Feisty Red by Stacey Kennedy ~ Spotlight

Feisty Red by Stacey Kennedy ~ Spotlight

Feisty Red by Stacey Kennedy

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About Feisty Red by Stacey Kennedy

Title: Feisty Red
Author: Stacey Kennedy
Series: Three Chicks Brewery #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Feisty Red by Stacey Kennedy

Clara Carter is the brains behind Three Chicks Brewery. The oldest and most responsible of the Carter sisters, she doesn’t have time for anything but taking care of her son and making sure her family’s top beer, Foxy Diva, gets into bars across North America. Which means getting the brew in front of Colorado’s biggest beer distributor. Unfortunately, that becomes tricky when the man in charge of distribution is none other than Sullivan Kenne, the cowboy who ran out on her seven years ago.

 

Sullivan’s life has been filled with one wrong move after another. First, he tried to prove himself to his bastard father by joining a professional baseball team, a choice Sullivan still regrets. Then he bailed on Clara, the only woman he’s ever loved. Seeing her again makes Sullivan determined to right his wrongs. Unfortunately, he wasn’t counting on one of those wrongs being a six-year-old son he never knew about…

 

Reuniting with Clara and meeting his son is a shocking—and amazing—experience. But as much as Sullivan tries to return to his roots and be the stand-up cowboy of Clara’s dreams, the reality is that she’s having trouble trusting him. Luckily, Sullivan knows the way to Clara’s heart, and he’ll prove to her that a second chance with a cowboy is worth the risk.

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About Stacey Kennedy

Stacey Kennedy is a USA Today bestselling author who writes contemporary romances full of heat, heart, and happily ever afters. With over 50 titles published, her books have hit Amazon, B&N, and Apple Books bestseller lists.

Stacey lives with her husband and two children in southwestern Ontario—in a city that’s just as charming as any of the small towns she creates. Most days, you’ll find her enjoying the outdoors with her family or venturing into the forest with her horse, Priya. Stacey’s just as happy curled up indoors, where she writes surrounded by her lazy dogs. She believes that sexy books about hot cowboys or alpha heroes can fix any bad day. But wine and chocolate help too.

Stacey Kennedy

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More Contemporary Romance for You

The Art of Loving Ellie by Loren Beeson
Patriot by Harley Wylde
You Had Me at Hockey by Kelly Jamieson
The Art of Loving Ellie by Loren Beeson ~ Excerpt

The Art of Loving Ellie by Loren Beeson ~ Excerpt

The Art of Loving Ellie by Loren Beeson

As an affiliate at retail sites, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. See my disclaimer for more details.

About The Art of Loving Ellie by Loren Beeson

Title: The Art of Loving Ellie
Author: Loren Beeson
Genre: Contemporary Romance

The Art of Loving Ellie by Loren Beeson

Smart, beautiful, talented, and… awkward.

Ellie Clark has big dreams of moving to the city to become a well-known artist. With the help of her eccentric boss, Alex, and his influence in the New York City art scene, everything should go according to plan. Until suddenly, Ellie comes to realize that her passion for painting has vanished with no explanation.

Despite her best attempts at avoiding distractions, she not so gracefully tumbles into a sexy stranger, adding more chaos to her already unsteady life. He continues to challenge her to the point of losing her grip on the one thing that keeps her grounded—her control, and to make matters worse, a past she had long ago made peace with is ripped wide open when she receives a phone call from a ghost of her previous life.

The refuge of her comfort zone is her greatest dependency, but Ellie doesn’t see the bigger picture. Can she risk opening her heart to this exciting, overconfident trouble-maker, or will she embrace the trauma of her past to discover that second chances aren’t just for the storybooks…

“Funny thing about fate is, she comes knocking when you least expect her. If you don’t answer her call, she moves on, and most of the time… she doesn’t look back.”

.

© 2020
Loren Beeson

 “Give me your hand,” I demand, and the bewilderment on his face makes me laugh.

Point, Ellie.

He gives me the hand that isn’t holding the palette, and I pause a moment to admire it. Tyler has long, strong hands, and I’m plagued with images of them groping my body. Remembering those hands firmly gripping my ass while we made out in the janitor’s closet makes me clear my throat uncomfortably.

I grab some white paint off the palette in his opposite hand and mix in some black to create a light gray. Placing my hand under his, I begin gentle strokes around the bones beneath his skin, creating thin white striations that make up the cartilage and tendons around them.

When I’m finished, I smirk at him, giving him a clean brush and offering my hand for him to work on. Admiring my work, he quirks an eyebrow at me, “I’m not normally so easy to outwit.” He gives me the palette and takes my palm in his. Dabbing some green paint onto his brush, he leans over my hand and applies it to my pale skin in slow strokes.

“It seems you may have met your match.” I smile at him, jumping slightly when the cold paint touches my skin.

He chuckles to himself, but I don’t miss the desire flooding his gaze when he glares back at me. “I’m no painter, so don’t you dare laugh.”

I giggle as he swirls the start of a green vine onto the back of my hand. He’s so focused on his work that he barely takes a moment to look up at me through his thick lashes. “I said don’t laugh.”

I hide my smile from him as he finishes the job, and we take turns painting our opposite hands. I move on to his right side contemplating where to start, and I run my fingers lightly down the full-length of his arm. Starting at his shoulder, I end my stroke over the pulse at his wrist where I absently rub a circle over his warm flesh, envisioning the direction of my design.

His skin is warm and smooth, and I can’t help but notice that I’ve left a trail of goosebumps with my touch. I’m lost in thought when he interrupts.

“Like what you see, Princess?” His words come out in a husky whisper that makes the hair on the back of my neck prickle.

I meet his gaze, teasing him, “A good artist always gets familiar with her subject.”

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About Loren Beeson

Loren is a dreamer, artist, radiologic technologist, and author who loves animals and people. Always writing short stories as a young child and young adult, she knew she wanted to become an author someday. The Art of Loving Ellie is Loren’s debut novel.

Loren can be found in her cozy home in Texas with her nose in a book, her corgi and mini-aussie on her lap, and her son trailing along with her and her husband through their many adventures.

Loren Beeson

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More Contemporary Romance for You

Paris Time Capsule by Ella Carey
Addicted to Rhapsody by Selena Laurence
Let There Be Life by Melissa Storm
Heedless by Shannon McKenna ~ Excerpt

Heedless by Shannon McKenna ~ Excerpt

Heedless by Shannon McKenna

As an affiliate at retail sites, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. See my disclaimer for more details.

About Heedless by Shannon McKenna

Title: Heedless
Author: Shannon McKenna
Series: The Hellbound Brotherhood #4
Genre: Romantic Suspense

Heedless by Shannon McKenna

Whatever it takes to protect her…

Security expert Nate Murphy came to Shaw’s Crossing to kick ass and help the Trask brothers fight off their enemies. He didn’t expect to get knocked off his feet by the elusive, gorgeous Elisa, a mysterious woman who works for one of his friends. Elisa’s holding something back…something big. Nate’s an ex-soldier and ex-bouncer whose specialty is breaking heads…but the fear in Elisa’s eyes makes him want to crush whoever put it there. If only she would tell him the truth…

Secrets and lies…

Elisa Rinaldi is hiding from a killer. The small mountain town of Shaw’s Crossing had seemed like a good idea at the time, but getting attached to the people there was not, particularly the hard-eyed, hard-bodied Nate Murphy. When dangerous trouble engulfs her new friends, suddenly the press is everywhere. If she shows up on TV or online, she’s dead.

She has to leave Shaw’s Crossing—after a parting gift to herself. One unforgettable night with Nate, and she’ll do the right thing…even if it breaks her. The passion between them leaves Nate gasping for breath. Then Elisa vanishes. Nate can’t rest until he finds her. He means to solve her problem once and for all…by any means necessary.

Elisa will risk everything to get her life back and be with the man she loves. But now her mortal enemy is playing a game of cat and mouse…

And the stakes are both their lives…

Excerpt from Heedless

© 2020
Shannon McKenna

Elisa met his eyes in the bathroom mirror. “I don’t dream about the future,” she said. “I don’t dare.”

Nate leaned on the doorjamb. “I didn’t used to think about the future much. But in the last couple of days, I really have. All the time. Daydreams, fantasies.”

 

“Yeah?” she asked. “You think it’s the right time for daydreams?”

He shrugged. “They come when they come. I can’t stop them. I’m thinking about making some changes. Not just cruising through life. Deciding some things more deliberately. Thinking about a destination. Maybe a place to live outside the city. Maybe something like this.” He hesitated. “Someplace that you’d like, too.”

She turned away, biting her lip. “Really, Nate?” she said, her voice tight. “You’ve got Gil out there, and Kimball gunning for you, and you’re thinking about nesting? You should really save it for a better season.”

“Eric and Demi made a decision, not to let Kimball call the shots for them anymore,” Nate said. “I thought they were nuts. But now, I’m starting to see their point.”

“Nate—”

“Those pricks don’t get to pick. Not for you, or for me.” His voice was low and fierce. “Not Gil. Not Kimball. Fuck those guys. We can decide for ourselves. We could die tomorrow. So let’s live every day. Completely.”

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About Shannon McKenna

Shannon McKenna is the NYT bestselling author of more than seventeen action packed, turbocharged romantic thrillers, among which are the stories of the wildly popular McCloud series and her scorching new series, The Obsidian Files—rip-roaring romantic suspense with a sci-fi twist. She loves tough and heroic alpha males, heroines with the brains and guts to match them, villains who challenge them to their utmost, adventure, scorching sensuality, and most of all, the redemptive power of true love.

Since she was small, she has loved abandoning herself to the magic of a good book, and her fond childhood fantasy was that writing would be just like that, but with the added benefit of being able to take credit for the story at the end. Alas, the alchemy of writing turned out to be messier than she’d ever dreamed. But what the hell, she loves it anyway, and hopes that readers enjoy the results of her alchemical experiments.

Shannon McKenna

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More Romantic Suspense for You

The Other Side of the Looking Glass by Kathleen Harryman
Patriot by Harley Wylde ~ Excerpt

Patriot by Harley Wylde ~ Excerpt

Patriot by Harley Wylde

As an affiliate at retail sites, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. See my disclaimer for more details.

About Patriot by Harley Wylde

Title: Patriot
Author: Harley Wylde
Series: Hades Abyss MC #6
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Patriot by Harley Wylde

MaryAnne — I was sixteen when I learned a hard lesson. No, it wasn’t a lesson. It was worse. Kidnapped, tortured, abused in the worst of ways… I’d thought my life was over. Until the day my knight in shining armor came to save me. Patriot. Despite how scary he looks, he has to be the kindest man I’ve ever met. He not only rescues damsels in distress, but animals too. Under that hard exterior is a heart of gold. It doesn’t matter that he’s older than me. The more I get to know him, the harder I start to fall. But why would a man like him ever want someone like me? I’m dirty. Damaged. Broken beyond repair. Or am I? After all, Christmas is a time for miracles.

Patriot — From the moment I saw her, she’s had me wrapped around her finger. I’ve done my best to chase the fear and shadows from her eyes, show her she’s safe. I’ve taken out nearly every man who ever hurt her, even if she doesn’t know it. And the two who are still standing won’t be for long. I want to see her smile. Make her laugh. What better time than Christmas to prove to her life is worth living? I’ll make it the best she’s ever had!

But there’s only one thing I want under the tree this year… MaryAnne. She deserves better. I’m no angel. I’ve killed. Lied. Stolen. And worse. I tell myself repeatedly to keep my distance… until I can’t. One taste and I know I’ll never walk away. MaryAnne is mine! And if she won’t listen to me, then maybe my whacky parrot can convince her. If there’s one thing the African Grey excels at, it’s talking when he shouldn’t.

WARNING: Patriot contains scenes of graphic violence and sexual content, bad language, and abuse. But it also has a happily-ever-after, a tiny feline terror, the most patient dog on the planet, and a bird who always has to have the last word.

Excerpt from Patriot

© 2020
Harley Wylde

The little kitten pawed at my feet and ankles before bounding around Patriot and then running from the room. I heard a bark and knew another of his strays hadn’t liked being disturbed. For such a tough guy, he had a gentle touch when it came to injured animals. And people.

“I need a few days and I’ll find a place to stay.”

His eyes opened and he leaned in closer until his nose brushed against mine. My eyes nearly crossed, trying to hold his gaze. Before I knew what he was doing, his lips slammed against mine, his hand going to my hair. He grabbed a handful and held me still as he ravaged my mouth. I gripped the sides of his cut, holding on in case my legs gave out. It was my first real kiss, and it felt like I was floating, and burning at the same time.

He drew back, chest heaving, as he stared at me. My cheeks felt like they were on fire and my lips tingled. With anyone else, I’d have been terrified. But this was Patriot, the man who’d saved me, given me a place to live, taken care of me. And he’d kissed me.

“F**k,” he muttered again. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

He started to pull away, but I gripped him tighter and held on. My brain was foggy, and I wasn’t sure I could speak yet. But I knew I didn’t want him to go. I wasn’t upset he’d kissed me. It was wonderful. He was wonderful.

“MaryAnne, I’m sorry. After everything you’ve been through, you don’t need me taking advantage. Christ! I’m twelve years older than you.” He ran a hand down his face and shook his head.

“Patriot, I didn’t push you away, did I?”

“What are you saying, Little Bit?” he asked.

I felt my cheeks get warmer. “I liked it. I trust you, Patriot. There’s no one else I’d want to kiss me.”

 

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About Harley Wylde

Harley Wylde is the International Bestselling Author of the Dixie Reapers MC, Devil’s Boneyard MC, and Hades Abyss MC series.
When Harley’s writing, her motto is the hotter the better — off the charts sex, commanding men, and the women who can’t deny them. If you want men who talk dirty, are sexy as hell, and take what they want, then you’ve come to the right place. She doesn’t shy away from the dangers and nastiness in the world, bringing those realities to the pages of her books, but always gives her characters a happily-ever-after and makes sure the bad guys get what they deserve.
 
The times Harley isn’t writing, she’s thinking up naughty things to do to her husband, drinking copious amounts of Starbucks, and reading. She loves to read and devours a book a day, sometimes more. She’s also fond of TV shows and movies from the 1980’s, as well as paranormal shows from the 1990’s to today, even though she’d much rather be reading or writing. 
 
You can find out more about Harley or enter her monthly giveaway on her website. Be sure to join her newsletter while you’re there to learn more about discounts, signing events, and other goodies!

Harley Wylde

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More New Adult Romance for You

Follow Me Darkly by Helen Hardt
When You Were Mine by Alessa Martel
Talk Derby to Me by RH Tucker
A Shattering Glimpse by Nicole Putter ~ Guest Post

A Shattering Glimpse by Nicole Putter ~ Guest Post

A Shattering Glimpse by Nicole Putter

As an affiliate at retail sites, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. See my disclaimer for more details.

About A Shattering Glimpse by Nicole Putter

Title: A Shattering Glimpse
Author: Nicole Putter
Genre: Romance, Thriller

A Shattering Glimpse by Nicole Putter

The dreams: For years, Claire Baxter has been haunted by ceaseless dreams of an FBI Agent.

The dilemma: She has no idea who he is or if he even exists.

The death: Right before she’s set to graduate from college, a dream reveals him dying in a brutal explosion.

One touch and not-so-normal Portland girl, Claire Baxter, can get a glimpse of your nearby future. She considers nothing about her clairvoyance a gift, it’s a curse, to say the least. Her parents raised her with the rule that she is to keep the secret at all cost, leaving little room for relationships of any kind. As if the burden isn’t enough, FBI agent Byron Black becomes the phantom of a series of sinister dreams.

The night before her final college exam, she has another dream, except in this one, he dies in a nuclear explosion. Does he exist? Will she find him? If so, can she save the countless lives affected by a blast that can crush steel like it’s a piece of paper, or… is this something her lost, psychic mind conjured up?

Guest Post by Nicole Putter

© 2020
Nicole Putter

Why a romantic thriller?

Is romantic thriller even a genre or is this a meta genre? Romantic suspense seems to be the more accepted term but even that doesn’t have a perfect definition. I have scoured the internet and I couldn’t really find a definitive answer. Most would agree that the plotline should include equal parts love story intertwined with mystery and intrigue.

Iconic romantic suspense writer, Sandra Brown, tells Novel Suspects in an interview that the heroes should be reluctant allies against a common threat or enemy who desire each other, badly. Some underlying truth, such as fireman vs arsonist, should make it impossible for them to act on the desire. She says that the suspense is posed as a question early on which goes unanswered for as long as possible.

This definition from a trained hand in the genre sheds a little more light on the structure. I agree with her, but I have to add that I don’t think romantic thrillers and romantic suspense are necessarily the same thing. Here’s my personal take on it and the reason why I chose this genre.

The romance

I’ll admit, I’m been a sucker for a budding attraction since I can remember. Whether in books, movies or television, I can’t resist. But romance plots can sometimes feel unoriginal when it’s a simple love triangle or forbidden due to classism or emotional unavailability. This is where I like to add the element of surprise and uncertainty. The reader should feel a constant ambiguity due to components other than the norm.

In ‘A Shattering Glimpse’ Claire has been dreaming about this man since she was fourteen years old. Due to her psychic condition she doesn’t pursue many relationships and forms a bit of an obsession with the man from her dreams. She has no idea if he’s real or if it’s something she dreamt up out of utter loneliness and boredom.

A romantic suspense constitutes equal parts romance and suspense while romance takes the passenger seat in a romantic thriller. The romantic plotline should still form an integral part of the story, but the thriller should dominate. Also, a happily ever after is not a certainty.

In many ways I think ‘Gone Girl’ by Gillian Flynn could also qualify. A large part of Amy’s diary entries in part I of the story, tells a romantic tale without a definite conclusion. In the 2010 film ‘The Tourist’, starring Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie, the romance is seamlessly woven into the thriller plot where spies rope an unsuspecting tourist into their search for a thief.

The thrills

In all the abovementioned examples, the story is told through the eyes of an unreliable narrator that keeps the reader guessing about both plots for as long as possible. Unreliable narrators are remarkable literary tools for grabbing and retaining attention.

As mentioned, I love a good romance, but I can’t deny a twisted and suspenseful thriller that will keep me reading through the night. Whether it’s a whodunnit or the perverse life of a serial killer, there’s nothing more satisfying than getting swept up into shocking twists and turns.

While thrillers come in a wide variety, certain elements should be present to qualify: Danger, excitement, suspense and mystery. In my opinion, this should be the focus of a romantic thriller. As Brown suggested, in romantic suspense novels, the heroes will work together in trying to solve the mystery or defeat the threat. This is not necessarily the case in a romantic thriller, in my opinion.

Love can often be the cause or give rise to the thrilling events as is the case in the novel ‘Verity’ by Colleen Hoover. ‘A Shattering Glimpse’ follows somewhat of the same recipe but I can’t say too much without giving anything away.

This testimonial from award-winning thriller author, Andrew Salomon will give you more or less of an idea: “The novel deftly manages to combine both thriller and fantastical genres, along with a good dollop of romance, and without resorting to clichés and sentimentality. This is a significant achievement, and the reader is skilfully drawn into a love story intertwined with murder, interwoven with a special agent thriller.”

Deviating from the norm

To create something a little more original, I had to deviate slightly from the norm of romantic suspense and fast paced FBI thrillers. It was a risk but so far, the response has only been positive. I tried to combine both genres in way that could fulfill both readerships without overcompensating. I enjoy romance and thrillers and I felt a lack of stories that effortlessly merge the two. As Toni Morrison once said, “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”

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About Nicole Putter

Nicole Putter is the author of the Shattering Series and several short stories. She completed four creative writing and journalism courses with honours between a successful career in finance. When she’s not writing fiction, she blogs about her passion for books and writing. She’s also happily married, and a proud mom of one son and a Jack Russel Terrier named Striker.

Nicole Putter

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Enter to win a $20 Amazon gift card + an ebook copy of both A Shattering Secret and A Shattering Glimpse

More Romantic Suspense for You

The Other Side of the Looking Glass by Kathleen Harryman
Amends by Carissa Andrews ~ Cover Reveal

Amends by Carissa Andrews ~ Cover Reveal

Amends by Carissa Andrews

As an affiliate at retail sites, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. See my disclaimer for more details.

About Amends by Carissa Andrews

Title: Amends
Author: Carissa Andrews
Series: Diana Hawthorne Supernatural Mystery #2
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Amends by Carissa Andrews

For as psychic as she is, shit goes sideways far too often around Diana Hawthorne.

Diana now has everything she ever wanted–her memories, and the soul mate she didn’t realize she was missing. There’s just one problem… the old gods expect her to make amends for her absence. And her work starts now.

But time lost at the oracle isn’t the only thing she has to atone for. Her friend Demetri was stripped of his powers–and it was all her fault. If she could just set things right, she’d feel a whole lot better about moving forward. Unfortunately, Demetri wants nothing to do with her and knows exactly how to keep her out of his head.

To make matters worse, in the age of social media, Diana’s abilities have gone viral. People from all over the world are clambering to get on her books. One case, in particular, hits her radar and despite herself, she can’t shake it. A 14-year-old boy is wrapped up with a deadly governmental agency and he’s scared to death. And he should be–they want to weaponize his power.

Torn between what was and what is, Diana struggles to fully embrace who she’s becoming. Will she be able to help Demitri and make things right? Or will her new role mean leaving the past behind?

Pre-Order Your Copy Today!

About Carissa Andrews

“An author emerges from the depths of Minnesotan waters. Sci-fi/Fantasy is my pen of choice.”
Carissa Andrews is a Minnesota-based genre-bending author who writes a combination of science fiction, fantasy, and dystopia. When not writing her own books, she’s busy reading them.
Carissa’s internationally bestselling trilogy, The Pendomus Chronicles, is now in digital, print, and audiobook formats. She has hit the scene as an up and coming speculative fiction author who uses a mix of scifi and fantasy, twisted in modern mythology and alternative history. Check out The Final Five, Oracle, Awakening, and Love is a Merciless God!
Carissa has big plans for 2020. Check out her upcoming series, The Windhaven Witches.
For more information on their release, visit Carissa Andrews’ author website: www.carissaandrews.com and sign up for her newsletter notifications.
She lives in central Minnesota with her husband and brood of five kids. Not to mention, her insane husky puppies, Aztec and Pharaoh.
Carissa is also a freelance graphic designer, writer and content creator, social media manager, and marketing professional. She writes consistently on topics of science, technology, art, writing, photography, graphic design, health, self-improvement, and more. Her articles can be found published across the interwebs. Carissa is also a Top-Rated Freelancer on Upwork, and can be contacted for freelancing opportunities: http://bit.ly/UpworkCarissaAndrews
Carissa Andrews

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Warping Minds & Other Misdemeanors by Annette Marie & Rob Jacobsen
Queen of Fate & Fire by Annie Anderson
A Little Night Magic by Angie Fox
Little Hood and Her Wolf by Janie Marie ~ Excerpt

Little Hood and Her Wolf by Janie Marie ~ Excerpt

Little Hood and Her Wolf by Janie Marie

As an affiliate at retail sites, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. See my disclaimer for more details.

About Little Hood and Her Wolf by Janie Marie

Title: Little Hood and Her Wolf
Author: Janie Marie
Series: The Big Bad Wolf Trilogy #2
Genre: Young Adult, Fairy Tale Retelling

Little Hood and Her Wolf by Janie Marie

Kylie knew Logan Grimm came with a price. She just had no idea that the price was being told what to do by the most dangerous residents of Blackwoods.

She should run and survive, but Logan’s sweet words and even sweeter kisses keep her where she is. 

Right where the Big Bad Wolf lies in wait.

© 2020
Janie Marie

Kylie blinked a few times and stared ahead. Janie was sitting across from her and Logan, and Ryder was pouring Dr Pepper into her glass. He opened a few prescription bottles, and Janie held her hand out without saying anything, waiting for him to pour a pill from each bottle. When she swallowed the last pill, she gagged a little before receiving a kiss to her forehead.

God, she really is crazy.

Logan squeezed Kylie’s leg under the table because she was staring with her mouth open.

“Have you never seen someone take medication before?” Ryder asked, his harsh tone biting at her skin.

“Babe,” said Janie the same time Logan called out, “Ryder.”

Kylie swallowed and looked at Janie, who only smiled at her. It wasn’t the smile she’d given her yesterday though. It was forced.

“She needs to stop staring at you like you’re a fucking science experiment,” Ryder said, his voice louder as Janie cooed to him.

“She’s just curious,” Janie said, but even then, she didn’t sound the same. She sounded like a small child. Ryder didn’t seem to like that.

“Curious my ass.” He glared at Kylie.

“Enough.” Logan kept his eyes trained on Ryder.

“I’m sorry,” Kylie whispered, her heart racing under Ryder’s stare. He might not be the killer, but he was willing to be.

Janie put her hand over Ryder’s as she replied, “I take medicine to help with my PTSD and other stuff. Ryder helps me remember to take them because I don’t like to. Swallowing pills bothers me now.” Janie finally smiled, but it was all for Ryder.

“It’s none of her business.” Ryder’s voice was so loud it hurt to listen to him speak.

Gawain spoke up, putting authority into his order. “Boys, you both need to relax, or we’re sending Kylie home and taking Janie away till this mess blows over.”

“It’s fine,” said Janie when Ryder let out an angry noise at the threat being issued. Janie kissed Ryder’s cheek and whispered in his ear until he turned to peck her lips. He started eating. “He just doesn’t like people staring,” Janie said when Kylie still couldn’t look away, “or judging me.”

“I wasn’t judging,” Kylie said quickly, her voice a hushed whisper while she covered Logan’s shaking hand.

“Yeah.” Janie smiled, but it was clear she didn’t believe her. “Everything’s fine, right, babe?”

Ryder grunted and stuffed more food in his mouth.

Janie returned her focus to Kylie, her eyes flashing with fire. “Sleep well?”

Kylie tensed. “I slept fine, thanks.”

Those vibrant hazel eyes stayed on her for a moment longer before shifting to Logan. He was still glaring at Ryder, which might’ve been why Janie’s tone darkened. “Logan, put yourself in his shoes. You wouldn’t like someone staring at Kylie over any of her personal issues either. You know why it bothers him, and you know why he’s really mad.”

Logan fumed as he glared between the couple but said nothing.

Janie’s eyes narrowed. “And don’t forget you’ve reacted worse when something was said to her. This is the same.”

“It’s not the same,” Logan said between clenched teeth. “She didn’t say shit about you!”

Ryder slammed his hand down on the table and stood, glaring at Logan. “No, you just opened your fucking mouth and spilled every one of her secrets.”

Logan stood up, his eyes dangerous. Kylie grabbed his hand as Janie wrapped her arms around Ryder to keep him from lunging over the table.

“I had no choice,” Logan yelled back.

“Bullshit.” Ryder carefully peeled Janie off him and nudged her over to Gawain before stepping around the table. “We made one rule, Grimm. And that was to keep our mouths shut. I warned you not to say anything. Everyone warned you.”

“Stop.” Janie tried to break free from Gawain, but she was held tightly against her brother as Logan and Ryder stood toe to toe. “Babe, please let me handle this.”

Ryder ignored her and smirked at Logan. “You’ve been good on your word this whole time—but Blondie sucks your dick, and suddenly you’re confessing like a church girl who touched herself for the first time.”

Logan swung before the gasp finished leaving her lips. He hit Ryder right in the jaw, and it was total chaos from there.

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About Janie Marie

Janie Marie is a native Texan and resides in her hometown north of Austin, Texas, where she devotes her time to family, pets, and her writing.
Much of her life experiences–good and a lot of bad–are where she has chosen to draw inspiration from to create her characters and stories. It’s important to her to create the kind of characters she needs or needed at one point in time because she wanted to create something only the saddest souls would recognize as brave and strong.
Be ready for raw, emotional tales, as Janie never holds back. With her darkest thoughts she found light is still possible, that the sad girl can sometimes glow the brightest. Because she is beauty surrounded by darkness.

Janie Marie

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Two Winters by Lauren Emily Whalen ~ Cover Reveal

Two Winters by Lauren Emily Whalen ~ Cover Reveal

Two Winters by Emily Whalen

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About Two Winters by Lauren Emily Whalen

Title: Two Winters
Author: Lauren Emily Whalen
Genre: Young Adult, LGBTQ+ Contemporary Fiction

Two Winters by Lauren Emily Whalen

The winter of 1997 is a tragedy waiting to happen. Small-town life isn’t easy for seventeen-year-old, bisexual and closeted Paulina, especially when her best friend Mia becomes pregnant. A devout Catholic, Mia doesn’t want to tell her parents, see a doctor, or even tell the baby’s father, Paulina’s other best friend, Tesla. Meanwhile, Paulina’s secret relationship with volleyball star, Ani, is about to go public in the worst way. It all comes to a head one fateful night, and everything changes forever.

Fast forward to the winter of 2014, where Perdita, bi and proud in Chicago, is weeks away from turning seventeen. Her life is perfect–well, almost. She loves her two moms, but why do they refuse to tell her anything about her adoption? When Perdita meets Fenton, her handsome improv coach who’s taking a gap year before college, she discovers both a kindred soul and a willing accomplice in her search for the truth. Will Perdita find what she’s looking for? And if not, can time really heal all wounds? 

TWO WINTERS is a contemporary queer YA retelling of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, about birth, death, Catholic school, improv comedy and the healing nature of time.

About Lauren Emily Whalen

Lauren Emily Whalen is the author of the YA novels SATELLITE (2017) and TWO WINTERS (2021), and the YA nonfiction book DEALING WITH DRAMA (2020). Her short story “I Saw Her Again” appears in LINK BY LINK: A SPIRITED HOLIDAY ANTHOLOGY (2020). Lauren is also an actor and very amateur aerialist, and lives in Chicago with her cat, Versace, and an apartment full of books. Follow her on Instagram at laurenemilywrites.

Lauren Emily Whalen

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Uncrossed by J.A. Huss and K.C. Cross ~ Cover Reveal

Uncrossed by J.A. Huss and K.C. Cross ~ Cover Reveal

Uncrossed by J.A. Huss and K.C. Cross

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About Uncrossed by J.A. Huss and K.C. Cross

Title: Uncrossed
Author: J.A. Huss and K.C. Cross
Series: Harem Station #7
Genre: Science Fiction Romance

Uncrossed by J.A. Huss and K.C. Cross

Princess Corla was supposed to be my soulmate.

But we were star crossed.

Two ships passing in the dark. Meant to be together, but never able to be together.

At least that’s what I thought.

But it turns out—my life is a lie, evil forces are out to get us, Harem Station is spinning chaos, and the soulmate bond won’t protect us.

Sounds pretty bad, right?

But here’s the best part.

I can change it.

I can change all of it.

If I can just find a way to get myself uncrossed.

Uncrossed is the last book in the Harem Station Series and features a man chasing his star-crossed soulmate through time, a bazillion enemies at the gate, an entire station in chaos, and an explosive ending that proves, once and for all, that love WINS in the end.

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About J.A. Huss

JA Huss is the New York Times Bestselling author of 321 and has been on the USA Today Bestseller’s list 21 times in the past five years. She writes characters with heart, plots with twists, and perfect endings.

Her new sexy sci-fi romance and paranormal romance pen name is KC Cross and she writes novels and teleplays collaboratively with actor and screenwriter, Johnathan McClain.

Her books have sold millions of copies all over the world, the audio version of her semi-autobiographical book, Eighteen, was nominated for a Voice Arts Award and an Audie Award in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Her audiobook, Mr. Perfect, was nominated for a Voice Arts Award in 2017. Her audiobook, Taking Turns, was nominated for an Audie Award in 2018. Five of her book were optioned for a TV series by MGM television in 2018. And her book, Total Exposure, was nominated for a RITA Award in 2019.

She lives on a ranch in Central Colorado with her family.

J.A. Huss

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The Protector by Abigail Owen ~ Excerpt

The Protector by Abigail Owen ~ Excerpt

The Protector by Abigail Owen

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About The Protector by Abigail Owen

Title: The Protector
Author: Abigail Owen
Series: Fire’s Edge #4
Genre: Paranormal Romance

The Protector by Abigail Owen

The cousin of the High King, Lyndi Chandali has lived with the constant threat of being pawned off as a political prize. A rare, female-born dragon like Lyndi can’t truly mate—not in the way it counts. Which is why she’s kept her distance from a certain sinfully delicious Beta. Instead, she’s built a life for herself giving orphaned dragons in the Americas a home.

As Beta of his team of enforcers, Levi Rowtag is a fighter first, last, and always. His job is to protect—his team, the shifters in his territory, and the stubborn woman hell-bent on fighting with him at every turn. He knows from the moment they first meet what she’ll never accept—they are destined to be mated.

But with the kings at war, the enemy is now coming for Lyndi. Worse, he’s coming for her orphans, too. He’ll have no choice but to defy his king and go rogue if he has any hope of protecting them all…and finally claiming his mate.

Excerpt from The Protector

© 2020
Abigail Owen

Levi grunted as his dragon surged again. Still needing distance, he stumbled inside the cavern he’d just drilled a hole into, seeking calm in the cooler interior out of sight of the others.

After several minutes, he spotted the group through the entrance, all shifted and now moving inside where he waited. The newcomer, Drake, walked in front, blocking Levi’s view of the female causing him so much trouble.

Then Drake, his face seeming to be formed in a permanent scowl, red eyes glowing with flame, moved to the side, and Levi’s dick went as hard as a steel broadsword as his gaze zeroed in on her.

Silky black hair, lithe body, and the face of an angel. Her wide smile, highlighted by a deep dimple that gave her beauty an adorable edge, hit him at the same time as her spring scent. Levi agreed with his dragon on the spot.

Mine.

Lyndi turned her head away from Deep, who had escorted her inside with her hand linked through his arm, and stilled at the sight of him. No doubt his eyes were golden flames. The skin over his cheekbones tightened. Hell, everything tightened. He opened his mouth to welcome her, but her smile suddenly disappeared and she shot him a glare so full of spitting fury, he stepped back.

“Just because I am female-born doesn’t mean you need to treat me like a leper and fly away,” she snarled at him.

Levi froze, a riot of conflicting thoughts keeping him from correcting her. He knew he’d just fucked up, and his dragon was riding him hard to tell her she was wrong. That some misplaced sense of male dragon superiority wasn’t why he’d run.

It was exactly the opposite, actually.

Lyndi walked away while he stood there, still stunned, and he watched her go.

There was no easy answer here, and the lead weight in his chest told him so. Given who she was related to and what she was, not to mention her clear aversion to him already, he had no damn clue how fix any of this, or if he should even try.

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About Abigail Owen

Award-winning paranormal romance author, Abigail Owen, grew up consuming books and exploring the world through her writing. She attempted to find a practical career related to her favorite pastime by earning a degree in English Rhetoric (Technical Writing). However, she swiftly discovered that writing without imagination is not nearly as fun as writing with it.

No matter the genre, she loves to write witty, feisty heroines, sexy heroes who deserve them, and a cast of lovable characters to surround them (and maybe get their own stories). She currently resides in Austin, Texas, with her own personal hero, her husband, and their two children, who are growing up way too fast.

Abigail Owen

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