Title: Broken Lyric
Series: Meltdown Series #2
Author: RB Hilliard
Genre: Romantic Suspense/Rock
Release Date: June 28, 2017
5 Stars from Rox Reads - “Nash Bostwick has left me clutching my heart and has earned 5 amazing stars from me.” 5 Stars from Author Freya Barker - “Broken Lyric is a poignant and haunting ballad by RB Hilliard, and needs to be experienced!” 5 Stars from Whynter Raven - “WOW!! I dont think I put this book down. RB had on the edge of my seat the whole time. I can't wait for book three.”
Nash Bostwick is the sexy, playboy lead guitarist of the world renowned band, Meltdown. He doesn’t do love, because love only leads to pain.
Then he meets Rowan… Rowan Burns is running. Her secrets are deep and her past is deadly. She doesn’t have time for love, nor does she want it. Then she meets Nash… When Nash and Rowan finally take a chance on love, a family tragedy threatens to derail Nash’s career. In his search for answers he pushes Rowan away. By the time Nash realizes what he’s done, it might just be too late…
RB Hilliard lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband and two children. Her love of the written word led her to pursue a degree in English and later a career as an academic language therapist. In 2012 she took a break from teaching and began writing her first novel, His End Game. Hilliard has published five books in her MMG Series, as well as Utterly Forgettable, a romantic comedy and Fractured Beat, the first in her Meltdown Series.
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Title: Tied
Series: Devils Wolves #2
Author: Carian Cole
Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance
Release Date: June 26, 2017
Blurb
He was the myth and the legend of our small town. But no one knew the truth... except me.
Me
My childhood was stolen by a monster. Iâve forgotten what love feels like. What happiness feels like. What hope feels like. I am numb.
Him
Heâs possibly as damaged as I am. Maybe even more. Scarred just as much on the inside as the outside. Just like me. He doesnât speak. He doesnât smile. He hides in the woods like an animal. I should be scared of him. But Iâm not. Heâs the only one that has ever made me feel. And I want to make him feel, too. everything...
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Author Bio
Born and raised a Jersey girl, I now reside in beautiful New Hampshire with my husband and our multitude of furry pets and spend most of my time writing, reading, and vacuuming.
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Cover Model: Alli Theresa
Cover designer: Rebecca Pau from The Final Wrap
Caden
I knew she was the one the moment I laid eyes on her.
Sheâs everything Iâve ever wanted, and I never dreamed of finding her in my hometown. Savannah Owens seems lost and wants to find a place where she feels as if she belongs. What she doesnât realize is sheâs already found it. When I uncover a long buried secret, I know itâll change everything Savannah and I have. Secrets never stay hidden, and once the truth about Savannahâs past is revealed, Iâll do whatever it takes to keep her and make her mine forever.
Savannah
All Iâve ever wanted was to find a place where I belong.
A place that I actually fit in and donât feel like an outsider. When I met Caden Harlow, I thought I found my home. Heâs everything I need to make my life seem almost perfect. No matter how much I try to stay away, something always pulls me back to him. But the urge to get the answers Iâve longed for, outweighs my feelings for him. I have to find the truth, if only to put an end to my insecurity of never being wanted and truly loved.
*** This can be read as a standalone. ***
Book #1: Carter
The Harlow Brothers Series (Standalone)
Carter
She was the one for me. The one that I knew would be mine forever until I made the biggest mistake. I pushed her away and Iâve regretted that decision ever since. Iâve tried to move on, tried to put the memory of her behind me, but sheâs always consuming my thoughts. Now, sheâs back in our hometown, trying to rebuild a new life. I know sheâs keeping secrets. She tries to hide them from me, and I will do whatever it takes to prove that Iâm the one she needs. Because Shelby Ross is the other part of me that I canât live without and I refuse to let her go again. Shelby He broke my heart. I never thought I would be able to pick of the pieces he left behind. When he let me go, I ran away from it all, thinking it was the easiest thing to do. But, running has a price and Iâve paid it in full for years. Now, Iâm back where it all began, back to putting my life together and starting over. It shouldâve been easy, but Carter Harlow is reawakening long buried emotions that I thought were gone. He wants to make me his again. I canât let that happen. He ruined me, broke me, and Iâm afraid Iâll never survive it a second time around.
Brie Paisley is a small town gal from Mississippi. She always wanted to write at a young age and was always filling journals with her thoughts and short stories. Brie started with the idea of Worshipped a year ago and with the encouragement of her husband and sister in law, she was able to write her first book. When she is not writing, you can find her reading a good book, painting, scrapbooking, or watching a good movie with her husband and her boxer.
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Coming Consumed (Welcome to Carson, Book #3) Cover Design: Porcelain Paper Designs Genre: Standalone, Contemporary Romance Release Date: July 18, 2017 Synopsis
Sydney hates liars, despises them really, so what is she to do when the man her heart wants most turns out to be the biggest betrayer and deceiver of them all?
Sydney never finds herself in trouble. She always listens to her parents, follows the rules, and does what is expected of her, but in one moment, that all changes. The day she meets a campus police officer and keeps their relationship a secret from her family, her life takes on a dark turn... Now scarred and tormented by nightmares, Sydney hides her fears from everyone as she moves back home and takes over her mother’s bakery. Just when she believes she has a handle on her life, a mysterious man waltzes into her shop and turns her world upside down. Behind the beard and silver eyes Sydney knows he’s hiding something, but is the attraction worth losing herself again? Dylan Bennett knows he is in trouble the first time he lays eyes on Sydney. Behind her wavy blonde hair and flour-covered clothes he knows that she holds the key to his undoing, but he can’t risk it. As an undercover agent, Dylan lives his life by strict codes and calculations. He knows one wrong move could put Sydney in danger, but something about her draws him in and that may prove to be the biggest risk he has ever taken. What happens when she finds out the lies behind those silver eyes? Will the deception become too much for Sydney or will she fight alongside Dylan to bury the one person who brings her past back to the surface?
GoodreadsPre-Order LinksAmazon US: http://amzn.to/2rXGolZ Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2r4ayEO Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2sFxAPw Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2shznN4 ExcerptDYLAN STANDS OUTSIDE SYDNEY’S door, the knuckles of one hand gently tapping on the wood while holding a bouquet of daisies and wild flowers in the other.After helping Sydney at the bakery this morning and completing a walk-through of The Grill with her brother, Dylan had asked Austin if he had a place in town he could shower and change clothes. Austin had eyed him skeptically, but had offered use of his apartment in town. Dylan was glad he had kept his duffle bag in his car since he hadn’t made it back to Asheville the previous night. Standing at the door waiting for Sydney to answer, Dylan is fraught with something that has never happened in all the years he has been dating…nerves. He is actually nervous to take Sydney out on a date. Sure, they seemed to get along fine when they were working together, and of course the attraction between them sizzled in epic proportions, but Dylan had a hard time reconciling between the playful Sydney and the scared Sydney. The scared Sydney always fought against what they could have and that made him nervous. She is something special, someone that deserves to be cherished and he knows that if she gives him the chance, he can prove it to her. A creak sounds from the door hinges and Dylan looks up from the flowers to find a beautiful creature standing before him. Sydney may have been going for something quick and casual, but Dylan’s tongue practically drops from his mouth as he gazes at her. He takes note of her appearance, beginning with her long blonde hair that is tied up in a ponytail high on her head, the soft waves curling on the end and brushing past her shoulders. A red and black flannel shirt hangs loosely around her, but does little to conceal the womanly shape of her body. The pièce de résistance is the skin-tight black leggings covering her legs. Dylan is almost happy at the fact that the flannel shirt hangs past her ass, because he isn’t sure he would be able to control himself if he saw that perfectly toned portion of her body in the pants. “I’m sorry, I’m almost ready. I just need to find my shoes. I was sucked into this antique picking show and I couldn’t pull myself away. You can come in,” she gestures as she rushes through the living room and down the hallway. Instead of standing idly, Dylan moves towards her kitchen and looks in the cabinet above the fridge for a vase. Bingo. He chuckles to himself, thinking that it seems to be the universal spot to hold that item. Just as he is stepping back from admiring his work on the arrangement that he placed on her coffee table, Sydney joins him in the living room. Dylan hadn’t noticed before, but she has swiped a few coats of mascara on her lashes and added a deep shade of red lipstick on mouth. “I’m ready,” she announces, grabbing her jacket from where it hangs on a hook by the door. “The flowers look beautiful, by the way.” She takes a hold of the doorknob, ready to exit, then glances back at Dylan as he says, “Sydney. You look beautiful.” He makes sure to emphasize the fact that he thinks she is the most beautiful item in the room. Country. World. In such a short period of time, he has become so wickedly entranced by her that Dylan would rather spend a life in solitude and have the chance to spend one day with her, than have anything else his heart desires. That thought alone would have scared Dylan a few months back, but now? Now Dylan embraces the feelings bubbling up inside of him. This high he feels whenever he is around her is more powerful than any drug he has ever come across while on the force. She is powerful, captivating, spellbinding. And he wanted her all for himself, if she would only let him.
Giveaway$25 Amazon Gift Card Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b1257f8d101/? Book Trailer
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Direct Link: https://youtu.be/WvP5SW8LpcI Available NowComing Alive (Welcome to Carson, Book One) Genre: Standalone, Contemporary Romance Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2ujq5xN Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2tlRhyC Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2tlUyyb Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2t26CCi Coming Together (Welcome to Carson, Book Two) Genre: Standalone, Contemporary Romance Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2ujq4tu Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2tqc30V Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2tZuSES Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2siIhe0
About the AuthorRenee Harless is a romance writer with an affinity for wine and a passion for telling a good story.Renee Harless, her husband, and children live in Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. She studied Communication, specifically Public Relations, at Radford University. Growing up, Renee always found a way to pursue her creativity. It began by watching endless runs of White Christmas- yes even in the summer – and learning every word and dance from the movie. She could still sing "Sister Sister" if requested. In high school she joined the show choir and a community theatre group, The Troubadours. After marrying the man of her dreams and moving from her hometown she sought out a different artistic outlet – writing. To say that Renee is a romance addict would be an understatement. When she isn’t chasing her toddler or preschooler around the house, working her day job, or writing, she jumps head first into a romance novel. Connect with ReneeWebsite: www.reneeharless.com Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/authorreneeharless/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Renee_Harless/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Renee_Harless/ Snapchat: @Renee_Harless Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/reneeharless Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2rNFkyT
Title: Uncovering Love: The Wedding
Series: Uncovering Love Book 4
Author: Kacey Shea
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Novella
Release Date: June 30, 2017 Cover Designer: Perfect Pear Creative Photographer: Wander Aguiar Cover Model: Steven Dehler
Eleven months ago, Evelyn Harper went undercover to investigate Tate Reynolds as a viable love interest and potential boyfriend for a wealthy client. What began as a temporary job transformed into an exciting new career and more significantly, the love of her life.
Now the two are planning their own walk down the aisle. Except their path is crowded with a few bumps along the way. The urgent investigation of a family matter. A sexy new client. Pregnant bridesmaids, an ex, and a sprinkle of cold feet leaves the couple stumbling toward their big day.
Forever is a long time, but Evie and Tate are determined to get hitched no matter what life throws their way. Will they make it to the wedding or uncover more challenges than a young couple in love can handle?
This novella is the forth book in the Uncovering Love series, and while it can be read as a standalone, it contains major spoilers.
I shrug off my jacket and lay it over the back of the sofa on my way to the bed. I loosen my tie and take off my cuff links. Only then do I hear the soft click of the bathroom door. My gaze snaps up and my breath catches in my throat. Incredible.
“Is this okay?” Evie asks, knowing damn well it’s more than that. “We don’t usually do the lingerie thing, what with it coming off so quickly . . .” Her fingertips dance along the transparent white lace cups that barely contain her breasts.
“Fuck,” I hiss through my breath.
Goddamn, she’s beautiful. Gorgeous. Sinfully perfect, and I don’t know what I did to deserve this woman as my wife. I make a silent pledge, one among hundreds to date, that I’ll do everything in my power to bring her happiness, joy, and show her how much I love her with every breath I take.
I’ll start with making her come.
“I love you, Evie.”
“I love you, too, Tate.”
“Come here.” The growl leaves my mouth sounding more tormented than I intend. That’s what she does to me. But tonight it’s more than that. Tonight everything is more. I can’t wait to be inside my wife.
She struts across the room until she’s just out of my reach. “You like?” She performs a slow twirl to show off all the white lace, hooks, ties, and bows. It’s an impressive getup.
“You get into that all by yourself?” An honest question because as sexy as she looks in it, I’m not sure I have the patience to get her out of it. I wonder how she’d feel about me ripping the thing off.
“No.” She giggles and my eyes leave the valley of her breasts to glare into her teasing eyes. “Don’t worry, big guy. It was Kate who harnessed me into this medieval torture device.”
“Torture is right.” She takes one step closer so she’s between my widened legs, and only then do I allow my hands the pleasure of running along her pale skin. From the swell of her breasts, down her abdomen to the flesh of her hips, everything about her accelerates my hunger. My fingers hook beneath the elastic strap that appears to connect two pieces together. “Do I need an instruction manual to remove this?”
I’m joking.
Mostly.
She laughs and shakes her head, “The only instructions you have are to enjoy. And get it off.”
“Oh I’ll get it off, after I get you off, Mrs. Reynolds.”
Haven’t started the series?
All three full-length books and concluding novella are
boxed into a discounted set for a limited time.
Kacey Shea is a mom of three, wife, and indie author who resides in sunny Arizona. She enjoys reading and writing romance novels as much as her son loves unicorns, which is a lot.
When she's not writing you will find her playing taxi cab to her children while belting out her favorite tunes, meeting friends or family for food and to share some laughs, or sweating it out in the gym. Kacey finds that picking up heavy weights repeatedly is good for her mental health as much as it is for the physical.
She has an unhealthy obsession with firefighters. It could be the pants. It could be the fire. It's just hot. On occasion she has been known to include them, without their knowledge, in her selfies outside the grocery store.
Kacey one day aspires to be a woman hand model in a sexy photo shoot. You know, the woman's hand raking across the muscular back or six pack stomach of the male fitness model. Yep, that hand.
Until that day comes she will continue writing sexy, flirty romance novels in hopes to bring others joy!
Kacey enjoys interacting with her fans so please feel free to stalk her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Title: Love Wasted
Author: Shirl Rickman
Genre: NA Romance
Published: June 22, 2017
Available on Kindle Unlimited
“A great slow burn” - Amazon Review “SO MANY FEELS THROUGHOUT…” - Amazon Review
When Cassandra Porter was seven years old, she fell in love with her next door neighbor and her best friends brother. Cass loved that boy every single day…until he broke her heart and all that remained were the pieces.
Ten years and what feels like a lifetime apart, that boy—now a grown and sexy, warm blooded man—is thrust back into her life. He might make her temper flair and blood boil, but a few unresolved feelings are no match for the way her heart races when he is near…
She drives him the good kind of crazy.
Paxton Luke led his life with one thing on his mind: success. Friends and family come first, with no room for emotional attachments—not even with the neighbor girl, who's turned into a complete knockout. His sister's best friend. Emotions only lead to love, and love was trouble.
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Shirl Rickman is a writer, a dreamer, and an optimist. A small town Texas girl currently residing in the San Francisco Bay Area, Shirl adores her husband, daughter, and two crazy dogs. When she's not dreaming up new love stories, Shirl can be found reading, drinking her favorite coffee, Kona Blend with coconut milk. She loves kindness, laughing and meeting her readers.
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I need you, Ava.
I am desperate. For you. For a touch. For a kiss. For the scrape of your hand down my stomach. For the slide of your lips across my hipbone. The sweep of your thigh against mine in the dulcet, drowning darkness. For the warm huff of your breath on my skin and the wet suck of your mouth around me and the building pressure of need reaching release...I am mad with need.
Wild with it.
I cannot have you. I have lost you, as I have lost myself.
And so I go in search. Of myself, and thus the man who might return to you, and take you in his arms.
I loathe each of the thousands of miles between us, but I cannot wish them away, for I hope at the end of my journey I shall find you. Or rather, find myself, and thus…you. Myself, and thus us.
I am taking the long way home, Ava.
***
Christian,
I’m losing my mind, and I don’t know how to stop it. I shouldn’t be writing to you, but I am. I’m friendless, loveless, and lifeless. You’re out there somewhere, and still you’re all I really have. I hate my reliance and dependence on you, emotionally and otherwise, and that reliance is something I’m coming to recognize. I hate that I can’t hate you as much as I want to. I hate that I still love you so much.
I hate that there’s no clear solution to our conundrum. Even if we could forgive each other, what then?
I hate you, Christian. I really do.
But most of all, I don’t.
It’s complicated.
Complicatedly (still) yours,
Ava
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Enter to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card and a Signed Paperback of The Long Way Home! Enter Here >>> a Rafflecopter giveaway
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New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and internationally bestselling author Jasinda Wilder is a Michigan native with a penchant for titillating tales about sexy men and strong women. Her bestselling titles include Alpha, Stripped, Wounded, and the #1 Amazon.com and international bestseller Falling into You. You can find her on her farm in northern Michigan with her husband, author Jack Wilder, her six children, and a menagerie of animals.
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Today is our stop for the Next August by Kelly Moore! Follow the tour and grab your copy today!About Next August:August Rylan has more money than he knows what to do with, and more secrets than anyone man can keep. He’s a public figure— a billionaire business genius and eligible bachelor—with no personal life, and he likes it that way. Tragedy has followed August throughout his life, and by the time he meets Nashville Jacoby, the secrets he’s harboring aren’t just sad, they’re dangerous. Nashville is a nurse from the Deep South—the consummate country girl. She works hard, takes care of her family, and dreams of a simple life. She’s drawn to August, despite his refusal to open up to her, his intimidating fortune, and his controlling tendencies. He’s not only mesmerized by her physical beauty, he’s enthralled by her kind heart and sassy honesty. Their intense sexual chemistry surprises them both, and soon they’re locked in a passionate love affair. When August’s secrets finally catch up with him, however, their relationship isn’t the only thing that’s at stake. Someone from the past wants revenge on August and isn’t afraid to destroy the one thing August's money can’t buy—the woman he loves.
Get Your Copy Today:Amazon | iBooks | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | SCRIBD | Google PlayAbout Kelly Moore:
Kelly Moore was raised in Mt. Dora, Florida, a true southern girl with a sarcastic wit. Gypsy traveling nurse by day and romantic author by night. Loves all things romantic with a little spice and humor. Loves two characters who overcomes their pasts to fall in love and have a happy ending. Wife, mother, grandmother and dog lover. Travels the US in a fifth wheel making memories and making friends. Connect with Kelly:Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodreadsEnter Kelly’s Giveaway:a Rafflecopter giveawayMeet the Author:
USA Today bestselling author Tracey Devlyn wanted to be the next Dian Fossey and explore the wilds of Africa, but that was before she met chemistry and calculus and realized a business major, rather than a science degree, might be more up her alley.
Tracey writes contemporary and historical romantic suspense, historical mysteries, and mainstream thrillers. An Illinois native, Tracey spends her evenings harassing her once-in-a-lifetime husband and her weekends torturing her characters. For more information on Tracey, including her Internet haunts, contest updates, and details on her upcoming novels, please visit her website at http://www.TraceyDevlyn.com. Want information about Tracey's new releases to be delivered to your email inbox? Consider signing up for her newsletter http://traceydevlyn.com/contact. Tracey can also be found at http://Instagram.com/TraceyDevlyn, http://Twitter.com/TraceyDevlyn or http://www.Facebook.com/AuthorTraceyDevlyn. About the Book:
The last thing traveling nurse Evie Steele expects to find aboard the RV housing her mobile health clinic is her brother’s best friend. As always, Deke’s close proximity stirs her forbidden desires and long-suppressed dreams. But his sudden reappearance in her life and curious interest in her patients makes Evie wonder what he’s hiding.
…but now his secrets could destroy them both.
Special agent Deke Conrad is in big trouble. Not only does he have a thing for his friend’s little sister, but what should be a routine mission is turning into a tour of temptation and survival. He fooled himself into thinking he could keep the beautiful and dynamic Evie in the dark while he used the cover of her Med Mobile to track down a merciless wildlife trafficker. But he didn't anticipate the lure of her scent or the warmth of her smile…or the string of dead bodies littering their path.
When Evie winds up in his enemy’s crosshairs, Deke must unleash every weapon in his arsenal to save her, including his heart. But will he be too late?
Add to GoodreadsExcerpt:July 31
Steele Ridge, Western North Carolina
Deke pushed through the door of Blues, Brews, and Books—or, as the locals liked to say, Triple B. It was good to be back in Steele Ridge, which had formerly been named Canyon Ridge. His family had moved here right before he entered the fourth grade and stayed through his junior year before returning to their hometown of Rockton. For him, Steele Ridge would always be his true home. He’d made lifelong friends here, and it was the place where he’d become a man. His eyes took a moment to adjust before settling on the lone figure stationed at the bar. Zigzagging his way around islands of low and high tables, he slapped his friend’s broad shoulder. “Hello, shit for brains.” Rather than be startled by such an abrupt greeting, Britt Steele angled his lumberjack body around and held out his hand. “You’re late.” He shook Deke’s hand before bellying up to the bar again. “Some of us have to return to work, you know.” Deke slid onto the barstool kiddie corner to his friend’s. “Can’t even work up an ounce of sympathy.” He nodded to the bartender, Grady. “My last vacation was over a year ago. I’m going to enjoy every second of the next fourteen days.” Britt eyed the sling cradling his arm. “What happened? Keyboard attack you?” Deke did his damnedest not to lie to those he cared about. As far as his friends and family knew, he worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of External Affairs, traveling all over the Southeast Region in search of his next story. Or he could be found cooped up at the Asheville field office banging out articles for the Service’s quarterly newsletter. All true—but not the whole truth. “You have no idea how threatening the office environment can be.” “And I hope I never do. How are you healing?” The dull, throbbing pain in his shoulder served as a constant reminder of how quickly a mission could go wrong, even with hours of careful planning. Matteo had gotten the worst of it, though. SONR’s engineer had spent three days in the hospital after the surgeon had dug the arrow out of his leg. The damned thing had gone so deep that the tip had embedded in bone. Clenching his jaw, Deke flexed his fingers and lifted his elbow until the action caused an involuntary wince. Better than yesterday, but he wouldn’t be playing basketball anytime soon. “Getting there.” “What do you have planned, besides lunch with a friend you’ve blown off for months?” “Not a damn thing.” “You’re going to stare at your apartment walls for the next two weeks?” “Maybe. If the mood strikes.” “Don’t see it. I’ve never known you to be idle, in over twenty-five years.” “I’m hoping to sleep away the first two days.” Deke rubbed his tired eyes. “I’ll see where things go from there.” “Tough assignment?” He chose his words carefully. “They get more complicated every time.” “Complicated how? Don’t you just go into an area, interview people, take some pictures and then write up an article?” “I wish it were that simple.” “What can I get you?” Grady asked. “Surprise me.” He glanced at Britt. “You order food yet?” “Yeah. Hope you’re in the mood for a burger.” “Do you order for Randi?” “Not a chance,” a new voice said. Randi Shepherd cuddled against Britt’s side and kissed him. Although she kept it short, Deke could feel the power of their intimacy from two feet away. A pang of envy clutched his chest, and he shifted his attention to Grady’s nimble hands. What he wouldn’t give to have a woman love him as Randi loves Britt. It was a notion that had filtered through his thoughts a lot lately. “He knows better.” Randi wrapped Deke in a warm hug. “Seems like forever since we saw you last. You gonna hang around Steele Ridge for a while?” “I’d planned to. Mind if I rent the loft above the bar for a few days?” “Of course. I’ll have someone run up there to see if it’s habitable.” “Thought you didn’t have a plan,” Britt said. “My plan is not to have a plan.” Randi laughed. “Let me go check on your food.” He watched his friend’s gaze follow Randi from the room. “How’s domestic life treating you?” “Bit of an adjustment at first, but we’ve settled into a groove now.” “A good one?” “The best.” “How’s the Center?” Thanks to a hefty investment from Britt’s younger brother, he was running a Wildlife Research Center on the outskirts of town. “I hired a botanist to study the red wolves’ habitat and the surrounding conservation area.” “Is that trepidation or skepticism I hear in your voice?” “Fear.” Britt lifted a beer mug to his lips. “She’s my cousin.” He searched his memory for another conservationist in the Steele family. “Not Riley.” “Ding, ding, ding.” “The Kingston menace?” Britt smiled. “What the hell were you thinking? She used to plant shit bombs in our sleeping bags.” “She just got back from a research expedition in Costa Rica and needed a job. The Center needed a botanist, so everyone’s happy.” “Can’t wait to see how long that lasts.” A gust of air signaled the arrival of a newcomer to Triple B. Even before Deke turned, a buzz of awareness sprinted down his spine. Only one person had ever had that effect on him. The last person who should. Evie Steele. Even though he’d known her since she’d toddled around on chubby legs, he’d first noticed her crystal blue eyes, silken black hair, and long, long legs right after she turned sixteen. He’d come upon her sunbathing in a gut-socking white bikini. The sight had stopped him cold. Then the heat had come. Scorching, blood-searing heat. When she’d glanced at him over her bare shoulder and thrown out her sweet Evie smile, he could only stare at the way the triangle of white material molded her firm ass. She’d twisted around, and his attention had torn from her rounded bottom to mouthwatering breasts that would fit his hand perfectly. Somewhere between fifteen and sixteen, his Squirt had…developed. And he’d stirred. For her. Evie. The girl who, up to that point, had been like a sister to him. Guilt had consumed him. For years afterwards, he’d done everything he could to avoid her. Avoidance hadn’t stopped his thoughts. His vivid dreams. His comparing every woman he looked at to Evie’s perfection. Evie Steele had squirmed her way into every conscious thought and desire he possessed. No amount of cursing, women, or distance had managed to shake her hold. At one point, when she’d cleared high school, he’d considered braving Britt’s big brother wrath and asking her out. But she’d plunged into college and nursing school at the same time he’d been invited to join a newly formed black ops unit with the Service. Now, four years later, their journeys were still worlds apart. With a degree under her belt, Evie would be starting a career. Whereas kids, family, and settling down had begun visiting his thoughts, as of late. Britt had found soul-searing happiness with Randi. She smoothed his edges, cared for him in a way no one else ever had. And he’d almost lost the love of his life to a greed-driven trophy hunter. The power of that kind of love struck fear in Deke’s heart and warmed it, at the same time. Problem was, he didn’t have a wife, fiancée, or even a girlfriend. Not one viable candidate. His gaze locked on Evie’s across the bar, and the pressure on his chest intensified, became crushing. Time had passed, and his lecherous guilt had faded. They were both adults now. If not for the twelve years separating their ages, Evie might have been the one. But he could never ask her to put her career on hold to be with him and start a family. What if she did and then couldn’t stomach the demands of his career? She would’ve given up so much, for what? Heartbreak. Resentment. Anger. Hate. He swallowed back his longing and returned to his beer, allowing the familiar mask to drop in place. Forcing away the memory of last year’s stolen kiss.
Title: Blue Velvet
Series: UltraViolence Book Two
Author: Natalie Bennett
Genre: Dark Erotic Romance
Blue Velvet
Noun-Slang
-An illicit drug taken by vein.
Secrets.
Deceit.
Lust.
And bloodshed.
This is their happily ever after.
*A/N*
Blue Velvet is book two of two in the UltraViolence duet. This is a full-length novel.
->Trigger warning(s)<-
Gore, dub/non-consent, violence, lots of sex, lots of F-bombs, and death.
This will have a non-traditional HEA. ;)
A Woman & Her Books - “BlueVelvet is a fast paced, thrilling, hot read.” Between the Bookends - “It had twists and turns that will leave your head spinning.”
Natalie Bennett has always been an avid fan of all things dark and twisted, so it only made sense for her to write what she loves. She brings to life unapologetic antiheroes you love to hate and strong heroines who refuse to be broken. Natalie writes Dark and Twisty Erotica with romantic elements. She doesn't censor her writing and let's her stories tell themselves. If you pick up one of her books expecting a typical HEA, you won't find one.
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