Blog Tour & Review ~ Alpha Mail ~ by ~ Brenda Rothert

Today we are celebrating the release of ALPHA MAIL by Brenda Rothert. This book is a contemporary romance, standalone title. Check out the purchase links for Amazon, iBooks, and B&N below and some teasers from the book.

 

Use the hashtag #AlphaMail and tell us a dating horror story! A few random winners will get a surprise from Brenda Rothert!

 

Alpha Mail by Brenda Rothert

An adult standalone, contemporary romance

PURCHASE IT NOW!

Amazon | iBooks | Barnes & Noble


Book Blurb:

Sienna Mills knows her alpha males.
They brood.
They growl.
They love the word “mine”.
After spending her early twenties in and out of relationships with alphas, Sienna used her knowledge to found Alpha Mail, a booming business that allows women to sign up for emails, letters, and texts from their own brooding, red-blooded man.
Her star is on the rise and Sienna is attracting the interest of investors when a mysterious man starts messaging her about the true nature of an alpha. She’s got it all wrong, he says, and he’s willing to show her how a real man makes women respond.
The more Sienna hears from him, the more aggravated she becomes. Who does this anonymous, supposed alpha think he is, anyway?
And yet…she can’t deny his messages are becoming the best part of her days. Commitment-phobic Sienna finds herself wanting more from her sensei of seduction. But is she willing to trust her heart to an alpha again?

 

TBRreview

Since I was introduced to Brenda Rothert Books a couple years ago now, I’ve read EVERY one (and loved them) that comes out! I know that in reading a Brenda Rothert Book, I’m going to laugh some, feel some and just have a great time being introduced to this new book!

Sienna Mills is a bright, determined, successful woman. After one too many dates with “alphas” she’s over them. But she understands how women want parts of them and so she makes her business off that. So I totally get that.

Until she has someone email her claiming she has the alpha thing totally wrong and proceeds to tell/teach her what being an alpha is and means. The only downside? It’s all via email as he won’t let her know who he is.

5 stars!

———————

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

BRheadshot

Brenda Rothert is an Illinois native who was a print journalist for nine years. She made the jump from fact to fiction in 2013 and never looked back. From new adult to steamy contemporary romance, Brenda creates fresh characters in every story she tells. She’s a lover of Diet Coke, chocolate, lazy weekends and happily ever afters.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | | Wattpad | Amazon

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Blog Tour & Review ~ Hangry ~ by ~ Lily Kate

Today we have the blog tour of Hangry by Lily Kate! Check it out and grab your copy today!

Title: Hangry

Author: Lily Kate

Genre: Contemporary Romance

About Hangry:

han·gry

adjective

informal

  1. bad-tempered or irritable as a result of hunger.

Ladies & Gents,

I sold my soul for a hamburger.

And I have no regrets. When a girl is trapped indefinitely in an elevator with a smoking hot burger and an empty stomach, even the strongest of women will crumble.

The story goes like this: Bradley Hamilton, the most frustrating human alive, offered me half of his hamburger in exchange for a date. I took him up on the offer—while under duress—and now I’m stuck with the consequences. Specifically, the scorching kiss at the end of our date that has me drooling for more.

However, there’s one whopper of a problem. This man has been a thorn in my side for the last twenty years—ever since he moved next door and became my older brother’s best friend. We’ve gone head to head for years, and now, he’s trying to buy out my restaurant in order to plop one of his big fat gyms there instead.

I refuse to let him ruin my business. Unfortunately, Bradley Hamilton is like an order of french fries: you just can’t have one. It appears our lips are addicted to kissing. He’s alarmingly handsome. Deliciously confident. And worst of all? Underneath that salty exterior he’s starting to show signs of sweet.

Brad Hamilton is my guilty pleasure, my cheat meal, my greatest craving.

Which is why he’ll be one habit that’s hard to kick.

 

Get Your Copy Today!

 

 

TBRreview

Lexi is me when I’m starving and grumpy and well, hangry. So I can’t blame her for making a deal with the devil aka her former BFF Brad or Bradley if she’s mad at him. I really enjoyed this story, as I have with every Lily Kate book I’ve read. I fell for Brad at the same time sympathizing with Lexi.

Lexi is just trying to figure out her life when she’s stuck in the elevator with her former friend Brad. Although this is where the story really takes off. And you learn about Lexi’s life and Brad’s and why both pulled back from their friendship and how can/will they get back to it.

Lexi’s brother’s anger towards Brad was pretty blah even though it kept them from being friends for 3 years. But I guess that’s the resilience of some men where they can be mad and get over it in the next breath.

I can’t wait to see Kitty’s story! It’s always the harder they fight, the harder they fall.

5 stars!

 

About Lily Kate:

USA TODAY bestselling author Lily Kate works a pretttttty boring day job and writes books filled with heat, heart, and humor by night. Her debut novel, Delivery Girl, landed instantly on the USA TODAY list, thanks to all of her fabulous readers! 🙂

When she’s not writing books, you may find her watching Christmas movies before Thanksgiving, eating whipped cream from the can, or hanging out with her family.

 

Connect with Lily:

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram

Enter Lily Kate’s Giveaway:

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

Release Blitz ~ Fervent ~ by ~ Claudia Burgoa

Title: Fervent
Author: Claudia Burgoa
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: October 27, 2017
Blurb
As a former Army Ranger who works
for a high intelligence, private security company, I’ve seen my fair share of
death, betrayal, and pain. 
I’ve lived
them. 
I trust no one,
only my brothers, and my best friend.
I wasn’t always
like that. Everything changed the day my parents died and my nation was
attacked. 
Since then, family
comes first. Work is my mistress. 
Nothing else
matters. 
That is, until she walked
into my life.
Short dress, long,
tanned legs, and honey eyes that make me weak. 
She’s chaos.
She’s sunshine and
daffodils.
She’s loud.
She’s a fighter.
She’s a dreamer.
She’s everything I
hate.
Why is it so hard
to walk away from her?

Purchase Links

$1.99 for a limited time

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS

Excerpt
Stretched
t-shirt, dry blood and badass attitude looked good on him. That’s nothing
compared to Harrison Everhart wearing a suit. His tall, broad, body wrapped in
a dark gray is a site I want to photograph, frame and stare at it forever. He’s
the type of man who behaves differently depending on the place and time. For
the past five hours, we chatted pleasantly about our families. Nothing too
superficial but nothing too intimate, either. If I had time to date, he’d be
the kind of man I’d choose. Easy to talk to, funny, and a gentleman.
A
refreshing touch from the guys who I hook up with when I have time to go out
with my friends. Which lately it’s been never. Maybe I have time, but I don’t
want to waste it by doing the same thing over and over again. Meeting a guy who
has little social skills, only talks about himself, and by the end of the date
is the only one who is satisfied isn’t great. I have my little friendly toys
that to do a better job and I don’t have to listen to nonsense.
This would
be a great subject for a sociology class; the interactions between humans, and
how out of touch they are with one another that dating has become a joke. What
happened to love letters? The chase is so much different now than it was back
when my parents dated. I should quit the Bureau and go back to school. Finish
my psychology degree, go into anthropology or sociology. I would enjoy doing
that more than having to jump through hoops to show that I’m capable of more
things than my superiors like to acknowledge. If anything, I can write a book
with Mom’s letters and notes.
A manual on
how it’s done.
“Everything
okay?” Harrison asks when the service car stops, and the driver opens my door. “You’ve
been quiet since we left the party.”
Define okay? My skin tingles every time you
touch me. Your deep voice makes me shiver, and dancing in your arms was a bit
torturous because everything inside me wanted you to touch more than my bare
shoulders and my waist. But yeah, I’m cool.
“Your
brother and Hazel never arrived at the party,” I comment, not disclosing that
I’d like to find out how my fake future boyfriend kisses. “Gia wasn’t there
either.”
 “I’m sorry about that. If you want, I can try
to find out her whereabouts. My people can hack her phone and track her daily
activities. He smirks and winks. “We can start stalking her.”
“Stalking?”
I boom, laughing and covering my mouth when a couple walking close to us turns
to glare at me.
“Yeah,
that’s the word and you know what they say, ‘couples that stalk together stay
together.’” He grins, his blue-crystal eyes shining with the post light.
That grin
is addictive. I shouldn’t mind pretending to be with him while I’m working. A
little fun on the side, some sexy times. Sex. I haven’t had that in a long
time. So long that I can only remember what my toys can do for me. But I care.
He’s a distraction. Each time he smirks, touches me or talks with the
low-bedroom voice I want to jump him. That’s not only unprofessional but also
illogical.
“Anything
for the sake of the case, right?” My voice comes out a little throaty, needy.
He clears
his throat, looking around and poking the elevator. “We should do this again,”
he says, leaning closer to me.
“Technically,
we have to do it again.”
Have I
mentioned this is the best case I’ve ever worked on in my entire life.” He
leans forward, kissing my cheek. His lips lingering close to my ear for one too
many seconds. His musk-wood scent making my stomach flutter.
“Thank
you,” I swallow hard, turning around and stepping into the elevator. “We can
discuss our next move tomorrow.”
I poke the
elevator, looking at the doors that start closing his gaze locks with
mine.  His eyes darken, the intensity of
that gaze makes me feel vulnerable, bare. I imagine my skin searing with the
touch of his big hands. As the doors close, my phone rings. An incoming
message. Unknown number reads the screen.
Unknown: This was
the best first date I’ve had in a long time. Thank you.
Also Available
NEW COVER & TITLE
(Previously titled All of You All of Me)
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Free in Kindle Unlimited
Author Bio
Claudia grew up with a childhood that resembled a
caffeine-injected soap opera.

She lives in Colorado working for a small IT company, managing her household
filled with three confused dogs, her geek husband, two daughters wrought with
fandoms and a son who thinks he’s the boss of the house. To survive she works
continually to find purpose for the voices flitting through her head, plus she
consumes high quantities of chocolate to keep the last threads of sanity
intact.

Author Links
Giveaway

Release Blitz ~ Go To Hail ~ by ~ Lani Lynn Vale

Title: Go To Hail

Series: Hail Raisers #2
Author: Lani Lynn Vale
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release: October 27, 2017


Everybody has problems. But Travis? Yeah, he has so many problems that he finds it hard to breathe sometimes.


He spends five years catering to his ex-wife’s every want and need—all to make it possible to continue to see his child.
He isn’t supposed to fall in love with a woman, but he does.
He isn’t supposed to find someone that is willing to put up with his ex-wife’s crazy antics, but he has.
He isn’t supposed to be happy, but he is.
And all it takes is his ex-wife finding out about his new-found peace for things to change.


***


Hannah saw him and knew he was the one.


All it took was one look into that haunted man’s eyes, and she was lost, never to be found again.
She thinks she has it all. His love, a new baby made with that love, and a house to raise their blended family.
She’s wrong, and Travis’ ex-wife is out to prove it.

***

Travis doesn’t deserve Hannah. All he’s done is hurt her.
She’s done everything in her power to keep everyone happy, but the more she tries, the harder his ex-wife pushes. Until one day, there’s nothing left to push.
Hannah leaves, and Allegra wins.
But Travis isn’t willing to let her have her way any longer.
He fights back, and only gets a bullet to the chest to show for it.




 

iScream Book Blog – “It’s so damn #HOT you’ll enjoy every page and come back for more.”

 

Britt Red Hatter Book Blog – “I don’t think there are enough words in the English language to express how insanely incredible Go To Hail is.”


Smashly Bookalicious Reviewing Chicks – “For all those girls who have dealt with a crazy ex and their antics, this book is for you.”

 






I’m a married mother of three. My kids are all under 5, so I can assure you that they are a handful. I’ve been with my paramedic husband now for ten years, and we’ve produced three offspring that are nothing like us. I live in the greatest state in the world, Texas.











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Release Blitz ~ Savage of the Sea ~ by ~ Eliza Knight

ElizaKnight_SavageoftheSea_HR

Title: Savage of the Sea

Author: Eliza Knight

Genre: Historical Romance

Publisher: Knight Media, LLC

Series: Pirates of Britannia: Lords of the Sea

TBRsynopsis

When Highland pirate prince, Shaw “Savage” MacDougall was invited to a deadly feast, he didn’t know that saving a wee lass would forever change his future.

Lady Jane Lindsey, widowed at a young age, seeks refuge from her departed husband’s vengeful enemies. For five years, she’s held a secret that could cost her everything, including her life. When her safety is compromised, she reaches out to the only man who’s protected her in the past, and offers him a bounty he cannot refuse.

Shaw’s life is perfect. Whisky, women and mayhem. He wants for nothing—until Lady Jane presents a treasure he’d never considered possessing. Is he willing to risk his lethal reputation in order to save a lass he barely knows, again? Will she trust a pirate to see their arrangement through to the end? And what happens when perilous battles turn to sinful kisses? Who will save them from each other?

Add to your TBR list:  Goodreads

Amazon Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

An excerpt from SAVAGE OF THE SEA

Copyright © Eliza Knight 2017

No more of a coherent thought other than she’d never been kissed like this before went through Jane’s mind. She should slap him, push him away, at the very least demand to be put back on her own feet and a good measure of space put between them.

But she did none of those things. Instead, she found herself winding her arms around his neck, parting her lips and sighing against his demanding lips. The spicy-salty scent of him surrounded her, doing something wild to her senses. Suddenly every part of her felt alive with a tingling fire that only seemed ready to burn hotter.

Parting her lips seemed to be a wicked invitation, for as soon as she had done it, his devious tongue swept along the open seam causing her to gasp.

Oh, sweet heavens, but that felt even more divine. Just that little lick sent a jolt rushing through her. And before she could catch her wits from it, he’d done it again, and again, and then her own tongue was reaching forward to test it out. She touched the tip of her tongue to his and could have been struck by lightning, so massive was the force of current that went rushing through her.

This was wicked, oh, so very wicked. And yet, she couldn’t make herself stop.

And did she have to? She’d given herself to this man. Had agreed to share his bed in exchange for him vowing she was his, a marriage that may end up being a total sham for all she knew. But that didn’t change the fact that she’d agreed to it, that in order to be saved from Livingstone, to keep the rightful king safe, she had invited this pirate to lay claim to her.

Lay claim to her, he was. There could be no doubt about it, the way he owned her body at that moment. She couldn’t move. He had her completely enthralled. Completely captivated. Intoxicated.

It was he who pulled away first. He who stared into her bemused eyes with a satisfied expression that she would have found overly irritating if she wasn’t so busy trying to find her bearings.

Shaw set her down on her feet and grinned at her as though he’d plucked a tart straight from her fingers and devoured it.

“I hope that satisfies your need,” she murmured, “for sealing deals.”

He chuckled then, a sound that caressed her nerves, but did very little in the way of calming her. In fact, it did quite the opposite. She licked her lips, trying to avoid looking at his mouth as she wanted him to very much kiss her once more. He might have set her down on her feet, but she was barely standing on her own. Every line in her body reached for him, wanting more of what he’d just given her.

“That was just a taste, love, of what satisfies, but not nearly enough.”

“Shall we do it again then?” she asked in challenge, then felt the heat rush to her face for having spoken so boldly.

Shaw’s darkened gaze swept over her, bold and devilish, and right along with it her body quivered. He wanted her. And she… wanted him.

“Oh, sweet Jane, we shall do it again many more times.”

TBRgiveaways

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

TBRauthorbio

ElizaKnightAuthorPhoto
Eliza Knight is an award-winning and USA Today bestselling author of over fifty sizzling historical, time-travel and contemporary romance novels. Under the name E. Knight, she pens rip-your- heart-out historical fiction. While not reading, writing or researching for her latest book, she chases after her three children. In her spare time (if there is such a thing…) she likes daydreaming, wine-tasting, traveling, hiking, staring at the stars, watching movies, shopping and visiting with family and friends. She lives atop a small mountain with her own knight in shining armor, three princesses and two very naughty puppies.

 

Connect with Eliza at: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram

 

Blog Tour ~ I Hate Myself For Loving You ~ by ~ Simone Harlow

Title: I Hate Myself for Loving You
Series: Scorned Lovers
Author: Simone Harlow
Genre: Contemporary Romance 
Release Date: October 10, 2017 

I Hate Myself For Loving You hit all my buttons for a 5-star book.” ~Badass Bloggettes


Rockstar Declan Shaw has everything. The talent that has made him a superstar. Golden God looks that ensures he can have any woman he wants. Money that lets him afford anything he wants. And fame that has garnered him a stalker. So he hires the one thing he doesn’t have. A bodyguard. A sexy, no-nonsense bodyguard who isn’t impressed with his talent, his looks, his money, or his fame.

Former Army Officer Jane Peterson is a battle hardened soldier. She is ready for anything. Even playing his fake girlfriend. What she isn’t ready for is Declan Shaw. The man who hides his caring nature behind his seductive jaded façade. For her failure is not an option. She will wrangle the rock star love God by any means necessary.
What neither one of them counted on was the sizzling attraction between them. One that could jeopardize Declan’s life or expose Jane’s long held secrets.

Once upon a time Simone Harlow decided to write a book. She never understood why she had to write a book she just did. She has a great life. A family that loves her. Friends she can mother. And a dog who thinks she’s his reason for living. (No, really, he told her so.) She should be content. But alas she still had to write that book. So she did, and it was the beginning of an excellent adventure.

 



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Blog Tour ~ Branded By Fire ~ by ~ Danielle Annett

Branded2 CA quote

Aria Naveed can’t decide what’s worse—being mate-bonded to Declan Valkenaar, the Alpha of the Pacific Northwest Pack, or owning up to the fact that she’s developing feelings for him.

Her bond to Declan is the one thing keeping her grounded and preventing her new power from destroying everything and everyone around her.
If Aria doesn’t tread carefully, especially where her heart is concerned, she’ll learn the hard way that if you play with fire, you’ll always get burned.

 

Available at:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Books2Read

Add Branded by Fire  to your GOODREADS TBR pile!

TBRgiveaways

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TBRauthorbio

DAnnett

Danielle Annett is a reader, writer, designer, and the blogger behind Coffee and Characters. Born in the SF Bay area, she now resides in Spokane, WA, the primary location for her Blood & Magic series. Danielle writes about kick butt heroines in volatile settings and like her, most of them have some level of addiction to coffee.

When not writing, Danielle can be found hanging out with her two children whom she fondly refers to as her little monsters, or catching up on the latest episodes of Grey’s Anatomy and Game of Thrones.

Connect with Danielle: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

Cover Reveal ~ Free Ride ~ by ~ M.N. Forgy

ebook

Free Ride releases on November 15th

Pre-order your copy NOW:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2xpKVNP

Amazon UK:  http://amzn.to/2zDFmw1

Amazon CA:  http://amzn.to/2gDymHL

iBooks: http://apple.co/2xMuF8Q

Nook:  http://bit.ly/2gN7O7s

Kobo:  http://bit.ly/2lhkjwX

freeridebikers

Blurb

I’m crazy, deranged, and psychotic. I’m out of my mind and my life isn’t even mine half the time. Having Dissociative Identity Disorder, it’s an accurate assumption.

Born an MC brat, my only dream is to wear the colors of my father’s club, The Shadow Keepers. To feel the weight of the warm leather press across my back, and to be a part of something with purpose.

It wasn’t until the last drop of blood dripped from my fingertips and the gun smoke faded into the night sky that I realized what was really important to me.

Him.

In a blink of an eye, I lost it all. I lost him.

There’s no such thing as a Free Ride in life, and our story is an example of that.

TBRauthorbio

22089999_1958707031078852_3728754583600859833_n

M.N. Forgy was raised in Missouri where she still lives with her family. She’s a soccer mom by day and a saucy writer by night. M.N. Forgy started writing at a young age but never took it seriously until years later, as a stay-at-home mom, she opened her laptop and started writing again. As a role model for her children, she felt she couldn’t live with the “what if” anymore and finally took a chance on her character’s story. So, with her glass of wine in hand and a stray Barbie sharing her seat, she continues to create and please her fans.

Stalk Her:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

 

Release Blitz & Review ~ Kiss Me Crazy ~ by ~ Vanessa Vale

KISSME_RELEASEBANNER

Kiss Me Crazy by Vanessa Vale is NOW AVAILABLE!
because one cowboy is never enough…

Amazon US- http://amzn.to/2zMSGPq
Amazon UK- https://goo.gl/A6aFdf
iBooks: https://goo.gl/mf8eRF
Kobo- https://goo.gl/594K8x
Nook- https://goo.gl/CLbGNz
Google- https://goo.gl/oQiF3q

ADD TO YOUR TBR → http://bit.ly/2xGNxcP

kiss_me_crazy

Avery believes in flirting and flings, not relationships. But when she returns to Bridgewater for her sister’s Christmas-time wedding, two hot cowboys try to change her mind about the one “f” word she avoids: fiancés.

Warning: Panty melting! Kiss Me Crazy is the sixth book in the wildly dirty series where one cowboy is never enough. This standalone HEA is all about her – no M/M.

Not quite a reverse harem, but one cowboy is never enough.

kiss_me_crazy_one_liner2

kiss_me_crazy_one_liner3

TBRreview

Thank goodness for the internet being out at work and letting me be able to read at work – Boss might not know that though. Anywho, this was a fast, HOT, MFM read!

I haven’t read any of the other stories in series and I think I would want to Just to get the whole backstory since Avery is back home for a wedding and it sounds like that wedding was the result of another book’s story.

Jackson and Dash know what they want and that ends up being Avery – who doesn’t want anything more than a one-Night Stand. They’ll have to convince her to do so and they do in the hottest of ways!

4 stars!

About the Author:
Vanessa Vale is the USA Today Bestselling author of over 30 books, sexy romance novels, including her popular Bridgewater historical romance series and hot contemporary romances featuring unapologetic bad boys who don’t just fall in love, they fall hard. When she’s not writing, Vanessa savors the insanity of raising two boys, is figuring out how many meals she can make with a pressure cooker, and teaches a pretty mean karate class. While she’s not as skilled at social media as her kids, she loves to interact with readers.
book_cougar
Connect with Vanessa!

 

Cover Reveal ~ In Between The Earth & Sky ~ by ~ Heidi Hutchinson

Today we have the gorgeous cover reveal for In Between the Earth and Sky by Heidi Hutchinson! Check it out and be sure to grab your copy November 14th!

Title: In Between the Earth and Sky

Author: Heidi Hutchinson

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Day: November 14th

About In Between the Earth and Sky:

What happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object?

 

Remington Rohan was not a rule follower.

Former model (though not one of the “super” kind), successful influencer and life coach. Currently paid to tell people how to achieve the best from their lives and careers. In other words, a complete contradiction to how he preferred to live—namely, on his own terms and without input from others.

Everything about his life was going according to plan.

Until he started spending way too much time with a woman who defied his prejudices and challenged his beliefs.

 

Lydia Larkin was not a genius.

Gifted, clever, and stubborn. Raised on star maps and Hendrix, she was born an explorer. Temporarily tied down to a private sector science job, she knew she was biding her time before she was off to discover and build something new.

Not one to let society tell her who she was, she wasn’t about to let a professional influencer tell her she had to change to be happy.

 

Buckle up and brace for impact.

Add on Goodreads!

Exclusive Excerpt:

“You just let yourself in now?” Lydia accused with narrowed eyes and a full mouth.
Remington grinned, sliding easily into their special vibe that only existed when they were alone together. Uncomplicated, silly, innocent.
“What are you eating?” he asked, closing the door behind him.
“Cereal,” she slurped, lifting her chin to catch a dribble of milk off her chin.
“Fancy.”
“I live the high life. What are you doing here?”
“You don’t have a telescope. Someone who looks at the sky as often as you, should have a telescope.”
He produced the used item from behind his back and presented it to her.
“You bought me a telescope?” she asked.
“I bought us a telescope,” he clarified. “At a flea market. So, who knows if it even works all that well,” he added with a shrug.
“Hm.” She perked up, her eyebrows lifting into her hairline. “If it’s broken, I can fix it.”
“Why doesn’t that surprise me?”
He set it aside and came fully into the apartment. He stopped a foot away and eyed her appearance more critically.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Rude.” Lydia glared at him before turning her back and taking her cereal bowl to her bed.
“No, I mean…something’s different…?” Remington noticed the slight limp in her gait and the slow way she lowered herself onto the mattress. “Are you hurt?”
Lydia puffed up her cheeks and blew the air out. “Only literally.”
His pulse jumped and he glanced around the apartment. As if expecting to have to fight someone or something. “What happened?”
“I am going to be just fine,” she reassured him. “It’s nothing some Advil and a full body massage won’t fix. Do you feel like this all the time?” she asked, shifting with a grimace as she tried to prop her pillow behind her back.
“What do you mean?” he asked, crossing to her and assisting with the pillow.
“You work out every day, right?”
Remington felt a smile slowly spread across his face. “You went to the gym?”
She snorted and rolled her eyes. “Yeah. I thought I was in pretty good shape too, but muscles I didn’t even know I had are using horribly foul language on me.”
“I’m hurt, Larkin. If you were going to sign up with a trainer, why didn’t you ask me first?”
The unamused expression she shot him made him laugh out loud.
“I didn’t hire a trainer. My friend Brenda talked me into self-defense classes in the form of Krav Maga.” She slowly stretched her legs out in front of her and winced.
“That’s awesome!” he declared. “I do Jui Jitsu!”
“Good for you.” She did not sound congratulatory.
“If you keep up with it, you won’t have soreness like this,” he told her, shuffling her over so he could join her on the bed. “Finish your cereal, you big kid, and I’ll give you an athletic massage.”
She took a bite of her cereal and eyed him with obvious suspicion. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“Why? Because I’ll be touching your body and you’re so uncontrollably attracted to me?” he teased. “Keep it in your pants, Larkin.”
“I changed my mind,” she said, swallowing her mouthful. He tilted his head in question. “I thought I was done hating you, but no.”
Remington barked a laugh that had him tipping his head back to rest on the wall behind him.
“One of these days I’m gonna be a Krav Maga expert and I’m going to kick your ass. Who’ll be laughing then?”
He rolled his head to the side to grin at her. “Honestly, that sounds amazing. We can spar each other.”
Lydia caught his gaze and she grew quiet. “We already spar.”
“I know.” His smile softened. “I love it.”

 

 

About Heidi Hutchinson:

Heidi Hutchinson was born in South Dakota and raised the exact right distance away from the Black Hills. She had an overactive imagination very early on, and wasted no time in getting most of her friends in trouble due to her unrealistic and completely ridiculous ideas. Seeing as she was so lazy and also afraid people would think she was bonkers, she didn’t write down any of the story lines that played out in her daydreams.

 

During her high school years, she took pen to paper and filled more notebooks than she is proud of with angsty, depressing, self-deprecating poetry. This led to her writing down more things: notes, ideas, character bios, plot twists that had no plot yet to twist. After years of cleaning up her own scraps of imagination with nothing solid to hold on to, she sat down and wrote the story that had been in her head the longest. Fueled by coffee and her unwavering and perfectly normal devotion to Dave Grohl, she discovered a writer living inside of her.

 

She still lives in the Midwest, though not as close to the Black Hills as she would prefer, with her alarmingly handsome husband and their fearless child. They eat more pizza than God intended and she listens to her music the same way she lives: loudly.

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