Book Spotlight on X-Ops Exposed by Paige Tyler (GIVEAWAY)

A man afraid of his inner animal goes into hiding but finds himself reunited with the doctor who loves him wholeheartedly and stands beside him as he uses his animalistic abilities to save those being harmed by hidden forces.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of X-Ops Exposed by Paige Tyler, then start counting down the days until this exhilarating paranormal romance releases on April 3rd.  In honor of this eighth installment in the X-Ops series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win one of five copies of the previous installment in this series too!

HE LEFT TO KEEP HER SAFE

Believing he’s too dangerous to be among people, feline hybrid Tanner Howland retreats deep into the forests of Washington State—with no choice but to leave behind the woman who’s captured his heart. What he doesn’t know is that she followed him...

SHE WOULDN’T STAY BEHIND

Heartbroken and determined, Dr. Zarina Sokolov tracks Tanner into the wild. Her presence unleashes Tanner’s protective instinct—big time. Locals have been disappearing and he is desperate for Zarina to leave. As the kidnappings escalate, Tanner must embrace the dangerous instincts he fears so much. But with Zarina at his side, he’ll have to learn to control his animal impulses, or lose himself—and the woman he loves—to the beast within.

EXCERPT:

Knowing she wasn’t going to get away, Zarina slid to a stop and spun around, ready to shout at the beast that wanted to kill her. She’d seen Tanner let out a roar that could paralyze almost anything crazy enough to attack him, so perhaps she could do the same thing.

But her cry of defiance died in her throat as she came face-to-face with a gigantic grizzly bear. The beast reared up on its hind legs, towering over her for one heart-stopping moment before dropping to all fours and roaring at her so loud, her bones felt turned to jelly.

She vaguely remembered the store clerk in town trying to sell her a can of bear repellent. If she wasn’t so terrified, she’d laugh at the idea. What the heck would a can of pepper spray do to something this big?

The bear took a step in her direction with another roar, showing off fangs large enough to bite right through her.

For a split second, Zarina considered running again, but it would be pointless. She’d never outrun a bear.

Rabbits get eaten.

So instead, she screamed as long and loud as she could.

The grizzly looked shocked for a moment, but instead of scaring the animal off like she’d hoped, all it did was seem to make him mad. Head low, the bear started toward her.

She was going to die.

But suddenly, the bear stopped, a look of what could only be confusion on its face as it focused on something behind her. A second later, a roar ripped through the night that shook the ground. She jerked her head around, almost collapsing in relief when she saw Tanner standing there in the dark, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, his eyes glowing vivid red, fangs bared as he let out a roar that sounded exactly like that of a lion. Which made sense, because those were the DNA strands blended with his own.

Zarina stood transfixed. Tanner’s fangs were longer and looked more terrifying than the bear’s.

The rage and anger on his face must have been enough to scare the grizzly, because the huge animal gave one more halfhearted chuff in Tanner’s direction, then turned and scurried back into the pitch-dark forest.

To her right, she caught movement. Crap, Tanner was going after the bear. Not because he wanted to hurt the animal, but because by running, the grizzly had become the prey, and Tanner’s lion half simply couldn’t stop itself from hunting the animal down now that the rage had taken over.

“Tanner,” she said softly. “Let the bear go.”

He stopped like he’d hit a brick wall, then stood there, unmoving, for what felt like forever, facing away from her and staring off into the darkness in the direction the bear had run. Not that it was probably all that dark for Tanner. With his animal-enhanced eyesight, he could probably see the grizzly’s big, fuzzy rump bouncing off into the woods. And if his eyes lost the creature, then his keen sense of smell would fill in the details. Which was a good thing, since she’d have probably been a bear treat if it hadn’t been for that nose of his.

After what seemed like an eternity, Tanner turned and looked at her. His fangs and glowing red eyes were gone now, replaced by a mesmerizing blue gaze and a ruggedly handsome face that had made her heart almost stop beating the first time she’d seen it. He had a bit more dark-blond scruff along his jaw and chin now. Actually, a lot more. Maybe it was because she’d grown up in a cold-weather environment where the opposite sex went all caveman in an attempt to stay warm, but she wasn’t usually a fan of facial hair. On Tanner, though, it looked incredibly scrumptious.

His T-shirt clung tightly to his chest and shoulders, showing off all the muscles he had upstairs, while his jeans fought to contain thighs that looked poised to tear their way out at any moment. Had he actually gotten more muscular since he’d been out there?

Zarina almost ran to him right then so she could throw her arms around him and hold him tight for the rest of the night. But she didn’t, because she knew he wouldn’t be ready for that. Not after she’d showed up in the forest out of the blue and almost gotten eaten by a bear.

But damn, it was hard.

Tanner looked better now than when he’d been living in the dorms at the DCO complex. He had been put up there since the agency’s covert agents had found him out here all that time ago. Even the stress lines that had been etched into his features had completely faded. It almost made her sorry she’d come out here to disturb the serenity he seemed to have found. But she couldn’t stay away, not with the way she felt about him. And especially not when she could finally help him.

“What are you doing here, Zarina?” he asked bluntly.

So much for him sweeping her into his arms and saying he was happy to see her. Clearly, he wasn’t. She tried not to let that hurt too much.

“I’m here to help you,” she said, equally blunt.

She’d learned a long time ago that dancing around a subject wasn’t the way Tanner did things. It wasn’t the way she did, either, so that was okay. She didn’t bother mentioning that his disappearance had caused her more sleepless nights than she could count and had nearly driven her insane with worry. That would have been emotional blackmail, and she wasn’t going to do that to him.

His jaw flexed. “I don’t need any help. I’m doing a good job of controlling my hybrid impulses all on my own.”

She looked pointedly in the direction the grizzly had run. “It doesn’t seem like it to me.”

Tanner flinched, and she immediately regretted her choice of words. Dammit, she was out here to help him, not push him further away.

“I haven’t lost control in the two months I’ve been out here,” he said through clenched teeth. “Not until you decided to do something stupid like wander through the middle of a grizzly’s territory by yourself.”

Zarina wanted to point out that she hadn’t planned to be out here this late and that there was no way she could have known she was in a bear’s territory. But she bit her tongue and focused on trying to defuse the situation.

“I’m sorry I made you lose control again,” she said. “But I’m here to make sure it doesn’t happen again…ever.”

She waited, expecting Tanner to ask her what she meant by that, but he didn’t. Instead, he stood there regarding her and looking way better than any man should considering he’d been camping in the woods for two months. She had met plenty of guys who couldn’t pull off his level of masculine perfection after primping in front of a mirror for an hour. That was one of the other things she’d learned about Tanner. He didn’t have to work hard at being so amazing. It came naturally to him.

After another minute of silence, Zarina accepted that if they were going to talk, she was the one who would have to get the conversation started. “I finished the hybrid drug antiserum that will return your DNA back to what it was before Stutmeir’s doctors experimented on you. You can be a normal human again.”

She waited for some reaction—relief, doubt, elation. Something. But Tanner looked as interested as if she’d told him it might rain tomorrow.

“I’ll never be normal again,” he finally said quietly.

“Yes, you will.” She stepped closer, anguish coursing through her when he immediately took a step back. “I worked on the antidote every minute since you left. It will work. It will keep the beast from ever slipping out again.”

“I don’t want it, dammit!” he shouted, making her jump. He cursed and ran his hand through his hair. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice softer. “For yelling at you. And for making you come all the way out here and hiking halfway across the Wenatchee Forest to find me. But I don’t want the antidote. Just go home, okay? Leave me out here where I can’t hurt anyone.”

Zarina’s heart tore in two at the pain in his eyes. She had no idea why he was turning down her offer, but she wasn’t leaving without him.

“I’m not going home,” she said, standing her ground and leveling her gaze at him.

Having this conversation would have been a lot easier without holding a flashlight. Then she could have folded her arms to emphasize her point.

“Then you’d better have a lot of books on that e-reader of yours, because you’re going to get bored damn fast waiting for me at whatever hotel you’re staying in.”

“I’m not going to a hotel,” she told him. “I’m staying out here.”

Red flared in his eyes but faded just as quickly. “Like hell you are.”

“I’m not leaving,” she said firmly. “You can run off into the woods—we both know I can’t keep up with you—but I still won’t leave. I’ll keep walking all over the forest looking for you.”

His eyes flickered red again, and he muttered something under his breath she couldn’t catch. “You irritate me like no one else on the planet, do you know that?”

“Yes,” she replied, even though it was a probably a rhetorical question. “So, which way to your camp?”

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON  |  BN  |  iBOOKS  |  KOBO  |  INDIEBOUND

AUTHOR INFO:

Paige Tyler is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy, romantic fiction. Paige writes books about hunky alpha males and the kick-butt heroines they fall in love with. She lives with her very own military hero (a.k.a. her husband) and their adorable dog on the beautiful Florida coast.

WEBSITE  |  FACEBOOK  |  TWITTER  |  INSTAGRAM  |  GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE

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Book Spotlight on Sit, Stay, Love by Debbie Burns (GIVEAWAY)

A wounded warrior finds himself getting a bit of TLC from a young woman whose life has been devoted to saving dogs in this charming and sensual romance.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Sit, Stay, Love by Debbie Burns, then start counting down the days until this book releases on April 3rd.  In honor of this second installment in the Rescue Me series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win one of five copies of the first book in this series too!

These dogs aren’t the only ones in need of rescue

For devoted no-kill shelter worker Kelsey Sutton, rehabbing a group of rescue dogs is a welcome challenge. Working with a sexy ex-military dog handler who needs some TLC himself? That’s a different story.

Kurt Crawford keeps his heart locked away from everyone. Well, everyone except the dogs who need his help…and always have his back. But as Kurt gets to know the compassionate, beautiful woman he's been assigned to work with, he can't help but feel a little puppy love...

EXCERPT:

It had been years since Kurt had felt genuine peace slip over him after the sun sank below the horizon and stars studded the sky. In Afghanistan and in the jungles of Honduras, he’d rarely been able to relax, even on nights when he was tucked in a bunk and crowded with the sounds and smells of other marines and a handful of dogs not far away. He hadn’t expected to be able to do so here either.

But the calm cradled his skin despite the surprise that accompanied it.

Standing under the stars, Kurt set his beer on the table and headed into the screened-in half of the porch. The pregnant Rottweiler let out a whine as he approached. Kelsey had taken her outside an hour or so before after making sure she ate a plentiful dinner.

Kurt hooked a leash onto the dog’s collar and led her around the yard long enough to ensure she was calm and obedient, then asked her to sit on command before letting her off leash.Once free from its confines, the Rott—Pepper, as Kelsey was calling her—gave her massive head a shake and trotted off into the yard. Kurt headed back onto the porch for his beer.

Taking a swig of beer, Kurt eyed the silhouette of an owl standing watch on an exposed branch of an enormous oak tree at the back of the yard. If Kurt hadn’t been outside when it let out a series of soft, low hoots, he wouldn’t have known the owl was there. It seemed to be watching the dog sniff around the dark yard as if it had come across an interloper in its nightly hunting spot.

A cool, gentle breeze swept over Kurt’s skin. He was thankful to no longer be living insweltering lands. The dry oven that was the desert, and the wet, stifling tropics. He wondered how long it would be before he forgot the sensation of the heat rising off the desert sand late at the night as if he were holding his hand over a radiator. Or standing guard in the jungle at night, listening to the howler monkeys crossing the tree canopy while he scoped openings in the thick tropical forest for insurgents. One night he’d spotted a small, wild ocelot hunting at the edge of the base. About the size of a slender coyote, it had unusually large eyes and a sleek coat with spots and stripes.

As he was thinking about it, a very different feline stalked into view. Mr. Longtail. Who knew where the unusual cat had been this evening, but he was headed confidently toward the Rott, in full view of the owl. The enormous Maine coon was too big to ever end up dinner to an owl, but Kurt wasn’t so sure about the off-leash Rott. Setting down his beer, he whistled confidently.

Pepper—the name was sticking even though naming these dogs would create unnecessary emotional attachment—pricked up her ears and looked his way.

“Come here, girl,” Kurt called, half holding his breath as the cat trotted directly into the dog’s path. Like earlier this afternoon, Pepper didn’t disappoint. She dropped into a play bow and woofed. Mr. Longtail stopped mid-step as the hair along his back and tail stood out stick straight. As if he’d had no idea a dog was capable of such a baritone woof. Pepper didn’t seem to notice. She sniffed the cat all over, nudging his hind end off the ground with her strong head.

Kurt emptied his pocket of treats for her. Mr. Longtail followed, walking underneath her, straight to Kurt’s legs to rub against his jeans. The cat meowed, and Kurt was surprised to hear a deep, thrumming purr radiating from his chest.

After getting Pepper back in her kennel, Kurt headed into the kitchen, Mr. Longtailfollowing. He fed the cat and helped himself to a slice of cold pizza. He considered hunting down a notebook and pen and making a to-do list of all the items bouncing around his head, but even if he could find a pen and a notebook, he doubted he’d get halfway through writing the list before becoming distracted. Experience had proven he could tackle projects of almost any size, but he couldn’t make a list to save himself. So instead, he dove into repairs of the Sabrina Raven estate the way he did everything else—focusing on whatever came to the front of his thoughts.

He sorted through a bulky metal toolbox for all the flooring nails he could find. “Come on, cat,” Kurt said to the watchful Mr. Longtail. He slipped the nails into his pocket and fisted the hammer, heading out of the kitchen. “You and I could likely use each other’s company. Let’s see if I can get those stairs to be a bit less of a hazard so I can make it up to one of those old feather beds you’ve been sleeping on.”

With a twitch of his tail, the cat followed him out of the kitchen, and Kurt suspected he was on the way to making an unlikely friend.

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON  |  BN  |  iBOOKS  |  KOBO  |  INDIEBOUND

AUTHOR INFO:

Debbie Burns lives in St. Louis with her family, two phenomenal rescue dogs, and a somewhat tetchy Maine coon cat who everyone loves anyway. Her hobbies include hiking, gardening, and daydreaming, which, of course, always leads to new story ideas.

WEBSITE  |  FACEBOOK  |  TWITTER  |  GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE

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Book Blitz for DJ Hot Pants by Ember-Raine Winters (GIVEAWAY)

A klutzy girl finds the man of her dreams behind a voice on the radio with sparks flying the moment fate brings them together in this charming read.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of DJ Hot Pants by Ember-Raine Winters, along with the music that inspired it, then add it to your bookshelf.  In honor of this fun and flirty romance make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a signed print copy to US readers and a $10 Amazon GC too!

THE MUSIC THAT INSPIRED THIS STORY...

FOR COURT-

Flatliner by Cole Swindell  |  Move by Luke Bryan  |  When it Rains it Pours by Luke Combs  |  Good Directions by Billy Currington  |  Heaven by Kane Brown  |  A Thousand Years by Christina Perri  |  What About Us by Pink  |  Meant to Be by Bebe and Florida Georgia Line  |  Just Give Me a Reason by Pink  |  I Fell In love With the DJ by Che'Nelle  |  I Lived It by Blake Shelton

FOR BRICE-

Boy by Lee Brice  |  Drunk Girl by Chris Jansen  |  It Happens Like That by Granger Smith  |  One Number Away by Luke Combs  |  Tequila by Dan &Shay  |  Marry Me by Thomas Rhett  |  Ride by Somo  |  What If by Kane Brown  |  Perfect by Ed Sheeran  |  Lights Down Low by Max  |  Say Something by A Great Big World ft. Christina Aguilera  |  She Ain't In It by John Pardy

Courtney

My best friend says I’m clumsy… in my defense it was only one kitchen and no one was hurt. A new voice through my radio has me cyberstalking a DJ… the worst thing happened today my clumsiness takes control as I’m grabbing the biggest case of beer. I end up hitting a brick wall and falling. Turns out the brick wall is the DJ I’m stalking. Oh lord… What’s a girl to do?

Brice

I am the new nighttime DJ… The sweetest voice called in to request a song, but I keep forgetting… she’s not afraid to bust my chops about it… best thing happened to me today I slipped on the slick floor and ended up falling for a girl. She’s beautiful and turns out she’s the voice that calls me out on the radio..When did she become My Girl?

EXCERPT:

I was doing some stuff on social media talking to friends gushing about the hot new DJ when I heard him give his snap ID. I didn’t have snap and as I spoke to the other girls they told me some of the basics, so I got the app and searched for him. A little tipsy I watched his snap videos, and took a couple screen shots where his eyes looked particularly devastating, I sent them to Tiff.

It was only minutes before I got a reply.

Tiffany: Court, where did you get that pic????

Me: I took a screen shot from that snap thingy, why?

Tiffany: NO! Court you can’t screenshot from there.

Me: What? Why not?

Dread filled my gut as I waited for the three little dots of death that said she was typing to stop and I would see her message. It stopped and started again several times while I sat there waiting for what felt like an eternity before the message popped up and I gasped in mortification.

Tiffany: They get notified when you take a screenshot on snap, hun.

Me: NO! OMG! I look like a total stalker now. I’m totally crawling in bed curling in a ball and not coming out for a week… after I delete my account.

Why hadn’t they told me that before I downloaded that stupid app? Why had I just assumed it was like all social media? What’s worse was there was no option to delete your account from the app. I searched forever before deleting the app to be done with it. Completely and totally embarrassed, I crawled into bed and put a pillow over my face wishing I had the guts to just smother myself with a pillow. Only me. Shit like this only happened in my fucked-up life.

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON  |  iBOOKS  |  BN  |  KOBO

AUTHOR INFO:

Ember-Raine Winters lives in sunny California with her two beautiful kids and a wolf. Also known as Apache her pure white Siberian Husky. She loves writing romance and reading just about anything she can get her hands on. And, football! She loves watching football and going to games. It’s one of her favorite ways to unwind. She dislikes the super-hot temperatures in her city and exercise. She hates to exercise but somehow her sister still gets her to do it every day. She also thinks it’s completely awkward talking about herself in third person. Ember loves connecting with readers so don’t be afraid to stalk her and drop her a line on social media.

FACEBOOK  |  TWITTER  |  GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE  |  WEBSITE  |  READER GROUP  |  NEWSLETTER  |  AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE  |  BOOKBUB  |  INSTAGRAM

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Book Blitz for Craving: Loyalty Box Set (GIVEAWAY)

Amongst these twelve tales readers will find themselves captivated by the sexy and suspenseful action and crackling couples fighting for their HEAs.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of the Craving: Loyalty box set, then add these romances to your bookshelf.  In honor of this compelling collection of stories make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $25 Amazon GC too!

Loyalty.
Noun. ‘A strong feeling of support or allegiance.’

For some, loyalty can be bought. For others, it’s earned. But the thing about loyalty—it can change in an instant. All it takes is one act, one decision, and loyalty shifts to betrayal in the blink of an eye…a sin which cannot go unpunished.

Not in this world.

But sometimes things happen beyond our control, forcing our allegiances to change. Like the mob enforcer who wants nothing more than to seduce the assassin hired to kill him. Or the FBI agent who falls for the woman whose past holds ties with the mafia.

Yet, no matter the reason or motive, the consequences of betrayal are always deadly.

Because in this world everyone is...

Craving Loyalty

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Book Tour for Callan by Sybil Bartel (Review & GIVEAWAY)

A man with a difficult past seeks to find his own life after living under oppression in a sweet and sensual romance between him and an unlikely young woman.  Keep reading to get my impressions of Callan by Sybil Bartel then discover even more about this book by visiting the other sites hosting this tour.  In honor of this fifth installment in the Uncompromising series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $25 Amazon GC too!

Callan

I was trained to be a hunter. Growing up in the nation’s most infamous, violent cult—my job was simple. Track. Kill. Survive.

And that’s what I did… until our leader threatened to kill his own daughter.

Refusing to watch another senseless murder, I did what I was trained to do. I took his life, claimed his land, and set every member free, including her. I only had one goal left. Find the sister I was told was dead.

But being a hunter in the woods is a far cry from tracking a woman in Miami Beach.

I didn’t find my sister.

I found someone else.

FIND AT GOODREADS here.

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON  |  BN  |  iBOOKS  |  KOBO

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

The moment readers got their first glimpse of Callan/Hero they knew he was someone special and someone whose story deserved to be told.  With this story we get into the head of a former cult member as he sets forth to make a life on his own terms.  Add in the sweet and sensual romance with a young woman that society might might deem taboo and readers will find this an unforgettable read.

Callan/Hero grew up in a cult under the thumb of a vicious leader.  Callan was the hunter/the provider for their group and became a protector who watched over their members and lived by his own moral code that had him eventually overthrowing their leader.  With the other members setting out on their own paths, he’s now ready to find his too and his first step is to find the sister he was told died.  When he finds her he realizes she’s the woman he met a year ago who he has never forgotten.  She became the beacon for what he wanted in his life and he’s determined to claim her.  He doesn’t care that she’s his step-sister (through marriage) and as the story progressed readers won’t care either.  Callan’s an intriguing character, through his speech and moral compass he redefines what makes a hero.  He’s bold, not good at subtlety, but endearing nonetheless.  There’s a bit of naïveté to him balanced with straightforwardness that made for an intriguing dichotomy.  He’s a bit domineering too, but it’s not done out of a need to rule over another, but it instead comes from his need to protect.  Growing up without love had me wanting to hug him and it’s exactly what Emily brings to his life now and is just one more reason to like her and root for their HEA.

Emily’s a very different character when compared to Callan.  Where he’s larger than life, she’s timid and tends to fade into the background.  Where her sister takes center stage, she’s content to stay in the wings.  Her first meeting with Callan was life-altering, the second more so as it’s the first step on a sweet and sensual journey to HEA for them both.  Emily holds herself back at first, scared of going against what others think is right, but being around Callan has her gaining strength.  She accepts him wholeheartedly, imperfections and all, and it’s a delicious journey for us all that’s full of unexpected twists and turns.  Emily breathes life into Callan’s existence and changed both of them for the better with a romance that pulls readers in every step of the way.

From the very first book in this series Ms. Bristol has crafted something unique with a group of heroes who set themselves apart.  I enjoyed every glimpse we got throughout each book of previous heroes as it gave an update of their lives while creating a new kind of family.  The romance here is a slow burn, but the burgeoning relationship between Callan and Emily is a richly rewarding one as is the evolution of these characters.  Readers will find this an unforgettable read and the perfect time to start reading this series from the start!

My rating for this is an A.

*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

Sybil Bartel grew up in Northern California with her head in a book and her feet in the sand. She dreamt of becoming a painter but the heady scent of libraries with their shelves full of books drew her into the world of storytelling. She loves the New Adult genre, but any story about a love so desperately wrong and impossibly beautiful makes her swoon.

Sybil now resides in Southern Florida and while she doesn’t get to read as much as she likes, she still buries her toes in the sand. If she isn’t writing or fighting to contain the banana plantation in her backyard, you can find her spending time with her handsomely tattooed husband, her brilliantly practical son and a mischievous miniature boxer...

But Seriously?

Here are ten things you probably really want to know about Sybil.

She grew up a faculty brat. She can swear like a sailor. She loves men in uniform. She hates being told what to do. She can do your taxes (but don’t ask). The Bird Market in Hong Kong freaks her out. Her favorite word is desperate…or dirty, or both—she can’t decide. She has a thing for muscle cars. But never reply on her for driving directions, ever. And she has a new book boyfriend every week—don’t tell her husband.

To find out more about Sybil Bartel, be sure to follow her on Twitter (she loves to hear about your favorite book boyfriend!), visit her website, like her on Facebook or join her Facebook group Book Boyfriend Heroes for exclusive excerpts and giveaways.

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Book Tour for Claimed by Alexa Riley (GIVEAWAY)

Moments of exhilarating suspense amidst the sensual friends-to-lovers romance between co-workers drives this story and will keep readers on the edge of their seats.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Claimed by Alexa Riley, then add this crackling tale to your bookshelf.  In honor of this third installment in the For Her series make sure to visit the link below for the chance to win a $25 Amazon GC too!

From New York Times bestselling author Alexa Riley, a friends-to-lovers romance that will bring you the happily-ever-after you’ve been waiting for.

Jordan Chen is the man behind the screen. As part of the elite security team for Osbourne Corporation, he has an iron grip on protection, all without having to make close connections with people. Until he meets the beautiful Jay, and suddenly his quiet life doesn’t seem so perfect anymore. He needs more. He needs her.

A workaholic to her core, Jay Rose doesn’t have a lot of men in her life. Smiling in the face of her enemies gets her the results she wants at work, but doesn’t exactly project a warm, welcoming vibe. So she’s surprised when the enigmatic security expert strikes up a friendship with her—surprised but flattered, and maybe a little bit turned on.

A company as powerful as Osbourne Corporation has powerful enemies, and when Jay becomes a target, Jordan realizes there’s nothing he won’t do to bring her home safe.

EXCERPT:

“There you are. Where’s my scratch-off?”

My dad smiles, and the lines around his eyes crinkle. He’s sitting on the back deck with the newspaper and a cup of coffee, his standard spot for Sunday afternoon. I finished up sparring with the guys and Paige, and headed out to spend the rest of my day relaxing with Dad like we do every Sunday.

I hand him his ticket, and he pulls a coin out of his pocket, kissing it before he starts scratching the ticket. I smile at him and shake my head. I guess we’ve both got our superstitions.

He doesn’t buy the scratch-off tickets himself, so I have to do it for him. I think it’s his own way of restraining himself, and this way he’s not responsible if he loses, I am. I come out to see him every Sunday, and this is always our routine. Sometimes I come home in the middle of the week, but he’s so busy that most of the time he’s not even home.

I’m lucky that my dad is still healthy and has a solid group of friends who keep him on the go. He’s got more going on his social calendar in one week than I do in a month. It’s nice not having to worry so much and to know that at least part of him is happy. I know he’ll never get over losing Mom, just like I won’t, but he’s been able to live his life, and that’s what she would’ve wanted.

When he’s finished scratching, he’s got a winner and slides it back to me. Then he puts the coin away and winks at me. “Press it for next week.”

I put the winner in my pocket and nod, knowing he’ll probably hit another then, too. The old man has more luck than anybody I’ve ever met.

Pop leans forward and looks over the top of his bifocals. “How’s our girl?”

I glance down at my watch and then roll my eyes. “That only took about five minutes this time.”

His smile widens as he waits for me to answer him. I ignore him and try to change the subject. He’s been on me about her for a while, knowing that I’m already in love with her. If it was up to him, we’d be married with grandbabies on the way.

“Your tomatoes are coming in.”

“Oh, she’s got you all twisted up today.”

I grip the edges of the chair and try not to let him bait me. Pop can be like a dog with a bone when he wants.

“Already got her eyes on someone else?”

“No,” I snap, and then realize I walked right into his trap. I let out a sigh and drop my head in my hands. “She’s fine. Still the same.”

“Ahh. You know, Jordan, I remember the first time I saw your mother.”

“I know, Pop. You were at the middle school dance and spotted her on the other side of the room. She was the new girl in town, and you wanted to go over and introduce yourself. The rest was history.”

He nods, then smiles and looks away, reliving the memory in his mind. There were times when he couldn’t recall it without tears, but the older he gets, the more the memories stay happy ones. I wonder if it’s because he thinks he’s getting closer to the time when he can see her again.

Once he comes back from the stroll down memory lane, he shrugs one shoulder. “There’s nothing wrong with being friends first. It just means the first steps will be the strongest. Take your time. But don’t take too long.”

Pop picks up his crossword and goes back to it while I sit there, silently brooding. He’s right, but he doesn’t know the whole story. Or who I’m even hung up on.

I love my dad, but I don’t tell him everything. He knows me well enough to know I’ve got my eye on someone. But I haven’t told him her name. He also knows me well enough to know that I haven’t made a move yet. But I haven’t told him why.

How can I explain it? I guess I could come out and say that I work with a woman so beautiful I can hardly look her in the eyes. That before she spoke a word to me, every cell in my body ached to reach for her. That she’s so utterly perfect, I’m not sure she even notices me like that.

I rub my temples and think about how I’ve been locked in the friend zone, with no means of escape.

Jay is the administrative assistant to Miles Osbourne, so essentially, she’s the gatekeeper for the entire company. If you need Miles, you go through her, but as the old saying goes: though she be little, she is mighty.

She’s small and perky, friendly to everyone she meets. But there’s a pit bull inside of her, and I’ve seen her take a grown man down a few pegs on several occasions.

The first time I saw her, I’d had to run up to the top floor to deliver some intel to Miles. Ryan, my boss, had asked me to run some documents upstairs because he was on his way out. It wasn’t anything above my security clearance, not that there wasn’t something I couldn’t find if I wanted to, so it was an easy drop.

When I stepped off the elevator, I saw her. And that was that.

One look at her and I heard the voice of my father echoing in the back of my mind. When you know, you know. That first glance at Jay, and boy, did I know.

It was all a blur, but I’ll never forget her chestnut-colored hair in a knot at the nape of her neck. The way her glasses slipped down her nose to reveal big, round, chocolate eyes looking at me expectantly. The way her top lip was fuller than the bottom, and how her fingers held her pen. All of that is burned into my brain, yet it feels like a dream.

Without realizing it, one second I was dropping off papers, and the next she was asking me if I wanted to eat in the cafeteria with her. I don’t even think I answered her, I just followed along and got a tray of food. She was friendly and talked nonstop, but nothing beyond that. She kept her distance, and I’m pretty sure I only said about three words the whole time, but it was nice. The nicest meal I’d ever had.

“You’re overthinking,” my pop tuts, and I ignore him.

He’s right, but it’s complicated. Isn’t it? I don’t want to mess things up. I’d rather be in the friend zone with her than be nothing at all.

“I’m going to take a look at your computer and make sure you haven’t turned that virus software off yet,” I say, pushing away from the patio table and going in the house.

“The damn thing slows down my solitaire game,” Pop yells from the porch, and I shake my head. That’s all he thinks a computer is good for.

I spend the afternoon cleaning up his software and then walking with him to the market and helping him bring groceries back home. We cook Sunday dinner, and some of his friends come over to eat and give me a hard time about not being married or having any kids yet.

Old men are almost as bad as the ladies. But these widowers are old softies to the core, and they all want grandkids. Some of them have their own, but apparently a lot is never enough.

When they break out the cards, I call it a night and head back into the city. I’ve got a place on the Upper East Side that I got for a deal when I was twenty-five. I’ve fixed it up, and though it’s simple, it’s palatial by New York standards, and it’s all mine.

I take the subway back home and think about Jay the entire ride back. I always think about her this time of night. I wonder what she’s doing, who she’s with, and if she’s thinking of me.

It’s the worst part of the weekend, being away from her. And the reason why I love Mondays so much. Another chance to see her, another chance to be near her. It’s the day I look forward to the most.

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AUTHOR INFO:

Alexa Riley is two sassy friends who got together and wrote some dirty books. They are both married moms of two who love football, doughnuts, and obsessed book heroes. They specialize in insta-love, over-the-top, sweet, and cheesy love stories that don’t take all year to read. If you want something safe, short, and always with a happily-ever-after, then Alexa Riley is for you.

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