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Hard Wear by Marilyn Lakewood *Review and Giveaway
Giveaway – details for your giveaway for readers that follow your tour, be specific. You may pick offer prize of more than one.
We have Ebooks only at the moment
Title: Hard Wear
Author Name: Marilyn Lakewood
Author Bio:
Marilyn lives in the northwest U.S., not too far from the Canadian border, and believes the long, cold winters are perfect “writing weather.”
She started writing romantic, sex-driven stories “just for fun” seven years ago. Today, she’ll joyously admit she’s obsessed with creating hard-core dominant heroes and happily-ever-after endings.
Visit Marilyn at http://www.marilynlakewood.com
Author Links – The link for any or all of the following…
Website: www.marilynlakewood.com
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/MarilynLakewood
G+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/111161259794597010034/posts
Pintrest: http://www.pinterest.com/marilynlakewood/
Book Genre: Romance/Hot Alpha Billionaire
Publisher: Troll River Publications
Release Date: February 14, 2015
Buy Link(s): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TNGS2QG
Book Description:
Book One of the Hot Alpha Billionaire Series
Stand alone. Not a cliff-hanger. HEA. M/F, Mild D/s themes.
How does a sophisticated man with everything, convince an unassuming older woman with nothing, that she’s what he desperately needs?
At 36, Chase Tanner controlled his world and the women in his bed. With a grown son and several successful businesses, he thought he had everything a man could desire… until he walked down the aisle of a country hardware store and saw exactly what he needed for a happily-ever-after. Now, he just had to make her believe it.
”You’re just not good enough, Kali.”
Her ex-husband’s hurtful words echoed in Kali Benson’s heart as she rebuilt her life in tiny Laketon, Washington. It took some time, but at 39, she’s happy, self-sufficient, and emotionally armored. She’s strong enough to resist a sweet-talking hunk, who drives an old Dodge truck and makes her feel nineteen again… isn’t she?
Excerpt One (300-500 or so Words):
Chase took the shortest route to the auto accessories area and cut through the carpentry section. He turned down the aisle and his steps slowed. Fuses, old trucks, everything, dropped off the radar as his gaze focused on the woman perusing the locks-and-hinge display.
Sweet. There was something incredibly sweet and alluring about her. More than pretty, she was arresting. His heart did a drum roll against his ribs, and he drew in a deep, stabilizing breath.
Easing to a stop a few steps away, he positioned himself near the opposite side of the aisle as if he were interested in something other than her. Not the most inspired tactic, but he needed a moment to process her intense effect on him.
In profile, she had a straight, refined nose, full lips, and a balanced chin. Thick, golden-brown hair shimmered in glossy layers past her shoulders, styled with a fringe of bangs across her dark, tawny brows.
When she pulled an item from the display, he noticed she kept her nails a short, practical length, and she wore no wedding ring.
His eyes drifted down her slender length, admiring her lush, handful-size breasts and the pert nipples that dimpled against her knit top. She had a slim waist, gently rounded hips, and a great curvy ass, temptingly displayed in a pair of distinctive cutoffs. They were distinctive to him, at least. Although she’d removed the label, he recognized Soft Wear jeans and understood what the brand signified.
This little beauty might not want anyone in Laketon to know, but if she bought those jeans, she harbored at least some sexually submissive desires.
In a sudden, vivid image, he pictured her in his bed, her body pinned beneath him, his hands holding hers against the mattress. He imagined her thighs around his hips. The first intimate touch of his cock to her sex. Her mouth parted, gasping when he shifted deeper.
The fantasy jolted him.
He flinched and she turned her head.
Large, topaz eyes danced over him, and she smiled distractedly, the merest civility necessary, before returning her attention back to the shelves. He’d been dismissed. There was nothing haughty or superior about it, but apparently she’d found him unsuitable.
A grin tugged on his mouth. He enjoyed a challenge.
Love Discovered in New York by Danielle Allen
BIO:
football with equal fervor. I’m an amateur movie critic (i.e. my husband and I watch and critique a lot of movies for fun). I love to read, but since I’ve been writing, I don’t read as much as I used to. I love music. A good lyric with a good melody can paint a vivid picture and invoke such a range of emotions. I have a soft spot for most mediums of creative, artistic expression. But music is probably my favorite.
#Giveaway: Emerald Fire, Demon Heat by Valerie Twombly
Emerald Fire
Demon Heat
Book 2
Valerie Twombly
Genre: Paranormal Erotica
Publisher: Resplendence
Date of Publication: 7/2/14
ISBN: 978-1-60735-787-2
ASIN: B00LHCCQRA
Number of pages: 103
Word Count: 30K
Cover Artist: Les Byerley
Book Description:
Ever since Brock lost his mate and son in a tragic murder, he’s been unable to move on. When urged to go back home and bury his past, he never expected to meet Sarah. The demon is strong, sexy, and kind-hearted. Everything a man could want in a woman.
Sarah has longed to discover the mate who completes her and finds herself wondering about the demon who left the house next door shrouded in magic. After he appears in her camera lens, it’s an instant attraction and doesn’t take long to realize he belongs to her.
When Elias steps into the picture, Sarah must fight the urges he stirs inside her. She can’t believe fate has given her two mates. Now she is faced with a decision. Choose the one who promises nights of passion and undying love, or the other who can only offer her his broken heart.
Available at Amazon Resplendence and ARe
Sarah stood outside the house and watched while Brock unraveled the magic woven around it. The demon fidgeted and paced, and on more than one occasion, she worried he would run from her. She hoped, once inside, he would be able to find peace. Something in her gut told her his jitters were not all due to the opening of old wounds. She realized she actually made him nervous. When she’d caught him admiring her assets, she’d been anything but angry. His roving eyes had sent moisture between her thighs and a longing that nearly had her shoving him to the floor to sate her desire. Hot, inviting, he made her mouth water. She wondered if he tasted anything like the spicy cinnamon scent she inhaled every time she got near him and decided she needed to find out. Would it be in poor taste to seduce him when he was at his weakest? For some reason, she didn’t care, and that was really out of character for her.
“Sarah?”
She looked up and met his dark, brown eyes, noting a twinkle of mischief in them.
“Find something you like?” he chuckled.
Shit. She’d been caught staring at his ass. Well, it wasn’t her fault he filled out a pair of jeans like nobody’s business. Not to mention he was standing two steps up from her which put the muscular perfection right at eye level. She curled her lips upward. “As a matter of fact, yes. Yes, I did.” There, let him chew on that! She hoped he’d take it as a hint of her interest.
He tipped back his head in laughter. “Well, I guess I deserve that after I gawked at you.”
He pushed the door open, his features immediately schooled. Her heart ached for him and longed to see the sexy smile again. Her new goal was to get him through this and help him move on. She wanted to get to know the real Brock. The one who wasn’t in pain. “I’ll go first just to make sure it’s safe.” He slipped past the threshold and disappeared. Sarah remained on the first step, waiting for him to give her the all clear. Minutes later, he stuck his head out, his face ashen. “You can come in.”
She made her way up the remaining steps and through the doorway, not sure what she would find inside and half expecting her senses to be assaulted. She took in a deep breath and found the air to be crisp and clean. She must have had a puzzled look on her face.
“The spell kept everything out so there’s no mildew or mold,” he stated matter of fact.
She glanced around the spacious kitchen and felt as if she’d stepped back in time. The white porcelain refrigerator and gas range with its side storage compartment were state of the art for the period when the house had been previously occupied. Everything glistened as if freshly cleaned, waiting for the museum patrons to walk through the time capsule. She noticed Brock no longer stood next to her so she moved across the linoleum floor to the beige carpeted living room. She found him standing in the center, staring down at the floor.
“Brock?” She walked up and stood next to him. He didn’t respond and almost seemed to be mesmerized except that his hands balled into fists then released, only to repeat the process. Her heart fractured. Clearly, this was where he had found his mate. She reached out to touch him but hesitated unsure how he would respond. “Brock, maybe this wasn’t a good idea. I think we should leave.”
He lifted his head and glanced around the room. “No. I need to face my ghosts. I guess I wasn’t expecting it to be this difficult.” He ran his fingers through his short, blond hair. “Hell, I’m not really sure what I was expecting.”
It was heartbreaking to see him so vulnerable. This time, she didn’t stop herself from placing a hand on his arm.
“Is this where…?” She couldn’t finish the question without her voice giving away her emotions.
5 fangs
Brock is still mourning the death of his mate and son after 50 years. Now he wants to try and move on. When he returns to his families home to take the spell off the house he meets Sarah another demon. Sarah is starting to wonder if she will ever find her mate. When she meets Brock she feels an attraction, is it just sexual or could he be her mate. Then she meets Elias and the attraction is instant. Sarah knew mates came about in one of two ways, instant attraction or slow attraction. To go from no possible mate to the possibility of two in a couple days Sarah didn’t know if to be freaked out or excited. How’s a girl to choose?
This was a quick read, not a lot of depth to the story but more of an erotic paranormal romance. Enjoyed the characters, how everyone came together in a time of need. There is chemistry between al the characters.You have Brock and Sarah and their hot sex scenes. Then you have Sarah, Brock and Elias together in a fan yourself scene. Nothing like good old demon sex. Throw in a few bad guys for some suspense and you have an great afternoon quickie.
Lovers of paranormal and erotica will enjoy the story, but once you hit the steamy scenes the paranormal part kind of fades from your mind
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1026839894
http://www.amazon.com/review/R2TZ2624WVP9ZF/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm
About the Author:
As a child, Valerie would often get into trouble for peeking at her mother’s favorite TV show, Dark Shadows. She can still hear her mother saying “It will give you nightmares.” She was right of course, but that did not stop Valerie from watching. As an adult, her love of the fanged creatures never waned. She would watch any vampire movie she could find.
Being a true romantic, Valerie was thrilled when she discovered the genre of paranormal romance. Her first read was one of Lara Adrian’s, Midnight Breed Series and from there she was hooked.
Today, Valerie has decided to take her darker, sensual side and put it to paper. When she is not busy creating a world full of steamy, hot men and strong, seductive women, she juggles her time between a full-time job, hubby and her two German shepherd dogs, in Northern IL.
Valerie is a member of Romance Writers of America and Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Romance Writers.
Web http://www.valerietwombly.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FangedFantasy
Twitter https://twitter.com/fangedfantasy
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/vtwombly
1 prize pack open to US shipping-containing:
1 ebook copy of Amazon Heat, Demon Heat #1
Signed copy of Eternal Flame, Guardians #1
Book Swag
$10 Amazon card
#Giveaway: Keeper vs. Reaper by Jennifer Malone Wright
Keeper vs. Reaper
Graveyard Guardians
Book 1
Jennifer Malone Wright
Genre: New Adult / Paranormal 18+
Publisher: Jennifer Malone Wright
Date of Publication: August 12th 2014
Cover Artist: Regina Wamba of Mae I Design and Photography
Book Description:
When her father died, Lucy Mae Estmond inherited the family business. She has known all of her life that she would be in line to watch over the souls of the recently passed, keeping them safe from the Reapers.
The soul eating Reapers have been a plague upon the Earth, stealing souls and leaving the Keepers as the only thing that stands between Heaven and Hell. The factions despise each other and have warred for generations.
Then Lucy discovers an ancient legend predicting the arrival of the Chosen One, destined to bring forth an end to the Reapers. The surprises continue when she realizes she is that person. For Lucy, being the Chosen One doesn’t change much. Fighting Reapers is just another day in the life of a Keeper.
When she meets Jack Walker, they both realize they have an insane, mutual attraction. Too bad that he’s been sent to prevent the prophecy from coming true.
His only mission: to kill the Chosen One.
“Yeah, I get that.” He took a swig of his beer and cringed. “Ugh. Can I get a shot of Jameson with this too?”
“I thought you tried to stay away from the hard stuff.” Her dark eyes penetrated him, looking for a reason that he would want to be drinking the hard A.
“Not tonight I don’t.”
“Fine. But, because I’m your friend I’m only allowing you one shot then it’s back to the hangover beer for you.”
Friend. What a fucked up word. The F word for sure.
He gave her a twisted smile as she handed him the shot of amber colored liquid. “I don’t have any friends. Not anymore.”
She shot him a concerned look and put the Jameson bottle back on the shelf. “You do now. I think we hit it off as far as friends go. See, I’m going to help you out right now, just like a dude would. There’s Janette.”
“Who?”
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
Jack raised his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders, then tilted his head back and slammed his shot.
Reese had her hands on her hips. “Janette. The girl you took home the other night.” She explained.
“Oh! You mean Janice.” He turned around to see who she was talking about.
“No, I mean Janette. That is her name, asshole.”
“Oh shit, really?”
Reese shook her head and laughed. “You may be good looking, but you are the poster child for guys women shouldn’t date. I have no idea why I like you at all.”
With a smile, Jack turned around and wiggled his eyebrows, “maybe we should take that to the next level.” He was totally joking and she knew it. The two of them seemed to have a mutual no touchy code.
“Not a chance in hell, Casanova.”
Jack laughed and then once again looked over his shoulder at Janette. Now, that was exactly what he needed right now. Nothing calms the nerves after an attempted murder and a fight with your friend like a good night of fucking out the frustration. He grabbed his beer and got up off the stool.
About the Author:
Jennifer Malone Wright is best known for her short story series, The Vampire Hunter’s Daughter. Other works include the follow up to The Vampire Hunter’s Daughter series called The Arcadia Falls Chronicles and her vampire novel called The Birth of Jaiden. Jennifer also co-authors a series called Once Upon A Zombie Apocalypse.
She resides in the beautiful mountains of northern Idaho with her husband and five children where she practices preparing for the zombie apocalypse. Just kidding!
But seriously, between the craziness of taking care of her children, Jennifer has little time left for herself. The time she does have left, usually leading far into the night, is spent working on her beloved fiction or chatting with her equally crazy friends.
Jennifer also loves coffee, has a passionate affair with red bull, wishes the sushi were better where she lives and dances while she cleans.
Website: www.jenniferwrightauthor.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thevampirehuntersdaughter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjennifermalonewright
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jennichad217
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4824985.Jennifer_Malone_Wright
HTML for Rafflecopter
<a id=”rc-93a34536″ class=”rafl” href=”http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/93a34536/” rel=”nofollow”>a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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Link for Rafflecopter
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/93a34536/
Details for the Keeper vs. Reaper pre-order giveaway
-Entries will be accepted until September 1st.
– Winner will be chosen on Sept 5th.
-To qualify for the B&B stay you must live in the United States.
-You must be 21 years of age to enter and winner must be able to verify their age.
– Date of B&B stay is February 2015. The actual date will set by Jack and Lucy who will discuss it with the winner to see which days would be best for them.
– The custom wine and chocolate will be waiting for the lucky winner at the B&B
– The only items covered in this win are the cost of ONE night stay in the bed & breakfast, the wine and the chocolate, which will be waiting for the winner at the B&B when they arrive. Winner is responsible for getting to the location, spending money, meals, ect.
-Winner is responsible for any damages or incurred costs during their stay at the B&B.
How to Enter
To make this super easy, we are just going to do a rafflecopter, so click the link to enter. Again, I am going to state that you must be 21 years of age to enter and winner must be able to verify their age.
There are several ways to enter, however one is to pre order or purchase (after release on Aug 12th) Keeper vs. Reaper. Unfortunately, there is no pre-order for Amazon, but the iTunes / iBooks app and the Nook app are free to download. These apps can be used on devices like tablets, phones, and computers.
#Giveaway: Forecast by Elise Stephens
Forecast
Title: Forecast
Author: Elise Stephens
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Calvin isn’t a teenager, not really; instead, he’s spent his life trying to protect his mother and sister from his alcoholic father. Calvin keeps a knife close and sleeps with one eye open, even years after his father has left the family. A summer vacation spent at their late grandfather’s estate promises him and his sister the chance to leave their problems behind.
Instead of blissful freedom, they find the old house harbors secrets at every turn, like a mysterious stone door in the forest with rumored powers to give its entrants the gift of future-seeing. When Calvin faces the return of his seemingly-reformed father, he throws himself through the door to receive the gift of foresight. But the door offers more doubt than certainty, and the future he sees is riddled with disturbing confusion. With a revenge-obsessed lawyer hunting him down and a secret society out to control him, Calvin must figure out how to stop what he’s started before he loses what he holds most dear.
As he battles the legacies of his past and the shadows of his future, Calvin must accept help from unlikely sources, give trust he never thought possible, and learn that the greatest challenges lie not in the things to come, but in the present moment.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1011329367
http://www.amazon.com/review/R1DEHWKLYT9X0D/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00DZTZGEI
Author Bio
Elise Stephens received the Eugene Van Buren Prize for Fiction from the University of Washington in 2007. Forecast is her second novel. Her first novel Moonlight and Oranges was a quarter-finalist for the 2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. Her short fiction has appeared in the Unusual Stories anthology, as well as in multiple journals.
She lives in Seattle with her husband where they both enjoy swing dancing, eating tiramisu, and taking in local live theater.
Links
http://www.elisestephens.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3413344.Elise_Stephens
https://twitter.com/elisestephens
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorEliseStephens
Amazon : amzn.to/1uYoAxK
Barnes & Noble: bit.ly/1wolB4h
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19192975-forecast
Giveaway
There will be a tour-wide giveaway for a $10 Amazon gift card, a long with these books:
Charis: Journey to Pandora’s Jar (by Nicole Y. Walters)
A Kingdom’s Possession (by Nicole J. Persun
Doublesight (by Terry Persun)
Always and Forever (by Karla J Nellenback)
Moonlight and Oranges (by Elise Stephens)
US Only.
“The drawer needed breaking,” Calvin assured Cleo as he spread its contents across the desk. “I’m sure everyone who would’ve cared about what’s inside this is dead now.”
The drawer’s innards included: scraps of fabric tied to the ends of trinkets, keys, rings, coins with holes punched through them, several sealed envelopes, sheaves of yellowed paper covered with elegant handwriting, a piece of graph paper hand-printed with Greek-ish symbols, a bundle of laminated ivory-colored cardstock, leaves torn from books, photographs, faded sales receipts and a box of more silver business cards like the one Calvin had found earlier.
As he spread the assortment across the desk, Cleo whispered,
“What’s that?” Her finger stroked the edge of a laminated sheet.
“Looks like a set of rules.” Calvin read one out loud, “Client may only inquire for
personal details as to his/her own future death. Insight for matters of future decisions, tragedies, wealth, etc, shall not be given.”
“And this one looks like a translation, maybe?” Cleo tapped the graph paper.
It bore three lines of symbols that looked like Greek to Calvin, and below this, three rows of English words. The English translation, at least what Calvin assumed was a translation, read:
Enter and see what cannot be unseen
Know and know what cannot be unknown
The future lies within
“Why don’t you ask Mrs. Seabrook to make us some lunch?” Calvin offered. He doubted Cleo would take the bait and let him explore on his own.
Sure enough, her eyes had already caught on a news clipping that had slid from under a sloping stack of letters. She unbent its folds and a brittle corner crumbled.“This article is about him.” She read,
“March 15, 1969
NEW ‘SIGHT-SEEING’ BUSINESS TAKES CLIENTS
“WHERE THEY’VE NEVER BEEN BEFORE”
Two weeks ago, Mr. Percival Humboldt opened a new private enterprise, best described as a branch of psychic services.
Rumor and gossip claim that Humboldt sees the future, but only a small section of it. He does not consult, advise, or hinder the choices of his clients, according to his literature. He, to quote the entrepreneur himself, “merely says what he sees.”
So far, Humboldt’s uncharacteristic endeavor has met with huge success. Hugo Remington, a colleague from Humboldt’s stock market days, commented that he “never in a million years saw this sort of thing brewing” in Humboldt during their work together. Humboldt’s wife, Ingrid Humboldt, declined an interview but said that she “sincerely hoped” this new business would give Humboldt the “chance to impact lives for the good.”
Cleo gently flipped the sheet over, then replaced it on the desk. “The next page isn’t here.” She brought her nose close to the black and white photograph at the top of the article. “Sheesh, Cal. You really do look just like him.”
Calvin walked around the desk to stand beside her. The photo of Percy portrayed a man with thinning hair and the start of a plump belly, posing jauntily before an oil painting that Calvin recognized as the one hanging over the living room mantle. One hand gripped a full glass of something with a sprig of mint stuck in it. Percy was smiling, but not at the camera, looking off into the distance.
“I hope you mean only our faces look alike,” Calvin muttered, “because I don’t have a beer belly.” He silently re-read the news blurb. “A psychic, huh? I haven’t changed my mind about calling them crooks and freaks.”
Cleo smoothed the clipping again, as if stroking someone’s face. “He’s dead. Be respectful. And don’t you think it’s possible that some people could be gifted in that sort of thing?”
“Assuming your belief is correct, which I don’t think it is, what really matters here is whether Percy was honest. I want to know if he was running a shady business, telling people their fortunes—what they wanted to hear, like Mrs. Seabrook said—and then making butt-loads of cash off them for it.”
She rolled her eyes. “Why do you instantly assume it was shady?”
“Why did he keep all of this stuff locked up and tell nobody to touch it?”
“Maybe he was trying to protect people. He had clients, and I bet he kept files on them. If any of those clients are still alive, that would be a good reason for privacy.” She looked around as if expecting the client files to be sitting in plain sight.
Calvin jabbed a triumphant finger. “And now you’re finally curious about other people’s business. I knew you’d come around.”
FORECAST EXCERPT 2
On the morning Joseph buried the key, he wrapped it in white silk and placed it in his winter coat. Night rain had glossed a thick sheen of ice over the earth, forest, and all the manor’s windows. Joseph melted the bathroom window seam with hot tap water and wriggled through it since creaking floorboards and mothers had signed a pact centuries ago. He had to shove his coat out the window ahead of him so he was small enough to fit. Once outside, he shivered violently in his boots and pajamas as he jammed his arms into his sleeves and blew breath down his collar to defrost his freezing heart.
The massive weight of the key pressed on him, heavy enough to split his pocket lining. He walked with a limp, one foot pounding the ice-crusted earth as he roamed the forest, seeking a hiding place to guard his strange and precious gift. The unfairness of his promise rang through the leafless wood, and Joseph imagined mournful wind-whispers that told him he shouldn’t surrender the one thing his father had given him, no matter what he’d vowed.
Frightened by the shadows of the trees, Joseph’s feet turned back toward the shelter of the tall house with the second story room where he’d met his father for the first and only time. His father had passed away in that same room two weeks before, eighteen days after Joseph had seen him.
Again the icy unfairness choked Joseph, but it couldn’t subdue the fire of his promise. A small sound, insistent but unobtrusive, tapped like a drum on Joseph’s soul, which was already stretched tight with longing.
His eyes roved the frozen lily pond, then turned up to the frigid sky. Christmas sparkle had faded with the passage of the old year. A few clouds in the pre-dawn firmament crumpled like discarded wrapping paper, and the woodpile reeked of mold. The house’s tears tumbled down two big drainpipes, the largest of which opened onto the ground in front of Joseph’s feet.
It was this ping – tap – thump that had woken him earlier. The drainpipe’s drip had summoned him here. Where else would frozen earth be soft enough for digging than under falling water? He knelt, ignoring the mud that seeped into his flannel pants, and dug earth chunks free with his fingers. He rinsed his palms in the falling trickle and withdrew the key.
Rest in peace, he thought. He imagined the tired, hopeless eyes of his father and their bewilderment when Joseph’s mother introduced Joseph and his sister to him with, “Percy, these are our twins.”
That day, Joseph’s father had given him this key and made him promise to hide it. Joseph had agreed with as much earnestness as his heart could command. He couldn’t deny this first and only request.
Suddenly it wasn’t just the rain pipe dripping, but his eyes were dripping, and then his nose ran. Joseph lowered the key carefully into its hole, the pale silk wrapping bright against the dark earth. He placed a large stone over the key, then stamped the sodden earth closed, gritting his teeth to hold a sob captive. He glanced once more at the second story window, then looked away.
He hung his head, wiped his nose, and prayed. He prayed for security and protection, for warnings and obstacles against the key’s discovery. He pressed a handprint into the earth, then stood, scrubbed his palm on his pajamas, and prepared to scramble again through the bathroom window.
Dark lashes and a round face observed him like his own reflection from the other side of the windowpane. He’d begged his twin not to follow him, but now that the deed was done, he couldn’t shut her out anymore.
Joseph touched the window, and a curl of ice fell to the ground as Hazel opened it for him. They crept back to their room with the twin beds, and he pulled his blanket over their feet as they huddled together on his bed.
Hazel hugged her knees. Her flannel nightgown had a pattern of moons and shooting stars, and the collar was wet where she’d chewed it.
“Did you do it?” she whispered.
“I buried it.”
“Is it safe?”
“The house is guarding it. It’s as safe as I can make it.”
That afternoon, as Joseph and Hazel drove away from the house, their mother tight-lipped at the wheel, he stared at the iron bars along the outer gate. Withered bouquets still clung to the fence, left by strangers who mourned the death of the great Percy Humboldt, his father.
Joseph squished his palm against the cold glass of the car window and watched items pass: the funeral flowers, the looming gate, the forest beyond, and finally, looking over his shoulder, the outline of Humboldt Manor with the key below in its earth until, at last, everything faded into the sheathing protection of distance.
FORECAST EXCERPT 3
“My door was opened last night,” Calvin told Cleo as he joined her at the breakfast table.
She sat cross-legged in her chair in front of a bowl of corn flakes. She didn’t meet his eyes. The sun through the windows stroked her cheek with a soft finger of light.
“Did you try to come in?” he asked.
As soon as he sat beside his sister, Calvin felt a knot inside his chest uncurl. Cleo’s quietness always had a calming effect on him, and he loved it. He swore he was a better listener if she was in the room. Still, all her good effects aside, he wished she’d hunch and let him feel taller every now and then.
Cleo tugged the cuff of her pajama pants and didn’t answer him.
When they were both little, sneaking into his room had happened frequently. Their mother had always kept herself busy with her garden, housework, and cooking. When hugs and kisses did come from her, they arrived in fits and bursts. Up to the age of ten, when Cleo was worried or lonely, she’d crawl into the seat beside Calvin and take his hand. At night, she’d crawl into his bed, wordless, just needing to hear his breathing.
It stopped forever on their tenth birthday. Calvin’s friends had teased him that his sister was his girlfriend. As soon as the guests left, Calvin explained over a table covered in cake crumbs that the displays of affection had to stop.
His timing could not have been worse. Only two months later, their mom called the police on Martin, and if Calvin hadn’t been a fiercely proud ten-year-old, he would have gone back on his rule and hugged Cleo. But his stubborn will forced him to let her cry alone, believing it would make her stronger. He was never teased again at school.
Calvin said, “An old house makes a lot of noises at night.”
Cleo nodded, still not looking at him.
He added, “I think they sound like voices trying to whisper secrets.”
She rubbed her eye. “I had another nightmare about Dad, and the night noises didn’t help. I went into your room just to know you were okay and that I really was dreaming.”
“He’s not coming back,” Calvin said. He was assuring her as well as himself.
“Everyone says that,” Cleo agreed. Her fingers dragged her locket along its chain. “But part of me really wants to believe we’re important enough to him that he’d want to come back.”
“And what would he do then, Cleo? Isn’t imagining his return giving you the nightmares?”
She stirred her spoon along the edge of her bowl. “I’m a mess. What can I say? I’m not sure I’ll ever feel safe anywhere. Not even way out here.”
“You’re not a mess.”
“We’re broken, Cal. We’re going to have family issues, just like Mom and Dad, just like our grandfather. It’s probably hereditary.”
Calvin bit his tongue. Now wasn’t the time to argue. Sometimes he wished he could just steal a glance of himself and Cleo years from now as healthy, functional adults who’d overcome the effects of their childhood. A future like that would be something to strive toward.
He changed the subject. “Is cereal our only breakfast option?”
Cleo nodded. “Mrs. Seabrook left a note on the chalkboard. She’s out running errands.”
“So we have the house to ourselves?”
“Don’t sound so excited.”
“That woman has eagle eyes. I’m more comfortable when she’s gone.”
Cleo lifted her spoon to her lips. A knock on the front door rattled the front windows. “Who’s that?”
“I’ll check before I let them in,” Calvin said as he loped down the hall.
Through the tall narrow pane of glass beside the front door, he saw a girl his age wearing flip-flop sandals, jean shorts, and a shamrock-green tank top. She swept sunglasses off her face and clipped them to the fabric of her neckline, then smiled and waved.
Tingles poured down Calvin’s back as he turned the door handle.
“Who is it?” Cleo called.
“Hi.” The girl offered a handshake.
Calvin smelled lavender perfume.
“My name’s Natalie Hathaway,” the girl said.
Her hand was smooth and cool as silk. She had a white flower tucked into a side pocket of her shorts.
“I’m your neighbor on the property next door. I heard there were some humans my age who just moved into Humboldt Manor, and I thought I’d come say hello.”
She lifted a towel-draped bundle from the steps and flipped back the cloth to uncover a lattice crust pie. Dark cherry juice oozed against golden pastry.
“It’s nothing fancy, but I wanted you guys to feel welcome.” Natalie craned her neck to peer past Calvin. He realized his eyes had lingered a little too long near her sunglasses. Her tank top strap slid to reveal a darker patch of skin, a circular birthmark. Calvin blinked himself back to reality.
“Is that your sister?” Natalie asked.
“Uh, yeah.” Calvin turned to see Cleo inching her way down the hall, a furrowed line deepening across her forehead. “So you’ve already heard about our arrival? News sure travels fast around here.”
Natalie laughed. It was low, like a jazz queen diva. “Small towns. What can you do?” She waved to Cleo. “Hi. I’m your neighbor, Natalie. I brought you a welcome pie.”
Cleo smiled, but Calvin recognized forced courtesy.
“Thanks.” His sister accepted the pie.
“If you want someone to show you around,” Natalie wriggled her toes, as if rippling with energy, “just let me know. My family has had permission for a long time to walk in the woods behind this house. I can take you for a hike, show you around town, and give you the low-down on all the bustling activity of vacation towns.” She winked at Calvin.
The tingles on his back transmuted to drops of pleasant sweat.
“You’re both practically celebrities, being relatives of Percy Humboldt and—” Natalie broke off. She scuffed a flip-flop against the porch. “Sorry. It’s just there’s so much Percy Humboldt mythology in these parts, I guess I just get nervous in the presence of…well… anyway, I’m sure you get people acting like this all the time.”
Calvin was about to assure Natalie that everything was okay, but Cleo spoke first:
“Actually we don’t know what’s going on. Our grandfather was apparently famous, maybe infamous, and he ran a business here, but we haven’t got much more info—”
“At least not from the housekeeper,” Calvin cut in.
“Maybe it’s something we’re better off not knowing,” Cleo said in her superstitious voice.
Natalie smirked. “I guess that depends on how prudish you are about knowing the future. Percy Humboldt was a great and powerful man.” She stared at Calvin, her eyes sharp like drill bits.
A delicious chill curled around his stomach.
“You know, you look just like him?” she added.
Calvin felt Cleo stiffen beside him. As much as he didn’t want to say goodbye to Natalie, he realized the need to separate the two females.
Natalie caught the vibe, too. “You’re both still settling in, so I won’t hassle you. I’ll be taking a walk in the forest after lunch, so if you want to come along, just go out into the field by the lily pond. I’ll see you and swing by.” She took a step back and smiled again. “It was nice to meet you, Calvin and Cleo.”
She ambled away, unhurried and confident like a deer in the sunshine. Calvin wanted to shout after her, “What time should I meet you?” but couldn’t bring himself to say it in front of Cleo.
His sister shoved the door closed with a sharp clup.
“Smell this,” she said, shoving the pie under Calvin’s nose. “It’s store-bought. She wrapped it in a dish towel to hide the truth.”
He sniffed it, and his mouth watered. “There’s nothing wrong with store-bought pies, Cleo.”
“Maybe it’s that I just don’t trust people who cover up facts with deceitful facades.”
“Okay, I think it’s time for your shower.”
Cleo checked the window to make sure Natalie had vacated the premises, then sighed. She sniffed her armpit. “On that point, we’re entirely agreed.”
#Giveaway: Mine to Steal by T.K. Rapp
Title: Mine to Steal
Series: Mine to Love #2
Author: T.K. Rapp
Release Date: June 12, 2014
Find on Goodreads
In life and business, Trey Miller has always been the good guy. Nothing wrong with that, since it’s gotten him everywhere he has needed to be. His startup company is a success and growing so much that he is gaining the attention of larger corporations.
By all accounts, Trey has it all, but the one place he fails is love.
He thought he might have had something with Emogen Kane, but she was taken before he even had a chance. Now, he hides behind work, unwilling to take any risks in the love department.
When Trey finds himself vying for a huge account against Faith Young, he knows he’s going to have to play it tough to win. Faith is smart, attractive and rumor has it, she lands every account she goes after.
When Faith is thrown into his path at every turn, Trey starts to feel that it is more than a coincidence. Knowing that Faith has a boyfriend douses the flame that he was starting to feel, until he realizes that the guy might not at all be what he seems.
Trey let go once, but he’s determined to win it all this time. Does he have it in him to roll up his sleeves and get dirty? And if he does, will he finally end up with the girl?
Rating: (out of 5 fangs) 4 out of 5
Review: One of the things that I really enjoyed about this book was the fact that the first-person narrator was the hero, which is uncommon in romance novels. At the beginning of the novel (which is the second in the series), Trey Miller has just told the woman he loves, his long-time friend Emogen, that he can’t keep loving her from afar, and that she should go and be happy with her fiance. Telling her to leave causes Trey to find himself in a bar, where he has a hot one-night stand with a beautiful stranger. He finds himself thinking about that stranger constantly until he realizes that stranger isn’t really a stranger, but rather someone he grew up with. The plot continues to thicken when Trey finds himself going head to head with Faith Young, the not-really-a-stranger, as they fight for a public relations account. He also finds out that Faith has a boyfriend, so Trey is once again faced with the decision to pursue a woman whose heart is already engaged or decide that Faith is his to steal. As previously mentioned, I really enjoyed the book. Enough that I want to go back and read the first book in the Mine to Love series. I like the fact that the narrator is the hero, as it gives interesting insight into how a man falls in love and how he reacts to being the one left out in the cold, as it were. There are a few sex scenes, but they are not truly explicit. The fact that the sex scenes fit well within the context of the novel, and are not thrown in gratuitously, is another point in the novel’s favor. The characters are flawed and authentic and for much of the last third of the book, I wasn’t sure how it was going to turn
out. There isn’t a cliff-hanger ending, which is another good thing the book has going for it. There is a happily ever after ending, but the road to happiness sure is bumpy. As I have also already mentioned, this is not the first book in the series, but it can definitely be read as a stand-alone. I do want to read the first book, but only because the author has lured me in with excellent characters, engaging dialogue and a well-written story.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1010546597?book_show_action=false&page=1
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2LCC4CUEAU40A/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00KXL1690
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
We make visual contact with each other and neither of us says a word.
I’ve never played paintball before, but these few short minutes are the most fun I’ve had in a while. I watch Faith as she, with pinpoint precision, peeks from behind the tree and hits a target that is running past. Poor bastard never saw her. I give her a thumbs up and peek out from behind my spot and shoot two rounds, hitting a guy who was about to shoot one of my teammates.
I nod to Faith and mouth, “How many?”
She shrugs and lifts her head up, I assume she’s doing a mental tally and when she shows me a count of eight, I smile. Sixteen of us came in, and we’ve shot two of our opponents. She starts laughing and points, waving me over. I peek around the wall and when I see the coast is clear, I sling my gun over my shoulder and make run for it. She shoots three times, and I hear another guy groan somewhere behind me, but I don’t bother to check where the noise came from.
I dive at the last moment and trip over a branch that sticks out of the ground and tumble toward Faith. Before I land, possibly hurting her, I try to push away throwing myself onto my back to avoid a collision. Somehow she ends up on top of me and covers my mouth with her hand. She raises a finger up to silence me and points somewhere past me.
I’m not sure what her plan is, but I’ll let her stay where she is for as long as she wants. Faith turns to check both sides and whispers, “Make that five more left.”
“What now?” I ask before she drops her face to my neck.
She muffles a whisper, “Someone’s behind us. Be. Still.”
She takes a sip of her drink and smiles. “Does she love you or hate you?”
“I think it probably depends on the day.”
_____________________
“The idea of you always made me excited, but the reality of you in my life and in my heart is better than anything I could imagine.”
_____________________
“I see a future, and I want it with her.”
_____________________
“You deserve more than an open relationship, Faith. You deserve someone who’s going to treat you like a queen. Someone who wants to spend as much time with you as possible and has no desire to be with anyone else, no matter how far apart you are.”
_____________________
“Faith Young, you drive me insane. You push every button, pick fights, make me laugh, and impress me with your talent. Somewhere along the way, I fell for you.”
_____________________
“Women have to be the most confusing beings on the planet.”
_____________________
“Hell no, I saw it in her eyes. She wants a ride on the Jett.”
Mine to Lose (Mine to Love #1) – Released Jan 2014
What happens when the fairy tale ends before it even begins?
Three years, two graduations, an engagement and a move to another, Emogen and Ryan are more in love than ever. He’s the one man she never expected to have and the only man she’s determined to keep. He’s her forever, and there’s nothing she wouldn’t do for him.
Almost, that is
.
Ryan announces that he’s accepted a job offer that requires yet another move. Angry he didn’t discuss his decision with her first, Emogen refuses to pack up and follow. She has a career, too, and she’s not ready to give it up.
Although determined to make the long distance thing work, their lives and careers begin to take a toll on the relationship, leaving them to wonder if they’re doing the right thing.
Sometimes love isn’t enough.
When you lose the one thing you are certain of, will you fight to get it back? Or will you let it go?
Being There – Released July 2013
When Cass Howard was young, she never dreamed she would have the perfect job, living in New York, with an amazing man by her side.
That’s a good thing…because none of that ever happened.
Drew Alexander was the one person who knew Cass better than almost anyone, and the friendship that developed in high school carried them to college. Despite the distance, their bond grew stronger, revealing to each of them what they meant to each other. A series of fleeting moments and a string of failed relationships helped them realize that what they really wanted, what they needed, was each other.
But that was five years ago, and sometimes things just don’t work out.
Now twenty-five, Cass finds herself living in Houston, working at a small publishing house as an editor. By most accounts, she appears happy, however she has managed to avoid a true relationship, opting to channel all of her energy on work, despite protests from her best friend.
The only thing that can drag her away is the annual girls’ weekend, which comes at the best possible time, because Cass has just learned life-altering news. With the most recent blow to her life looming overhead, will the getaway with her closest friends change her outlook on life? Or will her inability to put the past behind her stifle any chance she has of moving on? Will she ever be able to open up and let those who love her be there for her?
What inspired you to begin writing? Have you always wanted to be a writer?
I was a reader as a kid, but by the time I got to high school, I hated it – because I had to do it all the time. I started reading again a few years ago and fell in love with Slammed by Colleen Hoover. Something about that story just got me. So that’s what got me inspired.
I was always journaling and my mind was always working. Funny you ask this, because I was just telling my mom that I remember daydreaming fantastical romances, how they played out, the makeup and breakup of it all. I never wrote them down. It wasn’t until about 9 years ago, I started writing short stories and poems, but nothing came of them. In fact, I still have the file, but since it was password protected, I can’t access them. LOL! I guess that’s a sign they were no good. :-p
_______
Who is your favorite character you’ve ever written, and why?
OH DAMN!! Okay, let me think!
The obvious answer for me is Cass, because she is my first. So much of her personality and inner struggles with who she is, I’ve been there.
Then there’s Jett – okay, clearly I’m not a dude, but I can be obnoxious and annoying like that. When I was growing up, I loved to make others uncomfortable by talking about sex and saying inappropriate things. I LOVE writing Jett, because he’s fun! People want Jett’s story, and I want to write it. I KNOW it. But I’m so worried about not doing him justice.
_______
If you HAD to choose between your male characters, which would you choose?
I love all of them! (Except Brad!) But if I HAD to pick, I’m going to say Drew. He’s strong, says what he wants and wears his heart on his sleeve. There was something about him that was imperfectly perfect. He just makes me smile.
_______
What’s on the horizon for T.K. Rapp?
LOTS!! LoL! I have 4 other stories in my head, but I can’t walk and chew gum at the same time. So for now, I’m working on an untitled YA story inspired by my girls. They want so badly to read my books, so this one is for the older – high school – versions of them. I’m really excited about this one! I also have 3 signings coming up this year, so maybe I’ll get to meet some people!
_______
Rapid questions –
Favorite musician? The Avett Brothers or Mumford & Sons.
Favorite movie? SHIT! Um! Off the top of my head “Dazed & Confused.”
Favorite book? Toss up! “Slammed” or “In the Band”
Favorite quote? “Laugh at what you did today, it’s all been done before.” Tripping Daisy! (I love them!!)
Favorite color? Teal
T.K. Rapp is a Texas girl born and raised. She earned a B.A. in Journalism from Texas A&M and it was there that she met the love of her life. He had a contract with the U.S. Navy that would take them across both coasts, and ultimately land them back home in Texas.
Upon finally settling in Texas, T.K. worked as a graphic designer and photographer for the family business that her mom started years earlier. She was able to infuse her creativity and passion, into something she enjoyed, but something was still missing. There was a voice in the back of her head that told her to write, so write, she did. And, somewhere on an external hard drive, are several stories she started and never finished.
Now at home, raising her two daughters, T.K. has more time to do the things she loves, which includes photography and writing. When she’s not doing one of those, she can be found with her family, which keeps her busy. She enjoys watching her kids in their various sporting activities (i.e. doing the soccer mom thing), having Sunday breakfast at her parent’s house, singing out loud and out of key or dancing like a fool. She loves raunchy humor, gossip blogs and a good book.
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#Giveaway: Sizzle by Sarah O’Rourke
Safe Excerpt; all rights reservedFifteen minutes later, the whole sordid mess had been spilled between them and both her friends stared at Molly with a mixture of horror, amusement and curiosity. “Well, say something!” Molly yelled when neither of them said a word. “You’re supposed to be my sounding board, ladies!”
“You’re engaged,” Sami managed to choke.
“To the Devil,” Viv sputtered.
“It could be worse, right?” Molly questioned, looking from one woman to the other and back again. “I mean, he’s not so awful, is he?”
“He’s the Devil,” Vivian breathed, her brown eyes huge on her pixie face.
“That’s not helpful, Viv,” Molly huffed, holding her bottle tucked tightly between her breasts as she sat cross-legged on the middle of her couch. “His nickname is Devil. He’s not really Satan incarnate.”
“I’m gonna need a hit off that vodka bottle before we go any further,” Sami warned, holding out her hand and wriggling her fingers.
“You’ll have to wrest it from my cold dead hands,” Molly replied, tightening her grip on the mostly gone liquor as she shook her head, red hair flying wildly.
“You hold her down and I’ll pry it out of her hand,” Vivian said under her breath, only half joking as she eyed Molly.
Snorting, Sami ran a hand through her naturally wavy locks. “Well, let’s look on the bright side. At least he’s got the whole eye candy thing going on for him. You may have to look into the face of evil every morning across the breakfast table, but the view will be pretty.”
“What am I going to do?” Molly groaned, leaning her head back against the cushion as the throbbing in her head increased.
Shaking off her shock, Viv straightened in her chair. “Well, first off, don’t panic. Devil can’t actually make you marry him.”
“No, but he can coerce the hell out of her,” Sami argued, frowning at Vivian. “I mean, you heard her, Viv. He’s holding his dying grandmother over her head, for crying out loud.”
Sexy excerpt; all rights reserved
“Devil!” Molly squealed, gripping his neck as he hauled her into his arms and turned toward the stairs. “What are you doing?”“If you think that I’m going to make love to you for the first time on the living room sofa, you have drastically underestimated me,” he replied, taking the steps two at a time.
Molly gripped his shoulders as he carried her like she weighed nothing more than a bag of flour. Swallowing hard as her heartbeat sped up, she suddenly realized that this was really happening between them. Dozens of doubts flooded her mind, but every single one of them fled as he walked into his spacious bedroom and placed her in the center of his huge bed.
Licking her lips as she watched him kick off his shoes and push his slacks down over his lean hips, she caught her breath. His body was ripped perfection. Toned well muscled arms, hard lickable six pack, firm thighs… and the longest, thickest cock she’d ever seen in her life. Letting her eyes drift over him again, she blinked as she noticed a small tattoo just above his hip. “You’ve got a tat?” she asked, sitting up on the bed so that she could caress the small Celtic cross that he had on his skin. “Straight laced, serious Devil Delancy did something daring?” she teased, peeking up at him through her lowered lashes.
Chuckling, he brushed his fingers against her jaw as her fingertips traced the cross on his hip. “One very drunken night in college a very long time ago.”
“It’s pretty,” she praised, leaning into his hand as she noticed his bobbing cock close to her lips.
Following her gaze, his lips curved wickedly. “I really hope you’re talking about the tat and not my dick, sweetheart.”
“Hmmmm,” she hummed, pressing a finger to her lips as she considered both.
“You are truly hell on a man’s confidence, Molly Ramsey,” he growled, gazing down at her as she smiled up at him.
“As far as I know, confidence has never been an attribute you lacked,” Molly replied with a giggle, lifting one hand to caress him again. “But if you really need to have your ego stroked, I’ll do my best to comply,” she promised softly. His low groan of approval emboldened her and she slowly brought him to her mouth, brushing her lips lightly against the flushed head of his cock. Inhaling deeply, she gazed at his sizeable arousal and shivered as she thought about him filling her. Darting her tongue out to sweep against his tip, she heard his harsh indrawn breath.
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#Giveaway- Review: Trust by Mia Fox
BOOK INFORMATION
TITLE – Trust
SERIES – Chasing Shadows
AUTHOR – Mia Fox
GENRE – Paranormal romance/contemporary romance
PUBLICATION DATE – July 20, 2014
PUBLISHER – Evatopia Press
PHOTOGRAPHY – Cathleen Tarawhiti
MODEL – Melanie Bevan
DIGITAL ART – Consuelo Parra
TYPOGRAPHY – Eden Crane
BOOK BLURB / SYNOPSIS
Ella’s struggle…
After losing Nate, trusting her heart to love again seems impossible for Ella. In spite of her family’s desire that she move on with her life, it’s the last thing she wants…especially since she has a connection to Nate’s ghost.
Ethan’s resolve…
Ethan knows about grief. Not only does he counsel people suffering from loss, he’s also lost a loved one. When he meets Ella, he makes it his mission to heal her broken heart. With time the boundary between patient and doctor blurs as Ethan finds himself falling in love. Yet he must suppress his feelings for fear of crossing a line that is based on trust.
Nate’s determination…
Being without Ella while in Afghanistan was hard. Having to say goodbye again is even worse. Although now a ghost, Nate can still make Ella happy when he visits. Their time together is precious, yet fleeting. Although being with Ella again is life’s sweetest gifts, Nate is desperate to heal her troubled mind and broken heart.
An unbreakable bond…
When Ella becomes increasingly reckless and sets off on a dangerous journey into the rugged wilderness, it’s up to both Nate and Ethan to find her. One man represents her past and one her future. One will use his marine training and the other his knowledge of psychology to keep Ella safe and help her…Trust.
am giving an honest review of this novella by author Mia Fox and originally for Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock This is book 2 of the Chasing Shadows book series by the author. This is my first time reading anything by author Mia Fox but reading this book makes me want to pick up book 1 of the Chasing Shadows series.
BUY & TBR LINKS
AMAZON KINDLE US – COMING SOON – GOODREADS
Book 1 – Believe (Chasing Shadows)
EXCERPT
I loved Nate with all my heart and the tragedy of losing him became somehow manageable when his ghost visited me. I never would have believed, if it hadn’t happened so many times. But it’s real. It’s possible for me to still be with Nate — even if nobody else believes me.
Lily things I’m nuts, which is why she was so in favor of my being counseled by Ethan. If my work hadn’t insisted, I would never have agreed to it. And if I had known that being near Ethan would lead to even more heart ache, well…
At least he doesn’t make me feel as if I’m going crazy for saying that I can see Nate. He’s been through something this side of horrible as well. Maybe that’s why he’s the only one who doesn’t look at me with pity. Yeah, I could fall for him.
But in doing so, I would lose Nate. I just know it. I lose a bit of him every day and it just tears me apart to betray his memory, even when he tells me to go on with my life. The only way to figure out this mess of my life is to spend time away from both of them. So that’s just what I’m going to do. Looking out into the distance, I can see the high peaks of these mountains that encompass the National Parks Recreation Area. They extend for miles from inland valleys, up and over the passes, to the ocean shore. One could spend hours and days, weeks and months, and never have the chance to explore every inch of them. It was a perfect escape.
AUTHOR BIO
Mia Fox is a Los Angeles-based novelist who writes across varied genres including Contemporary Romance, Paranormal Romance, Steampunk, and Chick Lit. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications from U.S.C.
Before writing full time, she worked as an entertainment publicist, a career she chronicles in her novel, “Alert the Media.” However, she is happy to leave that world behind her, preferring that any drama in her life is only that which she creates for her characters.
She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, three children, Casey, the Wonder Westie, and Bean, his brother.
AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS
AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE – WEBSITE / BLOG – FACEBOOK
TWITTER – GOOGLE+ – PINTEREST – TUMBLR
GOODREADS – INSTAGRAM
GIVEAWAY
One “Believe” necklace (“Believe” is book one of the Chasing Shadows series)
One “Trust” paperback
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tour Organized By:
#Giveaway: In Distress by Caethes Faron
Giveaway: Panic by Ryan Ringbloom
There are always two stories.
Robin fell in love with Kent, the boy next door, a long time ago. Once their romance is rekindled, getting married and starting a family seems like the obvious next step. But fate throws a wrench in that plan. Now Robin is tempted to walk away from their relationship rather than settle for anything less than perfect with the man she loves.
Bailey is certainly not the boy next door, yet Shayna fell for his well-played act. But real love only exists in the movies. When a chance encounter binds them together, Shayna finds herself relying on Bailey more than she could ever have expected. And while their resources are slim and their circumstances are far from perfect, she and Bailey slowly discover that they do have something special to give….
When things don’t go exactly as planned, it’s hard not to PANIC.
MATURE CONTENT Strong Language/Sexual situations
She looks like she’s about to be sick. Her hands dig into her stomach and she leans forward. “Why are you saying this? I thought we weren’t going to rush into anything? Now what, you’re proposing? What the hell? Here we go, moving too fast all over again.” She steps free from the car and slams the door.
I step out and slam my own door with ten times the force. “Well, maybe fast is the only speed we know, maybe it’s the only speed that works for us.”
“You know what, Kent? We shouldn’t have done this. It was stupid to think this would work.” She reaches into her bag for her keys and walks down the sidewalk. “Goodbye.” Her car flashes as she unlocks the driver’s side door.
“Don’t you dare leave!” I shout at her. “I just said I want to marry you and now you’re walking away from me and saying goodbye.”
She walks back over calmly and stands right in front of me. Her head tilts back to look up at me. “Sorry, but I’m not wife material,” she says.
I’m furious. A clear thought couldn’t form if I tried. “Okay, good to know.” I grit my teeth, my mouth set in a fine line.
“You can’t be mad at me, Kent.” Her lip quivers.
“I can’t be mad? Is that what you’re telling me? ‘Cause I’ll tell you, Robin, I am way more than mad right now. You love me, you want to be with me, but you don’t want to marry me because ‘you’re not wife material.’ What does that even mean?” I holler. My fists are clenched, locked down at my sides.
“It means I’m defective,” she screams back at me. “I’m not the kind of girl you marry.”
Rating 4 fangs
Panic is the 2nd book in The Flaw series. It centers around two couples and their complicated relationships.
Robin and Kent were a couple in high school until reality intervened. Fast-forward and they are brought back together by a family wedding. The story follows them while they attempt the happy ever after story they should have had in the past.
Kent is an amazing character. He is thoughtful enough to put up with his sister in law’s bridezillas act (which gave me the giggles on occasion) and is a real gentleman throughout. Robin has lived her worst health nightmare and pulled through. She is a selfless character who thinks of Kent’s happiness above her own.
Bailey and Shayna are couple number two with their own story of love and struggle. Bailey and Shayna had to deal with a hard situation of giving a child up for adoption. I loved the perspective of reading the feelings and emotions of the parents who gave up a child rather than the often written about situation of the adoptive parents and their story.
This book is well written and easy to read. The fact that there are two different stories makes this book feel like you are getting a lot more out of it.
This book is good for those who like a nice plot that flows with some steamy romance. Highly recommended read. Look out for the next instalments.
The tag line for this book should be “Love doesn’t always come easy.”
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1003203087
http://www.amazon.com/review/R3TXDK075T75E9/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00K7L6D4O
Ryan Ringbloom
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