Showing posts with label Romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Romance. Show all posts

May 17, 2016

In The Spotlight! Resurrecting Her, Revive #2 by A.M. Wilson


Marlena Aldrich

Travis is still out there. I don’t think I’ll ever be free. He’s not going to stop until I’m his. Elias and Sin may be protecting me, but I’ll never be safe. Not with all the secrecy and lies I’ve been told. But I have a secret of my own this time, and it’s destroying me slowly from the inside.

Elias Brooks

I made a mistake by exposing Marlee to my world, but I won’t stop until I make it right. It’s too late to go back now. She’s mine. I’ll let her unravel every thread. Disclose every single half-truth until I can breathe life back into her. What’s done is done. I put her in danger before but never again.

We made ourselves vulnerable with our carelessness. We’re both to blame. When the threat comes to our doorstep, will we fight through it together? Or let it tear us apart?




Redesigning Fate




A.M. Wilson fell in love with writing in second grade when she won a young writers' contest. She spent the years following carrying around a spiral notebook, which she filled with poetry and short stories detailing the dramatics of being a young girl. When she hit her college years, she set the notebooks down and fell in love with reading romance novels. She may have attended college four separate times, in four different fields, but always knew in her heart writing was her true passion. She grew up in Duluth, Minnesota and spent her summers in the cold waters of Lake Superior, but relocated to the Twin Cities with the love of her life and has two spirited children who make her world go round.



May 13, 2016

Teasers & Excerpt! Stay With Me by Kelly Elliott



Life moves on. 

Only people who have never lost anyone they loved with all their heart can blindly believe those words. 

What if I didn’t want to move on? What if I wanted to wake up every morning with that familiar ache in my chest, knowing I’d never see her again? 

But, life can change in a moment.

I knew that better than anyone … So, when I couldn’t get those mesmerizing green eyes out of my head, I decided to do something about it. 

Would one night with her be enough, or would my heart decide it was finally time to move on from the past? 






“Kilyn, you make me feel something I haven’t felt in a long time. It both excites and scares me. We keep running into each other and Gus would say it was a sign and, fuck I don’t know, maybe it is. All I really know is I want to get to know you better.” 

My brow lifted. “Get to know me better how?” 

His eyes turned dark while he quickly swept them over me. My body responded with a shudder. When he took a step closer to me, my heart was pounding so loudly I couldn’t hear my own thoughts. 

His hand slipped around the back of my neck, pulling me closer. 

Oh. Dear. God. 

My knees shook as I reached up and grabbed onto his arms to keep myself from falling. Thano softly ran his lips along my neck and a small moan slipped from my mouth. 

I could feel his hot breath on my skin as he talked in a low voice. “I want to know what I do that makes the pulse in your neck beat like this.” 

My breath caught when he pressed his lips to my neck and whispered, “Eísai tósi ómorfos.” 

The foreign words swam around in my mind so beautifully. With my breathing labored, I panted out, “I have no idea . . . what you . . . just said. But you can get to know me in any way you’d like.” 

It might have made me sound like a cheap whore, but in that moment I didn’t care. All I cared about was this man was able to bring back feelings I had buried long ago. 

And I liked it. 

I liked it a lot.



Kelly Elliott is married to a wonderful Texas cowboy who has a knack for making her laugh almost daily and supports her crazy ideas and dreams for some unknown reason...he claims it's because he loves her!

She’s also a mom to an amazing daughter who is constantly asking for something to eat while her fingers move like mad on her cell phone sending out what is sure to be another very important text message.

In her spare time she loves to sit in her small corner overlooking the Texas hill country and write. 

One of her favorite things to do is go for hikes around her property with Gus....her chocolate lab and the other man in her life, and Rose, her golden retriever. When Kelly is not outside helping the hubby haul brush, move rocks or whatever fun chore he has in store for her that day, you’ll find her inside reading, writing or watching HGTV.



May 11, 2016

Excerpt! Blown Away by Brenda Rothert

In a sensual, emotionally charged novel of love and loss, a tender affair gives two daring storm chasers the strength to overcome shattered dreams and the courage to build a future together.

Drew McGovern is living for two. Her fiancé, Colby, used to savor the feeling of a powerful gale, the rain pelting his face as the sky grew dark—until a shocking tragedy struck him down. Drew’s still grieving his death a year later when she bumps into some of his old storm chasing buddies. For reasons she can’t explain, she volunteers for the next tornado. But when she reconnects with Colby’s best friend, Aiden O’Neal, Drew gets a breath of fresh air that stirs the ashes of her broken heart.

Aiden doesn’t trust himself around Drew. He’s wanted this girl for a long time—long enough to remember the stab of jealousy he felt the first time he saw her in Colby’s arms, long enough to remember the tears that fell as they buried the man they each still miss. Now he’s trying his best to behave himself. But when the wind ruffles Drew’s hair and puts a sparkle in her eye, Aiden can’t resist the urge to hold her close. And when it comes to true love, he’s holding out hope that lightning strikes twice.

Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from another Loveswept title.




I rubbed my fingertips in circular motions on Mrs. Landon’s scalp, my gaze fixed on the TV mounted in the corner of To Dye For, the salon I worked at.

“This is so relaxing. I could just fall asleep right here,” Mrs. Landon said. “And that shampoo smells heavenly. Is that peppermint?”

“Yes, it sure is,” I said in the upbeat tone I always used with customers.

Normally I would have struck up a conversation about her summer plans since it was May and she was a teacher. Or I’d have asked her how her kids were doing.

But not today. Today I couldn’t look away from CNN, which was covering the tornadoes that had touched down this afternoon in Missouri. The damage was widespread and included cellular towers. I told myself that was why Colby hadn’t texted me all afternoon. It had to be why.

“Isn’t that a shame about those storms?” Mrs. Landon said as I rinsed away the suds. “I heard on the radio that a school was hit. They’re calling in the National Guard.”

“That’s terrible,” I murmured, squinting to read the headlines scrolling across the bottom of the screen.

“Isn’t your fiancé one of those storm chasers? You’re engaged to Carla Harrington’s boy, aren’t you?”

“Yeah,” I said absently. “Colby. He’s in Missouri now with the rest of his team.”

She whipped her head around to look at me, showering me with droplets of water.

“Well, is he okay?” she practically demanded.

“I don’t know. I haven’t been able to reach him this afternoon.”

“Oh, sweet Jesus. Carla must be beside herself. Have you talked to her?”

I shook my head. “I’m not panicked. Colby’s probably still tracking storms or helping with rescue. He’ll call me when he can.”

She grunted skeptically. “Well, I’d be worried sick if the man I loved was out in that mess. It’s foolhardy if you ask me, chasing a tornado. We’re meant to run away from them.”

I wanted to point out that I hadn’t asked her, and that storm chasers put their lives in danger to save others, but I forced myself to stay quiet. Shampoo Girl Rule Number One: never upset a customer.



Brenda Rothert is an Illinois native who was a print journalist for nine years. She made the jump from fact to fiction in 2013 and never looked back. From new adult to steamy contemporary romance, Brenda creates fresh characters in every story she tells. She’s a lover of Diet Coke, chocolate, lazy weekends and happily ever afters.


May 9, 2016

Teasers, Excerpt & Giveaway! Deadly Testimony, Safeguard #1 by Piper J. Drake


The stakes have never been higher as an elite team member must outwit a dangerous killer and save the man she's sworn to protect. The second installment of the exhilarating Safeguard series from Piper J. Drake.

Kyle Yeun didn't start out bad and he doesn't intend to end his life while on the wrong side of the law, either. His testimony to his former employer's environmental misdeeds has earned him a protection detail compliments of the US government. But due to a dark international conspiracy Kyle was unaware of, his former employers have made ending his life a top priority. Realizing he needs more protection than the US Marshals can provide, he turns to Safeguard after seeing the beautiful, deadly Lizzy Scott in action.

One look at Kyle, and sniper Lizzy Scott knows this isn't going to be an easy protection job. He's arrogant, irritating and almost irresistible. Instead of being put off by her hardened attitude, Kyle seems to thrive off the challenge. And she's slowly giving in to his charms.

After narrowly escaping the latest assassination attempt, Lizzy starts taking dangerous risks to keep him safe. But the last thing Kyle wants is another life ruined because of his actions. He found his redemption in Lizzy's arms and he'll risk everything to make sure they both make it out alive. As will she, even if it means walking away from him to keep him safe.





Isabelle sighed. No wingman or cavalry coming to his aid. He needed help but it wasn’t forthcoming. This was not going to resolve in the next thirty seconds and that was all she was willing to wait. Besides, she couldn’t leave a person alone to face odds like these. She’d been on her own in these situations plenty of times and it’d never been fun.

“Gentlemen, get out of my way.”

Humor and interest sparked in the Asian man’s eyes. He understood English, apparently. Seattle being a major city for travelers, it was always good to note rather than assume a listener could understand the conversation. Especially if she might have to advise him to take action.

The hulking goon who’d originally spoken to her turned then. “What did you say?”

Maybe the English language, or conversation in general, wasn’t goon number one’s strong point.

“Get. Out. Of. My. Way.” She put some steel into her voice this time. No need to increase volume when intensity works better.

Beady eyes narrowed at her as goon number one flexed his thick fingers into a meaty fist and released them. Threat clear.

Ah, well. Intonation could work on people with more neurons firing inside their heads. She might not have a whole lot of stature going on at five foot four, but her new friend should’ve at least spared a moment to ponder that maybe a woman in a black suit with white dress shirt and an earbud hanging over her collar from a wire might mean something.

He was a thug dressed in a monkey suit.

She was a much higher pay grade.



Piper J. Drake (or “PJ”) began her writing career as “PJ Schnyder” writing sci-fi & paranormal romance and steampunk. She has recently received the FF&P PRISM award for her work as well as the NJRW Golden Leaf award and Parsec award. 

Now, PJ is exploring the complexity of romantic suspense, incorporating her interests in mixed martial arts and the military into her writing.



May 6, 2016

Teasers, Excerpt & Giveaway! What Love Is by Emma South


In this epic romance collection that spans eighteen years, the lives of six people will be changed forever.

Ask a million people what love is, and you’ll get a million different answers. None of them are wrong.

What makes a Marine take a bullet for a Hollywood starlet?

What makes a singer with a deep-seated hatred for the wealthy find herself smiling for the first time with a billionaire?

What makes a small-town princess defy death to be reunited with her small-town prince?

The answer is love.





I sighed, feeling deflated, and looked up the sidewalk a little bit as the dry heat beat down on us. Standing in front of a restaurant, just outside the ropes that cordoned off an outdoor seating area, was somebody that looked like trouble if ever I’d seen it.

Head and shoulders over most of the people around him, I could already see the tattoos, the huge arms, and the scruffy clothing. If he was in one of my movies, he’d be a henchman for sure.

“Look out for that one,” I said quietly to Orson, who nodded and moved in front and to my left so he would be between myself and the big guy when we walked past.

As we closed the distance I could see that he had plenty of scars too, all kinds of cuts on his arms as if somebody had tried to scribble out his tattoos with a knife. Violence, all kinds of bad things, probably followed this man wherever he went.

He looked up from some pamphlet in his hand, first straight across the sidewalk, and then at me. Right at me. Despite my misgivings, my heart fluttered. He had far too much presence for a mere henchman.

Under the stubble, the tattoos, and the scars, or maybe even because of them, was a hell of a handsome man. Every girl needs a bad boy in her past, I thought, and he could be my bad boy any day.

I dropped my gaze to the ground and fought back a goofy smile. Now I really was being silly.




Now a USA Today Best Selling Author!

Please visit http://emmasouth.com/?page_id=31 to sign up for my newsletter.

I'm in my thirties and living in New Zealand. About 3 years ago I lost somebody very close to me. I was lucky in a way, I was given enough time to make a promise. My promise was that I would never forget our young and innocent love, and it's a promise I intend to keep.

My writing is a way to help me keep that promise. I've always enjoyed writing but was forced into being 'prudent' and giving myself over to soul-crushing office work for the sake of a steady salary. Recent events forced me to re-evaluate my priorities and I decided to take a chance. I like to put little pieces of 'us' into my writing, from funny conversations we had, to apocalyptic arguments, to that special feeling you get when you hop into bed fully aware that your feet are freezing but your partner doesn't kick you away.

Even though these things are set in fictional worlds and attached to fictional characters, in a way it feels like I'm doing something that will make our love live forever. If somebody reads one of my stories and likes a joke or sheds a tear, then our love has lived on, and I thank any readers I might have for that.




Teasers, Excerpt & Giveaway! Never Let You Go, Never Tear Us Apart #2 by Monica Murphy

The second novel in this darkly sexy contemporary series from bestselling author Monica Murphy wraps up an emotionally powerful two-part tale of forbidden love.



The truth hurts, they say—and my pain cuts deep. While I was falling for Ethan, he was deceiving me the entire time. He held a huge secret, protected by his lies. When I discovered what he was hiding, the truth shook my world, threatening to ruin us forever. Ruin me. But I soon realized that what we share can’t be destroyed.

The connection between us is too strong. It always has been. I can’t deny him any longer. And I can’t deny my truth: I’m in love with Ethan.

I don’t want to let him go.

While we’re trying our best to make this relationship work, other forces are fighting against us. My family, who wants to keep me safe. The media obsessed with my tragic past. The public that feeds off of it. Even Ethan’s father—the man who nearly destroyed me all those years ago. He’s doing his best to finish the job.

Despite my love for Ethan, the doubts creep in, clouding my mind. Is he worth the pain? Will our love survive, or will we have no choice but to end it—end us—once and for all?




“Maybe I care,” she retorts. “Think about what this will do to us.”

“What could it do? Force us to admit that yes, we’re in a relationship now? What’s wrong with that?”

“This so-called relationship only happened because you sought me out and then lied to me!” Her voice is shrill, her eyes wild, and she visibly shakes. She’s angry.

At me.

“I never meant—” I clamp my lips shut when I see her hostile expression. She looks ready to pounce. Christ, maybe she’s right. Maybe we shouldn’t have met today. Our hurt feelings are still too close to the surface, too raw and painful.

“Do you really think meeting me today was a mistake?” I need to know her answer, though I might not like it.

Katie watches me, pressing her lips together. I wait for her response, air lodged in my throat, my heart tripping over itself in my chest. I feel like it’s all come down to this. “This won’t work,” she whispers.

“What won’t?”

“Us. The two of us . . . together. We need to accept it.” Her face almost crumples but she somehow keeps it together, all while she slaughters my heart with her words. “We shouldn’t be seen together in public. If anyone recognizes us, it will become this—thing, and soon the media will be talking. About us and our sick relationship. And I don’t want that. I don’t think you do either.”

My spine stiffens involuntarily and I slowly back away from her, holding my hands up in front of me in pure defensive mode. As if my position can ward o the blow only her words can deliver.

I thought my father knew how to pack a punch, saying just the right thing to make me internally bleed. A few choice words from Katie Watts and I feel like I’m near death.

“You want me gone? I’m gone,” I tell her, but I don’t budge. I’m hoping she’ll stop me. Despite the pain she’s causing, I don’t want to walk away from her. Even though it feels like my heart is about to crack into a million tiny pieces. I swear she already broke my heart when she first found out who I really was and ran, exiting my life like she was never in it.

Now she doesn’t want to be seen with me in public. Doesn’t want Lisa to know. The rational side of my brain understands why she might feel that way. But the irrational side, the emotional side, is screaming in agony over her rejection, demanding that I hurt her back.

My vengeful side makes me think of my father.

I rub a hand across my chest to ease the radiating ache, but it doesn’t help. The way Katie watches me isn’t helping either.

“It’s for the best,” she whispers. “The minute she spots us, she’ll tell . . . everyone. And then we’re in trouble. They’ll twist our relationship into this weird, sick thing, and I can’t. I can’t bear it, Ethan. I’ve already suffered through too much and so have you. This—we’re not worth it.”

My mouth drops open. We’re not worth it? She’s the only person in my life who’s worth anything.

“I’m—I’m sorry.” The choked words leave her and I can’t say anything in return.

She turns and leaves, her steps hurried, her at black shoes slapping against the pavement as she scurries away. I watch her go, don’t stop her, don’t say her name. I don’t do a damn thing, as if I’m paralyzed, and I wonder for one crazy moment if I might be.

But I’m not. I’m just struck numb by her words, by her worry. She’s right. I know she’s right. The media will turn our relationship into a train wreck, and with good reason.

We are a train wreck. We shouldn’t have happened, but we did. No one else knows what it’s like to be me. No one under-stands what we went through together except her and me. But she has walked away from me yet again. Practically ran, and I did nothing about it.

Breathing deep, I tell myself to stay strong. Either this will work or it won’t—but I want it to. I’m desperate to keep that connection between us.

Yet I need to understand and respect her feelings. Forgive her for walking away from me so easily. It’s damn hard. That tiny, vulnerable part buried deep within me, that little boy who never felt wanted, the one who spent his entire life moving through it essentially alone . . .

He is devastated.






New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author Monica Murphy is a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite with her husband and three children. She’s a workaholic who loves her job. When she’s not busy writing, she also loves to read and travel with her family. She writes new adult and contemporary romance and is published with Bantam and Avon. She also writes romance as USA Today bestselling author Karen Erickson.

Representation: All questions regarding subsidiary rights for any of her books and inquiries regarding foreign translation should be directed to her agent Kimberly Whalen.



May 4, 2016

Excerpt, Teasers & Giveaway! Unspoken Words, The Unspoken Love Series #1 by H.P. Davenport


Two lives…as close to perfect as they can be.

Camryn Townsend has everything she’s always dreamed of…an amazing family, supportive friends, and the perfect job. Everything a girl could want. Or is it? A trip back to her childhood home threatens to unravel her web of perfection.

Her problem…she’s in love with her best friend and she’s too scared to sacrifice their friendship for a love she’s always wanted.

Jamie Banks’ life is the epitome of perfection. His company is thriving, his band is on the cusp of stardom, and the girl he loves is returning home.

His problem…the girl he loves has been his best friend for as long as he can remember and he’s not sure he’s ready to sacrifice his best friend for a lover. Pursuing a relationship with the possibility of losing her has him second-guessing everything he knows.

Unspoken words are the only thing standing in their way.





He leans down and moves his mouth over mine, devouring its softness. Slowly, I lift my arms around his neck, running my hands through his thick hair. I tug on his hair, not wanting this kiss to end.

When he pulls back, he leaves my mouth burning with fire. 
With a wicked grin on his face, he points to the shower. “I have to get out of here before I have my way with you. Your brother is out there waiting. Go get a shower, cool off, do what you have to do to calm yourself down. But if I hear moaning, I am gonna be all over you whether your brother is here or not.”

I chuckle knowing what he is insinuating. Before he can move, I bite his lower lip, sucking it into my mouth. I release his bottom lip and place a soft kiss on it. “Mr. Banks, I will have you know, if I plan on moaning, it would be because you made me, it won’t be self-induced.”

I push myself off the counter, walking over to turn on the shower. When I look over my shoulder Jamie is standing there, his jaw clenched, his eyes slightly narrowed.

I am going to give him a show and drive him crazy. He thought he was cute when we were younger when he jumped naked into the pool at my birthday party, I am going to have a little fun with him today.

I pull the hem of tank top up and over my head, leaving me standing there topless. My back is facing Jamie, so he can’t see my breasts. I slowly peel my sleep shorts off of my body, one leg at a time and toss them in his direction. When I turn around his muscle flicks angrily in his jaw. I fix my eyes on his. “Do you like what you see, Mr. Banks?” Knowing that he is going to lose his shit, I quickly get in the shower and shut the curtain behind me.

Peeking around the shower curtain, I squeal at the intrusion into my personal space as Jamie smirks at me saying so quietly that I’m not entirely sure I heard him, “You think you’re funny, don’t you? Two can play at this game. You better pray the next time I see you naked, your brother isn’t in the next room. Cause if he is, he will hear what you sound like when I’m making you come with my mouth.” He reaches out and pauses mid-air as he’s about to stroke my breast. Instinctively, I lean toward his touch wanting his hand there, wanting him in here, knowing my brother is literally steps away from me grabbing him and pulling him into the shower with me. Inhaling a breath, never breaking eye contact with him, I moan, quiet enough that no one hears but he heard. Smirking at me with lust-filled eyes, he pulls his hand back, retreating the hand that was so close to the water beading on my nipple that my skin feels his absence and he never even touched me.

And he stalks out of the bathroom. Just like that.

Holy. Shit. I need to make this a cold shower after what he just said to me, after how he almost touched me. A smile spreads across my face as I hear the bathroom door shut. One for Cami, One for Jamie.

Why did I invite my brother with us again?




Paralegal by day, romance genius by night! When she's not tending to her furry children and her handsome husband, HP DAVENPORT is seamlessly carving beautiful stories from her mind in her comfy PJs in New Jersey.