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Fate Awakened
-- EXCERPT: The same energy when they’d locked eyes in the cave built between them. Like a bow being drawn for an arrow. In a rush, they came together in the middle of the room. His massive arms circled her, pulling her close, so close she was forced to tilt her head back to meet his glowing eyes. He dropped his head to nuzzle her neck. “This time, the scent of your desire for me is real.” “Yes.” She trailed her nails down his back, and he shivered. The maelstrom swirling in her chest was the magnetic pull of him. Of their bond. It was hard to distinguish where she ended and he began. Uncertainty threaded through her lust. “None of this makes sense,” she whispered. “But I want you more now than I did back in the cave.” His seductive, silky growl rippled over her skin, and she gasped and pressed closer, rubbing against the soft fur of his stomach. “The moons are low in the sky, little one.” One long lick along her neck. “The vae are busy, and the forest is safe and private. Strip. Run through the woods so I can chase you. I’ll catch you and make you mine.” Heat pooled between her legs, and her fingers flexed. He licked again. “Okay.” She walked to the double doors and released the laces on her bodice. Her dress pooled at her feet, leaving her naked before his gaze. Hans’s eyes glowed brighter. Hungry. Wanting. He purred, and she wanted to run to him, not away, but she opened the doors and entered the forest. The moons bobbed low above the trees. The shadows should be impenetrable, making it difficult to see in the thickest part of this unfamiliar forest, but instead of darkness, everything was in shades of gray, as if the moons shone brightly to illuminate the path in front of her. Her feet cushioned by soft moss, she slipped between the tree trunks. Each footfall pounded on the forest floor, and her toes dug in to propel her forward. Her hair flew free behind her, sweeping her back, and she trailed her hand along a tree, the bark scratching her palm, to leave her scent. With a spurt of speed, she dug in and raced forward. He was coming. Something primal unfurled and spurred her faster. An ancient race of male and female. He’d prove he was worthy, and she’d let him claim her. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears from both desire and exertion. A boulder of limestone blocked her path. She paused for a moment, but it was long enough for an arm to snake around her waist. Hot breath fanned her neck as Hans pinned her against the rock, his thigh wedging between hers to spread her open for him. He bit the nape of her neck, and she groaned. No. She’d barely made him earn it. When she pretended to go slack and compliant, he loosened his grip and shifted backward a step. Briony twisted free. Sucking in air, she scrambled around the rock and sprinted away. He released a rich, pleased growl, and she was sure he pursued, but she wasn’t slowing to check. Grinning, she dodged around trees, anticipating what he’d do when he caught her, making her entire body tingle. 
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Shadow of Fire
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo -- EXCERPT: Laeli jumped as the sound of steel striking steel cut through the night. She slipped into a crouch, buckling on her scabbard, sliding the twin swords against her back and crept to the opening of the cairn. Bran shouted a single word. Run. As wings of light fluttered across the dark pit of the sky, Laeli saw him, his lithe body ducking and weaving around a sword wielded by a tall man in a cloak of fur. Two dead men lay on the ground, Bran’s dagger protruding from a chest. As Laeli watched, Bran’s opponent crouched and swept his leg wide, catching Bran off guard. Her companion tumbled to the ground and, before he could get to his feet, a sword swung through the air in a precise arc. Laeli stared in horror as Bran’s head was swiftly sliced from his body. Slowly, so slowly, it fell, toppling to the ground to bounce and roll away. Laeli’s dinner rose like a snake and she turned to the side and vomited. The sky opened, and as veins of light cracked the black canvas of night, the man in furs looked up and saw her. His sword glinted as he approached, blood dripping hypnotically to the ground. Bran’s blood; fae blood. Without another thought, Laeli sprang from the cairn and sprinted for the safety of the forest. The trees reached for her, inviting her in; she bent her head and dove between their trunks, taking shelter in their branches, in the roots that snaked from the earth and the rocks and soft grass that spread across the forest floor. The sky ripped apart again, illuminating the trees, the forest bending and swaying in the fierce wind as the storm intensified. She pushed on, running at a reckless pace that no human could match, until her lungs burned and she fell to her knees in a puddle of dirty water, her breath coming in pants that shook her to the bone. She was still a long way from the border, from safety. Laeli took a deep breath, preparing to run again, but the point of a sword pressed into her spine. ‘Get up, Witch.’ The voice was low, husky, his breathing quick. 
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Hell Bent
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo -- EXCERPT: CHAPTER FOURTEEN WHEN LIFE GIVES you lemons, squirt them in your enemy’s eye. Devlin was fuming, this was not what she expected when she’d asked to see company records. Daniel had clearly put a lot of thought into today’s campaign of torture. How had she ever been so delusional as to think there was a less offensive side to him? Daniel had buried her in boxes of paperwork, and to top it off, the contents were all jumbled. Devlin had spent the last two hours trying in vain to match statements and invoices, vendor agreements and payment terms, and various banking and legal documents. Thank Lilith Adrian had stopped by with a massive cup of coffee. They had turned out to be Devlin’s secret savior! It had been eerily quiet working in the broom closet, but that was what you got when you were stashed away under the stairs. Devlin had actually started to get into a rhythm as she shifted from box to box when her concentration was broken by the sound of a squeaking wheel. She poked her head out of her hidey-hole and saw someone she’d never met before, wheeling a dolly stacked with more boxes of files toward her. Devlin felt her irritation morph into a low-grade, simmering rage. She gave the unfortunate delivery person a tense smile as they slid the boxes off the dolly. Her aura must have been pretty dark. She’d never seen someone back away from her that quickly in her life. Drawing on very deep reserves of self-control, Devlin lifted the lid off of the top box in the new stack… Mother F… She ground her teeth to keep the shriek of anger in. The overhead lights in her cramped office flickered madly for a moment as she jammed the top back on the box and took a seat on the tiny stool she’d been given. Devlin rested her elbows on her knees and dropped her head into her hands. Daniel has his whole life to be an asshole. Why couldn’t he have taken today off!?! Devlin raised her head at the sound of a new email notification. She reached out and slid her laptop across the tiny desk to read it. The message was from Daniel. He apologized for not meeting her when she arrived (yeah right) and was looking forward to their meeting at eleven (about as much as a root canal). He wanted to put in a lunch order so it would arrive shortly after their meeting concluded (food was good), so could she please let him know what she’d like (ok, that was actually thoughtful…weird). Hoping for the best, Devlin fired back a simple reply. Thank you for ordering lunch. I’m not too picky when it comes to food, so please go ahead with anything you know is good at whichever restaurant you order from. The only thing I don’t like is fish. Thank you! As she hit Send, Devlin caught the time on the corner of her laptop screen. Sifting through mountains of bullshit had definitely killed most of the morning. It was already almost eleven o’clock, and she had to hustle upstairs for their meeting. Why Daniel had chosen to email her about their lunch order instead of just asking her during their meeting was a mystery, but, hey, if it wasn’t another box of files—or hidden coffee—she wasn’t about to question it. Devlin shut her laptop, adjusted her hair and outfit, put on her most calm, professional expression, and strode out into the lobby and up the stairs to the second floor. Thankfully Adrian had pointed out Daniel’s temporary office on their Black Ops mission that morning, so Devlin knew exactly where she was headed. His door was closed when she arrived, and she could hear the muted sounds of a conversation. Devlin took a seat in a chair just outside the door to wait…and wait…and wait… An hour. Devlin was back to simmering rage. She had emailed him, texted him, and knocked on the door. Daniel hadn’t so much as acknowledged her presence the entire time she’d waited. This day felt like one of her dad’s torture scenarios, and to make things worse, the screen on her phone had been glitching on and off. She was about to get up and bang on his door again when it flew open, and there he was…with his coat on. “Oh, sorry! I totally forgot about our meeting!” Daniel exclaimed, leaning hard into a melodramatic performance of apology. “Where are you…” Devlin tried to interject, to no avail. “I have to step out. Put something in the books for another day and enjoy your lunch!” Daniel shouted as he barreled past her and down the stairs. Devlin stood rooted to the spot in shock. What the actual fuck just happened? There was nothing left for her to do other than return to her storage closet. Devlin walked back down the stairs on auto-pilot. “Ms. Laflamme?” Devlin snapped out of her stupor at the sound of Max’s voice. “Max, yes, what’s up?” “Mr. Webster wanted to make sure you got your lunch.” Max held out a plastic bag that clearly held containers of food. “Thank you, Max.” Devlin reached out and took the bag. Eating her feelings seemed like a good plan. Devlin collapsed onto her shitty, tiny stool and dropped the bag onto her desk. She attacked the knot tying the plastic handles together like a ravenous beast. When the bag opened, Devlin felt like crying. The smell of fish wafted from the takeout container, filling her tiny faux office and making her stomach turn. Devlin was done. She had no more fucks to give, and her reserves of cheek turning had run empty. She opened her laptop and fired off an email to Daniel. Daniel, I have spent years dealing with difficult people in boardrooms and being underestimated as a legal professional. The treatment I have received at your hands makes every other experience pale in comparison. I have never felt so disrespected, targeted, and demeaned in a business or personal setting in my life. I will endeavor to conclude business between our companies posthaste in order to minimize and, if possible, eliminate any future interactions. I hope you’re proud of yourself. Sincerely, Devlin Laflamme Devlin slid her laptop back into its bag, put on her coat, and walked out. Dealing with Daniel was like trying to play chess with a pigeon. He just flew around, shitting all over the board and acting like he’d won. 
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Bargain with a Beast
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo -- EXCERPT: Turning my head, I found my mate and her sister both staring at me, hands on their hips. Stances, identical. Adrian’s expression? Determined. The other female had more sense. She had the decency to be nervous, biting her lower lip. “I don’t know about this, sis.” “They won’t even realize where I am until tomorrow.” “I know. But you know how much I hate lying to them. What if they check on us when they get home?” Adrian chuckled. “They won’t. Mom can’t keep her hands off him. They’ll be too busy bumping uglies to worry about where I am.” Bumping uglies? Ugly what? And why would they bump? “I’ll worry.” “That’s why you’re going to be back here in exactly four hours and let me out.” Stephanie looked at me, inspected me from head to toe. I remained silent. “What about him?” “I’ll figure it out. After.” After? Stephanie’s head dropped backward so that her face looked up at the ceiling. She groaned. “God. And you were making fun of mom for being a horny wench. This is insane. You know that, right?” “I know. I don’t care. I’m calling in my twin card.” “Oh, I know. You told me. Why the hell do you think I’m down here again? And low blow by the way. I used my twin card for that stupid calculus test.” Twin card? “Not my fault I saved mine for something juicy.” Adrian gathered her sister to her, their heads identical in height as well as form. In fact, the twins were remarkably similar except for my mate’s beautiful hair. “Look. I’m going in there. I know what I know. I can’t explain it, okay? You have to trust me.” The brown-haired twin’s voice was muffled in her sister’s neck. “Okay. But if you die, I’m going to be really, really mad at you. Like, forever mad.” I’m going in there? Adrian’s words finally registered, and I moved forward to tower over them as much as I could with the energy barrier still between us. “You will not enter this cell, my lady.” I was furious that she would take such a chance. Still, I could not force a threatening tone from my throat, not while I spoke to her. And my lady? What evil spirit possessed me to speak those two words? Fuck. What was happening to me? I should shout. Rage. Scream. Act like an out-of-control beast ready to rend and tear and kill. I could do none of those things. My beast, it seemed, had as tight a leash on me as I did on him. He would not allow me to frighten her. Would not allow me to disrespect her. Upset her. Injure her in body, mind or spirit. Gods be damned. What the fuck was I going to do now? I could never offer her my mating cuffs. I could not. I would be executed in a matter of hours. I could offer her nothing. With a low rumble, my beast disagreed, shoving erotic images into my already fracturing mind. Adrian released her sister and turned to face me. This close she was even smaller than she had at first appeared. Yet her eyes blazed with defiance. “Stephanie?” “You sure? Really, really, really sure?” Her sister moved toward the control panel. “Do not,” I ordered. “Twin card. Playing it. Now.” Adrian ignored me. Stephanie sighed. The energy barrier dropped. Adrian took three steps forward. Her scent washed over me. My beast growled. My cock throbbed in pain. My vision blurred. I ordered my limbs to move, to remove this female from my cell. The beast took control of every cell, every muscle of my body. The transformation moved through me. My muscles screamed as they exploded, grew larger. My bones elongated. My beast shoved me aside as if I were no more than a wisp of fog in his peripheral vision. The energy barrier reappeared, locking her inside the cell. With me. With my beast.
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Bratva Treasure
-- EXCERPT: I can’t stay away. I have no reason to go to Maks’s place every day. But I keep finding excuses. I’m so intrigued, and I keep making it worse by feeding my curiosity. Part of me is genuinely interested in getting to know Stasia, but the other part of me is suspicious as hell. I trust next to no one who isn’t family or bratva. My sisters-in-law are the rare exceptions, and I wasn’t sure at first. I was impressed and respected Laura from the get-go. She wrapped us around her little finger to the tune of forty billion when she out negotiated us for a merger with a company she represented. Christina was an inspector for the city planner, and she showed up at one of our building sites for a rather untraditional and unforgettable meeting. Poor Bogdan. I will never forget the look on his face when he recognized her. He clearly wasn’t over how they parted the first time they met a few days earlier. But she was incredibly helpful and sorted out more than one mess for us. She’s so good that we made her the head of our construction branch. But Stasia. I don’t know yet what to make of her. I want to fvck her into next week. That much I know. She’s beyond pretty. She’s not stop-you-in-your-tracks beautiful until she smiles. Actually, I take that back. I think she’s beautiful and hot as fvck, but I know a lot of men wouldn’t see her that way. That’s more than fine by me. She’s almost too thin, but more in a leggy supermodel kind of way. Eastern Europe produces some of the most gorgeous women in the world. Her half-Russian side is strong. But I still find it hard to trust her. She’s in my brother and sister-in-law’s house every day and around my niece and nephew. I know she passed a background check, but anyone new makes me uneasy. “How do you like the job so far?” I know that’s an unfair question, but I ask it anyway. I want to see her eyes, her gut reaction, not hear her profess she loves it. “It’s great. I love working for Laura.” Sincerity. Either she’s telling the truth, or she’s a sociopath with no compunction about lying. I think it’s the former. “Better than what you did before?” Half the time we speak Russian, and I don’t even notice. We have been today. It’s enough to lull me into thinking that she might be fully Russian and would understand our life. But she’ll stumble over a word or have to think about one for a moment. It all comes crashing back down that she isn’t. She’s only half. But all of her was raised in America. Then my suspicions start all over again. What happens if she finds out? What were Maks and Laura thinking bringing a stranger into their home? Not just because we’re bratva, but because the twins are here. She doesn’t seem like the type, but I’ve seen “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle.” I remember that Soul Asylum song I used to hear sometimes on the Classic Rock station. “Runaway Train.” That was one with the music video with the woman who grabs the baby out of the stroller. I watched it once, and it’s stuck with me ever since. I have an overactive imagination. That’s what my dad would tell me when I was really little. It was usually when I made Bogdan pretend to be my dog. My parents wouldn’t get one. Our apartment in Moscow was barely big enough for the six of us. I would make Bogdan crawl around with me. I was five, and he was four. What was the point of having a little brother back then if I couldn’t get him to do things for me? “Big plans for the weekend?” “No. I’m just going to help my friend Beth move and then hang out at my place. My friend Gracie and her fiancé are going out of town.” “I don’t miss the days of helping people move. I spent a summer working for one of those college guys moving companies. Good money, but never again.” I pretend to shiver. “Monday nights are actually our night to go out. There’s a place near campus that has great happy hour specials.” Tucking that little nugget away.
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A Lady Never Surrenders
-- PLUS! Grab your copy the FREE short story, A Lady Never Concedes, a prequel to A Lady Never Surrenders! -- EXCERPT: It was about time the men in their lives realized that the Sisterhood was a force to be reckoned with. Some ladies wanted more in life than to flutter their fans and bat their eyelashes to attract a man. She already had a wager with Wolf. Could she out-earn him on one investment in a month? She’d wager her life on the fact that she could make more money in twelve months than he could. But could she make more than all of them combined? Even the brilliant Fane? “They will be hard to beat. But even if we lose, won’t they be impressed at what we did achieve and that we fooled them?” “Impressed? Maybe. Angry and humiliated, definitely,” Claire said. “Well, that means I’m in,” said Ivy. One by one the eight Sisterhood members agreed to the plan. “I’m doing the investing,” Tiffany said, “so you ladies can think up the pranks. Remember, this is not only about the pranks. You have to learn what is going on in your brothers’ investments as well as anyone else’s. Most men don’t remember to hold their tongues around women. We are brainless idiots who cannot possibly understand what they are talking about.” Before anyone could answer, a loud masculine voice came from the entrance hall. Tiffany looked across at Claire, who frowned and began to rise just as the door flew open. A man stepped into the room, and Tiffany’s heart did that annoying little flip it always did whenever she clapped eyes on Wolf. His deep burgundy jacket fitted him like a new glove and showed off his broad shoulders to perfection. He was dressed for riding and his Hessians somehow emphasized his powerful thighs. She noted every inch of him, and her skin prickled with heat as she realized his gaze was taking in every inch of her. “I see Lady Claire has rallied her troops once more. What on earth are you ladies discussing with such vigor? The latest French fashions perhaps?” His gaze swept across the group.. “A few new dresses might not go amiss.” As usual in Wolf’s presence, Tiffany’s tongue would not function and she could not think of a scathing retort. Valora did it for her. “We were discussing what we would wear to Mrs. Buchanan’s soiree. Perhaps a different wardrobe would make us blend in better.” For one fleeting moment, the big bad wolf’s face showed fear. “Very funny, Lady Valora. Vale has forbidden you from attending. I’m sure once I reveal this ridiculous plan to Marlowe, he’ll do the same to you two,” he said, pointing at Tiffany and Claire. “Then run along and tattle to Marlowe. Don’t let the door hit your conceited arse on the way out,” his sister Ashleigh said. His face looked like thunder. “You and Ivy are forbidden to attend.” When they simply looked at him with angelic faces, Wolf added, “I’m warning you.” At that ridiculous edict the eight women burst into giggles, and Wolf turned his angry gaze on Tiffany. “I’m sure Miss Tiffany won’t want to attend. She has more sense. In fact, I’ve come to request her company for a carriage ride tomorrow afternoon.” The giggling stopped and all eyes swung her way. Tiffany’s blood boiled in her veins. The cheek of the man. She’d said a slow courtship. This wasn’t slow. How to answer? “If the weather is fine, the outing would be acceptable. I’ll bring Milly, our lady’s maid.” “Perfect. If you’ll excuse me, ladies, I shall find Marlowe and leave you to your, er…leave you.” 
GIVEAWAY!
A Lady Never Surrenders
-- PLUS! Grab your copy the FREE short story, A Lady Never Concedes, a prequel to A Lady Never Surrenders! -- EXCERPT: It was about time the men in their lives realized that the Sisterhood was a force to be reckoned with. Some ladies wanted more in life than to flutter their fans and bat their eyelashes to attract a man. She already had a wager with Wolf. Could she out-earn him on one investment in a month? She’d wager her life on the fact that she could make more money in twelve months than he could. But could she make more than all of them combined? Even the brilliant Fane? “They will be hard to beat. But even if we lose, won’t they be impressed at what we did achieve and that we fooled them?” “Impressed? Maybe. Angry and humiliated, definitely,” Claire said. “Well, that means I’m in,” said Ivy. One by one the eight Sisterhood members agreed to the plan. “I’m doing the investing,” Tiffany said, “so you ladies can think up the pranks. Remember, this is not only about the pranks. You have to learn what is going on in your brothers’ investments as well as anyone else’s. Most men don’t remember to hold their tongues around women. We are brainless idiots who cannot possibly understand what they are talking about.” Before anyone could answer, a loud masculine voice came from the entrance hall. Tiffany looked across at Claire, who frowned and began to rise just as the door flew open. A man stepped into the room, and Tiffany’s heart did that annoying little flip it always did whenever she clapped eyes on Wolf. His deep burgundy jacket fitted him like a new glove and showed off his broad shoulders to perfection. He was dressed for riding and his Hessians somehow emphasized his powerful thighs. She noted every inch of him, and her skin prickled with heat as she realized his gaze was taking in every inch of her. “I see Lady Claire has rallied her troops once more. What on earth are you ladies discussing with such vigor? The latest French fashions perhaps?” His gaze swept across the group.. “A few new dresses might not go amiss.” As usual in Wolf’s presence, Tiffany’s tongue would not function and she could not think of a scathing retort. Valora did it for her. “We were discussing what we would wear to Mrs. Buchanan’s soiree. Perhaps a different wardrobe would make us blend in better.” For one fleeting moment, the big bad wolf’s face showed fear. “Very funny, Lady Valora. Vale has forbidden you from attending. I’m sure once I reveal this ridiculous plan to Marlowe, he’ll do the same to you two,” he said, pointing at Tiffany and Claire. “Then run along and tattle to Marlowe. Don’t let the door hit your conceited arse on the way out,” his sister Ashleigh said. His face looked like thunder. “You and Ivy are forbidden to attend.” When they simply looked at him with angelic faces, Wolf added, “I’m warning you.” At that ridiculous edict the eight women burst into giggles, and Wolf turned his angry gaze on Tiffany. “I’m sure Miss Tiffany won’t want to attend. She has more sense. In fact, I’ve come to request her company for a carriage ride tomorrow afternoon.” The giggling stopped and all eyes swung her way. Tiffany’s blood boiled in her veins. The cheek of the man. She’d said a slow courtship. This wasn’t slow. How to answer? “If the weather is fine, the outing would be acceptable. I’ll bring Milly, our lady’s maid.” “Perfect. If you’ll excuse me, ladies, I shall find Marlowe and leave you to your, er…leave you.”
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The Sleeping Giant
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo -- EXCERPT: The thundering sounds all around them seemed to fade into the distance as Elisabeth stood pinned against the side of the cliff. Her gaze darted up to the grassy overhang. There were only two ways off this ledge; the tunnel or the rushing river that would sweep them over the falls within seconds. About to hyperventilate, Elisabeth buried her face in David’s back. Every millisecond moved at an unbearable speed. She held her breath as the inevitable moment drew nearer. Their only chance would be if Rufus didn’t step outside of the tunnel, but that would take a miracle. David looked prepared to fight, but from the side of a mountain ledge with a giant of a man? That could end up a bigger disaster. She pushed a pile of rocks aside with her foot and shuffled as far along the ledge as possible so David could step back and they’d be flush against the wall. When they heard Rufus grumbling, she knew he had to be near the end of the tunnel. Her leg muscles tightened. Elisabeth wanted to run, but there was nowhere to go. He was so close. Too close. She dared not look to see if he had walked onto the ledge. He would only need to step outside to see them. What was that noise? Hissing? Elisabeth felt the color drain from her face, and then turned ever so slightly to look at the ground beside her. She gasped, and the sound of her heartbeat thrashed in her ears. If anyone thought the situation couldn’t get any worse, they’d be wrong. Coiled at her feet, next to the dislodged rock, was a snake, looking as startled as Elisabeth. Her mouth fell open, repulsed, but unable to look away from the creature. “No…no…no…” she whimpered. 
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Stripped Bare
-- EXCERPT: The lights on the outside of the White Onyx are white and pink. It doesn’t look like a strip club. It looks like a regular nightclub, which I guess has as much sex appeal as a strip club. I park in the back and head to the door. I see Tyler, Jason, and Peter outside. Tyler waves his hand to get my attention. As I pass by, a group of women turn my way and I can feel their eyes eating me alive. They’re three young ladies, all with lust in their eyes. I can feel their stare as I walk away. “You came,” Tyler says and hands the bouncer some money. “You sound surprised,” I say as I hand the bouncer some money as well. “Yeah, well…” Tyler says as we walk in. He turns to face me, “I thought you’d change your mind when you realized that you don’t want to come, but since you’re here…” I shake my head, then look around the club when I walk in. It’s pink and blue but dark, with the smell of cheap alcohol and even cheaper perfume. Men and women are dancing on poles throughout the room as men and women watch them. We head to the bar and order some drinks. I take a whiskey on the rocks, Jason orders the same, and Tyler and Peter order a beer. “Well,” Tyler shouts over the booming music, “have fun!” He heads toward a table with a small dark-haired woman dancing on it and takes a seat. Then I see Jason and Peter go their separate ways. It’s then I realize that we may be close but not I’ll-stand-next-to-you-while-looking-at-a-stripper close. I walk to the corner stage where a tall woman with dirty blonde or brown hair dances on the pole. There are a couple of men already there, but I sit down anyway. The woman is mesmerizing. She dances to Sam Tinnesz’s Play With Fire and wears a small black bra that shows a lot of her breasts and an even smaller black panties with lace on the back. She swings her hips around and her hands play with her hair. Then she sinks down and crawls toward me. My cock grows fast in my pants. It wants her. I want her. She crawls around the table and when she faces the other way, her ass is on full display and I groan. She looks back at me and smiles, telling me she heard me. Turning around, she crawls back to me and is now a foot away from my face. She gracefully slides onto her back and stills, looking at me as she spreads her legs and moves them around like she’s riding an invisible bike. It takes all my strength not to grab her from the stage, take her to a secluded corner and fuck the shit out of her. As she stands up and dances around the pole, I take a breath and think about what’s happening to me. No woman has ever induced such an intense need in me. The need to take. The need to fill this gorgeous blonde with my cum. To tie her to my bed and fuck her six ways to Sunday. Holy fuck. I take a big sip of my whiskey. When I put it down, she’s come back to me and the other men have left. “You want a private dance, baby?” she asks. 
GIVEAWAY! Hosted by:
Alex McKenna & Death Is Not The Beginning
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play -- EXCERPT: Alex glanced up to the hovering apparition and raised his chin slightly left toward the door. He hoped the spirit would follow, but instead, it quickly vanished, so he took the cue and let it go. Clasping Margaret’s hand, he ushered them from the store. Outside, the fragrance of freshly cut grass and blossoming tulips tickled his nostrils. A perfect Spring day. The young couple had strolled the fifteen-minute walk into the small village at the center of Floral Park, taking advantage of the warmer climate. “It’s super nice out.” Alex smiled. “It is. I love Spring. Hey, what happened in there?” Margaret asked. “What do you mean?” “I thought you spotted something.” “I did. But they didn’t want my help.” “Huh. Did you get a good look at what it was?” “I didn’t know them, but it was definitely an older man. I’d say somewhere around my gram’s age.” Alex glanced over his shoulder back at the store. “That’s sad.” “How come?” Alex raised a brow. “He’s in a drug store for eternity? Why? What keeps him there? Why doesn’t he cross over?” “You sound like me.” Alex chuckled. “Well, it was bound to rub off some time.” She lay her head on his shoulder. “I’m just glad that’s over with.” “I know.” Margaret gave him a quick peck on the cheek. Rounding the corner at the end of the block stood a structure Alex struggled with for most of his seventeen years. Coming from a lineage of witches whose roots were planted in Italy, the paradoxical blend of spells and Catholicism baffled him. He chose to believe in spirituality, embracing his ancestors and calling on them in times of need. Alex let Margaret’s hand slip through his fingers. Across the street, directly in front of the church, was a small park with a handful of benches. His gaze focused on the ornate stained glass adorning the round window above the sturdy oak doors. What the hell? Without care, he stepped into the road and in front of an oncoming car. Luckily, Margaret’s scream freed him from his trance in time for him to jump out of the way. A loud screech from the tires of the irate driver didn’t completely mask the language he yelled from the window. Margaret rushed to his side and pulled Alex to a bench facing the building that had captivated his attention a few moments ago. “What the hell?” Margaret slapped his arm. “Sorry. I don’t know what came over me.” Alex glared at the church. “That’s not true.” “Okay, spill.” Margaret scooted back and crossed her legs. “Wait, where’s my bag?” Alex nervously looked around. “Crap. It’s over there.” Margaret pointed to the asphalt. “I’ll get it.” Alex motioned to stand. “Oh, no you don’t. One near-death today is enough. I’ll get it. Stay here.” Normally he’d argue the issue, but he didn’t trust himself either. The range of emotions creeping along his veins and occupying dread in his gut burned a volcano of doubt in his psyche. Margaret halted at the sidewalk’s edge and turned her head from side to side before venturing into the middle of the road. She snatched up the bag and scurried back to the bench. She stretched out her arm to hand the bag to Alex, “Thanks.” “I’m just that kind of girlfriend. Risking life and limb for the guy I love.” Alex rolled his eyes. “Now, where were we? Oh, I remember, you were gonna tell me why you froze in the middle of the goddamn street.” Margaret knitted her brows. “Once again—sorry. When I saw the church, I had a vision. The building was destroyed like a bomb or something had incinerated it. The darkness crept along the walls. It was like…a living thing.” Alex shuddered. “Yup, just another day in the world of you.” 
GIVEAWAY! Hosted by: From the blurb: A debut sexy romantic comedy about a woman getting her groove back and getting a second chance at love.Vanessa Jared, a 40-something divorcee, decided that the best way to pull herself out of their post-divorce slump was to form The Savvy, Sexy, Singles Club and start the "Do Me" portion of her and her friends' lives. But on the two year anniversary, a sexy sheriff shows up on Vanessa's doorstep wanting her to help him keep his little sister from marrying her no-good ex. Vanessa is not down for this at all. She wants nothing to do with her ex...until she spots a photo of her ex's new fiancee wearing her grandmother's ring--which he clearly stole from her. So now it is on. Vanessa is ready to take this trifling (fill-in-the-blank) down. What she does not expect is to fall in love along the way. Publisher: St.Martin's Griffin Publication date: September 20th ISBN 9781250773395, 1250773393 Purchase Link  My thoughts: Can we just admire this hot and sexy and sensual cover? gorgeous!!! Two years after her divorce, Vanessa Jared is still trying to find her feet and her purpose in this new life without her manipulative and abusive husband Karl. Luckily for her, she's made two fantastic friends Cree and Janae, both of whom were attending the same Post-Divorce Support Group, and founded their own fabulous Savvy, Sexy, Singles Club. Vanessa is approached by the Sheriff of the small town of Monroe Hills, where incidentally both of her friends live. Michael Park's much younger sister Cindy has just got engaged, but Michael's intuition told him the man is not to be trusted, so he did a little investigation and decided that a little help and a friendly talk from this so called widower Karl Scott's ex-wife might be exactly what is needed. Reluctant as she is to intervene and break another woman's heart with the sad truth, Vanessa finally agrees and it isn't just about getting back her grandmother's engagement ring stolen by her good-for-nothing ex, it is about doing the right thing. Little does she know that this trip is going to change her life... I was immediately drawn in the story and my heart went to the protagonist. Vanessa reminded me so much of my smart, sexy and sensitive friend and all the turmoil and emotional pain of her divorce and how difficult it was for her to re-build her confidence and start her new life. LaQuette shows life as it is from the courage it takes to file a divorce and walk away from an abusive partner to how hard it is to start trusting people, how even a simple comment can rub you wrong way because you don't want to be patronised or taken advantage of. We also see other aspects of divorce through the secondary characters and their challenges. My admiration for creating realistic, relatable characters in an age group which doesn't get enough representation in romance and not shying away from portraying real life problems. While Vanessa is rediscovering her independence and what it means to take care of yourself so that you can love and take care of others, Michael is also doing his own balancing act of being a strong, protective older brother without either spoiling his little sister or never letting her spread her own wings. There's also wonderful cast of supporting characters- fully developed and well-differentiated with their own unique voices that add more humour and genuine emotion to the overall story. The chemistry between the protagonists- oh my gosh! Normally I don't go for anything insta, including instalust, but here there's all this immediate powerful attraction Vanessa and Michael feel for each other, all this tension that keeps building up. When they do act on it, it feels natural and it's hot, hot, hot, it's like fireworks going off on a New Year's Eve. Once again, I am so happy to see the author showing that asking for and expressing consent is crucial. LaQuette's writing is engaging and I could almost hear my friends talking and teasing each other on a night out. With all that, there is a certain gravitas- she knows that the issues she's raising are important and have to be dealt with in a sensitive way. All I can say, I can't wait to come back to Monroe Hills for more hot and sizzling romance! Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin's Griffin for th ereview copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.  |
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