Book Excerpt Reveal for Wildcat by D.M. Earl……

 

Readers have reason to rejoice as The Devil's Handmaidens MC: Timber-Ghost, Montana Chapter series continues with this seventh installment that gives former lovers the chance to find each other once again and heal from their painful pasts.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Wildcat by D.M. Earl, then start counting down the days until this book hits shelves on August 22nd!

When the wildcat is unleashed, nobody is safe.

Manager of the Wooden Spirits Bar and Grill, Frankie Camano, a former cop, is struggling to heal from a tragic past. The women of the Devil's Handmaidens MC have been Frankie's saving grace in a world of pain and disappointment. Known as "wildcat," Frankie uses her strength and tenacity to overcome the demons that haunt her.
Leaving Malcom, a doctor and the love of her life, after they both faced horrific events, was the hardest thing she's ever done. But when her past comes barreling back. Frankie knows that the Handmaidens and Malcom are the people she can trust. She refuses to let anyone hurt her--or her loved ones ever again. Will Frankie's fear of the past force her back into hiding, or will she finally release the WILDCAT on the enemies who threaten to destroy her?

EXCERPT:

“Tink Squirt is about to pull up. Just wanted you to know.”
The feeling in my gut is spreading. Haven’t had this feeling since when I was a recruit cop back home. The hair on the back of my neck is standing up I’m sure. Before I can ask what the fuck is going on Tink turns back first looking around at each sister than at me. That’s when it hits me that somehow the bar and grill is filled with just us and our family. The patrons that were in here maybe ten or fifteen minutes ago were gone. I start to move backwards, but Shadow is right there. When I go to move around, Tink and Glory are there to stop me. Then before I can think about what I’m about to say, I lose it.
“What the hell is going on? Why are you all closing in on me? You’re making me nervous, like something bad is about to happen. Did you find something out about that guy Squirt saw? Did you track him down, Raven? Come on, talk to me, please. This is driving me utterly crazy, as you can tell, because I never lose control. Can someone tell me why this is happening?”
Tink moves closer and grabs my hands. Now our prez is extremely petite but the strength just in the way she’s holding my hands gives me a moment of peace in my scattered thoughts. Until she opens her mouth.
“Wildcat what I’m about to say is probably going to piss you the fuck off. Not our intention but after we spoke with you decided that you needed this. If we’re wrong I’ll apologize later but in about I don’t know four or five minutes there are some folks that are going to walk in here to see you. How you react is on you but know that they’ve come a long way to make sure you’re okay..............”

**PRE-ORDER here.**

AUTHOR INFO:

USA Today Bestselling author, D. M. Earl creates authentic and genuine characters while spinning stories that feel so real and relatable that the readers plunge deep within the plot, begging for more. Complete with drama, angst, romance, and passion, the stories jump off the page.

When Earl, an avid reader since childhood, isn't at her keyboard pouring her heart into her work, you'll find her in Northwest Indiana snuggling up to her husband, the love of her life, with her seven fur babies nearby. Her other passions include gardening and shockingly cruising around town on the back of her 2004 Harley. She's a woman of many talents and interests.

Earl appreciates each and every reader who has ever given her a chance--and hopes to connect on social media with all of her readers.

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

Book Excerpt Tour for A Cure For Spring Fever by Barbara Robinson (GIVEAWAY)…..

Fans of the paranormal will be drawn to this tale of the balance of worlds and the healing power of love.  Keep reading to get a tempting excerpt of A Cure For Spring Fever by Barbara Robinson and learn even more about this book by visiting the other sites hosting this tour.  In honor of this addition to the Jelly Beans and Spring Things series, fill out the form below for the chance to win a $20 bookstore GC too!

For centuries, Gamekeepers have used their magical abilities to create a buffer between the creatures who dwell in the enchanted forest and the sleepy coastal town that sits in its shadow. When Gamekeeper Stan Ross’s magic begins to fail, he must find out what went wrong, then fix it before the two worlds collide. His hit or miss magic has already led to a few close calls so he journeys to the Sacred Isle searching for answers and advice. Finding a cure proves elusive—until Stan encounters a kitchen witch who captivates him body and soul. Lynnette Peters is healing from her own wounds, however, and it isn’t clear whether she’s ready to open herself to the possibility—or the peril—of love.

EXCERPT:

“I’m not sick, sir” Stan answered, uncomfortable with where the conversation was heading. He swallowed, then cleared his throat. “I haven’t changed the way I cast a ward. My magic is elemental, so I rely on nature runes, overlaid with those representing broader concepts. I might choose an animal rune, or a rune representing a natural element. It depends on the creature I’m warding, and what its habits are. Once I have the base rune, I add on layers, and then finish it with something representing strength or luck. I guess I’m in a bit of a rut. My magic is feeling tired, lately. When it works, it doesn’t have the same staying power, and sometimes it just doesn’t work at all.”
Tapping his fingers on the desk, Covington regarded Stan with sympathy, then nodded. “You’re certainly not the first gamekeeper to hit a rut, and you won’t be the last. I think that a little bit of rest and relaxation is what’s needed here. I am going to suggest—no, I’m going to insist—that you take some time off and recharge your batteries. Meanwhile, I’ll give some thought to damage control."
Stan dipped his head in acknowledgment, but his posture was rigid as he exited the office. Finding his partner in the break room, Stan told him that Covington was taking him off the duty roster, and insisting he take some leave. “I don’t know, Owen” he said, picking dust off his sleeve and shaking his head. “I haven’t taken any vacation time in over a year, so maybe Covington has a point, but I feel like I’m more than just tired. I’m soul tired. I’m not sure that a week on my sofa with daytime TV and a tray of bonbons is going to fix anything.”

BUY AT AMAZON here.

AUTHOR INFO:

Barbara Robinson is an author of contemporary and historical romance set against a backdrop of magical realism. She is a deep thinker and tea drinker who finds inspiration in myths and folktales, poems and ballads, and academic writing on a variety of subjects. Diagnosed with autism and giftedness as an adult, she enjoys exploring themes of neurodiversity and opposing character perspectives in her writing.
She is an avid gardener and lover of nature who works out plot lines and character sketches while nurturing her garden, walking in the woods, or sitting by the shoreline watching waves. She is known for world building that features rich and immersive detail, supported by meticulous research and careful observation.
Barbara lives in Nova Scotia, Canada, in the shadow of ancient mountains that lie along the Bay of Fundy coast. These rugged vistas shape her story settings, while providing the perfect backdrop for life with her husband, her hounds and her dragon (Pogona Vitticeps). She has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of King’s College and a Master of Arts at Dalhousie University, and she recently completed a Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing from the Humber School for Writers (Humber College, Toronto).

WEBSITE  |  FACEBOOK

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Book Excerpt Reveal for Raven by D.M.Earl….

 

Emotions will run high in this fast-paced, suspenseful, and steamy tale of second chances set in the gritty MC world.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Raven by D.M. Earl, then start counting down the days until this sixth installment in the Devil Handmaiden’s MC: Timber Ghost, Montana Chapter series hits bookshelves on April 18th!

A second chance may hurt worse the next time around...

Funny and vibrant Brenna "Raven" O'Brien has experienced her fair share of pain and loneliness. She's always used humor to hide her true feelings of rejection and loss. Always the jokester, Brenna brings joy to those around her. Being needed in IT for the Devil's Handmaidens gives her purpose and a sense of belonging. After being betrayed by the only man she's ever loved, Raven guards her heart from pain at all cost.
But when she comes face to face with the man who destroyed her, everything changes...
Ash Sterling has loved Raven his entire life. He'd do anything to repair the broken shards of her heart. But Raven's pain runs deep, and her pride won't be crushed again. However, when her sister comes back into her life, and the Handmaiden's realize more danger and darkness loom, Raven knows that Ash is the one man who can help her seek the justice her family needs. When boundaries blur and passion ignites, will the pain of the past subside for both of them to find a future together?

EXCERPT:

“Darlin’, enough of this bullshit. We need to have a grown-up conversation. Yeah, I know, Brenna, something you’re not used to but ya need to hear me out. So is that gonna happen today or do I need to keep coming here ’cause I don’t have a problem with that. One way or another we are gonna talk, you tell me when.”
Before I can say a word, I hear a growl right before Ash is yanked away. When I turn I see Avalanche wailing on him. Fuck, Shadow’s Big Bird is going to kill my Ash. Wait he isn’t mine anymore.
“Avalanche, no, please let him up. Shit, brother, you’re going to kill him, and he isn’t worth it. Avalanche, please.”
He looks up at me then down at Ash, whose face is already swelling. Avalanche drops his head, all that long beautiful brown hair of his covering his face. Then he lets Ash go and stands up. When he offers Ash his hand, my heart wishes I could fall for Avalanche. He’s one in a million.
“Raven, what the hell is going on? I come back here to do a walk by and see this asshole, well cowboy dude, has you pushed up against the cabin. Oh shit, did I interrupt a sexual moment? Are you into what do they call it yeah voyeurism? Oh fuck, didn’t mean to intrude, you two. I can get outta of your hair. Sorry, man, not my intention at all.”
“Avalanche, shut the hell up. No, you didn’t interrupt a tryst at all. And no I don’t like people to see me having sex for Christ’s sake. This is my ex, who suddenly decided we needed to make nice. Don’t know why, but that’s what he’s trying to sell to me. As I told Ash, I’m not buying it, but he won’t take no for an answer. As you can see by his bloody nose, I tried to explain it first vocally then physically. That’s where we are right now.”
Ash has been watching the interaction between Avalanche and me, and the look on his face shocks me. He actually looks hurt. What is that?
“Is he the reason we can’t move on, Darlin’? Obviously you did...uhm, moved on. Good for you. Sorry to bother ya. Hope you both have a nice day. No wait, I actually hope it totally sucks cow balls. You have no idea how hard this was for me to come here, Brenna, and you treat me like a piece of shit on your boot. Was gonna try to explain and hoped you at least would listen, but no, not you. Well, you are getting what you wished for, I’m gone.”

PRE-ORDER AT AMAZON here.

AUTHOR INFO:

USA Today Bestselling author, D. M. Earl creates authentic and genuine characters while spinning stories that feel so real and relatable that the readers plunge deep within the plot, begging for more. Complete with drama, angst, romance, and passion, the stories jump off the page.

When Earl, an avid reader since childhood, isn't at her keyboard pouring her heart into her work, you'll find her in Northwest Indiana snuggling up to her husband, the love of her life, with her seven fur babies nearby. Her other passions include gardening and shockingly cruising around town on the back of her 2004 Harley. She's a woman of many talents and interests.

Earl appreciates each and every reader who has ever given her a chance--and hopes to connect on social media with all of her readers.

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

Book Excerpt Reveal for Fractured Hearts by D.M. Earl…….

 The Grimm Wolves are back in this seventh installment of the gritty and pulse pounding story of a woman hiding out from danger and the MC biker hiding his pain behind his laughter.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste, along with a new excerpt, of Fractured Hearts by D.M. Earl, then start counting down the days until this book hits shelves on October 20th!

DINGO

Laughter is the best medicine. I make sure to always deliver the fun and crazy while hiding my pain behind it. It's who I am and what I do. I also work my butt off for the Grimm Wolves MC brothers, trying to prove myself as more than just a prospect. But even the toughest of the tough need to let loose every now and then. I know that more than anyone after the world of hurt I've experienced.
CELEE
A chance encounter in a chat room just may be the saving grace I've needed all along. My father's enemies are closing in, and my time just might be running out. Thank God!
Dingo and his brothers will do anything to keep me safe--even if it means going up against the most vile of criminals around. But the more Dingo tries to protect me, the more I know he's hurting too.
Can two fractured hearts find a way to heal together?

EXCERPT:

“Celee, never give up your power, sweetheart. Only you know what you want to do. I get it, it’s hard sometimes to make decisions, but if you allow others to do that for you forever, you will never do what you want. I’d rather you tell me ‘I’m not sure, let’s get gas and we can decide then.’ I do know where you’re coming from believe me, that’s why I’m telling you this. So, Celee, are we stopping or going for a bit longer?”
I smile inside because Frank is a good guy, one in a million, and I don’t know how I got so lucky being so stupid. God, I could have ended up with a murderer or a rapist, but instead I found the one biker who seems to have a soft heart and an old soul.
“Frank, why don’t we stop at the next big truck stop, fill up, and see how we both feel? Sound good?”
 He laughs instantly, which has me giggling. This right here. It’s so easy to be with him since he doesn’t make me feel stupid, or worse, worthless. Well, maybe he will if he ever hears my entire story.

PRE-ORDER THIS UPCOMING BOOK here.

**START READING THE GRIMM WOLVES MC here.**

Book Excerpt Reveal for Bailout by MM Flynn……

 The past comes back to haunt a man who's trying to find meaning and purpose in life in this gripping contemporary tale.  Keep reading to get a tempting glimpse of the sports-fueled romance, Bailout by MM Flynn, then start counting down the days until this second installment in the Booker series hits bookshelves on June 26th!

The instant connection that sparked in Booker continues in a way that no one expected...

This is the third time my life has fallen apart.
What I had pretended to be in the past is now banging on the door of my present.
After living so many different lives, each one is a more faded version of myself. Who am I now? Who do I want to be?
Does Sam feel my body desperately reaching for his?
I don’t know who I am if I don’t mean anything to Kat.
After Kat dropped a bomb on my life, I’m filling my time with parties and fake shit. I need something else to keep me going. Something that won’t make me think about her.
I’m somehow still tied to her. Like our connection is too tightly knotted to be unwound.
I will always, always crawl back to her. Wherever she is.

EXCERPT:

I flick open my messaging app where Kat’s text still sits, unanswered. Like a ticking time bomb.
I’ve reread it over and over again, picking apart the five little words that glaze over absolutely everything. How dare she reach out to me? How dare she make me want to respond?
My body is reaching for hers, but my mind . . . I scrub the scar on my scalp in frustration . . . my mind is a fucking mess. I don’t know what I want. I want her to feel terrible for lying to me. I hate her for it. I want to know why she lied, if she has a kid somewhere, where her husband is.
I want her to feel as tortured as I feel. No. More tortured.
I also want to make sure she’s all right. That she’s safe. That the press have left her alone. That her husband hasn’t found her.

PRE-ORDER THIS BOOK here.

BUY THE FIRST INSTALLMENT IN THE BOOKER SERIES, BOOKER, here.

AUTHOR INFO:

M M Flynn developed a passion for romance novels somewhere between her career as a textbook editor and the throes of motherhood.

She currently lives in the heart of the US with her husband, two kids and their pet doodle. With each new book, M continues to captivate readers with her unique storytelling style and ability to create unforgettable, multidimensional characters. Her books have been praised for their ability to bring a fresh perspective to the romance genre, and have earned her a loyal following of fans.

FACEBOOK  |  INSTAGRAM  |  TWITTER  |  NEWSLETTER  |  WEBSITE  |  TIKTOK  |  PINTEREST  |  SPOTIFY

Book Excerpt Tour for God of Summer by Kat Chant (GIVEAWAY)……

The past comes back to haunt two people whose lives, and hearts, become intertwined in this dark romance that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of this special excerpt of God of Summer by Kat Chant, then learn even more about this book by visiting the other sites hosting this tour.  In honor of this contemporary paranormal read make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $25 bookstore GC too!

Back in the Bronze Age, Angus McCraggan sacrificed his life to break the Celtic curse laid on his kind. He failed. Millennia later, he returns to modern Ireland to find his people have become feral, vengeful shadows. With his hollow hill now packed with tourists, he uses his power to keep his past hidden.

Until an American calls him out.
Since a banshee attacked her as a teen, Erin De Santos has been tormented by dreams of a boy she’s never met. Armed with a new identity, she returns to the Emerald Isle determined to face her nightmare. But her discovery turns fatal.
When the banshee strikes again, Angus surrenders his heart—and his hope of freeing his people—to save her. With his life now hers and his curse descending, Erin must make a terrible choice: kill her savior or share his doom.

EXCERPT:

“Angus...” She stalled at the rise and dip of his Adam’s apple as he swallowed hard at her use of his first name. Addictive holding that sort of power over a person. Addictive and terrifying. She wet her lips to buy her time and his eyes tracked her tongue, his pupils becoming black pools rimmed by the faintest line of blue.
“Angus, I’m better at running than staying. I won’t be good at this.” She grimaced, wishing she knew how to ask for his understanding. “No one’s ever needed me before.”
“Come here to me, Erin.”
An order not a request. Leaning forward to close the space between them, she ran her hands from his shoulders to the tight, straining cords of his neck. His skin was smooth and cool, twitching under her touch. He lifted his head to stare at her through heavy lids, the movement making his thick, black hair drift across her knuckles. Then he put his hands to her waist and pulled her down into his embrace, until they kneeled knee-to-knee. He traced around her forehead with his fingertips to slide a line of her hair behind her ear, his touch sending hot darts along her nerves. His beard stubble scratched her cheek as he put his lips to her ear.
“Let me give you a reason to return to me, Erin, mo chroí. Éirinn go brách.” Erin, my heart. Erin, forever.
Her eyes rolled back as his voice smoked through her. He kissed her neck and her pulse rocketed straight into the stratosphere while any muscle tone she might’ve had rendered into gloop. In case she somehow misinterpreted his offer, his hands scoped around her hips to rest possessively on her buttocks.
Her skin burned beneath his touch.

BUY here.

REQUEST REVIEW COPIES here OR here.

AUTHOR INFO:

Kat Chant is an award-winning writer. A bookworm who grew into a history buff, she swapped beaches for castles and moved from Australia to the UK. When studying medieval history, she fell in love with a lad from Ireland...and fell in love with his country, too.
She and her family live in the heart of Ireland, surrounded by fields in forty shades of green.
Kat is a keen cook and often experiments with traditional farmhouse foods such as making bread, cheese, jam and liqueurs. She also decorates the occasional cake.

WEBSITE  |  FACEBOOK  |  INSTAGRAM  |  PINTEREST  |  TWITTER  |  TIKTOK  |  BOOKBUB AUTHOR PAGE  |  BOOKBUB BOOK PAGE  |  GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE  |  AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

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Book Excerpt Reveal for Black Hearts by Tori Fox…….

 An emotionally intense tale of friends to lovers set in the rockstar world becomes a gritty and gripping series starter that readers get a special excerpt of today.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Black Hearts by Tori Fox, then start counting down the days until this first installment in the Saints & Sinners series hits bookshelves on September 8th!

I’ve been in love with Charlie Fortier since we were seven years old and she punched me in the face for pulling on her pigtails.

She was the girl next door.
I was the punk ass kid who got in trouble.
She told me she loved me when she was seventeen. I broke her heart instead.
Then I left. And my band became one of the biggest in the world.
She was always around. On the sidelines. Being my friend.
And I’ve spent the last twelve years in love with her. She just doesn’t know.
But I can’t tell her. Because I can’t be with her.
I made too many deals to keep her safe.
I owe too many debts for those same reasons.
Now I'm back home. And she is everywhere. Staying away is too hard. But the truth is harder.
I have scars on my black heart and they all belong to her.

EXCERPT:

I scribble away in my notebook. A jumble of words and feelings. Anger, fear, frustration, lust. I’ve never let my feelings get like this with Charlie before. Even when we dated for two months in high school. This is on an entirely different level. And I don’t know if it’s because of the raging jealousy in me or if it’s because spending time with her, the little that I have has knocked me into a time warp, into a place where Charlie was everything to me.
She fell asleep last night on my lap, halfway through the movie. I ran my fingers through her soft lilac hair as she snored softly on my thigh. It took every ounce of willpower I had not to let my dick come to life. I did let myself lean over and kiss her forehead, remembering what it was like to touch her body. But that was twelve years ago. We were kids on the verge of adulthood. And now she is like an entirely new work of art I want to explore.
I want to press my lips across her slender neck and down her clavicle. I want to lick between those perfect perky breasts and trace the lines of the tattoo I know she has there. I want to inhale the sweet, sweet smell of her and then devour her until she is crying my name.
She’s always been my Charlie. She always will be my Charlie.
Ever since we were kids riding bikes in the street. When I taught her how to skateboard and use a BB gun. She taught me about the beauty of words. And music, we discovered that together sitting underneath the stars on those humid nights when both of our parents were drunk or fighting and we wanted to drown out the sound. Nirvana, Beastie Boys, Foo Fighters, Jawbreaker, Metallica, Primus, Soundgarden, Nine Inch Nails, Pearl Jam. All bands that flooded are headphones.
Then it all changed when her mom cheated on her dad then left him for Richard LeBlanc. Charlie was taken away from me, moved to an affluent side of Baton Rouge. Not that it stopped us from seeing each other. And eventually falling into something more than friendship.
But I fucked up any chance with her when I saved her by making a deal with her stepfather. And I would do it over and over again, if it meant she survived the shit he put her through. She has no idea what I did. How much it’s destroyed my life but I wanted her safe.
And with Elijah, she isn’t safe.
I carried her to my guest bedroom last night even though I wanted her in my bed. The only woman I’ve ever wanted in my bed.
Then I spent hours upstairs on the roof drinking, smoking, and writing. Years of words I left unsaid to her. I let my black heart crack. And left everything on pages of paper. Words crossed out and scribbled, the story of our life.

FIND AT GOODREADS here.

PRE-ORDER here.

***ABOUT THE SAINTS & SINNERS SERIES...Saints & Sinners are the biggest rock band in the world and they are back home in New Orleans. A city full of sex and sin. But they have secrets that lie deep in the underground, tied to the criminals that run the city. They promised to keep those secrets under lock and key. But the women who crack the barriers around their scarred hearts will also expose their secrets.

Saints & Sinners is a raw, gritty, and angsty Rockstar romance series with a darkness lurking throughout the pages.

In this series you'll find...friends to lovers, forbidden romance, enemies to lovers, surprise pregnancy, opposites attract, brother's best friend, forced proximity, and second chance. The reading order of this series: Black Hearts - September 8th  |  Cruel Promises - December 1st  |  Dirty Secrets - February 16, 2023  |  Wicked Lies - April 27, 2023  |  Broken Vows - June 29, 2023. Pre-Order the series HERE.***

AUTHOR INFO:

Tori Fox is the author of romantic suspense and contemporary romance with a little bit of angst and a whole lot of sexy. When she isn’t writing, you can find her listening to true crime podcasts as she tends to her plants or singing along to Taylor Swift as she drinks champagne. Tori lives above the clouds with her husband and dog in the Rocky Mountains.

FACEBOOK  |  WEBSITE  |  GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE  |  INSTAGRAM  |  TIKTOK  |  TWITTER  |  BOOKBUB  |  NEWSLETTER

Book Excerpt Reveal for Never Look Back by A. L. Jackson (GIVEAWAYS)…..

It's a love/hate connection between two people carrying lots of emotional baggage from the past in this sensual, second chance romance.  Keep reading to get a tempting glimpse of Never Look Back by A. L. Jackson, then start counting down the days until this third installment in the Redemption Hills series hits bookshelves on August 29th.  To make the wait a bit less painful be sure to enter the great giveaways below!

From NYT and USA Today bestselling author A.L. Jackson comes an enemies-to-lovers, close-proximity, second-chance romance...

Logan Lawson won me in a bet.
The second I saw him sitting at the illegal card table, I knew I was in trouble.
Years ago, he sealed my fate and condemned me to a life I didn’t want to lead.
Yet he’s filled with untamed fury and thirsting for vengeance against the husband I hate.
Aster Costa is everything I never should have wanted.
The second she showed with her pompous, prick of a husband, I should have gotten up and walked. But there’s no looking away from the woman who wrecked me.
Worse, I can’t stop myself from plotting to get her back.
I want nothing more than to be free of my husband.
I’m afraid Logan Lawson is the only one who can make that happen.
He might hate me for our past, but now it’s me on my knees begging for help.
Finding each other in the middle of it wasn’t supposed to be part of the bargain.
But once Logan touches me, I’m gone. A torch is rekindled. A fire is lit.
Aster Costa has always been mine.
And this time, no matter the cost, I won’t give her back...

EXCERPT:

Tension bound the room, and few words had been said, everyone’s attention rapt on the duel going down.
Jarek tried to keep his expression neutral, the pompous prick with his slicked back black hair and his careless confidence that had been given to him through his name rather than earned.
Like he was confident I would let him reach out and take what was mine.
Not ever again.
Even with the pungent arrogance, I saw the tick of his jaw, the flinch of his eyes, the sheen of sweat that hinted at the edges of his brow and glimmered beneath the dull lights from the chandelier that hung from above.
He glanced at his dwindling chips.
“Your father-in-law would be proud. If only he could see you now.” I couldn’t help but taunt it as I rocked back in my chair. I did my best to ignore the presence that hovered over him from behind.
A presence that fanned out and teased me like a sinful, decadent dream. A dream that had once been so beautiful it’d coerced me into believing there just might be something better in this life than depravity and greed.
I glanced up in time to catch the worry that riddled those fire-agate eyes. The golden green with flecks of red that were begging for something she didn’t deserve to be given.
Mercy.
I tore my attention from the lure of hers and watched as redness clawed at Jarek’s throat before he started to push in the chips to meet the bet.
Aster gripped him by the shoulder. “Jarek, don’t do this.”

I had to wonder exactly what he had riding on the line. Why he was there. Why I could feel the chinks in his armor coming apart.
Flinging off her hand, he cut her a hard glare.
“Don’t,” he warned.
The word was coated with his humiliation. With desperation.
Ah.
There was the chink.
Weakness wept through the powerful persona.
Reluctantly, Aster withdrew her hand, and her delicate throat trembled as she swallowed. She lifted that stoic chin that I’d caressed more times than I could count.
Okay, fine.
That was a goddamn lie because I remembered every fucking touch. Every glance. Every broken promise she had made.
Jarek met my stare as he pushed nearly the rest of his chips into the pot, raising me by a thousand.
I raised him another ten.
How far are you going to go, asshole? Whatever you have, it’s mine.
A soft sound of pain wheezed from Aster’s chest. A heave of distressed air.
My gaze followed to where the black dress she wore dipped low between her tits. My heart fisted when I saw what she wore around her neck. It was a star-shaped necklace, dangling down to kiss her cleavage.
I nearly cracked. Lost the control I was holding onto.
It had to be a joke.
A taunt.
A fucking cruel, sick twisted one, the girl coming down here and parading it like a slap to my face.
It made my teeth clench and the fury I was barely constraining flashfire through my veins. I tore my attention from her when Jarek spat, “Fuck,” under his breath.
He still clutched his cards, refusing to give up the fight.
Haille laughed, the sadistic fucker enjoying this far too much. He looked at Jarek. How the hell he knew him, I didn’t have a clue, but I didn’t believe in a coincidence quite this big. He pulled his cigar from his mouth and jabbed it Jarek’s direction. “It seems you’re in a small predicament, Mr. Urso. Are you already going to walk? And here I thought you were going to bring something interesting to the table.”
Jarek all but growled, and Aster’s gaze darted between the three of us. Nerves flew from her soft, caramel flesh. That face carved of perfect lines and smooth skin tightened in dread.
He’d brought something interesting to the table, all right.
“Just cut your losses, Jarek.” She begged it quietly, but I heard the strength behind it.
Jarek roughed his hand down his pompous face, and he turned to look at the necklace around Aster’s neck as if it could be a solution to his issues.
Aster gasped, and her hand came up to protect it. Tears sprang to her eyes. She took a small step back. “No,” she wheezed, like it would physically pain her to remove it.
I wanted to jump to my feet.
Take hold of her and demand answers.
Demand to know why.
Why had she done it if she could stand there and look like there was a piece of her that was broken.
Anger and confusion had me in a stranglehold.
Old grief I’d buried deep that was clawing to the surface. “Give it to me,” Jarek grated.
“No.” My voice cut through the dense air.
A roll of thunder.
The tolling of a challenge.
Aster froze. Her stare landed on me.
It was pain.
A plea.
Desperation.
It only made the sickness thrum harder.
I looked to Jarek.
“The girl.”
The stake came out without thought to repercussions. Without rationale.

No sense.
Just revenge.
I wanted what never should have been his.
A gasp rocked from her, and she stumbled back farther.
Jarek’s eyes sharpened to blades, and there was no question he wanted to reach over the table and choke the life from me.
My fingers itched.
I hoped he tried.
I gave nothing. No smile. No sneer. Just the quiet hatred that emanated from within. The fact I intended to take everything from him.
I’d known one day I would. I just hadn’t anticipated the opportunity would present itself so soon.
He blinked then jutted his chin at the dealer for the exotic chip.
The one that signified he would hazard my proposition.
It wasn’t rare. A bid made for a beach home. A family heirloom. Something that couldn’t be replaced. Here, fortunes were won and lost.
“What are you doing? I am not for sale.” Aster’s voice was aghast. Horrified and filled with disgust.
“He’s bluffing, Aster.” Jarek tossed in the chip.
It was the first time I let myself fully look at her. To sit back and take her in like she was mine to take. Sickened terror ridged her gorgeous face because I was pretty sure she knew this wasn’t close to a bluff.
I couldn’t do anything but crack a grin. “It seems you are tonight.”
Then I laid down my cards. A straight flush.

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AUTHOR INFO:

A.L. Jackson is the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance. She writes emotional, sexy, heart-filled stories about boys who usually like to be a little bit bad.

Her bestselling series include THE REGRET SERIES, CLOSER TO YOU, BLEEDING STARS, FIGHT FOR ME, CONFESSIONS OF THE HEART, FALLING STARS and REDEMPTION HILLS novels. Watch out for her upcoming stand-alone, NEVER LOOK BACK, releasing August 29th!

If she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out by the pool with her family, sipping cocktails with her friends, or of course with her nose buried in a book.

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Book Excerpt Reveal for Off the Record by Annmarie Boyle…….

 A woman's carefully ordered life falls apart the night she gives into the temptation of her brother's bandmate in a flirtatious romance with a doggy matchmaker.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Off the Record by Annmarie Boyle, then start counting down the days until this third installment in the Storyhill Musicians series hits bookshelves on September 6th!

Ever since the day her life flipped upside down, Bridget Hayes obeys a carefully crafted plan. And it works. Or it did. Until the night of her brother’s wedding, when she throws out all her rules—in spectacular fashion and finds herself in bed with one of her brother's bandmates. What had she been thinking? She caved to the one thing she can’t control—her longtime crush on a tall, charismatic, ginger of a man...who also happens to be ONE OF HER BROTHER'S BEST FRIENDS.

Blake Kelly knows two things for sure: happily-ever-after is a myth and Bridget Hayes is risk personified. Doesn’t matter that he’s been attracted to her since her brother uttered the words, “Meet my sister.” Getting close to her could blow up the band. And the band is his family. He can’t risk it...no matter how much he wants a repeat performance.
Armed with a pact—tell no one—they return to their regularly scheduled lives. Because in a city of nine million people, what are the chances they’ll bump into each other anytime soon?
Nada. Zip. Zilch.
That is, until a rescue pup named Destiny turns out to be less dog and more cupid in a fur coat.

EXCERPT:

“Blake, I need you to pick up Bridget at the airport.”
A shiver ran down Blake’s spine at the mention of Andrew’s sister. And not the cold kind. The so-warm- if-you’re-not-careful-you-might-get-burned kind. “You want me to pick up Bridget?” Andrew had spent years discouraging Blake’s interaction with his sister—loudly.

“Not really.” Andrew grimaced. “But everyone else already has an assigned task, and Grace promised to make our wedding night very boring if I let my little sister take an Uber.”
“Little” was an interesting way to describe Bridget Hayes. At thirty-four years old, six feet tall, and one of the youngest basketball executives in the league, little would be the last word Blake would choose. Stunning or accomplished seemed better places to start.
Andrew scrubbed his fingers through his hair. “Just remember—”
Blake blew out a breath. “Yeah, yeah, she’s off limits. I heard you the first hundred times.”
“I was going to say it takes her some extra time to get from the gate to baggage claim. She’s still, um, fragile.”
Little and now “fragile?” Had Andrew paid any attention to his sister over the past decade? Ten years was a long time to still be treating her like she might break. But maybe he shouldn’t judge, he didn’t have any siblings, didn’t have any first-hand experience with family dynamics.
“But, Blake,” Andrew said, pushing a finger into Blake's chest. “What you said, too.”
Nick picked up the tray of favors and chuckled. “Don’t worry Andrew, gingers are very few people’s cup of tea.”
“I think you got some bad data, my friend.” Blake ran a hand down his chest and winked. “Red heads are the world’s unicorns and who couldn’t use a little more magic in their life?”

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AUTHOR INFO:

My love affair with words has spanned a lifetime. I raced to high school English class and left home in pursuit of a degree in Journalism. I have been lucky enough to write copy for Fortune 500 companies and charities like the Ronald McDonald House. For nearly a decade, I owned my own communications company, and now, with the publication of the Storyhill Musicians series, my dreams of being a fiction author have come true. And I hope I can spend the rest of my days dreaming up stories.

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