Coming: September 26, 2014 âHow on earth do I get myself in these situations? I swear itâs like a never-ending bad dream. One of all my mistakes that continuously bite me in my size ten ass.â Azaria âReeâ Gable had her one experience with heartbreak and that was enough for her. Sheâs perfectly satisfied with her âOne Month Ruleâ and doesn't need her life changing anytime soon. When circumstances take her back home, she learns things have changed⦠A lot⦠First and foremost being with the complete and astonishing overhaul and revamp of the Belton Police Department, where apparently the application was changed to state âUgly Men Need Not Applyâ and the only requirement is âHow Well Do You Look In This Uniform?â Ree unexpectedly catches the eye of the new âgina-quiver inducing Chief of Police Grayson Cole, which starts an endless game of cat and mouse. Will Ree let go of her misconceptions about relationships and allow Grayson to show her how beautiful life can really be? âUrmph,â I grunt out as I run smack into someone, face- planting in their chest because I was more worried about saving the rolls. âSorr-,â I begin to say and cut myself off as my brain registers the police badge that is pinned to the chest of the individual I face-planted into. Fuck. Shit, fuck, fuck, fuckity, shit-fuck! My heart rate kicks up a notch and my skin turns electric as my body starts to freak out; knowing, this is when itâs time to run. âErm⦠sorry,â I raise my head slowly, dreading looking at the guy, âofficerâ¦â my words trail off, not because Iâm speechless, but because I canât breathe. Did you hear me? I. Canât. Breathe! Why canât I breathe? Because I know this guy! Omigod, omigod, omigod! âAzaria,â he says my name in a deep rumbly voice that washes over my skin, making me feel like fairies are dancing all over my body in jubilation, such is the epic-ness that is his voice. He leans his head down (way down, because he is so much taller than me), I look up and notice a halo form around his face from the sun shining in the window, his caramel colored eyes flash with amusement as his perfect lips form a half smile. I suck in a breath. (Yep. Iâm a fan of the half smile. Sign me up, for I would love to have that mouth smiling against some very intimate areas of my body.) Oh, my God, he smells so good. My body, completely of its own accord (I swear!) moves closer to him, making it easier to get a better whiff of whatever body wash it is that makes me want to take a chunk out of him with my teeth. My âgina begins to quiver; the walls vibrating with fury at not having him the other night. His head moves to the side of mine where he whispers, âI missed you the other morning.â Holy donkey nuts his voice is sexy. Oh. My. God. This canât be happening. Nope. Not happening. No way. âO- officer,â I stumble over my words trying to think of something to say, and reminding myself that this, after all, is a cop. Not just any cop, of course. Nooo⦠According to his nameplate he is âChief Coleâ. Are you kidding me!? Why couldnât he just be a gentleman and ignore the whole situation like a normal American!? No, he goes straight for it. Donât hold back. Jerk. Okay, now how do I play this? I obviously canât use the whole âDo I know you?â routine. My âgina quiver made sure of that. I canât just walk out and ignore him⦠Can I? Hmm⦠I donât think, Iâm capable of pulling off the whole âShow- respect-to-the-officer-because-Iâve-had-too-many-run-ins-with- the-law-and-Iâm-a-bad-personâ routine either. Okay. Well, that only leaves one option. I step back, straighten my purse on my shoulder, get a better grip on my box of rolls and look him straight in the eye (with a polite, yet detached voice and face) and say, âChief Cole. Nice to see you again.â And, ever so elegantly, I step around him and head out the door. Whew! Close one. âAzaria, wait.â Shit. He followed me outside! Now what do I do? Keep walking. Yep. Just⦠keep⦠walking. âRee,â he says as his fingers wrap around my upper arm, halting my awesome walking away skills. He turns me around to look at him and I do a quick peripheral scan of the area to see how many onlookers we have to what is about to go down; not many. Yet. âDid you really just walk away from me⦠again?â he asks astonished. âDid it look like I walked away from you?â I ask, feeling a bit like a society snooty bitch and deciding to go with it. I notice a few people start to come out onto the sidewalks to see what is going on. Great. Well, they were bound to learn that I moved back sometime. May as well give them the show they expect from me. âYeah. It did,â his voice and face are completely serious. âOh, well. Then I guess I did,â I shrug my shoulders and smile at him, this time sounding more like a dingbat valley girl. Someone call the shrink! Chief Cole is giving Ree Dissociative Identity Disorder! My first book, Darkness Deserved, released July/2013. It is the first book in the Shattering the Darkness Series. I'm crazy and love my friends, family and booze. Yes. Booze. (Don't judge me.) I used to never read when I was growing up. My mother always tried to get me to read and I wanted no part in it. I figured why read when it's going to be a movie. (Yes, like I said crazy.) Well a few years ago I jumped on the Twilight band wagon. I've always loved supernatural movies and when I saw the previews I knew I wanted to see it. And see it I did. I immediately went out and bought the books and became hooked. They came to me at a very special time in my life. I discovered I loved to read and found my nitch in the paranormal and romance genre. I started a book club with a cousin and all of a sudden these thoughts kept assaulting my brain. So I wrote them down. Then, deciding that I wanted to write, I contacted some wonderfully amazing women who helped me through the process. This is the result. I love Breccan and Harper and hope you all do as well. The book is dark and graphic. It pushes the boundaries and will make you cry, (hopefully) laugh and (hopefully) fall in love. HOSTED BY:
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Inked Anthology The authors of INKED are proud to announce that all sales from the book will go to benefit women in need of mastectomy tattoos and tattoos that cover scars. Award-winning, world-renowned tattoo artist Madame Lazonga specializes in tattooing women, particularly in beautifying women who have experienced the scars that surviving cancer can leave behind. This art is not cheap, but it can be incredibly healing for women. Madame Lazonga has agreed to use all proceeds from the INKED anthology to benefit women who want these types of tattoos but perhaps cannot afford all or part of the procedure. Because our anthology revolves around tattoos and women, we couldn’t think of a better cause. To see some of Madame Lazonga’s work, please visit her website: http://www.madamelazongastattoo.com/ All sales from INKED will benefit women in need of mastectomy tattoos and tattoos that cover scars. Award-winning, world-renowned tattoo artist Madame Lazonga specializes in tattooing women, particularly in beautifying women who have experienced the scars that surviving cancer can leave behind. Three contemporary romance and erotica authors bring you the collection Inked--three 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 – J.M. 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.About the Authors 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. Jade: Facebook Twitter Website J.M.: Facebook Twitter Stacy: Twitter WebsiteBuy Links A deal was made centuries ago. â¨The deal was for the first born in each generation. ⨠The soul of that woman was owned from birth by the ultimate beast. The Devil. â¨â¨ Elizabeth Cromwell knew growing up that she was different. The day her parents failing business suddenly took a turn for the better in an economy where it shouldnât have. She was told of her fate. She was owned by the Devil. From the day of her birth she had no future. â¨â¨ It was his. â¨â¨ Unwilling to give into the rough seductions of the ultimate evilâshe ran. Living in a convent in the secluded town of Neive, Italy, with only the aid of faceless man over the computerâshe hides. â¨â¨ Until the day he finds her. â¨â¨ Sex. Lies. Betrayal. â¨â¨ The fight for her Soul and future begins now. â¨â¨ *This story is not for the faint of heart. This is considered a Dark Romance between two people that should never happen. It contains content which may be deemed inappropriate for some readers.* Genre: Dark Erotica Age Group: 18+ Excerpt 1: He took her hand in his and started to guide her away from the railing. Down a few short halls and onto a terrace that still kept the valley in sight but had vines of grapes on trellises overlooking the beauty that lied to her in this moment. âNo, itâs not you.â He stopped moving to turn towards her. His eyes looked upon her, curious, with that panty-melting grin that made her take a step back, but he nudged her back into his body. âYou are evil,â she whispered. Her voice trembled on her words. âYou are the definition of what people fear under their beds. Why kids canât leave the closet door open at night. You are the reason women canât walk alone on a darkened street. There is nothing about this that is real. It is a joke, a mirage in the dry, desolate desert that is my fucking life.â She wanted to sob. Curl up in a ball and give in and just end this all right now. How the fuck was she going to beat him? His hand gripped the back of her neck and yanked her in close. She sucked in a breath, her gaze darting to meet his as she leaned in close. Asmodeusâs lips glazed over her cheek, her eyelids, down her nose. âSo melodramatic,â he purred. Elizabeth tried to get free of his arms, but he held fast. âI want to leave,â she whimpered. Oh, lovely, sound more weak and off your game. His fingers fisted in her hair. He gave a firm yank and it arched her neck and brought her chest flush against his. Asmodeus flicked his tongue out over her lips, his voice low. The deep timber kicked up her heart rate as he punched against her ribcage. âYou see, I donât want to leave. I actually want to eat your pussy, while youâre spread out on the dinner table for me and screaming. I want the owners and tourists to watch this. I want people to see me fuck youâhard. I want the world to know I own you, and youâre MINE!â He snarled the last word. She let out a squeal and her legs turned to jelly. He held her up against him, and she could feel the hard press of his erection against her belly. Asmodeus nuzzled her neck. His laughter vibrated through her insides. Elizabethâs eyes rolled back, and her body betrayed her quickly. Her pussy grew moist and her clit throbbed between her thighs. âI donât,â she panted. âReally?â he dared her. His voice was laced with amusement. âWe shall see about that. No more illusions and dreams, sweet one.â He moved quickly. Asmodeus picked her up, gripping her ass and tossing her roughly on top of one of the tables. The sounds of glass shattering and heavy silverware clattering to the concrete ground filled her ears. Panic set in as she started to fight back. Elizabeth caught her bearings, slapping at him, her fingers clawing as she tried to keep him away from her. It was one thing to accept the dreams, the fake realities he imprinted in her mind. But to really allow him to do things to herâin public. The flat of her hand came up hard and fast. Smack! She connected clean with his face. Elizabeth hissed as the heated pain coated her palm. Asmodeus paused, glaring down at her. He didnât stop as he managed to get her jeans unbuttoned and zip down. In one quick fluid motion they were down around her ankles. He shoved his body between her thighs, stretching her open. She shoved at his chest. His nose touched hers and he snarled. âBehave.â Excerpt 2: âShe said he came to her. Ms. Cromwell crashed into me in the halls in hysterics, claiming she saw you both debauched and at the control of HIM.â The mother superiorâs firm voice belied her model-like looks. Mother Superior Theresa, ever the strict school maâam, nodded towards Sister Margaret setting up hymnals in the pews. âIâm sorry, mother. We were in no such state. That meansââ âHe got in.â Elizabethâs whole body froze and she reared back away from the comfort of the arms around her. They made an attempt at restraining her as she collided with the pews and they were sent screeching against the stone flooring. âGET IT! Itâs him! Please! Stop! Donât you dare come any fucking closer!â she warned. The devil swaggered towards her. A smug smirk decorated his ridiculously handsome face as she came to stand next to the sisters and the priest. âPlease, Elizabeth. This is Father Samuel. He is not the man who searches for you. Why would we let him in a house of God? Please child, he is here to help. Come.â Elizabeth shook her head. Her fear melted away into determination as she righted her spine and stood tall in the face of her imminent capture. âIâm not calming down. Iâm not going with him. None of you can make me.â âMs.ââ Father Samuel held up a hand towards Theresa. âPlease, let me. I understand her fear.â The dark glimmer in his gaze pinned her to the spot. Unlike before, she could move if she wanted. The thing was, she didnât want to. His eyes willed her to listen to him and she slowly lowered herself to sit. âHe has invaded your mind, my sweet Elizabeth.â She jerked at the endearment. âNo, youââ Elizabeth jumped up in her seat and pointed an accusatory finger toward him. She dared to stab him with said finger. It did nothing. The solid steel of his chest was unharmed and unmoved. âNo one else calls me that! Only HE called me that! You will not have me, you sick fucking evil bastard! I will not be yours to rape and discard! Get the fuck out of here or I will! Iâm going to find a way out! Do you understand me?â With each exclamation she stabbed her finger into his powerful chest. She could feel the heat and muscle ripple against her now sore fingertip. Bonnie Bliss is the brain child of two authors. Bonnie is a husband and wife duo who have come together to weave stories of passion, action, betrayal, and ultimate surrender. They have discovered that mixing genres is their thing. Their tastes go dark, and they love to twist up sweet stories and make them a bit more tense and sexy. Bonnie writes in multiple genres with plans to dabble into more areas of fiction. One is a Southern California native, the other was born and raised in Yorkshire, England. The husband spends his time giving the wife alpha males with bite. He is a man that needs to see his world in print. He has a panty melting accent, loves listening to music, watching Game of Thrones, and obsessing over Heisenberg. The wife spends her time writing strong women that evolve into their power, they donât just come out guns blazing. She claims the song California Girls, by Katy Perry is totally accurate. Sheâs done everything from waitressing, customer service phone rep., Corporate Real Estate, and spent a pretty impressive part of her life working for the Disney Corporationâbefore finding her way into the publishing world with her husband. HOSTED BY: Book:Resist Me Series: Men of Inked Book Number: 4 Author: Chelle BlissGenre: Erotic/Romantic Erotica Release Date: August 25, 2014 Synopsis: Izzy Gallo has never been described as a member of the weaker sex. She’s a woman who doesn’t take shit from anyone. Growing up with four older overprotective brothers has hardened her, making her a force to be reckoned with. Against the wishes of her two brothers, Joe and Mike, Izzy takes a weekend trip to Bike Week in Daytona, turning her world upside down. Over her head, in a world she doesn’t understand, there’s only one man who can save her. James Caldo has dedicated his life to protect and serve as a member of the DEA. He’s cocky, overbearing, and doesn’t take no for an answer – the Gallo men have nothing on him. When their paths cross, James makes Izzy question everything she believes about completely surrendering to the opposite sex. Does James have what it takes to overpower the headstrong Izzy, capturing her heart forever? << Resist Me is Issy Gallo's story. Izzy is the only sister of City, Michael, and Anthony, growing up in a house full of "cavemen" has colored her opinion of men. Izzy has sworn not to be tamed, and right now is a lovem and leavem kinda woman! No way will she let a man change her! So when she feels something different with James the night of joe an Suzy's wedding she makes sure to get out of there fast!!James is a man that goes after what he wants full throttle, and he wants Izzy! so when the perfect opportunity to get her in cuffs arises how could he say no? Izzy and James floored me!The give and take between the 2 is something entirely different than what you've seen in the men of Ink books before. James knows that to get Izzy and keep her, he's going to have to play by her rules, the only problem is that James is used to being the one in control. What seems like a match made in heaven may just be Izzy's version of hell! If she runs will it be towards James or away from him? I absolutely loved this book! If I could give it 10 stars I would! We definitely get to see more of the other Gallo's in this book, which is always nice, especially since we all know I'm obsessed with City, but we get to see the family from Izzy's point of view. The love that she feels for her family is overwhelming and pure, she would and has done anything to protect them, but can she handle it when they do the same? I can't give away the plot or any big surprises so I'm going to end my review with a 5 star rating and a STRONG recommendation that you read this book right now!!>>Resist Me Purchase Links:Amazon: http://amzn.to/1t5S6TG iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/resist-me/id909302388?mt=11&uo=4 Kobo - http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/resist-me Barnes & Noble: Excerpt:<<Insert one of the attached excerpts included in the email>><<INSERT 1 TEASERS>>Throttle Me ~ Book 1: http://amzn.to/1ApcSSD Hook Me ~ Book 2: http://amzn.to/1ApcUKf Throttled ~ Book 3: http://amzn.to/1mUoWko Resist Me ~ Book 4: http://amzn.to/1t5S6TG Where to find Chelle Bliss ~ Click here to join the Chelle Bliss Newsletter Facebook Fan Group: Bliss' Book Hangout Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorchellebliss1 Twitter: @ChelleBliss1 Official Website: www.chellebliss.com Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/chellebliss10/ Email: [email protected] Authorgraph: http://www.authorgraph.com/authors/ChelleBliss1 Sign-up for the newest release information via text: Text Alpha to 727-493-5129 (US Only) <<INSERT RAFFLECOPTER CODE>> RECOMMENDED FOR AGES EIGHTEEN AND UP DUE TO EXPLICIT SEXUAL SITUATIONS, STRONG LANGUAGE, AND GRAPHIC VIOLENCE. Twelve years ago, Jolene’s adoptive mother died. Twelve years ago, a man showed up at Jolene’s door and promised to take care of her. Twelve years ago, Jolene was happy. Then it all changed… Jolene Bergio has spent the last twelve years of her life asking one question… Why? Why was she left in the custody of a man who would sell her each and every night to the highest bidder? After a few years, she shut off, giving up hope that anyone would ever find her. Until her luck changed one night and she escaped. Twelve years later, she finally feels something she hasn’t felt in a long time… Free. Almost. Scared that her past will find her unexpectedly, she hides away in a rented beach house, trying to distance herself from everyone… Until Dr. Cameron Bowen enters her world and slowly tears down the walls that she has built up over the past twelve years of her captivity. Jolene begins to learn to love again. And trust again. But when a man from Jolene’s past emerges, will she be able to keep her identity hidden? When lies are told and hearts are broken, will the truth surface in time to bring Jolene back from the shadows that threaten to expose who she really is? Heart of Light is a captivating story of love, strength, and survival. Human trafficking isn't something you read a lot about and T.K. Leigh wrote about in a way that sticks you right in the middle of what it could be like from many angles. From the victim, and the people who love them, to the creeps behind it all..l This book reminded me that no matter what your "dark" is always look for the "light" and you will find it. - Kim, Sinful Thoughts Book Blog Have you ever read a book and thought "There is no way the author will ever be able to top that?" Well, that is how I felt after I finished the Beautiful Mess Series by T.K. Leigh. Boy, was I wrong... I am calling it now... Heart of Light...BEST READ OF 2014!! Heart of Light is a firestorm of emotion... There was never an emotion that wasn't perfectly presented through T.K.'s words. She is a master at her craft and you can tell that she pours not only her heart and soul into every single sentence but these characters, these thoughts are her priceless gift that she so generously shares with her fans. - Melissa, The Truth About Fiction Book Blog This book...will play at every emotion possible to feel. But it will be worth every minute you spend reading it. It is a lesson to us as well that the underlying problem this book revolves around is truly out there and in our own neighborhoods, back yards, cities and towns.Please, I urge you, as a reader to take the time and read this book. It has definitely touched me in a way I wasn't expecting. And just knowing that this problem is out there, definitely will have you being more attentive to what is around you. - Tonya,Turn The Page Book Blog Amazon US Amazon UK B&N iBooks Google Play Kobo Amazon US Amazon UK B&N iBooks Google Play Kobo T.K. Leigh, otherwise known as Tracy Leigh Kellam, is the USA Today Best Selling author of the Beautiful Mess series. Originally from New England, she now resides in sunny Southern California with her husband, dog and three cats, all of which she has rescued (including the husband). She always had a knack for writing, but mostly in the legal field. It wasn’t until recently that she decided to try her hand at creative writing and is now addicted to creating different characters and new and unique story lines in the Contemporary Romantic Suspense genre. When she’s not planted in front of her computer, writing away, she can be found running and training for her next marathon (of which she has run over fifteen fulls and far too many halfs to recall). Unlike Olivia, the main character in her Beautiful Mess series, she has yet to qualify for the Boston Marathon. What happens when something so terrible tears you apart from the inside out? You become a fragment of yourself. On the right path to achieving her hopes and dreams, Campbell Stevens has always been a model student. The first time she lets loose during her senior year of high school, she loses everything. Living in a nightmare after surviving the most traumatic event, Campbell learns to be content by walking through life single and unattached, free of the uncertainty that relationships bring. She isn’t looking for love. In fact, she goes out of her way to avoid it—that is, until she runs into Deacon Montgomery, a kind and handsome Chicago firefighter. She denies her instant attraction to him, only making him more persistent in his pursuit of her. Despite her desire to be with Deacon, Campbell is too damaged to share herself with anyone else. Life left Campbell shattered. Can Deacon help put the fragments back together? Or will she forever be broken? Excerpt 1: Excerpt 2: Ellie Wade resides in southwest Michigan with her husband, three young children, and two dogs. She has a Master’s degree in education from Eastern Michigan University and is a huge University of Michigan sports fan. She loves the beauty of her home state, especially the lakes and the gorgeous autumn weather. When she is not writing, you will find her reading, snuggled up with her kiddos, or spending time with family and friends. She loves traveling and exploring new places with her family. HOSTED BY: -- ****All of the author's profits and royalties from the sale of this ebook will be donated to MacMillan Nurses for the wonderful work that they do. [Registered charity number 261017]***** Twelve overgrown man-children, sixteen hours, and a whole lot of liquor. Just how much fun can be had in one night? Join Nate, Ashton and their friends on a wild night out on the town. Excerpt 1: Tears of joy stung my eyes. This was easily one of the best things that had ever happened to me. I was snapping photos like a madman as the Jimmy Meddler walked down the carpeted aisle towards the wrestling ring where we were all standing. I couldn’t breathe properly, and I was seriously making myself look like a punk. Luckily for me, everyone had the same awed expressions as I did; my dad was actually covering his mouth and jumping up and down. We were in the famous recording studios where my childhood heroes smacked the shit out of each other for our entertainment. I was literally standing in the ring where my heroes had stood, watching as the most incredible wrestler in the world walked towards me. His jet-black hair was covered by a red bandana the same as usual, and a black vest with ‘The Meddler’ was covering his muscled chest. My mouth dropped open in awe as he climbed into the ring, standing there at a mammoth six-feet-eight. At age fifty-nine, he still took my breath away. When he made a growling sound and tore his shirt in half, throwing it at my feet, I just about lost it. Now it was my turn to scream like a pre-pubescent girl who had just been hugged by Harry Styles. Ashton clapped me on the back, grinning like an idiot. We’d spent many an hour when we were young and stupid trying to re-enact some of this guy’s moves. He probably loved him just as much as I did. I shrugged. I never knew my dad wanted a tattoo at all; I had no clue what he was going to come out with. “No idea.” It took just under half an hour; obviously, they were fast workers. The curtain pulled back, and both George and my dad limped out, laughing and grinning to themselves. I sighed and raised one eyebrow expectantly. My dad grinned and turned his back on me, pulling down his Iron Man shiny red pants to show me a bandage on his butt cheek. Oh, God, do I even want to see this? Please, please, do not let my mom blame me for this! He pulled the bandage down and as soon as I saw the two little words, I burst out laughing.
Kirsty Moseley lives in Norfolk, England with her husband and son. After discovering Wattpad, an online writing site, she decided to take the plunge and upload one of her stories on there. Seven million reads later, she then decided to try her hand at publishing. The Boy Who Sneaks in My Bedroom Window was her first novel, published in April 2012. Over two years later, she now has five books under her belt, an international bestselling title and over thirteen hundred five star reviews on Amazon. HOSTED BY: -- My student loans are due and I still havenât found a job that pays more than minimum wage. So I decide to make an arrangement through The Club. Iâll get what I needâ¦money to pay my loans. And heâll get what he wantsâ¦access to my bodyâ¦whenever and however he wants it. ROSE COLLINS is a recent art school graduate with overwhelming student loan debt and no way to pay it. JAE ROTHKO is a wealthy and renowned artist who doesnât have the time or patience for a relationship. Jae joins The Club so he can have one woman when he wants and how he wants with no attachments and no expectations. He selects Rose to be that woman. By the time we get to The Rock Stop itâs already crowded with twenty-somethings, who all look eager to hook up with anyone whoâs willing. I pass by two guys, who are already half-drunk and gawking at my breasts, before I hit the relative safety of the bar area. âWhat do you want to drink?â Cali yells over the loud Top Forty music. âWould I look too conspicuous just holding a glass of water?â Cali purses her lips at me. I tell her she looks like a duck when she does that but it doesnât stop her. âIâll get you a beer. You donât have to drink it but I donât want you to embarrass me or yourself.â âYes, Daffy,â I tease. âI do not have duck lips,â she insists. âYou do when you pucker them like that.â âI think youâre on crack.â âJust get the beer.â She waves in order to get the bartenderâs attention but no such luck. Heâs busy with a group of girls at the other end of the bar. âHey, Babe.â An arm reaches over Caliâs shoulder. âI wasnât sure Iâd see you tonight.â David nods in my direction. âWhatâs up?â He never addresses me by my name even though heâs been hooking up with Cali for over a year and Iâve seen him dozens of times. David is the kind of guy I always hated in high school. His family has money and heâs never had to work a day in his life for anything. Cars, clothes, expensive vacations, you name it, and his parents have handed it to him on a silver platter. As a result he has a sense of entitlement that knows no bounds. No doubt thatâs why he feels like he can treat Cali any way he pleases and she just keeps coming back for more. He runs his fingers through his short brown hair. Iâm not sure whether itâs a nervous habit or if he thinks that his fingers are like some kind of comb but he does it all the time. David is a good-looking guy in a frat-boy kind of way. Cali says he played baseball in high school and he looks like he probably still plays sports. Heâs not huge but heâs definitely in good shape. Cali met David at a frat party. Even though sheâs never set foot in a college class sheâs spent a lot of time at college parties. David likes to brag about the fact that heâs a business major. I donât see what the big deal is though. I feel like business is a degree for people who donât really know what they want to do with their lives. Not that I have any room to talk. Apparently I earned a degree for people who donât really want a job. Before I know it, Cali and David have disappeared somewhere and Iâm alone at the bar. Great. I didnât even want to come here in the first place. I have a choice. I can leave or I can order a drink. After the day Iâve had a drink is actually starting to sound appealing. As soon as the DJ starts mixing, nearly everyone moves to the dance floor. The bar area is now pretty empty except for a young woman seated at the far end. She glances up at me when I approach and gives me the faintest of smiles. Sheâs an attractive blonde with stunning ocean blue eyes. Sheâs the definition of a blonde bombshell. Sheâs got curves that would give Marilyn Monroe a run for her money. I order a Crantini and the bartender wastes no time filling my order. âTough day?â the blonde asks. I nod. âHave a seat.â She waves to the stool next to her. âThanks.â I climb onto the stool and take a sip of my drink. Itâs strong and I cough a little as it goes down. âRuss likes to make them strong.â She laughs. âMaybe he thinks heâll get lucky at the end of the night.â The bartender looks like heâs in his mid-thirties and kind of rough. Heâs completely bald and built like a brick house. Definitely someone I would want to have on my side if a fight broke out. âAre you waiting for someone?â I ask. She looks a little too dressed up for the place weâre in. Itâs mostly a denim crowd and sheâs in a little black dress and pumps. âYou could say that.â I nod. A cryptic response but I get the impression that sheâs not going to say much more about who sheâs waiting for. âSo whatâs your story?â she asks. I laugh. âDo I look like I have a story?â âYou definitely look like you have a story.â âYouâve probably heard it millions times before.â She glances at her watch. I canât help but notice itâs a gorgeous Rolex. The blonde doesnât look that much older than me. I doubt sheâs even twenty-five. It makes me wonder how she can afford such an expensive watch. When I look at her more closely, I notice sheâs also wearing a diamond tennis bracelet and huge diamond stud earrings. Also very expensive. Maybe sheâs like David and has a generous daddy with lots of money. âIâve got a few minutes before my friend gets here. Tell me this story Iâve heard a million times before.â I take another sip of my drink. Sheâs right. Russ does like to make them strong. âI recently graduated from art school. I have a fine arts degree but no professional job and no prospects. My student loans are set to go into repayment and I have no way to pay them. Iâm barely making ends meet on my salary busting my ass at the local coffee shop. Pathetic, right?â She shakes her head. âItâs not pathetic but youâre right. Itâs a story Iâve heard a lot. Maybe not a million times. Half a million tops.â We both laugh. It feels good to laugh about it. At least for one night. She reaches into her purse, a pricey Coach bag, and pulls out a business card. I expect her to hand it to me but she places it on the bar between us instead. âI donât do this very often but I feel bad for you so Iâm making an exception.â She points to the card. âYou can pick it up if you want to, after I tell you what itâs about. Or you can leave it on the bar. Itâs completely up to you.â My curiosity is definitely piqued. When I glance down at the card I notice it only has two words: The Club followed by a phone number. âWhatâs The Club?â âItâs a kind of dating service.â I frown. âDo I look like need a date?â âNo, but you said you need money. This is a special kind of dating service for extremely wealthy men.â I assume thatâs how she got her Rolex and other jewelry but I donât want to be rude. âAre you saying itâs kind of like having a sugar daddy?â She laughs. âThatâs kind of an antiquated term but sort of. Most of the men in The Club are older and they have very specific tastes. Most of them want younger women but more importantly, they want women who will be there whenever and however they want.â I gulp. Then I whisper. âAre you talking about prostitution?â She gives me a little smile. âProstitution implies that youâre with multiple men and theyâre paying you for sex. Itâs not like that. Itâs more like youâre being paid to be one manâs mistress.â âAre they married?â She laughs. âSome are. Some arenât. Does it matter?â âI think it would to me.â âWhy?â Itâs a good question. Iâm not married. Heâd be the one doing the cheating. âDo you mind if I ask how much money youâre talking about?â âThatâs negotiable between you and the man who selects you. Itâs called an arrangement. You can negotiate any sort of arrangement you want.â âCould you give me a ballpark figure?â âUsually between three and five thousand a month.â My eyes grow wide at the thought of that kind of money. My ten dollars an hour at the coffee shop, even with overtime and tips, doesnât even come close to that. âAnd that doesnât include all of the perks. A lot of the men like to provide their girlfriends with generous gifts in addition to their arrangement.â âYou said a lot of the guys are older. How old?â An image of a geriatric using a walker crosses my mind. Iâm not sure Iâd be able to have sex with someone that old, if he could still even have sex. âThe guy I have an arrangement with is fifty-four.â Thatâs ten years older than my dad. I can feel my stomach start to knot. Am I really considering getting involved with some kind of club and being paid to have sex with a guy who could be older than my father? The blonde leans in close. âDonât let his age fool you. He can still perform in bed. And I only have to see him two days a week for a few hours. And my arrangement is non-exclusive. He doesnât mind if I date other guys.â âI donât really date that much,â I confess. âThatâs even better. There are a lot of guys who want exclusive arrangements. Not as many girls go in for that.â I stare at the business card for a few seconds. Is this something Iâm actually considering? Iâm just not sure. Thereâs no doubt that I need the money but Iâm not sure about having sex with someone I donât even knowâ¦for money. âItâs really not that bad,â she insists. âI wasnât sure at first either but you get used to it. And Alex can be a really sweet guy.â She makes a point of pushing the business card a little closer to me. âAt least meet with Claudia. You can always back out if a guy selects you and you donât like him.â I pass my hand over the card and hesitate for a moment. I feel like this is a pivotal moment. Like my whole life could change just by picking up the card. I take in a deep breath then grab the card from the bar. Now that itâs actually in my hand I feel like calling the phone number is inevitable. Ren Monterrey lives in a small town outside Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and their bloodhounds. She writes New Adult and Contemporary romance under a number of different pen names. HOSTED BY: -- Katie’s world came crashing down in an instant. Her husband, daughter, and unborn baby. . . all gone in a flash. The life that she’d come to know, gone before she ever really got to live it. With a broken heart, she deals the only way she knows how, by shutting it all off. No communicating, no feelings, just pure nothingness. Alone with nothing but her own thoughts and a well meaning family, she moves back to her childhood home, a horse farm. It’s there that she finds herself healing along with the horses her family rehabilitates. But when Parker McKenzie comes back into her life she’s reminded of all that went wrong, and all that she lost. Will Katie ever begin to heal? Or will her secrets and loss be too much for her to overcome? Perhaps, this is her kismet. Excerpt 1: I shake my head, thinking about doctors. It hadn’t taken long for them to label me again, deciding what is best for me and my emotional well-being. I want to be pissed, to have some sort of reaction to something, but I just can’t muster a single feeling. I truly don’t care. They think they know me, but they don’t. All the degrees and training in the world can’t touch my emotional damage. I have nothing left to live for. Excerpt 2: My eyes find his icy blue ones, hidden under the most beautiful lashes, and my heart skips. I want to pull my hand away, but I can’t. There is something about his touch, something soothing and familiar. Without thinking, I run my hand up the length of his arm, taking a step towards him and allowing myself to get closer. Everything stills and I know my brain is no longer in control of my action, this is all my heart. Every muscle in his body goes lax as I hug him. “Jesus, Katie, I’ve missed you,” he whispers running his hand through my dark blonde hair. “I just want to hear your voice.” I want to believe him but I can’t. Parker McKenzie has always been full of it. Back when I knew him—really knew him—he’d say and do anything to get what he wanted. Everything was always a conquest for him, just like I had been…and probably still am. As if sensing my change in mood, he tightens his grip on my wrists and pulls me back in. He thumbs my bracelet, reminding me of the depth of our relationship. There are so many layers to Katie and Parker. Layers that no one will truly ever uncover. Emotions begin to stir inside of me. His eyes burn down on mine. I struggle to organize my thoughts, wondering what my next move will be. We’ve never talked about that day, and I want to know why. “What the hell’s going on here?” Tommy’s voice bellows through the stable. “She’s my family too, Tommy,” Parker calls out. “I have a right to hug her if I want.” Before I know it, Tommy’s chest is bumping with Parker’s. They’re standing face to face, their noses practically touching. The tension in the stable has just increased tenfold. “She’s been through enough without you fucking with her head again, Parker!” A.E. lives in Vacationland with her husband and two children. Between her real job and writing she finds little time to enjoy life's finer things. However in the free time she does manage to steal, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, and reading. A.E. is the author of Kismet and A Series of Imperfections: Imperfectly Perfect, Imperfectly Real, and Imperfectly Bad. She is currently writing her fifth book, Working Girl. HOSTED BY: Army Special Forces Senior Sergeant Eli Stevens is married to his childhood sweetheart, Katherine. She is his princess, his world. He is her first and only love, her best friend, her everything. They finally have what they've always dreamed of…a baby on the way. But this happy news comes on the eve of Eli and his best friend Sergeant William Bradshaw’s deployment for a special mission... A mission that Eli knows in his heart will be his last. Before Eli’s premonition comes true he tells William to watch over his family, to be a father to his child, to love Katherine. William reluctantly agrees, moving into the Stevens home to take care of Katherine. The longer he is there the more she depends on him. But she holds William emotionally at a distance, scared of the feelings he stirs inside her. And despite fighting against it he falls in love with Katherine and the child, even though feels he is betraying his friend. Can they find their way through the nightmares to give in to what is between them? Or will the past come back to haunt William in more ways than one? I made the fifteen minute drive in ten minutes flat, pulling up as close as I could as the sun began to lower slowly in the sky. I took a deep breath, wiping my eyes, before I climbed out of the car. I wrapped my arms around my body against the cooling air, shivering a bit as I clasped Eli’s dog tags tightly in my hand. Lorraine Britt is a fourth generation Native Texan who is also immensely proud of her Louisiana heritage and solid Southern roots. As an enthusiastic lover of the written word, inspiration struck Lorraine and she began to bubble over with her own ideas. Grasping hold of her lifelong dreams, it wasn’t long before she was putting pen to paper and letting her fingers fly over a keyboard to bring her own characters to life. When she isn’t busy scribbling notes for her next idea you might find her whipping up delicious creations in the kitchen or putting miles on her car on road trip adventures. Lorraine is equally passionate about music, movies and sports. You’ll no doubt find these familiar themes woven throughout her books. Lorraine and her family currently make their home in northeast Texas. HOSTED BY: |