Kristen Proby is known for writing heartfelt characters with deep connections and sizzling passion.

In her brand new Fusion Series from William Morrow, she seduces readers’ senses with the sexy, contemporary romance in which five best friends open a hot new restaurant together.

Today, we are thrilled to bring you CLOSE TO YOU, the second book in the Fusion Series! 

CLOSE TO YOU brings readers the next story in this amazing cast of characters.

Grab your copy of CLOSE TO YOU today and check out the special offer below!

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristen Proby comes the second novel in her sizzling Fusion series.

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

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

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

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Review

A relationship between Cami LaRue and Landon Palazzo has been thirteen years in the making, and now that Landon is no longer in the Navy and Cami is a grown woman, their respective crushes on each other can be explored and the distance between them can be narrowed, giving them a chance at what they’ve always wanted – each other!

Close To You is a friends to lovers’ story that has such a sweet feel to it because from the start of the book, Kristen Proby shows readers just how much Cami and Landon want each other. There are no games…no jealousy…no overblown dramatics because the story focuses on them getting to know the adult versions of one another and realizing that they’ve always been destined to be together.

Are there issues to deal with? Absolutely, but there is zero outside interference – Cami is a bit worried about what she means to Landon, but that trepidation makes sense because she always made her feelings obvious, but Landon did a good job of concealing how he felt, so this turn around overwhelms Cami and being the over thinker that she is, she questions her place in his life, but Landon does everything he can to assuage those fears and prove to her that it’s always been her regardless of the distance and time apart.

Just like in book one, the bond between the Cami and her best friends is at the forefront of Close to You, which makes the storyline even better. The women are so different and yet, they run a successful business together and have each other’s backs regardless of the situation. Their conversations and banter with one another is comedic as well as heartfelt and those kind of relationships is what I love to see in a romance story.

Landon is definitely swoon worthy; he definitely shows Cami how he feels about her and goes out of his way to take care of her and bring her happiness. I would have liked to see a bit more of how he processed being grounded and discharged from the Navy, but I understand why the here and now was more of the focus than what he was forced to give up.

Proby’s Fusion series showcases the bonds of friendship and the love opportunities that seem to take people by surprise in the most delicious ways. There are three more women to go and I can’t wait to see the steps Kat takes to get her man and how he will fit in with her Seduction partners!

A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

4 Poison Apples

PROLOGUE

~Landon~

“Are you packed?” my sister, Mia, asks through the phone. Her voice is husky with sleep, which makes sense since it’s the middle of the night back home in Portland, Oregon.

“I leave tomorrow, Mia. Of course I’m not packed.” She snickers. I just finished up my last debriefing meeting, my last day as an officer in the Navy. I grip the zipper of my flight uniform and sigh. “It’s not right.”

“I know,” she says quietly. “But you’re safe and whole, and you could be dead, Landon, so I’ll take it.”

I frown, staring at myself in the mirror as I unzip my uniform for the last time. I’ll never wear it again, never pilot a plane again.

What the fuck am I supposed to do now? The Navy gave me options, but if I can’t fly, there’s no sense in it. Flying isn’t just what I do, it’s who I am.

“You’re overthinking,” Mia says.

“I’m a pilot, Mia. This is what I love. It wasn’t supposed to end like this.”

“You’re alive,” she says.

“Am I?” I murmur, then shake my head and wince at the neck pain that still nags me from time to time. Ejecting from an F- 16 will cause a crick in the neck. And a loss of an inch in height that may never return, along with an entire Naval career.

Son of a bitch.

“This has been the longest four months of our lives, Landon. We’re all anxious to see you.”

“I’ll be home in a few days,” I reply as I pull a T- shirt over my head and throw the last of my belongings in a box that the Navy will have sent to me from Italy.

I loved being in Italy for the past few years, and God knows I didn’t plan to leave it like this.

But I am. Maybe Mia’s right; at least I’m alive and I can walk and live a normal life.

I just can’t fly.

And that’s what hurts more than any injury from the crash.

“What time should I come get you from the airport?”

“No need,” I reply, regretting calling my sister and waking her up. I just didn’t know what else to do when I came in here and was faced with boxes and the end of a career I love. “I’ll get there.”

“Landon— ”

“It’s okay, really. I’ll see you in a few days.”

“Be safe,” she says. “And, Landon?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s going to be okay.”

I force a grin and a nod, though she can’t see either. “Of course it is.”

We say our good- byes and I sit on the edge of the bed, scrub my hands over my face, and take a deep breath. I hope she’s right.

Order CLOSE TO YOU during release week, fill out this form, and receive an email with the Exclusive Short Story, GROW WITH ME, featuring Will and Meg from Kristen Proby’s PLAY WITH ME in the With Me in Seattle Series after Release Week!

And Don’t Miss the First Novel in the Fusion Series, LISTEN TO ME!

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About Kristen Proby

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kristen Proby is the author of the bestselling With Me In Seattle and Love Under the Big Sky series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong, humorous characters with a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type; fiercely protective and a bit bossy, and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves.

Kristen lives in Montana, where she enjoys coffee, chocolate and sunshine. And naps.

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Giveaway

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Ruthless

A Lawless Novel

By Lexi Blake

Coming August 9, 2016

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

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

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

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Early Reviews

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

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

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

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

Excerpt

“Why did you do that?”

It was the first time she’d spoken without being prompted. “Do what?”

Her face flushed the sweetest pink. The color went all the way down that sexy V-neck. Her breasts flushed as well as her face, and it made his damn dick tighten. “Kiss me. Why did you kiss me like that?”

Oh, so many reasons, but he gave her the most compelling one. “I wanted to.”

The minute she’d opened the door and he’d seen her standing there looking anxious, he’d known how to calm her down. All he’d had to do was put his hands on her and some odd connection flared between the two of them. She hadn’t fought him. He could have gone on kissing her. He’d been the one to pull away.

It was like the minute he walked in, he was the only thing that existed for her. It made him feel ten feet tall, but it also made him want to please her.

It was an unsettling sensation.

Her hands came up, fingers on the sides of the table. “You know what I’m asking. You knew I wasn’t alone. Why did you pretend to be my boyfriend?”

It was easy to see she’d wanted him to wait for her at the restaurant so as to avoid him meeting her sister and ex. When she’d opened the door, he’d immediately known something was wrong. He’d gotten a glimpse of her sister and known Ellie had likely needed a hand. It had to be tough on a woman’s ego to lose even a pathetic excuse of a husband to a younger sister.

“You were alone with your sister who slept with your husband. Excuse me. Ex-husband.”

She shook her head. “At the time, we were definitely married. How did you know he was my ex-husband?”

“He took half your net wealth. I’m your lawyer. At this level, a good lawyer is less legal counsel and more war consultant. I can’t properly perform my duties if I don’t know everything about you, including the fact that you tend to have terrible taste in men.”

She frowned. “I haven’t had a ton of boyfriends. I’m not sure what my taste is.”

He really wanted to understand why she’d married that obvious prick. “What attracted you to him? Because from where I was standing, he looked like a dickwad desperate to be twenty-one again.”

She bit into her bottom lip, her eyes glancing away from him. “He wasn’t always like that. I actually met him when he was twenty-one. He was far more mature then.”

He liked her candor. “You were in college?”

“Last year of undergrad. We dated for two years and then it seemed like it was time to get married. We’d moved back here to Manhattan so I could take my place at StratCast. I thought he was going to go to grad school, but he decided on a different path.”

“What path was that?”

A single brow rose over her right eye. “You don’t know?”

Of course he knew. He knew everything. “Are you referring to your ex-husband’s penchant for swinging for the fences? When it comes to investments, that is.”

It was what he liked to call “idiots who funded ridiculous ideas.” They never wanted a simple profit out of their money. They wanted millions and really fucking fast. They swung for the grand slam when all they needed to do was get on base.

It took a true genius to take a single idea and make millions off it. Drew had.

Her shoulders straightened. “He wanted the easy solution. A get-rich-quick scheme. He wasn’t that way at first. At one point he was very intellectual. It’s what attracted me to him. He was curious about the world and liked to discuss everything from politics to social jus- tice to movies we saw. He changed. I didn’t. In some ways, I blame getting involved with me for what happened to him. He got around my father and real wealth and wanted some of his own. When I met him, he wanted to be a professor. He wanted to teach.”

At least he’d gotten her this far. She was talking. Now he needed to get those shoulders down from around her earlobes. For one moment, for that moment when he’d drawn her into his arms and pressed his mouth to hers, she’d relaxed against him, given over to him. Her body had softened and she’d leaned into him, and if he’d pressed her, he didn’t know what would have happened. She might have continued kissing him, forgetting all about the other people in the room. He could have cupped her breast, her ass. Put his hands anywhere he liked.

She hadn’t given a damn that they hadn’t been alone. All she’d cared about was him.

About The Author

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlexiblake/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/authorlexiblake

Website: http://www.lexiblake.net/

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Lexi-Blake/e/B005JVSDJ0/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1450204047&sr=8-2-ent

We’re delighted to kick off the Legacy Falls cover reveal tour–a week where we’ll feature eight great stories as part of the Legacy Falls charitable anthology project.

Each author will donate a portion of their sales to the wounded or returning veteran charities of their choice.

Legacy Falls Project Summary

Families from Legacy Falls share a tradition of loss.

Lovers have said farewell at the Pleasant Street train station for seventy years.

Mothers have welcomed home their sons in the ticker tape return from war and loss.

After every war, every battle, Legacy Falls opens its arms and its hearts to the wounded warriors returning home.

These are their stories.

Summary

Sergeant Jackson Hamilton Ledet didn’t want to be a burden. Not to Bex, the woman he left behind to serve his country. Not to anyone. But returning home with an injury he fears he’ll never recover from Jackson faces the bitter knowledge that life as he knew it is over.

One Dear Jane letter to Bex and the deal is done, knowing he could never let her care for the half man he is now.

But Jackson’s return to his sleepy hometown of Legacy Falls offers more than the peaceful life he wants. It starts with a veterinary clinic, a dog and the woman he thought he could walk away from. Jackson knows life can be cruel but sometimes the unexpected surprises are enough to heal us all.

PRE-ORDER An Unexpected Hero HERE

About the Author

Diana Marie DuBois resides in the historical and richly cultured-filled state of Louisiana and just outside of the infamous city of New Orleans. She shares her home with two beautiful Great Danes and four spunky rescued mutts. As a young girl, Diana was an avid reader and could be found in her public library. Now you find her working in her local library, where she reads everything and anything. She has many stories ideas running through her head, with plenty interesting characters.

Title: When Sparks Fly (First-Responders #1)

Author: J.A. Essen

Genre: Erotica Menage

Release Date: September 1, 2016

Cover Design: Essen-tial Design

Synopsis

The First-Responders is a contemporary romance, novella series. Each book will be able to be read as a standalone. Book 1 is about Macy, a graduate student and soon to be elementary school teacher, and Seth, a firefighter.

Macy has had a rough go of it with boyfriends lately. “Bad luck or no luck at all” seems to be her constant go-to phrase.
Seth is a firefighter at a Santa Barbara sub station, and is pretty much the Greek god Adonis come-to-life in Macy’s eyes. The question is, though, how to get him to notice her.
There is an electric current in the air from the first moment they meet. Seth is a perfect gentleman and Macy, as always, falls hard… both figuratively and literally.
But it doesn’t take long for things to start falling apart.
Unexpected surprises lead her down a road she had never even considered.
Macy has a decision to make once her rose-colored glasses have been removed. Will she, or won’t she?
Sparks are definitely going to fly!

Excerpt

I can’t wait a moment longer. I unbuckle my seat belt and climb across the console, right onto his lap, placing one knee between the console and seat and the other between the seat and door. I settle all the way down onto his very apparent erection. He palms my breasts with both hands as I go for his mouth with gusto. He sucked on a peppermint after we left the restaurant, and I can taste all of the minty flavor as I slide my tongue into his mouth. Our lips slide across one another’s as our tongues dance in unison.

I start to grind myself on his lap, and Seth slides his hands around my body and down my back. Gathering my dress up, he grabs ahold of my ass with one hand and a hip with the other, controlling my movements, and prolonging the sweet torture.

I lean back, pressing myself deeper into Seth as I stroke myself on his hardened length. His hands gravitate back to the front, one residing on my chest, the other sliding two fingers into my mouth, which I greedily suck. Arching my back as a moan slips out of my mouth, I inadvertently honk the horn in the process.

“Oops! Guess the Hummer’s as horny as we are.”

Seth chuckles at my comment. He opens the door, and I wrap my legs around him as we exit. Pressing a button on the wall by the door leading inside, he closes the garage door and then the door leading inside. He lets me slide down his body once we make it to the living room. I do my best to stand on trembling legs.

“Just a quick tour then, huh?” Seth points around to the kitchen, bathroom, and etcetera. “Now, why don’t we deal with this.” As he grabs the hem of my dress at the hips, I hold my arms up for him, ready to be disrobed. He lets out a long whistle as the material passes over my perfectly waxed pussy. “Jesus Christ!” he groans. “You haven’t had panties on all night?”

“Nope,” I say from behind the gathered material. He continues to pull up and has to give a little tug when he gets to the top. My tits burst forth, sagging to my chest just marginally. “Oopsie. Guess I forgot my bra, too.” I bite my nail as he throws the yellow material onto his couch.

“Fuck. Me. Sideways.” Seth steps forward and leans into me, taking first one, then the other nipple into his mouth with a quick suck and pop on each. “These are the most mouth-wateringly perfect tits I’ve ever laid eyes on, Macy.”

I grab the top button on Seth’s shirt and start undoing them, one by one. Reaching the bottom, I pull up to remove the rest of the material from his slacks and start peppering his gorgeous, muscular stomach with little nips of my teeth. He slides his arms out of his shirt as I unhook his belt. After sliding the clasp of his slacks apart, I drop to my knees, using my teeth to grab his zipper and slowly drag it down. The bulge pressing forward against my lips is impressive.

Grasping two belt loops, I glide his slacks to the floor. He steps out, leaving him standing model-perfect in just CK boxer briefs. To say I’m turned on would be a gross understatement. I run my hand up and down along the protruding outline of his cock behind the deep blue material. He grows even longer, the head now peeking out of the top of the elastic of the briefs. Unable to restrain myself, I give it a quick lick with just the tip of my tongue and feel him flinch.

“Tease.” He looks down at me with those deep, chocolate eyes. “Come here.”

He offers me his hand, and we walk over to the large, leather sectional. He takes a seat sinking down and forward slightly. He lays his head on the back cushion, and motions me over. “Step up here. I want to taste that beautiful, smooth pussy.”

I’m not about to deny anything Seth wants, or that I desperately need for that matter, so I quickly climb up over his body. Grabbing my curvy hips, he pulls me down greedily onto his face. He runs his nose up my glistening center before suddenly taking my clit between his covered teeth and sucking… HARD.

“Shit!” My whole body shivers from the shock.

He slaps my ass before locking onto both cheeks with his hands. Pulling me down entirely onto his mouth, he slides his tongue in as deep as it will go. I grab a full hand of hair and start grinding my pussy on his lips, his perfectly trimmed facial hair tickling my inner thighs and drives me forward to what is obviously going to be a…

“Holy fuck, Seth!” My legs give way, and he is forced to hold me up on his own. What felt like a small tingle starting in my stomach a moment ago suddenly, and forcefully, erupts into a mind-numbing orgasm as I feel his finger slide in between my cheeks and press against my asshole.

“I’ve never come that fast in my life,” I mumble as I slide down his body and settle onto his lap. I take his hand and put it on my chest. “Thank you.”

He takes his other hand and wipes his mouth, licking what is left of me off his fingers. “Trust me; the pleasure was mutual. So, what’s next?” His eyes are full of mischief and lust as he palms my breasts and begins tracing my peaked nipples with his thumbs.

About The Author

I’m 35 and live in Texas where I run a restaurant 5 days a week. I have been married to my amazing wife for going on 12 years and have two great little boys who keep us on our toes. I started writing last year after my wife, Author Marie James, had been doing so for a year. I enjoyed writing short stories in middle school and high school, so I thought I’d give it a whirl. After reading her books, along with three of my other favorite authors, MNever, CJ Roberts, and JA Huss, I began writing romance and erotica.

I have a total of 12 novellas planned right now in 4 different series. Some Rom-Com, some sports romance, and definitely some KINK! Just a heads up when reading though:

Be sure to like my Facebook page ( https://goo.gl/9TNmU6 ) to keep up-to-date on all your ESSEN-tial reading needs.

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Title: Playing His Game

Author: Audrey Randall

Genre: Erotic Romance

Release Date: August 8, 2016

Synopsis

Playing His Game

Learning the moves from the best…

Aimee, a teacher, never wanted to be in the limelight, but when her professional videogame playing twin sister asked her to fill in for her at the regional championships, how could she say no? Especially, when the best player of The Celestial Prophesy is her teacher… in more ways than one. All she knows is that she is dying to lick his Star Wars Rebel Alliance tattoo and see if he is the Superman that his other body art implies.

He’s going to school the teacher…

Daemon Ivanov has lusted after Aimee for years. One taste of her and he knows that she will be his. A few nights will not be enough. Daemon plays to win.

Caution: This story is full of lust. So much lust that you might find that you need a fan due to the rising temperature in the room. It’s the first in a series with an HEA, but is a standalone story.

KEEP READING AFTER PLAYING HIS GAME FOR A COMPLETE BONUS TRYST!

The Virgin and the Cowboy

Carey is having the worst day ever! Her expensive new shoe breaks causing her to fall, but to make matters worse, a hot cowboy witnesses it. She never expected that her worst day ever would land her in the arms of her dream cowboy. Don’t forget to read to the end to see Carey’s HEA.

These stories are meant for an adult audience. If you are 18+, enjoy!

Purchase your copy today!

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Excerpt

Aimee

Aimee tried to listen to everything that Daemon told her about the game, but her eyes kept wandering over to his strong arms and the cute way that his dark hair curled at the nape of his neck. She hadn’t said much since their make-out session. She was equal parts proud of herself for going after him and mortified. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine herself masturbating in front of him and then practically placing her cunt on his mouth. However, she had also never imagined him being such a welcoming partner. Judging by the caresses that he had been giving her during their training session, she had an idea that he wanted to experience more of her soon. The one thing she knew for sure was that she would combust if he trailed another fingertip up her leg. As it was, she might have to excuse herself to get a fresh pair of panties.

“This is our main planet here,” Daemon said as he drove his space cruiser that looked a lot like a Star Wars X-Wing fighter, to a reddish brown planet.

“Okay, why do you need the planets?” she was sure that he must have mentioned it, but she had been daydreaming.

“We have to build our civilization so we can make the things that we need for battles. Like on this planet we get the ore to make our ships. The colors of the planet help us determine what they can be used for. For example, blue is water.”

Aimee was perplexed. This game was certainly more complex than she had given it credit for. “Then how do you compete if you have to spend all your time finding your materials and making things?”

Daemon reached over and grabbed the soda that she had finally offered him and took a long sip. As he put it down, he smiled to her. “Well, Nebula One, the maker of the game, takes out the territories of the competitors for the competition and puts them in a system where it’s only them competing in battle.”

As Aimee watched Daemon, or D3m0nChaser, as he was known on the game, navigate his ship through some tricky meteor filled airspace, she felt her heart sink. Just because Steph was her identical twin didn’t mean that Aimee could pass as Steph when it came to playing The Celestial Prophesy. Steph had always been good at games, whereas Aimee had always crashed hard.

“I don’t think that I’m going to be able to pass off as Steph,” she admitted as she bungled the controls. She winced as her ship once again crashed into an asteroid. The controls were so confusing. The top controls determined up and down, whereas the bottom controls steered right or left. She was able to do one or the other, but the two of them together- forget it! Helping Steph and her team was her goal, but she didn’t want to make her sister look bad, and that’s just what would happen if she continued this charade.

Aimee looked out of the corner of her eye to try to gage Daemon’s true feelings. In profile, he looked so masculine. His nose had a bit of a bump in it, like he had broken it at some point in time, but his sensuous lips identified him as a true lover. His jaw was squared and strong. Before they had started the game, he had reached into his pocket to pull out a pair of dark rimmed glasses, and put them on. She had never seen him wear glasses before, and he had made some comment about allergies and contacts being a bad mix. She found that she liked the glasses on him. They added character. A little geeky was quickly becoming her type. Especially those who sported a Rebel Alliance tattoo on their right bicep and Superman on their left. Her mouth watered, wanting to lick the vibrant lines of each.

He paused the game and turned toward her. He took her controller and placed it down next to his. Taking her hands, he held them in his as his thumbs rubbed circles along the top of her still sensitive hands. “Aimee, look at me.”

When she looked up at him, she saw warmth in his emerald eyes. “You’re going to do fine. The rest of the group will help get you through it. I’ll be right at your side. Just do as I say.”

“You better be! This controller is hard to use. I think I would do better if I had a joystick,” she grumbled.

A twinkle came to his eye and he let out a small laugh. He then brought her hands to his erect package, straining to get out of his pants. “I’ve got your joystick right here.”

Aimee started laughing so hard that she almost fell off the couch. Laughing helped her diffuse any tension and nerves that she had at the moment. “Thanks! I needed that!”

“How do you think my Johnson feels about you laughing at him?” Daemon jokingly pouted as he continued to loosely hold her hands to him.

The sound of the keys jingling outside the door with the occasional swearword from Alisha made Aimee leap away from Daemon as if she were on fire. She straightened her clothes and then hurried to open the door. Daemon merely laughed at her flustered movements.

Aimee swung open the door just as Alisha stood poised with the key ready to insert into the lock as Steph stood next to her. They all laughed as Aimee let them in.

Alisha came in and greeted Daemon as she came to sit with him on the couch. Aimee noted how Alisha’s smile seemed a little too big and she sat a little too close to Daemon for comfort. When he mentioned something, Alisha gave an exaggerated laugh and flipped her hair. Aimee actually heard herself growl. He was hers!

“Wow, Aimee. Cool it!” Steph gently murmured. Steph always seemed to know what was going on with her without any words being said; of course, Aimee’s growl was a bit of a giveaway.

Daemon stood up and gave Aimee a lazy smile and a wink, which had her heart working on overtime. Damn! No one should have the right to look so perfectly normal after what they just did. She ventured a glance over at Alisha to see that his flirtatious looks to her did not go unnoticed. Alisha was looking at him and was pouting. Daemon didn’t seem to notice Alisha as he sided up to Aimee and put his strong arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his warm, hard body. She shivered a little at the intimate contact as he leaned down and kissed her head.

Aimee looked at her sister and friend, melting at his actions. As awful as she felt admitting it, she was pleased that Alisha could see that she had lost the war. Daemon was hers. Steph gave her an ‘I knew it!’ smile, whereas, Alisha’s jaw dropped as her brows furled.

Aimee turned her head to see Daemon look back at the other ladies and lazily smile, “I was just teaching Aimee about joysticks.”

“I’m sure you were,” Steph sarcastically replied as she dropped to the couch next to Alisha.

About The Author

Interference by Mignon Mykel
Prescott Family #1
Publication Date: August 8, 2016
Genres: Adult, Contemporary Romance

Synopsis

Hockey’s most eligible bachelor must run interference to get the one girl he can’t have.

Sydney:
I’d never even heard of Caleb Prescott, God’s gift to hockey. Who watches hockey anyways? Not me, I’m too busy with college and work. My part-time just for fun job has now asked me to recruit this player for a new dating show. Sounds easy enough. . .until he insists I become part of the show.

Caleb:
I only agreed to compete on the dating show to get closer to Sydney—the redhead pixie I’d do anything to see again. But unlike the women competing for my affection, or the puck bunnies desperate for my attention, Sydney isn’t impressed by my hockey skills. I never miss a shot, I don’t care if she calls interference, I’ll do anything to win her heart.

EXCERPT

Caleb

As she was about to rush into explaining when I would board the cruise-liner, as if I had agreed to it, I held up my hand. “Miss Meadows.” God that sounded too formal for a woman like her. “Sydney,” I tried again, definitely preferring the taste of it on my tongue. “How about we meet over coffee or something tomorrow? Ten?”

Her eyes widened slightly, just briefly, before she nodded with a fixed smile in place. “Of course. Yes, that will give you more time to let it sink in. So long as you agree to—”

I cut her off with a grin. While yes, this show was against everything I had ever thought for myself, I had a feeling that sitting with Sydney and talking to her about the show, as if I were agreeing to it, would be the only time I’d see this gorgeous redhead again. I didn’t quite know what was drawing me to this short pixie of a woman, but I definitely wanted to see her again. Tomorrow I’d have no time constraints and she could talk all she wanted.

But before I realized the words were out of my mouth though, I said, “I’ll do it,” agreeing to her pitch.

Shit. Fuck.

The smile filling her face wasn’t one I was about to take away, and her amber eyes danced, lightening just slightly to bring out fiery red specks. “We can discuss contestants tomorrow then. Wonderful. Oh, great!”

I had to swallow a chuckle at her obvious excitement. We agreed on a place to meet and I watched her leave out of the corner of my eye while heading toward the ice.

Like I said, I liked her ass.

DON’T MISS WHERE IT ALL STARTED…FROM THE BEGINNING, BOOK #0.5 IN THE PRESCOTT SERIES!

Synopsis

Before the Prescott name became big in the hockey world, there was just Noah Prescott, fighting for a spot on an NHL roster. Never did he imagine a simple note from a shy fan would speed up his world.

Ryleigh Scott had an issue talking to men, but she knew she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to talk to Noah — potentially negative labels, be damned. Never did she imagine a simple note would start what could only be described as the beginning of the rest of her life.

This is Noah and Ryleigh — before the NHL contract, before the kids, before going back home.

This is Noah and Ryleigh from the beginning.

ABOUT MIGNON MYKEL

Mignon is a twenty-something (…getting awfully close to thirty-something) who resides in Wisconsin. An avid reader since her preschool days, she ‘blames’ her mother for teaching her to read during that all-important time during a forming brain. Some of her earlier memories of reading include her mother buying her a book at the mall — and finishing the book before they even returned home.

Writing happened soon after the reading started. Her first writing piece can be found in a box of other important papers from growing up. It’s about an apple who was her friend, but she had to eat.

The first series Mignon started to write was about a close family of one brother and his three younger sisters. She started writing this family and their friends in 2005, but as soon as the Prescott family took over her mind, the Ashbys fell silent. Maybe someday we’ll all hear from the Ashbys, but those Prescotts…. The Prescotts are excited to have their stories told.

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NEIGHBOR DEAREST

(A standalone)

Release date: 8/15/2016

A Contemporary Romance Novel

New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Penelope Ward

NEIGHBOR DEAREST

CHAPTER ONE

SUPERSONIC HEARING

Copyright © 2016 by Penelope Ward

My little sister is such a drama queen. Literally. Jade is an actress on Broadway.

She clapped her hands together, applauding the students who’d just bravely put themselves out there to try out for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. “You all did such a great job today! Tomorrow we cast the roles and start our first rehearsal. This is gonna be epic!”

Jade had come out to the Bay Area to visit our family for the week and offered to volunteer at the youth center where I worked. Since there wasn’t enough time to produce an entire play, Jade decided to direct the kids in one key scene from the musical that would be performed later in the week.

I loved my job as director of the arts at the Mission Youth Center. It was just about the only thing going right in my life. The only downside was the fact that these walls were haunted by memories of my ex, Elec, who used to be a youth counselor here. That was how we met. He’d loved his job, too, until he quit so that he could move to New York after we broke up. He moved to be with her. I shook my head to shoo away thoughts of him and Greta.

Jade grabbed her purse. “I need to go back to your place to use the bathroom and have a quick bite.”

I’d just moved into a new apartment that was only a few blocks away from my job. The lease had finally run out on the place I’d been renting with Elec across town. Even though my ex sent me his half of the rent for the remainder of our lease after he’d moved out, I couldn’t wait to vacate that place; every corner of it reminded me of him and of the miserable months that followed our break up.

My place was right in the south central section of the Mission District. I loved the culture in my new neighborhood. Produce bins and a variety of cafes lined the streets. It was also a mecca for Latin culture, which was great, except for the fact that it reminded me of Elec, who was half Ecuadorian. Little reminders of the guy who broke my heart were everywhere.

Jade and I strolled down the sidewalk, stopping at a fruit stand so that she could buy some papayas for an afternoon smoothie she planned to make back at my apartment. We also ended up getting two coffees to go.

I bent back the opening on my coffee lid as we walked. “So, little sis, I never thought we would be in the same predicament at the same time.”

Jade had recently been dumped by her musician boyfriend.

“Yes. But the difference is, I feel like I have way more distractions in my life than you do. It’s not that I don’t think about Justin. It’s not that I don’t get sad, but my performances keep me so busy that it’s almost like I don’t have time to wallow in it, you know?”

“I told you I’ve been doing these phone therapy sessions, right?”

Jade took a sip then shook her head. “No.”

“Yeah. I found this psychologist who specializes in trauma from failed relationships, but she’s in Canada. Anyway, we do phone sessions one night a week.”

“Is it helping?”

“It always helps to talk things out.”

“Yeah. But no offense, you don’t seem any better for it. Anyway, you can talk things out with Claire or me. You don’t need to pay big bucks to talk to a stranger.”

“Nighttime is really my only time to talk to anyone. You’re performing at night, and Claire is too wrapped up in being a blissful newlywed. Besides, she’s never had her heart broken. She listens, but she doesn’t get it.”

Our older sister, Claire, married her high school sweetheart. Even though the three of us were close growing up in nearby Sausalito, I’d always felt more comfortable opening up to Jade.

When we arrived at my building, my sister stopped to sit on one of the benches in the corner of the fenced-in courtyard. “Let’s sit for a bit, finish our coffees.” Her gaze wandered across the grass to my shirtless neighbor. “Okay…who’s the hottie in the beanie defacing the property?”

“What is it with you and beanies?”

“Justin used to wear one. That’s why I love them. Isn’t that sad?”

“That is sad.”

“This from the girl who still sleeps in her ex’s shirt.”

“It’s comfortable. It has nothing to do with Elec,” I lied. It was the one thing I allowed myself from him. It made me sad, but I wore it anyway.

“So…who is that guy?”

I didn’t know my neighbor’s name, but I’d see him once in a while doing spray paint art along the wrap-around concrete wall that surrounded the property. It served as a vast canvas. His spray painting was true art, definitely not what would be considered simple graffiti. It was an elaborate mix of celestial and geographical images. This guy just kept adding different artwork to the wall gradually. It was a work in progress. I could only assume he planned to paint the entire circumference of the property, as much as the wall space would allow.

“He lives in the building, next door to me, actually.”

“What is he doing? They allow him to do that here?”

“I don’t know. The first time I saw him out here, I thought he was vandalizing the property. But no one seems to care or stop him. Every day, he adds to the mural. It’s actually quite beautiful. But it doesn’t match his personality.”

Jade blew on her coffee. “What do you mean?”

“He’s not very nice.”

“You’ve talked to him?”

“No. He’s just not friendly. I’ve tried to make eye contact, but he walks right by me. He has these two big dogs, and they’re pretty mean. They bark all of the time. He walks them every morning.”

“Maybe he’s like a savant. You know, really good with art. Or maybe he’s a genius but with limited social skills. What do they call that…Asperger’s?”

“No. He communicates just fine. I’ve seen him yelling at a few people. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t have that. This guy is just not friendly. He doesn’t have Asperger’s. He’s just an ass.”

Jade chuckled. “I think you should totally stop by his place with some warm muffins wrapped up in a basket. It’s the neighborly thing to do. Maybe he’ll loosen up…or loosen you up.”

“Muffins, huh? What’s that code for?”

“Muff…muffins. Same thing. If I lived here, I’d be all over that. But I don’t live here. You do. And you totally need a distraction. I say…he’s it.”

I admired the guy’s broad shoulders and tanned muscular back as his arm moved the spray can up and down. “God, doesn’t he remind you of Elec, though? Arm tattoo…dark hair. Artistic. Basically, that’s the last type of guy I’m going for at this point.”

“So, if someone looks like or seems similar to Elec, then they’re automatically disqualified? They’re destined to do the same thing Elec did? Is that how you think? That’s just stupid rationale.”

“Maybe that’s fucked-up. But the last thing I want is to be with someone who reminds me of him in the least.”

“Well, that’s a shame, because Elec was freaking hot, and this guy…is even hotter.”

“Can you remind me why we’re discussing this? The dude doesn’t even say hello to me. He’s not signing up to be on this delusional version of The Bachelorette. He’s not interested.”

Neighbor Dearest suddenly wiped the sweat from his forehead, took off the mask covering his nose and mouth, and dumped the spray cans into a black drawstring sack. He slung it over his shoulder and just when I thought he was going to walk away and out of the courtyard, he began to walk in our direction. Jade straightened in her seat, and I hated that my pulse raced a bit.

His eyes were focused on me. I wouldn’t call it an angry stare, but he wasn’t smiling. The sunlight beamed directly into his blue eyes, which glowed and really stood out against his tan skin. Jade was right; this guy was truly gorgeous.

“Blueberry are my favorite,” he said.

“What?”

“Muffins.”

“Oh.”

Jade snorted but stayed silent, letting me take the brunt of this humiliation.

“And I’m not anti-social or a savant. I’m just a good old-fashioned prick…with supersonic hearing.”

He smirked and walked away before I could say anything.

When he was safely out of earshot—for real this time—Jade sighed. “Angry guys are the best in bed.”

“You just can’t stop yourself, can you? Haven’t you done enough damage? I’ve always told you that you’re loud when you think you’re whispering. Now there’s proof…at my expense.”

“You’ll be thanking me later when you’re screaming out in orgasm as the angry artist is Van Goh-ing down on you.”

“You’re crazy.”

“That’s why you love me.”

“It is.”

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Blurb

A STANDALONE NOVEL that does NOT need to be read in conjunction with any other book.

From New York Times bestselling author, Penelope Ward, comes a friends-to-lovers story with sexy new characters.

After getting dumped, the last thing I needed was to move next door to someone who reminded me of my ex-boyfriend, Elec.

Damien was a hotter version of my ex.

The neighbor I’d dubbed “Angry Artist” also had two massive dogs that kept me up with their barking.

He wanted nothing to do with me. Or so I thought until one night I heard laughter coming through an apparent hole in my bedroom wall.

Damien had been listening to all of my phone sessions with my therapist.

The sexy artist next door now knew all of my deepest secrets and insecurities.

We got to talking.

He set me straight with tips to get over my breakup.

He became a good friend, but Damien made it clear that he couldn’t be anything more.

Problem was, I was falling hard for him anyway. And as much as he pushed me away, I knew he felt the same…because his heartbeat didn’t lie.

I thought my heart had been broken by Elec, but it was alive and beating harder than ever for Damien.

I just hoped he wouldn’t shatter it for good.

Author’s note – Neighbor Dearest is a full-length standalone novel. Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

About the Author

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor, before switching to a more family-friendly career. She is the proud mother of a beautiful 11-year-old girl with autism and a 9-year-old boy. Penelope and her family reside in Rhode Island.

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Additional Books by Penelope Ward

RoomHate:

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kobo: http://bit.ly/1POvSnW

Stuck-Up Suit: (co-written with Vi Keeland)

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Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/stuck-up-suit

Cocky Bastard: (co-written with Vi Keeland)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1MvHLg2

iBooks: http://apple.co/1PffE2J

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Sins of Sevin:

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kobo: http://bit.ly/1OaGY3D

Stepbrother Dearest:

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Nook: http://bit.ly/1taMFjG

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Jake Undone (Jake #1):

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Nook: http://bit.ly/1obAwJ6

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kobo: http://bit.ly/1SPKl0M

My Skylar

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1obOG2F

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Jake Understood (Jake #2):

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Nook: http://bit.ly/1FwJC0z

iBooks: http://apple.co/1DQQwgC

kobo: http://bit.ly/1LQ7Fvk

Gemini:

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kobo: http://bit.ly/1BGJ2wu

Title: Six

Series: (Book 2) Men By Numbers

Author: Ker Dukey

Release Date: August 6, 2016

Synopsis

I grew up in the foster system and bounced around from place to place. I know what you’re thinking. Bad things happened to me and fucked me up? Don’t feel bad for me. I didn’t know a privileged life, therefore I didn’t miss one. I was what I was and I made it work. I actually had a few good homes in my lifetime, met some good people, but that’s not what my story’s about. It’s not a Romeo and Juliet saga either, even if our stories do revolve around a similar basis. I knew a real love, a rare love, a love between two people that were never supposed to fall in love. Rival gang members are never allowed to fall in love and it cost us everything. The things I learned growing up the way I did is this: Love is deadly and often not real. People come and go and only the rare few stick around when shit gets tough. I learned the hard way what lurks behind false smiles, and that deceitful truths get whispered in sexual moans. I was taught that dark souls are not born but created, and you can avoid them, hide from them or learn and become them.

Revenge sculpted and molded me into the darkest of souls, and with my wrath comes agony and torment more severe than hell itself. I took out six of the men who hurt my woman and I will be coming for the rest. Get in my way and I’ll come for you too.

Review 

A man held hostage by his demons.

A man who can’t see beyond his past in order to reach for a future.

A vow to avenge

A vow to make “them” pay

A past written in black and red ink

A chance to begin anew…to live a life based on more than revenge.

A woman who sees beyond his past…beyond his actions and wants to make a life with him.

I knew going into Six’s story that it was going to be dark and bloody because regardless of his plan to live in the now…to make a go at a life about more than making other people pay for what he sees as his own mistake, Six’s memories and nightmares still revolve around his regrettable decision, and when his past extends into his present, he can’t help but get lost in his need to fulfill his vow of vengeance, even if it brings him and everyone who loves him down in the process.

Ker Dukey knows how to create dark and twisted male characters who are more bad than good but still have “honorable” qualities that illustrate just how contradictory they truly are. Six is an absolute contradiction of a man – he does things in order to not hurt anyone but what he does ends up almost destroying them. He can’t see past all of the evil deeds he’s done and pain he’s caused to the point that he’s drowning in it, and that keeps him locked inside his head unable to move on from his sins.

Six doesn’t see it, but Misty is perfect for him. She understands his darkness and isn’t afraid of it. She’s a fighter, and she stands up for herself and what she wants. She refuses to allow Six to dick her around regardless of how much she feels for him, but she also is willing to work for everything and show Six that he doesn’t need to be afraid to get close to her because she sees beyond his sins.

Six is one hell of a gritty and steamy read. In pure Dukey fashion, there’s a few twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, but then those actions make perfect sense and further illustrate just how tenuous lives can be, especially those that start off the way Six’s did.

A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Poison Apples

~Purchase Six Now~

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Ten (My Brothers Best Friend)

Men By Numbers (Book 1)

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COMING SOON

This is a Dark title with adult themes

From Bestselling Authors Ker Dukey & K Webster 
Pretty Stolen Dolls

Benny loves his pretty little dolls.

As long as they do exactly as they’re told.

He keeps them perfect by brushing their hair

and gives them pretty dresses to wear.

He likes to toy with them late at night.

One so timid but the other likes to fight.

When his favorite doll runs away…

despite the other doll promising to stay,

his heart becomes broken and he can’t help but cry.

He wants her back home or his pretty little doll must die.

Have you ever had to make a decision that haunts you every single day for the rest of your life…the life you stole back?

I have.

I ran for my survival, rocks and twigs cutting into the soles of my feet, my lungs burning and screaming for rest, every muscle tensed and fighting along with me for existence.

I left her.

I ran, ran, ran—from Benny and his lone, pretty little doll—until I couldn’t remember where to find them again.

I’m sorry.

~Pre-order Now For Instant Delivery~

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I have always had a passion for storytelling, whether it be through lyrics or bed time stories with my sisters. I wanted to be an actress growing up so I could live many roles but I learned early on that my mind was too active… I would want to change the script.I would watch films and think of ways they could have improved the story if they took another direction so i thought it best that i tell my own.

My mum would always have a book in her hand when I was young and passed on her love for reading, inspiring me to venture into writing my own. I tend to have a darker edge to my writing. Not all love stories are made from light, some are created in darkness but are just as powerful and worth telling.

When I’m not lost in the world of characters I love spending time with my family. I’m a mum and that comes first in my life but when I do get down time I love attending music concerts or reading events with my younger sister.

You can find me on Facebook where I love interacting with my readers.

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