Title: Between Everything And Us

Author: Rebecca Paula

Genre: New Adult

Release Date: January 20, 2015

Cover Design: Maggie Hall

Synopsis

Matisse Evans is determined to make her sophomore year of college successful after failing out of a prestigious art school and spending a horribly boring gap year at home. Despite her focus, time isn’t on her side as she struggles to hold down three jobs so she can afford her first apartment while juggling course work. In the chaos of it all, Beau Grady moves in and shakes up her world. A college dropout and tattooed bad boy, the rumors about Beau mean one thing for Matisse—trouble. Paralyzed by the fear that she’s missing out on life, Matisse discovers plans may unravel, but what rises in their wake can be worth the uncertainty.

After spending the summer couch surfing, Beau Grady moves into an empty room at his ex-girlfriend’s Portland bungalow, skipping his senior year of college to spend his days working at a Vietnamese food cart instead. Once a star hockey player and gifted student, he’s put his life on hold after receiving a life-altering diagnosis, complacent to live in the moment. Hiding behind false rumors and bad habits, Beau falls for Matisse, letting her believe the worst until their relationship blooms into something they both can’t ignore. Falling for her means having to face a future he’d rather forget, but loving her just might be worth it.

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Excerpt

“I didn’t mean what I said the other night.” Mati spins around and tosses my T-shirt at my face. “And I guess I’m sorry for that.”

She glances over my shoulder, biting her bottom lip as I snap the folded T-shirt against my shoulder. I laugh in spite myself. I’m a fucking wreck, but something about me intimidates her. I can’t figure her out.

I stretch, pain radiating throughout my body as I do. I slip the shirt over my head and pull my shit together.

“It’s whatever,” I say with a shrug. I try to play it off, grabbing the ratchet from her hand. Truth is, she was right, even if I didn’t want to hear it.

Mati pads over to the tool bench I built with Noah. She pushes herself up to sit on it and places the giant sombrero from our party last weekend on her head. It swallows her up. It’s not that Mati is small—she’s tall and willowy—it’s just that I’ve always liked everything opposite before now. And I hate that it takes her wearing a stupid costume prop for me to figure that out.

“I feel like I need a margarita with this on.” Mati straightens it, adjusting the strings underneath her chin. “Maybe a piñata, too.”

“Straight tequila would be preferable.”

She swings her legs back and forth, humming along to the Black Keys. It’s a good thing she’s a painter; singing isn’t a strength of hers. But it’s cute and I hate myself for thinking so.

“How are classes?” I don’t really care about the answer. I just want to hear her talk.

“Oh, they’re fine, I think.”

“You don’t know?”

She stops swinging her feet. “Why do you care?”

“Making conversation, Mati.” I walk around to the bench. “Since we’re talking to each other again.”

A smile spreads across her lips, those red lips that I want to kiss.

“Why are you upset?” she asks quietly.

I swat my hand out and tip the sombrero over her eyes. “I’m fine.” It’s easier to lie when I don’t have to look her in the face.

She straightens the hat. “Classes so far are a lot like my classes freshman year two years ago.”

I skip the obvious question. Too many details and this impossible distance I’m trying to keep between us is going to be obliterated. “How’s that?”

“Do you remember? It’s been so long since you went to class.”

Her teasing washes away the panic seizing me again. “I wasn’t always a dropout. I remember fine.”

“Then you remember they’re pointless.” Her voice grows sad. “What was your major, Beau?”

I help her remove the massive sombrero instead of answering. I need exactly eight credits before I can graduate and start my masters for the accelerated program. I know my major—had a plan, even, had a purpose—but it’s not something I want to get into right now. It’s a far stretch ever imagining I could be a counselor responsible for guiding troubled teens on a hike when I can’t hold a damn wrench.

She taps her index finger over the tip of my nose. “Always Mr. Mysterious.”

I wonder if Mati has been drinking tequila because this isn’t like her. Usually her contempt toward me is blatant, not that I mind this Mati. This is who I was hoping the real Mati would be like if she ever paused for a minute from bowling over everything in her path. And that freaks me the fuck out—that today she’s quiet.

“Forestry sciences. I wanted to be a wilderness education counselor.” I move the hat off to the side and help her down, my hand curling over her hip. “What’s your major again? Being a pain in my ass?”

She rests her hand against my shoulder, not stepping away. “Charming as ever, too,” she whispers.

I tell my hand to let go, but I only hold on tighter because she sways closer and bumps against me, lost studying my face. I want to stay here, feel this, watch her watching me forever. “What would you do if I kissed you right now?”

Her eyes widen and shift focus to my mouth. They trace my lips until I have to fight back a groan. Mati gives the perfect fuck-me eyes.

“It doesn’t matter—” She pauses, her fingers pressing hard into my shoulder. “—because we both know you won’t.”

I slide my hand to the small of her back. My palm fits against the gentle curve there. “Mati?”

“I don’t have time for this.” Her words tumble out in an awkward rush. “I don’t want complications.”

My other hand slips up to rest against her stomach, cinching the fabric of her shirt in my fist. She slams her eyes shut at my touch, her breath escaping in staccato beats, mirroring my own.

The garage smells like damp earth and oil, but I swear we’re standing out in the dark, lost in the woods under the endless cover of stars.

Even though she’s right, even though I am a complication, I can’t shake the feeling in my gut that we’d be a good one. “You’re wrong,” I whisper. Her eyes pop open. “You’re exactly the type of girl who wants complications.” I rest my forehead against hers, her sweet coffee breath washing over my mouth. “And you have no clue what I want.”

About The Author

Rebecca writes smart and gritty New Adult romances, as well as historical romances, featuring flawed characters struggling to find their place in the world. She’s a lover of rainy days, an unabashed anglophile, and a devote Earl Gray tea drinker. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband and their very spoiled cat, Bella. A wanderlust connoisseur, Rebecca can be caught daydreaming about her next travel adventure when not writing.

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Last Call Series, #4

Adult Contemporary Romance
Release: January 6, 2015

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1x4TD1M
B&N: http://goo.gl/BC02on
iBooks: http://goo.gl/FYNfvb

Synopsis

Wyatt Banks is ready to give one woman the world. Unfortunately, his job as a cop tends to interfere with other goals. When Wyatt is sent deep undercover to investigate a sex slave ring, he doesn’t have time to do anything but focus on staying alive in a dark and dangerous underworld.

Wyatt isn’t alone though in his quest to save the women that are being sold into sexual slavery.

His partner, FBI Agent Andrea Somerville, is immersed just as deeply as he is, and she’s the bait to lure the sex slavers out into the open, as she poses as an erotic dancer in an attempt to snare the enemy. But danger runs as high as the sparks between them, and now Wyatt is caught between the job he loves and the woman he wants.

WITH A TWIST can be read as a stand-alone novel.

Review

I didn’t know what to expect going into With A Twist. I had remembered Wyatt from the previous books, but since he wasn’t at the forefront of any of the plotlines, he was stuck in the background of my mind. But as soon as Wyatt starts his undercover assignment and transforms into Raze, he definitely had my complete attention.

One thing I absolutely love about Sawyer Bennett’s Last Call series is that the storylines are anything but generic. The author’s not afraid to delve into topics that are a little darker and edgier, which is what all readers want because it shakes up the dynamics and doesn’t put them in a cookie cutter box with only slight variants of topic. An undercover mission to take down a possible sex slave ring is a much different way for the hero and heroine to connect, but it works for Wyatt and Andrea because their backstories show what their jobs mean to them and their true intentions when it comes to protecting those who can’t protect themselves.

To me, Wyatt and Andrea’s story can be divided up into two parts: the mission and their destiny. In the first section, they both prove themselves as valuable assets in order to get the job done, and as they prepare to take down the bad guys, their connection grows, and Wyatt’s territorial demeanor is brought out. Their attraction is undeniable, but there are a lot of things at stake and the risks to take things further leaves both Wyatt and Andrea in limbo. The second half of the story strips Raze and Nikki O away and focuses on Wyatt and Andrea outside of the mission and what they can mean to each other if both of them give in to what was brewing while on assignment. As they get to know one another, Wyatt and Andrea need to figure out where they stand both with their professional careers and with each other.

Sawyer Bennett is one of my favorite authors because she creates complex and flawed characters and immerses them into storylines that further exploits those characteristics, bringing them out in the open and forcing the heroes and heroines to do something about what they want and deserve before it’s too late. Wyatt shows himself to be one fantastic hero – there are multiple sides to his personality and readers get to see them all when he turns into Raze during the operation and then falls back into being the Wyatt he’s always been. He’s domineering, compassionate, supportive, and loyal to a fault, and all of those traits are brought out when he’s with Andrea. I wasn’t too sure about Andrea, at first, but boy does she prove herself to be a driven and hardass heroine. She holds true to herself and fights for what she wants, regardless of obstacles in her way. Andrea uses every asset that she has in order to get the job done, whether it’s in her personal or professional life. She fits into Wyatt’s life as if she was meant to be there and their chemistry helps solidify what they could have together.

With A Twist is a fantastic addition to the Last Call series. It has all of the components I’ve come to expect from a Sawyer Bennett text, and I couldn’t put it down. I love that readers get to catch up with Wyatt’s Outer Banks family, and even though I’ll be sad to see the series end, I CANNOT wait for Casey’s book.

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

4.5 poison apples

About the Author

USA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

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Uncover Me – Men of Inked #4

Synopsis

I lost track of my life.

Spiraling down the rabbit hole, I lost myself and became one of them. Living undercover within the MC, the days bled together as I became absorbed in a life of excess and violence.

Becoming consumed was easy.

Was I Thomas Gallo, good guy and respected cop or Blue, Sergeant-at-Arms of the Sun Devils MC?

Before, I could answer with certainty. But now, there’s a darkness that has settled deep in my soul, fusing with my heart and altering my reality forever.

The road I’ve traveled has been paved with danger, death, and deception.

Roxanne grew up as part of the MC, a victim of her birth. Her life has been treacherous, setting her on a course of torment and destruction.

When our worlds collide, secrets are revealed. Trying to save us from damnation, I fight for redemption and the woman I love.

Purchase Links

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Kobo – http://tinyurl.com/kfjdooj

 

Review

I, like most Chelle Bliss readers, couldn’t wait to get my hands on Uncover Me, Thomas Gallo’s story. His once controlled and methodical world is blown apart when he has to enter the Sun Devils Motorcycle Club and work his way up the ranks to get close to those in charge so that he can take them down. An operation that immerses someone in drugs, sex, and illegal dealings will change a man, especially when he’s forced to be a part of or instigate events and actions that there’s no coming back from, but when his sister got pulled into the mix, everything changed for him, and Thomas saw the need to uncover all that he could in order to end his assignment and get back to his life – a life way cleaner than the one he’s been living.

For Thomas, aka as Blue – the Sergeant-at-Arms for the Sun Devils, he’s played the part well, and he’s been rewarded, but it’s cost him personally because it’s kept him separated from his family, a group of people who mean the world to him. But it hasn’t all been bad – he’s found solace and a bit of peace with Roxy (Angel), someone who understands the workings of the Sun Devils because she’s been around them all of her life, and even though Roxy has her own torrid past and shitty circumstances to deal with, in a lifestyle that can chew you up and spit you out, what they have is worth holding on to and working hard to get beneath the hardass persona they both carry in order to find the person below the surface – the one that’s real – the one that’s theirs, body and soul.

At the heart of Uncover Me is Thomas and Angel’s individual battles to separate themselves from the mc lifestyle and find a new way to define themselves because who they used to be is no longer an option, especially for Thomas – so many things outside his assignment have changed, and he wasn’t a part of those changes, and while that tears at his heart, what shakes him up the most is not knowing how to proceed in a life where he can relax and be with his family when the sins of his past threaten to darken every part of him.

Angel definitely doesn’t want to be known for what she was or how she had to live – she never wanted to be a part of that lifestyle – it was forced upon her with no way out. So, when Thomas gives her an out, she runs with it without questioning anything, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t struggle with how to fit in and find a real place for herself. She doesn’t know how to live free and love even freer but she’s willing to learn for Thomas.

All of the Gallo men are hardcore and exude strength and determination in everything that they do, but Thomas’ situation changes him in a way that none of his brothers could possibly understand and that’s what makes his story a bit different than the rest. The sexual chemistry between Thomas and his leading lady is still sizzling and the interaction amongst the Gallo family members and the way they have each other’s back is still tantamount to the storyline, but the story is more about finding a way out of the darkness and not falling prey to it and feeling like regardless of what had to be done to achieve that out, it’s worth it in the end when life brings in a bit of joy and light.

Thomas and Angel’s story is a great addition to the Men of Inked series; it’s full of suspense, steam, and Gallo attitude and antics, which is what readers have come to expect from Chelle Bliss’ writing, and I can’t wait to see what she brings with Anthony’s story.

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

4 poison apples

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Chelle Bliss is an American author
who writes stories about real-life scenarios with fantasy Alpha males. Her works include humor as well as steamy sex.

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Do you like pierced and tatted ALPHAS? You need to read the Men of Inked series!

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Hook Me ~ Book 2: http://amzn.to/1ApcUKf
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GIVEAWAY

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Blurred Lines by Jen McLaughlin will be releasing January 26th, but first we have some exclusive content to share.

FINNClub team members will be sharing special details from the book this week, in order to share their excitement for the new novel.

Today we have the first chapter from Blurred Lines.

 

 

Blurred Lines – Chapter one
Riley

I parked my car in the driveway and just sat there, staring up at the house I shared with my fiancée, Sarah. It was dark outside, and somewhere in the distance, a dog barked. It sounded pissed as hell, but that wasn’t why I didn’t get out of the car. It wasn’t why I was sitting here, feeling empty as hell and just as lost.
The truth was, I wasn’t going inside because I knew my fiancée wasn’t in there alone. I’d seen the car parked down the road, conveniently hidden behind large shrubbery. If I was any other man, it might have worked. I might not have noticed it when I drove by on my way to my next meeting. But I’d know that fucking car anywhere.
It was Sarah’s ex-boss’s car.
The same one she’d once dated.
When we’d met, they’d been freshly split up. He’d broken her heart, and she’d sworn him off forever. We’d dated a suitable amount of time before getting engaged. My parents had liked her, and so had I. It had been an arranged marriage of sorts, but in my circles, that wasn’t such a strange thing.
Our fathers were political affiliates. We were expected to marry. Once upon a time, I’d hoped to have more. I’d hoped to have the kind of love that consumed your soul.
I still hadn’t found it.
So, I’d asked Sarah to marry me. She’d said yes. I’d thought she loved me. I’d been fairly certain I would grow to love her. But if she really loved me…
Why the hell was her ex-boyfriend’s car outside my house?
Slowly, I opened my car door and made my way up the driveway. My heart thudded in my ears, and I knew what I’d find when I opened that door. There was no doubt my fiancée was naked and having sex with another man.
And yet, I went inside anyway.
The door creaked when it opened, and I froze, half expecting to hear frantic shouting and retreating footsteps. Nothing moved. I crept inside the rest of the way, leaving the front door open. As I walked, I found a man’s sweater on the floor. I stepped on it. Another step and I scored a pair of men’s pants and a skirt.
There was no doubt anymore, if there ever had been, that my fiancée was cheating on me. I didn’t need to go any farther. I had confirmation. But still…
I kept going.
For some reason, I needed to see it with my own eyes to believe it. I’d truly believed Sarah was an honest woman. One who wouldn’t sleep with someone behind my back. I’d thought she would be a good partner for life. A trustworthy one.
I reached the couch. The couch I’d picked out.
Sarah was kneeling between her ex’s feet. She was naked, and so was her ex. The man’s bare ass was on my fucking couch. I didn’t know what upset me more: that, or the fact that she was giving the dude a BJ.
She never did that with me. Said it was undignified.
So was fucking a dude on my couch.
And, yes, I knew that the fact that those two things bothered me just as much as the actual betrayal did was fucked up. But I hadn’t loved her. I’d wanted to…
But I didn’t really know what real love felt like.
Fisting my hands, I cleared my throat. “I’m home early.”
Sarah shrieked and flew to her feet, grabbing the throw blanket off the arm of my couch and covering her body with it. Which was absurd, really. We’d both seen her naked before, obviously. The man also stood, grabbing a pillow and covering his half-hard dick with it.
“You can keep that now,” I said drily, not taking my eyes off Sarah. She was pale and shaking. I forced myself to remain calm. To act as if this hadn’t completely taken me off guard, even if it hadn’t broken me like it should have. “So, I take it the engagement is off, then?”
“Riley, I’m so sorry.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I didn’t want you to see this…”
“Obviously,” I said. “Cheaters rarely do.”
She shook her head, her blonde hair flying everywhere. “No. I’m not a cheater. I just—”
“Seriously?” I threw my arms out. “If this isn’t cheating, what the hell do you call it?”
Her cheeks flushed. “I love him, Riley. Really love him.”
I froze then, absorbing the knowledge that she’d felt the same way about me that I felt about her—and I hadn’t even known it. I’d naïvely thought she actually loved me, instead of just, well, accepting me as a suitable partner. How had I missed that?
“I thought you loved me,” I said softly, scratching my head. “I didn’t know…”
“I do.” She came up to me, resting her hand on my heart. The same hand that had been cupping another man’s balls moments before. That skeeved me out, so I stepped back from her touch. “I love you, Riley.”
“But you’re not in love with me,” I said, swallowing hard.
I might not love her till my dying breath, but the reality of what was happening hit me pretty hard. We were together for three fucking years, and it was over now. We’d just mailed the wedding invitations out last week.
And she’d been fucking him.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, tears falling down her cheeks.
I had no doubt she was. She was always a nice person, which was why this came as such a shock. I never suspected this of her. Hell, we’d made love last night, and she’d spent half an hour talking about wedding dresses and centerpieces.
I locked eyes with her bright green ones. “When did this start?”
“Riley…”
“When?”
She crumbled. “A week ago.”
The dude finally spoke up. He took a step forward. “Look, man, I’m sorry, but—”
Without thinking, I cocked my fist back and punched him right in the fucking face. He’d broken her heart, and now he was going to do it again. She might think he’d changed, but any man who would fuck another man’s fiancée on his own couch was not a changed man. He was scum, pure and simple.
And she’d fallen for him again.
“Don’t speak to me,” I snarled. I went after him, even though he stumbled backward and tripped over a fallen pillow. “Don’t you ever fucking—”
“Riley, don’t!” Sarah called out, sobbing. “Please. Don’t hurt him.”
I fisted my hands, my breathing coming out harsh. She’d cheated on me with this lowlife, and she was worried I’d hurt him? I whirled on her. “If you loved me, even if you weren’t in love with me, you wouldn’t have done this, Sarah. Not to me.”
She covered her face and cried. “I’m sorry.”
“Yeah.” I shook my head. “You made a big mistake, Sarah. I would have treated you right. I never would have…never…I wouldn’t have done this.”
“But you don’t love me,” she whispered. “You never have.”
“I care about you. I respect you.” I looked at her again. “I would have treated you right. That’s more important than love. And it’s safer, too.”
“I know,” she said, shrugging hopelessly. “I wanted more, though.”
And she thought she’d find it with this guy? I looked at him again. He sat on the floor, butt-assed naked and shaking. Pathetic. Turning my attention back to her, I forced a calm smile. My lawyer smile, as I liked to call it.
The one that said: I have no problem with taking your ass to court and whooping it publicly, so you better enter a plea bargain. I’d never given it to her before.
“Well, then, I wish you the best of luck. Goodbye.”
Sarah stumbled after me, grabbing my arm. “Wait. What will we tell everyone?”
“Tell them whatever you want.” I shook off her hold. “I don’t care.”
She grabbed for me again, but I pulled back. “But—”
“I said I don’t care, okay?” I held my hands up. “You were right about one thing—I never loved you. So, I don’t give a damn what you say to them.”
She covered her mouth and cried. I felt nothing. Not really.
But I didn’t want her touching me. Not anymore. This was the second time I’d found my significant other in bed with another man. The first time had been in college, and it had hurt like hell. I’d actually loved her…or I’d thought I had, anyway.
Now I was starting to think I was incapable of love.
Sure, I’d loved a girl once, but she hadn’t loved me back. She’d been in love with her now-husband, and they were the only couple I knew actually in love. Like, the kind you see in movies. Finn and Carrie had it, but I never would. Not in this lifetime.
I stumbled out the door, tugging on my tie as I went. It felt tight. As if it had come to life and decided to choke what little life I had left out of me. I was tempted to let it.
I was stuck in a job I hated, at a firm my father owned, and now I was single, too. And for the second time in my life, I’d been duplicitously cheated on.
Was it something I’d done? Something that was missing in me that made my women look elsewhere? Maybe I was broken. Maybe I should stop trying to find a partner and just accept the fact that I was better off alone.
Maybe I should just stop trying.
But first? I’d call off the meeting that I was already late to…and I’d get drunk as hell as quickly as possible. I’d get so drunk that I’d forget all about Sarah and the naked man on my couch. So drunk that I’d forget all about how broken I was, because instead of being heartbroken over her betrayal, I was angry that we’d have to deal with the mess she’d made.
I was mad I’d have to tell my mother that I was no longer marrying the woman she’d handpicked for me, and deal with the drama that came with it all. But I wasn’t upset I lost her…
Not at all.
BOOK BLURB:

Once burned…

Finding my fiancée naked on my couch might’ve been a good thing, if her ex-boyfriend hadn’t been with her. For the past eight years I’ve been a witness to the power of true love, but after getting burned I’d decided there wasn’t any hope for me finding it for myself. Until I met Noelle Brandt in a hotel bar. Maybe it wasn’t the most romantic meeting, but the moment I met her I knew I had to have her. The more I learn about her, the more I know I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her.

Twice shy…

I’d already found the love of my life, but I’d lost that love forever. And I’d been lost ever since. But one night a wounded man makes all of that go away. He makes me laugh, live, and feel alive. When he tells me he has no intention of letting me go, I finally begin to believe in the power of true love again. That is, until I find out who he really is…and by then, it’s far too late to correct the mistakes we’ve already made. By the time we both know the truth, the lines have already been blurred beyond recognition.

 GIVEAWAY

Win an ebook set of OUT OF LINE, OUT OF TIME, OUT OF MIND, and the adult standalone title FRACTURED LINES by Jen McLaughlin! International.

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Jen McLaughlin is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy New Adult books. Under her pen name Diane Alberts, she is a multi-published, bestselling author of Contemporary Romance with Entangled Publishing. Her first release as Jen McLaughlin, Out of Line, released September 6 2013, and hit the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal lists. She was mentioned in Forbes alongside E. L. James as one of the breakout independent authors to dominate the bestselling lists. She is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.

Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal-clear water. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal-clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, and a cat. Her goal is to write so many well-crafted romance books that even a non-romance reader will know her name.

Website: http://dianealberts.com/
Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/DianeAlberts6
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DianeAlberts
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6921962.Jen_McLaughlin

 

 

What Readers are saying about One to Leave…

“A cowboy setting and a man with deep secrets…what could be sexier? FIVE STARS for the entire ONE TO HOLD series!!! Don’t miss ONE TO LEAVE!” –Aleatha Romig, NYT and USA Today bestselling author of The Consequences series

“FIVE STARS: Spanking, pulling hair, sexy growls, and hearty demands, just gives you a little taste as to what this sexy man is capable of… Stuart not only broke my heart, but carefully mended it back together.” –Shayna Renee’s Spicy Reads

“If you’re looking for a super sexy cowboy with a past to fall in love with One to Leave is definitely the book to pick up!” –Reading Past My Bedtime Reviews

 

One to Leave (Stuart & Mariska)

Some demons can’t be shaken off.

Some wounds won’t heal.

Until a pair of hazel eyes knocks you on your ass, and you realize it’s time to stop running.

Keywords: military, western, alpha, billionaire, new adult, second chance, wedding, Thanksgiving, Christmas

A STAND-ALONE, ONE TO HOLD NOVEL. Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18. #SexyCowboy

Amazon: http://smarturl.it/OTLvAA

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Kobo: http://smarturl.it/OTLvK

Nook: http://smarturl.it/OTLvBN

Google Play: http://smarturl.it/OTLvGP

ARe: http://smarturl.it/OTLvAR

Paperbacks 

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Review

I’m a huge fan of Tia Louise’s One to Hold series. All of her heroes and heroines are strong and resilient; they fight for what they want every step of the way, and they never allow anyone or anything to stand in their way. Derek and Melissa, Patrick and Elaine, and Slayde and Kenny have all had to work through their pasts and overcome present obstacles in order to be together, and they’ve all done it because they knew they didn’t have a choice – their lives are far better and mean more now that they’ve found their other half.

As much as I’ve loved every single one of the stories before One to Leave, I knew going in to Stuart Knight’s story that it was going to leave a mark on me more than the others have. There’s something about the Wounded Warrior or Captain Asshat as he’s so endearingly called that made me want to wrap my arms around him and never let him go since his scene with Kenny in One to Love.

Stuart’s this tough, controlled man who right now has no control over his life because his addiction and his memories have commanded his every move. He’s lost his honor and his self respect, but he refuses to be another casualty of war, so he’s doing what he needs to do to get back to the desert and redeem himself in the eyes of his country and himself. Stuart’s life has always centered around his duty to his country, leaving him little time for anything else, especially love. He has always set a clear path in his life – one that focuses on being a Marine and defending the helpless. But at this time, Stuart is the one in need of assistance, but he has to be willing to accept the help and admit he has a problem, which isn’t easy for this independent solider.

Mariska Heron felt an undeniable connection to Stuart in their one brief encounter; in fact, she felt so strongly about her need to help him that she hops on a plane and heads into a situation that she knows nothing about. Even when it seems Stuart’s path is not headed towards her, Mariska can’t help but want to be near him and ease his pain. She’s a calming presence to Stuart, and he finds that he’s just as desperate to be near the light that she exudes regardless of his claim of having no room for love.

But in order for Stuart to realize that it’s okay to change paths and try something new, he’s going to have to face the darkness that surrounds him and find a way through it without feeling like he is less a man because he can no longer be the solider he once was. The fight on the battlefield may be where he wants to be, but the fight for his life, his sanity, and his self worth is a hell of a lot more important; he just has to be willing to let other people in and see that a woman can be an asset instead of a liability.

Stuart and Mariska’s attraction may have been instantaneous, but in order for anything to develop beyond a physical relationship, they’re both going to have to fight against every preconceived notion that Stuart has had in terms of what it means to be a man. It’s not going to be a battle easily won, but it’s clear that Mariska wants to be claimed by Stuart, so she’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen – even if it means walking away and giving him the opportunity to decide which battle he’s willing to fight for.

I absolutely adored One to Leave. I’ll admit, though, in the beginning of the story, I was cursing Tia Louise out a bit with Stuart’s interaction with Nikki, but Tia quickly put my fears at bay. For as much of an ass Stuart is, Tia provides the insights readers need to understand his attitude and his single minded objective. He’s an honorable man and that is clearly shown throughout the course of the text. I loved Mariska. She’s such a kind hearted soul who tries to see the best in everyone. She’s feisty and spirited and she takes risks and lets her heart lead her. She’s exactly what Stuart needs and deep down he knows that and that’s exactly why she scares the hell out of him.

Tia Louise’s One to Hold series just keeps getting better and better, which is exactly what I would expect to occur as she delves deeper into her characters’ psyches and shapes and molds her characters into revealing who they truly are. There’s still a lot more of these characters’ stories to tell and I can’t wait to see where Tia takes them as the series continues.

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

4.5 poison apples

Exclusive Excerpt

One to Leave by Tia Louise

© TLM Productions, 2014

Mariska

“I’m not leaving,” I gasped, needing him to stop.

He didn’t stop. He gave me three more swift thrusts before holding himself deep inside me, leaning over my shoulder as he groaned through his orgasm. He pulsed, filling me, then growing still. My heart beat so hard, and I couldn’t move. My bones were liquid as I lay on the bed.

Two more breaths, and he climbed onto the mattress, pulling me with him. I couldn’t resist if I wanted to as he wrapped me in his arms, holding me against his chest. His face was at my shoulder, buried in my hair, and he breathed deeply. We were both panting. Holding him, I could feel his pulse at my temple.

“Stuart,” I whispered.

“You’re mine.” He rumbled against my skin. “You don’t leave me.”

My jaw clenched. I was still recovering from that blazing fuck, and I hated how shockingly true his words were. I’d need the strength of Hercules to walk away from him. At the same time, I knew I had to stay strong.

“But you can leave me?”

He didn’t answer. He only held me firm against his chest. Our breath swirled in and out, mixing and mingling, and I wondered if he’d ever let me go. I wondered if I ever wanted him to. After a few moments, he did relax. He reached down and pulled the Indian blanket over me. Kissing my shoulder, he went to the bathroom and closed the door.

I pulled the blanket tight around me trying to calm my swirling emotions.

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About the Author

Tia Louise is the Amazon and International Bestselling author of the ONE TO HOLD series.

Her debut adult romance ONE TO HOLD was #1 in Military Romance on Amazon, a 2014 “Lady Boner” award-winner, and a Top 20 Contemporary Romance novel for several months. Subsequent books in the series have performed equally well.

From being a “Readers’ Choice” nominee two years running, to picking up USA Today “Happily Ever After” nods, nothing makes her happier than communicating with fans and weaving new tales into the Alexander-Knight world of stories.

A former journalist, Louise lives in the center of the U.S.A. with her lovely family and one grumpy cat. There, she dreams up stories she hopes are engaging, hot, and sexy, and that cause readers rethink common public locations…

Books by Tia Louise:

One to Hold (Derek & Melissa), 2013

One to Keep (Patrick & Elaine), 2014

One to Protect (Derek & Melissa), 2014

One to Love (Kenny & Slayde), 2014

One to Leave (Stuart & Mariska), Dec. 29, 2014

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RELEASE DATE: January 12, 2015

Synopsis

From Emma Hart, the New York Times bestselling author of the Game series, comes a brand new series where the game is realer, the tension is tighter, the sex is hotter, and the stakes are the highest of all…

Two people. Two agendas. Two games.

What happens when the out-there It-Boy of football meets the secret It-Girl of fashion?

As the daughter of Hollywood’s sweetheart, Leah Veronica can’t even buy a coffee without finding her face on a magazine stand, so it’s no wonder she’s launching her first fashion line in secret. With it debuting at New York Fashion Week in just under a month, extra time in the spotlight is the last thing she needs.

The son of the best quarterback the league has ever seen, filling legendary shoes as the L.A. Vipers’ quarterback was inevitable for Corey Jackson. So was meeting Leah Veronica—the first girl to hand him his ass without putting a hair out of place.

Getting the handsome, prickly blonde into his bed becomes his number one goal. But getting the sexy, over-confident footballer the hell away from her becomes Leah’s—at least until she realizes the best way to do that is to give him what he wants.

If only it was that simple.

When Corey discovers who she is, and private photos of Hollywood’s finest find their way online, everything they thought they knew is thrown into disarray.

And when secrets are exposed and hearts are shattered, they have to figure out if they’ve been blindsided by love or reality, and if it’s worth running the extra yard to win the game they never meant to play.

Buy Links

Amazon US: http://bit.ly/BLINDSIDEDAmazonUS
Amazon UK: http://bit.ly/BLINDSIDEDAmazonUK
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/BLINDSIDEDbn
iBooks: http://bit.ly/BLINDSIDEDiBooks
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/BLINDSIDEDAmazonAU
Amazon CA: http://bit.ly/BLINDSIDEDAmazonCA

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23589995-blindsided

Review

blind side ~ catch (someone) unprepared; attack from an unexpected position

This is a perfect definition for the cat and mouse game played between Leah Veronica and Corey Jackson in Emma Hart’s newest release. From their first meeting to the unexpected “relationship” they hide under the media radar, neither Leah nor Corey are used to the feelings they bring out of each other; in fact, they sneak up on the both of them and threaten to unhinge all aspects of their lives in every possible way.

Their lifestyles couldn’t be more different – despite her mother’s movie star status, Leah wants nothing to do with the spotlight; she avoids the media as much as possible and attempts to do everything under the radar in order to procure some kind of anonymity – some sort of privacy to be who she wants to be and accomplish her goals without riding on her mother’s coat tails. As the quarterback for the LA Vipers and media’s “It” boy, Corey plays his role and puts on a show for all the world to see; his conquests, his nightlife is out there in the open, never truly shying away from the spotlight because he has an image to live up to and is unconcerned with how he is perceived.

Can a reclusive beauty and a cocky football star have a relationship that started out as a challenge…a charade…a game, or will they both be blind to what’s truly in front of them and walk away once the “competition” is over?

Blindsided is a quick read that has a good mix of witty banter, a plethora of sexual chemistry and sexual frustration between the hero and heroine, and a cocky and alpha male who could turn any woman’s panties wet with his filthy mouth.

Leah and Corey’s interactions are both comical and hot, and while I didn’t really understand all of Leah’s choices, I do understand her need to go her own way and make a path for herself. Corey definitely is a smug bastard at times, but it’s the façade he’s used to playing, and the fact that Leah has the ability to make his celebrity mask fade away and show her the real Corey speaks volumes for how much they bring out both the good and bad sides of each other.

I’m glad readers were given both of the main characters’ point of views; I think it would have been difficult to truly see who Corey is at his core without his own words and internal thoughts – Leah’s skewed view might have turned me off of him from the get go, but witnessing Corey’s struggles and self realizations really helped to mold my perception of him in a positive way.

Overall, I really enjoyed Blindsided. There were times where I wanted to shake both Leah and Corey, but they do redeem themselves, and even though I had a bit of a hard time with some of the storyline, it still captured my attention and made me want to keep reading in order to find out what Leah and Corey’s choices would be.

It will be interesting to see who the next couple will be in the By His Game series.

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

4 poison apples

 

Excerpt

“Thought you didn’t want me?” I whisper in her ear. “Hasn’t that been your motto for days?”

“I…don’t…” she replies breathily.

I curl my fingers inside her and push down on her clit. “Don’t give me that shit, Leah. My fingers are inside your gorgeously tight pussy right now. Don’t tell me you don’t fuckin’ want me.”

She drops her head forward onto my shoulder as I continue to work her, to rub her, to bring her closer to the edge. Before she goes, I pull my fingers from her and hold her face in front of mine.

“Corey,” she whispers. It’s deep and low, seductive and begging, and it’s music to my fucking ears.

“Tell me you want me.” I graze my teeth across her bottom lip. “Tell me you want me and I’ll give you what you need.”

“I want you.” Her breath fans over my mouth.

“Say my name.”

“Demanding bastard.” She manages a laugh, but it’s breathy and desperate. “I want you, Corey. Okay? I want you.”

My whole body goes taut, tight. Yes. Those are the words I’ve fucking wanted. I don’t care if I’ve had to tease her with my fingers and hold an orgasm for ransom to get them. What matters is that she said them, and she can’t take them back—not when she’s gyrating her hips against my hand.

“Corey,” she moans softly. “Now finish me off, for the love of fucking God.”

I move my fingers quickly inside her and rub her clit. And I look at her. I watch her lips part and her eyes close and her cheeks flush. I feel her breath quicken and her muscles tighten around me and her juices over my fingers. And finally, I hear her cry out as she comes. I hear her cry my motherfucking name into my shoulder as she comes.

My. Fucking. Name.

Her body collapses against mine, and I press kisses along her jaw to her lips. I cup the back of her head and hold her to me. Her falling apart in my arms is the most goddamn beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. The glaze over her eyes, the quickening of her breathing, the moans from between those lips.

“You. Bastard,” she whispers into my neck.

 

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Author Bio

By day, New York Times and USA Today bestselling New Adult author Emma Hart dons a cape and calls herself Super Mum to two beautiful little monsters. By night, she drops the cape, pours a glass of whatever she fancies – usually wine – and writes books.

Emma is working on Top Secret projects she will share with her followers and fans at every available opportunity. Naturally, all Top Secret projects involve a dashingly hot guy who likes to forget to wear a shirt, a sprinkling (or several) of hold-onto-your-panties hot scenes, and a whole lotta love.

She likes to be busy – unless busy involves doing the dishes, but that seems to be when all the ideas come to life.

Links:

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FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/EmmaHartBooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmmaHartAuthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6451162.Emma_Hart

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: http://www.amazon.com/Emma-Hart/e/B00A3QSV0M/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1410362990&sr=8-2-ent

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seven years ago, my life changed forever. One accident and the person I saw in the mirror no longer resembled the woman I used to be. I was lost and confused inside my own body. I felt alone and disconnected from the world, carrying the incredible weight of guilt and loss that wasn’t even mine to harbor.

Then fate led me to Leo James. He taught me that crazy could be perfectly normal and it shouldn’t hurt to breathe. Don’t get me wrong. Leo isn’t perfect. He has his own cross to bear, and the truth is, that might be why I fell for him in the first place. But despite everything he does for me, learning to forgive myself is infinitely harder than overlooking the flaws of another.

Now, the secrets and lies of our past have begun to dictate our future—threatening to ruin us before we get the chance to try. Perhaps we were cursed from the start. Or maybe, just maybe, the remnants of our fractured lives will fit together to form one whole, where love isn’t questioned and being happy is…well, easy.

Can a second broken soul be enough to fill the voids of my own? Or will such scarred pasts prove too much for our love alone to overcome?

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Title: Single, Volume Two

Author: Lyra Parish

Genre: Erotic Romance Serial

Cover Designer: Cover It! Designs

Release Date: February 16, 2015

 

Blurb

Sometimes love can be cruel. Not that Roxane has fallen in love but the one man she found interesting has crossed from her personal life into her professional one. Life is complicated.

Parker Williams doesn’t take no for an answer, not that Roxane would deny him anyway.
He has his own set of rules that must be followed while hers are being crossed through like a to-do list.

When a person falls in love, it’s supposed to be easy but it’s much more complex than either realized it could be.
Roxane’s control is slipping along with every opinion she had about love. This time, it feels different. This time, it finally feels right.

Slowly she realizes how much is at stake, but she is only concerned about losing one thing—her heart.

 

Single, Volume One

Amazon | Barnes | Kobo

After failing miserably at love, Roxane VanBuren swears off men but not before her determined best friend shows her all the advantages of being single. After a wild weekend full of sex, old-flames, and secrets, Roxane is desperate to forget it ever happened. But she learns it isn’t that easy.

Since becoming the President of VanBuren Investments, she knows how important it is for her professional and personal life to remain separate from one another. If the two were to mix, the rumors could possibly ruin her reputation, which is bad for her and bad for business. To avoid that, Roxane allows rules to define and guide her every move. Unfortunately for her, Parker Williams is determined to break them all, one at a time.

 

About the Author

Lyra Parish loves to write, travel, and sing obnoxiously loud at the top of her lungs in the shower. Sweet love stories (along with the dirty ones) make her gush. She is a firm believer that a person can never have too many cats, cups of coffee, or read too many happily ever afters. When she isn’t busy writing, she can be found sipping various beverages from her non-alcoholic drink buffet, pimp slapping excel spreadsheets, or riding her bike. Lyra currently resides in Texas with her glass blowing, guitar playing hubby and black cat.

 

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