Meet Luke Crawley in Blake Austin's debut novel of loss, redemption, and ever-enduring love!
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Luke Cawley is a broken man. After his wife's tragic death, he lost everything that mattered in the world. Now, his life is filled with hard days, harder nights, and a steady stream of alcohol and the wrong kind of women. Nothing helps.
Until the letters arrive on Luke's doorstep. Nine envelopes. Nine messages. Nine chances to find his way back. Rae Goode is looking for the real thing. After fighting her way out of a string of bad relationships, she's ready for something different--something true.She meets Luke while piecing her life together, and right away she can tell that he's different. Drawn together by fate and the desire to heal, Rae and Luke discover new ways to mend their broken hearts--one letter at a time. Discover Blake Austin's debut novel of loss, redemption, and ever-enduring love.
I was about twenty minutes early for my shift, but I got up to the bar, grabbed a rag, started wiping it down, bussing some dishes.
"Damn, Luke," Jake said, watching me work. "You win the lotto or something? Royals win the pennant last night and I forgot to watch?" "I'm just in a good mood, that's all," I said. I thought about it a moment longer, decided I should tell him more. Impart some wisdom learned from my not-particularly-advanced years. "When everything's dark for so damn long and your eyes get used to it," I said, "just a little glimmer of sunshine lights up the whole world." He nodded, then grabbed a bus bin and headed back into the kitchen. Warren though, Warren wasn't impressed. He was sitting by one of the daytime barflies, but he'd stopped talking and was just watching me. I was on thin ice, and I knew it. I couldn’t afford to lose my job. A heartbroken, drunk, angry widower is probably as unemployable as the average ex-con. I came on at the end of the day shift. Warren liked tending bar during the day, because it meant just shooting the shit with the regulars. That day I had a smile for every customer, sparse words of wisdom like day drunks want to hear. Tending bar wasn't my dream. But to hell with letting that make me lazy. I kept the place clean, I poured drinks like I cared. I was getting into the swing of it when happy hour kicked in and a few more people filtered through the door. Couple of middle-aged bikers, a retired couple that parked their RV out front. The door swung open again, letting in a little bit of that early-evening cold, and I glanced up to see a crowd of three women, with two men. One of the women was a reddish blonde, radiant. Sort of stole the light out of the room. It was Rae. Our eyes met and her smile gave the room back its light. She'd been in jeans at the shelter, but she was in a blue dress now and she looked damn fine in either. Took my mind right off Maggie, faster than I thought it would be possible. I met her eyes, and she gave out a little gasp and giggle. I was probably smiling in surprise myself. The crowd came over to the bar. I'd thought the other four were two couples, but I realized pretty quick that the black girl with the afro was dating the quiet white guy in a beard and glasses and tattoos, and that the other guy was trying to impress Rae. He had a John Deere hat, but his clothes were way too clean for me to buy it that he worked on a farm. I hated him, right off. I probably would have hated him if he was the best guy in the world, though. The other girl, she was tall, latina, and for some indiscernible reason was interested in the poser farmer. Most of the time, I'm awful at reading people. But for some reason, at work I can tell you everything about everyone who walks in the door. About who's into who, about who had a bad day at work. Who wants to get drunk and miserable, who wants to get drunk and happy, who wants to get drunk and start trouble. Maybe it's some magic of the job, maybe it's just how people carry themselves at a bar. Helps with tips, that's for certain. You wingman right, and the money flows in. Warren, he likes to upsell them drinks when he's doing that. Get them excited about the top shelf. Not me. "Hey, Rae," I said. "Luke," she said. John Deere looked at me like I was the scum of the earth. And maybe I was, but if I was the scum then he was... I don't know, something worse than scum. Wannabe scum. She introduced me to her friends. Nicole had the afro, her boyfriend was Eric. The girl with bad taste was Irina, and John Deere had some name but honestly it went in one ear and out the other. He was John Deere to me. Yeah, maybe I'm an asshole. "So, how do you know this guy?" Deere asked, tossing me a look that said I clearly wasn’t good enough to be friend with someone like Rae. "Oh, he came in just the other day. Adopted the sweetest dog, a bloodhound." She turned to me, flashing that dimple high on her cheek. "How is he? You guys call a truce yet?" "King's great," I said. "I mean, he's probably at home right now, eating everything I've ever owned, but I figure I was due for a purge anyway, right?" It was a lame attempt at humor, but Rae laughed. "What can I get you all? Friend of Rae's is a friend of mine."
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Title: Blocked
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A STAND-ALONE NOVEL in the “One to Hold”
universe. Prepare for strong language, panty-melting sexy times, and heart-squeezing angst. Readers 18 and older only, please. Life is never simple. Even perfect couples face storms. The question is whether our love is strong enough to survive. I believe it is. She told me to leave. If I leave, I take her with me. ~Stuart Knight On Pinterest: http://bit.ly/1IwacnW On Spotify: http://spoti.fi/1QPSbZR |
By Tia Louise
© TLM Productions LLC, 2016
~ Mariska ~
“Can we go somewhere else?” Our faces are so close, and Stuart's smoky hazel eyes brim with… something. “Away from the noise?”
I’m afraid to be alone with him. I don’t know if I’m strong enough yet. I’m pretty sure I’ll never be strong enough to tell him to go to hell. I don’t even know if that’s what I want to say. Still, with all we’ve been through and all I’ve learned, I can’t be the person I was before.
“I don’t know,” I answer truthfully. “I’m not sure if I’m ready.”
He glances down, and my eyes run all over his face. His hair is longer than he usually wears it. It ends in shaggy curls around his ears. His face is lined and tired, and his body is lean again, like it was when we were first together when he was fighting the drugs.
“You’ve been working.”
"Trying to kill the pain.” His voice is rough, and it moves something inside me.“
The stairs in the back lead down to the beach.” I point in the direction of the DJ booth. “We can walk along the shore if you want.”
He nods and follows me as I lead us through the crowd to the back entrance. A wide patio is attached to the back of the club, and couples are scattered around in different levels of engagement. I don’t linger, walking through them and going down the wide staircase to the beach below. Stuart is right behind me, and the closeness of this man sends waves of desire crashing through my insides. I have to fight it.
“It’s warm tonight,” I say, pausing to slip off my booties.
“Can I help you with those?”
Shaking my head, I walk straight to the water. It’s breaking in small waves tonight, sending little ripples of briny sand between my toes.“
So you’re here with Pete?” I can’t tell if that’s jealousy in his voice, but I decide not to notice.
“He’s easy.” My voice is quiet. “Safe.”
“Since when do you like safe and easy?” The taunting in his voice makes me want to cry. I can’t do this with him. Not after everything.
“What do you want, Stuart?”
“The same thing I’ve always wanted. You.” Another wave of emotion crashes in my chest. “No.” Shaking my head, I turn to the side. “I can’t hear that from you. You left me when I needed you. I reached for you, and you weren’t there.”
Stepping forward, he catches my hand, pulling me to his chest. “You were so hurt. I felt like seeing me hurt you more.”
I push him away. “You blamed me. You went away because you were angry with me for what happened. Be honest. You went away to hurt me.”
His chin drops, and I watch the line of his jaw move. “I was angry.”
“I knew it!” I shout, turning to walk away, but he grabs my arm, stopping me.
“But not at you.” The pain in his eyes expands, and I see my torment reflected there. “I was angry with myself. I didn’t protect you when you needed me, and I couldn’t forgive myself for letting you be hurt. I love you, Mariska. You’re my gypsy. You’re my wife.”
I shake my head, pulling away. “I’m not your wife. I’m not your anything. I never was.”
He looks down, and I watch as he runs a hand over his stomach. “To me you’re everything.”
“No.” Shaking my head, I cover my ears with my hands. “I only wanted a family. I wanted one so badly, I was ready to believe anything to make it real. I was young and stupid.”
“No you weren’t. You’re mine.” His strong arms surround me, pulling me to his body. “We can’t go from what we had to this. It’s not possible. You came in and changed my life. You changed everything. Every day you’re in my mind. I can’t shake you no matter how hard I work, no matter how hard I punish myself.”
“Stop…” My insides ache. Every word he says is a firebrand to my chest. “You don’t know what I know. When those things happened, you thought I had a gift. You thought I had special knowledge, but I don’t..."
About the Author
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ONE TO LEAVE is the first Stuart & Mariska love story. Get it on SALE for just 99 Cents this week only!
#DirtyCowboy Buy Links: Amazon: http://smarturl.it/OTLvAA iTunes: http://smarturl.it/OTLviB Kobo: http://smarturl.it/OTLvK Nook: http://smarturl.it/OTLvBN Google Play: http://smarturl.it/OTLvGP ARe: http://smarturl.it/OTLvAR Paperbacks on Amazon: http://smarturl.it/OTLvAP CreateSpace: http://smarturl.it/OTLvCS |
From “Readers’ Choice” nominations, to USA Today “Happily Ever After” nods, to winning the 2015 “Favorite Erotica Author” and the 2014 “Lady Boner Award” (LOL!), nothing makes her happier than communicating with fans and weaving new tales into the Alexander-Knight world of stories.
A former journalist, Louise lives in the center of the USA with her lovely family and one grumpy cat. There, she dreams up stories she hopes are engaging, hot, and sexy, and that cause readers rethink common public locations...
Books by Tia Louise:
One to Hold (Derek & Melissa), 2013
One to Keep (Patrick & Elaine), 2014
One to Protect (Derek & Melissa), 2014
One to Love (Kenny & Slayde), 2014
One to Leave (Stuart & Mariska), 2014
One to Save (Derek & Melissa), 2015
One to Chase (Amy & Marcus), 2015
One to Take (Stuart & Mariska), coming Feb. 22, 2016!
Paranormal Romances (all stand-alones):
One Immortal (Derek & Melissa, #SexyVampires), 2015
One Insatiable (Koa & Mercy, #SexyShifters), 2015
SIGNED COPIES: http://smarturl.it/SignedPBs
Connect with Tia:
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SOULLESS IS LIVE!!!
I was mad at the world, at the whiskey for not being strong enough, at the drugs for not lasting long enough, at the fucking whores I banged for not getting me off when it was my fault my dick was fucking useless after a bucket of fucking blow. I went so far as to be pissed at random people on the street for laughing or smiling when I felt like I’d never be able to smile or laugh again.
How dare they?
How fucking dare they be move on with their lives like my friend hadn’t just died.
I was on the verge of losing what little sanity I had left when I rode out of Logan's Beach and set off to find a place, or places, where I could numb myself against the feelings that followed me from town to town, cheap motel to cheap motel, girl to girl, high to fucking high.
Then, this pink haired girl from the past came barreling into my life and it was like for the first time, I’d found a purpose. A real genuine purpose and not just some shit Chop spewed out as orders that I and every other member of the Beach Bastards took as bible, but a true reason to live again.
To WANT to live again.
Someone to live for.
Ti was my chance at some sort of real happiness when Lord fucking knows I had no idea what that really was before her. The only glimpses of real genuine happiness I'd ever had came courtesy of Preppy, King, and of course Grace. Like when King tattooed us for the first time and we loved them, even though they were crooked and downright fucking awful. Like when Grace made me my very first birthday cake. Like the time King Prep and I sat at the top of the water tower and thought the world was ours to take.
Because at that time, it was.
Then there was Ti and my new happiness became the first time I saw her smile. The first time I kissed her. The first time I tasted her pussy by the fire. The first time she let me inside of her, shamelessly pushing through her virginity in a frantic need to make her mine.
Because that's what she was.
That's what she would always be.
And I will kill every motherfucker who dares to try and take her from me.
Mine.
About the Author
T.M. Frazier is a USA TODAY bestselling author. She resides in sunny Southwest Florida with her husband and young daughter. When she's not writing she loves talking to her readers, country music, reading, and traveling. Her debut novel, The Dark Light of Day was published in September of 2013 and when she started writing it she intended for it to be a light beachy romance. Well...it has a beach in it!
Website, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, Goodreads. |
Will Gartner made a lot of mistakes in the past, but he finally has his life together. Leaving his reckless teenage years behind, he’s recently graduated from college and is all set to move from Las Vegas to New York to start a prestigious new job. But when an unexpected guest shows up at his farewell party, all Will’s dreams are smashed to pieces. Suddenly, he’s taking a crash course in how to be a father to the five-year-old daughter he never knew existed.
Will changes direction and heads to Harmony Creek, Ohio, and the only person who’s ever really been there for him, his brother Chase. Chase saved Will in the past, but will he rescue him yet again? Some lessons—like fatherhood—can only be learned by doing. Is Will up to the challenge?
And where does Emma Metzger fit into Will’s suddenly upside-down world? Emma knows all about his troubled past and sees his hesitation to commit to his new daughter. How can she commit her heart to a man who doesn’t know what the word means?
Chase always told Will “Follow your heart. Always try to be a good man.” But will following his heart be enough for his daughter, and for Emma?
The After of Us is a spin-off of the Judge Me Not series and a standalone novel.
New Adult Romance/Coming of Age Romance
“One, if you had a piece of meat – however whorish he may be – in your bed, I’d hope you wouldn’t answer your phone. And two because as hot and juicy as that piece of meat may be, you know the moment you sink your teeth into it, you’re gonna be fucked, one way or another.”“Wouldn’t mind being fucked,” I mutter. My mind instantly giving me an action packed – and unfortunately short – mental replay of my momentous fuckup last night with Matt. His hands burning through my dress, the taste of him on my tongue, the feel of his hard cock pressing into me…“Just go part the pink sea and have a one-finger hate-hug with your vagina,” she says, matter-of-factly.I make an exaggerated gagging noise. “Do not say the word vagina.”“Why can’t I say vagina, vag, vaaaagiiiiiiinnnnnaaaaa,” she starts to sing.I can’t stop the giggle and don’t even try because Natalie singing about the business end of lady town is just hysterical. When I can finally compose myself, I explain. “That word is so … so … it’s just eww. Pussy, beaver, minge, foo-foo, punani, snatch; all of that is fine. But vagina, nuh-uh.”Now Nat laughs at me which in turn just makes me smile. I scooch down the bed and snuggle deeper into the mattress to get comfortable.“And I don’t hate my hoohaa so why would I be giving it an abusive finger-bang?”“You’re right. You might damage yourself and then you’d never get anywhere near the infamous Mini WD” Matt was named ‘Mini Walking Dildo’ by my friend Mac since he is Noah’s little brother and Noah is the original ‘Walking Dildo’ – well before he met my sister that is.“True story,” I reply.“Exactly. You don’t need your downtown to be out of order. You never know when the next big train might come rolling in.”
“My best pick up line?”“Yep. Hit me with it,” I goad.“You sure you can handle it, Matty boy?"I chuckle at the challenge. “Bring it on, Legs.”“Still don’t get the legs thing,” she mutters.“It’s because every time I see them I imagine them wrapped around my head."She chokes down the phone and then the line goes eerily quiet.“Mia?”“I’m here. Just hitting pause on that mental image and saving it for later.” Now it’s my turn to swallow my tongue.“Jesus, woman. Warn a guy before you throw out the Viagra lines.”“What?” she says, choking down laughter.“Words like that take a man from floppy to stabby in zero point five seconds.”“What can I say, it’s a gift.”
Coming soon from New York Times Bestselling Author Harper Sloan is the third book in the Hope Town Series
WHEN I'M WITH YOU.
Nate: It’s nearly impossible to be surrounded by love but not understand it. My parents, my sister, and just about everyone around us has no trouble accepting that love. To give your trust to someone else and believe they would die before hurting you. I’ve witnessed it—I’ve seen the power of it—but I’ve also seen the pain. Because for me, I’ve only loved someone I could never have, and my biggest fear is that by giving her my love, all I would do is ruin her. I should have tried harder, but I’m not sure I can because I only feel complete when I’m with her. Emberlyn: The only time I feel like I belong is when he’s near. His infectious smile warms me straight to my bones. Any insecurities I have vanish with just a wink from him. A sliver of his attention makes me feel invincible. But all it took was one drunken night of truths for me to lose everything I had begun to crave. Now, I’m not sure how to move on because I only feel complete when I’m with him. He said I was too young. I said he was perfect. He said our families wouldn’t understand. I said we could weather any storm. He said he would ruin me. And he was right. ADD TO GOODREADS Harper is a NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL and USA TODAY bestselling author residing in Georgia with her husband and three daughters. She has a borderline unhealthy obsession with books, hibachi, tattoos and Game of Thrones. When she isn't writing you can almost always find her with a book in hand. Facebook | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon Author PageAmazon US Amazon UK iBooks
TWISTED BOND
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TANGLED BOND
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TETHERED BOND:
By day, New York Times and USA Today bestselling New Adult author Emma Hart dons a cape and calls herself Super Mum to two beautiful little monsters. By night, she drops the cape, pours a glass of whatever she fancies - usually wine - and writes books.
Emma is working on Top Secret projects she will share with her followers and fans at every available opportunity. Naturally, all Top Secret projects involve a dashingly hot guy who likes to forget to wear a shirt, a sprinkling (or several) of hold-onto-your-panties hot scenes, and a whole lotta love.
She likes to be busy - unless busy involves doing the dishes, but that seems to be when all the ideas come to life.
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