Title: Downbeat
Series: Lightning Strikes #4
Author: Jodie Larson
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Cover Design: Indie Solutions by Murphy Rae
Release Date: July 26, 2018
Blurb
Downbeat |n|: The first beat in a measure, often the strongest. Fame, fortune, traveling to different cities across the countryâ¦Iâm living the dream. As the drummer for the Lightning Strikes, itâs my job to hook you in and keep you coming back for more. Itâs my craft, my calling, what Iâm a master at.
Even with all that, Iâm still just a normal guy who wants to eat at food trucks and lounge on the couch, playing video games until I canât see straight. Everything was perfect. At least I thought it was, until a blonde bombshell walked into my life and made me question everything I thought I knew. I want her. I need her. Only, sheâs afraid of the spotlight, afraid of what itâll do to her and the ones she loves. The wall around her heart is keeping me out, but I know before long I will break down her barriers. She needs to know that there is more to us than what she sees, that this chemistry between us is our downbeat to forever. All the guys in the band have their happily ever after. Maybe itâs time for mine.
Excerpt
âDo you listen to music?â he asks out of the blue.
I blink a few times to process his strange question. âUh, yeah? Who doesnât?â
Paxton chuckles. âYouâd be surprised. What do you listen to?â
âCountry,â I say, without hesitation.
He scrunches his nose up, like heâd smelled something funny. âI said music.â
âThat is music.â I laugh. âWhat do you listen to. Wait, let me guess.â I tap my lips. âNot ska since youâre obviously not a native Californian.â
âThe accent give me away?â Again with the head tilt and smirk.
âPretty much.â Iâll keep the fact that I love it to myself. âYou donât strike me as the rap-type either.â
âAre you trying to analyze me?â
Another wave of heat coats my cheeks. âNo, just using deductive reasoning.â
âUh huh. How about I save you the trouble. Iâm a rock guy. Alternative, to be exact. Lots of old school mixed with new.â
I stare at him blankly. âHuh?â
âAlice in Chains?â
Nothing.
âStone Temple Pilots?â
âThe who?â
He rolls his eyes. âYou have to know the Cranberries.â
I shrug. âSounds familiar. Iâd have to hear something by them.â
Paxton digs his phone out of his pocket. Tapping a few buttons, he places it on the table between us. Low piano notes fill the space; a sad beat following. Then, a gravely male voice spills out. You can feel the power of the lyrics as he sings with passion and conviction.
âThis isnât the Cranberries. Itâs Bad Wolves doing a cover of âZombieâ, one of their songs, but itâs incredible,â he says, tapping the beat onto his thigh. âHe had asked for the lead singer to perform on the cover, but she died before that could happen.â
I frown. âThatâs so sad.â
He nods. âIt is. But I canât think of a better compliment to give a band than performing one of their songs.â
Make sense. Isnât the old saying âimitation is the highest form of flatteryâ? Paxton even sings a few of the words; barely audible but loud enough that I can hear his voice. And man, he can sing.
As the song ends, and the words really sink in, I find myself in new territory. Iâve always enjoyed music, but not like this. Paxton, on the other hand, has a real passion. Itâs obvious in his movements, the way he closes his eyes during the powerful parts of the song. I listen to fill the void. He listens to fill his soul.
Before I can dive into anything else, duty calls. The annoying bell chimes, bringing me back to reality.
I stand and flash Paxton a real smile. âThanks for the talk. It was nice to formally meet you again.â
âHey,â he says, jumping to his feet. âAny chance you donât have a rule about going out with customers?â
Chewing on my bottom lip, I debate my answer. Technically, I donât have any rules about dating except one. I justâ¦donât.
âNot a good idea,â I say.
As I walk toward the counter, he calls out behind me, âYou know Iâm persistent, right?â
With a laugh, I ignore him as best I can and help the gentleman at the counter. Dressed in a business suit with perfectly coiffed hair, Iâm guessing executive. A far cry from the man still staring at me surreptitiously over his book.
And yet, the suit doesnât do anything for me. If anything, it reminds me of Craig and his MBA friends. Perfectly polished and needing to impress everyone.
Paxtonâs hazel eyes donât seem like such an issue now. It was stupid to begin with, considering heâs the exact opposite of Craig.
âWhat? Iâm sorry, I didnât catch that,â I say, trying to focus on what Iâm supposed to be doing.
Mr. Suit gives a cocky grin, as if I was already a sure thing.
âWell, I was hoping to get a caramel macchiato, but I guess I could get your number instead.â
Ugh. Creep. âUnfortunately, my number isnât on the menu, but I can grab the macchiato for you. Small, medium, or large?â
He straightens his tie and runs a hand down it, drawing attention to his well-cut torso. âAre you sure itâs not on the menu?â
âYep,â I say, letting the irritation come through my voice. âPositive.â
I turn and make his drink without another word. He needs to go. Iâm so caught into my head that I donât notice the turned-up corner of the mat. Time slows almost to a stop as I have an out-of-body experience. The cup tumbles through the air. The light brown liquid streams out as the black lid flies off. Then, in either a case of irony or karma, Mr. Suit gets covered in the sticky sweet liquid.
âGoddamn it!â he yells, frantically swiping his hands against his now soaked jacket. âI have a business meeting in a half hour.â
âIâm so sorry,â I say, desperate to hold back my laugh. Iâm not trying to be glib, but I have a horrible habit of laughing in uncomfortable situations. Funerals, when people fall or injure themselvesâ¦all of it sends me into a fit of giggles. And I really do feel horrible about ruining this poor manâs suit, but after his actions, I canât say Iâm too sorry about it.
âJust forget it.â He storms toward the door, whipping it open and practically slamming it behind him.
One look from Paxton is all it takes to break the dam to release the giggles.
âServed him right,â he says with a nod.
âYeah, but I do feel bad about it.â
He shuts his book again. âDonât. He was a douche canoe and didnât know how to take no for an answer.â
I quirk a brow. âLike you?â
âIâm different.â Without warning, he stands and closes the distance, leaving only the counter separating us. âYouâll see.â
Paxton gives me a wink and leaves me in a stupor as he heads out the door.
Somehow I get the feeling this wonât be the last time I see him. The thought thrills me more than it should.
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Author Bio
Jodie Larson is a wife and mother to four beautiful girls, making their home in northern Minnesota along the shore of Lake Superior. When she isnât running around to various activities or working her regular job, you can find her sitting in her favorite spot reading her new favorite book or camped out somewhere quiet trying to write her next manuscript. Sheâs addicted to reading (just ask her kids or husband) and loves talking books even more so with her friends. Sheâs also a lover of all things romance and happily ever afterâs, whether in movies or in books, as shown in her extensive collection of both.
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Sometimes, we lose ourselves in the devastation of love. But sometimes, we find ourselves there, too. ROME Avery Capulet. The forbidden fruit. The apple of her Daddy’s eye. The newly-minted Queen of California’s criminal underworld. And now, the missing girl nobody can find. I know where she is, though. Kneeling before me with her mouth on the end of my cock, tears spilling from her eyes as the last bit of her dignity bleeds from her. I don’t want the pound of flesh that the girl who betrayed me delivers, but I don’t have a choice. Avery Capulet. Moaning underneath me, as pain merges with pleasure, skin to skin as we do what we can to survive. In the dark, in the wild, we’re like animals. I try not to love her. I try so damn hard. But the war waged inside my heart was won a long time ago, by a girl who should have known better than to trust a man like me. AVERY Rome Montague. The boy from my past. The man in my nightmares. The dark, secret lover who makes me feel things I never knew I could feel. Love and pain can both drive you insane. I fight, and I fight, until all I can do is surrender. Be pulled under. Submit, until I barely recognise myself. Rome Montague. When he looks at me, I forget the lies that destroyed our past. When he makes me come apart underneath his touch, I forget where we are, and that a faceless enemy pulls our strings like marionettes. The outside world beckons bright, teasing us with mirages of safety and respite. But the light of day is a cruel lie. Because once we find a way out of the dark, we both realize that our nightmare has only just begun. More info visit Lili's site HERE
PRE-ORDER NOWAmazon | iBooksSan Francisco is going to burn if the coveted princess of California’s criminal underworld isn’t returned to her family in one piece … Avery Capulet is missing. Taken by a madman. Kept in the dark. She might not survive. He’ll use her body. Destroy her mind. All before he ever lays a hand on her. Rome Montague is a drug dealer. A criminal. A thief. And he needs the secrets Avery and her family are keeping – even if it means cutting them out of her pretty Capulet flesh. Rome Montague is missing – but nobody will miss him. Not that it matters; After the things he’s done to this girl, he doesn’t deserve to be found. * * * * * * * Prepare to step into the dark and bloody underworld of California, as Lili St. Germain brings you a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet, in the same vein as her bestselling Gypsy brothers series. The CALIFORNIA BLOOD series, set in the criminal underbelly of San Francisco, follows two warring families who are ruled by blood, power and twisted desire. AMAZON Lili writes books about vengeful girls and villainous men. Her USA Today bestselling Gypsy Brothers series focuses on a morally bankrupt biker gang and the girl who seeks her vengeance upon them. The Cartel series is a prequel trilogy of full-length novels that explores the beginnings of the club, to be released worldwide in print and ebook in 2015 by HarperCollins. Lili quit corporate life to focus on writing and so far is loving every minute of it. Her other loves in life include her gorgeous husband and beautiful daughter, good coffee, Tarantino movies and spending hours on Pinterest. She loves to read almost as much as she loves to write WEBSITE | FACEBOOK |INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | NEWSLETTER | AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE | GOODREADS
Title: The Cleanup
Series: Washington Rampage #2
Author: Megan Green
Genre: Sports Romance
Release Date: June 28, 2018
Blurb
Boy meets girl. Boy screws girl. Girl gets knocked up. That was my story with Brandon Jeffers, power hitter for the Washington Rampage and baseballâs biggest bad boy. He came into my life like a line drive to the face, and he left without looking back. Itâs okay though, because Iâm determined to raise this baby on my own. I mean, women for centuries have navigated parenthood aloneâ¦why should I be any different? But when the major league star shows up on my doorstep making promises I know he can't keep, my defenses go up and my expectations stay low. Brandon says he can clean up his act⦠Iâll believe it when I see it.
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Author Bio
Megan lives in Northern Utah with her handsome hubby, Adam. When not writing, chances are youâll find her curled up with her Kindle. Besides reading and writing, she loves movies, animals, chocolate, and coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. She loves hearing from readers, so drop her a line!
Title: The Protégé
Author: Brianna Hale
Genre: Taboo Romance
Release Date: July 27, 2018
Blurb
Heâs always protected me since I was eight years old, the neglected girl he took off the street and raised as his own. Laszlo can feel what music needs instinctively. He can tell what I need.
My world shattered the night of my eighteenth birthday and he still hasnât forgiven me for what I did. Iâm not asking him to love me, touch me, take me to bed. What I want goes deeper than that and I have to say this out loud because itâs one thing that music wonât be able to tell him.
I want what only Laszlo can give me. I want to be his protégé again. And this time, Iâm going to be so good for him.
Yes, maestro.
Yes, sir.
Yes, daddy.
There's nothing Brianna Hale likes more than a large, stern alpha male with a super-protective and caring streak, and when she's not writing about them she can usually be found with a book, a cocktail, planning her next trip to a beautiful location or attending the theatre. She believes that pink and empowerment arenât mutually exclusive, and everyday adventures are possible. Brianna lives in London.
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Title: Grey: The Infatuation
Series: Spectrum Series #2
Author: Allison White
Genre: NA Romance
Release Date: July 3, 2018
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
The day I left for college, falling in love was the last thing on my priority list. But I did. The only problem is I’m not sure whether falling for Grey was the best thing to ever happen to me…or the worst.
Grey is intense, dark—an enigma with the power to hurt me, yet the ability to seduce me with a simple kiss.
If only it were easy for me to fall into his arms and look past all the secrets and uncertainty that surround him.
But nothing about loving Grey is easy.
He is the owner of my heart, and the master of my pain. Yet no matter how much it hurts, I can’t stop loving him. I won’t.
I know my infatuation with him is toxic, but here’s the thing…I don’t care.
Allison is a sixteen-year-old from New York, with imagination as massive as her pile of mostly contemporary romance novels. At the ripe age of sixteen, Allison has already written a total of five full-length books, all of which have been loved by fans on the infamous reading/writing platform: Wattpad.
Within a short life of four years on the site, she has racked up a whopping 14 thousand readers and lovely supporters. When she isn’t reading or writing, you can find her knee-deep in chocolate and binge-watching TV shows.
Today we are taking part in the blog tour for DIRTY DEFIANCE by Chelle Bliss & Brenda Rothert. This book is a contemporary romance title that you won't want to miss! It is available now to read for FREE in KindleUnlimited.
Just when you thought politics couldn't get any dirtier...DIRTY DEFIANCE by Chelle Bliss & Brenda Rothert
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Book Blurb:
ReaganMy husband and I know how to fight. We perfected the art when running against each other for Congress. But that fighting revealed a passion for each other that we couldn’t deny. Battle lines were erased as enemies became lovers. But now we’re in the fight of our lives – we’re battling a smear campaign as he runs for governor. And again, we find ourselves drawn to do what we do best. I won’t be controlled, even by the man who owns my heart. But as tensions escalate to a boiling point, I discover there is one place I like checking my defiance – the bedroom. As Jude takes his dominance over me to a new level, I discover that submission can bring me to places I’ve ever known.
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4 Star Review by AshleyTeam Titan is back and sexier than ever! Chelle Bliss and Brenda Rothert picked up Jude and Reagan's story like the last thing that happened to them was yesterday and not a few years ago. Dirty Defiance was bold and passionate. Fiery and sweet. Scandalous and charming. There was no shortage of drama here. From lies and untruths to a medical emergency, Jude and Reagan are constantly on the go. Hardly having time to think let alone get some quality time with each other. It was taxing to say the least and it showed big time as emotions and tempers flared. If there is one thing to know about Reagan and Jude it is that they fight hard. A lot. But for as hard as they fight, they love harder. And it is in those quiet moments of reflection when it's just them and their thoughts that the magic starts to happen. But the best is when they come together. When it's not Republican or Democrat- when it's just a husband and wife who love each other fiercely. I think my favorite thing about this book is knowing that Jude and Reagan's story is far from over. Yes, this chapter of it ended- well I guess it's just beginning- but it's still open for so much more. The future is looking bright for the powerhouse Titan couple and my fingers are crossed that Chelle Bliss and Brenda Rothert will keep giving me more.
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