Title: Block's Road

Series: Riot MC Biloxi Series

Author: Karen Renee

Genre: MC Romance/Suspense

Release Date: March 7, 2023

We wandered onto the patio, then out to a pool deck, and I nudged his bicep with my shoulder. “Why did we stay at a house in Metarie, when we could have just stayed here? You’ve got a pool and a hot tub. What?”

He wrapped his arms around me. “You wanted Cafe DuMonde, woman. Can’t make that happen here.”

I slid my hands up his sculpted chest and rested them on his shoulders. “Fair.” My eyes skated past him and I saw the angular room jutting out from the backside of the house. “What is that? Do you have a sun room? I would think that’s where a bedroom would be or something.”

He glanced over his shoulder and frowned. “Yeah, that’s a big bedroom and it has a sun room.”

When I caught his eyes again, I asked, “Are you running drugs or something?”

“Not any more,” he said dryly.

My head turned a touch. “I was joking.”

“I’m not.”

I stepped out of his hold. “You… you bought this house with—”

His finger pressed lightly on my lips. “No. My mom was in an accident back when I was in my late twenties. She lost the use of her legs. We had to move to a house she could move around in, and the settlement money paid for this.”

“Oh dear. I’m sorry. Am I meeting your mom today?”

A sad smile crested his lips. “Sad to say it, but no. It would have been entertaining as fuck to hear what Mom would say to you. But she passed a couple years ago.”

I frowned. “I’m sorry she’s gone, Rob.”

He nodded. “Me too. My brother —biological brother— has been up in my shit to sell the place and give him half the fuckin’ money.”

My lips pressed together as I tried to keep my mind open and my temper on a simmer. “Did he help you care for her? I’m guessing you took care of her.”

“I did take care of her - except we had a nurse come in to help her with showers. She didn’t want me doing that. Too much pride. But to answer your first question, no. He didn’t help at all. No money, no offers to call Medicare when shit wasn’t getting covered. Nada.”

“Is he nuts?” 

Block smiled big and beautiful. “Seems so, but no need to yell at me, baby. I assure you, I’ve reacted the same damn way.”

“Holy cow,” I muttered.

“So, that’s part of why it’s a lot of house for me. Mom lived here, and she wanted to have enough room so Peyton could bring his wife and kids to visit… and even stay if they wanted.”

I shook my head. “He didn’t want to do that?”

His lips bulged as his tongue moved around his teeth. “Not sure if it was all him or how much his wife played into it. She’s very religious. Didn’t approve of my lifestyle. In fact, she—”

I held up a hand. “Don’t you dare tell me she blamed you or your way of life or even your love of metal bands or some shit for the accident that got your mother injured. Don’t you do it.”

His lips quirked. “I won’t. But you hit it dead on - musical tastes and all.”

“Get the fuck out!”

“It’s cool, Heidi.”

“If it’s cool, then that’s a shack.” I tilted my head at the house. “Wait. Let me guess, they visited like once didn’t they? Got a glimpse of that stellar decor and got jealous too, am I right?”

His head wobbled. “Sort of, but Mom was an interior designer. She worked some after the accident, but not like she did prior.”

I shook my head and stalked away, following the path around the pool. 

He followed me for a few steps before he grabbed my hand and yanked me to him. “Are you pissed? For real?”

My eyes widened. “Well, yeah. I mean, who the hell can’t help to take care of their queen-ager mom when she needs it?”

He choked on laughter. “What’d you call her?”

“Women after a certain age should be called queen-agers. It hasn’t caught on quite yet, but I’m doing my part, man.”

He laughed. “Yeah. To be fair, Heidi, it’s better that they didn’t help.”

I tried to wrest my hand away, but he held firm. “Since I wasn’t here, I’ll take your word for it, but logically, you can’t know that for sure.”

“Peyton’s wife, Mariah, believes Anne Murray sings the devil’s music. She is that kind of fundamentalist. Can you imagine the tight grip she’d have on shit in the house? No. It worked out that they weren’t here all the time. And, my hunch is that it’s Mariah behind the push for the money.”

“If it’s money behind this, I’m surprised they haven’t asked you to take out a home equity loan and give them that instead of selling.”

He stared at me for a long moment.

“You’re joking. They did that, too?”

“Yep.”

My eyes widened and he grinned, which stoked my anger. “What are you grinning about?”

“Mom would have fuckin’ loved you.”

“Oh, please. You gotta be a special kind of insensitive to not get riled about that sort of bullshit. And make no mistake, that is grade-A bullshit.”

He chuckled. “How can talking about this make my dick hard?”

“You are not for real! Show me your mother’s sunroom.”

His hand holding mine moved it so I had my hand on the small of his back. He wrapped his other arm around my waist. “Can’t do that. It’s my sunroom now, baby. Thought you wanted the full tour before seeing my king bed?”

“Yes, a full tour would be best. Lead the way.”

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Eyes so blue I swear it’s like looking at the turquoise waters of the Greek Isles.

Those are the first memories I have of Kyra.

For years I stood on the sidelines, watching and waiting for my perfect chance.

Wanting her so badly, consumes my every thought.

There are so many things I thought I knew. But the truth is… I don’t know the real Kyra.

But what I do know is that I will stop at nothing to know her. I am mesmerized by her beauty, captured by her smile, and warmed by the love she has for her Gran.

Her laughter is addictive and her touch, soothes every single doubt I’ve ever had. Kyra is the one I want, the one I’ve always wanted.

She tempted me with just one glimpse of her mesmerizing eyes and now, I crave more.

I have every intention of showing her how amazing we can be together.

Because she became mine a long time ago, I felt it the first time I saw her captivating eyes.

It’s time I go after the one I’ve wanted. The one that I’ve dreamed of…

The one temptation I’ve never been able to shake.

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Title: Payoff Pitch

Series: Venom Baseball Series Book 1

Author: Kaylee Rose

Release: March 25, 2023

Genre: Contemporary Sports Romance/Second Chance Romance

Publisher: Red’s Bookshelf Publishing

Cover Design: Moonstruck Cover Design & Photography

Photographer: RPLUSM PHOTOGRAPHY

Cover Model: Marcel Pospiech

How quickly we’ve fallen back into old ways surprises me. Maybe I’ll be able to pull off being just friends after all.

“Now, go take a shower while I make lunch.” I clap my hands and rub them together like a mad scientist. “Where do I begin?” Kathy did a fantastic job stocking this refrigerator with all sorts of gourmet foods. I run through a recipe in my head that I think Micha will like and will work with the ingredients on hand.

“Caroline.” Micha’s deep voice close to my ear makes me jump.

“Damn it.” Lost in my thoughts, I hadn’t heard him approach. I clutch my chest. “You scared the crap out of me.”

“Sorry.” His brow furrows like he’s struggling with something.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong…” He pauses like he’s carefully considering his words, then leans closer and whispers, “…I’m glad you’re here.”

And just like that, the friendly back and forth we had a few seconds ago is obliterated. I’m pulled back to when kissing and exploring each other’s bodies were a regular part of our lives.

The air is thick with sexual tension and no matter how hard I try, I can’t find the energy to look away.

His gaze lands on my lips.

I resist the urge to lick them and draw in a staggered breath. My hands find their way to rest on his hips while my legs turn to jelly.

His blue eyes look deep into mine.

Is he going to kiss me? Do I want him to kiss me? Should I kiss him?

Kaylee Rose is a mother, sports fan, and contemporary romance author looking to stretch her creative muscles and explore other genres.

Inspired by her husband's law enforcement career and her passion for the written word, Kaylee began to pen her novels as an escape from the rigors of everyday life. She admits that teaching herself the craft of writing has been a challenging but wonderful journey and is just the creative outlet she needs. Writing time is her time, and she protects the hard-won moments fiercely.

Kaylee’s award-winning series, The Weight of the Badge, was written after she attended required law enforcement classes with her husband. The seminars focused on the stress a first responder faces daily, how it affects their lives both on and off the job and the continually growing number of law enforcement suicides. With her books and experience married to a law enforcement officer, Kaylee found herself armed with the perfect platform to use her voice and subtly spread the statistics others may not know. Kaylee Rose is passionate about sharing sexy stories with an important message mixed in.

As a mom of four boys and a competitive streak of her own, Kaylee spent over twenty years coaching youth sports.

Kaylee’s husband is her biggest supporter, believing in her even when she can not, and writing love stories comes naturally to her after falling in love with him at first sight.

Kaylee has teamed up with best-selling author Zane Michaelson for her first extra-steamy co-write, Hot in the City.

Keep your eyes out for future collaborations from this writing duo.

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“Indeed.” A twinge of unease snaked down Lydia’s spine. “I’m n-not sure why P-papa insists w-we a-attend.”

His Grace rarely allowed his only daughter to attend mixed gatherings. This invitation seemed cajoled from Lady Davenport in a last-ditch attempt to attract a suitable match for Lydia as the duke’s “unfashionable daughter.” What other reason could there be? “We’ll be arriving shortly.” Martha peered out the window.

Lydia leaned forward for her first glimpse of Davenport Manor. The house wasn’t as large as Clifton Hall. No estate in Lancashire came close to eclipsing the duchy, but the manor house’s gabled sandstone splendour certainly impressed. The lands were well-appointed with handsome woods running to forest. Lydia looked forward to exploring the Ribble valley on horseback, if she were allowed to ride unaccompanied.

“You’d b-best take this.” Lydia handed the jewel case to Martha before adjusting her own pins. Martha stowed the box and took over Lydia’s toilette. Moments later, their carriage drew up before the alabaster portico. Young Yates helped Lydia down, and she found herself curtsying awkwardly before Lord and Lady Davenport.

“Lady Lydia, we’d quite despaired of you. However, here you are, my dear, and I’ve never been more delighted. You’re just in time for tea.” Lady Davenport drew Lydia’s arm into her own and escorted her into the house.

Valkin

“You’ll stay to tea, at least?” Lady Davenport reached for Valkin’s arm, but he shook his head. Given the subject of their conversation, she addressed him as near the open conservatory door as possible.

“I’ll not place you at risk, Eliza.” His low voice was as much for his protection as hers. “Your husband returns with his friends.” He bowed at the Englishmen who’d grown tired of their guns and wandered in to replenish their appetites. Valkin raised his brows at the host’s weaving manner.

“Brishen,” Lord Davenport shouted. “My groom’s taken a turn on that animal of yours. First rate, man. First rate.” He warmed his hands before the grate. “Less of a gamble than I’d have thought, having seen him run.”

Valkin cleared his throat, managing a smile. Now was not the time to point out the starter under discussion was a mare. Not when his lordship was on the point of agreement. He risked a glance at Liza. Warm, buxom, and generously proportioned, she was an engaging woman and an accomplished lover. Valkin turned his attention to concluding his business with her husband. No wonder his lordship’s wife took her pleasures with stable boys and Romany horse traders. You’re a king, he reminded himself as a bevy of inebriated Englishmen milled round Lord Davenport.

“I am glad you approve of the horse, my lord. As to the investment required, it is—” Davenport waved him away. “Yes, yes. Have your agreements to my man by morning, and you’ll have the guineas before you leave.” He jerked his head towards the music room and held out his arm to his wife.

Liza took her place beside her husband, but not before inclining her head at his fellows. “You will join us, gentlemen?”

The Englishmen trooped past her ladyship to the music room. Liza spoke over her shoulder to Valkin. “You’ve not seen my daughter perform, Lord Brishen.”

Colton

I don’t do emotional attachments.

Those who love me get hurt.

I keep people at arm’s length and never let women in my bed long enough for the sheets to get warm.

But when the granddaughter of my family’s mortal enemy comes to me for help, something in me shifts.

Lily Summers is a sassy, snarky, filter-free blonde with a brain—and mouth—that never quits.

Besides the sexual tension between us that keeps me awake at night, we only have one thing in common: neither of us wants the big city developer coming into Winter Harbor and destroying the integrity of the town with high rises and casinos.

We’re an unlikely team, but Lily has passion and Winter Harbor likes her, so I bite my tongue at her non-stop chatter and do what’s right for the town.

I never planned on falling for someone—let alone the enemy—but when we give into our attraction, I’m suddenly doing things I never thought I would … and it’s all for her.

Together, it seems like we can take on the world—or at the very least, Dunlop Holdings. But when a shocking development rocks Winter Harbor, its accompanied by an unsavory truth about Lily.

Now the question is: who is going to get hurt the worst?

Whether it’s me, Lily, or Winter Harbor itself, only one can survive the fallout.

*** This is the third book of the Winter Harbor series which features a quirky small town, secrets galore, and three estranged brothers who find the key to healing comes from the women who steal their hearts.

Rain met my back, cool against the warm, humid tang of the air. I made quick work of inspecting each tire, but I found the problem before I’d finished making the rounds. The rear passenger tire was deflating. I swore under my breath and kicked at the flat tire.

Lily’s door opened, and she hopped out, glaring at me like I’d called her the worst type of flower name. Then her gaze dropped to the tire.

“So this is my fault, huh?” She propped her hands on her hips, staring at me expectantly.

“Get inside,” I told her, wiping rain from my forehead. “I’ll handle this.”

“Well, if it’s my fault, I should help, right?”

I sighed, heading for the bed of the truck. I knew there had to be a spare tire somewhere. Carson wouldn’t have a truck without a spare, right?

“I’m talking to you,” Lily said, following close behind.

“Yeah, I hear you.”

“Well, if I apparently can cause tires to deflate simply from my mere existence, then surely I can help fix them by standing near you?”

I heaved a sigh as I lowered the tailgate. I’d had the forethought to cover Lily’s things with a tarp before we left, but I hadn’t exactly canvassed the truck to see where a spare tire might be lurking. I pushed some things around, looking for a secret wheel well. “Well, I think we can safely say that you standing next to me isn’t helping. So thanks, but no thanks.”

She let out a frustrated noise, glancing up to the heavens. “Colton Winters, you are such a jerk. Do you know that?”

I did know that. But it was part of my strategy. I needed her to hate me, because if she didn’t, then I’d most certainly begin pursuing her.

And I couldn’t have that. Not when so much of my life was built around transience. Around have a good fucking time. Around one-and-done.

Lily was annoying. Not only that, she was smart, interesting, and getting more beautiful to me by the day. She was dangerous, at least to life as I’d known it thus far. I’d had enough disruptions in the past year, between discovering my dad died and then reconnecting with my brothers in Winter Harbor. Not to mention leaving my former life behind, which I’d quite enjoyed as an international vagabond.

I didn’t need to add someone like Lily to my long list of unexpected—and mostly unwelcome—life changes.

I must have remained silent for too long because she continued. “Whatever. You know what? It doesn’t matter. I thought you were maybe a regular guy underneath all the barbs and the shitty aloofness, but I was wrong.”

“It’s ’cause you love regular guys so much, huh?” My words tumbled out before I could even decide otherwise. I knew I shouldn’t go there, but it was too late. The dam had broken.

“Huh?”

“Regular guys. Like Dennis. With the polos and the khakis.” I smirked as I glanced at her, palming the tailgate. We were both mostly soaked with rain by now, but I didn’t mind. It was humid, and I loved the way the rain made her shirt stick to her chest. I’d been staring at that bare shoulder all day, wondering what it tasted like, and now that it was wet and shiny, all I wanted to do was lick it. “And probably the completely lackluster performance in bed, too.”

She huffed, crossing her arms. “No, that’s— No. I don’t look for that. I just—”

“What is it, Lilium?” I squatted to peer beneath the truck and spotted the bulging spare wheel well. I made quick work of opening it. Mud smeared my forearms as I tugged the tire out and hauled it to the passenger side. I snatched the tools next, wiping my rain-soaked face with the collar of my T-shirt. I took Lily silence as my permission to continue needling her.

“You want me to be a regular guy, don’t you?” I kneeled in front of the tire, glancing up at her before I got to work jacking up the truck. “Too bad for you, I’m not.” Her rain-soaked shirt was plastered to the contours of her body. I jerked my gaze away. After our surprisingly hot kisses, followed by our first genuine connection, I was ten seconds from losing every ounce of cool around her. Seeing her more of her body did not help matters. “Just let the fucking jerk fix the tire and get inside the truck, okay?”

“No.” She crossed her arms again. I had to admit, her defiance was hot. But she didn’t know that she was playing with fire.

“Lily,” I said, more forcefully this time, as I finished jacking up the truck with a frustrated burst of air. “I need you out of my sight, okay? Let me fucking fix this tire.”

“Why can’t I be here? I should supervise. Make sure you’re not being a regular guy about it.”

I ground my teeth, weighing my options. I did want her out of my sight. But more than that, I wanted to see how far I could push the envelope. I knew there could be no way she’d be into me—I’d made sure of it over the past months of knowing her. But what was the harm of finding out for sure?

“If I have to stare at your perfect tits heaving out of your top for even one more second, I’m gonna explode. And I mean that in exactly the way you think I do. So just get. In. The. Fucking. Truck.”

Realization washed across her face. Her cheeks went pink again, and I was hard as a rock watching her. Fuck. I focused on ignoring Lily as I started loosening the first lug nut.

After what I’d said, I didn’t know what I expected from her. But I certainly didn’t expect her to step over my arms—as I finally removed the lug nut—and tower over me with a satisfied smile on her face.

“Lily—”

“If I have to watch you working on this truck with your muscles flexing in this rain for even one more second, then I’m going to explode. So what are we going to do about it?”

I gaped up at her, caught between awestruck and horny. I knew what we were going to do about it. Or at least what I’d love to do about it.

“Well, I’m pretty sure I suggested the solution,” I snapped, dropping the wrench as I inspected her bare calves from this close. Goose pimples covered her skin, flaring where my breath hit her legs. “Which was to separate us entirely. But it looks like you don’t want a regular guy after all.”

She shook her head, staring down at me with raw passion and vulnerability slashed across her face. I caught her drift. I was good at catching the drift when it came to situations like these. I touched the outsides of her ankles, dragging my fingertips slowly up the sides of her legs.

“What happens on the road from Portland,” she said, her voice growing shakier the higher my hands ran. “Stays on the road from Portland.”

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