Crashing Together Lyssa Cole Publication date: May 30th 2019 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
It’s an age old story….
A summer fling….
A temporary thing…
His name was Cole and I couldn’t resist him. He was everything a girl could want in a summer romance. A hot, tanned, surfer with blonde hair and blue eyes… oh and let’s not forget about all those muscles and the six-pack I couldn’t stop staring at.
We agreed to just sex. Lots of sex. Lots of fun. No titles, no relationship, and certainly no love.
Until the sex started to feel like something else.
Something more..
Something way more…
But for him?
It was still just sex.
Until it wasn’t.
Until everything we didn’t mean to build unraveled in a heap of secrets, lies, and broken trust.
We came crashing together but will our summer fling survive the waves?
“You’re in over your head and you know it.” Leigh lifts her frozen margarita to her lips and eyes me over the sugar rim.
“I am not.” I roll my eyes and look around the smoky bar. I don’t know why I even let Leigh talk me into coming here. It’s dark, a little sketchy, and the millions of fog machines fill the place with smoke so thick you’d think they allowed cigarettes in here.
“You’re in denial, Addi. You can’t even look at me.”
I snap my eyes back to her. “It’s hard to see with all this smoke.” I wave my hand around for dramatic effect. I’m so in denial but she doesn’t need to know that.
Leigh laughs and rolls her eyes. “Yeah okay girl, whatever you say.”
“The drinks are delicious though.” I raise my glass before bringing to my lips to it, licking the sugar rim.
It’s as if a storm is brewing, ready to take over at any minute, inside my belly. Awake at night, I stare at the ceiling as it flips and twists, growing worse.
The storm named Cole.
He fills my bloodstream, running through my veins, and follows me everywhere I go. No matter what I do, I can’t stop it.
I was a fool thinking I could and I’m a fool now as I sit here and let it happen.
I’m falling hopelessly in love with Cole.
It’s unreal, consuming, and lighting me on fire from within.
I’ve never felt anything like it before. The more I see him, the more I want. And Leigh is absolutely correct.
I’m in over my fucking head.
Author Bio:
Lyssa Cole has been in love with books for as long as she can remember. Escaping into a story is her favorite pastime. Wanting to be a writer for a couple years, she is now crafting her own stories. She loves to write sweet & sexy romance with lots of heat and some suspense to keep you guessing and wanting to turn that page! She lives in Southeastern Mass with her two kids and two dogs. Lover of coffee, all things chocolate, & always the avid reader, you can keep up with Lyssa Cole by subscribing to her newsletter here: https://www.lyssacolebooks.com/bio.
I am a cover girl, so having Natalia Albrite sharing her thoughts on book cover is very appropriate. Welcome to fundinmental and let’s get started.
How do you choose a book cover and what importance do you
place upon a book cover?
The Importance of Book Covers by Natalia
Albrite
I place HUGE importance on a book cover and
here’s why:
I only get
one chance to make a first impression. Fair or not, we are a visual people who make all sorts of
judgements based on looks. In the realm of personal interactions this can be
very unfair. In the realm of professional work, it can still be unfair but
fighting the reality would not be a good use of my time. The fact is that
potential readers will make a judgement call about the quality of my work based
on the cover of my book. I only get their attention for a few seconds and I
want to entice them to stick around.
My covers
need to reflect my brand. I
strive for consistency across all platforms. I want to create a seamless
experience for readers who look further into me and my work. I want them to
explore freely without any jarring moments of, “oh that doesn’t fit.” I know
that my books and I are not for everyone but if we are for you, I want you to
stay and get comfy in my little corner of the romance world!
How I choose a book cover:
I use my gut. I decided to skip past any trend research. I
picked something that I liked and reflected a larger sense of me. I want to
sustain this career and I know that if I choose according to trend or market,
that will wear me out in the long run. I would have a hard time staying excited
about what other people like.
I want to be
inspired. I sought custom cover
design for That Guy and That Girl while still early in the revision process. I
found my choice to be incredibly inspiring! I was inspired to make the best
book I could so it would match up to a great cover!
I value the
services of a professional. I love
my writer’s lane and I respect the graphic designers’ lane. I like to think
that I have a great sense of what I like but making it come to life visually is
not a skill that I currently have. Fortunately, I had some savings that I set
aside to hire a professional. I was so grateful for the work of Robin Vuchnich
of mycustombookcover.com
What are your favorite covers? What catches
your eye when you explore new authors and their books?
That Guy and That Girl by Natalia Albrite
GENRE: New Adult Contemporary Romance
PLEASE NOTE: this book will be $0.99 during the tour.
BLURB
Olivia
Meadows is excited to finish her senior year of college as a volleyball
national champion beside her teammates and best friends. A complication arrives
in the form of John Hunter, that guy, her brother’s best friend whom she has
had a secret crush on since she was eleven years old. Effortlessly charming and
handsome, with a body honed by years of playing football, John initiates his
charm offensive and Olivia finds herself unable to resist him.
John Hunter
is pumped to finish his senior year of college as a football national champion
beside his teammate and best friend. The only thing missing is that girl,
Olivia Meadows, his best friend’s little sister. He needed to sow some wild
oats before settling down with Olivia but now he is ready for something serious
with the girl he has always admired.
Be careful
what you wish for. John and Olivia find themselves dealing with adult consequences
very quickly and wondering if their young love can endure the pressures of
adulthood. Will they find deeper love or implode from the pressures of their
own making?
EXCERPT
I spot Marcus
in my dad’s hand-me-down Maxima with John in the front seat next to him. Oh
jeez. John Hunter. He’s that guy. He’s the stuff of young girls’ dreams and I
gave him up long ago by trying to turn my eyes to other guys. The way I see it,
it’s like this: 1) he’s Marcus’s best friend and I have no interest in messing
up their friendship; 2) he’s not an intentional player but he’s a player just
the same; and 3) thank you, but I’ll skip the broken heart, please. I’ve grown
up in proximity to this handsome devil for most of my life and he still manages
to make my stomach drop when I see him.
It’s such a
cliché to say that he’s tall, dark and handsome but clichés work for a
reason—they’re inescapable kernels of truth. John is tall at a striking six
feet and four inches. He’s dark with his almost-black hair and deep brown eyes.
I can’t forget the handsome with his perfectly structured jaw line. Ridiculous.
Just by looking at him, I can feel my adrenaline kicking in and the sweat
gathering. Great.
I plaster an
annoyed look on my face because that’s how we interact with each other. That’s
part of our unwritten script. He plays the charming rogue and I play the
cynical wallflower who is suspicious of all his kind gestures. He jumps out and
does a half-bow. “Madame, your chariot,” he says as he gestures to the front
seat.
Natalia is a lifelong reader and lover of romance novels. Before finally tapping away at her keyboard to create her own stories, she tried all sorts of professions: elementary school teacher, barista, seller of make-up, baker, and the list goes on. When she isn’t pursuing the arts, she’s hanging out with her husband, two wacky children, and full-figured Corgi.
Encourage your readers to follow the tour and comment; the more
they comment, the better their chances of winning. The tour dates can be found
here:
https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2019/04/vbt-that-guy-and-that-girl-by-natalia.html
Graye Manor is known throughout the BDSM community for producing the best
trained, specialty submissives in the world, and caters to matching
these ladies with the perfect partner to guarantee a
Happily-Ever-After. But what happens to those girls who aren’t
accepted into the program, especially those naturally pulled toward
an age-play dynamic? They are matched with Billionaire Daddy Doms…
and rarely just one…
LONNIE
Lonnie Stuart is facing a prison sentence for felony shoplifting. Instead of
entering the courtroom, she’s summoned into the judge’s chambers.
There she meets Maxwell Tohler who offers her placement in an
experimental reform program designed to give young women a second
chance to achieve their greatest goals and live their dreams. She’d
be assigned a ‘guardian’ who’d provide for her every need and lavish
her with the care she’s always desired. The downside is the
requirement to follow the guardian’s rules or risk some unpleasant
time across his knee.
Her first inclination to Max’s proposal is to run, except she’s drawn to
his handsome face, strong body, and the ‘thing’ in his voice that
makes her feel small, vulnerable, and safe. Not only does he stir a
heart that yearns love and acceptance, but her body as well. So, when
Max rejects her request to be her guardian, she’s crushed.
Max, the case-worker for the Guardian Program, is sent by his old friend
Dorian to evaluate and match one of the denied applicants for Manor
submissive training. Taking the bench in the Hampton’s as a favor for
the regular judge, Max ends up face to face with the girl he was sent
to meet! She was everything he ever wanted in a woman and more-smart,
beautiful, sweet and a little broken. Refusing her request to belong
to him is one of the hardest things he’d even done, but the program
was to help the women, not himself.
Little does he know, but their meeting is one of Dorian Graye’s grand
schemes to match the perfect girl with her perfect Daddy Dom!
To her delight, Lonnie’s unexpected assignment to the stern alpha male
begins a journey of personal growth and sexual exploration. Max takes
her from New York to his stunning home on the edge of Lake Tahoe.
She’s in for a second surprise when she meets Mik, Max’s identical
twin. For the first time in her life, she is confident that genuine
love would be hers in the embrace of the two Daddy Doms!
Her action-filled fairytale ending falters when her vicious aunt starts
to stir up trouble by trying to gain control of Lonnie’s considerable
trust fund. The cross-country investigation and legal conflicts bring
up some ugly secrets and deception, causing a rift that might easily
destroy Lonnie’s dreams of a HEA and tear the twin brothers apart forever.
Facing the most difficult decision of her life, Lonnie turns to an
unexpected resource for advice. Should she chose one of the men for
herself or save the brothers’ relationship by walking away with a
broken heart?
Note: This new series is brought to you by the author who started the
Age-Play phenomena, Breanna Hayse. As a BDSM/AP lifestyler, she
ensured that the reader enjoys the dynamic in the way it exists in
real life. If you haven’t read realistic AP literature, or believe
it’s not your cup of tea, give this book a try. You might be
surprised at what you find inside this full-length novel!
After escaping the ghettos of New York City, Lonnie is finally free to live
her Happily-Ever-After in beautiful Lake Tahoe with her identical
twin Daddy Doms, Max and Mik Tohler. In addition, Dorian and Meredith
Graye, and her future mother-in-law step into her life and give her
the love of a family that she’s longed for.
Princess rooms, tea parties, and a surprise trip to a very special house at
Mt. Shasta encouraged the emergence of her ‘Tween’ and all the
sass, trouble, adventure, laughter, and attitude that comes with the
title. Spurred on by her Daddy Doms, Lonnie explores the wants and
needs of her long-neglected inner child; but when she slips into her
‘adult’ mode, her womanly desires are awakened. Her innocence and
vulnerability are tested when the twins plan a surprise that takes
her to ‘The Lair’ in San Francisco and the unique BDSM playroom.
There her eyes are opened to another level of sensuality, trust, and
love. She also faces a fear she can’t ignore and an object of past
abuse. Can she summon the courage to face a terror of long-ago and
clear the path for future joy, or will she do what comes naturally
and run?
Max and Mik are as opposite as they are the same. One is creative and
spontaneous while the other is controlling and disciplined, yet
through the woman they share, the twins’ strengths and weakness
blend together. They soon discover Lonnie’s presence brings out the
fun-loving banter and play that a past betrayal stripped from their
lives. She turns their world upside down and, with that, they learn
the freedom of creative control—when it comes to both discipline
and the bedroom!
Together, Max and Mik give Lonnie what she needs the most. She is spoiled and
disciplined, and her life is filled with more love and care that she
knows how to handle. Yet, an obstacle seems to be waiting at every
turn, and she starts to question her decisions. After all the
turmoil, jealousy, insecurities, and fears are exposed, the choice to
make the relationship a permanent commitment has to be made. The last
thing she wants is to hurt the men that saved her life and offered a
second chance at happiness, especially before the holidays, but she’s
learned the hard way that everything good comes with a hefty, and
usually painful, price.
Publisher’s Note: This book, the characters, court scenes, etc is FICTION. Please
sit back and enjoy a story for what it is– Entertainment and fun!
What can one Little girl and her four handsome Daddy-Doms do to keep warm
during cold, Alaskan nights in Denali National Park?
Jennifer Hudson lives in a world that has no place for her other than being
the ‘reward’ given to her owners’ clients. She’s beautiful, smart,
and sexy, but years of pain and fear have left her emotions and
desires caged and without a key. She knows that she won’t survive
much longer in her present circumstance and needs to decide-
Does she run and risk her life, or remain where she is and never have one?
With the aid of Dorian Graye and the Guardian program, Jennie is placed in
emergency care of the four-unit team of Daddy Doms who vow to do
whatever is needed to keep her safe, happy and whole- even if it
means applying some uncomfortable disciplinary measures. One by one,
the brothers-in-arms break down Jennie’s hard exterior and draw out
the little girl hiding behind the walls of her heart. She soon
discovers that the price of vulnerability is high, and the cost dear.
But is love worth the risk?
Author’s Note: This Reverse Harem introduces the town of Northern Lights- an
age-play community where ‘it takes a village’ (or, at least three
daddies) to raise a happy Little submissive.
What can one Little girl and her four handsome Daddy Doms do to keep the
fires burning on long, endless nights in a remote Alaskan lodge?
Jennie, and her four-man Recon team, continue their adventures in this action
packed (and ever so romantic) sequel that explores their unique poly
relationship and the little age-play village of Northern Lights.
After being stalked, and surviving a brutal attack, Jennie discovers that
there’s so much more to life than satisfying her unceasing appetite
for the men who’ve taken her in and given her their hearts. Her trust
unfolds and, with it, a mischievous part of her nature in the form of
a Middle. Of course, there’s only one way to handle a naughty Middle-
and it’s NOT by giving her caramel apples and peppermint sticks.
Then there’s Slater…
After a rocky start, Slater Foxx, the mysterious fourth member of the team,
awakens Jennie’s sassiness by taking her up Mount Denali where he
introduces her to his rescued wolf pack and the glorious beauty of
the Alaskan wilderness. Before they know it, daylight is gone and the
couple has no choice but to bunk in Slater’s amazing little
‘ice-castle.’ The unexpected getaway sparks something neither of
them could have prepared for.
That’s only the beginning!
As the holidays approach, the little family of five grow closer than
ever, but come face to face with the possibility of being torn apart
by an outside source. Jennie, once again, is caught between a rock
and a hard place- and has to decide what’s more important-
The truth or continuing to live in her ultimate fantasy?
Jennie and her four handsome Daddy Doms have returned with more
laughs, tears, and hot times as they find ways to occupy themselves
on the long, winter nights in Alaska.
The tiny town of Northern Lights is preparing for their fourth annual WIN (Winter Ice
Night) campout. Hot cocoa, an igloo building contest, ice-skating,
winter games, bonfires, ball gowns, and loads of CANDY are just a
glimpse of what the ladies get to look forward to.
Being a Big girl in a poly-household is fun and satisfying, but so exhausting! It’s
been a happy challenge for Jennie to adjust to the needs of the men,
but well worth the effort. They treat her like a princess when she
behaves, and a naughty little girl when she doesn’t, but are always
there with love and A LOT of guidance- whether she wants it or not.
With WIN around the corner, she’s trying SO hard to be
extra good- but mischief has a way of working itself into the
picture. Add to that a dose of stubbornness, and it’s recipe for
trouble.
Jenn’s not alone.
Her BFF and fellow mischief maker, Lena, introduces her to the
greatest delight in the WIN celebration- the girls are
allowed to do ANYTHING they want without consequences! Of course,
their Daddy Doms are experts with maneuvering around the rules and
find ways to ‘show their love’ that even stuns Jennie-the queen
of loopholes herself!
So many wonderful things have happened since the four-man team took her in. Who
would’ve thought that the day she traveled to the polar regions of
Alaska, she’d fall in love with the beautiful winter snows of
Denali, learn eskimo bushcraft, and would even be able to hold her
own on the ice? She’s happy, loved and desired, and there is
nowhere else in the world that she’d rather be.
But she never prepared for what was waiting around the corner that will change the
lives of her, and her four wonderful men, forever…
BDSM/AP lifestyler Breanna Hayse strives to give her readers truth and
reality of the BDSM/Age-Play/Total Power and Erotic Exchange lifestyle.
Who am I?
I’m a native Californian gone ‘wild’, and had the opportunity to travel
the globe and discover the world through the eyes of both a Marine
Intelligence specialist and a BDSM lifestyler. I left the service to
go into hospice nursing and grief counseling, eventually working as a
marriage and family therapist for those involved in alternative
lifestyle development. This experience has allowed me to gain unique
inspiration for my books and offer realistic plots and relatable characters.
In 2004, my husband, John, and I joined forces to work with both
submissives and dominants- teaching, training, listening and loving.
Our goal was to take the mystery and fear out of the lifestyle and
mentor people in safe, consensual and healthy relationships.
My first book, The Game Plan, was published in 2012 and opened the door
to the now-booming world of Age-Play literature. Since that time,
I’ve devoted my ‘spare’ time to writing, researching, community
involvement, and private and group pro bono counseling in deviant
behavior, alternative lifestyle, and addiction recovery.
I was formally ‘dungeon trained’ as a Domme before discovering my
submissive side when I joined the service. My scenarios are pulled
primarily from either personal experience or observation, including
spending time in BDSM clubs as the safety/medical officer. My
multi-faceted background allows me to glean from many avenues and
give a unique and intelligent literary experience through elements of
fantasy and fiction. I also discuss the questions and psychology of
the lifestyle in a manner that is fun and informative, and based on
‘the real deal.’
I live with my husband, musician, and fellow-author, John Hayse, and
two border collies in southern California. We practice a 24/7 D&S
relationship with speckles of AP (and many trips to Build-A-Bear),
and happily spend every moment together that we can. My hobbies
include my puppies, hiding my vanilla salt-water taffy where John
can’t find it, exotic art, collecting inspirational trinkets, and
developing my own paddle line. You can also see me as a featured
author/instructor in professional conference settings and as a
Sexpert for kinkyliterature.com.
His Little Wife Lie Sloan Storm Publication date: April 26th 2019 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
IT’S NOT A LIE IF WE BELIEVE IT’S TRUE.
That’s what Griff Foster said right after he asked me to be his wife.
Sweet, isn’t he?
Let’s be real: his proposal had nothing to do with romance. Falling in love isn’t in his DNA. With piercing blue eyes and a hard body to match, he goes through women like candy.
But he saved my life.
I promised I’d repay him. I should learn when to keep my mouth shut.
Griff needs a Mrs. Right Now, and he’s convinced I’m the perfect actress.
In case I have any doubts, there are seven badly needed zeroes on a check with my name on it to help make up my mind.
Ugh.
We’re totally fake. Nothing but lies.
Except the way his lips feel on mine.
Except the way his touch sets my body ablaze.
Except the way my soul aches when he looks into my eyes.
He says that without me, he loses everything.
But if I’ve got the upper hand, why does it feel like he’s in control?
There’s only one thing missing from this arrangement.
What happens to my heart when it’s over?
What kind of fucking game was he trying to play? I made a complete fool out of myself, then he tried to turn it around on me! No one was going to treat me like this, especially not him.
Once in my room, I raced toward the closet, grabbed my bag, and dragged it out. Fuck this place!
Tiny Me chimed in. No, no! Wait! What are you doing? The money!
“I don’t care about the money!” I yelped, clutching my fingers into fists. “Don’t you understand? I care about him!” Oh shit. No. No.
I sensed a presence in the doorway. “What did you say?”
“Stay away from me.” I spun in place, biting my lip and sputtering hate. “I’m leaving. You can’t stop me.”
He didn’t listen. Of course. I mean, why start now?
Marching right toward me, Griff continued, “You said you cared about me. Don’t try and deny it.”
Yeah, no kidding. You ass. “Of course, I do! Jesus! Do you know how many men I’ve offered my virginity to? Do you? Take a wild guess.”
Griff didn’t respond. What could he say? He already knew the answer.
I poked him in the chest. “Just one. Guess how that went over?”
Griff’s nostrils flared. His eyes narrowed. I was pissing him off. Well. Good! Now he knew how I felt!
“Move,” I snarled, edging past him.
I felt the handle of my suitcase rip free from my hand. By the time I turned to look and see what happened, he’d swept me up me in his arms, racing for the bed.
No!
“Put me down!” I floated in his embrace until he slammed me with a thump, pinning me beneath him. Struggle was useless, but I gave it everything I had, jerking from side-to-side until the instant his lips found mine.
Oh fuck. No! Yes. Yes. Yeeessss…
The passion from his kiss ripped through my body like wildfire, reigniting the embers he left smoldering inside of me with his refusal. Griff’s pelvis pressed into me, the impossible hardness between his legs threatened to reawaken my lust into an inferno until my wits returned.
“Stop!” I gasped, breaking my mouth free. My palms went flat, shoving against his torso. “Get off of me!”
His gaze gave me the answer. Never. Griff ignored my pleas and gripped harder, making me feel he’d crush me into dust if I uttered another word. Reaching up, I clawed and scratched, digging my nails into the steel of his thick chest. But my rage only stoked him, and he groaned, his mouth invading mine again, filling it with his tongue. My resistance turned to vapor, whisps of hate floating away from me while Griff took what he wanted.
At last, he pulled away. I looked at him, my vision glassy from the struggle, each of us fighting for a breath.
“We can’t.” I exhaled. “It’s a mistake.”
Wait. That wasn’t no. Was it?
He licked his lips and sank his pelvis deeper, driving it hard between my legs. I stifled a whimper.
“You’re right,” he hummed, reaching for one of my tits, cupping it in his grasp. Uhhh. My eyes rolled back in my head, his touch had me on the verge of blackout
“It’s the biggest mistake of all,” he warned. “No turning back. No way out.”
No way out. His words reached into my soul, giving me the answer my brain couldn’t. I don’t want one. Don’t give me one. If you do, I might take it.
Wordless, Griff moved over me, a shadow threatening the last shreds of my chastity. With my legs spread and my innocence at risk, I inched my mouth toward his lips when he whispered his final threat.
“At last.”
Author Bio:
Sloan Storm pens imaginative yarns based on dominant men and the women who challenge them. As such, power plays and passion are the heart of each and every story.
The writer’s creative tendencies may drift as the mood strikes, but the essence of all tales told wind up back at the same place… the polarizing difference between the sexes.
After all, what else is there in life?
When not glued to a keyboard creating tales of whimsy, Sloan loves to talk to fans! If you want to connect, you can do it in any number of ways:
Forgiven Are the Starry-Eyed Christine Doré Miller Published by: Evernight Teen Publication date: April 26th 2019 Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
Naïve sixteen-year-old Andrea Cavanaugh is elated when Josh, a charismatic, bright-eyed piano prodigy, becomes her first boyfriend. But the closer she gets to him, the more she realizes that he is not the boy she first fell for. In its poignancy and emotional darkness, Forgiven Are the Starry-Eyed takes you deep into the delicate and devastating web of shame that spirals from the depths of dating violence when dreamy teenage love turns dark. Andrea must find not only an escape, but a belief that she is even worthy of freedom.
My eyelids closed as if they were being drawn down by sluggish, unhurried weights. When I forced them open after several seemingly endless moments, nothing had changed. I could still make out a blurry image of Josh standing nearby, Mr. Thompson’s hands clenched firmly on Josh’s shoulders from behind. There was a crowd, I think, and muffled voices. The steel school locker felt cold against my back and I recognized the familiar feeling that lately seemed to just dwell and ache in my bones. Fear, I think it was, mixed with just enough madness to keep the blood racing through my veins … fast. Too fast.
“Why did you do that, Andrea?” Josh shouted in my direction.
My eyes fell closed again. I don’t remember what else he said. I just remember the feeling of each overly pronounced syllable piercing the air while he said it. I stared through the darkness that danced behind my heavy eyelids. What had I done?
I tried to pry open my hazy eyes to examine the faces of the expanding crowd as they stood, mouths agape. I only recognized a few. There were hardcover music books sprawled open on the tile floor at my feet. Confused, I looked to Josh, but the heavy silence of the room deafened any words he may have been saying. I gripped the ends of my soft, thin hair between my slender fingers and waited. Each thought sunk deeper than the last.
There was a poster taped sloppily against the locker behind me. I turned my head to face it and focused. The ends were curled up and there were ripples in the masking tape adorned to the edges. “Oakwood High School Invitational—TONIGHT” it read in handwritten purple block letters. There was a pixelated saxophone image pasted underneath the words, “Brought to you by Mr. Thompson and the Oakwood High Jazz Band.” I brought my hand up to trace the edges. The poster board felt crisp and thick under my fingertips. I could smell the aftermath of the permanent marker. The loud reverberating voice behind me got softer until it resembled a deep echo I could easily ignore. I started to pick at the tape from the bottom left corner of the poster until I felt the sticky residue ball up underneath my fingernail.
Suddenly the life reentered my body in one abrupt breath when I felt a strong tug on my arm. I turned and saw Ethan Marks. Everyone else was gone. Had it been minutes this time? Hours?
“Andrea! Come on,” he barked at me, interlacing my arm, tucking it quickly under his. He jerked me to a standing position and pulled me down the hall, speeding up his gate as I stumbled to catch up.
“Where’s Josh?” I asked worriedly, but he didn’t answer. We were silent as we walked through the empty hallway. I lifted my gaze, trying to catch Ethan’s eye, trying to read his thoughts. His light blue eyes, usually sparkling with laughter, were steely and somber as he charged forward, dragging me with him, away from the wreckage I’d caused.
He stopped short and took a deep breath. His eyes were unyielding and dismal as they studied me, and slowly his frustration melted into a deep sadness.
“What happened, Andrea? What was that back there?”
“I don’t know…” My voice began breaking. My thoughts were muddled beyond recognition and I couldn’t form the right words, or any words, to explain.
Ethan wrapped himself around me in a gentle, firm embrace. It felt kind. And warm. And wonderfully different. My muscles unclenched for the first time in months, and I didn’t know I was crying until I tasted the salt as it stained my face. I buried my head into Ethan’s chest as he tightened his hold on me. I wanted him to say something, to tell me everything would be all right, but we both knew better. So we just stood there, Ethan supporting me as I clasped the back of his cotton t-shirt between my fingers.
After a few minutes, I fully returned to my body as my breathing calmed. I steadied my stance and took a step backward, shakily holding Ethan’s forearms as I regained my balance. Wiping smudged mascara from my pale face, I met Ethan’s eyes and quickly looked down, fixating on a crack in the tile below me.
“Hey,” he started, “Andrea … it’s…”
“I’m okay. Ethan, I’m sorry. I’m sorry you had to … I’m sorry I … ugh your shirt.” I motioned to the tear stains on his light green tee that crept from his chest to his shoulder.
“Oh God, don’t worry about that. Andie, I just…”
“It’s fine.” I wiped my face and took a deep breath. “Thanks,” I said, squeezing Ethan’s hand and looking in his eyes sincerely, so he knew I meant it. “I should go. But thanks.” I shook my head and turned around to walk back into the havoc and face what I had done. I felt Ethan staring at me as I left. He was just another person whose life would’ve been better if he hadn’t met me. I swallowed, took a breath, and kept walking.
It was over for now, that latest incident, and there was no way to tell when there would be another one … but there would definitely be another one. I was too broken for it to be any other way.
Author Bio:
Christine lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband and their two children. She works full-time as a senior marketing manager for a large media company and holds a Bachelor’s of Business Administration degree from Western Michigan University where she studied marketing. Growing up in the chilly midwest, she developed a deep passion for dramatic writing and alternative music at an early age, which still peaks through in her adult-corporate-mom life today. Forgiven Are the Starry-Eyed is Christine’s debut novel.
Animal Attraction Kate Willoughby (San Francisco Dragons #2) Publication date: April 27th 2019 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Sports
What do you do when an NHL player steals your dog and won’t give it back?
Maggie Hudson made a heartbreaking decision nine years ago that has haunted her ever since. To fill the hole in her life, she showers her rescue dog with love and affection. But one day, Kirby goes missing.
Six months later, NHL player Spencer Corbett is astonished when Maggie shows up on his doorstep demanding her dog back. He’d found the pug on the side of the road, collarless and in bad shape. But even when confronted with hard evidence she’s the dog’s owner, he begs her to reconsider. His own elderly dog is on her last legs and Kirby has given her a new lease on life.
After Maggie relents, Spencer can’t help but fall for her. Not only is she the most compassionate and selfless person he’s ever met, she’s witty, intelligent and sexier than sin and doesn’t even realize. What starts out as a friendship quickly turns into more, but when a woman from Spencer’s past throws everything into chaos, their fragile relationship is put to the ultimate test.
Animal Attraction may be read and enjoyed as a standalone sports romance!
What kind of jerk didn’t give back a person’s dog?
The PR man said he had personally given Corbett the message only a couple of hours after she’d called. As the days continued to pass with no word, Maggie grew increasingly frustrated and even angry.
Finally, she decided to take matters into her own hands. Kirby belonged with her and damned if she was going to let some immoral, spoiled, self-centered jerk who only pretended to be a nice guy for the public, get away with keeping her dog, even if he was an NHL player.
After making the decision to hunt down the dog-napper herself, she had watched the video segment again, this time watching for clues as to where he lived. They mentioned Hillsborough. Of course. Very high-class neighborhood. That narrowed it down quite a bit. He dropped the name of an Italian restaurant he frequented that was “within easy walking distance” of his house. That narrowed it even further. She printed a map of the area and marked a three-block radius out from that restaurant. They showed a few seconds of him walking away from his house with the dogs on a leash and she froze the video and took a picture of the view.
Then because he mentioned a team party he was hosting to watch the All-Star game, she decided to go to his house and accuse him of dog-napping in front of all his friends. With any luck, peer pressure would make him give up Kirby. Was it going to be horrid, shaming a Dragons player when for more than ten years she’d rooted for the team with all her heart as a hockey fan? Yes. Could she have gone to the media and exposed him the way Jade had suggested? Yes.
But what it all came down to was she thought he was morally despicable and she wanted to tell him so to his face. She wanted the satisfaction of taking her dog away from him personally.
It took her about fifteen minutes of search-cruising before she found his place. Looking toward downtown San Francisco, the view matched the photo.
As she parked her car, the realization hit her that she was about to barge in on what might be the entire Dragons hockey team. Before she’d arrived, all she’d focused on was getting Kirby back. She’d imagined herself going in and righteously claiming her dog. Her main emotion had been indignation. Now, a case of the jitters undermined her determination.
Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.
She looked up at the spectacular two-story house. The sprawling property looked as if Arts and Crafts architecture and Japanese landscaping had a baby. Lush mature trees cast shade over mossy rocks and boulders. The wooden bridge leading to the front door crossed an actual pond, complete with brightly colored koi fish. As she looked around and the luxuriousness of the neighborhood sunk in, the jitters progressed into near-panic. She’d passed the Sierra Point friggin’ Yacht Club on her way, for Pete’s sake.
No. She would do this. Kirby was hers. Even if she couldn’t offer him posh digs like these, they belonged together. She’d had him since puppyhood. They had a bond that couldn’t and wouldn’t ever be broken. Even now, he was probably wishing he were home with her, cuddling on her old sofa watching reruns of Friends and eating microwave popcorn. She told herself the players were only people, like her. People with unusual, high-profile jobs and bodies like gods.
She went up to the front door where a sign said, “Come on in. Hope you brought beer.”
Gathering her courage, she knocked anyway.
No one answered. And it was kind of quiet. Maybe the party hadn’t started yet.
She tried the door and found it unlocked. Before entering, she took a picture of the sign, because if this devolved and the police were called, she wanted evidence that, technically, she was invited in.
“Hello?” she called hesitantly, crossing the threshold into the foyer.
The house was just as gorgeous on the inside as it was on the outside. She’d seen it on the video, but in person, it felt richer and more personal. A San Francisco Dragons player actually lived here. Spencer Corbett occasionally sat on that couch. He walked on this plush rug.
He—gulp—was standing right there, staring at her.
Author Bio:
USA Today bestselling author Kate Willoughby is in love with the sport of hockey and the entire Los Angeles Kings team. Having lived most of her life completely uninterested in professional sports, she is surprised at the intensity of her enthusiasm and her growing collection of Kings merchandise: a Dustin Brown jersey (covered with autographs), 3 T-shirts, 5 lapel pins, 3 hats, earrings, several play-off towels, 2 replica Stanley Cup Champions banners, a Christmas ornament, blanket, a car windshield sticker, a license plate frame, and the pièce de résistance, an autographed collector card with a swatch from Justin William’s game-worn jersey.
Yeah. Don’t judge her.
She resides in Los Angeles with her husband, their two sons, and a Chihuahua named Mochi.
She is also a member of the Romance Writers of America and winner of the 2009 EPPIE Award for Best Fantasy/Paranormal Erotic Romance and the 2016 EPPIE Award for Best Contemporary Romance.
Raven Acoustics: Rock Star Romance Grace Harper (Red & Black Series, #3) Publication date: April 9th 2019 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Errol Thomas has a tortured soul, always has had.
Errol is out of rehab and is set on world domination. His record label is only too happy to pull his puppet strings to get him to the top of the soul music charts.
But it comes at a price, a price Errol doesn’t find out until it is too late.
He seeks solace in a local candle maker’s shop where Jane, the owner listens to tales of woe. When Ivory walks into the shop that has been his home away from home for over ten years, he is knocked sideways.
It’s only when he meets Ivory that he vows to keep his sobriety promise.
Just when Errol is on an even keel, falling in love with Ivory, her past comes knocking to reveal her secrets. In turn, his cover story at the label starts to unravel.
Will Errol be able to keep focussed on the end game or will he be collateral damage?
Red & Black have their own issues to deal with and become involved with Errol’s music career even if they don’t want to.
This is the third standalone romance novel in the Red & Black Series.
The intimidating man sitting across from me in his ivory tower office had given me plenty of time to decide.
“What’s it to be, Errol?” Quinn said. His attention was squarely on his phone. I could be forgiven for thinking he couldn’t care less about my answer.
Today, I needed to sign the recording contract with The Dark Side record label or walk away. Quinn Saunders who owned the label had a plan that had played out to perfection. I’d won a talent contest, with my real name and my true passion for singing soul music. Transforming from Casey Lowe, rock band front man to Errol Thomas, solo soul singer was the best move I could have made and it was all thanks to Quinn.
When I saw Donovan Carter in the recording booth at my old label, a year ago, singing a Fragile song, I knew I had to leave Red & Black. When I watched Donovan sing the track, I could see Erin’s reflection in the glass wall of the studio. She’d given me the same proud smile years ago. That was when I was her favourite, before her husband Alex and long before Donovan.
The Dark Side record label building had stunning views across London. I loved coming up to the city to see Quinn. He’d coached me in the ways of the business and how to make a splash. His genius idea to use my real name and have the big reveal at the contest completely blinded all of them at Red & Black. For a moment, seeing Erin’s face when I shouted at Donovan about his sister made it all worthwhile. She doubted him and his innocence in what had happened. For a moment Erin was on my side. I hadn’t felt that in years, not since she danced with Alex Devlin at Green’s Music Venue. The night she left our friendship on the floor and went to him.
“Hell yes, I want this contract, pass me the pen.”
I jumped up from the leather sofa to reach for the contract. Quinn slapped his hand down hard on the stack of papers.
“Are you absolutely sure Errol? I’ll make you a worldwide sensation, but you’re going to have to play a role to get it.”
“I don’t care. All I want to do is to perform on stage and for everyone to know my name. I can sing, I’ve got the looks, and I don’t care what else I need to do.”
“Good lad,” Quinn said, flashing me a conspiratory smile. He took the pen from his inside jacket pocket and handed it over. The pen cost more than everything I owned. Everything about Quinn screamed wealth, and I wanted some of that money.
I scrawled my signature, using my real name in all the places the yellow sticky tabs told me to sign. The deal was done.
“What happens next?” I asked.
I’d retaken my seat on the sofa, watching the boats sail up the Thames river. Quinn had moved to the other side of his office into the gloom. The sun shone brightly in through the windows but only reached half of the floor space. Quinn’s black suit enabled him to blend in with the darkness, and I couldn’t see what he was doing.
“You wait for my call, lad. My PR people will be in touch soon with our game plan.”
“Am I going to lay down some tracks today?”
“Not yet.” I heard his irritation, I could have kicked myself for being over eager. Playing it cool never came easily to me. “We need to get everything in place first. We can take our time, get it right to make you a superstar.”
Quinn turned his back to take a call, dismissing me from the conversation. It wasn’t until he slipped through a side door in his office and his PA came in to collect the signed papers that I understood I was dismissed for the day.
“Have a great day, Errol,” she said with a smile that told me it had been many years since she’d had a good day.
I muttered my thanks to her retreating back, drank the glass of water in front of me and took one more look at Quinn’s office. Over the last couple of years, this had been our HQ for planning. Quinn discussed with me the next step in getting away from Maverick and Red & Black label. Years of planning and here I was, the ink still wet on the contract that would take me to superstardom.
Rubbing my closed fist against my chest as I left Quinn’s empty cold office, I looked for any familiar faces to chat with. I was still used to the Red & Black mansion where everything was open plan. Here at The Dark Side head office, all offices had doors with no windows to peek in. The grey slate coloured carpets marked my exit to the elevators and down to the security desk.
Quinn hadn’t told me what would happen in the coming months. I trusted him to keep me on the path to fame and fortune. Now that I’d signed the contract, I had faith in him more than ever to get me to household name status.
Author Bio:
British author who loves to write about strong women and handsome men. She writes steamy romance novels that will warm your heart.
Writer of the Brodie Saga and the Geary Series, Grace immerses you in stories of love, or rather, love’s pursuit to bring together two people who were meant for each other. It’s not always quick or easy but it will happen eventually.
When Grace is not writing, she can be found mooching about in stationery stores. Grace might have a Maltesers addiction but is not ready to stand up and own that just yet.
Born and raised in Sussex, UK near the Ashdown Forest where she grew up
climbing trees and building Lego towns with her younger brother.
Sarah fell in love with novels when she was a teenager reading her
aunt’s historical regency romances. She has always loved the
supernatural and exploring the darker side of romance and fantasy novels.
Sarah currently resides in the Scottish Highlands with her husband. Music
is one of her biggest inspirations and she always has something on in
the background whilst writing. She is an avid gamer and is often
found hogging her husband’s Xbox.
Lead The Way Brittany Carter Published by: Swoon Romance Publication date: April 22nd 2019 Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Fresh off the high of college graduation, Melody James is back in her Podunk town. She needs a job, but first, she’ll spend a lazy summer with no agenda at all.
But life’s got other plans for Melody, ones she’d sooner ignore. When the next-door neighbor passes away, his son returns home to take care of his affairs. Thane Cohen hasn’t been home in ten years. The last time he was, someone accused him of murdering Melody’s parents. Now, after major efforts to recover his self-worth and start a construction company, Thane wonders if enough time has passed for him to clear his once good name.
At the time of the murders, Melody was the only person who didn’t believe Thane was responsible. But how could she even suggest otherwise when just about everyone in town was convinced of Thane’s guilt? Her brothers would never allow it. With nothing to lose before, Thane packed up and left, leaving the town and Melody behind. Now that he’s back, rekindling an old flame in Melody and proving his innocence are critical.
When several car windshields get broken and fires start unexpectedly, the world inside their little town is tossed upside down. With Melody’s brother against her, and Thane fighting every attempt she makes at breaking down his walls, Melody’s push for answers leads her to a frightening conclusion. Thane may actually know more about her parents’ death than she was lead to believe. Can she trust him, or has everyone else been right about him all along? Only time will tell if she can let love lead the way.
One side of his mouth curled for a nanosecond. “You need to leave. Your brothers are gonna catch you.”
She placed the carrots in her hand on the table behind him. “You’re not scared of my brothers.”
“I’m not. But they’ll tan your hide if you get caught over here.”
She shrugged. “I’m not scared of my brothers either.”
His gaze dropped to her lips, and her heart began to patter. Thoughts drifted from her head, taking away her ability to speak. She leaned forward; one palm rested against his wide chest. Suddenly, he shifted, grabbed her waist, and placed her on the table behind them. With one hand on either side of her hips, he leaned forward. He smelled woodsy, like rain, earth, and man. It intoxicated her brain, filling her body with raging feelings. Feelings she’d never had before. Not once had Lucas ever made her feel so alive without touching her.
Her mouth watered as he neared, his lips only a hairbreadth away from her own, the minty smell of his mouth had her head gone. His unruly hair was messy from the rain, and she reached up with her other hand to run her fingers through it.
He caught her wrist; his thumb ran three slow circles around her pulse. Kiss me … please. She had no idea why her body betrayed her so easily. The tip of his tongue ran across his bottom lip. Melody couldn’t look away from it, even when he took his other thumb and ran it across her bottom lip. The tension weighed heavily down on her chest, begging for a release.
Just one kiss would cure her, right?
A deep grunt left his throat, and she just knew he’d kiss her. She knew he would lean down and put her out of her misery. Only one more inch and …
“Go home,” he whispered against her mouth.
Her heart sank with embarrassment. Rejection clogged her throat. She wanted to crawl into the dirt and die. Turning her head, she looked down at the shed floor. She was stupid for going over.
Melody jumped down from the table, stopping at the door. “I know you didn’t do it,” she whispered. Thane leaned over the table again, palms flat against the wood, his eyes fixated on her. “You don’t know anything, Melody.”
Author Bio:
Brittany Booker Carter previously writing as Alla Kar. I’m a Christian, lover or romance, a wife and mother to a wild-child!
What Matters More Liora Blake Publication date: April 9th 2019 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
A sexy contemporary romance about what happens when a casual one-night stand becomes anything but casual.
JT Maxwell has it all . . . well, almost. He’s a US Marshal, he looks like he belongs in an aftershave commercial, and he has tattoos—lots of tattoos. Unfortunately, he’s also in debt up to his pretty blue eyeballs. Between that and his recent divorce, his personal life is nonexistent these days. But when a free-spirited artist approaches him for a no-strings-attached one-night stand, things suddenly start looking up.
Anya Alves’s life is a mess. She’s lost her job, caught her boyfriend cheating on her, and if it weren’t for the house-sitting gig she just landed, she’d be homeless. On top of all that, her creative muse has up and disappeared. If she doesn’t get it back, her burgeoning career as an artist will be over before it starts. But after indulging in a steamy hook-up with a guy who makes it easy to forget her troubles, she gets her mojo back.
The last thing she expects when starting her house-sitting job, is to see her sexy one-night stand again . . . living right across the street.
Anya managed a nervous smile and thrust her arms forward, with the baking pan perched in her hands like an offering—one she suddenly wasn’t sure would be welcome.
“We made enchiladas for dinner,” she blurted out. “And we saved some for you. Tara said you can send her a thank-you note tomorrow. I kept them warm, and I have salad and some beer, too. Are you hungry?”
JT’s gaze zeroed in on the pan in her hands and he simply stared at it, not saying a word, even when Anya cleared her throat to ease the uncomfortable silence. She felt a blush creeping across her cheeks, and a panicked thought hit her. One that if she hadn’t lost her mind earlier, she would have been able to see coming before she found herself with these damn oven mitts on her hands.
Maybe this was a mistake.
She could see how this must look, this show of domesticity on her part that he certainly hadn’t asked for or even insinuated that he wanted. But here she was, making him dinner and keeping it warm until he arrived home, like she was some proper Kennedy-era housewife—which, on so many levels, she definitely wasn’t. Even the outfit she’d changed into, a lavender floral mini dress, made it look like all she was missing was a cute little vintage apron to complete the look.
Oh, God.
Of course this was a mistake.
Anya considered setting the pan on the ground and walking away without saying another word. But then JT locked his eyes with hers. A hungry, heated look was on his face, and because she was regretting this whole thing now, she wasn’t sure whether that look was for her or the enchiladas. Either way, she needed him to say something soon because she was about to drop this hot pan and swoon, although not necessarily in that order.
“I’m starving,” JT rumbled. Then he made his way toward the door into the house, opened it, and invited Anya in with just the tip of his chin. She scooted past him in the doorway and swore that when she did, he actually grunted quietly as she passed.
Even then, she still wasn’t sure what he wanted to eat first.
Author Bio:
Wife of one. Mom of three plus a Beagle.
Liora Blake is a contemporary romance author living in Colorado.
When she isn’t writing, she’s likely baking cookies she shouldn’t eat, inventing elaborate excuses to avoid going for a run, or asking the nice barista to sell her another quad-shot Americano.
