Obsessed With Myshelf

Romance Books

Month: July 2015 (page 6 of 9)

Release Day: Love Drunk by Libby Rice

Love Drunk RDL BannerIt’s release day for Libby Rice’s Love Drunk! I am so excited to share this great new contemporary romance with you! And Libby is sharing an exclusive excerpt with us, as well as a fantastic giveaway!

LoveDrunk-1200x1800 About Love Drunk:

The love that lies built?

Wine importer London Whitley dots her I’s and crosses her T’s. Her meticulous nature insulates her from fears that she might just be crazy, as in certifiably, medically nuts. When her almost ex-boyfriend winds up dead at her hands and she’s soon accused of importing counterfeit wines, London’s carefully constructed world begins to crumble. There’s help to be had, but only in the form of an imposing stranger who threatens her ruin.

Trevor Rathlen is lucky to have escaped his marriage to a murderess alive and merely indebted to men who think the exquisite London Whitley’s innocence is a façade. A computer security specialist by day and hacker by night, Trevor agrees to return the favor owed by learning London’s secrets. The task should be an easy one, except Trevor is short on trust, London is long on lies, and together they battle an infinite attraction.

Love Drunk:

Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo | All Romance eBooks

Art-Crossed Love:

Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo | All Romance eBooks | Art-Crossed Love Goodreads

Love Me Later FREE:

Amazon | All Romance eBooks | Kobo | iBooks | Love Me Later Goodread

Exclusive Excerpt:

Secrets and strategies swirled in London’s head, mixing with a need that had begun to pulse between them the moment his mouth had overtaken hers in the warehouse. The two of them played with a fire that flared hot, but unstable. London should play the game of Trevor safe. She should keep her cravings buried and hand over what she knew about her flailing company, including its most problematic ex-employee.

If she did, Trevor would immediately learn about the nature of her ex’s death. The move would resolve his suspicion professionally—a good outcome because he’d be out of her hair with the least amount of hassle—but also push him away personally.

A not-so-good outcome.

Maybe an intolerable, unacceptable, unspeakable outcome.

The idea of revealing facts certain to repel the intense and complex man overhead made her stomach pitch and roll, a warning that for the first time her body had ideas, too. A prickle beneath the skin, a warmth between the thighs—both said London didn’t want to be staid or level anymore.

You’re on a bed. Barely dressed. His hands are on you.

Keep them there.

Because she knew she would lose him sooner or lose him later. The question had become: How much of Trevor Rathlen could London have before he became a casualty of her gravest mistake?

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“Trevor.”

His name sliced through the charged silence. In that way London had of saying a lot with a little, her tone struck him as subtly, meaningfully, different than her earlier apologies and then her desperate pleas for help in the warehouse.

This time it contained a request.

Her reclining position let the hospital gown fall against her skin, skimming over the bountiful curves that had blown his imagination all through her shower earlier in the night.

By then he’d known she would be all right. With the scare over, her biggest problem would be lingering headaches and dehydration, which had left plenty of bandwidth for him to be jealous of the attending nurse.

He’d cracked down on how badly he’d wanted into that sterile little bathroom because no way was he lusting after a woman in need of a crash course on the nobility of truth.

Unfortunately, his lofty, better-than-thou ideals hadn’t tempered the urge to distract the nurse with lies about buzzers and sirens in the hall so he could sneak in and go down on London in the shower. Only sturdy locks had kept his ass squarely on the couch.

Now her eyes held a dark invitation instead of her customary uncertainty. It seemed London didn’t trust him enough to tell him what she was hiding, but she did trust him enough to touch him.

To let him touch her.

Maybe his friend had had the right idea about women—sex for secrets—all along.

London, sleepy-eyed and relieved, looked perfectly willing to be plied.

Trevor shifted away and rolled his head back. When he spoke, he did it to the ceiling. “I know that look.”

The London he knew would reply with another apology, an instant and visceral retreat from her tiny step toward what she wanted.

Except she didn’t. “Really?” London whispered. “What does it mean?”

Anticipation thickened their mutual stillness, and his cock. No matter how badly he wanted them to, the overhead tiles didn’t get any more interesting upon increased inspection. Barren and white within a metal framework, they practically dared him to turn back to what mattered in the room.

To temptation. To madness.

When he risked another glance, London hadn’t budged. Green eyes met his stare evenly, as though their battle of wills, her injuries, the counterfeiting, even the remaining mysteries they both knew she guarded, all belonged somewhere far from her bed.

Freshly scrubbed, London smelled of soap and lotion. Moonlight gleamed against a natural glow that had replaced her earlier pallor. Black curls tumbled across her pillow in artful tangles. Fresh and unkempt, she looked impossible but real, a magazine spread that wasn’t.

He leaned in, caging her torso with spread arms. If she wouldn’t guard herself, Trevor didn’t have the strength to do it for her. “That look is a demand.”

“For?”

Me.”

Beneath him, her chest expanded on a slow, deep inhale.

“And, London?” he said. “Unlike you, I won’t renege once I decide to give you’re asking for.”

Libby Rice Bio:

LibbyRicePhoto-WebResolution (1)Before becoming a writer, Libby was first a mechanical engineer in the data acquisition industry (voltmeter anyone?). Preferring writing to technical design, Libby headed to law school and eventually practiced patent law for several enterprising years (patent application covering a voltmeter anyone?). Finally realizing that technology just wasn’t her bag, she traded the voltmeters for alpha heroes and the women who love them.

Today, Libby writes contemporary romances from the foot of the Rocky Mountains, where she lives with her husband, a bona fide rocket scientist (he stuck with the voltmeters!). When not writing, Libby loves good food, even better wine, and traveling the world in search of the next great story.

Libby loves hearing from readers! Join the fun at www.libbyrice.com, where you can sign up for Libby’s new-release e-newsletter, or on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram.

Links:

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Author Goodreads | Instagram

Enter Libby’s fantastic giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

SALE ALERT! $.99!!! Holding You Box Set by Jewel E. Ann

Get your copy of this sexy and emotional love story in one box set for ONLY $0.99!

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Amazon US- http://amzn.to/1JT4Isk

Amazon UK – http://amzn.to/1dgjyKT

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Holding You Blurb

Deep breath … I am peaceful, I am strong.

Free-spirited Addy Brecken is Milwaukee’s most talented vegan chef and co-owner of Sage Leaf Café. She has a genius IQ, a padded savings account, an amazing view of Lake Michigan, and a heart that won’t stop beating.

Deep breath … I am peaceful, I am strong.

An early April morning finds her drowning in the seductive fragrance of lilacs and the warmth of the morning sun when she’s nearly hit by a car in front of her café. The peaceful existence she’s desperately tried to maintain after the horrific loss of her family is suddenly shaken by the Range Rover driving, arrogant, sex-on-legs Quinn Cohen.

Deep breath … I am peaceful, I am strong.

A successful, Latino businessman from New York, Quinn has a taste for the finer things in life. A typical playboy, he has the money, the houses, the cars, and the women. Quinn is everything Addy avoids. Where she lives simply and prefers to help the less fortunate, he has no problem spending an obscene amount of money on a briefcase. Their opposite personalities lend to several heated encounters, and Addy finds herself propositioning Quinn for the one thing she never imagined needing … sex.

Offering only her body, Addy tries to keep Quinn at a safe distance from her heart and a world away from her past. Their passion-filled connection makes Addy feel something unfamiliar, alive. But with passion comes more feelings: anger, jealousy, love. When Addy surrenders to the unimaginable and lets go of her past, she’s faced with the impossible … holding on to her future.

Deep breath … I am peaceful, I am strong.

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Holding You Excerpt

“Fine! I’ll call him. But he may have already left for New York.” I requested my phone call, but part of me was hoping he didn’t answer. There was a good chance he wouldn’t recognize the number and therefore choose not to answer.

“Quinten Cohen,” he formally answered.

“Hey,” was all I got out.

“Addy? Where are you calling from?” His voice was neutral.

Thankfully he didn’t sound angry, but I couldn’t detect any pleasure in his voice either.

“Um, well, actually… funny thing happened this afternoon. Mac and I sort of got… arrested.”

There was silence on the other end.

“Hello?” I thought maybe we’d been disconnected.

“I’m still here. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Where are—” I started to ask him where he was. I didn’t want him flying back to Chicago if he was already back in New York, but he ended our call before I had a chance to finish. Then I was escorted back to my cell.

“So, what’d he say?”

“He’s on his way.”

“When will he be here?”

I shrugged. “Twenty minutes, an hour, two days… He didn’t say before he hung up on me.”

“An hour later we were released and told all charges had been dropped. Quinn was waiting for us in front of the police station. I gave him a sheepish smile. “Hi.”

“Hi.” He shook his head in disbelief.

Mac reached Evan and was talking on her cell phone.

“So how was your afternoon?” I went with small talk because I honestly didn’t know what to say.

He squinted his eyes at me. “Busy, yours?”

“Oh, same old, same old. Fed some homeless people, had lunch with my friend, attended a peaceful demonstration, got thrown in jail, nothing too exciting.”

He nodded in thought. “So this is pretty much a normal day for you?”

I hitched my purse back over my shoulder then shoved my hands down into my front pockets while I looked down at my feet. “We don’t always go out to lunch, but other than that, it’s pretty typical.”

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RELEASING ME Blurb

A tragic accident. A hidden past. An unbreakable love.

Never goodbye …

I thought Addy stole my soul.

Her beauty blinded me.

Her heart called to me.

Her touch healed me.

She gave everything and asked for nothing. Then I broke her. The depths of her pain were veiled by the reflection of my own. I didn’t deserve her, but I wanted her––I needed her. In my darkest hell, I heard her voice. That’s when I knew …

Addy was my soul.

Deep breath … I am peaceful, I am strong.

Quinn was worth the risk.

He took away the numbness and gave me unfathomable pleasure. Every emotion felt magnified, every moment felt like the last.

My heart found purpose.

My body came to life.

My soul returned.

His weakness gave me strength, and his past held my future. He saved me by … releasing me.

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Releasing Me Excerpt

Quinn

I kept my back to her as I buttoned my shirt. The sound of her broken voice saying my name fucking killed me. I needed a drink, and I needed to get the hell out of there. She wormed her way under my skin, but I didn’t want her there. My mind was such a fucked up mess, I felt bewitched by everything about her: those ocean blue eyes, her cherry lips, the way her long golden hair flowed down her back and over her fucking perfect breasts. Her smell, her touch, her voice … it was too much. I had only one choice––to let her go. I had to get out from under her spell. She made me feel things I didn’t want to feel. The truth was I didn’t want to feel anything.

“Quinn?”

“Just … stop, Addy!” I yelled in frustration as I shoved my feet into my shoes. Every nerve in my body was on edge. I’ve got to get the hell out of here.

“Quinn, look at me—”

“Goddammit! Just … shut up. You won, okay? You brought me to my fucking knees, stripped me of my resolve, and left me with nothing. We’re done.”

All I needed was a drink. I slammed the door and dialed up Chase.

“You apologize?” his smug voice answered.

“Just get your ass over here,” I demanded.

“Did you apologize?” His stubbornness grated at my very last nerve.

“Fucking hell, Chase! Yes, she’s completely satisfied. Now get your ass in the car and come get me!”
holdingyou

About the Author:

holdingyoujewel

Jewel is a free-spirited romance junkie with a quirky sense of humor.

With 10 years of flossing lectures under her belt, she took early retirement from her dental hygiene career to stay home with her three awesome boys and manage the family business.

After her best friend of nearly 30 years suggested a few books from the Contemporary Romance genre, Jewel was hooked. Devouring two and three books a week but still craving more, she decided to practice sustainable reading, AKA writing.

When she’s not donning her cape and saving the planet one tree at a time, she enjoys yoga with friends, good food with family, rock climbing with her kids, watching How I Met Your Mother reruns, and of course…heart-wrenching, tear-jerking, panty-scorching novels.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Pinterest

Cover Reveal: Cocky Bastard by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward

COCKY BASTARD

(A Contemporary Romance standalone novel)

New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Authors

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Penelope Ward & Vi Keeland
Cover designer: Letitia Hasser, r.b.a designs
Model: Nick Ayler
Website: https://www.nickayler.com

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Add Cocky Bastard to your TBR list on Goodreads!

http://bit.ly/1LzjOng

Sign up for Penelope & Vi’s mailing list now and be the first one notified of releases!

http://eepurl.com/brAPo9

RELEASE DATE: August 17th, 2015

Blurb

He was someone who belonged in my wildest fantasies instead of a rest stop in the middle of Nebraska.

A sexy, cocky, Australian named Chance was the last person I expected to run into on my cross-country drive.

When my car broke down, we made a deal. Next thing I knew, we were traveling together, spending sexually-tense nights in hotels and taking unplanned detours.

My ordinary road trip turned into the adventure of a lifetime. It was all fun and games until things got intense.

I wanted him, but Chance wouldn’t make a move. I thought he wanted me too, but something was holding him back.

I wasn’t supposed to fall for the cocky bastard, especially when I knew we’d be going our separate ways.

All good things must come to an end, right?

Except our ending was one I didn’t see coming.

About the Authors:

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Meet Vi Keeland:

Vi Keeland is a native New Yorker with three children that occupy most of her free time, which she complains about often, but wouldn’t change for the world. She is a bookworm and has been known to read her kindle at stop lights, while styling her hair, cleaning, walking, during sporting events, and frequently while pretending to work.  She is a boring attorney by day, and an exciting smut author by night!

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Pinterest

Additional Books by Vi Keeland

Life on Stage series (2 standalone books)

Beat

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1MWanfu

Amazon UK:  http://amzn.to/1fczMX5

iBooks: http://apple.co/1DnI6f6

Kobo:  http://bit.ly/1aqrmbS

B&N:  http://bit.ly/1O1Ah0q

Throb

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1BgqIUD

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1CsRg9d

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1zk882K

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1x5c3P8

Kobo:  http://bit.ly/1slglLN

MMA Fighter series (3 standalone books)

Worth the Fight (MMA Fighter Series, Book One)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1xC6epE

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1alpVES

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1dbzZ8R

Smashwords – http://bit.ly/1is0zNX

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1co2ZpF

Worth The Chance (MMA Fighter Series, Book Two)

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1xC71aa

B&N: http://bit.ly/1gwTyJw

iBooks:  http://bit.ly/1gHMCZg

Kobo:  http://bit.ly/1fqQcnj

Smashwords: http://bit.ly/NU2rCR

Worth Forgiving (MMA Fighter Series, Book Three)

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1wbsJEK

B & N: http://bit.ly/1ljdVzb

iBooks:  http://bit.ly/XBTLFX

Kobo:  http://bit.ly/1kWP4ka

The Cole Series (2 book serial)

Belong to You (Cole Series, Book One)

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1fr26W2

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1KRsCVy

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/belong-to-you-vi-keeland/1114962845

IBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/belong-to-you/id639401754

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/belong-to-you

Made for You (Cole Series, Book Two)

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1Mi0AzQ

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1KRsdCx

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/made-for-you-vi-keeland/1115883225

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/made-for-you/id84550637

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/belong-to-you

Standalone novels

Left Behind (A Young Adult Novel)

Amazon US:http://amzn.to/1G9HdDK

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1Rmi3xp

First Thing I See

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1fr3dF7

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1RmihEP

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1JWFo21

Meet Penelope Ward

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Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor, before switching to a more family-friendly career. She is the proud mother of a beautiful 10-year-old girl with autism and a 9-year-old boy. Penelope and her family reside in Rhode Island.

Stalk Her: Facebook | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads

Other books from Penelope Ward

Stepbrother Dearest

Amazon  http://amzn.to/1mFNMeg

B&N: http://bit.ly/1taMFjG

ITunes: http://bit.ly/YER0mT

kobo: http://bit.ly/1fJaaBs

Gemini

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1vgk1SE

B&N: http://bit.ly/1KfmLHD

iTunes: http://apple.co/1QTaONj

kobo: http://bit.ly/1BGJ2wu

Jake Undone (Jake #1)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1dJrHBC

B&N: http://bit.ly/1obAwJ6

iTunes: http://apple.co/1fJayQ8

kobo: http://bit.ly/1SPKl0M

My Skylar

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1obOG2F

B&N: http://bit.ly/SLO1qi

iTunes: http://bit.ly/SLNOTR

kobo: http://bit.ly/1kNrtAB

Jake Understood (Jake #2)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1GFdves

B&N: http://bit.ly/1FwJC0z

iTunes: http://apple.co/1DQQwgC

kobo: http://bit.ly/1LQ7Fvk

Cover Reveal: Badass In My Bed – Part 3 by Rae Lynn Blaise

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Title: Badass In My Bed #3

Author: Rae Lynn Blaise

Publication Date: July 28, 2015

Pre-Order Linkhttp://amzn.to/1fsov5t

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Part 3 of a hot and sexy new serial that will have you at the edge of your seat and ripping off your clothes!
My review of Part 1 is HERE
My review of Part 2 is HERE

Check out MY FACEBOOK PAGE for a giveaway!!

Review: Dragonfly In Amber by Diana Gabaldon

Author: Diana Gabaldon

Book: Dragonfly In Amber (Outlander #2)

Other Books in Series:

Outlander (Outlander #1)
Voyager (Outlander #3)
Drums of Autumn (Outlander #4)
The Fiery Cross (Outlander #5)
A Breath of Snow and Ashes (Outlander #6)
An Echo in the Bone (Outlander #7)
The Space Between (Outlander #7.5 – a novella)
Written in My Heart’s Own Blood (Outlander #8)
A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows (Outlander #8.5 – a novella)
Moonlight And Howling (Outlander #9 – not yet finished)

Link to buy all 8 books here

tl;dr recommendation: This series will pull out every emotion you’ve ever had, and some you didn’t know existed.

Book Summary:

From the author of Outlander… a magnificent epic that once again sweeps us back in time to the drama and passion of 18th-century Scotland…

For twenty years Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to Scotland’s majestic mist-shrouded hills. Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as stunning as the events that gave it birth: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones …about a love that transcends the boundaries of time …and about James Fraser, a Scottish warrior whose gallantry once drew a young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his ….

Now a legacy of blood and desire will test her beautiful copper-haired daughter, Brianna, as Claire’s spellbinding journey of self-discovery continues in the intrigue-ridden Paris court of Charles Stuart …in a race to thwart a doomed Highlands uprising …and in a desperate fight to save both the child and the man she loves….

Longer Review:

If you’re about to pick up this book after reading Outlander, welcome to the Fandom. If you haven’t yet read the summary of this book, you may want to do that now. When I started DiA I thought I was reading the wrong book – I had to go on to GoodReads and look up some reviews to discover that no, I hadn’t skipped five books in the series. NOPE – this book really does start out with Claire, twenty years in the future in her own time. Yes. YES.

Don’t get pissed, It’s in the goddamn book summary, this is not a spoiler.

However, this made me angry. SO ANGRY. How could she possibly leave Jamie? I deemed this to be an unforgivable action for which I was prepared to hold a grudge. Claire was practically dead to me as a character and I was now reading with a tinge of red surrounding my vision. Of course, as I learned what happened – and A LOT happens – I not only forgave Claire, but my heart broke. I’m tearing up a little bit right now thinking about how Jamie and Claire get to to the point where that has to happen.

So, just keep reading. Promise. You’ll be ok. Deep breaths.

But let’s back up – when we catch back up with Jamie and Claire, you’ll find that they go to Paris where Jamie takes over his cousin Jared’s shipping business. Jamie’s position allows him to infiltrate the Parisian politics and he actually becomes acquaintances *or something* with the Bonnie Prince Charlie. Jamie and Claire continue their secret mission to change the outcome of the future and save Scotland while walking a very tight political rope that, if the truth was exposed, could land Jamie in jail for treason – or worse.

This book reunites us with some characters we love to hate (i.e. Jack Randall) and we meet a few more characters we love to love – such as BlackJack’s much nicer brother, Alexander, and BOUTON! Of course, Jamie loses his shit a few times…as does Claire – and let’s not forget that Claire’s pregnant…

I adored learning more about Jamie. I could practically feel his imposing size when he was angry and firm hands when he was loving and see his lip curve up in a smirk when he was amused. I loved watching their marriage grow stronger with each trial they faced. While their lives are far from easy and their circumstances are less than ideal, their love is always enduring.

This series will pull out every emotion you’ve ever had, and some you didn’t know existed. I went from hating this book, hating Claire, and vibrating with rage to swooning uncontrollably and falling in love all over again. Diana is incredible…every time she backs the characters into an insurmountable corner, everything changes and somehow I manage to forgive every character for every terrible thing that has happened. DiA ends in a major cliffhanger – just so you know. But at that point, you’ll be completely hooked and so full of feels that it’s really no big deal as long as you have Voyager on hand. This book is unbelievably good.

ALLTHESTARS.

SNEAK PEAK! Read Chapter 1 of Black Dawn by Cristin Harber

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BLACK DAWN by Cristin Harber releases on July 14th – but we couldn’t wait that long to share the first chapter with you! Check out the first part of chapter one, plus enter to win a gift card + a Titan mug by spotting the highlighted word in the excerpt below. Be sure to stop by each stop on the excerpt hop every day this week for more chances to win, plus the rest of chapter one!

Excerpt Hop:

July 6, 2015 – Reviews by Tammy and Kim
July 7, 2015 – Grown Up Fangirl
July 8, 2015 – Red Cheeks Reads
July 9, 2015 – InkSlinger PR
July 10, 2015 – Obsessed with Myshelf

Chapter 1 Part #5 from BLACK DAWN

BlackDawn wasn’t even on her short list, though he was actually more talented than anyone she had initially thought about. Combined. The request seemed a little novice to ask of him, but who else would be considered her partner-in-crime?

She’d never met him in person but chatted with him almost every week. Years ago, they’d formed an alliance because sometimes hacks needed more than one set of hands. Sometimes code needed another mind mulling it over.

BlackDawn was one of the very few hackers who could hold their own at the highest echelons. But she and he were also slightly competitive.

He wasn’t one for these parties, never came to the hacker events—not that people knew who she was when she showed. So maybe he was in the room. Her eyes skimmed the crowd.

“Silver?” Shadow asked. “Scowling at a party?”

“Just thinking…”

His eyes narrowed. “About?”

“No. Not him.”

“Have a reason?” he asked, leaning in for whatever she would divulge.

Which wouldn’t be much. Black was a talented hacker somewhere in the world—US-based, she presumed, because they’d worked on what she could only assume were American military cyber offenses. That was his specialty. But still, he was her competition, and while they might play allies in the field—occasionally butting heads in heated discussions over who was right and wrong on things that had no right and wrong—business was a whole other world. She didn’t want him helping when it came to securing her sales.

Lexi shook her head, wrapping the long string of necklaces around her fingers again. “Not particularly.”

Shadow chuckled as if he could read her mind. “Alright, Silver, get out there and enjoy your party.”

With a nod, he melted into the night, leaving her to survey the scene. The place rocked out—lights bouncing, bass dropping, and bodies dancing and drinking. Phreaks, gamers, hackers, and groupies. Matt would hate it. The people—the geeks, the nerds—he’d blame for ruining his night out. Didn’t he see she was one of them? Didn’t he see anything about her? She looked at her engagement ring. It wasn’t even a style that she ever would have chosen. But she wasn’t the girl who pined over the perfect ring or the perfect dress. She wanted a perfect love who held her tight, promised security, cherished her, appreciated who she wanted to be more than who he could put on display.

Shifting her gaze from the ring to her drink, she wondered if maybe there was more alcohol in that glass than she realized.

Growing up the way she had, she knew just how lucky she was to have a man who’d promised to never ever leave… right?

Still, surrounded by hundreds of people who didn’t know her given name, she was more comfortable there than at home. They accepted her. Respected what she did. They didn’t hurt her.

Not that most times she’d even admit that to herself.

Phiber kept his eyes on the waif of a woman. She was blond, confident, and watched the crowd of dancing bodies under the makeshift strobe lights as if they were her people. His gut said they were—she was in the know, dropping his handle and chatting with the likes of Shadow, who was almost infamous for the amount of deals he’d brokered and connections he had.

After weeks of crawling into every dark corner, trying to pin down SilverChaos through all of the hacks attributed to that handle, Phiber had wormed his way into enough intel that said the woman who’d declined his drink offer was Silver. How about that? Silver was a woman. Not that he was sexist. He didn’t care who Silver actually was as long as the bank transfers from his mysterious Taskmaster continued to arrive, along with the codex message for his new tasks.

Each request from the unknown sender had grown in difficulty, almost as though the first ones were tests. As he completed each challenge, Phiber became more interested in what the end goal was. Though by now, he had a guess. Whoever had contracted him wanted the Monarch exploit. They wanted to worm into Monarch’s website and siphon data about its users. Their intent had malicious undertones, and their means were obviously sketchy. No way was his employer legit—otherwise they would just bid in the upcoming auction. SilverChaos was one of those hack snobs who cared who bought their—her—product. She wanted good people, which wasn’t Phiber or Taskmaster.

At this point, he guessed Taskmaster was positioning him to steal Monarch’s zero day patch, either online or in person. Lifting a laptop or hacking her system? Both would be simple. He was elite enough, even if his peers hadn’t yet given his handle that designation. The most concerning thing would be if she kept her creation in pieces until the auction was complete.

He watched Silver continue her conversation with Shadow. That guy had some secrets and a vat of industry knowledge.

Rubbing his hands together, Phiber itched for the opportunity to find all the parts of Silver’s program, in both hard copy and hidden in the crevices of the cyber world. A physical file extraction wouldn’t be problem; breaking and entering was almost a hobby for him, as his rap sheet showed.

He pulled out his phone and tapped out a quick message.

Silver identified. Send bank transfer and next job.

GIVEAWAY

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Excerpt Hop Stops:

July 6, 2015 – Reviews by Tammy and Kim
July 7, 2015 – Grown Up Fangirl
July 8, 2015 – Red Cheeks Reads
July 9, 2015 – InkSlinger PR
July 10, 2015 – Obsessed with Myshelf

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ABOUT BLACK DAWN

What happens when nothing is as it seems?

Lexi Dare is on a one-woman mission to stay alive. Both at home and at work. Because how did she end up with a ring on her finger and an abuser in bed as she readies to hit the high point in her career? Everything should be perfect. Amazing job. Handsome fiancé. It’s all a disaster.

Parker Black is the brains behind Titan Group, an elite security firm. In his world, everything is ordered and controlled, except what he feels for his buddy’s girl. Something in her eye screams for help, but he has no idea what.

When Lexi disappears, Parker realizes what he should have known. The lines blur between friendships and work, and they must find each other to survive a terror attack that only Lexi can stop.

Black Dawn can be read as a standalone and does not have a cliffhanger.

BLACK DAWN releases July 14th – add it to your Goodreads list here!

Preorder it now: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Kobo

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Black Dawn Release Party!

Want to celebrate the release of BLACK DAWN by Cristin Harber? There’s a release party on facebook on July 16th! Join the event here for more details!

ABOUT CRISTIN HARBER

Cristin Harber is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author. She writes sexy, steamy romantic suspense and military romance. Readers voted her onto Amazon’s Top Picks for Debut Romance Authors in 2013, and her debut Titan series was both a #1 romantic suspense and #1 military romance bestseller.

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Team Titan Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Cover Reveal: HIM by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

Title: HIM
Authors: Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy
Coming Soon on July 14, 2015

Pre-Order Links:

B&N | iTunes | Kobo
Amazon will be live on 7/14

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Blurb:

They don’t play for the same team. Or do they?

Jamie Canning has never been able to figure out how he lost his closest friend. Four years ago, his tattooed, wise-cracking, rule-breaking roommate cut him off without an explanation. So what if things got a little weird on the last night of hockey camp the summer they were eighteen? It was just a little drunken foolishness. Nobody died.

Ryan Wesley’s biggest regret is coaxing his very straight friend into a bet that pushed the boundaries of their relationship. Now, with their college teams set to face off at the national championship, he’ll finally get a chance to apologize. But all it takes is one look at his longtime crush, and the ache is stronger than ever.

Jamie has waited a long time for answers, but walks away with only more questions—can one night of sex ruin a friendship? If not, how about six more weeks of it? When Wesley turns up to coach alongside Jamie for one more hot summer at camp, Jamie has a few things to discover about his old friend…and a big one to learn about himself.

Warning: contains sexual situations, skinnydipping, shenanigans in an SUV and proof that coming out to your family on social media is a dicey proposition.

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Author Links:

Cover Reveal: End of Day by Jewel E. Ann

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End of Day releases on August 17th!

Add to your TBR at: http://bit.ly/1TjdP7e

Blurb

Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in the sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life.

Four caskets. Two bodies.

Jessica and Jude Day witness their funeral and that of their parents a few yards away from mourning family and friends. Stripped of the only life they’ve ever known, the Days say goodbye to San Francisco forever.

Four months later, two thirty-year-old misfits with elite self-defense skills and penchants for alcohol, sex, and trouble arrive like an earthquake to Peaceful Woods, a retirement community in Omaha, Nebraska, that thrives on rules and gossip. Welcome home, Jackson and Jillian Knight.

Jackson celebrates his new beginning by embracing his job and wiping his cavalier past clean with a temporary oath of celibacy. But Jillian’s past is branded into her soul—the deaths, the insanity, Dr. Luke Jones, and the need to make her lovers bleed. Her chance for redemption comes in the form of a next door neighbor, one Senior Master Sergeant Monaghan. He’s sexy, dangerously alluring, and riddled with emotional issues from years of service. He’s also … So. Damn. Grumpy.

Their mission is simple: Let go, start over, don’t kill anyone, and pray that nobody wakes the dead.
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Excerpt

Miss Knight.” He shut the driver’s door and slung his messenger bag over his shoulder. “Do you need something?”

“What does AJ stand for?” She inched forward until they were toe to toe, red rain boots to tan combat boots. Jillian loved how her skin tingled in his proximity, how she felt dominated by his stature but not submissive to his strength.

“Your shorts are too short.” The authoritative intonation of his voice felt like a tongue dragging over every pleasurable nerve ending in her body.

“Too short for what? You, Sergeant Monaghan?”

“We don’t have a club house or swimming pool. Why the bikini top?” AJ clenched his fists as Jillian moved her feet between his. Her cleavage-bared chest pressed against his stomach.

“Is my body appalling to you, Sarge?”

“The old men in this neighborhood don’t need to have their wives pissed at them all day because the new neighbor gets her mail wearing a little bit of nothing.” His voice escalated with each word as it muffled into pure grit.

“Sarge, are you upset about my mail-retrieving attire or that I get the mail after you’ve already left for work?”

He narrowed his eyes.

“Because you’ve already seen more than the other neighbors.”

AJ maintained a scowl, but his deep swallow gave him away.

“How’s your lip?”

The tip of his tongue instinctively glided over the small red spot that was still there. “Tell me. Are you one of those kinky dominatrixes that likes it rough?”

Jillian twisted her lips and rolled her eyes, diverting her gaze from his. “Hmm … no, that’s not an accurate assessment.” Dr. Jones ruled out that possibility years ago.

“And why is that?”

She yanked his T-shirt from his pants and snaked her hand up a few inches against his taut, bare skin. Gripping his dog tags, she gently tugged until he gave in and leaned forward to prevent her from breaking them.

“Because I don’t want you to submit to me,” she whispered her words like a potion meant to cast a spell.

AJ secured her ponytail in his fisted hand. “I assure you words like surrender, succumb, and submit are only under the list of things I’m incapable of doing.”

Jillian smiled. She never considered her issue an addiction, but at that moment it was powerful and all-consuming.  “I’m going to bring you to your knees, Senior Master Sergeant Monaghan.”

About the Author

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Jewel is a free-spirited romance junkie with a quirky sense of humor.

With 10 years of flossing lectures under her belt, she took early retirement from her dental hygiene career to stay home with her three awesome boys and manage the family business.

After her best friend of nearly 30 years suggested a few books from the Contemporary Romance genre, Jewel was hooked. Devouring two and three books a week but still craving more, she decided to practice sustainable reading, AKA writing.

When she’s not donning her cape and saving the planet one tree at a time, she enjoys yoga with friends, good food with family, rock climbing with her kids, watching How I Met Your Mother reruns, and of course…heart-wrenching, tear-jerking, panty-scorching novels.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Pinterest

Review: Gaming The System by Laura K. Curtis

Author: Laura K. Curtis

Book: Gaming the System – Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

tl;dr recommendation: Lots of sex and amazing chemistry has this one steaming up to 4.25 stars

Book Summary:

As the punk-goth manager of Las Vegas’s premiere adult toy store, Kai Tyler changes her hair color, nail color, and eye color the way some people change socks. In fact, she’s even changed her name. She owes no one, depends on no one, and stopped believing in happily ever after before she reached the age of ten. All she really wants out of life is a few good gadgets and the occasional day of pampering once in a while.

Luke Clarke loves his family, but he has no desire to fulfill his parents’ dream by getting married and going into politics. So when he’s invited to his sister’s week-long wedding gala, he asks Kai along as a decoy. Having a date will squelch his mother’s matchmaking attempts and Kai’s outrageous appearance might—just might—convince his family once and for all that he’ll never have a career in politics.

But as stress, desire, and close quarters eat away at the masks both Luke and Kai wear, their easy arrangement begins to transform into something neither expected. Will they cling to the stable roles of the past, or bet on an uncertain future together?

Longer Review:

I unexpectedly really loved this one. Full of hair dye, unique style and a kick ass heroine, this book had me immediately hooked. Which was good, because I really didn’t like the cover. I know I know SHUT UP about the covers of books, but clearly that didn’t stop me from agreeing to read it. Of course, I was also wrong about how this book was going to play out….reading the description made me expect a somewhat superficial read – I was thinking instalove without instadepth. I mean, the heroine works at a sex toy shop for fucks sake…but SILLY ME FOR JUDGING. *slaps self*

I’ll save my own personal torture session for later (this isn’t that kind of book).

This is a fun read that had me walking away with a deep appreciation for these characters. While there may be instalove here it doesn’t come across that way. The progression of Kai and Luke’s relationship is natural (and pretty damn hot) as is the development of their feelings. This story gave me that warm lovey feeling that I want to wrap around myself and wear for a bit.

Kai’s a bit of an introvert who wears her Social Mask whenever necessary. In addition to the mask, she wears clothes, makeup and hair dye – all to avert the eyes from who she really is underneath it all. But from the second that Luke walks into Goody’s Goodies (the sex shop where she works) she feels like she was stripped bare. Luke, or Captain Hottie as Kai so aptly names him, is a really good guy who needs a huge favor. When Kai agrees to accompany him to his sister’s weeklong wedding affair in an effort to piss off his family, Luke thinks it will be simple to stay unattached. He’s not expecting to develop feelings for the punk and pierced firecracker. But obviously he does. and it’s adorable.

This book could have so quickly taken a turn into the land of cheesy – but it didn’t. Curtis does an amazing job of developing these characters so that you care about them and their choices. I was laughing with Kai and running my hands through my hair with Luke. The use of the word ‘fuck’ in this book is also outstanding, and for that alone I would have rated it high – but there was no need as the plot was just as much fun as the cursing.

Lots of sex and amazing chemistry has this one steaming up to 4.25 stars.

[I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review]

About the Author:

Laura K. Curtis does everything backwards. As a child, she was extremely serious, so now that she’s chronologically an adult, she feels perfectly justified in acting the fool. She started teaching at age fifteen, then decided to go back to school herself at thirty.

Laura has taught middle school social studies, high school literature, and college-level rhetoric, all with relative success. She’s also a full-on Mac geek who spent years as a consultant and running an academic computing lab. The only thing she completely failed at in the field of education was attempting to teach obedience to her pack of Irish Terriers. Currently, she lives in Westchester, NY, with her husband and two insane Irish Terriers who have taught her how easily love can coincide with the desire to kill.

http://www.laurakcurtis.com/
http://www.laurakcurtis.com/blog/
http://www.twitter.com/laurakcurtis
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5349205.Laura_K_Curtis

Review: Badass in My Bed – Part 2 by Rae Lynn Blaise

Author: Rae Lynn Blaise

Other books in Serial:

Badass In My Bed (Badass #1)
Badass In My Bed (Badass #3)

tl;dr recommendation: There are some seriously dirty scenes in this book – Ms. Blaise is filthy and I LOVE IT.

Review:

ohmyfuckinggodholyshiticantevendealwiththatcliffhanger.I’m having a hard time catching my breath after that ending. Notwithstanding that CLIFFHANGER FROM HELL, I love this serial!

This book holds you on the edge, quivering with need, until finally letting you succumb to an incredibly satisfying release. The second in this series, Rae Lynn builds the relationship between Rachel and Dylan with words and action. Scorchingly hot, just get the vibrator ready while you read this one. *Throws head in freezer*

Rachel and Dylan are back and are hotter than ever. Rachel’s up in Boston and is working her magic in the Orchestra. There’s a little something off between her and her Maestro, but what it is, you don’t know. However, he’s mostly a jerk and he works them all extremely hard. Rachel’s been trying to forget about Dylan but her body won’t let her. She fantasizes not only about the way that he made her feel, but about who she became when she was with him.

When the two of them find each other once again, it’s hot, dark and oh-so-fucking sexy. I was quickly pulled into a maelstrom of emotions – sexual energy pulsates and feelings start to bloom. There are some seriously dirty scenes in this book – Ms. Blaise is filthy and I LOVE IT. Dylan St. John can orchestrate my body any time he’d like.

In case you couldn’t tell from the above, there’s a ridiculous cliffhanger that will leave your mouth hanging. I was still reminding myself this morning that they are fictional characters and that I need to get over it. I’m so not over it yet.

In the words of Britney, GIMME MORE.

[I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review]
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