Under the Stars by Tia Louise Blog Tour with Excerpt & 5-Star Review!!!

Under the Stars, the stunning conclusion of the thrilling, white-hot second-chance Bright Lights Duet from USA Today bestselling author Tia Louise is available NOW!

Under the Stars

All around us was darkness and night…

I’m not a hero. I’m a survivor.

I had one way out, and I took it.

Now all I want is peace,

A place to pick up the pieces and start over.

But she wants justice.

Names on a list, faces in the crowd.

I vowed to help her, but it’s taking us back to the demons.

Until he appeared.

I thought he died in the fight.

I was wrong.

He’s here.

Stronger, more powerful… Sexier.

And dangerous.

The boy I loved is now the one man we have to fear most.

When he tried to save me, he had no power.

Now everything has changed, and he’ll never stop until I’m his.

Excerpt:

~ Lara ~

We stop walking and turn to face the emerald waters. The briny air pushes her hair back and around her shoulders. Tendrils spin around my face, and the inescapable sorrow filters through my chest.

“I can’t do this anymore.”

“Yes, you can.” Her voice is flat, and she bends to put Pierre on the dry sand. “I’m going up. How much longer will you be out here? Celeste is making Quiche Lorraine for breakfast.”

Another sigh. “I’ll be up in a bit. I’m finishing my exercise.”

“Don’t stay out too long or I’ll eat all the food! Come, Pierre!”

I watch her run up the tall staircase, her little dog at her heels, thinking of the reasons she has to run. I remember her as a small girl on the street, in the dark alley behind the theater. She was thin and starving and hunched in the corner waiting to die.

She was so malnourished, I thought she was younger than her actual age, which was twelve. I remember carrying her inside and fighting with Rosa. I remember Rosa boxing my ears and telling me the first time that kid cried, she’d throw us both in the alley with the rats. I remember the terror I felt that night and Molly falling asleep so quietly with her head on my chest.

She needed me. She loved me, and I loved her fiercely in return.

I remember her running around the theater, a sweet and innocent kid never suspecting the hawk was circling above, watching her, closing in to steal her soul and warp her future. I’ll never forgive myself for what happened to her. I’ll never forgive myself for not being there to protect her.

A flash of pain moves through my stomach, and I remember someone saying the same words to me not so long ago…

Walking to the edge of the water, I look out at the surf, at the waves rushing in and out. I think about how nothing bad can happen here. The sins of the past are far, far away from this beautiful place.

Only it’s a lie.

The sins of the past are never far away.

We carry them with us in our hearts wherever we go.

No matter how far we run, we can never outrun ourselves.

Tears are in my eyes, and I blink them away. My emotions are so close to the surface these days. I squat and wrap my arms around my knees, holding my insides together and wishing…

My wishes never come true.

“Lara!” A strong male voice cuts through the breeze.

For a moment I don’t believe it. It’s a wish caught on the wind and carried away out to sea.

“Lara!” It’s louder this time, closer.

Nervous anticipation floods my chest. I stand and look up and over my shoulder. The staircase where Molly descended is empty. The one ahead of it is empty as well.

Was it a dream?

Another shout, and I realize it’s coming from behind me. Turning, I see a tall figure jogging down the steps. He’s alone, and he’s moving fast. I look around, and no one is here. I have nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.

My heart alternates between beating out of my chest and dying. I’m back on that train, seeing him for the first time out of the blue, completely caught off-guard, alternately panicking and rejoicing… He’s alive!

He’s wearing faded jeans and a plain white t-shirt. His caramel hair is a little longer, but not much. It moves in the breeze as he approaches me.

He’s strong and pure and gorgeous as ever, and the way we touched, our glorious reunion is stronger and hotter in my memory than the sun climbing higher in the sky.

I want to cry. I want to sing. I want to hold him…

But now everything has changed.

Read UNDER THE STARS Today!

(Free in Kindle Unlimited)

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2CIZu53

Amazon Universal: http://mybook.to/UndertheStarsTL

Paperback: http://smarturl.it/UTSAp

 

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CHRISTIE’S REVIEW

5 FREAKING AMAZING STARS!!!!!

OMG!!! What a ride Tia Louise just took me on, filled with action, suspense, love, and some steamy romance!!! I thought the first book of the duet was outstanding, but she blew this one completely out of the water.

I don’t want to go into much detail because I would never want to spoil a thing for readers. Quite some time has passed since the ending of the first book, but it starts out with a bang and with a few surprises. Mark is bound and determined to not let Lara out of his grasp again. You have to love a man with that kind of tenacity. A great deal of this book involves suspense and a quest for vengeance. I thought Lara was a tough cookie in book 1, but she amazed me even more in this book. I liked the fact that Louise continued to build and strengthen the love between Mark and Lara. She also gave her readers a more in-depth look into Molly. She was a major player in this book.

This duet is a completely different type of second chance romance! As in book 1, there is darkness and pain, but Louise also gave us light, joy, hope, and second chances. If you are looking for something different, I highly recommend reading these two books! The icing on the cake…the ENDING! OMG!!! I can’t wait to see what is next.

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Start the series with UNDER THE LIGHTS for only 99¢!

(Free in Kindle Unlimited)

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2qxaKwe

Amazon Universal: http://mybook.to/UndertheLights

Paperback: http://amzn.to/2CZozX5

About the Author:

Tia Louise is the USA Today best-selling, award-winning author of When We Touch, the “One to Hold” and “Dirty Players” series, and co-author of the #4 Amazon bestseller The Last Guy.

She loves all the books (as long as they have romance), all the chocolate (as long as it’s dark), strong coffee and sparkling wine.

After being a teacher, a book editor, a journalist, and finally a magazine editor, she started writing love stories and never stopped.

Louise lives in the Midwest with her trophy husband, two teenage geniuses, and one grumpy cat.

Connect with Tia:

Website: Http://www.AuthorTiaLouise.com

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Amazon Author Page: http://smarturl.it/TLMAA

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Gold (Dangerous Games Book 3) by Adele Huxley Release Blitz

Gold by Adele Huxley is LIVE!

Title: Gold

Author: Adele Huxley

Publication Date: Jan 30 2018

Cover Designer: T.E. Black Designs

Genre: Action-Adventure, Mystery, Suspense

 

Perfect if you love: Hate-to-love, sarcasm, adrenaline action, unpredictable twists, complex relationships, the Olympics, and romance series!

 

Ending: Happily For Now (Series concludes in Platinum – Dangerous Games 4)

A fight for survival

 

Ambushed. Attacked. Kidnapped. Penny, Phoenix, and the others are held hostage in a freezing barn. Their chances of escape are slim, slimmer still if Penny can’t figure out who she can trust. 

 

Penny didn’t come to the Unity Games to make friends, yet the ambush back at the Lodge stung to the core. Unwilling to blow her cover, she’s ready to put some distance between her and Phoenix’s accusing eyes. Figures he’d be the one the kidnappers tie her to. 

 

Phoenix isn’t having a good week. Heartbroken, scared, and now held hostage. Their only hope of getting out alive is intrinsically tied to trust. Can he believe her? Can she let him in? Will they break through their issues before the kidnapping turns deadly?

Amazon US ➳ http://amzn.to/2DMzBSl

Amazon UK ➳ http://amzn.to/2nfAYhX

Kobo ➳ http://bit.ly/2Bvfcfl

Goodreads ➳ http://bit.ly/2GiGfhu

Google Play ➳ http://bit.ly/2Ec40Hw

Nook ➳ Coming soon!

iTunes ➳ Coming soon!

 

Adele Huxley writes romantic suspense, thrillers, and lots of other things that make your heart race. With a BA in creative writing, Adele has been writing her entire life. She loves to travel, has lived in several countries and states, and splits her time between the US and the UK.

 

Get an exclusive short story, STRIP, here: www.adelehuxley.com

Like on Facebook: www.facebook.com/adelehuxleywrites/

Email Adele: adelehuxleywrites@gmail.com

Follow on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Adele-Huxley/e/B00LOK9KGK

 

Say You’ll Remember Me by Katie McGarry Release Day Launch with 5 ++ Stars! Fantastic Read!!!!

 

 

From critically acclaimed author Katie McGarry, comes SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME—a story of two people from different worlds pushing themselves, and each other, to get what they deserve!

SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME is now available at all fine book retailers. Grab your copy today!

 

 

SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME Synopsis:

“Doesn’t matter who did it. Not anymore. I did the time. It’s over.”

When Drix was convicted of a crime–one he didn’t commit–he thought his life was over. But opportunity came with the Second Chance Program, the governor’s newest pet project to get delinquents off the streets, rehabilitated and back into society. Drix knows this is his chance to get his life back on track, even if it means being paraded in front of reporters for a while.

Elle knows she lives a life of privilege. As the governor’s daughter, she can open doors with her name alone. But the expectations and pressure to be someone she isn’t may be too much to handle. She wants to follow her own path, whatever that means.

When Drix and Elle meet, their connection is immediate, but so are their problems. Drix is not the type of boy Elle’s parents have in mind for her, and Elle is not the kind of girl who can understand Drix’s messy life.

But sometimes love can breach all barriers.

Fighting against a society that can’t imagine them together, Drix and Elle must push themselves–Drix to confront the truth of the robbery, and Elle to assert her independence–and each other to finally get what they deserve.

 

Grab your copy of SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME here!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Google Play | BAM | Kobo

 

 

 

 

Add it to your Goodreads Now!

 

 

 

 

EXCERPT:

Hendrix

“Everyone says you have a blank slate.” My brother Axle sits beside me on the ground, arms resting on his bent knees, and he stares at the bonfire I built with my own two hands with only flint and sticks. It’s one of the many tricks I learned over the last three months. That and how to survive on my own in the middle of nowhere.

Trees and bears I can handle. It’s not knowing who I can trust, now that I’m home, that’s the problem. Axle knows this. It’s why he’s next to me as our friends and family walk around the backyard for the impromptu “Welcome Home” party I told Axle I didn’t want.

Someone in this yard is the reason why I spent a year away from home for a crime I didn’t commit.

My neck tenses, and I roll it in an attempt to release the anger. It took me close to eight months to find some Zen, and it has taken less than thirty minutes for some of the old underlying rage that followed me around like a black thunderhead to return.

Across from us, two girls I used to go to school with are roasting marshmallows. They’re waiting for me to talk to them. That’s who I was before: the smooth talker, the guy who made girls laugh and caused them to light up with a few specially chosen words. The right smile dropped at the right time, and panties would be shed. But I don’t feel up for conversation and I don’t feel like manipulating anyone anymore.

Crazy—I used to thrive when surrounded by people. The more, the better. But after being in juvenile detention for seven months and spending three in the wilderness taking part in an Outward Bound program for troubled teens, I’m more at ease by myself in front of a fire.

“They’ve all confirmed you’re walking out of all this with sealed records,” Axle continues.

Hel’s leaving out the part of how those records only remain sealed if I uphold my end of the plea deal—the agreement I made with the district attorney after I was arrested. I agreed to plead guilty, and the DA didn’t charge me as an adult and send me to hard-core prison. Considering we had no money for a lawyer to help prove my innocence, the deal sounded like the better of two bad options.

“You’re getting a massive second chance,” Axle says.

It was rotten luck that got me into this mess, but it happened at the right time. Our governor was searching for screwed-up teens to use for his pilot program. Someone high up in the world thought I stood a chance at turning my life around, but that second chance comes with a price. A price my brother is currently breaking down for me.

“This is a good thing. A blank slate. Not many people get one of those.”

Blank slate. That’s what I’m scared of. I may not have liked parts of the person I was before I was arrested, but at least I knew who I was. This blank slate, this chance to create someone new, scares me. This is a new type of pressure. At least I had a good excuse for being a delinquent before. Now, if I mess up, it’s because I’m truly broke.

The fire crackles then pops, and embers rise into the late May night. My younger sister laughs at the other end of the narrow yard near the aging shotgun house, and the sound is like an eight-eight beat with a high hat cymbal. It’s welcomed, and it’s the first time this feels like home.

She’s sixteen now, grown up faster than I’d prefer, and she’s one of the four people I love more than my own life. She’s also the only reason I’m still out here instead of holed up in my room. According to Axle, it was Holiday’s idea to set up the party.

Old Christmas lights are strung from one towering oak tree to the next, zigzagging green, red and blue across the yard. Most people brought their own chairs and a dish to share. My first meal as a free man and it’s hamburgers, hot dogs and potato salad. I don’t have the heart to tell her I would have given my left ball for a slice of thick crust pizza.

“She missed you,” Axle says, catching my train of sight.

“I missed her, too.” Those are my first words since we pulled in the driveway. I used to be the life of the party, but that was before, and as I said, I don’t know who I am anymore, so for now, I’m quiet.

“I missed you,” he says in such a low tone I barely catch it. “We weren’t the same without you.”

I take a deep breath because I’m not sure any of us will be the same again.

 

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CHRISTIE’S REVIEW

~~5 ++ STARS~~

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING BOOK by Katie McGarry!!!! This year has been amazing so far for new releases, and McGarry is the newest addition to my top reads of 2018!

Hendrix and Elle are complete opposites in every sense of the word. He has just been released from an experimental juvenile program that sends kids convicted of crimes to a facility that provides treatment and counseling and then an outdoor program instead of prison, the Second Chance Program. He comes a broken family with an absent mother and father. His brother Axle is the one constant in his life, along with his sister, Holiday. Elle is the governor’s daughter, the same governor who started the Second Chance Program. She has all the things that Hendrix and his family never had…two involved parents and safety. They are two people who would never travel in the same circles, yet when a chance encounter has a domino effect, they both discover they do have something in common…they need to find out who they really are and the freedom to pursue their dreams.

Hendrix and Elle fascinated me from the very beginning. The story is told in their own voices which illustrates what complex and multi-layered characters they were. Hendrix is the first to admit he was a jerk who only cared about himself before he was convicted of a crime and sent to the Second Chance Program. He has a chance to start with a “blank slate,” but he is unsure of what that is. He’s numb, cutting off all feelings and emotions, afraid if he allows them out, he will find himself right back where he started, except this time in a jail cell. He definitely wants to change his life and do something with it, so he’s extremely careful in what he does. When he sees Elle, he finally feels something. He knows she is something special.

“She was a cool breeze after a hot humid rain. She was that first ray of sunshine in the dark woods. She was the first d**n things that made me forget who I am and what I’ve gotten myself into over the past year. That means she was out of my league.”

He does his best to keep his distance, especially when he finds out she is the daughter of the governor, the man who has Hendrix’s fate in his very hands. But, circumstances will push these two very close.

Ellie was such strong young woman, even if those closest to her never realized so much. The only ones who do are her brother, Henry, and Hendrix. She is an instrument her family uses for their own political purposes. She feels the pressure to live up to her parents’ unrealistic expectations, always having to put aside her dreams for them. Hendrix allows her the ability to be herself and share with him her aspirations for the future. She lives with all sorts of chances others aren’t afforded, yet she is just as much a prisoner as Hendrix is. I loved the way their relationship was developed. They were friends first and then more, even though Hendrix was understandably hesitant at first. I just prayed these two could find their own way together.

Not only was this a book about romance and self-discovery, it took a hard and much needed look at the inequality in our legal system and access to education and the darker side of politics. Hendrix found a much deeper purpose in advocating for the program that changed his life and had the potential to change other at-risk kids’ lives. Through Elle’s father, I saw that wanting to make a positive change and becoming a politician are quite different. They can begin hand-in-hand, yet sacrifices and decisions are made that could well help a majority, but what about the individual. That was a hard question that I’m not sure will ever be answered. Not all politicians are evil, some are human who have very hard decisions to make, and not all of them are good.

With the added suspense and quest to prove Hendrix’s innocence just made the book that much better. I can’t end my review without highlighting the sense of family and friendship in the book. Hendrix’s brother, Axle, was one of the biggest heroes in the book, not with extravagant gestures of love but with simple gestures done daily that showed his family how much they were loved. If you are looking for a young adult romance with great depth and emotions, look no further than Say You’ll Remember Me.

 

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Order your copy of SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME, register and you will receive AND THEY ALL LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER, a novella that features your favorite Pushing the Limits and Thunder Road characters!

From the Pushing the Limits series, Noah, Beth, Isaiah, West and Logan are all grown up. Catch up with your favorite characters as one of them finally says, I do.

Pigpen, Eli and Addison from the Thunder Road series: Three separate personalities who still needed to find love…and still had someone important to meet.

This is a limited time offer! So hurry! Registration ends on February 3, 2018! You must register your order to receive AND THEY ALL LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

https://a.pgtb.me/4tLZSM

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

About Katie McGarry:

Katie McGarry was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.

Katie is the author of full length YA novels, PUSHING THE LIMITS, DARE YOU TO, CRASH INTO YOU, TAKE ME ON, BREAKING THE RULES, and NOWHERE BUT HERE and the e-novellas, CROSSING THE LINE and RED AT NIGHT. Her debut YA novel, PUSHING THE LIMITS was a 2012 Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction, a RT Magazine’s 2012 Reviewer’s Choice Awards Nominee for Young Adult Contemporary Novel, a double Rita Finalist, and a 2013 YALSA Top Ten Teen Pick. DARE YOU TO was also a Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction and won RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice Best Book Award for Young Adult Contemporary fiction in 2013.

 

 

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Claimed by Jenika Snow Release Day Blitz with Excerpt

 

 

 

Amazon

 

 

 

 

The world that was once known is gone. In its place is a society where the rich rule, and the female population is auctioned off to the highest bidder.

Claire

Xavier saved me, purchasing me off the auction block and making me feel human again. Although I knew he wanted me, could see it in the way he watched me, he never touched me.
But I wanted him to.
I wanted to feel what it would be like to have his big body over mine, his strong hands running over my bare flesh. I shouldn’t want a man like him: rich, dangerous … one of the elite.
But I did.
Maybe it was time to break free from my shell and give myself something I deserved … him.

Xavier

I had money and power, and I used those to my advantage, to purchase women from the auction under the guise that they were for me. But they weren’t. I purchased them to set them free. I’d been doing it for years without romantic attachment to any of them … until Claire came into my life.
And once I saw her, I knew she’d be the one I couldn’t let go. She’d be my downfall, but I was more than ready to fall to my knees and worship the ground she walked on.

Warning: Set in the same world as Mine To Keep, but a total standalone, this story is a safe read with a happily ever after. It might be short, but it promises to make you blush and reach for a fan. There is no OW/OM drama, just one alpha hero who knows what he wants … the heroine.

 

 

 

Claire

I shivered, the thin gown I was wearing barely keeping the chill off my body. I couldn’t see much aside from the bright lights that illuminated the stage. There were several other women behind me, some of them crying, others so emotionless I wondered if they were already broken.
All of us were property.
This was the world I lived in, where being a fertile female made me someone else’s property.
I knew out there, in the crowd hidden behind shadows, were wealthy men of all ages. They’d purchase us, do whatever they wanted with us. We’d be nothing but chattel to them, a shiny new toy for them to use … to abuse. The society I lived in was barbaric, where humans could be taken against their will and sold off to someone who had the right amount of coin.
That thought had fear freezing my body.
How I wished I lived in a time where this was only read about in fiction, where it wasn’t a reality. How I wished I could go to the past, where society wasn’t fucked-up and people weren’t starving.
Would the person who purchased me use me as a sex slave, strictly to get them off? Or maybe they’d use me as a breeder, a vessel to carry their heir and pass on their lineage. Either way, all I wanted to do was run off the stage and escape, but I knew I wouldn’t make it. I knew I would be captured before I even got to the front doors.
I felt my hands shaking, and soon my entire body followed suit. It was a silent auction, one where I wouldn’t know who purchased me until it was far too late.
It was already too late.
And so I closed my eyes, focusing on something else, somewhere else. I thought about the small camp of “runaways” I’d been staying with, men and women who were against how the world was, how the government could sell humans as if they were nothing more than a new toy.
I stood there, my eyes closed, my thoughts on being free, on being alone in the woods where I could pretend that where I was, wasn’t the end of the line for me. I didn’t know how long I stood there, not focused on anything but myself, but I finally felt someone take hold of my arm and cart me offstage.
I was led into the back hallways, pushed into a room where I was changed into a thicker gown, my feet shoved into flats, my hair haphazardly put into a messy bun. I had a bracelet snapped around my wrist, a number etched all around it … my new owner’s purchase number.
And so it is. I am a piece of property.
Once I was dressed and ready for my hell-on-earth future, I was again led toward the back. There I saw two double doors wide open, the breeze washing over me and almost making me cry. I could see the woods just behind, so close yet so far away. I wanted to run, but I didn’t want to make this harder on myself. I didn’t want to make my life even more miserable than I knew it already would be.
It can’t get any worse. Death would be far more humane.
And then, once I was outside, I tugged on the two men leading me. They tightened their holds until the pain lanced up my arms. There, waiting no more than a few feet from me, was a dark car, shiny, reeking of money. The back door was opened by what I could only assume was a servant of the man awaiting me inside. God, would he be old? Would he be gentle or cruel and violent to me?
Nothing was said, no words spoken. I was, after all, nothing more than chattel to them.
Once in the car, my eyes adjusted to the darkness. I could see his big body across from me, the shadows partially hiding his face. My heart was beating so fast, and I felt sweat start to cover my body in fearful beads of emotion.
The vehicle started moving, and I curled my hands into tight fists, afraid to breathe, let alone say anything. And then he leaned forward, the light finally making a swatch across his face. He was brutally handsome, with dark hair and even darker eyes. I saw the tattoos that covered his body, not something that was practiced much anymore, but seeming to make my heart beat harder, painfully fast.
He was older, maybe in his thirties, still much older than my mere twenty years. But he appeared wiser, as if he’d seen more than he should have, experienced more than he’d wanted to.
And then he leaned forward, grabbed my hand in his much bigger one, and I swear I felt fire kick across my skin. The cuff of his jacket rode up slightly, and I saw the tattoos painting his wrist and creeping up his forearm.
I was frozen in place, my muscles tensed, not knowing what he was going to do. He stared into my eyes, his so dark, so deep. Who was this man? Why was he making me feel like I was on edge? Why was he making me feel aroused with just a touch? I should be disgusted by him, frightened because I had no idea what he would do to me.
But he said nothing, his big body making me feel so small, so vulnerable. And then, before I could realize what he was doing, he tore the property bracelet from my wrist. I felt my eyes widen as I realized what he’d just done. That simple act was one of rebellion. I was not his property, and he’d made that clear without saying one word.
Without saying anything, he leaned back, swallowed by the shadows of the interior of the car once more.
My heart thundered so hard and fast, worse than when I’d stood on that auction block not knowing what my future held. The car ride seemed endless. But eventually we were slowing and I glanced out the tinted window to see a massive estate coming into view. Although I wasn’t looking at the man, I could feel his gaze on me, like tendrils of fire moving along my skin. It was as if he was reaching out and stroking my arms with his fingertips. But I refused to look at him. He might have taken off the bracelet, but that didn’t mean I knew what was going to happen or if he would let me go. I could’ve laughed at my thoughts.
Let me go? No doubt he paid an exorbitant amount of money for me.
The vehicle came to a stop, and I sat there, my breathing increasing as I thought about all the horrible things that might happen once I stepped inside that house.
“You’re safe,” the man finally said, his voice so deep, so masculine I felt it race up my spine.
I looked at him then. He leaned forward so the light moved along his face once more.
“No one will ever hurt you again. I’ll make sure you’re protected and healed properly; then after that, you’re free to go.”
I felt my eyes widen. “Free to go?” I whispered. Although I wanted to escape, I also knew I didn’t have anywhere safe to run to. The chances of being caught again played through my head like a horror movie.
“Yes. I can set you up in a safe house once I know you’ll be protected and they can’t find you again.”
I couldn’t believe what was happening right now. “I don’t understand.” I could have cried, and in fact I felt a single tear slip out of the corner of my eye.
“We can talk about this more once you’re inside, a change of clothes covering you, and a warm meal in your belly.”
I felt dizzy, like if I stood right now, I might faint. He helped me out of the vehicle and all I could do was lean on him for support, not sure if I was dreaming or if this was reality. I looked up at him, his body so much bigger than mine. Could this be real? Could I actually be … free?
* * *
Xavier

She’s mine.
Those words slammed into my head over and over again, a derailed train about to crash and destroy anything and everything in its path. I couldn’t control it, couldn’t stop the deep rumble that came from me. I could see her eyes widen farther, the blues so startling they made my heart slam harder in my chest. The long fall of her blonde hair had my hands twitching, my fingers tingling. I wanted to touch the locks, wanted to see if they felt as soft as they looked.
Get yourself under fucking control.
I exhaled slowly, reining in my control. I wasn’t about to lose my shit. I couldn’t, not in front of her.
My words had shocked her. It was unbelievable to her, I was sure. I had purchased her just to set her free. But as I stared at her, something in me shifted. I didn’t want to set her free, not because I was a sadistic bastard, but because for the first time in my life I finally felt something come alive in me.
It had taken one look, one sound of her voice, and this possessive side in me came forth like a dangerous beast. I was doing everything in my power to be calm, to keep collected and be stoic. No need to frighten her further. She needed to earn my trust, know that I wouldn’t hurt her.
But despite all of that, I could only think about was how I wanted.
She is mine. She will be mine.
And as those words beat in my head like a war drum, a song before a battle, I knew she was different. She was so very different from any woman I’d ever seen, ever known.
Mine.
“What’s your name?” My voice was thick, scratchy. I’d kept in the shadows of the car, watching her, seeing her reaction play across her face. She licked her lips, and I lowered my gaze to watch the act.
“Claire,” she said in the sweetest, softest voice I’d ever heard, a song from the very heavens above.
My body became tense, my blood rushing through my veins. I wanted to protect her, to kill anyone who ever hurt her, who dared to even think about doing so. I wanted blood on my hands, bodies at my feet. It would all be in the name of Claire. I’d always been protective of the women I saved, but this was different. Where I felt an almost parental connection to those woman, a part of me wanting to care for them because they’d had such a rough go at life, with Claire I felt something much more personal. I was protective of her, territorial of her, not only because I wanted to make sure she was safe, but because I wanted her as my own.
I watched her, not saying anything for long seconds. When I finally felt in control and knew I could say anything without sounding like a ravished animal, I spoke. “I’m Xavier…”
And you’re mine.

 

 

 

Jenika Snow is a USA Today Bestselling Author that lives in the northwest with her husband and their two daughters. Before she started writing full-time she worked as a nurse.

 

Author Links

 

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HEAVENLY PLEASURES ( For Heaven’s Sake Book 1) by Isla Dennes Release Blitz with Excerpt & Giveaway

HEAVENLY PLEASURES

Isla Dennes

Series: For Heaven’s Sake Book 1
Genre: Chick Lit, Comedy, Romance
Publisher: Totally Bound
Publication Date: January 30, 2018

At Heavenly Pleasures, quite a lot of things are possible…

Meet Brooke, a self-confessed shopaholic turned reluctant brothel receptionist, as she stumbles through life, trying to live up to her parents’ and fiancé’s high expectations—at the cost of her now low self-esteem.

Who would have thought a group of working girls would help her rediscover her inner strength and finally tackle her personal demons? But at Heavenly Pleasures, the rules are made to be broken and new opportunities are just around the corner…

Add to Goodreads

Purchase Links

Amazon | Totally Bound

Excerpt

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Scarlett asked, taking in my pale face and trembling hands.

“Some bloke just walked in here and asked me to have sex with him!”

Uggh! And he’d been all greasy black hair, gold fillings and overgrown ’tache, like an aging porn star. I stifled the urge to throw up.

Shaking her head in disgust, Scarlett rolled her eyes. “Hate to break it to you, precious, but you are working in a brothel, you know.”

“But—”

“But nothing. What the hell did you expect him to ask for, a burger and fries?”

“I kept telling him I was only the receptionist, but he didn’t seem to care. He told me he’d pay extra if he had to.” I fought to calm my racing heart and queasy stomach.

Scarlett’s eyes narrowed. She didn’t look happy. It occurred to me that maybe I should have kept my mouth shut.

“What do you mean extra? How much extra?”

“Um…” I swallowed hard. “Three hundred dollars.”

The temperature in the room plummeted as a blast of ice-cold fury filled the air.

“What!” she screeched. “And you turned him down?”

“But—”

“Jesus Christ!” she hissed and bolted over to the waiting room. “Shit, where the hell is he now?”

My glance flickered toward the door. Scarlett’s followed. For the briefest of moments, I thought she was going to drag him back in and make him apologize for being an insensitive bastard.

Instead her eyes widened in shock. “What! You let him walk out of here? You selfish fucking cow. You mightn’t have wanted him, but what about the rest of us girls? Three hundred bucks and you just let him walk out of here? Jesus! Prue is going to go off her nut when she hears about this.”

Prue was the Madame and owner of Heavenly Pleasures. An outwardly serene woman with immaculate hair, but nonetheless seriously scary with a sinister reputation, not unlike Cruella DeVille on a bad day, and therefore someone I did not want to cross.

“Oh, please don’t say anything,” I begged, on the verge of tears. “Look, I promise if he comes back in, I’ll call you out straight away—before JoJo. Just don’t mention it to Prue. I was just a bit taken aback, that’s all, and didn’t know what to do.”

This part was true. Haggling for sex wasn’t something we’d covered in secretarial college. Maybe it was the look of pure terror on my face or possibly Scarlett was in a rare compassionate mood, but after a moment’s hesitation she stopped scowling, her expression softening in what could well have been pity.

“Okay. I won’t say anything—this time,” came with reluctance. “But of course I’ll expect some more bookings, if you get my meaning.”

Yes—her meaning was loud and clear. She was blackmailing me, but I was in no position to protest. I nodded.

Her mood lightened. “Hey, cheer up, will you? So what if some ugly punter wanted a poke? Jeez, you’re not the first one to have the hard word put on them by some tosser, believe me. Guys come in here, think they’re God’s gift to women and although they know you’re not a worker, it gives them a sick thrill to think they can convince you to drop to your knees for a blow job—even if it is for three hundred dollars.” She threw me a disgusted look and shook her head in disbelief. “I reckon in their pathetic little minds they’re convinced they’ve seduced you with their hot looks and charm. Losers, that’s what they are. Anyway, I suppose it’s probably just as well you didn’t take him up on it.”

“Really?” I brightened, seeing it as a sign I was forgiven.

“Yeah, the girls would have flattened you if you had.”

Oh, God. I felt ill. What on earth had happened to my perfect life?

Two months ago, I had never met or even spoken to a prostitute. Two months ago, I’d had no idea brothels even existed outside the red light district of King’s Cross. Two months ago, I’d thought French, Spanish and Greek were southern Europeans rather than hooker code for certain sexual practices. And two months ago, I’d been happily looking forward to marrying my fiancé, Brad, an up-and-coming lawyer who planned to be the youngest junior partner in the law firm where he worked.

Yes, two months ago my life had all been mapped out before me.

But that was before a day out in the city to catch up with an old friend triggered a series of events that would ultimately bring about my downfall. Yep, it was at that point I can honestly say my life had bit the big one, nose-diving to newly discovered depths of desperation and despair. I was completely screwed and I didn’t have anyone to blame but myself…

About Isla Dennes

Married, mother of one son and three daughters, Isla Dennes developed a love for writing while employed in her dream job as the owner of a book shop situated in a seaside resort town in NSW, Australia. Not content in simply reading every book in the store, she found herself compelled to create novels of her own.

Had she concentrated more on sales and less on writing she might well have retired a wealthy woman, but writing won out in the end, with the result being a lifelong passion for creative writing across a number of genres, including a brief but regrettable sojourn into horribly sentimental New-aged poetry which is best forgotten.

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Giveaway

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Contest runs from January 15 – February 1, 2018. Click here to enter.

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Hostage by Annika Martin & Skye Warren Release Blitz

Hostage by Skye Warren & Annika Martin

Publication Date: January 30^th, 2018

Genre: Romantic Suspense

I never knew when he’d come to me. Only that he would.

I’d never even kissed a boy the night I met Stone. The night I saw him kill. The night he spared my life. That was only the beginning.

He turns up in my car again and again, dangerous and full of raw power. “Drive,” he tells me, and I have no choice. He’s a criminal with burning green eyes, invading my life and my dreams.

The police say he’s dangerously obsessed with me, but I’m the one who can’t stop thinking about him. Maybe it’s wrong to let him touch me. Maybe it’s wrong to touch him back. Maybe these twisted dates need to stop. Except he feels like the only real thing in my world of designer labels and mansions.

So I drive us under threat, until it’s hard to remember I don’t want to be there.

Until it’s too late to turn back.

HOSTAGE is a dangerous standalone romance by New York Times bestselling authors Skye Warren and Annika Martin. It’s set in the same world as PRISONER, but can read separately!

Read Today!

 

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Read Prisoner for FREE! Limited Time Only

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Google Play: http://bit.ly/2rP7SLM

Meet the Authors:

Skye Warren:

Skye Warren is the New York Times bestselling author of dangerous romance such as the Endgame trilogy. Her books have been featured in Jezebel, Buzzfeed, USA Today Happily Ever After, Glamour, and Elle Magazine. She makes her home in Texas with her loving family, sweet dogs, and evil cat.

Connect with Skye:

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skyewarren

Twitter: https://twitter.com/skye_warren

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Website: http://www.skyewarren.com

Newsletter: www.skyewarren.com/newsletter

Annika Martin:

Annika Martin loves fun, dirty stories, hot heroes, and wild, dramatic everything. She enjoys hanging out in Minneapolis coffee shops with her writer husband, and also likes birdwatching at her bird feeder alongside her two stunningly photogenic cats, especially when she should be writing. She’s heavy into running, music, saving the planet, taking long baths, and consuming chocolate suckers. She’s worked a surprisingly large number of waitressing jobs, and has also worked in a plastics factory and the advertising trenches; her garden is total bee-friendly madness and her most unfavorite word is nosh or possibly fob. A NYT bestselling author, she has also written as RITA award-winning author Carolyn Crane.

Connect with Annika:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnikaMartinBooks

Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AnnikaMartinFabulousGang/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Annika_Martin

Stay up to date with Annika by joining her mailing list: http://www.annikamartinbooks.com/newletter/

Website: http://www.annikamartinbooks.com

Heat (A Dark Kings Novel) by Donna Grant Release Blitz

HEAT, an all-new dragon romance from Donna Grant is LIVE!

He knew her round eyes and the deep shade of brown along with the band of black that encircled her irises. He knew the slope of her breasts, the indent of her waist, and the flare of her hips. He knew the way she preferred to wear muted colors to help her blend in with a crowd. It had taken one look to put all that to memory, but he found his eyes going to her again and again, as if he couldn’t get enough.

Nikolai is a dragon shapeshifter who knows well the meaning of loss. Orphaned and raised to be a Dragon King, he never accepts defeat. Now, Nikolai prefers his solitude. . .until a beautiful, irresistible woman calls upon him for help—and Nikolai’s whole world goes up in flames.

Ever since MI5 agent Esther woke to discover her mind taken over with magic, she feels like a stranger to herself. She looks to a notorious dragon, one who has the power to help her find her memory. But as she and Nikolai come closer to discovering what really happened to her, a dangerous passion ignites between them. Can this lone Dragon King help the woman he’s grown to love to uncover the truth about her past—or will a deep and fiery danger tear them both apart in Heat, the next Dark Kings novel by New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant.

Read Today!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2BINMDZ

Amazon Universal: myBook.to/HeatDragonRomance

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Kobo: http://bit.ly/2jaeUUY

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2iKxx4A

About Donna:

Donna Grant is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the sizzling Dark King series featuring dragons, immortal Highlanders, and the Fae.

She was born and raised in Texas but loves to travel. Her adventures have taken her throughout the United States as well as to Jamaica, Mexico, and Scotland. Growing up on the Texas/Louisiana border, Donna’s Cajun side of the family taught her the “spicy” side of life while her Texas roots gave her two-steppin’ and bareback riding.

Despite deadlines and voracious reading, Donna still manages to keep up with her two children, four cats, and one long haired Chihuahua.

Connect with Donna:

Text → text DRAGONKING to 24587


FB → facebook.com/AuthorDonnaGrant


FB Group→ http://bit.ly/DGGroupies


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Spotify Playlists→ http://bit.ly/donnagrant_author


Website→ www.DonnaGrant.com


DK Website→ www.MotherOfDragonsBooks.com

 

Dirty (The Conclusion to the Bad Series)by LP Lovell & Stevie J. Cole Release Blitz

Dirty, the conclusion to the Bad Series by LP Lovell and Stevie J. Cole is NOW AVAILABLE!

 

Synopsis

Power is rarely an addiction of the pure. And he and I are both irrevocably tainted.

He should be the enemy, but Ronan Cole is an addiction that has driven me to madness. Back and forth we go, up and down, round and round. I want him. I hate him. I love him. I kill him. I…need him. No man will ever love me with such twisted depravity. Together we are unstoppable.

But what happens when an enemy dares to comes after us?

The hunt is always better when the queen is just as hungry as her king.

This love story has no heroes.

 

 

Grab your copy of Dirty Today!

Free in KindleUnlimited

Amazon US – http://amzn.to/2Fk4z14

Amazon UK – http://amzn.to/2BvxsVR

Amazon CA – http://amzn.to/2ndFPRv

Start the Series Now with Bad!

Amazon US- http://amzn.to/2zTSSLW

Amazon UK – http://amzn.to/2z6pYel

Amazon CA – http://amzn.to/2zmxFvh

 

 

About Stevie J. Cole

Stevie J. Cole likes to write realistic stories with raw, gritty characters you should hate but can’t help but to love.

She’s obsessed with rock music, loves sloths, and has an unnatural obsession with British accents.

Her books are not recommended for the faint of heart.

 

Follow Stevie J. Cole

Facebook – http://bit.ly/2AoG2GO

Website – http://www.steviejcole.com

Goodreads – http://bit.ly/1FpGPSf

Amazon – http://amzn.to/2zlLzjg

Twitter – https://twitter.com/steviejcole

 

 

About LP Lovell

Lauren Lovell is an indie author from England. She suffers from a total lack of brain to mouth filter and is the friend you have to explain before you introduce her to anyone, and apologise for afterwards.

She’s a self confessed shameless pervert, who may be suffering from slight peen envy.

Follow LP Lovell

Facebook – http://bit.ly/2lUaTHQ

Website – http://www.lplovell.com

Goodreads – http://bit.ly/2sYnPyU

Amazon – http://amzn.to/2y8LonN

Twitter – @Authorlplovell

 

1001 Dark Nights Bundle Release Day Launch

 

 

We are absolutely thrilled to bring you the newest 1001 Dark Nights bundle! Introducing Discovery Author JB Salsbury, the Bundle contains 5 novellas, including novellas from New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors Kristen Ashley, Carrie Ann Ryan, K. Bromberg, Joanna Wylde! Grab your copy of this incredible bundle today!

 

 

About 1001 Dark Nights Bundle:

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors Kristen Ashley, Carrie Ann Ryan, K. Bromberg, Joanna Wylde, and introducing JB Salsbury.

Five Dark Tales. Five Sensual Stories. Five Page Turners.

Rock Chick Reawakening: A Rock Chick Novellaby Kristen Ashley

A prequel to Kristen’s Rock Chick series, Rock Chick Reawakening shares the tale of the devastating event that nearly broke Daisy, an event that set Marcus Sloan—one of Denver’s most respected businessmen and one of the Denver underground’s most feared crime bosses—into finally making his move to win the heart of the woman who stole his.

Adoring Ink: A Montgomery Ink Novella by Carrie Ann Ryan

Holly Rose fell in love with a Montgomery, but left him when he couldn’t love her back. She might have been the one to break the ties and ensure her ex’s happy ending, but now Holly’s afraid she’s missed out on more than a chance at forever. Brody Deacon loves ink, women, fast cars, and living life like there’s no tomorrow. The thing is, he doesn’t know if he has a tomorrow at all. When he sees Holly, he’s not only intrigued, he also hears the warnings of danger in his head. She’s too sweet, too innocent. But when Holly asks him to help her grab the bull by the horns, he can’t help but go all in.

Sweet Rivalry by K. Bromberg

Ryder Rodgers had a plan. He was going to stride into the conference room and win the biggest contract of his career. But when he walked in and heard the voice of one of his competitors, all his plans were shot to hell. Harper Denton was always on top. In college. First in their class. Always using every advantage to edge him out to win the coveted positions. The only one who could beat him. His academic rival. More like a constant thorn in his side. The fact that she’s gorgeous and bright won’t distract him. This time, Ryder’s determined to be the one on top. But not if Harper can help it.

Shade’s Lady: A Reapers MC Novella by Joanna Wylde

Looking back, none of this would’ve happened if I hadn’t dropped my phone in the toilet. I mean, I could’ve walked away from him if I’d had it with me. Or maybe not. Maybe it was all over the first time he saw me, and he would’ve found another way. Probably—if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that Shade always gets what he wants, and apparently he wanted me. Right from the first.

Fighting for Flight by JB Salsbury

What happens when in order to win, you’re forced to lose? The only daughter of an infamous Las Vegas pimp, Raven Morretti grew up an outsider. Liberated from the neglectful home of her prostitute mother, she finds solace as a mechanic. With few friends, she’s content with the simple life. Flying under the radar is all she knows and more than she expects. Until she catches the eye of local celebrity, UFL playboy, Jonah Slade. Jonah trades in his bad-boy reputation and puts his heart on the line. But when her father contacts her, setting in motion the ugly truth of her destiny, Jonah must choose.

Every Dark Nights tale is breathtakingly sexy and magically romantic.

 

 

 

Experience the 1001 Dark Nights Bundle Here…

 

 

Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CAN | Amazon AU

 

 

 

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About the 1001 Dark Nights Bundle Authors:

Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA and nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorize and she hadn’t taken her first breath!). Her mother said they took Kristen away, put her Mom back in her room, her mother looked out the window, and Gary was on fire (Dr. King had been assassinated four days before). Kristen’s Mom remembered thinking it was the end of the world. Quite the dramatic beginning.

Nothing’s changed.

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana and has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus, she’s blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her family was (is) loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. They all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing, it keeps getting better.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

 

 

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan never thought she’d be a writer. Not really. No, she loved math and science and even went on to graduate school in chemistry. Yes, she read as a kid and devoured teen fiction and Harry Potter, but it wasn’t until someone handed her a romance book in her late teens that she realized that there was something out there just for her. When another author suggested she use the voices in her head for good and not evil, The Redwood Pack and all her other stories were born.

Carrie Ann is a bestselling author of over twenty novels and novellas and has so much more on her mind (and on her spreadsheets *grins*) that she isn’t planning on giving up her dream anytime soon.

 

 

Website | Facebook | Twitter

 

 

New York Times bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines, and damaged heroes who we love to hate and hate to love.

She’s a mixture of most of her female characters: sassy, intelligent, stubborn, reserved, outgoing, driven, emotional, strong, and wears her heart on her sleeve. All of which she displays daily with her husband and three children where they live in Southern California.

On a whim, K. Bromberg decided to try her hand at this writing thing. Since then she has written The Driven Series (Driven, Fueled, Crashed, Raced, Aced), the standalone Driven Novels (Slow Burn, Sweet Ache, Hard Beat, and Down Shift), and a novella (UnRaveled).

 

 

Website | Facebook | Twitter

 

 

Joanna Wylde started her writing career in journalism, working in two daily newspapers as both a reporter and editor. Her career has included many different jobs, from managing a homeless shelter to running her own freelance writing business, where she took on projects ranging from fundraising to ghostwriting for academics. During 2012 she got her first Kindle reader as a gift and discovered the indie writing revolution taking place online. Not long afterward she started cutting back her client list to work on Reaper’s Property, her breakout book. It was published in January 2013, marking the beginning of a new career writing fiction.

Joanna lives in the mountains of northern Idaho with her family.

 

Website | Facebook | Twitter

 

 

J.B. Salsbury is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, two sassy daughters, and her boxer dogs.

Her love of good storytelling led her to earn a degree in Media Communications. With her journalistic background, writing has always been at the forefront, and her love of romance propelled her career as an author.

She spends the majority of her day behind the computer where a world of battling alphas, budding romance, and impossible obstacles claws away at her subconscious and begs to be released to the page.

For more information on her books, or just to say hello, visit JB on her website, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

 

 

Website | Facebook | Twitter

 

 

 

 

 

Tempting Love by Kelly Elliott Release Blitz with Excerpt

 

 

 

 

Can a woman actually make you feel like you’re losing your damn mind?

Yes.

If she is Corina Miller.

The only woman who has ever made me long for something more, and let me tell you, that has me all kinds of messed up. After months of ignoring my feelings, it’s clear to me I’ve fallen for those piercing blue eyes and sexy smile.

But is it too late?

Have I pushed her into the arms of someone else?

Hell no am I letting that happen.

I’m on a mission to win the heart of the only woman I’ve ever cared about—and the only thing standing in my way is one stubborn and pissed off Corina.

I always did like a challenge.

 

Amazon | iBooks | B &N | Kobo

 

 

 

EXCERPT

 

I followed him, my hands shaking as I grew angrier by the second. “That’s it? You’re going to let me move out?”

Mitchell reached for his keys, then turned to me. “I can’t force you to stay here, Corina. If you’re unhappy, then yes, you should leave. Do I want you to? No, I don’t. I know I fucked up, but if you’re going to throw it in my face every goddamn chance you get, then you’re right, this won’t work.”

He headed to the stairs that led down to his front door. My heart raced, and I knew I couldn’t leave it like this. Closing my eyes, I called out to him. “Mitch! You never asked me to the Pecan Street Honky Tonk.”

Stopping, he looked back up at me. “What?”

I swallowed hard and took in a quick breath. “The dance, you never asked me. And well, Lane asked me.”

Sadness swept over his face. “What did you tell him?”

Wringing my hands together, I answered, “I haven’t responded…yet. I was waiting for you.”

Mitchell rushed back up the steps and stopped in front of me. I don’t think I’d ever felt my stomach dip like it did when he raced toward me. He cupped my face and leaned in. My chest rose and fell with each breath as I waited for him to speak. His touch sent a flurry of butterflies through my chest.

“Corina, will you go with me to the street dance next weekend?”

My teeth sank into my lip, and I watched as his eyes filled with lust.

“Yes.” I smiled and added, “But only as friends.”

The corner of his mouth rose into a sexy smirk. God, how I loved that smile of his. “It’s a date, then.”

“As friends,” I added.

He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. Before I could even process his lips, they were gone and he was stepping back. “I’ll take it. For now.”

 

 

 

 

Kelly Elliott is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling contemporary romance author. Since finishing her bestselling Wanted series, Kelly continues to spread her wings while remaining true to her roots and giving readers stories rich with hot protective men, strong women and beautiful surroundings.

Her bestselling works include, Wanted, Broken, Without You, and Unconditional Love, to name just a few.

Kelly has been passionate about writing since she was fifteen. After years of filling journals with stories, she finally followed her dream and published her first novel, Wanted, in November of 2012.

Kelly lives in central Texas with her husband, daughter, and two pups. When she’s not writing, Kelly enjoys reading and spending time with her family. She is down to earth and very in touch with her readers, both on social media and at signings.

To find out more about Kelly and her books, you can find her through her website.

www.kellyelliottauthor.com

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