Spotlight – Beauty and the Werewolf

Tags

Beauty and the Werewolf, Kristin Miller, San Francisco Wolf Pack series

We’re already seen The Werewolf Wears Prada and now I’m excited for us to get a peek at book 2!

*****

*****

Beauty and the Werewolf

by Kristin Miller

San Francisco Wolf Pack #2

Publication Date: August 2015

Genres: Paranormal, Romance

Blurb:

Unmated werewolves don’t normally live past three hundred years old…and billionaire Jack MacGrath is cutting it close. Sure, he has almost everything—the respect of his peers, a mansion in San Francisco, a private jet, and fast cars. But without a mate, Jack’s in trouble. Then he sees her. Gorgeous, proud…and his enemy.

Isabelle Connelly is good at hiding things from her father. Like her success as a painter, or the incredibly intense attraction she has to Jack MacGrath. After all, she’s royalty and falling for anyone lesser—to say nothing of a rival pack—would be, er, unseemly. Now she must choose between her duty to her family and her pack…or her perfect fated mate.

Buy Links Beauty and the Werewolf  (San Francisco Wolf Pack, #2): 

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1JrQn6H

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1JjWDvg

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1TUsx8v

B&N: http://bit.ly/1TUrPbx

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1E5rrzZ

iBooks: http://apple.co/1Jjv54Q

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1e7R06H

*****

Also in the San Francisco Wolf Pack series…

The Werewolf Wears Prada

by Kristin Miller

San Francisco Wolf Pack #1

Publication Date: April 2015

Genres: Paranormal, Romance

Blurb:

Melina Rosenthal worships at the altar of all things fashion. Her dream is to work for the crème de la crème fashion magazine, Eclipse, and she’ll do much anything to get there. Even fixing up the image of a gorgeous, sexy public figure who’s all playboy, all the time. Even if he’s the guy who broke her heart a year ago…

Even if Hayden Dean is a werewolf.

Since his father’s death, Hayden’s the heir apparent to the San Francisco Wolf Pack—well, once he settles down. Hayden isn’t interested in giving up his partying ways, except he’s pretty sure he’s found his fated mate, and the fact that she’s a non-shifter is bad news. Now he must find a compromise between the traditions of his wolf world and his certainty that Melina is his…before fate (or another werewolf) bites them both in the butt.

Buy Links The Werewolf Wears Prada (San Francisco Wolf Pack, #1):

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1DTD2ew

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1WFTxYv

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1JjywIL

B&N: http://bit.ly/1K7k63I

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1PnhVbP

iBooks: http://apple.co/1EDMnsz

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1LlRe9x

*****

Excerpt:

He had eleven Bella Nolan paintings.

Werewolf in Venice would make twelve.

And he wasn’t about to be outbid by the tiny little pixie sitting in the row across from him. She had dark hair that dropped past her shoulders and curled up at the ends. Bright green eyes lined with thick lashes. Freckles covering her plump cheeks. She was a werewolf—he could tell by the sweet and spicy smell of her—but she wasn’t from the San Francisco Wolf Pack.

He would’ve run into her by now, and he never forgot a face.

The pixie wore a thick black scarf, black heels, and a black dress that revealed the porcelain-smooth length of her legs when she crossed them. Judging from her attire, she was either headed to a funeral after the auction or stuck in a permanent state of melancholy. Or maybe she simply thought the monochromatic color would make her incognito.

Yeah, no way. With legs like that, anonymity was impossible.

As the bid tiptoed higher, reaching six hundred fifteen thousand, Jack raised his paddle with a flick of his wrist. He couldn’t care less about the money spent. He’d accumulated an estate worth billons, but even if he hadn’t, he’d go in debt to hang Werewolf in Venice on his walls.

Besides, he couldn’t take his billions with him when he died, so he might as well spend his money on something he could enjoy in his final days.

Seeing as how he was a 320-year-old werewolf who’d yet to find his Luminary—his one and only fated mate—he was weakening. Werewolves could only live about three hundred years without going through the bonding process with their Luminary. With every year that passed by, he was pushing the envelope.

He’d searched tirelessly for his mate. Scoured wolf packs throughout the country, and had come up empty-handed. Luminaries could feel the spark of connection at first touch.

He’d failed. End of discussion. End of his life.

A shaky breath ripped from his lungs.

Just then, he picked up something else in the pixie’s scent. Hints of something rich and creamy. It smelled almost like—no, it couldn’t possibly be—Guinness? Smooth and full. Bittersweet underneath. Had she drunk the beer recently? Was it still on her breath?

He couldn’t tell.

The pixie lifted her chin—a slight move, but he caught it—and raised her paddle.

Guess she was a Bella Nolan fan, too.

Without thinking twice, he rebutted.

She craned her neck to the side and glared at him, kinking one eyebrow. It was clear that she was trying to give him attitude, but she looked downright adorable. Like a puppy gearing up for battle against a more formidable dog. He couldn’t help but smile.

Sweetheart, I’m 320 years old. I’ve met and outbid enthusiastic bidders like you before.

But you’ve never met me.

Her thoughts struck him like a hammer to the temples. He hadn’t meant to project his thoughts, or for her to hear them. But now that she’d responded, he couldn’t get the sweet sound of her voice out of his head. Her tone was light and airy, like the winter wind, carrying a soft accent.

He couldn’t place it. English? Irish? Definitely European.

With a huff, the pixie redirected her attention to the front. And raised the bid again.

I can do this all day. Her lips twitched in irritation as her words pulsed through his mind. You might as well go home now. It’ll save you some embarrassment.

Exhilaration fired through his veins.

There was only one thing he loved more than a challenge: a tantalizing game of cat-and-mouse.

Keeping his eye on her, Jack bid until the price reached seven hundred fifty thousand and the room erupted in excited whispers. Pixie fidgeted in her seat, shifting her weight from one hip to the other.

Don’t overextend yourself, he projected.

Don’t worry about me. She waved her paddle. Worry about what your friends in the auction circuit are going to think when you’re outbid and lose this painting.

He bid again. Without hearing the next price.

She matched him.

A smirk curled the corner of his lips as he met her eyes. Fiery determination burned in those emerald depths. Her eyes stunned him, twinkling bright and holding him captive. But not enough to miss the price of the painting rise near a million.

He winked. And then lifted the paddle slowly.

*****

Author Info:

New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Kristin Miller writes sweet and sassy contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance of all varieties. Kristin has degrees in psychology, English, and education, and taught high school and middle school English before crossing over to a career in writing. She lives in Northern California with her alpha male husband and their two children. She loves chocolate way more than she should and the gym less. You can usually find her in the corner of a coffee shop, laptop in front of her and mocha in hand, using the guests around her as fuel for her next book.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads

*****

Giveaway:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/5440a354515

*****

Tour Info:

August 24- Indy Book Fairy, Spotlight

August 24- Bookish Wanderlove, Excerpt

August 24- Mary Gramlich Is Blogging Along With, Spotlight

August 24- Undercover Book Reviews, Spotlight

August 24- A Bookaholic’s Fix: Feeding the Addiction, Excerpt

August 24- A Lick Of Romance, Review

–

August 25- Love Reading Romance, Excerpt

August 25- A One-Click Addict’s Book Blog, Excerpt

August 25- Seeing Night Reviews, Review

August 25- Books Eater, Review

–

August 26- My Golden Reads, Excerpt

August 26- First Page to the Last, Review

–

August 27- Jacklynn Love’s Reading, Playlist

–

August 28- Beauty in the Beastly Books, Review

August 28- Warrior Woman Winmill, Review

–

August 31- Romantic Reads and Such, Excerpt

August 31- Confessions From Romaholics, Review

–

September 1- Mikky’s World Of Books, Excerpt

–

September 2– Book Junkiez, Excerpt

September 2– Geeks in High School, Review

September 2– Forget the Housework, I’m Reading…, Review

–

September 3– Vera is Reading, Playlist

–

September 4– Deal Sharing Aunt, Spotlight

September 4– Paola’s Bookshelf, Excerpt

–

September 7– Romancing the Readers, Excerpt

September 7– Becky on Books, Review

–

September 8– Romancing the Dark Side, Excerpt

September 8– Obsessive Compulsive Divalicious Books Pimps and Promos Blog, Review

–

September 9– Wicked Babes Blog Reviews, Review

–

September 10– Literature Litehouse, Excerpt

September 10– Fantical Paranormal Romantical, Review

–

September 11– Eskimo Princess Book Reviews, Excerpt

–

September 14– Urban Smoothie Read, Review

–

September 15– In The Pages of a Good Book, Playlist

September 15– Romance Schmomance, Review

–

September 16– Whispered Thoughts, Excerpt

–

September 17– purpinkrosesbookcorner, Excerpt

September 17– Fanatical Paranormal Romantical, Review

–

September 18- Vampire Book Club, Playlist

September 18- Books That Hook, Review

Advertisement

Book Review – Under the Covers

Tags

Book Review, Claire Boston, Texans Quartet series, Under the Covers

Under the Covers

The Texan Quartet, Book Three

by Claire Boston

What if the one time you didn’t want love was when you truly needed it?

Forced to flee her abusive ex, alone with no support, Elle is determined to rebuild her life and protect her five-year-old son. Not one to take the easy road, she opens a bookshop café, but opening day almost ends in disaster. In the midst of this chaos, the last thing she needs is a man as charming as George Jones getting in her way.

George has always been a sucker for a damsel in distress, and Elle ticks all the boxes. But Elle’s not interested in being rescued by anyone, especially not him. She knows her taste in men can’t be trusted, but fighting George’s charisma is harder than she expected. And George, who is not one to ignore an itch, has found there’s something about Elle that’s got under his skin.

When Elle’s ex turns up to cause trouble, George must overcome his boyish flirtatiousness if he’s to convince Elle to trust herself and let him into her life. But can Elle put her past behind her before it overwhelms her present?

Perfect for fans of Nora Roberts, Liane Moriarty, Jojo Moyes and Jane Green.

I somehow missed Book Two in this series (surprised?) but I did get to read the first one, What Goes On Tour, and at the time I said I hoped there would be another because I wanted to see more of George.  And boy did Boston delivery.

George is great.  He’s amazingly understanding and cares a lot about people.  He’s a great fit as a band manager and some of the traits that work for that also work well in his personal relationships.  He’s good at paying attention, about helping out when needed, and he’s a fixer … the only problem is that Elle doesn’t want any help.  At all.  She’s just gotten out of an abusive relationship with a controlling man and having someone step in to direct her life immediately causes issues.  Good thing that George is a fast learner and patient.  He makes a few mistakes along the way, a lot of that because Elle is still skittish, but he figures things out and proves to be great hero material.

There isn’t a lot of suspense or danger, although Elle’s ex does make a few appearances, causing trouble – mainly we focus on the growth of Elle & George’s relationship.  They work their way thru the relationship minefield that her past (and his personality) have created and it’s done very well.  In real life I think that Elle might have needed a little more time, but the interactions between the two are believable.  It’s a journey of steps for them and readers will be happy to be there for every single one.

(If you haven’t read the rest of The Texan Quartet, you’ll be fine.  I was a little afraid that missing Book 2 would be an issue for me but Boston does a great job of keeping you in the loop – telling you who’s who and the important parts of their stories.  And now I’m so curious about Imogen’s story that I’m adding it to my TBR pile.  And I’ll definitely keep my eye out for Book 4.)

Spotlight – Indulgence Romances

Alpha billionaires. Enigmatic playboys. Smokin’ hot bosses… you shouldn’t be attracted to. Just a few of the reasons readers absolutely love the Indulgence line. They’re the ultimate fantasy heroes. We love them so much we’re having a HUGE Indulgence imprint flash sale!

Indulge yourself with modern fairytale romances for only 99¢ each.

Take home a sensual prince, a rugged rancher, or perhaps, a thrill-seeking tycoon… at this price you can afford to have all of your fantasies fulfilled.

Find them at your favorite ebook retailers including Amazon, Kobo, B&N, and at Entangled Publishing.

Don’t forget to join us for Entangled Movie Night on Thursday, September 3rd @ 6PST/9EST while we live tweet of one of our favorite romantic movies and give away more great prizes. Just follow the #EPMovieNight hashtag.

Purchase Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1NH9ZUq

B&N: http://bit.ly/1Kibfwa

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1NHa5v6

Entangled website: http://www.entangledpublishing.com/category/indulgence/

#EPMovieNight Link:

https://twitter.com/search?f=tweets&vertical=default&q=%23EPMovieNight&src=typd

Giveaway:

Win your own Entangled Indulgence title

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1cb55495605/

 

Book Review – Officer on Duty

Tags

Book Review, Lock and Key series, Officer on Duty, Ranae Rose

Officer on Duty 

(Lock and Key #4)

by Ranae Rose

Life is tough but Sergeant Jeremy Connor is tougher. Riley County, North Carolina is recovering from a year of hell when devastation strikes again, and the Sheriff’s Department is working the frontlines. On top of keeping the community safe, there’s Jeremy’s greatest responsibility: raising his daughter. Alone.

Seeing local women turn up dead is enough to shake any father, even a veteran sheriff’s deputy. After years of loneliness, the timing couldn’t be worse to let another woman into his life. But he’d have better luck resisting gravity than resisting Lucia Ramirez, the first to prove there’s still a heart beneath his bullet proof vest.

For the first time in over a decade, serving and protecting isn’t enough to satisfy him anymore. But someone to love means someone to lose…

Book 4 in the Lock and Key Series

Just like all of the other books in the Lock and Key series, I really enjoyed Officer on Duty.  It had just that right amount of suspense to offset a sexy love story.

The romance portion was sweet, well developed and realistic.  My only complaint is that I didn’t completely understand why Jeremy didn’t think that he was relationship material.  I get that his wife left him and their newborn daughter when he was quite young but I would have thought he would have gotten over that in the dozen years since then.  I don’t know if there was more to their story that we weren’t given or maybe it was a little too subtle for me (I can be a little oblivious to undercurrents – which is one of the reasons I hated dissecting stories in English class).  If he’d had a few more bad experiences or there was more info on his marriage maybe it wouldn’t have bothered me.  As it was, he would start in and I thought “whatever, Jeremy, you are a hottie in your uniform with a big heart and smarts to boot.  Who wouldn’t want a guy like that?”

Besides being sexy, caring and intelligent, he also has a deep feeling of responsibility for his community and those in his life.  It’s a great thing to have not only in a police officer but also in the man in your life.  Which means that once he got over himself he turned into a great boyfriend 🙂  And Lucia was great.  She’s fun, caring, and recognized a good thing when she saw it – she’s patient and willing to wait for Jeremy to get his act together … which is good because that man is HOT in his uniform, and out of it.

I really enjoyed the slow build for the mystery.  We were given the first part of it pretty much right away and then got glimpses into the killer as we move thru the story.  It made for a compelling, albeit quite cracked, bad guy.  You don’t like her but you kinda understood where she was coming from (in a crazy pants kind of way) – why she was the way she was and how she came to this point in her life, which is important to a good story.  And her actions reached into Jeremy and Lucia’s lives, leaving a big impact.

When I finished Officer in Pursuit, I was excited to see what Rose would do for Jeremy and she doesn’t disappoint.  She gave our true-hearted deputy a touch of danger and a good women to help him.   I’m very sorry to see the series end but I’m ready for whatever Rose has in store for us next.  Looks like she’s got something in the works with the first book in her South Island PD series debuting this fall.  I’m sure it too will be full of sexy guys, strong women, intrigue, heat and heart.

(Oh for those that are new to the series, you can start here.  The characters from earlier stories make and appearance and there are some references to previous plots but it isn’t a big deal.)

 

Spotlight – Tough Love

Tags

Lori Foster, Tough Love, Ultimate series

I’m so thrilled to be sharing this one – Lori Foster is one of my favorite authors and I just love her MMA based books (we’ve already seen Hard Knocks and Holding Strong).  And her latest is getting a lot of good attention…

*****

Tough Love

Ultimate series

by Lori Foster

Blurb:

She’s playing hard to get…to win the MMA fighter of her ultimate fantasies in a sultry new novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster 

Vanity Baker loves a good, clean match, but she’s not above playing a little dirty. She’s wanted Stack “The Wolf” Hannigan from day one. Seems as though the best way to corral the famously commitment-phobic fighter is to insist on keeping it casual. And her plan works—deliciously well—until Stack’s past steps out of the shadows.

Stack learned early to stay free of attachments. But with sexy, forthright Vanity, he’s the one always left wanting more. Then his troublemaking family comes back into the picture, threatening everything Stack cares about—Vanity included. Suddenly he realizes they’re much more than friends with benefits. He’s ready to go to the mat for her…but will it be in time to protect the woman who’s tamed him for good?

Buy Links:

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iBooks ** Kobo ** GooglePlay ** Booksamillion

Praise for TOUGH LOVE:

“Foster brings her signature blend of heat and sweet to her addictive third Ultimate martial arts contemporary. Foster ably tosses out red herrings and also seamlessly lays the foundation for the next book in this series. This luscious tale will appeal to Foster’s legion of fans and attract new ones—even those who aren’t fans of professional fighting.” – Publishers Weekly

And don’t miss the first books in the Ultimate Series!

HARD KNOCKS

NO LIMITS

HOLDING STRONG

*****

Excerpt:

The breath she held came out in a gasp as he pulled her against him, locked an arm around her waist and took her mouth with hot, incredible greed.

Whoa. And here she thought she’d been on the ragged edge.

He was so much bigger than her in every way, he made her feel tiny and feminine and fragile. In all other situations her independent soul might have rebelled, but not now. Not with Stack. She trusted him one hundred percent, and wanted him even more than that.

Flattening her hands on his chest, she smoothed over the solid wall of his pecs, up to those rock-solid shoulders. Heat poured off him, and—oh God—he smelled so good. With his big hands opened on her, his mouth eating at hers, she forgot… everything.

The music and the conversation of other guests faded away. She tunneled her fingers into his hair and tried to get closer still.

Someone bumped into them; Stack didn’t stop kissing her. If anything, his tongue became bolder, exploring, tasting.

Laughter, probably from his friends, sounded nearby, and still he didn’t stop. He gathered her closer.

Jarred back to the here and now, Vanity pressed against him. A true gentleman, Stack immediately eased up.

Her lips tingled. Shoot, her whole body tingled. She drew in a shaky breath. “Wow.”

Proving he hadn’t, in fact, forgotten they stood in the middle of the floor at a friend’s wedding, he whispered against her lips, “Let me get you someplace private.” A softer kiss of persuasion. “I’ll give you reason to be wowed.”

Such a tempting promise.

Oh, how she wanted to haul him to the nearest quiet closet. But that would be dumb. What she wanted, what she hoped he ultimately wanted, would require hours, not a few frenzied minutes.

Voice filled with regret, Vanity explained, “I can’t go just yet.”

His rough growl proved his impatience.

“Very soon, I promise.” Adjusting their embrace, her arms around his neck, his hands at her waist, she put some space between them. “Let’s dance while you cool down and I—”

“Dream on.” But he eased his hold and fell into step with her. Gaze burning over her, then lingering on her cleavage, he asked, “How much longer do I have to wait?”

Vanity didn’t pretend confusion; she knew exactly what he meant, exactly what he wanted. “One dance. Then I need to get the bouquet out of the fridge and gather up some presents and—”

He groaned again, prompting Vanity to laugh.

“Let’s talk.” Maybe casual conversation would help cool his jets and give her a needed opportunity to regroup.

“Okay.” He leaned in. “I can’t wait to taste you—all over.”

All over?

“And to get you under me. Or over me. Your preference.”

“Stack.” Her shaky voice sounded weak. “Let’s talk about something that isn’t provoking.”

“Like what? Because honest to god, darlin’, after weeks of your verbal foreplay, I’m feeling pretty damned provoked.”

The smile came slowly. Teasing Stack was a true pleasure.

*****

Author Info:

Since first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. Lori has published through a variety of houses, including Kensington, St. Martin’s, Harlequin, Silhouette, Samhain, and Berkley/Jove. She is currently published with HQN.

Lori hosts a very special annual “Reader & Author” event in West Chester, Ohio. Proceeds from the event have benefited many worthy causes, including the Hamilton County YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, the Animal Adoption Foundation, The Conductive Learning Center for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy, and The One Way Farm, Children’s Home.

Each year Lori donates all proceeds from one book to charity. You can see the benefit romance books here: http://lorifoster.com/benefit-books/

LINKS:

WEBSITE: http://lorifoster.com/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/lorifoster

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/lorilfoster

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17597.Lori_Foster

PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/lorilfoster/

YOU TUBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/lorifosterauthor/

Holding Strong is part of the Ultimate series.

*****

The full series includes the following stories:

• Hard Knocks
• No Limits
• Holding Strong
• Tough Love
• Fighting Dirty

*****

Giveaway:

Win your own copy and a great charm!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9172c1a0271/

*****

Tour Info:

August 17^th

A girl and her books – Review

books chocolate and lipgloss – Review

An Aussie Girls WILD Book Addiction! – Excerpt

Books, Coffee & Passion – Excerpt

Adventures in Writing – Excerpt

NightWolf Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Talk Books to Me – Review & Excerpt

August 18^th

Romance Bytes – Excerpt

The Bookworms Obsession – Review

Indy Book Fairy – Excerpt

Romance Reviews and More – Review & Excerpt

Mythical Books – Excerpt

Read more sleep less – Review & Excerpt

August 19^th

Reads All the Books – Review & Excerpt

Best Book Boyfriends – Excerpt

What Is That Book About – Excerpt

Tome Tender – Review

Red Cheeks Reads – Review & Excerpt

I Heart YA Books – Excerpt
From the TBR Pile – Review & Excerpt

August 20^th

A Bookish Escape – Review & Excerpt

Riverina Romantics – Excerpt

Author Groupies – Review

Pages Abound – Review & Excerpt

2 Greek Girls Reading – Excerpt

BookWorm221 – Review & Excerpt

Romancing the Readers – Excerpt

August 21^st

grownupfangirl – Excerpt

Friends Till The End Book Blog – Excerpt

Those Crazy Book Chicks – Review & Excerpt

Life With Two Boys – Excerpt

stories and swag – Review

Reading Between the Wines Book Club – Excerpt

 

August 22^nd

Books, Booze, and BDSM – Excerpt

Wicked Babes Blog Reviews – Review

naughty Book Eden – Excerpt

The Book Review – Review & Excerpt

Nose Stuck in a Book – Excerpt

The Smut-Brarians – Review & Excerpt

Making it Happen – Review & Excerpt

August 23^rd

Cruising Susan Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt

Ashleyz Wonderland – Excerpt

YOLOFORALIVING – Review & Excerpt

mommas secret book obsession – Excerpt

Books and Warpaint – Review & Excerpt

August 24^th

Will Read for Feels – Excerpt

Wild and Dirty Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Becky on Books – Excerpt

Book Munchies – Review & Excerpt

Vera is Reading – Excerpt

Jen’s Reading Obsession – Review & Excerpt

BJ’s Reviews – Excerpt

August 25^th

Naomi’s Reading Palace (Previously – Nomi’s Paranormal Palace) – Review

SnoopyDoo’s Book Reviews – Excerpt

Alleskelle Blogs – Review & Excerpt

Boundless Book Reviews – Excerpt

Obsessed With Myshelf – Review

Books Like Breathing – Review

August 26^th

Oh My Growing TBR – Review & Excerpt

Stormy Day Reading Books – Review & Excerpt

Between The Lines – Review

Sultry, Steamy Reading – Review

I Bookin’ Love To Read – Review & Excerpt

Short and Sassy Book Blurbs – Review

BBF BookBoyfriends – Review & Excerpt

 

August 27^th

KT Book reviews – Excerpt

PBC – Review

Kimmy Loves to Read – Excerpt

The Book Maven – Review

This Mom Loves Alphas – Excerpt

August 28^th

Talking Books Blog – Excerpt

Fic Central – Review

Coast to Coast Book Besties – Review & Excerpt

Caroline Jane Reads – Excerpt

The Book rogue – Review

mignon mykel : reviews – Review & Excerpt

J&J’s Southern Spice Blog – Excerpt

August 29^th

G&T Indie Café – Excerpt

My YA NA Book Obession – Review & Excerpt

Love, Laughter and Happily Ever Afters – Excerpt

alpha book club – Review & Excerpt

Naughty Moms’ Story Time – Excerpt

Read-Love-Blog – Review

Romantic Reads and Such – Excerpt

August 30^th

JB’s Book Obsession Blog – Excerpt

Books Need TLC – Review

Margie’s Must Reads – Excerpt

Renee Entress’s Blog – Review & Excerpt

Rock ‘n’ Romance – Excerpt

Books and Friendz – Review & Excerpt

Sexy Bibliophiles – Review

 

Spotlight – Bad Alpha

Tags

Alpha's Vixen, Always Midnight, Amber Morgan, Angelique Voisen, April Zyon, Ashlynn Monroe, Bad Alpha, Bad Alpha Manlove Edition, Becoming His Mate, Bully Boys, Dark Heart, Destined, Destiny Realized, Discarded Pup, Doris O'Connor, Drakon's Prize, Elizabeth Monvey, Elyzabeth M. VaLey, Exiled Alpha, For Blood, Gale Stanley, Harper Shaddock, J.R. Gray, James Cox, Jocelyn Dex, Khloe Wren, L.D. Blakeley, Lynne Burke, Moira Callahan, Nicola Cameron, Outlaw Wolf, Resisting His Mate, The Alpha's Assassin, Tiger's Mate, Trouble, Yellow Eyes

And now we get even more to sink your teeth into ….

*****

BAD ALPHAS Anthologies

Two Multi-Author Anthologies

from Evernight Publishing

Bad Alpha features a select collection of stories with shifters so ruthless they will stop at nothing to protect their pack. These aren’t sugar-and-spice heroes. Our alphas are feared, inked, and don’t ask questions first.

They take what they want, never give in to their enemies, and think love is for the weak—until they meet their mate. Are you ready to learn how to tame a savage heart?

Bad Alpha: Manlove Edition features a select collection of stories with shifters so ruthless they will stop at nothing to protect their pack. These aren’t sugar-and-spice heroes. Our alphas are feared, inked, and don’t ask questions first. They take what they want, never give in to their enemies, and think love is for the weak—until they meet their mate. Are you ready to learn how to tame a savage heart?

Buy links: 

Bad Alpha    Amazon

 Bad Alpha Man Love    Amazon

*****

Bad Alpha Regular Edition:

 “For Blood” by J.R. Gray

The only way to end the war and stop the bloodshed is to marry the enemy. Every fiber of Roman wants to hate Victoria, but the more he sees, the more he craves her. Can he fight their past demons to be with her?

“Destiny Realized” by Khloe Wren

Leonardo has been the clan’s alpha for 300 years. Ruling his people has always been his one and only priority. Until he, along with his brother and sister, stop at a broken down car near their home in the Flinders Ranges on the edge of Outback Australia. The woman they rescue turns both Leo and, his brother, Valentino’s lives upside down. A mate was the last thing Leo wanted, and everything Val had ever hoped for.

Felicia is on the run. Again. Her baby’s daddy broke her daughter’s arm the last time he caught up with them so she’s desperate to stay ahead of him. But her car breaks down and trouble finds her. A killer takes advantage of her failing vehicle and she fears all is lost for her and her little girl, until another car stops and she finds herself in a whole new world where she may just have found the future she’s always wanted but never dreamed she’d have.

“Exiled Alpha” by Amber Morgan

Rachel Jacobs is a wolf on a mission. To save her pack from destruction, she’s turning to the werewolf who nearly destroyed it once before. Arkady Gusev is everything her father ever warned her against – so why does she find him so irresistible?

Arkady Gusev isn’t looking for a pack or a woman. But when Rachel walks through his door, she throws down a challenge he can’t resist. Is this exiled alpha about to come home?

“Drakon’s Prize” by Moira Callahan

Being the Alpha of a misfit clan of Dragons comes with its share of troubles. When the supernatural Council comes to Drakon Blackwood with yet another false claim against his clan he knows it’s time to make someone pay. Preferably with their life.

Allegra Hanson doesn’t work for the Council, and yet she’s been roped into assisting them in their investigation into the Blackwood clan’s supposed activities. Against her better judgment she goes to the clan’s lands to do what she can. What she never planned on was her visceral reaction to the Alpha.

The Blackwood clan land is valuable. Not for its location, but for what lies beneath the earth’s surface. Many will do anything to get it, one will stop at nothing, and is willing to kill Drakon’s woman to get it. Allegra is his, and there’s no way Drakon will lose the most precious prize of all.

“Tiger’s Mate” by April Zyon

Streak politics, and differences in opinions forced Kurt Owens to choose his own path. While it may be outside of the law in many regards he sees it as ensuring justice for the true victims of crimes when the system fails them. It’s his way of seeing the guilty pay, and keeping his own inner beast in check with the violence, and blood it craves.

Everyone thinks having a super power would be great. Alexa Harold would beg to differ. She’s been cursed to see ghosts, the dead not yet having gone to their final resting place, or judgment, or wherever they belong. They track her down, and harass her until she’s ready to go mad. Learning early in life what she needs to avoid has been the only saving grace in keeping her sanity intact.

Then she sees a man who couldn’t possibly be real. It was just her luck that such a prime specimen would in fact be deceased. Only he isn’t, and he’s taking notice of her. With a little temptation, some mystery, and a taunt he leaves her wanting more.

Kurt never thought he’d find his mate outside of the streak, or streak functions. While those of a supernatural inclination aren’t exactly rare, they have had to be careful and keep their population down. Alexa is the woman for him the only one he could ever want or need. And when her life is put in danger by his own past Kurt won’t stop until everyone understands to get to this tiger’s mate, they’ll have to get through him.

“Dark Heart” by Elyzabeth M. VaLey

The world is changing. Vampires are coming out and they’re not remotely similar to the sensual Hollywood portrait made of them. Little by little, Shifters are being unmasked and integration is waning. Panic is spreading. The government is losing control. Private agencies, such as SOA struggle to find a solution, but as the darkness grows, can one even exist?

Ten years ago, Daryl Jones lost his pack to a group of demon vampires. Since then, he not only lost his will to battle for good, his life has become a spiral of drinking, fighting and fucking anything in sight. In his opinion, a pretty perfect existence. Until, he meets the new SOA representative sent to convince him to go back to the lab. With mile long legs, a tight little ass and a smile to kill for, when she offers him a bargain, how can he possibly refuse?

Silvia Adams, has one mission: convince Daryl Jones to work for SOA again. The agency needs him to get back into the lab and help develop a serum to neutralize the growing number of vampires. She knew it wouldn’t be easy task, but with her job on the line, she’ll do anything it takes, including, bargaining with the shifter and surrendering to her deepest desires. Only problem is, she might have bartered for more than she can handle.

“Resisting His Mate” by Lynn Burke

Warrick Keaton eludes a forced pairing with one of his kind. No one is going to choose his mate for him, not when he wants nothing to do with being tied down to a woman. He never expects fate to intervene in the form of a freezing, barely alive female. With his independence in jeopardy, Warrick fights his inner hawk’s desire to stake a claim on her.

Clare Byron longs to escape her domineering ex-husband, a jealous bear shifter determined to keep her prisoner. She seizes the opportunity to run and lands in the arms of another alpha—exactly what she doesn’t want or need.

For Warrick, Clare is everything he’s ever wanted in a mate and all that he’s run from.

For Clare, Warrick is freedom in a way she never dreamed possible—the one man who will own her heart yet give her wings to fly.

“Alpha’s Vixen” by Jocelyn Dex

Dax is overwhelmed by desire when he catches the white fox trespassing on his land, and that totally pisses him off. He refuses to mate, no matter how much the fox inside him wants it, Dax definitely does not.

Opal is instantly enamored with the menacing black fox, but isn’t surprised when he chases her away—no one ever wants her, the freak-of-nature albino.

When theft and violence bring them together again, will they give in to passion, or will their hang-ups force them apart?
“Always Midnight” by Ashlynn Monroe

Taryne Michael is all her younger brother Travys has ever had for stability. When fifteen-year-old Trav doesn’t come home after he fights with her she spends the next week searching for him. He finally comes home he’s not the same boy who slammed the door the night he left. Something is very wrong and when she discovers he’s been transformed into a werewolf she’s at a loss as to what to do. The violent, angry boy isn’t the little brother she knows how to deal with. Teenage hormones are nothing compared to the animalistic young man emerging from the boy she’d raised.

Ax Greyson is a lone wolf, an alpha without a pack. He enforces laws non-shifters don’t know about. Celo Valley, is a place where two species co-reside. The werewolves keep the humans blind to their existence by being careful. Someone isn’t following the rules. Someone is killing, with no regard for secrets. When killing the woman seems like the only way to keep his people’s secret until Ax’s instincts find another way.

Mate…the word is the only thing that can scare a man like Ax.

 

“Becoming His Mate” by Harper Shaddock

*****

 

Bad Alpha Manlove Edition:

“Bully Boys” by Nicola Cameron

When Victorian solicitor Arthur Finter is forced to cut down   dangerous London alley after work, he stumbles upon pit bull shifter Alpha Gunner Jones in the middle of a dogfight with a rival shifter pack. The hardnosed bully boy scents Arthur and recognizes him as his mate, but will events orchestrated by the other pack separate them before Gunner can lay final claim?

“The Alpha’s Assassin” by Doris O’Connor

Bear shifter Zayden Reid makes his living doing what he does best—killing people.  The sought after assassin doesn’t have to think twice when he’s offered a lot of money  to kill the Alpha  of a wolf pack, until he scents his mate.

As the Alpha of his pack Quinton Thorn is used to giving orders. He may be gay, but that doesn’t mean he’s weak, and he’ll squash any challenge to his leadership with ruthless efficiency. When the threat comes from a source he trusts, however, can he afford to give into his feelings for his mate, knowing that he’ll endanger everyone under his protection?

The mating bond cannot be denied, no matter what the consequences, and they might well kill.

“Discarded Pup” by Angelique Voisen

Betrayed by his beta and abandoned by his pack, Cole Reyes wasted the last ten years of his life rotting behind bars. A cage is no place for a wolf, and wounds left open, fester. Cole has zero tolerance for mercy.  The time Cole spent in prison didn’t just bleed out all the decency he once possessed.  It broke him. Made him hard and unforgiving. Cole’s vengeance starts now, beginning with his beta’s new toy.

“Yellow Eyes” by Gale Stanley

The brutal war between shifters and humans is over, but each side still sees the other as a threat. The only thing they can agree on, is that they can’t agree. Humans live east of the bridge, shifters live west. Camden is a halfbreed, the product of a rape that happened during the war. Neither side wants him, but he lives with his human mother. The night she dies, Camden goes west looking for revenge. He knows he won’t find his father, and he’ll probably get himself killed, but he doesn’t care. As long as he takes a shifter with him, he’ll die happy.

Wyat is alpha of the pack living in the west. He’s a warrior who believes in separation of the races. Then on the night of the full moon, he discovers a half-breed hiding in the alley. The man’s scent makes him burn with lust, and against his better judgement, he takes him home—and discovers that sleeping with the enemy might just lead to a better future.

“Destined” by L.D. Blakeley

Caleb Stokes has had a shit night. Too bad catching his boyfriend in flagrante delicto with the club DJ isn’t the worst thing he’ll witness before the night is through. Marick Gevrees has no time for romance. He has even less time for a tipsy twink looking for a man to fill some Daddy fetish. But what the hell is he supposed to do when said twink wanders headlong into the middle of a bloody vendetta that could result in the exposure of his clan?

“Trouble” by James Cox

Tremarc is sleeping his way through the entire Bear Shifter Clan. He’s sent to the moon, under the colonized dome to stay out of trouble. When he meets sexy alpha Lyon and his mated human, Quinn his life takes a sharp turn that may just find him his happy ending or get him kicked out of yet another bear shifter clan.

“Outlaw Wolf” by Elizabeth Monvey

Dekker ran away from his pack in an order to protect his lover and Alpha, Grey, when he overheard two higher ranked wolves talk about killing him.

When Grey finds him six months later, Dekker tries to convince the man he loves to go away. But Grey won’t take no and as the two talk it out, their mutual attraction overwhelms them.

In desperation, Dekker renounces Grey as his Alpha. But when another force tries to punish Dekker by silencing him forever, Grey must choose which stand he’ll take…being the alpha for all his pack, or being the man Dekker needs, even if it means breaking the rules.

*****

Giveaway:

$25 Evernight Publishing GC

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/fdb586fd54/

*****

Click the banner below to check out the rest of the tour

Spotlight – Covet

Tags

Covet, Secret Desire Trilogy, Tina Traverse

Another busy day.  This time we’re starting with something for those who like their heroes with … some bite!

*****

Covet

Secret Desire Trilogy, Book 1

by Tina Traverse

Blurb:

Hiding in an isolated Newfoundland outport, Scarlett Winters is the living bearer of the secret of immortality. Sebastian Sinclair, vampire and stealer of souls, might be her only hope to escape a deadly power struggle. But can she trust him? Caught between sacrificing her morals and betrayal by those she trusted, Scarlett will risk everything to escape…unless she dies trying.

Paperback: Amazon: getBook.at/SDCovet

Paperback: Barnes and Noble: http://goo.gl/jmulcz

Ebook: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/569135

*****

Author Info:

Tina Traverse fell in love with writing at the age of eight when she wrote her version of the bible story, The Good Samaritan, for a homework assignment.

This love grew into a passionate affair and has been ongoing for thirty years; and there are no signs of it waning.

Though, she admits, when she was pregnant with her son Christian, the affair cooled.

Tina’s desire to write came calling once again when she needed to find a way to cope with heartbreaking news.

Christian was diagnosed with autism in 2010.

Her method of coping was to write a story about his journey called Forever, Christian.

Tina likes to joke that a girl can only write about real life for so long without jumping back into the world of make believe.

She loves to venture into the world of the supernatural; vampires and witches are her favourite!

Tina enjoys all sorts of vampires but admits that she is fascinated with the modern romantic vampire (think Twilight and The Vampire Diaries).

She is currently working on a vampire series based on her first published book, Destiny of The Vampire and has other projects in the works.

When Tina is not at the computer creating her exciting, magical worlds, she is kept on her toes by her two sons, Christian and Brandon.

Sometimes the author manages to curl up in her favourite chair with a good book.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TinaTraverse1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tina.powertraverse

Wattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/home

Website: http://www.tinatraverse.com

M.A.R.Social: http://marsocial.com/activity/

*****

Teaser:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/H6pzGKPmphc?feature=player_detailpage

*****

Giveaway:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d9de3d752/

*****

Tour Info:

Follow the tour crew and tour by clicking on any of these tour buttons from participating blogs!

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1QHo-MjsBZGkFYhK1raQ9wqZVqqGonI-69SApjePA62o/embed?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000

Spotlight – What To Do With A Duke

Tags

Sally MacKenzie, What To Do With A Duke

We’ve seen Sally MacKenzie before with The Duchess of Love series (I adored Surprising Lord Jack) and I’m excited to see that she’s starting a new series!

*****

What To Do With A Duke

by Sally MacKenzie

Publisher: Zebra

Genre: Historical Romance

Format: Kindle/Paperback/Audio

Blurb:

Welcome to the charming, fatefully named village of Loves Bridge, where a woman destined for spinsterhood can live a life of her own choosing—or fall unexpectedly, madly in love…

Miss Isabelle Catherine Hutting would rather be lounging in the library than circling the ballroom in search of a husband any day. So when Cat hears that the town’s infamous Spinster House is open for a new resident, she jumps at the chance to put all this marriage business behind her. But first she must make arrangements with her prospective landlord, Marcus, the Duke of Hart—the most handsome man she’s ever seen, and the only man who’s ever impressed her in the least…

With her wit, independent spirit, and not least of all her beauty, Marcus can’t help but be stirred by Cat. It’s terribly unfortunate he’s not looking to marry, given the centuries-old curse that left his family with the Spinster House to begin with. No duke shall live to see his heir’s birth. But is there a chance the curse could be broken—in true fairy-tale fashion—by an act of true love? The race to Happily Ever After is about to begin…

Kensington | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Google Play | Goodreads

*****

Author Info:

USA Today bestselling author Sally MacKenzie writes funny, sexy romances set in her favorite time period (other than the present): Regency England. Her novella, “The Duchess of Love,” was a 2013 RITA® finalist, and two of her books—The Naked King and Bedding Lord Ned—made ALA Booklist’s top ten romances for their respective years. Many of her books are available in audio format, and her stories have been translated into Czech, French, Indonesian, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish.

Sally graduated with a B.A. in English from the University of Notre Dame in the first class of women. She’s a Cornell Law School dropout, former federal regulation writer, recovering parent volunteer, mother of four grown sons, and middle-of-the-lane Masters swimmer. She loves to travel, especially to England to research historic sites and hike through—and frequently get lost in—the English countryside.

A native of Washington, D. C., she lives with her husband in suburban Maryland, not far from her childhood home.

For More Information

Visit Sally’s website.

And Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

*****

Tour Info:

August 24

Book featured at 3 Partners in Shopping

Guest blogging at Inner Goddess

August 25

Book featured at What Is That Book About

Book reviewed and Guest blogging at Bambi Unbridled

August 26

Book reviewed at What I’m Reading

Book featured at Mikky’s World of Books

Book reviewed at Polished Bookworm

August 27

Book reviewed at Vic’s Media Room

Book featured at Romantic Reads and Such

August 28

Guest blogging at Mythical Books

August 31

Book featured at Chosen By You Book Club

September 1

Book featured at Undercover Book Reviews

September 2

Guest blogging at Crystal’s Chaotic Confessions

September 3

Guest blogging at Reviews by Crystal

Interviewed at Lisa Loves Books

September 4

Book reviewed at Little Shop of Readers

Book reviewed at Addicted to Romance

Spotlight – Finding Gabriel

Tags

Finding Gabriel, Rachel L. Demeter

We’ve got a couple of historical romances to look at today and we’re starting with one that has an interesting twist … you don’t often see many from the french side of the war with Napoleon.  And he’s troubled too – should be a fantastically interesting read!

*****

Finding Gabriel

by Rachel L. Demeter

Blurb:

Colonel Gabriel de Laurent departed for the war intending to die.

After a decade of bloodstained battlegrounds while fighting in Napoleon’s army, Gabriel returns to the streets of Paris a shattered and haunted soul. Plagued by inner demons, he swallows the barrel of his flintlock pistol and pulls the trigger.

But fate has a different plan. 

Ariah Larochelle is a survivor. Orphaned at twelve and victim to a devastating crime, she has learned to keep her back to walls and to trust no one. But when she finds a gravely injured soldier washed up on the River Seine, she’s moved by compassion. In spite of her reservations, she rescues him from the icy water and brings him into her home.

Now scarred inside and out, Gabriel discovers a kindred spirit in Ariah – and feelings he imagined lost forever reawaken as he observes her strength in the face of adversity. But when Ariah’s own lethal secrets unfold, their new love is threatened by ancient ghosts. Can Gabriel and Ariah find hope in the wreckage of their pasts – or will the cycle of history repeat again?

Perfect for fans of Gaelen Foley’s Lord of Ice and Judith James’s Broken Wing, Finding Gabriel features all the dark romance, searing passion, and historical intrigue of The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables.

Momentum Page: http://momentumbooks.com.au/books/finding-gabriel/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25659511-finding-gabriel

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YLWA044

Sample Excerpts: http://racheldemeter.net/finding-gabriel-sample-excerpts/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MoonlightMoment

*****

Author Info:

Rachel L. Demeter lives in the beautiful hills of Anaheim, California with Teddy, her goofy lowland sheepdog, and her high school sweetheart of eleven years. She enjoys writing dark, poignant romances that challenge the reader’s emotions and explore the redeeming power of love.

Imagining dynamic worlds and characters has been Rachel’s passion for longer than she can remember. Before learning how to read or write, she would dictate stories while her mother would record them for her. She holds a special affinity for the tortured hero and unconventional romances. Whether crafting the protagonist or antagonist, she ensures every character is given a soul.

Rachel endeavors to defy conventions by blending elements of romance, suspense, and horror. Some themes her stories never stray too far from: forbidden romance, soul mates, the power of love to redeem, mend all wounds, and triumph over darkness.

Her dream is to move readers and leave an emotional impact through her words.

Don’t be a stranger! Rachel loves to connect and interact with her readers:

Visit Rachel’s Official Website: http://racheldemeter.net

Stay in the loop with Rachel’s Author Newsletter:http://tinyurl.com/rldnewsletter

Follow Rachel on Twitter:@RachelLDemeter

Join Rachel on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/rldemeter

Add Rachel on Goodreads:http://goodreads.com/RachelLDemeter

Spotlight – Laid Out

Tags

Laid Out, Sidney Halston, Worth the Fight Series

I’m hoping you guys remember Sidney Halston’s “Worth the Fight” series (which started with the oh-so-awesome Against the Cage).  Lucky for us, she’s keeping them coming!

*****

Laid Out

Worth the Fight # 4

by Sidney Halston

Releasing August 18, 2015

Loveswept

Blurb:

Perfect for fans of Monica Murphy and Cecy Robson, Sidney Halston’s scorching new MMA romance proves there are no holds barred when it comes to seduction.

Growing up an Army brat, Violet Channing could never meet her dad’s high expectations. But in the eyes of her best friend, she could do no wrong. He even insisted that he should be her first kiss. Now Cain Sorensen is all grown up, hardened by years in special ops and always looking for a good fight. Tall, with striking blue eyes and impossibly blond hair, he’s a modern-day Viking warrior. Of course, Violet’s all grown up, too, and she’s ready to surrender to his every command.

Cain knows he’s bad for Violet. His work is dangerous, and his hobbies are downright deadly. As a private mercenary and a mixed martial arts fighter, he could never let such an innocent soul into his world. And yet his most grueling combat training is no match for Violet’s killer curves, hot touch, and suggestive glances. Now all of Cain’s most explosive fantasies are coming true—but once they cross the line between friends and lovers, there’s no turning back.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23636580-laid-out?from_search=true&search_version=service

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/135224-worth-the-fight

Buy Links:   Amazon | B & N | iTunes | Kobo

*****

Excerpt:

She was kicking a rock out of the way when Cain grabbed her hand and pulled her to a nearby tree, causing her to yelp as she struggled to keep her balance. At nineteen, Cain was thin and lanky—all limbs. She was still short and stumpy. He turned her around brusquely and pressed her back against a tree, the bark digging into her. She looked up at him and saw an intensity in his eyes she’d never seen before. His cheeks were flushed and the vein by his neck pulsed. Suddenly she became nervous. He’d never looked at her this way—the way the cute guys looked at the pretty girls.

Lately she’d felt flustered when Jeremy was nearby, with his mess of curly dark brown hair and dimpled smile. Feelings that hadn’t been there before were now creeping in. In fact, she could’ve sworn Jeremy had been flirting with her lately—complimenting her clothes and hair, brushing against her “accidentally,” inviting her to the movies without Cain around. But these brief flirtatious moments were with Jeremy. Not with Cain. Never with Cain. Cain was just her friend. A little gangly, a little quiet, a lot overprotective.

That was until now.

Suddenly there was an awareness that had never been there before.

When he licked his lips, her pulse sped up. A foreign feeling—desire—began to take root. He reached toward her hair, and she flinched a little before he tucked a stray strand behind her ear. The tender action surprised her. For the first time, she noticed how clear his blue eyes were, how his hair was so blond it almost looked white. All of a sudden, he didn’t seem like just this boy who was always around. Unfamiliar feelings began to erupt throughout her body. She felt her cheeks flame and her heart race.

When he finally spoke, his voice shook a little. “I’m your friend because I want to be your friend. Not because of your parents or your dumb threats. I don’t like it when you call yourself fat. You’re not fat.”

She nodded and murmured, “Okay.” She drew her lower lip into her mouth and nibbled as her wide eyes gazed at his. Cain reached over and pulled her lip out of her mouth. “You’re nervous.” It wasn’t a question. He knew her well enough to be aware of her tells.

“I . . . uh . . . what are you doing, Cain?”

“I don’t want you to kiss just anyone to get it outta the way.”

Words failed her, so she just nodded again. There was a moment where neither spoke. He just looked at her as if trying to decide on his next move.

“I should be the first person you kiss,” he finally said as his tongue flicked out a little and wet his lips.

She gasped and looked up into his eyes nervously. His eyes never left hers, but his reddened ears and neck showed that he was also nervous. She too knew him well.

Like a fool, she bobbed her head up and down mostly because the words were stuck in her throat. It felt like he stared at her lips for an eternity until he finally leaned forward, causing her to press herself further back against the tree, her hands gripping the bark. He tilted his head to the side and she imitated the action.

Should I open my mouth? Leave it closed? What about my tongue? What should it be doing?

Softly, almost feather light, his lips brushed against hers. Her eyes instinctively closed tight, and she stopped breathing. It was less than ten seconds but it was forever. In that moment she fell into the category of girls who’d had their first kiss. She kept her eyes closed for far too long, and when she opened them he was standing upright, his face even more flushed. Her own tongue snuck out of her mouth to taste her lips. She swallowed and looked at him, her eyes as wide as saucers. What just happened?

Then, with the same intensity in his expression, he leaned back down, but this time he pressed harder against her lips causing her lips to part slightly. His body moved closer to hers, and then she felt his hands grip her waist and his tongue touch her lips before it moved into her mouth and brushed hers for a brief second, his fingers digging into her skin at her waist. She instinctively melded into him, her body seeking him out.

Again he moved away and looked at her. His expression never changed, and neither did hers. Her eyes were wide; she touched her lips, as if to determine whether the kiss had really happened. They just looked at each other, neither saying anything, her heart beating so loudly she was sure he could hear it. Finally she spoke and said the only thing that came to mind. “Wow, my cup runneth over,” she whispered. It was a phrase he teased her about constantly, but it was exactly how she felt: she could barely contain her happiness.

He chuckled, and the smile did her in: she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. Hard. He wrapped his arms around her waist and walked them the half step back against the tree again. Their noses bumped. It was awkward, but as first kisses went . . . it was perfect.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Vi.” It was the last thing he said to her before leaving for war.

*****

Author Info:

Sidney Halston lives her life by one simple rule: “Just do it.” And that’s exactly what she did. At the age of thirty, having never written anything other than a legal brief, she picked up a pen for the first time to pursue her dream of becoming an author. That first stroke sealed the deal, and she fell in love with writing. Halston lives in South Florida with her husband and children.

Author Links:  Facebook | Twitter | Website | GoodReads

*****

Giveaway:

One Loveswept Mug

One Flirt Mug

Ebook copies of:

JUST A LITTLE CRUSH by Renita Pizzitola

CRUSHED by Lauren Layne

AGAINST THE CAGE by Sidney Halston

POSSESS by Laura Marie Altom

AFTER MIDNIGHT by Kathy Clark

MAKE YOU BURN by Megan Crane

MY HIGHLAND LOVER by Maeve Greyson

BREAKING NOAH by Missy Johnson and Ashley Suzanne

A FASHIONABLE INDULGENCE by K.J. Charles

FORBIDDEN by Jacquelyn Frank

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/235babe7233/

*****

Click on the banner below to check out the rest of the tour