receive an MBA and became a project manager until quitting to raise my family. I currently work part-time with my husband and full-time embracing one of my biggest passions—writing. THANK YOU!
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Title: And Then He Kissed Her Box Set
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Hosted by: Lady Amber's Tours
Blurb: ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID by Melinda Curtis, USA Today Bestselling and Award Winning Author: Nicole Edwards has walked down the aisle as a bridesmaid thirteen times! Thirteen times! In an effort to change her luck, this master baker plans to give up waiting for Jake â who doesnât know sheâs alive â sell her business in New York City, buy a food truck in Los Angeles, and find her own happily ever after. Chef Sean OâMalley could use Nicoleâs dessert skills at his restaurant in New York City. In fact, heâs banking on a joint venture with Nicole, although he hasnât yet approached her about it. When he learns during a pre-wedding event theyâre both working that sheâs moving to L.A. because sheâs giving up on Jake, he decides to give her a crash course on how to be noticed. Sean has, after all, three younger sisters. He knows how a womanâs mind works. But he doesnât factor in how his heart works or how easily it could be broken. CHARMER by Brinda Berry, Reese McClain has a solid plan in place: finish raising her teenage niece, run her pie bakery, and avoid entanglements with a tempting man. After all, her sister deserted her own child for a freewheeling lifestyle. Life is much less complicated without dating. Especially dating a man like Cord Bartonâa rock star whoâs too gorgeous, too young, and too carefree. Cord knows his life needs change, but he doesnât expect it in the form of a beautiful pie maker named Reese. Sheâs a much needed star in his burnt out life. Because when it comes to plans, he wants her for more than dessert. RIVERBEND by Ciara Knight, Amazon Bestselling Author Five years after the death of his wife, Dr. Mitchem Taylor is ready to share his life with someone. Only one thing stands in the way of giving love a second chance--the strictly enforced "no dating" rule. A rule that pierces his heart every time he thinks about his university assistant, Cynthia. When a handsome man shows interest in her, Mitchem must choose between love for his career or love for his beautiful assistant. Since the day she saw her boss, Mitchem, care for his sonâs knee at a little league game, Cynthia Gold has been in love with him. Pining away over a love she can never have forces her to make a drastic changeâa new job thousands of miles away. But can she walk away from her life she enjoys and a boy whoâs like a son, or keep her heart bound to a man who may never love her. ALONG CAME YOU by Hildie McQueen, Amazon Bestselling Author Off to an awkward start, Gina Mills and Jake Weston attempt to ignore the attraction between them and stick to the business of selling his house. Unfortunately circumstances keep cropping up that make it difficult. When the past collides with the present, a surprising turn of events makes them rethink if they were meant to be after all. UPTOWN HEIRESS by Lindi Peterson: At an after-party for the reality series, Love Atlanta Style, hotel empire heiress Grace Adams has an epiphany. Love isnât a game and neither is life. Itâs time to find a job and prove she doesnât need Daddyâs money. Waiter, Justin Walker, is biding his time working for the rich crowd who thinks theyâre owed everything. But his service pays off when he meets the beautiful Grace Adams. He asks her out, oblivious to the fact that sheâs a hotel heiress. When they find out they are competing for the same job, Grace and Justin try to maintain their budding friendship and romance, until Justin discovers the truth. Grace represents all he tries to avoid. Will Justinâs view of high society stand in his way of finding love? Will Graceâs heart shatter as she finds love only to lose it? Or will time-honored truths show Grace and Justin the beauty of everlasting love.
Ciara Knight writes with a âLittle Edge and a Lot of Heartâ with her contemporary and paranormal romance books. Her most recent #1 Amazon bestselling series, Sweetwater County, has topped the charts and received acclaimed reviews. Her international best-seller, Pendulum scored 4 stars from RT Book Reviews, accolades from InDâTale Magazine and Night Owl Top Pick. Her young adult paranormal series, Battle for Souls, received 5 stars from Paranormal Romance Guild and Night Owlâs Top Pick, among other praises.
Author Links:
Website: http://www.ciaraknight.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ciaratknight
Instagram: https://instagram.com/ciaratknight/
Buy Links:
Book Title: Slate (The Declan Brothers) Author: Kelly Gendron Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions Book Title: Uncharted (The Unexpected Series, #3) Author: Claudia Burgoa Genre: Contemporary Romance Release Date: July 21, 2015 Book Title: Mastered by the Boss Author: Opal Carew Genre: Erotic Romance Release Date: July 14, 2015 Book Title: Finding Us (A Nucci Securities Novel) Author: Debra Presley Genre: Contemporary Romance Release Date: July 31, 2015 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Book Title: The Making of Matt (souls of the Knight, #3) Author: Nicola Haken Genre: M/M Romance Release Date: Coming soon! ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
Put some sizzle in your summer vacation with A SANTINI TAKES THE FALL by USA Today Bestseller Melissa Schroeder!
The latest Santini is here! Can Anthony keep that “Santini curse” at bay or will the sexy dancer, Lalani Hawkins, bring him down?
Synopsis:
A man avoiding his destiny. Anthony Santini is happy with life. The former Marine is now working a dream job for NCIS in a dream location: Hawaii. He's watched his cousins and now his siblings fall into the Santini Curse and that is not for him. Not yet. He's happy to play the field and enjoy life. It still doesn't stop his cousin's wife from trying to fix him up. A woman avoiding love. Lalani Hawkins has had enough heartache to last a lifetime. The professional dancer isn't looking for love and she definitely doesn't need a man like Santini in her life. After the worst blind date in history, she thinks she'll never see him again. For two people who want to avoid each other, Lalani and Anthony can't seem to achieve that. Each time they meet, Lalani falls a little more under the Santini spell, and for Anthony, he is drawn to the vivacious dancer. But when Anthony senses her hesitation to commit, he starts to formulate a plan. Because when a Santini man decides he's found his mate, there is no stopping him. Available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All buying options | Goodreads For more information on all the Santini’s, including novellas and excerpts, please visit the Santini’s page on Melissa’s website! Some fun behind the scenes look at Melissa’s inspirations: Melissa was inspired to write a ballerina after watching Misty Copeland perform. Tim McGraw’s Shotgun Rider was the love song for Lalani and Anthony. She even used it in a scene where Lalani is singing. Anthony Santini is the oldest of six siblings and second oldest in the extended Santini family. Vicente (book 4) is the oldest. His parents are Marcella and Tony Santini. Tony is the second oldest in the brothers. Lalani Hawkins is an only child and a Marine brat. She is African American/Hawaiian. Lalani dances to Take Me to Church in a performance in the book.
Main Soundtrack for the Book
Shotgun Rider - Tim McGraw She’s My Kind of Rain – Tim McGraw One of Those Nights -Tim McGraw Take Me to Church – Hozier She’s Music to Me - Ekolu There’s No Place Like Home - Michael Giacchino Perfect – Darious Rucker Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran Beating Heart – Ellie Goulding The Woman I Love – Jason Mraz I’d Come for You – Nickelback Until I See You Again – Wiz Khalifa
About Melissa Schroeder
From an early age, Melissa loved to read. First, it was the books her mother read to her including her two favorites, Winnie the Pooh and the Beatrix Potter books. She cut her preteen teeth on Trixie Belden and read and reviewed To Kill a Mockingbird in middle school. It wasn’t until she was in college that she tried to write her first stories, which were full of angst and pain, and really not that fun to read or write. After trying several different genres, she found romance in a Linda Howard book. Since the publication of her first book in 2004, Melissa has had over fifty romances published. She writes in genres from historical suspense to modern day erotic romance to futuristics and paranormals. Included in those releases is the bestselling Harmless series and her USA Today Bestselling series The Santinis.. Along the way she has garnered an epic nomination, a multitude of reviewer’s recommended reads, over five Capa nods from TRS, eleven nominations for AAD Bookies and regularly tops the best seller lists on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Since she spent her childhood as a military brat, Melissa swore never to marry military. But, as we all know, Fate has her way with mortals. She is married to an AF major and is raising her own brats, both human and canine. She spends her days giving in to her addiction to Twitter, counting down the days until her hubby retires, and cursing the military for always sticking them in a location that is filled with bugs big enough to eat her children. Connect with Melissa: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter | Goodreads Summer's Sweet Embrace A Romance Anthology By Various Authors Publisher: Roane Publishing Release Date: August 19, 2015 Keywords: Summer, Beach, Ocean, romance, contemporary, Summertime Romance, short stories Truly Paradise – Michelle Ziegler
Description: Waiting for the right one can be torture. Too bad for Hailey, impatience got the best of her. Finding Mr. Right in time for a destination wedding couldn’t happen fast enough. Instead of listening to reason, or rather her friends, she’s stuck in paradise alone, again. Nothing ruins a tropical paradise faster than catching your date with another woman. Justin’s ready for a change. He’s been caught up in his own success for too long and is looking to finally settle down. Timing is everything and his cousins wedding is the perfect start of his new life. His luck is changing with the captivating mystery woman on the beach. Now all he has to do is find her, before he agrees to his family’s match making plot. Ocean Dust – Laurie Treacy Carly Dawson, 18, is facing her last summer before leaving for college, all alone. Still nursing a broken heart over the loss of her boyfriend, Chase Montgomery, she wants the next two months to be different. A shocking unexpected visitor one night just may offer Carly the excitement she seeks. Her only decision is whether or not to choose what this visitor offers her. The Beach Rose – Christa MacDonald Description: Annie Thomas can’t believe her good luck when she inherits the family’s beach house in Oceanside Maine. It’s one of the few places she was truly happy so she sells everything she owns, quits her job, and moves in hoping that her new business, The Beach Rose, will bring in enough money in its first season to let her live up there year round. But on her first day things aren’t as easy or as simple as she’d hoped. To cap it off she discovers that her best new client is actually the boy she had a huge teenage crush on. So much for rekindling a summer romance. For Craig, Annie was everything he wanted when he was a geeky seventeen year-old. Now that he’s pushing forty and the owner of half the real estate in town, he wants another shot at convincing her that he’s everything she needs. He didn’t count on her owning the business he just signed a contract with though. Craig has to find a way to help Annie’s struggling business without her knowing it since anything else would push her further away and that’s the last thing he wants. Together they may get a second chance for a summer romance. When the Sea Swallows the Sun – Kim Strattford Description: A trip to Clearwater Beach was supposed to be a fun escape from the D.C. rat race for Emma and her boyfriend Sam. Until Sam dumped her, leaving her with a ticket she was too cheap not to use and a resolution to enjoy her time in the sun and get over him. A plan that sputters when Sam’s good friend Rick shows up. Rick, who’s never seemed to approve of her for reasons she’s never understood. Rick, who seems to think he has license to bug her just because he bought Sam’s ticket. Rick, who may be a much nicer guy than she ever realized, and who might have a very good reason for not thinking much of her. Can they make peace in the beautiful Florida sun and surf? Peace—or maybe more? Love’s Nectar – Jaylee Austin Description: What if fate pushed you to make a choice between keeping a promise and revealing a truth? After her grandmother’s death, she opens an unexpected letter containing an unwanted request. Isabel feels obligated to honor her grams final wish. In the process she risks losing the man of her dreams. Six months before their marriage Isabel reveals a time bomb that will forever change their lives. He loves her but the betrayal of not trusting him weighs heavy on his heart. Trust means everything to Seth. One ring, journal, box, spirit, and flower will teach everyone the power of commitment and the importance of honesty. Secrets left buried will always haunt the living, a life lived truthfully leads to happily ever after. Will Isabel and Seth realize this before they are doomed to replay the mistakes of the past? Love’s High Tide – Niki Mitchell Description: Tired of the vacationers hitting on her, surf shop owner, Skye Taylor quits dating. In walks the cocky, Harley Nicholson from Idaho. She’s not open for another summer fling. Can he convinces her to give love a chance? Harley sees Skye shooting through the Huntington Beach Pier on her surfboard. Mesmerized by the woman’s connection with the wave, he sets out to meet the brazen surfer. He bets his cousin that before he leaves in three weeks, she'll be his. Skye’s life is kept busy running the Epic Surf Shop and training for annual surfing contest. The handsome, buff Idahoan interests her, but she doesn’t want another disastrous summer fling. Harley charms her into giving him a surfing lesson, woos her with moonlight strolls, and coaxes her with sweet gestures. Skye discovers Harley’s betrayal. She refuses to see him or hear his explanation. Miserable, Harley must do something monumental to win her back. Will Skye ever forgive Harley? Linger – Melissa J. Crispin Description: Tracey Thompson isn't like most twenty-year-olds. She's looking forward to settling down and marrying her soul mate, Noah Martin. Even though their love bloomed when they were just little kids, they never doubted it and never looked back. When a tragic accident separates Tracey from Noah, she struggles to go on without him. As the days wear on, she becomes aware of a chance for them to be together once again. All she needs to do is understand what tore them apart in the first place. But, overcoming this is harder than it seems. Will she be strong enough to find her way back to him? Above Reproach – Sheryl Winters Description: Executive Secretary Margaret Simms should have had it all. An apartment on the beach and a job at Reynolds Ad Agency, working for her best friend and business mogul Garrett Reynolds. A one night stand leads to a pregnancy and a re-evaluation of her life goals. In reality, Margaret's always hated her office job and culinary school is her life dream. But that too is ripped away from her when Garrett, her best friend and father of her child, develops cancer. Obligation forces her back to the work she hates. When office espionage threatens her life, Margaret finds she must make a choice. Stand up for what she truly believes in or lose all she's ever wanted.
Book Title: Slate (The Declan Brothers)
Author: Kelly Gendron
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance
Release Date: July 21, 2015
Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions
First loves, we all got them. Mine is Slate Declan. He was kind, gentle, and caring. Still, he managed to break my heart. So I put miles between us, and eventually, my heart healed. I haven’t seen Slate in years, but a couple friends and I are going back to the Bayou for the summer. While I’m visiting my hometown, I’m going to look up Slate Declan. And I plan to break his heart, just as he did mine. I'll remind him of what he has lost, and then I'll prove to him that I’ve moved on. It should be real easy, right? Well, let me tell you, Slate Declan is not the same guy that I left behind. And there’s another problem. How do you break someone’s heart when they no longer have one? Kelly Gendron is the author of the TroubleMaker series, Breaking the Declan Brothers series, and a few other romantic suspense novels. When she's not writing steamy, blush producing romances, she's out meeting new people while representing a group of reputable nursing facilities. You can find Kelly in a quiet suburb, somewhere between Buffalo and Niagara Falls. If you Google her, she’ll pop up there too. And, please do find her. Kelly loves to hear from her readers, and meeting new people. COMMANDED by STACEY KENNEDY Club Sin comes alive once again in this decadent new erotic romance from USA Today bestselling author Stacey Kennedy, perfect for fans of Fifty Shades of Grey. Title: Commanded Series: Club Sin Author: Stacey Kennedy Author Location: Canada Genre: Erotic Romance (recommended for mature audiences) Release Date: July 7, 2015 Page Count: 240 Publisher: Random House Loveswept Format: Digital eBook ISBN: 978-1-101-88255-9 “Commanded is erotic, exotic, and suspenseful. I couldn’t put it down!”--USA Today bestselling author Serena Bell “Sexy and suspenseful, with delicious sexual tension that will keep you turning the pages . . . You don’t want to miss the next Club Sin novel.”—Shawntelle Madison, author of the Windham Werewolves series Synopsis: A dedicated cop, Sawyer Quinn blows off steam by immersing himself in his role as a Master at the hottest club in Las Vegas. But when Sawyer goes after the perp who brutally beat his sister, he teams up with Chloe Nash, a sexy private investigator who awakens a sweet new need: to keep her to himself, away from the dungeon of Club Sin. Chloe is beautiful, smart, and too innocent for the BDSM lifestyle. Sawyer’s never wanted a woman like this before. Is her love worth swearing off the one thing that keeps him sane? There’s something different about Sawyer: a commanding strength that pulls Chloe into a vortex of heady desire. But when she learns about his double life as a Dom, she’s shocked—and afraid she could never complete him. Then he saves her life, and just like that, Chloe knows she will be able to give him anything he desires. She is his—wherever and however he wants to take her. Goodreads Amazon Barnes & Noble Additional purchasing options Author Bio: STACEY KENNEDY is the USA Today bestselling author of the CLUB SIN series. Growing up, Stacey’s mind wandered the path less traveled and that path most often led to love. She has always broken rules and she continues to feed off emotion – staying true to her heart. Those traits are now the bones of her stories. She lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, who puts any of the heroes in her books to shame, and their two young children. If she’s not on mom duty or plugging away at a new story, you’ll find Stacey camping in the summer, hibernating in the winter and obsessing over Penny Dreadful, Game of Thrones and Outlander.
Connect with Stacey: Website Facebook Twitter Goodreads
We're celebrating the release of TAMING LILY by Monica Murphy!
TAMING LILY (The Fowler Sisters #3) by Monica Murphy
Adult Contemporary Romance Goodreads iBooks : http://tinyurl.com/p4ps38y Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/nclrbez Nook: http://tinyurl.com/qf2fo48 Kobo: http://tinyurl.com/o56xzbu
BLURB:
I’m in trouble. Again. And instead of facing my problems head-on, I’ve run away. Far away this time, and no one can catch me—not my two younger sisters, Violet and Rose, not my father, my grandmother, or that witch Pilar who wants to take control of my family’s cosmetics company. Now I’m in Hawaii, enjoying the sun and sand and water, where nobody knows the hot mess known as Lily Fowler. And I’m loving every minute of it. But someone is watching me. Following me. He’s gorgeous. Soon we’re talking, and against all my instincts, I reveal bits and pieces of myself to Max. It feels good, though I know he can’t be the man for me. These sudden feelings we share are way too complicated, too fraught, too intense. Then everything explodes and I’m forced to return home. My intentions have always been true, but now everyone’s mad at me. I don’t know who to turn to anymore . . . except to Max. He’s the one I want to trust. But I’m not so sure I should. Maybe it’s worth the risk—what-ifs be damned. . . .
Excerpt
“Looks like Maui agreed with you.” Violet greets me as I walk toward her, practically falling into her welcoming hug. I squeeze her back, closing my eyes for the briefest moment as I absorb her love and warmth, so incredibly thankful to be with her again. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you in person,” I tell her before I withdraw, though I don’t let her go my hands still clasp her shoulders and she’s holding on to my arms. “I know.” Violet’s smiling at me, looking gorgeous with all that dark hair falling down her back in luxurious waves, her dark eyes sparkling as bright as the giant diamond on her finger. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen Violet look so genuinely happy. I could almost get choked up, having her here in front of me. I didn’t realize I missed my sister so much until now. “Skype just doesn’t cut it, you know,” I say, my voice rough as I clear my throat past the emotional bubble clogging it. Violet rolls her eyes and smiles. “I totally agree. But guess what? You’re stuck with me now. No more going back to Lon- don for us except to visit.” I’m so grateful for her warm acceptance of me that I can feel the tight knot in my chest slowly unravel. I was scared to death this morning as I prepared to come into Fleur. Seeing Daddy, Grandma, Rose, and Violet . . . and worst of all, that evil witch Pilar . . . I wasn’t looking forward to it, and that’s the understatement of the year. I was petrified really, afraid of what any of them might say. I’d rather pretend the fact that I ran away to Maui to escape my problems—especially a problem that neither I nor Pilar wants made public knowledge, I’m sure—was swept under the rug. I don’t even want to talk about Maui and what happened there. The man I met. The man who somehow, some way, double-crossed me. Stole from me . . . I have my suspicions about why Max did what he did. Nothing confirmed yet, but come on. I had jewelry in my suitcase— expensive jewelry. Cash in my wallet and stashed away in my travel bag. Yet he took my laptop and that’s it. The fucker stole from me. Why? Could he be working for Pilar? No. It couldn’t be possible, just some weird coincidence. Maybe he didn’t steal from me. Maybe one of the hotel employees snagged my Mac. I hadn’t checked on it in days. For all I know, it could have been missing since the day I stashed it up on the shelf in my closet. That’s the problem. I don’t know what happened, when it was stolen or why. I can suspect Max all I want. It makes sense in a way. He held me close until I fell asleep and when I woke up in the morning, groggy and hung over, he was gone. Disappeared like he’d never existed in the first place. He didn’t even leave a note. I searched for him everywhere. By the pool, in the lobby, down by the beach, in the hotel restaurants, but he wasn’t there. I went to his hotel room only to find the door cracked open and the maids inside, cleaning. His stuff was gone. The maids let me know he’d checked out that morning. He didn’t even bother saying goodbye. It hurts that he didn’t believe me worthy of a goodbye. Worse, he lied to me. Said that we would see each other again and then ditched me. I don’t get it. What did I do wrong? That last night, when we had sex, I gave him everything I thought he wanted. I wanted to please him, wanted to be the submissive woman, not only to make him happy, but because it made me feel...good. I liked handing over the control to Max so I could get lost in the pleasure. It aroused me, his controlling ways, the words he said, the demands he made on my body. I wanted more. I wanted all of him . . . And he didn’t want me at all.
Giveaway
AVAILABLE NOW! ![]() OWNING VIOLET (The Fowler Sisters #1) by Monica Murphy Adult Contemporary Romance Goodreads NOW AVAILABLE: Amazon: http://amzn.to/1uzhezR Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1Fm3HSv B&N: http://bit.ly/1xPXYnw iBooks: http://bit.ly/1E5td0l Books a Million: http://bit.ly/YUMZLj Kobo: http://bit.ly/1vjcaVl ![]() STEALING ROSE (The Fowler Sisters #2) by Monica Murphy Adult Contemporary Romance Goodreads NOW AVAILABLE: Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1w9k9Ab Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1y1NaDL Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1xePjqb Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/1B85RX6 iBooks: http://bit.ly/1xT9q25 B&N: http://bit.ly/1AGzTzJ Kobo: http://bit.ly/1tYkHcz Books-a-Million: http://bit.ly/17yNfVe
About the Author:
New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author Monica Murphy is a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite with her husband and three children. She's a workaholic who loves her job. When she's not busy writing, she also loves to read and travel with her family. She writes new adult and contemporary romance and is published with Bantam and Avon. She also writes romance as USA Today bestselling author Karen Erickson.
Facebook | Twitter | Website EXCERPT Phoebe St. Claire “Where are you?” he asked. “Home.” “I know. Where in your apartment are you?” “On my bed.” “Where are you?” I asked. “Give me a minute.” I heard stomping up some stairs and then a door closed. “On my bed,” he said in that same husky tone. I nearly stopped breathing. “Are you still there?” he asked again. “Yes,” my voice was raspy. In a deep husky voice he said, “Tell me what you’re wearing under your clothes.” Arousal overtook my mind and I answered quickly. “A bra and panties.” “Take off your clothes and tell me what they look like.” Flushing from head to toe I managed to say, “Jeremy!” “Phoebe, I’ve seen you in your underwear. Christ, I’ve seen you naked. Just put your phone on speaker, dim the lights, and describe to me the lucky pieces of fabric covering your tits and pussy.” Shock and desire swarmed through me in equal measure. Memories of his dirty mouth came back in a flash. I’d loved it so many years ago, loved when we were flesh to flesh. And this was different. I’d never had phone sex before. Had no idea how to, but I knew I was about to find out. I wasn’t going to turn him down. I wanted this. The sexual tension that had blossomed between us was causing me to go insane. I was touching myself when I woke up in the middle of the night, and then in the shower before work, and last night and the night before after I hung up the phone with him. I’d been masturbating to the thought of him nonstop. Phone sex had to be so much better. “Give me a minute,” I whispered needing to ease into the more intimate exchange that I knew was coming. I stripped out of my skirt and blouse and all but tore my hose pulling them off. The lights were already dimmed, so that wasn’t an issue. I heard his own mattress squeaking and wondered if he had started without me. My phone beeped again and I looked down. This time it was an incoming call from Jamie. I ignored it. Then, I took a deep breath and a giant leap of faith as I sat on my bed in my underwear. Just as I was thinking about what I could say, he spoke. “I have to be honest with you,” he said. My heart sank. I didn’t like any conversation that started with those words. With a heavy exhale, he said, “I’ve been hard all week just thinking about you and I have to admit, my wrist hasn’t been worked out this much in a long time.” Picturing his hand, his cock, his hips, and the perfect choreographed movement of all three had me barely cognizant. “Phoebe?” “I’m here,” I said in the raspiest tone. “Then I’ll be honest too. It’s possible that I’ve made myself come more times this week than I have in my entire life.” I wasn’t exactly comfortable initiating a kinky conversation. But I could follow his lead. “Jesus Phoebe, you can’t talk that way to me when I’m not near you.” Something primal erupted within me. “And I want to do it again.” “Fuckkkk.” I moaned at his use of the word fuck. It sounded entirely too delicious. Equally as delicious was his sexy laugh that followed. “So what are we going to do about this dilemma?” I sunk back into my pillows and pictured his face—his lips parted and his eyes heavy-lidded. I knew what I wanted to do about it. Did he want to do the same thing? I hoped so. Will they or won’t they? #ToxicLove Pre-order Toxic by Kim Karr Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Hu5onD Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1HiL7eA B& N: http://bit.ly/1FLtjHO Kobo: http://bit.ly/1g3Ih7e iBooks: http://apple.co/1efjb3Z Google Play: http://bit.ly/1KpMRcv RELEASE DATE: July 7th, 2015 New York Times bestselling author Kim Karr turns up the heat in a smoking hot, emotionally compelling romance that takes you into the world of Manhattan's elite. Meet Jeremy McQueen, a sexy, intense, brooding entrepreneur who goes after what he wants, and Phoebe St. Claire, a socialite-turned-CEO who's been drifting through life searching for something she thought she'd never find again--the right man to share her future. Phoebe St. Claire has devoted herself to saving her family's hotel empire--but her best efforts have not been good enough. With her whole world in turmoil, the tenacious go-getter turns to the once love of her life. Far from innocent, Jeremy McQueen was the guy from the wrong side of the tracks who her parents would never have approved of. Their years apart have only made the sexy bad boy more irresistible than ever--and their reunion is explosive. When she asks Jeremy to help her salvage her family business, he agrees immediately, with only one condition--he wants her in his bed. But soon surprising circumstances leave Phoebe reeling. Was this fairy tale romance just too good to be true? Will Jeremy's secrets pull them apart all over again? THIS IS A STANDALONE SECOND-CHANCE ROMANCE WITH NO CLIFFHANGER ENDING. About the Author: I live in Florida with my husband and four kids. I've always had a love for reading books and writing. Being an English major in college, I wanted to teach at the college level but that was not to be. I went on to receive an MBA and became a project manager until quitting to raise my family. I currently work part-time with my husband and full-time embracing one of my biggest passions—writing. Stalk Her: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads THANK YOU!
Happy Release to Elle Aycart!
Heavy Secrets is NOW LIVE! Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1Jgm3sd Loose ID: http://www.loose-id.com/heavy-secrets.html
Christy Sheridan has come a long way from the physical and emotional wreck she used to be. She's made Alden her home and is happily engaged to a man who loves and accepts her for who she is, curves, quirks, and geekiness included. Life is good. Until mommy dearest blows into town to "help" her clueless daughter seal the deal.
Cole Bowen is experiencing a world of firsts: first time in love, first engagement, first Valentine's, first in-laws. He's found the woman of his dreams, so he figured dealing with Martha Sheridan was a small price to pay. That is before his monster-in-law plants herself in their home and inside Christy's head, stirring up old demons and destroying her newly regained self-esteem. And while his hands are full with trying to neutralize their meddlesome guest, a mysterious phone call turns his world upside down. With ghosts from the past resurfacing and threatening to tear Cole and Christy apart, can they make it to the wedding they both so desperately want, or will heavy secrets send their relationship to the breaking point?
Excerpt
Chapter One
“How many years do you think I’d get for offing my mom? Because honest to God, if we’re talking single digits, I’m willing to risk it,” Christy said while leaning back on the lounge chair after getting a full-body massage that had left her totally gooey. They were at the spa, wearing fluffy bathrobes and sipping tea, except for Christy, who was nursing a diet soda. “Just name a time and place, and we’ll be there with a shovel. No questions asked,” Annie said, and Holly and Tate assented. “I could claim temporary insanity.” Heck, emotional self-defense too. “Don’t worry, we’ll vouch for you. No jury in its right mind would convict you,” Holly stated. “I thought you were exaggerating, but boy, were you understating. What a…character.” Ha. That was one way of putting it. Annie nodded in commiseration. She’d met Martha a long time ago, when the girls were in college. Christy had gone for an East Coast institution, hoping it would be out of her mom’s range, but going away had been useless. There was no place far enough. Crazy had its own methods of reaching her. “Where’s the Grand Diva now?” Tate, Christy’s future sister-in-law, asked. “Checking out wedding dresses. She arranged an appointment at a bridal shop. I stood her up.” Her whole posse turned to her, looking stupefied. “She’s picking out a wedding dress without the bride?” Yeah, typical Martha stunt. “I know I should be there, but why, really? She won’t listen to anything I say. I might as well save my breath.” And a whole lot of pain and abuse in the process. The girls pondered for a second and then nodded. “Oh, and remember,” Christy added, reaching for her diet soda. “I’m not here. I’m in the middle of a massive twelve-car accident. Well and healthy but stuck inside the vehicle and waiting for the firefighters to come and cut the roof open to rescue me.” That her mom hadn’t rushed to her side when Christy called her—and that Christy had known she wouldn’t—already said it all. “And when your mom realizes your car is intact? Then what?” Tate asked, to which Christy couldn’t help snorting. “That would imply she remembered our talk. It won’t happen. A total impossibility.” Christy would bet anything, her first unborn child included—and her second and third—that her mom wouldn’t even mention it. That was the advantage of being disappointed one too many times; no way in hell to harbor false illusions. Martha’s number-one priority was…Martha. Followed by whatever man she was screwing with at the moment. How she’d managed to marry a decent guy and keep him for several years was beyond Christy. Then again, Fred was too kind for his own good. That or he had a hell of a lot of bad karma from a previous life. For a split second, she’d considered going to the bridal shop, but then she’d discarded the idea. Defaulting to her smile-accept-and-walk-away technique, she’d nodded and kept quiet. And had run in the opposite direction at the first chance. Let her mother get her kicks. Just let her do it far away from Christy. Besides, there was no damage Martha could do; Christy had told the shop assistant not to reserve anything without her consent. Holly poured herself more tea. “Doesn’t she know you don’t want a traditional dress for your summer wedding?” “She knows. She just doesn’t care.” They were talking about a woman who had gotten married four times, once with a beer-can tab as a ring. Appointments at high-scale bridal shops were a dream come true for her. “I feel like a shitty daughter, but I’m so ready for her to leave.” Martha had come for Christmas with her husband and stayed a couple of days. It had gone rather well, probably because Cole was scary enough and Martha hadn’t worked herself up to be…well, herself. This time around, she’d been in Alden for three days, without Fred, and Christy was ready to face the gallows for a chance to get rid of her. Fate had thrown Christy the mother of all curve balls when it chose Martha as her sole parent. Their relationship had always been complicated, to say the least, with Christy spending all her life putting out fires—Martha’s—and eating to cope. Eventually she’d gotten her food addiction under control, but changing her mom and her nasty ways was something out of her reach. And having Martha living with her without Fred as a buffer was bringing up all sorts of feelings and automatic coping mechanisms that Christy had thought she’d left behind. Lora, Christy’s former sponsor, had been right: nothing guaranteed recovery, and they were always one upset away from relapse. “What about Cole?” Tate asked, taking Christy out of her reverie. “Isn’t he putting her in her place?” He would if he knew. Apparently Martha was learning subtlety, at least in front of a 240-pound, uncompromising ex-marine. It also helped that Christy had asked him not to interfere. Cole was a black-and-white kind of person. Intransigent and not inclined to put up with moronities. Left to his own devices, he would have kicked Martha out the first day. “She’s…contained around him. I think she’s scared of him.” “She and half the world, sister,” Holly mumbled. Christy rolled her eyes and, after reaching inside the pocket of her bathrobe, fished out a sugar-free cherry lollipop. “Come on. Cole is a harmless sweetie.” Who liked macho power tripping and playing with cuffs, but a sweetie nonetheless. They’d been together for six months, and although they’d clashed several times, he’d kept his word and hadn’t shut her out. He’d leave to cool down—sometimes he went to his brother James’s; sometimes she saw him pacing up and down the yard, muttering under his breath—but he always came back and they always found middle ground. “To you he’s harmless,” Holly corrected as Christy unwrapped the candy. “Wait until he finds out about the pole-dancing classes. Mike already told Kyra to up her insurance. And to make sure there are no guys lurking around during said classes.” Cole and his men had started working on Kyra’s dance studio right before Christmas and had gotten it ready in no time. Anything to get the exotic aerobics and the horde of giggling women in tight thongs out of Haddican’s, the local gym, and away from so much bubbling testosterone. “It’s all Annie’s fault,” Christy shot back, giving her friend the evil eye. “She signed me up without asking.” Christy wasn’t much for showing herself off, and pole dancing was exactly that, but Kyra had been so excited to have her and Tate on board that it had been impossible to get out of it without hurting Kyra’s feelings. On the plus side, Martha hadn’t found out about her daughter’s new hobby. She would have made fun of Christy or joined the classes. Either way, no number of twelve-step meetings would have helped Christy get through that trauma. Her mother was many things, but ugly and clumsy she wasn’t. That her ass and boobs were still perkily pointing north and that she moved perfectly to capitalize on that also helped. Working a pole under her reproving stare would have killed Christy and her shaky, newly developed self-esteem. For all Martha’s dumb decisions in her personal life—and boy, were there plenty—she had a witty tongue and knew how to deliver killer putdowns. “Duh, you would have said no,” Annie replied, bringing her back to the present. “And I owed you one after you got me into exotic aerobics.” “You know I can’t quit the exotic aerobics. I needed company.” Christy had gone there just on a whim, but then Cole saw her and, in one of his my-way-or-the-highway stunts, had tossed her over his shoulder and stomped out of the class. Now she couldn’t quit, just on principle. She needed to stand her ground with Cole, especially when he was being a control freak and attempting to fuck her into submission, which was very often. Besides, she liked that class. And defying Cole. Annie pursed her lips. “A pregnant woman wiggling her ass around a chair and pretending to be sexy is…definitely not.” “I’m pretty sure Max feels otherwise,” Holly said. “I’ve seen him watching you. No way to disguise that look.” “What look?” “That tight expression. The she’s-mine-everyone-back-the-fuck-off glare, mixed with wait-till-I-get-a-closed-door-between-us-and-the-rest-of-the-world.” Tate laughed. “That’s the standard Bowen look.” Damn right. Christy had seen it on Cole’s face many times. Before and after fucking her senseless. Heck, while too. She loved that proprietary look. It said she was beautiful and he needed her. For someone who’d battled self-esteem issues all her life, it meant the world. Cole meant the world to her. “As soon as the baby pops out,” Christy said, pointing at Annie’s seven-months-pregnant belly, “you’re marching into the pole-dancing classes with me. No frigging excuses.” Annie shook her head. “I have shitty coordination. I’d kill myself.” “Sure. And the swing up in Max’s room?” They were all rosy from their facial massages, yet Annie visibly flushed. “Hmm, that’s for yoga?” Christy couldn’t stifle the giggle. Neither could Holly or Tate. Yeah, because Max was such a yoga type. Christy dipped her sugar-free lollipop on her diet soda. “If I’m making an ass out of myself and Kyra is risking the integrity of her new business, you’re joining us after recovering from childbirth.” Annie grimaced, pointing at Christy’s glass. “That’s gross. I thought you were cutting back on your weird stuff.” Yeah, she’d thought that too. Until her mom blew into town. “Cola-flavored cherry lollipop or cherry-flavored soda. Not weirder than scooping Nutella with bacon.” “True, but I’m hormonal.” Ha! Pregnancy hormones had nothing on the spike of anxiety that Martha created. “By the way, Tate,” Holly chimed in, “did you get a pole installed in the bedroom?” Now it was Tate blushing. “Yes.” “And?” She blushed even harder. She was six months pregnant, and although she had some limitations where the movements were concerned, Christy had seen her dance. Tate really knew how to make it work. She kicked ass. Pregnant and all. “James loved it. As in really loved it.” “On a scale of one to ten?” Holly asked, wiggling her eyebrows. “Thirty. And don’t worry,” Tate hurried to appease Christy. “I made him promise he won’t say a word to Cole about the classes.” Good, because Mike was right. If Cole found out, Kyra was going to need top-of-the-line insurance, especially with Amantis’s dancing crew and the security detail snooping around. “Although I don’t see the big issue. It’s for Cole. Whenever you’re ready, he’ll be the one enjoying the result of the classes, right?” “Right,” Christy mumbled. She’d started liking it, but considering how klutzy she felt at pole dancing, it was going to take a couple of decades before Cole got to see her. Holly turned her inquisitive gaze to Annie. “And your, uh, yoga swing? Scale of one to ten?” “Thirty,” she answered after a long pause, red as a frigging tomato. “Wow. Swings, dancing poles. The pregnant ladies here like their toys,” Holly said with a grin. Christy glanced at Annie and Tate, both fanning themselves. “We should change the subject. Before the kinky pregnant ladies faint.” “You’re a fine one to talk. And the cuffs tucked in the drawer in your nightstand?” “Annie!” “What? I’m being tactful. The cuffs were the only objects I recognized.” Okay, they were so banned from each other’s bedrooms. “Really?” Holly asked, looking intrigued as hell. “What kind of objects?” “We are deviating from the subject, people. We were talking about how to off my mom, remember?” Tate waved around. “That’s easy. We bring her here, lock her in the sauna, and turn it to high.” “It won’t work. She’s from LA. And she lived in Georgia for a while, chasing after some crocodile hunter. The heat’s nothing for her.” “Or now that we have plenty of props,” Holly said with a wink, “we could plant Tate’s dance pole somewhere in the forest and cuff Martha to it. Leave her for the wolves.” Poor wolves. Her mother would have them committing suicide in no time. Christy couldn’t do that to them. “Must be a simpler way. Can’t you just send her to hell?” Christy shrugged. It was easier said than done. Her mom had the nasty habit of doing something nice whenever Christy was reaching critical mass. She couldn’t send her to hell in good conscience. The girls couldn’t understand. Annie had a kick-ass mom. Tate too. Holly’s she didn’t know, but the messages between mother and daughter were hilarious, so she imagined their relationship was solid. People with great parents had no clue how difficult it was to deal with bad ones. “How long until she leaves?” “Still a while. Thirteen days, nine hours”—Christy reached for her cell—“twenty-five minutes and thirty-five seconds, to be exact.” Annie chuckled. “You keeping track?” “I have a countdown set.” Every twenty-four hours, an app sent her a yay-you-can-do-this message. “She’s leaving four days before Valentine’s Day. She wants to be in LA then, so that she can prepare for it.” “Four days in advance?” Holly asked. “What’s she planning on doing for her husband?” “For Fred? Nothing. She goes to make sure he gets her all that she wants.” “Oh boy.” “You can say that again. How he puts up with her, I don’t know.” Her smile-accept-and-walk-away technique was failing her big-time now that they were both under the same roof. Or maybe it was that she had gotten a taste for normal and supportive with Cole, and going back to mental was hard. “We should call Fred and get some pointers,” Holly suggested. “Thirteen days is a long time. Spending your and Cole’s first Valentine’s Day in jail wouldn’t be too much fun.” “Run to Vegas ahead of schedule. You’re going there anyway for your annual convention, right?” Annie asked. Tate frowned. “What convention?” “The geeky version of Valentine’s,” Annie said. “I was there once with her. Memorable. Not going ever again.” Christy rolled her eyes and turned to Holly and Tate. “There’s a Star Trek convention held in Vegas the weekend before Valentine’s every year.” Plus this year they had the premiere of a new Star Trek movie. “And no, I’m not going. Cole wouldn’t be caught dead in a place like that. I’ve been dropping hints about it for a couple of months already, but he isn’t biting.” Holly patted her on the arm. “So no hanging out with your nerdy friends and stuck with your mom. That sucks.” Yep. Totally.
Bowen Series Reading Order
More than Meets the Ink (Bowen, #1) Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1BHLGvQ Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1AddDA2 Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1DjeSLD iBooks: http://bit.ly/1BLgSg5 Kobo: http://bit.ly/1yVS0xC Heavy Issues (Bowen #2) Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1ymbIUo Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1yZFYrN Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1vn91q6 iBooks: http://bit.ly/1tN4oEo Kobo: http://bit.ly/1DjiFbW Inked Ever After (Bowen, #2.5) Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1yVIYkq Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1AddNYq Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1DshXJJ iBooks: http://bit.ly/1HB27mj Kobo: http://bit.ly/16duB52 To The Max (Bowen, #3) Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1zSQoJ6 Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1AgchDW Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1SVfbFg iBooks: http://apple.co/1No8poi All Romance ebooks:http://bit.ly/1KMsQZp
About the Author
After a colorful array of jobs all over Europe ranging from translator to chocolatier to travel agent to sushi chef to flight dispatcher, Elle Aycart is certain of one thing and one thing only: aside from writing romances, she has abso-frigging-lutely no clue what she wants to do when she grows up. Not that it stops her from trying all sorts of crazy stuff.
While she is probably now thinking of a new profession, her head never stops churning new plots for her romances. She lives currently in Barcelona, Spain, with her husband and two daughters, although who knows, in no time she could be living at the Arctic Circle in Finland, breeding reindeer. Thank you! |
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