I was drawn in by her kindness and the way she sees into people. The way she looks through their motivations, their fears, into the heart of them where the good waits. One glance and she’s stripped away the layers we wrap ourselves in to keep from being unique.
She saw into me.
Then used it to her advantage.
Now, my son is in danger and if she’s behind it, there won’t be a hole deep enough for her to hide in.
S.M. Shade is a homeschooling mom hopelessly addicted to Dr. Pepper, love stories, sunshine, and men with full sexy lips, though not necessarily in that order. A voracious reader since she sounded out her first word, she started writing as a teenager and rediscovered her love of writing as an adult. Originally from Indianapolis, S.M. now lives in a small Kentucky town with her teenage son.
She loves to hear from readers so please feel free to contact her or connect with her on Facebook or Twitter.
Living on Violet Circle, a place that’s less of a neighborhood and more of an insane asylum poured into the street, I thought I was prepared for anything. After you’ve seen a woman strip down at the laundry room to wash the clothes she’s wearing, then saunter across the street naked, you’ve seen it all, right?
How naïve I was.
After the factory closed, leaving me and a good portion of the town unemployed, I took a job managing Scarlet Toys. I knew it wouldn’t be a typical work environment, selling adult toys in a town more uptight than a constipated nun, but some things you just never see coming.
Like the protesters covered in poison ivy, screaming about smut peddlers.
Or a dancing dinosaur named Fappy.
Or the allure of the man standing in the center of all the chaos.
Wyatt Lawson, a six foot, four inch heap of muscle with a quick smile, ignited my interest in more than the available manager position. Like the missionary one. Or the rodeo. Maybe the side rider. What can I say? I’m an overachiever.
Let’s just hope he doesn’t scare too easily.
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Excerpt
I can’t believe I’m sexting in a shoe store bathroom. A funny thought occurs to me. Since we’re going for a wax at the day spa next, I could do a little before and after picture. Jani was right when she said I’ve never sent nudes before. It’s time to live a little.
As quietly as possible, I put my shirt back on and slip off my panties, leaving my skirt on. Hmm…I’m not sure about the best way to do this.
I’m not going to squat down in here. I finally decide to put one foot on the toilet seat and then shove the camera under my skirt. The first picture is out of focus and with the light filtering through my green skirt, it looks more like a stepped on tennis ball than a vagina. Fine, the skirt has to come off too.
It joins my panties, hanging on the toilet paper dispenser. I’ve never felt so classy.
Naked from the waist down, I put my foot on the seat again, and focus on getting the perfect shot. The next one is pretty good and I send it, but I decide to take one more.
Why did I decide to take one more?
Just as I hit the button, the toilet seat slides to the side and the plastic bolts in the back holding it on both snap. The seat clatters to the floor, and my foot slides right into the toilet with a splash they probably heard on the sales floor. Thinking I’m going to fall, I panic and grab at the wall, dropping my phone, which slides out of the stall and toward the sinks.
So, there I am in all my glory. Naked, with a broken toilet seat looped around one foot while my other foot rests ankle deep in blue toilet water. No way this can get worse, right?
Wrong.
As I’m trying to extricate myself, I hear a small voice ask, “Mommy, what’s that?”
“The lady dropped her phone, Justin. Just put it on the sink for her.”
Oh god.
Oh no.
“But what is that? It’s weird and…hairy.”
Somebody please shoot me now. Where is a nice stroke or heart attack when you need one? Behind the door, a small boy is getting a look at his first vagina.
My vagina.
The toilet flushes and I hear his mother gasp when she takes the phone from him.
Yeah, I’m not coming out of here. Somebody is going to have to deliver my food because I’m never leaving this stall again.
“What is it?” he repeats.
“It’s just, um, a close up picture,” she stumbles, grasping for an explanation that isn’t some stranger’s vagina.
“Close up of what?” he insists.
“A…mouth. It’s just a blurry picture.” I hear the click of plastic against porcelain as she places the phone on the sink and says, “Wash your hands again.”
“But I already—”
“Again, Justin!”
Justin isn’t finished asking questions though. Through the running water, I hear, “It had a moustache though. And four lips! Do some guys have extra lips? Am I gonna get more lips? Ohh! Is it an alien? Aliens can have extra lips.”
His voice fades as they leave, and I rush through the stall door to grab my phone, one shoe sloshing and leaving blue puddles across the floor. Of course, they had to have blue water. I pop off my shoe and stuff it with paper towels to mop up the bulk of the water.
That is how Jani and Emily find me a few seconds later.
OMG the characters that live on Viole(n)t Circle are hysterical! And just that, characters. I’ve never read a story with such nuttiness that I just want to keep reading more of the shenanigans!
Wyatt and Cassidy’s story is complex. Cassidy loses her job and needs another one, FAST! So when she hears about one opening, she’s all over it. Interestingly, it’s at an adult toy store. With hot Wyatt running the show. Cassidy doesn’t think it will last but she’s willing to give it a shot.
And that’s all I’m saying. Just grab, read and meet these crazy neighbors and friends of Violet Circle and why Cassidy doesn’t want to move away.
5 Stars!
About the Author
S.M. Shade is a homeschooling mom hopelessly addicted to Dr. Pepper, love stories, sunshine, and men with full sexy lips, though not necessarily in that order. A voracious reader since sounding out her first word, she started writing as a teenager and rediscovered her love of writing as an adult. Originally from Indianapolis, she now lives in a small Kentucky town with her teenage son.
Living on Violet Circle, a place that’s less of a neighborhood and more of an insane asylum poured into the street, I thought I was prepared for anything. After you’ve seen a woman strip down at the laundry room to wash the clothes she’s wearing, then saunter across the street naked, you’ve seen it all, right?
How naïve I was.
After the factory closed, leaving me and a good portion of the town unemployed, I took a job managing Scarlet Toys. I knew it wouldn’t be a typical work environment, selling adult toys in a town more uptight than a constipated nun, but some things you just never see coming.
Like the protesters covered in poison ivy, screaming about smut peddlers.
Or a dancing dinosaur named Fappy.
Or the allure of the man standing in the center of all the chaos.
Wyatt Lawson, a six foot, four inch heap of muscle with a quick smile, ignited my interest in more than the available manager position. Like the missionary one. Or the rodeo. Maybe the side rider. What can I say? I’m an overachiever.
Let’s just hope he doesn’t scare too easily.
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About the Author
S.M. Shade is a homeschooling mom hopelessly addicted to Dr. Pepper, love stories, sunshine, and men with full sexy lips, though not necessarily in that order. A voracious reader since sounding out her first word, she started writing as a teenager and rediscovered her love of writing as an adult. Originally from Indianapolis, she now lives in a small Kentucky town with her teenage son.
I’m not conceited. Really, I’m not. It just so happens I have a body a Greek God would be jealous of, and a face that could make an angel weep. Other than that, I’m just your everyday normal guy who happens to take his clothes off for money. Sure, I’ve had to dispose of a few guys for In Safe Hands, the organization I work with that helps track predators and child molesters, but other than that, completely normal. Women flock to me, screaming and paying for the right to touch me, so why is this woman so stubborn? Sadie Belmont’s curvy body and sharp tongue have haunted me since I met her a year ago. There’s something about her that gets stuck in my head like a bad song, and I’m determined to find out why I want her so badly, and why she can’t stomach the thought.
Sadie
I can’t believe I’m doing this. Of all the men in the world, I’m taking Justus Alexander to my childhood home in Oklahoma to meet my mother. A stripper who has a revolving door of women jumping in and out of his bed. Nine months ago when I lied to my mother and told her I had a steady boyfriend, I didn’t expect it to come to this. She doesn’t have long to live, and her only wish is to know I have a husband before she goes. I can’t disappoint her, and male escorts cost way more than I can afford, so when Justus volunteered, I took him up on his offer. I know what he wants. After annoying me with constant pick up lines for a year, he sees an opportunity to get me in bed. It’s not going to happen. I just need to get through this week with my sanity intact.
Excerpt
What is wrong with me? I’ve seen him shirtless before. Hell, I’ve seen him strip down to a thong, and it didn’t affect me like this. Is it just because we’re in a room together with a bed conveniently located a few feet away?
“Your cheeks are red,” he points out, amusement dancing in his eyes.
“It’s warm in here.”
“Uh-huh.” He digs into the pizza, grinning at me. “You want me. It’s okay. Perfectly natural.”
“I do not want you!”
“Your pointy nipples say different.”
“Can’t you just shut up and eat?”
“Absolutely.” He manages about thirty seconds of silence before adding, “We don’t have to sleep together. I can just give you the zombie.”
I’m totally going to regret asking, but I can’t resist. “What the hell is the zombie?”
“You just lie back and get eaten.”
My mind crafts a picture of his blond head between my legs and I shift in my seat. “You heard the part about there being no sex on this trip, right?”
“Yeah, but that was before you started objectifying me.”
I’m going to strangle him. “You’re the one prancing around naked. I know you’re an exhibitionist and all, but you can pack it away for a week. I don’t need to see it.”
“Fine.” He sits back and takes a drink. “But since I showed you mine, it’s only fair that…”
“Forget it,” I laugh, and he smiles at me.
“Just the boobs?”
“Nope.”
“You’re no fun.”
I devoured this series! Why had I not read S.M. Shade before?! I was having a bad day and had Worth It (that S.M. co-wrote) and LOVED it. So then I was very excited to start this series. And I am anal about what I read and have to read books in order. So I had 2 more books to read prior to this but OMG was that such a great decision! This series is quite amazing. I love all the guys relationships and how they all tease each other but they truly love each other.
And through both books 1 & 2, I was so curious about stripper (oops exotic dancer) Justus. I knew there would be something deeper to how he is the way he is. And the tension between him and Sadie. And just how he was so willing to leap to Sadie’s defense and to be her friend, when she needed it the most.
S.M. Shade is a homeschooling mom hopelessly addicted to Dr. Pepper, love stories, sunshine, and men with full sexy lips, though not necessarily in that order. A voracious reader since sounding out her first word, she started writing as a teenager and rediscovered her love of writing as an adult. Originally from Indianapolis, she now lives in a small Kentucky town with her teenage son.
I’m not conceited. Really, I’m not. It just so happens I have a body a Greek God would be jealous of, and a face that could make an angel weep. Other than that, I’m just your everyday normal guy who happens to take his clothes off for money. Sure, I’ve had to dispose of a few guys for In Safe Hands, the organization I work with that helps track predators and child molesters, but other than that, completely normal. Women flock to me, screaming and paying for the right to touch me, so why is this woman so stubborn? Sadie Belmont’s curvy body and sharp tongue have haunted me since I met her a year ago. There’s something about her that gets stuck in my head like a bad song, and I’m determined to find out why I want her so badly, and why she can’t stomach the thought.
Sadie
I can’t believe I’m doing this. Of all the men in the world, I’m taking Justus Alexander to my childhood home in Oklahoma to meet my mother. A stripper who has a revolving door of women jumping in and out of his bed. Nine months ago when I lied to my mother and told her I had a steady boyfriend, I didn’t expect it to come to this. She doesn’t have long to live, and her only wish is to know I have a husband before she goes. I can’t disappoint her, and male escorts cost way more than I can afford, so when Justus volunteered, I took him up on his offer. I know what he wants. After annoying me with constant pick up lines for a year, he sees an opportunity to get me in bed. It’s not going to happen. I just need to get through this week with my sanity intact.
Excerpt
What is wrong with me? I’ve seen him shirtless before. Hell, I’ve seen him strip down to a thong, and it didn’t affect me like this. Is it just because we’re in a room together with a bed conveniently located a few feet away?
“Your cheeks are red,” he points out, amusement dancing in his eyes.
“It’s warm in here.”
“Uh-huh.” He digs into the pizza, grinning at me. “You want me. It’s okay. Perfectly natural.”
“I do not want you!”
“Your pointy nipples say different.”
“Can’t you just shut up and eat?”
“Absolutely.” He manages about thirty seconds of silence before adding, “We don’t have to sleep together. I can just give you the zombie.”
I’m totally going to regret asking, but I can’t resist. “What the hell is the zombie?”
“You just lie back and get eaten.”
My mind crafts a picture of his blond head between my legs and I shift in my seat. “You heard the part about there being no sex on this trip, right?”
“Yeah, but that was before you started objectifying me.”
I’m going to strangle him. “You’re the one prancing around naked. I know you’re an exhibitionist and all, but you can pack it away for a week. I don’t need to see it.”
“Fine.” He sits back and takes a drink. “But since I showed you mine, it’s only fair that…”
S.M. Shade is a homeschooling mom hopelessly addicted to Dr. Pepper, love stories, sunshine, and men with full sexy lips, though not necessarily in that order. A voracious reader since sounding out her first word, she started writing as a teenager and rediscovered her love of writing as an adult. Originally from Indianapolis, she now lives in a small Kentucky town with her teenage son.
Three unruly friends. A wedding we shouldn’t have been invited to. Two unexpected romances. A scoop of sexy. And a double scoop of chaos.
Lydia is a good girl who is above revenge. Good thing she has us. No one cheats on our best friend and rides off into the sunset with his new bride.
What was supposed to happen? Unleash hell like two badasses. It was a simple plan, but we failed to anticipate a few things. A rogue prosthetic, an accidental exorcism, and dominatrix strippers willing to take things way too far, just to name a few.
What actually happened? As usual, nothing went as planned, especially when two sexy distractions popped into the mix. We were there to avenge our friend, not to get entangled with two cocky, arrogant men, who don’t like to hear the word no. I was sure we could resist.
I mean, it was only a week, right? What could happen in a week?
Not intrigued enough? There’s totally a duck in this story.
Ah yeah. Now we have your undivided attention. Enjoy our chaos.
#WorthIt
Trailer
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About the Authors
C.M. Owens
USA Today Bestselling Author of the Sterling Shore Series, Property of Drex, and Deadly Beauties.
C.M. Owens always loves a good laugh, and lives and breathes the emotions of the characters she becomes attached to. Though she came from a family of musicians, she has zero abilities with instruments; she sounds like a strangled cat when she sings; and her dancing is downright embarrassing. Just ask anyone who knows her. Her creativity rests solely in the written word. Her family is grateful that she gave up her quest to become a famous singer.
S. M. Shade is a homeschooling mom hopelessly addicted to Dr. Pepper, love stories, sunshine, and men with full sexy lips, though not necessarily in that order. A voracious reader since sounding out her first word, she started writing as a teenager and rediscovered her love of writing as an adult. Originally from Indianapolis, she now lives in a small Kentucky town with her teenage son.
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