Blog Tour ~ The Living Series ~ by ~ Melody Dawn

The Living Series by Melody Dawn

 

To Live Again (The Living Series #1)

 

 

This is Living (The Living Series #1.5)

 

 

New Adult / Contemporary Romance

Chloe: She’s broken beyond repair. 
Jayson: He’s determined to fix her and make her love him in the process. 

Chloe has the perfect life or so everyone thinks. 
She tried to leave her past behind, but it follows her like a dark shadow. Drowning in guilt, she’s dying to live, but sees no way out. So she tries to fool herself and everyone else into believing she is fine. 
But Jayson sees through the act that Chloe puts up for everyone else and he’s going to do everything in his power to help her to live again. 

Can Chloe let go, or will that night forever ruin her future?



“A really sweet strong about overcoming tragedy and learning to forgive yourself. I would recommend it for everyone!” – 5 Star Goodreads Review

“I will just say: She has the story. Interesting and somewhat heartbreaking story.” – 5 Star from Ani’s Reviews

“I loved this book!!! From the very first pages I was pulled in and didn’t put it down.” – 5 Star from Reading the Sheets

“This book is well written, so emotional a tear jerker for sure but a must read.” – 5 Star from AJ’s Book ReMarks

The first time Jayson Reece saw Chloe Schaeffer, he knew she would be his forever. He promised her then that he would show her how to live rather than just letting life pass her by. Now, 9 years later, they’ve had the storybook romance, a picture perfect wedding, and two twin boys to complete the family they always wanted. 

But something is missing… 

With two rambunctious boys, Chloe decides to be a stay-at-home mom until the boys are old enough to go to school. So, with her dreams of being a social worker put on hold, she throws everything she has into being the perfect mother and wife. 

Jayson has a very demanding career as an Emergency Room physician. He tries to balance out his workload and that of being a family man, but lately his job has come first. Is he beginning to lose focus on the things that are most important to him? 

Will Chloe’s drive for perfection and the challenges of Jayson’s career drive them apart? Or will they realize that love creates the perfection she desires and the balance he needs to keep his family together? 

There’s only one thing left to do. Jayson needs to renew his promise to Chloe and she needs to trust Jayson to get them back to where they belong. 

A place where living and loving is required…those only wanting to exist need not apply.

“I laughed, I cried and laughed again. This is a heartwarming story and you will throuoghly enjoy it.” – 5 Star from Alpha Book Club

“Man, I just loved this book. Just have a box of tissues handy, and have your best book friend in your messages so you can vent, you will need someone to listen.” – 5 Star from We’re Jumpin’ Books

“A must read of 2016. I can’t wait for the rest of this series.” – 5 Star from Tracy’s Book Blog

“This is at times an extremely emotional read! But hold on for the ride!” – 5 Star from Goodreads Review

To Live Again


After getting out of the shower, I finish my morning routine. Taking in a breath, I know it’s time. I have to look in the mirror to check my appearance before I can leave the bathroom. I slowly raise my head and look, hoping that I can do it quickly without really having to notice my eyes. But, as usual, I stare into my reflection for a moment. I see the dark circles and notice that my violet eyes look the way they usually do, like I have no soul, because really I don’t; not anymore.
I know there is nothing I can do to change it, so I turn around and leave the bathroom and go off to start another new semester at Rice University. Pulling into the student parking lot, I find a place to park. I breathe deeply, relax my face muscles, and pull on the smiling mask that everyone expects of me and go looking for my class.
I am double majoring in Sociology and Psychology since I hope to become a social worker. Because of this, I am always looking to take classes that will help me understand what people are going through and how they react to dire situations. My first class on my new schedule will definitely help with that. It’s called Psychology 305: Death and Dying-Understanding the Grieving Process.
As I make my way across the parking lot, it occurs to me that it’s sort of ironic that I’m taking this class. Maybe I will get some insight into myself and finally some closure. Yeah right, and maybe I will sleep until 5:50 in the morning. Shaking my head in disgust, I square my shoulders and open the door, looking for my favorite seat…1st row, 3rd seat, closest to the door.
Immediately, I see it is already taken by a very large, very beautiful boy. Holy hell and hotness. He’s so gorgeous, but he is in my seat, so hot or not, he’s going to have to move it. If he doesn’t, at least I will have had a chance to talk to him and look at him; yeah, I’m so objectifying him right now. I bet feminism just slid back a couple of centuries, but surely women everywhere will understand when they get a load of what I’m seeing.
Even so, I walk up to his desk and as he looks up at me, I see the most gorgeous green eyes and black hair. Green eyes are my weakness and he is certainly no exception. I am standing there just staring at him so I know I have to act like I’m not affected by him at all. It’s kind of written in the girl code handbook that we can’t let hot guys know how they affect us, right?
Keeping this in mind, I look at him and say, “Excuse me, you’re in my seat.”
He laughs and says, “No sweetheart, I’m in my seat.”
I roll my eyes and move to the next seat over. A few seconds later, he taps me on the shoulder and says, “Hey, I’m Jayson or Jase, which ever you would like to call me.”
I glare at him and ask, “So? What makes you think I am going to call you anything?” He just winks at me and smiles a devastating smile. “If you want this seat, the price is introducing yourself.”
Feeling like something big is happening, I reach out my hand and say, “Hi, I’m Chloe Schaeffer.”
As our hands touch, I feel a spark of electricity and we both look at each other in a shocked way. We sit there for a second, staring at each other, with clasped hands. Jerking my hand back, I stand and wait as he gets up to exchange seats with me while feeling a little bad that I made such a big deal about a desk.
When he stands up, I look up at him and it’s a long way up there. He has black hair that looks like he either ran his hands through it a bunch of times or he just naturally has that sexy fall out of bed look. You know the kind people pay stylists a ton of money to get? Not to mention the green eyes, I know I already did, but God can you blame me?
I keep ogling him and the view just gets better and better. He has on a RU t-shirt and faded jeans that fit him just right paired with black Harley boots. But the best thing of all is his mouth. His lips are full and gorgeous and look like they’re made for sinning and I definitely want to be the first to fall from grace. I snap back to myself when I see him just standing there. I think he is secretly laughing at me so now I don’t feel so bad about stealing his seat.
The professor comes into the room and as he begins droning on and on about death, I keep sneaking peeks over at my sexy neighbor and C-R-A-P, crap, he just caught me checking him out. He looks back at me and winks. I immediately blush and look away and it hits me that for a moment, I forgot the hell that is my life.
This is Living
 
Carrying me over to the small bed, he starts to lay me down; however I refuse to let go of him. 
 
“Wait, are these sheets clean? Who else has been in this bed?” 
 
I feel his chest moving against me and I know he is trying not to laugh out loud. Punching him in the arm, I say, “Don’t laugh at me; you know how I am! I just don’t want to be lying in someone else’s stuff.”
 
“Well, I’m the only one that’s been on shift the last two days, so you don’t have anything to worry about.” 
 
Are you sure about that? I shut my eyes at the thought that crossed my mind because just the idea of it makes me want to hurl. I open my eyes and he is just staring at me with an odd look on his face.
 
“Why are you looking at me like that,” I ask in a quiet panic. Surely, he doesn’t know what I was just thinking. 
 
“You tell me. Why did you shut your eyes with a pained look on your face and hesitate when I said it was only me that’s been using this bed?”
 
His ability to read me has me at a loss for words. I start to answer, but then shut my mouth. I’m not sure what to say that isn’t going to sound like an accusation. Maybe I should just say what’s been bothering me, then he can reassure me and we’ll move on.
 
“Uh, I don’t know. You haven’t been home for two days and didn’t call, plus you only texted when I texted first. I just thought…” Good one, Chloe, that didn’t sound accusatory at all.
 
Pulling away from me, he walks over to where he left his scrubs and starts to get dressed. “Wait, what are you doing?”
 
With his jaw clenched and eyes flashing, he shakes his head. “Get dressed, Chloe. Go home. I will talk to you later.”
 
“Go home? For your information, I’m not some child you get to send away. I cannot believe you just said that to me.”
 
“I don’t know what to say to you. I haven’t looked at another woman since the day I laid eyes on you. You can say a lot of things about me, but cheating isn’t one of them.”
 
Shit, shit, shit! This is not what I wanted. Why the hell didn’t I listen to Madison? “I didn’t mean anything by what I said. I was just stating that I haven’t seen you in a while.”
 
“It sure as hell sounds like you were accusing me of cheating on you. Is that really what you think I’ve been doing the past couple of days?”
 
He looks so angry and I hate it more than anything. I don’t do well with confrontation and this is even worse than usual. 
 
Instead of reassuring him, I’m standing there frozen, unable to speak. When he sees I’m not going to answer, he slams his hand down on a locker while cursing.
 
“Jayson, you are putting words in my mouth,” I finally manage to say. 
 
Feeling exposed, I began yanking my clothes on. It’s obvious nothing is going to happen here and I’m not standing here naked while he yells at me.
 
“Ok, then tell me what you were thinking and don’t lie to me. I’m really fucking pissed right now so tell me that I’m wrong.”
 
Without waiting for an answer, he yells, “No, I’m not pissed, I’m fucking hurt that you would think so little of me. All these years and nothing has changed, has it?”
 
“Stop this now,” I tell him in a shaky voice. 
 
“We need to both take a step back and take a breath before we say something we can’t take back. You haven’t called or come home, so yes, I was feeling a bit insecure. I also may have let my emotions and my brain run away from me, but don’t you EVER accuse me by saying nothing has changed. You know that’s not true. I think I will go home. This is not the place or time to discuss issues such as these and I’m not going to stand here and scream back and forth like some characters on a reality show just to get my point across.”
 
I can see my words are hitting home with him and now I’m the angry one. I never came out and accused him of cheating on me. You sure didn’t say that he hadn’t when he asked you, did you? I ruthlessly tamp down on these thoughts because while we are both in the wrong here, one of us has to walk away. If it has to be me, then so be it.
 
He’s still standing in front of the door and as I near him, I can see the tired lines of his face. I hate that he is so exhausted. I hate that we fought with such hateful words…this is the worst fight we’ve ever had…even more so than when I left him sitting in a restaurant 9 years ago. When I reach him, I wrap my arms around his waist and rest my head on his chest. His body is stiff against mine, but finally he wraps his arms around me and squeezes.
 
“I’m sorry I hurt you. I was freaked out when I didn’t hear from you last night and you didn’t come home this morning. Then, when I got here, the new nurse acted strangely when I asked for you.” 
 
He doesn’t let go, but neither does he respond, so I look up at him and wink, trying to get him in a better mood. “This is where you apologize on bended knee. And then let me out of the deal that says I might have to give any money back for swearing.”
 
Bending down, he places his forehead against mine and says, “I’m sorry, too…for everything. I’m exhausted and I have a bitch of a headache.”
 
I close the distance and kiss him in reply. “I love you.”
 
He mumbles, “Me, too, I have to go.”
 
Suddenly he lets go of me and turns to open the door. All I can think of is that he didn’t say I love you back, just “me, too.”
 
Before walking out, he stops and presses his forehead against the door while I stand awkwardly behind him. I’m not sure what is going on, but something is. Though it’s killing me, it’s still not the time to talk about it or spring any other news on him. I place my hand in his and wait.

Melody Dawn is an aspiring contemporary romance author residing in the southern part of the US. She started reading romance novels when she was a teenager and became addicted to Happily Ever After’s. She got her own HEA when she met her soulmate 20 years ago and they have been together ever since. They have two furbabies who think they are Kings of the Castle and require a ton of attention. When she is not reading or writing, she loves to refurbish old furniture into new pieces, scrapbook, and most of all spend time with her main guy.


 

HOSTED BY:

Blog Tour ~ Promise ~ by ~ Dani Wyatt


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Buy Links

 

Amazon US  Amazon UK Amazon CA

 

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Some promises are made to be broken. And others start out that way.

Promise Henderson knows all about being broken. She’s a down-on-her-luck former foster kid who needs to figure out how to get her brother into her custody before the State of Ohio ruins his life forever.

 

Enter Beckett Fitzgerald. A SEAL with a scarred face, a bad sense of humor and no place to call home. He has another asset though. A big one.

For ten years he’s tried to forget the girl with snow white hair and an angels eyes, but when fate throws her into his path once again, his obsession turns possessive and sparks fly.

 

Only, Promise has a Judas by her side vying for her heart and Beckett needs to reveal the truth before he loses her forever. Debts of the past come calling and Beckett shows her just how far he’s willing to go to protect what is his.

 

This full length novel has an over the top alpha hero, a curvy girl and some very saucy sexy times. Beckett and Promise get their happily ever after, but their story will continue. So if you like a romance with a heaping helping of HOT, step inside.

 

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“Wider. I want to see all of you.”

The burn of his handprint on the side of my ass is turning hot, his other hand still warm and flat just above my pubic bone, owning me there until I do as I’m told.

“God damn. You are perfection,” he murmurs as if talking to himself.

Stars are dancing in my head, and I can’t form thoughts as he lowers his hand, fingers dancing on the outside of my lower lips. His intense gaze is almost more than I can stand, inspecting me like a prized possession.

“You need me to touch you.” It’s not a question, but I nod anyway.

His hands are quickly everywhere. Cupping my breasts, sliding down and holding onto my hips, over my belly, down each leg to my toes, then back up until his hands are entwined in mine over my head and his face is right above me.

“Who do you belong to?”

For a moment, I’m confused by the question. His eyes do not waver. His breath is heating my cheek as his hands pull my wrists upward, stretching me under him.

“I feel it. Tell me, Promise. Tell me you belong to me. I need to hear it.”

I completely lose myself when he lets my wrists go, his face lowers and his mouth comes down with gusto between my spread legs. I hear my own cry as his tongue goes deep inside me with such force, I cum with a spasm.

He does not relent. His hands are around my thighs, spreading me wide and utterly open for him as his tongue takes over and everything spins out of control.

In a million years, I would never have imagined being here like this. Last week, I was the girl who managed to keep everyone away. Especially someone like Beck. Someone that would want this from me.

His mouth is doing things I didn’t realize a mouth could do. He is like a ravenous dog feasting on me. I can hear his own deep, throaty sounds of pleasure, and I feel the tightness gathering again.

Just as I raise my hips, chasing down something as close to magic as is possible, Beckett pulls his face away, and I let out a pained gasp. My hands move down to find his head, and I can’t believe when I try to pull him back into me.

The spinning tension has me blind. I want what he was giving me. I need more. My body demands more.

“Get those hands back up there.” It’s a command, and with a whimper, I do what he says. “Tell me, who do you belong to?”

He takes a long, slow lick from my gushing opening to where he scrapes teeth over my swollen clit, making me yelp and make sounds that are not human. Then he raises his face to challenge me with his eyes.

You.” That single whispered word comes out of me like a bullet.

It’s barely audible, but it shakes the entire room.

Beckett smiles at me and plunges his tongue so deep, my body curls into him. He is fucking me this way, with his mouth, and it is more glorious than what I would imagine heaven could be.

His face is solidly attached to me, and he shifts, moving his tongue up and down the slick creases and folds until I feel his fingers pressed inside and his lips center over my clit.

His fingers move slowly at first, gliding deep, curling and sending another deep spasm through me.  I feel his chuckle, then he starts to move faster, his tongue and his fingers attacking me.  His knuckles slamming into me when he can go no deeper.

All my muscles begin to twitch and quake, then I turn to liquid around him. I can’t stop saying his name just before my body gushes and tips me over into a place that has Beckett holding onto me to keep my violent, twisting hips connected to him.

I’m everywhere and nowhere for an amount of time that is not quantifiable. I’m inside the fire that follows me everywhere, and waves of something so incredible are breaking over me until I let out a scream and tears sting my cheeks.

“That’s a good girl. Now, you know this is mine.”

TBRreview

Promise by Dani Wyatt is one hell of a roller coaster ride!  Which does end with a cliffhanger, but not how one would expect.  And that’s all I will say 😉

Promise and Beck both come from rough childhoods and unfortunately, the past doesn’t stay in the past.  Promise and Beck have both made huge strides in their lives but there’s still the past that haunts them.

I truly related to this book because Promise has some things that have happened to her that have totally shaped her and how she interacts and views things.  Beck seems to have done a better job letting the past go but will still get wrapped up in it.  Promise and Beck are truly great, complex characters and I can’t wait for more of the story!

4 stars!

 

 

 

 

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Dani Wyatt loves her alpha men; make them military, cowboys, MMA — any uber alpha with a wicked possessive streak and an insatiable libido. Receive a free exclusive unpublished title when you join Dani’s private readers group for updates, free chapters and discounts.

http://eepurl.com/bubxzz

 

She’s a 40 something regular lady who just happens to love badass alpha males who pull your hair and love their women with a lethal passion.

 

When she’s not writing (which is not often) she is probably laughing about some irony (like A-1 Steak Sauce is vegan), riding her horse, wondering why The Walking Dead can’t have a new episode every night, or looking cross-eyed at some piece of technology sent to ruin her day.

 

Twitter  Facebook  Web  Goodreads  Amazon Page

 

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Blog Tour ~ Soulless ~ by ~ Sarah J. Pepper

Title: Soulless (Once Wicked #1)
Author: Sarah J. Pepper
Release Date: Feb 23, 2016
Find on Goodreads
Our love is imperfect in the most perfect way. It is love done our way. Raw. Unconventional. Sexy as hell. Most importantly, it is honest to the core, or so I think. One little, white lie shouldn’t do so much damage. Yet, it changes me forever.
The worst part is that Declan whispered that sweet nothing out of protection. My safety is on the forefront of his mind, especially since there are others who’d hurt me simply to get at him. I never think that he would be the one to cut me so deeply. And it all starts with that first prick—the night he saved my life.
TBRreview
Review Coming Soon!!!
Sarah J. Pepper specializes in dark, paranormal romance – think “happy ever after” but with a twisted, dark chocolate center. Real-life romance isn’t only filled with hugs, kisses, bunnies, and rainbows. True-love can be more thoroughly described in times of darkness and tribulation. It’s in those harsh moments where you see what a person is truly capable of – both the good and bad. Sometimes prince-charming isn’t always on time, and the glass slipper is a little snug. However, it doesn’t mean Charming is not Mr. Right, and who says every shoe is the perfect fit? Get a glimpse inside her head at http://www.sarahjpepper.com

 

Blog Tour ~ Elastic Heart ~ by ~ Mary Catherine Gebhard

Title: Elastic Heart
Author: Mary Catherine Gebhard
Release Date: Feb 25, 2016
Find on Goodreads
What do you do when the man who raped you has the entire police force in his pocket? When you’re called a slut, a whore, and a liar? You get your own justice.
My name is Nami DeGrace, and six months ago I was a normal college student. I was volunteering on the campaign of a man I believed in, a man I thought to be good and noble. Then one night that man forced himself on me and everything changed.
The media reviled me. The police didn’t believe me. My friends abandoned me. I dropped out of college and only have one mission in life: make him pay. That is, until Nick Law came in to my life.
Indomitable, infuriating, and irresistible, Law is complicating things.
Law gripped the back of my neck and pulled me into him. It wasn’t a kiss—it was a merging. I didn’t just taste the power, I felt the cutting intensity throughout my body. I responded instantly, wrapping my arms around his neck and moaning into his mouth. Law stopped and undid my hands from his neck. I opened my eyes, confused.
“Can’t have you waking everyone up,” Law said, grinning. “Be good and you’ll be rewarded.” I wanted to rebel at that. I nearly slapped him across the face. Yet deep inside, his words made me glow. I dropped my arms to my sides and waited for instructions.
Law traced a finger from my cheek down to my collarbone and carefully brushed aside my cotton shirt. I shivered as my shoulder became exposed. Bending down, he placed a light kiss on the tip of my shoulder. I bit my lip to keep from whimpering.
“Good girl,” Law murmured against my skin. It took all my willpower not to grip Law by his powerful shoulders. I didn’t want him to stop, though, so that meant playing by his rules. I kept my hands next to my sides because that meant Law would continue kissing me.
Law placed a hand on my stomach and I gasped.
“Shh…” Using his other thumb, Law tugged my bottom lip. “You have a beautiful mouth, Dandelion. Don’t let it get us in trouble.” I was speechless, or at least I thought I was. My thoughts got jumbled up with his hands on my mouth and my stomach.
Then he did something amazing.
Something reckless.
He slid his hand from my stomach and beneath my jeans.
Mary Catherine Gebhard bites off more than she can chew and sometimes calls herself Eva Natsumi. She’s lived in Salt Lake City, Utah her entire life, but occasionally goes on vacation from reality. Don’t worry, she sends postcards.

 

~ Book Tour ~ His Only Salvation ~ by ~ Skye Turner

 

his only salvation it's live

Meet Hope and Gabrial in Skye Turner’s newest dark romance!

His Only Salvation is

NOW LIVE!

TBRbuylinks

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1PcE2iY

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/254Urlv

iBooks: http://apple.co/21vJX9Y

Kobo:  http://bit.ly/1QYuiyF

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Blurb

My name is Hope Layne.

I’ve known Gabrial DeLucca my entire life.

He means so much to me, but he shouldn’t. He can’t. I can’t let him in.

He is darkness personified.

Everything I believe in and stand for is everything he hates.

Nothing matters to him. He loves nothing and no one… Except me.

I hate who he is and what he does, but I can’t hate him.

He is my curse.

He says I’m his salvation.

Am I strong enough to follow my heart when my head screams at me to do the opposite?

What price am I willing to pay to save Gabrial DeLucca from everyone, including himself?

***His Only Salvation is a dark romance with a love triangle.

One woman is involved with two men and some dark and delicate topics are covered.

Graphic language and explicit sex scenes are involved in the book.

Sexy passionate couple kissing on bed, lovers at night in hotel room

EXCERPT

          The sound of the gun going off reverberates throughout the metal of the warehouse. It ricochets like a rock bouncing down a tin roof, only it’s louder… So much louder.

That didn’t just happen. This is a nightmare. It’s not real. It can’t be real.

Only as my gaze strays across the room and I take in the scene, the walls start to close in. I can’t breathe. All I can focus on is him… lying on the ground. A dark red puddle steadily increases in size and I hear a mournful wail. It pierces my heart.

The voice calling my name, in absolute terror, finally catches my attention and suddenly the sound stops and I realize that the scream was coming from me.

“Hope… Hope… look at me… Stay with me. Goddammit. Stay with me. You have to get out of here. You can’t be here right now, Hope. They’re already on the way and you can’t be here when the police show up.”

The screams don’t stop. I can’t. The horror is too much. If anything, I scream even louder. I hear the voice imploring me to look away from the scene on the dirty floor of the warehouse, but I can’t. I can’t look away from him. He’s on the ground. My vision starts to waver and I blink to try to make the scene disappear.

It will be ok. This isn’t real. None of this is real. It’s just a night terror. Like I had as a child. If I take my time and breathe with my eyes closed, when I open them, I’ll see everything is ok. I’ll be in my pink childish bedroom and everything will be fine.

Something sounds like bubbles under water. Opening my eyes, I look past the man in front of me, desperately trying to get me to move, to leave, and see him lying on the ground as the puddle continues to spread and darkens. That’s black… it can’t be blood. Blood is red and that is almost black. Blood isn’t that dark. It’s not real.

Only, he gurgles as blood trickles from his mouth and he looks at me with a mixture and fear and acceptance.

Dear God, he’s choking on his own blood. This is real.

He gurgles once more and his eyes widen before he reaches out for me… I can’t move. I can’t breathe. This is real. This is happening… Oh my God… this is really happening… It’s not a nightmare.

The darkness consumes me and I feel weightless as my bones liquefy… I try to speak but nothing comes out as I succumb to the darkness.

No light… only darkness.

TBRauthorbio

skye turner bio

Skye Turner is an avid reader and an editor turned International Bestselling Author of the Bayou Stix Series.

She attended Southeastern Louisiana University and Louisiana State University where she majored in Mass Communications, centering her studies in Journalism. Unfortunately life intervened and she made the choice to leave her studies.

She lives in small town Louisiana with her husband, 2 children, and 6 fur babies.

When she’s not chained to her laptop pounding out sexy stories she can usually be found playing Supermom, reading, gardening (playing in the dirt), listening to music and dancing like a fool, or catching up on her family oriented blog.

Stalk Her:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

TBRgiveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TBRreview

I was lucky to receive an ARC of this book and OMG was it hot!

Hope has been torn between holy-hotness-batman, sexy, bad boy Gabrial and super hot good guy Luke for years.

Luke and Gabrial couldn’t be more different except that they are both in love with Hope.  And Hope loves them both wholeheartedly.

Events happen and Hope must choose.  Will she choose Luke? Gabrial? Or herself?

4 Stars!!

Blog Tour ~ Dirty Girl Pt. 1 ~ by ~ Allie Cooke

It’s the release day for Dirty Girl by Allie Cooke! I am so excited for this fantastic new erotic novella. It’s the first in a trilogy and book two is coming March 30th! Check out the excerpt and Allie’s giveaway, and grab your copy today!

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About Dirty Girl:

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Angus Boone is the devil.

He lured me in, but not with candy or treats. And like the devil, he saw what no one else did.

All of my sins…all of the stains on my soul.

And then he smiled.

I should have run…far far away.

Instead I made a deal that changed us both forever.

***This is part one of a three-part serial***

Warning: This is non-traditional romance,with adult content, sexual situations and a non-traditional ending.

Exclusive Excerpt:

“Georgia,” she whispered from behind me.

“No, it’s me, Charity.”

Georgia was my stupid bitch of a mother. She’d sent a card when Henry died—a card with no return address and a half-legible signature.

I quit fussing with the flowers and circled the bed to go sit next to her. “How was your week?”

Her eyes flashed a lucid blue as she registered who I was, then faded and lost focus. “I wish your grandfather would hurry up, dear. I’m tired. I want to go home.”

It was a variation of the eerily similar conversation we’d been having since she’d moved rooms nearly eighteen months ago. The doctor’s said this was just part of end-stage Alzheimer’s. Rowena could be perfectly lucid, then not thirty seconds later.

“You just had a nap. How can you be tired?” Forcing a smile, I covered her hand with mine, trying not to think about how tiny and fragile—and useless—she was. Had been, I reminded myself. She couldn’t help the state she was in now. How useless she had been. Her only skills had been as a hostess, throwing dinner parties…and raising me. I guess my life wasn’t much more exciting but at least, I was living on my terms, and nobody got hurt. Maybe she had lived on hers, but I’d never know. We’d never had those sorts of conversations, and I’d honestly never thought to ask.

At least I hadn’t forgotten what was important—family. At least I hadn’t blown her off like Georgia had. “WeMaw, Gramps is coming. You want to tell me about your week while we wait?”

“Fine, dear, fine.” She shifted in her chair and sat up, tucking a hank of faded red hair behind her ear. “I had…I’m fine. Just fine. Fine, fine,” she practically spat and her face hardened as she spoke.

The only thing I could do when she got agitated like this was wait and see if we’d need a nurse’s help.

“Georgia!” Her tone louder now, she pushed herself upright in her chair. “You’re going to hell! Hellfire and dam-nation, girl.”

“I’ll get a nurse, WeMaw.” Calling her Rowena while she was like this was also a bad idea. Even a crazy old woman had her limits. I stood on shaky legs, but she grabbed my wrist before I could make a run for help.

“For shame!” Her hand connected with my cheek hard enough to bring tears to my eyes. “You’re a bad girl! A horrible, bad girl!” Her grip tightened as she continued to rant, “The things you’ve done.”

My face stinging, I struggled to swallow the ball of nausea that came hurtling upward, trying to bring my breakfast with it. This wasn’t the first time she’d hit me, and I reminded myself to just keep breathing. This wasn’t really her. I push back the tears and sucked in a deep breath. This wasn’t the woman who’d raised me.

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Exclusive Excerpt:

She was nothing if not predictable. I’d watched her for weeks on the security monitors, traipsing from club to club. Smiling. Flirting. Seducing. It had taken me a while to figure out her system—her game—but I hadn’t minded. It was time well spent watching her work her magic wherever she showed up.

I knew if I was just patient, my persistence would pay off, because like I said, she was nothing if not predictable. Ten o’clock every third Friday night at The Alibi Room. I shook my head and took a sip of my coffee, wishing I had something stronger to drink.

I watched her smile at the bouncer and step inside the club, the knot in my stomach loosening and tightening by degrees. She shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t be watching but that’s how obsessions went.

And obsession was something I knew a lot about. As much as I hated seeing her on my screen, I couldn’t stop myself from watching her. And every time she showed up I leaned a little closer, unable to take my eyes off of her, unable to stop myself. Unable to stop her.

“Fucking stupid girl.”

Tonight she wore a short gray skirt and a pink sweater. Tonight she was all legs.

Tonight I was all hard on. I licked my lips and settled in for the show, hating myself just the same. I should do something, I should stop her, I should help her, but I don’t.

I shouldn’t enjoy this as much as I do.

About Allie Cooke:

Indie author and die-hard Southern girl, Allie Cooke has been reading and writing romance since she was old enough to hold a crayon, so a future as a romance writer wasn’t very farfetched for her. From billionaires to blue collar, from CEO to sexy entrepreneur, whether they’re wearing jeans or suits, Allie’s always had a thing for hot, hunky Alphas who need to be saved from themselves…Usually with the help of the right woman.

When she’s not writing, editing, or reading. Allie can be found cooking up mayhem in the kitchen or catching up on the latest and greatest TV shows with her favorite man.

Links:

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Blog Tour ~ Luca: You Will Be Mine ~ by ~ Jaimie Roberts

 
 
Title: Luca: You Will Be Mine
Authors: Jaimie Roberts
Genre: Adult Fiction, Erotica, Romantic Comedy

Event – Blog Tour

 Hosted by Hooked on book’s & Cherry0Blossoms Promotions
 




 Murderous thoughts. That is what I had once Isabella walked through the door and revealed to me who she was. I needed an escape. An escape from my thoughts, an escape from the hurt… an escape from… him.

I was a broken woman, but I was never going to break my resolve. I grew up being a fighter, because I had to. No man could ever bring me down… Not even Luca.
But, I had to admit, I never thought my heart would break as much as it did that day. Of course, I fled, but I was a fool to think he would ever let me go. He always told me I was his… no matter what the cost. He was determined to keep me, regardless of the lengths he had to go to reach his goal. He was like a moth to my flame, a tattoo carved into my heart. I could never escape his pull.
I may have evaded him, but I knew it was just a matter of time. However, once he did catch up with me nothing could have prepared us for what happened next.




 
 


GET TO KNOW YOU INTERVIEW
Tell us is there anything about you that
people don’t already know?
I love shoes. My
husband calls me a centipede.
Roughly 11 years ago
I met my sister for the very first time. The reunion was a rather emotional,
but fulfilling one.
Your books are so emotional. How long does
it take for you to be able to get the characters out of your mind and move on
to the next?

Sometimes it’s hard to get your head out of a book once it’s finished. Deviant
actually made me ill. My blood pressure went down so much that I almost fainted
at work once. Not nice. 😦 In the end I had to take a deep breath and move onto
the next project. I like to build scenes up in my head before I start writing
them down. It makes it easier to flow that way.

 
Are the names of the characters in your
novels important?
Sometimes the hardest
part of writing a book is choosing the character’s names. I think they’re
important because a good, strong name can have an inpact on the way you feel
about the character. That’s what I feel, anyway.
 
What are the most important attributes to
remaining sane as a writer?
Coffee, sweets, and
wine. Did I mention wine?
 
What is the most demeaning thing said about
you as a writer?
I tend not
to dwell on the bad things that are said. Luckily, I haven’t had
anything too bad that it has stuck with me. I count myself extremely lucky
to have met some wonderful readers out there. I welcome reviews good and bad,
and also welcome any people who have reviewed my books negatively to contact
me. I seriously don’t bite… well, not that much. 😉
 
How do you react to a bad review of one of
your books?
If they’re
constructive, I welcome them. I once had a reviewer rate a book of
mine 3 stars and emailed me to apologise. I had read the review and told
her there was nothing to apolgise for. The review was constructive and well
thought out. It’s these reviews that aid me in becoming a better writer.
It’s the “Bash the Author” reviews I get upset about. There’s just no
need for it.
 
What was the hardest part of writing your
book?
Maintaining a flow.
Sometimes I will sit there and my mind goes completely blank. I hate it when
that happens. 😦 The other part is writing scenes and then looking back on them
thinking, are people going to get bored reading this?
 
Did you learn anything from writing your
book and what was it?
That I can write
emotionally difficult scenes. In Luca 2, something happens to Clara that hit a
nerve with me. I cried writing it, and then cried reading it over again. I
didn’t enjoy it, but if other people have the same emotions that I did
then at least I know I have done the best I could regarding that scene.
 
Is there a message in your novel that you
want readers to grasp?

I suppose only that in life you have to be grateful for the things that you
have. Sometimes bad things can happen, but when it does you have to think to
yourself that there are people in a much worse situation than me.
 
Have you ever read or seen yourself as a
character in a book or a movie?
Not really. I have
read and watched characters in a movie and thought, I wish I could be like
her.
I love the covers. What made you choose
them? What gave you the idea?
I went hunting for a
hot Italian model. I found one and asked my designer if she could work her
magic. I explained that having the castle somewhere on the cover was important,
as it was important to my character.
 
Who designs your covers?

I don’t think I want to tell you because I want to keep her to myself! 😉 Only
joking… Well, maybe just a little bit.

Kellie Dennis from
Book Cover by Design. She’s awesome!
 
Describe in 5 words, your writing:

Drama, dark, angst, romantic and erotic.
When you were a child what did you want to
be when you grew up?
A managing director
of a crisp factory.
Only joking. Funnily
enough I wanted to be a writer. I used to write poetry when I was 17. I even
had a story of a young girl that moves from the country to London and works for
an older CEO. Romance blooms, of course. In the end I never started it.
What do you use to write your book?
A lot of imagination.
I think it’s imperative when starting a new project. I start the kettle for my
coffee or tea, fire up my laptop, and start tapping away.
 
 
Do you listen to music while you writing or
reading?

Once in a blue moon I may put some music on just to have some background noise.
Mostly, though I like peace and quiet whilst I’m writing.
 
Tell us your latest news?
I’m currently writing
another stalker book called Scars. I’m quite excited about this one.
 
What book are you reading now?
I read Grey recently, so now I’m on Fifty Shades Darker.
 
Do you have a
nickname?
Not really. My
husband calls me James, which I find quite sweet. I just think of it as a
shortened version of Jaimie.
 
What are your pet peeves?

I can be a little OCD about certain things. Toilet paper being put on the
holder correctly, for one. 😉 The others are opened cupboard doors or
drawers. I hate that! I also can’t understand how many socks we go through as a
family. I seriously put on about ten pairs every time I do a wash, lol.
Considering I have to do a wash at least twice a week, that’s a lot
of socks.
I’ll shut up now.
 
Do you ever write naked?
Lol, I think my hubby
would like me to, but no.
 
What is your favourite Starbuck’s/coffee
shop drink?
I don’t have a
Starbucks where I live. 😦 Normally I have my coffee black.
 
What’s your favourite fruit?
Strawberries…
preferably dipped in melted chocolate. Hmm…
 
What’s your favourite tv show?

Suits.

 
What’s your favourite genre?
Romance
 
One of your favourite quotes
The enemy of my enemy
is my friend
 
Do you enjoy giving interviews?
I’m enjoying this one, so yes. :
 
Five Fun Facts:
I’m a bitch
I’m a lover
I’m a child
I’m a mother
I’m a sinner
I’m a saint
Oh wait, that’s 6!
Actually, you can scrap bitch. I’m not really a bitch. My husband may disagree
with me at times on that, though. 😉
Thank you so much for taking part. We can’t
wait to read more work from you.
 
LUCA (YOU WILL BE MINE) EXCERPT

Prologue

Luca

Picking up some random chick from my club, I took her to one
of my many apartments. This one was reserved for one thing and one thing only: fucking.

She was brunette, curvaceous, and had the most gorgeous tits
I’d ever seen … But that wasn’t why I’d brought her here. I brought her
here because I wanted to prove a point. Today was the day I laid eyes on the
most beautiful angel I had ever seen. It was only a picture, but I couldn’t get
her image out of my damn fucking head.

Watching this woman strip in front of me should have been a
turn-on, but she did nothing for me—not even a twitch.

“Hmm, Luca, you’re so sexy. Let me take care of you.”

Hovering over my cock, whoever she was started licking and
sucking me hard. I was going to push her away and tell her to fuck off, but
then I closed my eyes, and the image of that girl came into my head. Clara.

Holding onto that image, I began to grow hard inside her
mouth. Imagining it was Clara made my dick stiffer than it had ever been.

Random Chick moaned her appreciation as she sucked harder. I
should have fucking loved this, but all I could think about was her.

Grabbing a condom from my bedside table, I pushed this girl
off of my cock. I still wanted to prove a point. I had always loved sex. If I
could just feel this random woman’s pussy, then I was sure I could forget her.

I placed the condom on my cock and hissed when I felt the
urge to fuck her raw. “Fucking sit on me—now.”

Smiling, she did as she was told and started riding me hard.
I closed my eyes again, and straight away, my mind went back to Clara.

Why can’t I get her out of my fucking head?

This woman’s body was perfection, and yet she was doing
absolutely nothing for me. I tried grabbing her hips and gaining control as I
pulled her down on top of me. Nothing—not a damn thing. She may as well have
been jumping on top of my stomach instead of my cock.

It wasn’t long, though, before her moans of pleasure echoed
around the room. I knew her orgasm was coming quickly as she sped faster and
moaned louder than ever before. Once her spasms died down, I shoved her off of
my cock.

“Luca, what the fuck? Baby, you’re so fucking good. Let me
make you come now. I can suck you again if you want?”

Shaking my head, I just wanted her out. “No. Just leave.”

“But—”

“No buts. Get the fuck out!”
 

Grabbing her things, she stomped across the room and quickly
got dressed. “Arsehole!” she shouted before slamming the door.

Fucking hell! What was wrong with me? This Clara seems
to have possessed me. No other woman has ever possessed me like this woman
has. Her picture practically screamed at me to touch her … to feel
her … to caress her.

Still lying on my bed—and still hard as fuck with this
condom on me—I started to touch myself. I closed my eyes, and again, straight
away, her image came into my head.

I pictured myself taking her and making her mine. The
thought made my dick come to life like never before. My movements became faster
and my breathing heavier as I imagined thrusting myself inside this woman I
hadn’t even met … yet. It wasn’t long before I felt it: that blissful
intensity permeating my whole body. That feeling which was like no other,
radiating through me as I hurried to find my release.

Seeing her through my closed eyes, I started pounding faster
and harder. A sound escaped my lips as I jerked and bucked underneath my hand,
thrusting my release as hard as I could into the condom.

What the fuck was wrong with me? Why couldn’t I get her
out of my fucking head?

After my breathing calmed, I took the condom off and went to
have a shower. Feeling the warmth hit my skin, I closed my eyes again, and
again her image filled my head.

Slamming the wall with my fists, I came to a sudden
conclusion. It was something I’d always known I was going to do—deep down—from
the moment I saw that fucking picture.

That’s why you offered Trudy a way out, you silly fuck. You
knew then that you had to have her.

I turned the shower off and grabbed my towel. The decision
had been made. I was going to go to Clara Murphy, but first I wanted to see
just how tough she really was.

With my mind made up, I smiled; excitement was growing with
every thought which passed through my head. I was going to go to Clara Murphy
and sort out this little obsession of mine once and for all. I knew all I had
to do was see her and my mind would be made up for me. I would either fuck her
until she was out of my system—or I would make her mine.

Getting dressed and ready to leave, I already knew in my
subconscious what the answer was going to be.

I’m coming to get you, Clara Murphy. So, you had better be
ready for me. You will be mine, and there isn’t a damn fucking thing you can do
to stop me.
 
 
 
 
LUCA (BECAUSE YOU’RE MINE) EXCERPT

“So, Giovanni, do you live in Sicily?” I thought it best to
change the subject. Even I felt we had entered into a pornographic movie all of
a sudden.

Giovanni’s reluctant gaze pulled away from Natalie and
returned to me. “Yes. I run things there. I did spend a lot of time in
England, though. I studied here before moving back several years ago. Luca was
always set to run things when he was older, but when he left, it
was up to me.”

I frowned. “Were you okay with that?”

Giovanni looked at Luca with a playful smile. “I’m
comfortable with the fact that I’ve done a much better job than Luca
could ever do.”

Luca suddenly growled. “As I said before, you’re not family
enough to prevent me from shoving your own balls down your throat.”

I waved my hand in front of him. “Just ignore him, Giovanni.
I do.”

I felt Luca stiffen beside me. “I’m warning you. You know
what happens when you try to go against me.”

I looked up at Luca and smirked. “Oooh. I’m shaking.”

Alessandro suddenly started laughing, making Luca
angry. “What the fuck are you laughing at?” Alessandro quickly shut his mouth, earning
him a dirty look from Luca.

I slid off my stool and watched as Luca watched me. “Where
are you going?”

I moved past him and started walking. “I’m going to get a
wash, and then I’m going to get my local masseuse, Philippe, to give
me a massage. I think I need to relax.” I smiled inside, knowing that
hearing his name would make Luca’s hackles rise. I wasn’t going
to mention that Philippe was gay. Well, not just yet anyway.

“Who the fuck is Philippe?”

I walked forward a little. “I already told you. He massages
my troubles away from time to time.”

Luca’s nostrils flared. “When was the last time he touched
you?”
 

I placed my finger on my lip and pretended to ponder this
for a second. “Hmm… I think it was two weeks ago.”

Luca looked really mad. “Two weeks ago, another man had
his hands on you?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I think that’s about right. He’s very
good.”

“Where does this fucker live?”

I suddenly laughed. “Stop being a baby. It’s his job.”

He stepped forward again. “He’s not touching you again. I’ll
find him and chop his fucking hands off.”

I moved my finger back and forth tutting as I stepped back.
“Oooh, tetchy, Mr. Belatoni.”

Luca suddenly smiled. “You’re joking with me, aren’t you?”

“Are these two normally like this?” Everyone laughed at
Giovanni’s question.

“All the time,” Tony piped. “It’s their prelude to sex.”

I raised my eyebrow to Luca in challenge. I was always ready
for sex with him, but when he got possessive and angry like this, it just
made the fires rage even more. This was my control over him. “I’m all dirty,
Luca. I need to get very naked and very wet.” I pierced him with a heated stare, and
my heart rate picked up a notch as he growled in my direction.

I took tentative steps back, but kept my gaze on Luca. All
these hot men and Italian accents weregetting the better of me.

As my steps took me out into the hallway, Luca suddenly
placed his phone in Tony’s hand. “Hold my calls, Tony. I’m going to fuck-love
my woman.”
 

 




Luca: You Will Be Mine (Sicilian Mafia, #1)
 
    Title: Luca (You Will Be Mine)  

Author: Jaimie Roberts

Genre: Suspenseful Erotica
 
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be held
hostage by an Italian stallion?
 
My name is Clara, and I am part-owner of a brothel called
“The Castle.” My empire is my home which I’ve worked hard to build a life from.
A future. But one day, the infamous Luca Belatoni stepped into my office and
demanded that I pay him protection money.


Of course, I refused.


Of course, he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
 
 
Now he is in my castle—holding me hostage. Trying to control
my mind in business and my body in bed. Neither of which I will allow. No
matter how much his caramel eyes and Italian words of love puncture my hardened
heart.

So, being the hostage of an Italian stallion pretty much
sucks.

Because this man is a force to be reckoned with.
And while I am not frightened for my life,
I am definitely frightened for my heart.
 
If you don’t like dominating, overbearing arseholes, please
do not read.
If you don’t like jealous and possessive men, please do not read.
If you do like all of the above, then please read.
 
 
 
Universal Buy Link:
 
 
 
 
 
Book Trailer
 
                                                                             
 
 
 
Jaimie Roberts was born in London, but moved to Gibraltar in
2001. She is married with two sons, and in her spare time, she writes.
 
In June 2013, Jaimie published her first book, Take a Breath, with the second
released in November 2013. With the reviews, Jaimie took time out to read and
learn how to become a better writer. 
 
She gets tremendous enjoyment out of
writing, and even more so from the feedback she receives.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Blog Tour ~ Sweet Exposure ~ by ~ Beth Ashworth

 
 
Title: Sweet Exposure  
Author: Beth Ashworth
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Blog Tour: February 29th – 7th March, 2016
Hosted by: Hooked on book’s & Cherry0Blossoms Promotions
 
 

Lola Hart knew moving to London would be easier said than
done … but it was the big dream and enough for her to leave everything else
behind. She followed her heart.



 
Now, twelve months later, she is dangerously living on the verge of bankruptcy,
eviction and humiliation. The perfect career in journalism proved to be nothing
but a farce, forcing her into freelance reporting. Broke and desperate, Lola’s
life quickly spirals out of control. That is, until she happens upon the
greatest of opportunities.
 
Blake Tanner craves a quiet life … a change from his younger years spent
recklessly enjoying the illustrious and opulent lifestyle of London’s elite. He
has matured somewhat, but is still finding it difficult to shake the image he
created.
 
As one of London’s most eligible bachelors and the future of his family’s
multi-million pound company, he is a hot topic and the entertainment industry’s
most wanted.
 
Lola is tasked with revealing the secrets of the elusive Blake Tanner, and she
cannot contain her excitement, knowing this sweet exposure could be her big
break. She is determined, gutsy, and has nothing to lose … or so she thinks.
 
One story could change her.
 
One story could ruin him.
 
 
 
 
 
Beth Ashworth was born in Manchester, but shortly moved to
the modest city of Coventry where she was raised and still resides now.
 
As an avid reader from a very early age, Beth has always been keen to put her
words onto paper. As a child she was always found with either a book in her
hand, a pen and notepad or a computer games controller.
 
Starting off by initially writing alternate endings to her favourite Jacqueline
Wilson books from around the age of ten, Beth has continued to grow and love
her passion for books.
 
Eventually, after many unfinished books and short stories, she finally decided
to follow her passion and write books that she hopes people will love.
 
When she isn’t reading or writing, Beth loves to spend time with her husband
and friends.



 
 
 
 
 
 
 



 

Blog Tour ~ Much of Madness ~ by ~ S.E. Summa

Much Of Madness

 

Blog Tour

Much Of Madness

by

S. E. Summa

12657940_478273859026663_4587804253022633836_o

goodreads-badge.png

BLURB

Seraphina Pearce doesn’t know what’s more frustrating: her magic’s affinity for death, her best friend’s transformation into an albino Sin Eater, or that simply touching a guy she loves means someone’s headed to the morgue.
After a sin-eating job goes awry, she casts a risky spell and butts heads with a handsome stranger in order to win an infamous grimoire.
Marceau L’Argent is the last person she should confide in because the occult cat burglar has a mysterious past, and he’s made it no secret he also wants the grimoire. He recognizes her dark magic and offers his unique help as a rare curse breaker. If all that weren’t enough, Marceau causes butterflies in her stomach—a feeling she’d long thought dead.
Seraphina was only trying to break her curse—not piss off Death himself.

Excerpt

Marceau smiled as his finger caressed the cursed hourglass. It looked like nothing more than a novelty Halloween decoration with two skeletal hands and yellowed, fraying rope to hold the glass bulbs in place. But he wasn’t fooled. Max wouldn’t have sent them to steal the rustic timepiece unless it was priceless.
Breaking into Thibodeaux’s stately Garden District mansion had been the easy part, despite the modern security system. Vespa was taking care of the final guards while Marceau took the greater risk.
This particular hex was a tricky one, and flickers of fiery crimson upon its cords warned Marceau a wrong move could be fatal. He knew one this complex must have cost Thibodeaux a pretty penny.
The voodoo priestess was crafty when she’d woven the hex into the threads of time itself. The very nature of the hourglass allowed for an unusual bond. Now, that he had identified the source of the curse’s strength, it was only a matter of time before he discovered its weakness. Then he could begin his favorite part, unwinding her careful construction.
Thud! The distinctive sound of a body hitting the floor preceded the creaking of the study door behind him. High heels clicked against the hardwood floor.
Marceau exhaled, then said, “I cannot concentrate with all the racket you’re making, Vespa. Find another guard to play with or better yet, sit down and be quiet.”
Vespa wore her usual black working attire, a tight black cat suit and a thigh-high pair of leather stiletto boots that fit like a second skin.
“I’m fresh out of guards, lover. I bought some time, but you’d better break this one fast. The next scanning spell is due in less than five minutes.”
Lover indeed. The thought made his flesh crawl.
Smudged lipstick framed her dangerous mouth. How many souls had she fed on tonight? Her forked tongue slid along her lower lip. Marceau often lost sleep after Vespa glutted herself during one of their jobs as if he then bore some responsibility for the twisted fate of her victims. Maximilian, his benefactor, and her boss, prized her little gift and used her macabre ability to his advantage.
Marceau said, “All the more reason for you to stop rubbing my arm. Go sit down.”
Vespa sauntered to a chair facing him, sat, and kicked, sending expensive tchotchkes clattering to the floor before propping her boots on a table.
“Oops. You think it was a real Fabergé egg?”
Marceau gave her a look. “You call that quiet?”
Vespa raised a shoulder.
“I’ll just enjoy the view, then,” she purred, looking him up and down. “Oh, do stop rolling those baby blues of yours. What type of curse have we tonight?”
Marceau placed his hands back against the grim hourglass. His eyes closed in concentration as he searched through the hex’s vibrations for a weakness.
“The hex is woven to kill anyone, besides Thibodeaux, who removes the hourglass from the curio with selfish intent.” Marceau froze as he felt a loose thread, a tiny opening into the inner workings of the curse. “Ah, here it is.”
“Four minutes.”
“This part can’t be rushed, Vespa. I’m close.”
Marceau tilted his head and pushed more power into his palms.
“Got it! There’s a loophole. You can remove the particular item for a very short time as long as your intention is not to use it.”
Marceau lifted his hands from the hourglass and scanned the room. Not seeing what he needed, he turned to Vespa. “Where’s the nearest bedroom?”
Vespa’s eyes lit up. “Really, lover? I thought you’d never ask, but we are almost down to three minutes.” One eyebrow rose as her eyes trailed lower. “Better make them count.”
Working with her could be a real pain in the ass.
“Vespa. Focus. I need an item to replace the hourglass in the cabinet. Where is the nearest bedroom?”
“Just when things were getting interesting.” She slumped back in her chair. “Second door on the left. The guard in there won’t be a bother.”
Marceau rushed to the bedroom. The sentry would certainly not be a bother. His corpse lay on the floor. What remained of his flesh was little more than a dry husk covering bones. Marceau stepped over the skeleton, grabbed what he needed from the bedside table, and refused to look at the withered remains on his way out.
Back in the office, Marceau raised his hand to grab the hourglass… and hesitated.
“Two minutes until the next security spell, lover. Do pull the trigger and get us out of here,” Vespa urged.
Marceau took a deep breath. A miscalculation would be more than unpleasant because the priestess was renowned throughout the French Quarter for her savagery.
Grabbing the hourglass, he lifted it a few inches off the shelf. Power from the curse surged up his arm, contracting muscles and sending electric pulses into his chest in warning. Yet he did not release the precious item as the hex demanded; instead, Marceau removed it from the curio and willed the priestess’ hex to take hold. He fought his reflex to drop it and repeated, “I will put you back in the curio. I will put you back…”

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About the Author

Shantele-Silly-hat-300x300

S.E. Summa lives in Tennessee with her husband and a menagerie of spoiled pets. After her daughter left the nest, she rediscovered her love for writing. Growing up in Nashville, she always felt the city’s unique culture and landmarks would be the perfect setting for monsters to play.
A PRO member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA), Shantele serves as the Volunteer and Membership Coordinator for her local chapter, the Music City Romance Writers (MCRW). She graduated magna cum laude with a BBA from Belmont University.
S. E. started The Debut Collective, a supportive online tribe of authors (both published and aspiring), editors, formatters, and cover designers working together to foster a new generation of stories and authors. The Debut Collective is publishing a series of five anthologies in June 2016.

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MORE OF SIN, The Conexus Chronicles, Book #2 – TBD

Four short stories for following The Debut Collective anthologies releasing in June 2016: Act of Bravery, Underdog, Insurrection/Hostile Takeover, and Secret Identity

*The Underdog & Secret Identity stories are tie-ins for The Conexus Chronicles and will feature characters from Much of Madness.

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