All posts by writinstuff

Contemporary romance writer, political comedy writer, ghostwriter and editor. Lover of coffee & cocktails, world traveler, off-key singer, vegan and adventurer-ish!

BOOK TOUR!!! ~ The Life She Wished For by ChaShiree M.

Title: The Life She Wished For
Series: Birds of Paradise #2
Author: ChaShiree M.
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: April 10, 2018



 


 

Amazon Customer – “An emotional roller coaster! I love this book so much and it really hit me right in the feels. Such an amazing read. Can’t wait to read more!”

Shakespeare’s Wench Book Blog – “This book was sexy and amazing. I’m really excited for what comes next in this series.”

Amazon Customer – “Epic read with a few twist that will leave wanting more”


What happens when the life you live is nothing like what you wished for?
Phoenix has lived a very sad and tumultuous life thanks her evil diabolical father. She and her brothers and sisters have suffered due to their parentage and none of them escaped unscarred. All she has ever wanted was someone to love protect and nurture her and for this, she will give him herself. Upon meeting Mikhail one night she thinks she has found him only for him to disappear.
When he returns, she is so anxious to find her version of happily ever after that she doesn’t look closer then her eye can see until it is too late.
Mikhail had a rough start to life but was given a chance to start over and become a product of a different environment. Choosing to work hard to rise to the top as a way of honoring the parents that gave him this extraordinary new life, before theirs was so viciously snuffed out, he has given up on finding love. 
Until the day she walked into the bar and took his life by storm. 
Though he knows she is his future and will stop at nothing to have her, he must first walk away to straighten out his life before he brings his future into it. When he goes to claim what is rightfully his, unforeseen forces threaten to tear them apart.

 

Can these two-scarred souls find their way through the chaos to lasting love? Or will evil win and tear them apart forever?


 





 


ChaShiree M. is 34 years old. She loves to write as much as she loves to help mold and mentor the new generation. You can find her at home in Chicago chilling with her friends and family or trying to find the next book event to go to and fangirl. 

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BOOK TOUR –> Love and War by Charisse Spiers

Title: Love and War Volume 1
Series: Shadows in the Dark
Author: Charisse Spiers
Release: February 22, 2018
Genre: Dark Erotic Romance




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The f*cking lights. They are all I can remember. Everywhere I turn I see them. They haunt my dreams, and now my reality. She liked the lights. I do remember that. It was part of her life, and in turn a part of mine, until the day I forgot it all. 

They say your childhood paves the way to adulthood, and maybe it does. I know mine was lit up in flames. I walked the roads of Hell until I figured out that the only way to survive was to exist under a cloak of darkness—to deal with the devil himself. It was the only way to escape the pain, the torment. But the nightmares are still very real. They’ll never leave me alone. The shadows of solitude follow me wherever I go.


Weapons—they can be anything I need them to be. Unlike people in my life, they are predictable, dependable. Without any effort they can cause so much destruction, but also so much peace. Through the internal chaos, the anger that won’t cease, and the constant noise, everything is silenced with the pull of the trigger.


Ink—I’ve loved it since I can remember. It defines me. It’s my release. When I feel like I’m about to blow I turn to the needle. It is the one high I need. I brand people. It’s what I do. Kross Brannon is the best there is when it comes to tattoos. The success of my company proves it. 


But I never teach. Those that work for me learn from someone else. I’m a solo artist. Always have been and always will be…but then I looked up and saw her, standing in my shop, beautiful, tattooed, and her soul screaming for me to reach out. She was a force of nature I couldn’t turn away.


That’s the moment everything started falling into place…


Note from the author: Dark Romance. Please be advised there may be emotional triggers for some. If you do not like dark themes this book may not be for you. Suitable for ages 18+ due to content.

 











I found books when I was going through a hard time in life. They became my means of escape when things got bad. I realized quickly how much I loved to take a backseat to someone else’s life and watch the journey unfold. That began my journey with books in November of 2012. I constantly had a book open on my Kindle app. Never in a million years would I have imagined myself as a writer, because I never thought I was creative enough. I’m living proof that things will fall into place when they’re meant to be. People will make their way into our lives when we don’t expect it, setting the path for what we are meant to do. Never give up on people. Never stop taking a chance on others. Someone took a chance on trusting me with her work when she didn’t know me from a stranger on the street and gave me the opportunity of a lifetime as our relationship progressed, which led me to editing and writing as well. This is my dream I never knew I had. As soon as I sat down and gave writing a shot, it was like the floodgates opened. Now, I am lost in a world of fiction in my head, new characters constantly screaming for their stories to be told. Continue to dream and to go for them. No one ever found happiness by sitting on the sidelines. Sometimes we have to take risks and put ourselves out there. Thank you for all of your support, and may there be many books to come. XOXO- C



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COVER REVEAL –> Opened Up by Eva Moore (with EXCERPT!)

Title: Opened Up
Series: Exposed Dreams #1
Author: Eva Moore
Genre: Sexy Contemporary Romance 18+
Release Date: May 2, 2018
Cover Designer: Render Compose
Payroll
Purchase Orders
Peanut Butter Cups
Not necessarily in that order…
Sofia Valenti dreams of a life spent designing beautiful homes for the family business. But as her to-do list can attest, that dream is still far away. Stuck doing office work for Valenti Brothers Construction and stress eating her weight in chocolate, she wants more than hand-me-down responsibilities. When her father, Dom, signs up the whole family for a reality TV show, Sofia sees a chance to grab the spotlight for her dream. What she doesn’t count on is the sexy head contractor knocking down her ideas and her barriers like it’s demo day.
Adrian Villanueva has spent his life on the outside looking in. When Dom talks retirement, Adrian sees his chance to finally buy his way into the company he helped build. He’s certainly not going to let the inexperienced designer daughter with expensive taste and mouthwatering curves stand in his way. Ignoring his old crush on Sofia the girl will be easy. He’s had a decade of practice. It’s the appeal of Sofia the woman that threatens to bring him to his knees.
When hidden attraction flares into open desire, they must decide if a chance at love is worth giving up on a lifetime of dreams.
“Well, babe, I gotta say, more money always sounds good to me.”
Ugh. It’s like he does it without even thinking. She passed him the paperwork and pointed to the pertinent sections.
“I just started going through this. Give it a read-through, and tell me if you see any red flags. I’m going to refill my coffee.”
She needed a minute to calm her swirling thoughts, and sitting in a small room with a man who simultaneously generated a low-level buzz of attraction while also making her want to punch him in the stomach was not helping. His proposal had stunned her, and she’d not responded well. She pulled down another mug out of force of habit and filled it before topping hers off as well. She added one sugar and a healthy dollop of cream to his, fake sugar and cream to her own.
All done, but nowhere near ready to return, she braced her hands on the peacock granite countertop, stretched her arms long and dropped her head between them. She lengthened her spine and took a deep breath, aiming for some of the peace she’d felt when she’d dropped into a yoga class with Brandy.
Change itself was nothing to fear. So what if most of the changes in her life had been awful? That didn’t mean these changes were going to be bad, too. She could handle whatever needed handling. She’d managed before, and she could do it again. And she was absolutely full of crap. She was three seconds from panicking, and her deep-breathing exercises were getting trapped in her clenching throat.
“Hey, are you okay?” Adrian’s deep, husky voice skittered up her spine, leaving a trail of goose bumps that didn’t subside when she jumped and squealed.
Why did this man have the power to make her feel like a twelve-year-old girl? She spun to face him, only to find that he’d invaded the space she’d cleared and was reaching for her shoulder, as if to steady her. She backed away swiftly, bumping into the counter and rattling the cups. Remembering why she’d come to the kitchen in the first place, she handed him the coffee she’d made him, being careful not to scald herself with a brush of his fingertips. She could pick apart the ridiculousness of her response later.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” She retreated into a sip of her own fortifying mug.
He mirrored her sip and stepped back as well. Message finally freaking received. Good.
“You know how I take my coffee?” He grinned as if this detail somehow meant something special.
“I know everyone’s coffee order. Have you not noticed who keeps the lists for meeting coffee runs? Or who is constantly being charged with stocking the kitchen? Or did you just think a magical caffeine fairy came in at night and brought lattes to all the good little boys?” She tried once again to take him down a peg while setting him straight. She couldn’t have him thinking that she’d been watching him, paying attention to his personal preferences. Even if she had.
Once again, her sarcasm flew right over his head. He raised the contract in his hand and held it out to her.
“Listen, I tried to read through this, but it might as well be written in Latin. Can you walk me through the specifics?”
“I just got it myself. Give me a day or two to really pick it apart, and I’ll fill you in.”
“Thanks, angel. That sounds good.” He tossed the contract on the break room table, supremely confident, coffee in hand.
She’d wager he hadn’t even heard the “Sure thing” she’d managed through clenched teeth. How could she be so attracted to someone who pissed her off so royally?
Good thing he didn’t know, or he’d be insufferable.

Winner of Cherry Adair’s Finish The Damn Book Contest 2017, Eva Moore writes sweet and sexy contemporary romance, after leaving a career in the classroom to raise her daughters. Opened Up is the first book in her new Exposed Dreams series, set in the world of home renovation reality TV. Eva now lives in Silicon Valley, after moving around the world and back, with her college sweetheart, her three gorgeous girls, and a Shih Tzu who thinks he’s a cat. She can be found most nights hiding in her closet/office, scribbling away, and loves to hear from the outside world. You can find her at http://www.4evamoore.com.

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NEW RELEASE!! –> Psychopath’s Prey by VF Mason ~ #giveaway

Title: Psychopath’s Prey 
Author: VF Mason
Genre: Dark Romance
Publication Date: April 17, 2018 

 

Once upon a time she became mine.

 

Mine to hunt. 
A criminal psychologist and a serial killer.
The love between them shouldn’t exist.
Or so the world thinks.
Her mission is to find him.
His single obsession is to catch her.
The hunter and the prey.
Let the games begin, and may the stronger one win.

 

 

 

V.F.Mason always loved reading books and had quite a few fights with her momma over the genre she liked (romance, duh!) She studied filmmaking and thought that would feed her desire for stories, but that didn’t happen. 

Finally, when she was tired of all those voices in her head, she sat down and wrote a book. It was a huge decision to make and she thanks her friends and family for supporting her in it.When she is not writing, she can be found with her friends doing all sorts of crazy things or reading recent romance books that were written by her favorite authors.
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COVER REVEAL! ~ Tailor Made by Tasha Lewis

Title: Tailor Made
Author: Tasha Lewis
Genre: Sweet Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 14, 2018
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NEW RELEASE ALERT

Rayleigh
Dating, who has time for that? Between working and my art, I have room for nothing else. That is until my best friend sets me up on Tailor Made: a website where I can design the perfect guy and my dream date. Crazy? I thought so too. Until he shows up and proves me wrong. It’s supposed to be just one night of fun, but in my life, things rarely go according to plan.

Mason
Working at Tailor Made is the perfect arrangement: all the perks of dating without the commitment. Between school, two jobs and raising my sister, I don’t have time for relationships, nor the demands that come with them. Then a client books me for a night out and I know, one night will never be enough. What’s supposed to be a simple date, just a job, flips my world upside down.

Sometimes the perfect fit comes along when you least expect it.
Tasha Lewis is a romance author who grew up with her head in the clouds. Her passion for life has always kept her dreaming and moving forward. She believes in fate and is a true romantic at heart. Tasha is certain that anything can be solved with a good cup of coffee and a dog or two at your side.
When she isn’t reading, which isn’t often, she is usually working on a craft or three – she can never just stick with one. Join her on her journey of publication, crocheting and any other craft she is working on.
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COVER REVEAL! –> Beneath Your Beautiful by Emery Rose

Title: Beneath Your Beautiful
Author: Emery Rose
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 17, 2018
Cover Designer: Sarah Hansen, Okay Creations
EDEN
All I wanted was a fresh start in a new city … and a bartending job. I never intended to fall for the sexy, tattooed bar owner.
Dark.
Brooding.
Emotionally unavailable. 
Killian Vincent is a challenge I can’t seem to walk away from.
He’s afraid that if I dig too deep, I won’t like what I find. 
But he’s wrong, and I’m determined to prove it.

KILLIAN
Love can destroy a man. Bring him to his knees. That’s why I never let anyone get too close.
Until Eden.
Feisty.
Stubborn.
Irresistible.
She’s on a mission to knock down my walls. Dig up truths better left buried.
I need to convince her that walking away is the right choice… before it destroys us both.

“What do you do in your free time?” he asked.


Was this an interview or was he just making small talk? He didn’t strike me as a small talk kind of guy. “Since I moved to Brooklyn, I’ve been checking out the neighborhoods. Taking photos. And visiting art galleries. I run every day. And I draw and paint.” I wasn’t sure why I said that. I used to draw and paint, but it had been six months since I’d picked up a pencil or paintbrush.

“Which artists do you like?” He tilted his head, as if the answer really mattered to him.

I didn’t know what kind of answers he was looking for, or how this had anything to do with bartending. “I like Picasso. Especially his Blue Period. Frida Kahlo. Willem de Kooning. Rodin’s sculptures. And the street art and graffiti in Brooklyn.” 

I stared at the black and grey inked tattoos on his left arm. I’d add them to my list of art I liked. Intricate designs, interwoven with thick swirls and chains. A shield of armor on his upper arm. An anatomical heart and dagger. A Celtic cross. A banner trailing down his forearm, with words written in script. Not English. Latin? I wanted to know what it said and meant to him.

“Why should I take a chance on you?” he asked, reminding me of the reason I came here in the first place.

I dragged my gaze back to his face. God, he was gorgeous. His face was a study in symmetry. My fingers itched to hold a charcoal pencil so I could sketch him.

“I’m looking for a fresh start.” Something like recognition flickered in his eyes, but it was so fleeting, I might have imagined it. “That’s why I moved to Brooklyn.”

“By yourself?” he asked.

I nodded.

“That’s brave.”

I wasn’t sure about the brave part. So far, it was lonely. And a lot harder than I’d expected. “I really need this job. Brooklyn is expensive. And I can’t go home. I just…can’t.”

He studied my face, and I wondered what he saw there.

“These are the rules. Number one: don’t lie to me. Number two: don’t steal from me. You ring up every drink you serve. You don’t give free drinks to your friends. Number three: no drugs. If you break any of my rules, you’re out. Got a problem with anything I said?”

“Are you offering me a job?” I asked, gripping my lower lip between my teeth to keep from smiling. His gaze dropped to my mouth and lingered there before he shook his head and looked away.

“I’m offering you a chance. Not everyone is cut out for bartending. So?”

“I don’t lie, steal, or do drugs.” The two times I’d smoked pot with Trevor didn’t seem worth mentioning.

I held Killian’s gaze until he nodded, satisfied I was telling the truth. My face broke into a smile, but he held up his hand to stop me from getting too excited. “You’ll have guys hassling you. When they get drunk, they say and do stupid shit. I’m not saying it’s right,” he shrugged one shoulder, “but you’re not unattractive, so you’ll need to deal with that.”

“I’m not unattractive? Are you always this charming?”

“If you’re looking for Prince Charming, it ain’t me, sunshine.”

Sunshine? At least he didn’t make any empty promises or pretend to be something he wasn’t. “I don’t believe in fairytales. Or happily ever after. Prince Charming was an evil villain in disguise, and Cinderella was the doormat he wiped his feet on.” His brows went up a notch. “So, don’t worry. I’m not looking for Prince Charming. I’m not looking for a guy to sweep me off my feet either. I’m just looking for a job. And I can handle guys hassling me. My dad and two older brothers taught me how to fend for myself.”

He raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Did they?”

“Yes, they did. My dad and brother are state police officers and my other brother is a Marine. I grew up in a testosterone-fueled house with enough badassery to rub off on little old me.”

His lips curved into a smile, showing off his straight white teeth…and—oh God, dimples. He had dimples. But the smile faded all too quickly, as if he’d caught himself doing something he shouldn’t, and the mask slipped firmly into place again.
Emery Rose has been known to indulge in good red wine, strong coffee, and a healthy dose of sarcasm. She loves writing sexy alpha heroes, strong heroines, artists, beautiful souls, and flawed but redeemable characters who need to work for their HEA.
When she’s not working on her latest project, you can find her binge-watching Netflix, trotting the globe in search of sunshine, or immersed in a good book. A former New Yorker, she currently resides in London with her two fabulous daughters and one grumpy, but lovable Border Terrier.

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COVER REVEAL ~ Unsteady by Elizabeth York

Title: Unsteady
Author: Elizabeth York
Genre: Romantic Suspense Standalone
Release Date: June 26, 2018
Cover Designer: Letitia Hasser at RBA Designs
Photographer: Sara Eirew
He was the only one for me
When I close my eyes, I still see the way he looked at me all those years ago. 
The way it felt to have someone so amazing in my life, especially after my parents abandoned me. 
The bond that only a childhood friend could understand. 
He was my balance and never let me fall
But I lied to him…
She was my better half 
I remember the fear she hid under her smile when I met her. 
There were so many adventures we concocted, that we were sure we lived a hundred lifetimes in our minds. 
She was the reason I got up in the morning. 
She was my gravity and kept me grounded.
But then she lied… 

He kept my heart when I broke his. 
I was never going to see him again. 
He would always hate me, even if he knew the truth. 
It would be better this way. 
If only he hadn’t kept my heart.
She threw my heart away when I wanted her to have it the most.
I am so full of rage – I never want to see her again.
She ruined every memory that we made with a simple sentence. 
My life would be better without her.
If only she hadn’t kept my heart.
At forty-thousand feet the Earth shifted, and planets aligned. My world came into focus and for once I was no longer unsteady and ready to fall. As the winds of the plane drifted over the icy cold ocean my heart warmed when I saw him. Once I saw his eyes and the way he was looking at me I knew.
He was the balance I always needed.
… And she was mine.

London in the Past
“I’m scared,” my voice echoed across the inky night sky. My arms trembled as I hung from the edge of the concrete ledge outside of my window.
“Swing your legs over, latch onto the trellis, and then walk your hands over till you can grab on,” Logan whispered loud enough for me to hear. We only had a couple of minutes before the nuns made their rounds and caught us sneaking out.
I walked my hands one inch at a time across the hardened ledge as sweat sheened my body. My strained muscles were not going to hold me much longer since their idea of physical exercise was doing nothing more than writing notes to Logan every day.
“Logan,” I flinched when a piece of loose cement dug into my hand.
“Let go,” his voice reverberated in the wind as I looked down to see the drop below me. I looked for comfort in Logan’s eyes, but his dark hair was swept across his face as the storm in the distance gained momentum. Dogs barked across the field letting us know that the nuns were putting away the garden tools and would soon be circling the property before they went to bed.
“Logan,” I cried as my hand started to slip.
“Let go, I’ll catch you,” his hushed tones were hard to hear as we tried not to draw attention to ourselves. I winced at the pain and looked back up to see blood running down my forearm. “Drop London,” he quietly yelled as my eyes sought him out. There was a quiet reflection that resounded in my heart seeing him with his arms up waiting for me. At that moment, I put all my faith in him, trusted him completely, took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and just let go.
Before I could scream I felt Logan’s arms as he caught me and we both tumbled to the ground as I slammed into him and rolled away.  He immediately crawled over and looked down on me ensuring I was fine without a care for himself, his fresh bruising, and the new dirt he now wore on his jean jacket.
“Are you okay?” He asked as he inspected my palm. I nodded, but a teardrop fled my eye allowing him to know I was lying. My body ached and the gash in my hand was on fire.
“Who’s out here?” Sister Katherine yelled loudly. Logan helped me up and we ran through the field till we passed the point of no return and ventured into the neighboring orchard that had been abandoned. No one could find us here. As often as it flooded we knew no one would come for us all the way out past the tree line by the water’s edge.
“Give me your scarf,” Logan demanded. I pulled it out from my belt loops and handed it to him. “Why do you wear your scarf like a belt?” He questioned me with a curious smirk.  I grinned through the aches my body felt trying to find the words. I was finally feeling the full impact of the fall. My smile tried to hide the agony, but Logan could see through me.
“It was something my mom always did,” I explained when I could breathe through the discomfort. He pulled a small piece of concrete out of the tear in my palm. Then he wrapped my hand with my pink scarf as he tried to stop the bleeding. I tried to hide my wince as he tied it tight, but I failed. A soft guilty look slid across his face before he looked down at my hand again.

 

“I think it’s silly. It’s a scarf, not a belt,” he gave me a half smile as his lips crooked up to show me he wasn’t serious. “Your hand should be good until morning and by then we will have figured out how to explain it.”
Elizabeth has been writing for so long she has forgotten how old she is. Accustomed to southern climate she likes drinking her sweet tea on the porch with her laptop in hand. In 2015, she was named Author of the Year and received an award from over thirty blogs and a multitude of authors for her work in the community as well as for the words she wrote. Married to the military and a mother to three this woman knows how to multitask. She can handle anything you throw at her, but enjoys a quiet night with her family or a open book in her hands. Join her journey and see where she will take you next.
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NEW RELEASE ~ Revolver by Savannah Stewart

Title: Revolver
Author: Savannah Stewart
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: April 18, 2018
Cover Desinger: Sofie – Hart & Bailey Design Co.

Las Vegas, Nevada, the city that never sleeps. Full of lust, greed, and wonder. Where death is hastily becoming a norm.

The playground of a wicked man who believes fate plays out through his hands.
Roulette Casino, home of the notorious Revolver slot machine. Praised around the World for its mysterious allure. On the FBI’s radar as a possible lead to why dead bodies are popping up throughout Clark County.
Can two FBI agents, who are also lovers, take down one of the most notorious serial killers of all time? Or will the game of roulette leave the gun pointed in their direction?
Pull the trigger to find out.

Not even five minutes after we stepped up to the counter we were walking into the casino. The dinging from the machines blended together as people hooped and hollered about winning or losing. The lights were low, giving the atmosphere an intimate feel and the same color scheme stretched around the room. To the right were the card tables that seemed to go on forever, with well over a couple hundred people as far as I could see. Casinos were a huge market in Vegas, and Roulette wasn’t lacking.
Gavin directed us to the bar where he ordered bourbon on the rocks. Not my favorite drink of choice, but one he knew I would sip instead of gulp down. He was thinking two steps ahead.
He braced an arm on the bar and leaned into me. “Where do you want to start?” The mixture of Gavin’s sensual voice and the burn from the bourbon was causing my head to spin. I pushed the glass towards the bartender instead of finishing it off.
“We need to find the slot machine.”
“I’m not sure it’s a good idea to go directly to that machine, Blair.” He ran his hand up my neck and stopped when his fingers reached my hairline. The feeling of them intertwined into my hair sent chills across my skin. His simplest of touches did things to me, even if our conversation was business oriented.
Gavin brought my face closer to his and whispered, “The security guard near the bathrooms to your left has been watching us since we walked in.” I knew better than to look in his direction so I kept my attention focused on Gavin as he pressed his full lips against mine, pulling a throaty moan from deep within me.
There was a decent size dance floor behind where we were seated at the bar. I could see couples dancing over Gavin’s shoulder as I sat back in my seat. The song playing came to a close and I linked my hand with one of Gavin’s, pulling him from his chair. “Let’s dance,” I smiled sweetly. He nodded and we made our way to the dance floor.
Gavin pulled me in close, resting his hands on my lower back, his fingers brushing the curve of my bottom. My arms were wrapped snugly around his neck as I laid my head against his chest. We turned towards the security guard and my eyes connected with the guard’s. A smug grin tipped the corners of his lips as he stood taller than before. I pretended not to notice and closed my eyes, taking in the feel of Gavin’s strong body against mine.
I opened my eyes and found him staring down at me. Without saying a word, I leaned up and took his lips with my own. As the song came to a close I excused myself to the restroom while Gavin went back to our spot at the bar. I knew I had to cross paths with the security guard that had been watching us, so I kept my eyes fixated on the restroom entrance instead of him. He was standing to the right of the door as I passed, but what he said stopped me in my tracks.
“You sure the man you’re with can satisfy a woman like you?” I took a step back from the entrance and connected my eyes with his. He gauged my reaction before dragging his deep brown eyes from my face to my legs and back up again. Nothing but pure annoyance washed through me. Usually I would’ve thrown his ass to the ground, but I managed to keep my composure. I stepped closer to his body and ran my hand down the middle of his chest, stopping midway. “He does more than a fine job of making my legs shake.” I smiled wickedly, removed my hand, and headed into the restroom.
I did my business and checked my makeup in the mirror before heading back out, hoping the security guard wasn’t still planted beside the door.  As I rounded the corner my eyes connected with Gavin standing just outside of the restroom entrance. “Everything okay?” He arched an eyebrow at me. He must have seen the altercation.
“Just peachy.” I looked around for a moment.
“Looking for the security guard?”
“Yeah. Where did he go?”
“As soon as you walked away, he went through that door.” Gavin nodded toward the door a few feet away that read Employees Only in big bold letters.
“Probably had to go relieve himself,” I snickered.
“Blair…” Gavin groaned. “What did you do?”
I diverted my eyes to the checkered carpet and laughed.
With my body firm against Gavin’s I placed my lips just centimeters away from the shell of his ear. “He asked if you satisfied me, and I told him just how much you dosatisfy me.”
A low growl rumbled through Gavin’s body as he wrapped an arm around my waist and ushered us back to the bar to have a seat. “You’re going to be the death of me,” he whispered through gritted teeth.
“Sorry.”
He squeezed my hand that was resting on his thigh. “Twenty minutes until they turn the machine on. The bartender told me the machine is located in the far right corner once you enter the gambling room on the floor above us. I think it would be best to head on up and check things out.” If someone was watching us it would’ve seemed as if he was sweet talking me, not talking about the case. Gavin was smooth, a prestige agent.
I fixed his collar and agreed before he waved the bartender over and handed him a fifty for our two drinks. The bartender’s eyes went wide as he thanked us for the tip. Gavin gave him a nod and we made our way to the escalators that led to the infamous Revolver slot machine.

 

It was time to get the ball rolling.
From the Most Beautiful Small Town of America & the Bourbon Capital of the World, Bardstown, Kentucky, Savannah Stewart writes Contemporary Romance, New Adult, and Romantic Suspense. She’s a Book-a-holic who loves music, tattoos, photography, singing, writing, & laughing. One of her favorite quotes is “Love is the beauty of the soul.”

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COVER REVEAL –> Vow of Retribution by Emma Renshaw

Title: Vow of Retribution
Series: Vow Series #1
Author: Emma Renshaw
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: May 3, 2018
Cover Designer: By Hang Le
I want revenge.
With scars like these, I knew I could never forget my past.
With threats like these, I can’t escape, either.
This time, I’m fighting back. I don’t just want my life back. I want vengeance for what was done to me.
I didn’t plan to fall in love.
I want to save her.
A girl like her isn’t easily forgotten.
A girl like her doesn’t trust easily.
I’ll fight for her—I’ll fight with her. Together, we can build a new life, free from the past. Together, we can rise.
Even if we could lose everything by trying.

Emma loves to write, just don’t ask her to write about herself. If she isn’t writing, you can find her lost in a book or trying to get her doggo to take a selfie with her. He usually refuses. At the end of the day, you can find Emma at the closest Mexican restaurant eating queso and sipping on a margarita. She lives in Texas with her husband and dog.

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NEW RELEASE ~ Jag by HJ Bellus

Title: JAG
Series: Diablo’s Throne MMA #2
Author: HJ Bellus
Genre: MMA Romance
Publisher: Crave Publishing
Release Date: April 17, 2018 

 

 

Jag
No matter how fast he runs, there’s one thing Jag can’t escape.
His past.
It has the power to destroy the man he’s worked so hard to become.
Jag is slated to be the next MMA champion. It’s been years in the making. The hype surrounding his prized fight is ignited by his charismatic personality and smoldering good looks.
But it’s all a shield protecting the storm brewing inside of him…
And now, there’s a new girl in town Jag can’t seem to stay away from. She’s quiet, mysterious, and sexy as sin.
His demons. Her secrets. They collide when least expected.

 

The announcer booms over the speaker. “Your hometown boy. The one your momma warns you about and the same one who can charm you out of your panties and knock your lights out. Jaaaaaaaaag the Punisher.”

Before the announcer’s deep booming voice ends, the crowd goes fucking wild. Sweat beads form on my forehead, and my stomach dips and dive bombs at the sound of his name. 

“The fuck?” I whisper to myself, looking all around the gym. 

Did they really just fuck up his music? The tune to SpongeBob SquarePants begins playing. I turn to Layla, who is bobbing her head to the music with a smile plastered on her face.

The crowd chants each word to the SpongeBob theme, not missing a beat. Layla screams each word right with them. I’m confused as hell. A sudden screeching sound serenades the gym. The song mixes up, cutting right into the middle of “Straight Out of Compton,” and I find myself shouting each word without second thought. I recognize the song from Jag’s playlist when he’s done cardio in his apartment. The only thing missing is the thumping of his sneakers on his treadmill.

I glance over to Layla with mysterious tears in my eyes as I shout the words. Her expression mirrors mine. Then I spot him. A bobbing black hood trimmed in vibrant teal. Boss and Cruz flank each of his sides. Other Diablo fighters follow right behind. The symbolic image of a family breaks the tears free from my eyes. The amount of pride surging through me is off the charts. 

Jag keeps his head down as he strides to the ring. Halfway there, he picks up his pace into a jog. I giggle, knowing it’s pure Jag. The man has one gear, and that’s overdrive. His crew doesn’t pick up the pace with him, letting Jag take the lead. He leaps into the ring, tearing off his black robe and thrusting his fists into the air.

He beats his chest with his face tilted to the heavens. His mouth is wide open, and by the way his throat bobs, I know he’s screaming at the top of his lungs. Jag has always been a force to be reckoned with, but in this environment, he’s a king. He owns the entire arena. I don’t recognize the man he is right now, but holy hell he owns my heart even though this Jag is a stranger.

He glances down to me, winks, and then takes his corner. I have no doubt he knew I’d be right by Layla. Everything is the same as Trick’s fight. Boss is large and in charge, slapping Jag around and screaming in his face. My chest tightens at the sight. Boss is Jag’s father, and the love expressed between the two is enough to bring the cruelest person to their knees. Boss doesn’t have to love Jag because of a blood bond. No, he chooses to love Jag without judgment. And that’s something you don’t find every day. 

“Layla,” I scream over the buzz of the crowd. “I’m scared.”

She smiles brightly back at me. “You should be.”

I crane my head in question.

“As hard as he fights in this ring tonight is as hard as he’ll fight for you. You should be scared for your heart, Sunni, because once Jag owns it you’re screwed, and I know he loves you.”

It takes me a few seconds to absorb her message. Once it sinks in, the crowd roars to a deafening state. My head whips back to the octagon. Jag and the other man are already dancing around each other. The long hair on the top of Jag’s head bounces back. It’s then I see his opponent connect a punch to his nose. 

The blood dribbles down his face. The other guy gets three more punches in, whipping back Jag’s head. All of my former excitement evaporates. My heart plummets to the cold cement ground, watching the man I love get the shit kicked out of him. Not once does Jag’s jackass grin fade as he takes his punishment. It does nothing to the turmoil brewing inside of me.

“I can’t,” I scream, turning to Layla and burying my face in her shoulder.

Her hand comes up to the side of my head, bracing me in comfort. The sounds of the gym echo around me. Layla’s steady grip keeps me grounded even though the bone-crunching sounds continue. I can’t. I just can’t watch the man who brought me back to life get the shit beat out of him. I squeeze my eyes shut, remembering his knee-weakening grin before his gorgeous face dipped between my legs. I focus on all the good memories that warm my belly.

Layla jumps, causing my head to bounce off her shoulder. Her screams reverberate through my skull. She’s long gone as a post to lean on. Her body bounces up and down, which gives me the courage to look up. 

I glance up. It’s all flashes of black, teal, and red until my vision narrows on Jag. His flexing calves come into view first. Then it’s his taut ass in spandex. It pains me to look at my safe place, his chest. When I do, all I see are his bulging and flexing muscles. A long arm comes out with a brutal force. Jag’s fist connects with the other guy’s jaw. He stutters back. Jag doesn’t stop throwing both arms, one after the other, some connecting and some not.
HJ Bellus is a small-town girl who loves the art of storytelling. When not making readers laugh or cry, she’s a part-time livestock wrangler that can be found in the middle of Idaho, shot gunning a beer while listening to some Miranda Lambert on her Beats and rocking out in her boots.

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