BLURB

Seven years ago, I saved her. I loved her. I still do. But they took me away from her and locked me up. For two years, all I could think about was her. She consumed me. Took up every room in my head and gave me something to focus on, knowing I would see her soon.

Four years ago, I watched her as she walked down the aisle and into the arms of a man that wasn’t me. My brother. I promised him that I’d leave town.

I did and never looked back.

Now, I’m staring at seven letters, each envelope stamped with one word in bold, red ink: URGENT.

I have no choice but to go back home. Seeing her will be the hardest thing I’ll ever have to do. But in order to reconcile with my past, I have to face my present. Even if the thought of seeing her, knowing that she is out of my reach, kills me.

I have no idea what awaits me, but I can only hope that the demons of my past will finally be buried and put to rest.

ADD TO GOODREADS

EXCERPT

He grabs the pen and notebook on the desk and scribbles something on it. Then flips it around and slides it toward me.

You’re a terrible signer.

My face heats up. I look up at him. He’s smiling now. Grinning, actually. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

He pulls the notebook back, writes on it again, before pushing it back to me.

Use your mouth and speak slowly. I love to watch you while you speak.

Holy hell!

“You do?” Those are the only words capable of leaving my mouth. My brain cells. . . gone. Poof!

He nods, his gaze still fixed on my mouth. I lick my lips. The courage that acted as fuel when I walked in a few minutes ago has vanished after his words that are now causing chaos in me.

He scrawls on the book, Something got your tongue?

“More like Cole got my tongue,” I mutter under my breath. The boy with freckles on his face sitting two feet away from us snickers.

Shit. I didn’t mean to say that out loud.

Something brushes against my knee under the table. I jolt upright as the impact of it rushes through me.

Oh God, his knee is touching mine. Maybe it was accidental?

Yeah, right. I’ve known Cole for a few days now. Nothing about his actions are accidental or innocent. They are measured. Deliberate. Precise.

He applies pressure where our bodies touch. I’m no longer Eleanor. I’m a girl who’s hanging on by a thread, waiting to burst into flames. No other part of his body has ever touched mine other than the pinkie finger. The movement stops, and air finally finds its way to my lungs. I should move my leg, put a stop to this torture. But I can’t. There’s a force that tethers my body to his. I want to find out more about it because. . .I just need to.

Period.

Time to regroup. Why was I here again?

“Why do you come to my rooftop every night?”

His gaze leaves my mouth and fixes on my eyes.

He scribbles on the notebook. Do you want me to stop?

The thought of not having Cole’s body next to mine at ten o’clock every night makes my chest twist in pain. But I need to know.

“Why do you come to my rooftop every night?”

I don’t like to watch the stars alone, he writes, and then cocks one thick brow at me.

I don’t buy that excuse. I know he comes to my roof every night for more than just watching the stars. I want him to admit it.

I lean closer. His scent slams into me and I have to fight hard not to climb over the table and wrap myself around him for eternity. The muscles on his forearm tense as he grabs the beanie with his free hand from the table. He clenches it in his fist as though holding onto the hat gives him something to keep himself from drowning in the tension surrounding us. I know this because that’s what I’m feeling right now, like I’m being pulled towards something I’ve never felt before. Something indescribable. Something phenomenal.

His Adam’s apple bobs up and down. Do I make him nervous? Or Is there something else going on behind those stormy gray eyes?

I push my chin forward, aiming to goad him further. “Why do you come to my rooftop every night?”

He stares at me for a long time, more than it’s legally allowed for a person to look at another.

He closes his eyes and exhales shakily as though he’s forcing air out of his lungs. They open slowly and he looks down at the notepad. The grip on the pencil is tight, he might snap it any minute now. He lets go of the beanie and runs his fingers down his hair before hunching down and writes quickly. Once he’s done, he slides the notebook in my direction and then leans back in his chair, staring at me.

My heart’s beating out of my chest as I drop my eyes from his and to the words written in a careless scrawl.

Can I let you in on a little secret? 😉 I’ve imagined for a while now how your mouth would feel pressed against mine. That bottom lip between my teeth. I’ve wondered if you’d sigh if I kiss you, the way you do when you look at the stars. Or the way you moan while sucking on a lemon drop. I’ve fantasized about so many things about you, but most of all, I’ve wondered what you taste like.

Holy hell! How am I even sitting down?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Autumn Grey is the author of the Havoc series. And just like her characters, she is quirky, sometimes funny and definitely flawed. She writes sexy contemporary romances full of drama, steamy kisses and happy ever afters.

Links:
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Today we are sharing the cover for CADENCE by Lisa Swallow. This is a contemporary romance title and the start of a brand new series, Ruby Riot! Be sure to check out the giveaway below. The book will be released November 5th.

Photo by Lindee Robinson Photography
Cover Designed by Najla Qamber Designs
Models: JJ Butts & Meagan Pacholski

ADD CADENCE TO GOODREADS

BLURB:

Tegan Hughes joins Blue Phoenix and Ruby Riot on tour, and drummer Bryn isn’t the only one who notices his little sister isn’t a kid anymore.

Jax Lewis is the guitarist for Ruby Riot and the band are rising to success. He’s hot property and loving every minute of his new found fame. Now, he’s on tour supporting Blue Phoenix and living his rock star life to the full. Until Tegan walks into his world and puts the brakes on.

Tegan Hughes is taking a year out and has her sights set on touring Europe with her big brother’s band. Blue Phoenix drummer, Bryn isn’t happy when his sister arrives unannounced at his hotel in Lisbon, but Tegan isn’t the type of person to take no as an answer.

With her big brother breathing down their necks, Jax and Tegan attempt to keep a handle on their growing attraction but that proves harder than they thought. Jax is used to getting whoever and whatever he wants and after kissing Tegan once, he knows one thing…he wants more.

The problem is, Tegan isn’t rock star girlfriend material. She has ambitions of her own and refuses to let anything stand in the way of her plans. But when Jax and Tegan’s relationship becomes public knowledge life becomes a hell of a lot more complicated.

Cadence is the first standalone book in a new rock romance series, Ruby Riot. The series is a spin-off from the Blue Phoenix books but you do not need to read the Blue Phoenix series first.

EXCERPT:

“Tegan!”
I stop at the sound of Jax’s voice and turn as he approaches. His face shines, and the salty scent of his damp skin digs further into the primal part of me aroused by this guy. We’re nowhere near as close as in the elevator earlier, but my nerve-endings tingle as if we were touching. Jax wipes his damp hair from his face and turns the smile to me he’s used many times before. This time it works, ramping up my heartbeat.
“Thanks for watching us,” he says.
“You were good.”
He grins. “I know.”
“Conceited!”
“Yeah, but it’s true. If I don’t believe in myself and the band to that degree, we won’t be as good as we are.”
“Now I believe what you’ve been telling me. You certainly are a rock star, Jaxon.”
He purses his lips. “Jaxon isn’t a rock star, Jax is.”
“Who’s Jaxon then?”
“A wannabe kid who’s not around any more.”
“I think I’d like him.”
Jax tugs his bottom lip between his teeth and looks at my mouth. “Do you like me, Tegan Hughes?”
A couple of guys head down the hallway towards us, talking into radios and I move to one side. Jax matches, blocking my way. Instead, I rest against the wall and put my feet out so he can’t move closer. Any nearer and I won’t be responsible for my actions.
“Big party tonight, huh?” I ask.
“Yeah. You didn’t answer my question.” His sapphire blue eyes search mine and I concentrate on hiding the reaction I’m having to him. I can’t blame my pink cheeks and breathlessness on dancing to Ruby Riot anymore.
“Do I get an invite?” I ask.
“To me or the party?”
I give a small smile. “The party. Why? What are you inviting me to do?”
“Anything you want.” His voice is low and despite my attempt at distance, his face is close to mine. Yesterday, I’d have scorned him for a comment like that, rolled my eyes at his moves but in a short space of time he flipped my brain to standby.
I don’t know how long we stand with faces centimetres apart, challenging each other to be the first to make a move in this power play. Each second that passes with Jax’s warm breath touching my mouth, darkened eyes holding me in place, and I’m a step closer to surrender. I moisten my lips, body buzzing with a need I don’t want.
“Five minutes!” yells a voice and I twist my head away, breaking the invisible thread pulling me to him.
The stage manager glances at us as he passes.
Jax touches my lip with his rough thumb and I jerk, caught off-guard. “I think you answered my question.” He steps back.
I dig my hands into the back pockets of my jeans in case he sees them shaking. “Don’t be so sure of yourself.”
The intensity in his eyes doesn’t drop and I match his look. Jax may have enchanted me with his brand of rock star, but I won’t make this easy for him. As soon as I walk away from the heated evening, I’ll regain some of my senses. Hopefully.
“This morning, in the elevator, I forgot to tell you something,” he says.
“What?”
“Don’t play games with me, Tegan, because you’ll lose.”
Before I have a chance to respond, Jax moves away and I watch his swagger as he heads back to the noisy dressing room.
Oh, yeah? Game on.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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AUTHOR INFORMATION:
Lisa is an author of new adult romance and writes both paranormal and contemporary, often with a side of snark.
Lisa is originally from the UK but moved to Australia in 2001 and now lives in Perth in Western Australia with her husband, three children and dog.

AUTHOR LINKS:

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