□We're sweating for this sexy sci-fi story□ Bound By Fate by USA Today bestselling author Maddie Taylor releases November 5th!! PREORDER NOW: US → https://amzn.to/2MiTkN1 UK → https://amzn.to/2OZYTlh CA → https://amzn.to/2prtpJH AU → https://amzn.to/2Mjfxuj BLURB: After years of study, Adria is on the verge of becoming the first female physic in Primarian history. A string of mysterious incidents has the entire Terra Nova Colony on edge, but she isn't going to let that stand in her way and neither is Beckett Kincaid. Gorgeous, bossy, and infuriating, she thought Beck was her friend. Given what they shared, he could have been so much more. But the domineering owner of BRK Construction betrays her trust. And when Adria is sent home, delaying her dreams, if not completely dashing them, she isn't sure she can ever forgive him. When she's permitted to return to the colony to complete her training, the first order of business is finding Beck, clearing the air, and finishing what they started. But after saying things in anger she now regrets, is it too late for them? Adria barely sets foot on Terra Nova when trouble finds her again. It seems the evil infecting the colony is more sinister than anyone could have imagined. Drawn to her by otherworldly forces he can't explain, Beck is intent on protecting Adria no matter the cost, even if it means risking his once shattered heart. With intrigue and danger swirling around them, can they defeat the insidious threat plaguing the budding colony, and with their Primarian allies' help, preserve the only hope for his people's survival? About Maddie A USA Today and #1 international bestselling author, Maddie is a lifelong reader who became a romance junkie as a teen with her first romance novel, The Wolf and the Dove by Kathleen Woodiwiss. From then on, she was hooked, and gobbled up everything she could get her hands on, whether contemporary, historical, paranormal or sci-fi. If there was romance to be found between a strong alpha male, and a sassy, adventurous and ofttimes defiant yet loving woman, Maddie was all over it. As an author, she stays true to those themes writing steamy erotic romance, with a side of kink, and adding elements of intrigue, danger and suspense to her plots. Maddie started writing as a hobby. Her stories stayed private while she raised a family and worked full time as a registered nurse. It wasn't until 2012 that she decided to take the plunge and submit her first book for publication: Captain My Captain. She went on to publish eleven novels the first year. Follow Maddie Online! Amazon: http://amzn.to/2BDc1Cd BookBub: http://bit.ly/2E38Lpi Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2Fwu1kd Facebook: http://bit.ly/2DNtY35 Instagram: http://bit.ly/2rGaskn Website: http://authormaddietaylor.com
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Can a summer fling become the love of a lifetime?
Title: No Vacancy
Author: Stephanie Rose
Release Date: October 28, 2019
Can a summer fling become the love of a lifetime? Perpetual good girl Caterina Longo is dependable to a fault. At 33, she’s never called in sick. Never had a one-night stand. Never taken a chance in her entire life. When she walks in on a cheating ex and sees everything wrong with her life, she takes off on a solo vacation, busting out of her comfort zone and into the arms of a guy she never saw coming. Joe Hunter has no room for distractions. Making his restaurant a success and proving his worth to his family—and himself—is his sole focus. At least it is until a beautiful stranger, in search of fried food and a shoulder, wanders in one night. Is two weeks of unexpected, life-altering passion all they’re meant to share? What happens when vacation ends and real life takes over?
$2.99 for a Limited Time | Free with Kindle Unlimited • AMAZON UNIVERSAL •
5 Heart Review by Ashley
Stephanie Rose is an author whose work I will read without peeking at the blurb. And that is exactly what I did with No Vacancy. Oh man- this book was full of charm, whimsy and heart. It made me yearn for long summer days at the beach. I adored Caterina. Her drive. Her tender heart. Her relationship with her mom. While I didn't like what sent her running to the shore, I'm glad she took a stand for herself. Took the chance to get away. And found Joe. Holy swoonville with a mozzarella stick on top! That man, and he is all man, didn't know what hit him the first time he saw Caterina. The connection and chemistry was instantaneous. Undeniable. Pulsing. Explosive. And the mouth on Joe...whew HOT! But time was working against them from the start. She was only there for the week. His whole life was there... Even with the distance and life happening around them, they still found time to try and make it work. Emotions were high and hearts were on the line and it was all Joe could do to remind Caterina of what they had promised. As someone who grew up spending summers at the beach, I was there with the sights and smells (and food). As someone who did a long distance relationship I felt it.That longing and need. No Vacancy is the type of book I love to get lost in. Give me strong, relatable characters. Give me wonderful friendships. Make me want to live in a beach town. Stephanie Rose did that with Joe and Caterina. Their story proves that when love is on the line, there is always a way to make it work and zeppole's never hurt!
Read the first two chapters of No Vacancy FREE! • CLICK HERE •
Stephanie Rose is a bad-ass New Yorker, a wife, a mother, a former blogger and lover of all things chocolate. Most days you'll find her trying to avoid standing on discarded LEGO or deciding which book to read next. Her debut novel, Always You, released in 2015 and since then she's written several more—some of which will never see completion—and has ideas for a hundred to come.
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WANTED: ROOMMATE. Must be tidy, polite, and absolutely not my brother’s hot as sin best friend.
Kiss Me Again, an all-new hilarious brother’s best friend standalone romance from New York Times bestselling author Emma Hart is available now!
I have no idea why I said yes.
Maybe I’d had one too many wines. Maybe I’d done it accidentally. Maybe I’d been sleep-texting.
One thing I know for sure is this: I absolutely do not want Ethan Hawkins in my apartment, up in my business, taking over my space.
Yet he’s here. Moving his stuff into my spare bedroom. Sending a wave of panty-melting, musky man-scent my way every time he walks past me.
Here’s the thing.
We don’t get along—at all. We never have, and I don’t think we’re going to start now that we’re under one roof.
There’s also that little issue where I’m kinda, sorta, totally in love with him… Uh-oh. Download your copy today! Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2SBLfnQ Apple Books: https://apple.co/2RLhuR3 Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/KissMeAgainEH Nook: http://bit.ly/3036OQZ Kobo: http://bit.ly/2Ji7gUH Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2lxXghO Excerpt I shoved the front door open and set my gaze on Ethan on the sofa. “If you’re going to lie to me about living here, we’re going to have to set some hard and fast rules. The first one: the stinky, spiky pig lives in your bedroom.”He peered over at me, one hand in a bag of cheese Doritos and the other tickling the hedgehog who was now lying on his chest. It was quite the sight. “How do you know he stinks?” he asked, licking his fingers and cradling the animal before he put the chip packet on the coffee table. “I Googled. They need cleaning every day. I’m not doing it, and neither am I living in a smell of tiny animal who should be wild.” “He’s a pygmy hedgehog. He’s bred to be domesticated.” “His spiky bits could be made out of solid gold and I wouldn’t give a shit.” I put my purse on the island and looked at him. “You can send me Google links to them if it pleases His Highness, but my stance won’t change. That animal is not living in my living room, and I’d rather you didn’t snuggle with him on the sofa.” “It’s ironic,” Ethan mused. “I have a hedgehog on my chest, and you’re still the prickliest thing in this apartment.” “If I wasn’t staunchly against animal cruelty, I’d throw a saucepan at you.” “You can still hit me over the head with it.” “I was talking about you, not the hedgehog, you pig.” “May I say that you are an absolute fucking delight, Ava. I can’t imagine why you’re still single.” “Probably the same reason you are. The asshole gene is strong as fuck and not all that attractive.”
About Emma Hart Emma Hart is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty novels and has been translated into several different languages. She is a mother, wife, lover of wine, Pink Goddess, and valiant rescuer of wild baby hedgehogs. Emma prides herself on her realistic, snarky smut, with comebacks that would make a PMS-ing teenage girl proud. Yes, really. She's that sarcastic. Connect with Emma Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmmaHartBooks/ BookBub: http://bit.ly/2Dr0atq Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2Dq42ez Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2EBbZNe Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2D91d3T Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmahartauthor/ Stay up to date with Emma by joining her mailing list: https://www.emmahart.org/newsletter Website: https://www.emmahart.org/home
Title: Working Back
Series: Cook Brothers Novel
Author: BJ Harvey
Genre: Second Chance Romance
Release Date: October 23, 2019
Girls weren’t on Bryant Cook’s radar until the day he moved next door to the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen. Fortunately for him, Faith Baker fell just as hard that first day as well.
From age eight to twenty-two, it was the ‘Faith and Bryant’ show, and their happily forever after seemed certain. Until it wasn’t.
Now she’s back after twelve years and she wants what they had.
That’s when Bryant issues a challenge. One Faith can’t resist. After all, her future—their future—is riding on it.
She said she’d do anything. She just didn’t think he meant *that*..
***
Working Back is a full-length, second chance, childhood soulmates, house flipping romantic comedy that can be read as a complete standalone and is book 3 in the Cook Brothers series.
"OMG!!! Talk about ROMCOM PERFECTION!" - Reading Is Our Satisfaction.
“If you’re looking for light, fun, flirty, and a whole lot of steam, it’s right here.” – Goodreads review.
“You will swing from rolling around on the floor laughing to swoon worthy moments that will have you weak in the knees and your heart so full.” – Goodreads review.
“Bryant!” Faith shouts. My body goes still; then, I jerk into action. I drop my bottle to the ground. I rip the door open and race to her room.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, hanging off the side of her doorway when I reach her.
Her face is pale, her eyes snapping to mine as soon as I enter the room. She’s standing on top of the bed—more like cowering, really. Her finger points to the floor on the far side of the bed.
“There… there’s a…” She’s near-on shaking her bottom lip trembling.
“What, Faith?”
“There’s a spider under the bed,” she says, shaking her head from side to side, her hands covering her face. “And it had babies!”
I freeze, unable to comprehend what I’m seeing.
“Faith, how on earth can you still be scared of bugs?”
“You don’t know what bugs are until you’ve lived in Australia, especially spiders.”
“You’re a biologist,” I say, remembering how she hated to be put in a ‘specific scientific box.’
“Zoologist actually. Which is a lot different than those bug people who study things like—you know—big-ass spiders, Bryant Cook.”
“Are you full-naming me, Faith Baker?”
“You bet your ass I am, and I’ll keep doing it till you remove said spider and all its spider babies from my room.” She’s shriek-shouting by the end of her demand, and it’s cute as hell.
I lean against the doorframe and cross my arms over my chest. “So no future as an arachnologist?”
“Bry…” she hisses. “I’m begging you.”
“Say please then.”
“What?”
“Please. It’s usually followed by a thank you when the person completes the task you’ve asked them to do. It’s Manners 101. I know Mrs. Baker taught you all about that.”
“He brings my mom into it,” she mutters dryly, looking to the ceiling as if seeking answers—or a weapon to throw at me. Her eyes plead with mine. “Please, Bryant. Torture me with anything else but not bugs.”
I sigh, fighting—and failing—to stop a small triumphant grin making its home on my face.
“Smug much?” she mutters as I round the bed and drop to my hands and knees. “What are you doing?”
I crane my neck to look up at her from the floor. “I’m trying out a new yoga position. What the hell do you think I’m doing? I’m looking for the spider mama and her babies.”
“Like that?”
I sit up on my calves and look at her, dumbfounded. She’s always had a fear of spiders, but this is bordering on ridiculous. I arch a brow. “Got a spare hazmat suit lying around?”
“No need to get snippy.”
My lips twitch. “Never been called snippy before.”
“Never thought I’d need to say the word,” she retorts with a half-smile.
“What exactly does being snippy entail?”
She puts her hands on her hips and narrows her eyes. “Are we really standing here arguing about your behavior?”
“Well if you’d stop, then I could get on with ridding your room of all the creepy crawlies you hate.”
Her face falls. “You think there’s more than this?”
Ah, shit. This is not good. “No. I mean—”
“I can’t… I mean…” Her eyes fill with tears, and I feel like the biggest asshole on the planet.
I stand and open my arms, holding my breath as she looks at my hands then back to my face a few times before slowly moving forward and letting me comfort her. When she bends down and lays her head on my shoulder, a warm feeling settles in my heart.
“You probably think I’m a big baby,” she mumbles against my T-shirt. I smile, rubbing her back and cupping her head, keeping her close, enjoying this far more than I thought I would so soon. I swear this woman has superpowers when it comes to me.
“Can we fumigate the house?” she asks, her soft voice full of hope.
Without answering her, I tighten my arms around her waist and pull her off the bed. “Hold on, babycakes.”
She lets out a squeak as I carry her across the room. Her legs circle around my hips, and her arms strangle me as they tighten around my neck.
Once we’re in the hallway, I gently lower her to the ground, her fingers gripping my shoulders as she tips her wide eyes up to mine. Where I expect to find a spark of anger, there’s soft heat that I’m not prepared to see. She’s still standing close, her chest brushing mine. Her tongue darts out and traces along her bottom lip, and I can’t tear my gaze away.
“Thank you,” she whispers.
“Can’t have you being scared of your own room.”
BJ Harvey is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the Bliss Series. She regards herself as a smut peddler, suspense conjurer, and a funny romance thinker upper. An avid music fan, you will always find her singing some hit song badly and loving every minute of it. She’s a wife, a mom to two beautiful girls, and hails from what she considers as the best country in the world—New Zealand—although she currently lives in Perth, Australia.
“A dazzling, thought-provoking, layered romance that will keep you on the edge of your seat. One of the best books of 2019."-- L.J. Shen, USA Today bestselling author
The Kingmaker, the first in the all-new powerful and emotional All The King’s Men Duet, from RITA ® Award-winning author Kennedy Ryan, is available now!
Enter the $50 Gift Card Release Giveaway: http://bit.ly/TKMRelGiveaway Power. Passion. Betrayal. Kennedy Ryan delivers the epic first installment of the All the King's Men Duet. Raised to rule, bred to lead and weaned on a diet of ruthless ambition. In a world of haves and have nots, my family has it all, and I want nothing to do with it. My path takes me far from home and paints me as the black sheep. At odds with my father, I'm determined to build my own empire. I have rules, but Lennix Hunter is the exception to every one of them. From the moment we meet, something sparks between us. But my family stole from hers and my father is the man she hates most. I lied to have her, and will do anything to keep her. Though she tries to hate me, too, the inexorable pull between us will not be denied. And neither will I. Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited! Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2NeWRLx Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/KingmakerKR Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2o7sNbZ Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/PowerBook1 Pre-order the stunning conclusion, The Rebel King! Releasing November 17th Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2W630xF Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/TheRebelKing Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2W69Umr Be notified FIRST when The Rebel King goes live: http://bit.ly/2oRuDhf Get notified when The Kingmaker is available on Audio: http://bit.ly/kingmakeraudio About Kennedy A RITA® Award Winner and Top 25 Amazon Bestseller, Kennedy Ryan writes for women from all walks of life, empowering them and placing them firmly at the center of each story and in charge of their own destinies. Her heroes respect, cherish and lose their minds for the women who capture their hearts. She is a wife to her lifetime lover and mother to an extraordinary son. She has always leveraged her journalism background to write for charity and non-profit organizations, but enjoys writing to raise Autism awareness most. A contributor for Modern Mom Magazine, Kennedy's writings have appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul, USA Today and many others. The founder and executive director of a foundation serving Atlanta families living with Autism, she has appeared on Headline News, Montel Williams, NPR and other media outlets as an advocate for families living with autism. Connect with Kennedy Never Miss A Release! Follow Kennedy on BookBub: http://bit.ly/2HcRuee New Release Txt: https://clk2.me/mgFv Subscribe to Mailing List: http://bit.ly/2QjisCW Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2GY6eyb Instagram: http://bit.ly/2TaYiAi Facebook: http://bit.ly/2GUq0uF Amazon: http://amzn.to/2Fvhqiz Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2NE0cU0 Book+Main: http://bit.ly/2GVByO7 Website: http://kennedyryanwrites.com
Title: Lovable
Author: R.G. Angel
Genre: Adult Romance
Release Date: October 27, 2019
Alessandra “Ale” Ridley, lawyer extraordinaire, attentive best-friend, cool aunt, Star Wars expert, Fortnite guru… is lonely.
Ale has a good life, a great career and amazing friends who are more like family. Yet past experiences have left her feeling vulnerable, afraid to believe she’s worthy of romance, let alone her own love story. She’s been the second choice, the one left pining. At this point, she’s ready to fade off into the background of life.
That is, until Nathan Prescott shows up.
With his ridiculously blue eyes, dark hair, tanned skin and a body so close to perfect that it's hard to believe he is not the poster boy for Photoshop, he could have anyone. Ale can hardly believe he wants her.
Nathan says all the right things at the right time, and he isn’t running away from her quirky traits like so many others before him have done. In fact, he encourages Ale to become her true self, helping her to see that she deserves to be romanced, to be someone’s first choice.
It all seems too good to be true. And, maybe… it is.
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R.G Angel is a trained lawyer, world traveler, coffee addict, cheese aficionado, avid book reviewer and blogger.
She considers herself as an ‘Eclectic romantic’ and wants to write romances in every sub-genre she can think of.
When she is not busy doing all her lawyerly mayhem, and because she is living in rainy Britain, she mostly enjoys indoor activities such as reading, watching TV, playing with her crazy puppy and writing stories she hopes will make you dream.
If you want to know when R.G.’s next book will come out, or what signing she will be attending please follow her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRGAngel/
Storm
BOOK TRAILER: -- EXCERPT: “Can I just point out that she’s not actually my woman?” “Yeah, she should be my woman,” Tony grumbled. “Can we please forget about the fucking thumb war? Face it, you lost. You won the battle, but lost the war. It’s over for you.” “I wouldn’t be too confident right now if I were you,” Coop said. “I think right now she’d take Tony Tacos over you.” “There has to be some way to prove to her that it was a one time mistake. Okay, let’s just say that I wanted help getting her back. How would I go about this?” “Well, you have to prove to her that you are good in bed,” Hunter said. “You are good in bed, right?” “Well, it’s not like I’m gonna prove it to you,” I grumbled. “He’d be the one you’d go to,” Cap chuckled. “Hey,” he said, holding up his hands as Hunter advanced on him. “Wax jobs, watching people fuck, thongs, pedicures, and hot tubs. I’m just saying.” “That wasn’t all me,” he growled. “Doesn’t matter. Enough of it was,” Cap laughed. “Can we get back to my issues?” “You know what you need?” Coop said. “You need a sex tape.” “Excuse me?” “Yeah, you know, to prove that you can do it the right way.” “And who exactly would be filming this? And who would it be with?” Coop scratched his jaw and shrugged. “Okay, well, unless you have any in storage, that won’t work so well, but there’s gotta be something you can do that will show you’re not a total douche in bed.” They all stood there staring at the ground in thought. “Really? Maggie went to you with this issue and this is who you brought me?” Cap opened his mouth to speak, but I held up my hand to stop him. “You could have brought me Sinner, the lady killer. You could have brought me the man who made his woman think he was a superhero. Hell, you could have brought me the stalker, but no. You brought me the guy who won the thumb war, but still lost the girl. You brought me the man who has a sixteen year old, but no woman. And you brought me the man who fights with his woman for a living.” I turned and headed for the door, determined to figure this out on my own. “Hey!” Cap called from behind me. “I showed up.” “Yeah, the man that’s hanging onto his woman by knocking her up repeatedly. Don’t think that’ll work here.”
GIVEAWAY! Today we are celebrating the release of FAMOUS by Marie Force by participating in the blog tour. This book the highly-anticipated conclusion to the bestselling Quantum series. Check out some teasers for the book below.
PURCHASE IT NOW
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PURCHASE IN PRINT: Marie's Store | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BAM | Booktopia FAMOUS by Marie Force
Available Now | Quantum Series, #8ABOUT THE BOOK:
I thought I’d finally met the man of my dreams...Marlowe
I’ve planned this night for weeks, down to the last detail. I want it to be perfect. Bringing someone new into my private life is not something I do lightly, having learned the hard way over the years that celebrity has a dark downside that I go out of my way to avoid whenever possible.
But he is different. We’ve been together for months and the time is right to take this next step with him. It doesn’t take long for me to realize I’ve made a huge mistake trusting this man. Before things go from bad to worse, I have the presence of mind to know I’m in big, big trouble. Marlowe Sloane’s story, FAMOUS, is the thrilling conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Quantum Series.
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Chapter 1
Marlowe I’ve planned this night for weeks, down to the last detail. I want it to be perfect. Bringing someone new into my private life is not something I do lightly, having learned the hard way over the years that celebrity has a dark downside that I go out of my way to avoid whenever possible. But Rafe is different. We’ve been together for months now, and I feel ready to take this next step with him. In the dungeon that’s accessible only to Quantum partners and our guests, I take a careful look at the items I’ve set out—a blindfold, a flogger, the smallest plug, a bottle of lubricant and a cock ring. I’m starting him off easy until I can get a sense of whether he shares my appreciation for the lifestyle. I have a feeling he will, if our “vanilla” sex life is anything to go by. He’s endlessly creative and sensual in bed. When he whispers to me in French, I can nearly come from that alone. It’s been a very long time since anything vanilla appealed to me, but then again, the lifestyle hasn’t been doing it for me lately either. While I’m satisfied by the sex I have with Rafe, I feel like it could be “more,” and thus the reason I’m trying to add a little spice to an already satisfying relationship. Before I met Rafe, I had confessed to my closest friends and business partners that I was feeling out of sorts and off-kilter. Spending time at the clubs we own here in LA and in New York City had become boring, especially since my buddies found love and more or less gave up the clubs. Getting naked in public lost its luster for each of them after they found “the one.” In our world, we’re always one tabloid photo away from disaster, so I get that they feel the need to protect their significant others from that kind of exposure. We go to enormous lengths to protect the members of our clubs, including the requirement of a one-million-dollar entrance fee for new members and airtight nondisclosure agreements. But that didn’t stop someone in Devon Black’s equally exclusive club from taking photos of our partner Jasper Autry that were later used to blackmail him. We’re all a little gun-shy after that episode. Rafe understands the celebrity culture because he works in our industry. As an executive for the company that distributes Quantum films—and many others—in France, he travels frequently between Paris and Los Angeles, hobnobbing with celebrities and working deep inside the business. From the beginning, I’ve felt comfortable being myself around him, because he understands the pressures I face. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this way about a guy, and even though I can tell my friends don’t love him, I do, and that’s all that matters. Or so I tell myself. Truth is, their opinions matter to me, even if I wish they didn’t. Especially Flynn and Hayden, who have been my closest friends for years. It’s so rare for me to be out of sync with either of them, let alone both, but from the outset, they’ve been rather obvious in their dislike of Rafe. I wish I knew why, but they won’t even give him a chance. Flynn’s wife, Natalie, and I talked about it over the holidays when we were all together for four memorable days in St. George, Utah, of all places. As I light the candles in the dungeon, I think about that conversation as I have so many times since then. “It’s not that he doesn’t like Rafe,” Natalie had said. “It’s more that he doesn’t like him for you.” “Why?” I’d asked and immediately hated myself for the question as well as the desperate-sounding tone in which it was asked. I’m Marlowe fucking Sloane. What do I care if Flynn Godfrey or anyone else doesn’t like my boyfriend? Except… I care, and I hate that I care. I could tell Nat chose her words carefully. “It’s just that he thinks you can do…better.” She cringed as she said that last word, and I realized I’d put her in a terrible position by bringing it up at all. The guys had gone off to find a Christmas tree for Aileen’s kids and had grudgingly invited Rafe to join them. That’s what had led me to ask her what the fuck Flynn’s problem was with him. Be careful what you wish for. Flynn thinks he’s not good enough for me, which means Hayden, Jasper, Kristian, Emmett and Sebastian probably agree with him. “Does everyone feel that way?” I’d asked Nat. “I’m not sure.” She’d rolled her bottom lip between her teeth, which is a “tell” for her. She knows but doesn’t want to say. Fair enough. None of them like him. “Does it matter to anyone that I like him?” “Yes! Of course it does. That’s all that matters. If he makes you happy, we’re happy. You know that.” I’d eyed her skeptically. “I’m happy with him.” “Okay, then.” “Okay.” We’d changed the subject, but the uncomfortable conversation had stayed with me ever since. Natalie had tried to be diplomatic, walking a fine line between not betraying Flynn and trying not to hurt my feelings. She’d failed in the latter account. My feelings were hurt, and they still are. It’s been five freaking years since I dated anyone seriously, so I sort of feel like the guys could at least try to give me a break with Rafe. I glance at the ornate clock on the wall. He’s going to be here in fifteen minutes. Time to get changed and stop thinking about why my friends don’t like him. They can go fuck themselves. I remind myself again that they’re not in this relationship. Only Rafe and I are, and we’re the only two who matter. I’m the only who needs to like him and trust him and love him. It’s my life, and no one else is going to live it for me, no matter how much I love my friends. They’re wrong this time, and I am going to prove it to them by making this relationship work. I’ve decided it’s time to bring Rafe into my lifestyle because I know we can’t succeed long term unless I let him all the way in. Each of the guys has had to do the same with their significant others and did so with stunning success if their happy, dopey grins are any indication. That’s what tonight is all about for Rafe and me. Taking that next step. Depending on how this goes, I might be ready for what comes next, whatever that may be for a couple juggling a transatlantic relationship. I’m nervous about tonight because I’m not entirely sure how he’ll react to my desire to dominate him. But I won’t know until I broach the topic with him. He already knows that I’m adventuresome in bed, but he has no idea just how adventuresome I can be. Tonight, he’s going to find out, and I’m excited as well as nervous. I dart into the women’s changing room, take a quick shower and dress in one of my favorite outfits—a red leather bustier with a matching thong and sexy stockings with a flower pattern running through them. I’ve cut myself short on time, so I put my hair up in a bun and go with a smoky cat eye for my makeup. By the time my phone buzzes with the text I’m expecting from him, I’m ready. After donning a red silk robe and black stiletto Louboutins with the fabulous red bottoms, I give myself a quick once-over in the full-length mirror and take a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Here goes nothing… In the lobby, I press the button for the elevator and take it up one floor to the main entrance to the Quantum office building. Most of the people who work here have no idea what’s in the basement. When the doors open, Rafe is facing away from me, looking out at the parking lot. “Hey.” “Why’d you want to meet here?” He turns to face me, his eyes widening when he sees me in the silky robe and heels. “Is this some sort of office fantasy or something?” “Not quite.” I extend my hand to him. “Will you come with me and keep an open mind?” He’s absolutely beautiful, with thick wavy dark hair and brilliant blue eyes that crinkle at the corners when he smiles, which is often when we’re together. He seems hesitant, but he takes my hand, links our fingers and kisses the back of my hand. “I shall happily follow wherever you lead, darling.” Now imagine that said in a sexy French accent. I’m not one to swoon, but that accent does it for me. He watches as I place my palm on the scanner that opens the elevator to the basement. “This all very cloak and dagger,” he says as we descend. “Not really.” We step out of the elevator, and the first thing we encounter is a reception desk. “This is where I have to ask you to sign a nondisclosure agreement that says you won’t disclose anything you see here.” “Seriously?” “Very seriously. If you need a minute to review it, I’m happy to wait.” Giving me an odd look, he takes the pen I hand him, scans the NDA that spells out the lengths the Quantum partners will go to in order to defend the privacy of everyone who steps foot in our clubs and then scrawls his signature on the line provided. “What’s this all about, Marlowe?” “Come with me, and I’ll show you.” Taking him by the hand, I lead him through the double doors with our distinctive Q logo etched into the glass. To the casual observer, the big room we enter might be mistaken for a nightclub, especially now, when there’s no one else here. On a regular night, the place would be pulsing with people, energy and sexual tension. Scenes would be unfolding on the three stages, and potential partners would be negotiating hard and soft limits in the various seating areas and at the bar. “What is this place?” “Club Quantum.” “How have I never heard of it?” Before we met, he’d been active in the LA club scene when he was in town. “Because it’s private.” “Still, with you and your illustrious partners involved, how does it stay a secret?” “You read the NDA. That’s how.” The face he makes indicates his skepticism that even an airtight NDA can keep the lid on anything in this day and age, and perhaps he’s right. Didn’t we learn that when Jasper was blackmailed? On the far side of the big room, I place my hand on another scanner that opens the door to the dungeon. As we descend the stairs, I begin to feel seriously nervous. Am I doing the right thing? Will he understand? What if he doesn’t? Can I stay with him if he doesn’t get this or doesn’t even try to get it? Don’t get ahead of yourself. One step at a time. You’ve done this before, and it’s been fine. Rafe stops short at the entrance to the dungeon. “Holy shit. Are you fucking kidding me?” “You promised to keep an open mind.” A trickle of unease travels down my backbone as I begin to wonder if I’ve seriously miscalculated. He strides over to the table where I set out the implements of my craft and picks up the flogger, turning to me, his brow lifted and his mouth set in an expression I haven’t seen before. “What the hell is this, Marlowe?” I normally love the melodic way he says my name, but there’s no melody to it now. There’s something that frightens me as I realize that no one except for him knows where I am or what I had planned for tonight. Not even my assistant, Leah, who always knows where I am. As he stalks toward me, his blue eyes blazing with anger, I take a step back, furious with myself for being so stupid. I’m thirty-five years old. I should know better by now than to ever put myself at the mercy of a man. Ugh, they’re usually at my mercy, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. “Stop.” I hold up my hand to keep him from coming any closer to me. He doesn’t stop. “Rafe, I mean it. Take a pause.” “Don’t tell me what to do when you’re springing this kinky bullshit on me months into our relationship.” A vein in his forehead bulges as he spews harsh words at me. “Why didn’t you tell me before now that you want to be tied up and flogged and whatever else?” He’s spitting mad, and I’m trying to figure out why as I think about what I should say. “Marlowe! What the fuck? You owe me an explanation!” This is why Flynn and the others don’t like him. They could see he had this in him while I was too busy being besotted to see beyond the glossy surface, the French words of love and the romance of it all. He’s played me for a fool, and the only thing I want now is to get as far away from him as I possibly can. Immediately. “I’m sorry, Rafe. Obviously, I’ve made a mistake, and I’ll understand if you’d rather not see me again.” “Not see you again? Is that what you think is going to happen here?” “I’m not comfortable with the way you’re behaving.” He doesn’t like that, and I quickly realize I’ve only made him angrier. “Isn’t that rich, darling? You’re not comfortable with the way I’m behaving. After spending months together, you decide to show me you’re a kinky whore and you don’t like the way I’m behaving?” He lowers his voice. “You want me to beat you before I fuck you, is that it?” “No,” I whisper. “That’s not it at all.” “Then please illuminate me, because I don’t get it.” The rebellious part of me, the part that fought and clawed her way to success in one of the toughest businesses in the world, rears up inside me. Fuck this shit. “I’m a Dominatrix. I wanted to beat you before I let you fuck me, but that’s not what I want anymore. What I really want now is for you to get the fuck out of here and never contact me again.” His shock is apparent in the way his face loses all color and his lips go tight before he speaks again in a much lower tone. “That’s it? After everything we’ve shared, you’re going to dismiss me like I’m some kind of servant?” “I’m asking you to leave.” “Fuck you if you think you’re going to treat me like I’m nothing.” He moves so quickly, I don’t see it coming until my head snaps back and hits the wall behind me and my face explodes in pain that rattles my teeth. Then he grabs my hair and drags me across the room. I fight him with everything I’ve got, but I’m no match against him physically. He outweighs me by seventy pounds. Before things go from bad to worse, I have the presence of mind to realize I’m in big, big trouble.
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AUTHOR INFORMATION:
Marie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, historical romance and erotic romance. Her series include the indie-published Gansett Island, Treading Water, Butler, Vermont and Quantum Series as well as the Fatal Series from Harlequin Books. Her books have sold more than 9 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list 30 times. She is also a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller, a Speigel bestseller in Germany, a frequent speaker and publishing workshop presenter. Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news. AUTHOR LINKS:
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Love in Due Time, an all-new second chance romantic comedy from L.B. Dunbar is available now!
Naomi Winters will be forty—soon-ish—and she’s only been with one man. One night. One time. Long ago. She believes everything happens for a reason, and the universe spoke about Nathan Ryder. Nathan Ryder isn’t the same man who hightailed his bike out of Green Valley eighteen years ago. As a rule breaker, women are one area he acts a fool. Case in point…the local librarian. He can’t get a read on her, but she’s one risk he’s willing to take. Again. What do an eccentric librarian and a sexy silver biker have in common? More than you think. The due date on their love might not be expired after all. 'Love in Due Time' is a full-length, contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book#1 in the Green Valley Library series. Download your copy today! Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2kwBn29 Apple Books: https://apple.co/2m24uuN Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/LoveinDueTime Nook: http://bit.ly/2kv2FpK Kobo: http://bit.ly/2kx2n1t Google Play: http://bit.ly/2m2Wytn Amazon Print: https://amzn.to/2ku1o2d Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2kwPLr8 4 Heart Review by AshleyOh my gosh! L.B. Dunbar went all out for Love in Due Time. It was a mash-up of genre's and they all blended seamlessly to create a story I couldn't put down. Small-town, with a little MC, single-parent, some danger thrown in- if any of those elements were missing, Naomi and Nathan's story wouldn't have worked as well as it did. I adored Naomi. Her comfort in who she was. Her innocence. Her kindness. How she took the high road time and again. How she held onto hope. And when a gruff voice comes to her rescue, it was all Naomi could do to keep her composure. It was him...Nathan...the one she'd been longing for. But he wasn't the same. Time and life had changed him. Hardened him. It didn't mean her body was listening though. As luck would have it, circumstances kept bringing Nathan and Naomi together. The chemistry between them was palpable. I could feel it pulsing off the pages. I liked Nathan's patience with Naomi. How he gave her the time she needed while also gently guiding her. He allowed her to open up and share who she was, and what he learned he liked, a whole lot. But when he learned the reason for the guilt she carried, his world came crashing down. Was his big secret a hair predictable, yes. Did it put me off, not one bit. I enjoyed seeing how they reacted and handled everything being out in the open. It was raw and emotional and had me rubbing my chest. And when Nathan's past came calling, it was all he could do to keep everyone safe. The final quarter of the book had my heart racing. I hated what happened to Naomi. HATED IT! But I loved how Nathan stepped up and put it all on the line to keep everyone safe. Filled with family and heartache and forgiveness, Love in Due Time was small-town, second-chance romance at its best. L.B. Dunbar swept me away with this story that was the right balance of dangerous and sweet. Naomi and Nathan prove that it is never too late for love to save the day.
Excerpt “Naomi?” My hands cover her shoulders, holding her steady.“This is all my fault.” Her eyes widen, the widest I’ve ever seen. Panic fills them. “What do you mean?” “I … I can’t believe this happened again.” Her hands come to my chest, and she gently pushes at me. “You have to get out of here.” “What?” My brows pinch at the harsh tone. “You need to go. I can’t be near you.” Her voice struggles to stay level. Ouch. That stings a little. “Why?” I take one step back under the force of her hands. “I can’t be around you. This can’t happen.” “Lady, what are you talking about?” My voice roughens. “Bad things always happen after I’m with you.” I stiffen, straightening to my full height. My arms cross and I glare down at her. Saying such a thing is just downright mean. Her head shakes as her fingers curl along the open edges of my work jacket. Suddenly, I feel like she’s tugging me to her instead of pressing me away. What the … “When I’m with you, something happens. Something bad.” Her breath catches. “Because we kissed, the library is closing.” I stare at her. She can’t be serious, but I see the hysteria in her eyes, like a rabid, trapped animal. She actually believes what she says. “Well, we didn’t kiss,” I remind her, my tone stern and condescending. “I kissed you, remember? And you didn’t kiss me back, so I don’t think it counts.” She glares up at me, her fingers still gripping my open jacket. Her shoulders fall, her head lowers, and it’s as if I can visibly see her relax, like water cascading down a building, washing over her. Exhale. Settle. Exhale. Calm. “I didn’t kiss you back?” she questions and then her head pops up again. She nearly shrieks with the hesitant realization. Commence inhaling, like she’s winding up again. Full steam ahead. “I didn’t kiss you back,” she repeats, her excitement growing. Another exaggerated inhale. “I didn’t kiss you back!” Now, she’s just downright gloating, and the engine’s ready to blow. “You don’t have to sound so pleased,” I murmur. I glance up and notice Mrs. MacIntyre watching us through the window of the librarian’s office behind the check-out counter. Her eyes narrow and I’m certain we’re making too much noise for her liking. “I … I’m so relieved,” Naomi admits, her head falling forward, her fingers loosening on my jacket. Then her face turns up again. Her lids lift, slow and lazy. Her mouth curls in sweet relief, and she pulls herself up on her toes by the open edge of my jacket and does the damnedest thing. She kisses me.
About L.B. Dunbar L.B. Dunbar loves the sweeter things in life: cookies, Coca-Cola, and romance. Her reading journey began with a deep love of fairy tales, medieval knights, Regency debauchery, and alpha males. She loves a deep belly laugh and a strong hug. Occasionally, she has the energy of a Jack Russell terrier. Accused—yes, that’s the correct word—of having an overactive imagination, to her benefit, such an imagination works well. Author of over two dozen novels, she’s created sweet, small town worlds; rock star mayhem; MMA chaos; sexy rom-coms for the over 40; and intrigue on an island of redemption. In addition, she is earning a title as the “myth and legend lady” for her modernizations of mythology as elda lore. Her other duties in life include mother to four children and wife to the one and only. Connect with L.B. Dunbar Facebook: http://bit.ly/2kkGqTy Twitter: http://bit.ly/2lzEmHo Amazon: https://amzn.to/2kvIEiS Instagram: http://bit.ly/2k1Rk0d Website: https://www.lbdunbar.com/ Connect with Smartypants Romance Facebook: http://bit.ly/2kvDnb4 Twitter: http://bit.ly/2lzyduO Amazon: https://amzn.to/2lGdIMQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2kwKsYK Website: https://smartypantsromance.com/ Masks
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play -- EXCERPT: Misha crept into her room and watched her chest move up and down. He wouldn’t leave her side now. Guilt caged him. If he had made the right decision none of this would have happened. Her injuries fell squarely on his shoulders. His father never would have put his sons or his mother in harm’s way. He was always in control of every damn decision he made. Misha would make this right with her and make sure she was never harmed again. He sat down in the lounger next to her bed. She looked like an angel. Blue light from the monitor glowed on her as she lay curled up. She looked even smaller, like a child in need of a good night’s sleep. He reached out to move the hair off her cheek. She stirred and rolled onto her back. She rubbed her eyes. “Hey, what are you doing here?” she said with surprise. “Where else would I be?” He required no answer. She tilted her head and stared at him. “You have my fur baby, so I’m told.” “Yes. Titus is fine. But I couldn’t do it without Jonas’s help. I don’t know anything about pets. I never had any growing up. I remembered his stuffed elephant and bones. That seemed to calm him down.” The events of the day were starting to catch up with him too. “This is a big deal for you. You should feel proud. Tell me what happened.” Her eyes got droopy. “Maybe tomorrow, malen’kiy. You need your sleep. I’ll be right here if you need anything.” He kissed her forehead. “What? You’re staying here? In my room?” She sounded alarmed. “This chair becomes a lounger so I’m all set.” He patted the armrests. She curled onto her side and tucked her hands under her head. She reached out to him. “Thank you,” she whispered. He took her hand and kissed it. “Go to sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.” He pulled his shoes off and sat back in the recliner. His thoughts traveled back to the reason he’d never had a pet: his father wouldn’t be able to handle it. God forbid he and his brothers had something to look after, something they could love and care for. He had ended up taking care of his mother. He wasn’t sure that counted but he did his best. His life revolved around numbers, education, and discipline. There was very little room for play and fun. He looked at the beautiful creature next to him. She seemed to have cornered the market on fun, his exact opposite. There would be a trade. She would teach him how to have fun and take care of a pet and he could teach her discipline.
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