Even though two of his best friends have settled down, Wes Lancaster is determined not to get sucked into some siren’s web. As owner of the professional football team the New York Mavericks and wildly successful BAD restaurant, his lifestyle is full as it is.
Well, it was, until Winnie Winslow, the new, sexy, stiletto-wearing Team Physician trash-talks him in the locker room without batting an eye.
Now he can’t stop himself from wanting her.
The only girl in her parents’ brood of five, she’s as outspoken as she is beautiful and the kind of woman who holds her own—and then some.
Always competitive at heart, if he’s going all in for love…
Wes sure as hell wants a Win-Win.
Prepare to get a little dirty because this one might go into overtime. Game. On.
Disclaimer:
Max and Monroe, under penalty of fictional perjury, swear that actually changing the rhythm of your heartbeat was not their intention, but rather, a side effect of swoony characters and an overzealous dedication to tears. No, no. The Dedication of the book is actually to tears.
Proceed with caution.
Except, be cautious quickly. Thanks.
Tiny Tease:
“Leave it,” I whispered as her phone rang from her tiny purse that lay discarded on the floor, groaning and pushing her deeper into the wall before sucking the peak of her nipple into my mouth.
We were in the trenches of my favorite two-person activity, and I had absolutely no desire to add a third—especially knowing whoever was on the other end of her phone wasn’t a model for Victoria’s Secret.
Relax. I’m mostly joking.
I’d been working diligently at the removal of each and every piece of her clothing for the last five or so minutes, but we were so desperate to keep our mouths on one another, the process had been slow going and she’d yet to have the chance to reciprocate.
I couldn’t help it, though, and I didn’t mind that I still wore my clothes. Her skin was like a flavor, one I swore had been specifically designed for me by Baskin Robbins, and her nipples were like the cherries on top. Deep red from my attention and perfectly delicious.
But the bleating of her phone threatened to pop my flawless pleasure bubble.
Ok first off, I’m not cheating on Thatch but Wes might be my second favorite billionaire, sorry Kline. I stayed up WAY too late last night finishing the book but I just HAD to find out how Wes won Winnie (say that 5 times fast).
I knew Wes was going to be the tough nut (ha nut) to crack when he was adverse to love when his pals were falling. Wes doesn’t want a family, doesn’t want kids but he certainly wants Winnie who has both. And let me just tell you the scenes with Lexi and Wes are just ovary exploding. You want to find Wes and have all his babies, as long as they’re all like Lexi.
And note, after reading this book, your panties will be drenched! From peeing with laughter and being turned on!
And Lexi. How I love that little girl! She kinda reminds me of the little boy from Jerry Maguire. But a girl obviously.
She was a walking encyclopedia of football stats and facts and just dazzled Wes.
I won’t lie, as I came to the end of the book, I became a little fahklempt and was sad to see this series almost end. I know there’s a 3.5 novella coming soon. I have just loved these characters and their craziness and their familial relationships so much! This will be another series that if I can EVER get it signed in person (once someone cracks the mystery of what geniuses are Max and Monroe), I will. As it is, I want to go back and start from the beginning and read about Whor-gie, Kline, Cassie and Thatch.
Once upon a time, knights in shining armor existed…
We were whisked off on their white horses, taken back to the castle, then crowned their princesses forever…
Then we grew up and wanted more.
Nights that never end. Passion that never dies. Dominance that never stops.
Now, we want our alphas: sexy, scintillating, muscled, and masculine. Forget the castle; we crave their cave. Their love doesn’t come easily, but their ruthless ways leave us breathless…and begging for more.
Happily-ever-after has never been so much fun, especially now. Multiple authors, along with Once Upon An Alpha, have joined for a collection featuring some of the hottest alpha heroes you’ll ever read. Best of all, the proceeds will benefit 4 Paws for Ability.
Stories Contributed to Alphas of Sin: HIS UNDENIABLE SECRET – SHAYLA BLACK BLIND CHANCE – REBECCA BROOKE TIGHT – SKYE CALLAHAN NIGHT OWL – M.C. CERNY THE UNATTAINABLE CHIEF – MICHELLE DARE A PROMISE IGNITED – ANISSA GARCIA SIN ON A STICK – JENNA JACOB LOVE AND OBEY – SAPPHIRE KNIGHT BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED – ISABELLA LAPEARL TRIGGER – GLENNA MAYNARD THE RECLUSE – MORGAN JANE MITCHELL TEASE ME – NIQUEL HEINOUS – ALEXIS NOELLE THE BOSS – J.L. PERRY INEVITABLE – KATHERINE RHODES THE RIGHT CHOICE – BRANDY L RIVERS THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN GEORGIA – M. STRATTON
BEAUTIFUL STRANGER – MADISON STREET MASKED ENCOUNTER – FELICIA TATUM THE GATE KEEPER – ALICE K. WAYNE
4 Paws for Ability is a worldwide agency that enriches the lives of children and veterans with disabilities by training and placing quality, task-trained service dogs. For more information about this nonprofit organization: http://4pawsforability.org/
Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than fifty novels. For over fifteen years, she’s written contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances via traditional, independent, foreign, and audio publishers. Her books have sold well over a million copies and been published in a dozen languages.
Raised an only child, Shayla occupied herself with lots of daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and realized that she could have a career publishing the stories spinning in her imagination. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America to pay the bills, her heart has always been with her characters. She’s thrilled that she’s been living her dream as a full-time author for the past seven years.
Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband, her teenage daughter, and a very spoiled cat. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.
Rebecca Brooke grew up in the shore towns of South Jersey. She loves to hit the beach, but always with her kindle on hand. She is married to the most wonderful man, who puts up with all of her craziness. Together they have two beautiful children who keep her on her toes. When she isn’t writing or reading (which is very rarely) she loves to bake and watch episodes of Shameless and True Blood.
Bestselling author, Skye Callahan uses fiction to explore the darker aspects of human nature, and the lengths people might go to fight for love in any situation. Skye’s first romantic suspense Irrevocable was named a Top Read of 2014 by Shayna Renee’s Spicy Reads, and continues to be a fan favorite.
M.C. Cerny fell in love with books after experiencing her first real ugly cry reading, Where The Red Fern Grows. Her debut romantic suspense novel, Flashpoint was written in a series of post-it-note ramblings that would likely make her idol Tom Clancy and her mother blush. She is a post graduate of NYU, and calls rural NJ home with her menagerie of human and feline fur-babies. When M.C. is not writing, you’ll find her lurking in Starbucks, running stupid marathons, singing Disney show tunes, and searching out the perfect shade of pink nail polish.
MICHELLE DARE Michelle Dare is a romance author. Her stories range from sweet to sinful and from new adult to fantasy. There aren’t enough hours in the day for her to write all of the story ideas in her head. When not writing or reading, she’s a wife and mom living in eastern Pennsylvania. One day she hopes to be writing from a beach where she will never have to see snow or be cold again.
Anissa Garcia earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Speech Communications and English. She held an array of jobs including Public Relations Manager for Barnes and Noble. Wanting a change of pace, she attended The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and trained full-time in theatre for two years. After working in Hollywood as an actress and casting assistant, she relocated to Austin, Texas and began writing freelance for Cosmopolitan and other publications. Her first book, A Promise Kept, is available now. A Promise Made will be available November 2016. When not writing stories, watching movies, or drinking a latte, she loves to daydream about romantic fictional men.
USA Today Bestselling author Jenna Jacob paints a canvas of passion, romance, and humor as her Alpha men and the feisty women who love them unravel their souls and heal their scars to find their happily-ever-after kind of love. Heart-tugging, captivating, and steamy, Jenna’s books will surely leave you breathless and craving more.
A mom of four grown children, Jenna and her Alpha-Hunk husband live in Kansas. Jenna loves books, Harleys, music, and camping. Jenna’s zany sense of humor and lack of filter exemplify her motto: Live. Laugh. Love.
Meet the wild and wicked family in her sultry series: The Doms of Genesis. Or become spellbound by the searing love connection between Raine, Hammer, and Liam in her continuing saga: The Doms of Her Life (co-written with the amazing Shayla Black and Isabella La Pearl). Journey with couples struggling to resolve their pasts to discover unbridled love and devotion in Jenna’s new contemporary series: Passionate Hearts.
Sapphire Knight is the International Bestselling Author of Secrets, Exposed, Relinquish, Corrupted, Forsaken Control, Unwanted Sacrifices, Friction, Unexpected Forfeit, Russian Roulette and Princess. The series are called Russkaya Mafiya, Oath Keepers MC, Ground and Pound, and Dirty Down South. Her books all reflect on what she loves to read herself. Sapphire’s a Texas girl who is crazy about football. She’s always had a knack for writing, whether it is poems or stories. She originally studied psychology and believes that it’s added to her passion for writing. Sapphire is the proud mom of two boys and has been married for twelve years. When she’s not busy in her writing cave, she’s playing with her three Doberman Pinschers. She loves to donate to help animals and watch a good action movie.
Hello Friends! My name is Isabella and I write sexy, erotic romance. I’m a wife, mother, writer, reader and I love to ride my motorcycle. To say it’s been an extraordinary journey thus far would be an understatement… what a rush! What a thrill to realize dreams and see them go from a seed to fruition. So for all you aspiring Authors, who like me, have a fire inside that burns brightly and demands to be sated by writing… Never give up.
Glenna Maynard is a Kentucky native with a passion for romance, best known for her bestselling romantic suspense novel I’m with You and The Black Rebel Riders’ MC series. When she isn’t arguing with the voices in her head or drinking reader tears, she enjoys watching classic TV shows with her two children and longtime leading man.
Bestselling Erotic Romance and Paranormal author Morgan Jane Mitchell spent years blogging politics and health trends before she rediscovered her love of writing fiction. Trading politicians for bloodsuckers of another kind, she’s now the author of bestselling post-apocalyptic fantasy novel, Sanguis City. Her action packed series of vampires, witches, demons and zombies is paranormal romance, dystopia, urban fantasy and erotica in one bite. When Morgan Jane is not creating the city of blood or conjuring up other supernatural tales, she’s dreaming up erotic and dark romances.
Niquel is a self diagnosed coffee addict, lover of rice and beans, and chocolate—preferably not all together. She’s the creator of multiple stories full of love, passion, and power. She may toss in a ghost story every once in a while. When she’s not busy taking care of her two little girls, she’s writing or creating graphics. Or you can find her binge watching TV with her significant other. Boston born and raised, she’s always been a creative soul: attending multiple colleges to develop her love of the visual arts. Niquel loves to meet new fans and she’d love to hear feedback from you. Whether it’s positive or negative, your reviews help her grow as an author! You can contact her directly through any of the sites posted below.
Alexis Noelle lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with her husband, and two kids. On top a writing career, she is a full-time student and a full-time mom. She loves spending time with her kids, although she has to hide the computer from them when she is writing! She love being active and being outdoors, especially if it involves any kind of shopping. She has always been passionate about writing. She loves to read romance books and feels like being able to lose yourself in a book is one of the more exciting aspects. The books she loves to read and write will be ones that make you feel for the characters. Alexis believes that you should have an opinion on every character in a book whether you love them, hate them, or think they are up to something. She also believes that the most important critic is your reader, so she loves to hear from the readers. She wants her fans to be open & talk to her about what they want for the characters in the story, and what they would like to see happen.
J. L. Perry is a mother, a wife, and she resides in Sydney, Australia. She has been writing for just over two years, and has eight published titles to her name. Her first five books were self-published, and in December 2015, she signed a five book deal with publishing giant, Hachette. Her last two releases, Bastard and Hooker, both skyrocketed to #1 on iBook’s after release. Bastard has now been translated into French and Hungarian. She’s a romantic at heart and her love of reading, and HEA’s, is what inspired her to start writing. J. L. loves to connect with her readers.
Armed with a pen name, Katherine Rhodes has gird her loins and set her mind to writing erotic romances which are kinky, dirty, and fun. As a lackadaisical laundry goddess, and an expert in the profundities of bad music and awful literature-thanks to her husband-Katherine strives to find balance in the universe and time to cook dinner. An East Coast dweller, currently located in the Philadelphia Tristate area, she is the proud servants of three cats and would take a vacation in Prague over a day at the beach any time…
Brandy L Rivers is a New York Times and USA Today, bestselling author. Her two main series are: Others of Edenton and Others of Seattle. She has also written a few contemporary stories. An avid reader, Brandy has always loved writing. She became serious about it as a stay-at-home-mother. Her secret lair, guarded by a pint-sized pound puppy who imagines himself a hellhound, contains a file full of manuscripts she plans to edit and publish with new creations she is constantly dreaming up. Living in rainy Western Washington with her husband and three kids, Brandy is already working on future stories in each of the series, along with several other projects.
M. Stratton is an International Amazon bestselling author in the romantic suspense and mystery suspense categories for her Storm Series and Bender. She lives with her husband and son in Arizona, which is a big difference from where she grew up north of Chicago, Illinois. As an only child she learned to tell herself stories to make the long winters go by quicker while dreaming of summer vacations. Now as an adult she still makes up stories to pass the time, but now she writes them down to share with other people. Stratton is a self-proclaimed dork who loves to make people laugh. Her inner rock star is always on stage performing to a sold out crowd, but she quiet and shy on the outside. She spends her days plotting new ways to surprise her readers.
Madison began writing at a young age. She would write episodes of her favorite television shows and her passion has grown since. She decided to pursue her dreams and debuted her dark romance suspense novel, Little Things, in June 2014. It was well received by thousands of readers and became a bestseller in Romance Suspense on Amazon.
Madison Street was born in New York City and was raised in the Bronx, where she resided until she was 17 years old. After 9/11, Madison joined the United States Navy to serve her country.
During the deployments, Madison constantly wrote short stories and she discovered her passion for writing. You will find Madison always on the computer, whether she’s on Facebook, designing websites, messing with Photoshop, or writing for her blog.
Felicia Tatum was born and raised in Tennessee. She always loved reading, and at the age of twelve began writing. Her passion for creating stories grew and in May 2012, she finally wrote her first novel, The White Aura.
She still lives in Tennessee with her daughter and her kitty. She loves cooking, books, and animals are some of her best friends. She watches a lot of Disney channel and often dreams up new book ideas. She’s currently working on various projects, including the rest of the White Aura Series, the Scarred Hearts Series, and a novella series. Her dream is to write as many books as possible while entertaining as many people as possible.
Alice K. Wayne is a paranormal romance/ erotica writer straight out of the Motor City. From a young age books became her favorite escape, and that love eventually turned to writing as well. Alice loves traveling, is a self-proclaimed foodie, sushi addict, selfie Queen, and like all good Detroiters, is completely obsessed with Red Wings hockey.
TITLE : Living For Today
AUTHOR : Brenda Kennedy
GENRE : Soft Romance
RELEASE DATE : October 18, 2016
After recovering from amnesia, domestic violence, and the death of her abusive husband, Ava Emerson finally put her past behind her, and moved forward to an unforeseen future.
When Xander Jamison went to Savannah, Georgia, he had given up on life and love. His plan was to accept his death sentence and die with dignity. That was until he met Ava Emerson.
But when Xander reveals to Ava that he’s dying of brain cancer, Ava’s life is shattered once again.
Can Xander find a treatment or a cure in time?
Will fate step in and leave Ava devastated and alone? Will her lifelong friend Chase be there to pick up the pieces, once again?
Can Chase finally reveal his true feelings for Ava, or does he continue to keep them from her and move on without her?
∗∗∗∗∗ This is book 2 in an all new series, The Forgotten Trilogy by Brenda Kennedy, and is not meant to be read as a stand – alone. Book 1 is available for download *FREE* on all major platforms and does end in a cliff – hanger. Book 2 also ends in a cliff – hanger. Book 3 is tentatively scheduled for release December 2016, and will be the final book in the series.
First and foremost I am a wife, mother and grandmother.
I am also a nurse and a new author.
I moved to sunny Florida in 2006 and never looked back.
I love fresh squeezed lemonade, crushed ice, teacups, wineglasses, non-franchise restaurants, ice cream cones, boating, picnics, cookouts, throwing parties, lace, white wine, mojitos, strawberry margaritas, white linen tablecloths, fresh flowers and Pinterest. I also love to read and write and to spend time with my family. My books thus far, have been inspired by the things I love and the people who influence me, every single day to be a better person.
When a silly, impulsive decision lands free-spirited India Shaw behind bars in San Francisco, she has no choice but to call the only person she knows in the unfamiliar city–the very man she abandoned after a steamy two-day fling. The fact that she’s pregnant with his child is something she’d rather not divulge.
Tech executive Michael Black never thought he’d hear from the quirky beauty after she left his bed four months ago, much less be called upon to post bail. He’s got his hands full with a corporate merger that could make or break his career, but his honorable nature–and an overwhelming need to see her again–means he can’t just leave her in jail. And when India reveals the truth about her pregnancy, Mike insists she stay with him until the baby is born.
India doesn’t want to depend on him for anything, but their constant proximity stirs up feelings she can’t ignore. She’s never desired a family before and she knows a future with Mike isn’t possible…but then along came love and shook up all her plans.
A former criminal defense attorney, Tracey Livesay finds crafting believable happily ever afters slightly more challenging than protecting our constitutional rights, but she’s never regretted following her heart instead of her law degree. She lives in Virginia with her husband-who she met on the very first day of law school–and their three children.
The star player with a troubled past… Cash Greenwood escaped a difficult past by becoming a star baseball player. Now, one of the major league’s rare double threats, all his effort is thrown into the sport. He’s never had any interest in women, until he meets the one woman who wants nothing to do with him. The daughter of baseball royalty… Delilah Gray’s life revolves around numbers, research, and data. She has no time for anything messy like emotions or relationships. Especially not when they come in the sexy guise of a baseball player. She’s seen first-hand the devastation caused by dating a man obsessed with the sport, and that’s one risk she’s not willing to take. She is one curveball he never saw coming… But this is one pitch Cash is determined to hit out of the park. Sexual tensions run high and feelings start to develop, but will Delilah ever see that they could have a solid future together? Determined to make her his, she may just prove to be the hardest game of Cash’s life. WARNING: The Long Ball features an obsessed jock with six-pack abs in tight pants determined to get his girl. If syrupy sweet romance and fiery passions appeal to you, then hold onto your panties because this one may just hit them out of the park.
“Stop being a whiny bitch, Greenwood! Bottoms up!”
My best friend and resident troublemaker of the team smacked me on the back. His boisterous laugh and booming voice took up all the space around him. I loved many things about the man, but the thing I loved the most was that in his presence, I became invisible. Since the age of 16 I’ve been recognizable. Once you were a star athlete with a future and the hope of winning a championship, you became a commodity, something shiny. And being simultaneously a slugger and a pitcher was a combination so rare that those with it, like myself, were priceless.
It hadn’t taken me long to learn that being invisible keeps you safe.
“We have to meet that analytics chick in an hour. I don’t want to reek of alcohol. Coach will kick our asses.” I didn’t like to drink. Most days I can’t even stomach the smell of it, but for the sake of keeping up appearances I usually nursed a glass in my hand and always offered to be the designated driver so no one suspected anything. Rod was really good about covering for me when needed, chugging back the drinks people often bought for me, acting like the cocky best friend he was.
“It’s still technically the off-season. Another one won’t hurt.”
“Another always hurts, particularly in the form of a hangover the next morning,” I replied.
“You sound like a dodgy old fuck. Where’s the guy who used to party with me all night long? I want him back.”
I chuckled, thinking about all the times we’d been in trouble. I prided myself on how well I blended into the crowd and let him take the attention. Rodriguez and I had been buddies since our rookie year. We’d grown up together on this team, cut our teeth on the ins and outs of playing professional ball, but as time passed I found that faking it seemed to exhaust me more and more each day. I was tired of it all, and the only thing that still made me feel something was the game. Everything else was endless noise that passed by with no true meaning or intention. I felt like I was walking in a blur, just waiting for time to pass.
“I’m not twenty-one anymore. Coach said any more stunts like that one you pulled at warm-ups and we’re both benched. And you, motherfucker, are not getting me benched.” The idea of sitting out a game was unbearable. Rod and I were thick as thieves, and Coach knew that if anyone could reel him in, it would be me. But what the coach didn’t know was that the idea of losing baseball in any way was like a noose around my neck, tightening until all the oxygen was ripped from me.
“You’re my wingman, buddy, and ya gotta admit, spiking the water cooler was pretty genius.”
“And landed us in a shit load of trouble. Frankly, I’m just too old for this shit anymore. Let the rookies have at it. We had our fun.”
“You make thirty sound like a death sentence. Not for me. When I turn the big 3-0 next year I’m going big. I want my feet in the sand with a drink in my hand and a pussy on each arm. Fuck it, a limo full of pussy. I am gonna get more ass that night than a toilet seat.”
“Yeah, I bet you do.” I’d never liked how Rodriguez embraced the cliché ball player persona. He played ball hard—out on the field he was a beast. But he partied even harder, a revolving door of girls after every game. I was always up for a few drinks, but the groupies that surrounded Rodriguez always made my stomach turn. It was so obvious they wanted him for his status and money—his staggering salary was very appealing to bunt bunnies. I had absolutely zero interest in them.
All the women around ball players didn’t have much to offer, and my life was so messed up that I doubt any woman wanted anything to do with it when she found out. The only kind that would stay would be one that would hope for a staggering payday at the end. I had enough people standing by with their hand out, so I wasn’t interested in a woman who wanted that, too. Besides, I only had a few more years to play this game, and I wasn’t going to squander them for some chick. These women didn’t care about the men. They cared about the limos, the big ticket items the ball players paid for, and the thousand-dollar dinners. Rodriguez made hundreds of millions, just like so many of my buddies, and just like the other ball players, he had no issue living like a king. But that lifestyle didn’t interest me in the least.
This life wasn’t for everyone, I wasn’t even sure it was for me sometimes. I rarely liked to go out, and the women did nothing for me. I lived and breathed the game, so much so that I couldn’t imagine what else I would be doing if it wasn’t this. I had one single focus and that was to win the World Series. I had been playing ball for eleven years with the MLB, and that was the only thing that eluded me. I was known as the best player in the entire league and yet I didn’t have that World Series title under my belt. My years left playing ball were dwindling—a ball player was gettin’ some age by thirty—but it was the one dream I hadn’t yet attained.
“Let’s head over, man. Don’t want to piss off Coach.”
Rod slammed his shot glass down on the counter, his eyes shining with excitement. “Wanna place bets on how fast I can get up the analytic girl’s skirt?”
“You haven’t even seen her yet.” We walked out the doors of the corner bar, afternoon light heating my skin as we walked the short block to the stadium. Today we had a meeting with what would be the new official star analytics firm for the club, before opening day tomorrow. I’d been waiting months for this day, the time between playoffs and opening season always left a pit of dread in my stomach. If I could play twelve months of the year I would.
We pushed through the stadium doors and made our way down the dim hallway, headed for the conference room next to the locker room. I nodded at Coach when we walked in and greeted a few of the other guys as the entire team settled on benches around the center of the room.
“I don’t want to take up much of your time, so I’ll cut right to the chase.” Coach looked around the room. “A few of you have been fucking off, so we need focus if we’re going to have a good season. I don’t expect miracles, but I do expect you to listen. No more antics. Stay focused. I expect each of you to improve your averages by the end of the season. “
“Like it or not, stats are down, guys. We need all heads in the game if we’re gonna improve and have a shot at going all the way this year. Delilah Grey from Lionsgate Analytics is here to help us do that.. She’ll be with us—every game, every day—all season. She’ll be sending me the stats throughout the game, and I want you guys tuned in to your averages. Push yourselves every night.”
He glanced around the room, pausing for a moment on Rod. “And please treat Delilah with respect. She knows we need some help, but she doesn’t need to know you’re all a bunch of animals.” God, I loved Coach. So steady and calm. He was the reason this team was great. Without him we’d all be a bunch of animals on the field.
Coach swung open the locker room door and in walked a fucking vision. I noticed the heels first. Sexy stilettos with leather cutouts that made me want to get down on my knees and slip them off her feet one at a time. My eyes devoured her creamy, toned calves, and not even the conservative pencil skirt could hide the full curves of her hips.
“Jesus,”
Rod said under his breath.
I nudged him, for the first time in my life irritated by his overt appreciation of a woman. Looking at Delilah, the hairs on my arms stood to attention. As did something else. Damn, she was stunning, I’d never seen a woman so radiant in my entire life. She had dark silky hair cascading down her back in loose curls, so damn soft-looking that my hand itched to brush up against them. I, Cash Greenwood, for the first time in my life had a desire to brush up against a woman’s hair.
“Hey guys, I’m Delilah Grey.” She nodded, her spine rigid as she leafed through a handful of papers in her arms. “If you could pass these around, I’ll tell you a little about me, then we can chat individually.”
“Individually?” Rod chimed, his horny grin sending anger racing through my stomach.
“Yes, that’s how I prefer to work. Deal with each player’s specific issues before we bring the whole team together.”
“I’ve only got one issue.” Rod shifted in his seat, his hand brushing over his crotch. My nostrils flared. Why was he such a dick?. At that moment I hated my best friend so much I wanted to pound his face into the ground. The thought made me feel ashamed and idiotic. I knew Rod, he was a joker, more talk than action on most days, but the fact that he was being crass to this woman upset me beyond all reason. I didn’t have an explanation, but I did not enjoy the idea of Rod looking at her like she was a piece of meat. Not one bit.
Delilah’s deep chocolate eyes narrowed in a flare of anger for a moment before she turned back to her paperwork. If one paid close attention to her, as I was doing, one could see the patch of red forming on the back of her neck. “I started Lionsgate Analytics nearly three years ago. I want you to be the best players, on and off the field, and excelling in this world isn’t just about home runs and fly balls. It’s also about measuring speed, distance, velocity.” Her eyes flicked over the team again. “I’ll be hanging out at all the games, laptop open and watching just how consistent everyone is, and hopefully it won’t take us long to get an average. Anyone have questions for me?”
“Yeah, got plans tonight, sweetheart?” That was Rod, and I nearly shoved my fist in his gut for that one. I watched as Delilah’s jaw ticked. She was tough, I could tell. I liked that. I liked that she wouldn’t take anything sitting down. I had had enough of women taking things sitting down, so the fighter in me was drawn to the fire in her.
“Let me make one other thing clear: if anyone calls me sweetheart, toots, doll, baby, or any other demeaning term of endearment again, I can’t promise you won’t feel my high heel in your balls. I don’t play well with men who act like animals. We’re here for one thing and one thing only—to get this team in shape to win this year. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t make an ass out of yourself in the process. Have I made myself clear?”
Fire blazed through my veins when she spun and exited the very door she’d come from. Well damn, after thirty years I finally found a woman who could make me take notice, make me want to chase. And not only chase, but tie her up and hold her against me, bind her to me in every way possible.
BASEBALL!!!!! I love my baseball books and movies! AND this adds in a woman who is not interested in falling into bed with the hot shot jock? ❤ ❤ ❤
Delilah is hired to provide statistical analysis and help the team focus on their stats and improving them. Well Cash is interested in Delilah more than his stats.
Cash is the cocky, arrogant, hot shot baseball player who is an oddity in that he hits and he pitches – which is super rare in baseball, for those non-baseball loving fans.
There is an amazing clash of titans when Delilah and Cash meet. And oh how HOT it is!!!
5 stars!
Aria Cole is a thirty-something housewife who once felt bad for reading dirty books late at night, until she decided to write her own. Possessive alpha men and the sassy heroines who love them are common, along with a healthy dose of irresistible insta-love and happily ever afters so sweet your teeth may ache. For a safe, off-the-charts HOT, and always HEA story that doesn’t take a lifetime to read, get lost in an Aria Cole book! Follow Aria on Amazon for new release updates, or stalk her on Facebook and Twitter to see which daring book boyfriend she’s writing next! Sign up to get a NEW RELEASE ALERT from me! http://eepurl.com/ccGnRX
REIN IN by ANNE JOLIN
Willow Bay Stables, Book #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
— SYNOPSIS —
Aurora Daniels is the bleeding heart of her family. With a gift and a passion for helping to heal others, she has a legacy of kindness and gratitude—a modern-day saint.
Every Sunday since she turned eighteen, Aurora has driven three hours into the city of Edmonton, Alberta, where she volunteers at an equine facility that rehabilitates troubled youth by working with horses. With their increasing success rate, the facility is expanding to foster violent parolees in hopes of a more effective release into society.
Assault with a deadly weapon and attempted murder—that’s what it says under the name on his sheet. Rhys White is released on good behaviour and promises to remain under contract for community service at the Equine for Hearts facility for a court-ordered period of twelve months.
Willow Bay’s saint may have stumbled across the one sinner who can’t be saved from himself.
Will Aurora be able to rein in Rhys’s quest for revenge before it’s too late? Or will she spend the rest of her life loving a man behind bars?
He didn’t smile back, simply lifted his chin in my direction and shoved his hands in the front pockets of his ripped jeans.
I crossed my arms over my chest and made a clucking sound with my tongue. “Looks like your all mine this afternoon.”
Shoot.
Somehow that had sounded different in my head then it did out loud and my cheeks flushed what I imagined was a bright pink. Of course I’d tricked him into spending the day with me, but it wasn’t something I planned on outright telling him just now.
The corners of his mouth twitched, like maybe he’d considered the idea of smiling but again, he did not speak.
“Right, okay then.” I filled the silence.
Pushing off the truck with my butt, I walked in the direction of the two double doors ahead of us. Lucky for me, he seemed more focused on what I was doing then he was at reading the sign on the door we were currently passing through.
“Table for two.” I told the hostess when we stepped inside.
“Let me check if we have any booths available.” She smiled at us and left to do a walk through of the restaurant.
Rhys started to back towards the door and a hint of panic bubbled up in my throat at the thought that maybe he really would run away from me, again.
“If you leave now you’ll embarrass me.” I blurted.
It was low, almost the equivalent of threatening to cry, but it worked.
He quit retreating but his eyes fell away from me and he just stared at the floor. The black equine for hearts tee that he’d cut the sleeves off of seemed to somehow make his arms look longer inside the small entryway.
I guessed for the first time that he was probably somewhere around six foot three.
The hostess returned and grabbed two menus before promptly leading us to a booth in the back of the restaurant.
No sooner had my butt grazed the vinyl did the questions erupt from his otherwise silent demeanour.
“What is this?” His voice tumbled across the table like a freight train.
Not angry, just demanding.
“It’s a date.” I deadpanned, flipping my menu opened.
I loved this story! Besides it having to involve animals, it involves second chances. Rhys (Crow) is a quiet guy, keeps to himself, does what’s asked of him, and is on parole. He’s working at the horse ranch that Aurora has been volunteering at for 7 years and is now working there. This is their story of love, second chances and not judging a book by it’s cover. Rhys ultimately had everything stacked against him but Aurora’s faith in him and her gentle soul are what help him shine.
5 stars!
— ABOUT THE AUTHOR: ANNE JOLIN —
I was born and raised in Ladner, a small farm town just outside Vancouver, Canada.
I never expected to be an author. Writing was something that snuck up on me and rooted itself into my life. It was beautiful to discover that love, and I’m truly grateful to say I’ve found my passion.
If I could leave y’all with one thing, it’s that life’s far too short to not live it out loud. Drown in your passions, hold on tight to the things that inspire you, and chase your dreams relentlessly. I can promise you without a doubt that you won’t regret it. I know I don’t.
Samantha Townsend knows a thing or two about love. She’d had it not once, but twice, and watched it slip through her fingers both times. But she got through it. She was always the silver lining kind of girl. Life never gives you more than you can handle.
Right?
When Sammi moves back to her old town, she’s faced with the one who got away. The first love. The big love. Connor Moore was everything she’d ever wanted in a boy. And now that they’re all grown up, she’s finding that she loves the man even more.
But some secrets are so big they break lives. And some truths are so hard that they can’t be overcome. When the weight of their decisions makes itself known, Sammi and Connor will need to decide how far they’re willing to go to find their happily ever after.
If it even exists.
A hard knot had settled in the back of my throat as I walked away. The taste of the smoothie had turned bitter in my mouth, and I swallowed convulsively. I wasn’t even sure if I felt anger or relief at this point. Somewhere along the way, something had broken deep inside of this man, and I didn’t have the faintest idea how to fix it. I didn’t even know what it was. Just that it had left behind a caustic personality I couldn’t get around. Not for any length of time that mattered.
I thought again of the feel of our hands intertwined, the dry brush of skin and warm fingers locked through mine. But it wasn’t enough. That flash of electricity, the thrill when I won a grin, wasn’t worth the harsh words and stormy silences.
In the past, women used arsenic to make themselves beautiful. It would brighten their features and make them more alluring. A spark of beauty and light. Of course, then it killed them. Beautiful poison was still just that. And Connor Moore was the worst type, it seemed. He was the kind of poison who drew you in and got you addicted before you ever realized it was harmful.
We made it back to the car and threaded our way through downtown traffic. The ride was silent. No radio, no chatter. Only the quiet whine of wheels on pavement. I stared out of the window as we passed field after field on our way home. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Connor’s hands flex repeatedly on the steering wheel, and when he hit it with the palm of his hand, I didn’t even flinch.
He pulled off to the shoulder of the old, two-lane highway before he unclipped his seatbelt and twisted to face me. “Sammi,” he said with a helpless look. “I can’t… I don’t…” His groan was harsh and guttural, and he leaned forward, cupped his hand behind my head, and kissed me.
The contact was like a spark. His lips to mine fanned a flame I hadn’t even recognized was burning. It stole my breath. I’d been waiting for this kiss for a long time. So long, that it was almost physically painful to pull away. But I did. Poison, my mind whispered. Danger.
“No.”
Morgan Reeves is the author of the Never Ever After series. When she isn’t writing, Morgan chases around two energetic minions and tries to convince her loving husband that a miniature pig would make a great pet. She is also extremely fond of iced tea and hot coffee. You can find her books on all major retail sites, and she always loves to hear from readers so feel free to send her a message. Morgan currently lives in Raleigh, NC.
Today we are celebrating the Blog Tour of DEFYING HER MAFIOSO by Terri Anne Browning. This kicks off a brand new exciting and suspenseful series called The Vitucci Mafiosos. Check out the buy links below and some teasers from the series.
DEFYING HER MAFIOSO by Terri Anne Browning
The Vitucci Mafiosos, #1
Now Available!
BLURB:
Ciro Donati was many things:
My father’s most valued and trusted soldier.
My brother’s best friend and second in command.
And the only man I would give up everything for.
I fell hard for the Mafioso at the tender age of eleven. This beast of a man who I knew made people disappear—and probably enjoyed every second of it—was also the sixteen-year-old boy who had picked me up after I’d fallen flat on my face during my dance recital and told me I was the best ballerina he’d ever seen. He’s watched over me, protected me like I was the most precious thing in the world to him.
And then he sent me away.
Scarlett Vitucci was many things:
The daughter of the biggest Cosa Nostra boss from New York to Chicago.
The sister of the man I would gladly take a bullet for.
And the only woman I would ever love.
Sending her away was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I didn’t deserve her or her love. For three years I stayed away, ignoring the gnawing ache that her absence left in my chest. Now, she was back and fighting what I felt for her was impossible. Letting her go had been a huge mistake.
I love me a mafia book and Ciro is to die for! Not literally but he is pretty darn swoony! He loves Scarlett but doesn’t want her tied up in his mafia life so he pushes her away. He doesn’t want to tie her to him but he doesn’t want her getting into a relationship with anyone else. And he will make certain that doesn’t happen.
Scarlett is a pistol! She gives as good as she gets and she makes me think of Mob Wives for some reason. A woman who won’t take things lying down and go meekly away. And Vito, her dad, loves her for that. She is the stronger of the twins and the one Vito relies on looking out for her twin.
I love these strong women books and mix in a hot, huge, alpha and I’m all over it! I definitely can’t wait for more of this series! I’m curious if Victoria gets her happy ending or if we hear about their brother Cristiano….
5 stars!
———————
AUTHOR INFORMATION:
Terri Anne Browning is the USA TODAY bestselling author of The Rocker…Series. She started writing her own novellas at the age of sixteen, forcing her sister to be her one woman fan club. Now she has a few more readers and a lot more passion for writing. Being dyslexic, she never thought a career in writing would be possible, yet she has been on best selling lists multiple times since 2013. Reese: A Safe Haven Novella was her first Indie published book. The Rocker Who Holds Me changed the tables and kicked off The Rocker… series featuring the sinfully delicious members of Demon’s Wings. The Rocker… Series has since expanded to OtherWorld with Axton Cage and his band members. Other books by Terri Anne include the Angel’s Halo MC Series as well as The Lucy & Harris Novella Series. Terri Anne lives in Virginia with her husband, their three demons—err, children–and a loveable Olde English Bulldog named Link.
Hosted by Hooked on books & Cherry0Blossoms Promotions
He’s Captured my Heart (Captured #1)
Like any dutiful Scottish daughter, Libby Stewart puts her
family first. She’s spent months helping her brother, a single father, care for
his new daughter. The strain of her family commitments led to the painful
demise of a two-year relationship. As Libby nurses her broken heart and
relishes time with her niece, her father offers her a job managing his hotel.
She’s ready to focus on her career and get her life back on track.
Alexander Mathews, a handsome American businessman who is staying at the hotel,
has other plans for Libby. She’s taken aback when she meets Alex. He strikes
her as arrogant and domineering, but regardless, the sexual tension between
them is palpable. Libby fancies herself a good girl, but Alex quickly seduces
her. Libby finds she is soon addicted to the passion she feels in Alex’s
skilful hands.
Libby has never been so confused. Who is Alex Mathews, really? An international
playboy, or truly the man of her dreams? When a confrontation with her
ex-boyfriend turns violent and she questions Alex’s loyalty to her, Libby must
decide if she wants to let this charismatic stranger from across the pond truly
capture her heart.
❤
He’s Captured my Trust (Captured #2)
Alex Mathews is a New York businessman who has a “work hard,
play hard” mentality and considers women as a means to an end. But Libby
Stewart, a beautiful hotel manager in Scotland, manages to do the impossible:
steal Alex’s heart and turn his world upside down. With an ocean separating
them, Alex arranges for Libby to visit him in the States for a long weekend…but
things don’t go quite as planned.
Sparks fly when Alex’s old friend enters the picture and one of Alex’s business
rivals shows an unsolicited interest in Libby. Tensions reach an all-time high
when the four of them are thrown together during an engagement party. But it’s
a series of passionate trysts and shocking betrayals that leaves Alex and Libby
wondering if their love was truly meant to be.
Can they learn to trust? Or will the sea between them prove to be too much to
overcome?
The second book in the Captured series, He’s Captured My Trust is a whirlwind
romance—filled with jealousy and desire as two star-crossed lovers struggle to
make their relationship work.
❤
He’s Captured my Soul (Captured #3)
Libby Stewart has everything she could possibly dream of,
and more. She has the job she has always dreamed of, she is the manger of
Stewart Hotel and Country Estate. A hotel on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.
She has a close relationship with her family. The relationship she shares with
her twin brother Ethan and his daughter, is extra special because of the loss
they have suffered.
She also has the man of her wildest dreams. Never in a million years did Libby
see herself falling so quickly for a man again. But she fell hard for Alexander
Mathews, the arrogant, yet set American businessman.
They connect on all levels. They have passion and chemistry that is off the
charts. But has their relationship moved too fast?
Just when Libby thinks there is nothing to stand in their way of true
happiness, tragedy strikes. Libby is left wondering if history is about to
repeat itself for the Stewart family. Can Libby find the strength deep within,
to overcome the situation she finds herself in?
❤
She’s Captured my Love (Captured, #4)
They say everything in life happens for a reason…
Me? I just think life can be cruel. What was the reason my wife was so
tragically taken from me, from her family? Leaving behind a beautiful baby
girl.
Pointless…
I no longer look to the future. I live day by day.
These last few months have been the darkest of my life. But I’m still here,
getting by with the help and support of those closest to me. My sister has been
my rock. Don’t know where I would be without her. Even with all her own
troubles, she has always been at my side to help me.
But what happens when the very beautiful, confident, and sexy American Sophie
Mathews enters my life?
She is a breath of fresh air. But stirs up feelings and emotions that I thought
I had pushed to the back of my mind.
Is it too soon to move on from my past? Or are my ghosts going to haunt me
forever?
❤
Captured by our Addiction (Captured, #5)
Kirsty.
Addiction is something you have no control over.
I would love to say I have control over my feelings for Michael Smith, but I
can’t.
The longer he stays in my life, the harder it gets to walk away from him and
the more addicted I become.
He makes me weak.
However, my dark past means I’m usually on my guard where men are concerned …
why is he so different?
Michael.
She is my addiction. I’m prepared to give up my life back home for her, to make
a new life for us together … if she lets me in.
We all have pasts, but hers is stopping her from moving forward in her life. A
life I’m desperate to be a part of.
When her past comes back to haunt her; could I be giving up more than my life
back home in New York?
This is book 5 in the series but can be read as a stand alone. It is suitable
for readers aged 18 and over due to the subjects dealt with.
Ophelia Lang needs money, and she needs it bad. Her parent’s restaurant is going under, and ever since she lost her job teaching third grade elementary, scraping enough cash together to pay the bills has proven almost impossible. Her parents are on the brink of losing their home. The vultures are circling overhead. So when Ophelia is offered an interview for a well-paid private tutoring gig in New York, how can she possibly say no?
Ronan Fletcher is far from the overweight, balding businessman Ophelia expected him to be. He’s young, handsome, and wealthy beyond all reason. He’s also perhaps the coldest, rudest person she’s ever met, and has a mean streak in him a mile and a half wide. A hundred grand is a lot of money, however, and if tolerating his frosty temperament, his erratic mood swings and whatever else he throws at her means she’ll get paid, then that is what Ophelia will do.
Her new boss is keeping secrets, though. Awful, terrible secrets.
The ghosts of Ronan Fletcher’s past are about to turn Ophelia’s future upside down, and she can’t even see it coming.
Note: Between Here and The Horizon is a brand new standalone contemporary romance novel from USA Today bestselling author, Callie Hart. Between Here and the Horizon does contain some scenes of violence and sexual content, and so is directed at audience 18+.
CHAPTER ONE
AFGHANISTAN
2009
“Get back, Fletcher! Get back! The tank’s gonna blow!”
I was running. Behind me, seven miles of desert stretched out toward Kabul city, glowing in places where burned out military trucks were being devoured by fire. Twisted metal rained down from the sky, on fire and sharper than a razor’s edge, impacting in the dirt. Thud. Thud, thud.Thud. Shrapnel whistled through the air, striking the ground a few feet away from me as I weaved my way through the wreckage. Smoke was biting at my lungs, acrid and burning, making it hard to breath.
“Fletcher! What the fuck, man!”
Behind me, Specialist Crowe was losing his mind. Alternating between shouting into his radio and shouting at me, he couldn’t seem to decide which course of action to take. I’d ordered him to follow, but I could understand why he hadn’t. The situation was more than unsafe; charging headlong into the fire and destruction was a suicide mission, and I knew it. I also knew that my men were trapped inside the upturned vehicle still a hundred feet ahead of me, however, and I knew the truck was going to blow any second. They were going to burn to death if I didn’t help them. I wasn’t going to abandon them to that fate.
“Captain! God, man, stop!”
My heart was surging, my veins overflowing with adrenalin. My boots hit the dirt, left, right, left, right, left, right, my fists pumping back and forth as I sprinted toward the truck that was laying on its roof up ahead. Through the fractured windshield, I could see Hellaman and Wicks still strapped into the front seats of the vehicle, upside down and unmoving. They were either unconscious or dead. Hopefully they were just out for the count, but there was a lot of blood splattered on the inside of the glass. A lot of blood.
Black smoke curled upward from the underside of the truck, and I could already hear the hissing sound of fuel burning and sizzling somewhere. Groaning. I could hear groaning, too.
I reached the truck just as something inside the engine caught fire, and Hellaman came to. His eyes were wide with pain and fear as I dropped down onto my belly next to the driver’s side window, which was smashed out, small cubes of safety glass scattered into the dirt.
“Captain? Captain Fletcher. Shit, I can’t breathe. I can’t…breathe.” His face was deathly pale, and his hands shook violently as he tried to claw at the seatbelt that was digging into his chest.
“It’s okay. It’s okay, Private. We’re gonna get you out of there, okay? Just hold on a moment.” My bowie knife was in my hand. I took it and made quick work of slashing through the webbing holding Hellaman in place. There was nothing I could do to cushion his fall. Slamming into the roof of the truck, Hellaman groaned weakly, and then passed out again, either from pain or from the shock, I didn’t know. I stowed my blade and grabbed him by the shoulders, then wrestled him free through the window. His face was cut; his arms were striped with blood and running rivers of crimson out onto the ground. No time to be gentle, though. No time to be safe. I hooked my hands under his arms and I quickly jogged backwards, dragging him away from the wreckage. Twenty feet was enough.
I ran back to the truck. Flames were visibly licking at the underside of the vehicle now, snaking upward toward the night sky. Wick was still out cold. I ran around to the back of the truck and tried to force the loading doors open, but they were jammed closed, bent and warped, refusing to budge.
“Shit.”
Clang.
Clang.
Clang.
There was someone alive inside. Running out of time. Almost no time left. I positioned myself by the truck’s rear right window, thanking god the thing was already splintered. The bulletproof windows on military trucks were no joke. You could take a semi automatic to them and it would take longer than I had to smash them. The impact of rolling three times had obviously been enough to compromise the glass, though.
“Shield your faces,” I hollered. “Glass, glass, glass!” Bracing, I spun around and smashed the sole of my boot against the window as hard as I possibly could. The glass groaned, fracturing some more, but it didn’t shatter. I kicked again, and again, and again. Finally, the window exploded in a shower of bright shards, giving in under the force of my boot.
“Captain, there’s fuel in here,” someone inside yelled. “Get back!”
I ducked down and lay flat on my stomach again, crawling in through the now empty window frame. Inside the truck, gasoline hung heavy in the air, burning my nostrils and my eyes. Next to me, Roberts was dead, his head twisted at an odd angle, eyes staring, unseeing into the abyss.
On the other side of the truck Private Coleridge, Sam, a nineteen-year-old kid from Houston, was lying on his back on the roof, holding his rifle in both hands, his body convulsing wildly. His eyes swivelled to look at me, but his head remained locked in position, his teeth grinding together.
“What…what happened, Capt’n?” he asked. “We were drivin’ along, and then…everything was…spinning.”
“IED,” I told him. “Desert’s full of them. Come on, let’s get you out of here.”
“I can’t…move. I can’t feel…anything.”
He wasn’t paralyzed. If he were, he wouldn’t be shaking the way he was right now. He was just in shock. A sharp slap to the face would probably go a long way to getting him moving, but there simply wasn’t time for that kind of motivation. Grabbing him by the webbing stitched onto the strap of his pack, which was still on his back, I hauled him to me and then backed out through the window as quickly as I could. The fire was raging now. I dragged Sam back to where I’d left Hellaman and was about to run back to the truck when a loud metallic crack split the air apart, and then a ball of fire rocked the truck, a wall of heat and pressure slamming into my body, sending me reeling back into the dirt.
“Oscar!” Sam yelled. “Oscar’s still alive in there!”
“Fuck.” I was up on my feet and running. The heat was intense—so intense that I had to shield my face as I grew closer to the wreck. The fire had consumed the underside of the truck, the tires blazing, the gas roaring as the fuel line was engulfed. And I could hear screaming. The kind of blood curdling, awful screaming of a man being burned alive.
My radio headset crackled with static, and then Colonel Whitlock’s voice barked out through the speaker. “Fletcher, do not go back inside that vehicle. Do you hear me? Do not go back inside that vehicle.”
Disobeying a direct order from a colonel was an offence worthy of court marshal. I ripped my headset from my ears and threw it to the ground, ignoring it. Ignoring the consequences. Another blood curdling scream reached me, and that was it. I was on my stomach, crawling into the mouth of hell.
My side pressed up against the frame of the window, and pain tore at me, sinking its teeth into my skin. Heat. The heat was overwhelming, so fierce and violent that there was no oxygen inside the truck. Only smoke and confusion. Only death.
“Oscar!” I called out, reaching with both hands, trying to find him. “Where are you, man?” The truck was only a six-guy transport, but the billowing, rolling clouds of black smoke hid everything. I went by touch until I heard him cry out again, weaker this time, voice riddled with agony. He was at the very rear of the truck. A few seconds was all I had. Any longer and I would either suffocate or burn up myself. My head was pounding, my lungs begging for clean air, and I could feel myself start to drift.
The journey to the back of the truck took an eternity. One hand over the other, I pulled myself around an upturned transport box, and jammed my body in between the narrow gap at the right hand side of the vehicle, reaching out, groping, searching, until I found what I was looking for. A leg. A foot, to be precise. I grabbed hold of it and pulled. An agonised yell filled the truck.
“Ahh, my leg. My leg. It’s fucked!”
“I know. I’m sorry, man. I can’t get you any other way.” I gritted my teeth, and I pulled. In any other situation it would have been a crime that I was handling an injured man this way. The clock was running down, though, and if causing more pain, causing even more damage meant the difference between one of my guys being injured or being dead, then I was going to do what I had to do.
I somehow managed to maneuverer myself so that I was over Oscar—I couldn’t even see his face, the smoke was so thick—and then I started shoving. Six hard pushes and I managed to drive him through the gap in the window frame, out onto the desert floor. His body was ripped away, pulled free by someone else, and then he was gone. I was almost too tired to heave myself free, but I scrounged up my last scrap of energy and I crawled forward, determined to make it out before the entire vehicle was enveloped. Halfway out, my fingers clawing in the dirt, my body lit up with pain. Indescribable. Unbearable. A pain so sharp and breathtaking that I couldn’t even cry out. It felt like something was ripping my body in two. I spun around and looked up to see a burning line of fuel pouring down on me, hitting my side, burning into me. I was on fire.
I kicked and jerked myself out of the truck, ripping at my jacket. Tearing at the material, trying to get it off. The fabric seemed to come away in my hands, and then I was shirtless in the cold, cold desert, rolling on the ground, trying to put the flames out.
The world went black. Someone threw something over me, and then hands were beating at my body, slapping and trying to roll me. A strangled gasp worked its way out of my mouth, but that’s all I could manage. The flames were out. The thick, heavy material that had been thrown over me was pulled back, and Crowe stood over me, face covered in soot and grease, eyes the size of dollar coins. I could barely see him properly. Barely hear the words coming out of his mouth.
Colonel Whitlock appeared next to him, and then the sky was filled with the beating thump of helicopter blades. They spoke for a second, and the thundering drum of the helo overhead dipped long enough for me to make out what Crowe said to Whitlock.
“He didn’t stop, sir. He didn’t stop until they were all out.”
Whitlock scowled. “I can see that, Specialist. He disobeyed a direct order in doing so, too.”
“He’ll be reprimanded?” Crowe asked. He was speaking as if I was no longer present; both of them were.
“No,” Whitlock said sternly. “Ironically, I think Captain Fletcher’s more likely to be honored than punished in this particular instance. Now get him on the chopper before I change my mind. The crazy bastard’s bleeding everywhere.”
Trailer
Teasers
Callie has experienced many changes throughout her life, and gone through many ups and downs that have all worked towards shaping and moulding her into the person she is today: fun loving, active, social, and hard working. The only thing that has remained a constant throughout her life is writing. Creating characters who will tear your conscience in two is a favorite pastime of Callie’s. There are few real saints and sinners in her books; more often, the denizens of her stories are all very human. Broken, flawed, and always with the potential for redemption.
Despite the subject matter being markedly hot and heavy in comparison to the stories she wrote in elementary school, there will always be an element of fairytale to her work.
Callie Hart is the author of the Blood & Roses Series. Zeth & Sloane’s story is now complete, but there are a number of stories still to be released under the Blood & Roses banner. 2015 will see Cade, Michael and Rebel’s stories being released, as well as a number of brand new stories, all of which will be Dark Romance novels.
If you would like to contact Callie, you can do so here.
If you would like to sign up to Callie’s newsletter for info on upcoming releases, exclusive teasers, excerpts and competitions, you can do so here.
MICHELLE DARE Michelle Dare is a romance author. Her stories range from sweet to sinful and from new adult to fantasy. There aren’t enough hours in the day for her to write all of the story ideas in her head. When not writing or reading, she’s a wife and mom living in eastern Pennsylvania. One day she hopes to be writing from a beach where she will never have to see snow or be cold again.
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REIN IN by ANNE JOLIN
I was born and raised in Ladner, a small farm town just outside Vancouver, Canada.
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