Title: Needing Forever Vol. 2
Author: Terri Anne Browning
Genre: Rockstar Romance
Release Date: May 31, 2019
Blurb
From The Rocker⦠series Universe by USA Today Bestselling author Terri Anne Browning comes a collection of novellas featuring some of your favorite characters.
Riley I was just fine on my own. Guys were too much trouble to have around for more than a few nights.
But one look at the delicious bartender at First Bass, and that all changed.
I didnât want to crave his touch, and I especially didnât want to know what forever would be like with him.
Did I?
Jenna After one disastrous breakup cost me everything I loved, I wasnât looking for someone to fill the role. Angie came into my life when I was at my lowest and wouldnât give up on me. I told her we could only be friends, and she accepted that. Yet it didnât take long before I realized just how much she really meant to me.
Now she was mine, and I would never let her go.
But not everyone wanted to see us have our happy ever after.
Carolina I told everyone the only reason I wanted to go to an East Coast college was to get away from my nightmare of a mother. But the truth was, I only wanted to be closer to him.
I shouldnât want him, but I couldnât stop this ache in my heart for Caleb. He was older, my stepsisterâs stepbrother, and my mother would throw the biggest hissy the world had ever seen if she found out he took my virginity.
But what Mom doesnât know wonât hurt her.
London Derrick came into my life like a tornado, turning my world upside down. It took all of two hours with him before I knew I was in trouble. My heart was screaming that this guy was the one, but my head pleaded for caution.
I really should have listened.
I got in over my head way too fast, and now my heart was paying the price.
Author Bio
Terri Anne Browning is a USA TODAY bestselling author. Being dyslexic, she never thought a career in writing would be possible, yet she has been on bestselling lists multiple times since 2013. Reese: A Safe Haven Novella was her first Indie published book. The Rocker Who Holds Me changed the tables and kicked off The Rocker... series featuring the sinfully delicious members of Demon's Wings. The Rocker... Series is now complete with 12 books and the occasional novella. Other books by Terri Anne include the Angel's Halo MC Series, as well as The Lucy & Harris Novella Series, The Vitucci Mafiosos Series, and The Tainted Knights Rocker Series.
Terri Anne lives in Virginia with her husband, their three demons---err, children--and a hyper Frenchie named Grunt.
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The Initiation by Nikki Sloane Release Date: May 28, 2019 The Initiation, an all-new standalone contemporary romance by USA Today bestselling author Nikki Sloane. No one knows how new members are selected to the board of Hale Banking and Holding. But there are rumors of a sordid rite of initiation. Whispers how one woman and nine men disappear into a boardroom. This time, that woman will be me. The Hale family owns everything—the eighth largest bank in the world, everyone in our town, even the mortgage on my parents’ mansion. And now Royce Hale wants to own me. He is charming. Seductive. Ruthless. But above all, he’s the prince of lies. My body may tighten with white-hot desire under his penetrating gaze, but I refuse to enjoy it. I’ll make a deal with the devil to save my family and sell myself to the Hales. But Royce will never own my heart. Download your copy today! Amazon US – https://amzn.to/2GupDFC Amazon Universal – http://mybook.to/theinitiation Apple – https://apple.co/2DkaMeT Nook – http://bit.ly/2Xj0rYj Kobo – http://bit.ly/2DggIpu Google – http://bit.ly/2PgAwxE Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2JC9uRs 5 Heart Review by LorenaThis book was the freaking bomb! Talk about power, control, manipulation, deceit and so much more. This book HAD IT ALL! I was completely HOOKED. Every single book has been on top for me and this book has been the best one yet from Nikki Sloane. The intensity, twists and turns had me sitting on the edge of my seat. The characters are the type that you either love or hate but the plot is so twisted that it will leave you not wanting it to end and when it does, you wish it kept going. The elite world of the filthy rich will have you wishing the story would go on and on and on. Marist and Royce totally had me at the palm of their hands. I couldn't get enough of them and what their story was about. Guys, all I have to say is this series will have you so damn hooked that you might just end up with a book hangover once this is all said and done.
Excerpt: Every pair of eyes in the restaurant was on us as we were led to our table for dinner.
Probably not every pair, but God, it felt that way.
“Is it just me,” I asked over the top of my menu, “or is everyone staring at us?”
Royce was indifferent. “They’re staring at you.”
His statement rattled me. “Why?”
“Because you’re here with me.” His gaze never lifted to mine, like he couldn’t be
bothered. “Or more likely, because you’re fucking gorgeous. Who knows?”
Breath halted in my lungs. “You can’t just say shit like that.”
The leather-bound menu holder dropped onto the table with a thud, and I was met with the full power of Royce’s irritated stare. “That you’re beautiful? You are. Get over it.”
Dismay twisted my lips into a frown. “Please, don’t. I don’t need bullshit lines from
someone like you.”
“It’s not a line, and . . . someone like me?” More annoyance darted through his eyes, but intrigue too. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
How was I going to put it into words? “You’re a ‘haver.’ I mean, you could have any
woman in this room if you wanted, and probably some of the guys too. You’re young, hot, and filthy rich.”
His irritation vanished. It was replaced with an arrogant expression that said none of this was news to him. I pushed forward, gathering steam.
“Me?” I said. “I’m a ‘have-not.’ I’m sure you didn’t intend for it to happen, but when you said I was a nobody, you made it true. No one will touch me.”
“I touched you.”
He was immune to my scorching glare. “You wanted to know why I was still a virgin last year. Well, there’s your answer. You’re the reason, Royce. Nobody would be caught dead with me.”
He considered the accusation I’d lobbed at him. “You’re wrong,” he said finally. “I was
aware what was going to happen. It’s exactly why I said it.”
My head turned into a void. “What?”
He leaned over the table to ensure he had my full attention. “I saw you at the bar with
your sister that night. You were swaying to the music, all happy, and pretty, and it pissed me off.
My father had already laid out plans for me. I was supposed to be with Emily, but that wasn’t what I wanted.”
I clenched the menu in my hands. I sensed where he was going, but I couldn’t wrap my head around it. My heart chugged along, thumping loudly in my ears.
“So, yeah. I knew you were behind me when I called you a nobody. I did it on purpose,
because I couldn’t stand you with anyone else. I wanted you for myself.”
“Oh, my God.” My body flushed hot, although I didn’t know if it was with anger or
excitement, or a deadly combination of the two.
About Nikki: USA Today bestselling author Nikki Sloane landed in graphic design after her careers as a waitress, a screenwriter, and a ballroom dance instructor fell through. For eight years she worked for a design firm in that extremely tall, black, and tiered building in Chicago that went through an unfortunate name change during her time there. Now she lives in Kentucky, is married and has two sons. She is a three-time Romance Writers of America RITA© Finalist, a Passionate Plume winner, a HOLT Medallion finalist, and couldn't be any happier that people enjoy reading her sexy words. Connect with Nikki: Amazon: http://amzn.to/1SbBUyM Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/nikkisloaneauthor/?fref=ts Twitter:https://twitter.com/AuthorNSloane Stay up to date with Nikki by joining her mailing list: https://www.nikkisloane.com/newsletter
Title: Hold on Tight
Series: Cowboys & Angels #1
Author: Anjelica Grace
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 31, 2019
Blurb
Two and a half years ago, we made a planâhad our life all mapped outâknew where we were going and how we were getting there. It was the four of us against the world and we were so close to having everything we wanted. But life had other plans for us. Now, rodeo has become Chase's primary focus, and he leaves our girls and me home while he follows his dreams week in, and week out. We've lost so much already. I'm afraid if he doesn't come back to us soon, resentment will set in and our marriage will fail. Do we have what it takes to make it through one more season? Or will this be the end of our dreams? And our marriage? Eight seconds... That's all it takes to change our lives forever.
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Excerpt
âI won, you realize that, right?â
âYes, cocky one, I do. Whatâs your point?â she retorts, clearly not realizing where Iâm going with this.
âI won, therefore you arrived lastâ¦â
Realization flashes across her features and she looks up at me, where Iâm still perched atop Thor, with her hand providing shade over her eyes and her lips slightly parted. âYou canât be serious. Right now?â
âMhmm, right now.â I nod my head and fold my hands over the horn of Thorâs saddle. âI need to see you gloriously naked and getting into the water.â
âYou really are serious.â She shakes her head and starts to pull her hair back. âYou can tell me youâre joking anytime.â
âAllie, Iâm serious as a heart attack. You agreed, last one here is the first to skinny-dip. And I want to watch every second of you doing exactly that.â
âMy God, you are so full of yourself. I suppose youâre going to stay there on top of Thor, like youâre the ruler of the lands?â
My only answer is to smile at her.
âImpossible. Youâre impossible.â She pulls the band off her wrist and secures her hair into a messy pile above her head then she works her boots off with a huff. âHow am I supposed to dry off?â
âI brought two blankets, we can share one so you can use the other to dry yourself.â
âAnd what are you going toâyou know whatânever mind.â She steps up in front of Thor and slides her hand over his face. âYouâre a traitor, Thor. You shouldâve lost for me.â
She makes me laugh loudly. âHe knows whose horse he is. Now, quit stallingâ
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Author Bio
I was born and raised about twenty minutes north of Denver, Colorado where school and soccer were always my primary focus growing up. Though, I read and wrote as often as humanly possible, too. Iâve always loved doing both, and my love for words has only grown since my childhood.
I stayed local for college and majored in Biology, with every intention of going to medical school. That never panned out. I realized right before I took the MCAT that what I wanted most out of life was to have a family of my own one day, and to be able to write a book. It was then that I decided that being a doctor wouldn't have left much time to accomplish either of those things.
Since then, I've done child care, and tried to figure out where to go next, while also finally working on my own stories that I can share with the world.
And I hope that the amazing people that give me a chance fall as in love with my characters as I have.
Bratva life is simple: You steal from the brotherhood, you pay with your life. But the thief is a woman, and she’s too beautiful to die. My wedding band will be her collar. Our vows will be her shackles. She will be my captive bride. “What?” she asks, frowning. I don’t like her tone of voice and wonder what’s gotten into her. “You know I know some Russian,” she says. “Don’t you? Tell him I’m ready.” She grows too free with her speech. “She’ll be ready,” I tell them, though my gaze is fixed on her. “I think you should nail Amronov’s wife,” Vladak tells me with a smirk. “And she’ll make sure you get what you need.” Calina tenses. I scowl at him, and no one laughs. Fucking the Prime Minister’s wife is a good way of getting assassinated. “Why not?” Filip asks. Maksym sits with his arms crossed, and says nothing. He was the one that alerted me to the fact that Amaranov’s wife asked for me, but he doesn’t approve of this plan. I don’t like it either. There’s something unsettling about it. I watch Calina’s knuckles whiten when she fists them in her lap. She heard the other men suggesting I sleep with Amronov’s wife and she doesn’t like it. “I have better means of getting what I want,” I tell them and Calina has the gall to snort derisively. “Perhaps she isn’t sufficiently trained,” I tell them, a clear warning to her. She lifts her face and juts out her chin. “Sufficiently trained?” she snaps. The room grows quiet. My men expect her to obey me, and she’s anything but obedient right now. “Enough, Calina,” I warn, but she doesn’t heed my admonition. “I don’t know,” she says, her voice rising. “Maybe you need to snap a metal collar around my neck. Take me for a walk so I can pee in your garden. Perhaps if you—” But she doesn’t get any further. When I rise from my chair, panic flits across her features and she bites her lip. She knows she’s in trouble. She knows she’s crossed a line. What she doesn’t know is how badly I want to punish her with an audience. How my cock aches with the knowledge of what she’s pushed me to do. It seems last night’s lesson didn’t make the impact it should have. I shouldn’t have given her the attention afterward. Or perhaps she simply needs a further demonstration. I take her firmly by the arm, yank her to standing, and haul her bodily over the table while my men watch in stoic silence. Papers flutter to the floor. No one says a word. None are amused. They know what’s at stake. None even flinch when I slam my palm across her ass. They’re an audience of soldiers who would lose respect for me if I didn’t do just this. If I didn’t teach her a lesson in obedience for all to see. If I’ve taught them well, any one of them would do what I have to do now. “Demyan,” she protests. “Please! I’m sorry,” But I ignore her complaints and push her flat across the table with a firm palm on her lower back. I crook a finger to Maksym, since he’s the largest, strongest man in our company. With a scowl, he rises. Though Maksym has a tender spot, he knows what’s on the line. He’d be the first one to tell me to punish her, so when I give my order he doesn’t flinch. “Hold her down,” I instruct.
USA Today Bestselling author Jane has been writing since her early teens, dabbling in short stories and poetry. When she married and began having children, her pen was laid to rest for several years, until the National Novel Writing Challenge (NaNoWriMo) in 2010 awakened in her the desire to write again. That year, she wrote her first novel, and has been writing ever since. With a houseful of children, she finds time to write in the early hours of the morning, squirreled away with a laptop, blanket, and cup of hot coffee. Years ago, she heard the wise advice, “Write the book you want to read,” and has taken it to heart. She sincerely hopes you also enjoy the books she likes to read.
Release Date: July 1, 2019 Cover Design: T.E. Black Designs SynopsisI never believed something as simple as a kiss could be so life-altering. The last thing I needed was a distraction. But that’s what I got. A distraction in the form of a mysterious redhead who also happens to be the niece of my biggest business rival. Simone Travers is more than just forbidden -- she’s Juliet Capulet herself. That doesn’t mean it’s going to stop me from having her. Nothing will... GoodreadsExcerpt“What do you want from me?” “I want to know if you think about me as much as I think about you. If I haunt you the same way you haunt me.” I remain silent, terrified of my answer. It's too dangerous to admit out loud. Ty scrutinizes me. “Deny it, Simone. Deny I affect you the same way you affect me.” He all but shakes me. I bite my tongue. I don't want to answer. I don't want to tell him is he’s all I’ve thought about the last six months. That I dream about him too. That that one kiss ruined me too. His green eyes burn as I stand there like a mute. “That's what I was hoping.” His tone is victorious, a devious curl tugging at the corner of his lips. “I didn't admit to anything.” “You didn't have to.” He pulls me into his body and the air becomes thin. “Ty, please.” I press my hands to his chest, his shirt damp from brushing against my wetsuit. “Simone, I don't care about your last name or the history our families have- ”“It isn't that.” I protest. “Whatever happened in the past I wasn’t a part of it. I know nothing about it.” “Then what’s the problem? What’s stopping you?” He presses. This is the side of Ty Winters that precedes him. He always gets what he wants and right now he wants me. I fight to breathe. “Ty, I just can't pursue anything with anyone.” “Bullshit.” “You don't know me.” “Then let me get to know you. Don't run off and disappear into thin air. I looked for you.” He rattles me. “But Simone Travers doesn’t seem to exist.” GiveawayOne of Five ARC's for The Billionaire's Beginning Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b1257f8d478/? About the AuthorM. Never resides in New York City. When she's not researching ways to tie up her characters in compromising positions, you can usually find her at the gym kicking the crap out of a punching bag, or eating at some trendy new restaurant. Connect with M. NeverNewsletter Sign Up: http://bit.ly/2HaWbW2 Facebook Author Page: http://bit.ly/2sTlbdq Facebook Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2rOfcqV Goodreads Author Page: http://bit.ly/2sQHKAf Goodreads Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2snbu60 Twitter: http://bit.ly/2sT69oa Instagram: http://bit.ly/2sxOgbN Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2tKXh0N BookBub Author Page: http://bit.ly/2wGdgjg
Title: Bad Company: A Stepbrother Romance
Author: S.L. Sterling
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 31, 2019
From the moment we met, I despised Leah as much as she hated me. It only made matters worse when my mother became involved with her father. So, ten years ago, I moved away. But when I come back for the big anniversary party, the rivalry has disappeared and we're being congratulated for putting aside our differences. What they don't know is that if I get my way, tonight we'll be sharing a room…
Leah
From the moment we met, I did everything to get Logan's attention. All that he'd direct toward me were mean pranks often leaving me in tears. Even when he left for ten years, I still tried to get his attention. It took me a long time before I finally gave up. When Logan shows up unannounced for the big anniversary party, I expect the worst case of rivalry yet, but instead, we're actually getting along, and everyone is thrilled. And when I end up finding out the truth of why he is back, it shocks me to my core.
I was dying to ask her where she was, if she still lived here, how she was doing, who she was dating or married to, but I couldn’t give myself away. If my mother thought for a second that I cared, she would wonder what was going on. I didn’t need her to be suspicious. I left the topic of Leah alone and soon we were wrapped up in conversation and we passed the afternoon away talking and getting reacquainted. It had been so long since I had seen my mom, and it was nice to just spend the time talking with her. I missed her a lot. I had been so wrong before I left, and I felt the need to apologize to her, Joe had looked after Mom just the way she had said he would. I had been foolish to think otherwise.
Shortly before dinner, Mom had to run out to the store to grab a couple of things for the dish she planned to make. She had offered to take me with her but with the time difference and all the travel I was tired, so I decided to just stay and hang out until she got back. I put the magazine down I had been reading and wandered into the kitchen. A sense of déjà vu came over me as I grabbed a glass and opened the fridge looking for juice. I poured the cold orange liquid into the glass and shut the door and that was when my eyes caught her beautiful red hair. I stared for a moment, taking her in, and then I let my eyes wash slowly over the rest of her, it was like I was on sensory overload. The outfit she wore accentuated her soft curves, I wanted to run my hands over them, and my mouth nearly watered at the sight of her lips. She stood leaning up against the door frame her arms crossed in front of her. “What are you doing here?” she asked, a smirk playing on the corner of her mouth. I could barely take my eyes off her, she had grown up, and the way her green eyes danced over my body told me she was as happy to see me as I was her, or so I hoped. “Well, someone didn’t send me my usual Valentine’s Day letter, so I came to get it in person.” “Don’t hold your breath, Logan, there is no letter.” She walked over and took the juice out of my hand and brought the glass to her lips. I stared at those perfect kissable lips, the ones I had dreamed of kissing for the past ten years. She never took her eyes from mine as she drank the cold liquid. “You know I never loved you.” She placed the cold glass back in my hand. I watched her eyes do another quick sweep of my body, then she turned and looked over her shoulder at me, smiling, before heading upstairs. I firmly planted my eyes on her tight ass as she walked away from me. I wanted so bad to grab it and pin her against the wall and do things to her that I shouldn’t even be thinking about doing. Instead, I quickly averted my thoughts and my eyes when I heard the front door slam and my mother came into the kitchen carrying a bag full of groceries. “Logan, what on earth is wrong?” she asked looking at me. “What do you mean?” I asked as I took a sip of the orange juice, still imagining Leah’s kissable lips on mine. “You look like you did when you were ten years old, as if you were doing something you shouldn’t be.” She laughed. Just thinking of fucking my stepsister ten ways to Sunday, I thought to myself. I finished my juice and then helped Mom put the groceries away.
S.L. Sterling was born and raised in southern Ontario. She now lives in Northern Ontario Canada and is married to her best friend and soul mate and their two dogs.
An avid reader all her life, S.L. Sterling dreamt of becoming an author. She decided to give writing a try after one of her favorite authors launched a course on how to write your novel. This course gave her the push she needed to put pen to paper and her debut novel "It Was Always You" was born.
When S.L. Sterling isn't writing or plotting her next novel she can be found curled up with a cup of coffee, blanket and the newest romance novel from one of her favorite authors on her e-reader. Her favorite authors include Kendall Ryan, Vi Keeland, Penelope Ward, Lauren Blakely, Alessandra Torre and Willow Winters.
In her spare time, she enjoys camping, hiking, sunny destinations, spending quality time with family and friends and of course reading.
Title: Too Hot To Handle
Series: The Catch
Author: Avery Scott
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 31, 2019
Gigi Sinclair has it all. Just check out her social media feed. It's full of designer clothes, first class travel and snapshots of her TV-star fiancé.
Behind the scenes, things are a bit more complicated. When Gigi's fiancé calls off their engagement just months before the wedding, she's devastated and determined to win him back before he marries someone else.
Then she meets Tony. He's a firefighter, but he's also good at turning up the heat. Blue collar, streetwise and sometimes silly, Tony is nothing like Gigi's camera-ready ex. He brings out a side of her personality that she buried long ago.
Two men. Polar opposites. Is one of them Gigi's perfect match?
Isha Coleman (Goodreads) - “You know you love a book when you stay up all night to finish reading it.” Courtnay Gray (Goodreads) - “I love finding new authors, like Avery Scott, that get me hooked to a story from the very beginning.” Jennifer Richey (Goodreads) - “Gigi & tony had some great chemistry. Add a hot firefighter & beautiful blogger it’s magic!”
Professional by day, Avery Scott leads a secret double-life as an award-winning author of contemporary romance.
When Avery isn't staring into a glowing screen, she loves travel, playing with her Westies, running and - of course- reading.
Avery loves to hear from readers, especially when they tell her what they would like to read next.
Title: Fearless King Author: Maya Hughes Genre: New Adult Romance Cover Design: Najla Qamber, Qamber Designs Release Date: May 30, 2019 BLURB My first crush. My first heartbreak. My brother’s best friend. The butterflies in my stomach turned into full blown eagles the second our lips touched. A kiss under the stars that changed our relationship forever. After a lifetime of wishing, I stared up into Ford’s eyes with his fingers caressing my cheek and my heart racing. The evening ended with my heart bleeding on the ballroom floor. He destroyed my heart two years ago...but now he wants back in my life. This time I won’t fall under his spell. I’ll resist his sexy, scruffy beard, and panty-melting smirk. I thought I was over him. Hell, I fully planned to wave to him through my rearview mirror...but with one text, in the middle of the night, I know I'm in over my head.
Amazon US || Amazon UK || Amazon AU || Amazon CA
The Fearless King short, The Wedding Kiss is complete! Read it today: http://bit.ly/WeddingKiss4 GIVEAWAY: https://bit.ly/2MdzgNS Author Bio Maya Hughes can often be found sneaking in another chapter while hiding in the bathroom from her kids! :-) I’m a romance writer who loves taking inspiration from everyday life, namely my husband and biggest fan. Inspiration also strikes when I hear a song, meet someone new or daydream while at soccer practice. I’m the mom of three little ones, the wife to an amazing husband and also work full time. Some of my favorite things are cinnamon rolls, white wine, laughing until I can’t breathe and traveling with my family.
Author Links Meet the unforgettable men of London's most notorious tavern, The Wicked Duke. Seductively handsome, with charm and wit to spare, one night with these rakes and rogues will never be enough…
One Night of Scandal, an all-new standalone in the historical romance series The Wicked Dukes Club from USA Today bestselling author Darcy Burke, is available now!
Jack Barrett is an ambitious member of parliament with no time or desire for a wife. When he catches the Duke of Eastleigh’s sister sneaking inside one of London’s private gentlemen’s clubs, he’s shocked—and dangerously charmed—and assumes the role of protector, only to discover she has the means to destroy him. Social pariah Lady Viola Fairfax masquerades as a man to pen a column in a popular women’s magazine. When she stumbles upon a brewing scandal that implicates a prominent MP, she seizes the chance to establish herself as a real journalist. However, the infuriating and intoxicating man may not be the radical he’s purported to be, and the more time they spend together, the more she risks the one thing she’s sworn never to do: fall in love.
Download your copy today! Amazon: https://amzn.to/2taJMsR AppleBooks: https://apple.co/2GfKfTm Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/OneNightScandal Nook: http://bit.ly/2TH3jgo Kobo: http://bit.ly/2TCtZid Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2YlmrSX Excerpt:
Viola’s gaze kept straying to Mr. Barrett, who stood with a few other gentlemen near the table with the bottle of sand. Garbed in a perfectly tailored black coat with black breeches and a midnight-blue waistcoat, he presented an intimidating and alluring figure. She couldn’t seem to stop glancing in his direction. He didn’t appear to be aware of her presence, not after looking right at her and walking away. Was he purposely ignoring her? It was probably for the best. And yet, she was vaguely annoyed. “Pardon me,” she murmured before making her way slowly to the table next to the one where Mr. Barrett stood. She picked up a shell and held it to her ear. “Do you hear the ocean?” She turned her head to see Mr. Barrett had moved next to her. Not that she’d needed to turn to see who it was—she recognized the deep, seductive timbre of his voice. Seductive? “Yes.” She handed him the shell. He put it to his ear, and a half smile tilted his lips. Viola’s chest tightened in reaction. “It’s magic,” he said before replacing the shell on the table. “It’s actually the noise from the room gathering in the shell and bouncing back to your ear.” Why had she said that? Magic sounded rather charming. He chuckled. “I know what it is. But I like to think it’s the ocean. I haven’t been there in some time.” “I haven’t either.” “I love its vastness and the never-ending rush of waves over the shore. It makes me think of how complicated and yet simple our world can be.” “That’s rather contradictory,” she said, picking up a rock that had been smoothed by the waves he spoke of. “Life is full of contradictions, wouldn’t you say, LadyViola?” He was referring to her disguise as Tavistock. She suppressed the urge to smile. “It can be, yes. So this is why you couldn’t meet tonight?” she asked quietly. “Yes. And it seems you weren’t available either.” She put the rock back down and moved around the table so they could put some distance between themselves and other guests. “I hadn’t planned to come tonight, but then decided it was worth trying to learn anything I could about our…project.” He nodded twice, slowly. “Yes, our project. We should perhaps develop a strategy for tomorrow night. I will ensure Pennington will be there.” “Excellent, I do think he is our best hope for delving deeper into things. We need to find out how he heard this rumor.” “Agreed. He typically likes to talk, so it shouldn’t be too difficult.” Viola didn’t disagree, but she wouldn’t leave things to chance alone. “And if he’s being closemouthed, we’ll pour ale down his throat until he speaks.” Mr. Barrett’s dark eyes widened very briefly. “You wish to get him drunk?” He kept his voice low. Viola lifted a shoulder. “If we must.” “Diabolical,” he said. “I like it. Tell me, Lady Viola, have you ever been drunk? It seems as though you must have, given your frequent visits to the Wicked Duke.” “I am careful not to overimbibe. Indeed, I rarely finish an entire mug of Colehaven’s marvelous ale.” She shook her head with regret. “It’s a crime.” He laughed. “Indeed.” “To answer your question, yes. I have been drunk.” She narrowed her eyes at him, but not in anger or disgust. “That is not a question you should ask a lady.” “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I should have said, ‘Tell me, Tavistock, have you ever been drunk?’” His eyes glowed with mirth, and she felt herself responding to his good humor. She angled her head to a saucy tilt. “No.” “So you’ve been drunk as Lady Viola, not as Tavistock.” He studied her intently, and her toes had the audacity to curl in her slippers. “Fascinating.” “Only once—just to see what it was like.” “You are a woman dedicated to investigation, it seems.” She was more than impressed with his estimation. She was…flattered. “That is an excellent way to describe me.” She tried to think of how she would describe him and wasn’t sure. Not yet. But they’d be spending plenty of time together, probably. Unless they unraveled the entire mystery tomorrow night. She realized she didn’t particularly want to. It might be fun to be on the hunt with Mr. Barrett. About Darcy Darcy Burke is the USA Today Bestselling Author of sexy, emotional historical and contemporary romance. Darcy wrote her first book at age 11, a happily ever after about a swan addicted to magic and the female swan who loved him, with exceedingly poor illustrations. Join her reader club at http://www.darcyburke.com/readerclub. A native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine country with her guitar-strumming husband, their two hilarious kids who seem to have inherited the writing gene, two Bengal cats and a third cat named after a fruit. Connect with Darcy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DarcyBurkeFans Twitter: https://twitter.com/darcyburke BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/darcy-burke GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5823441.Darcy_Burke Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/darcyburkewrite/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darcyburkeauthor/ Website: http://www.darcyburke.com Stay up to date with Darcy by joining her Reader Club today:http://www.darcyburke.com/join-my-reader-club/ Release Date: June 19, 2019 Cover Reveal: Maria Aiello SynopsisGrace McKenna has a gift. When she looks into the eyes of criminals, she is inundated with glimpses of their crimes. A tortured woman, a drowning man, a frightened child. Being a small town police officer, she is forced to solve these cryptic cases on her own, maintaining secrecy while using her detective skills to obtain clues along the way. In Buried Secrets, Grace welcomes you back into her world as she tries to piece together another crime in Bridgeton, Massachusetts. When Grace responds to a routine call, she meets Miriam Caverly, an older woman with a past that is less than mundane. Alongside her boyfriend and ex-cop, Mark Connolly, Grace is thrown into a tangle of town secrets that force her to step outside the town’s boundaries for answers that she is scared to face. A town drunk with a bitter past, a well-intentioned family strapped with the burden of a tragedy, and a lineup of memorable characters, make Buried Secrets an intense page-turner that follows The Gift in a perfectly aligned chain of events. GoodreadsNow AvailableThe Gift Purchase Link: https://geni.us/PGdqqdV GiveawayOne of Five ARC's for Buried Secrets Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b1257f8d477/? About the AuthorKate Anslinger is the author of the McKenna Mystery novels, a series that follows Detective Grace McKenna on her spree of secretly solving crimes with the help of her gift to see clues in the eyes of criminals. In addition to her life as a novelist, Kate is a journalist, freelance writer and a veteran of the United States Air Force. Her debut novel Saving Jason, touches upon the struggles of PTSD, a topic that is near and dear to her heart. Kate lives in a sleepy beach town outside of Boston with her husband, two daughters and Newfoundland pup. Connect with KateNewsletter Sign Up: http://bit.ly/2MhPG7S Facebook Author Page: http://bit.ly/2tzPqUw Goodreads Author Page: http://bit.ly/2WsYFH7 Twitter: http://bit.ly/2Qxd1kl Instagram: http://bit.ly/2QtLu3z Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/30P13ax BookBub Author Page: http://bit.ly/2K5mgY2 |