Sometimes the unexpected things in life turn out to be the most worthwhile.
Tegan Daniels is a twenty-one year old college student and a hopeless romantic. She knows her prince charming will eventually find her one day. Someone must be playing a warped joke on her when he comes into her life; Her perfect man with one huge character flaw—he despises love.
Charles Reed has never been a commitment type of man, except when it comes to his loyalty to the U.S. Navy. When a close friend’s sister moves to town he starts doubting his phobia of relationships. What he doesn’t expect is for her innocence to make him question everything in his life and from his past.
He never anticipated a girl like her would come into his life. She never thought she’d have to convince her dream man to give them a shot.
Sometimes the things we want most, require the most fighting for. Love is something unwanted by him and something desired by her; Neither expect to fall for the other.
Will this unexpected love end in their happily ever after?
ONCE LINKS ARE LIVE WE WILL SEND.
Sometimes the things we fight hardest against are inevitable in the end.
Hunter Stevenson wasn’t interested in wasting nights with bed warmers, he had a daughter to take care of and a life to build. Leaving behind the mother of his four year old child and her incessant partying, Hunter moves closer to his family to help provide Sawyer some stability.
Tessa Daniels didn’t share the ‘typical American dream’ like most girls. A husband, 2.5 kids and a white picket fence weren’t the things she wanted for herself. She had a plan laid out, which included a career in the Navy and being surrounded by her best friends. She was perfectly content with her carefree, fun lifestyle and her casual relationships, but all of that changed when she met him.
What neither of them expected was a nosy brother and best friend with some serious matchmaking skills. The two have an instantaneous pull towards one another, they can’t fight the spark even though they both do. Until one drunken night, Tessa throws herself at Hunter, only to face an agonizing rejection. However, Hunter’s gentlemanly facade doesn’t last with the sassy sailor girl, his alpha attitude quickly emerges in the midst of their sexual tensions.
Hunter refuses to be another one of Tessa’s casual hook-ups, and won’t allow her to run away from the idea of ‘them’. No matter how many obstacles stand in their way of a happily ever after. Now he must convince Tessa that their inevitable love is worth fighting for.
Can their newfound love survive the stress of an impending deployment and Hunter’s past pushing it’s way back into his life?
JC Santo a true southern girl born and raised a in Central Texas. When she met her husband who is in the U.S. Navy they had to relocate to Norfolk, Virginia. That’s where she has been for the past 5 years being a wife and stay at home mom to 3 boys. In the rare occurrences she gets free time it’s usually spent reading a good book. Three things she will never turn away cupcakes, tattoos and arbor mist! Lol you have to sound like Morgan Freeman!
Perfect swagger.They call Dash Wallace the Diamond King.
He’s the hottest commodity in baseball and in the bedroom.
When he runs the bases, every woman’s eyes are glued to his stunning body and a smile that puts the night lights to shame.
I’m no queen. I’m a regular girl with a regular job. I just watch him on TV and from the bleachers, season after season.Girls like me grab a guy like that one in a million times.
My number just came up, and he is as spectacular in bed as he is on the field.
But there’s not a woman in the world who can distract Dash Wallace from the game. Not for a moment. Not even me.
Until the night I do. And everything changes.
Hardball is a SMOKING HOT, SEXY romance with a touch of angst and a ton of heart from CD Reiss. It’s a fun, witty, full-length standalone meant for the over-eighteen crowd.
First off, I LOVE baseball! And I love dirty, foul-mouthed, HOT baseball players. So this book was PERFECT for me! And OMG did I enjoy Dash. Dash was the typical cocky, hot and he knows it, baseball player. BUT he has some flaws. And those flaws make him that much more real.
I devoured Dash, oops I mean Hard Ball ;-), within 24 hours! I couldn’t put it down! And I didn’t want to. My desire to read the whole book overrode any hesitation for it to end. I hope this is the start of a brand new, baseball series by Miss Reiss. Because if so, chalk up a win!
5 Stars
Praise for Hardball
“Dash Wallace is a dirty talking, sexy professional baseball player who falls hard for the girl next door, but beware… your heart will take a beating as you watch him struggle with sticking to all he’s ever known at the risk of losing the best thing that ever happened to him. Hardball is one of those books that will suck you in and won’t let you go until you devour every last, juicy bite.”
– Sawyer Bennett, NY Times Bestselling Author
“Fiery hot and enticingly realistic, CD Reiss’s captivating writing, complex characters and explosive love scenes make Hard Ball an irresistible modern day romance.”
– Katy Evans, NY Times Bestselling Author
“Delightful, sexy, emotional, exciting, exhilarating. I loved every single second of it! A sports romance with a DASH of kink….it doesn’t get any better than that!”
– Shayna Renee’s Spicy Reads
“Unexpectedly emotional, beautifully written, and decadently naughty, CD Reiss once again owned me heart and soul. Hardball was an enthralling romance from start to finish!! And I never wanted it to end.”
– Angie and Jessica’s Dreamy Reads
Author Bio
CD Reiss is a USA Today bestseller. She still has to chop wood and carry water, which was buried in the fine print. Her lawyer is working it out with God but in the meantime, if you call and she doesn’t pick up she’s at the well hauling buckets.
Born in New York City, she moved to Hollywood, California to get her master’s degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere but it did give her a big enough ego to write novels.
She’s frequently referred to as the Shakespeare of Smut which is flattering but hasn’t ever gotten her out of chopping that cord of wood.
If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.
After a lifetime of traveling the world with my uncle, I was ready for a normal, routine life. I thought I found it too. A job teaching kindergarten, good friends, and a stable man by my side. I was happy… mostly. Until I walked in on a surprise that shook my world.
Luckily, my friend Ethan McAlister was there to pick up the pieces.
“Friend.” Who was I kidding?
The star quarterback for the country’s newest football team, Ethan was charming, sexy, and the last thing I needed. His life was the opposite of normal and routine. Our passions very different.
But when he touched me… none of that mattered.
Except to the people dedicated to ripping us apart.
“If you don’t stop, I’m going to take you back to the room and give you what you’ve been begging for. Or is that what you’re after?”
Mandy giggles and leans into Charles, and I watch from behind them, trying my best not to eavesdrop. It’s not hard to overhear from just a few paces away, and I’m also trying my best not to look envious of the couple, but I can’t help that either.
I clear my throat to remind the casino owner that I’m still here, and they turn to look as if surprised to see me. Mandy blushes and looks away while Charles just smiles his devilish grin. Mr. and Mrs. Townsend have built the Snake Eyes casino into something wonderful, and I’m here today to talk about some opportunities for our casinos to work together.
I’ve owned the Blue Diamond casino for a few years now, taking it from a downtrodden, shabby dive to a shining jewel. I’ve been looking to expand some of our entertainment venues, and Charles is looking for the same. If we are able to work together, we both look to double our revenue, and it’s hard to turn down something like that. It’s unusual for casinos to promote one another, but Charles and I are birds of a feather. We both have a head for business and a strong work ethic. Although since Charles has gotten married, I can see he’s slowed down just a bit.
I would have slowed down with Tiffany. The thought enters my mind before I can stop it, and it hits me in the gut. I’m usually in better control of myself than that, but being close to a couple who are obviously so in love is eating away at me. My jealousy is palpable, and I have the urge to go throw up.
For years I searched for her. Do you know how many Tiffany Smiths are in the world? Fifty-two thousand, seven hundred and fifty-nine. And that’s assuming she didn’t change her name. I’ve gone through countless private detectives and more money than a normal man could make in a lifetime trying to find her. False hope and women pretending to be her have broken me over the years. I’ve built my empire in the hopes that one day she might find me. Hell, I even named my casino after her. I’ll never forget her bright blue eyes. I see them every time I close my own. Somewhere in my heart, I always thought we would find one another, but maybe she’s with someone else, moved on. The thought makes me clench my fists and grit my teeth. I only have myself to blame. I should have found her by now.
“You doing okay, Ethan?” Charles’s words snap me out of my angry guessing game, and I just nod, following him through the casino lobby.
“Have you seen Foxy’s new show?” Mandy asks, obviously trying to bring us back to business.
“No, I’m afraid I haven’t had the time. But I’ve heard great things.” We pass one of her posters for the old show, and I get a funny feeling in my stomach. It happens every time I see something that reminds me of my Tiffany. The poster is of a woman, turned away from the camera with only her head and shoulders visible. Her hair is white blonde with a pink bow pinned in it. The words Foxy Bow are emblazoned across the bottom in glitter. The picture doesn’t show her face, but the blonde hair makes me think of my girl. This is Vegas, though, and a bottle of bleach is on every street corner.
“Oh, we need to have these changed out. They are the old promotional banners. Come around the front and see the new one. I think they installed it just this morning.”
“Sure, sounds great.” I don’t know why I’m melancholy all of a sudden, but I think it’s because Tiffany is on my mind so much lately.
As we walk through the casino, I try to pay attention to the conversation. Charles and Mandy are discussing plans for the casinos and what they want as far as the future of our partnership is concerned. I spend most of my life working to get noticed by someone I haven’t seen in ten years. Someone who may or may not want to see me. Someone who may or may not even be alive.
I stop that train of thought as soon as it enters my mind. I would know if my soul was gone. I would feel it in my bones if she wasn’t still breathing. I’d know it.
The day I was pulled apart from her was the worst day of my life. When I was put in the back of that cop car by DCP, I begged them to take me back. I knew that if I was separated from her, something bad would happen. If I didn’t have my eyes on her at all times, he would get to her. I just knew her father was waiting for his chance.
When we got down to the police station, it turned out that they had found a relative of mine. I’d gone into foster care after my mother died. I was placed with the Mark family, who just happened to live next to my Tiffany. When I was at the darkest point in my life, it was like God sent her to me. To shine light on my dark world.
They found my grandfather, but he had recently passed, leaving everything he had to me. A pile of money and a casino that wasn’t turning a profit. As soon as the cops let me go, I raced back to Tiffany, only to find her gone. I beat the shit out of her father but later realized he didn’t know where she went either. So I started looking for her and building a life for us. Taking what my grandfather left me and increasing it tenfold. For her. For us.
“There she is. Our star.” Mandy waves her hand up, and I follow her line of sight.
I look up, seeing a huge banner stretched across the front entrance of the hotel, and as her ice blue eyes stare back at me, my knees go weak. It’s her. It’s my Tiffany. Clutching my chest, I nearly collapse to the floor, and Charles and Mandy rush to help me.
“Where?” I manage to choke out, but they don’t respond. They look at one another as if they’re confused. Like my whole world isn’t about to explode.
“Where is Tiffany?!” I bellow, and it echoes off the black marble walls.
“She’s about to go on stage. What the fuck is wrong, Ethan?” Charles is still holding my arm to steady me, but I break free and run as fast as I can to the other side of the casino. My legs burn and my chest aches. It can’t be possible. It can’t be true. Please God, let it be true.
I don’t know what happens, or who I knock over to get there, but when I get to the entrance, security is there to try to stop me. I feel a sudden rage come over me and I turn, punching someone who puts a hand on me.
I see Charles out of the corner of my eye. He’s holding up his hands and telling people to let me pass. He must see that I’m in a fury that won’t be stopped.
When I get past the entrance, I walk into a dark room, seeing the stage at the end, and I watch the curtains part. A bright light centers on the woman, and all the air leaves my lungs.
Standing there, glowing with perfection, is my girl.
Alexa Riley is two sassy friends who got together and wrote some dirty books. They are both married moms of two who love football, donuts, and obsessed book heroes.
They specialize in insta-love, over-the-top, sweet, and cheesy love stories that don’t take all year to read. If you want something SAFE, short, and always with a happily ever after, then Alexa Riley is for you!
Jackson Lombardi refused to grieve for the loss of his wife, Gabi, living the past two years for his daughter and work. Everyone pushed for him to move on, but his heart was fighting a battle between holding on to the past and letting go.
Robin Patrick was a dynamo for the Marketing Department. She came in when all hell broke loose over Gabi’s death, doing everything to ease Jackson’s stress levels and keep her mind off her own problems too. Everyone thought she had it all together, not realizing she was living a lie – covering who she was for the past three years. She’s hiding from a monster who wanted to own her and her father’s company that wants to stop the investigation into his death.
She’d pulled everything off until the one person who’d been her rock had been lost to her forever. A chance encounter with her boss, in the most unlikely of places, was the beginning of her salvation and the road to a temptation she wasn’t sure she’d survive.
Jackson was a force to be reckoned with, an alpha extreme, perfect for her submissive nature. At least she could forget about her past, for a while, and enjoy the pleasures of today – knowing that an eternity would never be possible with someone who couldn’t love her as long as he held onto the memories of his wife or could it?
What he Needs is the promise of forever, but can he finally let go of the past and open his heart to the idea of new love?
“What the hell are you doing? I don’t need a paper trail, nor do I need to disappear from radar anytime soon.” Her facial expression was pleading for me to back off, but I couldn’t. Everything that I saw told me to rescue her at whatever costs.
I grabbed her by the arms. “Look at me, Robin.” She kept averting her eyes. “Damn it! I said Look. At. Me.”
Her body stopped shaking, and her eyes focused intently on mine. “Something’s going on here, and I don’t like what I’m seeing. You make enough money that you shouldn’t have to be living like this. I can’t in good conscience walk out of here tonight knowing that you’ve had your place broken into. I need you to go through it and let me know if anything’s been taken. I also need you to pile all the things you want to take with you on the bed, since Prescott’s security team will be here in fifteen minutes or less.”
She opened her mouth to speak, but I wouldn’t let her. Instead I silenced her lips with mine, kissing her with the intent on making her mindless for a moment so I could take a look at the piece of paper she’d stuffed into her pocket.
Her lips tasted slightly of salt, from her earlier crying, and of coffee. I had only meant for the kiss to be a distraction, but I was swamped with sensations that I hadn’t experienced in a long time. I found my hands reaching down to cup her ass and pull her closer to me. The effect must have been mutual because I found her arms around my neck and her legs wrapping around my waist as if I was a life preserver keeping her afloat in an ocean of craziness.
The moment Robin tried to undo my belt, I snapped back to the present and pushed her against the wall for added leverage. I used one hand to hold both of her wrists. Trying to seek passage into her mouth, I continued to kiss and nip at her outer lips. I managed to slip my fingers into her pocket and sneak out the paper without her even knowing.
Her kiss was lighting up my entire body from within. I found myself hard, wanting, needing some form of relief. I hadn’t been this hard since…
The mood was quickly shattered, when the phone rang. I recognized the ring-tone and knew I had to answer my mother’s call. Leave it to my mother to cock block me.
Groaning in frustration, I pulled back from the kiss. I leaned my forehead against hers. “I’m sorry. I need to return my mother’s call. She’s probably wondering why I haven’t picked up Nicola yet.”
Her breathing was labored and her eyes half-hooded, looking like I felt – needy. “That’s okay.” I could hear the disappointment in her voice. “I shouldn’t have let you come up and I…”
I put my finger on her lips to silence her. “You’ve hidden a lot of things from me, from everyone, and it stops tonight. I know something is going on in your life. It’s obvious by the looks of things that you need help. You should know by now that being part of Prescott International is like being a member of the family; if one person is in need, we all pitch in and help out.”
She tried to unwrap herself from my waist, but I held her firmly against the wall and pressed my hard length into her belly so she could feel how much she affected me. “Oh,” was her only remark.
“I know you’re going to try and argue with me. I can see the spirit you have at work popping up right now, but I’m taking charge here. I’m sorry if I come on a bit strong, but I don’t like what I’m seeing tonight. I want to ensure you’re safe.
– ABOUT THE AUTHOR –
Cynthia P. O’Neill grew up in small town in South Florida and moved to Central Florida to attend college. There, she married her friend, love, and soul mate and still resides with their amazing son, and a feisty, four-legged little boy.
In her books, Cynthia draws on her background in healthcare and business, along with her husband’s engineering knowledge.
She currently writes on all levels of Romance. The Remembrance Series encompasses New Adult with a touch of Paranormal activity and a hint of Historical romance. A Learning Series is for those who like a little more steam with their books, falling into the categories of Contemporary – Erotica, with a hint of suspense.
Her latest series, Need, will have several books, each focusing on one couple per book. The main couple will then become supporting characters, while some of the background characters step forward to find their own happily ever after. It will be will be a Contemporary – Erotic romance with a high level of suspense added.
She tries to make her writing very personal and close to her heart. Regular life is the inspiration for her books, but her imagination takes them to new heights, opening up possibilities that would normally not exist.
To learn more about the author, please visit Cynthia’s website at: www.cynthiaponeill.com
Danger, mysterious pasts, and passion come together in this new standalone contemporary romance novel from USA Today bestselling author, Rebecca Shea. Can Saige and Holt get over the past in order to have a future? Pick up DARE ME today and immerse yourself in the unforgettable moments where one dare spirals out of control and changes lives.
I dare you.
Five coworkers.
Four drinks.
Three glances.
Two fleeting smiles.
One dare.
A dare that will change my life.
That’s all it takes to send me plummeting into the arms of the mysterious Holt Hamilton. Behind his crystal blue eyes is a secret, one that screams danger but calls to me anyway.
“Sometimes you have to take that leap…or that dare…so you can learn to live and love again! Saige and Holt’s story had me on a rollercoaster of emotions…” – Crystal, Barnes and Noble
“This book hooked me instantly, and kept me interested throughout. I didn’t want to put it down! Another winner from Rebecca Shea!!” – Not Your Mama’s Romance
“I just couldn’t get enough. DARE ME took my breath away!” – Shayna Renee’s Spicy Reviews
EXCERPT
Arriving back at our room, I find Holt sitting at the small oval table, his cell phone pressed to his ear. A smile pulls at his lips when he turns around. He’s talking, but his eyes follow me as I walk back to the attached bedroom to hang up my dress in the closet.
Not wanting to disturb him, I kick off my shoes and lie down on the bed to rest for a few minutes. Minutes later, I hear him come into the room, but I keep my eyes closed. “Shopping is exhausting,” I mumble and let out a small laugh.
“Do not let my mother hear you say that,” he says, laughing in return.
“Speaking of your mother, how was lunch?” I push myself up and sit cross-legged on the bed.
He frowns. “She had to cancel, but we’re having dinner with her tonight.”
“Who’s we?” My eyebrows shoot up.
“You and me, Saige. It’s just dinner, nothing serious, so don’t read into it.” His tone tells me he’s annoyed.
“I wasn’t,” I lie. I mean, shit, sleeping with your boss on the first night…that’s fast. Meeting his parents a couple of weeks later…that’s warp speed. I try to picture meeting her, but I instantly begin to get anxious and try to think of an excuse as to why I can’t go.
Pushing off the bed, I blurt out, “I mean, I’m pretty tired; maybe you should just go. Plus, she hasn’t seen you in ages. She’s not going to want to spend her time worrying about including me in conversation.”
“Saige.” He walks over to me, placing his hands on my upper arms. “She wants to meet you.”
“I don’t have anything to wear. I only packed casual clothes.” I play nervously with the small diamond that dangles from a chain around my neck.
He rubs his thumbs softly on my skin. “Well, it’s a good thing we’re eating at her house. Nothing fancy required.” He’s making it difficult for me to get out of this, I think to myself.
“I have a headache. I had a really brutal day shopping.” I nod toward the closet and close my eyes to show my exhaustion. When he doesn’t respond, I finally crack an eye, catching him watching me. He sees right through my bullshit.
He rolls his eyes. “Yes, Barney’s can be so tiring. Personal shoppers running around while you wait for them to return is now classified as a high-intensity cardio workout.” He smirks at me. He can be such an ass, but I can’t help but chuckle. Clearly, he’s a seasoned Barney’s shopper.
“Holt—” I’m about to whip out another lame excuse when he interrupts me.
Exasperated, he finally snaps. “Saige. Stop. What you’re wearing is fine. You look beautiful. I promise, my mother is much more casual than what you’re thinking. She lives in Brooklyn in a beautiful brownstone. She’s married to a normal guy, and they have a dog. She’s the least pretentious person you’ll ever meet, and if you decided to show up in pajamas, she wouldn’t bat an eye. In fact, she’d probably run upstairs and change into hers.”
From everything he just told me, I think I already love her. “What kind of dog?” I ask, as if this will be the deal breaker.
His eyes soften and I can hear his tone relax. “A basset hound. He’s a real pain in the ass, but he’s the cutest damn dog—”
“Fine. I’ll go.” I toss my head back in defeat.
“It was the dog, wasn’t it?” he jokes.
“Yeah. A cute dog will always get me.” I wrap my arms around his waist and hug him.
“Noted.” He laughs.
I LOVED this book! I can’t say enough about it. Definitely gave me a book hangover! Saige reminds me of myself in that people have to dare me to do things I wouldn’t normally do.
This book was just so powerful to me. From the different events that happen in Saige’s life just really touched me. I won’t give away spoilers but just know you might need tissues.
This will definitely be on my re-read list. This book was just amazing and thought-provoking and touching and just all around fantastic!
Rebecca Shea is the USA Today Bestselling author of the Unbreakable series (Unbreakable, Undone, and Unforgiven) and the Bound and Broken series (Broken by Lies and Bound by Lies). She lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her family. From the time Rebecca could read she has had a passion for books. Rebecca spends her days working and her nights writing, bringing stories to life. Born and raised in Minnesota, Rebecca moved to Arizona in 1999 to escape the bitter winters. When not working or writing, she can be found on the sidelines of her sons’ football games, or watching her daughter at ballet class. Rebecca is fueled by insane amounts of coffee, margaritas, Laffy Taffy (except the banana ones), and happily ever afters.
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 insi
“Where’s your bedroom?” His voice is deep and firm as his hands move lower, around my throat, gently tightening then letting go, and my head is full of some kind of heavy mist because I forgot where my room is.
“Down there, on the left.” I hear my answer, not sure what part of my brain is actually still functioning.
“I’ll get you to work on time, but I need you right now, and you need me.”
His hands whip around and scoop under my arms, lifting me like a doll to cling to him face to face. My body feels weightless, and my ankles lock around his back.
The motion of his walk and the nearness of his lips turn the quivering between my legs into a craving.
“That feel good?” he asks, tightening his grip, pressing me into him. I can feel the fabric of his t-shirt against my clit.
The scent of coffee and something masculine and spicy is making me feel drunk. I bury my face in his neck and inhale. I love the texture of his fresh shave, just a hint of course beard creating friction against my cheek. There is a burning inside me, and I want it — him — to consume me. To keep me here, clinging onto him.
His hands play up and down my spine as I hear him kick open the door to my bedroom.
Shit. Wait…
But the pause in his step reminds me of why I don’t want people in here.
I hold my breath, waiting for his arms to loosen and my feet to hit the ground as he stares at the furious disaster that is my bedroom.
But, he steps forward without a word, his lips on my cheek. Three more steps and he lays me down gently on my bed, pushing my hands over my head before rising to full height. For a moment, I see what others see.
His face turns from that smiling Beckett that helped me find my own smile to this intense monster with a primal glare looking down at me like his prey. When his brow comes together, the light from behind those amazing eyes offset with the close cut of his black hair sends me spinning.
“So fucking perfect.” He tastes me with his eyes, and I can feel it somewhere inside me that is new. Somewhere I’ve kept sealed up. Sealed off. Because it’s the place he could hurt me most.
I bring my arms down in defense. He’s seeing things I don’t want him to see.
His eyes flash, and his face turns dark.
“Don’t fucking do that. Don’t ever cover yourself in front of me. Understand?”
He’s using that voice again, and I don’t know whether to be frightened or cum.
He leans down, becoming a bridge over me as I stretch my arms back up to where he’d placed them.
“That’s good. Keep them there.” His lips are perfect, and they’re on mine. Little pathetic noises escape me as his tongue glides inside my lips. He doesn’t rush, and I want more. I want fast. But, the way he’s looking at me, it’s clear — I’m not the one in charge.
I want him inside of me. It’s all I can think as our mouths turn and move against each other.
This is what a kiss is meant to be. Something as simple as lips touching can make me feel like we know things about each other no one else knows. I’m telling him so many things I could never say out loud, and his kiss is telling me he wants to know it all.
His lips move to my forehead, feather soft, knowing more new things about me, and it takes all my will not to bring my hands down to wrap around whatever part of him I can reach.
I have to concentrate to take each breath. Some are deep yet most are so shallow, my head is getting lighter and lighter until I feel like I’m floating. Or falling.
Right into him. Hoping he’ll catch me.
Both his hands move up and tangle in my hair, holding me firm as his warm mouth discovers my collar bones, and then moves down, sucking my tit so deep into his mouth, I let out a cry.
My sounds loosen something in him. I feel it.
His lips turn to teeth on my sensitive flesh, biting down until my cry turns to a scream, but my hips raise up, my body begging for so much more.
I want this; I want this pain because it comes from him.
And, it fills in parts of me that need filling.
He moves to the other side, dropping one hand from my hair and grazing down over my stomach.
I can feel his power as he releases me from his mouth, his hand flat on my belly and his eyes watching me as I lie quivering.
“Spread your legs.” It’s not a request; it’s clearly an order.
And I freeze.
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.
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.
Two cups of a protective, dirty talkin’ alpha who loves his Cupcake.
One tablespoon of a sweet southern baker who loves her Sexy Sawyer, even when he’s being a hothead.
A slice of the past that shows up on their doorstep, turning their world upside down with a life-altering plea.
A dash of passion.
A pinch of heartache.
A sprinkle of hope.
Mix together in a large bowl, creating a difficult choice, a testing of one’s faith, and a man who will do anything to protect his family—even if it means accepting a decision that could result in losing the one he loves most.
Bake at 350° for a rich serving of life with a love that could withstand anything. Even the unthinkable.
A timeless recipe that is sure to fill your heart with a generous helping of sweet love.
***
This is a longer length novella that follows Sawyer and Grace’s journey after Sweet Temptation, book two in the Men of Honor series. It is told in dual POV, has an HEA, and no cliffhanger. Sweet Temptation should be read prior to this novella. It is recommended to read the other books in both the Men of Honor series and the Acts of Honor series as all the characters play recurring roles. However it’s not necessary.
Warning: Due to mature subject matter, such as explicit sexual situations and coarse language, this story is not suitable for anyone under the age of 18.
Excerpt
“What are you doin’ here?” I ask, licking my suddenly dry lips.
“I came here for you. We have some things to discuss.”
Uh oh… My pulse races for a whole other reason now. Does he know about my visit at the hospital today?
“Like what?” I whisper.
“Like this.” Hooking an arm around my neck, he yanks me against him then claims my lips in a heated caress.
My fingers curl in his shirt, a blissful sigh escaping me as he suddenly makes everything in my world right again.
A growl vibrates from him just before he picks me up off my feet, letting them dangle inches off the ground. My arms encircle his neck and I cling to him, absorbing his warmth.
“Too long, Cupcake,” he groans against my lips. “Been too fucking long without this.” He blows through the swinging door to the kitchen and sets me on the island. His large, warm hands slip under my skirt and run up my thighs to grip my hips. I suck in precious air as his mouth moves to the tender flesh of my throat. “No more, Grace. You hear me? You’re my wife, which means I get your taste, your body, and your heart every fucking day. You belong to me.”
One act of kindness brought Sophie Parish far more danger than she could have ever imagined. Now she’s on the run, leaving behind her family and the only dream she’s ever had.
Retired EFC fighter Kolan Slade’s life has been one endless battle after another. He has a dark past with an even darker desire—the only one he’s ever known.
Until he meets Sophie.
Intrigued by her raw beauty and the secrets she’s trying to hide, Kolan craves to know who she is and what she’s running from.
Protecting her becomes his obsession and he’ll sacrifice it all to save her. But in the end her love will have him questioning himself and everything he thought he knew.
***
This is book three in the Acts Of Honor series, the spin-off series to Men Of Honor. Kolan and Sophie’s story is told in dual POV, has an HEA with no cliffhanger, and can be read as a standalone. However, I highly recommend reading prior books in both series, as characters play recurring roles throughout.
About the Author
K.C. Lynn is a small town girl living in Western Canada. She married her high school sweetheart and they have four amazing children: two lovely girls and a set of handsome twin boys. It was her love for romance books that gave K.C. the courage to sit down and write her own novel. When she is not in her writing cave, pounding out new characters and stories, she can be found living between the pages of a book, meeting new tattooed, hot alpha males with very big…Hearts.
“Heartrending, passionate, and captivating! Heartbreaker is a riveting page-turner that will leave you breathless with raw emotions, and the need to hold tight to the ones you love!” ~ Beneath the Covers Blog
“This book has definitely earned its five stars and I am just floored right now. The passion is explosive, the story itself is beautiful, and the emotions are so real my heart is ready to burst. Beautiful book. Absolutely breathtaking.” ~ One Page at a Time
“I really, really liked this book…I’ve not read anything else by these authors but they are now on my radar.” ~ BFD Book Blog
“This is my first time reading this author but it definitely won’t be my last—I loved it…wonderfully compelling, a story that touched my heart in so many ways and characters I will remember for a long time to come.” ~ Girl Who Reads
“Heartbreaker is a great read… more than just a love story that can make you swoon. It touches a very sensitive topic that not all are brave enough to dwell on.” ~ Book Freak
“It has been a long time since I’ve read a love story like this. Solid from beginning to end Heartbreaker…draws its readers into the world of sacrifice and deep love. The writing is solid and flawless.” ~ Jeri’s Book Attic
“Reading a book by Kat and Stone Bastion is like eating one of the best meals of your life. It has the perfect flow from its appetizing beginning, its emotionally hearty entrées, to its deliciously sweet end.” ~ TJLovesToRead
“An extremely emotional story that really tugged at my heart…I highly recommend it.” ~ Loves 2 Read Romance
“I laughed, I cried, I cursed and I smiled. The end of the story was beautiful…totally loved it!” ~ Vasiliki, Goodreads early reviewer
“5 STARS. This book is pure bliss. I just couldn’t stop reading. I loved the writing, the story, nothing felt rushed or too easy…We have banter, sexual tension, love, angst, it’s perfect.” ~ Isa, Goodreads early reviewer
“This was so good! Highly recommend…well written and flowed with a great pace, I read it in a sitting.” ~ Angela, Goodreads early reviewer
Kiki Michaelson wants one wild night to forget her starving-artist worries. Simple.
Only instead of Darren Cole becoming her one-night stand, he taunts her with a challenge. Then while she’s trying to best him at his own game, he turns out to be the last thing she’s prepared for: someone she wants to keep.
Which means all he can ever be…is a friend.
Darren Cole never allows a girl to get close—not close enough to matter.
Then storms in Kiki Michaelson, a beautiful, fearless temptation that rocks his world off-balance. But he fights their attraction, unwilling to gamble something physical with their close ties. Until the passionate sculptor exposes her heart and breaks his wide open.
In that moment it becomes clear: she could never be just a friend.
Sometimes what you run from…is exactly what you need.
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About Kat & Stone Bastion:
Kat Bastion won several awards for her bestselling debut novel Forged in Dreams and Magick.
Kat and Stone Bastion’s bestselling first novel No Weddings and the No Weddings series were named Best of 2014 by multiple romance review blogs.
When not defining love and redemption through scribed words, they enjoy spending their time mountain biking and hiking in the beautiful Sonoran Desert of Arizona.
New York Times & USA Today bestselling author with 13 books out and many more to come. She was born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia. Ever the mild-manner citizen, Carey spend her days working in the world of finance, and at night, she retreats into the lives of her fictional characters.
Supporting her all the way are her husband, three sometimes-adorable children, their nine-pound attack Yorkie and their needy Ninja cat.
About Rebecca Shea:
![Promise_Final[1].jpg](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Ex9OqL2f6rdOmzpyNy2wKY3qkhWb6wSzhPEZhxT-P1Xug4i46oL7MFxpGp0ud21ivsso-vcnpWLA1t8ZzoS_O4iWhYfMV5OVTU1rKKfEw5Qp7wmyzwbdwL0wEg5a6-z6Ita4LJ8r)
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