Title: Amore Part 1
Author: Bella Jewel
Genre: Mafia Romance
Release Date: September 19, 2016
Blurb
“It is not love that defines us, Julietta. It is love that destroys us.” I’m just a normal girl.
Or so you would think.
I’ve never thought of myself as anything different.
Until I met him.
He doesn’t think I’m normal.
He thinks I’m special.
Special enough to be in his life.
Special enough to enter his world.
Special enough for his bed.
Rafael Lencioni. Dangerous. Beautiful. Terrifying.
My story is the one that’s never told.
I’m not the daughter.
I’m not the wife.
I’m not a sister or a mother.
I'm not his enemy and I'm not his friend.
I’m not who you think I am.
So for me to fit into their world, I have to do something I never wanted in my life.
Something I would have frowned upon until I met him.
I have to change who I am.
I have to shut down my heart.
I have to accept my place.
My body belongs to him.
My heart isn’t permitted to.
Those are his rules.
But rules were made to be broken…right?
Author Bio
Bella Jewel is a self published, USA Today bestselling author. She’s been publishing since 2013. Her first release was a contemporary romance, Hell’s Knights which topped the charts upon release. Since that time, she has published over five novels, gaining a bestseller status on numerous platforms. She lives in North Queensland and is currently studying editing and proofreading to further expand her career. Bella has been writing since she was just shy of fifteen years old. In Summer 2013 she was offered an ebook deal through Montlake Romance for her bestselling modern day pirate series, Enslaved By The Ocean. She plans to expand her writing career, planning many new releases for the future.
Author Links
Giveaway
0 Comments
Excerpt: “These people are ruthless, Calla. Are you sure you can handle it?” I told her as well as Alina and Anna the same thing I’m telling Roan. I’m extremely aware of how dangerous this situation is. I may not have had the displeasure of personally dealing with these wretched leaders who don’t play fair in our world; on the contrary, I will not tolerate any of them treating me any different because I have tits and a vagina. If it weren't for women, they would be fucking each other over more than they do now. Welcome to the first episode of badassery and women power, you self-righteous dicks. I’m a firm believer in women’s rights. I don’t care what men’s opinions are of us or what a woman is trying to accomplish. We are all equal. The only difference we have is, women use their brain the way we should, while most men use what hangs between their legs to do their bidding for them. And I can guarantee, these overbearing suckers have dicks that should be playing a role in Ripley’s Believe it or Not. Small dicks, small brains, and all that jazz. I’ve been fighting round after round with Cain for weeks over this. The need to protect me I get. We have a daughter, is his argument. “Why do you feel the need to take on this role? You don’t have to, you know? One of us can.” It’s not that Cain wants this position. No. That’s not it at all. The man is scared of losing his wife. Of the things I will see, the things I may have to do. How I’ll react to being threatened. Will the same thing or worse happen to me like it did before? It’s not one bit funny, but the only way to shut that man up is to flash my tits and vagina in his face. Then fuck him until his cock—which isn’t small by any means—takes over his worried brain. Like I said, men. I love my man, though. These pissy, arrogant cock-suckers who will be calling a meeting at any time are the worthless pieces of shit. Except the Solokovs, who think in this century and treat everyone equally like we do, not like these fools who I’ve studied until my eyes were bleeding and could no longer make out their faces through my blurred vision. Most of them I haven’t met yet, and they already make me sick and make me want to hurl all over their expensive Armani suits. They could all learn a thing or two from a woman. “Get to the point, Calla. You said we don’t have time to fuck around. Let me hear your theory.” “You need to loosen up, Roan. You sound like Hitler, for god’s sake.” I salute him. The tiny crack of a smile he had moments ago falls; in its place is the face of a man who’s suffered loss and hardship. This look on him is what I hate. I’ve been busting my ass to help him out here. Searching through tiny holes for any goddamn thing I could find. What Cain and Roan don’t understand is the craving I have to protect them too. It’s my right. I may not have lived my entire life growing up in this environment of murder, drugs, stealing, and the latest, underground illegal fighting, but I’m no fool. I can play with fire, but I’m not allowing myself to get burned. “I’m not afraid of those men, you know. I’m not afraid of you either. In fact, I just may be your biggest weapon. Remember that, Roan,” I seethe. Between him and Cain trying to scare the crap out of me, I’m ready to prove myself to them more than anyone else. The sharp tongue, piss, and vinegar are all in my blood. Just like Roan, I will kill for my blood. I also know Roan. That man protects with his life, as do the rest of these men. He’s going to have someone on me at all times. Maybe even several men. What he fails to realize is, my dad will never allow anything to happen to me. He’s already volunteered to go where I go. People are scared to death of the unstoppable John Greer, and they should be. He’s killed and made more people disappear than I want to know about, but he’s my father, my protector, and even though I trust our friends and family, I trust him more. His eyes are everywhere, trained on point. I don’t want anything to happen to my dad. I do know he will refuse to let anyone take care of what’s his, especially after the hell I went through with Roan’s older brother, Royal; a man I didn’t know before he kidnapped me. Besides, both of them know my dad has trained me to shoot. I hope I remember how. I’m not invincible, none of us are. But I sure as hell will not lie down and let anyone trample all over me. Especially men who don’t respect me. I'm sick and tired of this shit. Here we think everything is fine. Those people will stick with the rules. You stay in your territory, and I’ll stay in mine. Hell no, someone crossed over. Someone shot our loved one in cold blood. .99 cent special pre-order price for EMPIRE by Kathy Coopmans. Releasing October 5th. This is the final book in The Syndicate Series. Price increases to 2.99 on release day! Pre-order links for EMPIRE.Amazon US - http://amzn.to/2bxKYR0 Amazon UK- http://amzn.to/2bKBX4D iBooks - http://apple.co/2akiRm1 Nook - http://bit.ly/2aFX47F Kobo - http://bit.ly/2ao2kOe Haven’t read this series yet? Download The Wrath of Cain for FREE here: http://bit.ly/2dfwxyp We've loved. We've lost. We've hated. Our Empire is crumbling right before my eyes. No one can be trusted for reasons that are consuming me, controlling me and ripping me away from my family. This new family who has taken over the streets of New York has taken someone away from us. We will not let them take anymore. The only way to stop them is to sacrifice one of us. But who? They want to end me and my cousin, Calla. I will never allow that to happen. This is our EMPIRE. Our LIFE. What it boils down to is... her life or mine. The answer is MINE! I'm perceived as weak, all because I'm a woman. A woman on a mission now that they've stolen someone I love. They have threatened my family, my child, my love. I may be a woman but, I'm the daughter of a notorious killer. They want to end me and my cousin, Roan. I will never allow that to happen. This is our EMPIRE. Our LIFE. What it boils down to is... his life or mine. The answer is MINE! I'm loved. I'm lost. I hate. Other books in the Series The Wrath of Cain (book 1 in the Syndicate Series) Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1LQp9pV Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1M2rREu The Redemption of Roan (book 2 in the Syndicate Series) Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1SVUsPe Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1qCCESh The Absolution of Aidan (book 3 in the Syndicate Series) Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1OE8yn5 Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1RRM20g The Deliverance of Dilan (book 4 in the Syndicate Series) Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1RBbaCz Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1rfMPgG About the Author
Title: The Complete Explosive Series
Author: Tessa Teevan
Cover Photo by Eric Battershell Photography
Cover Model: Andrew Cleveland
Cover Designer: Robin Harper at Wicked by Design
Release Date: Oct 18, 2016
For the first time ever, all five stories in the Explosive series have been packaged into one hot box set and will only be available for a limited time. Pre-Order for just 99 cents! The price will increase on release day, so don’t miss out on the sale!
Fall in love with the entire gang in the Explosive series! Each standalone romance contains saucy heroines, sexy heroes, and a whole lot of love between the pages. Enjoy five incredible stories whose pages are loaded with passionate love, burning desire, and a whole lot of steam! Second chance romance, friends with benefits, surprise pregnancy, marriage of convenience, and laugh out loud friends to lovers, what more could you want?
Ignite, #1
Alexa Sullivan-Tate, a young widow, and Jace McAllister, her first love, reconnect in this passionate second-chance romance. But when love has slipped through your fingertips before, how can you trust it will once again remain? They loved and lost before, but can they dispel the ghosts of the past and discover a new future?
Incinerate, #2
Sparks fly and tempers flare when Charlie Davenport, a feisty brunette, crosses paths with wounded warrior, Knox Wellington. Their chemistry is undeniable, but the chip on his shoulder threatens to destroy any hope of him wooing the sweet, southern volunteer send to help with his rehabilitation. Head butts, patience is tested, and flames of passion ignite as they dance around their mutual attraction, both jaded from broken pasts. Will they finally be able to get over the pain of the past or will their relationship be reduced to ashes before it can actually begin?
Inflame, #3
For sexy soldier Kale Montgomery and sweet, sassy schoolteacher Lucy Dawson, love was never in the cards. Their relationship, though unconventional, is mutually beneficial. One fateful night changes their lives forever in ways they could never imagine, giving them the push to admit that maybe, just maybe, they want more than they let on. Will Kale and Lucy realize what they’ve been waiting for is each other, or will the whirlwind of their romance cause the passion to burn out too quickly, causing it all to go up in smoke?
Intoxicate, #4
Kalli Montgomery never expected to propose to Xavier Cruz, even though she’s been in love with the sexy, single father for as long as she can remember. He never expected to accept, but when circumstance threatens to take his daughter from him, he’ll do whatever it takes, even if it means marrying a woman he doesn’t love. This marriage of convenience has one rule: absolutely no falling in love. Easier said than done. Throw together a girl who believes rules are meant to be broken, and a man whose entire career revolves around following orders, you get a recipe for disaster. What could possibly go wrong?
Fusion, #5
Where do babies come from? The question every parent dreads hearing has finally fallen from the lips of six-year-old Ava Banks, the curious, precocious daughter of high school sweethearts, Jeremy and Sierra. Normally blunt as can be, they find themselves struggling to find the right words to answer her. So instead, they rewind sixteen years to that one fateful day where a game of Seven Minutes in Heaven inevitably led to life-long romance filled with laughter, love, and many, many mishaps along the way.
Falling in love with your best friend? It's the most incredible thing in the world. As long as it lasts. When the world comes crashing down around you, can even the strongest relationship withstand great tragedy?
Tessa is a twenty-something book junkie who’s obsessed with sports and cycling. She’s been married to her own book boyfriend for nearly ten years whose traits often show up in her books. If she’s not writing or looking through tons of photos of hot men, all in the name of research, then you can probably find her curled up with my Kindle, ignoring the rest of the world. She loves my sports almost as much as she loves her books. Her other obsessions include red wine, hot men, country music, and all things Grace Potter.
Book: An Evidence of Magic
Authors: Kris Michaels and Patricia A. Knight
Genre: M/M Crime Romance - Alternate Reality
#AnEvidenceofMagicTour
Buy The BookUniversal link to all retailersAmazonKoboibooksTroll River Publishing
Title: Distrust
Author: TL Smith
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: September 21
She was a ghost, in heels.
She was there, then she wasn’t.
She would play with my emotions like a well-played guitar.
Then she would disappear. Making me want to strangle her.
Maybe she wasn’t a ghost, maybe she was the giver of sin. Because we sinned every time we touched, every time she was near.
Her lips were shaped like a heart, deceiving you at every word.
Her body was created straight from my fantasies, one I craved to bend to my will.
Her heart, well, who the hell knew. She kept that shit locked tight.
And I couldn’t find the key.
T.L Smith Lover of chocolate, books, but mostly words.
T.L Smith loves to travel, loves to shop for books, sometimes shoes ;-)
Don't be shy about contacting T.L Smith, she doesn't bite, hard!
Hosted By:
From New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis comes a captivating story of love, second chances and new beginnings...About THE TROUBLE WITH MISTLETOE:If she has her way…Willa Davis is wrangling puppies when Keane Winters stalks into her pet shop with frustration in his chocolate-brown eyes and a pink bedazzled cat carrier in his hand. He needs a kitty sitter, stat. But the last thing Willa needs is to rescue a guy who doesn’t even remember her……He’ll get nothing but coal in his stocking.Saddled with his great-aunt’s Feline from Hell, Keane is desperate to leave her in someone else’s capable hands. But in spite of the fact that he’s sure he’s never seen the drop-dead gorgeous pet shop owner before, she seems to be mad at him…Unless he tempers “naughty” with a special kind of nice…Willa can’t deny that Keane’s changed since high school: he’s less arrogant, for one thing—but he doesn’t even remember her. How can she trust him not to break her heart again? It’s time to throw a coin in the fountain, make a Christmas wish–and let the mistletoe do its work…Pre-Order THE TROUBLE WITH MISTLETOE in ebook or paperback, releasing 9/27/16Amazon | iBooks | Kobo| Barnes & NobleAdd to your GoodreadsEXCERPT: He opened the passenger door for her but caught her before she could slide in. “You’re cold.” Actually, she was freezing. “I forgot my jacket this morning—No, don’t give me yours,” she said when he made to take his off. So instead he spread it open and wrapped as much of it around her as possible. Chest to chest, thighs to things…and everything in between mashed up against each other all cozy like. Except it didn’t feel cozy. It felt…sexy as hell. It would’ve taken more control than she held to keep her hands to herself. He wrapped herself around him, letting her fingers trail up the sculpted muscles of his back. At her touch, his gaze met hers, dark and heated. Oh boy. She was in trouble here, and she forced herself to back away and get into her seat. A minute later, he’d rounded the front of the truck and slid in behind the wheel. He craned around to eyeball Pita like she was a pissed-off rattlesnake. Willa laughed and Keane turned all that concentrated hotness on her. “What?” “I’m picturing Petunia coming back from the dead to haunt you.” With a small smile, he leaned in close and slid his fingers along her jaw. “You think that’s funny?” “I’d do the same thing.” His mouth quirked. “Revengeful, huh?” “Absolutely.” His fingers still on her jaw, he let his thumb slide lightly over her lower lip, making it hunger for a touch. His touch. No, make that his mouth. She wanted his mouth on hers and wasn’t that just annoying as hell. “This isn’t happening,” she said out loud, because surely that would make it true. “What isn’t?” he asked. “Dinner with me despite you saying that the devil himself couldn’t drag your cold, dead corpse out on a date with me, even if I was…how did you put it? Hot as balls?” “I didn’t say that!” She felt her face flush. She was doing her best to desperately hold on to her resentment over their past, but even she could admit she was quickly losing the battle here, to curiosity. And lust. “If you’re going to eavesdrop,” she said with as much dignity as she could, which wasn’t much, “at least get your facts straight.” He just laughed, a sexy sound that woke up all her happy spots, damn him. And he knew it too. She sunk in her seat a little, crossed her arms over her chest and looked out the window. “Be amused all you want, I’m holding firm.” He didn’t look worried. Which in turn worried her.And don’t miss the first novel in Jill Shalvis’ Heartbreaker Bay Series, SWEET LITTLE LIES, now available! Grab your copy HERE!About Jill Shalvis: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s sexy contemporary and award-winning books wherever romances are sold and click on the blog button above for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter SignUp
Title: Visibly Broken
Authors: Chelsea Camaron & MJ Fields
Genre: Sports Romance
Release Date: September 20, 2016 Publisher: Loveswept
In a powerful, smoldering novel from the bestselling authors of the Caldwell Brothers series (“Bad boy heroes to die for!”—Tracy Wolff), two tortured souls team up to overcome the past, finding the courage to heal . . . and to love.
Jason “Cobra” Stanley was born to fight. With a father like his, he had to toughen up just to survive. Now Cobra tries to take out all of his frustration, all of his anger, and all of his pain in the MMA cage. But after he receives one too many hits to the head during a match with Jagger Caldwell, the cycle of violence comes to a screeching halt. Cobra wakes up in the hospital, under the care of a nurse whose blond hair shines like a halo—and whose pure heart touches him on the deepest level.
Lorraine Bosch is a fighter too. Having escaped from her own controlling father, she prides herself on remaining professional, despite the chaos of the ER. But Cobra is the ultimate distraction. Lorraine knows she should run away screaming from his rippling muscles and shattered psyche. And yet how can she deny this broken man a second chance—especially since she knows exactly what he’s been through? Lorraine’s used to playing guardian angel. Now it’s her turn to find heaven in Cobra’s arms.
“When I go into a book hating the hero, and then by the end of the book love him, I know I have found an exceptional read. Visibly Broken is that read.”—Ryan Michele, author of the Ravage MC & Vipers Creed MC Series “Can you be the light to someone’s dark? Can a new start help kill the demons of the past? Chelsea Camaron and M.J. Fields deliver a TKO with this book. Cobra takes my breath away.” —S.M. Donaldson, author of the Marco’s MMA Boys Series
USA Today bestselling author Chelsea Camaron is a small town Carolina girl with a big imagination. She’s a wife and mom, chasing her dreams. She writes contemporary romance, erotic suspense, and psychological thrillers. She loves to write about blue-collar men who have real problems with a fictional twist. From mechanics to bikers to oil riggers to smokejumpers, bar owners, and beyond she loves a strong hero who works hard and plays harder.
USA Today bestselling author M.J. Field's love of writing was in full swing by age eight. Together with her cousins, she wrote a newsletter and sold it for ten cents to family members.
Her writing has changed a bit. Instead of updating the 'Fields' family, she writes highly emotional and ... steamy romance novels. Her stories are full of authentic, raw, and gritty alpha male characters and the women they fall for. There always seems to be humor and a strong focus on family intertwined.
She self-published her first contemporary romance in January 2013. Today she has completed eight self-published series, The Love Series, The Wrapped Series, The Burning Souls Series, The Men of Steel Series, Ties of Steel Series, The Norfolk series and The Rockers of Steel series.
MJ is a hybrid author who publishes an Indie book almost every month, and is signed with a traditional publisher, Loveswept, Penguin Random House, for her co-written series The Caldwell Brothers. Hendrix and, Morrison, and Jagger are available.
MJ lives in central New York, surrounded by family and friends. Her house is full of pets, friends, and noise ninety percent of the time, and she would have it no other way.
Title: Bang Gang
Author : Jade West
Genre : Contemporary Romance
It’s one thing knowing your ex-boyfriend is a bit of a player, but it’s another thing altogether to find out he’s pimping himself out to anyone who’ll pay good money for it.
Not just himself, either. That would be far too regular for Darren Trent.
Darren Trent – my teenage sweetheart and father to my two young girls – is not just whoring himself out. Oh no. Darren Trent pimps himself out alongside four of his mechanic friends – all of them at the same time.
Five hot, sweaty mechanics at your service.
They call themselves the Bang Gang… you can imagine.
In a village our size I should keep my head down and hope the scandal blows over before the girls or my poor old Nanna catch wind of it.
Only it’s not blowing over. Far from it. It seems every woman in the village wants themselves a five-mechanic sandwich.
They make no qualms about it, either. Just rock on up to my café counter and ask how they can book themselves in for a Bang Gang special. Like I would know.
I definitely wouldn’t know. I hardly even know Darren Trent anymore. We split up a lifetime ago.
I definitely don’t think about him late at night. Don’t think about five mechanics and me as much as every other woman in this village.
And even if I did, I wouldn’t act on it. I wouldn’t draw the money from my savings account and have a go for myself.
And even if I did that. I definitely, definitely wouldn’t fall for him. Not again. Not after everything we went through. Not after splitting up the first time nearly brought me to my knees.
Not after settling into a decent routine, the girls and me, with no drama, no heartbreak, no crazy passions to rock the calm little boat we’re sailing on.
I mean, who would be stupid enough to risk all that over a hot, sweaty, oily bit of rough like Darren Trent?
Living in imaginary realities and having a legitimate excuse for it is really all she’s ever wanted.
Jade is as dirty as you’d expect from her novels, and talking smut makes her smile.
She lives in the Herefordshire countryside with a couple of hounds and a guy who’s able to cope with her inherent weirdness.
She has a red living room, decorated with far more zebra print than most people could bear and fights a constant battle with her addiction to Coca-Cola.
Spiralling Skywards #1 : Falling
Author: Lesley Jones
Release Date: 20th September 2016
TBR: http://bit.ly/2cSw0Vo
Blurb
It only takes one defining moment.
One look.
One dance.
One conversation.
Sarah knows from the second she meets Liam that their connection is more than just instant attraction. It’s deep, it’s consuming, and has the potential to be the real thing. But true love comes at a price. Fuelled by Liam's past, Sarah's issues, and a messy web of family ties, business partnerships, and exes, the combined forces threaten to snuff out their new found relationship. Will that spark be smothered by outside forces? Or will they be carried like smoke from the ashes and sent spiralling skywards?
Written in Lesley Jones’ usual heartfelt, witty, and emotional voice, this dual point of view story is just the beginning of her Spiralling series. Look for book two, late 2016.
Purchase Links
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2cyQYoI Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2d3gqDA Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2cUj80Z Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2cZrmGh KOBO: http://bit.ly/2cpLDCr iBooks: http://apple.co/2cpLGyt
Pre-Order Book 2 TODAY!
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2cByE3x
About the Author
Lesley Jones was born and raised in Essex, England but moved to Australia ten years ago. She now lives by the beach on the Mornington Peninsula, just outside of Melbourne. When she’s not writing, she loves to read, listen to music, watch football, sing badly and drink good wine.
You can find, follow, or stalk her at these places…
Her Only Salvationby J.C. Valentine Publication Date: September 13, 2016 Genres: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sweet / Clean Romance, ThrillerBUY:
Amazon (99c or #FREE with #KindleUnlimited): http://amz
Paperback: http://amzn.to/
Synopsis: Sometimes, relationships can be deadly. Terri thought she was marrying a strong, loving man, only to find that beneath that handsome face lies something cold, brutal, and dangerous. After years of abuse, her husband takes things a little too far, and Terri finally summons the courage to take matters into her own hands and make her escape. But freedom comes at a price. Forging a new life, Terri moves to a new town and tries to forget her past, but she can’t help looking over her shoulder at every turn. When prison bars can no longer hold her husband, and her past comes knocking, Terri finds that the strength to trust again may be her only salvation. When her attractive new boss steps up to the plate and vows to protect her at all cost, she’s inclined to accept…but can she ever allow herself to trust her instincts again? *Author Note* Her Only Salvation is a bold and enticing storyline with a hint of romance (sensual but not explicit). This book was originally released under J.C. Valentine’s given name and was entitled “Spring Cleaning.”
EXCERPT:
Luke stomped across the floor and poured himself a glass of water. Gulping it down, he placed the empty cup in the small sink basin and turned to survey the room. Terri didn’t try to make small talk this time, not after what happened the last time. Instead, she cleaned around the human pillar parked in front of the taps. He would have to move sometime, but she wasn’t about to tell him that. She could feel his eyes on her as she moved about the confined area. “The police said it was a hit and run.” Luke’s voice was gruff, tortured. Sensing his need to unburden himself, she put the glass she was cleaning down and met his eyes. “Yeah?” “Yeah.” He broke eye contact, staring at the shelves of liquor above her head as if deep in thought. Eventually, his gaze shifted back to hers. “They said since it was on my property, I might be facing a lawsuit.” Terri rose up straight. “How is that possible? You weren’t the one that ran someone over.” Anger for Luke’s situation had her fisting her hands against her sides. A shoulder lifted and fell. Luke sighed deeply, as if he were exhausted by the whole ordeal. “It all depends on whether the guy lives or not and how much he can tell the detective about what happened tonight.” “What do you mean, if he lives? How serious was it?” Luke smirked humorlessly. “Every hit and run is serious, Terri.” She raised an eyebrow at that. “Duh. What I meant was…” She shook her head. “Yeah, I don’t know what I meant.” She huffed at her own stupid remark. Retrieving his cup, Luke poured himself another glass of water. He sipped it slowly, thinking. “The guy was only twenty-one,” he stated, as if that should clarify everything. The look she gave him said it didn’t. “He left my club falling-down drunk, intending to drive home.” Terri winced. The dram laws said that bartenders, and anyone else who served alcoholic drinks, were supposed to monitor how much was too much for any one customer. If they looked like they weren’t handling it so well, they weren’t allowed to leave unless it was by cab or some other designated driver. It was a good rule that kept a lot of heat off of the Sunset Black. “Okay, but how can this be held over your head? He never drove away, and they can’t prove the guy who hit him was drunk,” she pointed out “Maybe not, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have some responsibility to make sure my customers make it home safely.” Pushing off the bar, Luke returned his glass to the sink without finishing it. “If he wakes up, he might decide I didn’t hold up my end. If I’m sued, I’ll probably lose this place in legal fees alone.” “Well what about this driver? Didn’t anyone see who it was? What kind of car they were driving? Anything?” Terri felt desperate for answers. It wasn’t even her business to save, but she felt a kinship with Luke, and that made her concerned with what happened to him in his life. He had offered her a job when no one else would. She was uneducated and hadn’t worked since the day she married. To top it off, he treated her kindly, something she hadn’t experienced in years, and he was her friend. Those she called a friend she stood behind fully. His fight was now her fight, as far as she was concerned, and anything she could do to keep him from losing his livelihood—his dream—she would do. “One of the witnesses said they saw a late model blue pickup speeding away. They didn’t get the plates or see who was driving, though. So they probably won’t catch the guy, which leaves just me, unless that boy recovers and gives us something good to go on.” Reaching out, Luke placed a gentle hand against Terri’s cheek. “Hey, you’re all pale. What’s wrong?” She didn’t know how she could’ve missed it, but her eyes were wide open now. The guy at the club earlier with the broken beer bottle and the driver of the truck in the parking lot responsible for running down one of their patrons… Shaking now, Terri peered up at Luke hoping he wouldn’t confirm her worst fears. “Who was the victim? The guy they took to the hospital.” “Terri, I don’t see how—” “Please,” she pleaded, “I have to know.” “It was that guy who hassled you tonight. The college kid.” Terri’s legs crumbled beneath her. Luke’s quick reflexes made sure she didn’t fall. Scooping her into his arms, Luke carried her quickly to his office before anyone noticed what had happened. Luke place Terri on a very smart-looking sofa in his office. He left her long enough to close the door, then returned, pulling up his desk chair and sitting down to face her. “Want to tell me what just happened out there?” Terri shook her head. Words failed her. They were all locked up in her throat. Blood pounded through her veins, making her pulse thunder inside her ears. Rubbing two fingers across his chin, Luke studied her. “Okay. Do you want to go home, Terri?” She thought about it. The idea of going back behind that counter, walking around the dark club floors where someone could be watching her, and she’d never know it, terrified her. “Yes” was all she could say. “Okay then.” Luke stood and rounded the desk. He slid open a drawer and drew out a set of keys. “I’ll drive you home.” Terri’s attention snapped back to him. “What about my car?” Luke held up a hand. “Leave it. I’ll pick you up tomorrow afternoon on my way in. Your car will be fine until you get back.” Terri didn’t argue. She stood up and let Luke lead her from the office, thoughts of Randy racing through her mind. Had he finally been released from jail? Was he free to come after her now? If he was, would he really do it after all this time? But she already knew the answer to that. Of course he would. The question now was, would he be waiting for her, ready to run her down the moment she stepped across the protective barrier of the club provided her like he did to that boy? She could only hope that having Luke by her side would be enough to keep her safe. ABOUT J.C. VALENTINEJ.C. Valentine is the USA Today and International bestselling author of the Night Calls and Wayward Fighters Series and the Forbidden Series. Her vivid imagination and love of words and romance had her penning her own romance stories from an early age, which, despite being poorly edited and written longhand, she forced friends and family members to read. No, she isn’t sorry. J.C. earned her own happily ever after when she married her high school sweetheart. Living in the Northwest, they have three amazing children and far too many pets and spend much of their free time together enjoying movies or the outdoors. Among the many hats she wears, J.C. is an entrepreneur. Having graduated with honors, she holds a Bachelor’s in English and when she isn’t writing, you can find her editing for fellow authors. Sign up for J.C.’s newsletter and never miss a thing! http://bit.ly/1KxXWWBWebsite • Twitter • Facebook • ENTER THE GIVEAWAY |