Excerpt Reveal ~ Wait ~ by ~ A.L. Jackson

From NYT & USA Today bestselling author comes a new Bleeding Stars stand-alone novel…

She is his strength and he is her weakness. And this time he won’t let her go.

Edie Evans is gorgeous.

Sexy.

Kind.

She’s also the definition of off-limits.

But that didn’t stop me from sneaking into her room to comfort her at night.

But guys like me? We destroy everything, so it should have been no surprise when I destroyed us, too.

The night I sent her running, I thought I’d never see her again.

Until I saw her standing like a vision in the crowd.

Austin Stone is dangerous.

Alluring.

Tempting.

He broke my heart and I refused to give him the chance to do it again.

It’s been years since I’ve seen him, and now I can’t do anything but stare at the gorgeous, tattooed man playing onstage. I should run. I know I should. But like a fool, I run straight back to him.

Our desire is overpowering.
Our need unrelenting.

She is my hope.
He is my weakness.

We should have known a passion this intense would burn us right into the ground.

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“Edie…please…just…wait.”

I gripped the railing as if it might propel me forward. Instead, my footsteps faltered and slowed. I stood facing away, my back heaving as his consuming presence swarmed over me from behind.

“Please.” This time it was a whisper. A plea.

Sincere.

Slowly I turned.

Drawn.

He’d always been my weakness.

Austin stood at the end of the walkway, just outside the reach of the lights, his body obscured in shadows.

Even larger than I’d imagined when I’d first seen him up on stage.

So foreign.

So familiar.

My heart ached. Because I was looking at the boy who’d been my best friend. The one person who I’d thought would completely understand. One who wouldn’t judge or make it hurt more than it already did.

He’d been my safety.

My haven.

Until he’d dragged me right back into hell.

“Why are you here?” My words cracked. “H-h-how…how did you find me?”

I saw the shake of his head, and he took a single step forward, out of the shadows and into the glow of the single lamp attached high on the exterior wall that lit the way.

It hit him like a spotlight.

The boy was so beautiful.

It was a threatening kind of beauty, a whorl of mystery and pain, sharp lines and corded muscle.

It almost dropped me to my knees.

He fisted his hands at his sides. The question was strained, hard as it pressed from his mouth. “You believe in fate, Edie?”

Old grief I’d bottled for so long burst. It came out as some kind of maniacal cry. Incredulous. Oozing disbelief. “After everything that happened…that’s what you’re going to ask me?”

“Edie…I—”

“Do you have any idea how badly you hurt me?” I cut him off, my own hands fisting as I took a single step forward. “The damage you caused? Careless words, Austin. So fucking careless, thrown out there without a single thought to the repercussions, without any consideration of how they would affect me. How they would change my life. You promised.” My brow twisted with the accusation. “And now you have the nerve to stand there and ask me if I believe in fate?”

I swallowed hard, shook my head. “You can go to straight to hell, Austin Stone.”

He laughed, but there was zero humor behind it. “Come on, Edie. You can do better than that, can’t you? Considering you know hell is where I’ve been all along, and you and I both know I deserve so much worse. And yeah…those words were reckless, but you know they weren’t heedless. You couldn’t expect me to just stand there. Not with him. Not with what he was saying. Implying. I couldn’t.” The last cracked on the emphasis.

I felt as if every cell in my body was being crushed. Squeezed so tight there was no chance but for everything to implode.

“And because you lost it, I lost it all. You. My home. My future.”

His big hands fisted. “I know. I…I fucked it up, Edie. Warned you, I always fuck it up.”

But what he failed to say was he’d promised he wouldn’t fuck it up with me.

I couldn’t tell if I was relieved or terrified when Jed suddenly rounded the corner. His sister, Blaire, was hot on his heels.

“Edie,” Jed gushed out in relief when he saw me. He came to a stop a few steps behind Austin.

As if he’d just stepped into the bristling intensity and it tripped up his feet.

The stand-off.

The war.

Austin standing there? I knew that’s exactly what this was going to be.

“What the hell is going on here?” Jed demanded. His voice twisted into a threat. He glared at the back of Austin’s head, worried eyes flicking to me, hardening when they snapped back to Austin.

Blaire tugged at his arm. “Jed…I told you to give her a minute. Sometimes you need to let people sort out their own issues.”

Jed just grunted and shrugged off her arm.

Refusing to budge.

Austin swung his head to look behind him. When he did, his face shifted to the side, all those hard, beautiful lines exposed in profile, his expression winding into a bitter sneer. “Nah, man. All’s good here. Just telling an old friend hi. Isn’t that right, Edie?”

Aggression curled between them.

Alive and raging.

Jed was a burly, beefy, hulk of a man, a full beard covering most of his face, his brown hair cut short at the sides and longer on top.

Had I ever imagined him and Austin going toe to toe, I would have put all my money on Jed.

Now I wasn’t so sure.

Jed lifted his chin, as if for the moment he was standing down, turning to me as his tone softened. “You okay, Edie?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I’m okay.”

Lie. Lie. Lie.

I was shaken to my core.

“I just want to go home.” It left me on a desperate breath.

Jed pushed around Austin and stalked my way. “All right, let’s get you out of here.”

As she passed by Austin, Blaire cast a searching glance in his direction, before her attention flickered over to me, a ton of worried questions moving across her expression.

Questions I didn’t know if I had the strength to answer.

With an arm wound around my shoulder, Jed spun me, breaking the spell Austin had me under, and tucked me into his side.

Protecting and shielding.

He began to lead me away, down the planks and toward his car waiting in the parking lot out front.

With each step we took, I could feel the heat of Austin’s stare. That burning intensity I wasn’t sure I could ever escape.

The hurt and hatred.

It was a hatred I couldn’t tell who it was directed at.

If it was aimed at him or me or the rest of the world that had threatened to choke the life out of us.

The world we were supposed to take on together.

Just as we started to round the corner, I paused because I just couldn’t stop myself, turned to look back at the man who stood there staring back at me.

Emotion gripped his expression just as tight as the clench of his fists.

Hard and tortured.

As if I was the one inflicting the pain.

I choked down the sorrow that rose like a cyclone, spinning and spinning, whipping up the old affection that longed for that soft, understanding boy to take me in his arms and sing in my ear.

Dangerous.

I searched inside myself for the shelter that secured my heart. The flimsy cover I wore that just barely kept me together. I forced myself to speak the words I knew would drive him away, as much of a lie as they were. “And for the record…no, Austin, I definitely don’t believe in fate.”

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A.L. Jackson is the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance. She writes emotional, sexy, heart-filled stories about boys who usually like to be a little bit bad.

Her bestselling series include THE REGRET SERIES, CLOSER TO YOU, as well as the newest BLEEDING STARS novels. Watch for the next installments, WAIT and STAY, coming in 2016.

If she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out by the pool with her family, sipping cocktails with her friends, or of course with her nose buried in a book.

Be sure not to miss new releases and sales from A.L. Jackson – Sign up to receive her newsletter http://bit.ly/NewsFromALJackson or text “jackson” to 96000 to receive short but sweet updates on all the important news.

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Excerpt Reveal ~ Something to Believe In ~ by ~ Ella Fox

Prologue

Rock bottom was an alley in New York City where I, a strung out junkie asshole, pissed myself and twitched like a bitch as I lost control of my body. It seemed fitting considering how I’d lost control of everything else. My path had always been leading me to a busted piece of concrete beside a filthy dumpster of rank smelling garbage.

For me, being a junkie was all about one thing—the fucking sound that defined my life. It was a return to home, but getting there was a raging bitch with sharp claws and razor-like teeth. It hurt like a motherfucker and broke what was left of my spirit piece by miserable piece, but I did it anyway. Pay to fucking play, I thought. Honestly, back then I’d have shot up battery acid if it meant I’d have five goddamn seconds of peace.

Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum.

I could feel my heartbeat of course, but when I was high, I could hear it, too, thump-thump-thumping in my ears. It was a steady series of bass notes that reminded me of better times. Of home. Of safety and laughter. Later my home became the stuff of nightmares, a prison of terror and mind-fucking cruelty that could never, ever be forgotten. That part of my life I was able to tap into without drugs, since it lived and breathed inside of me every minute of every day—until I started shooting up. Once that shit hit my veins I’d cruise to numb before floating off. It fucking sucked, especially the aftermath, but those few seconds of nothing were like an oasis in the desert of my life. It was killing me, but I didn’t care. Of course, I’d been banking on my lifetime not being very long at all.

Which is why I wasn’t even a little upset as I twitched on the sidewalk and sensed death hovering over me.

Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum.

I hadn’t just raced toward my own demise; I’d also been busy inviting it in. Hell, I’d all but sent out engraved invitations and by my estimation, death had been passing me over for far too long.

As I twitched on the pavement, ready to have it all be over, I felt something around me shift.

I knew she was there because I’d smelled her Loves Baby Soft perfume. When she spoke, she was right next to me, close enough for me to feel her hand when it covered mine. I also felt her head as it set down on my chest, just over my heart.

“I love this sound,” she murmured.

For a moment, her sweet voice warmed the coldest place inside of me. My eyes were at half-mast as I tried and failed to let her know I remembered how much she loved the sound of a beating heart. It wasn’t something I could ever forget.

“Dad always said the rhythm of the heart was musical.”

My heart, which I imagined was like a sandbox made of broken and worn down glass, cracked in my chest. I wanted to respond, but words were too difficult to form. My tongue wouldn’t cooperate.

“I know what you’re doing, and you have to stop,” she whispered. “This isn’t okay. It’s almost too late.”

God, I hoped so.

Ba…dum.

“It doesn’t sound good.”

She was right. The sound was slow and unsteady. I heard the concern in her voice, but couldn’t find it in me to care about the state I was in.

She expelled a heavy sigh.

“What’s coming is going to hurt,” she warned.

I dealt in hurt the way some people dealt cards, so threatening pain was laughable. I was on a first name basis with it, which meant it didn’t scare me in the least. It had been years since I’d felt anything consistently other than agony. I tried to fake it sometimes, tried to pretend I was experiencing happiness—but when I was alone, all of the subterfuge disappeared. I wasn’t happy and I didn’t see how I ever could be.

Not with what I’d seen.

Not after what I’d lost.

Ba.

Dum.

Ba.

Dum.

Ba.

Dum.

The rhythm of the beat was gone. In its absence was a series of discordant thumps without rhyme or reason.

Suddenly, light surrounded me. I was relieved because it surely meant my hell was almost over. I wasn’t even a little bit sad. The light brought no warm feeling with it, and I thought I heard terse sounding voices, but I didn’t let it upset me. Everyone knew when you saw the light, you were meant to go toward it.

Finally, I thought, I was going home.

“It doesn’t work this way,” she told me. “Doing this—you don’t get to go where you want to go. It’s not your time.”

I wanted to answer, but I couldn’t open my mouth. Why wasn’t it ever my time? Why couldn’t I make the choice?

“Nothing can change what happened,” she said firmly. “Stop trying to check out of life, Tyson.”

My mind was screaming in agony and I wanted to tell her she didn’t know what it was like to have gone through what I did. She didn’t know how it felt to be so horribly alone.

“I’m always with you,” she assured me. “We all are. Stop chasing death and start living—if not for yourself, then for me. For us.”

I think I whimpered then, like a small boy hiding from monsters beneath his bed.

“Help is here,” she announced.

I felt her lips against my cheek, and it made me want to cry. I didn’t want help—I needed it all to be over. It felt like the end was close—I couldn’t hear my heartbeat anymore.

“You’ll never see me again if you don’t fight,” she told me. “Stop trying to kill yourself and realize that life is a gift.”

If I’d been able to, I would have cursed. It sure as hell didn’t feel like a gift to me.

“Because you’re letting the pain win,” she said sadly. “This is your last chance. Take it.”

I wondered how she knew that, but then I lost the ability to form coherent thoughts since my body felt like it was on fire. Pain slashed through my veins like razorblades being chased by molten lava, and no area of my body was immune. Even my eyelids felt dry and scorched. I wanted to scream my lungs out, to beg for it to end, but I couldn’t move. The Loves Baby Soft smell of her faded away, replaced by an acrid stench that burned my nostrils.

I thought I was in hell. Regardless of whether I could go home or not, I didn’t think I had the wherewithal to withstand the amount of pain ricocheting through my body like a thousand bullets. My ribs and chest hurt so badly, I wished I could just stop feeling. I’d foolishly believed my utter lack of care or concern about my life meant death would be easy.

It wasn’t.

Death, I found, was brutal business.

The torture seemed to last an eternity and through it all, I was unable to communicate. My eyes stayed closed, and my mouth wouldn’t form words. I couldn’t even lift a hand. If I’d been able to, I would’ve shoved whoever was touching me far, far away. Being fried from the inside out was hell on earth and I wondered why the fuck it wasn’t stopping.

How the hell could she have called what was happening to me help?

Right then the only thing I knew for sure was that if being helped hurt that much, I preferred to go without the aid.

The newest Rock Star Romance by Ella Fox Releases on August 16th!

Add Series to your TBR at: http://bit.ly/2b4iRsD

A rock star with millions of adoring fans.

A country girl with a broken heart.

Rock star, Tyson Allen, is the hilarious, in-your-face bass player for one of the world’s most popular bands. Behind his funny-guy exterior hides a tragic past full of unbearable horror. After turning to drugs and alcohol to numb the pain, Tyson hit rock bottom on a New York City sidewalk. For several minutes, Tyson Allen was gone–dead. And now, he’s trying to rebuild a life he nearly lost. He found a way to move forward and live life—a way he was comfortable with. All was going according to plan until he met the new assistant for his band.

In an instant, everything changes.

Daisy Hammond has a slew of her own tragedies. And the last thing she needs is a crush on one of America’s rock legends. But unlike Tyson, her kind and generous heart refuses to push people away. Working with the band isn’t easy as Tyson doesn’t want anything to do with her. Despite his standoffish and rude demeanor, Daisy can’t deny the pull she has for him. Determined to stay away from the bass player with an attitude, she goes about her business without getting in his way. But one night, their desire for one another erupts. Now it’s up to Daisy to pull Ty out of his shell before the tour ends and they go their separate ways. Will she find a way to break down Ty’s walls before it’s too late?

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Ella Fox writes like a woman possessed whenever she gets the chance! She is the author of The Hart Family Series, The Renegade Saints Series and The Catch Series.

When she’s not writing, Ella indulges the gypsy in her blood and travels the country. Ella loves reading, movies, music, buying make-up, reading Tmz, Twitter and pedicures… not necessarily in that order. She has a wild sense of humor and loves to laugh. Her favorite thing in the world is hanging out with her family and watching comedy movies.

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Excerpt Reveal ~ I’ll Get You ~ by ~ Sam Rule & Kelli Peters

Today we have the excerpt reveal of I’ll Get You by Sam Rule and Kelli Peters. I’m super excited to be sharing this new book with you—check out the excerpt and giveaway, and be sure to grab your copy!

About I’ll Get You:

PTA president Kelli Peters had a normal, happy life in Orange County, California, where she volunteered at her daughter’s school, carpooled, and took care of her family. When a school parent angrily accused Kelli of keeping her son waiting during the afterschool pick-up, it appeared to be a simple confrontation with an overprotective mother. Kelli soon learned, however, that she was the target of a twisted plot against her that involved drugs, lies, schemes, and a campaign to ruin her life. The vendetta led to reputations tarnished, careers lost, secret lives uncovered, two parents in jail, families destroyed, and a $5.7 million dollar civil judgment.

“I’ll Get You!” Drugs, Lies, and the Terrorizing of a PTA Mom is the true story of an ordinary American woman who survived an evil conspiracy that turned her life upside down and shook her hometown to its core.

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Exclusive Excerpt

When describing Orange County, people often say that those who live there exist “behind the Orange curtain.” This describes the sense that one is leaving the frenetic pace of Los Angeles and entering the Land of Oz. Irvine is a city known for its seeming perfection, with its pristine, clean streets and manicured lawns. As a master-planned community, everything caters to those who wish to bring their children up in a safe, tranquil place. There are green belts, community pools, brand-new shopping centers, and well-maintained gas stations on accessible corners. The community is known for its excellent schools. For example, University High in Irvine, a gold medal school, was recently voted one of the best high schools in the country by U.S. News. The average home price in Irvine is $780,000, according to Zillow in June of 2016. Even townhomes look like resorts, with beautiful pools, landscaped gardens, and workout rooms.

The blonde woman who exited the PT Cruiser, Kelli Peters, was thankful to be able to live and raise her daughter in a place like Irvine. Sometimes she couldn’t believe her good fortune to be able to provide a desirable suburban life for her daughter, despite not being a person of wealth. She and her husband lived in a modest apartment and watched every penny so she could stay home with Sydnie. As a parent volunteer, Kelli got to spend her afternoons at the school with her daughter and the other sweet children who attended Plaza Vista Elementary School. For a mom who loved kids, what could be better than that?

Kelli headed through the parking lot toward the school. She was looking forward to her afternoon, as she always did when she arrived at Plaza Vista, her second home. As coordinator for the afterschool classroom enrichment program, or ACE, she had a lot to do. She looked after a multitude of kids, all enrolled in a variety of programs, from cooking to tennis. She was responsible for making sure everything ran well and that the children were happy and cared for. She also helped the teachers in whatever capacity they needed her.

Kelli’s favorite program was the one she oversaw directly, the art program that was funded by the PTA. She was partial to this program because her daughter loved art and had been immersed in it since she was a young child. Kelli loved getting the art supplies ready every day for the students, setting up the classroom, and seeing the eager faces of the children as they entered through the doors. She never tired of greeting them or giving them hugs. She never tired of helping them learn about art. Most of all, Kelli loved being able to spend time with her ten-year-old daughter, Sydnie. She adored all of the kids in the program, but getting to hang out with her little girl was the highlight of her day. She’d begun volunteering when Syd was in kindergarten, and now here it was, five years later. She knew just about everyone: kids, parents, and administrators alike. There was a reason Plaza Vista Elementary School had become like a family to Kelli and her daughter.

As Kelli headed into the building, her heart ballooned with joy. Life seemed perfect at that moment. Sure, she had problems like everyone else, but nothing she couldn’t manage. She was happily married, had a close relationship with her parents, enjoyed the company of many good friends, worked in a fulfilling volunteer position where she felt valued and needed, and got to spend time with her beautiful little girl every day. She had everything she needed.

Little did Kelli know that in a few short moments, her life was about to change forever.

********

About the Authors:

Sam Rule

Sam Rule is the pseudonym for a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of 75 books. His books have been translated into multiple languages around the world. He enjoys writing stories about fascinating people that capture public interest. He also enjoys a fine Malbec when the situation arises.

Kelli Peters

Kelli Peters is a mother, wife, PTA volunteer, animal lover, people lover, kid lover, and life lover. She has been with her beloved husband for 30 years and talks to her parents every day. Her greatest joy is spending time with family, friends, and children. She loves walking her dogs and going to the beach. One of her greatest achievements, besides raising her daughter, has been surviving a campaign of terror that almost destroyed her life. She is a testament to what the human spirit can endure with the support of community, friends, and family. She is forever grateful to the people who stood by her.

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Excerpt Reveal ~ Ruthless ~ by ~ Lexi Blake

**The first in a sexy contemporary romance series featuring the Lawless siblings—from New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake.**

The Lawless siblings are bound by vengeance. Riley, Drew, Brandon, and Mia believe the CEO of StratCast orchestrated their parents’ murder twenty years ago to steal their father’s software program. And there’s only one way Riley can find some solid evidence…

Heir to the StratCast legacy, Ellie Stratton hires a new attorney to handle a delicate business matter—and she’s shocked by her attraction to him. Over the course of a few weeks, Riley becomes her lover, her friend, her everything. But when her life is threatened, Ellie discovers that Riley is more obsessed with settling an old score than in the love she thought they were building. And Riley must choose between a revenge he’s prepared for all his life and the woman he’s sure he can’t live without…

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EARLY REVIEWS FOR RUTHLESS

“Smart, savvy, clever, and always entertaining. That’s true of Riley Lawless, the hero in Ruthless, and likewise for his creator, Lexi Blake. Both are way ahead of the pack.” ~ New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry

“I love Lexi Blake. Read Ruthless and see why.” ~ New York Times bestselling author Lee Child

With Ruthless, Lexi Blake has set up shop on the intersection of Suspenseful and Sexy, and I never want to leave. ~ Laurelin Paige, New York Times bestselling author

Ruthless is full of suspense, hot sex, and swoon worthy characters — a must read!” ~ New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst

Riley’s mouth came down on hers again. She could feel his hunger, and his hands roamed over the curves of her hips and backside, rubbing himself against her. It fed her own. She’d never felt more wanted, needed by a man. He didn’t seem to simply want sex with someone. He seemed to need her—only her.

She wrapped her arms around him and held on, letting him lead.

His mouth moved down, kissing her jaw and ear. “Do you have any idea what I want to do to you?”

A little bit. She’d always been quiet during sex, preferring to con- centrate on the sensations, but she wanted to hear him. She wanted to know he was with her. “What do you want to do?”

She shivered with heat as his tongue ran along the shell of her ear and he nipped the lobe, a thrill shooting through her.

His voice was a low, sexy growl in her ear. “I think about stripping you down all the time.”

He turned her suddenly and her back was pressed to his front. She could feel the hard ridge of his erection against her backside. His arms wound around her, keeping her close.

“You want me naked?” She didn’t want to stop talking. She could see now that her other sexual encounters had been defined by the walls she’d put up. Though she’d had a partner, she’d been essentially alone in whatever pleasure she’d found. With her ex-husband she would turn off the lights, enjoy the ride, and then sleep in silence, their physicality the only true intimacy between them.

She didn’t want that with Riley.

His hands moved up, cupping her breasts through the thin mate- rial of her blouse and bra. The warmth of his mouth and lips moved on her neck. “I’ll have you naked. I’ll get rid of every single thing that comes between us. I’ll strip you and then touch every inch of your body. You might be the boss in the boardroom, but I intend to lead here. I intend to have you every way I can have a woman, Ellie. Once I’m inside you, I won’t want to leave.”

He was still giving her a way out. She wasn’t going to take it. “Yes, Riley. I won’t change my mind.”

His thumbs rasped over her nipples. “I’ll fucking hold you to that. I will.”

She had no idea why he sounded so resolute, but his hands were working the buttons of her blouse, dragging it out of the waistband of her skirt and peeling it back.

Cool air hit her skin. Her brain was foggy with lust. Her whole system had softened in a way it never had before. She felt hot, her muscles tight with need, but she let Riley take over. He slipped off her bra and then sighed against her skin as he cupped her breasts again.

“Fuck, that feels so good. These are beautiful, baby. Do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted to get my hands on these?”

She leaned back against him, her head cradled by the strength of his chest. He was solid all over. His callused hands rubbed against her skin, the feeling of masculinity making her feel more feminine than she’d ever felt before.

His fingers rolled her nipples and for a moment, she couldn’t breathe.

“You’re going to give me everything I want, aren’t you, Ellie? You’re going to let me play with this body. You’re going to wrap your- self around me and let me have you like I’ve dreamed of. Without reservations, no thoughts of anything but how we can make each other feel.”

Forgetting everything else seemed like the best idea ever. She needed this. Needed to let go of everything and simply be. She hadn’t done it in years, maybe never.

But it felt right with Riley. It felt good and true.

“Yes. I don’t want to be anywhere but with you. Only you.”

His hand fumbled with the button on the back of her skirt and he cursed, finally managing to undo it. “Damn it. I’m not going to last once I get inside you. I’m going to be good for you, Ellie. I promise. I’ll make it so fucking good for you.”

She loved the growl he got in his voice when he was really aroused. And the way his hands shook. She wasn’t in this alone. He was with her, right beside her in his need. She helped him, shoving the skirt down and kicking off her shoes. When she was down to nothing but her undies, she turned in his arms.

She was a little too big, her breasts real. Unlike many women her age, she’d never lifted them or enlarged them. They sagged slightly and she was well aware that her hips were curvier than fashionable. Would he turn her away? Would he see she wasn’t as pretty as he’d thought?

He stared, his eyes going right to her breasts. “You’re so gorgeous, Ellie. Do you have any idea what I’ve gone through since that first day? I’ve never masturbated as much as I have in the last week.”

Yep, the man knew what to say to her. She was pretty sure she was glowing. “I’ve thought about you, too.”

“I want you to tell me all about that, but later, baby. Right now, I’m going to do what I’ve wanted to do since the moment I met you.”

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog int eh world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

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Excerpt Reveal ~ Midnight Soul ~ by ~ Kristen Ashley

MIDNIGHT SOUL is coming! Being released on August 15^th, this amazing fantasy takes place in our world and a parallel universe where fantasies are true…but perhaps not all you would expect. MIDNIGHT SOUL is the highly anticipated finale to Kristen Ashley’s bestselling Fantasyland Series. As a special treat the first books in the series are on sale for a limited time only, including the first book in the series, WILDEST DREAMS, for just $.99! Pre-order this amazing novel today, and be sure to check out the exclusive excerpt below!

Franka

“You need to leave,” I declared.

His brows drew together a moment before his expression showed clearly that comprehension had dawned.

Sadly, comprehension might have dawned but he didn’t leave.

He crouched by the bed and offered in a soft voice, “You need me to carry you to the other room so you can have a bit of privacy?”

Dear goddess.

He thought I needed a chamber pot.

But…

What was happening to my face?

Dear goddess!

The heat I felt in my cheeks could be nothing other than me blushing.

I didn’t blush. I’d never blushed. Not even when I’d set about seducing my first lover at age sixteen.

I needed to be quit of this man as soon as possible.

“No…I…do…not,” I bit out.

“Sure?” he asked kindly.

“I need you to leave, Noctorno,” I used his full name in an effort to irritate, something that worked if the flare in his eyes was any indication, “so Josette can prepare me. We’re away to Kristian’s this morning.”

Another drawing of his brows before he asked, “What?”

“After my toilette, Josette and I are to my sleigh so we can begin our journey to my brother’s home.”

His eyes got bigger as his mouth inquired peculiarly, “Are you high?”

“No,” I answered his ridiculous question unnecessarily, “Indeed, I’m low. As you can see since I’m lying abed.”

For a second he just stared at me.

Then he threw his head back and burst into loud, deep, beautiful laughter.

I wanted to throw something at him.

Unfortunately, in my current position, this was not an option open to me.

“I fail to see what’s amusing,” I noted.

He controlled his mirth only to mutter, “I’ll explain it later.” He went on more distinctly, “Frannie, you’re not goin’ to your brother’s today. Or tomorrow. Or until you’re fit. Then, maybe Valentine will spirit you there, or whatever the fuck that’s called. But for the foreseeable future, your ass is in that bed and you’re resting so you can heal.”

Well!

Who did he think he was, telling me what I would or would not do?

“As you’ve determined,” I began, “this is not the first time I’ve been in this condition so I do believe that I know best what I’m capable of and…”

I stopped speaking because he came slightly out of his crouch so he could put his face into my face and he was no longer looking mirthful.

He was looking angry.

Very angry.

“That was when you had no one lookin’ out for you but that’s not the case anymore. So this is how it’s gonna be,” he announced.

He then, to my shock, irritation and outrage, announced how it was going to be.

Like he had the right to tell me how it was going to be!

Against his will, Noctorno Hawthorne, an undercover vice cop, finds himself embroiled in magic, mayhem and parallel universes. Too late, he meets an amazing woman only to find she’s destined for his identical twin in another world.

And things aren’t going real great there.

Noc is recruited to help save that world.

What he doesn’t know is his destined love resides there.

FrankaDrakkar wears a mask. A mask she never takes off to protect herself in a world of malice, intrigue and danger.

When Franka meets Noc and he discovers her secrets, convinced she carries a midnight soul, having shielded herself from forming bonds with anyone, she struggles with accepting his tenderness and care.

When Noc meets Franka, over wine and whiskey, her mask slips and Noc knows it’s her—only her—and he has to find a way to get her to come home with him.

And then make her want to stay.

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About Kristen Ashley:

Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA and nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn’t taken her first breath!). Her mother said they took Kristen away, put her Mom back in her room, her mother looked out the window, and Gary was on fire (Dr. King had been assassinated four days before). Kristen’s Mom remembered thinking it was the end of the world. Quite the dramatic beginning.

Nothing’s changed.

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana and has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus, she’s blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her family was (is) loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. They all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing, it keeps getting better.

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Excerpt Reveal ~ Whiskey ~ by ~Krissy V

Whiskey

Author: Krissy V

Series: Book 1 in the Whiskey Sour series

Genre: Dark Erotic Romance

Release Date: August 2, 2016

Cover Design by: Steam Power Studio

Hosted by 2 Girls a Book & a Glass of Wine

Follow Whiskey’s harrowing story, as she embarks on her own journey to become the ‘Owner’ and namesake of ‘Whiskey Sour’ When Whiskey runs away from home, she has no idea what her future holds. She experiences things that only nightmares are made of. Fed up of running away from everything, she decides to stand up and be counted.

Her philosophy is ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!’

Whiskey Sour is her salvation and it too, becomes a haven for women who like her, needed rescuing from their tragic pasts. Whiskey soon becomes not only a mentor, but a trusted confidant to her burlesque protégés…

Sawyer Callahan meets Whiskey one night… That’s all it takes for him to fall for this sassy, beautiful, sexy woman. What lengths will he go to to find her?

Will he find her in time?

…And, will she want him if he does?

WARNING: Due to sexual situations and adult content, this dark romance thriller series is not intended for readers under the age of 18, and anyone who is unable to read books containing, kidnapping, murder, rape, and extreme abuse. **

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I just shake my head, I don’t want to get into this here. “Don’t Sawyer, please.”

“I don’t understand. I thought …. I thought we had a connection, something more than that!”

Christopher starts to laugh. He grabs me by my waist and pulls me closer to him. “You thought she had feelings for you … didn’t you? You are a complete fool, taken in by a bit of pussy. I am going to live on this one for weeks.”

I can’t believe he is being so cruel to Sawyer, did he really have feelings for me? I look at him and beg him with my eyes to help me. Then I look back at the floor and ignore everyone.

Christopher is still talking to Sawyer, “I think it’s time to leave this party, Whiskey. Although I’m having so much fun, I think I would much prefer to sink my cock in your pussy.” He pulls me to turn and start walking off.

Sawyer reaches out and pulls me away from Christopher and then he punches him in the face. I scream, Tilda screams and the bouncers come running.

“Excuse me gentlemen, can you please sort out your differences outside.”

“Don’t worry WE were just leaving.” Christopher takes my hand and drags me to the lift, which just happens to be free and as soon as he is inside he slams his fist into the button, the door closes as I see Sawyer coming towards it.

“Well that was a really interesting night Whiskey. Your pussy has had a lot of attention tonight and I haven’t even started with you.”

“I’m not going to sleep with you Christopher.”

“Yes, you are!”

“No, I don’t have to, it’s my prerogative.” I cross my arms.

He pushes me against the back of the lift, and grabs my chin to hold it in place. “You’re prerogative went out of the window sweetheart when I found out you slept with HIM. Whore!”

He tries to kiss me, I bite his lip, It only seems to turn him on more. I try to push him off me, “Get off me Christopher.”

He starts laughing like a maniac and I start to get really scared. All the customers are vetted by Kings X Companions so we don’t come across any weirdo’s – I wonder how he slipped through the net. I can’t wait to speak to Marcia ? tomorrow and make sure he can’t hire anyone else.

“I’ll find my own way home,” I say as we get out of the lift. I try pulling my arm away from him.

“You’re very funny! I paid for company for tonight, I haven’t even started yet. Then I want to see you being a whore and only then will I think about letting you go home. Only think about it mind you.”

I can hear myself screaming at him. “You’re a fucking psycho Christopher. If I don’t go home, then Tilda will know who I’m with. She knows I don’t want to go home with you already, so she WILL be watching out for me.”

“Shut up, bitch.” He drags me to a waiting car. I start to feel a bit sick and dizzy. He opens the door and pushes me inside.

“What the fuck man?” Some guy says as he gets in beside me and slams his door.

“Sorry, there was an opportunity and I took it. She won’t remember you don’t worry. I slipped something in her drink earlier. Should give us time to get her to the farm.”

“But C, we didn’t agree to this. We talked about it, fantasised about it, but we never agreed to it.”

“Stop moaning and man up T. This is happening and it’s happening now.” His voice is getting really slurry, I can’t quite make out what he is saying.

I close my eyes, I feel so tired. I don’t want to be here. I want to be tucked up at home in my own bed. I can’t hear him talking anymore … it’s dark …

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Excerpt Reveal ~Romanian Mob Chronicles ~ by ~ Kaye Blue

Coming 4th August

ROMANIAN MOB CHRONICLES BOX SET BOOKS 1-3

When a mobster decides he wants you, you’d better be ready…

For his rough demands.

His dark passion.

And possessiveness that accepts no compromise…

KEEP

HER:

I thought the only thing I feared was living another day in the hell my life had become. But when I looked at his hulking, tattooed body, the icy brutality in his eyes, I realized I was wrong.

HIM:

Familie. My clan.

I’d fight for it, kill for it, die for it. It’s all that matters to me. But her innocence, only barely hidden by thick layers of makeup, the curves that her tight dress can’t hide, calls to me.

So I’ve decided to keep her.

No matter how deadly the consequences.

FALL

HER:

When my best friend fell in love with a mobster, I thought she’d lost her mind. Until I met his brother…

HIM:

Love is a lie, a fairy tale.

In my world, all that matters is staying alive, protecting my clan. There’s no room for normal people. No room for people like her. Especially people like her. She’s pushy, nosy, talks way too much, but I can’t make myself stay away.

But I have to. Because if I don’t, it might kill both of us.

AVENGE

HER:

I’ve infiltrated the Romanian mob.

It’s dangerous, insane, but it’s the only way to get the justice I deserve, the vengeance I’ve dedicated my life to. So I’ve wormed my way in, gotten close enough to strike. Everything is going according to plan.

Except him…

HIM:

I don’t trust her.

She puts on a good face, playing the sweet, kindly nurse.

I’m not convinced.

But not trusting her hasn’t stopped me from wanting her.

Because I do want her.

Badly.

Badly enough to ignore the voice in my head that screams at me to stay away.

Badly enough that I’ll put my honor, my clan, and her life at risk.

Keep

I jolted awake when he moved, and looked around the room disoriented. I hadn’t let myself believe last night had been a dream, but I was surprised I’d managed to fall asleep. I had curled in the farthest corner as tight as I could, determined to watch him all night. I’d held out for a while too, the question of why he’d made me change, take off the wig and makeup providing a little puzzle for me to wonder over. But soon, to my surprise, I’d fallen asleep and stayed that way for hours it seemed.

He stood, more intimidating this morning than he had been last night. But the light did give me a chance to see him better, and what I saw made my already dry throat squeeze tighter. His stature was still imposing, the tattoos had the same menace, but his eyes were softer somehow this morning, icy but not threatening, and the raspy shadow of his beard, a few shades darker than his surprisingly soft-looking brown hair had the duel effect of making him more threatening and more human.

And as reckless as it was crazy, I felt a spark of desire low in my belly. It had been so long since I’d felt such a thing, I hadn’t thought I ever would again, but the tight thrum that sparked inside me was undeniable.

“W-what’s your name?” I asked, my voice breaking from disuse and the dryness of my throat.

Rather than respond, he turned and walked toward the kitchen area of the large room. With efficient, graceful movements, he retrieved a glass, filled it with water and came back to me, glass extended.

“Drink,” he said.

Rising up on my knees, I reached for the glass and then caught the almost imperceptibly quick glance he cast at my legs. Belatedly, I remembered that I was clad in a not nearly long enough T-shirt and that my thighs were completely exposed. I froze, torn between the desire to cover myself and the desire not to upset him.

But he did the most unexpected thing—he looked back into my eyes. It was a simple gesture, hardly notable, but it allayed my fears more than anything else could have. He didn’t leer at me, hadn’t touched me, and that made me want to trust him.

The first drops of cool water against my tongue were refreshing, and I drank eagerly until the water was gone.

“More?” he asked, his voice a deep rumble in his chest.

I shook my head.

“He’s your husband?” he asked.

I shook my head again. “N-no.”

“Do you want to go back?” he asked.

“No.” I spoke emphatically this time, knowing that no matter what, I couldn’t go back there.

He stood aside, gestured toward the front door. “You are free to go,” he said.

As modestly as I could, I crawled out of the bed and stood, drawing as close to him as I dared. Then I looked toward the door, then back at him, my heart pounding harder than it had before.

He was offering a way out, the thing I had dreamed of, but my feet were rooted to the floor. I looked between him and the door again, sickening dread filling my stomach.

David would take me back. He always found me and took me back. But maybe here…

I met the man’s gaze head-on.

“I want to stay.”

Kaye writes hot, gritty, suspenseful romance featuring alpha males and the women who love them.

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Excerpt Reveal ~ A Moment of Truth ~ by ~ Q.T. Ruby

Coming August 5th

Add to your Goodreads shelf now.

Catch up with A Matter of Trust (Book #1)

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She’s out of her rut, out of her sweatpants, and out on the town.

Claire Parelli has been liberated!

Back to living it up in the Big Apple with her best friends, Claire embarks upon her dream career during the day, and steams up her nights with Daniel Chase, a.k.a. Mr. Beautiful, Hollywood’s hottest leading man. Life is simply perfect.

But for how long?

Claire knows all too well that fairy tales just don’t exist, even if she does have Fairy Slutmothers on her side. Real-life comes with real problems that don’t simply vanish with a quick flick of the wand. So this time around Claire discovers that it isn’t just a matter of trust—it’ll be a moment of truth.

He stops and turns to me, smirking. “Listen, it’s important we don’t overexert your heart at your advanced age. I mean, thirty—the year of the pacemaker.” He shimmies on his boxer-briefs and reaches into his bag for something, while I throw on a T-shirt. He takes out a very thin, rectangular gift, and I’m wondering what kind of gift certificate this must be. Manicure? Massage? I give him a quizzical look. He smiles playfully in return. “It’s not a cane.” He laughs, and for a second I’m hypnotized by his rippled abs flexing from laughter, not to mention his hair is a sexy, wild mess. Good God.

Ruby’s thoughts are everywhere. To harness the madness, she gave her loudest characters a playground to frolic in. Q.T. Ruby invites you to come play too!

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Excerpt Reveal ~ Close To You ~ by ~ Kristen Proby

BLURB

Camilla, “Cami,” LaRue was five years old when she first fell in love with Landon Palazzo. Everyone told her the puppy love would fade—they clearly never met Landon. When he left after graduation without a backward glance, she was heartbroken. But Cami grew up, moved on, and became part-owner of wildly popular restaurant Seduction. She has everything she could want…or so she thinks.

After spending the last 12 years as a Navy fighter pilot, Landon returns to Portland to take over the family construction business. When he catches a glimpse of little Cami LaRue, he realizes she’s not so little any more. He always had a soft spot for his little sister’s best friend, but nothing is soft now when he’s around the gorgeous restauranteur.

Landon isn’t going to pass up the chance to make the girl-next-door his. She’s never been one for romance, but he’s just the one to change her mind. Will seduction be just the name of her restaurant or will Cami let him get close enough to fulfill all her fantasies?

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AND anyone who preorders and puts there information at the following link (https://a.pgtb.me/PxZwn4) will get an email with a short story about Will and Meg from PLAY WITH ME from the With Me in Seattle series!!

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristen Proby is the author of the bestselling Fusion, With Me In Seattle, The Boudreaux, and Love Under the Big Sky series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong, humorous characters with a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type; fiercely protective and a bit bossy, and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves. Kristen lives in Whitefish, Montana, where she enjoys coffee, chocolate and sunshine. And naps.

Excerpt Reveal ~ Reaper’s Fire ~ by ~ Joanna Wylde

Excerpt

Tinker

It was almost seven that evening when I felt the AC kick back on. I’d been lying on my back on the (relatively) cool tile floor behind the counter, staring up at the pressed-tin ceiling and trying to remember why I hadn’t already moved back to Seattle.

In Seattle it rained.

Cool breezes blew off the bay and the lush greenery covered everything with its shaded canopy. People didn’t really need air-conditioning, but if they happened to have it and it broke, there were lots of repair men available.

Of course, Seattle also had Brandon. Not only that, my dad didn’t want to move, and I’d come to realize I couldn’t leave him here alone. It wasn’t safe for him, not since Mom died.

Ugh.

At least the AC was working again, blowing down from the ceiling vent across my sweaty body, reminding me that while the world might not be crawling with perfect men, at least there were still a few useful ones running around. Cooper Romero was a keeper, and it had nothing to do with how sexy he was . . . although the fact that he was sex on a stick—make that sex with a stick—didn’t exactly diminish his appeal.

When I’d dragged him up to the black tar roof to show him the ancient AC, I’d expected him to make a run for it. Any sensible man would. Instead, he’d spent the whole afternoon busting his ass to save my chocolates—Oh God, I wish that were code for something more exciting—officially qualifying him as a superhero in my book.

As for me, there wasn’t much I could do once I got all the sweets safely downstairs into the basement. There weren’t any customers walking in off the street, and seeing as I couldn’t make or ship candy in a 102-degree shop, I’d alternated between attempting to read a book, looking over orders I couldn’t fulfill on my laptop, and bringing Cooper glasses of iced tea. I’d been nervous around him at first, but you can only stay nervous for so long when you’re sweating like a pig—there’s a certain freedom in knowing you look like hell and there’s no saving your hair. I’d thrown my arm across my eyes in a pathetic attempt to block out reality toward the end.

When cold air started flowing into the room, I could’ve cried with relief. He’d never had a chance to fill out the application form, and I’d long since decided it didn’t matter. Unless he was an ax murderer, I’d give him the apartment and the job.

Might give it to him even if he was, to be honest.

“It’s working again,” Cooper announced, and I jerked, startled. Shit, had I fallen asleep? Opening my eyes, I looked up to find him standing over me. Dear God in heaven—that was one hell of a bare chest.

Holy. Shit.

I’d taken note of his build when he first walked in the shop, but everything under his shirt had been theoretical. Now there was six-foot-plus of raw sex appeal right there, all sweaty and sculpted and . . . well, let’s just say I’d be stopping off on the way home to pick up some fresh batteries.

That’s when the situation hit me—Cooper Romero was the hottest man I’d met in forever, and he’d just found me lying on the floor in my own sweat and filth like a dog. Typical luck. I scrambled to my feet, pretending I wasn’t totally embarrassed (I was) and not in the least bit freaked out by how unspeakably attractive this guy was. Okay, “attractive” wasn’t quite the right word, because it implied a certain level of polish and class that just didn’t fit Cooper at all.

Brandon was attractive.

Cooper?

I’d lick him all over and massage his butt if he asked. He stared down at me, his eyes carefully blank, making it very clear he wasn’t asking. Story of my fucking life. Sitting up, I pushed myself to my feet without bothering to dust off. Lost cause at this point.

“Not sure how much life the AC has left,” he said slowly. “I managed to get it going, but fixing it right would cost more than it’s worth and then some.”

Of course it would.

“I just need to get through the summer,” I told him, wiping a finger under my eye. My perfectly applied, vintage-style makeup had melted, leaving me with a clown face. Fortunately I’d (mostly) given up on caring three hours ago, right around the time I’d discovered the floor tiles were cooler than the rest of the room. “After that, I’ll worry about the furnace and by next summer I might not even be here anymore.”

“Really?” he asked, cocking a brow. “You selling out?”

“Not sure,” I told him. “I’m not thinking that far ahead right now. Things are very iffy with my dad . . . I think he’s got some—”

No. I couldn’t say it. Saying it out loud made it too real, plus the last thing I needed were a bunch of rumors flying around town. So far we’d kept dad’s situation mostly to family and friends.

“Tinker?”

Shaking myself, I smiled at him. “Thank you so much for fixing that. I’m not even sure what I would’ve done—I can’t afford to miss a week’s worth of orders. Not only would it put me behind, it would burn my customers.”

He nodded, studying me thoughtfully. God, he really was beautiful . . . Nothing like Brandon’s polished sophistication. No, Cooper gave off more of a warrior-tossing-you-over-his-fearless-steed kind of vibe. Yeah, like that would end well, because my track record with men was so fucking perfect, right?

Pull your head out of the gutter. He probably has a girlfriend.

At least I could finally lock up this hellhole of a shop and get a shower.

“Thank you so much—you have no idea how much I appreciate it.”

“No, but the whole throwing yourself at my feet thing was a subtle hint,” he said, and I realized he was teasing me. Was he flirting? I couldn’t decide if that kicked ass or scared the shit out of me.

“Anyway, it’s getting late,” I told him, feeling suddenly awkward. “I’m going to grab some dinner down the street, and then I could take you over and show you the apartment.”

A small, knowing smile crossed his face, and I realized he thought I was hitting on him.

“No,” I said quickly, mortified. “I wasn’t asking you out. Omigod, this is weird.”

“What, you aren’t turned on by a man who smells like old socks?” he asked lightly, raising his arm and giving a sniff. He was joking, but the sweat wasn’t a turnoff. Nope. Not even a little bit. “If that’s not enough for you, the roof tar on my ass should be a big attraction.”

Closing my eyes, I bit back a groan. He started laughing. Not in a cruel way, but companionably, which I guess made sense because both of us were disgusting as hell. Of course, now I wanted to check out his ass, but I managed to keep my eyes on target (mostly) when I answered him.

“Well, it’s sexy but I’ll manage to control myself somehow. I do want to grab dinner, though, and we need to figure out the apartment details.”

“I’ll take the place, doesn’t matter what it is,” he replied. “I’m in a hotel and it’s getting old. I’d love to move in on Sunday, but I can’t go look at it right now—gotta get my ass cleaned up. Meeting up with someone later.”

Of course he was, because men who looked like Cooper didn’t spend Friday nights alone.

“Sounds great,” I told him, refusing to show any disappointment. “Just text me when you’re ready, and I’ll get you the key.”

He opened his mouth to say something, but a sudden pounding against the locked shop door caught us both off guard. I spun around to find Talia Jackson glaring at me through the glass. Talia and three of her skankier friends, including Sadie Baxter, a girl I used to babysit when I was in college.

A girl who was now twenty.

Damn.

“Cooper!” Talia shouted. “What the fuck are you doing?”

I glanced at my new handyman, startled. Talia Jackson and her brother, Marsh, were two of the nastiest people I’d ever met. Marsh was president of the local motorcycle gang, a group called the Nighthawk Raiders motorcycle club. The club had been around most of my life, but it was only in recent years that they’d turned really bad. I mean, they were never the kinder, gentler sort of bikers, but I’d never been actively afraid when I’d heard a motorcycle, either.

Now? Let’s just say we’d all gotten a little edgy.

“That’s my girl,” Cooper said, and something deep down inside of me died a little. Of course he’d go for someone like Talia. She might have the heart of a deranged circus clown—you know, the kind that survives by eating the souls of innocent children—but she was hot.

Really hot.

Not only that, she was slutty, and while I wasn’t into the whole slut-shaming thing (like I had room to judge after the bachelorette party debacle . . . ugh), I wasn’t naive enough to think he was attracted to her personality. Cooper Romero might have a sweet smile, and he’d fixed my AC, but now I had proof positive that he’d never be into a girl like me.

Specifically, a grown-up with curves.

All righty, then. Probably for the best anyway.

“Just a sec!” I called to her, determined to take the high road, then I grabbed my keys so I could open the door. She pushed inside with her posse, and I do mean pushed. Little bitch shoved me so hard I nearly knocked over the display of antique Russian teacups my mother had lovingly collected. (So far as I knew, she’d never sold a single one of them, but it’d made her happy.)

“Careful,” I warned, and Talia turned on me.

“What did you just say to me?”

“Babe, let’s talk,” Cooper said, catching her arm and pulling her into his body. She squealed, going from aggressive to flirty in an instant.

“You’re all sweaty. It’s sooo disgusting.”

I noted she wasn’t trying to get away. Cooper smiled down at her, a hint of something feral in his eyes. Yeah, okay—whatever smile he’d been giving me, it hadn’t held any of that kind of intensity.

Yours truly was officially chopped liver.

“I was just about to head out and grab a shower,” he told her. “Wanna come with me?”

She pouted. “I can’t. The girls and I need to get fixed up. I’ll see you at the bar, though, right?”

He looked down at her, offering a sexy, indulgent smile. “Can’t wait.”

“Perfect,” she said, reaching around to grab his ass for a quick squeeze. Then she turned and strutted back out without a word to me, her gaggle of girls following like well-trained geese. Sadie gave a little finger wave on the way. The door closed behind them with a cheerful little jingle, and I wondered why the hell I even bothered with Hallies Falls.

I missed Seattle.

So what if it had Brandon? I could drown him in Lake Washington. Problem solved.

“Sorry about that—Talia is a little high-strung,” Cooper said.

“Oh, I know all about her,” I replied, hoping I didn’t sound as catty as I felt. Cooper didn’t seem to notice.

“I’m new to town, but she’s been showing me around,” Cooper continued, stepping over to stand in front of me, hands shoved deep in his front pockets. “I should get going.”

“Of course—don’t let me keep you. What time do you think you’ll be in touch tomorrow?”

“Afternoon work?”

“No problem. Looking forward to hearing from you.”

He nodded and pushed through the door, walking down the street without a second look back. I locked up behind him, wondering why all the hottest guys were douchebags. Not that Cooper had acted like a douche, but he had to be my age or older—late thirties—and Talia was the same age as Sadie. She was also a raging bitch. There was only one reason a man like him would date a girl like that, and it had nothing to do with personality or character.

Cooper Romero might be beautiful, but obviously he was shallow. Suppose it was too much to hope for a man who could fix an air conditioner and have a soul at the same time.

Pity

Are you ready for Gage and Tinker’s story?

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Blurb

New York Times bestselling author Joanna Wylde returns to the “wild and raw”* world of the Reapers MC with the story of Gage and Tinker…

The club comes first.

I’ve lived by those words my whole life—assumed I’d die by them, too, and I never had a problem with that. My Reaper brothers took my back and I took theirs and it was enough. Then I met her. Tinker Garrett. She’s beautiful, she’s loyal, and she works so damned hard it scares me sometimes . . . She deserves a good man—one better than me. I can’t take her yet because the club still needs me. There’s another woman, another job, another fight just ahead.

Now she’ll learn I’ve been lying to her all along. None of it’s real. Not my name, not my job, not even the clothes I wear. She thinks I’m nice. She pretends we’re just friends, that I’ve still got a soul . . . Mine’s been dead for years. Now I’m on fire for this woman, and a man can only burn for so long before he destroys everything around him.

I’m coming for you, Tinker.

Soon.

Have you heard?

Reaper’s Property by Joanna Wylde has a NEW COVER!

Meet Horse & Marie for ONLY $3.99 (normally $7.99)

Author’s Note: This book was originally released through a small publisher in 2013. This independent edition has been lightly edited, and contains a bonus short, “Sticky Sweet” (originally published on the author’s website) and a Q&A with the author.

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/29FeMde

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2a8RfSt

iBooks:http://apple.co/2a26FZ2

Nook: http://bit.ly/2a26zRw

Kobo:http://bit.ly/29NmSxQ