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Giveaway – Fallen Raven Duet by Diana A Hicks @XpressoTours @diana_hicks

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Fallen Raven Duet
Diana A. Hicks
Publication date: July 24th 2023
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Now a 2023 Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal Winner in the Romance – Contemporary genre!

“Diana A. Hicks painted a slow-burn romance balanced on the dark edge of danger…Fallen Raven will capture the minds of readers who enjoy Mafia political romances with plenty of action to entertain them.” – Readers’ Favorite Reviewer

Both books in the Fallen Raven Duet included in one bundle.
Fallen Raven, Book One

Seventeen-year-old Aurora Vitali didn’t have the best life in Las Vegas, but it was a place to call home. When her father scores a win after so many fails, he abruptly moves the whole family to the Upper East Side in New York City. Aurora is quickly seduced by the glitz and glamour of her new world, where designer clothes, limos, and beach parties are the norm.

Her first day at their elite school, she meets Enzo Alfera, one of the royals. He’s rich, gorgeous, and so dangerous. The magnetic pull she feels when he’s near is absolutely irresistible. She’s warned to stay away, and that’s exactly what she plans to do. Except every time their paths cross, neither one of them can deny their powerful attraction.

Going against their parents’ wishes, they give into their burning desires. He’s dark and cunning. She’s sweet and innocent. Together, they are explosive.

But their parents have plans of their own. The choices they make to get ahead threaten to pull Aurora and Enzo apart. Now the star-crossed lovers have to decide if their forbidden love is worth going against everything and everyone.

Enzo knows what he wants. And he’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep Aurora for himself. If he fails, it could destroy them both.

Fallen Raven, Book Two
I should’ve stayed dead.
I should’ve run when he challenged the winning bid.
I should’ve said no to his contract.

But the ruthless Don Enzo Alfera gets what he wants.
He wants revenge.
More than anything, he wants me.

A Note from Diana: Fallen Raven Duet is a standalone romance, featuring Enzo and Aurora, and is part of the Crime Society World. No cliffhangers. Complete Story. This modern day Romeo and Juliet retelling is about never letting go. Check TW
This book features:
He falls first
Star-Crossed lovers
Angst, family feud
Forbidden love

Goodreads / Amazon


EXCERPT

“You’re bleeding, Maxim. Let me look.” He gestured for Maxim to sit.

Maxim raised his hand and stopped Anatoli in his tracks. “No. Let my wife tend to my wounds.”

“Ooo-kay.” Anatoli looked as confused as I was.

“Leave us.” Maxim braced his good arm on his knees and released a breath.

“Everything you need is in the bathroom,” Anatoli said to me then turned to leave. He paused when he spotted the unhinged door. “I’ll get someone to fix that.”

“Thanks.” I smiled at him.

The wife in me wanted to tell my husband to go to hell. But the doctor in me was already thinking of all the things that could go wrong if I didn’t check on Maxim. He was tired because his body was working overtime, trying to heal itself. But also, because he just cracked open a heavy wooden door with his foot.

Cursing under my breath, I strode to the bathroom and got all the essentials to wash out his wounds. When I returned, Maxim hadn’t moved an inch.

“We should rinse your wounds twice a day, then cover them. They’ll heal faster that way.” I approached him tentatively, the way one would do with a wild animal because that was exactly what he was. My gaze swept from the splint and stained gauze to the blood seeping through his white dress shirt in two different places. “I need to take a look first.”

He nodded. With a sigh, he undid all the buttons, then sat back to let me help him with it. I pulled the fabric up then pushed it over his shoulders. The soft hair on his chest bristled the skin on my arms and chest. To my surprise, the gentle exchange eased my nerves.

“Getting out of bed today was a bad idea.” I picked at the gauze and removed it.

“I had things to attend to.”

“Right. You had that illegal wedding to go to.” I shot back.

“Yes.” He chuckled. “I did.”

“This shouldn’t hurt. It’s just water.” I squeezed the squirt bottle and rinsed his entire shoulder.

Even if fear wasn’t a big part of the equation anymore, I still couldn’t get myself to look at him. Not even when he cocked his head to look at me. His hot breath left a warm trail that ran from my cheek all the way down to my hip. He gripped his thigh with long fingers as his inspection of me continued.

“Little late for that, don’t you think?” I sneered.

“What’s that?”

“Buyer’s remorse.”

“I didn’t pay for you.” He took a lock of my hair. “Your hair is shorter.”

“I cut it after…” I’d cut it shortly after Luca left, but Maxim didn’t need to know that. I swallowed and bit my tongue for offering him intimate details of my life. “You were spying on me.”

“Not for long.” He squeezed his eyes shut. “Your scent reminds me of something. But I can’t remember what?”

“Probably your dungeon. I’ve showered six times since I left and I can’t seem to scrub the stench off me.” I shuffled back. “I need you to get up to get the other two sutures.”

Slowly, as if he were trying not to scream in pain, he rose to his feet. When I stepped into his circle, he bent down to whisper in my ear, “You smell fine to me.”

The jittery energy intensified and magnified my senses. I could feel the air between us shifting, his breath on my neck, and the sandalwood scent on his skin. Though I kept my head down, I could feel his eyes on me, regarding me with curiosity. He was the wounded one. But he watched me so intently, it reminded me of a predator spying on his prey.

“Stop messing with your splint. Or your nose will not heal properly.” I pointed at the blood fingerprints on it.

“It itches.” He grunted. “How long before I can take it off.”

“How long has it been. It usually takes about two weeks.” I squirted his side.

He flinched, reaching for my wrist. I froze, keeping my gaze on the stitches and the blood running down his side. And because my brain hates me, I thought of our impending wedding night. Though by now, I was sure that would not happen today. The man could barely move without wincing. As formidable as he was, and though he acted like a beast, he was still human.

His fingers slid up my arm. “This one hurts the most.”

“I bet. There was a lot of debris to clear out. I had to dig deep.” I freed my hand. “It is healing fine. I can give you something for the pain.”

“Fuck.” He made to touch his wound then stuffed his hand in the pocket of his trousers. “I don’t know if I should risk taking more drugs from you. Will you poison me this time?”

In his defense, I had considered the option. “Not tonight.”

He scoffed. “If Anatoli hadn’t come to his senses, I’d still be unconscious.”

So Anatoli was the one who foiled our plans. Coward. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I shrugged. “Maybe you too will come to your senses soon.”

I strode to the bathroom and rummaged through the medical kit Anatoli had left for me. I went through a bunch of bottles until I found a strong pain killer. Something to knock Maxim out for the night. And every night after that, until I found a way out of this place.

“For the pain.” I offered him two pills and a glass of water.

“Am I so ugly, you can’t even look at me?” He took the meds and knocked them back. “My senses are fine, by the way.”

“Right. Because kidnapping a woman for revenge is the epitome of mental health.” I turned to leave.

He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me toward him. “You have no idea what your family is capable of.”

“You’re wrong. I know exactly what they can do.” I jerked to free myself, but he held me tighter. I was no match for his strength. I exhaled. “One day my love will find me. He will make sure you pay.”

“Your love?” He let out a dark chuckle.

“Yes.” I panted a breath. “And when he does, he will chop you up and feed you to your dogs.”

“He sounds violent.”

Luca was an erudite, a distinguished professor despite all my efforts to corrupt him. He wasn’t a brute like Maxim, punching his way through doors. But regardless of their extreme opposites, Luca would find a way to save me. I knew he would. I just had to hang on a little longer.

“He will come for me. You can be sure of that.”

“The only thing I can be sure of, princess, is that it’s time for bed. And since Prince Charming isn’t here, I guess I would have to do.”

Author Bio:

Diana A. Hicks is an award-winning author of steamy romantic suspense and science-fiction romance.

When Diana is not writing, she enjoys hot yoga, kickboxing, traveling, and indulging in the simple joys of life like wine and chocolate. She lives in Atlanta and loves spending time with her two children and husband. Connect with Diana on social media to stay up to date on her latest releases.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook Page / Facebook Group / Twitter / Instagram / TikTok / Amazon / Bookbub


GIVEAWAY!
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Giveaway – Once Upon A Charming Bookshop by Heatherly Bell @XpressoTours

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Once Upon a Charming Bookshop
Heatherly Bell
(Charming, Texas, #6)
Published by: Harlequin Special Edition
Publication date: November 28th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday, Romance

Time to rewrite their story?

He’d always simply been her best friend. But when Noah Cahill moved back to town, bookstore owner Twyla Thompson knew something was different. Was it holiday memories of the loss they’d both shared or Noah’s surprising decision to reignite a dangerous career? Their solid friendship had been through so much, yet now Twyla grew breathless every time Noah was near. Why wasn’t Noah—handsome, fun, but never one to cross the line—showing any signs of stopping?

From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

Charming, Texas

Book 1: Winning Mr. Charming
Book 2: The Charming Checklist
Book 3: A Charming Christmas Arrangement
Book 4: A Charming Single Dad
Book 5: A Charming Doorstep Baby
Book 6: Once Upon a Charming Bookshop

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

—

EXCERPT:

Then with little warning other than the sudden shine in his eyes, he hauled her by the neck to him and kissed her, square on the lips. It was a deep and long kiss that didn’t seem to have a beginning. Nor did it have an end. He pulled her tight and they were hip to hip, belly to belly. Even through the shock of the totally unexpected, she kissed him back. She sunk her fingers into his hair and kissed him with everything she had in her. With every last inch of longing wrapped up in her, saved over the years and packed away where the raw intensity of the emotion couldn’t destroy her.

She fisted his shirt. She ran her hands up and down his back, feeling the muscles tense and bunch.

It was over just as quickly and then they were both panting, staring at each other.

“I’m sorry.” Noah took a step back, leaving a healthy distance between them. “Yeah, I shouldn’t have done that. That’s wrong.”

Wrong?

“It’s okay,” she stammered because she didn’t know what else to say in the moment.

Yes, it was wonderful, please kiss me again, because I think maybe I’ve always loved you?

“It’s just…that was wrong of me. I don’t feel that way about you.”

Oh, God. There went her heart, pierced and sliced into tiny bits.

I don’t feel that way about you.

No, he was right. This was wrong. And if he had regrets then damn it, so did she.

“Me, neither. I don’t feel that way about you.”

“I know.”

The certainty in his voice broke her heart a little. How could he be so sure she wasn’t straight out lying, trying to save her pride?

She chewed on her lower lip. “So, let’s just forget it. Pretend the kiss never happened.”

“But…we’re okay?”

Worry and regret filled those dark puppy dog eyes. Not long ago, she would have understood. But now she knew what it was like to be kissed by Noah and her heart shattered to think it would never happen again.

“We’re okay. You’re probably right, huh? Bad idea.”

“Yeah, I just don’t want to…you know…” He ran a hand through his hair, looking desperately vulnerable, like a man searching for a lifeline.

And what kind of friend would she be not to throw one to him?

“It was just, well, okay, maybe we’re both lonely. And it’s after midnight. I…got um, confused.” She had no idea what she was saying but it sounded good, and he seemed to be receptive.

“Yeah, so did I.”

“And I’ve got a date tomorrow night so that could be awkward.”

Now she’d lied to her best friend, but she’d also kissed him within an inch of his life, so either way she was in brand new territory here.

He quirked a brow. “You have a date? Who is he?”

“Some guy.”

“Some guy? Does ‘some guy’ have a name?”

“Of course he has a name, Noah. He’s some guy I just met.” She crossed her arms. “Weren’t you leaving?”

He scowled. “Yeah. I have an early day tomorrow.”

“Bye.” She closed the door before he could say another word.

Now she was going to have to find herself a date.


Author Bio:

Bestselling author Heatherly Bell was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama but lost her accent by the time she was two. After leaving Alabama, Heatherly lived with her family in Puerto Rico and Maryland before being transplanted kicking and screaming to the California Bay Area. She now loves it here, she swears. Except the traffic.

Over 200,000 copies of Heatherly’s books have been sold, many of them translated into two languages.

Heatherly also writes sweet and wholesome books under the pen name of Maria Michaels. She is represented by Elaine Spencer of The Knight Agency.

Luke’s unwavering loyalty to Lexi and her family gives this sweet romance unexpected integrity …Readers looking for a tender romance that leans more toward the emotional than the physical will find this very satisfying.” ~ Publishers Weekly/Booklife review on Country Gold.

“Heatherly Bell writes romance that will capture your heart.” ~ Marina Adair, New York Times bestselling author.

“What a thoroughly delightful story. I adored it.” ~ Lori Wilde, New York Times bestselling author on Lucky Cowboy.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram


GIVEAWAY!
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  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
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Giveaway – Rise Like A Phoenix by Tammy Lowe @XpressoTours

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Rise Like a Phoenix
Tammy Lowe
(The Acadian Secret, #3)
Publication date: November 22nd 2023
Genres: Time-Travel, Young Adult

When Elisabeth London travels back in time to the 14th century, she is transported to a world straight out of the pages of a fairy-tale. Swept away by the adventure and romance, Elisabeth follows her heart—and Aquarius—into this whole new world.

But Elisabeth soon learns her father has discovered where (or rather when) she is. He’s sent a bounty-hunter to bring her home. Although a million questions buzz through her mind, there’s one thing she’s certain of—her parents will never let her hang out in the 14th century with a guy she met in Ancient Rome.

With her heart at stake, can Elisabeth avoid the bounty-hunter and find a way to stay in this fairy-tale world?

Or is her love-life about to take a rather grim twist?

Find out in Elisabeth London’s timeless story of love, danger, and adventure.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

—

EXCERPT:

When Crooked Nose punched, David blocked. Then, with a quick elbow movement, he smacked the man’s face with the end of the rope before stepping back. The effect was rather comical.

Crooked threw another punch.

David pounced, wrapping the rope around the man’s wrist. Yanking the tied arm back made him double over. His eyes turned cold and hard. “Who sent you?”

The man’s breath sawed in and out. “You’ve no idea whose daughter you’ve run away with, do you?”

He pulled Crooked’s arm straight back some more. “Enlighten me.”

“Make her tell you,” he hissed.

David swallowed a lump in his throat. “She hides nothing from me.” He then snapped the man’s arm at the elbow, and grabbed Elisabeth’s hand, pulling her to a run.

Her breath hitched, and the colorful bouquet of wildflowers dropped.

“By the gods!” David led the way through a field of grazing sheep, toward a grove of trees. “Your father is here?”

“No…” She shook her head in denial. “No, he can’t be…can he?”

“You tell me!”

Elisabeth let out an uncontrollable whimper.

If Dad found out she was time-traveling—she was so grounded.


Author Bio:

An adventurer at heart, Tammy has explored ruins in Rome, Pompeii, and Istanbul (Constantinople) with historians and archaeologists.

She’s slept in the tower of a 15th century castle in Scotland, climbed down the cramped tunnels of Egyptian pyramids, scaled the Sydney Harbour Bridge, sailed on a tiny raft down the Yulong River in rural China, dined at a Bedouin camp in the Arabian Desert, and escaped from head-hunters in the South Pacific.

I suppose one could say her own childhood wish of time traveling adventures came true…in a roundabout way.

Website / Goodreads / Instagram


GIVEAWAY!
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  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
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The Spotlight Is On Dirty Plans by Carissa Knight @XpressoTours

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Dirty Plans
Carissa Knight
(The One Night Stand Club)
Publication date: January 5th 2024
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

Who knew finding true love would mean juggling a secret club’s rules, rethinking marital boundaries, and a best friend you suddenly want to kiss?

Lily’s life was predictably pedestrian: side-step her husband’s aloofness, indulge in racy novels with her audacious book club, and dream about feeling that kind of passion in her own life. But a surprise run-in at a cheeky adult toy shop flings her back into the orbit of London, her endearingly rogue-ish childhood best friend, now the manager of Club Nocté—a nightclub synonymous with whispered secrets and sexy encounters.

Dazzled by the nocturnal allure of Nocté and the undeniable chemistry with London, Lily’s once-staid world gets a titillating shake-up. He’s not the boy she once built forts with, but a man with seductive depths that pull her in. And the kicker? London’s not-so-subtle feelings have the urgency of a flash sale—tempting, fleeting, and impossible to resist.

But in a world of impromptu one-night stands, it’s the long-standing emotions that prove the most scandalous. London fell first, and hard. Lily, still tethered to her crumbling marriage, finds herself torn between the nostalgic sweetness of the past and the thrilling promise of a passionate future.

Brace yourself for a joyride of giggles, gasps, and ‘oh-my-god’ moments, as Lily and London navigate a dance of friendship and flirtation, underpinned by the most tantalizing question: Will they dare to cross the line between friendship’s safety for a chance at true love?

Add to Goodreads / Pre-order


Author Bio:

Carissa is all about bringing the heat in every romance she writes… but she also enjoys making the journey as angsty and awkward as possible. (Because come on! What could be more fun than making the characters squirm?)

While she’s a new kid around the rom-com block, Carissa’s actually been kicking out books for over a decade as Carissa Andrews.

So, hold onto your panties, ladies. They’re about to light on fire with her brand new titillating series, “The One Night Stand Club!”


—

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  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
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Giveaway – The Flirt Alert by Kaylene Winter @XpressoTours

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The Flirt Alert
Kaylene Winter
Publication date: November 17th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

When a man who has everything will do anything to ease the pain of the incredible woman who’s living with a timebomb.

My best friend’s twin, Shay Stojanović, is my ultimate gamer dream girl come to life.

Gorgeous, flirtatious and popular, she didn’t know I existed.

Until one fateful night, she made this nerd’s every fantasy come true.

The next day she blew me up like a frag grenade.

Years later, Shay’s brother and I have built a billion dollar gaming company.

He had the nerve to give his shady sister a coveted executive role.

Oh, I’m not going to make it easy on her—she’ll quit. You’ll see.

Everything’s going exactly to plan…

Until we get stranded at the top of a mountain.

And I learn the truth.

Now I can’t—and won’t—resist her.

She has a lot to overcome.

And I’m just the man to soothe her hurt.

It’s Shay’s turn for a flirt alert.

The Flirt Alert is a scorching, standalone, billionaire, enemies to lovers, best friend’s brother, forced proximity, STEM workplace, HEA romance.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT

When he looks into my eyes I don’t see any love or compassion whatsoever. The man I thought I knew doesn’t seem to be there. “I have to do what’s best for me. This is my time, my moment. I can’t let anything—or anyone—hold me back.”

“No. This can’t be happening.” I shake my head. Disbelief wars with the agony that’s ripping through my body. “How can you throw everything we built away?”

He reaches for his water glass and takes a swig. Motions for the server to bring us the check. “This has been coming for a long time. You’re great, Shay but you’ve never loved me  for me. You adore the idea of a life you like to imagine we’d have together, but I could be anyone. As my agent advised me, I need to find a life partner who’s my equal. Who has her own things going. I know you’re hurting, and for that I’m truly sorry. Breaking things off now is the best thing for both of us, even if you can’t see it.”

I sit like a statue. Shocked and broken. Unable to find the words to fight for our relationship. To argue he’s wrong. I want to make him understand he’s making a terrible mistake. All I can do is cry. Tears are pouring out of my eyes in hot, angry waves as the reality of what transpired sinks in.

Tonight was supposed to be the start of our forever. The beginning of the next phase of our lives. Instead, it’s a cruel, brutal end that leaves me shattered and alone with nothing to fall back on.

I’m not enough.

Devon won’t even look at me as we wait for his payment to process. His face is set and determined. Literally how he looks on the field before he throws a hail-Mary touchdown on fourth down.

I wonder if what he said is true. Do I genuinely love him? Maybe I don’t know him at all.

I thought we were building something real, but clearly I’m wrong.

As I follow Devon through the restaurant, not knowing what’s coming next, I have an even gloomier thought.

What if my entire life has been a lie?


Author Bio:

When she was only 15, Kaylene Winter wrote her first rocker romance novel starring a fictionalized version of herself, her friends and their gorgeous rocker boyfriends. After living her own rockstar life as a band manager, music promoter and mover and shaker in Seattle during the early 1990’s, Kaylene became a digital media legal strategist helping bring movies, television and music online. Throughout her busy career, Kaylene lost herself in romance novels across all genres inspiring her to realize her life-long dream to be a published author. She lives in Seattle with her amazing husband and dog. She loves to travel, throw lavish dinner parties and support charitable causes supporting arts and animals.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram


GIVEAWAY!
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  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Giveaway – Kiss In The Dark by L J McAlister @XpressoTours

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Kiss in the Dark – The End Zone
LJ McAlister
Publication date: October 24th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

One Moment. One Plan.
A Love that Changes Everything.

Abigail Stevens

There was a time when Hunter Collins dominated my every dream.

Now, he is an all-star Quarterback and the bad boy of the NFL.

He may have been my first kiss, but that’s in the past.
I’m no longer the small-town invisible girl I once was.

I’m a successful journalist,
and Hunter Collins is the next name on my list, nothing more.

He’s cocky, indifferent, arrogant, and utterly irresistible.
I can’t seem to get him off my mind, or out of my panties!

Am I really in danger of falling for Hunter all over again?

Or will I learn the hard way that memories are always better than the real thing?

Hunter Collins

I thought I was invisible. Indestructible.

I was the man everyone wanted to be.

Star NFL Quarterback.

Every Woman’s Fantasy.

A Billionaire with the world at my feet.

Until an injury knocked me down.

I may be struggling, but I’m Hunter Collin.

I make my own destiny.
And a short escape to my small hometown is just what I need.

What I hadn’t planned for was Abigail Stevens.

She may be a reporter, but she’s hot, whip-smart,
and now that she’s burst into my life, I can’t get her off my mind.

Meanwhile, my injury has left me with more questions than answers
And I can’t shake the feeling that there is something important I need to remember.

As painful as it is, maybe I should let her go – for both our sakes.

Kiss in the Dark: The End Zone is a steamy, contemporary, small-town, football romance. It should be read following the prequel Kiss in the Dark: The Kickoff.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

“What the hell was that?” I demand, my blood boiling. “Making a big scene over that guy in front of everyone?”

“I wanted to protect you,” he says, but my adrenaline is too high for me to accept it.

“I can handle myself, thank you!” My voice reverberates down the hallway, booming enough to make Hunter wince and look around.

“Abby, calm down.”

Ah, the magic words. Just what every woman wants to hear when she’s upset—a man’s reminder not to let her emotions show.

“Don’t tell me to calm down!” I shout, hoping to hell somebody hears.

Hunter scans the hallway again, then grabs me by the arm and pulls me to a door beside the entrance to the hall. It’s a coatroom, and a pimple-faced attendant looks up from his seat, shocked at the two of us barging in.

“Beat it,” Hunter tells the kid, who complies without a word.

The door shuts, and I wrench myself free of Hunter’s grasp yet again. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I growl, squaring off against him.

“We can’t fight like this in public,” he counters, his voice every bit as hard as mine. “I’m not going to let you ruin this event for those kids.”

“Me?” I clamp my teeth together to keep from calling him every name in the book. “Last time I checked, you were the one who went all alpha male in there and threw a guy out.”

“His hands were all over you,” Hunter shoots back, the color in his face rising.

“Maybe, but what does that have to do with you?”

“Everything!” He looms very close, and the musky scent of sandalwood that always clings to his skin floods over me. “Abby,” he says in a tight whisper. “You have no idea what it does to me to see someone else touching you like that.”

“You’re jealous,” I spit. “So what if I am?” Suddenly his hands are on me, crushing me against his massive body. “Jesus God,look at you,” he says, feasting his eyes on me. “How could I not be?”

His mouth dips down for mine, ready to crush our lips together, and I turn my head just in time. Partly to avoid igniting whatever memories a kiss might spark but also to keep from giving him the satisfaction of winning the prize of my mouth through sheer dominance.

But all my turning away does is offer him my neck, and he finds it readily, ravaging the crook above my collarbone with greedy kisses. The stubborn fire in my chest flares. No matter how determined I am to resist him, the primal effect he has on my body is undeniable.


Author Bio:

Cary, North Carolina is where my journey began, and it’s been quite the adventure so far. I’ve carved out a niche for myself as an Indie Author, specializing in the world of Contemporary Romance. These days, you’ll find me nestled in a cozy town just outside the bustling streets of NYC, where I’ve turned my dream of being a full-time author into a beautiful reality.

When I’m not immersed in the world of writing, you’ll often catch me embracing the great outdoors. Ultra trail running has become my favorite pastime allowing me to clear my mind and recharge my creative energy. And speaking of passion, I’m an unapologetic New York Giants Fan – Sundays are sacred in our household, dedicated to the thrilling spectacle of NFL football.

I share this incredible journey with my high school sweetheart, my anchor in life’s unpredictable seas. Together, we’ve built a loving family, blessed with two wonderful sons and a beautiful daughter. This is my story, one that continues to unfold with every word I write and every page I turn. Thank you for being a part of it.

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Giveaway – Finding The End Zone by Tam DeRudder Jackson @XpressoTours

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Finding the End Zone
Tam DeRudder Jackson
Publication date: November 8th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Never date a player.

Football god Callahan O’Reilly can keep his blazing blue eyes to himself. I have a scholarship to maintain, and I do not have time to babysit a jock through a make-or-break class project. Even if one smoldering glance from him sets my panties on fire.

Time to change her mind.

Jamaica Winslow opens her mouth and spews sass like a volcano. One look at her uptight package and I want to coax the genie from the bottle, unleash all the passion she hides beneath a mop of unruly curls and a smart-ass attitude. She’s not my type, she doesn’t know one damn thing about the game that rules my life, and I can’t stop thinking about her.

Who said anything about love?

Jamaica does her best to keep me at arm’s length, but I’m not a pro prospect because I let the plays come to me. With the game on the line, I always want the ball. When an alum with deep pockets and delusions of grandeur makes demands that threaten my NFL chances and Jamaica’s scholarship, I have no choice but to man up and do the right thing no matter the cost.

It started as fun and games. Now I’m playing for her heart—and my own.

Game Time.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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EXCERPT:

“You know what I’ve been thinking about all day?”

I smirked. “Football?”

He tugged at my curls, and I inched closer. “No. I’ve been thinking about an even more fun game.”

Narrowing my eyes, I asked, “There’s a game you like playing better than football?”

“Mmm-hmm.”

“What game do you like better than football?” With his eyes zeroed in on my lips the way they were, my question came out on a whisper.

“Tongue tag.”

His warm lips covered mine, and I sighed into the soft pressure of his mouth.

Author Bio:

Tam DeRudder Jackson’s love of all things Celtic led her to write the Talisman Series. Steeped in Celtic mythology, these steamy, fated mates, paranormal romance adventures are set in the mountains of Tam’s native Montana and the Highlands of Scotland. Rogue, the most recent book in the series, was named a best romance of 2022 by the Independent Book Review.

An avid fan of rock music, Tam never misses a chance to see a live show, especially if it’s Shinedown, one of her favorite bands. Her love of rock music inspired her contemporary rock star Balefire Series, a sexy fun ride following the lives and loves of the members of a fictional mega-band. Readers of this series consistently give the books five-star reviews.

Tam earned her BA in English from Montana State University and her M.Ed. in literacy from Lesley University. After a short teaching stint in Bath, England, she settled in the wilds of Wyoming where she taught adolescents all about the Celts and a bit about writing before she stepped out of the classroom to pursue her writing career full time.

When she’s not writing, you can find her working her way through her mountainous TBR piles, alpine skiing, or traveling to some new place on her ever-expanding bucket list. To stay up to date on her adventures, connect with Tam on her website www.tamderudderjackson where you can subscribe to her newsletter.

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Giveaway – Jumper by Ali LUcia Sky @AliLuciaSky1 @xpressotours

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Jumper
Ali Lucia Sky
(Why Choose Romance, #5)
Publication date: November 14th 2023
Genres: Adult, New Adult, Paranormal, Romance

It’s so dark in his life that his Claimed mates may never get out.

Becca Grimm is a Legion demon and has known one thing since she was a young girl: she would have a breeding pact. That her breeding pact partner turned out to be her Tether was a dream come true until he broke her heart, and then she wanted to break his face until he crawled back to kiss her feet.

But Jumper’s world is darker and more secretive than he’s ever let on. Even with her guardian-Tethers, at her side, she can barely navigate it. And finding her way back to the light is impossible in a world where wickedness reigns.

Becca can’t say no to the things Jumper demands of her. She loves the things that Tobin wants from her. And she can’t look away from the things she sees Jumper and Crux do together.

Content warning coming.
.
It’s recommended that you read the series in order, beginning with RAIDEN–all previous books available on Kindle Unlimited.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

Prologue

I dial Jumper’s number for the third time. When it goes to voicemail, I growl. It’s just like the jackass to stand us up. Crux, Tobin, Jumper, and I all had plans to go to Sapp’s Coffee Shop for breakfast, but it was two now, and I’d heard nothing from him all day. I stretch and yawn. If I’d known he was going to flake, I would have slept in.

“Becca, mail for you,” Andy says, grinning and tossing me a handful of college packets. I don’t order them, he does. I flip through them. “Northwestern? You think the four of us are going to Illinois?” I raise a brow.

“I don’t care where you go, as long as you don’t end up a statistic,” my brother grumbles. “Where are dumb and dumber?”

“Making food with Adina,” I nod toward the kitchen.

“I know they are your Tethers, but look at me and Adina… we waited, and we survived. You don’t have to rush things. Go to school first, Becca. Claim one another later. Real love can stand still for five minutes.” Andy stands and leaves me with that.

I grab my phone and call Jumper again. When it goes to voicemail this time, I leave him a quick voice message. “Thanks for canceling, drummerboy. Next time, actually let me know you aren’t showing.”

My phone rings as soon as I hang up. Thinking it’s Jumper finally calling, I answer.

“Hello, shit-for-brains–” I start.

Lilah cuts me off. “Is he with you!?”

“Is who with me?” I ask.

“Jump. Is Jump with you?” she asks, tension high in her voice.

I shake my head, though she can’t see it. “No. He’s not with me. He stood me up this morning.”

“When did you last talk to him?” Lilah asks quickly.

“Two days ago,” I answer with my heart racing. I just know something is wrong.

“He’s missing, Becca. Jump is missing. No one has seen him in two days,” Lilah sobs.

Author Bio:

Ali Lucia Sky is the author of The Powers That Be series. She lives in Southern California with her husband and a house full of kitty cats and a yard full of crows.

She loves laughing, drinking good coffee, vegan food, and supporting animal rescues.

When she isn’t writing or dreaming of new stories, she can be found planning her next vacation because traveling is life.

If you encounter her in the wild, don’t be offended if she should run away. She’s timid with strangers, but can be plied with shiny things and pictures of your cat or dog.

She’s a weirdo like that.

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest / Facebook Group / TikTok


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The Spotlight Is On Zarik by Mystee Ryann @XpressoTours

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Zarik
Mystee Ryann
(To Meet a Highlander Series, #1)
Genres: Historical, Romance, Time-Travel

Meet Zarik MacKinnon, soon-to-be chief of his clan. Stubborn, unrelenting, and not in need of love. For years he’s been told by the clan’s druid that someone will come to save him. Someone for him to love. He shrugged his shoulders and continued on in his protection of his clan. Never wanting to be chief, Zarik is surprised when Tsarina Fraser arrives and is said to be the one he must marry. The catch? She’s from the future.




Author Bio:

After 14 years of book and product reviews, I have finally got my own books in the works.

Website / Goodreads / TikTok / Instagram


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Giveaway – Cruel Dark by Bea Northwick @XpressoTourws

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The Cruel Dark
Bea Northwick
Publication date: October 31st 2023
Genres: Adult, Gothic, Romance

Millicent Foxboro is haunted.

Not by ghosts, but by the anguish of her past and the uncertainty of her future. After all, even in the progressive year of 1928, most people would balk at hiring a woman who’d spent two months in a mental ward for traumatic amnesia. So when an uncommon assistantship to a reclusive Professor of mythology falls into her lap with an ungodly salary attached, her desperation for stability overrides her cautious nature.

To Millie’s dismay, the widowed Professor Callum Hughes and his estate, Willowfield, are more than she bargained for. The once magnificent home, known for its sprawling gardens and dazzling parties, is falling to pieces after the death of the professor’s fragile wife. What’s more, the staff has been reduced to the only three people not frightened away by rumors of ghosts, leaving the halls empty and languishing in bitter memories.

The professor himself is a grim, intense man with unclear expectations, unpredictable moods, and hungry eyes that ignite Millie’s own dormant passions. The closer she finds herself drawn to Professor Hughes and his strange world of flowers and folklore, the more the house closes in, threatening to reveal her secrets. But the professor is keeping secrets of his own, and the most dangerous of all is hers to discover.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

I’d never questioned the presence of my wits more than the moment I stood in the frigid morning air and watched the hired car arrive. The vehicle, sleek and ostentatious, was said to be capable of going fifty miles an hour, and I pretended it was the prospect of that speed making my stomach do somersaults.

The car pulled to a smooth stop, and a tall, ruddy driver unfolded himself from the front seat, introduced himself briefly as Joseph Dempsey, and went to collect my bags. It was short work; I had only one. I wasn’t a woman of means. As the gentleman loaded my valise into the trunk, I ran my bare fingers along the smooth deep sea blue of the wheel hull. This was, undoubtedly, the worst decision I’d ever made, but there were few options, and this was by far the least evil of them.

I glanced over my shoulder to the doorway of the little bookshop I’d come to know as home, where the stooped owner, Mr. Helm, had appeared, his blue eyes uncharacteristically red-rimmed. I’d never seen him on the verge of tears, and my heart constricted painfully. I rushed to him, pulling a thin cotton handkerchief from my pocket. It wasn’t in his character to embrace, so he enveloped both of my hands in his. They were large hands, covered in the ink stains of his trade as an antique book restorer, a business he had been teaching me for the past year despite his once firmly held belief that restoration was not for women.

Mr. Helm had been a tall man in his youth, but the war and many years hunched over a workman’s table had scuttled his stature. I didn’t need to lift my chin to look at his face, which was working to arrange itself into something less aggrieved. I was glad for his trying, because I would call off everything if even one tear rolled down his cheek.


Author Bio:

Bea Northwick is a lover of magical, spooky, and romantic things. She owns too much perfume, can’t pick an aesthetic, and loves 80s movies. She lives with her husband, children, dogs, and a black cat in the sunny American South where she dreams daily of Irish cottages and rain swept Scottish castles.

The Cruel Dark is her debut novel.

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