Monday, June 30, 2014

The Wager by Rachel Van Dyken


Lose a bet, lose your heart...

What is it about a junior-high crush that can send an otherwise intelligent woman into a tailspin? TV reporter Char Lynn wishes she knew. Jake Titus is too rich, too handsome, too arrogant: a trifecta that once lured Char into the best night-and worst morning-after-of her life. Now they've been thrown together in a wedding party. It's awkward, but survivable . . . until Jake stops acting like a jerk, and starts acting like the man she'd always hoped he could be.

If watching your brother marry your best friend is weird, being attracted to your best friend's otherbest friend is downright bizarre. Unfortunately for Jake, Char hasn't forgotten how he once tossed her aside. Worse still, Jake's already-nutty grandma is even crazier about Char. Cue meet-cute shenanigans and all manner of meddling, and somehow, Jake's falling. For Char. Now all he has to do is make her believe it . . .

THE WAGER by Rachel Van Dyken (July 1, 2014; Forever Trade Paperback; $12.00)
 
JAKE PACED IN front of the door. Char had texted and said she’d stop by around noon. It was officially five minutes past. Where was she? He needed to find a way to get back his job and his manhood, preferably in reverse order.

The morning had started off normally enough, with Grandma doing her damn yoga and then demanding he drop her off at her bridge group. But even when Grandma asked for one thing, it was never just one thing. No, she’d demand you do something else, fail to give an explanation, and then look at you like you were an idiot if you asked why.

He felt like a kid again, like he had the time Grandma caught him stealing M&M’s from the convenience store and then bought him a five-pound bag and demanded he sit and eat the entire bag in front of her.

Her reasoning was that it would keep him from stealing again. Because if she ever caught him with sticky fingers, he’d either have to consume said object or wear it around the house.

In high school it had happened again with beer. She’d given him a six-pack and told him to chug until he got sick. It took him three before he was puking. Naturally, Grandma had finished the rest of the pack.

Suffice it to say, it was always wiser to agree with the woman than to tempt fate. So he drove her around town, played the nice grandson, and then prayed to God she would finally hire him back so he could stop playing chauffeur and wedding planner.

Good God, he was going to turn into a woman waiting for that damn irritating girl.

The doorbell rang.

He ran to it. Then stopped and took a few deep breaths. Yup, definitely turning into a woman. He was acting like this was a first date or something! It was Char! 
Char! He had to repeat her name several times out loud before he was able to finally pull the door open.

Her smile lit up his dark mood, and suddenly he remembered all over again why he stayed away from girls like her.

They were trouble.

They promised you pleasure and in the end wanted commitment, something any guy would run from—especially a guy like him. He didn’t deserve anything like it—he wasn’t that much of an ass to not know that a girl like Char, well, she deserved one of the good ones.

Not him. Definitely not him.

Her eyes lit up when he smiled. Shit. He was going to have to stop flirting with her. She was going to get the wrong idea, and he was going to lose his mind if he had to partner up with her for the entire wedding week, wondering if she was just waiting for the right time to pull a knife on him.

“Come in.” He opened the door wider and fought hard not to stare at her backside as she walked past him and her heels clicked against the marble floors. Clearly she’d been at work. She was wearing a tight pencil skirt, white blouse, and red heels.

Poor choice.

Because now he was thinking about Grandma and her stupid airport story and...

“Jake?” Char’s soft voice brought him back to the present. “Did you hear anything I just said?”

“No.” He laughed awkwardly. “I was, um, just admiring your shoes.”

“My shoes?” Her eyebrows arched in amusement. “You have a thing for heels?”

“On you?” He nodded. “I think I just might.”

Shit, there he went again. What was wrong with him? It was like second nature with Char, as if he couldn’t help but be drawn to her. His body involuntarily moved toward her. Was it her eyes? Her hair? A little voice, one he hadn’t listened to in a long time, told him no. It wasn’t physical; it was something completely different, something foreign. Something he really didn’t want to think about or dwell on too much, because then he’d have to admit to actually having a heart, which meant only
one thing... Eventually it would break, only this time he wouldn’t have anything to fall back on, just air and nothingness.

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Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor. She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband and their snoring Boxer, Sir Winston Churchill. She loves to hear from readers! You can follow her writing journey at www.rachelvandyken.com

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Sunday, June 29, 2014

Being Sawyer Knight by Nicola Haken

 
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As lead singer and guitarist of the internationally renowned Souls of the Knight, Sawyer Knight is living a life most men can only dream of. He’s surrounded by music, fame, wealth, women throwing themselves at his feet. He has everything…

Yet he has nothing. Life as one of the world’s most sought after rock stars is tiring, oppressive and lonely. He spends every day being who the world wants him to be, who his manager tells him to be, who his mother expects him to be… all the while fighting against who he really is. Truth is, he’s used to it. He’s actually gotten pretty good at pretending… at living the lie. Until Jake Reed, his ex-best friend and the only person who’s ever made him ‘feel’, waltzes back into his life as the band’s new head of security. Jake wants Sawyer – always has, always will. Now, he just needs to get Sawyer to admit that he feels the same… “You will be mine, Sawyer Knight. The faster you try to run the quicker you’ll fall to your knees. Then, Sawyer… then you’ll be too weak to resist.” 

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Loved this rockstar romance by Nicola Haken. Sawyer Knight is delish and JAKE OMG!! I didn't want to see this book end. And I can't wait for book 2 in the series with our boy Ry!

Sawyer and Jake have been best friends since they were in elementary school together. When Jake ends up moving from England to Australia when they are 17, he has to be honest with Sawyer. Not only is Sawyer his best friend but he is in love with him too. Jake sees there is nothing to loose, so he kisses Sawyer before leaving. That kiss left Sawyer confused and not knowing what to do with this information.

Now 10 years later, Sawyer is an international rock star and his new head of security just so happens to be his old best friend Jake. Jake has never forgotten that kiss...and neither has Sawyer. Now that they two men are back together almost 24 hours a day together, will they be able to renew their friendship without bringing up the past or with the past end up being the one thing that keeps them apart.

Jake is a delish Alpha who knows what he wants...Sawyer. Sawyer even though he knows there is a connection between him and Jake is not ready to commit to being his true self. What will his fans think? His friend who have ever known his as the man whore he is...with women. 

This book is well written, keeps you invested and not wanting to put it down. 4.5 stars for me.




Nicola HakenI'm a writer of New Adult, contemporary and m/m erotic romance. I'm a married mum of four (six if you include the dogs!) from the UK and can usually be found with a Kindle or MacBook in front of my face, or carrying out housewife/mother/all round slave duties. I'm a little bit mental and a whole lot of crazy with bordering on unhealthy addictions to tattoos, Pepsi Max and the CockyBoys! ;-)





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Conversation was a little awkward at first. We stuck to ‘safe’ topics, talking about our childhood and everything leading up to – but not including - the last time we saw each other. Soon enough, the rich whiskey started taking effect, visibly relaxing him. Three shots in and I saw a genuine smile… not a forced one he’d only put on for my benefit. The curve of his lips illuminated his entire face, making his caramel eyes sparkle under the wisp of dark brown hair that couldn’t seem to keep itself from falling over his face.
“So, how are your parents?” I asked casually in an effort to keep the conversation flowing. I didn’t want this night to end.
“Jerry fucked off a few years back. He was our first manager before we got signed, got us a few gigs here and there… but then I found out he’d been knocking my mum around, so after beating the living shit out of him, I told him he either disappeared or I’d call the cops.”
“Jesus,” I barely whispered, shaking my head at the image he’d put in my mind. “How’s your mum now?”
“Good, last time I heard.”
“You don’t see her?”
“Not often. She doesn’t exactly approve of my lifestyle. Got to do what’s right by her church buddies, ya know.”
“Wow. Sorry, mate.” Sawyer shrugged casually, feigning indifference. His eyes told a different story though. Evident discomfort forced his eyebrows together slightly and when he blinked, it took his eyes a couple of seconds longer than necessary to open again. “So who do you go to when you need to escape all this shit?” I asked, motioning my hands around the opulence surrounding us.
“Elle,” he said simply. Just the sound of her name tugged on the corners of his lips, making him smile.
“Maths girl?” I already knew the answer. The whole world knows about Elle Wilson – best friend and possible secret girlfriend of the hottest singer this decade has ever seen.
“Yeah,” he agreed, still smiling as he nodded. “After you… left,” he started to explain, the word ‘left’ cracking on his lips. “I spent more and more time with her. She helped me with my maths, gave me her old papers to study, that kind of shit. I still fucking failed,” he added with yet another smile. I liked Elle already. So far, she’s the only person who seems to make Sawyer happy. “But seriously, she’s the only person who’s ever been there for me. If it weren’t for her… I don’t think I’d have survived this life very long.”
Wow.
“Sounds lonely,” I said, picking my glass up from the table and taking another sip of whiskey. The burn ceased after the second glass, and so now, four glasses in, the rich liquid trickled smoothly down my throat like silk. “Are you lonely, Sawyer?”
His eyes widened just slightly and he stuttered on his response. I stared intently into his eyes, trying to catch a glimpse of his soul hiding behind them. I could almost see the debate taking place in his mind – whether to be honest with me, or lie.
“No. Course not.” He went for the option of lying. “I’m surrounded by people every day.”
“But they don’t know you,” I stated cautiously, the end of my sentence coming out slightly higher as if it were a question. “Not the real you.”
“How the fuck would you know? You don’t know me,” he spat. The anger in his voice halted the rhythm of my heart for a brief second while I considered what I was doing. I should back off. I should be professional and keep a safe personal distance. I should apologise for riling him.
But I knew immediately I wasn’t going to do any of those things. Despite what he might think right now, I do know Sawyer Knight – the real one. I grew up with him, I loved him… I still love him. We might have spent the last ten years apart but I’ve never stopped following him. I’ve watched his career go from strength to strength. I’ve studied him in interviews, TV appearances and even went to watch him play when the band’s last tour landed in Australia. Each time I watched him I was drawn to his eyes, and not once had I ever seen the sparkle in them that I used to fantasise over as a teenager. He never smiles – not genuinely. He never talks about his private life. Never discusses himself unless prompted, and even then the discomfort is evident by the slight squirm of his body.
Sawyer is hiding from the world.
He’s hiding from himself.
And I’m going to find him.

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Thursday, June 26, 2014

The Sergeant by Christa Tomlinson

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4063407 “You’re the only one I want to control. The only one whose submission I want, need, and crave with every part of me, every second of every day.” –

Sergeant Logan Pierce Sergeant Logan Pierce: Head of Houston’s elite SWAT team. He leads his squad with cool efficiency, taking down rough criminals while keeping his team safe. But behind closed doors he sets a darker part of himself free. He’s a Dominant in the world of Bondage and Domination. As a Dom, he’s controlled many submissives, but never had one for his own. That’s because there’s only one man he wants: Corporal Clay Foster.

Corporal Clay Foster: Highly trained SWAT officer. He’s always the first one to face the dangerous situations of their job. Over the years he’d noticed his Sergeant’s secretly admiring glances and suspected his attraction. One night, with one kiss, he’s proven correct. Clay dives headlong into the rough passion of BDSM that Logan introduces him to. He submits to Logan’s control, accepting the sweet shackles that bind him to his Sergeant. But secrets, both his and Logan’s, force him to leave the newfound safety of his Dom’s arms. Logan refuses to let go of what he’s wanted for so long, Clay as his own, proudly wearing his collar. Clay wants to be his. He knows it and Clay knows it too. Can Logan safely guide Clay through the obstacles that separate them until he can claim his submissive once more?

Logan headed out of the station after making sure everyone on the team was gone. At least he thought everyone was gone until he saw Clay standing at the door, staring outside.

“What are you doing?” Logan stepped up beside him.

“It’s raining.”

Logan looked out the glass doors. “I see that.” He laughed. “You jogged to work today, didn’t you?”

Clay jogged nearly every day they weren’t on call and he didn’t have to haul all his gear. “C’mon, I’ll take you home.”

Once they were in the car, Logan didn’t have to ask for directions. He knew where each one of his team members lived. They headed up Dallas Avenue to Clay’s loft apartment. He pulled into a space and put the car in park. But Clay didn’t immediately say thank you and leave. He turned to Logan with an impish smile on his face.

“Be honest, Serge. Do you like the endurance runs?”

“No, I hate them.” He looked at Clay with a sideways smile. “Sometimes I’m tempted to take them off the training rotation.”

Clay laughed. “That makes me feel better. You never complain about them, but now I know your secret. You’re just as human as the rest of us.” He gave him a conspiratorial wink. “But don’t worry, I won’t tell the others.”


****
Twenty minutes later, they were still in the car. Logan had long since turned off the engine and the rain had slowed to soft drops falling against the windshield. They’d talked about everything from work to baseball to their respective careers in the military. Logan served in the Marines and did two tours in Iraq while Clay had been all over the place in the Navy. Now they were both quiet, their heads lolling against the headrest.

Clay’s eyes drifted closed. Logan knew he should tell him to go inside and get to bed. But it was such a rare, private moment between them that he didn’t want it to end. Instead, he took advantage of the opportunity to study Clay. As always, the sight of that curly black hair made him smile. The length of his hair was within regulation, barely. He knew part of the reason Clay kept it that long was to thumb his nose at their captain. Captain Hayden was constantly talking about the image of HPD and SWAT. He didn’t approve of Clay, with his longish hair and playful personality, at all. But Logan loved Clay’s hair and hoped he’d never cut it. His eyes drifted down to the other man’s mouth, that full bottom lip even poutier than usual as he relaxed. Logan thought about kissing him, wondering what Clay would do if he sucked that lip into his mouth. In his head, Clay would respond to him, kissing him back eagerly.

He looked back up and saw that Clay’s eyes were open, watching him. They held eye contact for a long moment. The air in the car turned electric, tension crackling between them. Logan’s heart pounded. This moment couldn’t be ignored. He could apologize and send Clay inside. Or he could do what he’d wanted to do for so damn long. The decision was easy. He leaned forward and pressed his lips to Clay’s. They were warm and soft, just as he’d imagined they’d be. Logan pulled back, waiting to see Clay’s reaction. When he didn’t say anything, Logan kissed him again. This time, Clay returned the kiss with a light touch of his lips.

Logan took that as encouragement and brought their lips together for several more kisses. Logan was surprised it was happening. His heart raced as they kissed in the warm, dark car. He kept things relaxed and easy, letting Clay know they could stop whenever he wanted.  He ran his tongue across the seam of Clay’s closed lips, wanting him to open up so he could get a real taste of him. Clay’s eyes drifted closed again and he parted his lips, allowing Logan to sweep inside. He stroked his tongue slowly against Clay’s before exploring the warm sweetness of his mouth. Clay’s tongue darted out once to touch his. He was hesitant, almost shy. Logan’s body tightened, his shaft hardening as he gently coaxed him to play more. He curled his tongue against Clay’s and soon Clay was following his lead, licking into Logan’s mouth in slow, deep kisses.

Neither of them spoke. It was silent except for the sound of the rain and their quiet breathing as their lips clung and released again and again. Logan fought to keep the kiss soft and slow, pushing back his urge to control Clay’s mouth and touch his firm body wherever he could reach. Then Clay whispered a breathy little moan as he relaxed further into the contact. The sound touched off something deep inside Logan, made him want more. He brought his hand up, sliding into those silky curls and cupping the back of Clay’s head, holding him in place to deepen the kiss. He thrust his tongue inside to tangle with Clay’s, swirling against it in a hot, slick slide. Logan groaned as he kissed him faster, harder. Clay was right there with him, kissing him back with just as much intensity.

Logan slid his fingers down until he held him by the back of the neck, pulling Clay up against him until their chests touched. Clay gasped and pressed even closer to him. Logan smoothed his other hand down Clay’s back, feeling the solid warmth of him through his t-shirt. But Logan didn’t dare touch him anywhere else. Not there in the car and not without discussing things with him first. He pulled back slightly, looking at Clay to see if he was showing any reluctance. What he saw were eyes wide, sparkling with desire and lips swollen from his kisses. There was no sign of hesitation on his face. Logan dove right back in, sucking at that full bottom lip that had been teasing him for years. Clay’s hands came up to his chest and Logan thought, Yes. Touch me. But then he realized Clay was pushing him away.

Logan released him and watched in confusion as Clay grabbed his bag from the car floor and snapped, “Goddamnit!” He slammed out of the car and stalked off towards his building.
Logan sat there in disbelief before he banged his head against the steering wheel. What the fuck? He hunched over the wheel for a moment, trying to figure out what just happened while willing his hard-on to go down. Eventually, his body calmed but he was still clueless about Clay’s abrupt exit. He knew he wasn’t going to figure it out sitting there in the dark by himself, so he started the car and drove home.

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 I love to write stories that are emotional and lovely with sex that is integral to the characters romantic arc. Purple is my favorite color, but I don't use purple prose. My stories involve straight couples, curvy couples, gay couples, interracial couples ... I write them all. I feel the same as many others; love is love and everyone should have their story told. Thanks for reading, Christa 



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Friday, June 20, 2014

Dear Juliet Cover Reveal - Judy Stiles

Along with Trudy Stiles, we are very excited to share with you the Cover to Dear Juliet, the 3rd book in The Forever Family Series. If you have not started this series yet, check out the AMAZING reviews and pick up Dear Emily today!

Make sure to check out the beautiful cover, add to your Goodreads, join the Facebook Release Event and enter the GIVEAWAY below!

Release Expected Summer 2014

Author: Trudy Stiles 

Book Title: Dear Juliet ~ Series: Forever Family #3

Genre: New Adult/Romance

Cover Designer: Steph’s Cover Design

Photographer: Toski Covey Photography-Custom Design

I lost her.
 
I thought she was the love of my life.
 
She was everything I needed. 
 
Everything I wanted.
 
She made me forget about my past. My family.
 
She made me feel real.
 
Can I find someone else?
 
It’s time to pick up the pieces and move on.
 
But can I?
 
I’m Seth Tyson and this is my story.
 
I deserve a happily ever after, don’t I?
 
 
 
 


Two women. Carly & Tabitha. Both have suffered life-altering events that have left them both traumatically damaged.
Carly Sloan’s life was perfect until the night her security and innocence was torn from her. The vast repercussions from that horrific night threaten to destroy her stability and her chances for a happily ever after. Kyle Finnegan comes into Carly’s life at the height of her turmoil. Can he help her find what she desires most?
Tabitha Fletcher, on the other hand, has suffered from a very young age. She has been hiding from her past, which was full of abuse, loss and turmoil. She has been so brutally damaged that she has very little hope of redemption. The revolving door of men only leads her deeper into misery.
What circumstance brings these two women together unexpectedly and can they help each other heal? And will they each find what they need?
Redemption.
Love.
Family.
This book is not suitable for young readers. It is intended for mature adults only (18+). It contains strong language, adult/sexual situations, non-consensual sex and some violence.

Book #1 - Dear Emily


Book #2 - Dear Tabitha

You know me. You know who I am. What I am.
Damaged. Confused. Alone.
You feel sorry for me. You pity me.
You know what I’ve done. What I’ve given up. Who I’ve given up.
You try to understand what I’ve been through and how I can possibly go on with my life.
But you can’t possibly understand.
I’ve lost too much. Sacrificed too much. Given up everything so that I can find myself.
Well I’m done.
I’m done walking away from everything that matters.
It’s time for me to heal.
It’s MY TURN to earn…
Redemption.
Love.
Family.

Trudy Stiles is a New Adult author, mom to two beautiful children, and married to the love of her life. She is the author of the Forever Family series including “Dear Emily” and “Dear Tabitha”. There will be many more stories from this series and you never know who may have a standalone or novella written for them. Stay tuned! 
 
Trudy is a music junkie and you’ll know that she’s writing when you see her plugged into her laptop with her earbuds in. Her playlist is unique and is a must for her writing sprints.
 
When she’s not writing, she’s carting her children to their various activities while avoiding any kind of laundry or housework. She also loves to run along the boardwalk of the beautiful New Jersey shore.
 
She’s always been an avid reader and frequently escapes into the fictional worlds of the many characters that she has come to love. Well, now there are some fictional characters in her head dying to get out!
 
This first story is called “Dear Emily” and was released in December 2013. “Dear Tabitha” was released in March 2014. The Forever Family series will continue with several companion/stand alone novels.
 
Email: authortrudystiles@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authortrudystiles
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/trudy_stiles
Twitter: @trudystiles