Much Ado About a Widow by Jenna Jaxon

Welcome to the book blast for Much Ado About a Widow by Jenna Jaxon! Check out an excerpt from this historical romance before you download your own copy. Be sure to follow the tour and let the author know your thoughts and questions along the way. And then enter the great giveaway!

Much Ado About a Widow

Lady Georgina Kirkpatrick defied her family, jilted her fiancé, and married the man she loved. But when her husband died at Waterloo, she was delivered right back into her father’s power . . .

Victory is sweet—but England’s triumph was Georgie’s rout. Now that she’s widowed, the loathsome marriage her father first arranged has simply been renegotiated. With neither money nor rights, and nowhere to flee, all she can do is cherish her last weeks of freedom. . . . Until a band of ruffians overtake her carriage and kidnap her. When she escapes in seaside Brighton and encounters her brother’s rather wild friend, Lord St. Just—whom she suspects aspires to be a pirate—she’s prepared to entertain more of his adventurous suggestions than usual . . .

St. Just knows his mind and his duty, and he loves a challenge. Helping a fair lady make her farewells to hoodlums suits his talents well. Within the hour he has Georgie, her lady’s maid—and her little dog too—sailing for his castle in Cornwall. Meanwhile, the lady’s entire family, her kidnappers, and her scheming intended are in pursuit. But as he and the indomitable Georgie grow closer, he begins to suspect that together they will prove a match for them all . . .

Read an excerpt:

A key grated in the lock. Lulu growled and stalked toward it, the fur on her back rising straight up.

“Not yet, Lulu.” Georgie gathered the leash. “Don’t bite him quite yet.”

Her dog stopped advancing on the door; however, the growling did not abate. Better be safe. She gathered Lulu into her arms. “I’ll give you the signal.”

The cabin door swung open, revealing Lord St. Just, an impossibly broad grin on his face. “Wait until I tell you what my men and I just did.”

“You don’t have to tell me, my lord. I already know.” Georgie glared at him and held Lulu tighter. The little animal was shaking, and Georgie was sure if she loosened her grip Lulu would launch herself at the unwary marquess. Serve him right too.

“You do?” He frowned and cocked his head, which made him look like a puzzled puppy. Lulu looked just like that whenever she was unhappy. But what did he have to be unhappy about? He was the one who had kidnapped her.

“You have set sail, my lord, with me and my maid aboard against our wills. Many sensible people call that kidnapping.” She’d always known this man was a pirate. In fact, she’d told her brother so. She handed Lulu to Clara before the dog could leap out of her arms and tear at his lordship’s throat. If anyone was going to attack the marquess, it would be Georgie herself. Plant him a facer and see how he liked being set upon.

“Oh.” The impossible man was all smiles again. “Yes, we had to put out or miss the evening tide.” His grin had returned, showing many straight, white teeth. “But we did manage to steal your trunks, Lady Georgina. If you will consider yourself abducted again, at least rejoice in the fact that you will have clean linen throughout the ordeal.”

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About Jenna Jaxon

Jenna Jaxon is a multi-published author of historical and contemporary romance. She has been reading and writing historical romance since she was a teenager. A romantic herself, she has always loved a dark side to the genre, a twist, suspense, a surprise. She tries to incorporate all of these elements into her own stories. She lives in Virginia with her family and a small menagerie of pets. When not reading or writing, she indulges her passion for the theatre, working with local theatres as a director. She often feels she is directing her characters on their own private stage.

She has equated her writing to an addiction to chocolate because once she starts she just can't stop.

Links:

Blog: www.jennajaxon.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenna.jaxon
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jenna_Jaxon
Instagram: passionistimeless

Jenna Jaxon will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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The Billionaire's Board by Lark Anderson

Need another super hot read? Check out an excerpt from The Billionaire's Board by Lark Anderson. Follow the tour for even more excerpts and reviews. Best of luck in the giveaway!

The Billionaire's Board

When Remi Stone is promoted to director at Icor Tech by the INSANELY HOT, chiseled, PERFECT 10 CEO, the last thing she expected was for chaos to ensue. Boy—she should have been more prepared.

Who would have ever thought that being 23.7 hours early for a meeting would ever lead to a series of life-changing events that would see me influencing the course of a billion-dollar corporation—but I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s go back to the day AFTER my time-anxiety induced early bird mishap.

You see, I went into Icor Tech’s boardroom to present at the quarterly ‘Innovation Meeting,’ completely unprepared for all the enemies I was about to make. The board itself—and all the directors!

But that’s exactly what happened when the handsome, aloof, BILLIONAIRE CEO, Gabriel Icor himself, promoted me to director at 23 with NO FLIPPING WARNING!

Now, I have a bunch of seasoned board members thinking I’m an ‘upstart’ mouse. A bunch of employees angry their careers plateaued well before mine. And two insanely hot, crazy-successful, competitive, and ever charming businessmen courting me.

Oh, and get this—I’ve never so much as been on a date before.

What’s a girl to do? Well, I’ll tell you one thing that’s never advisable...

Accidentally blurting out you’re not wearing panties.

Read an excerpt:

This is exactly what they expect from a millennial. Shitty work ethics, entitlement, living in my parent’s basement. None of those traits fit me, but the room full of grey hairs I’m about to brief don’t know that. They don’t know that I tested out of high school at fifteen, received my Bachelor’s in Engineering at Cornell by nineteen, and my Masters by the time I was twenty-two. They just see a young, fair-haired woman and assumed I got my job because of who I know or some affirmative action bullshit.

Kibbles! I can’t forget to feed Kibbles, the aging cat my dearly departed grandmother left to me.

The cat hates me, looking for any reason to shred my bedding and furniture. She’s possessed, more than likely by my dear dead grandma, who was never very happy no matter how much I called, visited, or wrote. Not that she ever really wanted to see me, but she sure did like the checks I was writing for her. I swear, she left me Kibbles just to spite me.

It isn’t enough to leave one bowl of food out. Kibbles demands three, placed strategically around the apartment, filled to capacity. If the kibble level so much as lowers by half an inch, Kibbles goes into an angry panic. She dug up every single plant one day and shredded my shower curtain on another. The last thing I need is another Kibbles meltdown.

Oh, wonderful, the cat’s glaring at me. Don’t panic. It’s not a big deal. It’s just a cat.

Just a cat. Ha! That’s like saying, ‘Oh, it’s just Satan, Lord of the Underworld.’

Pull yourself together, Remi. You’re facing the board and a room full of directors today. Don’t blow this!

Available on Amazon 

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On sale for $0.99 for a limited time!

About Lark Anderson

Lark Anderson was raised near Syracuse, New York. She joined the USAF at 19 as a Flight Manager and eventually discharged in pursuit of a college degree, eventually achieving her MBA.

Since her years in the Air Force, she has worked as a Claims Manager, a Business Analyst, an Editor, and a Web Page Designer, filling several roles, such as Fraud Investigator, Auditor, Graphic Designer, and Marketer. Lark’s passion for writing manifested in elementary school, but she waited until she was in her 20’s to pursue her passion. Now, she writes and assists other authors in fulfilling their dreams full time. Lark's interests are broad. She likes her fantasy dark and her romance steamy! She plays Magic: the Gathering and LOVES going to cons and interacting with fellow geeks.

Currently, she is writing contemporary romance and is in contract negotiation to develop a sitcom she has been working on.

Twitter: @mims_words / https://twitter.com/mims_words
Twitter: @lark_anderson / https://twitter.com/lark_anderson
Instagram: @mimsthewords / https://www.instagram.com/mimsthewords/
Facebook: @LarkAndersonAuthor / https://www.facebook.com/LarkAndersonAuthor/
Webpage: https://larkandersonbooks.net
Link to subscribe to Newsletter: https://larkandersonbooks.net/subscribe/
Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/Lark-Anderson/e/B07VVMCXCP?

Lark Anderson will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to three randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Salvaging Love (Rescue Me Series) by Sara Ohlin

Welcome to the book blast tour for Salvaging Love by Sara Ohlin! Enjoy this excerpt and then follow the tour for even more. As always, follow the tour to explore even more and leave comments and questions for the author along the way. And of course, best of luck in the giveaway!

Salvaging Love

Animals aren’t the only thing that need rescuing when a sexy veterinarian encounters a hot-headed attorney…

Perfectly content saving animals at her clinic in a charming but run-down neighborhood, veterinarian Ellie Blevins slams into new landlord, Jackson Kincaid, who plans to turn her beloved block of buildings into condos.

Intrigued by Ellie, hot-shot defense attorney Jackson gives her one month to convince him not to put his gentrification plans into progress. Attraction soon sizzles between them, but when Jackson makes his desires known, Ellie’s vulnerable heart doesn’t know what to think.

She wants to trust the sinfully handsome Jackson, just as he wants to gain her trust, but finding their way to love isn’t easy when her traumatic past and his criminal clients could sabotage their relationship for good.

Can the enchanting veterinarian and the brooding attorney fight the demons from the past…and build a new future?

Book Links

Totally Bound * Amazon * B&N * Kobo * iBooks * Google Play

Read an excerpt:

“Jackson?”

“I want to be the only one who gets that soft, intimate ‘Hey’ from you.”

What? “I’m confused,” she said quietly.

“I’m not,” he said. “I like the way you look, your gorgeous skin, that cute break in your nose, although I doubt I’d like the way you broke it.”

No, he absolutely would not, she thought, sucking in a breath.

“I like the way you talk to your dogs, the way when you say ‘Hi’ to people you make every single one of them feel special. I fucking love the way your hazel eyes get darker when you’re fighting with me, the confusion in your face when I catch you off guard. You’ve got a fucking fantastic body, and that’s only from seeing you in your scrubs and your sexy yoga pants and I bet I’d like what’s hidden underneath. I like the way your soft voice hits me, the way you smile at everything, except when you’re pissed, which I might like even more. I don’t want the month to learn why a bunch of buildings are worth saving, I want to spend the month getting to know you. Still confused?”

Stunned was more like it. He liked her in her yoga pants? Her nose that was so far from model perfect she could not even go there?

“Ellie? Are you still confused?”

“No?” she squeaked out, but it was definitely a question, because, hell yes, she was still confused. Was he high? Or blind? Maybe both?

He laughed. “We’ll get there. How was the rest of your day?”

About Sara Ohlin

Puget Sound based writer, Sara Ohlin is a mom, wannabe photographer, obsessive reader, ridiculous foodie, and the author of the upcoming contemporary romance novels, Handling the Rancher, Salvaging Love, and the upcoming contemporary romance Seducing the Dragonfly.

She has over fifteen years of creative non-fiction and memoir writing experience, and you can find her essays at Anderbo.com, (http://www.anderbo.com/anderbo1/afact-005.html), Feminine Collective (http://www.femininecollective.com/?s=Come+Back+to+Me+Lemon), Mothers Always Write (https://mothersalwayswrite.com/map-of-flaws/), Her View from Home (https://herviewfromhome.com/the-joys-and-lessons-learned-through-team-sports/), and in anthologies such as Are We Feeling Better Yet? Women Speak about Healthcare in America, Take Care: Tales, Tips, & Love from Women Caregivers, and Chicken Soup for the Soul.

Although she’s the author of many essays about life, grief, motherhood and the connections we make through delicious food and shared meals, Sara loves creating imaginary worlds with tight-knit communities in her romance novels. She credits her mother, Mary, Nora Roberts and Rosamunde Pilcher for her love of romance.

If she’s not reading or writing, you will most likely find her in the kitchen creating scrumptious meals with her two kids and amazing husband, or perhaps cooking up her next love story.

She once met a person who both “didn’t read books” and wasn’t “that into food” and it nearly broke her heart.

Website: www.saraohlin.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/SaraOhlin222
Instagram = http://www.instagram.com/saraohlin222
Facebook = https://www.facebook.com/saraohlinwriter/
Pinterest = http://www.pinterest.com/saraohlin/
Bookbub = https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sara-ohlin
Goodreads = https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19491440.Sara_Ohlin

The author is giving away a $20 Amazon/BN GC via Rafflecopter during the tour.

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A Day in the Life of Mysti Wild from Mysti and Starr by Kate Hill

Sometimes those stories behind the story are just as interesting as the book itself. Today, author Kate Hill is taking us deeper into the life of her heroine Mysti Wild from her new book Mysti and Starr. You can also read an excerpt from the book! Be sure to follow the tour for even more fun. Leave thoughts and comments for the author along the way. And of course, be sure to enter the giveaway!

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Life Changes - A Day in the Life of Mysti Wild

I remember how things used to be. I’d wake up, exercise a little--my cousins and I love yoga--and then I’d spend a few hours working on edits. My family runs a publishing house that specializes in the paranormal, and I’ve been an editor there for years. I really like my job, but I’m also an artist. When I need a break from edits, I’ll go outside with my sketchbook. Currently I’m working on a Wild family tarot deck. Sometimes my cousin Christa and I will spend a whole day at the lake, just sketching. Christa is actually a better artist. She does most of the covers for our family’s company, but where was I? A day in my life. Well, that relaxing life has changed for me.

Meeting my soulmate, Starr, and his demon-fighting family showed me parts of the world I didn’t know existed--or maybe I just didn’t want to admit it. Now when I wake up in the morning, exercise is a little yoga and a lot of fight training with Starr and his mom. She’s great, and I almost pity the demons who cross her path. I still work for my family’s company, but I’m also involved in Starr’s work. Because of him, I’ve rediscovered psychic powers that I had buried since childhood. In the past, my ancestors were witch warriors. Now the Wilds have stepped up again because demons are becoming a worse threat to our world.

A typical day in my life? Since meeting Starr, no day is typical anymore. I never know what’s coming, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Mysti Wild is the heroine of Mysti and Starr (Wild Witches of Beaver Bay 1), from Changeling Press.

Mysti and Starr 

A blazing trail only he can see leads demon hunting biker Starr Johanson to his destined mate. A blessing placed on her family’s ancestral land summons Mysti Wild to the cabin where she’ll meet the man fated to share her life.

Each fears the other will be frightened by magic they don’t understand, but they quickly learn to trust each other, because no one can resist the person they were born to love.

Read an excerpt:

In a blink, Starr appeared alongside a tall, rough-looking man, also wearing black. The man had a steel gray beard and large, dark eyes that swept the room, seeming to take in everything in a single glance. “Go ahead, baby. Get rid of that shit,” the redheaded woman said to Starr.

His expression distant, Starr strode out of the room like a man on a mission, and Mysti knew that he was. Something about his demeanor reminded her of last night, when he’d absorbed the demon. If he had gone to the demons’ realm -- however impossible it seemed -- she had no doubt he had used his weapon to destroy them.

Worried, Mysti tried to follow him, but a firm hand on her upper arm stopped her. She spun to face the redhead. The woman had to be at least six feet tall. Something about her seemed so familiar. “Mysti, right? Honey, he needs to go.”

Holding her gaze, Mysti said, “I know what he has to do.”

A faint smile touched the woman’s lips. “Well then. Let’s go.” Mysti wasn’t sure what the woman meant. Mysti was on unfamiliar ground in every way, so she took the redhead’s lead. “I’m Amber, by the way. Starr’s mama.”

They walked upstairs and into the room with the glass doors that were now wide open. Starr stood in the middle of the pond, expelling flames. They crackled and smoke wafted on the air. Toward the end, he bellowed and the surface of the water churned. Mysti’s stomach clenched. “Is he okay?”

Book Links

Amazon * B&N * Changeling Press * Kobo * iBooks

(Affiliate links included) 

About Kate Hill

Kate Hill is a vegetarian New Englander who started writing over twenty years ago for pleasure. Since 1996, she has sold over one hundred short stories, novellas, and novels.

She prefers to blend genres, and she loves horror and a happily ever after, so her books can be a bit unusual. If you're looking for romance with witches, aliens, vampires, angels, demons, shapeshifters and more, there's a good chance you'll find something to your taste in her backlist.

When she's not working on her books, Kate enjoys reading, working out, and watching horror movies. She also writes under the name Saloni Quinby.

Author Links:

Website: https://kate-hill.com/

Blogs:
https://kate-hill.com/blog/https://kate-hill.com/compellingbeastsblog/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kate-Hill/e/B002BLS7OW

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kate-hill

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16157.Kate_Hill

Twitter: https://twitter.com/katehillromance

Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/user/KateH02

Kate Hill will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Holiday Book Blast and Giveaway

WELCOME TO THE HOLIDAY BOOK BLAST! 

Click on any of the below book covers to be taken to the page that has more information on the book as well as the Buy Links!

Before you leave, don't forget to enter the Giveaway!

Paranormal Romance - $0.99

Mystery - $2.99

Contemporary Erotic Romance - $3.99

YA Paranormal Romance - $0.99 + Free with KU

LGBT Romance - $3.99

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His Salvation by Michelle King

His Salvation is the newly released romantic suspense from Michelle King. Make sure you follow the tour for extra chances to enter the giveaway as you leave the author comments and questions along the way!

His Salvation

Will the woman he left behind a decade ago be His Salvation?

Seth McCullough left behind his high school sweetheart, Krista Chancellor, determined to keep her safe. Running from his own demons, Seth joined the military, hoping for a new start.

Ten years later, after experiencing psychological and physical trauma, Seth takes a trip to Mexico for rest and relaxation. Waking up one morning confused, bloody, and linked to multiple high profile murders, Seth is sure he’s lost what little sanity he has left. Determined to find answers, Seth reaches out to the only person he ever trusted, his old flame, Krista.

Now, Krista and Seth find themselves embroiled in an agenda too terrifying to comprehend. Not sure who to trust, and looking for answers, will the woman he left behind over a decade ago be His Salvation, or his ruin?

PLEASE NOTE: This is the second edition. It has extensive rewrites and has been re-edited.

Available on Amazon

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About Michelle King

Michelle King lives in the Pacific Northwest with her four quirky and beautiful children. She loves coffee, Superman, rollercoasters, and has an addiction to chapstick.

She works as a registered nurse and in her spare time writes novels. As a multi-genre author, she has written in the categories of romance suspense, young adult, women’s fiction, and literary fiction. She has won four literary awards. You can visit Michelle’s website at https://www.authormichelleking.com/



Social links:

https://www.authormichelleking.com/

https://www.facebook.com/michelle.authorpage

https://www.facebook.com/Michelle-King-Author-544448685599147/

https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B004TZ0CUK

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5061809.Michelle_King

https://plus.google.com/u/0/105101655597839729577

Michelle is giving away a $20 Amazon/BN gift card via Rafflecopter to someone during the tour.

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Audition by Skye Warren

Audition is the latest book from bestselling author Skye Warren, coming out on December 9. Check out this excerpt and then preorder your own copy! Be sure to follow the tour and let the author know what you think. And then of course, you have to enter the giveaway!

Audition

Blood and sweat. Bethany Lewis danced her way out of poverty. She’s a world class athlete… with a debt to pay.

Joshua North always gets what he wants. And the mercenary wants Bethany in his bed. He wants her beautiful little body bent to his will.

She doesn’t surrender to his kiss.
He doesn’t back down from a challenge.
It’s going to be a sensual fight… to the death.

Read an excerpt:

Blinding lights. Aching lungs. Thunderous applause. The final show concludes the same way we rehearsed for months, the same way we performed for weeks. My muscles know the movements better than they understand rest. The prospect of after, of what comes next, makes my breath catch. Even as the primas take their bows, relief echoes around the stage. Vacations are planned. Relief for strained muscles. Everyone needs a break, even professional athletes. I’m the only one onstage dreading it.

We bow and curtsey with practiced grace. The curtain descends to the floor. Almost to the second we break formation—a flock of crows startled from the woods. The more exuberant among us, the young ones, the new ones, the ones using steroids, prance and jete toward the dressing rooms. Most of us limp our way out. One hundred percent of NFL players are injured every season. Professional dancing is the same. We hurl our bodies through the air, forcing massive impact through tired joints night after night. I catch my friend Marlena in my arms. Her face is white with pain.

“Ice,” she says. “Or better yet—tequila.”

I push my shoulder under hers as we exit the stage. “Don’t sell yourself short. You can have both.”

A delicate snort. “Not likely. We have to smile and flirt with the old men with big, fat wallets. And for what? I won’t be here next season. You won’t be, either.”

The reminder clangs inside me like a copper bell. I won’t be coming to the New York City Ballet after the break. We fall into our creaky chairs in the dressing room. “Are you going to miss it?”

“Miss it? Of course I’ll miss it.” Marlena turned twenty-eight last month. It’s comfortably retirement age for a dancer. “When the little children do their terrible pirouettes, when they sneeze and throw up and cry all over my leotard, I’ll think fondly of the beautiful art I left behind. Then I’ll be able to walk home. That won’t happen if I try to dance another season.”

“You’ll make a wonderful teacher. You know you were mine.” She didn’t teach me to dance. It was my first love, before I learned to flip and contort myself. Before I ever leapt from a trapeze bar.

Marlena taught me the ropes of the ballet company when I joined two years ago. Most of them thought I wouldn’t last a week. Some of them didn’t want me to. It’s a rigid world, the hierarchy stacked with graduates of Juilliard or the John Cranko school.

I don’t have a pedigree.

All I have is a body that does what it must, no matter how much it hurts.

Which means changing out of my sweaty leotard into a fresh one. We’re contractually obligated to attend the ball. Like Marlena said, we should smile and flirt with the high society people who attend. Both the male and female dancers have to do it. It’s what convinces the sponsors to write checks that will fund the next season. By the time they’re rehearsing The Nutcracker I’ll be in New Orleans, the place I swore I’d never return.

Book Links

Website * Amazon * iBooks * B&N 

(affiliate links included)

About Skye Warren

Skye Warren is the New York Times bestselling author of dangerous romance. Her books have sold over one million copies. She makes her home in Texas with her loving family, sweet dogs, and evil cat.

Skye Warren will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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See Me (Alpine Valleys Book 4) by L. Simpson

Welcome to the book blast for See Me by L. Simpson! Reviewers are loving this contemporary romance, completely engaged in its heartwarming story. Read an excerpt and then download a copy so that you can find out for yourself. Be sure to follow the tour and let the author know what you think along the way. And of course, there's a great giveaway!

See Me

Architect Ethan James's life is a mess. He's juggling being a single dad while fighting his infuriating ex who's trying to get full custody, while at the same time he's barely keeping his head above water in the job of his dreams. When he meets Mia Sullivan at a friend's engagement party, her bright spirit and kind heart shines a light into his life when he needs it most. With so much coming at him from all directions, he relies on Mia’s support but makes the heartbreaking mistake of not cherishing her love. Mia sees the writing on the wall and pulls back before her heart is shattered. Ethan can't lose the woman who makes his life complete, and shows her he is the man she needs him to be.

Read an excerpt:

“Tell the others we’re going.”

She nodded, then winked. I grinned back as Ethan pulled me away. We hurried through the crowd, Ethan leading the way as he gripped my hand. His long legs were striding and I struggled to keep up.

“You in a hurry?” I asked.

He turned to me but didn’t smile. Instead, he kissed me, and my toes curled.

When he closed the door, he stood in front of me and pinned me to the car with his hips as he kissed me again. I could kiss this man forever. His strong, steady rhythm was demanding, and I willingly followed his lead. I put my hands in his hair, loving the soft feel of it between my fingers. Like on the dance floor, our kiss took on a life of its own.

When he buried his face in my neck and sucked right below my ear, I wondered if I would survive. “Ethan, honey, you’re killing me. I hope you have a lot of condoms.” He chuckled at my neck. “I’ll buy a box for next time.” It took me a moment before I realised he wasn’t moving anymore. “Ethan?” I whispered.

“Do you want a next time?” His voice was rough.

He shifted to look at me, and I didn’t know if it was a trick question. “Of course.” I smiled, although the protracted silence had my stomach starting to drop.

“Mia…”

Realization hit me like a slow-moving truck.

“I can only give you tonight.”

“Why?” I didn’t like the sound of my voice. It was small and fragile. He didn’t answer, but he looked haunted. He wasn’t going to answer me. “You only want tonight?” I still hoped I was reading this wrong.

When he nodded, I felt something break in me. Something I had pretended was strong and secure.

“I can’t do that,” I whispered. “Not with you.” My voice cracked under the weight of unshed tears. I couldn’t let it happen again. I wanted more.

“Mia…” He moved back, his hands still on my hips.

We were still close, but not.

“I don’t do well with one-night stands. There isn’t anything wrong with them, but I’m not built that way. Especially when I… care. I can’t turn my feelings off and I don’t think I should have to. I like you, Ethan, and I want to be with you like this and like we were today. I want more than sex, and I thought you wanted that, too.” By the end of my speech, any effort to hide my tears was futile.

“I can’t give you that.” He moved back, breaking our connection completely.

“You mean you won’t.”

“It isn’t like that.”

He reached for me, but I moved to the side.

“It’s exactly like that. I should’ve known better.” I righted my clothing and pushed off the car.

I’d made it two steps before he grabbed my elbow and turned me around.

“Trust me. I don’t want to hurt you.” His expression was full of pain and grief.

“Too late.” I pulled out of his hold.

This time, he let me.

Book Links

Boroughs Publishing * Amazon * B&N * Smashwords * Books2Read * Kobo * iBooks 

(affiliate links included)

About L. Simpson

As a girl growing up in Australia, Laura was lost in the world of Anne of Green Gables and Little Women. During high school, volleyball dominated her life. There had to be something positive about being 6’1” with red hair. Representing Australia from a young age she eventually took a scholarship at the University of Iowa. Living in America and being a full time athlete in a college town was an eye-opening experience and lots of fun (from what she can remember). #gohawkeyes

Returning from the States, her career took a different turn as she started working at the Red Cross and completed her Masters of Law in Human Rights. As one of the few non-lawyers in the class, her essays were far more floral than the rest, something that caused the discerning professors to shake their heads. Through working and studying, she realised there are other ways to win hearts and minds.

While she’s spent the last 14 years as an advocate against poverty and homelessness, the desire to change the world through storytelling has only got stronger. She now lives in the Alpine Valleys of North East Victoria, Australia with her husband, daughter, son, two dogs and seven chooks. When she’s not doing the whole mum thing, working at a homelessness agency, renovating her farmhouse, or trying to do laundry bleary-eyed at midnight, she is writing.

Say G’day to Laura:

website: www.lsimpsonauthor.com

facebook: facebook.com/l.simpson.romance

twitter: @lsimpsonauthor

instagram: @lsimpsonauthor

linkedin: linkedin.com/in/laura-simpson-47278971

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When You Close Your Eyes by Roxanne D. Howard

Welcome to the book blast for When You Close Your Eyes by Roxanne D. Howard. Reviewers are raving about this book, saying it is so much more than just erotica. It's full of heart and has a hint of suspense as well. Enjoy an excerpt before you download your own copy to check out. Be sure to follow the tour and leave your comments along the way. And of course, be sure to enter the great giveaway!

When You Close Your Eyes

Dreams are the perfect shelter for fantasies, safe havens to step inside without changing our daily lives. For Lark Braithwaite, all that is about to change. During the last six months, Lark has dreamt of a mysterious Irish lover who knows what she wants and gives her exactly what she needs. In her waking life in busy London, things aren't as ideal as her long-term relationship with her controlling fiancé Charles has hit a dry spell.

When Lark is called home to Oregon for her father's funeral, she comes face to face with the demons from her past, but she never expects to meet her dream lover in the flesh. Niall O'Hagan steps straight out of her fantasies and into her life, and the powerful connection they share rocks her foundation. Although she's dealing with the bitterness of her fiancé's betrayal and his jealousy, Niall soon stirs Lark's awareness of her superficial existence and reawakens her sexuality....and her soul.

FROM PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY: "Howard (The Longer They Last) explores the concept of fated love in this skillfully woven contemporary erotic romance. Lark Braithwaite, an American in London, is living with her British fiancé, Charles Chase, when she starts dreaming of a sexy mystery man with an Irish brogue. After Lark gets word that her estranged father has died and she returns to her Oregon hometown for the funeral, she meets the dream man in the flesh: he's her parents' widowed lawyer, Niall O'Hagan. Lark quickly falls in love with Niall, struggling to decide whether she should follow her heart or the commitment she's made to her fiancé-a decision that gets easier when Charles shows his true and ugly colors... Explicit sex scenes crackle with heat, and Howard's characters invite readers to come in and get lost on the pages with them as the plot hurtles toward a shocking, but not unbelievable, climax involving Lark's father's past and her future. Erotic romance fans will devour Howard's suspenseful and heart-filled story."

Read an excerpt:

“Thank you.” She closed her eyes and took several large gulps, the cool liquid a balm to her throat.

“My name’s Niall O’Hagan.”

His deep and pleasant voice sounded different, lighter than the sultry bedroom voice she was used to from her dreams.

“I’m the Braithwaites’ attorney.”

Lark paused in midsip and lowered the bottle in her hands. “You—no.” She glanced at him.

His mouth lifted at the corners as if it dawned on him he was the butt of a joke he wasn’t aware of. “I…what?”

Oh, the irony of dreaming about her father’s lawyer this whole time. Oh, God. She giggled like a madwoman. This was it; she’d officially lost it. She rose and walked to the top step of the porch, put a hand over her face, and plunked down. “I am so messed up.”

An unwanted flash of Gemma’s flirtatious “darlin’” to Charles yesterday surfaced, and tears stung her eyes. She went silent and willed them not to fall. Nice try, but no use.

Niall sat on the step beside her. “I’d offer you a drink, but I quit ten years ago.”

Lark laughed, despite the tears. “An Irish attorney who doesn’t like Guinness is like an Englishman who doesn’t like fish and chips.”

“I know; shameful,” he said with mock contrition. “Don’t hold it against me. I’m doing the world a favor. Trust me. I was a horrible drunk. Are you okay, miss?”

Lark scoffed and gesticulated with her hands to the sky. “It’s Lark. And what a loaded question.” She couldn’t look at him, not after what happened. She clenched the edge of the step on either side of her and stared out at the trees.

“Well, since we’ve already nailed second base, we might as well be open with each other. Forgive me if I’m candid, but it seems you were in the throes of an alleged, eh, intense dream, and you awoke and believed I was him. Is that right?”

Horror dawned on her at what she’d done, and her jaw dropped. “No!” Yes. She glanced at him, and his knowing expression begged to differ.

“I see,” he said, his tone careful but persistent. “Then why did you kiss me like that?”

“I-I don’t have to answer.” She lifted her chin with defiance.

He scooted closer to her. “No, you don’t. But I wish you would.”

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About Roxanne D. Howard

Roxanne D. Howard is a U.S. Army veteran who has a bachelor's degree in Psychology and English. She loves to read poetry, classical literature, and Stephen King. Also, she is an avid Star Wars fan, musical theater nut, and marine biology geek. Roxanne resides in the western U.S., and when she's not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and children. Roxanne loves to hear from her readers, and encourages you to contact her via her website and social media.

Author Links

Website: www.roxannedhoward.com

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoxanneDHowardAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RoxanneDHoward

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roxanned.howard

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/roxanne-d-howard-2db98b1d-431f-4065-ba0e-6eef7cca7142

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roxanne-D.-Howard/e/B01BURXAVW

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15019190.Roxanne_D_Howard

Roxanne D. Howard will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Review of A Woman's Persuasion by Jeanette Watts

Welcome to the Blurb Blitz tour for A Woman's Persuasion, a lesbian fiction novel by Jeanette Watts. In addition to an excerpt, I'm also sharing my thoughts on this story. Be sure to let the author know what you think and ask her any questions you may have. Follow the tour for even more! And of course, there's a great giveaway at the end.

A Woman's Persuasion

What would you do for a second chance at a perfect love?

Anne's privileged family forced her to break off her romance with Freddie Wentworth, an Air Force pilot; they didn't approve. Almost eight years later, Freddie is back in her life. Can they rekindle an old flame? Or is there too much hurt and misunderstanding in the way?

Read an excerpt:

A Moment of Clarity

She looked in the mirror at the result of eight years of self-neglect and self-hatred, and she didn't like what she saw. She wished Freddie could have looked at her and seen that she had improved over the years. It didn't even need to be about her physical appearance. If she would have had three Master's Degrees and a PhD to her name, or a Pulitzer Prize, or an Oscar for Best Screenplay, or a byline in The New Yorker, that would have been something. But she had nothing to show for all the intervening years.

She wondered if Freddie had said the words out of spite, calculating that Henry and Louis would repeat them to her, or they were merely said honestly, not thinking that they might get repeated back to her. She could only assume that Freddie expected the hurtful words to reach her ears. Freddie had not forgiven her.

Well, could she blame her? Her feebleness of character, her inability to stand by her loved one in the face of adversity, wasn't something Freddie would respect. Being in a relationship with a soldier in military service took dedication and courage, not weakness and timidity. Anne couldn’t blame her for being hurt, even disgusted. She was not worthy of the love Freddie had offered her.

The eyes that looked back at her in the mirror confirmed what she already knew. She was going to have to change. It was too late with Freddie, but she needed to be a person she could respect. She wanted her self-respect back.

Buy it on Amazon

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**My thoughts**

I felt like there was a bit of a slow start and that the original relationship between Freddie and Anne was somewhat glazed over. I wanted to know a lot more about that original relationship. And there was a lot of other story about all of the other people in Anne's life and how everything economically was changing, which is timely for when the novel takes place.

And then I started to really feel for Anne. Freddie accidentally appears in her life and it is so awkward. It's so hard to pretend that you have no history with someone as you're trying to save face in front of mutual people. And then there is the whole part about Anne not feeling up to par with who she was back when she and Freddie first met. There's that whole, "If only they could see me now," only Anne hasn't quite gotten to that point before Freddie comes back.

There's a lot of emotion going on here, even beyond this relationship. It may surprise you what kinds of emotions and memories it brings up in your own life. It's also short enough that it is a quick read, though I almost wanted more out of it.

Thank you the author and publisher for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

About Jeanette Watts

Jeanette Watts was happily writing historical fiction when she got the idea for her first Jane Austen-inspired novel, Jane Austen Lied to Me. Going to a JASNA event to work on selling that book, she attended a lecture that asked, "Why does everyone rewrite Pride and Prejudice so much more than her other novels? Why doesn't anyone rewrite Persuasion?"

So she had to...




Contact Links

Website: http://www.jeanettewatts.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AWomansPersuasion

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeanetteAWatts

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6967936.Jeanette_Watts

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanetteamlwatts/

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10 Facts in A Perfect Mistake Based on Reality by Laura Brown

Welcome to the book tour for A Perfect Mistake by Laura Brown! One of the bits of advice that writers are often given is to write what you know. And you'll always find an element of truth inside every story we write, even if it is a mere kernel. Today, author Laura Brown is letting us in on 10 elements of her latest book that are actually based on reality. Let her know what you think in the comments! And then follow the tour to learn even more about her. Best of luck in the giveaway!

10 Facts in A Perfect Mistake Based on Reality

1. Like my main character, Nica Anders, I worked as a social worker, specifically a case manager in elder services. I had clients who were frail and needed more help to stay at home. It shaped me in many ways, especially being in my mid-twenties when I started working there. My views on aging changed, and I learned a lot from my clients. I wanted to put some of that into Nica, because it’s a very powerful thing.
2. Along with number one: Because of the area I worked in (and partly why I applied for this job in the first place), I had a building filled with Deaf elders, and since I’m fluent in ASL, I worked with them. Due to language and culture they didn’t have the same access when working with a non-signing case manager. I not only could communicate, but I understood the culture and life with a hearing loss. It’s one of the things I miss most since changing careers.
3. Nica has a cat named Oreo, based off a real life trouble maker I had. Oreo was a kitten sized adult, a former stray we adopted. She was labeled “quirky” and when I went to pick her up I learned she was deaf! She never learned ASL, much preferring to use my signing hands to get scratches.
4. Nica’s apartment (sensing a theme here?) was based off an apartment I had! I loved the exposed brick, renovated factory interior, and even though I had moved when I started writing this story, the apartment kept coming to mind as I pictured Nica at home.
5. Brownie covered oreos. My couple has a bit too much fun baking these, but it’s a real treat! Simply mix up a batch of brownies, dip oreos in the batter, and bake. Yum!
6. My hero has a hearing loss and so do I! Cam Thompson may be Deaf, while I’m Hard of Hearing, but it’s important to me to show characters with hearing loss, and show the reality of life with a hearing loss.
7. Along with above, I made Cam verbal and have him lipread, but make a point of showing how incredibly hard this is. Lip movements only account for about 20% of the sound, the rest is a guessing game. I always say it’s easier for me, because I have some hearing, than Cam, who doesn’t, but he does a better job lipreading than I do. He’s also fluent in ASL and that is his primary language, without it he’d have struggled much more with spoken English.
8. Jewish funerals. When I first wrote this, I hadn’t intended to make any of my characters Jewish. But I had a funeral scene to write, and I could either research how others do things and ask my husband a million questions, or I could write what I knew. The story and characters came alive with this decision.
9. Fall in New England. Salem, Massachusetts, gets all spooky and Halloween ready over the summer, so by September (summer, really!) there are already Halloween happenings covering the city, even if most of the tourists don’t come until closer to the end of October.
10. The reality of keeping a professional relationship with clients and caregivers. Nica finds herself in an ethical quandary when she realizes Cam is a caregiver to one of her clients after their one-night-stand. I assure you I never found myself in this situation, but it’s one that would have serious consequences to employment and career. My former co-workers look at me with shock when I tell them the basic plot!

A Perfect Mistake

Falling for the forbidden has never felt so right…

When social worker Nica Anders indulges in one night of sexual passion with delicious Deaf man Cam Thompson, the last thing she expects is to see him the next day while visiting her dying client. He’s Cassie’s grandson and caregiver, the one treat she shouldn’t have tasted. Now her job is on the line, demanding she stay away.

But their attraction is building like a raging inferno and Nica can’t help but get burned.

Cam Thompson’s life is a mess. He’s losing his grandmother, the one person who’s supported him his whole life, and her dying wish is for him to settle down with a good woman—specifically her social worker Nica Anders. Despite Nica trying to hold tight to her ethics, he’s falling for her hard and fast.

Yet Cam's grandmother isn’t the only matchmaker in his family, and someone's determined to keep him and Nica apart.

Steamy, touching, heart-warming. A much-needed #OwnVoices romance to go perfectly with that plate of chocolate brownies and glass of wine!

Read an excerpt:

As I approached the room, my grandmother’s door inched open. I waited a minute, but no one emerged. I stepped to the side, letting the social worker finish up, trying not to tap my foot in impatience and envision how many digits my inbox had soared to.

I wondered if this was the social worker Grandma always talked about. The thought alone caused me to laugh and my foot to still. For years Grandma had matchmaking aspirations between me and the social worker. Then again, Grandma always had matchmaking aspirations, really bad matchmaking, take one look and run the other way kind. We’d never met but had e-mailed many times. I contemplated taking another step to the side to avoid any additional matchmaking attempts when the door opened further. A female with familiar blond curly hair backed out of the room. She waved to my grandmother and closed the door. Before I could chastise my dick on the urges the hair created, I found myself face to face with Nica.

She froze, an expression of pure bewilderment that I surely mirrored. Eyes wide enough that white surrounded her irises. On the lapel of her pink button-down shirt she had an ID badge. Her picture was on the badge, under the logo for Independent Senior Services, with her name: Veronica Anders.

Available on Amazon 

About Laura Brown

Laura Brown lives in Massachusetts with her quirky abnormal family. Her husband has put up with her since high school, her young son keeps her on her toes, and her two cats think they deserve more scratches. Hearing loss is a big part of who she is, from her own Hard of Hearing ears, to the characters she creates.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorLBrown

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraBrownAuthor/

Website: https://www.laurabrownauthor.com/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Laura-Brown/e/B00IADINQW/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42903541-a-perfect-mistake

Laura Brown will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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