Welcome to Northern Nevada where three Motorcycle Clubs rule the tri-counties area. Club life is all about money, fast bikes and faster women. Most importantly though is brotherhood. Trey Lennon knows he had it as a Demon's Bastard but now he is a Lucifer's Saint, his life seems like he's starting all over again. Then she comes along. Kyra Hughes. The daughter of Jonesy Hughes, the President of the Demon's Bastards. The one woman Trey couldn't have as Demon's Bastard and the last person he should be attracted to as a Lucifer's Saints club member. The two clubs have kept the peace between each other for a long time but Carlito Navarro has other plans. He is intent on destroying the cozy situation between the clubs to make way for Aztecas Infierno, the MC and cartel who has his lifelong allegiance. Now he's found the club's weak link, he's going to use it. And burn it all to the ground. Trey’s private quarters were clean and orderly to the point of obsession. His bed was made with classic military precision and there weren’t any clothes or shoes thrown about the room. He simply had a king-sized bed, fancy desk with a comfortable leather office chair, and a fifteen-inch MacBook Pro. I turned around and also viewed an oak drawer set with a thirty-six inch flat screen television, Blu-ray player, and speakers to amp the sound. “Why don’t you sit on the bed and tell me what this is about?” he demanded loudly, snapping me out of my thoughts. I’d judged this man all wrong. From the way he worked on motorcycles to his brilliance as a computer hacker, I assumed he’d be like most men I’d known my whole life. Grown up boys who were dirty, bathed when they remembered to, and weren’t great with housekeeping. This guy was the complete opposite - it made him an utter enigma. I cleared my throat as I sat down on his perfect bed. I felt bad about rumpling the down comforter but he didn’t seem to mind as he sat next to me, completely calm and quiet. He crossed his arms against firm pecs that were clearly visible through his tight, white t-shirt. His stance, obviously defensive, almost hostile, bothered me more than I cared to admit. Why was he being so dismissive toward me? Had I done something wrong? I’d always assumed we were friendly, and although he was part of the Saints MC, I didn’t resent him for leaving the Bastards. I assumed it was something personal and never asked my father about it; not that he would have told me anyway. He’d have merely grunted, “Club business—nothing for you to worry your pretty little head about.” As if I wasn’t an attorney who served both clubs—just like my partner—and like we were civvies, completely unaware with what the clubs were doing. Hell, we’d use the law firm as a money-laundering front, setting up accounts everywhere from Switzerland to the Cayman Islands for the clubs, the Mafia, and the cartel. They certainly weren’t sending clean money to any of those places when large-scale transfers were involved. I felt like we were still looked upon as children or old ladies—nothing was our business until someone got into legal trouble and then it was our business to get them out of it. The contradictory sons of bitches were all alike. Women weren’t good for anything but screwing and having babies until they really needed us; then we were supposed to go above and beyond the call of duty to make them happy. Fucking bikers. Fuck the motherfucking MC, and all their stupid fucking codes and rules, and club motherfucking business. “I know Killer told us to take all the time we needed but seriously, I gotta get back to work and if we take too much time, everyone’ll assume we’re fuckin’ so can we move this show along?” Trey questioned, his voice softening. I glared at him with cold eyes. “And why would it be so bad for everyone to assume we were fuckin’? Am I not good enough for you, Trey Lennon?” He smirked, shaking his head. “That don’t have nothin’ to do with it, Kyra. You’re Jonesy’s daughter and you know the rules. You were forbidden when I was in the Demon’s Bastards MC. Now that I’m a part of the Lucifer’s Saints MC, you think your father is gonna be hunky-dory with his daughter and me bein’ somethin’ other than acquaintances?” “Well, he didn’t say much when Cricket and I had a thing goin’ on—” “Jonesy didn’t say nothin’ ’cause he knew it wouldn’t last. That’s not the same as you and me. We always had something between us but neither of us ever wanted to pursue it and, baby, if I did pursue something with you, it’d be for keeps. I’m not gonna romance ya or fuck ya and lie about how you don’t mean nothin’ to me because you would.” Cillian strode over and knelt near him. He sat up and looked at his brother without acknowledging anything, wrong or not. “Everything taken care of?” he asked, genuinely concerned. “Whatever Kyra needed to talk to you about seemed serious. You don’t have to share everything with us; as long as it doesn’t affect the club it’s your business, brother.” “Yeah, it’s good. I overreacted… sorry about that.” Trey paused and looked away. “I didn’t know what she wanted. If it had anything to do with Jonesy and the Bastards, I couldn’t deal with it, not today—not right now.” “That’s obvious, brother. Doesn’t look like you can concentrate on much of anything at the moment - not that anyone blames you. Was she able to shed any light on…the body?” Trey winced at Cillian’s careful words. Yeah, the body. Unfortunately, Keri was nothing but a rotting corpse interred at Black Oak Cemetery. He nodded, purposely choosing to be non-committal. “I know where she is. Her dad had her shipped back here and buried in the Decker family plot. I want to go see her but I don’t know—I’m not sure I’m ready for that yet.” His brother patted him firmly on the back. “You’re one of the strongest people I know. You lost your parents and your brother… then you lost Keri. I suggest you go see her one last time, even if only to yell in frustration. You need to go through the process, Trey. No one expects you to be Mr. Perfect, least of all me.” Trey sighed and raked a hand through his hair. “You’re right, as always. I guess I should take off early, shower, and go see her before the weather gets any worse.” Cillian smirked. “We’re expecting a snow storm tonight, brother. I’d suggest you leave as soon as possible.” He walked back into the garage bay while Trey turned around and headed back into the clubhouse. In record timing, he’d showered, shaved, and slid on a pair of slightly baggy jeans, a long black and red flannel shirt before sliding his cut over the ensemble. It was dangerous to ride out to Black Oak looking the way he did, but he simply didn’t have a single fuck to give at this point. He needed to say goodbye to Keri, once and for all. Trey drove the Escalade to the impoverished town and directly to the cemetery. It was miraculously well kept compared to the rundown section of the Tri-Towns area. He could only guess the reason there weren’t incidents of grave robbery was because most of the meth-addicts were too afraid to cross the White Knights. The Decker Family Plot took up a nice size of real estate in the cemetery. It wasn’t a secret the Knights had lost more than their fair share of members over the years though Nel, his brother, Brad, and a couple cousins who were part of the WK Originals were still in good health and free from harm. Hell, Brooklyn should’ve been in one of the plots but he was safe and sound, though keeping a relatively low profile. Trey stepped out of his SUV, locked the door behind him, and stuffed a nine-millimeter Beretta in the band of his jeans, pulling down the flannel shirt and his cut to hide it. If trouble did find him, he was prepared, a full clip in his back pocket just in case. His pulse raced like he’d just finished ten miles on the treadmill, his stomach a mess of aches and somersaults as he finally located Keri’s grave. Her plot was clean, free of debris with a massive headstone. There was a photo of her in between her full name—Kerri Anne Nielsen Decker—and the dates of both her birth and death. She smiled at him beguilingly, her blue eyes shining bright while her small features and natural blonde hair complimented a light summer tan. The photo was beautiful and he’d remembered the year it’d been taken. The whole situation was all too much and the tumult of emotions that began to take over his body overwhelmed him. He knew he’d be affected but the out-of-body experience he felt went beyond the need to howl and scream. He needed to cry, to sob, and actually absorb her grisly death. She’d meant so much to him and she deserved to know, even now when she couldn’t possibly respond to his actions. Trey sank to his knees, the impact lessened only by dying grass. He didn’t feel discomfort, only his emotions betraying him as tears fell from his eyes. He sobbed quietly, his hands covering his face. “I’m sorry, baby,” he whispered in a hoarse voice, wiping falling tears from his cheeks. “It’s my fault you’re gone. I should’ve left you here but I didn’t want to be away from you. I hope wherever you are, you’re makin’ angels smile and someone laugh. I never deserved you, babe.” Selene Chardou is the alter ego of Elle Chardou, and a professional liar. When she isn’t busy writing about hot, exciting times with the wild, damaged, out of control set in the world of Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense, she’s planning her next trip to France. She is currently working on a vast array of books about good girls gone bad, bikers, gangsters, rockers, fighters, lovers, tattooed alphas, strong women and anyone else she finds remotely interesting. When not glued to her laptop, she enjoys daydreaming about her next great idea, visiting friends, traveling to her favorite locales in the world, jet-setting across the country to author signings, and playing taxi driver to her school-age daughters. Ms. Chardou currently resides with her two children and their multitude of stuffed animals in Las Vegas, Nevada. Subscribe to Selene’s Monthly Newsletter Here HOSTED BY:
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Somewhere between Josh and Mike I lost my panties. I didn’t plan it but shit happens and this time it happened to me. Together they are the perfect mix of sweet and savory and equally delicious. How’s a girl supposed to choose between what teases her pallet and what tugs at her heart? “Excuse me!” I said as I instinctively grabbed his arm. Yeah, those arms could hold me. I took an extra moment to put my surveying skills to work and appraised everything attached to his semi-flexed bicep. A little over six-feet-tall. Brown hair. Brown eyes. Athletic build. Nice. No ring on the left hand. Very nice. Goatee. Meh. Light blue dress shirt and tan Dockers. Well, at least he looks professional. He’d flashed a sideward glance to the place where my fingers rested and said, “You’re okay. Look, no harm done.” He nodded toward the tray wrapped in his exceptionally large hands. All the items had slid back to rest against his chest, but nothing had spilled over. “You must really be in a hurry Dr…Porter.” He’d said as he glanced at the I.D. badge clipped above my left breast. “Actually, I am. I just came to grab something quick before making rounds.” I watched as his eyes moved toward the arm where my hand was still resting. “Well, you’ve grabbed me, so now what?” He flashed a charmingly crooked grin. Anja Pruitt—singer, songwriter, thespian and part-time stand-up comedian decided to try her hand at writing! Yep, I’ve put down the mike and picked up a pen (well, actually a laptop but pen sounds so much better)! I am overjoyed to share my first novel with all of you. Writing it has been the most freeing, scary and brave thing I’ve ever done. Thanks for the support! You can find me at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. HOSTED BY: “I promise to never let go…” That was Abigail’s unspoken promise to Matt the night she thought she found her happily ever after. But just as quickly, her promise will be put to the test as Matt’s past returns and threatens to tear them apart. Abigail may be forced to walk away from the only place she now calls home, unless she can find the strength in her heart to stay and fight for Matt. With every unspoken promise made to each other, can they learn to push beyond their past, or will they allow it to split them apart? New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and sexual content, not intended for readers under the age of 18. Matt… Emily always had a way of making me see the answer to my problems. While growing up, she was always there to lend an ear. Listening without judgment to every single word. I don’t know how many times I depended on her for an answer, and no matter how many times I asked, she always responded. The day she died, it felt as if she took a part of my soul with her, and I had let her. She deserved it more than I did. It wasn’t until the day Abigail walked into my life that I knew that part of my soul had returned. It’s as if Emily was giving it back to me, knowing I desperately needed it. Abigail was the light at the end of a darkened tunnel that I was trapped inside of. I had refused to keep walking forward when Emily died, but Abigail finally forced me to take the steps to awaken her. She helped me find the light within myself. Dropping down to the ground, my knees hit the earth, sending a jolting pain up my legs. I stare down at the grave marker, realizing it’s the first time I’ve laid eyes on it. The elegance of the black marble represents the extravagant taste of her husband’s family. I had blown off their countless phone calls when they had contacted me to help choose the marker. I didn’t care. It would have made me face the reality that she was never coming back. The agonizing disbelief of seeing it brings tears to my eyes. I sit there with the silence surrounding me as I allow the tears to fall and the agony takes over me. I miss her so fucking much. I keep wishing that she were still here with me. Just a phone call away like she was before. I’m selfish, I know, but I hate the fact that she’s no longer by my side when I want her to be. After what seems like hours of sitting there crying alongside her, I somehow find the courage to speak. “I fucked up, Em,” I say crying at her grave. “And I don’t think she’s ever going to forgive me. You always told me that me fucking around was going to come back and bite me in the ass and you were right.” The words come out as a whisper as I continue to speak. “I can’t stand the thought of losing her, as I did you,” I cry down to her, expecting an answer, but all I receive is silence. COPYRIGHT 2014 © GABBIE S. DURAN Gabbie is a Southern California native, who lives with her wonderful husband, two amazing kids and a senior citizen kitty. When she’s not writing you can find her reading or sneaking off for a run. Some might say it’s a crazy life, but she wouldn’t change anything about it. HOSTED BY: Lizzie receives an offer she can't refuse—an internship at the Lost Library, home to hundreds of magical books. And to make the deal even sweeter, her prospective boss has offered to act as her magic mentor. What’s a girl to say, but yes? Except…there are the questions of her unresolved love affair, her recently acquired arch enemy, and a haunting past. Can Lizzie tackle a new job, learn the magical ropes of spell casting, and save her relationship with an amazing man—all while eluding her nemesis? She’ll sure as hell try. Join Lizzie as she muddles through another magical adventure, with old friends and new, making the most of what life—and the afterlife—throw at her. Suddenly, the fight shifted. She hadn’t realized that John had been fighting defensively, until he wasn’t. The seething mass of tawny, silver, and reddish fur seemed to heave. Before Lizzie could properly process what had happened, the body of a red wolf—much smaller than John—was lying in a pile next to the tapestry wall. Her ears were ringing from the sound of the two shots Max had fired almost immediately, hitting first the torso then the head of the prone wolf. She couldn’t imagine he had survived his impact with the wall. Whether a broken neck or a bullet killed him, the result was the same. Even from across the large entryway, Lizzie could clearly see the open, staring eyes and the motionless body heaped into a pile of unnatural angles, loose skin, and bloodied fur. Her stomach roiled and her mouth started to water in a way that predicted the very real possibility she’d lose the contents of her stomach. She inhaled cautiously. Then exhaled very slowly, fearful a fast breath might push her nausea into vomiting. She’d seen a Lycan killed before—but she hadn’t been this close to the corpse. She took another slow breath. As she struggled to stay calm, she couldn’t help but see John. His body intertwined with pale patches of fur. With just the two, she could see more detail as the fight continued. The paler wolf’s dangling and useless foreleg. The blood—definitely not John’s—splashed across his rib cage. The increasingly sluggish movements as both wolves tired. Wrapped up in the push and pull, the clawing and grabbing, Lizzie could feel her nausea recede. John would be fine. John would be fine. Almost a chant in her head. This excerpt is unedited and subject to change. Kate Baray is a paranormal romance and urban fantasy writer. She writes and lives in Austin, Texas with her pack of pointers and a bloodhound. Kate has worked as an attorney, a manager, a tractor sales person, and a dog trainer, but writing is her passion. When she’s not writing, she volunteers with a search and rescue team, sweeps up hairy dust bunnies, and watches British mysteries. Sign up for Kate’s newsletter: http://eepurl.com/WD6UD HOSTED BY: Releasing July 28, 2014 Today is the day – the day that the man I love marries someone else. I don’t deserve pity or sympathy. I’ve made my bed. I left Mason and ripped his heart to pieces as I ran away. The guilt and sorrow consume me, threatening to choke me everyday. But today is a new beginning. Today is the day I will wake up with a renewed resolve and determination to do better … to be better … to be worthy. My name is Sara Preston, and this is my story about what happens after. Hope Over Fear can be read as a stand alone novel. Prologue “You Know Where I’m At” by Gavin DeGraw “Sober” by Kelly Clarkson I can’t steady the trembling of my hands. My insides shiver uncontrollably, and my heart hammers in my chest. A firing squad may be easier to face than what’s waiting for me behind my front door. Walking slowly, I rub my sweaty palms on the legs of my skinny jeans. Taking a deep, cleansing breath, I try unsuccessfully to calm myself. “You can do this. He deserves an apology. You’ve made your bed, and now you must lay in it,” I whisper to myself. I skittishly jump as he knocks on the door again. Out of time, I swing the door open before I have a chance to change my mind and pretend no one’s home. I’m done acting like a coward. At first sight, Mason brings back old feelings that I have yet to deal with. His perfectly mussed blond hair and golden tan scream hot surfer boy. His navy blue shirt stretches tightly over his broad chest, and his worn blue jeans hang deliciously low on his hips. He still looks like my Mason, the beautiful man I’ve come to know and love. Until I reach his eyes. The deep chocolate brown eyes that used to look at me with such love, hope for the future, and admiration have vanished. They’ve been replaced with cold, almost black eyes. Upon closer examination, there is one emotion apparent behind his icy stare … pain. Pain that is of my doing. Pain for which I must atone. “Mason, thank you for stopping by. You look good,” I whisper, barely audible, even to myself. “Hey Sara. I’d really appreciate it if we could make this quick. I have somewhere to be. You wanted to see me about …” Mason prompts, almost robotically. I loathe myself for what we have become. This is the man who could finish my sentences; this is the man who I could have an entire conversation with and never utter a word. We were that couple. Mason and I had been best friends for two years before our romantic relationship began, and we enjoyed the comfort those years of friendship afforded us. Most people begin relationships letting the other person meet their “representative.” You know what I mean—the perfect version of you. The “I don’t fart, I don’t burp, I’ll have the salad” version of you. Mason and I were the real deal from the jump. Now, though, the ease and familiarity of our relationship has been reduced to uncomfortable murmurs and vacant eyes. I open the door wider and step aside to allow Mason entry, and he follows me into the living room. His familiar smell invades my senses as he brushes past. I have to swallow the lump in my throat at the memories it invokes. After sitting down on the sofa and protectively drawing a pillow into my stomach, my gaze shifts up to Mason shifting awkwardly across the room. “Please, sit down, Mase. I promise, I just want to talk.” He reluctantly strides over to the recliner and slumps into the seat. I have a speech all planned out in my head for this very conversation. I’ve recited it to myself hundreds of times over the past few months. Now that I have my chance to speak to Mason, my mind is completely blank. “Well, I really, uh, want to clear the air … I mean apologize …” I stammer, almost incoherently. Mason sighs loudly, grips the back of his neck, and shakes his head. “I really can’t imagine what could be left to say after what happened in Dallas. I don’t believe you left any room for confusion. Everything was crystal clear, Sara.” “I would give anything to change that day, to go back in time and make a different choice. I’d give anything to take away the pain I’ve caused you. You were the center of my life for so long. You were my rock for so many years. And I feel like my actions have thrown poison on everything about us that was good and right, and I’m so… sorry, Mason,” I plead, a sob escaping. Taking deep breaths, I try to steady myself. This is more difficult than I thought. I look into Mason’s eyes, and I’ll be damned if I don’t see sympathy radiating back at me. Guilt washes through my body as I register how kind and loving this man is. How dare I even ask for his forgiveness? I know I don’t deserve it, but I need it. To move forward with my life, his forgiveness is essential. Mason leans forward in the recliner, placing his elbows on his knees, giving me a searching glance. “Look, Sara, I was angry at you for a long time after Dallas. Fuck, angry doesn’t even seem to come close to describing how I felt. I raged. I hated. And then things slowly began to change. Circumstances … changed. With time, I was able to gain a new perspective. I was able to lay that hate to rest. To look forward to the future. I needed to free myself from our past. You need to free yourself of it, too, Sara. I can finally forgive you. I can’t promise to forget, but I can forgive.” After his words, Mason appears lighter … happier … free. I hope to feel the same someday, and I feel certain that today, this moment, is a positive step in that direction. As relief washes through me, I can’t stop the words from pouring out of me, “Mason, I can’t tell you how much that means to me. My mom, our friends, your family—they can think whatever they want about me. But I can’t bear the thought of you hating me. It paralyzes me. I want so much for you to be happy. You deserve to—” “Sara, please stop. I need to tell you something.” Mason pauses, seeming unsure how to continue. His eyes cast downward, then he slowly lifts his gaze and meets my eyes. “I’ve been seeing someone. I hate to just blurt something like this out, but I thought it was important that you know …” I do my best to play the gracious ex-girlfriend and plaster a smile on my face. “That’s so great, Mason. I hope she realizes—” “I’m proposing to her this weekend. Please understand I’m not trying to hurt you, Sara. I’d rather you hear this from me. I feel like I owe you that,” Mason admits calmly. I can’t quiet the humming in my ears. I can’t still the shaking in my gut. I can’t rid myself of the nausea that is threatening to engulf me. Is he still talking? As I digest his declaration, I’m not even aware of his presence. You’ve got to get it together. This is what you want for him. This is what he deserves. “How long have you been dating her?” I ask, attempting to hide my hurt and stunned expression. Mason looks over at me with a goofy, lovesick smile on his face. “About six months. Her name is Natalie, and she works with me at the investment firm. We’ve been casual friends for a while now, but things just kind of progressed, and—” “You’ve only been dating her for six months, Mase? Don’t you think that’s a little soon to be talking about marriage?” I blurt out before I can stop myself. Mason is wearing an incredulous expression, and realization settles in my stomach. Who the fuck do I think I am to ask him those questions? “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked that. It was totally out of line. You don’t owe me any explanation. I’m so sorry …” I can’t seem to stop with the stammering. “You’re right, I don’t owe you an explanation. But I’ll give you one anyway, just to alleviate any and all confusion,” Mason explains with a kind, but firm, expression on his face. “No, it’s not too soon. I knew within the first month of being with Natalie where we were headed. I didn’t have to convince her to love me. She just did. Do you know how fucking refreshing that was? To know that there’s someone in this world that adores me, to know that her day is better just because I’m part of it? Come to think of it, I guess you do know that feeling, don’t you, Sara?” “This is happening. I don’t want to waste another minute of my life not being her husband to appease other people’s ideas on appropriate timelines. I hope that clears up the confusion and ends that line of questioning.” Yep, I think I would like to take that firing squad right about now. His words cut right through me, because so much truth lies in them. “You’re right, Mason. I didn’t mean to question your decisions. I’m so happy for you. You deserve great things … you deserve everything. You love with your whole heart, and I hope she knows how lucky she is,” I say, quickly correcting my error in judgment. “So how are you going to propose? Wait, no, please don’t tell me. That’s not something I need or want to hear.” Mason gives me a sympathetic smile. He reaches over and gently squeezes my hand that is grasping my knee so tightly my knuckles are white. “Thanks, Sara. When it comes to Nat, I have to admit that I’m the lucky one.” Mason begins to shift uncomfortably. “Look, I really need to get going. She’s meeting me for dinner downtown …” “Of course, of course. I didn’t mean to keep you …” I look into Mason’s now gentle brown eyes, and he smiles at me, standing to leave. “No worries … you know you deserve great things, too, right?” The tears I have been fighting back are threatening to spill over, and I’m not sure how much more I can take. I nod and quietly walk Mason to the door, fighting for composure the entire way. I try my hardest to give Mason a winning smile. “Take care, Mason, and congratulations again …” “You, too, Sara,” Mason says as he crosses the threshold. He hesitates for a brief moment, then turns to face me, “And by the way, we were gonna play Hangman.” “Huh?” “That’s how I planned to propose to you … you know, before. Games and puzzles were kind of our thing.” Mason smirks, completely oblivious to the pain I feel at that statement. “You know, no matter where we are or what we’re doing, you’ll always be my girl, Sara Marie Preston. You may not have turned out to be my forever, but you’re my girl just the same. Nothing changes that, okay?” “Mason,” I whisper, completely lost for words. Oh. My. God. And with those parting words, he turns and walks to his car. He walks out of my life. I slowly, gently, close my front door. I lock the chain. I lock the deadbolt. I lock the doorknob. Then I slide down the wall, into a heap and allow the tears to overtake me. I allow myself to drown. J.A. Derouen resides in South Louisiana where she lives with her husband, son (aptly nicknamed "The Professor"), and her furry friend, Scout. She has earned bachelor’s degrees in psychology and nursing. When she's not writing or inhaling romance novels by the stack, she works as a women's health nurse. She’s been an avid reader and daydreamer since childhood, and she's never stopped turning the page to get to the next happily ever after. HOSTED BY: Harper Reagan has been through everything a woman could possibly go through. Losing her parents and entering foster care, only to be abused by her foster father. Running away at fifteen, she enters the worldâs oldest profession to survive. And survive she did. Barely... If you call abuse, counted as property and tortured to no end surviving then that was what she didâ¦survived. Her life was spared, but at what cost. Long ago Harper had died. Today, due to those decisions she made, she is left existing with no choice to do anything else. Staring the devil in the face daily for as long as she did, left its mark and pain behind for her to live with forever. The pain of that survival scars her deeper than any physical wound she's ever received. Harper is finally living a better life and has a great business, friends, and a home finally her own. She will do anything to keep her past hidden, including jeopardizing her only chance at love and a truly good man. Breccan Caldwell is everything Harper doesn't deserve. He's gorgeous, successful, caring and a true gentleman. Can Breccan show Harper who she truly is? Or will he be pushed out by the darkness she allows herself to be consumed with? Darkness Deserved Friday night at the bar was busy. Every table was full all night and the bar was packed as well. I couldnât have been happier. It was ten oâclock as I was making my rounds through the crowd checking tables and helping Emma, Beth and Mya, my waitresses, out. I had just finished setting down a round of shots at a table full of sorority girls and turned around to go back to the bar, when I felt a tingle start at the top of my head and move toward my groin. When it settled and my clit began to throb I just knew. I knew it was my Adonis. Here at last. Dammit. I was hoping I could just go through life without this temptation. Itâs okay Harper. You wore your big girl panties tonight so quit being such a fucktwat and grow a pair. I make my way to the bar as if I notice nothing and set the tray down for Mark and Rory, my bartenders tonight. I head towards the end of the bar to take care of some orders I need to make, when I feel his presence beating against me from behind. Itâs like he already owns my body. My skin begins to tingle, my heartbeat speeds up, and my breathing becomes shallow as I try to control it. I can feel the vein in my neck throbbing relentlessly. On the outside I know I appear composed and nonchalant, but inside- inside- I feel ready to burst. I just want Adonis to grab me, throw me on the bar and fill me as I know only he can at this moment. He brings both arms around me so that his hands are resting on the bar and he has me trapped between it and himself. He leans in and I can feel his breath wash over my exposed neck. I inhale his scent: soap, Armani and Adonis. God, I want him to bend me over. A million different scenarios run through my mind of how to close down the bar so I can please this man. And thatâs when I stop and ice runs through my veins. I spent four years pleasing men. I was not going down that path again. The repercussions of Harperâs past meeting her present have left her breathless and lost. She continues to fight an internal war with herself. Can she let the love Breccan has offered into her life? Or was she right to push him away for his own good? As Harper struggles with this internal battle, will her past find her and tear down everything she has built? Will Harper ever find her happily ever after? Read the conclusion of the Shattering the Darkness Series. Prologue Itâs been years since I lived and breathed this way. Years since I had to wonder what would happen next. Iâve been lucky; living the good life and having whatever I wanted. I suppose I couldnât really have it all; too greedy. It was never about money, thoughâ¦. It was about being out of this life, having something more. Living. I donât know if Nikko and Breccan know yet what has happened, or if they can even do anything about it. I imagine they will try and I hope they succeed, but how in the hell are they even going to find me? I donât even know where I am or how I got here. How can two people that werenât there do anything about it? I look around the mostly dark room. The walls are a grayish color which looks to be from stains to the once white walls. The carpet is dark, almost a greenish color. There is a small bed in the corner with a table and a lamp that hardly sheds any light in this room. It smells musty in here, like a cemented basement. Maybe it is a basement. I was unconscious when they took me and woke up in this room. I sigh and sit up on the bed so that I am facing the door. My hands are still tied with nylon rope and my wrists are raw, so it hurts to move them too much. The door starts to open and I watch. He walks in with the same grimy smile he always had. I hate you! He walks closer to the bed, looks down at me and says, âHey, babe. Youâve been busy. Looks like itâs time to pay your dues. Pants off. Now.â Jessica grew up in a small town in Southern Iowa. She went to nursing school and became a nurse only to realize her passion was in writing and reading. She loves to spend her time with friends and is very close with her family. It took her a long time to realize she even had a joy of reading. Once having declared there was no point when the books always became movies. At twenty four she discovered how wrong she was and became obsessed with reading and made up for lost time by doing it nonstop. She began writing when dozens of ideas kept flowing through her mind that she knew she had to get out. HOSTED BY: Life has been a roller coaster for Gabriel ‘The Saint’ Vega. From surviving a hellish childhood, to reuniting with his lost brother, only to hit the struggle of helping him battle his drug addiction. Boxing saved Gabriel’s life, and just when his career hits the fast track, he finally finds love with Salem; at least for a short time. Social differences, obligations, and misguided good intentions tore Gabriel and Salem apart before they could ever really get started. Will Gabriel be able to save his brother from the whirlpool of addiction that threatens to drag him under? Is Salem capable of breaking away from the ropes that bind her to doing what’s expected rather than what and whom she desires? Can Gabriel convince Salem that their mutual feelings are worth fighting for, and that together, they will be able to go the distance? Read Chapter 1 of Going the Distance (Click here) Born and raised in New England, Christa is a married mother of three. She began writing her first book, Broken, in October 2012, as a love story to her husband, Frank. During the writing process, Christa managed to keep her book a secret from the majority of her family and friends, including her mother. She finally revealed that she had written a book on her personal Facebook page just two weeks before Broken was released. Broken was released in February 2013, and within twenty-four hours of its release, it was on Amazon's Movers and Shakers list as well as in the Top 20 Erotica. Christa released her second novel, On the Ropes - Book One in the Down for the Count series, in February 2014. On the Ropes has also climbed the charts on Amazon, hitting the Top 10 Sports Fiction and the Top 20 Romance Sports Fiction lists. Book Two, Going the Distance, is slated to be released in the summer of 2014. Christa also has several other novels in the works, with no release dates announced at this time. HOSTED BY: Harper Reagan has been through everything a woman could possibly go through. Losing her parents and entering foster care, only to be abused by her foster father. Running away at fifteen, she enters the world’s oldest profession to survive. And survive she did. Barely... If you call abuse, counted as property and tortured to no end surviving then that was what she did…survived. Her life was spared, but at what cost. Long ago Harper had died. Today, due to those decisions she made, she is left existing with no choice to do anything else. Staring the devil in the face daily for as long as she did, left its mark and pain behind for her to live with forever. The pain of that survival scars her deeper than any physical wound she's ever received. Harper is finally living a better life and has a great business, friends, and a home finally her own. She will do anything to keep her past hidden, including jeopardizing her only chance at love and a truly good man. Breccan Caldwell is everything Harper doesn't deserve. He's gorgeous, successful, caring and a true gentleman. Can Breccan show Harper who she truly is? Or will he be pushed out by the darkness she allows herself to be consumed with? The repercussions of Harper’s past meeting her present have left her breathless and lost. She continues to fight an internal war with herself. Can she let the love Breccan has offered into her life? Or was she right to push him away for his own good? As Harper struggles with this internal battle, will her past find her and tear down everything she has built? Will Harper ever find her happily ever after? Read the conclusion of the Shattering the Darkness Series. Jessica grew up in a small town in Southern Iowa. She went to nursing school and became a nurse only to realize her passion was in writing and reading. She loves to spend her time with friends and is very close with her family. It took her a long time to realize she even had a joy of reading. Once having declared there was no point when the books always became movies. At twenty four she discovered how wrong she was and became obsessed with reading and made up for lost time by doing it nonstop. She began writing when dozens of ideas kept flowing through her mind that she knew she had to get out. HOSTED BY: Cover Reveal Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21965042-inked Blurb Five contemporary romance and erotica authors bring you the collection Inked—five full-length novels centering around all things tattoos. Punctured, Bruised, and Barely Tattooed – Jade C. Jamison Kory McCallister has had her eyes on tattoo artist Stone Bowman for quite some time—so long, in fact, that no other guy will do. Stone pushes every turn on button Kory has—he’s tattooed from head to toe (well, at least she prays he’s tattooed on his lower half); he’s hot; he’s funny and charming; and he’s also mysterious. So when Kory’s friends dare her to ask Stone out on a date, she can’t believe she actually finds the guts to do it. More surprising? He takes her up on the offer. She discovers that, while his past might not be quite as dark or mysterious as she’d imagined, it’s bigger than she’d expected, and it’s something she will need to contend with if she decides she wants to keep him around to color her life for good. Shattered Strings – JM Walker Evancroft. This one word means everything to me. My band. My heart. My life. Without the music, I am nothing. I don’t exist. When we play, we are one. We are in control. On stage I am a woman. Powerful. Dominating. Forcing the crowd to submit to my words. Off stage? I am the complete opposite. Innocent. Jace Croft. He is the oil to my water. The darkness to my light. My band mate. My best friend. One unexpected night together unleashes new feelings that we both try to ignore but the band comes first. It always comes first. Or so I thought. House of Payne – Stacy Gail Life is supposedly what you make of it, but that’s crap as far as 3D artist, Becks Delgado is concerned. She never wanted her brother to die in a car accident… or to be the one who was behind the wheel. Her external scars are nothing compared to the raw wounds inside, and death seems to be the only way to find peace. Sebestian Payne took the concept of a tattoo parlor and transformed it into a sophisticated gallery of living art. The House Of Payne now caters to the rich and infamous, has garnered a worldwide following, and is run by Sebastian with an iron fist. He knows Becks is exactly what The House Of Payne needs, but there’s a problem. The accident that changed her life left its mark on him as well, and whether he likes it or not, it’s time to put his House in order. Sunny and 75 – Scarlett Metal Julia had the perfect life...or so she thought. On the eve of her wedding, her world came crashing down on her. She escaped it all, heading out on the trip that was planned as a celebration. Aiden was living the dream, working as the head bartender at a resort on Punta Cana. Every day, he fights the demons of his past as a Marine, even in the midst of paradise. He comes to Julia's rescue one night and after numerous run in, start spending time together. Things get physical quickly, but is there more to their relationship? What happens when Julia has to head back to reality? Will Aiden join her or is he unable to get past the memories back home? Reckless Abandonment – K. Pinson Cohen Archer, a fresh faced kid new to Sunnydaze Trailer Park, begins a new life with his recently widowed mother. When Cohen spots his new neighbor Brynn Jenkins crying at a weathered picnic table in the middle of the courtyard, his life is forever altered. Who knew an eight year old was capable of love at first sight? Falling into a protective role, Cohen races to the rescue every time Brynn calls. But he isn’t the only one. Brynn and Ariana Jenkins don’t live a life of grandeur. Their alcoholic, drug abusing mother is the very definition of “Trailer Trash,” but Brynn never has to take the abuse their mother doles out. Ariana takes it all so that her little sister can live a normal life, ultimately causing Ariana to harden and become difficult to love. As years pass by, Cohen’s feelings only grow stronger for Brynn, but hers remain the same. Best friends, nothing more. After years of pursuing Brynn, Cohen realizes that she is nothing like the girl he had fallen for when they were children. Brynn’s main aspiration is to have a good time and she falls in with a dangerous crew in the fast lane. Everyone from her former life falls off her radar. It is only then that Cohen sees Ariana in a different light and realizes that she is really the other half to his whole. He doesn’t need to protect her; he just needs to complete her. Ariana has always loved Cohen from afar, not trusting herself and the cross she bears to be strong enough to give him the love he so desperately yearns. He finally cracks her tough exterior just as tragedy strikes. When Cohen is pulled back into Brynn with reckless abandon, every other relationship he built falls apart at his feet. This is a gripping tale of three very different lives intertwining to create a perfect blend of despair, growth and love in every stage. AUTHOR BIOS Jade C. Jamison: Jade C. Jamison was born and raised in Colorado, moved from one city/town to the next, and she’s decided she likes it so much she wants to stay…although travel is not out of the question. She lives in a big town in Colorado (not unlike Winchester!) with her husband and four children. She is working on becoming a crazy cat lady. Okay, so maybe not. Still want more? Jade has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Theater, a master’s degree in English, and a master of fine arts in Creative Writing. Obviously, she loves school and the student loan folks love her. She works in human services by day, teaches English and creative writing at night, and—in between playing soccer mom and community leader—writes like a fiend. Someday soon, she’ll narrow it down to just writing, but let’s get all those kids off to college first. JM Walker: When J.M. isn't working her Monday-Friday 9-5 job, she's spending her time reading, writing and with the love of her life. She's an all around Canadian girl. Born and raised in a small city. If you don't see J.M. writing, you'll find her with her nose in a book. Whether it's her words or someone else's, she's drawn to it. J.M. loves stories with Alpha broken males and that need to be ripped apart and put back together again. Men that fall to their knees over a wink or a giggle from their females. Two things you will never find J.M. without; her cell phone and lip gloss. If she has both of those items, you have a happy girl. Since starting her writing adventure in 2013, J.M. has met many people, real life, online, in her head and she loves every single one of them. Without the support from others, none of this would be possible and she's grateful for all that has been given to her. Stacy Gail: A competitive figure skater from the age of eight, Stacy Gail began writing stories in between events to pass the time. By the age of fourteen, she told her parents she was either going to be a figure skating coach who was also a published romance writer, or a romance writer who was also a skating pro. Now with a day job of playing on the ice with her students, and earning her tenth contract with Harlequin's Carina Press, both dreams have come true. Scarlett Metal: Scarlett lives in the Midwest with her sexy husband, two girls, and three furbabies. She dabbled in writing right after college but it wasn't until she took up blogging about eight years ago that she started writing seriously. After writing a few boring service pieces for some online publications, she went back to her true passion, fiction. When she's not busy writing steamy stories, she can be found with her nose in a book, camping, or geocaching with her family. She loves Diet Coke, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, and 80's hair bands. K. Pinson: K.Pinson, who also moonlight's as Kate Lynne, is a 23 year young girl from a small farm town in Michigan. She spends her time reading, writing and working as a manager for an assisted living facility working with mentally challenged adults. Her stories are inspired by real-life events happening all around her with an added love interest and a psychological twist around each corner. She is single, but the proud mother of a terrible cockapoo dog named Jezebella. She is currently seeking a degree in music therapy and seeing where the writing world will take her. AUTHOR LINKS Jade: https://www.facebook.com/jadecjamison https://twitter.com/JadeCJamison www.jadecjamison.com JM: https://www.facebook.com/jm.wlkr.author https://twitter.com/jmwlkr Stacy: https://twitter.com/Stacy_Gail_ http://stacygail.blogspot.com/ Scarlett: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scarlett-Metal/327980890652675 https://twitter.com/ScarlettMetal K: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKPinson https://twitter.com/KatelynnPinson http://ktreads.com/ Cover RevealBreaking FreeBy Alexis Noelle Holly James is trying to move on with her life, but itâs not easy. She canât stand to be touched by anyone, not even her own family. She is a lost broken shell of the person that she used to be. She realizes that shutting everyone out is much easier then opening up and letting someone hurt her. Drew Walker is no prince charming. He doesnât care about anyone but himself and has no intention of changing. He loves the life of excitement and entitlement that comes with being the lead singer of a band, and has no plans to get tied down anytime soon. When these two meet there is an immediate chemistry. The thing that surprises Holly is that she can tolerate his touch. He makes her feel like herself once again and gives her the freedom and comfort she has been desperate to find. On the other hand he is self-centered, egotistical, and everything that she should stay away from. What happens when the one person who can save you might also be the person who can break you? âThere was something about Drew, but I had no idea what it was. He was self-centered, cocky, and definitely not prince charming. Maybe thatâs why I liked him though. Maybe I didnât want to be saved by the handsome prince. Maybe I wanted to be corrupted by the evil king.â **Breaking Free is for mature audiences onlyâstrong language, and explicit sexual content are apparent.** Alexis Noelle lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with her husband, three kids, and two dogs. On top a writing career, she is a full-time student and a full-time mom. She loves spending time with her kids, although she has to hide the computer from them when she is writing! She love being active and being outdoors, especially if it involves any kind of shopping. She has always been passionate about writing. She loves to read romance books and feels like being able to lose yourself in a book is one of the more exciting aspects. The books she loves to read and write will be ones that make you feel for the characters. Ashley believes that you should have an opinion on every character in a book whether you love them, hate them, or think they are up to something. She also believes that the most important critic is your reader, so she loves to hear from the readers. She want her fans to be open & talk to her about what they want for the characters in the story, and what they would like to see happen. Facebook: Twitter: Goodreads: Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/alexisnoelle |