Title: A STEEL TOWN

Series: A Gateway to Love, #3

Author: Chloe T. Barlow

Genre: New Adult, Romantic Suspense, Mystery, Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: January 11, 2016

Blurb

How do you protect the woman you love, when you fear you are the very person who could destroy her?

Claudia McCoy has been told what she can’t do enough for one lifetime. After a near-fatal childhood battle with juvenile diabetes and having to accept that her dreams of serving in the military would never come true, she’s thrilled to begin a life on her own terms. Yet, when she finally starts her career in the FBI, Claudia is furious that her condition and overbearing big brother, Wyatt, have both once again interfered with her ability to have the life she truly wants. Now derailed from her high-profile aspirations of a position in the FBI’s D.C. headquarters, she is instead planted far away from the real action, and practically right in her brother’s Pittsburgh backyard.

Trey Adler is known for fixing things, but he’s broken just as many — leaving him with regrets that never go away. He’d be the first to agree he should stay away from a nice girl like Claudia, but he can’t deny his friend Jenna Sutherland’s request when she asks him to use his position as a temporary FBI consultant to keep Claudia safe — especially as it’s clear this little firecracker needs protecting. Far away from all the action she so craves, Claudia is more determined than ever to prove herself in her first major investigation at whatever cost — and those costs are proving to be dangerously high.

Their battle of wills turns quickly into a powerful need for one other, making them both rethink everything they ever wanted.

Will Trey be able to keep her alive long enough to give them an opportunity at something real together — a future that can survive the danger in their present, as well as the darkness of his past?

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Excerpt

Looking up into his sharp gray eyes, Claudia licked her lips and asked, “Why don’t you have a tattoo here, Trey? You have them all over your chest, but not here where your heart beats.”

“I’ll answer your question about the bare spot over my heart, but you have to answer one for me. It’s been bothering me ever since I met you.”

“Okay, shoot.”

“Are you sure? You won’t like it, but you’ll still have to tell me the truth.”

Trey’s fingers were slipping back and forth against her thighs, caressing her lightly.

“What?” she sputtered out. “Of co-ourse. It’s a waste of time for me not to tell the truth. I suck at lying.”

“Being bad at lying and being honest are two very different things.”

“Fine. I promise to be honest,” she answered, her throat drying with each persistent press of his hands, punctuated by the gentle circular motion of his thumbs against her inner thighs.

“Good. Then this will be an easy way for you to get what you want.”

“Um, okay. What do you want to know?” “Are you a virgin?”

“That’s your question?”

“Yes,” he answered, letting his hands squeeze the sides of her legs, hard, sending a new set of shocks and tingles along her nerve endings. “Last night you ordered me to deal with you. Well, then I deserve to know what I am dealing with.”

She swallowed roughly, trying to use her prior irritation to pull herself back to reason.

“It’s a ludicrous thing to ask. Plus, it’s such a dumb male thing to care about or think you have the right to know.”

“Uh-uh, little one. You’re not answering my question. If you want to start making rules, then you have to be able to play by them, too.”

“What do you think is the answer? I’m twenty-three…” she said, her breaths coming out in short puffs of air. Claudia pressed her palms on the table, trying to get up. Trey slammed his hands over hers and met her eyes with a blazing fury that made his gray irises look like swirling, melted steel.

“You’re doing it again, Claudia. I’ve got all the time in the world, nowhere to be…and no desire to answer your question. If you want to back out so I don’t have to tell the truth, then so be it.”

She moved her face to avoid his eyes, “You’re ridiculous.”

Trey leaned in closer to her, using his nose against her cheek to force her face back toward his. He slid it across the length of her face, pausing to briefly brush his lips over her skin and suck on her earlobe, making her gasp out loud. When his teeth bit down on the flesh gently, Claudia couldn’t help but release an embarrassing moan.

His warm breath tingled against her moistened skin, when he asked again, this time with a whisper, “Are…you…a…virgin?”

“No,” she breathed out roughly.

Trey moved so he was facing her, staring squarely in the eyes as he challenged her, “No — you’ve had mind-blowing sex that turned off that crazy, intense mind of yours and made you stop trying to control everything? Or you’ve had a dick in you?”

“You-you dirty piece of —”
”Eh, eh, eh. Answer the question.”
”Fine. I had sex when I was twenty.” Trey’s hands clenched a

bit over hers, but his stare didn’t waver from hers. When he stayed silent, she added, “He was my best friend. His name is Trevor. I felt it was important to get it out of the way and he was comfortable with my viewpoint, I guess. Are you happy now?” Claudia barely moved an inch, but Trey made it clear she wasn’t going anywhere until he let her.

“Yup, just like I thought. For all intents and purposes, you’re a virgin, little one. And since we’re being honest with each other, I would like nothing more than to be your real first… It could be the only way I ever get you to listen to me.” Claudia swallowed a gasp until the air turned into an awkward bubble in her throat. The thrill in her chest dissipated quickly as Trey’s face fell, and he added, “The thing is, your answer confirms you’re a nice girl. The problem is — I’m not a nice boy. And that’s something we both have to deal with.”

His words simultaneously frustrated and saddened her. She took a deep breath and muttered, “Your turn.”

Trey leaned away from her, and rubbed the left side of his chest a bit, looking away from her.

He turned his eyes back to hers. There was no wicked gleam in his eyes, or smirk to lighten the mood. All that remained was dejection, and something even darker — almost ominous, though she couldn’t quite place it.

“I don’t have any tattoos there because I felt it was important to leave the area around my heart bare. It doesn’t deserve anything…it’s my weakest organ.” He moved away from her, but she didn’t stop him this time.

All titles in the Gateway to Love series are only $0.99 during the A Steel Town release week!

Three Rivers (Gateway to Love, #1)

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How do you start over when you gave everything to one life, one plan, and lost it all?

Althea refuses to allow herself to love again. Imprisoned in grief at twenty-four after her husband’s sudden death, she’s convinced her heart died along with him. She spends her days honoring his memory by clinging to the legal career he helped her to build and to the remaining pieces linking them together.

Griffen’s been running from his past. Despite success as an author and investigative journalist, he’s been traveling through life on autopilot. For a decade, he’s chosen perilous adventures and meaningless sex over the danger of any attachments. When he finally returns home to Pittsburgh, he’s slammed by the awakened memories and regret he’s spent years trying to escape.

A chance encounter brings them together. Their instant desire for each other – and the bond they discover between them – shocks them both. Despite her best efforts, Althea can’t resist Griffen’s charm or his intriguing proposition – if she agrees to a no-strings affair with him for the two weeks he’s in town, he swears he’ll walk away when their time is up. Assured she can test the waters of a new life while keeping her vow never to betray her husband’s memory by opening her heart to another, Althea throws herself into the escape Griffen provides her.

Their perfect plans go awry when the intensity of their connection overwhelms them. Will they risk it all on the chance of something great together…or will the power of their secrets and guilt tear them apart?

City of Champions (Gateway to Love, #2)

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How do you find the will to try, when you’ve spent all of your life playing on a field strewn with shattered lives and broken rules?

Tragedy and betrayal taught Jenna Sutherland early on that her safest bet was to fiercely avoid any risk, whether it is in work, life, or love. Now a respected orthopedic surgical resident on the cusp of finally breaking through in her career, she’s more guarded than ever.

When injured NFL quarterback Wyatt McCoy bulldozes into her life there’s no denying he’s cocky, selfish, and downright dangerous — everything Jenna’s sworn she doesn’t want.

Suddenly the levelheaded doctor finds herself facing down her greatest fear, and she’s tempted to gamble all she’s fought so hard to build. The two embark on an intense holiday love affair that quickly teeters on obsession, and tempts them both to think they could go all-in on a real future together. Yet Wyatt’s desperation to stay on the field — and out of the operating room — lures him to take dangerous risks with Jenna’s trust.

Will they win at love or lose everything­ —including their fragile chance at happiness?

Shanghai Wind (A Gateway to Love, #2.5)

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How far would you be willing to go for your first love?

Colin has broken every promise he’s ever made, but what hurts him the most is the harsh memory of the way in which he abandoned the only girl for which he’d ever truly cared. After a summer romance in Shanghai with his host family’s daughter, Feng Huang, he begged her to join him in America, only to fail her when she finally sacrificed everything for their future together.

Shanghai-born Feng Huang has spent the last six years trying to get over Colin. Now beloved by the world as a famous pop star, she’s moved on with a wealthy Chinese-American entrepreneur. When Colin appears in front of her at her boyfriend’s gala celebrating her return to Shanghai, she is overcome by both the pain and love, which still linger inside her at the mere sight of him.

Yet, nothing is as it seems, and when the sinister elements which have thrust them back into each other’s orbit reveal themselves and threaten more than just their precious second opportunity at love.

Will their stolen night together bring them the future of which they had always dreamed, or will Colin betray her love yet again?

About Chloe T. Barlow

Chloe is a contemporary romance novelist living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her husband and their sweet puppy. Chloe has always loved writing and cherishes the opportunity to craft her fictional novels and share them with the world.

When Chloe isn’t writing, she spends her time exploring Pittsburgh with her husband and friends. She also enjoys yoga, jogging, and all Pittsburgh sports. She is an avid reader and wrote her debut novel Three Rivers in her spare time. She loves to research every last detail relating to her books. For example, in an effort to bring authenticity to Three River’s treatment of grief and loss, she consulted with a psychologist and grief counselor during its preparation.

Connect with Chloe

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Google+ | Chloe’s Crew (Chloe Barlow Street Team) | Pinterest

Amazon Author Page | Instagram

Review 

I’ve read a lot of stories by Amity Cross; she’s a writer who’s not afraid to step outside the box and craft HER tale how she wants and with the type of characters and darkness that she wants to deliver to her readers, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of them.

With L is for Luminous, Cross steps even further outside the box, especially her own, and writes a story that is just as soul searching as her others, but in a much different way. Lux’s story is not as dark or erotic as other Cross stories; it’s more about illustrating how someone who is ordinary can grow to be extraordinary…it’s about feeling comfortable enough to be one’s dorky, nerdy, and awkward self without worrying about judgment. It’s about learning to matter to oneself before being able to matter to anyone else.

Lux’s story is definitely going to resonate with a lot of readers; her personal and professional struggles, as well as her low self-esteem and lack of confidence, are ones that a lot of young women go through, so many readers will feel like Amity Cross is exposing their lives and giving them the strength and courage to see their differences as outstanding qualities that will make them shine! Lux is an every women kind of character; she’s quirky and feels more comfortable in her fictitious worlds, and she wants what every single woman wants – to matter…to be loved, and so far, that hasn’t happened for her and she feels quite forgettable.

There’s a definite love story in L is for Luminous; in fact, I would argue there are two, and in my opinion, one is way more important than the other. Throughout the course of the story, Lux learns to accept herself, quirks and all, and she grows into her talent and becomes more confident in her abilities. Lux also develops a crush on TV star Jude Atwood, but I’ll be honest, I didn’t know if I really wanted her to end up with him because the way he treated her at times made me want to strangle him. But Cross does a great job of taking readers through the ups and downs of Lux and Jude’s friendship/attraction and sorting through the mixed messages and the concept of fiction versus reality that is quite significant in order to understand the complications involved in their relationship.

Lux Dawson as the heroine of L is for Luminous made this book everything I hoped it would be after my initial introduction to her. Her attitude, her determination, and her inner monologues will endear her to readers and wish she was real and we could be best friends.

If you are a fan of Amity Cross’ other stories, don’t let the change in genre dissuade you from reading Lux Dawson’s story because I can guarantee you won’t regret it!

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

5 Poison Apples

Giveaway

This is an exclusive sneak peek of

(A standalone novel)

Release date 1/18/2016

A Contemporary Romance novel

New York Times & USA Today Bestseller

Vi Keeland

Excerpt from THE BALLER

“You ready?” Nick slung his bag over his shoulder and lifted his camera. The reporter in front of us wrapped up his interview and shook hands with Easton.

As I’ll ever be. “Sure.”

I stepped forward and extended my hand. “I’m Delilah Maddox with WMBC Sports News.”

A slow grin spread across Easton’s face. He surprised me by leaning in and kissing me on the cheek. “Pleasure to meet you.”

I wasn’t sure if he was baiting me into an argument—expecting me to lash out at him for kissing me when he’d just shaken the last male reporter’s hand—or if he was trying to use his blatant sexuality to throw me off. Either way, I wasn’t playing his game. I cleared my throat and stood straighter, even though my knees felt a little wobbly.

“Do you mind if I ask you some questions?”

“Why else would you be in here?”

I ignored his sarcasm. He was still smiling at me. Actually, it was more like a smirk, and it made me feel like a toy he was about to play with. “You ready, Nick?” My cameraman finished setting up the lighting, then lifted the camera into position and gave me a hand signal.

“Congratulations on the win today, Brody. How is your knee feeling after your first game back?” I lifted my microphone high, knowing Nick was filming in close.  

“I feel . . . ” He nonchalantly reached to the towel wrapped around his waist and tugged at the corner. The towel fell to the ground. “Great. I feel great. And how about you? It’s your first trip into the locker room, isn’t it? Do you like what you see so far?” His lips curled up into a full-blown wicked smile.

Before I could catch myself, my eyes dropped to his naked lower half. Shit. He was dangling in the wind. I totally got distracted by just how low the thing dangled. It was probably a full minute before I responded to his question. A full minute of dead air time. Great. “Yes. Umm . . . the locker room is . . . ummm . . . nice.”

I sounded like a total ditz. On air.

The jackass continued interviewing me. “Is it as big as you thought it would be?”

“Ummm . . . it’s much bigger than I imagined.”

His smile grew even wider.  

Ugh.

I needed to get back on track or my first locker room interview would become a laughingstock blooper. Viewers had no idea he was naked from the waist down. “Do you think you were at one hundred percent today?”

His eyebrows jumped. “If you’re referring to today’s game, definitely. I had one hundred percent out there on the field. There’re some other areas where I have a lot of growth potential, but my knee felt one hundred percent today.”

His pale green eyes darkened, and I watched his long lashes lower. I followed his line of sight, and suddenly I was staring at his naked package. Again. Damn it. My eyes darted back up, but I felt my cheeks heating. I had to end this, or I was going to be beet red on air.

“Well, welcome back. And congratulations on today’s win.”

I waited until Nick lowered his camera and turned off the light. Then I looked right at Brody Easton’s smug face. “You’re an asshole, you know that?”

His eyes sparkled. “I do.”

I heard the chuckles and high fives at my back as I stormed out of the locker room.

★★★★

We hope you enjoyed this extended preview!

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Blurb

The first time I met Brody Easton was in the men’s locker room.   

It was my first interview as a professional sportscaster.

The famed quarterback decided to bare all.   

And by all, I don’t mean he told me any of his secrets.  

No.  The arrogant ass decided to drop his towel, just as I asked the first question.  On camera.   

The Super Bowl MVP quickly adopted a new hobby—screwing with me.

When I pushed back, he shifted from wanting to screw with me, to wanting to screw me.

But I don’t date players.  

And it’s not because I’m one of the few women working in the world of professional football.   

I’d date an athlete.   

It’s the other kind of player I don’t date.   

You know the type.  Good looking, strong, cocky, always looking to get laid.

Brody Easton was the ultimate player.

Every woman wanted to be the one to change him.

But the truth was, all he needed was a girl worth changing for.

Turned out, I was that girl.

Simple right?

Let’s face it.  It never is.

There’s a story between once upon a time and happily ever after…  

And this one is ours.

About the Author

Vi Keeland is a native New Yorker with three children that occupy most of her free time, which she complains about often, but wouldn’t change for the world. She is a bookworm and has been known to read her kindle at stop lights, while styling her hair, cleaning, walking, during sporting events, and frequently while pretending to work.  She is a boring attorney by day, and an exciting smut author by night!

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Additional Books by Vi Keeland

Life on Stage series (2 standalone books)

Beat

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1MWanfu

Amazon UK:  http://amzn.to/1fczMX5

iBooks: http://apple.co/1DnI6f6

Kobo:  http://bit.ly/1aqrmbS

B&N:  http://bit.ly/1O1Ah0q

Throb

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1BgqIUD

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1CsRg9d

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1zk882K

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1x5c3P8


Kobo:  http://bit.ly/1slglLN

MMA Fighter series (3 standalone books)

Worth the Fight (MMA Fighter Series, Book One)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1xC6epE

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1alpVES

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1dbzZ8R

Smashwords – http://bit.ly/1is0zNX

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1co2ZpF

Worth The Chance (MMA Fighter Series, Book Two)

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1xC71aa

B&N: http://bit.ly/1gwTyJw

iBooks:  http://bit.ly/1gHMCZg

Kobo:  http://bit.ly/1fqQcnj

Smashwords: http://bit.ly/NU2rCR

Worth Forgiving (MMA Fighter Series, Book Three)

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1wbsJEK

B & N: http://bit.ly/1ljdVzb

iBooks:  http://bit.ly/XBTLFX

Kobo:  http://bit.ly/1kWP4ka

The Cole Series (2 book serial)

Belong to You (Cole Series, Book One)

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1fr26W2

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1KRsCVy

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/belong-to-you-vi-keeland/1114962845

IBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/belong-to-you/id639401754

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/belong-to-you

Made for You (Cole Series, Book Two)

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1Mi0AzQ

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1KRsdCx

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/made-for-you-vi-keeland/1115883225

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/made-for-you/id84550637

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/belong-to-you

Standalone novels

Left Behind (A Young Adult Novel)

Amazon US:http://amzn.to/1G9HdDK

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1Rmi3xp

First Thing I See

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1fr3dF7

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1RmihEP

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1JWFo21

Complete Corruption by CD Reiss Pre-order is

NOW ON SALE!

Find out what everyone is talking about for ONLY $0.99!

**Available on all retailers – Can be read as a stand alone**

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1SGhSfb

Amazon UK:  http://amzn.to/1PPn9hU

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Can be read as a STANDALONE! Theresa Drazen can have plenty of guys, but the one she can’t keep away from….the one she’s just about addicted to, is more than forbidden. With felony-black eyes and a mouth built for lies, loving him is one step away from illegal.

But her body keeps overriding her brain. Maybe it’s time to stop playing by the rules.

——-

Antonio is obsessed. Theresa’s the last woman he should touch. She’s going to get him killed. She’s dangerous. Poison. The wrong woman.

Except…she’s perfect.

And they both figure…one more time. Just one more time.

One more time and they won’t get caught.

One more time and they won’t get killed.

One.

More.

Time…….

About the Author

CD Reiss is a USA Today and Amazon bestseller. She still has to chop wood and carry water, which was buried in the fine print. Her lawyer is working it out with God but in the meantime, if you call and she doesn’t pick up, she’s at the well, hauling buckets.

Born in New York City, she moved to Hollywood, California to get her master’s degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere, but it did embed TV story structure in her head well enough for her to take a big risk on a TV series structured erotic series called Songs of Submission. It’s about a kinky billionaire hung up on his ex-wife, an ingenue singer with a wisecracking mouth; art, music and sin in the city of Los Angeles.

Critics have dubbed the books “poetic,” “literary,” and “hauntingly atmospheric,” which is flattering enough for her to put it in a bio, but embarrassing enough for her not to tell her husband, or he might think she’s some sort of braggart who’s too good to give the toilets a once-over every couple of weeks or chop a cord of wood.

If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.

Stalk Her: Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads | Pinterest | Intsagram

ELITE SALE PROMO – Jan 11-25

For Tracey Rooks, life with her grandparents on a Wyoming farm has always been simple. But after her grandmother’s death, Tracey is all her grandfather has. So when Eagle Elite University announces its annual scholarship lottery, Tracey jumps at the opportunity to secure their future and enters. She isn’t expecting much-but then she wins. And life as she knows it will never be same . . .

The students at Eagle Elite are unlike any she’s ever met . . . and they refuse to make things easy for her. There’s Nixon, gorgeous, irresistible, and leader of a group that everyone fears: The Elect. Their rules are simple. 1. Do not touch The Elect. 2. Do not look at The Elect. 3. Do not speak to The Elect. No matter how hard she tries to stay away, The Elect are always around her and it isn’t long until she finds out the reason why they keep their friends close and their enemies even closer. She just didn’t realize she was the enemy — until it was too late.

Elite (Eagle Elite, #1)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/15fVKCI

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Excerpt

I pushed open the door and immediately threw off my jacket, followed by my shirt. Then I addressed my skirt. I heard chuckling.

My hands froze on my skirt’s zipper. I looked up.

Nixon lay across my bed. “Please, don’t let me interrupt. Continue.”

I flipped him off.

He laughed harder.

I quickly pulled on the tank top I’d worn to bed and thrown across the chair. “What do you want?”

“Not sex, but thanks for the offer.”

“I was not…” I took three deep breaths. Arguing got me nowhere with Satan. “Why are you here?”

“Waiting for my sister. What else?”

I exhaled in relief.

“What, you disappointed I didn’t want an afternoon screw?”

“Not at all.” I sat far far away on Monroe’s bed. “Besides, if you needed one, all you’d have to do is knock on any door on this floor. Just be sure to use protection. I know how you are about germs.”

“Only yours,” he sang.

I threw a pillow in his direction, hoping to smack him in the face. He caught it mid-air and scowled. “Can you at least wait for her outside?”

“Nope.”

“Why?” I ground my teeth together. At the rate I was going I would have nothing left to grind.

“Because, I like your bed. It’s comfortable.”

“It has my germs and I swear to you I drooled all over my pillow last night.”

He shrugged. “I only hate germs on people, not objects.”

Nixon looked at his watch then put his hands behind his head and closed his eyes.

“Why?”

“Why what, Farm Girl?”

“Why don’t you like people touching you? Is that your rule or an Elite thing?”

“You ask a lot of questions for someone so stupid.”

That stung, but I was too tired to let it sink too far into my consciousness. “It is the only way to find out how to survive in this place.”

“You’ll survive, if you follow the rules. I thought I told you that.” He propped up on his elbow. “The system works, Trace. I know you think I’m an asshole, but if I was nice, they would eat you alive. Wouldn’t you rather I do the tasting?” He smirked.

Damn, I was literally itching to punch him in the jaw.

“Why can’t everyone just be nice and get along?”

He groaned into his hands and stood. “Maybe I will wait outside.”

“You do that.”

He walked to the door and then stopped. “Has anyone made fun of you today?”

“Is this a trick question?” I asked, jumping off Monroe’s bed. “You make fun of me all the time!”

“Other than me.” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his slacks. “Tell me the truth.”

“N-no,” I stuttered. “No one made fun of me today[ce1] .”

“I guess my point is made.”

“The hell it is.” I bent down and picked up another pillow to throw at his face. “You think you have that much power? To protect me from them? You think you’re that much better? That what you do is better than what typical college kids could do to me?”

His eyebrows rose. “Care to make a wager?”

“Fine!” I poked him in the chest.

Nixon closed his eyes as if in pain. “Please don’t touch me.”

I backed off but only because he’d said please.

“I’ll stop bothering you…but when I win—when you can’t take it anymore—when you are living in hell every single day, I want to hear it from your lips. Not Monroe’s, not Chase’s. I want you to approach me. I want you to tell me…”

“Tell you what?” I whispered.

“That you need me.”

“When hell freezes over!” I snapped.

“Bring a parka, because life’s a bitch and you just bought a first class ticket, sweetheart.”

I was still in a crappy mood when Monroe finally arrived. True to his word, Nixon sat outside, at the door, waiting for her. Why he didn’t text her or call her I have no idea.

I couldn’t really hear what they were saying. But Monroe was yelling, and Nixon was yelling, and I was pretty sure one of them was going to throw a punch.

So I was really surprised when Monroe bounced into the room with a wide smile on her face. “Guess what!”

“You killed your brother?”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m not that lucky, no.” With a huff she sat on her bed. “The Elect are throwing a party tonight and I get to bring you!”

Excuse me while I pull out my pom-poms. “Swell.”

About the Author

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she’s not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.

She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!

Want to be kept up to date on new releases? Text MAFIA to 66866!

You can connect with her on Facebook www.facebook.com/rachelvandyken  or join her fan group Rachel’s New Rockin Readers. Her website is www.rachelvandykenauthor.com .

Links:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachVD

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Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Rachel-Van-Dyken/e/B0054TW5AA/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1407369649&sr=8-2-ent

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/8l7hP

Title: Ten (My Brother’s Best Friend)

Author: Ker Dukey

Released: December 20, 2015

Cover Design: Pink Ink Designs

Photographer: Clyph Jean Philippe

Model: Kyle Nelson

Amazon US / Amazon UK /  Amazon CA / Amazon AU 

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.

Instagram / Facebook / Newsletter / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon /Tsu 

 

Release Day: JANUARY 11, 2016

Synopsis

A faceless name. That’s all she was when I agreed to play a part in deceiving her. But then the unplanned happened.

We met. And all I wanted from her was a dirty weekend . . . until that wasn’t enough and I longed for so much more.

Lawrence Thorn suddenly means the world to me. And that’s a problem. She’s my business partner’s sister. Forbidden fruit. Pursuing her can mean trouble for me at Lovibond Brewery. But I don’t care.

I yearn for her skin against mine.

I crave her smell on my body.

I want to make her laugh and then hear her moan my name.

And she does for a brief moment in time.

But Lawrence wants more than I’m able to give. And it’s a damn shame because there’s no one on earth I want more than her.

An epic love.

A miserable ending.

Unless it’s not.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1lBmNlh
Amazon UK: http://goo.gl/Pm8QS

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About the Author

Georgia resides in rural Mississippi with her wonderful husband, Jeff, and their two beautiful daughters. She spent fourteen years as a labor and delivery nurse before she decided to pursue her dream of becoming an author and hasn’t looked back yet.

When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing. When she’s being domestic, she’s listening to her iPod and visualizing scenes for her current work in progress. Every story coming from her always has a song to inspire it.

Representation: All questions regarding subsidiary rights for any of my books, inquiries regarding foreign translation and film rights should be directed to Jane Dystel of Dystel & Goderich.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Georgia-Cates/213130102082500?ref=br_tf

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WEBSITE: http://www.georgiacates.com/

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AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: http://www.amazon.com/Georgia-Cates/e/B005RQM69U/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1412959384&sr=8-2-ent

REEVE IS HERE!  

Meet Reeve & Emily in First Touch by Laurelin Paige! This highly anticipated release is NOW LIVE!  

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Blurb

When Emily Wayborn goes home to visit her mom while on hiatus from her hit TV show, she receives a voicemail from her former best friend, Amber. Though the two were once notorious party girls, they haven’t spoken in years. Although the message might sound benign to anyone else, Amber uses a safe word that Emily recognizes, a word they always used to get out of sticky situations during their wild days. And what’s more chilling than the voicemail: it turns out that Amber has gone missing.

Determined to track down her friend, Emily follows a chain of clues that lead her to the enigmatic billionaire Reeve Sallis, a hotelier known for his shady dealings and play boy reputation. Now, in order to find Amber, Emily must seduce Reeve to learn his secrets and discover the whereabouts of her friend. But as she finds herself more entangled with him, she finds she’s drawn to Reeve for more than just his connection to Amber, despite her growing fear that he may be the enemy. When she’s forced to choose where her loyalty lies, how will she decide between saving Amber and saving her heart?

First Touch is an absolutely stunning read!

Laurelin Paige weaves a tangled web of secrets, lies, and eroticism…a story line that will keep readers second guessing about the truths that Reeve refuses to give and the true impact of Emily’s relationship with him because there’s a third person involved who refuses to let either of them completely let go of their shared pasts.

Reeve is definitely an enigma, and I truly believe readers don’t know the half of it when it comes to Reeve’s intentions and his manipulations. I can’t help but be seduced by him as well as slightly appalled with him for his actions towards Emily and the control he uses to take what he wants. I can’t quite wrap my mind around Emily’s proclivities; she needs certain things in her sex life, and without them, she feels incomplete, but the boundaries she’s willing to cross and actually plow right through makes it hard to see what satisfaction is gained from those experiences.

Emily’s worked hard to gain her independence after numerous years of being used and abused by a string of men with Amber right by her side. She became dependent on the men in her life and found herself ultimately playing a role that she couldn’t break free from until she was faced with no choice. Now with one call for help from Amber, Emily finds herself immersed back into the lifestyle she forced herself to give up, and this time around, I’m not sure if she’ll be able to keep hold of the independent woman she became when she submits to every one of Reeve’s demands.

There’s still a lot more to discover about Emily and why she is who she is and likes what she likes, and I can’t wait to garner a better understanding of her as the Reeve and Emily’s story continues.

What began as a journey to the truth has turned into something much different for both Emily and Reeve. Lines have been crossed. Half truths have been told and what was once black and white has now been absorbed into a gray area that is difficult to see through and ascertain the facts from the perceived reality.

But one thing is absolutely clear – Emily is a dirty girl who wants to be the only woman in Reeve’s life; she wants him to manhandle her without limits and she wants him to own her heart and trust her enough to own his. But I’m not sure how a relationship that started in deceit can move forward and with the big reveal at the end of First Touch, I can only imagine where Emily and Reeve’s relationship will go.

First Touch is an exceptionally well written story that will seduce readers and have them yearning to be part of the scintillating and depraved world Laurelin Paige created. Reeve and Emily are multifaceted characters that readers still don’t know everything about and that’s what makes their story so addicting because we yearn for the truth as much as we want to live in the fantasy.

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

5++ Poison Apples

Excerpt

“Tell me something,” he said, overtly switching gears. “What’s with you and Chris Blakely?”

He’d been watching me at the Expo, then. Before he’d come outside after me.

His question about Chris was spoken casually, but it was purposeful. A more naïve woman might have missed it, but I was too experienced with men like him. He wanted me to know that I was in his sightline. That this was what it meant to be part of his life. That he would monitor me, if he felt like it; he’d rule me. And he expected me to submit.

I couldn’t decide if that freaked me out or thrilled me.

So I played coy. “He’s an actor. We’ve worked together on occasion. I guess we’re friends.”

I walked into the kitchen and got a glass from the cupboard. Chewing my lip, I filled it with filtered water from the sink and debated full disclosure regarding Chris…It was a long shot, but since I hoped to contact Chris for more information about Missy at some point, I decided the less I said the better.

I drank some of my water then set the glass down and leaned across the counter to watch Reeve. His fingers trailed across the spines. I couldn’t see the exact books, so I tried to think what was there. My Katherine Hepburn autobiography. My copy of Rebecca.

He stopped and pulled one from the shelf then flipped through it lazily. This one I recognized from the cover. PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives, one of my coffee table books. I collected them and had so many that most lived on my bookshelf rather than on my coffee table. This particular book was a printing of blog posts that shared secrets anonymously. Parts of it read like my diary, and I’d marked several pages with Post-it notes so I could easily come back to them. Reading it had always felt comforting.

Seeing it in Reeve’s hands, though, wasn’t comforting. He flipped through the pages, stopping on the ones I’d tagged. Chuckling at some. Growing somber at others. At one, he lifted his head toward me and nodded slightly as if confirming what he’d just thought, what he’d just read.

I ran through several confessions I knew by heart, trying to imagine which it had been—

“Again and again. Used.”

“I’m more scared of court than I was when he almost killed me.”

“I would do absolutely anything in the whole world if I thought it would make her happy.”

Whichever ones he was reading, any of them—all of them—were private. Too private for him to know spoke to me. Yet, I didn’t stop him. I let him sink one layer deeper under my skin.

It was bad enough that he was in my apartment—in an apartment that I paid for myself. His presence reminded me of a time when everything I owned had been given to me by men. The things I had now, though small in number and worth, were all mine.

Trying to distract myself from the anxiety Reeve’s invasion caused, I asked, “Why do you want to know about Chris anyway? Do you want me to fix you up? He’s got a fiancé, you know.”

Reeve shot me a glare. “Cute.”

He put the book back on my shelf and moved toward me. When he reached the counter, he said, “Chris doesn’t look at you like he has a fiancé.”

Ah. I’d forgotten Reeve was a jealous man. Or I’d underestimated the depth of his envy. Strangely, it was a fairly common trait of the kind of men I’d involved myself with in the past, the kind of men who had everything. I knew how to pander to them, knew what to say to put their insecurities to rest. No one could ever be man enough to compare with you, I’d say. It might have been what Reeve was looking for in regards to Chris.

But I couldn’t bring myself to give it to him. “A lot of men don’t look at me like they have a fiancé.”

Reeve leaned across the opposite side of the counter so we were face-to-face. “I don’t like that.”

Jealousy was generally boring, yet, on Reeve, it was fascinating. And, I suspected, dangerous. “You don’t? What are you going to do about it? Lock me up and never let me out in public?”

“I have some nice secluded resorts I think you’d like. My island properties are so beautiful you’ll forget you’re in a prison.”

He flashed his dimple. It was subtle, only noticeable when he smiled in a certain way, the way he was smiling now. And his eyes…I’d thought they were blue, but now I saw green flecks. They caught in the light. They caught me in them, made me feel warm. Made me feel trapped.

I stood up straight, distancing myself without moving away. “Look at you. Acting as if you have some claim to me. I think I already blew you off the other night.”

“Look at you, acting as if I’m a person that you blow off. I think I already warned you about me.” He was teasing as I’d been. But he wasn’t all at the same time.

My heart skipped a beat. “Another threat?”

“If you want it to be.” He looked at me like he had earlier—that intent way that saw through me, into me. Saw all my dark parts.

In a way, he was showing me his darkness as well.

My lip quivered, but I wasn’t scared. Well, not scared enough. “I do.”

His eyes sparked, and with that simple phrase, we entered into an agreement. He would have me. He would fuck me. He would bring me into his world.

And in return I’d let him break me.

Last Kiss (Book Two) A First and Last Novel

Releases June 14th, 2016

Pre-order NOW!

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GIVEAWAY

$50 Amazon Gift Card

Swag Pack

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

Laurelin Paige is the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Fixed Trilogy. She’s a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching Game of Thrones and the Walking Dead, or dreaming of Michael Fassbender. She’s also a proud member of Mensa International though she doesn’t do anything with the organization except use it as material for her bio.

STALK HER:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

SEATTLE

Maverick

‘Not in a million years, kid.’

‘No.’

‘NOT INTERESTED.’

‘Get the fuck out of my face!’

Four cities in two days, and more doors slammed in my face than I can count. I sling my backpack over my shoulder and scratch another name from my list.

Hopping on to a bus and hopping off thirty minutes later, I scan the mix of both commercial and apartment numbers down the block, then knock on my last door.

“Coach Hennesy?”

He’s a tall man, his hair like pepper, clad in sweats, with a yellow timer hanging from his neck. He gives me a questioning look.

“I’m your next champion.”

He laughs, but then he must see something on my face. In my stance. Thirst, resoluteness, guts. Maybe I’m wearing my balls in my eyes. He falls sober and swings the door wide-open. “Come on in.”

He doesn’t ask for my name.

I guess with one look, he knows he’ll find my name in the dictionary, right next to “determined.”

He leads me to his garage. “Where’d you train before?” he asks.

“Self-taught. I watch videos.”

He scoffs, then shrugs. “Okay, let’s see what you’ve got.”

I eye the equipment across the room. The heavy bag hangs from the ceiling, the leather worn from other fighters before me. There’s a boxing dummy at the corner. Speed bag. Weights. A whole private gym set up here. I drop both my bags, then zip open my backpack and start to put on the gloves without bothering to remove my hoodie.

“Take that off; I need to know what you’ve got. Need to see your form,” Hennesy says.

I clench my jaw. Slowly unzip my hoodie. Take it off and glance past my shoulder, shifting to keep my back from the coach’s view. The guy is clearing the fighting area. Good. We can get down to business. He walks to me when I face him.

“Give it over.” I hand him my hoodie and he tosses it aside, then crosses his arms and looks at me. “Speedball first.”

I inhale, position myself before the speedball, and hit. Wham.

I keep on hitting, lightning fast, my fists making the bag fly.

I would have warmed up first, but I’ve been doing this for days, and I won’t stop until I’ve got myself a coach—and not even then.

I’ve got momentum now, and I pick up speed, my arms moving back and forth, working the speed bag until it’s moving so fast you can’t even see it.

I’m starting to sweat; it’s stuffy in here, but I can’t stop. I need him to take me on. I need one yes to get me in the ring. Just one yes and I’ll do the rest.

“Time.” Hennesy stops me. He signals to the boxing dummy and the heavy bag. “Let’s see you pound the bag.”

I swing out and slam my knuckles on the bag, putting everything into my fists. Thack, thump, thud.

Hennesy’s composure starts to crumble with excitement. “Holy shit, boy!”

I’m getting in to it. I’m in the zone—where it’s just me, the leather brown bag, my fists, and nothing else but slamming the spot I’m looking at.

“I’ve seen enough.” He stops the bag from swinging. His eyes glassy. “Fill this out.”

I pull off my right glove and grab a pen as he slaps a paper onto a desk at the corner. I bend down to fill out my name and contact information and realize, too late, that I exposed the tattoo on my back.

“You’re his boy.”

I freeze midsignature.

A second ticks by. Then two.

I slowly set the pen down and take one last look at the paper. I might not get to fill it out after all. I turn.

His face has paled.

I wait it out for a few beats. Maybe he’s different. Maybe he can deal with it.

He tosses my jacket at me. “Get out. Nobody wants to see you fight.”

I frown fiercely as I catch my jacket in my fist and edge forward, equally mad now. “That’s too damn bad. ’Cause I’m fighting anyway.”

I keep my eyes on him as I pull off my left glove, shove my arms into my hoodie, and zip up.

I walk out and the door slams behind me. I clench my jaw, and I shove my gloves into my bag and spot the old, black gloves inside too. I push them down into the bottom of the duffel bag and zip it up.

The season starts in a week and a half. No coach? No fight. I can’t even get into a gym.

But I won’t let anyone or anything keep me from the ring.

I pick up a penny from the ground.

And I spot a girl in workout clothes across the street, tying her shoelaces. She’s a step away from the gym door. I straighten, pull my hoodie over my head, and cross the street, following after her like I belong.

Meet Maverick “The Avenger” Cage in Legend,

the newest stand alone in the REAL series releasing February 9th!

PRE-ORDER NOW

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Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1JYmeal

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Google Play: http://bit.ly/1HyXaYg

Blurb

Maverick “the Avenger” Cage wants to rise to the top and become a legend in the ring. Though he keeps his identity well guarded, he’s known on the fighting circuit as the new kid with a chip on his shoulder and a tattoo on his back that marks him as trouble. He’s got a personal score to settle with the Underground’s one and only Remington “Riptide” Tate.

As Mav trains, he meets a young girl—the only other new person in the town–and sparks fly. When things get heated between them, he finds out she’s none other than Reese Dumas, the cousin of Remington Tate’s wife. A girl who’s supposed to root against him and a girl he’s supposed to stay away from.

But Maverick fights for the woman in his heart, and the monsters in his blood. The world’s eyes are on them and the victor will go down in history as the ultimate fighting champion; the ultimate LEGEND.

* LEGEND is the 6th and final installment of the REAL series, but it can also be read as standalone or after the three Remington and Brooke books (Real/Mine/Remy.)

Real (Book One) The Real Series

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1CHl6sS

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1w35g8N

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iBooks: http://bit.ly/1tHrTct

Mine  (Book Two) The Real Series

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Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1tHrdns

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1zmq1cT

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1yhymBF

Remy  (Book Three) The Real Series

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1vOn8T2

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1w35lcN

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1ynVnBv

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1vlqhom

Rogue  (Book Four) The Real Series

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Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1FOFfJy

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1wvpqI6

iTunes: http://bit.ly/12xnylU

Ripped  (Book Five) The Real Series

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1Bfzsi

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1yia714

Barnes & Noble:  http://bit.ly/11X9CAG

iBooks:  http://bit.ly/1ynQ9FV

About the Author

Hey! I’m Katy Evans and I love family, books, life, and love. I’m married with two children and three dogs and spend my time baking, walking, writing, reading, and taking care of my family. Thank you for spending your time with me and picking up my story. I hope you had an amazing time with it, like I did. If you’d like to know more about books in progress, look me up on the Internet, I’d love to hear from you!

Website: www.katyevans.net

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorkatyevans

Email: authorkatyevans@gmail.com

In anticipation of the January 25th release of Hallowed Ground, the newest stand alone to the Flight and Glory Series,  Rebecca Yarros has placed Full Measures (Book One) ON SALE.

Do not miss out on the opportunity to grab this beautifully written, emotional military romance about love, loss and survival for ONLY $0.99!

ON SALE NOW!

**Limited Time Only – Each book can be read as a stand alone**

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1mAypW4

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1O9CKGj

B&N: http://bit.ly/1xVnZ6m

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Kobo: http://bit.ly/1PLTOqk

Google Play: http://bit.ly/1PLTOqk

Blurb

She knew. That’s why Mom hadn’t opened the door. She knew he was dead.

Twenty years as an army brat and Ember Howard knew, too. The soldiers at the door meant her dad was never coming home. What she didn’t know was how she would find the strength to singlehandedly care for her crumbling family when her mom falls apart.

Then Josh Walker enters her life. Hockey star, her new next-door neighbor, and not to mention the most delicious hands that insist on saving her over and over again. He has a way of erasing the pain with a single look, a single touch. As much as she wants to turn off her feelings and endure the heartache on her own, she can’t deny their intense attraction.

Until Josh’s secret shatters their world. And Ember must decide if he’s worth the risk that comes with loving a man who could strip her bare.

Full Measures Hallway Scene  – Josh POV

The tile floor was cold under my bare feet as I leaned back against the kitchen counter, eating even colder ice cream. Muffled voices came from the entry hall, which probably meant Jagger had another girl over. Not that I cared, but it was a harsh reminder that the only girl I wanted was literally a wall away and wanted nothing to do with me.

Then again, after watching her set that shirt on fire yesterday, I was beginning to think it was less me she was angry at and more the entire world. I got it, really. She’d lost her dad, her mom wasn’t functioning, and she couldn’t get a moment peaceful enough to get her feet under her. She was frustrating as hell, and I couldn’t even blame her for it. Stronger women would have crumbled under what she’d been handed. So I flipped Jagger off when he’d asked me if we needed to call Oprah about my “manpain,” ate ice cream like a heartbroken girl, and tried not to fantasize about licking it off Ember. Looks like I failed that one, too.

“Barbies?” Ember’s voice came through clear as a bell, and I nearly dropped my spoon. Chills ran down my arms, and it wasn’t because of the ice cream currently melting on my tongue. Nope, just my skin reacting to her nearness. I licked off the back of the spoon, abandoned the bowl on the counter, and moved to straighten my shirt, but I wasn’t wearing one. I didn’t give it a second thought before I quietly rounded the corner, leaning back against the wall to get a better look at her.

“Walker! You got company!” Jagger called out, not realizing I was right behind him. Then again, neither did Ember, which gave me a coveted minute to soak her in, adorable bare feet and all. “Just in case he isn’t what you’re looking for… My name’s Jagger.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Jagger.”

“Oh, it’s my pleasure.”

Oh, hell no. I knew that voice on Jagger, the one that sought any good-looking woman in a five-mile radius, and couldn’t stay quiet. “Jagger, back the fuck up off Ember.”

His head dropped a fraction of an inch, just enough to let me know he’d heard me stake the claim. I’d pulled some kindergarten shit and basically licked her like a snack I didn’t want to share — I didn’t give a fuck if it was immature.

“And another one bites the dust,” Jagger said as he passed by me. He shot up his eyebrows in question, and I answered with an almost indistinguishable nod. Yes, this is the girl I’ve been talking about.

He laughed so quietly I almost missed it. Almost. Laugh it up. One day it will be you.

I locked my gaze on Ember and waited to see what she would do. She was like a wounded animal, and every time I reached my hand out, she’d bite, so this time I’d let her move first. It took every ounce of willpower I had not to move toward her.

She walked inside the entry hall, stopping close enough for me to kiss. Damn, she was beautiful. I would have killed for even a hint of what was going on behind those blue eyes. She blinked, but stayed silent.

I reached out before I could stop myself and palmed her cheek. “December?” Damn if she didn’t lean into my touch. It was there, the crackle of energy, the invisible tie that kept me tethered to her no matter how hard or far she pushed me away.

Her breath hitched as she turned into my hand, her lips parting as she skimmed over my skin, inhaling. Want slammed through me, and I forced it back on the bench. I wasn’t sure why she was here, or what she needed, but it wasn’t me pouncing on her.

Or maybe it is. I barely finished the thought before her mouth was on mine, hard and insistent. I was all too willing.

This wasn’t a gentle kiss, or even an apologetic one. It was open, carnal, and I sank into her, desperate to give her what we both craved. A growl ripped from my throat when she sucked my tongue into her mouth. God, she was warm.

I took control, stroking down her curves until her perfect ass filled my hands. With a squeeze, I brought her with me as I flipped to press her against the wall. Then I kissed her like I needed to, stroking her mouth with my tongue the way I’d used my fingers on her body back in Breckenridge—relentlessly and to every advantage.

Her fingers sank into my hair, and she moaned into my mouth, pushing me one step closer to losing what little control I had left. But when she rocked her hips against me, all thoughts of restraint fled. I licked down her neck, savoring her pulse against my tongue and the way she gasped when I gently kissed the patch of skin at the base.

Zip! Holy shit. She unzipped her hoodie, exposing miles of soft skin above her tank top. I picked her up, using the wall as leverage as I set my mouth to the delicate lines of her collarbone. Her taste, her scent, all of her surrounded me, blurring the outside world until there was only Ember.

I met her gaze, her eyes soft and hazed with the same lust streaking through my veins. “Josh,” she whispered, holding my face like I was something precious. I’d been a lot of things to a lot of different girls, but precious wasn’t really one of them, and she was infinitely more precious to me for it.

I set her down but didn’t back away, feeling every curve and hollow against my bare skin, and barely biting back a groan. I wish I’d had a shirt on. Oh, who the fuck was I kidding? Ten shirts couldn’t have protected me from Ember.

I kissed her again, using every ounce of skill I had to make her lose herself in the same way I had. I kept her guessing, never allowing her to settle into the kiss, changing the tempo, the pressure, anything to keep her as off-balance as she had me. She skimmed her fingers down my chest, along the lines of my stomach, and tensed. She dipped her fingers under the band of my flannel pants, and I was ready to rip every piece of clothing off her body so I could get to her skin. Another inch and she’d feel exactly how badly I wanted her.

Damn it. This was way too much, and not anything of what she actually needed. I’d be her whatever, but I had to draw the line when she was doing more harm than good. “December,” I whispered against her mouth, her lips swollen from mine, and pulled back just far enough to rest my forehead against hers. I closed my eyes until I had my body back under control. “I’m fucking desperate to carry you to my bedroom, but I don’t think this is what you want.”

Her eyes flew wide, and her skin stained pink before she hid behind her hands. “What am I doing?”

I got my shit under control, taking two deep breaths before I pulled her hands away. “What are you doing?”

“I came to say I’m sorry for the way I’ve been treating you. Sorry for the mixed signals.” She laughed. “But apparently I jumped you instead, and now I’m sorry for that, too.”

“Sorry for jumping me?” Hell no. I smiled. She could be sorry for pushing me away, for going from hot to cold faster than the kitchen faucet she used to put that fire out yesterday. But I wouldn’t let her apologize for giving me a few minutes to glimpse heaven.

“No. I’m not sorry for jumping you. I’m sorry about my god-awful timing.”

My smile slipped as I ran my thumb across the lips I was becoming obsessed with. “I told you I’m here for whatever you need, Ember. Jumping, apologies, whatever.”

“I’d better get back to studying.”

Boom. She may as well have slammed the door on me, and I retreated a step. “I’d better get in the shower.”

“Didn’t you just…?”

I let my mind wander to the shower, to what I could do to her body, pressed up against mine, water making her slick under my hands – how easy it would be to slide inside her. Stop. “Yeah, but I think I need another one at a different temperature.”

She flushed brighter pink. “Oh. I’m sorry about that, too.”

I couldn’t stop a grin from overtaking me. “I’m not.” I stepped forward until her back hit the wall, then bent down, a breath away from her lips, from what I knew we both wanted but wouldn’t push for. “If you apologize like that, feel free to treat me like shit any time you want. I will be your personal doormat.”

New Military Romance from Rebecca Yarros in  Hallowed Ground (Book Four) of the

Flight & Glory Series releases January 25th!

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** View Hallowed Ground Trailer HERE **

About the Author

Rebecca Yarros is a hopeless romantic and lover of all things chocolate, coffee, and Paleo. In addition to being a mom, military wife, and blogger, she can never choose between Young Adult and New Adult fiction, so she writes both. She’s a graduate of Troy University, where she studied European history and English, but still holds out hope for an acceptance letter to Hogwarts. Her blog, The Only Girl Among Boys, has been voted the Top Military Mom Blog the last two years, and celebrates the complex issues surrounding the military life she adores.

When she’s not writing, she’s tying on hockey skates for her kids, or sneaking in some guitar time. She is madly in love with her army-aviator husband of eleven years. They finally can call Colorado home along with their gaggle of rambunctious kiddos and snoring English Bulldog.

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