The Demon’s Desire by Kendra Leigh Castle (Hearts of the Fallen #2) + Giveaway

Author Spotlight

Kendra Leigh Castle was born and raised in the far and frozen reaches of Northern New York, where there was plenty of time to cultivate her love of reading thanks to the six-month-long winters.  Sneaking off with selections from her mother’s vast collection of romance novels came naturally and fairly early, and a lifelong love of the Happily Ever After was born.  After graduating from SUNY Oswego (where it also snowed a lot) with a teaching degree, Kendra ran off with a handsome young Navy fighter pilot and has somehow accumulated three children, three dogs, and one enormous cat during their many moves.

While stationed in a remote corner of the Nevada desert, Kendra penned her first romance, and a career often spent working in fuzzy slippers and pajamas was born.  Her work has garnered both critical praise and award nominations, but the best part has been connecting with readers who share her love of dark romance (not to mention heroes with sharp, pointed teeth).  Kendra currently lives in Maryland, and can usually be found curled up with her laptop and yet another cup of coffee working on her next book.  She loves to hear from her readers, and can be contacted via email or her Facebook page.

Links

• Website
• Blog
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Goodreads
• Newsletter
• Pinterest

Synopsis

He’s as dark and dangerous as the storms he once commanded…and she can’t get him out of her heart.

Dru has spent two thousand years fighting to keep the people of Terra Noctem safe. In all that time, she’s only opened her heart to one man, with disastrous results. But when her city takes in a group of renegade Fallen, she finds herself drawn to the brooding and tormented Meresin, despite the fact that he seems to be the least redeemable of them all. When his instability hits a breaking point, Meresin’s only chance at survival is a perilous journey into a place from which few ever return. What he never expected was that confronting his demons would mean risking not only his future, but Dru’s as well…and that one stubborn vampire might give him back not just hope…but his heart.

Read an Excerpt here

Review

The Demon’s Desire is a sensual journey into a world of Fallen Angels and Vampires. Dru is captivated with Meresin. She see’s something in him that calls to her. She never thought that she could love again. Being a Vampire who faces eternity she, like most immortals, wants to spend it with someone that loves her and understands her. In Meresin she sees under his surly exterior to the heart of him. He has been hurt in the past and his self confidence was destroyed. He does not believe he is good enough for Dru.

Meresin wants Dru in the most primitive of ways. Her body, her heart, and her soul call to him. Together they dance a dangerous tango. They want, they need, they take.

Seduction, arousal, redemption, betrayal, and second chances collide in this tale of love lost and love found.

Giveaway

• $25 Amazon of BN Gift Card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1cb554115/

Purchase

• Amazon
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• iTunes
• Kobo

Other Books in the Series:

One Night at the Spa by Kathy Lyons + Giveaway

Author Spotlight

Kathy Lyons writes light, funny, sexy stories for Harlequin Blaze. She loves the faster pace of category books and that her humor can shine through.

She leaves the dark, tortured love stories to her alter ego, USA TODAY bestselling author Jade Lee.

 

 

Links Kathy’s Website Jade’s Website Blog Twitter Facebook Goodreads Street Team

Synopsis

What starts out as a simple massage treatment for spa manager David’s best friend Kim, turns into a night of seduction and sexual discovery.

Always relegated to the friend zone, David is determined to show Kim what she’s been missing…one erogenous zone at a time. Sure, their friendship is on the line. And sure, David’s hiding a motive larger than either him or Kim. But the second his hands touch her smooth skin, he just doesn’t care anymore.

Kim’s been so focused on the loss of her sports career that she’s had no time for romance or sex. But her response to David can’t be denied. Is it just that her body’s been missing out, or could her heart be involved too?

Review

One Night at the Spa is a sexy, flirty story that really packs a punch. Kim is an athlete that injured her knee and now cannot play. Before she knows it her body starts betraying. Apparently she is a really, really, REALLY late bloomer. Now she has the hormones of a teenager and all she can think about is sex.

David has wanted Kim for a long time but she really never seemed interested. She was focused on her career and school with no time for anything else. When he finds out it was because her hormones were dormant he is ecstatic. He starts planning how to seduce her, to claim her, and to love her. He doesn’t want to mess it up. She is too important. So he starts we a massage….

Kim and David are great, realistic characters that really steal your heart. Being able to see things through David’s perspective was great. He worries about messing up their friendship, but he wants her with a passion that is barely contained. When he gets his chance to convince her they would be perfect for each other he lays claim to her body and soul!

A must read that will leave you wishing the story was longer!

Excerpt

David is confronting Kim about her unknown “illness.”

David set aside the empty pint of ice cream, then grimly crossed his arms. "So, do you want to keep going insane or are you going to start talking to me?"

"Goddamn it, David—"

"If you say you’re fine one more time, I’m going to throw you over my knee and spank you."

"As if you could," she taunted.

"You know I can," he shot back. He’d done his share of wrestling as a kid. Against her, he had the height and weight advantage, and a growing need to put his hands on her. Hell yes, he could best her.

Apparently, she knew it too. So with another angry huff, she dropped down in the chair diagonal to the couch. Then she folded her arms and glared at her drooping plant in the corner.

He sighed. "Kim—"

"I’m sick, okay? Like seriously sick. I’ve seen a doctor. It’s all under control, but…but it’s taking me some time to adjust."

His blood ran cold and he abruptly leaned forward. "You’re sick?"

"It’s no big deal."

He threw his hands up on the air. "Criminy, you’re like talking to a parrot. It’s no big deal. I’m fine. Bull-fucking-shit, Kim."

Her gaze shifted to him. "Criminy? Where the hell did you learn that?"

He flopped back onto the couch. "Really? You’re going to start asking me about my swear words?"

"It’s from, like, the 1800s."

"It’s from my friend’s aunt Tilde, okay? It’s one of her favorite words. Have no idea what it means. Don’t even know how to spell it. Now for the love of God, will you tell me what’s wrong with you?"

"I’m developing!"

He stared at her. He looked at her, replayed the conversation in his brain, and still didn’t get it. What the hell did “developing” mean? "Um—"

"I’m going through puberty, okay? I’ve suddenly got real periods, I’ve gained like a hundred pounds, and these things won’t stop!" She gestured to her breasts. Come to think of it, they were fuller than he remembered. Beautifully so.

"Um, Kim. Aren’t you twenty-four?"

"And a half. Yes."

"So didn’t you—"

"Go through puberty eons ago? Yeah, that’s what I thought. But think about my life for the last decade. I was working out six, eight, sometimes ten hours a day. It wasn’t just the racquetball training. I was teaching aerobics classes, self-defense, and lifting weights too. Add to that my school schedule, and I’ve never had more than fifteen percent body fat. Apparently, that’s not enough to develop into a full woman."

He nodded slowly, processing her words. It aligned pretty clearly with what he had already guessed. Given her knee injury, she’d suddenly stopped most of her activity. Her body had finally had a chance to rest, put on some fat, and get back on track in the propagation-of-the-species way. It all made sense.

So why did she say she was sick? Why did she write in her journal that she was insane?

"Kim—"

"Look, my doctor says it’s normal—and let me tell you, that was one conversation I never want to have again—but it’s just driving me insane. Everything’s accelerated, apparently. More intense because I’m so late doing this. But until my hormones balance out and…whatever…I have trouble focusing. I’m antsy and irritable and…and…"

"Horny?"

Her skin flushed a bright red and she suddenly dropped her head into her hands. "Kill me now," she moaned.

He laughed. What would it be like to be going along in what you thought was a normal adult life, then suddenly lose your career and get hit with puberty all at once? Not only did she have all this grief about racquetball, but suddenly her hormones were throwing her emotions around like a Ping-Pong ball. No wonder she thought she was going insane.

He exhaled loudly, feeling his tension drain away. "Well, that’s a relief. At least I know you’re not dying of a brain tumor or something."

She lifted her head to glare at him. "So glad I could help."

He smiled at her. "Come on, Kim. You’ve got to see the humor in this. I’ve always envied how together you are—so cool under pressure, unstoppable on the court, driven at work. Hell, I have no idea how you managed to train and go to school at the same time."

"By being focused."

"Well, yeah. It’s easy to be focused when you don’t have adolescent distractions hitting you all the time. You basically grew up in a hormonal monastery and now—"

"I’m stepping onto a porn set."

He knew she was joking. He knew it, and yet his belly tightened up as his stomach sank to his heels. The image of her shaking her stuff and moaning in orgasm during an orgy had him nearly choking on his combined lust and horror.

"Oh my God, Pepke, you should see your face." She threw a pillow at him. "I’m not actually doing a porn show."

"I didn’t think—"

"Sure you didn’t. You just got sickly pale there for no reason at all." She flopped back into her chair. "I meant that everywhere I look, all I can think about is sex, sex, sex. Is this what is wrong with all those teenagers? It’s a wonder they can sit through a class. I can barely sit at my desk for two minutes before I have to be up and doing something. But God forbid I walk into the weight room or the training studio. All those…" She choked off her words.

"Hot, sweaty men?"

"They don’t even have to be hot, David. I’m seeing everything and everyone."

She made it sound as though she was depraved. She certainly looked as if she’d rather die than admit this to anyone, but he was still trying to process the details.

"You mean you’ve never gone through adolescence at all?" That couldn’t be true. She had breasts and hips. Granted, they were curvier now than before, but she had to have gone through some sort of puberty. Right?

She sighed, the sound mournful. "Well, that’s what I thought too. And yes, I’ve had periods and stuff, but they were always light, never regular. And they’d stop altogether during tournament season."

Okay, so she’d been slowed, not stopped. "But you’ve had boyfriends. I’ve seen you date."

She nodded. "And I did." She started listing off the men he’d had burned into his brain years before. Brian, Danny, and Bastard Rick—the one who had pushed for more in their relationship, so she’d just dumped him. Flat-out told him to fuck off. Never spoke to him again.

The men lined up in his brain and he realized that she’d never spoken about them with any kind of passion. Just a casual kind of he-and-I-used-to-hang-out way. She’d made it sound as though they’d barely been a blip on her radar. Now he knew why. She’d been dating more because that’s what people did, not because she had any true interest in it.

He nodded slowly, his mind finally processing what had happened. "All your time was spent at school or training." Until a little over ten months ago when she’d blown her knee. Then there’d been surgery and three months in a cast and now…and now her body was making up for lost time.

She pushed out of her chair to pace around the room. "Look, I haven’t been like a monk or anything. I’ve kissed. I’ve had sex…sort of."

"But you never got into it?" he asked.

"Not like everyone else did. I just never understood what the big deal was."

He felt his lips curve at that. Boy, was she in for a change in perspective. "So are you figuring it out now?"

"Yeah," she ground out. "And it sucks!" She stopped pacing, closed her eyes and let her head drop back with an anguished moan. It was a pose of defeat, and yet he couldn’t help but see every line over her curvaceous body. She’d been too thin before, too much like a marathon runner with no body fat, minimal curves, and no chest to speak of. Now she was bursting out of her yoga gear, and it was all he could do not to throw her over his shoulder and drag her back to his caveman bedroom.

Then she turned her head to stare at him. "What are you grinning at?"

He tried to wipe the smile off his face, but he couldn’t quite do it. It was terrible of him—she was really struggling here—but all he could think was: no wonder. No wonder he was just her sports buddy. It was because her body had been shut down. Her female urges had been locked away, but not any more. Finally, he could relate to her as a man who wants a woman.

Hallelujah!

Except he had to tread carefully. After all, any Tom, Dick, or Harry could sexually overwhelm a woman, especially one as confused as she was right then. But he didn’t want to overwhelm her. He wanted to seduce her correctly, show her the delights of sexuality in the right way. He wanted to love her, and that took a delicate hand.

Giveaway

• Spa Package in Raspberry (Open to US Shipping)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ba112f366/

Purchase

• Amazon
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The Halo Effect by Shauna Allen (The Cupid Chronicles #2)

Author Spotlight

Shauna grew up an only child with two open and loving parents in Central Texas. She’s married to her high school sweetheart and is the mother to three fantastic (no, that’s not a typo!) teenagers.

When she’s not writing, editing, or acting as a personal assistant to a NYT Bestselling author, Shauna enjoys reading, movies with Gerard Butler, vacays to the beach, and hangin’ with the kiddos–even if they don’t like hangin’ with her!

Links

• Website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Goodreads
• Pinterest

Synopsis

He’s gotta earn his wings…again.

Love Detail’s favorite angel has his sights set on his next target: the stoic and mysterious Noble Blackfeather. And it just may prove to be his toughest case yet. Noble’s reclusive ways keep his angel at wing’s distance, and love even further. But he’s not playing a part – he’s truly masking a painful secret and a profoundly wounded heart.

A cupid’s worst nightmare.

Noble’s been paired with Braelyn Campbell, the cute single mother next door. She’s adorable, friendly, fun…everything Noble needs. This should be a Love Squad slam dunk. Except she’s making a fresh start in Texas to protect her son from a volatile ex, and she’s not about to risk her heart or her son on another man. Even if he’s sexy as sin and always coming to her rescue.

Thank God for possibilities.

But, reluctantly, they are drawn together – thanks to their cupid’s dogged efforts and a whole lotta chemistry. Can the girl next door learn to trust again and help heal Noble’s wounded heart? Together, can they save the lost, hurting boy she’s raising? Can the angels help it happen before it’s too late?

Thank God for love.

Review

The Halo Effect was a beautiful and sweet romance that pairs two unlikely people together that just do not realize they are prefect for one another. Braelyn is a single mother and does not trust easily. Noble is not very sociable and he has closed off his heart to love. With the help from above these two are set on a course together that will throw them together every opportunity. Will the matchmaking pay off and these two untrusting souls fall in love?

These two have such great chemistry, it is obvious from the first time that they meet. The Angel assigned to them has some funny moments trying to get them together. The scheming and plotting is just hilarious!  This is a great rainy day romance that will soften you heart and inspire your soul.

Excerpt

Chapter 1

Crash! Noble bolted up in bed at the resounding clang of metal hitting concrete. The ear-splitting rah-bah-bah drone of hardcore death metal music made his head pound. He glanced at the digital clock on his nightstand. Shit. He’d only managed to snag a couple hours sleep.

He padded to the window and cracked the mini-blinds. He reared back when the sun pierced his tired eyes and let the blinds snap shut with a curse.

He was about to give up and slide back into bed with a pillow over his head when the hideous grating noise started again followed by a screeching sound, then the obnoxious wailing music cranked up infinitely louder. His new neighbor wasn’t usually this noisy. Cute, yes. Loud, no.

With a tired sigh, he squinted his eyes to prepare for the sunny onslaught and tipped the blinds open again to figure out what in the hell all the racket was about. How could one tiny woman make so much friggin’ noise?! He wouldn’t be so tired if his boss and best friend, Jed, hadn’t left him babysitting the business while he went away on his honeymoon. All those extra shifts kept him up too damn late.

He scanned the tidy, postage-stamp-sized yard next door. She’d already planted some pink flowery things. That probably explained the sweet scent on the breeze when he came home at night, but there was no sign of her right now. He had no idea what her name was or her story. Only that she was little and cute and had a killer ass.

Wait. A movement caught his eye from inside the open garage. But it wasn’t Sweet Cheeks, as he’d come to think of her. A lanky figure dressed in a black hoodie snuck inside and disappeared almost as quickly as Noble caught sight of him. His heart began to beat double-time as he wrestled with what to do. Call the cops? Go make sure she was all right?

“Damn it.”

He let the blinds slap closed again and threw on the same jeans and T-shirt he had discarded just a couple of hours earlier. Barefooted, he ran down the hallway, ducked out the front door and raced across the yard.

Quietly, he pressed himself against the brick exterior wall, which was already warming with the sun’s rays. His eyes darted around, searching for any sign of his neighbor, but he didn’t see anything. The music was unbelievably deafening now and his eardrums rattled with each beat of the bass drum.

How could she not hear this? Was she already hurt? Had she turned the shit on and this guy was using it as his cover to get in and . . . His heart rate picked up speed as he thought of the possibilities.

He peered around the corner into the garage and caught sight of the guy in the hoodie and black jeans tinkering with something in the corner of the room near the door to her house. A protectiveness surged through Noble and he knew he had only moments to keep this hoodlum from getting inside.

Never taking his eyes off the back of the guy’s head, he inched his way inside the garage and along the wall. The pungent mixture of gasoline, degreaser, and fertilizer combined with the punch of adrenaline that pumped fast and furious through his veins, forming a potent cocktail. The bass drum now beat so loud it thrummed in his chest as he got almost close enough to grab the hoodie. Just two more steps. One more.

Noble grabbed the guy from behind and pinned him against his chest. He reached over and flipped off the stereo. His ears rang in the deafening silence. His ragged breathing filled the grease-scented air. “What do you think you’re doing?” he growled into the hoodlum’s ear.

The guy squirmed against him. He was much smaller than Noble had originally thought. “I, um . . .” His voice cracked.

Noble spun him around and stared him down. He was just a kid, and he was wide-eyed with fear. He looked ready to piss his pants.

The door to the house flew open. “How many times have I told you about that blasted . . .? Tristan?”

Noble and the kid both looked over. Oh, shit. Sweet Cheeks.

“Mom?” the kid croaked.

Purchase

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Other Books in The Cupid Chronicles:

Inked by an Angel Book Trailer

Dangerous Pursuit by Margaret Daley (The Protectors #1)

Author Spotlight

Margaret Daley, an award-winning author of eighty-four books, has been married for over forty years and is a firm believer in romance and love.

When she isn’t traveling, she’s writing love stories, often with a suspense thread and corralling her three cats that think they rule her household.

To find out more about Margaret visit her website at http://www.margaretdaley.com.

Links

• Website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Goodreads

Synopsis

Reading about danger never prepared Samantha Prince for the desperate phone call from her brother in Brazil that sent her from the safety of her New Orleans bookstore into the rugged, inhospitable Amazon in search of him and a hidden treasure. And reading about romance never prepared Samantha to resist the mysterious appeal of Brock Slader, a guide she hired to help her in her quest.

Alone with Brock in an alien world of orchids and anacondas, primitive headhunters and very up-to-date gunmen, she struggles to keep their relationship strictly business. Will Samantha survive the dangers in the jungle only to have her heart broken by a man who lives on the edge—no strings attached?

Review

Dangerous Pursuit is a thrill ride that will take through the jungles or Brazil. The romance, suspense, danger, and seduction of this story captivated me right from the beginning. Samantha is brave, smart, and beautiful. When she left her home to help  her brother, she never realized the danger of the jungle and the ruthlessness of the men after her brother. Then se meets Brock. He is fierce, dominant, and sexy as hell. A dangerous combination for any women.

Right from the start I felt the sparks between Sam and Brock. The sensuality, seduction, possession and all consuming love that blossoms between them is enough to cause a swoon!  This is a book you will not want to put down! The characters were very realistic and they win the readers over quickly. The adventure, romance, and search for lost treasure is exhilarating and exciting.

Fans of Indiana Jones, Crocodile Dundee, Tomb Raider, and Nim’s Island will love this story!

Excerpt

“Don’t worry. You won’t have an hysterical woman on your hands. I don’t go in for that.” Samantha’s voice held none of the confidence she wanted. She told herself that it was the humidity and strangeness of the jungle city. But in truth all her senses converged on the touch of Brock’s hand on her arm, his fingers a tantalizing combination of rough and gentle.

Brock released his hold on her but didn’t move away. He was only inches from her, his male scent mingling with the potent odors of the tropics carried on the moisture-laden breeze. The noise of Manaus surrounded them, but all Samantha could hear was the loud pounding of her heart that filled her ears.

“I knew a man who disappeared about six months back without a trace. There are a lot of stories like that, Miss Prince.”

“I’m sure there are, but I’ll find Mark. I would know if something had happened to him.”

The warm gleam in his eyes that made them appear almost silver was gone, replaced by a serious look that turned his gaze a dark gray like storm clouds. “It will be worse if you discover nothing.”

“Worse?”

“The jungle has a way of swallowing people up. You may never find out what’s happened to your brother. You may spend the rest of your life hoping for something that won’t happen.”

The thought sent a chill down her spine, in spite of the heat. “What has made you so cynical?”

“Reality,” he said in a clipped voice, his expression suddenly very closed. His stance forbade further discussion of the subject.

Samantha took a step back, trying to distance herself from his very masculine presence. “Are you saying I should hope to find my brother dead rather than not at all?”

Brock’s mouth thinned. His eyes narrowed. He didn’t need this. Why was he even standing here with her. His common sense told him it was dangerous to become involved with Samantha Prince and her quest. He needed to keep his distance. She reminded him of all the things he had left behind in the States: security, normalcy, order.

But looking at Samantha Prince at that moment stirred something in him he didn’t need or want—a protective instinct. Wisps of her fiery hair had escaped her bun and framed her face. Not a beautiful face by most people’s standards but definitely intriguing, he decided as his gaze took in the angry tilt of her head, the glint in her sherry-colored eyes, the frown on her full lips, the sprinkle of freckles on her upturned nose.

Purchase

• Smashwords
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Miranda’s Mate by Ann Gimpel (The Company Store #1)

Author Spotlight

Ann Gimpel is a mountaineer at heart. Recently retired from a long career as a psychologist, she remembers many hours at her desk where her body may have been stuck inside four walls, but her soul was planning yet one more trip to the backcountry. Around the turn of the last century (that would be 2000, not 1900!), she managed to finagle moving to the Eastern Sierra, a mecca for those in love with the mountains. It was during long backcountry treks that Ann’s writing evolved. Unlike some who see the backcountry as an excuse to drag friends and relatives along, Ann prefers her solitude. Stories always ran around in her head on those journeys, sometimes as a hedge against abject terror when challenging conditions made her fear for her life, sometimes for company. Eventually, she returned from a trip and sat down at the computer. Three months later, a five hundred page novel emerged. Oh, it wasn’t very good, but it was a beginning. And, she learned a lot between writing that novel and its sequel.

Around that time, a friend of hers suggested she try her hand at short stories. It didn’t take long before that first story found its way into print and they’ve been accepted pretty regularly since then. One of Ann’s passions has always been ecology, so her tales often have a green twist.

In addition to writing, Ann enjoys wilderness photography. She lugs pounds of camera equipment in her backpack to distant locales every year. A standing joke is that over ten percent of her pack weight is camera gear which means someone else has to carry the food! That someone is her husband. They’ve shared a life together for a very long time. Children, grandchildren and three wolf hybrids round out their family.

Links

• Website
• Blog
• Amazon
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Goodreads

Synopsis

Work for The Company is nothing if not covert. Miranda’s life is on the line. Will Garen risk exposure to save her?

As an agent for an international security firm, Miranda has her hands full. Between secretly lusting after her boss, Garen, and making sure the dirty little secret about her double life as a wolf shifter remains hidden, she’s still a virgin at nearly thirty.

Sent to eliminate the head of a human trafficking organization in Amsterdam, she barely escapes with her life. Injured, frightened, and under attack the second her private jet lands in the U.S., she doesn’t know where to turn.

Garen’s been watching Miranda just as surreptitiously as she’s been eying him. Unfortunately, the fact that she works for him is a showstopper. Plus, Garen has a few secrets of his own that have kept him single. He’s frantic once he discovers his oldest friend is besotted with Miranda, too. When she insists on heading up a covert operation, he’s worried sick, but can’t come up with a plausible reason to stop her.

Miranda’s life is on the line. Will Garen risk exposure to save her?

Review

Miranda’s Mate is a story of claiming, possession, and destiny. Miranda is a wolf shifter that is lusting after her boss…big time. Garen has a few secrets of his own and he wants Miranda more than anything, but she works for him and that makes her off limits. When a mission goes wrong Garen will risk everything to save Miranda, including exposing himself.

The chemistry between Miranda and Garen is so intense. Right from the start you can feel the attraction, the primal need, and the sensual seduction that is weaving them together. How much will they risk to be together?

Miranda’s Mate is full of suspense, romance, a fierce Alpha male, a stubborn woman, and a love that will last for all time. Be warned….you will not want to put this story down. The spell Miranda and Garen weave will seduce you, possess you, and capture your heart!

Excerpt

…Garen threw caution to the winds. He clicked off his headset and tossed it into the next seat. His cock pressed mercilessly against the front of his pants; he could barely breathe he wanted Miranda so much. His wolf was nigh onto uncontrollable. It howled and snarled deep inside him. Garen forced it back. The last thing he needed was for fur or claws to sprout and ruin everything.

He could smell Miranda’s lust with his enhanced senses. She was so aroused, she was on the verge of coming. Strands of dark hair curled around her face. Her face was splotchy with excitement. Her blue eyes glowed warmly. Years of repressed desire slashed through him. He moved to the seat next to her and slid a hand between her legs. She moaned and pressed into him.

Possessiveness sounded an exultant note behind his breastbone. She wasn’t going to fight him. She wanted him just as much as he wanted her. He lowered his head and covered her mouth with his. She opened hers and sucked hungrily on his tongue. His cock throbbed. She wasn’t the only one on the edge of coming.

He felt her fingers on the fastenings of his pants, and then her hands closed around his shaft. He wanted to do everything to her. Kiss her, lick her, suckle her incredible breasts, and run his mouth down her body to settle on her clit. All those things would have to wait. What mattered now was getting inside her. He yanked her headset off and reached for her pants, delighted to find they had an elastic waistband.

The logical part of his brain was nearly obliterated with passion, but it reminded him she needed at least one leg free of her pants, which meant one shoe off. Reluctantly, he broke away from their embrace and pried her fingers off his cock.

“What?” Her voice was muzzy with need. “You started this. Come back here, goddammit.”

He laughed. God, but it felt good to laugh and hold Miranda in his arms. “Patience, darling. I just need to get one of your pant legs out of the way. Then you can straddle me.”

Between the two of them, they managed to unlace a boot and jimmy one of her legs out of her pants. He folded the chairs’ armrests out of the way, settled his hands on her hips, and helped her kneel above him. When she lowered herself so the heat of her surrounded him, he gasped. Sensation so intense it set every nerve on fire lanced through him. Her muscles clenched around his cock and held on. Hard nipples pressed against his chest. He thrust upward and his balls tightened.

“Sorry, darling. I’m not going to last long.” He moved a hand between them and rubbed her swollen clit.

Her muscles milked him. Her teeth sank into his shoulder. He could tell from her rhythmic movements and the tension in her nub she was coming. Garen let himself go. He’d imagined coming inside Miranda forever, and now it was finally happening. He growled low in the back of his throat as his semen arced into her.

He moved his hands to the sides of her face and kissed her long and deep. She turned her head, captured the fingers that had just been rubbing her, and licked them clean. It was so erotic, his cock throbbed where it was still buried deep in her pussy.

She wriggled out of his grasp, reached for the napkin wrapped around the beer bottle, and stuffed it between her legs before she pulled her underwear and pants back into place. Her face was a gorgeous, rosy hue. He started to tell her how lovely she was when she said, “Sorry. I’m sorry about that. Didn’t mean to. You’re my boss. I understand what we did was wrong. Don’t worry, I won’t let my, uh, my, well, whatever it was, get out of control again. I’m going into the head to clean up. We should probably have used a condom. I have an IUD, but still—”

“Whoa.” He held up a hand. Garen was having a hard time with the transition from a sexual high to a we-shouldn’t-have-done-this conversation. “I enjoyed making love with you, Miranda. You’re an amazing—”

She shook her head. “No. It was a mistake. It won’t happen again. I promise. You caught me at a weak moment.” She pushed past him and headed for the rear of the aircraft.

Garen shoved his still half-hard cock back into his pants and zipped up. A leaden deadness settled around his heart. She may have had sex with him, but Miranda didn’t care about him. The post-coital conversation he’d thought they’d have was considerably different. He bit down hard on his disappointment. Better if he went back to the cockpit. That way she wouldn’t have to look at him when she came back from the john.

What could they possibly have to say to one another beyond him apologizing for being swept off his feet by her lithe body and firm curves? No way could he tell her he truly cared about her. Not in light of the revulsion he’d seen mirrored in her face as she stammered through her regrets. She was obviously appalled by what she considered a weakness.

Garen picked up his headset and settled it into place before walking into the cockpit. He wasn’t certain just what he’d say to Lars. No way he’d be able to hide the lingering scent of sex. He latched the door and sat heavily. For a time neither of them said anything. Garen almost started to believe he could escape a conversation he’d assumed would be inevitable.

“I do not like to pry, but I could smell sex even through door.” Lars glanced at Garen with a knowing grin on his face. “How was she?”

Garen gritted his teeth. “Hot, passionate, delectable.” He inhaled, the air almost painful in his lungs. “But she doesn’t care about me. Said I caught her at a weak moment. Apologized all over the place and said it would never happen again.”

“Hmph. Well, it would be untrue if I said I were sorry.” Lars flicked the front of his pants. “Imagining the two of you fucking got me going. I will need to take care of myself before I escort the fair fraulein anywhere.” A hesitation. “I do not suppose there is any possibility the three of us could—”

“No.” Something about the vehemence in Garen’s tone earned him a penetrating look from Lars.

“Your airplane, my friend. I will be back.”

“Miranda couldn’t wait to get away from me. She might not be done in the head.”

“If she is not, I will wait. Unless you wish to watch me.”

“In a pig’s eye. Go.” Garen waved both hands at Lars. “It’s a good thing we’re friends. My tolerance for perverts is pretty limited.”

“You know you love me.” Lars blew a kiss and exited the cockpit.

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Exorcising Aaron Nguyen by Lauren Harris (Millroad Academy Exorcists #1) + Giveaway

Author Spotlight

Lauren is a fantasy writer, voice actress, and the co-creator of 2012 Parsec Finalist, Pendragon Variety Podcast for aspiring writers of genre fiction, where she is known as "Scribe."

Her voice acting can be heard on Audible.com as well as fiction podcasts such as EscapePod, The Dunesteef Audio Fiction Magazine, and The Drabblecast B-Sides.

Though she spent three years living in Tokyo, she currently resides in a renovated tobacco shed in rural North Carolina, where she is pleased to have running water, wifi, and all her teeth.

Links

• Website
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Podcast
• Goodreads

Synopsis

The murder of Millroad Catholic Academy’s resident genius, Aaron Nguyen, shuts down student life at the boarding school in rural North Carolina…for about a week. With the resilience of youth, the student body bounces back, and the memory of murder is nothing but a streamer of caution tape fluttering in the breeze.

Unfortunately for them, Aaron’s spirit has some resilience as well. Despite the priest’s attempted exorcism, Aaron’s ghost is soon breathing chills down the students’ necks and hurling bunsen burners at nuns.

Georgia Collins doesn’t give a shit about ghosts. All she wants is a story to prove her underground school news blog is more than a gossip column, closure on her one-sided relationship with her best friend Hiroki, and a vanilla latte. She wasn’t expecting Aaron Nguyen’s death to be anything more than a cold spot in the science hall, but since Hiroki has the curse of Spectral Sight, he is the only person who can see and speak to Aaron.

As the ghost’s demands for attention become increasingly violent, Hiroki enlists Georgia to help him investigate the crime, claiming that Aaron isn’t likely to move on until his killers are caught. Still hoping for spontaneous romantic combustion, she agrees to help bring Aaron’s murderers to justice and set the vengeful spirit free…but it’s not quite the close encounter she’s hoping for.

Review

Exorcising Aaron Nguyen is a fast paced paranormal adventure that takes the reader on quite a ride. Georgia is a strong character that is independent, hard headed, stubborn, and a bit snarky at times. When the smartest kid in school is murdered his ghost decides to haunt the school until his killers are brought to justice.

Georgia has had a crush on her bestfriend Hiroki for as long as she can remember, but as far as she can tell it is one sided. Hiroki is the only one who can see Aaron’s ghost, so he enlists Georgia help to find the killers so Aaron’s ghost can move one.

The connection between Georgia an Hiroki is comfortable with an edge of something else. They are both attracted to each other, but neither wants to make the first move or ruin their friendship. Being thrown together in suspenseful situations hunting for a ghost killers brings them together like never before.

From the very beginning this story grabs your attention. The inner workings of a Catholic school, exorcism rights, and budding romance make this a must read that will have you looking over your shoulder when you fill a chill!

Excerpt

What’s a Little Murder Between Friends?

Exactly one week after Aaron Nguyen’s body appeared on the soccer field with his head smashed in, I found my best friend, Hiroki Satou, leafing through an exorcism manual behind the chapel. The 9 a.m. sun punched the silhouette of our school’s new steeple into the brick courtyard, as if to remind students in the shadow of that looming crucifix that Jesus was always watching, even if the teachers usually weren’t. The acrid scent of cigarette smoke cut through the air, which was already dense with the grass and magnolia perfume of a late North Carolina summer.

As usual, Hiroki was smoking, posed in a languid slump against the brick wall. The manual, though—he usually didn’t bring that sort of thing out of his room. I slid into the shade next to him, and he shook the book at me without looking up.

"Ghosts are bad enough," he said around his cigarette, careless of ash falling on the lapel of his school blazer. "Asian ghosts are fucking terrifying."

I rolled my eyes. Hiroki had spoken English of some variety since he was a kid, but he’d only been in the states for six years. There were a few things he still didn’t get right all the time—prepositions, articles, idioms like "you can’t have your cake and eat it too" (which, if I thought too hard about it, didn’t make any goddamn sense to me either)—but I took personal pride in the fact that, by the end of sophomore year, he’d perfected the vast and varied usage of the word "fuck". Sure, he’d done all the memorizing and mistake-making, but I wiped a lot of spit off our desks teaching him how to pronounce the "f".

He flipped the page in a book filled with low-res “paranormal” crime scene photographs, and blew a stream of smoke away from me. The brick courtyard separating us from the soccer field still trailed the remains of last week’s flimsy caution tape, like morbid party streamers no one had bothered to take down. Half the nuns clustered at the edge of the grass, clutching their rosaries and shaking their heads. Sister Joseph Ann wept quietly into her wrinkled hands. I glanced past them to the field, waving away smoke that drifted toward me despite Hiroki’s efforts.

School activities had been cancelled for the past week, allowing the students extra time to deal with the trauma of a murder no one understood. There’d been lots of loud crying by people who’d never spoken to Aaron, and I guess I couldn’t blame them. Maybe they were distressed at the thought of murder so close, or maybe they saw it as an opportunity to get attention. Personally, I wanted to blog about it, but it seemed disrespectful to report hearsay and my blog wasn’t a gossip rag, no matter what people said – I never report anything I can’t back up. To be honest, I didn’t feel qualified to talk about murder.

Aaron’s ghost showing up, though, was a twist I might have an inside scoop on. Hiroki was saddled with the unfortunate talent of spectral sight, which made him something of an expert on ghosts. Just before morning Mass, he’d spotted Aaron’s spirit sulking translucently at the top of the stairwell to the science lab and alerted one of the nuns.

“Did you talk to the police already?” I asked.

He gave a one-shouldered shrug. “An officer came by, but I haven’t talked to Aaron’s spirit. I just saw him. I don’t have anything they can use to look for evidence.” He tapped his heel against the brick, avoiding my gaze. Though the ghost hadn’t caused any trouble beyond a couple floating beakers and a spontaneously-lit bunsen burner, Hiroki was jumpy, and his unease made me nervous. He wasn’t usually afraid of them.

"So what’s Aaron Nguyen’s vengeful spirit going to do?” I asked. “Strangle students with computer cables? Program a continuous loop of Justin Beiber into the PA system?"

Hiroki smirked, glancing up. I tried not to notice the cutwork pattern of light stealing through the courtyard trees and lighting his irises to eerie amber. I’d given up on him in sophomore year, when I realized personality would never matter as much as the fact that I was three inches taller and about seventy pounds heavier. But he was too goddamn pretty for his own good sometimes.

I’d been in love with him since sixth grade, when he’d transferred from his school in Arashiyama, Japan to Millroad Catholic Academy—a grades 6-10 boarding school built in bumfuck middle-of-nowhere North Carolina. It was like one of those schools you read about in old British novels, except there was no lake for Clandestine Rowboats of Boy-on-Boy Snuggling (unfortunately) and the field across from our winding front drive sported twenty seven rusting cars and a deer stand.

He flipped a few more pages in the book and leaned away from the chapel’s brick wall, peering around my shoulder at the be-habited faculty. “They’re going to drench the place in holy water, say some Our Fathers, and expect Aaron to pack up and go like a good little Catholic ghost.”

I raised my eyebrow. “I don’t think that’s how exorcisms work. Omnis immunde spiritus and all that shit.”

“Yeah, well, I can tell you one thing—a Catholic exorcism isn’t going to work on a Buddhist ghost.”

I wasn’t surprised to hear Aaron had been Buddhist. A number of kids at our school weren’t Catholic, including Hiroki and me, but we attended because it was the only school around with a decent college acceptance rate. Parents who wanted their kids to go to university bought uniforms, made checks out to Jesus, and packed their bewildered kids off to Mass.

“I didn’t realize it mattered what religion the ghost was. Is. Whatever.”

“It does if it’s the kind of ghost that can be exorcised.”

Hiroki avoided my gaze as he took another long drag of his cigarette and watched the nuns file somberly back into the school for assembly. There was something in that statement he didn’t want me dwelling on.

He exhaled smoke through his nose in a long sigh. “We might as well poke around.” He shoved the book into his messenger bag and slung it around behind him.

“What does that mean?” I asked, glancing at the door to the chapel. The cool stone interior beckoned me, promising a nap-length assembly followed by an iced vanilla latte, and I really didn’t want to play the Watson to his Sherlock unless he was willing to reenact some pretty specific fanfiction. “I am not going to the morgue to touch his body.”

“Ew,” Hiroki said, a little skipping-shudder in his step. “No. I mean his murder. I’m not going near a dead body—gross.”

I guess there was Seeing Dead People, and there was seeing dead people. I wasn’t in a hurry to do either.

“How are you planning to just ‘poke around’ his murder case? The police are all up in here twice a day.”

“No idea yet. I’ll have a plan by lunchtime.”

I power walked after him. “You know I’m all for investigative journalism,” I said, “but don’t you think snooping through crime scenes and threatening possible witnesses is sort of a bad idea?”

He shrugged, reaching for the door to the chapel and heaving it open. A gust of cool air reached out, snagging us both. “Probably.” He stepped into the relative darkness of the hallway and glanced back at me. “When has that ever stopped you?”

Giveaway

• Grand prize winner will win the rosary pictured on the cover of the book, which was hand made by Sarah Moore, the cover model and inspiration for the character of Georgia. The rosary is made from two different sizes of tiger’s eye beads and is valued at roughly $50.
• 2 copies of the mp3 “Looking Eyes, Holding Hearts” by The Ethnographers, a local North Carolina band (the song will appear in the audiobook scheduled for release in late November)
• 10 copies of the ebook

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The Awakening: Liam by Abby Niles (The Awakening #2) + Giveaway

Author Spotlight

Ever since Abby Niles picked up her first Sweet Valley High book in sixth grade and fell in love with Elizabeth and Todd, she’s been hooked on romance. By the time she reached high school, she was devouring meatier romances with pirates, cowboys and knights. She never imagined that those years of reading would one day lead to her becoming a published author.

In her late twenties, after having twins and becoming a stay-at-home mom, she started doodling stories to keep her sanity. Next thing she knew, she was actually submitting to publishing houses. And was immediately rejected. That didn’t stop her though. She found herself some kickass critique partners, honed her craft, and continued submitting.

And eventually sold a short story, then a novella, then a novel, and now a series.

Today, she juggles work, home life, and writing. It’s not always easy, but hey, who said life was easy?

In her downtime, which isn’t often, you can find her playing ‘Just Dance’ with her kids or trying to catch up on her never-ending to-be-read list. She also loves Zumba, and refuses to admit she looks more like Animal doing his Muppet flail than a sensual Latin dancer.

Links

• Website
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Synopsis

Shifter, Liam Doyle knows Hell. At least he believed he did. The night he feels his mate die, he learns how very wrong he was. Nothing he’d struggled with since Ava’s rejection compares to the emptiness that fills his soul by her death. Lost in his grief, he’s taken by surprise and drugged.  When he wakes, everything changes. Nothing is what it seems, and someone is dead set on making him pay.

When Ava Michaels is taken captive, she’s thrust into a dark and terrifying world along with the man she was forced to leave behind. While being near Liam again is heartbreaking, the motive behind her kidnapping is gradually revealed. The more she learns, the more she worries Liam isn’t the man she believed him to be. He has enemies willing to do anything to extract their revenge. Can their love survive a crazy man’s vengeance?

Review

The Awakening: Liam takes the reader deeper into the back story and relationship of Liam and Ava. Ava and Liam are mates, but she rejected him to save her sister. Ava was not honest or open with Liam about her reasons or why she had to do it, but the reader does learn a lot more about this fated couple and the challenges they faced to be together.

In this installment in The Awakening series you learn that Liam can feel everything that Ava does. When Ava is kidnapped, Liam thinks she is dead. This unleashes Liam’s inner beast and he goes on a rampage to save the women that he loves.

The villain in this story is not really as evil as he seems. The situations that bring him to attack Ava to get to Liam relieve a twist in the story that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat waiting to see how everything pans out. The connection between Ava and Liam is beyond intense. They are perfect for one another. They are both hard headed, stubborn, independent, and Alpha to the core. The eroticism, electricity, and primal heat of their romance will captivate, seduce, and arouse you.

Get drawn into the suspense, romance, dark side, and fate of these stubborn shapeshifters.

Excerpt

“Doesn’t concern me? I guess that’s what you’d have to believe when you mark a woman and bring her into a supernatural world without telling her, huh?” she scoffed harshly. “Fact check: It does concern me and you don’t get to tell me it doesn’t. If you won’t give me answers, I’ll find someone who will.”

When she went to hobble past him, he shot his hand out and latched onto her wrist. “Stay out of it, Ava.”

She tugged her arm but stopped when his grip tightened. Lifting her gaze, she was stunned by the fear she saw in his eyes. “Liam,” she breathed. “What won’t you tell me?”

His eyes flashed caramel before returning to normal. “You want truth? Here’s some truth. If you don’t want to completely ruin me, you have to live. Now get in the damn house,” he roared.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

Groaning, he hoisted her over his shoulder. The crutches fell from her grip to the ground. He squatted and snatched them up, then stalked across the yard.

“It means: You. Have. To. Live. That’s pretty fucking clear.”

He yanked open the screen door. As he lowered her, her body slid down the length of his, her nipples puckering as hard muscles scrapped against her nipples. Arm holding her tight to him, Liam stared down at her, his breathing ragged. Caramel lightened the dark brown irises causing her heart to stutter.

Before she could even blink, he grabbed the sides of her face between both of his hands and his lips were on hers. Angry. Possessive. Punishing…desperate.

As quickly as he started the kiss, he ended it, ripping his mouth from hers. Anger still tightened the contours of his face. He leaned down until he was eyes to eye with her. “All you have to concentrate on is breathing. So do it.”

Giveaway

• $50 Amazon or BN Gift Card (Winner’s Choice)

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Risky Surrender by Robin Bielman + Giveaway

Author Spotlight

Robin Bielman lives in Southern California with her high school sweetheart husband, two sons, and crazy-cute mini Labradoodle, Harry. When not attached to her laptop, she can almost always be found with her nose in a book. She also loves to run, hike, and dip her toes in the ocean. Writing is a dream come true, and she still pinches herself to be sure it’s real.

She is also the author of Worth the Risk and Yours At Midnight from Entangled’s Ever After line, and Kissing the Maid of Honor from Entangled’s Bliss line.

Links

• Website
• Blog
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Synopsis

Archeologist Lucy Davenport made a promise to retrieve an elusive piece of history buried in the walls of an iconic Indian village. But when she draws unwanted attention that interferes with her secret plans, she’s forced to risk it all with a man who threatens not only her goal, but the walls she’s carefully constructed around her heart.

Keats McCall is an environmental preservationist navigating the globe on behalf of heritage protection. When he catches Lucy at his latest project, he suspects she’s up to something. She secretive, sexy as hell—and has trouble written all over her. He devises a plan to keep her close so he can keep an eye on her. But what he isn’t prepared for is just how close he wants to get.

Review

Risky Surrender is full of suspense, romance, and seduction. Right from the start you realize that Lucy is fierce, smart, sexy, and stubborn. She is on a mission and she will not let anyone stand in her way. She did not count on Keats. Keats is sexy, hard headed, walking temptation, and stuck to her like glue. He knows she is up to something and he is not going to let compromise his project.

This story takes you on an adventure full of danger, romance and intrigue. The attention to detail makes you feel like you are standing right beside Lucy and Keats in the hot sun. This is a story that you will not be able to put down. The characters draw you in and wrap themselves around your heart.

Excerpt

The fact that Lucy came back meant something, right?

McCall feigned sleep when she eased open the sliding glass door and tiptoed back to her room. Despite the clench of every muscle in his body, he was relieved to see her. The digital clock on the nightstand read five thirty-two. He’d noted her absence at three forty-five when for some reason he needed to check on her.

When she padded by him in pajama shorts and a tank top to use the bathroom, his damn libido forgave her before he even blinked. Her long legs, perfect ass, and sculpted arms teased him into dismissing her agenda.

No doubt she’d been up to no good.

He pushed himself up.

A minute later she crept by him again, her attention on the floor. Which made the jutting out of his arm that much sweeter.

Something sounding like oomph spilled from her mouth. He couldn’t be sure because he’d stood, brought her into his arms, and her mint breath short-circuited his brain.

“McCall!”

That he understood. “Yeah?”

“Let me go.” She squirmed against him.

He flipped on the bedside lamp. He could get used to this wiggling of hers. “So you can sneak back out?”

Her body stilled. Seconds of silence dragged between them. In the dim light of the room her eyes twinkled with excitement. “I told you I had things to do.”

Being so close to her, the last thing he wanted to do was talk. But until he knew for sure what the glow on her face was about he’d keep his distance.

“Okay.” He sat back on the bed, willing to let her win this round. She couldn’t have gone far without a car, could she?

She wrapped her arms around herself. “Quit looking at me like that.”

“How am I looking at you?”

“Like I’ve been dipped in a caramel chocolate swirl.” She stared at him in fascination. Her chest rose and fell. Heat entered her eyes, no mistake about it.

He stood. “My favorite.”

She took a big step back and put her hand up. “That wasn’t an invitation.”

“What was it then?” He stopped just shy of her palm.

“I don’t know. I’m half asleep and can’t be held responsible for the idiotic words coming out of my mouth.”

He couldn’t help it. His gaze dipped to his favorite part of her anatomy—her mouth. One kiss. One kiss and he could stop fantasizing about what she’d taste like.

Excerpt 3

She was falling in love with McCall.

If she could keep this just about sex, do the casual thing, then it wouldn’t matter that McCall would never love her back. That he wanted tonight and maybe the next few days, but beyond that, she didn’t fit in his world.

When she took the Tlaloc sculpture, she’d be the last person he’d ever want to see again.

“You make it hard to breathe, Lucy. And I’ve been thinking about this all night,” he said in her ear, the husky sound of his smooth voice teasing her in the most delicious way.

“I have, too.” God, how she’d thought about it.

He drove her to the edge of his bed, his body steering her hips with expert guidance. After his lips performed a bone-melting caress to her neck, he turned her around.

She blinked away thoughts of the job she had to do and concentrated on the right now. It wasn’t too difficult. The heat in McCall’s eyes burned a path straight to her core.

Being with him filled the empty spaces inside her. She hadn’t thought that possible.

She put her arms around his neck and kissed him. Hard. She wanted him to know he made it difficult for her to breathe, too. She wanted him to feel everything she did.

The devastating touch of his full lips made her toes curl. She rocked against him, pressed her mouth tighter. His hands were everywhere. And she couldn’t ever remember feeling this much need.

A groan—his? Hers? She wasn’t sure—wrenched the kiss from her control to his. He explored her mouth like a man desperate to brand her. His hands cupped her ass and he brought her tight against his arousal. Knowing she was responsible for that sent a thrill through her bones and she couldn’t wait to feel him deep inside her.

Giveaway

1) "Win a $25 GC to the online store of your choice so you can buy something you’ll treasure."

2) Name a character in a future Risk It book!

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Take Me by Diane Alberts (Take a Chance #4) + Giveaway

Author Spotlight

Diane Alberts has always been a dreamer with a vivid imagination, but it wasn’t until 2011 that she put her pen where her brain was, and became a published author. Since receiving her first contract offer, she has yet to stop writing. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a cat, and a Senegal parrot. In the rare moments when she’s not writing, she can usually be found hunched over one knitting project or another.

She is a multi-published, bestselling author with Entangled Publishing, Swoon Romance, and Decadent Publishing. She has, as of this date, four books with Entangled Publishing, one book with Swoon Romance, and five older books with Decadent Publishing. Her February release with Entangled Publishing, ON ONE CONDITION, hit #18 on the Barnes and Noble Bestseller List, and TRY ME, hit #76 on Amazon. Her Swoon Romance novella, CAPTIVATED BY YOU, hit #31 on the Barnes and Noble bestseller list. Diane is represented by Louise Fury from the L. Perkins Agency.

Links

• Website
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Synopsis

Married in the morning…

Professional heartbreaker Mike Worth thrived on the chase—and dancer Morgan Collins represented the ultimate prize. But there was no way he was going to throw away his single-man status…not even for an elusive redhead with sparkling eyes and mile-long legs. So how did he let one drunken Vegas night end with I do instead of hell no?

Morgan’s life revolved around her career and she had no intention of letting a man interfere—even if Mike made her question all her rules about love. At his urging, she reluctantly agreed to give their spur-of–moment marriage a chance. But once their trial-honeymoon ended, would she choose to follow the dance and leave her unforgettable husband behind?

Review

Take Me is a sensual and erotic story that will steam you heart and lay claim to your soul. Morgan is feisty, snarky, and one hell of a dancer. She does not trust love, and especially does not trust marriage. Then she meets Professor Mike (swoon)! Mike is not the marrying kind, or so he thought. When one drunken night in Vegas ends with “I do”, these two must decide if the intense connection between them is worth giving a shot or both go on their separate ways.

This story grabbed me right from the start. The seduction, the romance, and the challenge these two became to each other was riveting. This story will reel you in, consume you, and take you! A must read that will leave you wanting more!

Giveaway

• 1 eBook of Try Me (Take a Chance #1),  Love Me (Take a Chance #2) OR Play Me (Take a Chance #3)

Fill out the form below to enter for your chance to win! Giveaway ends September 14th

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Eat, Play, Lust by Tawna Fenske + Giveaway

Author Spotlight

Tawna Fenske traveled a career path that took her from newspaper reporter to English teacher in Venezuela to marketing geek to PR manager for her city’s tourism bureau. An avid globetrotter and social media fiend, Tawna is the author of the popular blog, Don’t Pet Me, I’m Writing, and a member of Romance Writers of America.

She lives with her gentleman friend in Bend, Oregon, where she’ll invent any excuse to hike, bike, snowshoe, float the river, or sip beer along the Bend Ale Trail. She’s published several romantic comedies with Sourcebooks, including Making Waves and Believe it or Not, as well as the interactive fiction caper, Getting Dumped, with Coliloquy.

Links

• Website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Goodreads
• Blog

Synopsis

Cami Pressman is a yoga instructor with a lifelong secret love of junk food. Not even an irresistible man can replace the mouthwatering wickedness of her favorite foods.

Until, that is, Paul Hammond signs up for her class. He’s a gourmet chef looking to score some fitness tips, and a date with Cami. Suddenly Cami’s lust for junk food isn’t the only thing making her tingle.

When this sinful chef and hot yoga teacher eat, play, and lust together, they just might bring their obsession to a new level.

* Tawna will be donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Eat, Play, Lust to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation.

Review

Eat, Play, Lust is a fast, quirky read that is full of sweet romance, a junk food obsession, and Stand-Up Paddle Yoga. Cami and Paul are just a match made in heaven. She likes to eat and he likes to cook! The sensual scenes that involve food in this story are not to be missed! Let’s just say that you may never look at certain food in the same light anymore!

This is a quick read with engaging characters that will have you wishing and hoping for longer story with the two fun characters!

For those of you that say, “Huh?” when you seen Stand-Up Paddle Yoga…me, I would fall into the lake

Giveaway

• $50 Harry & David Gift Card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1cb554117/

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Fairies in My Fireplace by R.L. Naquin (Monster Haven #3) Blitz + Giveaway

Author Spotlight

Rachel’s head is packed with an outrageous amount of useless Disney trivia. She is terrified of thunder, but not of lightning, and tends to recite the Disneyland dedication speech during storms to keep herself calm. She finds it appalling that nobody from Disney has called yet with her castle move-in date.

Originally from Northern California, she has a tendency to move every few years, resulting in a total of seven different states and a six-year stint in England. Currently, she’s planning her next grand adventure. Rachel has one heroic husband, two genius kids, a crazy-cat-lady starter kit, and an imaginary dog named Waffles.

She doesn’t have time for a real dog.

Links

• Website
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Synopsis

Sometimes it’s the monsters who need to be saved…

A migration of mythical creatures has begun, and more and more of them are landing on Zoey Donovan’s doorstep. As the only Aegis left in the country, it falls to her to protect the Hidden and keep them safe—and her house has become a sanctuary for water sprites, goblins, harpies, djinn and more.

Keeping track of her boarders is a full-time job, and Zoey’s already got her hands full trying to run her wedding planning business. Good thing she has a resident closet monster to keep her organized, and a hot Reaper boyfriend to help her relax every once in a while.

But she can’t keep up monster-triage indefinitely, and as more Hidden arrive, it becomes clear that someone—or something—is hunting them. In the midst of planning an event for a notoriously difficult client, Zoey’s got to figure out who’s behind the hunt…and she’s got to stop them before there are no Hidden left.

Excerpt

Chapter One

As I inched across the roof of my house, the harpy nestled against my chimney regarded me with suspicion. I’d have let her stay there, but the mailman could be coming up the street soon. With all the weird things he’d already caught glimpses of on my property, I didn’t think he’d go for some half-assed explanation that she was a Halloween decoration. Especially since it was April.

I drew closer to her, and she pressed herself against the bricks. By human standards, she couldn’t have been more than eighteen or nineteen, though maybe harpies had a different rate of aging. She was all boobs and hair and feathers. And she stank. She also clutched my car keys in her sharp, grimy claws.

I stretched my legs out on either side of the roof peak and sat back, straddling it. The harpy relaxed. I laid my hands on my thighs in as nonthreatening a manner as I could muster. I kept my voice low and casual—as casual as I could while squatting, two stories up, with cedar splinters poking me in the ass.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of here,” I said. “Are you okay?”

She frowned. I truly hoped harpies understood English, since my regular translator, an eight-month-pregnant brownie, was unavailable. The height wasn’t a problem—brownies don’t fall, they float. The climb was the issue. Molly didn’t need the strain. Her tiny body was already burdened enough with the thimble- sized life inside her.

The harpy stretched one filthy wing and shook my car keys. Her perky breasts jiggled. I kept eye contact, afraid to get caught staring. Seriously, though, they were impressive. I never felt I lacked in boobage until that moment, but if I had what she had, I’d head straight to Mardi Gras. They’d run out of beads and beer by the time I left.

An arm I didn’t know she possessed snaked out from under her greasy feathers and scratched a nipple before folding away.

She shrugged. “I’ve been better.” Her voice had a husky sound to it, like she’d been gargling with a handful of sand.

At least we could communicate. That was a good start.

“Anything you want to talk about?” I reached out to her with my empathic gift, opening myself to whatever emotions she might be leaking. Nervous energy pat- tered against my skin, tinged with the dark taste of fear.

She shook her head, and a hank of stringy blond hair dropped across her face. She peered at me, waiting.

I thought I heard a car and glanced out across the yard. No mailman yet. The driveway was clear. “Listen, we need to get you somewhere you can’t be seen, okay? You’re welcome here. Just not, you know, right here.”

She chewed on her bottom lip, thinking, measuring me up through her mat of hair. When she finally spoke, it was a whisper. “I don’t have anyplace else to go.”

I let out a breath. “Oh, honey, as long as I’m here, you have a safe place to be. You just can’t camp out on the roof. We’re protected here, but we still have to stay out of sight, okay? We’ve got trees in the back, if you want to stay in the open. There’s room in the attic if you want to come inside. No one will bother you there.”

The bird-woman shook her hair from her face and looked at me with surprise. “I can come inside?”

“Of course you can.” I smiled to reassure her. “And when you’re ready, maybe you can tell me what’s wrong?”

She nodded. “Maybe.”

I stuck my hand out, palm up. “Unless you were planning on a road trip, I could really use my keys back.”

She shifted from one foot to the other and eased toward me. A shingle knocked loose and slid down the sloping roof, crashing to the porch below.

A voice rose up the side of the house where I’d left the ladder. “Zoey! Is everything okay up there?”

The harpy froze, her face draining of color.

“It’s okay,” I said. “That’s Maurice. He’s a closet monster. You’ll like him. Everybody does.”

She looked doubtful. “You have a closet monster here?” She shuddered.

I suppressed a giggle. Like Maurice was a threat to anybody. “We have all sorts here. Maurice helps take care of everybody. I’m Zoey. What should we call you?”

“Viola. Vi, if you want.”

I grinned. “It’s nice to meet you, Vi. If you’ll hand me the keys, we can get down from here and get you settled.”

Vi scooted closer and dropped the keys in my outstretched hand. “Sorry about that,” she said. “They were so bright and shiny. Sometimes I act without thinking.”

I managed to climb down the ladder without hurting myself, and Maurice was at the bottom waiting.

“Why didn’t you answer me?” He frowned. “I was worried. And how much damage did you do up there? Are we going to have leaks when it rains? I’ve got a lot to do already.”

My lips curled in a tired smile. “Just a couple of shingles. It should be fine.” A shadow flitted above us and another chunk of wood dropped to the ground. “I need to run to the attic and open a window for our latest guest.”

Maurice sighed, his large yellow eyes weary, and his face even more gaunt and pale than usual. “I’ll take care of it. I need you to call Andrew. We’ve got a hellhound with some sort of mange or something. I put it in the garage. You’ve also got a pair of water sprites in your bathroom sink, and a family of gnomes is hiding under the back porch.”

I ran my hand through my hair and groaned. “All that showed up while I was on the roof?”

He nodded. “We’re running out of places to put people, Zoey. This is ridiculous.”

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• 3 copies of one Monster Haven ebook, winner’s choice of one book from the series
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Other Books in the Monster Haven Series:

A Little Bit Scandalous by Robyn DeHart (Forbidden Love #3) + Giveaway

Author Spotlight

A life-long lover of stories and adventure, it was either become a stuntwoman for the movies or live out those adventures from the safety of her PJ’s and computer. Award-winning author, Robyn DeHart chose the latter and couldn’t be happier for doing so. Known for her unique plotlines and authentic characters, Robyn is a favorite among readers and reviewers.

Publishers’ Weekly claims her books as "sizzling romance" while the Chicago Tribune dubs her "wonderfully entertaining." Robyn is an award-winning author as well as being a four-time RT Bookclub Reviewers’ Choice award nominee, and a three-time RomCon Reader’s Crown nominee.

Look for Robyn’s new trilogy on forbidden love coming from Entangled: A Little Bit Wicked (fall 2012), A Little Bit Sinful (spring 2013) and A Little Bit Scandalous (summer 2013).

Also in 2013, she’ll launch a new historical romantic suspense series with NAL, the first in the series is The Secrets of Mia Danvers (2013).

Robyn lives in Texas with her brainy husband, two precocious little girls and two spoiled cats.

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Synopsis

A gambler in need of redemption

Monroe Grisham, Duke of Chanceworth, is determined to keep his beautiful young ward, Caroline Jellico, out of his life for her own good. Caroline is all grown up now, making it impossible for him to focus on anything but her presence. Hoping to put her out of sight, he leaves it up to his mother to find her a proper husband before he ruins Caroline himself.

A woman in search of a gamble

Mathematics prodigy, Caroline Jellico, is tired of waiting for the illusive Roe to notice she

A complicated game of seduction

When Roe and Caroline meet across the table, all bets are off. But this game takes more than skill, and the winner may take all but still lose everything.

Review

A Little Bit Scandalous is story about the gamble of love and how high the stakes are to win the one you love.  Caroline has been in love with Roe for as long as she can remember, but he does not notice her. When she is caught in disguise he is furious and intrigued at the same time. Roe would have to be a simpleton not to notice and appreciate Caroline’s beauty, but Roe is not worthy of her and the more he can push her away, the better off she will be.

The intensity between Caroline and Roe is just delicious in this story. They are so perfect for each other, but Roe is determined to save Caroline from his scandalous ways. Caroline is up to the challenge and in this game she is playing for keeps.

The seduction, romance, and thrill of the game make this story a must read that will win you over and leave you asking for more!

Excerpt

Caroline checked her cards again, then mentally ran through the ones that would remain in the deck. It was a risk to take another card, but she felt certain her calculations were correct and would result in a win. She eyed the dealer, then inclined her head, indicating she wanted another card. The man’s eyebrows rose, but he dealt her a card nonetheless. A three, precisely the card she needed to bring her total to twenty. She would win this hand. The rest of the table turned their hands over. The dealer chuckled. “You’ve won again, boy,” he said.

She gave a tight smile and accepted the money shoved in her direction. It was a good night, though it seemed the other players were beginning to get annoyed with her. She’d introduced herself with a fake name the first night she’d come, but no one seemed to remember it or her for the first several visits. Then they noticed she was winning, and winning regularly. They simply called her “the boy,” which was fine by her. Maybe if they all heard that enough, they’d believe it and no one would question or even consider she was anything but.

“That’s seven hands in a row, boy,” the man next to her said. He was a tall man with broad hands and long fingers. She thought she remembered people calling him Cabot. He’d been coming to play the last week or so. “Pretty good luck.”

“Perhaps it is more skill than luck,” Caroline said, using the lower voice she had perfected over the last month. She’d heard once that people saw what they wanted to see, or in this case, heard what they wanted to hear. She dressed as a boy, spoke as a boy, and thankfully, no one had suspected otherwise.

The man laughed, a jovial and authentic laugh. “And cocky, too.” Cabot popped Caroline on the back so firmly the motion jarred her teeth. “I like that. Name’s Cabot.”

It wasn’t arrogance, but she wouldn’t correct him. “Grey,” she told him. If all the men here thought her winning streak was luck, then they hadn’t noticed her counting. The prideful part of her wanted them to know, wanted them to be impressed with her skill, but pride had no place in this. She was here to earn funds so she could finally be in charge of her own life, finally be beholden to no one.

Another man joined their table, one she recognized from her other visits to Rodale’s. He was a butler for the Earl of Bromley and he was an incorrigible gossip. She suspected he talked as much as he did to simultaneously entertain himself and distract the other players. Caroline was pleased he’d joined their table instead of one of the other three in the room.

Cabot gestured toward the butler. “Finley, you’re not usually off work on Wednesdays. Did you get sacked?”

Finley smiled and picked up his cards. “I did no such thing. Lord Bromley and his wife have gone to the countryside for the week. His sisters are too occupied vying for the affections of Viscount Hopkins this evening, so I decided to come and see how the likes of you are doing.” His eyes moved around the table as he checked his opponents. “Appears I chose a good night to come.”

“The boy’s showing us up,” Cabot said.

All eyes turned back to her. Caroline shrugged. “I enjoy the game.”

They returned to their hands. After the second round, Finley nodded toward Cabot. “How’s your injury healing?”

Cabot lifted his cane and tapped it against his leg. “The break is all but healed, but the damn bite hasn’t. At least, not quickly enough.” He shook his head. “The doctor says I should be back as new in a couple of months. Can’t travel until the damn wound heals, though.”

“Snakes,” Finley said with a shudder. “That’s what you get for traveling to some god-forsaken country. You ask me, London is dangerous enough as it is.”

“I didn’t ask you,” Cabot said. “Besides, someone has to go out there and find all the treasures that the blokes in the other room like to look at in the museums. Might as well be me.”

Cabot was obviously some sort of explorer or archaeologist. Caroline couldn’t afford to be distracted by their conversation, as interesting as that might be. She kept her eyes on the cards and her mind in the game, keeping careful count with each hand.

“What’s the new gossip?” Erickson asked Finley.

Finley eyed the man, who was at least twice his size, and then shook his head.

“Come on, I know you’ve got something,” Erickson insisted.

“Very well,” Finley said after a long pause. “Lady Abernathy’s youngest daughter eloped with one of their footmen.”

Cabot let out a low whistle. “That will no doubt cause quite the scandal.”

“Yes,” Finley said. “Especially since it was said that the Earl of Burkfield had expressed intentions to court the girl.”

Caroline won another hand, as did two other players since the dealer ended up with only eighteen. She always loved it when Finley showed up and fed them gossip. It worked two-fold for her—kept the other players distracted, but also gave her that improper glimpse into London’s most elite families. She couldn’t help it; she truly loved to hear the gossip from this side of the stairs, as it were. If they only knew how the commoners spoke about them, laughed about them.

They played another hand in silence before Finley spoke again.

“It would seem Mrs. Williams, the housekeeper next door, had an affair with Lord Rochester’s brother,” Finley said. “She’s twice his age.”

The door connecting the main room to the back room opened. Normally, the only people who crossed that doorway were employees of Rodale’s. At the moment, though, another man stood in the room. A hush fell over the floor.

“What the devil is he doing on this side?” Finley asked.

“Looks gentry. Perhaps he’s looking for you,” Cabot said with a chuckle. “Have you been gossiping about him? Who is he?”

Finley ignored Cabot.

The man’s large frame was imposing standing there in his greatcoat, waistcoat, and cravat. Cabot was correct in his assumption. This man was quite obviously a gentleman. From where Caroline sat, she could not clearly make out his face.

“Your Grace,” another dealer said. “I believe you’ve come through the wrong door.”

The man shook his head. “No, I’ve come to play. Where’s the boy?”

His voice carried across the room and seemed to echo in the silence. Caroline knew that voice. Nerves fluttered to life in her belly. Her mouth went dry. She fought the urge to gather her winnings and run out of there. There, standing in the same room as her, was Monroe Grisham, Duke of Chanceworth, and her legal guardian. The man she’d once tried to give her heart to. The man who had turned her down flatly with nothing more than a no.

Ah, the foolish fancying of her youth. Thank goodness she had recovered from that particular folly. Still, she hadn’t seen him since she’d left London nearly six years before. But there he was, the very man who had taught her how to play this game.

The boy. She was the boy.

Damnation! Roe Grisham had come to play her.

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