EXCERPT REVEAL: Up in Smoke by Tessa Bailey

Excerpt #1

She stood behind him now with her lips parted and cheeks flushed, watching him stroke himself off like a hormonal teenager. It shouldn’t have made him hotter, not when he didn’t fully understand the problems she obviously had knocking around inside her beautiful head. He should stop now and make her explain, tell her she couldn’t touch him anymore until he knew what she was going through. But there wasn’t any turning back. Not right now, not with his cock heavy in his hand, ready to erupt.

In the mirror, he could see her fingers smoothing against each other, as if she were imagining what it would feel like to replace his hand with her own.

Jesus. He liked having her watch. If her expression had been any different, it might have been another story. The look of wonder, the renewal of arousal that transformed her as she came slowly closer, had him clenching his teeth to prolong the moment. Fuck, though, it hurt. The front of her panties were wet from riding him until she came. Her flat stomach peeked out under the edge of her shirt, reminding him once again how crazy he was to yank it up and see what she hid underneath. At the same time, she looked like an innocent who’d stumbled upon something very, very bad happening and God, it made him want to corrupt her even more. Sick. I’m sick. His balls drew up tight…the tingling began at the base of his spine…

“You should leave,” Connor grated, squeezing his eyes closed. Christ, any minute now…he couldn’t wait any longer. Looking at her, knowing he couldn’t touch her, was killing him. At the same time, his mind was projecting images in a desperate attempt to send him over the edge and find relief. Erin straddling his face, hands cuffed behind her back. Erin’s eyes going blind, ankles around her ears, as drove into her like a madman. “Go, Erin.”

He didn’t hear her move. One second she was standing at the door, the next she was standing on the rim of his bathtub, just beside his left shoulder. Closer. Her tits were eye level and it took every ounce of self-control inside him not to suck them into his mouth, right through her T-shirt. A tiny moan dropped from her lips as she leaned close, watching his hand work his stiff cock. She placed her open lips on his neck and dragged them higher, where she licked at his ear.

“What are you doing?” he demanded. Do it again.

“What feels right,” she whispered, stroking his fingers over his chest. “Tell me what you’re thinking about. Is it me?”

“Of course,” he shouted. “You don’t want to know any more than that.”

“Yes, I do.” She lightly scraped her fingernails down his back, and he growled. “I want to know what I’m missing out on. Tell me.”

Meet Ex- Navy Seal Connor in this unconventional romance!

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Blurb

Never start a fire you can't control...

Connor Bannon is supposed to be dead. Dishonorably discharged from the Navy SEALs, he's spent the last two years working as a street enforcer in Brooklyn for his cousin's crime ring. Through a twist of fate, he's now in Chicago, working undercover to bust criminals. But when a cute little arsonist joins the team-all combat boots, tiny jean shorts, and hot-pink hair-Connor's notorious iron control slips.

Erin "she's getting away" O'Dea knows two things. She hates authority. And... Nope, that's it. When she's forced to operate on the "right" side of the law, her fear of being confined and controlled blazes to the surface. The last thing she expects is a control freak like Connor to soothe her when she needs it most. Worse, something behind the sexy ex-soldier's eyes ignites a dangerous inferno of desire. One that invites Erin to play with fire. And one that could get them both killed...

About the Author:

Thank you for your interest in my books! I'm Tessa and I live in the crazy, loud, overcrowded borough of Brooklyn, New York. I love it here. This city is a constant source of inspiration, which is why I've decided to set my most recent books in the Line of Duty Series here.

I moved to New York when I was eighteen, the day after I graduated high school. Threw my suitcase in the back of a Chevrolet Cavalier and drove across the country to find my adventure. I'm still finding it, little by little.​Thank you for being a part of it.

Stalk Tessa: Website |  Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Rock Star Author Page

RELEASE WEEK BLITZ: Scorched by Jennifer L. Armentrout

 

We are absolutely thrilled to bring you the Release Week Blitz for Jennifer L. Armentrout's SCORCHED!! SCORCHED is a standalone New Adult Contemporary Romance and is a part of Jennifer L. Armentrout’s Frigid Series. And be sure to grab FRIGID, the first standalone in this amazing series!!

   

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    SCORCHED Synopsis: Sometimes life leaves a mark… Most days, Andrea doesn’t know whether she wants to kiss Tanner or punch him in the gut. He is seriously hot, with legit bedroom eyes and that firefighter body of his, but he’s a major player, and they can’t get along for more than a handful of minutes. Until now. Tanner knows he and Andrea have had an epic love/hate relationship for as long as he can remember, but he wants more love than hate from her. He wants her. Now. Tomorrow. But the more he gets to know her, the more it becomes obvious that Andrea has a problem. She’s teetering on the edge and every time he tries to catch her, she slips through his fingers. Andrea’s life is spiraling out of control, and it doesn’t matter that Tanner wants to save her, because when everything falls apart and she’s speeding toward rock bottom, only she can save herself. Sometimes life makes you work for that happily ever after…   Praise for SCORCHED: “Armentrout’s latest new adult offering tackles substance abuse and mental illness — and, thankfully, the love of a good man is not going to be what heals this heroine.” – RT Book Reviews

 SCORCHED Excerpt:

Andrea

              “You’ve been avoiding me all day.”

              “Have not.”

              He cocked his head to the side and raised both brows. “You practically hid in your room or attached yourself to Syd all day.”

              “I was…I was spending girl-time with her,” I said. “And napping.”

              “Andrea…”

              He’d been right. I had avoided him. Apparently, I wasn’t doing that great of a job of it.

              “The same with last night. You barely talked to me.”

              “What?” Dumbfounded, I felt like screaming that word. “I barely talked to you? You ignored me.”

              He stared at me. “Andy, I—“

              “This is stupid. This whole thing is stupid.” I lifted the bottle.

              A moment passed and he asked, “Do you really think you need another beer?”

              Annoyed, I slowly brought the bottle to my mouth and took a long drink. “Does that answer your question?”

              The hue of his blue eyes deepened. “Look, I’m not trying to be a dick—“

              “You might want to try harder. Just sayin’ Might just be my opinion, but thought I’d share.”

              He opened his mouth and then snapped it shut. Several seconds passed. “You know, I didn’t’ say that shit to you to piss you off.”

              I wanted to point out everything he’d done to piss me off, but…but shit on a brick. Anything that I told him would betray how I felt about him, and well, I was already embarrassing myself enough without going there. “You breathed,” I decided, nodding, and totally proud of myself. “How about that?”

              Shaking his head, he rested his elbows on the island. “You can usually do better than that.”

              “It’s not worth my time to do better.” I flounced past him. Well, I might have staggered past him, but in my head, I flounced like a Grade A Uppity Chick, and it was awesome.

              “I wish you wouldn’t drink so much.”

              My feet stopped. Dammit. My feet had a mind of their own, and they had stopped because he’d said that so quietly, not with an ounce of derision or scorn. Actually, it sounded like a plea. The alcohol churned in my stomach. All I could see was his look of pity.

              “Why do you drink like this?” he asked.

              To relax. To not act like a freak. To forget. To remember. To be funny. To have people like me. To not care if they do or don’t. To have fun. To just not care. A burning sensation rolled down my back as my head continued to shout out the answers. I just didn’t want to care.

              I didn’t say any of that. “You drink.”

              “I do. And sometimes I drink and I get drunk, but not every time.”

              Slowly, I faced him. He wasn’t looking at me. His eyes were on the island. “I don’t get drunk every time.”

              He shook his head again. “Andrea, you either get plastered or damn near close. Every time.”

              “That’s not…” I trailed off, and yeah, even I could see where he was right. I could probably count on one hand how many times I’d only had two beers or two shots and then stopped. Come to think of it, I wasn’t sure if I ever had.

              “My dad got shitfaced all the time,” he continued. “Never thought that I’d be interested in a girl who was the same way.”

              My brain registered two things at once. He was interested in me, which wasn’t a big duh. I mean, he’d had his hands in my pants more than once, so yeah, I should’ve known that. But he compared me to his dad, a man I’d recently discovered he pretty much loathed, which pretty much canceled out the first part. Hurt invaded every cell and festered under the skin. The back of my throat burned and I wanted to rush away.

              But I didn’t. “That kind of makes you twisted.”

              Another weak laugh came out of him. “I guess it kind of does.”

And don’t miss the first standalone book in the series…

FRIGID

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    About Jennifer L. Armentrout: # 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.  

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COVER REVEAL: Repaired by Melissa Collins

Presents

Repaired

By Melissa Collins

Photography - Perrywinkle Photography
Cover - Sommer Stein at Perfect Pear Creative

A Man without a past meets a man without a future in Repaired by Melissa Collins

Pre-order Available!

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Release Date: June 23rd.

Blurb

Liam Davis is a man without a past. That’s what he wants everyone to believe, anyway. Hell-bent on erasing any memories of his previous life, he knows that starting over is all he can do. Hiding who he is, where he’s from, why he’s running, and especially who he’s left behind, Liam has run away from everything he’s ever known. His plan works perfectly until one day when Parker Ryan threatens to expose his carefully concealed world.

Parker Ryan is a man without a future. Sure, he’s a partner in one of New York’s most prestigious law firms, but he’ll never be more than a failure in the eyes of his boss, his father. Rather than break away from his father’s standards, he finds himself mindlessly pursuing them, in turn sacrificing anything that would actually make him happy.

When Liam’s and Parker’s lives collide, the ugly truth about who they really are, and who they hope to become reveals itself when they least expect it. As both of their lives become wrecked beyond all belief, they’ll learn how to rely on each other in their journey to become Repaired.

**Read Chapter One Here: http://bit.ly/1IFsqoC **

About the Author

Melissa Collins has always been a book worm. Studying Literature in college ensured that her nose was always stuck in a book. She followed her passion for reading to the most logical career choice: English teacher. Her hope was to share her passion for reading and the escapism of books to her students. Having spent more than a decade in front of a classroom, she can easily say that it’s been a dream.

Her passion for writing didn’t start until more recently. When she was home on maternity leave in early 2012, she read her first romance novel and her head filled with the passion, angst and laughter of the characters who she read about it. It wasn’t long before characters of her own took shape in her mind. Their lives took over Melissa’s brain and The Love Series was born.

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REVIEW & BLOG TOUR: Finding Reese. by Imy Santiago

Find love. Join the adventure.

Blog Tour: finding Reese.

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finding Reese. a SAFELIGHT novel vol.2

Adult Contemporary Romance with Mature Content

Writer: Imy Santiago

Date of Publication: May 26, 2015

Cover Design by CoverMe, Darling

Add to Goodreads TBR

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About finding Reese.

Hope Breeds Life...

Sometimes destiny and fate have a weird way of reminding us of our inescapable vulnerability, but more importantly our inexorable humanity. Life is fleeting, and what little time we have left in this world, we must make do with what we have, and cherish those whom we love by our side.

Fresh back from the Jackson Reese Press Tour, sports journalist Catalina Pardo rushes back to British Columbia after receiving unexpected and distressing news. With the help of award winning photographer Stryder Martynus, Catalina is determined to prevent the news of tragedy and heartbreak from governing her life again.

Together they will embark on a new journey of introspection to overcome the ghosts and raw emotions of their pasts−on a long and unpredictable road full of complicated circumstances−to find healing, hope and salvation.

The smallest of gifts−like a friendship bracelet−have the power to save your life, and unlike fairy tales, happy endings are seldom guaranteed...

*Adult Contemporary Romance with Mature Content−Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not suitable for readers under the age of eighteen.*

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Excerpt from finding Reese.

It’s such a peaceful feeling, trekking down the mountain−hearing the sounds of your board scraping against the snow, the light spray of powder landing all over your goggles and going up your nose. These are the little things that mean so much to me when I’m riding. I enjoy the silence as I become one with nature. It fills my soul with feelings I can’t even begin to describe. But there’s something off about this line in particular. There’s an eerie feeling I simply can’t shake off. Maybe I’m just over-thinking things, or Rob’s resistance this morning somehow shook all of my confidence away, but a part of me feels this could be it. A loud crack on the side of the mountain straightens my spine, followed by a shrill scream from Chris. Looking behind him, I see a cloud of snow and ice barreling down the mountain. The ground shakes as nature reclaims its territory. I let out a guttural roar to warn Rem, and he looks back at the monster behind us. I can’t see his eyes, but I can tell he’s scared by the way he’s flailing his arms trying to figure out how to outrun it. I journey over, trying to find a safe spot to land, and hopefully escape the avalanche. A garbled cry for help comes from behind me, and I turn my neck just in time to see Chris sucked into the claws of the avalanche. “NO!” I scream, horrified. I’ve lost all sense of place and time, but my body seems to be taking me to safety as my board zigzags down to the west side of the mountain. I’ve been able to avoid avalanches in the past, but this time around, I’m not so lucky. It takes another second before the avalanche sucks me under. My body is tossed around like a rag doll until I’m buried beneath the snow. It’s packed in around me tightly; I can’t move my legs or arms, and as the snow settles, it feels like I’m encased in a pool of hardened cement. It’s becoming harder to breathe with each passing second as my body relays to my brain my death is imminent. My mind replays memories of my life before me like a movie, and bitter frustrated tears stream down my face crystallizing quickly as the freezing cold sweeps over me. I’ve always feared dying like this, trapped in the place I love the most, in the snow. My thoughts are of my family, especially mom and Jupiter. My tears quickly become painful sobs as the contractions of my cries tighten the snow pack around me. Catalina... My best friend and confidante−the news of my death will crush her. I wrestle against the hardened blanket of snow and ice to move my arms, and after a few seconds of unwavering persistence, my arms come free. My hands desperately push the snow away from my chest, trying to get hold of the radio. With shaky fingers I press the call button. “Base, this is Jax. Do you copy? I’m trapped, but I’m okay. Can anyone hear me?” Taking small measured breaths, I wait for a reply, but all I get is static interference. “Base, this is Jax. I’m on the western quadrant of the mountain. I’m alive. Can anyone hear me?” Once again, static feedback rings in the small pocket of snow surrounding me. No, no. This can’t be happening. My body shakes violently as the freezing cold goes through all of my layers. I’m finding it hard to breathe, and if no one comes soon, I’ll be dead from hypothermia. I’m so cold I can’t feel my limbs, and the more breaths I take, the more exhausted I become. My life as I know it hangs by a thread. Exhausted, I close my eyes and say a prayer. I ask God to have mercy on my soul. While I’m not the most spiritual of men, I think He’s always had my back. All the stupid shit I’ve done, all the risks I’ve taken, and always rising from them all. The clock is ticking. I need to dig myself out somehow and go home. I refuse to let this be my end. Catalina−the bracelet−look for me, please! “Base, please. This is Jackson Reese. I’m alive. Someone come and get me. Please,” I cry into the radio, praying someone answers. I’ll keep trying until my dying breath. This is not how I was destined to die. Not here and not like this. Closing my eyes, I rest. What happens next is all in God’s hands.

©2015 Imy Santiago – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

*For a steamy excerpt, please click here.

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Buy links: finding Reese.

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Signed LIMITED First Edition Paperback via Direct Order

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Teaser Gallery: finding Reese.

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My Review

I read both books in this series in less than 48 hrs!

Yes, I got addicted that I am now up on 2 hrs sleep from being totally entrapped into this amazing  beautiful series written by Imy Santiago!

Within the 1st couple of pages of book#1, Chasing Reese. ,  I was already crying and  not being able to read fast enough!  I instantly absorbed myself into the world of Catalina Pardo, Stryder(Jupiter) Martynus & Jackson Reese.  

I really enjoyed that we got the POV from all of these characters and were never left wondering what one was thinking.  The transition back and forth from each character was well written and had me reading this series with ease.  

This series is full of love, tragedy, drama, hot sexy times that steamed up the pages.  Also I love that Jackson is a professional Snow Boarder.  I pictured one of my hottie Gingers I love as him! Being a Cali girl for years, I totally got into watching the sport and while reading this book, it brought back many happy memories of my snowboardingloving days! Thanks Imy!

To say I fell for Stryder hard..... psh!  He totally had me swooning! I mean come on!!  IF I met a man like Stryder, I would never let him leave my house!! MINE! Damn he takes  hearts and flowers to a new level!  

 100% bet you will fall for Stryder immediately and want to find him in real life! 

I really enjoyed how these three characters relationship with one another is such a strong bond no matter what is going on in their lives.  

Finding Reese. was an excellent followup to Chasing Reese.  We get more of Jackson in this book and see how Stryder and Catalina relationship grows.

I highly recommend reading this book!

A Must Read Series!

**ARC kindly provided by Author in exchange for an honest review**

5 Cherries Popped

    

Catch up with The SAFELIGHT Series!

chasing Reese. a SAFELIGHT novel vol.1

Adult Contemporary Romance with Mature Content

Writer: Imy Santiago

Date of Publication: January 5, 2015

Cove r Design by CoverMe, Darling

Add to Goodreads TBR

Book Teaser Trailer: Watch it here

Endorse and dream cast chasing Reese. on The Imagine Film List

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Buy links: chasing Reese.

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Signed LIMITED First Edition Paperback via Direct Order

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Connect with Imy Santiago

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SAFELIGHT Series Playlist on Spotify

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About Imy Santiago

I love to read stories about loss, heartache and redemption so it didn't shock me when I ended up writing stories of my own revolving around those themes. I write with my heart, using my life experiences and emotions to dictate the tone and path in which my fictional characters embark. I believe in the power of friendship and to always have hope because life is always full of pleasant surprises. If you were to ask me if I consider myself an author, I would tell you no, I am not. I'm just a girl who loves to write a good story that makes you consider life choices and the darkness that envelopes a broken heart. My stories are about loss, friendship, hope and love.

I hope to continue writing more books in the not so distant future. It could be said that writing keeps me sane and brings a smile to my face. When I’m not writing Adult Contemporary Romance novels, I’m enjoying a quiet life with my family on Long Island New York.

For full bio, please visit my website.

BLOG TOUR & REVIEW: Amber to Ashes by Gail McHugh

AMBER TO ASHES by Gail McHugh

Atria Books Paperback | Released: June 9, 2015 | 480 pages

Synopsis:

They became my addiction, each a needle to my next hit, my high.

Brock Cunningham’s appeal is dizzying, a potent force Amber can’t deny. A green-eyed smooth talker, he instantly attracts Amber. It doesn’t take long for him to consume her every thought, her every breath.

Ryder Ashcroft, a blue-eyed, tattooed, and pierced bad boy, turns Amber off immediately—that is, until he kisses her, stealing a piece of her heart, her soul.

They were as opposite as fire and ice, yet I ached for them equally.

Never knowing she could be broken down in so many unexpectedly beautiful yet petrifying ways,Amber finds herself falling for both men.

Immoral? Maybe. I say undeniable. Uncontained.

But one devastating event changes everything, shattering each of their lives...and Amber isn’t sure she can recover from it.

Order the AMBER TO ASHES paperback:

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I was warned before reading this book that I would be addicted to this story.

Yep so right!  I am still having withdrawals since reading this book.  Talk about an emotional rollercoaster.  I think I ate about 10 packs of Twizzlers as I devoured this story.  I will now always associate Twizzlers with this book.   

Amber is a woman who has a hard life and when she literally stumbles into the arms of Ryder and Brock, her world is never the same.  I liked how Gail McHugh immediately captured my mind into the dark and tortured past Amber has had.  

Ryder is a man who always gets what he wants with just his looks alone.  He knows how to get without being emotionally attached but when he meets Amber, he can't believe he is starting to have feelings he can't control.  I really fell hard for Ryder once I started to find out that he is more than what he appears to be.  He is not what he appears to be and Amber soon finds out that there is way more to him then he leads on.  I seriously loved Ryder with his stubborn ass and there were times I wanted to smack him just like Amber did in the book!

Awe Brock!  He is not your typical jock!  He is way more twisted and tormented as Amber and Ryder.  He has a past that is dark like Amber's and he instantly syncs into their connection of it.  Amber learns to open up with Brock but she is always second guessing whether he really is who he says he is.  

Lies, secrets, passion, thoughts of what if become reality for these three.

Chapter 18:

That is all I am going to say!  And yes I went back and read it like 3x times cause I like to torture myself that way!

The raw emotions of these characters came to life as I read.  It was beautifully written.  You will feel, you will cry, you will ache, you will just be a mess!  Yes you read right!  This is why I love Gail McHugh books.  It's pure raw emotional mind fuck!  I love it!

So the question is can you love 2 men at the same time?  I say yes!

Now asking me to pick Team Ryder or Team Brock?

I can't decide!!  I lean towards team Ryder more but Brock has a way to suck me in too!

I really enjoyed this book & can't wait for what happens next!  

Bring it on Gail McHugh!

**ARC kindly provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review**

5 Cherries Popped

    

About the Author:

Gail McHugh is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Collide and Pulse. She is the mother of three beautiful children and has been married to her husband for fifteen years.

Visit Gail online at:

http://www.authorgailmchugh.com/

Twitter: @Gail_McHugh

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorGailMcHugh

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Enter to win one of ten signed copies of AMBER TO ASHES by visiting the blog tour rafflecopter!

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