Cover Reveal and Giveaway: Illicit Affairs by JO Matthews, Bec Rose, & N.J. Cole

Illicit Affairs

Illicit Affairs is a compilation of three erotic tales with women giving into their darkest desires and pursuing the forbidden.

Unexpected Journey by Jo Matthews

Sarah thought she met her soul mate in Mitch Chandler. High school sweethearts, they married right after graduation. Eight years later, he is a stranger to her and their marriage is on the rocks. In a halfhearted attempt to placate her, Mitch suggests a trip to Hawaii, but schedules a business meeting to write off the expense.

Aaron Johnson, Mitch’s friend and business partner, agrees to help with the presentation and plans are made for all three to go. What happens when Mitch backs out at the last minute to spend a romantic weekend with his secretary, forcing Aaron’s hand so that he has to accompany Sarah alone?

Will an innocent friendship turn into something more as Aaron’s attraction for Sarah grows? How will Sarah manage when she realizes that Aaron is awakening feelings in her that she’s never felt before? The sexual tension burns hot as these two embark on an unexpected journey that neither are prepared for.

Excerpt

The flight to San Diego was quick, though the one to Hawaii was considerably longer. Somewhere over the Pacific, Sarah fell asleep; the day had obviously taken a toll on her emotions and exhausted her. I wasn’t really tired myself, so I grabbed a magazine from the caddy in front of me and started flipping through it. Not ten minutes later, she shifted in her sleep and leaned over, her head resting on my shoulder.

I froze in place, unsure of what to do. Part of me was screaming to wake her up or at least move her, while the other part of me—the part that tended to take over in any man when there was a sexy goddess nearby—wanted me to savor the moment. I must have warred with myself for three minutes straight until I decided it didn’t matter. There was no harm in letting Sarah sleep on my shoulder on a plane to Hawaii. No harm at all, considering her husband was the one who put us on the flight together.

Unable to resist any longer, I turned my head into her hair and breathed in her intoxicating scent. She smelled like wildflowers and sunshine, and I couldn’t help but inhale more deeply as I closed my eyes.

 

About the Author:

Jo Matthews is an Arizona native, where she lives with her husband and son. A stay-at-home mom since 2007, she only recently discovered her love and passion for the written word. When she’s not writing, she’s usually knee deep in editing—an aspect she thoroughly enjoys.

As an editor she has propelled quite a few authors into the published world, and with her skills, has landed several stories on Amazon’s Top Sellers lists.

 

Hot Summer Nights by Bec Rose

Annie Murphy had the picture perfect life. A beautiful home, a wonderful son, and a husband who adored her. It was every woman’s dream until her husband of over twenty years came out of the closet, leaving her a forty-five year old divorcee struggling to regain her confidence. Needing a distraction, she agrees to allow her son’s friend, Jamie, to spend the summer at her house while working as an intern. When Jamie, the cute female intern she’d been expecting turns out to be Jaime, the hot male intern with abs to drool over, it kicks Annie’s fantasies into overdrive. When she realizes that her desires are not one sided, it’s more than the temperature that causes some hot summer nights.

Excerpt

         It seemed like forever before he finally made his way back downstairs, and I heard him rummaging through the fridge for something before he walked into the den carrying some homemade chocolate mousse. I moved to the main sofa, sitting down next to him so we were both within reach of the dessert.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I made this before dinner. I have a bit of a sweet tooth.” He grinned at me as he took a bite. I smiled back and dipped my spoon in, groaning at the amazing taste that exploded in my mouth when I took my first bite.

“Oh, god, Jaime, you’re going to make me fat if you cook like this all the time,” I laughed. When I heard no reply, I looked next to me, seeing Jaime staring at my lips with—if I wasn’t completely misinterpreting it—a look of lust in his eyes.

“Oh, um, I’m sorry?” He seemed confused.

“I just said that you’re going to make me fat if you keep cooking like this.”

“You don’t have to worry about that, Annie. You have an amazing figure if you don’t mind me saying.” I was surprised by his comment. It had been a long time since anyone had complimented me like that.

“Oh, well, um…thank you, Jaime,” I replied, embarrassed.

We finished off the dessert, both of us silently deciding to stay on the couch next to each other by settling back as Jaime changed the channel to watch an old movie. It was nice to sit with someone and not feel the need to fill the air with unnecessary conversation. Jaime was easy to just be with, and I was once again glad it had turned out to be a male houseguest instead of a female.

About the Author:

Bec Rose is a budding author and mother of two. When she isn’t reading or writing, she enjoys spending time with her son and daughter. Residing in Australia, she possesses a subtle charm that carries through into her writing. In her debut novella, Bec Rose not only tugs on our heartstrings but leaves us panting for more.

Second Chances by NJ Cole

Calla Moretti married her college sweetheart, Bill. Married life was great at first, but as his career had her dropping out of college and moving away from her family and friends, Calla struggled with her role as a wife and homemaker. Stress due to infertility and Bill’s affairs, had the marriage on the brink of failure. When she drives home in the middle of a thunderstorm and spots first a broken down motorcycle, then the sexy rider, she decides to take a chance and offer him assistance. Realizing fate brought her together with a man who could give her the one thing her husband couldn’t—a baby—Calla decides to take a chance. One romantic night, one big lie, will it save her marriage or fill her heart with more emptiness? Will this be the answer to her prayers? In life, are there truly second chances?

 

Excerpt

Staring into my eyes, he lowered his head. I could have moved, spoken, coughed…anything, but instead I lifted my chin and allowed him to kiss me.

At first it was chaste, it really was, but when I didn’t pull away, he didn’t either. I felt his tongue poke from between his velvet lips and lick over my lower one. I gasped, and he used that opportunity to find his way into my mouth. As my body began to shake, I groaned. I had to stop this. If I didn’t, I’d end up having sex with him—a total stranger. I knew that because I was ovulating, if I did sleep with him, there was a good chance that I’d become pregnant.

I’d become pregnant.

I had stiffened up at my epiphany, causing him to pull back. “Oh, shit. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”

My mind was racing with the possibility of becoming pregnant tonight. I could go home to Bill in the morning and he and I could have sex. He’d think the baby was his, and maybe it would be, I reasoned with myself. He’d never know and our marriage would be fixed.

 

About the Author:

NJ Cole is a mid-western girl with a kinky side. She works by day and writes by night, all while being a mother to her wonderful boys and serving her Sir. Unlike many of today’s authors, she chooses to write in first person, allowing the readers to experience life through the eyes of the unique characters that live in her head. Her love of those characters and respect for their stories come through loud and clear in her writing. Reaching Amazon’s top 100 list in Erotica with Midnight Caller and Landslide, NJ Cole promises to entertain and excite the reader with her newest tales of love, romance, and as always, hot, steamy sex.

 

 

 

 

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Review: Mine to Take by Cynthia Eden

Skye has lost everything. It was all taken from her when her stalker caused her car to crash. Now her stalker is back and Sky needs help. She turns to long lost friend and ex-lover, Trace.

Trace never stopped loving Skye and he’s determined to keep her safe as well as win her back.

This was a relatively short story. The pace is fast and things happen quickly. There was never a dull moment in this story. Sky is either running for her life or running from the passion she feels for Trace.

They mystery of the stalker was very nicely hidden. I didn’t know who the stalker was until the very end. I really enjoyed that aspect of it. I can usually figure these things out quicker.

My big disappointment came from connecting with Trace and Skye. As much as I liked them, I didn’t really connect with them. I think the lack of more background information on their former connection kept me from making that connection. I also didn’t really feel the tension between Trace and Skye.

Overall a good story and I’ll definitely be reading more by author Cynthia Eden.

Find it on GoodReads!

Review: Poughkeepsie by Debra Anatasia

He counts her smiles every day and night at the train station. And morning and evening, the beautiful commuter acknowledges him—just like she does everyone else on the platform. But Blake Hartt is not like the others . . . he’s homeless. Memories of a broken childhood have robbed him of peace and twisted delusions into his soul. He stays secluded from the sun, sure the world would run from him in the harsh light of day.

Each day, Livia McHugh smiles politely and acknowledges her fellow commuters as she waits for the train to the city. She dismisses this kindness as nothing special, just like her. She’s the same as a million other girls—certainly no one to be cherished. But special or not, she smiles every day, never imagining that someone would rely on the simple gesture as if it were air to breathe.

When the moment comes that Livia must do more than smile, without hesitation she steps into the fray to defend the homeless man. And she’s surprised to discover an inexplicable connection with her new friend. After danger subsides, their smiles become conversation. Their words usher in a friendship, which awakens something in each of them. But it’s not long before their bond must prove its strength. Entanglements from the past challenge both their love and their lives.
Blake’s heart beats for Livia’s, even if her hands have to keep its rhythm. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love never fails. Love never fails, right?

In an interwoven tale of unlikely loves and relationships forged by fire, Debra Anastasia takes readers into the darkest corners of human existence, only to show them the radiant power of pure adoration and true sacrifice. Complicated families and confused souls find their way to light in this novel, which manages to be racy, profane, funny, and reverent all at once.

 OUR REVIEWS:

Dear Poughkeepsie,

Hello, little quirky book. You had me thinking that accidentally picked up a paranormal book at first. I hate vamps. But no worries, you weren’t that, just the counter to the paradigm for romance books. The hero was homeless? Jobless? He spoke “old-timey fancy talk”? Yeah, not my thing either. You felt like a odd modern day fairytale at times. Like Edward Scissor Hands, and maybe I wasn’t getting the “art” of it.

But never fail, in a weird turn of events you pulled me into your 384 pages and wouldn’t let me quit you. I had to find out what was happening with all of the characters that were so odd but painted so vividly. They were a motley crew. Oddly enough, your shining star was Becket. I was instantly in love and longing for him to come back into scene. And when he did, he delivered everything I wanted and more in a rambunctious bad boy. Drug dealing, prostitute pimping, gun running. Yeah, it doesn’t matter. He’s your best trait Poughkeepsie. And Eve. Stop right there. Their relationship broke me into little pieces. I know I’m not alone because I saw on GR that you are making a return performance in Dec of 2013 and giving us all what we want so bad, MORE BECKET AND EVE! Thank you, thank you, you are a good little story.

Oh and you didn’t think that you had enough oddity, that you had to add bow chicka wow wow in a Catholic church? I didn’t know if I should barf or be offended, but you went there, you went there. Runner up for favorite character was Kyle, Livia’s sister. Her foul mouth and sharp wit had me rolling.

So I loved your supporting characters Poughkeepsie, but listen up, because this is your best attribute. You took two characters led them through a modern day Alice in Wonderland path, and along the way introduced some vibrant and odd characters. So you grabbed my attention with them and I knew I’d get more later. Then, like Oprah giving away cars, EVERYBODY GETS A BACKSTORY!! Every one of these great character gets a flashback of their past. And the back stories were SO DAMN GOOD. High drama and unique.

So Poughkeepsie, I probably won’t forget you and the story you had to tell. I’ll definitely be back to read more about my new loves Becket and Eve. So it’s a date. Make it good and naughty the way we know they can be. I know you wont’ let me down. It will be interesting to say the least.

GIVEAWAY: A.L. Jackson Signed Books

This is an awesome giveaway from one of our FAVORITE authors, A.L. JACKSON! The giveaway is a signed set of (1) copy of PULLED, (1) copy of TAKE THIS REGRET, (1) copy of WHEN WE COLLIDE, and (1) copy of LOST TO YOU. This contest goes for ONE WEEK, so hurry and ENTER! You’ll LOVE these books!!

 A.L. Jackson is the New York Times Bestselling Author of Pulled, Take This Regret, When We Collide, and Lost to You. Her upcoming releases include, If Forever Comes (Take This Regret #2) on September 12, 2013 and Come To Me Quietly on January 7, 2014.

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Blog Tour and Giveaway: Seduced and Rocked by Cari Quinn and Taryn Elliott

An INTRODUCTION to the NA rock star series Lost In Oblivion.

Warning: get ready for a testosterone overload. The guys are in the driver’s seat in Seduced – and the ride’s gonna rock.

Twenty-three year old Nick Crandall has one focus in his life: Oblivion, the band he formed with his best friend Simon Kagan. With gigs coming up and the band members lacking focus after losing their drummer to rehab, they’re out of ideas. Until Oblivion’s bassist, Deacon McCoy, poses a surprising suggestion.

Bring in someone new. Two someones.

One You Tube video gone viral later, Oblivion is poised on the brink of stardom. With their new hot drummer chick — who comes in a package deal with a talented guitarist who happens to be head over pick in unrequited love with her – it seems like everything’s falling into place. Or will the band Nick and Simon have fought to keep together disintegrate before their eyes?

Four guys & one woman + more success than they ever bargained for = trouble, of the sexiest kind.

Add to your Goodreads Shelf: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17454336-seduced

LOST IN OBLIVION Website: http://www.lostinoblivion.com

Onstage he’s Demon, the unsurpassable bassist.

Offstage he’s the Peacemaker, the mastermind who keeps his volatile band from imploding.

Opening for their idols on their first ever tour, Oblivion is living the dream. That dream becomes a nightmare when Oblivion draws more attention than the headliner and egos clash. Frustrated at being shoved out of his mediator role by their new manager, Deacon McCoy loses himself in brutal workouts only coming up for air long enough to refuel—and that means hunting down the catering truck at odd hours.

Especially the deliciously cute chef who excites his taste buds as much as his body.

The child of roadie parents, Harper Pruitt has heard every pickup line twice. To her, musicians are one step above the scraps on her cutting board. All she wants is to get enough experience to run her own catering company, but Deacon and his bottomless and surprisingly gourmet stomach is too tempting to resist. Before long, she finds herself wanting to experiment with him outside the kitchen.

When Harper sees that Deacon’s sense of responsibility is doing him serious damage, she realizes he’s far from the typical rock star. But as the band’s fame grows, she wonders if she can love a man who doesn’t know how to let anyone in—even her.

You met Deacon McCoy in SEDUCED, now you can watch just how far a big man can fall.

Add to your Goodreads Shelf: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18140422-rocked

LOST IN OBLIVION Website:  http://www.lostinoblivion.com

BIO: Cari Quinn

USA Today bestselling author Cari Quinn wrote her first story—a bible parable—in 2nd grade, much to the delight of the nuns at her Catholic school. Once she saw the warm reception that first tale garnered, she was hooked. Now she gets to pen sexy romances for a living and routinely counts her lucky stars. When she’s not scribbling furiously, she can usually be found watching men’s college basketball, playing her music way too loud or causing trouble. Sometimes simultaneously.

Website: http://cariquinn.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cariquinn

FB: https://www.facebook.com/cari.quinn.1

FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/CariQuinnAuthor

Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliott’s FB Group – Word Wenches Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/346424552124487/

BIO: Taryn Elliott

I’m from the great state of New York–upstate NY, thank you very much. My family consists of a brother who takes care of keeping the snarky side of me alive and a dog that is more spoiled child than mutt. My writer-friends are the glue that keeps my crazy ideas more in the sane category, and my non-writerly friends are the reason I’m not a complete hermit. I can’t go a day without laughing and I truly do fall in love with each and every one of my leading men as I write their book. Music is life and every story has its own soundtrack. 

Website: http://www.tarynelliott.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TarynElliottFic

FB: https://www.facebook.com/TarynElliottFic

FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/TarynElliottAuthor

Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliott’s FB Group – Word Wenches Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/346424552124487/

One lucky winner that follows the tour will receive the following prizes:

Sterling Silver earrings
$10 GC to iTunes
$15 GC to Starbucks
paperback of Seduced.
paperback of Cari Quinn’s Unveil Me: http://www.amazon.com/Unveil-Me-Cari-Quinn/dp/1419969080 

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New Release: Beats (Hard Rock Harlots, Book 2) by Kendall Grey

Book 2 in the Hard Rock Harlots Series

WARNING: BEATS is specially formulated for horn dogs, porn oglers, smut peddlers, BDSM junkies, M/M and M/M/F addicts, DP dabblers, body modification connoisseurs, and lovers of A2M backdoor sexy times. If you don’t fall into these categories, can’t stomach hot man-on-man action, or if you have no idea what the above acronyms mean, please back away from BEATS now. This isn’t the book you’re looking for. Failure to heed this warning could inadvertently throw unauthorized users into a persistent vegetative state, or at the very least, require administration of a defibrillator to the chest and/or groin area. Nobody wants that.

For months, shy drummer Jinx Hardwick has been silently crushing on her tall, dark, and scary bandmate, Toombs Badcock. Drawn to his frightening ink and scars, she yearns to uncover the shadowy secrets lurking behind his silver eyes, but Jinx is too intimidated to even look at him, let alone talk to him. When she stumbles upon Toombs and their manipulative lead guitarist Rax in a compromising position, Jinx realizes her chances of winning Toombs’s heart aren’t just a long shot—they’re nonexistent. To make matters worse, Jinx’s family needs her at home. She’s about to back away from it all—Toombs, the band, her dreams of fame and fortune—when Rax makes her an offer she can’t refuse: a no-holds-barred night alone with Toombs. There’s one small catch. She has to go through Rax to get it.

About the Author

Kendall Grey is the self-appointed past, present, and future president of the Authors Behaving Badly Club. A whale warrior and indie freedom fighter, she spends summers in the corner (usually with a dunce cap on her head) and winters hunched at the peak of Mt. Trouble, fiery pens of fury (complete with invisible ink) flying across the pages. She has a big set of cajones, and she’s not afraid to use them. In her spare time, Kendall speaks your mind so you don’t have to.

Kendall lives off a dirt road near Atlanta, Georgia but don’t hold that against her. 

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beats-kendall-grey/1116763259

Kendall’s Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/WaZ1Nm

Contact Kendall:

Kendall’s blog: http://www.kendallgrey.com

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/KendallGreyAuthor

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kendallgrey1

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hmcmg

Kendall Grey

Check out my adult urban fantasy romances…

INHALE: Kindle, Nook, and paperback

EXHALE: Kindle, Nook, and paperback

JUST BREATHE: Kindle and Nook

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Blog Tour & Giveaway: Good by S. Walden

To sum it up: Cadence Miller is a good girl. She just happens to make one terrible mistake her junior year in high school which costs her ten months in juvenile detention. Now a senior, she’s lost everything: her best friend, the trust of her parents, driving privileges, Internet access. It’s a lonely existence.

But there is one bright spot: Mark Connelly, her very cute, very off-limits 28-year-old calculus teacher. She falls hard for him—a ridiculous schoolgirl crush headed nowhere. She can’t help it. He’s the only good thing at Crestview High. She doesn’t expect him to reciprocate her feelings. How inappropriate, right? But he does. And he shows her.

And that’s when her life goes from bad to good.

Review:
I need an older teacher to fall in love with me.
…Like freaking PRONTO.

I’m not kidding guys. God help the next male teacher I run into, because at this point if I think he’s even remotely attractive then I’m desperate enough to go all psycho stalker on his ass.

This book is one of the best books that I’ve ever read. Ever. In fact, I’m even going to go out on a limb here and say that it’s also the best book that I’ve ever read involving a student/teacher relationship. Lord knows there are plenty of books revolving around that theme out there, but none could be described as pure perfection like this one can. Oh, and for any of you out there wondering if this book is YA featuring no sex… Wonder no more. This book has sex, THANK GOD.Forget the fact that this story revolves around a Christian girl and forbidden love involving an age difference- The sex is definitely there… And let’s face it people: We all love the sex.

So let’s just go ahead and state the obvious, shall we? This book is about a student and teacher falling head-over-heels in love… Be still my heart. I’m always a sucker for those kinds of stories, but sadly they’re not all told that greatly and I’ve yet to come across a book revolving around that theme that was wonderfully told. This book blew any misconception I ever had about that away though- From the first page, I was hooked. Literally the first page. The heroine Cadence had me busting out laughing on more than one occasion- The girl’s sarcasm knows no bounds and Lord knows, sarcasm is the key to my heart. Cadence had always been a good girl until she made one really terrible mistake, but it didn’t alter who she was. Sadly, no one else seemed to agree though. She made one bad choice that branded her for life to a lot of people- Especially in her parent’s eyes. That bad decision, in turn made her ridiculed and picked on in school- The thing I loved so much about her was that she tried her absolute best not to show others how badly they hurt her, although it wasn’t always easy… After-all, the girl is only human; It was just a shame no one else seemed to see things that way. Life was becoming unbearable and meaningless for her… That is until she caught sight of her new math teacher…

Mr. Connelly. AKA: Mark.

He’s now officially one of my favorite heroes to this day, no joke. Forget the fact that Mark Connelly was gorgeous- The man also had a kind heart, good taste in clothes and music and some talents in the bedroom… Now where the hell were teachers like this when I was in high school?

Mark had initially first met Cadence by accident during her little stint of trouble- Only a few words were spoken but there was enough interaction to know that the attraction was there for the both of them- An attraction that eventually turned into much more the moment that Cadence walked into his classroom…

This book made me feel so many emotions- Anxiety and giddiness mostly, but all in a good way… Definitely in a good way. I literally devoured every page of watching their relationship unfold and I’m happy to say that while there was instant attraction, there was no insta-love, thank God. Can insta-love just not be a thing? …Pretty please? I swear to God, I’ve read enough books featuring that crap to last me a lifetime. I think that’s one reason why I loved and appreciated this story so much- The romance between Mark and Cadence developed slowly and naturally the way it’s supposed to, making everything seem much more realistic and believable.

Cadence may have been only seventeen at the first start of their relationship, but she was very mature for her age. Sure, she may have had a bit of immature moments, but she was still in high school for God’s sake- You can’t blame the girl for having teenage feelings and acting on them a time or two. Despite the age difference though, Mark was Cadence’s teacher which they both knew would ultimately be their down-fall in the end. I will admit that I literally almost died from an anxiety attack waiting on the moment they would both get caught the entire time I was reading… I mean that kind of shit is just bound to happen in books like these, am I right? Yeah, well I refuse to give anything away.

I will say this though- This book ends on one bitch of a cliff-hanger. …And speaking of cliff-hangers, is there like some secret rule among authors where they make it mandatory to end their book on a cliff-hanger right when shit goes down, and then wait sixty-eight years to release the next book? Let’s just hope that the next book in this series comes out as soon as possible… As in yesterday.

I honest to God can’t put into words how much I really and truly loved everything about this story- Everything. I commend the author S. Walden for not only blowing me away with her writing, but finally putting a book out there that gives all other books revolving around the “forbidden love” theme a run for their money. That alone deserves its very own special thank you…

Excerpt 

angel on the highway

They couldn’t pick a busier road? Let’s just broadcast to the world what pathetic criminals we are.
I was out on Highway 28 dressed in my juvie garb finest—orange jumpsuit with bright yellow vest—walking along the shoulder picking up garbage tossed out of the car windows of other lawbreakers. I’d been assigned to a community service-based juvenile detention center. I guess I wasn’t hardcore enough to make it into the locked-down facilities. And I should have counted myself lucky: I actually got to leave the building on work assignments.
Yeah . . . whatever. I was freaking embarrassed. I was embarrassed every time they dumped me on the side of some road to pick up trash. My long blond hair was pulled up in a required ponytail highlighting flushed cheeks that turned a darker shade of red when a truck passed by slowly, honking obnoxiously, its passengers hanging out of the windows yelling at me.
“Cadence!” one shouted. “Nice outfit!”
I looked down at my jumpsuit. It was unflattering, clinging to my petite body like a baby onesie, but I could get over that. What I couldn’t get over was the hideous color that washed out my fair skin.
“Do notrespond,” Officer Clements ordered.
“I wasn’t going to,” I mumbled, stabbing a Styrofoam cup with my trash stick.
“What was that?” Officer Clements asked, towering over me.
“Nothing, ma’am,” I replied, and continued my work. Just one more month, I thought, walking and jabbing, walking and jabbing.
I didn’t realize I had walked and jabbed my way down the road next to a car parked on the side, hoisted up on a jack. It was an old black Volkswagen, its owner a young man bent over changing a flat tire. Trash was littered about his work area, and I wasn’t sure if I should pick it up. But he seemed so wholly concentrated on screwing in the bolts that I was positive he’d take no notice of me.
I speared a burger wrapper near the back of the tire, and his face shot up.
My immediate reaction was to turn and run. I was afraid. I remembered a discussion in youth group a while back about angels and how every time they’re mentioned in the Bible, the first thing they say is, “Do not be afraid.” My youth pastor said that this was because angels were scary looking—eyes all over their bodies and under their wings. First of all, how did he know what an angel looked like? And second, why would God make his angels look like a bunch of freaks?
No. I didn’t think angels looked like that at all. I thought they looked like perfect symmetry, and that’s what scared the hell out of people. A form too beautiful to look upon. Like this young man bent over his tire, staring at my orange jumpsuit and trash stick, wondering what a little girl like me could have done to land in juvenile hall. Because I was little, after all. I stood at 5-foot-2 and weighed 100 pounds.
“I’ll be out of your way in a minute,” he said, wiping his brow with the back of his hand.
I nodded and watched him finish tightening the bolts, then stand and stretch his back. He wore the male version of skinny jeans and a black T-shirt that read “Midnight in a Perfect World” across the front in stark white letters. He sported red Converse All Stars, and a bunch of braided bands of various colors were wrapped around his left wrist. His black wavy hair stuck out in all directions, and I couldn’t tell if it was by nature’s blessing or hair product. I hoped it was natural. I didn’t want to think he spent a lot of time styling his hair.
He smiled at me, revealing soft dimples on both cheeks. I smiled back. His eyes were light. Good combination, I thought. Dark hair, light eyes. He was sexy. No doubt about that. Tall and lean. He looked like an intellectual. I figured he was some scholarly Emory University boy. Probably a philosophy major, I thought, smirking. I imagined he sat around chatting about existentialism with his hipster friends in some dive coffee shop (never Starbucks) sipping cappuccinos.
I giggled.
He stood at the trunk of his car putting away his tools and turned around when he heard me.
“What’s funny?” he asked. The smile still lingered on his mouth. “Did I split my pants or something?” He strained his head to look behind him at the butt of his jeans.
I laughed harder. “No. You didn’t split your pants.” I tried not to look at his butt.
“Phew!” he replied. “You know, I’ve done that in the past. Squatted on the ground to change a tire, and rip! Right down the middle. I happened to be on a date at the time.”
“No!” I cried, feeling just the slightest bit sorry for this stranger.
“Well, the date was on shaky ground once the tire popped. The pants-splitting sealed the deal, though. I guess she equated both of those things with ‘loser’ or ‘no money’,” he said.
“That’s awful,” I replied.
“Atlanta women are tough,” he went on, leaning against the trunk of his car. He looked me over and grinned.
“No, I’m not tough,” I replied to his unspoken question. “Don’t let the jumpsuit fool you.”
He shook his head. “What in God’s name could a little thing like you have done to wind up in juvie?”
I tensed. His demeanor. The way he talked to me. Like he’d known me for years. And he used “little thing” like a term of endearment. I knew I wasn’t imagining it. He did.
I opened my mouth to reply then shuddered at the sound of my name.
“Cadence Miller!” Officer Clements yelled.
“Shit,” I whispered, and turned around.

About S. Walden

S. Walden used to teach English before making the best decision of her life by becoming a full-time writer. She lives in Georgia with her very supportive husband who prefers physics textbooks over fiction and has a difficult time understanding why her characters must have personality flaws. She is wary of small children, so she has a Westie instead. Her dreams include raising chickens and owning and operating a beachside inn on the Gulf Coast (chickens included). When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about it. 

She loves her fans and loves to hear from them. Email her at swaldenauthor@hotmail.com and follow her blog at http://swaldenauthor.blogspot.comwhere you can get up-to-date information on her current projects.

Blog: http://swaldenauthor.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/swaldenauthor

Twitter: @swaldenauthor

goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/swaldenauthor

 

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Cover Reveal: Four Years Later by Monica Murphy

 

 Release Date: February 2014

Genre: New Adult Contemporary 

Guilt. That is all I ever feel when I think about my mom. Now she’s back in my life, always wanting something. Having her around makes it so easy for me to fall into those bad habits that get me into trouble. Skipping class, smoking weed, fooling around with girls that mean nothing to me…I’m messing up. The last thing I need is my sister on my case.

So I keep my mom’s return a secret. But promising I’ll get my grades back up on my own isn’t enough. Fable makes me see a tutor. And Chelsea is the smartest girl I’ve ever met. She’s definitely not my type but there’s something about her that I’m drawn to. She’s sweet, she’s shy and she seems completely immune to my usual moves.

Chelsea has her own secrets and she’s not talking. Like I have any room to judge. How can I get her to open up to me? And will I ever be able to convince her that what we have could be something real?

About Monica Murphy:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Monica Murphy is a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite. A wife and mother of three, she writes New Adult and contemporary romance for Bantam and Avon. She is the author of One Week Girlfriend and Second Chance Boyfriend.

Buy Links:

Amazon Preorder: http://www.amazon.com/Four-Years-Later-A-Novel/dp/0804176825/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377643962&sr=8-1&keywords=four+years+later+monica+murphy

Barnes and Noble Preorder: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/four-years-later-monica-murphy/1115435244?ean=9780804176828

Links:

Website: http://www.monicamurphyauthor.com/# 

Blog: http://missmonicamurphy.blogspot.com/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MsMonicaMurphy 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MonicaMurphyauthor 

Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5934418.Monica_Murphy  

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Monica-Murphy/e/B00AVPYIGG

FOUR YEARS LATER Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17978533-four-years-later?ac=1

Review: Seize Me by Crystal Spears

This is me NOT bashing the author or story. This is me giving MY honest opinion.  It’s a to each his own world and this book as you will see didn’t work for me. If it worked for you, kuddos to you. Now some might say, Amanda, if you didn’t like it why did you continue reading it? Here’s me telling you why. I see there are 4 and 5 star reviews and I think to myself, really? Did they not read what I just read? But then I tell myself it’s to each his own. Whatever floats your boat that kind of thing. Also, I wanted to know where the author was going with the story and how it would end. I give applause that there was no cliffhanger cause oh how I’ve been loathing them but the ending was very abrupt. Too abrupt. The story kept my attention that’s for sure even at times I wanted to give up cause of the ridiculousness of it. Now some might say, Amanda, did you not read the warning? Of course I did. That’s what got my attention, along with the cover which I think is very pretty and the synopsis which I thought was promising. I had no problems with the contents to the warnings though sometimes they were harsh. My problem is that it was way too much and it was like the author just jumbled all the angst and shock factor you could find and throw it all in one book.

I won’t be delving into the story or characters cause I couldn’t care less about any of it. I didn’t get the main characters or the story line. I just didn’t get it. Once again it was too much. When I read a book I like to somewhat connect to someone in a story and I didn’t connect to anyone. That’s one of the reasons I didn’t care for the story. The other reasons I will not name cause I’m being nice. The only thing I liked about the book was a character named Shadow even though we don’t know much about him. Yet. Other than that I got nothing else to say. *shrugs shoulders*

I’m never one to say do not read a book. That’s not how I work. Go ahead and read it and if it works for you, Yay! Will I read the second book? Yes. Why you ask? I’m a glutton for punishment. Ha! No seriously, I’m willing to give the author another try plus like I said I’m interested in Shadow and I want to know more about him.

Here were some of my moments while reading the book:

Oh come on! Seriously!?!

Fucking idiot

Dayyyum

Ewwww

What the fuck is this I’m reading?

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Crash Into Me by K.M. Scott

Review:

What would you give up for everything?

Tristan Stone was powerful, commanding, sex incarnate. And he wore it all so well. From the moment his mesmerizing gaze met mine, I had no choice but surrender to everything he was. His power. His decadence. His passion. He was all I never knew I needed.

He wanted to possess me, and I wanted to be his everything. All I had to do was accept what he offered. But everything has a price.

The world he gave me fulfilled my wildest dreams, but would that be enough when the past crashed into the present?

 

Nina was an art major, working at a gallery for a boss who didn’t appreciate her talents, just used her as a personal slave it seemed.  She is instantly attracted to Tristan when she first lays eyes on him, but at the time it seems like he looks right through her.  She takes a chance later and thus begins the start of the relationship between them.  She wants Tristan, she loves him, but she wonders if she will ever be good enough for him.  At times I wish she would have demanded more from Tristan when it came to certain things.  Luckily she has a kick ass best friend who helps her not give up and encourages her to keep an open mind when it comes to him.

 

Tristan is rich, sexy, powerful and keeps his emotions to himself most of the time.  He can also be a major asshole one minute then this complete sweetheart the next.  He is a hard one to figure out at first, but you just know underneath all he keeps hidden there is more to him.  He is freaking sexy as hell too.  He reminds me of a combination of Christian Grey and Gideon Cross but, a lighter combination of the two.  He has his secrets, ones that once you find out about them you really kinda want to beat him upside the head with a bat and say you jack ass, but I can also understand why he doesn’t want to share them at the same time.

 

The ending is one I didn’t see coming at all.  Between everything that leads up to it, Nina’s bitch of a sister who I personally would like to tell to go to hell, and you not knowing what the future holds made me want to scream no damn it I can’t wait for the next book to come out, tell me more!  Now that being said, it’s a cliff hanger but not one that makes you want to jump off the nearest cliff as well.  Now this is just my opinion and I could be wrong but, I think the next book will be Tristan’s redemption in a way.  He has something to prove now in more ways than one, but will he be able to do it? 

 

Crash Into Me needs to be placed on your TBR list.  Fall Into Me is the next book of this series and Ms. Scott if you are reading this, please please please hurry up and get it finished cause I for one cannot wait to see what happens next.

Excerpt:
 He slid the tie from my neck and undid all his work. “Now you show mewhat you learned.” I attempted to take the tie from his hand, but he pulled it away and whispered, “On me. Turn around and sit toward me.” Nervous fear shot through me as I stood up, and I hoped I’d be able to turn around without my legs giving out. The dress I wore only fell to the middle of my thighs, so when I straddled him, it was likely to ride up so far my panties would show. I didn’t care about that so much as him knowing that I was already dripping wet just from sitting there pressed up against him. Taking a deep breath, I turned around and climbed on top of his lap. He stared intomy eyes, unnerving me, but something held mefirm in his gaze. His hard cock pressed against the front of his pants and my damp panties. There was no way he didn’t know how excited he’d made me. I took the tie from his hand and slid it around his strong neck, even as my fingers trembled at the feel of him underneath them. Trying to hide my ignorance of my task, I wrapped the wide end of the tie around the narrow end, but it was no use. I didn’t know what came next. Dropping the two ends of silk, I looked down to avoid his gaze. “I’m sorry. I don’t know how to do this.” “You didn’t listen when I told you how to?” he asked in a voice that was as seductive as it was stern. Shaking my head, I continued to look down at the untied ends of the blue fabric laying against his shirt. “I couldn’t. You were so close, and it was impossible to pay attention to what you were saying.” He slid his hands down my back and cupped my ass to pull me into him, grinding my soaked panties into the thin fabric separating his cock from me. Kneading my flesh through my dress, he whispered near my mouth, “I love how honest you are, Nina. It makes mewant to be honest with you.” I wasn’t sure how to answer, but it didn’t matter. As my head swum from the sensations he’d created in me, he pressed his mouth to mine and kissed me. His lips were soft yet demanding, and I eagerly kissed him back, seeking a release of that sweet ache, but his kiss only increased the feeling, making mewant more. He nudged his hips off the couch, sliding his cock over my sensitive clit, and I couldn’t stop myself from moaning into his mouth. I didn’t want him to think he had this effect on meso soon, but I was powerless. I wanted him so badly at that moment, I would have done anything to keep his hands on my body.

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