TBR Book Blog

Review Tour ~ The Changeup ~ by ~ A.M. Williams

What happens when the man of your dreams proves fantasy is better than reality? One minute we’re fighting and the next we’re given a glimpse of what could be. Should we rock the boat and tempt fate despite all the curveballs that have been thrown our way? Fans of the Brentwood Baseball Series by Meghan Quinn will devour The Changeup by A.M. Williams, an enemies to lovers, workplace romance.

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What happens when the man of your dreams proves fantasy is better than reality?

Emma

Chase Anderson is everything I want in a man. Tall. Handsome. Compassionate. Confident. He makes me feel things I haven’t in years.

There’s just one problem: me. He can’t stand me and I’m getting to where I can’t stand him either.

The glares stiffen my resolve to forget about my dream man and concentrate on my new job.

Except…eventually those stares turn to something more. More heated. More promising. More everything.

Chase

Emma Carlisle is what I didn’t know I needed in my life until I saw her.

I don’t want her in my life, though. I have too much riding on my shoulders to concentrate on a relationship. A sick mom. A team owner who’s breathing down my neck to win a baseball championship.

It’s easier to ignore her and pretend like she doesn’t exist than to think about how pretty she is or how I feel alive whenever she’s around.

But one surprise kiss and I’m left wanting more. One glimpse into what love could be like and I can’t think of anything else.

We have to decide if it’s worth tempting fate and the flames of desire to see what love might be like.

The Changeup is the first book in A.M. Williams Boys of Summer baseball romance series. It’s a workplace, enemies-to-lovers romance that features two perfectionists struggling to come to terms with the curveballs life has for them.

If you love men in tight pants and the sassy women they fall for, this series is for you.

This book was previously published as Coached in Love. It has been updated with new content and re-edited.

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Excerpt

My eyes widened and my mouth dropped as I caught sight of the man stepping down from the cab. I was very thankful for the sunglasses I’d slipped on my face that morning because I didn’t have to worry about him seeing my eyes eating him up.

Whoever this guy was, he was ripped. He was wearing a pair of gray sweatpants—the sweatpants that women loved looking at—and a t-shirt that he’d torn the arms off of, displaying every delectable inch of his biceps, which bulged as he grabbed a bag from his backseat.

I swallowed thickly as I grabbed my bag and opened my car door. I tried not to make it obvious I was looking at him as I stood, but it was hard. So hard.

Much like the abs I was sure he was sporting.

Jesus. Get your mind out of the gutter, Emma!

I cleared my throat and tucked a piece of hair behind my ear as I slammed the car door.

I glanced his way, noting that we’d pass close to each other on our way to the door. My heart beat wildly in my chest as I coached myself on not being awkward. It was just a greeting, being friendly, with someone that I worked with.

I took a deep breath and plastered a smile on my face as he stepped close enough that we could almost touch at the hood of my car. He looked up at me, meeting my eyes, but said nothing. The smile froze on my lips as he kept his eyes on mine while he passed by.

Nothing was said, and the only sound was one of the gravel under his feet as he walked toward the sidewalk that led to the door to get inside. The smile slowly wavered on my face before dropping completely when he turned so that his back was to me.

I cleared my throat and tried to look busy as I worked to throw off the rejection I felt. So, yeah, it wasn’t like we knew each other. But dang! He could have said something, anything, to me in greeting. Instead, he’d stared at me and seemed like he made a point not to say anything.

Can I say how much I loved Emma and Chase?! I love that Emma didn’t give 2 *things* about standing up to Chase. Yes, she thought Chase was attractive but she was NOT going to put up with him being rude to her. Or ignoring her. And I love her for that. Yes, she might be attracted to him but she was still going to call him on the carpet as she needed to. And apparently, Chase seemed to be a fan, not that he was telling Emma that.

Emma and Chase are great together, even if they aren’t really being secretive about their relationship, at least everyone around them didn’t think so.

I felt for Chase because my dad had Alzheimer’s and had progressively gotten worse. He probably would have been in assisted living if he hadn’t have died last year. So I feel for what Chase was having to deal with and live with and trying to keep things scheduled and how their memories, both good and bad, can be hurtful reminders.

5 stars!

About A.M. Williams

A.M. Williams is just a simple girl from the south that found herself living abroad. When she’s not annoying her cat or reading, she’s spending time with her husband and traveling as much as possible. She has a serious case of wanderlust and wants to go as many places as possible while she can. She loves Cheerwine, sweet tea, and North Carolina (eastern style) BBQ as well as those crystal clear waters on the North Carolina coast.

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Book Tour ~ Last ~ by ~ Garnet Christie

Title: Last

Series: Copperslane Romance

Author: Garnet Christie

Release: May 25, 2021

Genre: Adult Enemies to Lovers

Amazon Review (KC Owens) – “Best Love-Hate I’ve ever read!”

Amazon Review – “What a fantastic debut book! It’s fun, angsty, well-written–everything I want in a contemporary romance, and everything I LOVE to see in an author’s first book.”

Amazon Review – “This book had me feeling everything!”

Nothing lasts—and I pray that’s true for Brett Walker.

I heard “nothing lasts” when my father first said it.

I understood “nothing lasts” when my mother died and my dreams of becoming a romance author also withered away.

Now, I find myself begging that “nothing lasts” with the arrival of the town’s newest alphahole, Brett.

Every word out of his foul mouth and every smirk on his handsome but cruel face ignites contempt. I dish the misery right back at him, and in those few moments of triumph, I relish those gritted teeth, and the red glow on his face.

But beneath the biting comments, there’s something we share.

A yearning for something to endure and to hurt those who have wounded us.

However, it may be too late.

Our rough start might override our new fire filled connection, and when he starts to challenge all my beliefs, I might be too scared to give myself over. But if we do work past it all, something unusual may happen––we might fall in love.

Now if he can only make me believe that it will last.

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Garnet Christie is an author and Midwestern native living in the desert. Though she misses trees, Garnet admits there is an acrid beauty to the place that has been home for twenty years. A traveling enthusiast, Garnet has visited over thirty-seven states and when challenged with something new, whether it was ice skating, tap dancing, ballet, piano lessons, or horseback riding, she never backed down. Armed with that bravery, a childhood spent in the company of English teachers, and her creative soul, Garnet took to writing

She loves serving up Alpha male’s who are searching for their happily ever after, and paring them up with women who are equally, if not more, reluctant. Inspired by experiences in life, friends, family, and countless stories on television and books, Garnet writes whatever story is screaming at her the loudest.

When not writing, Garnet is found reading, dancing, and spending too much money on K-pop merch. All the above is achieved by drinking too much tea, avoiding sleep, and eating chocolate. Garnet also adores Italian food and will go to great lengths to hunt down a fantastic plate of Chicken Marsala that comes with a cannoli.

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Cover Reveal ~ Perfect Enemies ~ by ~ Jill Ramsower

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Title: Perfect Enemies

Series: Book #6, The Five Families

Author: Jill Ramsower

Genre: Mafia Romance

Release Day: July 7, 2021

Photographer: Miguel Anxo

Model: Sergio Carvajal

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Kane Easton isn’t friend material. He’s a master manipulator. No one understands why I give him such a hard time. They can’t see past his flawless exterior, but I know he’s keeping a secret— something he’ll protect with absolute ruthlessness. He thinks I’ll fall in line with the rest of Xavier High. Believes he can kiss me into submission. He has no idea what he’s up against. I may be the youngest Genovese, but I’ve learned from my family. I’ll make Kane regret the day he ever crossed my path.

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Within a year of self-publishing her first book, Jill Ramsower quit her job as an attorney and dedicated her days to churning out romantic adventures. She likes to think of her books as contemporary romance with a touch of fantasy—at its core, her writing is about the connection between two people. Sometimes that connection involves a little magic… With Jill’s books, you can count on confident heroines, plenty of steamy tension, and deliciously assertive leading men. There are no guarantees in life, but with her books, you know everything will work out in the end. However, a perfect ending would not be nearly as satisfying without a seemingly insurmountable challenge. Jill loves to add plenty of adversity in her stories, creating unforgettably dynamic characters and sneaky plot twists you will never see coming. Jill is a Texan, born and raised. She manages the hectic social calendars for her three active children and occasionally spends an evening with her dashing husband. Aside from being an author and a mom, she’s a travel junkie and loves to read when she is not lost in her own stories.

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New Release & Review ~ 608 Alpha Avenue ~ by ~ Adriana Locke

We are so excited to announce the release of Adriana Locke’s new novella, 608 Alpha Ave. This is a total standalone story about a grumpy, small-town mechanic and a pocket-full-of-sunshine heroine that gets under his skin. Basically—read this now! Even better is that the novella (did we mention that it’s a standalone?) is available in Kindle Unlimited.

Things heat up (and take an unexpected turn) when a self-proclaimed romantic requests the help of a broody small-town mechanic. Grayson Blake is a jackass. There’s no other way to put it. He comes into Fireside every day and orders a beer. It’s nearly impossible to get him to have a conversation while he drinks it. Smiles—or anything remotely close to it—are even more rare. Despite his cantankerous personality, he’s so freaking gorgeous. His thick black hair, broad shoulders, and the tattoos that mark his calloused skin draw me in like a magnet. I don’t even care that he’s ten years older than me. I’m here for the age gap. And his broody, bad-boy persona is entirely more attractive than it should be. I have a thing for the rough-around-the-edges mechanic. And I’ve heard through the grapevine that he has a thing for me too. But getting him to admit it will be as easy as catching lightning in a bottle. Buy Now for $2.99 or Read Free in Kindle Unlimited.

Want more? “I don’t get it,” I mutter. My hand stills against the countertop, a white bar rag clutched firmly in my grasp. Natalia Barlow leans across the end of the bar, putting her ass and the top of her thong on full display for the table of bikers behind her. An unlit cigarette is perched between her cherry-red lips, threatening to topple to the floor as she catches me looking and smirks. I roll my eyes and turn my back to her. “I don’t get it,” I say again, louder this time. My gaze fixes on the man—the only man—occupying a barstool on this side of the restaurant. Grayson Blake. Black hair, scruffy beard, tall, and oh-so muscular with tattoos etched into his tanned skin. Word has it that he has flames inked on his right hip, and when he moves, they dance as if they’re alive. I’ve mentally filed that away because it’s something I’ll (sadly) never know for myself. Guys like Grayson Blake? They go for women like Natalia. Vixens. Women who give as good as they get. Women who understand them or, at the very least, the games they play. I’m not one of those women. It will be both my personal and professional downfall. Grayson lifts his beer bottle, and as if it pains him to do it, he slides his gaze to mine. I swallow. Hard. It doesn’t matter that I’ve worked at Fireside Bar and Grill for two years or that I’ve spent countless hours behind this very bar while Grayson sits on the other side, I can’t think straight when he looks at me. I also can’t look away. It’s quite the predicament. “It just perplexes me,” I say, sinking my gaze into the steely depths of Grayson’s eyes. My voice isn’t quite as confident as it was a few seconds ago. It’ll come back around, though. It just takes a moment to get my bearings. Grayson’s features are void of humor. Or emotion. Or curiosity. He watches me as if I’m a toddler and he’s in charge of making sure I don’t choke on a peanut or small coin. I bite my lip. “I just … Natalia …” I shrug, my voice fading into the rock music playing overhead. Grayson’s thick, engine grease-stained fingers grip the bottle. “Am I supposed to ask?” The grit of his tone washes against my skin, leaving a flurry of goose bumps in its wake. It’s this way every time he talks to me. And whenever he talks to Corbin, the bartender who’s training me in the art of bartending so I don’t have to just waitress anymore. Come to think of it, I also have the same physical reaction to him when I’m in the Cherry Street Market Grocery Store buying bagels and I hear him talking from an aisle over. Who am I kidding? I react this way every time I’m in Grayson’s proximity. Hell, I shivered in my flip-flops when I caught wind of his cologne outside of Pearl’s Pawnshop and Liquor Store last week. “Are you supposed to ask what?” I ask him. “About whatever you keep jawing about other there—about Natalia, I reckon.” “Well, since you asked—” “I didn’t.” He smiles a lopsided, amused smile that makes me wonder if he’s smiling with me or at me. “I asked if I was supposed to ask. I didn’t ask.” I narrow my gaze. “You know what, Grayson Blake? You’re an asshole.” He brings the beer bottle to his lips, hiding a satisfied grin, and pulls his gaze back to the hockey game on the television in the corner.

I loved reading Hayley and Grayson’s story. Hayley feels overlooked and is trying to fulfill her dreams of writing stories but she needs some help realizing her alpha character attitude. Grayson, the perfect grump, would be a perfect example of what Hayley is looking for if he’d only agree to it.

Grayson does not want to get involved with anything regarding Hayley, she isn’t a one-night stand girl and he is not a relationship guy. Except he does not want Hayley to get assistance from any other man but him. Of course.

I haven’t read any other books in this series but you don’t need to in order to understand the story. But I am going to read more about this town as I am even more curious about the other residents of Cherry Falls.

5 stars!

Pick this one up now!

Follow the author, Adriana Locke, on Instagram, Facebook, Goodreads, or join her Facebook group by clicking here.

Cover Reveal ~ The Sweet Spot ~ by ~ Gwen Parks

Title: The Sweet Spot

Series: Sometimes Love Book #1

Author: Gwen Parks

Genre: Contemporary/Small Town Romance

Release Date: June 24, 2021

Cover Design: Sarah Kil Creative Studio

Michael

I’ve always known what I wanted in life, and never shied from an opportunity, especially with my art. Nothing can stop me.
When Morgan comes along, the shy girl with the most expressive eyes, I’m certain she’s it for me. I know she has doubts about us, but I’m going to do whatever it takes to show her I’m all in.
When Morgan lets her insecurities get the best of her, she gives up on us, saying it’s not forever. I’m left with no choice but to let her work through her feelings. I just hope she comes back to me; I couldn’t stand to lose her forever.

Morgan

I’ve always had doubts. About everything, but mostly myself.
Growing up, I was never the girl boys fought over. I’m not ugly, but I’m no showstopper. So, when I catch my boyfriend cheating on me, my self-esteem takes a nose dive and reinforces what I’ve been thinking on the inside—there’s nothing special about me.
When Michael takes an interest in me—with the help of his beautiful dog—I’m wary. My ego is bruised, and I’m not ready to fully trust. He goes out of his way to prove what’s between us is real, but I can’t get past the hurdles in our way.
What if all I do is bring him down?
So, I do the only thing I know how, I run. I can only hope it’s not too late for us when I figure things out.

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Gwen Parks is a literary aficionado. She went from writing poems and songs to taking the jump to novels. She loves writing common tropes with a different angle. The Sometimes Love is her pride and joy and what led her to break out into becoming an independent author. Inspired by her favorite authors, her work can be described as unique and engaging. She loves to say she is a reader first and a writer second.

She lives in Maryland at the moment, with the dream of moving to Georgia one day. In her downtime when she’s not immersed in a book or writing her next venture, she can be found playing with her three dogs that brings light into her life. She graduated from college and loves the turn of events to where it has brought her today. She is currently happy having her pick of book boyfriends for the time being and mending her book hangovers.

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New Release ~ Losing Control ~ by ~ Erin Cristofoli

Title: Losing Control

Series: Starting Over Series

Author: Erin Cristofoli

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: June 8, 2021

I’m going to win you over, Audrey, you just wait.

Unlike her corporate brothers, Audrey Hyde has known since she was a little girl that she was meant to stay on the family farm.

Now a grown woman, Audrey is ready to take over the family business. She just has to convince her father that despite his hesitation, she is the right woman for the job. When a medical emergency halts everyone in their tracks, the family pulls together and Audrey steps up to keep the farm running.

As a favour to his boss and friend, Blake Levington arrives at the farm to help. He is immediately drawn to Audrey’s strength and determination. Audrey, on the other hand, is determined to show the city boy that he is in way over his head.

Much like the trees in the orchard, a friendship begins to bloom between the two. As Audrey teaches Blake about farm life, can she find a way to open her heart to new possibilities or will she let Blake walk away?

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Book Tour ~ UnCage Me ~ by ~ Hayley Faiman

Title: UnCage Me

Series: Savage Beast MC

Author: Hayley Faiman

Genre: MC, gritty

Release Date: May 27, 2021

Pamela is not like most girls. She hasn’t been waiting excitedly for her eighteenth birthday. She’s been dreading it with every fiber in her being, trying to figure a way out.

As the princess of the Donkey Punchers MC, eighteen does not include freedom. Instead, it’s the exact opposite. It’s an unimaginable hell.

Jaguar doesn’t know much, but he knows one thing, and he knows it well—betrayal. He’s been a traitor to the only family he’s ever truly had, and he hates himself for it.

He cannot be the man who deserves to breathe, let alone be welcomed back to the Savage Beast MC clubhouse. If he’s ever going to atone for his actions, he knows that he has to do something huge to help his brothers.

Things aren’t exactly as they seem. A man on the brink of death. Destruction and war on the horizon. Relationships tested, unsure if they will hold the weight of the world around them.

Two people scared of the uncertain future, yet when they collide, one caged bird is finally set free, and the other discovers that being bound is exactly where he needs to be.

As an only child, Hayley Faiman had to entertain herself somehow. She started writing stories at the age of six and never really stopped.

Born in California, she met her now husband at the age of sixteen and married him at the age of twenty in 2004. After all of these years together, he’s still the love of her life.

Hayley’s husband joined the military and they lived in Oregon,where he was stationed with the US Coast Guard. They moved back to California in 2006, where they had two little boys. Recently, the four of them moved out to the Hill Country of Texas, where they adopted a new family member, a chocolate lab named Optimus Prime.

Most of Hayley’s days are spent taking care of her two boys, going to the baseball fields for practice, or helping them with homework. Her evenings are spent with her husband and her nights—those are spent creating alpha book boyfriends.

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New Release ~ The Court of Secrets ~ by ~ Rebecca L. Garcia

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Darkness can only survive in the hearts of the wicked. I was brought back from the edge of death by Morgana so I could reign. But whilst there, something had latched onto me, and it had no plans on leaving. With each passing day, I feel my heart growing darker and it becoming stronger. Struggling to suppress the beast within, I lose myself in the scandals and politics of my kingdom. Caught between the high priest-Vahaga-and the lords of the land, being in power has never seemed more difficult. The threats of war with Berovia looming on the horizon means I need to remain strong for my people. My coronation nears, but with the mystery surrounding my father’s death coming under scrutiny, being back at court has never been so dangerous. Especially for a queen. The Court of Secrets is Book 3 in The Fate of Crowns Series.

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Enter the Release Day Giveaway HERE or HERE!

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Rebecca lives in San Antonio, Texas, with her husband and son. Born and raised in England, you can find her drinking tea, writing new worlds, and designing covers. Rebecca devoured every book she was given from the age of five and fell in love with magical worlds. When she got older, her imagination grew with her and she delved into writing strong characters and vast worlds. When she’s not writing or spending time with her family, you can find her traveling, and hosting book signings with Spellbinding Events. The Fate of Crowns, book one, releases January 5th, 2021 with the following four books releasing between January and June.

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New Release ~ Tryst Six Venom ~ by ~ Penelope Douglas

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CLAY Marymount girls are good girls. We’re chaste, we’re untouched, and even if we weren’t, no one would know, because we keep our mouths shut. Not that I have anything to share anyway. I never let guys go too far. I’m behaved. Beautiful, smart, talented, popular, my skirt’s always pressed, and I never have a hair out of place. I own the hallways, walking tall on Monday and dropping to my knees like the good Catholic girl I am on Sunday. That’s me. Always in control. Or so they think. The truth is that it’s easy for me to resist them, because what I truly want, they can never be. Something soft and smooth. Someone dangerous and wild. Unfortunately, what I want I have to hide. In the locker room after hours. The bathroom stall between classes. The showers after practice. My head swimming. My hand up her skirt. For me, life is a web of secrets. No one can find out mine. OLIVIA I cross the tracks every day for one reason—to graduate from this school and get into the Ivy League. I’m not ashamed of where I come from, my family, or how everyone at Marymount thinks my skirts are too short and my lipstick is too red. Clay Collins and her friends have always turned up their noses at me. The witch with her beautiful skin, clean shoes, and rich parents who torments me daily and thinks I won’t fight back. At least not until I get her alone and find out she’s hiding so much more than just what’s underneath those pretty clothes. The princess thinks I’ll scratch her itch. She thinks she’s still pure as long as it’s not a guy touching her. I told her to stay on her side of town. I told her not to cross the tracks. But one night, she did. And when I’m done with her, she’ll never be pure again. *Tryst Six Venom is a standalone, new adult romance between the wealthy princess with a temper for what’s hers and the hard girl from the wrong crowd. One battles convention. The other, her pride. But nothing will stop it.

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I stalk down the nearly empty row, drop my bag, and look at her. She turns her head, sees me and rises, grabbing her backpack, but I slide into the seat, grab her wrist, and yank her ass back down. “Sit,” I growl through my teeth, feeling heat rise up my neck as she crashes back into the wooden pew, her jaw flexing. There’s no point in denying myself any of this. I’m a bitch, but only to her, and only because it feels so good. Fuck it. “Do something for me?” I ask her, keeping my voice low as students fill the rows around us, and the altar servers light the candles. “Move your ass a little faster down the field than my grandmother this Saturday, or is that too much trouble?” Liv doesn’t look at me, just stares ahead as she lets out a quiet little laugh. “I haul ass down that field.” Relaxing back into her seat, she hangs her elbows over the back of the pew, and her shirt creeps up a little. I spot the switchblade she keeps hooked over the waist of her skirt, but hidden on the inside, that only I seem to know about. So far anyway. She goes on, “I’ll never understand how a princess who can’t pass a ball for shit and brags to anyone who will listen about being a Swiftie,” and she does air quotes, “‘even before she went pop’ is our team captain. Oh, wait. Yes, I do understand. Daddy is useful. When he’s there.” My father didn’t get me that position. She can think what she likes. But I grin and turn toward the front of the church, my arm brushing hers. “Swiftie?” I say. “Aw, you stalk my Twitter.” That was like four years ago when I said that. But she just mumbles, “I couldn’t care less about your Twitter and your twenty-eight followers.” “At least I don’t lose a dozen every day,” I retort. Yeah, maybe I stalk her Twitter, too. And I don’t have twenty-eight followers. I don’t have as many as her, but it’s more than twenty-eight. “The world just doesn’t like tattooed feminazis with hairy armpits,” I tell her, my gaze catching the dimple on her cheek as she smirks, “who pass judgments like all the other constipated Captain Americas on social media who act like they really know anything when they’re just angry their life sucks donkey nuts.” The dimple grows deeper, her matte red lips pursing to keep her amusement at bay. My heart thumps, and for a moment, I can’t look away. Sometimes I get lost, looking at her. The shape of her nose that I’m kind of jealous of. How soft the lobe of her ear looks. The way she chews the corner of her mouth sometimes. “Is everything okay?” someone says, snapping me out of it. I turn my head, seeing Megan Martelle standing over us, holding a stack of collection baskets. Her blue eyes flit between Liv and me, knowing very well that this isn’t a friendly conversation, but lucky for her, this isn’t any of her damn business. “Fine, thanks,” I reply, my tone a big enough hint she’d have to be blind to miss. But she looks to Liv instead. “Liv?” Excuse me? It’s not the name. It’s how she says it. Like they know each other. Liv must give her some gesture or something, because Martelle gives me one last look and then slowly leaves, continuing down the aisle toward the back of the church without another word. What the hell is she thinking? Does she want to become my next hobby or something? I reach down and pull my backpack closer before turning my eyes back to Liv to see if she’s watching her leave. But she’s staring at me instead, amusement in her eyes. “What the hell are you smiling at?” I demand. She never loses her cool, and it pisses me off. But she just replies, “You have a tattoo.” Her gaze drifts to my hand, and I squeeze my fingers together, covering it. All over again, I feel the needle carve into the inside of my middle finger on my left hand. Fair enough. I’d mocked tattooed feminazis, an umbrella term I tossed her under, when, in fact, she doesn’t actually have any tattoos. Not even the one of her family’s little Sanoa Bay gang—the snake and hourglass that she wears on a bracelet around her wrist. Her brothers all seem to have it inked on them somewhere. Her eyes hold mine, maybe waiting for a response or daring me for one, but the light coming in from the stained-glass windows catches the coppery glint of the strands in her dark hair, a lock hanging over her eye as the rest spills around her shoulders. A dozen or so little braids decorate her hair, none of the ends secured with rubber bands. She looks like a warrior girl in one of those futuristic dystopian movies. And all of a sudden, nothing is hot anymore. It’s just incredibly warm. I squeeze my fingers tighter, the lines inked on the inside of my finger making the four quarters of an inch on a ruler, very few ever notice the lines, and those who do probably just assume I’ve leaked pen on myself. Within that inch we are free. One inch. “Clay?” she says, her tone different. I don’t realize I’m staring off until I bring my eyes back into focus and see the black of her Polo shirt. I lift my gaze, seeing a worried expression on hers. Her eyes shift to my hand on the pew in front of us, and I notice that it’s shaking. “You okay?” she asks. I inhale hard, angry at myself. Why would I not be okay? She grabs my backpack. “You need one of your little blue pills?” But I snatch the pack out of her hands and glare at her. “If you let her touch you,” I bite out, changing the subject. “She will live to regret it. I don’t even have to leave this seat to ruin her life.” Liv looks back at me, and I want to get closer—get in her face, because I want a reaction. “She won’t be able to take it,” I growl in a low voice. “I will keep going until she can’t take it.” I can ruin anyone’s life from my phone. It would be fun. And easy. “You’re not embarrassing our team,” I finally tell her. Megan was flirting yesterday. There’s no way in hell that’s happening. She holds my gaze and then draws in a breath, another fucking air of delight written all over her stupid, fucking face. “I don’t like women who chase me anyway,” she says. “When I want them, they know.” A tingle spreads up my spine, and when I expect to feel anger at her boldness, something else comes over me instead. When I want them, they know. How do they know? What does she do? But she rises from her seat without elaborating. “Excuse me,” she says, and takes her bag, trying to leave. But I stomp down the kneeler, grab her wrist, and yank her to her knees. She sucks in a breath as she catches herself on the pew in front of her, and I pick up my backpack and rise. “Sit your ass down,” I grit out. I don’t stay to see her reaction. I spin around, ignoring the spying eyes from those around us, and leave the chapel just as Mass begins. When I want them… I blink long and hard. Jesus.

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Read the First Chapter HERE!

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Penelope Douglas is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Her books have been translated into fifteen languages and include The Fall Away Series, The Devil’s Night Series, and the stand-alones, Misconduct, Punk 57, Birthday Girl, and Credence. Please look for Tryst Six Venom and Motel, as well as the Hellbent series, coming next! She lives in Las Vegas with her husband and their daughter. #TSV-4

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Cover Reveal ~ Seaside Off Limits ~ by ~ AJ Alexander

Title: Seaside Off Limits
Series: Dixie Point Series
Author: AJ Alexander
Release: June 18, 2021
Genre: Small Town Contemporary Romance (Brother’s best friend)
Cover Designer: Popkitty Designs
Photo Credit: Adobe Stock

Sometimes fantasy can become reality …

Brady Thomas has been the star of my fantasies since I was old enough to have them. As my older brother’s best friend, he never saw me as anything more than a nuisance.

But still, even knowing my feelings for him were unrequited, they persisted. Until one night changed everything.

It’s been almost a year since I last saw him.

A year since he deployed.

A year since he kissed me and then left without a word.

Now he’s home and I’m determined to show him how I feel. Brady may want to pretend nothing happened, that our kiss didn’t mean as much to him as it did to me, but the explosive chemistry between us is too scorching to deny.

Bro code be damned, because I’m not letting anything—or anyone—stand in the way of me getting what I always wanted…

Brady’s heart.

“Hey, Brady.” Her chocolate-brown eyes sparkle as she scans the table before greeting everyone else. “Gentlemen.”

I preen like a peacock at her attention. Her voice glides across my skin as I breathe in the scent of lilacs and honey, two things that will always remind me of her. My heart jumps at the thought that there may still be hope for us yet, but I remember the guy from earlier and the way she let his hands roam all over her body.

My shoulders sink as the reality of my situation sinks in. I broke her heart and she moved on, just as I hoped she would. Now I get to suffer the consequences. Besides, she has her whole life ahead of her. She’s getting ready to graduate from college soon and start her life, probably far away from this small town in the middle of nowhere, Alabama.

We continue to stare at each other as something flashes behind her eyes, but it’s gone in an instant.

“And what are you doing here, little lady?” the man sitting next to Seth says as the others whistle softly.

I growl under my breath, wanting nothing more than to rip out their throats for the impure thoughts I’m sure they are having about her. I grip the chair arms, ready to teach those men a lesson, as Seth shakes his head, warning me against the decision.

“Just came to say hello to a friend,” Emersyn says before turning her attention back toward me.

Gone is the girl I left without a word a little over a year ago. She’s been replaced by the woman standing before me. Yes, her body has changed in the best way possible, but she even carries herself differently, commanding the attention of everyone in the room. Not just with her beauty, but her presence alone draws everyone to her, men and women alike.

My eyes catalog every detail of her body, noticing all the small changes that have occurred over the last year as her eyes bore into my soul. Her hair is a little longer, hanging just below the shoulders, and her curves are a little more pronounced, giving her a perfect hourglass figure. I lick my lips, imagining the taste of her skin as I explore each and every part of her, from the swell of her breasts to her apple bottom.

“Emersyn,” I reply tersely before grabbing my beer and turning my attention toward the bar where her brother stands.

Beckett shakes his head, warning me once again to stay away from his sister as he serves her friends drinks. I lift my glass in response, letting him know I’ve received his message loud and clear.

It’s not like I have a chance at Emersyn’s heart anyway. It’s time to put the past behind me and move forward.

“Who’s your friend?” Emersyn flashes Seth a smile, leaning her hip against the table, drawing my eyes to her body once again.

“Seth,” he supplies, taking a swig from his beer.

I don’t deny my desire for her. I want—no, I need—her to understand how much I want her. Her eyes drop slightly, betraying her true emotions. She wants me as much as I want her.

“Nice to meet you,” he continues.

“The pleasure is all mine,” she purrs as she stands back to her full height, never breaking eyes contact with me.

We continue having a silent conversation as I attempt to relay all my feelings to her in these few moments.

I want you.

I need you.

I love you.

Tears gather in her eyes as I lean forward, wanting to wrap her in my arms and let her know everything is okay, but one of the jackoffs at the table interrupts our conversation. I narrow my eyes slightly, daring him to say another word and risk my wrath.

“Run along, Emersyn. We have better things to do than play babysitter.” I wince, knowing that once again I’ve let my anger get the best of me.

She has every right to spend time with whoever she wants, even the asshole sitting across from me, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.

Emersyn doesn’t deserve to be treated this way. She deserves to be treated like the queen she is, but I can’t stop the torrent of emotions raging through my body as the realization of our situation hits me: Emersyn has moved on, just like I wanted her to, and there’s nothing I can do about it.

AJ Alexander is a wannabe psychologist and author of steamy (borderline erotic) contemporary romances with happily ever afters that must be earned by her characters. She lives in the angst capital of the world, Seattle Washington with her own personal knight in shining camouflage and her two beautiful girls.

Want to read more insta-love romance with a twist? Check out all of my books on Amazon #FREE in Kindle Unlimited.

https://www.authorajalexander.com/books

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