Special Event: All Things Pretty by M. Leighton

Please join us in celebrating the release of All Things Pretty, the third book in the Pretty Series, by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author M. Leighton!

What we have for you today is an excerpt. It's not just any excerpt, we want you to find the pretty in the excerpt. Your guess at what the pretty is, will be your entry for the giveaway!


Ex: My mile high Louboutin's were killing my feet.

Guess: shoes

Title: All Things Pretty (Pretty #3)

Author: M. Leighton

Age group: New Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: 9/30/14

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Pretending to be something they’re not, afraid to trust anyone completely, destined to tear each other apart– this is the story of unlikely love and unbearable consequences.

Sig Locke is a cop. He was raised by a cop and all his brothers are cops. He bleeds blue, believes in right and wrong, and sees in black and white, never in shades of gray.

But that was before he met Tommi.

Tommi, with her long legs and bright green eyes, she captured Sig’s interest from the moment he saw her. Even after he discovered who she was–the girlfriend of a drug dealer, the beauty behind a criminal–he still found her utterly irresistible. What Sig doesn’t know, however, is that she has a secret even a cop can’t uncover.

Tommi Lawrence hasn’t had an easy life, and it only got more complicated the day she met Sig. She learned long ago that she can’t trust anyone. Her gut tells her that Sig is no exception, her heart tells her that he is. But that was before she found out his real identity.

Can love be forged in a fire of lies? Or will the truth destroy them both?

 

My body aches.  Just at the thought of him.

I close my eyes, effortlessly conjuring Sig’s liquid brown eyes, his perfectly sculpted mouth, his big, slightly rough hands.  God! 

Almost of their own accord, my palms drift over my breasts, pausing to tease the throbbing nipples, just like Sig would do.  Like he did.  I recall the feel of his mouth there, hot and open.  Riling my body into a flurry of want and need.  My core responds to my thoughts, sending a gush of heat southward. I move my hands down.  Farther and farther.  Closer to the place where the ache is strongest, where the emptiness is deepest.

I cup my center as my mind elicits Sig’s fingers, his lips, his tongue, delving inside me.  Filling yet not totally, satisfying yet not completely.  Teasing.  Toying.  Making me crazy. He knew I needed more, craved more. He was just enjoying the rise, the climb, until he could drive his body into mine and quench this excruciating thirst.

But my touch isn’t Sig’s. No matter how tightly I close my eyes, no matter how much I concentrate, no matter how much I wish it were his, it’s not.  It isn’t his hands or his mouth.  His kiss or his scent.  His laugh or his growl.  I’m in my bathroom.  In my home.  Alone, for all intents and purposes.  Exactly what I don’t want to be right now.

Frustrated, I pull the plug to drain the tub before stepping out and toweling off.  Standing in the steamy room, I rub scented lotion over every inch of my hyper sensitive skin, groaning with my want of something more. 

 I wipe the moisture from the mirror and meet the wide eyes and flushed cheeks of my reflection.  I’m startled by what’s written all over my face.  Desire.  Withering resistance.  Increasing need.

I won’t be able to stop myself from giving in to him.  I know it as sure as I’m standing here.  He’s like an addiction that has crept up on me unawares and taken over.  I’m smart enough to realize when I’m fighting a losing battle. I’m also smart enough to realize that if I go about this wisely, we can both put an end to the torture and move on.  Just once.  One and done.  It’s the way it has to be.

Enjoy tonight.  Move on tomorrow.

But we can have tonight.

Tonight will be for us.

Sig.

And me.

And all that’s between us.

Just one night.

I stare at the same face, reflected now with subtle changes.  Eyes bright with resolution, lips trembling with anticipation. 

Once my mind is made up, I’m nearly frantic.  I throw on shorts and a tee shirt–nothing spectacular since I don’t plan to be wearing it long–stopping only long enough to scribble Travis a note for when he gets home, telling him not to wait up and to call if he needs me.  He’ll assume that I’m with Lance.

I don’t even bother pulling my hair out of its loose topknot.  I simply grab my purse, lock the door and run to the car.  I can’t get to his house quickly enough.

I’m out of breath when I make it to his door, knocking with all the urgency that I suddenly feel.  When Sig finally appears in front of me, only a few short seconds (that felt like lifetimes) later, his expression is wild, like he was expecting something else.  Trouble maybe?

His eyes meet mine, and we stand perfectly still and silent.  He frowns for a second and then scans my face.  His gaze travels over my flushed cheeks, my parted lips, down to my heaving chest.  And then, as though he can somehow read my body and its intent, they flick suddenly back up to mine and stop. 

For thirty second or so, a million unspoken things pass between us. There is doubt, indecision, a touch of fear.  All on my part.  In this moment, it’s driven home what a huge mistake I could be making. 

On his face, one thing.  A question.  A single query.  Can I walk away?

 

Can I? 

With my heart beating an ancient rhythm against my ribs, marking me with a tattoo that I will forever be left with, I bask in the richness of his eyes, the beauty of his face and the acceptance of my choice, whatever it is. It’s all here, right in front of me.  Someone who wants only me, to please me, to be with me.  Nothing else. 

That is what I can’t walk away from.  Not just yet.



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October 2:

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October 3:

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Series reading order

 

All the Pretty Lies

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All the Pretty Poses

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All Things Pretty

 

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, M. Leighton, is a native of Ohio. She relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: literary fiction. Having written over a dozen novels, these days Michelle enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you'll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren't roaming in that direction, she'll be riding wild horses, skiing the slopes of Aspen or scuba diving with a hot rock star, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.

About Michelle: I love coffee and chocolate, even more so when they are combined. I'm convinced that one day they could be the basis for world peace. I also love the color red and am seriously considering dying my hair.

Michelle loves to hear from readers! You can find her (and she will chat your ear off) here


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Excerpt and Giveaway: Ruining Mr. Perfect by Marie Harte

I'm happy to bring you an excerpt and giveaway from Ruining Mr. Perfect by Marie Harte. I love this series and this installment. Thanks for stopping by, and good luck!

Series: The McCauley Brothers #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casa
Publication Date: 10/7/14



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It's Not Easy Being Right...

Vanessa Campbell is a CPA by day and a perfectionist by night. She's fit, successful...and decidedly lonely. She can't stop thinking about the youngest McCauley brother, Cameron. He's just like her: smart, attractive, and usually right—except when dealing with her.

...But Someone's Got To Do It.

Cameron McCauley likes Vanessa a little too well. She's a blond goddess with a razor-sharp tongue. She hates to be wrong, just like him. But she can hold a grudge and is stubborn to a fault—also like him.

A past misunderstanding has them rubbing each other the wrong way. Cam is dying to shake Vanessa up—get her to let loose. But if he succeeds, can his heart handle it?

 

“This is nice,” he said and looked into her eyes. “Being with you.”

“Um, yes.” She felt her cheeks heat. Stupid. “It is.”

His slow smile warmed her all over again. “So you want to tell me the rules now?”

“Rules?”

“Please. After you finished screaming my name—”

“I don’t recall screaming your name.”

“—and after I had my wicked way with you, reason returned. We’re a lot alike, you know. Rational, intelligent, concerned about tomorrow. Always looking ahead.”

That flattering comparison she could live with. “And?”

“And you’re no doubt wondering what tonight meant in terms of our relationship.”

His cool detachment irked her. “Oh?”

“See? I even know that frosty tone. I somehow offended you without intending to.” Far from looking abashed, Cameron grinned. It should be illegal to be so charming, handsome, and assured of his appeal. “Vanessa, I really like you. For more than the sex, though the sex is… The sex is something we need to do a lot. To get really, really good at it.”

She smirked. “Uh-huh.”

“I think we should try a few dates and see what happens.”

“As in, we’re dating.”

“Isn’t that what I just said?”

“Just you and me.”

“Well, I sure the hell don’t want to double with Flynn or Brody anytime soon.” He grimaced. “I love the guys, but they can be such assholes.”

“True.” She worried her lower lip, then immediately stopped when she realized Abby did the same thing all the time when nervous. God forbid she take on her roommate’s neuroses. “We enjoy each other’s company, like the same foods, love to exercise, and we’re far more intelligent than the people we live with.”

“Exactly.”

“Intelligence is important to me.” She sounded like a babbling idiot, and the captivated look on his face made her feel even more moronic.

“Me too.”

“So what if things don’t work out? Not that I’m leaning toward anything long-term, but when Brody and Abby hit the wall, we didn’t get along. You and I.”

“Actually, we got along fine. You were the one with the bug up your ass. You were also in the wrong; you just refused to admit it.”

“Excuse me—”

“But I forgive you.”

“Forgive this.” She shot him the finger.

Instead of volleying back an insult, he laughed, dragged her into his lap, and kissed her.

 

 

Tour Schedule

 

9/22  Manga Maniac Cafe

9/23  From the TBR Pile

9/24  The Bookish Babe

9/25  Books n Kisses

9/26  The Bumble Girl

9/29  The Good, the Bad, and the Unread

9/30  SOS Aloha

 10/1 Ramblings from This Chick

10/2  Talk Supe

10/3  Bitten by Romance

 

 

 

 

The McCauley Brothers Series

 

      
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Marie Harte is an avid reader who loves all things paranormal and futuristic. Reading romances since she was twelve, she fell in love with romance and happy endings and knew writing was her calling. Years later after the Marine Corps, Information Technology, and 60 hour work weeks, her dream has finally come true.

Marie lives in Oregon with her family and is constantly reading and writing.

 

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Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway: The Scribe by Elizabeth Hunter, from the Darkly Dreaming Box Set

Today I have author an exclusive excerpt and giveaway from The Scribe, by Elizabeth Hunter. The Scribe is a part of the newly released Darkly Dreaming Boxed Set, also featuring books from Kristen Painter, Grace Draven, Cate Rowen and Danielle Monsch. Thanks for stopping by, and good luck!

Authors: Kristen Painter, Elizabeth Hunter, Grace Draven, Cate Rowen and Danielle Monsch
Release Date: 9/15/14
Genre: Fantasy Romance


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Fall into magic and fall in love with Darkly Dreaming, a five book fantasy romance collection from award-winning and bestselling writers Elizabeth Hunter, Grace Draven, Danielle Monsch, Kristen Painter, and Cate Rowan. Darkly Dreaming contains five fantasy romance novels intended for adult readers.

Hidden at the crossroads of the world, an ancient race battles to protect humanity, even as it dies from within. Ava comes to modern day Istanbul in THE SCRIBE, the first book in the Irin Chronicles by Elizabeth Hunter. One woman searching for answers finds a reluctant guardian in a warrior whose magic is written on his skin. But does Ava have magic of her own?

Exclusive Excerpt - From THE SCRIBE by Elizabeth Hunter

“Ava, put the gun down.”


“Just tell me what is going on!”


“Don’t you understand I can’t!” he shouted, then muttered a frustrated curse under his breath.


As soon as the words left him, Malachi’s mouth dropped open. Ava froze. The hand holding the gun sank and the weapon fell with a soft thud on the pine needles. He dove for it, grabbing it to put the safety on, only to realize it had been on safety the whole time.


“Ava, what on earth—?”


“What did you just say?” she whispered.


“I said what on earth—”

“Before.” She was taking rapid breaths. He looked up from the gun. Her eyes were panicked; she was reaching for him. He had to back away. “What did you say before, Malachi?”

He shook his head. “What?”

“Before!” she shouted with a choked sob. “What was it? Please!”


She looked ready to collapse. She was trembling, tears rolling down her face, and he didn’t know what to do.

“Ava, I don’t understand what you’re asking.”


“Please.” Her face crumbled. “Just tell me what language it was. I heard you. Just… just tell me I’m not crazy.”


Malachi wanted to grab her. Calm her, but he couldn’t. She was wearing nothing but a tank top. She’d taken off her long-sleeved shirt halfway up the mountain. And his touch would hurt her. No matter how much he wanted, he would never—could never…


He finally registered what she’d said.


Tell me what language it was.


He’d cursed in the Old Language. Most people never even noticed.


Her eyes pleaded with him, and her shoulders shook. “Tell me I’m not crazy, Malachi.”


“Ava, did you…” He drew in a quick breath as the pieces began to fall into place.


The headaches. Her nervousness in crowds. His instincts had warned him, but everyone said it wasn’t possible.


‘I heard you…’


Malachi shook his head.

Defeat washed across her face. “Please… I’ve heard it for so long.” She fell to her knees. “I just need to know—”


“What language are you talking about, Ava?” He knelt cautiously next to her, still stunned. Ava shook her head, eyes glassy and dazed.


“My whole life…” She wrapped her arms around herself. “They called me crazy. And now I’m imagining it out loud. I am—”


“This language?” he asked softly, whispering in the ancient tongue of the angels. “Ava, is this the language you’re talking about?”


She gasped and clutched the front of his shirt. “Malachi?”

He continued in soft words he knew she couldn’t understand. “Where have you heard this, beautiful one?” Malachi lifted trembling fingers to a curl of her hair, then he asked in English again. “Where have you heard this, Ava?”

She clutched his shirt tighter. “Everywhere,” she choked out. “I hear it everywhere!”


He shook his head, disbelieving. “It can’t be.”


“Every person. All over the world. I hear them, Malachi. In my head. The same language, over and over.” Her tears kept falling, and she wouldn’t let go of his shirt, almost as if she was afraid he would run. “I’m crazy. I know it. I told myself if I could just figure out what they were saying, it would make sense, but—”


“You’re not crazy.” Malachi lifted a tentative hand to her cheek. He had to know. “You’re not crazy, Ava, you’re—”


He broke off when she leaned her face into his hand, resting her cheek against his frozen palm.


Ava whispered, “You make the voices go away.” Then she closed her eyes, let out a soft breath, and Malachi felt her.


The rush of energy filled him, lifted him. His heart raced as the force of it elevated him. Malachi lifted his other hand to her neck, tracing the ancient letters over her skin, watching as the faint golden glow illuminated in the shadow of the pines. A choked laugh bubbled up in his throat and Ava’s eyes flickered open. His hand traced lower, brushing over her bare shoulder, down her arm, and everywhere his hand went, her skin gave off a faint, shimmering gold.


“You’re not crazy.” He couldn’t tear his eyes away from his fingers touching—actually touching—her. “You’re not crazy, Ava. You’re… a miracle.”

 

 

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Elizabeth Hunter is a contemporary fantasy and romance author. She is a graduate of the University of Houston Honors College in the Department of English (Linguistics) and a former English teacher.

She currently lives in Central California with a seven-year-old ninja who claims to be her child. She enjoys reading, writing, travel, and bowling (despite the fact that she’s not very good at it.) Someday, she plans to learn how to scuba dive. And maybe hang glide. But that looks like a lot of running.

She is the author of the Elemental Mysteries and Elemental World series, the Cambio Springs series, and other works of fiction.

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Excerpt: Accidents of Marriage by Randy Susan Mayers

Today I have an excerpt to share with you, from the newly released Accidents of Marriage. I loved this story so, so much, and definitely recommend it to fans of Women's Fiction. My review posts on 9/18. Thanks for stopping by!

Series: Standalone
Genre: Women's Fiction
Publisher: Atria
Publication Date: 9/2/14


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Accidents of Marriage explores a topic rarely shown in fiction: the destruction left in the wake of spouse’s verbal fury. Ben never meant to hurt Maddy. He never imagined his recklessness would lead to tragedy.



Maddy is a social worker trying to balance her career and three children. Years ago, she fell in love with Ben, a public defender, drawn to his fiery passion, but now he’s lashing out at her during his periodic verbal furies. She vacillates between tiptoeing around him and asserting herself for the sake of their kids – which works to keep a fragile peace – until the rainy day when they’re together in the car and Ben’s volatile temper gets the best of him, leaving Maddy in the hospital fighting for her life.

 
Randy Susan Meyers takes us inside the hearts and minds of her characters, alternating among the perspectives of Maddy, Ben, and their fourteen-year-old daughter. Accidents of Marriage is a provocative and stunning novel that will resonate deeply with women from all walks of life, ultimately revealing the challenges of family, faith, and forgiveness.

 
ACCIDENTS OF MARRIAGE explores a topic rarely shown in fiction: the damaging effects of a spouse’s emotional abuse.

Excerpt and Giveaway: Worth the Fall by Claudia Connor

Worth the Fall by Claudia Connor releases today, and I'm happy to have an excerpt and giveaway to share with you. I've been hearing great things about this one, and am hoping to read it soon. Thanks for stopping by and good luck!

Series: The McKinney Brothers #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Loveswept
Publication Date: 9/9/14



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Prepare to be swept away by a talented debut author with a passionate, powerful story to tell.  


They meet on a beach. . . . Abby Davis isn’t wearing a skimpy bikini or sipping umbrella drinks, not when she’s busy chasing around four little ones. And Matt McKinney isn’t looking for fun—he’s a Navy SEAL, a grown man with a long list of missions . . . and fallen brothers.


They only have a week. . . . Abby has brought her children to this beach to start over, to give them the enjoyable memories they deserve. Matt’s been sidelined by a combat injury, and haunted by the best friend he lost and the promise he made: to remain a SEAL—focused and dedicated. This leaves no time for what he’s always wanted: a family.  


But a week is all it takes. . . . Matt opens her heart while Abby soothes his soul. And though they plan to say good-bye when the week is over, something magical happens on that beach, something neither can forget. Something utterly, completely worth falling for.

He liked watching her when she didn’t know. There were no games. No trying to impress him. Just beautiful and real. The kind of woman a man would do everything in his power to keep. He at least wanted to keep her for now.


Abby settled in the chair beside him, and a calm washed over him like the waves of the Atlantic. For the first time in a long time outside of work, he felt like he knew what he was doing. Knew where he was supposed to be.


She shifted and he imagined her cute little bottom wiggling in front of him. Abby. He liked to say her name, liked to think it. He felt the air move, inhaled her scent as she leaned closer. Looking her fill, was she? Well, he’d make damn sure he got his turn. He forced himself to breathe slowly and evenly until he couldn’t take it anymore. “You’re staring,” he said, opening his eyes and angling his head, catching her in the act.


She jerked back all discombobulated. “No, I’m not.”


“You were.” But she wasn’t nearly as close now, making him regret interrupting the moment. “I felt you.”


She gave him a snarky look, if one could call it that on such a gorgeous face. “You couldn’t have felt me. I didn’t touch you.”


“Well, I did.”



“Superhuman powers?” she asked.



He smiled. Snarky voice too. “Close your eyes.”


“What?”


“Close.”


She made a point of watching the kids.


“I’ve got the kids. Trust me,” he added.


With his last words, her eyes snapped back to his. She searched his face, but finally her eyes closed.


Her chest rose and fell as she breathed, the top of her bathing suit cupping soft, sweet breasts. He leaned close enough to see each fine hair of her feathered brow.

Unable to fight it, he cupped her face, gently smoothed the furrow between her brows with his thumb. Her eyes popped open, and he dropped his hand but didn’t move back. An involuntary smile stretched his face as a warm feeling spread through him. Happiness maybe?

“Could you feel me?”


“Of course I could.” She averted her gaze and tucked flying strands of her hair behind her cute little ear. “You were touching me.”


Yep. He had an effect on her. And she couldn’t hide it worth a damn. His smile grew.


He’d let her think she could. For now.


“What?” she asked, catching more silky strands in her fingers.


She has no idea how beautiful she is. Then, realizing how close he was to putting his lips to hers, he forced himself to sit back. “Don’t fight it.” “Huh?”


“Your hair.” He could smell it from here, the wind blowing her scent over him. “It wants to be down.”


Keeping her eyes on his, she slowly pulled the elastic band from her hair and all that dark silk tumbled down past her shoulders. Damn. He needed a diversion.

 

 

 

 

 

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Claudia Connor attended Auburn University, where she received her undergraduate and masters degrees in early childhood education, and completed her studies in Sawbridgeworth, England. Always a lover of happy endings, she enjoys movies, reading, and spending her days pouring out the stories in her head. She lives near Memphis, Tennessee, with her husband and three daughters.


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Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaways: The Hook Up by Kristen Callihan

Series: Game On #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Self-Pub
Publication Date: 9/8/15



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The rules: no kissing on the mouth, no staying the night, no telling anyone, and above all… No falling in love

Anna Jones just wants to finish college and figure out her life. Falling for star quarterback Drew Baylor is certainly not on her to do list. Confident and charming, he lives in the limelight and is way too gorgeous for his own good. If only she could ignore his heated stares and stop thinking about doing hot and dirty things with him. Easy right?


Too bad he’s committed to making her break every rule…

Football has been good to Drew. It’s given him recognition, two National Championships, and the Heisman. But what he really craves is sexy yet prickly Anna Jones. Her cutting humor and blatant disregard for his fame turns him on like nothing else. But there’s one problem: she's shut him down. Completely.

That is until a chance encounter leads to the hottest sex of their lives, along with the possibility of something great. Unfortunately, Anna wants it to remain a hook up. Now it’s up to Drew to tempt her with more: more sex, more satisfaction, more time with him. Until she’s truly hooked. It's a good thing Drew knows all about winning.


All’s fair in love and football…Game on

Inside the house is just as I feared. Packed, hot, and loud. Guys appear to make it their sole purpose to shout out to one another. Inane music is pulsing through the speakers and bouncing off the walls. 

Eyes follow me as I walk by. I don’t belong. They know it. I know it. Girls frown as if trying to figure out why I am here and who invited me, and guys take long looks at my boobs. I’m now cursing my choice of top. And Iris. 

Iris, who darts like a minnow through the crowd in her quest to find Henry. The instant she does, he pulls her in and sticks his tongue down her throat. His hands grab her ass to haul her in closer. 

Yeah. I don’t have any desire to stand next to them now. My only refuge is to find a beer and a corner to nurse it in. Because of my three-inch boot heels, I hover at 5’10.” High enough to see over most other girls’ heads. High enough that when I move into another room, I instantly spot him. And he’s looking directly at me. 

Drew Baylor. 

Of course. I am now officially going to kill Iris. 

I want to look away, but I can’t. I never can when it comes to him. His mouth hangs open slightly, as if he’s shocked to see me here, which makes two of us; I’m shocked to be here. But then, as if it dawns on him that it’s really me and not a nightmare, his lips quirk up at the corners and a glint comes into his eyes. 

I wonder if all my happy parts are somehow connected to his smile because they flare at that expression, going warm and tingly. Which annoys the hell out of me. 

Then he moves, walking away from the group of people surrounding him without a backward glance. 

Disabled as I am by my uncooperative body, I stand unmoving as he comes for me. His big body cuts through the crowd like a blade. God damn, but he looks fine, his long striding legs encased in worn and faded jeans that hug his thick thighs. His moss brown t-shirt clings to his chest like a love song, highlighting the breadth of his shoulders and the leanness of his waist. 

In a room filled with boys, Drew is a man here. Bigger, stronger, and just more. In an odd way, he doesn’t belong here either. But the difference is they want him to belong. 

His eyes stay locked with mine the whole time. It’s unnerving. And enough to make my toes curl in my beloved Vogs. 

He stops just before me. Way too close for a casual acquaintance. Even with my added height, I have to tip my head back a little to meet his gaze. 

“Anna Jones,” he drawls, “fancy meeting you here.” That he appears pleased makes my insides dip.  

“Not by my own volition,” I mutter. 

His lopsided smile grows. “Who suckered you into coming?” 

“Iris, my roommate and soon-to-be resident on the missing persons list.”

A light laugh breaks from him, and his eyes warm. “I don’t know… I’m kind of grateful to her.” 

“You can thank her when she stops sucking her boyfriend’s face off. As for me, I’m leaving.” 

Baylor’s brows snap together. “Now? You just got here.” 

“How do you know? I might have been here for hours.” 

He shifts his weight onto one leg, bringing him closer. “Jones, I knew the second you walked in the door.” 

“Bull.” I say it reflexively.

But he grins. “I shit you not.”

My skin is too tight, my flesh too warm now. “How is that even possible?” 

Another small laugh leaves him. “Seriously?” 

And then he does it. His gaze travels down to my chest, lingering there as his nostrils flare, before slowly trailing back up to my face. When my glare registers, he merely gives me a sheepish look as if to say he knows he’s busted but isn’t really sorry for it. 

Not that I can totally blame him. My boobs are swelling over the edge of my top. I have the desperate urge to hike the cami up, but I resist and cross my arms under my breasts instead. The action lifts my cleavage higher. A dare. I think. I’m not sure what the hell I’m doing anymore. 

Color tinges the high crests of his cheeks and those hot eyes glide back down. “Okay,” he says thickly, “now I know you’re messing with me.” Somehow, he’s now less than a foot away. The fan of his lashes casts shadows on his cheeks as he peers at me. “But I’m willing to be tortured.” 

Okay kids, we have two giveaways! First is the gift card giveaway. Second, two winners will receive a copy of The Hook Up (ebook). All you need to do to enter is leave a comment, letting us know what you think of that excerpt.

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Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she’d rather do. She is a three-time RITA nominee, and winner of two RT Reviewer’s Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.

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Excerpt and Giveaway: Taking Control - Jen Frederick

In anticipation of the upcoming release, Jen Frederick is sharing an excerpt and giveaway from Taking Control. Good luck, and thanks for stopping by!

Series: Kerr Chronicles #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Pear Tree, LLC
Publication Date: 9/8/14


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I thought I needed only one thing in my life--the money and power to crush one man. But the moment I laid eyes on Victoria Corielli, my thirst for revenge was replaced by my craving for her.


No rule would keep me away; no obstacle too large to overcome. Not her will, not our differing social positions, not my infamous past. When she lost everything, I helped her pick up the pieces. When she trusted me with everything, she sealed her fate.



I've convinced Victoria she can put her heart in my hands. Now I have to protect it--from her shady stepfather and my business rivals, from enemies known and hidden. I'll do anything to keep her. And I might have to prove it, because now Victoria''s risking more than her heart to be with me; she's risking her life.

"I want us to get married. Soon. Do you want a big wedding?”

“Married? I mean, I guess I thought you were serious but I figured…I don’t know.” Her voice trails off.

“That my proposal of marriage was somehow insincere? I’ve never wanted anything more. I just didn’t want to pressure you because of all the emotional upheaval you’re experiencing now.” Rolling over so she can see me and judge the sincerity for herself, I declare, “I want you to be my wife. The mother of any children we have. My partner in life. I want that to happen now so that I can introduce you as Mrs. Ian Kerr.”

Her eyes close for a moment and beneath the lids, silent tears leak out. Her words, though, are classic. “Maybe you should take my name. You can be Ian Corielli and I’ll introduce you as Mr. Victoria Corielli.”

“As long as it means you’re mine in the eyes of the world, I’ll be Mr. John Smith.”

She wraps her arms around my neck and clings to me. This time the shudders I’m soothing are from maybe, possibly, hopefully joy for our future. “I’m okay with Victoria Kerr,” she chokes out. “You better give me a big rock and lots of flowers since you’re proposing to me while we’re naked.”

“I proposed to you when I first took you to the house on the Long Island Sound.”

“You didn’t propose. You said that you wanted me to be your wife and fill your big house with lots of little people.”

“That’s a proposal.”

“It was a demand.”

“It was a request couched as a demand.”

Her body is shaking with laughter. “You’ve been in charge for too long. That was no request.”

Pushing to my knees, I reach into the nightstand and retrieve the box I bought before Sophie died. Her eyes grow huge and her hands come up to the cover her mouth. I flip the box lid open, pluck the ring out and toss it aside.

Lifting her shaking hand in mine, I slide the ring down her finger.

“When I was fifteen I made a hundred different stupid vows. I’d avenge my mother. I’d rise to the top of Wall Street and smite everyone down. I’d crush Richard Howe beneath the sole of my boot. I’d win at everything. But I never wished for happiness because I didn’t know what it was until you came into my life. How could I want something I didn’t know was missing? Now, everything I’ve achieved pales in comparison to having you love me. When I say that you’re my heart, my everything, those aren’t just words. They are the only truth in my world. I’d give up money, revenge, success, as long as I could lie down next to you at night and wake up with your face beside mine.

There is no greater achievement in my life than having you fall in love with me and I recognize on some mysterious level that is pure luck. I need you to marry me and be my wife. I need you to be the mother of my children. I need you because without you I am nothing. I am a pile of bones and flesh filled with misery. You bring me to life. Love me, marry me, be with me in this life and into all the ones we live from this point ever after.”

“Well, since you put it like that, I guess I must.” She rises and kisses me. Our mouths sealing the promises we’ve made to another one another.

I make love to her again then, slowly. We barely move. I just slide in and we rock together and allow the strength of our emotions to carry us into the heaven.
 

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Bestselling author Jen Frederick lives with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog. She's been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at jensfrederick@gmail.com.

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