Excerpt & Giveaway! Velicious, Part Two by Shelique Lize

Justice Labelle has lost too much in this war of monster and men, and it needs to stop now. After her run in with Erin, which left her lying in a hospital bed, black and bloody blue, Justice is no longer going to sit by and simply accept the twisted hand, that has been dealt. Especially since she now has superhuman powers, all thanks to her being a Doll. Her one and only passion– To get through College and practice law at a top tier firm, is fading from her grasp and its all because of Calvin, Dante, Vampyres and the Government. In fact the government has more secrets than kids have candy… And they’re all just as deadly as the enemies they hunt. But you know what? Justice has come up with her own master plan and heaven help the Vampyre, monster or human that gets in her way!

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~*~

Dante hopped out, popping open his trunk. Unbuckling myself, I stepped out of the car as well. I asked, "What are we doing here?" Where was here, exactly? There was an open field of whiteness below, pure snow and ice. The night was not that cold. The stars were out, and light fluffs of snow fell slowly. All in all, it was a beautiful night in winter. Grinning handsomely, Dante pulled two plastic toboggan sleds out of his trunk. Shaking my head in disbelief, I said, “You're kidding?” “I don't kid.” “No, this not happening.” “You need some fun in your life.” He frowned tossing the tobogganing sleds on the roof of his car. “Let loose.” I shrugged. “I let loose.” “I remembered you telling me that life was your nightmare.” “So what?” “So have some fun with the nightmares of your life. Trust me, this life will use and abuse you, and you simply have to put your foot down and say, ‘Fuck it. No more.’ Everyone deserves a little fun. Don't be life's bitch.” I hated to admit it, but ugh, he was right. Again. When was the last time I enjoyed myself? Correction, when was the last time I had tried to enjoy myself and something bad ended up happening? Sighing, I walked over to his car, and grabbed one of the toboggan sleds. “And if I don't enjoy this?” “If you don't like it, you don't like it. However, you do this for me, I'll tell you anything you want to know about my kind.” “Deal." I smiled and sauntered toward the very top of the white hill and looked below. It was a very steep drop. It was seriously high for a toboggan hill. The last time I remembered I did anything like this, I was in elementary school. Taking a long, cool breath, I placed the sled on a path of melted snow and sat down, looking back at Dante as he meandered toward the hill, holding his sled behind his back. I hated that Dante was bathed in an unearthly perfection. Reaching out to where I was, Dante told me to yell out everything bad in my life, to take back control while sliding down. I didn't question his method. I had nothing to lose. I simply nodded, pushing myself off, and yelled at the top of my lungs. It felt good. By the time I reached the bottom, there was a lightness inside me again. A serious weight had disappeared, vanished for the moment, and I loved it. I moved out of the way as Dante came flying down the hill. Dante's hair was a mess in his face, and he picked himself up with a goofy grin. “How do you feel?” “A little better,” I mumbled, holding my thumb and pointing finger inches apart. Then, grabbing my sled, I took off up the hill with Dante following close behind. Round two of sledding down, I yelled out again at the top of my lungs. Round three, Dante and I raced down. Round four, we were a little silly, going backwards. Round five, six, and seven were just as fun, and round eight changed everything. Crashing into the snow and tumbling over, I laid there, laughing, for many reasons. I don't know if I was losing my mind, or if this was a sane thing to do. Standing above me Dante looked down. “Are you okay?” “Never been better,” I said, gazing into the blanket of stars, my breath materializing. Dante lowered his hand, and I took it with my right, but with my left I scooped up a handful of snow. Standing up, I shoved it in his face, and boy did I run, just as I got a glimpse of Dante's lips twitching. “This is war!” I heard Dante yell from behind me. Turning to face him, I replied, “Bring it on!” With a smile and feeling giddy, I scooped up another handful of snow, and Dante did the same.

~*~

Christmas is right around the corner, so besides the Rafflecopter,

Shelique Lize has decided to give The Velicious Series away for free!

PART ONE CODE: 8UJISKZYYN

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PART TWO CODE: 6MDJUOCHB1

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Shelique Lize is an awesome mother of two beautiful baby girls, and a wife to the luckiest man on the planet. It took her five years to write Velicious Part One but once her first daughter was born, she decided to revisit the world that she had created. Falling in love with her characters all over again, she wanted to finish their story. Velicious Part Two was written in half the time. Shelique loves anything to do with the paranormal world. She’s a proud Canadian but dislikes winter. She prefers watching the snow falling beautifully from inside a warm home. Currently she likes to listen to The Weeknd and Lana Del Rey, and she’s pretty open to every other genre of music.

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Excerpt, Author Interview & Giveaway! House Of Royals, House Of Royals #1 by Keary Taylor

If you loved BRANDED, you won’t want to miss HOUSE OF ROYALS, Keary Taylor’s newest dark, romantic read.

Every town has its history and skeletons, but Silent Bend, Mississippi’s are darker than most. Ruled from the shadows by the House—the immortal Born and their aging, enslaved Bitten—everyone knows not to go out after dark and that the police will never look into crimes involving blood.

Alivia Ryan didn’t know the man who claims to be her father through a will even existed until she inherits the Conrath plantation. Instead of the sleepy house she expects, she finds a mansion and a staff who look at her with fear in their eyes.

Ian Ward tried to kill Alivia the first time they met, and then insisted he train her to defend herself against the House, who he claims will try to manipulate and take her in for their own political reasons. And the growing attraction between them will threaten their lives—Ian is a sworn enemy of the House.

In Silent Bend, people disappear, the threat of a demented King and the legend of his resurrecting Queen hang over everyone’s heads, and proving loyalty means far more than blood. You’d better watch who you trust in this town…

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~*~

“What are you doing here?” he hisses, pulling me close. His lips tickle my ear. His hand on my waist slips low and his fingers dig into my skin just a little.

The breath catches in my chest and every nerve ending in my body goes crazy. The music surges, and this night suddenly feels too big for me to breathe. 

“I’m not lying down and taking a fate I didn’t ask for,” I manage. My fingers cling hard to Ian’s shoulder. I can feel the muscles beneath his clothes tense and tighten. And suddenly, I’m back to the days at his cabin, when he’d come walking out of the shower with only a towel and I pretended not to look. I know what his bare skin looks like, and I’m craving another glimpse.

“They won’t care about a show of good faith,” he says. “Do you have any idea what this party is even for?”

My silence is his answer.

“They throw this party once a year and offer massive amounts of alcohol so that people won’t remember the blackouts that come from being fed on.”

My eyes dart to that door at the back of the room. The blood on the woman’s shoulder. The blood in the corner of the man’s mouth.

“They’re feeding on the party attendees,” I say.

Ian nods. His scratchy cheek brushes mine. “The bite numbs and makes you forget, but people tend to realize they blacked out. A party like this with this much booze, you brush it off. It’s the one time a year they feed freely upon the townspeople. It’s the only way to keep people from asking too many questions.”

It’s terrifying and horrifying, and I’m suddenly wondering if the man was asking me to dance as my turn to be fed upon.

“It’s bad, but I have to do something, Ian,” I breathe.

“Walking into the fire isn’t the way to do it,” he whispers into my ear.

~*~

Please tell us a little about yourself.

I’m Keary Taylor, and I’ve been self-publishing since early 2010. Since then I’ve released 15 titles and I’m loving every bit of this industry! I write in a few different genres, but paranormal seems to be my most loved. I currently live in Utah and spend my summers on a little island in Washington State with my husband and our two kids! I love traveling, jamming out to music, and have the sugar taste buds of a four year old!

Tell us about your latest book, HOUSE OF ROYALS.

This has been such a fun series to write! Alivia comes to live in Mississippi after a father she didn’t know leaves her his massive estate. She arrives to find a town that’s terrified of the dark and her very last name brings all kinds of fear to their eyes. She’s about to learn of a completely hidden monarchy where the politics get bloody and deadly.

Where did you get the inspiration for HOUSE OF ROYALS?

This story actually evolved from a very different one that I had been trying to write for three years. It was similarly set in the South, in a sleepy, creepy town, but the supernatural basis for it was voodoo. I did a lot of weird research, had massive outlines, but every time I worked on it, I had to stop for one reason or another. I just couldn’t write that version of the story. I joke and say it has a curse on it, but I’m not really joking… One day the thought just popped into my head that vampires would totally fit into this town instead, and the rough monarchy I’d been setting up in the original version worked even better in the vampire version! And House of Royals just poured out of me.

What celebrity would you chose to play the main character(s) in the movie rendition of your book?

I would have Lily Collins play Alivia Ryan. She totally fits the soft, shy girl Alivia starts out as, but captures the hidden wolf within. Ian Ward would be played by Liam Hemsworth (I know, this surprised me too, I’m a hardcore Chris loyalist). And Rath would be none other than Lenny Kravitz!

What do you have coming out in the future?

I’m plowing through this series! Book two, HOUSE OF PAWNS releases December 15th, and then book three, HOUSE OF KINGS, comes out in March of 2016. And the series will continue in the fall!

Keary Taylor grew up along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains where she started creating imaginary worlds and daring characters who always fell in love. She now resides on a tiny island in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their two young children. She continues to have an overactive imagination that frequently keeps her up at night. She is the author of THE EDEN TRILOGY, the FALL OF ANGELS trilogy, and WHAT I DIDN'T SAY. To learn more about Keary and her writing process, please visit www.KearyTaylor.com.

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Excerpt & Giveaway! Game Winner, New York Kings #6 by Collette West

Playing center field for the New York Kings, Jake Woodbury has one of the most prestigious jobs in all of sports. To the world, he's the good-looking, soft-spoken minister's son who’s survived celebrity without a hint of scandal. But, inside, he's reeling from a secret that seems destined to haunt him forever.

Scarlett Moore is one of the biggest pop stars on the planet, famous for singing about her celebrity ex-boyfriends. The CEO of her record label has carefully honed her provocative image since she was fifteen. Sex sells, and Scarlett’s well aware that it takes more than talent to stay on top.

One thing is clear: She’s the last thing Jake needs. And he’s the do-gooder jock she should avoid at all costs. But when the game begins, all bets are off.

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~*~

Mid-smile, I turn my head toward the on-deck circle and catch Jake Woodbury staring in our direction.

He must be looking over at his ex, Roberta, trying to get her attention. What a sucker. Dude, let it go.

But, when Roberta bends down to get something out of her bag, his eyes don’t pull away. In fact, he even grins slightly, and I realize he’s not looking at her. He’s looking at me.

Okay, I'm used to guys checking me out. It's nothing new. But, just as my skin starts to prickle, he looks away.

Maybe he's just trying to make Roberta jealous by coming on to me in front of her. Yeah, that must be it. It's too good of an opportunity to pass up, what with Scarlett Moore, the princess of pop, sitting right next to his ex. But this is neither the time nor the place for him to be openly flirting with me. He has a job to do. A very important job: get on base and kick-start the Kings' lineup. But all he's doing is kick-starting my beating heart.

But, if I'm being totally honest with myself, that's not what this feels like. In fact, it feels like he couldn't care less that his ex is sitting beside me.

And then I know I'm not imagining things when he takes his bat off his shoulder and points the end of the barrel at me.

"This one's for you, Scarlett!" he calls out while confidently striding by. 

I smile, despite myself. All right. I’ll play along with you, hot stuff.

Before I can even think twice about it, I raise a hand to my lips and blow him a kiss.

~*~

Collette West grew up as somewhat of a jock-nerd hybrid. Entering the world three weeks premature, her dad nearly missed her birth because he had seats behind the dugout for a sold-out, highly-anticipated match-up between two of baseball's biggest rivals. Not to be outdone, her book-loving mom taught her how to read by the time she was three. A love of the game coupled with an appreciation for the written word were instilled in Collette's impressionable brain from a young age. No wonder her characters believe in the philosophy: sports + romance = a little slice of heaven. 

Splitting her time between the Pocono Mountains and Manhattan, Collette indulges her inner fangirl by going to as many games as she can from hockey to baseball and downloading every sports romance novel in existence onto her iPad. When she's not clicking away on her laptop, she enjoys walking her dog in Central Park, satisfying her caffeine craving at the Starbucks on Broadway and keeping an eye out for Mr. Right. But above all, she loves dishing with her readers. Email her at collette_west@yahoo.com. 

She is the author of NIGHT GAMES, GAME CHANGER and GAME ON.

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Release Day Blitz! When We Fall, Take The Fall #2 by Marquita Valentine

The last time Piper Ross saw her best friend’s sexy older brother, Jase Simmons, he was being taken away in handcuffs. Seven years later, two things haven’t changed: Piper is still head-over-heels in love with him . . . and Forrestville’s chief of police—Piper’s dad—still hates his guts. So when Piper sees a chance to get close to Jase, she makes her move—literally. As his new roommate, and as the office manager of his tattoo shop, Piper won’t be satisfied until Jase knows that she wants to be his.

The quintessential good girl, Piper is pure temptation for Jase. The only reason he’s always kept his distance is because she’s the last person he’d ever want to hurt. But once he realizes that Piper is ready to take the leap, everything just makes sense. Suddenly Jase feels like a new man—until nasty rumors start swirling and Piper’s heartless father stirs up even more trouble. Now Jase must convince Piper that she wasn’t wrong about him . . . because falling in love never felt so right.

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~*~

Jase 

I never should have agreed to allow her to move in with me, I think for the hundredth time. But she’d batted those damn lashes and I caved, I remind myself for the thousandth time.

I never cave. I never have trouble saying no to women. I do it all the time.

No, I won’t call you. No, you can’t spend the night. No, your hot friend can’t join—okay, so I do say yes to that. But Piper’s not like those women. She’s different in every way. Every way that would be good for anyone who isn’t me.

“Can I have the room on the second floor, the one with the big bay of windows in the back?” she asks as she lightly jogs down the stairs. Her full breasts bounce under her green sleeveless top while her denim skirt teases me with glimpses of the golden skin of her thighs. “It’s so pretty in there.”

That room is right beside mine. I won’t be able to take it, having her so close. No. Tell her no.

Piper walks up to me, a sweet smile on her face. “I promise to be quiet and not keep you up at night.” 

Baby, there’s no way you’ll be the one keeping me up at night. “That room—”

“Oh, I don’t know what I was thinking. You probably want more privacy than that.” Her smile grows faint as she shakes her head. “Sorry. I’ll bring my stuff downstairs right now and move into the bedroom on the other side of the house.”

Shit. I’ve hurt her feelings. “You didn’t let me finish, kitten. That room—the room you want—is perfect for you. Back when they built this house in the 1920s, it belonged to the owner’s wife.”

“You can up the rent if you need to. I think that room is bigger than the rest—except for yours.” She blushes when she says this, and I can’t help but wonder if she’s thinking of the time she walked in on Angel and me.

I’m not proud, but I’m not exactly ashamed to admit that it turned me on watching Piper watching us. She’d stood there, in the sexiest fucking dress I’d ever seen her wear, and hadn’t moved while Angel sucked me off, and I imagined that the lips around my cock were Piper’s instead.

Only Piper hadn’t been thinking that. It had shocked her. She’d been embarrassed, not turned on. Hell, I’m pretty sure I disgusted her, given the way she’d suddenly turned and run down the stairs. My reaction, after I chased after her, hadn’t been the best, either.

I’d insulted her, called her a princess, and generally treated the sweetest, most thoughtful person in the world like she was worthless.

It’s my own fault for wanting what I can’t have. For allowing myself to think I could touch someone like Piper.

I was already in hell, but now that Piper’s moving in, I’ll be in Dante’s Inferno.

“Rent’s firm.” I inhale the floral scent of her expensive perfume. “Can you start work on Monday?”

“Yes to Monday, and after the semester starts, I can be there right after my last class. It ends at two p.m.” She bites her bottom lip. “So about guests . . . What’s the rule for visitors?”

I didn’t have any rules. Why would I? I’m twenty-six years old and spent the last seven years in prison. Rules fucking chafe.

But I doubt that Piper feels the same way. Growing up with a cop for a dad, she’s bound to cling to rules. Unless she’s looking to rebel.

“You need me to meet any potential boyfriends?” I ask, lifting a brow.

“You would scare them off.” She keeps biting her lip. Oh, hell. She’s not biting it, she’s chewing on it.

Reaching out, I gently touch her bottom lip. “You’re going to make it bleed.”

Big hazel eyes gaze up at me and lust surges so hard that it nearly knocks me over. Her hand comes up, fingers wrapping around my wrist. Or trying to. “I’ll stop.”

“Just like that?” I say. I should stop touching her or tell her to stop touching me. No good will come of us touching each other.

She nods, dark hair sliding forward. “I’m very good at following directions.”

I get hard at the thought of all the directions I could give her. Spread your thighs wider. Touch yourself. Suck me.

“Fuck,” I mutter, pulling out of her loose grip and pushing her hand away. “Take whatever bedroom you want. I have to go to work.”

I stalk out of there, grab my helmet, and head to my bike. “Get it together,” I say to myself as I throw my leg over it and start it up.

~*~

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1EeO7uI 

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Marquita Valentine is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Holland Springs and Boys of the South series.

Since first taking the plunge in July of 2012 to self publish, Marquita Valentine has sold over a quarter of a million books around the world. She's appeared on the Top 100 Bestselling Ebooks Lists on iBooks, Amazon Kindle, and Barnes&Noble. She's been called "one of the best new voices in romance" (Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews) and her books have been accused of being "a sexy, fun, and slightly addicting contemporary read" (The Book Queen).

When she's not writing sexy heroes who adore their sassy heroines, she enjoys shopping, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. Married to her high school sweetheart, Marquita lives in a seriously small town in the south with her husband, two kids, and a dog.

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Excerpt & Giveaway! Scrubs by Brooke Harris

I like fast cars, beautiful women and great sex.

I hate drugs. I can’t stand the idiots who take them and I loathe the bastards who supply them. Drugs cost me my whole world.

I wear many faces; right now I’m Doctor Lucas Callaghan and I’ll be him until I get my revenge.

My real name will be the last words to ever pass their lips.

I hate my name, Aoife Brennan, as soon as people hear it they treat me differently because of my father.

Medical school isn’t my dream, it’s his. But, it’s the least I owe him after everything I’ve done. I’m trying to be a good girl, but even good girls make mistakes.

He’s lying about who he is, she’s kidding herself about who she can be. They’re polar opposites with one very big secret in common.

~*~

I follow him to the front door. We both stand in the hall for longer than necessary. I don’t offer to let him out, even though I know I should. But I want him to kiss me again. I want so much more than I know I can have. 

He reaches for the doorknob. He’s going to let himself out. God, I don’t want him to go. Not like this.

‘I’m sorry,’ I say, finally breaking the silence. 

‘For what?’ 

‘I shouldn’t have kissed you.’

‘And I shouldn’t have kissed you back.’

He’s smiling. And for the first time since we met, the cloud of sadness that usually rests in the corner of his eyes is absent. 

‘Are we okay, then?’ I stutter. 

‘You mean am I going to tell anyone about this?’

‘Well, yeah?’

‘No, Aoife. No, I’m not. I’m as much to blame as you are. Probably more so because I should know better.’

‘I’m not a child, Lucas. I do understand the word no.’

He looks at me as if he wants to rip my clothes off. I kind of wish he would. I take a deep breath. 

‘If you kissed me again, I wouldn’t say no this time either,’ I say.

My teeth clamp against my bottom lip. I can’t believe I said that out loud. But all I can think about is how good his lips felt on mine and how much I want to feel them again. Kiss me, Lucas. Kiss me.

As if he reads my mind, Lucas’ hands grip my waist. One hand just above each hip, cementing me to the spot. His eyes focus on mine with such intensity, it burns. 

‘You should say no, Aoife. You should run a mile from me.’

‘Why? Because you loved someone and losing them has fucked with your head?’

His eyes narrow, and his grip on my waist tightens almost to the point of hurting. I know it’s a flash of temper. This man is the nearest thing to a stranger to me. He could lose it completely and really hurt me, but I know he won’t. I trust him as I’ve never really trusted anyone before. 

‘No. Because you don’t know me. You don’t know what I’m capable of.’

‘Then show me.’

‘Be careful what you wish for.’

‘I’ve already seen what you’re capable of. I’ve seen how much you care about people, but you try to hide that under a layer of fancy talk and cocky attitude.’

He forces me backwards, his hands still on my waist. I make a weird noise that I haven’t heard before as my back collides with the wall behind me, slapping the air out of my chest. 

‘Don’t go there, Doctor Brennan. You’re not a psychology student.’

‘No. I’m just the girl you kissed. The girl who is still standing in front of you ten minutes later and waiting for you to do it again.’

~*~

USA Today bestselling author Brooke Harris is a self diagnosed romance addict. Realising at the age of seven that being a real person and not a cartoon character may prove a hindrance when applying for a role as a Disney Princess, she decided to create her own stories. As a grown up Brooke tried swapping the heels and tiaras in her stories for sex and revenge and published her first book, Rules of Harte in 2014. The Harte Series went on to become a #1 international bestseller.

Brooke lives in Kildare, Ireland with her young family. She daydreams about a climate where it doesn’t rain every day, but secretly she loves the green fields and heritage of Ireland.

Brooke also writes Psych-thriller under the pseudonym Janelle Harris.

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Excerpt & Giveaway! Healing Eden, Eden #2 by Rhenna Morgan

 

In a world divided by war, falling in love is the ultimate betrayal.

Galena Shantos has never questioned her loyalty to Eden. As sister to the Myren king, she serves as a healer, one of the best in the army fighting to suppress the brutal Lomos Rebellion. She’s never doubted the importance of stopping the rebels bent on enslaving humans, until she spots a warrior across enemy lines—and knows instinctively that their destinies are entwined. . .

Rebellion warrior Reese Theron has nothing left to lose. He’s been forced to fight on the wrong side of a war he abhors in order to protect his family secret. His honor lost, as well as the trust of his own people, Reese has thrown himself into a battle he cannot possibly hope to survive. But after being rescued by a beautiful woman whose exquisite eyes seem to see him for more than the traitor he’s become—he may have just found a new reason to live. ..

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~*~

“Reese’s heart stumbled then took off at a pounding gallop. Of all the reasons he might have rationalized to explain Galena’s visit, a personal request hadn’t been one of them.

She needed him. Not wanted, but needed. His cock stirred, and a rush of something dark and primitive swamped his reason. He shifted to ease the hard press behind his jeans, caution the only thing that kept him locked in place. Surely he’d misinterpreted things. Yesterday’s kiss had just been a gift, a sendoff from a generous woman before he met his death. Hadn’t it?

“Say something.” Galena whispered, the rasped request so vulnerable it raked inside his chest.

Maybe he hadn’t misunderstood.

She ducked her head, gripped the chair at her side for a beat, and turned away. “I should go.” Chin high, she strode toward the door.

“No.” He burst across the room with Myren speed and slammed his palm against the door to block her escape.

He caged her against the wall, her back to his front. Her ear nearly brushed his lips, her neck exposed by the long, thick braid down her back. He dragged his finger down the center of the plait. Myrens rarely bound their hair in any fashion outside of a relationship as it signaled commitment. The idea she’d come here bound to someone else rankled. “Why did you bind it?”

“The wind.” Energy bristled off her, and her stance made her seem torn between flight and surrender.

“There’s no one else?”

She peeked over one shoulder and shook her head, eyes trained on the floor.

The breath he’d been holding released and “stirred the fine hairs at her nape. He toyed with the platinum bead keeping the braid in place at the tip. “Will you let me free it?”

An innocent question for a human, but for a Myren it was intimate. A gift restricted to deeply tied lovers and mates.

She lifted her gaze, bringing her full lips close enough her breath fluttered against his face. “Please.”

His heart jolted, just the illusion of intimacy with this woman driving adrenaline through his bloodstream like a mainlined drug. He kissed her barely parted lips and groaned, imagining her soft, plump mouth stretch around his cock.

“Turn around,” he breathed against her mouth.

She shivered and turned, but kept her gaze locked to his until the last moment.

Using his mind, he warmed and loosened the platinum bead, and slipped it free. He sifted through the soft strands one section at a time until the fiery mass spilled down her back, unleashing more of her unique scent. He nuzzled the spot behind her ear. How easy it would be to lose himself with this woman. In her scent and her warmth. He let out a rough exhale. “This is wrong.”

She stiffened, but he tightened his grip on her hips and kept her locked in place.

“The secrets.” He pressed a lingering kiss where her neck and shoulders met. “They’ll hurt you and your brothers.”“They’re only secrets if you’re not willing to own them.” She met his stare and a shiver rattled through her. Covering his hands with hers, she urged them up her torso. “I’m willing to own this.”

~*~

Rhenna Morgan writes for the same reason she reads—to escape reality.

Yes, her life rocks—two beautiful little girls, a great husband, a steady job, and the kind of friends that would take you out back if you hurt her. But, like most women, she’s got obligations stacked tight from dusk to dawn. So, when the world gets her down, she slips into something…less realistic.

Romance is a must. So is a steamy romp (or four). Nothing thrills her more than the fantasy of new, exciting worlds, strong, intuitive men, and the sigh of, “Oh if only that could happen to me.”

So, if you’re picking up one of her books, expect portals into alternate realms and men who’ll fight to keep the women they want. Romantic escape for the women who need it.

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UNEXPECTED EDEN

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Excerpt & Giveaway! Status Update, #gaymers #1 by Annabeth Albert

Adrian Gottlieb is winning at life. He’s a successful video game designer with everything a man could ask for, including a warm comfy ride to Denver and a date for his sister’s wedding. But he finds himself in need of a total reboot when he's left stranded at a snowy campground in Utah. Holiday plans? Epic fail.

That is until Noah Walters offers him shelter for the night and a reluctant cross-country ride. Nothing about the ultraconservative geoarchaeologist should attract Adrian, but once he discovers Noah’s hidden love for video games, the two connect on a new level. Soon, a quiet but undeniable chemistry sparks.

Something doesn’t add up, though. As the miles accumulate and time runs out, Noah must face the most difficult choice of his life. Meanwhile, Adrian must decide whether he’s ready to level up. Is their relationship status worth fighting for, or has this game ended before it's even begun?

Book 1 of the #gaymers series

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~*~

Chapter One

Noah knew the dog was trouble as soon as he and Ulysses entered the campground’s off-leash dog area. The little guy—some sort of Chihuahua/mini-pin mix in a yellow-and-green checked coat—stood in the center of the scrubby grass, barking his fool head off. The only human in the dog area sat at the picnic table on the far side, completely absorbed in his shiny phone, oblivious to his dog strutting around like all eight pounds of him would be enough to keep potential threats out.

Ulysses gave Noah a look, like “you really expect me to ignore that?” Noah tightened his hold on the tennis ball chucker. Ulysses never did well competing with smaller dogs for his toys. He unclipped Ulysses with a stern look.

“Be good.”

Still yapping, the little dog rushed over to inspect his new enemy. Predictably, Ulysses wandered away to do his business. He was too old for these sorts of games.

Noah gave a halfhearted wave in the direction of the owner, but the guy didn’t look up from his phone. The young guy was a typical hipster tourist—thick tortoise-framed glasses, artfully messed-up dark hair, with a thick purple streak, falling over his forehead. Slim build, but his wide shoulders stretched his too-thin jacket, making the shiny fabric ripple with his motions. He wasn’t any more prepared for November in Utah than his designer dog. Still, he was a cute guy, if one was the type to notice things like that, which Noah was not.

Noah looked away, studying the sheer cliffs that surrounded the Capitol Reef National Park. Didn’t matter how much time he spent in Southern Utah, he never got tired of the view. Phone guy was missing the light shifting into one of those perfect late fall sunsets that made the early dusk worth the loss of daylight. Pink streaks mingled with gray sky to cast a rosy glow over the scrubby grass and low fence of the dog area.

Rowwwr. Ulysses flopped at Noah’s feet, a deep beseeching whine rattling out of his barrel chest. He was eighty pounds of unhappy. He’d waited patiently all afternoon while Noah worked, and now he was missing out on his ball time thanks to the teacup gatekeeper.

“Okay, but play nice.” Noah threw the ball hard with the chucker toy, going for enough distance to outstrip the tiny dog’s ability to keep up with Ulysses. Not surprisingly, the little guy was tenacious, cutting off Ulysses’s path to the ball. Ulysses gave a warning woof, and Noah broke into a run, heading after the dogs.

“Down,” he called out. Ulysses wouldn’t attack the smaller dog, but he wasn’t above a major tantrum. And despite the smaller dog acting as instigator, people would see the huge black dog and toss out the “aggressor” label. Noah preferred to exercise him late in the day—Ulysses simply didn’t enjoy playing with other dogs, and Noah wasn’t one to force his dog into uncomfortable situations.

The little dog stood over the ball, yapping up a storm while Ulysses barked and growled, ignoring Noah’s command to sit.

Finally, the owner hefted himself off the picnic bench.

“Pixel, baby, what are you doing?” the owner called in a melodic voice that didn’t inspire Noah’s confidence in the man’s ability to control his dog. “Did the big doggie scare you?”

Hah. Typical. Noah snorted. “Can you grab the ball?” He didn’t trust those little dog breeds—too quick to snap. He’d nearly been bitten trying to retrieve a ball more than once.

“Oh sure.” The guy reached under Pixel—typical cutesy name for an annoying dog—and delicately plucked the ball free, but instead of handing it to Noah, he gave it a toss, sending both dogs running.

Oh great. Noah let out a slow breath, little puffs of vapor in the crisp evening air that did nothing to defuse his tension.

“It’ll be okay.” The way-too-handsy guy patted the sleeve of Noah’s parka. “They just need to work it out. Pixel loves to play.”

Noah took a step to the side. Who did that? Touched complete strangers? But the guy kept up his friendly grin, not unlike his dog, who kept gamely chasing Ulysses. Ulysses won the race to the ball this time and hightailed it back to Noah. Not releasing his prize, he whined softly.

“Hey, boy. You got a toy?” The guy knelt to dog level and extended a hand, but instead of sniffing, Ulysses shook his head.

“Sorry. He’s not much on new people.” Neither am I. Noah’s voice sounded rough to his own ears—too many days with only Ulysses to talk to.

“It’s okay.” The guy straightened, then extended a hand to Noah. “I’m Adrian Gottlieb. You been at Capitol Reef long?”

“Couple of weeks.” He returned Adrian’s handshake, hating it when a little buzz shot up his arm. Unlike his own gloved hand, Adrian’s hand was bare, a hint of a tattoo playing peekaboo with his cuff, his grip strong and firm. And Noah had absolutely no business noticing anything more than the guy’s relentless friendliness.

Adrian smiled expectantly as he released Noah’s hand.

“Oh, I’m Noah. And that’s Ulysses,” he added, because dog people always wanted to know all about the dog. No doubt the guy was bursting to tell Pixel’s life story.

“Add-dreeee-an,” a heavily accented voice called from the gate. A beefy guy close to Noah’s age leaned on the fence, bald head gleaming in the setting sun. “I’m lonely. When are you coming back?”

“Coming,” Adrian shouted, then gave Noah a shrug with a “what can you do?” expression on his face. He grabbed Pixel and jogged across the field.

Noah nodded like he knew anything about handling demanding friends. Adrian greeted the mammoth dude with a quick peck. Okay then. Not a friend. He should have guessed, but he was a bit slow about relationship stuff. The country was changing, even way out here, but no one would dare try even that much PDA in his tiny West Texas college town. His stomach gave a weird flip—not quite discomfort, but something else he refused to name. Time to return his attention to Ulysses. He hurled the tennis ball as hard as he could.

~*~

Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Annabeth loves finding happy endings for a variety of pairings and is a passionate gay rights supporter. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two children.

Represented by Saritza Hernandez of the Corvisiero Literary Agency

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Excerpt & Giveaway! The Planet Whisperer by E.E. Montgomery

Jonah Starovski, a Planet Whisperer, harnesses the energy surrounding dead planets and redirects it into new growth. Abandoned by the man who bought him from a brothel sixteen years ago, Jonah flounders in a world he’s ill equipped to deal with. He must accept the help of a stranger in order to rebuild his life.

First Lieutenant Marcus Davis volunteers as Jonah’s assistant without realizing the terraforming process requires Jonah’s sexual release. Balanced on the knife-edge of fear and ambition, Marcus is faced with his mother’s machinations and threats to his career. Marcus’s parents bring their illegal scientific experiments to the planets Jonah is terraforming just as Marcus learns to accept himself and his feelings for Jonah. At the same time, Jonah’s past catches up to him, putting them both in danger.

Jonah and Marcus must trust in each other to put a stop to the illegal activities, rescue an endangered animal, and create the future they both want—a future they can share.

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~*~

“You’re offering to help?” Jonah whispered harshly, his throat raw from the tension still riding his body. “Are you sure you want to know what I need to finish this?” 

Jonah almost smiled at the wariness that crept into the lieutenant’s gaze, but the amusement that relaxed his features died when Davis nodded. 

“I’ve orders to assist you in any way you need.” 

Anger flooded him then. The stupid man was so focused on carrying out his orders he didn’t know what he was offering. What he was risking. “Are you volunteering to help me, Lieutenant?” The roughness in Jonah’s voice smoothed to a silken purr, and the lieutenant’s expression finally showed the uncertainty it should have all along. 

Jonah felt guilty at the pleasure he felt in bringing that expression to Davis’s face. But only a little. He decided the lieutenant was a smart man when he stepped away. 

“Tell me what I have to do, and I’ll tell you if I can help.” 

Jonah forced a grin. He hadn’t tried to take control like this since Wes—better not to go there. Not while he was standing with power still tight in his body. The fallout would be beyond his control. Instead he reached out and grabbed the lieutenant’s hand and pushed it roughly against the aching length of his dick.

“This is what you have to do, Lieutenant. The power is stored there and needs to be released. My dick, your mouth. Get the picture?”

Davis snatched back his hand and fumbled a few steps back from the momentum. But he didn’t leave. Jonah frowned. He’d been sure he’d scare him off with that. “What’s your name, Lieutenant? If you’re going to suck me off, it seems a little ridiculous that I don’t know your name.” “I didn’t say I was going to suck you off,” Davis exclaimed.

~*~

E E Montgomery wants the world to be a better place, with equality and acceptance for all. Her philosophy is: We can’t change the world but we can change our small part of it and, in that way, influence the whole. Writing stories that show people finding their own ‘better place’ is part of E E Montgomery’s own small contribution. 

Thankfully, there’s never a shortage of inspiration for stories that show people growing in their acceptance and love of themselves and others. A dedicated people-watcher, E E finds stories everywhere. In a cafe, a cemetery, a book on space exploration or on the news, there’ll be a story of personal growth, love, and unconditional acceptance there somewhere.

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