Bound to Protect (Crescent City Kings) by Anya Summers

 

Welcome Anya Summers back to the blog with yet another book in her Crescent City Kings series! Read an excerpt from Bound to Protect and then follow the tour for even more! Remember to leave your questions and comments along the way. Best of luck entering the great giveaway!

The weight of the world on her shoulders…

Sabrina Thomas needs to catch a break. By day she juggles two jobs, only to head home at night to care for her mentally ill brother. With their parents gone, the responsibility for his care, the doctor’s bills, the hospital stays, the at home care, falls to her. Six months ago, the trust fund their parents left them dried up and with the mounting bills, she has until the end of the month to make good on late rent payments before they are evicted. Sabrina knows where she could make a lot of quick cash with her looks: Bayou Sin, the classiest strip joint on Bourbon Street. But her plans go awry when Dante hauls her off the stage and takes her to his penthouse.

His lifestyle called into question…

Billionaire Michael Fitzgerald and his partner in crime, Dante Rousseau, have been topping submissives together for years. As the owner of the fifth largest sugarcane supplier, with a host of multi-conglomerate corporations to run, Michael has always kept his bedroom preferences under wraps. When a rival on the board attempts to engage in a hostile takeover and have Michael expelled from his own company, he knows he needs to find a woman he can trust to pretend to be his fiancée and put the kibosh on the illicit rumors spreading like wildfire through the company’s board members. When Dante shows up with their housekeeper, Sabrina, who is spitting mad at being denied the opportunity to make some fast cash, Michael knows she is just the woman for the job.

An offer neither can refuse…

Michael and Dante make Sabrina a deal: pretend to be Michael’s sole love interest for thirty days to dispel the rumors and stop the takeover. In exchange, they will pay her ten million dollars at month’s end. But the lines soon become blurred as to what is real and what is make believe. And when their time together is up, will they be able to walk away, or will they take the chance to make their relationship the real deal?

Read an excerpt:

Brad Coldwell, the CFO of Fitzgerald-Logan Realty, added, with a pensive, concerned expression on his face, “Now, we plan on conducting a discreet investigation over the next thirty days. If these claims are true, we will be forced to take action at that time.” Michael could tell that the matter troubled the longtime associate of the realty company. His salt and pepper hair looked like he had been running a frustrated hand through it all morning.

“I can promise you those claims aren’t true. In fact, I will be announcing my engagement shortly,” Michael lied through his teeth, and kept his face stone cold as he surveyed his board. He wondered which one of them was the culprit behind the claims. At this time, they were all suspect. And he hated that because, until this meeting, he had considered the people in this room to be individuals he trusted—otherwise they wouldn’t be on the board. It was true he didn’t care much for Dan personally, but he knew the work Dan did for his company, and that he was at the top of his game.

“Oh, really? I hadn’t heard you were dating anyone,” Dan stated with a hard gleam.

The man always had been a sanctimonious asshole. Once Michael got past this blip, he would see about replacing the ingrate. Keeping his tone smooth as butter yet with an edge of steel behind it, Michael said, “That’s because she is no one you know, Dan. We’ve kept our relationship low key and out of the press.”

“Well, that’s wonderful news,” Robert said, with relief covering his expression, “And if that’s the case, we can put this nasty business behind us.”

“And who, might I ask, is she?” Dan asked with a tick in his jaw.

The fucking bastard was trying to shove Michael out of his own company. The company his grandfather and father had built. Fucking prick. “Look for the announcement in the papers next week.”

Available on Amazon

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Crescent City Kings Series

Lone Survivor, Book 1: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X4JN5DX

Far Reaching Consequences, Book 2: https://amzn.to/2SmLqWm 

The Right to Remain Silent, Book 3: https://amzn.to/2URBzY2 

Bound to Protect, Book 4: https://www.amazon.com/Bound-Protect-Crescent-City-Kings-ebook/dp/B08FCX75XZ/

Self Sacrifice, Book 5 – Coming December 2020

Never Surrender, Book 6 – Coming 2021

Oath & Indenture, Book 7 – Coming 2021

About the author:

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Anya grew up listening to Cardinals baseball and reading anything she could get her hands on. She remembers her mother saying if only she would read the right type of books instead binging her way through the romance aisles at the bookstore, she’d have been a doctor. While Anya never did get that doctorate, she graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with an M.A. in History.

Anya is a bestselling and award-winning author published in multiple fiction genres. She also writes urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and contemporary romance under the name Maggie Mae Gallagher. A total geek at her core, when she is not writing, she adores attending the latest comic con or spending time with her family. She currently lives in the Midwest with her two furry felines.

Visit her website here:
www.anyasummers.com

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Anya Summers will award a $20 Amazon/BN GC to one winner via Rafflecopter. Follow the tour for more chances to win! 

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Lovers, Players, and the Seducer by J.A. Jackson

 Are you looking for something to light your fire this weekend? Check out this excerpt from Lovers, Players, and the Seducer by J.A. Jackson! And then download your own copy. Get even more as you follow the tour and leave your thoughts and questions along the way. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

Lust and passion fueled star-crossed lovers Lacey and Kienan. Their love was packed with anguish and heartbreak from the start. Add in her brother Nicholas addiction to deceitful games. Their daily lives feel more like being on a bad scandal-ridden roller-coaster ride.
Being an older brother has its perks. Nicholas thinks his sister Lacey is the perfect target for his manipulative schemes after a series of bad investments places him in a great need of money. He plots and schemes his way into getting others to do his bidding.

As Nicholas let lose a series of plans, tragic forces emerge. A vengeful seducer is unleashed, as he opens up doors to the past.

The past where the dead never dies.
Life will never be the same in this gripping shocking twist-filled story of love, lies, and redemption!

Will Lacey discover her brother’s deception before it’s too late?

Read an excerpt: 

A half hour later, he made his way to the house on little Panoche Road. He quickly turned into the driveway.

As Tabitha open his car door and went to climb out of his car, she paused and then turned and stared back at him. “You know Quinn, I never thought you believed in all that hocus pocus stuff. You do know Madame Rosa is a witch.”

“I don’t believe in that hocus pocus stuff,” he said, his face was serious. “But I hear Madame Rosa has other gifts to offer.”

Tabitha saw the skepticism in his face. “Oh, you are looking for those things, like potions,” she said knowingly.

“What of it? Potions are harmless. Just fun and games.”

“Be careful Quinn, you do know Madame Rosa is the real thing?”

Quinn chuckled softly. “By real thing you mean a real witch. I only believe in witches on Halloween and today isn’t Halloween.”

“Just be warned Quinn, her potions come with a price that must be paid,” she said realizing that it was hopeless trying to tell him anything. “Pull around back Quinn,” Tabitha commanded. “Madame Rosa said you’ll find her out back. Oh, and have her money ready.”

Quinn hurried around to the back of the old rambling Victorian House. He’d been told the grand mansion had originally been built by an English nobleman in the 1800’s.

Madame Rosa was lying on a chase lounge staring up at the sky. She wasn’t old or thin. She rose up as Quinn drew near.

Quinn smiled warmly at the sight of her. She was attractive with long jet-black hair and deep green catlike eyes. She had an exotic beauty that could only be described as mesmerizing.

“You have my money Quinn?”

Quinn handed her what she wanted and as he did he could have sworn the air around him changed. It smelled like sweet sin.

She smiled wickedly. “So, tell me Quinn, is your situation so drastic that you had to come to me?” She stared back at him, “You are the Wizard of love?”

This book is free on the following sites:

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J.A. Jackson is the pseudonym for an author, who loves to write deliciously sultry adult romantic, suspenseful, entertaining novels with a unique twist. She lives in an enchanted little house she calls home in the Northern California foothills. Her love for cooking and writing come from her Southern roots of Louisiana and Arkansas. She isa member of South Bay Writers Association, Yosemite Romance Writers and Romance Writers of America (RWA).



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J. A. Jackson will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. 

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Return of the Wolfe by Nancy Fraser

 Today we welcome author Nancy Fraser back to the blog! Today you can check out an excerpt from her contemporary romance Return of the Wolfe! Then be sure to follow the rest of the tour for more and let her know what you think along the way. Plus you get extra chances to enter the great giveaway!

Ever since she was a teenager, Sarah Tremayne wanted one thing and one thing only—to be a park ranger at Big Bear National Park in Bear Lake, Wisconsin. Her dream was always to work along side her ranger brother, Brent, and be the first brother-sister team in department history.

Matthew Wolfe is also a ranger and Brent’s best friend. He tolerated Sarah when she was a gangly teen following him around the park like a lost puppy. However, as Sarah blossomed so did his desire.

Just as they’re exploring their mutual attraction, a tragic accident pulls them apart.

Four years have passed and Matthew is returning to Big Bear as the man in charge. Will he and Sarah be able to mend their ragged fences and rediscover what they once had? Or, will Sarah’s pain and anger force her away from Big Bear, and Matt, forever?

Read an excerpt:

Matt wanted to touch her, shake her, make her understand. He wanted to protest, to yell, to demand she stay and talk to him, but he knew he lacked the inner strength necessary to carry out the actions; to upset her even more.

"Yes, Ranger Tremayne," he said finally, "you're excused."

She nodded. "Thank you." She took two steps toward the door and then turned back. "Sir?"

His gaze lifted to hers. "Yes, Sarah?"

"I submitted a transfer request day before yesterday. I'd appreciate it if you could attend to it as soon as possible."

He studied her expression, hoping to see some emotion, some signal that would tell him she wasn't serious. Instead, he saw only anger and pain. Her hands were still clenched at her sides, her lips still pursed tightly no doubt in an effort to arrest the telltale trembling. Her pulse fluttered erratically beneath the smooth line of her throat. With each heartbeat he imagined her tears came closer to falling with nothing more than her hatred keeping them in check.

A searing flash of remorse jolted his body centered directly around his heart. His response to her request was slow in coming, drawn out by the magnitude of his pain. "If that's what you want, Sarah."

He watched her carefully, hoping for some show of regret, some possible sign of forgiveness. She only nodded and moved through the door and into the hallway.

How could he possibly make up for all the pain he had caused her? Would Sarah ever trust and care for him again?

Or, was returning to Big Bear the biggest mistake of his life?

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Just $0.99 during the tour!

Jumping Across Romance Genres with Gleeful Abandon—is an Amazon Top 100 and Award-Winning author who can’t seem to decide which romance genre suits her best. So, she writes them all.

Like most authors, Nancy began writing at an early age, usually on the walls and with crayons or, heaven forbid, permanent markers. Her love of writing often made her the English teacher’s pet which, of course, resulted in a whole lot of teasing. Still, it was worth it.

Published in multiple genres, Nancy currently writes for four publishers. She has published over thirty books in full-length, novella, and short format.

When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Bookbub

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Nancy Fraser will be awarding $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. 

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Maraschino Marriage Pact by Tamela Miles

 

If you want your romance to have a hint of the paranormal about it, then check out this excerpt from Maraschino Marriage Pact by Tamela Miles! If you follow the tour, you'll find even more and can let her know your thoughts along the way. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

Mikayla DiAngelis has spent the past two years traveling the world and avoiding the demands of her overbearing warlock father. A confusing kiss from her former bodyguard is yet another reason for her to stay two steps ahead on the run.

Warlock bodyguard Austin Luca will stop at nothing to bring Mikayla home. His loyalty belongs to her family, but his heart belongs to her, even though he has ties that bind him to his own family responsibilities.

Their encounter was inevitable, and Mikayla is soon caught up in Austin's passion and the world she vowed to leave behind. Will surrendering to her former protector cost her the freedom she needs?

Read an excerpt:

“You know better than to use your magick in public, Mikayla. What if I was some ordinary human passerby?”

Mikayla froze midmotion. That deep, amused drawl had been with her since she was a child. She slowly turned around, scowling. “I knew I shouldn’t have come back here for the summer. Am I that obvious, Austin?”

The tall, leanly muscled man with straight dark hair and piercing chocolate-brown eyes shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. “I lost track of you last year in Rome. Kudos for managing to give me the slip, considering I taught you every trick you know. I bet on your sentimentality about this place bringing you back.” He gestured at the skimpy black sundress she wore. “You’re looking well.”

She nodded. “Thank you. You haven’t changed. You never do. Why can’t every warlock age as gracefully as you do?” Sighing heavily, she placed her hands on her hips. “If you tell me again to come home, I’m hopping off this pier.”

His face shuttered. “I have news about your family, Mikayla. This time, it’s serious.”

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Tamela Miles is a school psychologist with Ed.S and PPS credential and a graduate of California State University San Bernardino and California State University Dominguez Hills. She is also a former flight attendant. She grew up in Altadena, California in that tumultuous time known as the 1980s. She now resides with her family in the Inland Empire, CA. She's a horror/paranormal romance writer mainly because it feels so good having her characters do bad things and, later, pondering what makes them so bad and why they can never seem to change their wicked ways.

She enjoys emails from people who like her work. In fact, she loves emails. She can be contacted at tamelamiles@yahoo.com or her Facebook page, Tamela Miles Books. She also welcomes reader reviews and enjoys the feedback from people who love to read as much as she does.

Social Media Links:

On Twitter: @jackiebrown20

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Tamela Miles will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. 

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Everything Changes by Melanie Hansen

 

If you're looking for a new friends-to-lovers romance this week, check out this excerpt from Everything Changes by Melanie Hansen and then download your copy. Be sure to follow the tour for even more and then enter the great giveaway!

Two battle buddies. One fateful deployment. Two vastly different sets of wounds. One friendship changed forever.

A childhood in foster care taught Carey Everett to hold tight to what he has. Enlisting in the Marines gave him purpose, but a life-threatening injury ended his career—and took his leg. Now fully recovered, Carey’s happier than he’s ever been. He has a fulfilling job, a chosen family and, best of all, a cherished friendship with Jase DeSantis, the platoon medic who saved his life.

Despite Jase’s heroism in combat, he’s haunted by his actions overseas. Playing music with his band keeps the demons at bay, but it’s a battle he’s starting to lose.

After a week of sun and fun in San Diego, Jase and Carey’s connection takes an unexpected turn. With change comes a new set of challenges. For Jase, it means letting someone else into his deepest pain. For Carey, it’s realizing love doesn’t always equal loss. In order to make their relationship work, they’ll have to come to terms with their pasts…

…or risk walking away from each other for good.

Read an excerpt:

His throat tight, Carey said, “Please look at me.” He tugged on their joined hands. “Please.”

Finally Jase dragged his eyes to his. The remoteness in them scared Carey even more than tears would have. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry for everything I said that night.”

“I know…”

“No, you don’t know, because I don’t think I’ve ever said it plainly, flat-out, that I’m so fucking sorry for every hurtful, untrue word that came out of my mouth that night.” Carey sucked in a fortifying breath. “And for not saying the words I should have said. Like thank you. Thank you for saving my life. Thank you for fighting asshole medics for me. Thank you for coming to the hospital, for moving in with me, for working out with me, for—”

“Stop.” Now Jase’s eyes held the glimmer of a smile. “You don’t have to do this.”

“Oh, but I do.” Carey grinned. “Except it’d take all day, because there’re so many things I’m grateful to you for. Like teaching me yoga. Fetching the mirror. Playing me songs. What I should do is make you sit here and listen to all of it—”

“Carey, stop.”

“—but how about I just kiss you instead?”

Buy on Amazon 

Melanie Hansen doesn’t get nearly enough sleep. She loves all things coffee-related, including collecting mugs from every place she’s visited. After spending eighteen years as a military spouse, Melanie definitely considers herself a moving expert. She has lived and worked all over the country, and hopes to bring these rich and varied life experiences to the love stories she gets up in the wee hours to write. On her off-time, you can find Melanie watching baseball, reading or spending time with her husband and two teenage sons.


Website: https://melaniehansenbooks.com

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Melanie Hansen will award a randomly drawn commenter a $25 Amazon/BN GC. Follow the tour for more chances to win! 

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Review of Born for Leaving by Jude Munro

 Welcome to the review tour for Born for Leaving by Mia Kerick writing as Jude Munro. I'm a longtime fan of Mia Kerick, so was excited to see a new title and intrigued by a pseudonym. Read on for an excerpt, as well as my thoughts. Follow the tour for even more reviews and to leave questions and comments for the author along the way. Be sure to enter the great giveaway!

When they say be careful what you wish for, do you pay attention?
Neither did Oliver Tunstead.

Oliver wishes for nothing more than to get his mind off his crappy bartending job, pile of debt big enough to swallow him whole, and playboy ex-boyfriend/boss who refuses to back off. Too bad distractions, like the hot little convertible he has his eye on, cost megabucks. And Oliver is flat broke. Renting the spare bedroom in his rundown beachfront cottage is his only option to pick up the cash he needs—a risky proposition, as Oliver is the polar opposite of a people-person. When he responds to a bizarre ad in the Waterfront Gazette seeking summer housing, he gets more than he bargained for. But Oliver can cope… After all, how much harm can a single quirky tenant do to his tightly guarded life in three short months?

Where Oliver is a loner by design, urban cowboy Bodie is a loner by necessity. A family dispute long ago dropkicked him onto the path of a lifelong wanderer. This changes when Bodie moves into the tiny beachfront cottage and starts working the door at Oliver’s bar.

Despite Oliver and Bodie’s nearly paralyzing instinct to avoid commitment, they fall into a wary romance. And to their surprise, life as a couple is sweetly satisfying; that is, until their jealous boss devises a cruel plan to destroy the tentative bond they’ve built. True to form, Bodie hits the road, leaving Oliver to lick his wounds alone.

Can these wounded souls defy their urge to flee and fight for love?

Read an excerpt:

“He wants to date you. Am I right?”

“Date me?” Bodie replies. “I’d say he wants something else.”

I nod. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”

“In theory.”

“I mean, just tell him you’re not gay. That pretty much closes the door to what Jack’s interested in.”

“But I am gay.”

I hate myself for gasping, but I do because this complicates things. For Bodie, with regard to Jack. And for me, because I’m starting to feel things for him I shouldn’t. “Uh…did you tell Jack that you’re gay?”

“He asked. I answered.” Direct, as always.

“You don’t owe him your private information.”

Again, he shrugs. “I don’t hide who I am.”

“Well, maybe you should have.” Jack won’t leave him alone now. He’ll interpret Bodie’s lack of interest as some kind of warped challenge.

And then Bodie does the strangest, most unexpected thing. He reaches out, hesitates with his arm midair, and takes my hand. He’s shaking. “I need this job, Ollie.”

“Fucking Jack Wheeler,” I mutter. “He’s such an asshole to put you in this position. I’ll talk to him.”

“I fight my own battles.” His words are clipped.

“I believe you. But please, let me try to help.”

He ignores my plea. “You used to be Jack’s guy, huh?” Bodie’s eyes narrow.

“Did he tell you that?”

“Yep.” He nods. “Do you still want to be his?”

“Not if he was the last man on earth.” I’m surprised at how certain I am about this.

Bodie’s half grin appears and his eyes pop wide. “Good.”

“Why’s that good?”

“Got my reasons.” He continues to smile.

“Care to share them with your housemate?” I squeeze his hand, flirting. I’m scared of his reply as much as I’m desperate for it.

“Here’s my answer.” Bodie pulls his hand from my grasp and places it gently on the side of my face. And he leans in for a kiss. Soft, but not tentative. Just a brush of his lips to mine and, when he pulls back, it’s only by a few inches. I feel his breath on my lips, so sweet and light. Patient too. As if considering whether we fit together.

I nod and he moves even closer. More unified breathing, and the most emotional intimacy I’ve shared with another man—and we’re fully dressed on a beach, not naked in bed. I press my lips to his, but he pulls back.

“Let me do it,” he whispers against my parted lips, and I understand that this kiss is his ballgame, not mine.

Another feathery kiss to my lips and then another. Fingertips brush my cheek, the side of my neck, my chest on top of my thin T-shirt, drawing out goosebumps up and down my arms and along my spine.

I struggle to control my breathing, as a realization hits me: This weathered cowboy isn’t tough and cool, through and through. Bodie’s just a man, like me. With his share of hopes and fears and needs. A man who requires protection, as much as he is a protector.

Buy on Amazon

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**My thoughts**

I have been a fan of Mia Kerick's for a while now. She has a great way of sharing the stories of teens and young/new adults in the LGBTQ+ community that really grab at your heartstrings. So I was interested to try out an adult book under her pseudonym.

I read the book easily in one afternoon while sitting near the pool. I wasn't as invested in these characters as I am with the younger ones in her other books, yet I was compelled to finish the book as quickly as I could so that I could find out what was going to happen with this couple. I think the difference for me is these are older men in a different place in their life.

Each of them come to the table with their own personal baggage and trauma. They have both been abused in different ways and have a lot of healing to do. In fact, Bodie's trauma is so intense that people say he is "born for leaving," as he never stays in one place for too long, trying to run away from his past. The two of them are actually quite good for each other, but it is going to take some time to find their way.

As they are going through their own personal battles and facing their own demons, they are also dealing with a horrific boss, Jack, who reminds me of some real creeps I have known in restaurants and bars over the years. There are a couple of other creeps, but the rest of the supporting characters are actually quite fabulous. I think I would actually enjoy hanging out with all of them, with the exception of Jack.

You're going to go through a lot of emotions while reading this book, but it is an entertaining and different love story. I'm looking forward to seeing where this series goes in the future. Thank you to the author and to Goddess Fish for providing me with a requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About the author:

Like Jude Munro, her fictional characters in her gay romance novels are drawn to the beach. They’ve sunbathed on the sands of many alluring East Coast beaches, along with the fantastical beaches in Jude’s books. They’ll answer questions like “Who do you think you are, the sun god?” (which they often resemble) if they can hear you over "Boys of Summer" cranking on their headphones. To most of Jude’s men, no shoes and no shirt is really not a problem. But even on the sunniest of beach days, the guys in Jude’s books do have problems… as in, serious relationship issues. Many of which seem insurmountable. And each character must earn his day at the beach. (Yes, there is always a HEA).


Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20447502.Jude_Munro

Website: https://judemunrobooks.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jude.munro.54

Twitter: @books_jude

Jude Munro will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. 

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Review of Internship With the Devil by Jaqueline Snowe

 

Welcome to the book blast for Internship With the Devil by Jaqueline Snowe! I'm a huge fan of her books, so I am excited to bring you this one today. I have an excerpt plus my thoughts on the story. Be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more and let her know what you think along the way. Best of luck in the giveaway!

Grace Turner scores the opportunity of a lifetime interning with an Ex-NFL player. But working under Brock Anderson turns out to be the job from hell. The hometown hero turned athletic trainer has a reputation as the best in his field, but his volatile personality makes working with him miserable.

Despite the animosity between them, he’s highly respected in his field and interning under him could mean everything for her career. The long days, longer nights, injuries, and buses filled with smelly athletes are the easy part. The biggest battle is the unwarranted attraction to Brock that she can’t seem to shake.

But as Grace spends more and more time with her brooding boss, she uncovers that his abrasive nature is deep rooted in his grief—something she’s no stranger to.

The glimpses of the man beneath the harsh exterior Brock presents to the world leave Grace conflicted in her feelings for him. As the internship draws to a close, Grace is faced with a choice that could set her future on an entirely new course.

Read an excerpt:

“Please,” I scoffed. “People watch you all the time. You must know that. You’re this presence that people like watching. I don’t know. You’re fascinating.” He blinked slowly a couple times, making me feel all sorts of nervous. “Nevermind.”

“No, finish your thought. I’m curious.” He nudged me with his leg and raised his dark brows.

“Fishing for compliments, Brock?” I teased, but stopped when his expression turned serious. My stomach soured, empathy taking over. This was a guy who thought very low of himself since the accident. As tough and intelligent as he was, he was a little broken inside. “You handsome, silly man.”

One side of his lip curled up, but those dark blues eyes waited for me to continue. I put my small hand on his arm this time, squeezing him. “No one watches you with pity, Brock. If that’s what you’re thinking. They watch you with awe and pride. Here you are, in the prime of most men’s athletic years working your ass off for a sport you were forced to give up. You’re amazing, really. You’re intelligent, everyone who works around you admires the hell out of you, and you refused to let life get the best of you. You help the dumbasses like Q and Chip, make sure your staff is treated fairly, and you helped me with this project which you had no obligation to do. You’re a good guy, Brock. Sometimes, I think you forget that.”

My heart pounded as his face fell slightly, his lips pressing together so hard they turned white. His eyes shattered me and I panicked, needing to ease the tension. I patted his knee with a shaking hand. “Although, you can be a bit grumpy.”

Buy links: 

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**My thoughts**

I love reading Jaqueline Snowe's books, so I was thrilled to see a new one available. This one holds true to her style of writing about young adults involved in sports on some level. But it also strays from what I'm used to as this one has more of a slow burn between the main characters. And I was okay with that.

I think Grace is my favorite female lead so far in Snowe's books. She was forced into independence by being orphaned by the age of 18. An accident in her past also gave her some minor physical restrictions in life that she has been able to overcome through sheer determination. She has an amazing strength about her. But she is also soft inside and vulnerable.

When we meet Brock, she has dubbed him Asshole Anderson, and for good reason. He is just belligerent and cranky and a slave driver. But you do get the sense right away that there is good reason for it. We know that he was injured and his football career was cut short. But there's more there.

The two of them are perfect for each other. They innately understand each other, even if they don't realize it, because they have both been through serious tragedies in their lives. Grace has a light about her that can bring Brock out of his darkness. And he is able to teach her so much about herself and help her achieve her dream in life. 

I love watching their relationship ebb and flow, even if it is frustrating at times. I've been around those men who seem to swing back and forth in their affections. So I understood a lot of what Grace was going through with this and in other aspects of her life.

At the end of the book, Snowe suddenly shifts gears to her more usual smoldering style of storytelling. I almost felt like the last part of the book felt a little out of place with the way the rest of the story was unfolding and perhaps I was reading a different story. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this story and devoured it in one evening.

Thank you to the author and to Goddess Fish for providing me a requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Jaqueline Snowe lives in Arizona where the "dry heat" really isn't that bad. She identifies as a full-blown Gryffindor and prefers drinking coffee all hours of the day. She is the mother to two fur-babies who don’t realize they aren’t humans and a new mom to her adorable son. Her life revolves around balancing her day job in education and her incessant need to write and explore the world with her wonderful baseball-loving husband.

Social Media:

Blog: http://www.jaquelinesnowe.com/blog

Website: http://www.jaquelinesnowe.com/

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jaquelinesnowe

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jaquelinesnowe

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jaquelinesnowe

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/snowebirds/

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

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D*mn Near Perfect by Nancy Fraser

 

Welcome to the blurb blitz tour for D*mn Near Perfect by Nancy Fraser! You'll enjoy the excerpt I'm sharing and the giveaway at the end. Be sure to follow the tour for more chances to win and let Nancy know what you think along the way!

Beth Andrews has given up on ever finding a happily-ever-after. Still smarting from a bitter divorce, she’s decided the only thing she truly needs is sex.

Unfortunately, wanting sex and actually finding it are two very different things.

Jonathan Tucker is perfectly satisfied with his bachelor lifestyle. He has a wonderful career, a kick-ass new condo, and any woman he wants. As often as he wants. At twenty-seven, he’s convinced he’s living life exactly as it should be.

Will the older, albeit sexy, ad executive and the handsome, talented artist both find there’s more to life than what they have now? Or, will they be satisfied with what the both claim to want—d*mn near perfect sex!

Read an excerpt:

Beth couldn’t sit still. Not only was she on edge about a new client, but her lack of physical contact was really starting to get on her nerves. This had to be a sign of middle age or, heaven help her, menopause because all she could think about was sex. Or, her lack thereof.

What didn’t make sense was this sudden awareness, the realization that she missed sex. Her marriage had never been overly active in that regard. So, why now?

She blamed it on the guy who lived above her. He was like a rabbit in heat and in bad need of an oil can for his bed springs. If she closed her eyes, she could imagine him going at it...fast...rough...making his conquest for the night scream with delight.

“Are you ready to go?” Maddie, a close friend from Tuesday yoga class, drew Beth from her salacious thoughts.

“Yes,” she responded. “More ready than I’ve ever been.”

“They say this new club is fan-dam-tastic.” Maddie stopped at the door to Beth’s office and took one last glimpse in the oval mirror on the wall, fluffing her naturally curly blonde hair and pursing her bright red lips together in a half-pout.

Beth stopped, as Maddie had, and shot a grimace in the general direction of her rather subdued appearance. “I hope so, Mads. I really need a night of fun.”

“True ‘nuff, girlfriend, true ‘nuff.”

Available on Amazon

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Just $0.99 during the tour!

Jumping Across Romance Genres with Gleeful Abandon—is an Amazon Top 100 and Award-Winning author who can’t seem to decide which romance genre suits her best. So, she writes them all.

Like most authors, Nancy began writing at an early age, usually on the walls and with crayons or, heaven forbid, permanent markers. Her love of writing often made her the English teacher’s pet which, of course, resulted in a whole lot of teasing. Still, it was worth it.

Published in multiple genres, Nancy currently writes for four publishers. She has published over thirty books in full-length, novella, and short format.

When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Bookbub

Amazon Author Page ~ Goodreads ~ Pinterest ~ YouTube

Nancy Fraser will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. 

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Read a deleted scene from Lost and Found by Maggie Clare

 

Sometimes while you're writing your book, a scene that seemed right when you put it to paper just doesn't fit in overall. It's kind of like when scenes are taken out of movies. Well, we all love those deleted scenes on the DVDs (I just dated myself, I know) and we can get them in our favorite books, too. You can also read an actual excerpt found in Maggie Clare's book Lost and Found. And then be sure to enter the giveaway as you follow the tour!

Dr. Lissa Morgan has had a crush on her best friend’s older brother since they were kids, but handsome, brooding Cam Taylor has never given her a second glance. When Cam unexpectedly shows up on Lissa’s doorstep bleeding and bruised, his personal life in shambles, things between them take a steamy turn.

After an incredible weekend with the sweet, sexy doctor, Cam realizes what he’s been missing. But he’s run from intimacy his whole life, sure he doesn’t deserve a woman like Lissa. He’s doing her a favor by walking away – or so he tells himself.

Frustrated and hurt by Cam’s distance, Lissa must nonetheless rely on his private security firm when an annoying admirer becomes a threat. The more time Cam spends with Lissa, the faster his defenses crumble. When the disturbed stalker finally makes his move, Cam will do whatever it takes to save the woman who’s slowly healing his wounded soul.

Lost and Found is the third book in the Tactical Solutions International series but can be read as a stand-alone.

Read an excerpt:

Cam Taylor was sleeping half-naked in her bed. No version of Lissa’s reality ever held that possibility. She may have entertained a few fantasies, sure, but here he was in the flesh. She had to remind herself it was only because he had a head injury.

As if on autopilot, Liss walked to the bed and perched lightly on the edge. With a gentle hand, she reached out to smooth the hair off Cam’s forehead, brushing it away from his newly repaired skin. His eyes fluttered open and a slow, contended grin spread across his face.

His look took her breath away. Heat warmed her belly. She inhaled his clean male scent, catching herself before she groaned out loud.

But then he blinked, his grin faded, and his brow furrowed, like he was remembering.

Liss dropped her hand to her side. “How are you feeling?”

“Not too bad, considering.” He reached up and gingerly touched the side of his head.

“Think you can sleep a little more?”

“Yeah,” he answered, yawning.

Liss pulled the sheets and blanket up over him, and spontaneously kissed his forehead, like it was the most natural thing in the world. Then, too afraid to look at him, she practically ran out of the room.

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What Didn’t Make the Cut?

When I’m working on a first draft, I know that some of what I put down on paper won’t make it to the final version. Often, I’ll cut between five and ten thousand words from my manuscript! That may seem like a lot, but Terry Pratchett once said, “The first draft is you telling yourself the story.” His words stuck with me. As the author, I need to know more details about a character or a world I’ve created than I’ll ever share with readers. Having those small yet important facts at my fingertips gives the story more consistency and authenticity.

Because I plan the major conflicts and plot points of my stories ahead of time, and because I get to my characters inside and out, I don’t tend to go down too many rabbit holes when writing. The novel I end up with is generally recognizable from the draft I started with, so the cuts are usually just me tightening up scenes. Oddly, that wasn’t the case with Lost and Found.

While Lost and Found is the third book in the Tactical Solutions International series, I actually wrote parts of it first. I’d just finished working on an installment in my science fiction series and I wanted to take a break from that story for a little while.

As often happens, new ideas begin to take shape while I’m in the middle of another project. I very clearly envisioned the scene in Lost and Found where Lissa is trying to escape from the stalker. She sprays him with a bottle of bathroom cleaner and runs through the house, only to find all the doors padlocked. There wasn’t much of a story to go with this scene yet, but it was pulse-pounding and terrifying enough that I really wanted to keep it!

After just a few weeks of working on my new idea, I had to return to writing my science fiction series, and Lost and Found sat in my files for about a year. When I eventually began developing the TSI series, I dusted off that partial manuscript, gave Cam a new and better backstory, and turned it into book 3.

This dusting off required changing more of the plot than I’m used to though, and deleting entire scenes which no longer made sense. I also switched from writing in the first person to the third.

The following scene is one I deleted before the story got too far off track. Cam is on protection duty because of Lissa’s stalker, but in this version the couple have actually lost a baby, a tragedy that precipitates their break-up. It was a haunting, emotional scene, but one that just didn’t fit with the newly revised story arc.

I’m getting my things together. Cam walks out of the bathroom and sees me about to leave.

“Where are you going?” He’s definitely pissed.

It’s Sunday. I panic. I have to go.

He must realize something is off by the look on my face, so he says in a gentler voice, “Liss you know you can’t go anywhere without me.”

I can’t take him with me, can I? But then I think, he has as much a right to be there as I do.

“Give me five minutes and I’ll take you anywhere you need to go,” he says and there won’t be a debate. If I want to go, he will be with me. I nod.

True to his word, five minutes later we’re in his car and he asks, “Ok where to?”

I swallow and look down at my fingers twisting involuntarily in my lap. “The cemetery,” I whisper.

He grips the steering wheel hard but doesn’t answer.

“I always go on Sundays,” I explain, my voice higher and tighter than usual. “Sometimes I have to go really early if I’m working, or late at night, but I don’t miss.” I’m rambling now and I sound a little unhinged, even to my own ears. “I like to make sure the space looks nice, you know?”

He grabs my hand in my lap and squeezes, silencing me.

It’s not far so we are there in a few minutes. I walk through the beautifully manicured lawn to the tiny stone monument. Cam follows wordlessly.

Maggie Clare is the pen name of award-winning speculative fiction author Tabitha Lord. 

When channeling Maggie, she writes all the naughty things! Her Tactical Solutions International romantic suspense series features hot hunky heroes, smart sexy gals, and nail-biting narratives. Count on Maggie to pair great story-telling with an erotic edge. 

Twitter: @msmaggie_clare 

Instagram: msmaggiec 

Facebook: @msmaggieclare 

Website: www.msmaggieclare.com

Maggie Clare will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. 

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R.W. Buxton on creating the fictional world in Beverly Hills Torture

 

Welcome to the book tour for Beverly Hills Torture by R.W. Buxton! Today, he is taking us behind the scenes into his fictional world, plus sharing an excerpt. Be sure to follow the tour for even more information and extra chances to enter the great giveaway as you leave questions and comments along the way.

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Beverly Hills Torture isn’t necessarily an entirely fictional world, it takes place in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles. But there aren’t vampires in the actual world so I had to create a world they could live in.

There is a vast amount of vampire fiction. All with conflicting rules and abilities. From the dark shadows of Bram Stoker to the glittering vampires in Twilight. I’ll be honest I’ve read more than my fair share of vampire novels. But my favorites are those where there are limitations on the vampires. They can’t survive the sunlight and if they can there is an excellent reason for it.

So when I created Erin, I looked at all the bodies of work I had read. Even referred to a vampire encyclopedia (yes there is such a thing) that summarized all the myths, legends, books and movies. Then I thought about what I wanted my vampires to be.

I wrote the rules. What they could and couldn’t do. If they did something outside of those rules, there had to be a reason. Then I figured out how they fit into the modern world. How they made money, how they changed their identities and how they avoided detection. For example, in my world it’s against the vampire law, if you will, for a vampire to kill a human. Drinking blood is okay, but not killing. This causes colossal problems for Erin in Beverly Hills Torture.

Even though Beverly Hills Torture takes place in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles and Hollywood I had to create all of my establishments in and around those places. I spent a lot of time on Google Streets looking for areas that looked like they would work and then just set my locations there. Then blended them in with the actual sites and buildings around them.

World building for urban fantasy or paranormal romance isn’t nearly as difficult as it would be for Sci-Fi where it’s up to you to create everything from the planet to the political system and currency. I could work my novel into the threads of reality we are all familiar with, and just bend the rules a little to allow for the existence of vampires.

A frantic middle of the night call jolts Gerry from his quiet, but lonely life, back into a world fraught with dangerous creatures of the night. Erin's frenzied call leads Gerry across the country where he finds himself immersed in the luxuries of Beverly Hills and the seedier side of the Hollywood strip.

Sadness and longing grip him as he finds a blood-spattered room and Erin is nowhere to be found.

Alone in a strange city with nothing to go on can Gerry find and save Erin? Or is this the end of something never meant to be?

Her past has caught up with her and he's her only hope.

With a group of trusted friends Gerry takes on the impossible and gives everything to save Erin.

Beverly Hills Torture is the second novel in the Erin Kingsly series. Be sure to check out Capital Thirst.

Read an excerpt:

Nicolas walked back to the door. He turned and said, “This is a mistake. Mark my words.”

Erin watched him go, then sank to the bottom step of the grand stairway. Her head fell into her hands. This wasn’t the last she’d hear of the High Priestess. More messengers would come. Maybe they wouldn’t ask politely. Maybe they would try to force her. Maybe it would just be more groveling fools like Nicolas. Whatever happened, she wouldn’t give in to them. She wandered back up the stairs into her bedroom. The room she never slept in. It was her retreat though. She picked up the picture of her and Gerry again. He was so happy, and so was she. She saw it in both of their eyes. Honest and genuine happiness. Something she lost. It had been a year since things fell apart. It still felt like the first night alone.

She set the picture down and flopped on the bed. She lay back and tried to forget. But she couldn’t. It was still too real, too raw. Tears rose again and slid down her face. They were lost in her hair, and she stared at the ceiling. There was nothing she could do about her past decisions.

The only way to go was forward. Unfortunately, it would be a painful path.

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I love a good paranormal read, something about the un-dead haunts the fringes of my mind. Mix in romance, love, loss, and you have a great story.

I voraciously read everything, fiction, and non-fiction but always find myself turning back to the darker stories. I’ve always wanted to write and the dream became a reality with Capital Thirst, and the remainder of the Erin Kingsly novels.

I spend most of my days designing and building websites, but my free time is devoted to my wife, family, and cats. Yes three grown children and three cats. Things can be hectic.

For fun you might find me driving winding roads with the top down or out photographing nature.

Website RWBuxton.com

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Twitter  RW Buxton Author (@rwBuxtonAuthor) | Twitter

Other Links
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/r-w-buxton

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19658320.R_W_Buxton

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48481089-capital-thirst

https://allauthor.com/author/rwbuxton/

R.W. Buxton will be awarding $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. 

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