Category: Excerpt

BLITZ! SURVIVE BY THE TEAM BY CINDY SKAGGS

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Survive By The Team
By Cindy Skaggs


Blurb:

The wild ride continues in this highly addictive series.


Mandi Gault never met a man brave enough to openly date a mortician, so when a good-looking man with twelve-pack abs invites her to dinner, she’s not asking any questions. Too bad he’s trying to kill her.

Danny Gault died in a conspiracy threatening Team Fear–his defunct military team–so when Gault’s sister winds up in the hospital, former teammate Stills is forced to leave the safety of the team’s compound. He recognizes her attacker as a member of a rogue military unit with orders to eliminate Team Fear. Now they’re on the run while they unravel why Team Echo wants her dead.

As the danger escalates, they share a wild night of down and dirty fun that would put a blush on a corpse, but Stills made it clear it was one and done. Now he must decide if he’s brave enough to forget about vengeance and live.

Military trained, medically enhanced, designed to kill. The surviving members of Team Fear are out of the military and in a world of secrets, lies, and cover-ups in this fast-paced romantic suspense series by Cindy Skaggs.



Teaser #1
From the first date to her last, she’d always chosen the wrong man. The charming doctor with the perfect smile did nothing for her. Not even the good-looking deputy. This man, however? Butterflies on steroids. Attraction to the deadly soldier was foolhardy. Stupid, even. He was a stone-cold killing machine, and the cracked lip that was starting to scab gave him that devil-may-care appearance that lit her hormones on fire.
Teaser #2
For twenty-four hours he’d lost himself in the glow of her beautiful soul. He’d die remembering that day. One day when he’d almost had the American dream. He meant the kiss to be light, but the moment their lips collided, his plans went to hell. She sparked something in him and he went deep, not letting up until they were breathless and she was leaning on him for support.


Other Books in the Series:


Excerpt:
They met in the middle. He lowered until his breath brushed her lips. She levered up and tilted to the right. One tiny move until their lips would touch. Day-old scruff teased the nerves in her right cheek. The arms he wrapped around her flexed like a bodybuilder’s. So damn sexy. The pulse in her neck ticked faster as delicious anticipation warmed her belly.
He groaned even as he trailed his lips along her soft skin. “You’re a sister. There are rules against this kind of thing.”
“My brother’s not here to object.”
“Then I have to object on his behalf.”
“Do you really think he’d rather I ended up with someone like that deputy than one of his teammates?”
“In a heartbeat, sugar.”
His lips captured hers. Toyed with her, kissing along the edges until breath panted from her lungs, yet he maintained iron control. Slow, the pace killing her and freeing her to simply experience. Nips at her bottom lip tugged an invisible string to her core. Dips and feints as he teased, giving her a taste here, a brush there, the barest whisper of his lips on hers before he slipped away to attack from another angle. The man kissed like he had a lifetime. Or maybe that he wanted one.

Author Bio:
Cindy Skaggs grew up on stories of mob bosses, horse thieves, cold-blooded killers, and the last honest man. Those mostly true stories gave her a lifelong love of storytelling and heroes. Her search for story took her around the world with the Air Force before returning to Colorado where she’s turning her lifelong love of storytelling into fast-paced romantic suspense. She has an MFA in Creative Writing, three jobs, two kids, and more pets than she can possibly handle. She also plays the flute, makes crazy-good sculptures out of tortilla dough, and can wrangle the neurotic dog without getting mauled. Find her on Facebook as Cindy Skaggs, Writer, @CLSkaggs on Twitter, or www.CSkaggs.com to sign up for her newsletter.


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BLOG TOUR! WHISPERED PRAYERS OF A GIRL BY ALEX GRAYSON

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Author: Alex Grayson
Title: Whispered Prayers of a Girl
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: July 10, 2017
Cover Designer: Cover Me Darling
Editor: Hot Tree Editing, Olivia Ventura
Add to TBR
A tortured soul meets a damaged family…
 
A lonely man, a widowed woman, a carefree boy, and a broken girl… Can the four come together and help heal each other? Or will fear of the unknown and guilt about the past keep them apart?
Her whispered prayers break her…
 
At night, as she’s drifting off to sleep, I press my ear to the door and listen to her heart-wrenching pleas. Her words are agony to my healing heart, but I cherish the sound of them, for that’s the only time I ever hear my beautiful daughter speak. Since her father died two years ago, she’s grown quiet and withdrawn. Cat’s Valley was to be our new beginning, a place where my family and I can heal, but what we find there is so much more.
Scars mar his body. Pain has left him in pieces…
 
Four years ago, I lost the two things I cherished most in the world. They were ripped from my arms in the most painful and cruel way. Since then, I’ve kept to myself, preferring to stay away from the pitying looks and murmured rumors. Everything changed when she and her children barged into my life. It was an accident, and I don’t deserve them, but now that they’re here, I’m not sure I can let them go.

 

JUST LIKE LAST NIGHT, I walk silently down the hallway until I make out the murmured whispers from a girl begging God to bring her father back. I gently lay my hand on the door and listen as she slowly melts my heart until it’s a puddle at my feet. My chest aches with the need to walk in there and take away her pain. I’ve never heard such tortured words before. The pain that comes from them is overwhelming and unbearable. Even my own immense pain from losing the ones I loved can’t compare to this. This girl’s pain is so much more.

My head falls forward, and I pull in a deep breath to steady my heartbeat. It’s been quiet for several moments, and I know she’s finished. I let my hand fall from the door, and I walk down the hallway back to the living room. I drop to the cushion and let my head fall in my hands.

They’re leaving tomorrow. The sun is coming out and the temperatures are supposed to be in the lower fifties, much higher than it’s been in days. The snow won’t melt in one day, but it’ll be enough to let the road crew get to the fallen tree and her truck. My call earlier tonight to Travis confirmed they’ll be working on the roads tomorrow.

I’m not ready. It’s unreasonable and irrational, but I don’t want them to leave yet. I’m not ready to give up Daniel’s buoyant behavior or Kelsey’s quiet and depressed mannerisms. I’m not ready to give up Gwen’s giving and resilient personality. I want to keep them here. With me. They’ve brought so much light into my life since they’ve been here, and I want to keep it for a while longer. Which means they need to leave as soon as possible, before my dark world rubs off on them. I want to be selfish and harbor that light, but I won’t.

What hurts the most was the dejected look on Daniel’s face when Gwen informed him and Kelsey they’ll be leaving tomorrow. What surprised me was the morose look on Kelsey’s. That girl and her sad eyes have me wrapped around her little finger. And the boy…. Everyone should have a Daniel in their lives. Gwen tried cheering the two up with promised visits to all their friends once the roads were clear enough for it, but I could tell it didn’t work. I could also tell it wasn’t working for Gwen herself. She tried to hide it, I’m not sure if it was just from the kids or from me too, but I know she doesn’t want to leave either. The four of us, in a matter of days, have become close, formed a bond of a sort. And that right there is another reason they need to leave. I can’t let that continue. It’s not something I deserve. It’s something they need to form with a man who’s worthy. A man who will be there for them always. A whole man, not one who’s only half of himself.

I give my hair one good pull, letting the pain push away the unwanted feelings, before releasing it with a muted growl. I’m pissed at myself for wanting something I shouldn’t. This family is too good for me. I couldn’t even protect my own when they needed me. How could this family be any different? I refuse to take that chance.

I lie back against the cushion and force thoughts of Gwen and her two kids away, and instead let my own demons take over. Closing my eyes, I let the screams of pain and fear flood my mind, reminding me why Gwen, Kelsey, and Daniel are better off without me in their lives.

 
Alex Grayson is the bestselling author of heart pounding, emotionally gripping contemporary romance including the Jaded Series, the Consumed Series, and two standalone novels. Her passion for books was reignited by a gift from her sister-in-law. After spending several years as a devoted reader and blogger, Alex decided to write and independently publish her first novel in 2014 (an endeavor that took a little longer than expected). The rest, as they say, is history.
Originally a southern girl, Alex now lives in Ohio with her husband, two children, two cats and dog. She loves the color blue, homemade lasagna, casually browsing real estate, and interacting with her readers. Visit her website, www.alexgraysonbooks.com, or find her on social media!You can sign up for Alex’s newsletter HERE.

BREAKING AUTUMN BY JACKSON KANE

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Breaking Autumn by Jackson Kane

Genre: A Bad Boy Stuntman Romance
Series: Bad Boy Stuntman #1
Publication Date: July 10, 2017

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(FREE ON KU)
AMAZON

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I live, train, fight and f*ck hard. And if she wants to become a star she’s going to have to do everything I say.
I’m Hollywood’s best kept secret and I’ll do anything to keep it that way.
No one can know all the bad sh*t I did to become the world’s most dangerous stuntman.
All your favorite action heroes were trained by me, but I’m no hero. I’ve made a thousand mistakes in my life.
The biggest one was saving Autumn Moore.
Now, because of a viral video, I’m being blackmailed into doing the impossible. I have one month to take this geeky, starry-eyed YouTube celebrity, and make her a bad ass leading lady.
I expected her to fall apart when I got my hands on her.
What I never expected was her strength.
Her beautiful innocence threatens every lie I’ve told myself about happiness not being for me. When I’m with her, I can feel parts of my heart that I thought were numb.
But it doesn’t matter. The dark past I’ve been trying to outrun is about to show up on my doorstep.
When it does, it’ll destroy us both.
Breaking Autumn is a standalone, full-length romance with a HEA and NO cliffhangers or cheating. It’s a white-knuckled, screaming hot, sex-fueled thrill ride into the dangerous world of film and stunts and was written by a real life professional stuntman, American Ninja Warrior athlete and (as of this book) cover model!

Continue reading “BREAKING AUTUMN BY JACKSON KANE” →

BLITZ! A DARING DESIRE BY JEANNE ST. JAMES

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A Daring Desire
By Jeanne St. James


BLURB:
The Dare Ménage Series, book 4
Take two defense attorneys, add one troubled NFL QB who needs them, and what do you get? Hot, sexy conflict.
Gryff Ward made a serious mistake when he hired the hot-as-hell defense attorney Rayne Jordan as an associate in his high-profile legal firm, even though she’s one of the best. Now he’s struggling to keep it professional, especially when she insists on calling him “Boss.”
Rayne’s been attracted to the firm’s top attorney ever since her interview. And she’s well aware that calling the conservative man “Boss” drives him crazy…in a very good way.
Add Trey Holloway, their newest client, a troubled NFL quarterback, into the mix. Tension arises when it’s clear that both Gryff and Trey want Rayne and Gryff is willing to fight for her. However, Trey doesn’t hide the fact that he wants Gryff too.
Now Gryff’s having a hard time fighting not only his attraction to Rayne but to another man. Even though he stubbornly refuses to admit his deepest, darkest desires.
Then Rayne takes control. She’s determined to have them both in not only her bed but her life, and she won’t give up until she does.
Note: This book in the series can be read as standalone. It includes an HEA ending. It is intended for audiences over 18 years of age since it includes explicit sexual scenes between all three characters.
Available on Amazon!

 

Excerpt 1:
Gryffin Ward’s dick was so hard he winced.
The newest associate at his law firm stood on the other side of his desk talking. Actually talking to him.
And he had no clue what she was even saying.
As he watched her lips move, he regretted hiring her. Even though she came highly recommended.
Rayne’s stats were so good he would’ve been a fool not to. The more cases his practice won, the more clients they attracted. The more clients they drew, the larger his firm grew. Which meant—
Oh fuck. Who cared what it meant. Right now, he desperately needed to adjust himself because his erection was caught in his pants in a painful position.
“So, what do you think, Boss?”
Holy fuck with that “Boss” shit again.
She needed to start dressing like a nun and stop calling him that. Otherwise, he would have permanent blue balls.
What did he think? He didn’t. All the blood in his brain had rushed to his dick, so he had no valid thoughts.
“You don’t have to call me boss. In fact, please don’t.”
“I know I don’t.” With a smile, Rayne leaned over and tapped him under the chin before spinning on the heel of her fuck-me pumps and heading toward the door. “But I like it,” she threw over her shoulder.
Me too.
He took one last glance at her tight skirt with the slit in the back, the one that hugged her luscious ass, and those stockings she wore with the line up the back of her legs, before she disappeared, leaving his office door open.
Gryff closed his eyes and blew out a breath.
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.
No wonder she won most of her cases. The judge’s and the ADA’s brains were probably mush after watching her pace the courtroom cross-examining witnesses on the stand.
No matter what, she was highly respected for being a great defense attorney.
But he should fire her. He didn’t dip his pen in the company ink and he wasn’t going to start now. Even though she sorely tempted him.
He was a wretch. That’s what he was.


Excerpt 2:
He studied the man standing in the middle of his office. His blue eyes looked lighter due to his dark tan. His dirty blond hair, streaked with highlights, whether fake or real, almost reached his shoulders. Scruff covered his jaw. The man was definitely built like a quarterback and not a linebacker. He wore a white button down shirt that emphasized his coloring with the sleeves rolled up past his elbows and tucked into well-fitting jeans. Well-worn pointed cowboy boots covered feet that could move him downfield quickly when necessary.
“Like what you see?”
Gryff leveled his gaze at him. “I don’t do men.”
“Do they do you?”
Gryff pursed his lips and wondered if he should administer Trey’s next ass whipping. Though, like the last time, it probably wouldn’t do any good. He shook his head. “I don’t swing that way.”
“Never say never. Your brother does. Maybe it’s in the genes.”
Gryff’s fingers clenched the arms of his office chair. So much for polite introductions. “You fuck a lot of men, Trey?”
Trey quickly hid his surprise at the unexpected question. It was there one second and then gone the next, covered by the wide smile he plastered across his face. “You mean over my lifetime or in one night?”
Trey was trying to shock him, get a rise out of him. But two could play at that game.
“How many men have you had in one night?”
Trey lifted his hands up and spread his fingers. “I don’t have enough fingers to count.”
“If needed, you can use your toes too.”


Excerpt 3:
Trey knew this might be a bad idea.
A really bad one.
But he figured it could be worth the risk. Though last time he was in a bar thinking he would get lucky, he got arrested and then suspended from the team instead.
And now he was down five hundred grand.
Five. Hundred. Fucking. Grand.
But he figured he had two good reasons to cough up that much scratch. One, his career might come to a screeching halt if he didn’t, and two, he needed to hire the best to represent him, who, with any luck, would get his charges dismissed instead of going through a lengthy legal process. Because if they weren’t, it would delay him getting back on the team. And a loss of possibly getting a Super Bowl ring.
And he fucking wanted that ring. He could taste it.
Grae Ward said his brother was the best. However, Trey didn’t fork out those ridiculous funds simply because of Gryff and Rayne’s reputation. Though once he met both of them he knew he wanted no one else.
And he wasn’t just talking representation in a court of law. He was talking about his bed. Though he couldn’t figure out who he wanted more. The hot male attorney with an ass that wouldn’t quit. Or the hot female attorney with an ass that wouldn’t quit.
So, what the hell, why not both? Right?
Right. Though Gryff probably wouldn’t cooperate with his little plan, even though the man got turned on when Trey “flirted” with him. That reaction left Trey with no doubt that Gryff wasn’t completely against the idea of being with another man. Whether that stubborn guy wanted to admit it or not.
Yeah, there was no mistaking the hard-on Gryff got when he pinned Trey against the wall.
But now as he sat at the bar surrounded by stale smoke and after-work drinking habits, he questioned his idea of tricking Gryff here to the bar.


Add to your Goodreads


AUTHOR BIO:
JEANNE ST. JAMES is a Best-Selling erotic romance author who loves an Alpha male (or two). She was only thirteen when she started writing since it gave her an escape from teenage angst! Her first paid published piece was an erotic story in Playgirl magazine. Her first erotic romance novel, Banged Up, was published in 2009. She is happily owned by farting French bulldogs. She writes M/F, M/M, and M/M/F ménages.

She has a few new releases coming up in 2017. So keep an eye on her website at www.jeannestjames.com or sign up for her newsletter: http://www.jeannestjames.com/newslettersignup


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BLITZ! BLOOD LAWS BY LEXI C. FOSS

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Blood Laws
By Lexi C. Foss


Blurb
The lines between illusion and reality blur as a dark romance brews between two unlikely soulmates…
Stas isn’t your average human. She can bend others to her will, a psychic talent she’s kept hidden since the brutal murder of her parents.
Issac isn’t human at all. He’s an immortal masquerading as one of New York City’s most eligible bachelors while secretly seeking revenge against a former ally.
A fateful meeting ends in a seductive proposition. As their lives intertwine, secrets are exposed and passion ignites. It’s a bond built to last a lifetime, if they’re willing to risk everything to protect it.
Available Now!


Excerpt One:

“I’m curious. How old were you when you realized you could bend others to your will?”
She forced herself to reply. “What?”
“Oh come now, Astasiya, feigning ignorance doesn’t suit you. Order me to do something instead. I dare you.”
A violent tremor shook her, rendering her speechless. For years she had kept a lid on her abilities, playing it off whenever the occasional demand slipped. It was easy to laugh off coincidences with normal people, but there was nothing normal about this man. He would see right through any charade she threw up as was evident by his blatant dare.
“I thought it might be coincidence with the hysterical woman.” He pushed off the wall, his steps casual as he sauntered towards her. “Persuasion is a very rare gift, after all.” He stopped just in front of her to tuck a stray blonde strand behind her ear. “But that reporter was all you.”
She forced herself to swallow, mouth dry. “How long have you been watching me?”
“Long enough.” His intimate gaze stroked over her, touching on all the places that could make a woman squirm. “It’s customary for one in my position to kill you on sight. Fortunately for you, darling, I’m not an admirer of our archaic laws.”



Excerpt Two:
His little complication was playing with fire. He welcomed the challenge and the change in air between them. It was starting to feel a little melancholy during their walk down memory lane. Now they were back on track. “Are you trying to deal with me, Miss Davenport?”
Fierce green eyes met his, provoking all manner of inappropriate thoughts. Like what they would look like in the throes of passion. “No, I’m giving you my terms.”
He nearly laughed. No woman ever gave him terms for a date.
“I will give you two answers.” He tucked a soft strand behind her ear and let his fingers drift down her neck. “And I will consider defining Ichorian more clearly for you.” By showing, not telling.
She licked her lips and shook her head. “Three answers and you define Ichorian now.”
He moved into her personal space, gripping her hip with one hand to hold her in place when she tried to move away. Their foolish conversation had already gone on longer than he intended. “We leave at seven.” He bent so their mouths were a hairsbreadth apart. “And I will only answer your three questions after the gala, not before or during.”



Excerpt Three:
“What are you doing here, Astasiya?”
She tried to turn to face him, but he held her in place. He wouldn’t hurt her. She was sure of it. But he sounded furious.
“Answer me.”
Right. Time to improvise. “Well, most people come to clubs to dance.” Even as she said it, she knew it was an absurd excuse. She was here looking for him and he knew it.
“I don’t see you dancing.”
“That’s because I’m being manhandled.” Asshole.
“This is not a game.” The low rumble in his voice made her squirm. That tone was meant for the bedroom. It required compliance and submission, and at the same time seduced. A man of his experience would know what he wanted and how he wanted it. He would be nothing like her previous experiences.
He bit her ear to bring her back to the present. What would that mouth feel like on other parts of her body? He seemed to enjoy nibbling. Her nipples tightened at the prospect of him focusing his attentions there. “Who told you to come here?”
“Why do you care?” Her voice was a little higher than she intended. He evoked a response from her unlike any other. Not that her limited experiences was much of a comparison.
“Because whoever sent you here was trying to get you killed.”


Author Bio
Lexi C. Foss is a writer lost in the IT world. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and their furry children. When not writing, she’s busy crossing items off her travel bucket list. Many of the places she’s visited can be seen in her writing, including the mythical world of Hydria which is based on Hydra in the Greek islands. She’s quirky, consumes way too much coffee, and loves to swim. You can find her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or visit her website at www.LexiCFoss.com.

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COVER REVEAL! FORBIDDEN BONDS BY LEXI C. FOSS

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COVER REVEAL
Forbidden Bonds
By Lexi C. Foss


Blurb:
Exile never felt so good. . .
Tom’s a trained sniper, not a babysitter. He kills rogue immortals for a living, but after releasing classified information to a friend, he’s banished to a remote location with the CRF’s most prized asset.
Can two tortured souls find solace and love in one another?
Secrets unfold as Tom forms a forbidden relationship with his new charge. The immortal woman evokes memories and feelings long forgotten, and forces him to question everything he’s ever known.
Sacrifices must be made.
A rash decision sends them both running for their lives as immortal enemies vie for their heads.
Some bonds are meant to be broken. . .
Pre-Order Now!
Release Day: Aug 1st


Excerpt One:
Amelia touched the metal choker around her neck and grumbled, “This bloody thing follows me even into my dreams.” If she ever got it off, she’d make Jonathan Fitzgerald eat it.
“Amelia,” Tom’s deep voice rumbled, “this isn’t a dream.”
“What?”
“You’re not dreaming.”
She smiled and shook her head. Of course she was dreaming. What else could this be? There was water, sunshine, and trees. “I wish for you to go now.” No need for the handsome Sentinel to spoil her temporary reprieve from reality.
“I wish I could, but I’m stuck here for the foreseeable future.” Tom rose to his full height beside her and held out a hand. “Let’s get back to the cabin. You need a shower, and I need to get some sleep.”
She frowned at his long, masculine fingers. He wiggled them once in an impatient gesture that matched the tick in his square jaw. She stood up and found the top of her head barely met his chin. The heat radiating from his broad chest felt very real, so real that she pinched her thigh to test his theory. A slight pain radiated up her side, making her eyes widen. “I’m not dreaming?”
He gave her a small smile. “No, Amelia. You’re very much awake.”


Excerpt Two:
“Easy way, or hard way? Ladies choice.”
Amelia’s pulse leapt. She had to clear her throat twice to speak. “Excuse me?” He couldn’t mean. . .
“Hard way it is.” Tom stepped forward, and caught her hip before she could scramble to the side.
“What-?” The words froze in her throat when his opposite hand snaked around her back to the gun tucked into her shorts.
He tsked. “Someone was in my room. Find anything else interesting while snooping?”
She bristled at that. “I was not snooping.” Liar.
“No?” He removed the weapon, and threw it on the bed. Instead of taking a step back, he placed his palm against her lower back, and pulled her closer. Her hands flattened against his chest to maintain a slight gap between them. It did nothing to ease the flutter in her lower belly, or dispel the heat climbing up her neck.
“So the gun from my nightstand magically appeared in your shorts? That’s a neat trick, sweetheart.”


Excerpt Three:
“Gentleman,” Tom greeted after assembling the communication unit. “Blake sends his regards. Who wants to dance next?” Knowing his words would reveal his location, he moved deeper into the parking lot on the other side, away from the sidewalk and further from Amelia. He really hoped she’d been smart enough to hide in the car, and not try to find him.
“Hello, son,” his father replied. “You mind telling me what the fuck you’re doing?”
John Fitzgerald using curse words brought a smile to Tom’s face. He’d thoroughly pissed off the CRF’s CEO enough that he had lost his cool over the communication channel. Nice. How far could he push him?
“Right now?” Tom asked, voice low. “I’m taking out your unit. Or did you mean in general?” A flash of metal grabbed his attention. Sentinel Charlie was in a crouch position thirty feet to his left, and facing the wrong direction.
Tom shook his head. How many times had he told the man to watch his six? Idiot. He took a detour around a few cars to sneak up on his former teammate and slammed his pistol into the back of the kid’s skull.
“Well, that wasn’t even any fun,” Tom said with a dramatic sigh. “You really ought to send Charlie back to training, John. He still hasn’t mastered surveillance.”

Author Bio:
Lexi C. Foss is a writer lost in the IT world. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and their furry children. When not writing, she’s busy crossing items off her travel bucket list. Many of the places she’s visited can be seen in her writing, including the mythical world of Hydria which is based on Hydra in the Greek islands. She’s quirky, consumes way too much coffee, and loves to swim. You can find her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or visit her website at www.LexiCFoss.com.
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BLITZ! DEATH AND BEAUTY BY SAMANTHA MACLEOD

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Death and Beauty
By Samantha MacLeod
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Graphic Designer: Teresa Conner
Blurb:
Baldr the Beautiful is dead.
Desperate to get back to his privileged role as Óðinn’s favorite son, Baldr strikes a bargain with Hel, the terrifying half living and half skeletal queen of the realm of the dead. He offers her the only thing he’s got: knowledge from the living world. Hel gives him three days. If he can teach her something new, she will return him to the realms of the living.
But the icy Hel seems completely impervious to Baldr’s charms. What’s worse, she already knows everything. By the end of the third day, Baldr realizes he’s only got one chance left to impress her.
Returning to his former life looks like it’s going to depend on Baldr the Beautiful seducing the most formidable woman in the Nine Realms.
Pre-Order Links:


Excerpt One
The branch trembled, making the delicate green leaves and white flower clusters dance. A single petal shook free to sail across the bright blue sky. It was so beautiful, caught in the golden light of late afternoon. I couldn’t understand why someone was crying.
The flower petal tumbled through the sky, heedless of the voices below. I liked it. I liked it all, the bright sky, the white flowers, the audacious little green leaves. I tried to turn and follow the petal through the sky, but my neck wasn’t quite working. It didn’t matter anyway. Soon the brave little petal would be swallowed by the blackness creeping into my vision, turning the sky into a little, shrinking circle, growing farther and farther away, until it was entirely gone—
Darkness. Darkness and voices, a soft rush of motion. Then something harsh and acrid, like battlefield smoke, stung my nostrils, and my head spun. I tried to open my eyes.
“What happened?” I moaned.
Someone clucked above me. “Don’t move just yet, my boy.”
The voice sounded old and only mildly sympathetic. I ignored it, pushing myself up to sitting. My head throbbed and my stomach surged, making me gag. Soft hands grabbed my arm, dragging me back to the bed. Her grip felt weak, but I didn’t have the strength to resist.
“Where am I?” I whispered, once my stomach stopped roiling.
“You’re dead, dearie.”
I shook my head, making the room spin. “No. That’s not possible.”
She clucked again. My eyes were adjusting to the gloom, and I could just make out a hunched figure tending to a fire. “Oh, that’s what they all say.”
“No, you don’t understand. I’m—”
“Baldr the Beautiful,” she said. “Óðinn’s favorite son. Yes, yes, we know all about you here.”
“But I can’t die. My mother is Frigg. She traveled the Nine Realms, and everything she found—”
“Promised not to harm you. I know. I heard all about it.”
The old woman turned and gave me a sympathetic, tired smile. She looked like a nice woman, but of course you never can tell. “But your mother couldn’t possibly have gotten a promise from every single thing.”
She hobbled a bit closer to the bed, her arms outstretched with a rough wooden bowl in her hands. “Drink this, dearie. It’ll help.”
I tried to push myself up to sitting. Again, my head and stomach revolted, throbbing and churning. The old woman chuckled sympathetically.
“It takes some getting used to, being dead,” she said. “Tell you what, Baldr the Beautiful. Why don’t we talk about the last thing you remember, hmmm?”


Excerpt Two
It was late afternoon on the third day, the final day, and I was feeling damn near desperate. We’d walked along the river after our morning of sailing, and then, after lunch, I asked to go for another walk in the orchard. This was where Hel had seemed the least comfortable; for some reason, this orchard threw her slightly off her game. It was my last, desperate chance. Perhaps I could stumble on something out here.
“Are these all apples?” I asked. I’d given up trying to offer her some knowledge. Instead I was asking a thousand questions in this hopes she’d slip up.
Hel shook her head. Her back was stiff, and she’d turned her living face away from me. I wished I could ask her why the orchard made her uncomfortable, but I didn’t imagine that question would go over particularly well.
“So…pears? Cherries?”
The trees around us were flowering, filling the air with their delicious perfume. Soft, white petals drifted in the space between us, falling like snow.
She shook her head again, although I wasn’t sure if she was telling me I was wrong or if she was just trying to brush off the stray petals caught in her hair. She was wearing it loose today, and it tumbled down over her shoulders, softening the severe lines of her aggressively unflattering dress.
“Would you even tell me if I guessed?” I asked, with a smile. I picked a blossom from a tree and brought it to my nose. It had a light, sweet fragrance. I examined it. Five soft, white petals unfurled casually from a pollen-laden yellow core.
“Apricots?” I glanced at her.
She looked away so fast her hair whipped across her shoulders. At the same time her dress snagged on a log hidden in the thick grass, and she stumbled.
I moved without thinking, catching her arm in mine. It was only after I closed my hand around the twin bones of her skeletal forearm that I realized it didn’t feel right.
She was warm and soft against my palm. Like skin.
Hel met my eyes and a deep red flush burned across her neck and living cheek. Then she yanked her arm out of my grasp and stumbled backward, her face again a cold, impassive mask.
Perhaps she wasn’t totally immune to my charms after all.
“Pardon me,” I said, holding my hands up in front of me. “I just didn’t want you to break your nose.”
Her lips twitched with the barest hint of a smile, and an absolutely insane idea bubbled through my consciousness.
“Oh, there is something I can teach you,” I whispered.


Author Bio
Born and raised in Colorado, Samantha MacLeod has lived in every time zone in the US, and London. She has a bachelor’s degree from Colby College and an M.A. from the University of Chicago; yes, the U. of C. really is where fun comes to die.
Samantha lives with her husband and two small children in the woods of southern Maine. When she’s not shoveling snow or writing steamy sex scenes, Samantha can be found teaching college composition and philosophy to undergraduates who have no idea she leads a double life as an erotica author.

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BLITZ! ONLY HIM BY JEANNE ST. JAMES

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Only Him
By Jeanne St. James
Blurb:
This is not just a love story, it’s an obsession…
Sydney:
Never in my life did I think my high school obsession would move right next door. I’ve never wanted anyone but him. Reid Turner is my ultimate fantasy. And I still want him. Badly. When he watches me through my bedroom window taking matters into my own hands, things suddenly take a turn…
And now that I have him, I’m not letting him go.
Reid:
I never knew she existed and now I can’t get enough of her. She consumes me. When this night ends, there may not be anything left of me, she may own me completely. She my master and I her slave. In one way or another I will atone for never noticing her all throughout high school. I will gladly grovel at her feet to make up for what a fool I was.
Besides, who can turn down that luscious body of hers? Curves in all the right places, a mouth that could make a grown man cry, super responsive during sex, and none of my twisted desires so far have made her bat an eye. And did I mention? She lives right next door. She may be the perfect woman for me.
Note: All books in the Obsessed series are standalone novellas. It is intended for audiences over 18 years of age since it includes explicit sexual situations, including BDSM.
Available on Amazon!
Excerpt #1
Do I find it a little weird that the woman stalked me throughout high school? Yes. Do I find it strange that she thinks I’m the only man for her? Absolutely. Although, I’m flattered. Besides the so-called “high school crush,” she seems perfectly sane.
Besides, who can turn down that luscious body of hers. Curves in all the right places, a mouth that could make a grown man cry. Super responsive during sex, and none of my kinky desires so far have made her bat an eye. And did I mention? She lives right next door.
Right. Fucking. Next. Door.
She may be the perfect woman for me.
I’m making a lot of assumptions, though. Like she doesn’t have kids, she has gainful employment, she’s not on any psychotropic medication, and she won’t stab me in my sleep. Simple things like that.
Maybe the next time she hits the head, I’ll check her nightstand drawers for weapons.
I snort and she looks at me with curiosity.
“What?”
“Nothing,” I answer. “Just thinking about that karma thing. It’s laughable.”
“Coincidence, karma, whatever. I’ll take it.”
Me, too. This has been a helluva night so far, and it isn’t over yet. I glance over at her clock. I haven’t stayed up this late since I was out partying in my early 20s. I can’t believe I haven’t passed out yet, but the woman lying next to me is keeping me energized it seems.
Excerpt #2
Holy fuck.
I peer around the curtain at the man carrying boxes from a rented box truck into the house next door.
My jaw shuts like a trap. What kind of fucking karma is this?
My fingers tremble as they grip the curtain. I must be dreaming. Never in my life did I think my high school crush would move… Right. Next. Door.
Right fucking next door!
My stomach churns and my pussy clenches.
I want to call someone. I want to run through the house screaming.
Reid Fucking Turner is moving next door!
Fucking pinch me.
I haven’t seen him in eons. Hell, not since graduation. And that was so, so long ago.
But I know it’s him. There’s no doubt about it.
Every fiber of my being knows because I spent too many of my teenage years stalking—err, watching—him. I would recognize him anywhere.
His gait. His hair (though, it’s cut much shorter now). His shoulders (much broader than high school—the boy has matured into a man). Those thick thighs (they’ve always been muscular, due to him being a jock).
It has to be him.
My heart stops as he glances toward my window. I drop the curtain like it’s on fire and pin my back against the wall. My heartbeat goes from zero to sixty in one second flat.
Holy crap, did he see me peeking?
Excerpt #3
I don’t even bother to turn on the light when I enter the master bedroom. I’m content to be in the dark. And without curtains yet, the moon reflects brightly into the room. It’s peaceful, I try to convince myself. Yeah, sure.
I swallow another swig of beer, thinking I should be exhausted, but I’m not. Maybe the beer will help me sleep tonight—the first night in a new house. And if not, I can always rub one out.
Hell, I’m good at it now since my fist has been more loyal than my former wife. Fuck. Move on, Reid. Don’t let it eat at you.
I sigh and move to the window, glancing up at the night sky and the almost full moon. I was lucky to find this house at such a great price. And with a fenced backyard I can finally get a dog. One of many things Pam would never let me have…
My bedroom window faces the side yard and my eyes rake over the neighboring house. I wish the houses weren’t so close in this neighborhood. I like my privacy. But, once again, I bought it at a good price and it’s in a nice community. So, I can’t bitch too much.
A light turns on in the house next door. Which reminds me I should introduce myself to the neighbors this weekend. But for now…
Holy shit.
Holy, holy fucking shit.
I put my bottle down on the window sill and brace my hands on the frame, leaning in until my forehead almost touches the glass.
I love this house. It’s the best house ever. The greatest house in the whole wide world.
Oh, please. Do not close your curtains. Do. Not.
Jeez, I could probably get fired for this. But at the moment, my cock and I don’t care.
Cuff me, stuff me, take me away. But please wait until she’s done. Do a man a solid.
I adjust myself in my jeans and focus my attention on the open window not twenty feet from mine.
Unlike my bedroom, hers is lit up. Her eyes look closed as she lies naked on her back, her legs wide, her knees bent. And, even better, her bed directly faces the window.
My luck is changing. Yes, indeed.
The woman’s breasts are luscious, full but beautiful, the dusky nipples a perfect size. The perfect size for my mouth.
As she cups one breast, her other hand goes rogue. I have to swallow, which for some reason, isn’t an easy task. I also must remind myself to breathe as her wandering fingers slide along her beautiful belly to dive between her legs.
Holy shit. I’m imagining this. Right? I dig the heels of my palms into both eyes and look again.
No, it’s definitely real. This scenario reminds me of the porn we secretly watched as teenagers. This kind of stuff doesn’t happen in real life. When do you look out your freaking window and see a hot woman playing with herself? You don’t.
Author Bio:
JEANNE ST. JAMES is an erotic romance author who loves an Alpha male (or two). She was only thirteen when she started writing since it gave her an escape from teenage angst! Her first paid published piece was an erotic story in Playgirl magazine. Her first erotic romance novel, Banged Up, was published in 2009. She is happily owned by farting French bulldogs. She writes M/F, M/M, and M/M/F ménages.
She has a few new releases coming up in 2017. So keep an eye on her website at www.jeannestjames.com or sign up for her newsletter: http://www.jeannestjames.com/newslettersignup
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BLITZ! ULTIMATE GAME CHANGER BY KIRA ADAMS

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Ultimate Game Changer
By Kira Adams
Blurb:
He’s my brother’s best friend.
When my parents died, a part of me died along with them. Nothing mattered anymore; everything lost its meaning. I lived my life in moments, good and bad, but somewhere along the way, I stopped living.
We only had each other, and Cade, he did a hell of a job looking after me. They doubted we could make it; they doubted our resolve.
Braxton has lived next door to us ever since we moved in with my aunt after the horrific accident. Cade took to him so quickly; they’ve been inseparable ever since. Their favorite pastime? Torturing me. But something has shifted between us recently, and I’m seeing him in a whole new light now. I know my brother will never accept it, but he’s drawing me in like a moth to a flame.
Pre-Order for only $0.99!


Excerpt #1:
God, that woman drives me absolutely nuts. Is she fucking crazy? We are in a city she has never been to before at nine at night and she is going exploring alone. Has she never seen any Unsolved Mysteries before?
She’s got my blood boiling, but I know Cade is taking it a lot harder. I pat him on the back as we ready to be the first band to play. “Hey, you okay, man?”
He glares back at me, understandably upset. “We’ve never been apart, Brax, not since that day. What if…what if something happens to her?”
“Nothing is going to happen to her,” I reply, attempting to calm his nerves. “She’s smarter than we give her credit for, and let’s face it, you guys aren’t twelve years old anymore. She can take care of herself. Plus, if anything bad happens, you’ve got that twinning thing going for you, right? Like instant intuition.” I don’t know if my words make any difference to him, but he huffs and then goes back to tuning his guitar.
Excerpt #2:
He pushes off the doorframe, closing some distance between us. He is now close enough that I can feel his breath on my face when he speaks. There are droplets of water left on his chiseled chest, and he looks like he just stepped out of a magazine ad.
The hairs all over my body are standing up, and I’m worried that I am visibly shaking. God, he is going to give me hell for this.
He leans over so that his lips are dangerously close to my ear. “What’s the matter, Em? Are you feeling okay?”
His breath tickles my ear and sends shivers down my spine.
“What are you doing?” I ask, my voice shaky.
“Nothing,” he replies, pulling away enough so I can see his face and then batting his eyelashes innocently. “I just love watching you squirm.”
I push him away, annoyed. Within seconds Braxton has my back up against a wall and he is pressing into me as he trails his mouth and breath dangerously close to my ear. It takes a few moments for me to register what else I feel because I can barely catch my breath. Braxton is Cade’s best friend. I know he gets off messing with me…but he’s never taken it this far before and I feel completely out of control.
Excerpt #3:
There are a slew of emotions running through my entire body. Elation. Excitement. Fear. Anxiety. You name it, I’m feeling it. I can’t wrap my head around how Braxton acted, and even worse, I think I wanted it.
He’s been the boy next door for over ten years and this is one of the first times I have ever felt this way about him. I want to put a finger on my thoughts and feelings, but I feel like a jumbled mess. Why now? Why after not making a move for ten years, would he go there now?
He’s been off-limits for as long as I’ve known him, and now the idea of seeing him any other way makes me feel a little sick. It puts a lot of pressure on me. I know he played it off like he was just messing with me, but I felt it; the undeniable chemistry; I know he had to as well.
A million thoughts are running through my head; it’s making me dizzy.
What if Braxton and I were to date? The idea of it sends shivers down my arms and spine. God, there are so many ways that could end up in disaster…Cade being almost every way. But there is something about the fear and unknown that pulls me in. I find myself wanting to know more about Braxton’s feelings.

Author Bio:
Krista Pakseresht has always been a dreamer, from the first time she opened her eyes. Creating worlds through words is one thing she is truly talented at. She specializes in Young adult/New adult romance, horror, action, fantasy, and non-fiction under the pen name Kira Adams.
She is the author of the Infinite Love series, the Foundation series, the Darkness Falls series, and A Date with the Devil.
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EXCERPT REVEAL! I KNEW YOU WERE TROUBLE BY LAUREN LAYNE (@TastyBookTours   @_LaurenLayne)

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A feisty beauty must choose between
winning back Mr. Right 
or giving in to Mr. Wrong.
I KNEW YOU WERE TROUBLE
Oxford Series #4
Lauren Layne
Releasing June 13, 2017
Loveswept

New York City’s hottest bachelors are stirring up trouble in this fun, flirty Oxford Novel, as a love triangle forces a feisty beauty to choose between winning back Mr. Right or giving in to Mr. Wrong.

Taylor Carr has it all—a sleek job in advertising, a stunning Manhattan apartment, and the perfect man to share it with: Bradley Calloway. Even after Bradley dumps her for a co-worker on move-in day, Taylor isn’t worried. She’ll get her man eventually. In the meantime, she needs a new roommate. Enter Nick Ballantine, career bartender, freelance writer—and longtime pain in Taylor’s ass. Sexy in a permanent five-o’clock-shadow kind of way, Nick knows how to push Taylor’s buttons, as if he could see right through to the real her.

Nick’s always trying to fix people, and nobody could use a good fixing more than Taylor. Sure, she’s gorgeous, with mesmerizing silver eyes, but it’s her vulnerability that kills him. Now that they’re shacking up together, the chemistry is out of control. Soon they’re putting every part of their two-bedroom apartment to good use. Then Taylor’s ex comes crawling back to her, and Nick figures she’ll jump at the chance to go back to her old life—unless he fights for the best thing that ever happened to him.


PRE-ORDER TODAY!
Bradley froze when he saw her, and she was pretty sure she saw the urge to turn and run flicker across his face.
Again she felt a stab of disappointment. In him. And in herself for apparently having misread him. She’d thought he was better than this.
Bradley’s eyes moved between her and Nick, and though he didn’t look all that surprised at seeing them bickering, his gaze grew hard as he saw Nick’s hand on Taylor’s face.
Nick, naturally, took his sweet time removing it, and she resisted the urge to kick his shin.
“Morning, Bradley,” Taylor said, pleased that her voice sounded calm and friendly. As well it should. She’d had plenty of practice over the better part of a year pretending that she and Bradley were nothing more than colleagues.
Other than a few close friends who knew they were dating, they’d done a mostly decent job of hiding their romantic relationship from coworkers. Better than she and Nick had done hiding their antagonistic one.
“Hey, Taylor. Nick,” Bradley said.
He entered the room and reached for a coffee mug, turning his attention toward the other man. “Didn’t realize you’d taken on another assignment. What for?”
“Not sure,” Nick said, checking his watch. “Have a meeting with Cassidy in a few to find out.”
“Here’s hoping it’s an offsite gig that takes you far, far away. Maybe he needs someone to cover Siberian winters,” Taylor said to Nick, even as she watched Bradley out of the corner of her eye.
“Don’t need to travel to find severe winter. It doesn’t get any chillier than right here,” Nick retorted, waving his hand over her head in a storm cloud gesture.
She shoved his hand aside, her attention still on Bradley, who was determinedly avoiding her gaze.
Coward.
It was going to be darn hard to get him to see reason when he wouldn’t even make eye contact.
Nick, ever too perceptive for his own good, noticed the tension and gave a quick look between her and Bradley, his gaze turning speculative.
She shot him a warning look that clearly said, Don’t.
He shot an answering smile that clearly said, Watch me.
“Bradley, don’t suppose you’re in the market for a roommate?” Nick asked, his voice deceptively casual.
Bradley’s head snapped up, and finally, finally his blue gaze collided with Taylor’s. Dammit. Why did he have to be so beautiful? He was like a mischievous angel, all twinkling blue eyes, dimples, a sexy cleft in his chin, dark blond wavy hair . . .
“What?” he asked Nick distractedly, still looking at Taylor.
“Taylor here wants to share her original crown molding with someone.”
Bradley winced, and Taylor felt a little surge of gratitude toward Nick. He couldn’t have known it, but it was the perfect jab. She and Bradley were both into prewar architecture—had eaten up the broker’s description of all the building’s original elements.
Taylor should be sharing that crown molding with Bradley. And he damn well knew it.
His eyes met hers in silent misery—an apology that she wasn’t quite ready to accept. Heck, she wasn’t even ready to acknowledge it, because she had no intention of being dumped. Not by him, not by any man.
Taylor ignored the guilt written all over Bradley’s face as she held his gaze. “Yes, it seems I unexpectedly have a free bedroom and more rent than I can afford. If either of you knows anyone looking for a roommate . . .”
Bradley’s handsome face twisted regretfully, and he set his coffee aside, taking a step toward her, apparently forgetting—or not caring—that Nick was still in the room.
“Taylor. Damn it. I told you—”
“Actually, I do,” Nick said, interrupting.
Taylor forced her gaze away from Bradley’s pleading face toward Nick’s smug one. “You know someone who needs a roommate?”
“Yup.” He crossed his arms and watched her.
She made an impatient gesture with her hand. “Who? It can’t be one of your ex-girlfriends—I don’t want to inadvertently hear any gross details about you. And not one of your frat-boy guy friends—my living room isn’t cut out for Call of Duty.”
“Yeah, because that’s all I do all day.”
She rolled her eyes. “Okay, for real, who is it?”
His grin was slow, sly, and the very definition of trouble. “Me.”

 

Lauren Layne is the New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen
romantic comedies.
 
A former e-commerce and web marketing manager from Seattle, Lauren relocated to New York City in 2011 to pursue a full-time writing career.
 
She lives in midtown Manhattan with her high-school sweetheart, where she writes smart romantic comedies with just enough sexy-times to make your mother blush. In
LL’s ideal world, every stiletto-wearing, Kate Spade wielding woman would carry
a Kindle stocked with Lauren Layne books. 
 

 

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