​The second stand-alone romantic suspense in the Triggerman Inc. series featuring sexy assassins, a baby, and a devious bad guy from New York Times bestseller Marie Harte.

An assassin with a baby? Inconceivable...

Deacon's life could be better. Deacon--the Shadow--kills people for a living. He's a choosy assassin, and he makes no bones about his life choices. But a baby... That's something he knows he'd never conceive of--pun intended.

While he's looking into this baby situation, snarky ex-supermodel Solene Hansen is in trouble. Deacon's sticking to her 24/7. Before long, he's learning that there's a lot more to Solene than sharp words and a gorgeous face. But his enemies are close, and they've taken note of his interest..
​
It'll take all his talent to keep Solene safe, learn who wants him dead and what the baby has to do with any of it, and figure out how to get Solene to realize that while he might not be a safe bet, he'll be a sure one.

setup: Solene and Deacon are lying together on her couch...

“I know. You’re scared of me. I’m sexy and charming. You know I’ll be leaving once this op is over. And you know you’ll fall in love with me and be crushed when I go. I get it, sweetcheeks. It’s okay.” He gave her a seriously superior smile.

She wanted to bite him and contented herself with another slap to his chest.

“Damn it. Cut that out.”

“Oh please. We both know to you that’s a love tap.”

“Well, yeah. But it’s the principle of the thing.” He rubbed at the nonexistent mark on his chest, his handsome smile still too wide.

“You know what? I think you’re right.”

His grin faded. “Huh?”

“I think sex with you will be amazing. Totally hot, combustible. Except like all the others, you’ll fall for me. Then you won’t want to leave. You’ll end up retiring on the island like Noel. You’ll try to move in with me, and I’ll have to gently let you down. You know, easily, so you don’t need to spend years of therapy getting over me.”

“Is that right?” He sat up, caging her in his thick arms. That ridge shifted beneath her, now nudging in the right place. Damn.

“You know, I—”

He jerked them both back, laying flush against the couch for a split second before rolling them to the floor. He quickly tucked her under him, so that he covered her. She heard muted thuds, breaking glass, and footsteps on the hardwood floor.

What the—?

“Don’t move,” he whispered into her ear, then leaped off her. He disappeared, and Solene lay still, not sure what to do, her heart racing like a freight train. Just as she’d decided to move, because she felt decidedly unsafe just waiting for danger to find her, she noticed feet moving in her direction.

She heard what sounded like punches, swearing, and a foreign language she didn’t recognize. Deacon remained as silent as a ghost. As she looked around, trying to see more than booted feet and armed, masked intruders facing off against a bare-chested, bare-footed Deacon, the confusion ended. So had the brief altercation.

She hurried to stand, stunned to realize they’d been attacked in her supposedly secure house.

Deacon had a smear of blood on his knuckles and was breathing hard, but otherwise looked as if he’d just left his bed. “Come on.”

She followed him in a rush, glancing over her shoulder to see the three figures on the ground, unmoving. Once in her bedroom, he grabbed her go-bag from the closet. She’d put it together for such a contingency weeks ago. Two changes of clothes, cash, a few toiletries and an extra pair of sneakers.
​
“Let’s go.”

​

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Caffeine addict, boy referee, and romance aficionado, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Marie Harte has over 100 books published with more constantly on the way. She’s a confessed bibliophile and devotee of action movies. Whether hiking in Central Oregon, biking around town, or hanging at the local tea shop, she’s constantly plotting to give everyone a happily ever after. Visit http://marieharte.com and fall in love.


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Today we have the excerpt reveal of IN OTHER WORDS by Jennifer Woodhull! Check it out and grab your copy now!

 IN OTHER WORDS
Jennifer Woodhull
Romantic Comedy
Release Date April 30th  

There are not enough words. I don’t mean that in a dramatic way as if there are not enough words to express something with which I’m momentarily frustrated. I mean there are often times when the optimum word for something simply does not exist.
Fernweh is a German word that describes a feeling of homesickness for a place you’ve never visited before. The Swedish word, lagom, describes taking not too much nor too little, but just the right amount of something. To wear or use something for the very first time is expressed in Spanish by the word estrenar.
I love words more than anything. I love hearing someone intelligent use the absolutely perfect, most fitting word at exactly the right moment. I love anagrams, crossword puzzles, and riddles. I love how they make me think about language and how people use it. Perhaps most of all though, I love awful puns—even dad-level terrible ones. I only know one person who loves language as much as I do, and he also happens to be the very person I can hardly wait to see.
The Portuguese have a word for the sensation of nostalgia and longing for someone who is far away. Saudade. That’s what I’ve been experiencing since I moved to New York. I have saudade for Dexter Flynn, but that’s about to come to an end.
***
I walk into The Tipsy Alchemist, an upscale hipster place Dexter chose to start our reunion evening. I visually scour the space, and am disappointed when I don’t see him. I walk the length of the bar and just as I’m about to turn and head back toward the front, a man leans in close behind me and says, “Excuse me, miss, but might I buy your first libation of the evening?”
I turn, ready to tell the guy to get lost so I can call the person I want most in the world to see. When I turn around, though, I’m met with a pair of sweet, soulful brown eyes hiding behind tortoiseshell frames. My heart darts around my chest. I throw my arms around him so hard, I nearly send us both tumbling to the floor.
“Dex!” I squeal, squeezing his neck. His arms wrap around me, and they’re far stronger than I remember.
“It’s about time you came back,” he whispers into the side of my neck as he squeezes me tightly. “I’ve missed you, Clair.”
I feel an instant wash of relief, being here in his arms. The feel of his cheek against mine and the smell of his aftershave trigger an eruption of happy memories. My brain floods with late night talks and board game marathons. My circuits overload with shared stories and supporting each other through tough times—with gushing over books and documentaries at the independent theatre. He has been such a huge part of my life for so long, and now, with him, I finally feel like I’m really home.
When we finally break from our embrace, we both realize we’re standing in the highest traffic area of the bar, and the place is so packed we might be physically in danger from rowdy patrons clamoring for beer.
“Come on,” he says, grabbing my hand. “I reserved us a booth.”
He leads me through the trendy, dark-paneled space to the back where tiny, high-walled booths, are situated. This area of the bar is quieter than the rest, and the high walls of our booth offer some much-appreciated privacy.
The booth to our immediate right houses what I can only assume is a bachelorette party judging by the volume and frequency of the word woo, coming from their direction.
When the server arrives, I order a cocktail, and Dex orders a beer. “Miss, can I ask, the group of ladies in the booth next to us…is one of them a bachelorette, by chance?” He smirks in my direction.
“Actually, yeah. Are they being too rowdy?”
“Not at all. I was just curious,” he replies. I snicker and he winks in response.
“It’s a cool story, actually,” the server pauses to tell us more detail. “She just got out of the military. She met her fiancé while they were stationed together. He was injured, and she’s a nurse.” She puts her hand to her chest. “They fell in love while he recovered in her hospital.”
Dex and I look at each other, and each make the universal face that any red-blooded human with feelings makes when seeing a baby, or a puppy, or hearing a sweet love story. “Aww,” we say in unison, laughing.
“Would you please take them a bottle of Dom Perignon and put it on my tab? Anonymous, though, please…with thanks for her service, and her fiancé’s,” Dex adds.
“Wow, that’s really nice of you! Absolutely, I’ll take care of it,” the server replies.
When she walks out of Dexter’s line of sight, she catches my eye and mouths the words, “Lucky you,” with a wink. It makes me smile unreasonably wide.
Lucky me that such a kind, thoughtful, generous man is in my life and cares so much for me. Lucky me that he’s my friend. Unlucky me that he’s not more than just a friend.
“That was very generous of you,” I tell him.
“I had the good luck to meet an inventor whose work I really admire once at a party. Knowing I was new to success, he told me, “I always say, if you’ve got it, spread it around. Nobody likes a successful, stingy asshole.” I’ve always tried to remember that,” he says with a shrug. We toast to successful good guys.
“You look amazing, Sinclair.” Dex is grinning at me, his brown eyes sparkling.
I reach across the table and take both his hands in mine, giving them a squeeze. “You look amazing too. By the way,” I say, stifling a giggle. “I didn’t know I’d need tickets.”
“Tickets? For…what, exactly?” He cocks an eyebrow up in question.
“The gun show,” I reply, pointing to what I can see is a pronounced bicep on each arm.
His cheeks flush with crimson as he looks down and away. The expression belongs to the shy, gangly guy I met in school, not the hunky, successful entrepreneur sitting across from me.
“So, have you been hitting the gym, or did you invent some magical neurotransmitter that passively enhances muscle tissue?” I tease. “Because if you have, please sign me up as a test subject. Pilates is torture, but I like to eat far too much to ever give it up without some sort of alternative.”
He chuckles. “I like to think of the fitness thing as my transformation to Dexter two-dot-oh. I have to say, I don’t hate that my efforts are producing noticeable results. I told you about my business partner Cole, right?” He asks sheepishly.
“Your friend Cole, yes,” I reply, rolling my eyes.
I think he still has a little trouble wrapping the high school part of his brain around being friends with a jock.
“Yeah. Anyway, since he pitches for the Frontiersmen he knows all the best personal trainers. He convinced me to start working out with one he recommended. I go to the gym almost every day now. Turns out I’m not as unathletic as I thought I was.” He grins wide, pride evident on his face.
“You certainly seem like you’re feeling pretty good,” I reply. I stand up enough to reach across and squeeze his bicep. “Yep, feeling pretty darn good to me.”
He smiles, then he shakes his head and chuckles. “I really do feel good…and even better now.” Something flashes briefly in his chocolate-brown eyes, then he smirks. “I’m just so happy you’re back, Clair.”
Clair. No one but him calls me that. The way he says it is familiar and makes me feel special that he has a nickname just for me. It’s the same way I call him Dex. Those terms of endearment are just for us, like they’re special words all our own.
By the time we finish the drinks the server brings over my stomach is growling, so we head down the street to a Mexican place that has always been one of my favorites.
As we walk the four or five blocks to the restaurant, a group of girls walking the opposite direction toward us are all checking Dex out as they pass. I turn to look over my shoulder and see them all looking back, whispering and giggling. When I look over at him, he seems oblivious.
And this is why he has trouble finding the right girl. He has no clue when a woman is into him.
I bump his shoulder with mine.
“They were checking you out,” I say with a smirk.
“Who?”
“That group of girls that walked by. They were cute, too.”
He rolls his eyes.
“So, not seeing anyone?” I ask.
“Not at the moment.” He lets out a sigh. “Maybe I’m too picky.”
“Maybe you are,” I agree.
And that’s the other reason he can’t find the right girl. He has never fully explained the criteria with me, but he seems never to have found a girl that checks all the boxes on the list of Dex requirements for the perfect girl.
Someone as genuine and kind, as smart and as funny as Dex deserves someone wonderful, though—someone who can see him for everything he is. I have tried to resign myself to the fact that I’m not that girl in his eyes. I only hope that one day he finds her, and she deserves him.
That brings me to another word that should exist, but doesn’t. There should be a word for enjoying something you have, but still wishing it was much, much more.

​

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We all need moments of escape. With all the demands on us day in and day out, we each need something just for ourselves. Perhaps nothing provides a private moment - a brief respite from every day - like escaping into a great story. When you pick up one of my books I hope you find that place that you can escape to. Explore the streets of Paris with new heroines or fly around the world to reclaim your lost love with a favorite hero. Whether it's the romance that takes your breath away or those climactic encounters that make your pulse race, I hope you find that solitary moment of enjoyment while lost in one of my stories. 
Connect with Jennifer:
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

​

Stuck in a dead-end relationship, Erica Bennett finds herself daydreaming of her first holiday romance. She was fifteen, it was exciting, new and full of possibilities…and Jack Lawson was hot as hell. That kind of thing leaves a mark.

So when her friends suggest a girls holiday to Luna Island, it’s exactly what she needs to take her mind off things. What she doesn’t expect is to spot Jack – a much older, hotter version of him – across the hotel lobby.

Their attraction is still there and it isn’t long before sparks fly, but fifteen years is a long time. They aren’t the same people they were back then and besides, it’s only a week, right?

Is it a second chance at something real or will their excess baggage ruin their shot at love after they leave Luna Island?

Today we have the blog tour for Red Hot Rancher by Marie Johnston! Check it out and be sure to grab your copy now!

Title: RED HOT RANCHER
Author: Marie Johnston
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Full-time fireman and part-time rancher Caleb is living the bachelor’s dream and staying rent-free in his best friend’s place. Too bad it’s because he lost his house to a tornado and his best friend’s sister is the one that got away. At least she doesn’t visit often—the last thing he needs is to show her she was right about him: he’s going nowhere fast. But when her cheating fiancé kicks her out, she has no place to go except her brother’s suddenly too-crowded ranch house.
 
After a streak of bad decisions, Brigit has to slink back home to nurse her wounds and find a job. To complete her humiliation, there’s no way she can avoid the first love she walked away from years ago—because he’s sleeping on the other side of her wall. At least it’s only a matter of time before she’s gone again. After all, there’s nothing in this town for her but bullies and cow patties…except a fireman in cowboy boots who melts her heart and makes her consider love again.
 
He’s not leaving. She’s not staying. If the reason they can’t be together is so simple, why is it so hard to remember?

Lobbing the hand towel toward the laundry bin, she turned. Her breath caught.

Whatever she’d thought about a shirtless Caleb didn’t come close to the real thing.

He was stopped in the hallway, like he’d seen her crouched in nothing but a towel and gotten glued to the spot. A matching gray towel was slung low over his waist, the rest of his lean body bare.

And wow.

Defined pecs. Rippling abs she wanted to gaze at as much as she wanted to trace with her tongue. There was nothing relaxed about him. This wasn’t the usual Caleb.

Because they were both wearing only a towel. Her gaze flew to his face, but his was stuck on the flare of her hips. His jaw tightened until she thought he’d bust teeth. He finally noticed her looking at him.

“Sorry.” He stiffly turned his head, like he’d defaulted to robot mode.

“Yeah.” She wasn’t sorry. There wasn’t any more chance she and Caleb would work than there had been ten years ago. Might as well torture herself with what she was missing. That view was worth it.

She took a step, her heel hitting a patch that hadn’t completely dried, which had turned into an ice rink for the unwary. The skid of her foot on the ceramic tile was louder than her startled cry. Her biggest worry wasn’t that she’d hurt herself. It was that she’d crash to the ground and lose her towel, or land with her legs splayed in the unsexiest peep show to ever hit Moore, Minnesota.

Her other foot hit with a thud and she caught herself. The pounding of her heart clogged her throat and she put a hand to her chest.

Caleb was at her side, a sexy safety net she would’ve gratefully fallen into. “Are you all right?” His hot hand was on her elbow. He was only inches away from her.

“You move fast.” She blinked and tried to lift her gaze to his face, but it was glued to the way his muscles flowed from his shoulders to his chest.

He dropped his voice. “Not when it counts, honey.”

He’d meant it as a joke, she knew that. But the timbre of his drawl and the proximity of his nearly naked body belied the humor. She couldn’t get past her raw need. How did the adult Caleb feel? Would he still like when she nibbled along his jawline to his earlobe? Would he groan every time she stroked his length?

She swallowed hard. Somehow, he’d crowded closer. Or had she drawn nearer?

Who cared?

“Bridge.” His voice matched the raging hormones inside of hers, the ones demanding answers to her questions.
She lifted her chin and kissed the corner of his mouth and pulled back only slightly. “Caleb.”

“We shouldn’t—”
​
“I know.” She planted her lips on his.

​

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Everything in Me
Everything and Always Book 2
by Mia Echo
Genre: Contemporary Romance

     To say Harlow screwed up big time is an understatement. She had been young and scared, and she let that fear get the best of her. She left the man of her dreams, the only man to ever love so passionately, so desperately, the only man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with…all because she was afraid of her father’s reaction.
Max had been one of the guest speakers for Harlow’s studies, one of her teachers. She wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but who can argue when fate arises?
When she had to leave quickly, Harlow was so overcome by fear that she didn’t even take a minute to think about the consequences of her actions. Not only did she break her own heart by leaving, but also his. Could Max ever be able to forgive her for that?
When he shows up unexpectedly for the big family dinner one weekend, it looks like she might get her chance to find out. Letting go of the fear of her father’s reaction is easier said than done, but if it means having a second chance with Max then surely it would all be worth it, won’t it?
What will happen when the two most important men in Harlow’s life finally come face to face?
​But it’s not her father alone she has to worry about. Harlow has a secret. It’s a big secret, an important life-altering secret. If she thought Max wouldn’t forgive her before, now he’ll probably hate her for life. Even if Harlow explains, even if she apologizes, could it ever be enough?

​

Harlow:
Putting my key in the lock when I reach my apartment, I’m surprised to find the door is unlocked.  Did I forget to lock it behind me before I left for my appointment? Cautiously, I open the door little by little.  Peeking my head in  once the  opening is  wide  enough,  I  notice the lights are on in my tiny kitchen.  I know I turned those off before I left.   The open concept of my apartment allows me to see my living room next.   I jump when I see a person sitting on my couch, but quickly recover as I realize who it is.   Taking a deep breath, I clutch my chest before saying, “Fuck.  Dad, you’re gunna give me a heart attack.” Walking in, I toss my keys and purse on the counter, but I don’t set the ultrasound picture down.  I can’t quite let go of it yet.  Then I turn my attention to my father who is currently sitting like a statue.   He’s  quiet  for  a  long  minute.    Just  staring  at  me, searching my face.   Does he know?  How could he?  I haven’t told a soul, aside from my doctor and his staff.  I haven’t even told my sister yet. His  expression  seems  so  serious,  so  intense.    My earlier levity evaporates as he continues to stare at me. “Dad you’re scaring me.  What’s wrong?” Shaking  his  head,  he  laughs  humorlessly.    “What’s wrong?  You’re asking me, what’s wrong?” Confused, I look around the room as if the answer is written  somewhere  on  the  plain  blank  walls  of  my apartment.  Bringing my gaze back to his, I wait, hoping he’ll put me out of my misery and just tell me. 
When  I  don’t  respond  for  another  long  minute,  he sighs  heavily.    “A  father  knows  when  his  baby  girl  is hurting.”   Looking into his eyes, really looking for the first time, I can see the pain and worry there.  My misery is clearly causing him pain.   “You  haven’t  been  the  same  since  you  came  home.  It’s  like someone  stole  all  the  joy  from  your  eyes  and replaced it with a storm cloud so strong it’s pulling you down and I don’t know how to help you. I’d do anything for you baby girl. You just gotta let me in. I can’t help you if you don’t let me in.”  His voice cracks as he says the last sentence.   I can’t help the tears that pool in my eyes at the sound.  Closing my eyes, I let the tears fall.  I know I have to tell him what he doesn’t want to hear. I’m terrified of what he’ll say.  What he’ll do.  I can’t bear the thought of him being disappointed in me. The moment he sees my tears, he’s off of  the couch and rushing to my side.  Wrapping his arms tightly around me, he rocks me back and forth saying, “Shh, I’ve got you baby girl.  I’ve got you.”   The dam I had been doing such a good job of holding in place breaks as the comforting feeling of my father’s arms seeps into my cells.  “It hurts so much.”  I sob into his chest.   His arms tighten around me as my body shakes with each sob. Silently offering his support, he lets me cry until I have nothing left.   Several minutes later, I take a stuttering breath.  Lifting my head off of his tear-soaked chest, I sniff a couple of times  before  looking  up.    “You  may  wanna  sit  down, Daddy.”  I whisper before pulling away fully.   Running his thumbs gently under both eyes to clear my tears, my father nods.  He grabs for my hand to lead me into the living rooms but the ultrasound picture is in the way.  Lifting my hand so he can see what I have clutched so powerfully in my hand, his eyes harden and his jaw clenches as he sees what it is.   I wait as the anger flows through him. The muscles in his arms tighten and  I worry he’ll start yelling before  I can explain.  His chest starts to rise and fall faster as his breathing  accelerates.  “Who?”    He  demands  through clenched teeth.   “That’s not important.”  I say shaking my head. “The hell it’s not!”  He booms. “I broke his heart.”  Taking a deep breath it feels so much more real as I say the words out loud.  “I love him and I broke his heart.” My  father’s  eyes  soften  slightly  at  the  pain  in  my voice.  With the wounds open,  I  can’t  stop  the  break  down from coming in a second wave of agony.    My  father’s strong arms catch me as my knees buckle, never letting me fall.  Carrying me over to the couch, he holds me as I attempt to purge myself of the pain.   Pain I caused.   Pain I’ll have to learn to live with

​

     His Everything
     Everything and Always Book 1


​
When you're the only girl growing up in a family full of soldiers, it's hard to find a date, let alone true love. Either your family scares the guy off, or the dating pool is slim pickin's because you know how a real man should act and won't settle for less.

All I wanted was to find a man I could start a family of my own with, but I never imagined how quickly I'd fall in love or how quickly I could lose it all to be his everything.

Maddox
    I stared at that damn bathroom door until she came back out, waiting for her to walk past me again.  The way she carries herself… confidence and sensuality radiates from her in the sexiest way I’ve ever seen.  I’ve never been so drawn to someone, let alone someone I’ve never even met. 
     She’s mine and she doesn’t even know it yet.
     When she finally emerges, I almost panic as she takes a different path back to her seat.  Watching intently, I see her talk to the waitress before turning toward her table.  Several executive type guys are clustered around the girls she came with, flirting with them as if they are God’s gift to women.  What a joke.  More like a waste of space.  I could snap one of them in half with minimal effort and they’d never even see me coming.  They wouldn’t be able to defend themselves much less protect the woman they’re with.  I’ve never understood how men like that could look at themselves in the mirror every day without being completely disgusted with what they see.  No way is one of these panty wasters, man enough for my woman. 
     As if taking my thoughts as a challenge, one of those fuckers approaches her.  I’m out of my seat and walking toward them in a nanosecond, ready to beat the guy to a bloody pulp, but then I hear her beautiful voice for the first time.  “Not on your life, pretty boy.”  Calmly, she turns to leave as if she hasn’t just made my night.
I think I’m in love.
     My feet move of their own accord.  I can’t take my eyes off of her as I follow her outside.  She knows I’m here, I saw her posture stiffen as she felt me watching.  Her steps faltering only momentarily, but she maintains her composure, never looking in my direction.  Keeping her head held high as if she owns the place, I realize, in this moment, she owns me as well.  Her hips sway as she pointedly ignores me.  With confident strides, she finds her car and climbs in.  Not wanting to scare her, I stand by the door, just taking her in.  What will she do next?
     Like a slow-motion video, she raises her eyes to meet mine.  My heart races and it’s hard to breathe.  I know she has the most beautiful emerald green eyes, I saw them as she walked past me in the restaurant, but to see her looking directly at me, even through the glass of her windshield thirty plus feet away, they are so intense.  I’m lost to her.  She could ask me for anything, and      I’d get it for her, I’d do anything for her. 
     Is it crazy?  Yes. 
     Do I care?  No.
     She’s mine.  Secretly I beg her to get out of her car and come and talk to me. I get the feeling that she is contemplating just that, so I wait. Hours, minutes, seconds later, she shakes herself slightly before pulling out of the lot.  I let out a sigh of disappointment. Reaching for my keys, there’s no question, I have to follow her.

​

Betrayal
Corrupt Empire Book 1
by Sarah Bailey
Genre: Dark Contemporary Romance

​

     It all started one dark night. The last night I saw my family. The night I met him. The only man to haunt my every moment.

Her

I witnessed something I was never meant to see.
He took me.
He broke me.
He made me his.
And now he wants to use me to bring down my family.

Him

I was never meant to have her.
The daughter of the scum who stole my life.
I took her.
I broke her.
I made her mine.
And now she'll do anything I say.
​
One tattooed anti-hero gets caught up in a whirlwind with an innocent heiress. It'll keep you on your toes with its web of lies and secrets.

“Don’t move an inch,” a deep voice I didn’t recognise said.
I looked up at Mum. Her face hardened. She mouthed to me ‘stay down’. My hands stilled.
“Walk around the counter slowly,” the voice said.
It sent a chill down my spine. Void of all emotion. Cold as steel.
Mum complied, sending me another warning look before she disappeared.
What is going on?
“You know why I’m here.”
“We can discuss this calmly like adults. Just put the gun down,” Dad said.
Gun. He has a gun. My heartbeat kicked up a notch. My palms began to sweat. Why did this stranger have a gun? And what did he want with my parents?
“Funny, Mitchell, you lost the right to negotiate the moment you took something that never belonged to you.”
Took what?
Nothing made sense. I needed to see for myself. I carefully placed the pan on the floor and crawled towards the counter, edging along to the end. Peering around, I found both my parents with their hands up. The man holding the gun wore no mask. My breath caught in my throat.
I’d never described a man as beautiful before. There was no other word for him. His light brown hair, short at the sides and longer on top, was neatly styled. Grey eyes glinted under the soft kitchen lights. His dark suit clung to him in all the right places, tailored to absolute perfection. It left no doubt he was all hard muscle underneath. An avenging angel. Except this angel had a gun pointed at my dad’s head.
Self-preservation made me freeze. If I alerted him to my presence, it wouldn’t help anyone. I ignored the voice in my head telling me the real reason I couldn’t move had more to do with how awestruck I was by the gun-wielding stranger.
Thanks brain. Not!
“Look, can’t we put all of that behind us? It’s been over twenty years,” Dad said.
The angel’s expression didn’t change. Cold, almost calculating. It sent chills running down my spine. Terrifying and beautiful at the same time. A deadly combination.
“No.”
There was no other warning. Two shots fired in quick succession. The sound rang in my ears. My parents collapsed one after the other. I put a hand over my mouth, stifling a scream. He’d shot them right between the eyes. There was no question in my mind. They were dead.
Dead.
The word stuck in my head.
Dead.
Dead.
Blood poured out of the back of their heads, pooling on the wooden floor beneath them. Their chests were still, unmoving. Tears pricked at my eyes.
My parents were dead.
Dead.
I looked at the angel again. He stared right at me. The surprise in his eyes faded after a second. I fell back onto my hands as I tried to scramble away.
“No, please,” I whispered.
He didn’t raise the gun to me. His lip twitched. I backed up right into the counter behind me, putting my hands up.
“Please don’t kill me.”
In five long strides, he stood before me. His very presence made my heart hammer erratically in my chest. I could hear it loud and clear in my ears. Up close, I got a real sense of just how tall and well-built he was, muscles rippled under his suit jacket as he moved.
“I’m not going to kill you,” he said, his voice quiet. “But you and I are going to have a little talk.”
I nodded slowly. I’d just seen him murder my parents. The likelihood of him letting me go was slim to none. I doubted he’d counted on having a witness.
He squatted down until we were eye level. Those grey eyes cold and yet so beautiful.
“You shouldn’t have seen this.”
“Why… why did you kill my parents?” I whispered, almost unable to get the words out.
“They weren’t good people, Avery.”
“How do you know my name?”
He cocked his head to the side.
“Everyone knows who you are.”
He wasn’t wrong. I’d been photographed countless times by the press and had my name plastered all over social media. Still, he didn’t seem like the type of person to browse tabloids.
Why did he know who I was?
Why did he do this?
His expression told me he felt no remorse for killing my parents. They’d known who he was.
Why?
I had too many questions. And I didn’t think I was going to get many answers out of this man.
“What are you going to do with me?”
He stared at me for the longest moment without answering. My skin prickled. I was struck again by just how beautiful he was.
Get a grip!
You don’t crush on the guy who just murdered your parents. Normal people don’t go around with guns. He wasn’t a good guy. Nothing about him was soft or welcoming. Nothing at all. My brain was playing tricks on me. I was just in shock. That had to be it.
He reached out, grabbing me by my neck and pulling me up to my feet with him.
“Who are you?” I whispered when he didn’t let go.
“Your worst nightmare.”
A sharp pain erupted from the back of my head and radiated outwards. The last thing I remember before passing out was those steel grey eyes and his expression. Regret.

​

Born and raised in Sussex, UK near the Ashdown Forest where she grew up climbing trees and building Lego towns with her younger brother. Sarah fell in love with novels when she was a teenager reading her aunt's historical regency romances. She has always loved the supernatural and exploring the darker side of romance and fantasy novels.

Sarah currently resides in the Scottish Highlands with her husband. Music is one of her biggest inspirations and she always has something on in the background whilst writing. She is an avid gamer and is often found hogging her husband's Xbox.

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Troy Valentine gave up everything when his parents died, leaving his career as a pro baseball player to come home to Valentine Bay and raise his little sister, Mila. It’d been so long since he put himself first or thought about what he wanted, it was hard to even remember what that felt like. 

Broadway star Alison Bartholomew needed a break from her high-pressure theater career and all the scrutiny and judgement that went with it. When she meets Troy on the first morning of her Valentine Bay getaway, she starts to wonder: could a short sabbatical turn into something more lasting? 

Troy and Alison can't help but be drawn to each other, but is the force binding them together stronger than the one pulling them in different directions?

Stand-alone Valentine Bay romance, complete with HEA--and plenty of heat and heart along the way!

Sensual, sexy, and sweet all at the same time in the most fabulously sultry way that blew even me away, the avid reader of Melanie Shawn novels... 

The story has it all, the small town vibes with the blessings and the meddling, the best of friends that becomes the family of your heart, the romance that sweeps you off your feet and is adorable, lovable, and seductive, and I enjoyed each of these elements and how they played part in the tale and the development of the relationship between Troy Valentine and Broadway star Alison Bartholomew.

But what really sets this story apart, what had me to tear up, my heart to swell a few sizes, and want to cheer out loud, that was Mila and both Troy and Alison's relationship with her. That girl stole my heart in the first Valentine Bay book, but oh my, here, with her performance, and the town's response, I felt like I was a proud auntie in the audience applauding her until my hands were sore. And yes, there were tears all over my face as I read that scene. 

Troy and Alison are just so perfect together, in each and every possible way, that it is delightfully cute and deliciously delectable. The chemistry, the connection, the celebrity status, the interests, their love for Mila, it all just fits, it is harmonious and beautiful and mixed with all the other elements of the book, vastly entertaining.  
​
And after enjoying the funny, the amusing, the touching, and the steaming -- it was the last sentence, just three words that pulls the whole story together in a brilliant way, that brought me to my knees, figuratively speaking, and brought all the feels, the smile, and the tears that only a fabulous story manages to draw out of me.
~ Five Spoons

Title: Just a Taste
Author: Shannyn Schroeder
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: O’Leary’s, Book 4

Grief has brought them together again—will love open the door to their future? When it’s an O’Leary in the picture, finding out is just part of the adventure…
 
Carmen Delgado is left reeling when her father dies. Taking care of him has been her sole purpose for so long, she’s forgotten what it’s like to have dreams of her own. And with steady, sexy Liam O’Leary inheriting a share in her dad’s successful food truck, Carmen is suddenly free to explore her life’s possibilities. She never expected Liam to provide the kind of temptation she’s not sure she can resist…
 
 
A talented chef, Liam O’Leary has been itching to open his own restaurant for years—and the death of his mentor is a reminder that time passes too quickly. Gus’s Taco Taxi isn’t exactly what he dreamed of, but he can’t desert Gus’s daughter. Working side by side is an unexpected pleasure—and grownup Carmen is alluring in all new ways. Is love on the menu—or will old fears and insecurities drive them apart?

He entered the house and looked around. People packed the entire living room. He stood still for a moment, allowing the air of the room to warm him. He studied the faces and realized he didn’t know anyone. No one approached him, but many looked in his direction with open interest.

    Then he spotted Carmen. She bustled around, taking plates and delivering coffee to older men and women around the room. He crossed to her and followed until she went into the kitchen. He waited in the doorway.

    The kitchen was empty of guests. She put the dishes in the sink and then braced her arms on the counter and released a breath that shuddered through her. Guilt poked at him. He was interrupting a private moment and he should leave, but his feet wouldn’t listen.

    He cleared his throat. “Carmen?”

    She straightened slowly before turning to face him. A slow smile formed on her face. “Liam.”

    He hadn’t been sure she would remember him. “How are you holding up?”

    She lifted her shoulders in answer. The question was dumb. That was one of the worst parts of dealing with people after his father had died. The dumb questions from people.

    “Here.” He held the flowers out to her. “I know it doesn’t help or ease the pain in any way, but I couldn’t come here empty-handed.”

    “Thank you. They’re beautiful.” She took the vase from him and looked for a free space on the counter. The entire kitchen table and the length of the counter held trays and bowls of food. The smells made his mouth water even though he wasn’t hungry.

    “Can I get you something to eat?” she offered after she stashed the flowers in the corner near the refrigerator.

    “No. Can I help with some of this? Do something for you? You look like you have your hands full with all of your guests.” He removed his jacket and hung it on the back of one of the kitchen chairs. He rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, prepared to help.

    She blinked a couple of times. “Uh… In all honesty, I’ll probably end up throwing most of this out. There’s just too much.” She turned in a circle. “Coffee. I need to make more.”

    Liam moved forward. The girl looked dead on her feet. How could her family not see this? He pulled a chair out from the table. “Sit. I’ll make it.”

    “No, it’s okay.”

    “Carmen, sit down. Take a break and relax for a minute.” While not harsh, his tone was firm and she sat.

    He remembered when Gus’s wife, Inez, died and the house had been filled like this. Gus loved having the family here, but Carmen had hidden in the kitchen, overwhelmed. Liam had joined her then too. He moved around the kitchen making coffee and then washed the dishes that were in the sink.

    “You don’t have to do that, Liam.”

    “I know. I like to feel useful. And I don’t think anyone in your family wants to chat me up.” He rinsed a dish and put it in the drain. “I came here to see you, Carmen. I don’t know anyone else. Your dad was my friend.”

    He heard her hiccupping breath. When he turned, he expected to see her crying, but she just stared off at nothing. Drying his hands quickly, he squatted in front of her. “What do you need, Carmen? I watched you run around here, taking care of everyone. What can I do for you?”

    Her focus shifted until her eyes met his. So much sadness. He wanted to wrap her in a tight hug, but they had never had that kind of relationship. They’d had a teasing, laughing one with minimal contact. And that had been years ago.

    “Could you take the coffee into the living room? I just need a few minutes.”
​
    He patted her knee before rising. “Take all the time you need.”

​

READ BOOKS & SPOONS REVIEW OF JUST A TASTE  HERE --
REVIEWED IN JANUARY, 2015 WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT 

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 Shannyn Schroeder is the author of the O’Leary series and the For Your Love series, contemporary romances centered around large Irish-American families in Chicago and the Hot & Nerdy series about nerdy friends finding love. Look for her new series – The Dating Challenge in 2019. When she’s not wrangling her three kids or writing, she watches a ton of TV and loves to bake cookies.
 
 Connect with Shannyn:
Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Book + Main Bites

​

It’s the wedding of the year.

But a serial killer is on the guest list.

Bette Fuller has come to Eagle Mountain, Colorado, looking for a fresh start.

So when she becomes the target of a serial killer terrorizing the small town, the wedding caterer refuses to be anyone’s victim.

Turning to groomsman and US Marshal Cody Rankin for help becomes personal for Bette.

Cody is attractive, protective—and more trustworthy than she wants to admit.
​But can they stay one step ahead of the Ice Cold Killer…?

An enthralling and emotional story, filled with murky suspicion, deadly dangerous moments of action, and characters that are struggling with real issues of trust, loyalty, and overcoming their past to achieve a better, brighter future. 
Cindi Mayers' books have always captured my mind but the Eagle Mountain Murder Mysteries are definitely my favorites. The emotions and the characters go so much deeper in these, and I don't know if it is the whole prison/convict aspect that so shatters my heart each time, but it certainly plays a big part on bringing up all the feels. 
And Bette Fuller, she wasn't even innocent when convicted. But she has done her time, she has learned from her past mistakes, and is now doing her best to rebuild her life, start anew, and make something, honest and real, with her future. There is a time when Bette talks about how working in the kitchen is like therapy for her, and I was cheering in my mind, cause I get that so well. Bette is a tough yet sensitive, capable, hard-working, talented, yet her past makes her vulnerable and hinders her somewhat not only from professional success but personal as well. 
US Marshal Cody Rankin is everything Bette wants to stay away from. Bette sees him as a career lawman, he is rigidly rules and regulations guy, who puts the law and order first, the human interest second. But Bette captures his eye, and things start to change on both of their lives, cause there are some heart-shattering reasons why Cody arrived at the soon-to-come wedding so early on. 
Despite seemingly being the opposites, Bette and Cody have a connection. They struggle with trust, yet they work on finding a way to be open and honest with each other, learning to trust each other, even though the unknown culprits are trying to sabotage Bette at each turn. 
The serial killer doing havoc in the small mountain town continues their hideous killing spree and manages to escape without leaving any evidence. The sheriff is doing all he can to capture the killer, but the case is not solved in this installment of the series. 
The story of the upcoming sheriff's wedding continues with this intense and exhilarating story of vigorous, crude action and harsh suspense in the midst of an inspiring, hopeful, ardent love story. A rather touching story of family, friends, and loyalty, trust and hope even when there is questionable evidence of criminal activity. 
~ Five Spoons

Cindi Myers worked as a newspaper reporter, travel agent and medical clinic manager before turning to writing full time. She's written both historical and contemporary romance, as well as dozens of short stories and nonfiction articles. Cindi thinks writers have the best job in the world.

Former president of San Antonio Romance Authors, Cindi is a member of Romance Writers of America, Novelists Inc., and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers.

She and her husband and their two dogs live in the mountains Southwest of Denver. When she's not caught up in creating new characters and stories, Cindi enjoys reading, quilting, gardening, skiing and hiking. She's also in demand as a speaker, teaching workshops and making presentations to both local and national writing groups.

What a lovely story!
I pretty much inhaled the tale at one sitting. It was so effortless to be engaged in the story, as all the elements of it were so well thought out, twined into a tale of danger and death, faith and growth, as well as soulmates and second chances. 
Building up tension and believable suspense and action in a small confined space, that is moving across the Canadian wilderness could be a challenge, yet the author manages to bring up the intensity from the very start, and hold it high up till the very end. The twisted plot unravels with the help of the Henry brothers, but I have to say, Erica Knight and her son Zander can manage to hold their own. Erica is a brave, strong, capable woman who is not afraid to take the lead and act when needed. And Zander, the little soldier, he is so adorable, while daring, smart, and fast on his feet. Zander stole the scene every time he walks on the stage, and I love him. 
Nick Henry might have been a hotheaded, irresponsible young man, but he had to grow up fast after facing the consequences of his mistakes and actions. He lost Erica once, his best friend and the only girl he ever loved, so this opportunity to stop the train heist, and rescue the travelers, it was more than just act of bravery, it was necessary for a new chance for Erica and Nick. 
The connection between Erica and Nick was palpable and real. The hurt from the past still bites, showing how deep the chemistry between them even now burned, yet there was hope for the reunion through redemption and forgiveness. 
One thing that I admired in this story was the strong presence of the faith in God in both Erica's and Nick's hearts and minds. In everything that they were, every situation they faced, their first thought was a prayer, showing where the foundation of their lives was built on. 
The intensity of the story was visible in every element of the tale, in the suspense, romance, as well as in the faith of the protagonists. The importance of family was everything to them, as they boldly face the danger, and fight for their lives while facing their past mistakes. 
I truly enjoyed the author's voice, her style to tell the tale, and pull the reader into the world where the known truth was challenged, everyone's lives were in the line of danger, and past mistakes had a chance to corrected if survived, new lives and possibilities arising from the deadly threat to their existence. 
A breathtaking story in many ways
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

Maggie K. Black is an award-winning journalist with a thirst for adventure. She's lived in the American South, Europe and Middle East, and left a piece of her heart in each. She now makes her home in Canada, where she writes stories that make her heart race, chases her dog around the park and shares her adventures with her one true love and and their two daughters.

Lights. Camera. Action. 

Gwenevere Solomon is the current "It" girl in Hollywood. The star of a dozen films, she seemingly has the world at her feet. Gwen's problem? She also has one very dangerous stalker at her door. His attacks are getting bolder, and Gwen is becoming more and more afraid. Because this stalker...he knows secrets that she's fought hard to keep buried. The kind of secrets that can destroy a woman's life.

A ghost from her past can save her. 

Gwen needs protection, and she needs that protection now. So enter her new leading man...Simon Forrest. Tall, dark, and ever-so deadly, Simon is the lover she left behind. Or rather, the lover who left her behind. He went off and became a SEAL, saving the world and riding one adrenaline high after the other. But he's back now, and as part of Wilde Securities, he's supposed to offer the best, most discreet protection service in the business. He'll pretend to be her lover so the press won't realize her life is going to hell, and Simon will stop her stalker.

He can keep his hands off her...and keep her shielded at the same time. 

Simon never got over Gwen, and the fact that she's been filling the big screen with her gorgeous self? Yeah, it's just made her even more tempting...and put her even further out of his reach. Simon was never good enough for Gwen, and he knew it. But this time, he can help her. He can catch the stalker, unmask the jerk, and keep Gwen shining in her spotlight. Easy as pie. Or, it should be.

Except...Simon might not be able to stop himself from falling for her all over again. 

Because when the cameras stop watching, that's when the real action begins...

The intensity and strong emotions, danger and fear, the potent, deadly action, and the second chance with your one and only soul mate who slipped from your life years ago, the ardent love affair in the middle of the risk and peril... I have such a serious case of book hangover right now, I can't wait for the end of the month and the next installment in the series, Ben's story! 
After reading Eric and Piper's story, I knew Simon's book would be tense and fierce. But this tale exceeded my expectations with the action and suspense, with the powerful secrets, and vigorous investigation to the case of Gwen's stalker. 
And the passion between Gwen and Simon just fed the flames that the suspense started. 
To tell the truth and trust him with all her heart was the only option Gwen had when after all the years she was face to face with Simon again. The fact that they both still trust each other, have this raw honesty when it came to the other, and that they did not fight for more than a short moment to surrender for the fervent passion still flaming as a tangible force between them -- it was just beautiful. 
The connection was real, the feelings bubbling back to the surface were unavoidable, the chemistry was palpable and strong, Simon and Gwen were adorably amazing together, with the kind of energy that takes your breath away. 
I loved seeing the whole gang working together, getting to the bottom of the case. Seeing the connection Simon had with Ben and Eric, the brotherhood that excited without bloodlines told about the bond of a friendship they had formed. 
This book was tough to put down after I first started it, the tempo of the unraveling tale is fast and I wanted to hang on to each word that took me for the wild ride. A vastly entertaining tale with a fabulous cast and crew, highspeed action, explosive suspense, and a ravishing, mindblowing love story of tragic soul mates whose destiny once drew apart... Yep, pretty amazing tale, indeed! 
~ Five Spoons

Today we have the blog tour for Melissa Foster’s MAD ABOUT MOON! Check out this fantastic new contemporary romance and be sure to grab your copy today!

Title: Mad About Moon
Author: Melissa Foster
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Fall in love with Jed and Josie in this emotionally captivating, sexy standalone romance by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster. The perfect love story for those who enjoy fiercely loyal and insanely sexy alpha heroes, smart, sassy heroines, strong family bonds, bikers, babies, and more! 

Can true love strike twice in one lifetime? 
Josie Beckley refuses to believe there is a limit on happiness. A decade after she escaped her abusive parents and lost touch with her siblings, the death of her husband leaves her and her son homeless. But Josie has never been one to wallow in sadness, and when she takes a chance on reconnecting with her siblings, a sinfully handsome bright light from her past shows up and offers to help her find a way out of the darkness.

Most people wouldn't see Jed Moon as someone to look up to. He's been in and out of jail and has lived a less-than-stellar lifestyle. But years ago one woman saw through his bullshit, and he's never forgotten her. Now she's back in his life, and as a prospect for the Dark Knights motorcycle club, Jed promises to keep an eye on the sassy, sexy single mother who has never stopped lighting his fantasies on fire. 

Jed and Josie's combustible connection is stronger than ever. Having Josie and her son in his life brings out all of Jed's protective instincts-and visions of a future he never imagined having. But when a shocking revelation knocks the insatiable lovers to their knees, it forces them to make choices that could change their lives forever. 

As she drove away, she decided to surprise Jed with lunch. He’d done so much for her, and she was too excited to just go back to the shelter. She stopped at Jazzy Joe’s café and picked up sandwiches for her and Jed and a cookie for Hail, which she’d give him after school. Then she drove over to the auto shop to surprise Jed.

When she arrived at the shop, she realized she probably should have called first. They were busy, and she had no idea if Jed even took a lunch break, much less if he was working there or at the bar today. She scanned the open bays, but didn’t see Jed. She spotted jeans-clad legs sticking out from beneath a car in the first bay, so she headed over with the bag from Jazzy Joe’s.

Truman slid out from beneath the car as she approached. “Hey, Josie. Looking for Jed?”

“Yeah. I thought I’d bring him lunch. I won’t stay or get in the way.”

“No worries.” He pushed to his feet and pointed to a set of steps by the office. “He’s up in his apartment. He’s not working at the bar until three. Go on up. I’m sure he’ll be glad to see you.”

“Thanks.” She headed for the steps and saw Tex peering at an engine beneath the hood of a car. “Hi,” she said as she walked by.

“Hi. Josie, right?”

Big Mama, the big calico cat she’d seen at the bonfire, wound around her legs. She leaned down to pet her. “Yes. Good to see you again.”

“That was some party, huh?”

“It was fun. I’m just going up to see Moon--Jed.”

Tex winked. “Have fun.”

As she climbed the steps she played over that wink, wondering if Tex was used to women going up to Jed’s apartment in the middle of the day. On the landing at the top of the stairs she knocked on the door, trying to ignore the swirling in her stomach. She waited for what felt like forever, but in reality was probably only a minute, and then she knocked again. She heard him say something that sounded like come in, so she turned the knob and peered around the door, quickly scanning the masculine loft-style apartment. Worn hardwood floors ran beneath a deep-cushioned brown couch, an orange chair, and a heavy wooden coffee table. There was a small open kitchen and glass doors that led to a deck.

“Moon?” she called out.

“In here,” came from behind a partially open door.

She closed the door behind her, and as she crossed the room, she said, “I just got done with Scotty and—”

He pulled open the door and she lost her voice. His hair was wet and tousled, his bare chest slick from a shower, and sweet baby Jesus, he was naked, save for a towel tied low on his hips.

“And…?” he asked as he stepped toward her.

She tried to speak, but her mouth had gone bone dry. A devilish grin spread across his face.

There he is. My big bad wolf.

And that wasn’t all that was big about him.

Her gaze dropped to the significant bump in the towel. Heat whipped through her like a torrential storm, bullying its way through her core, up her chest, and down her limbs. Her sex clenched, and her nipples burned. He lifted her chin, and that flirtatious smile morphed to sinfully enticing hunger.
​
“And…?” he whispered against her lips, drawing a needy whimper from her lungs. “Did you miss me, Little Red?”

​

Kobo  | iBooks  | Nook  | GPlay  | Paperback 

For more hot Whiskey love, check out Melissa’s other Whiskey novels.
​

And don't miss RIVER OF LOVE, the first story in which the Whiskeys were introduced!

The Whiskeys are perfect beach reads with depth of story, strong family ties, and a wealth of emotions. Small town love stories with happily ever afters guaranteed.

Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance, new adult romance and women's fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Readers adore Melissa's fun, flirty, and sinfully sexy, award-winning big family romance collection, LOVE IN BLOOM featuring the Snow Sisters, Bradens, Remingtons, Ryders, Seaside Summer, Harborside Nights, and the Wild Boys After Dark. Melissa's emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented. 

Melissa also writes sweet and clean romance under the pen name Addison Cole.

Melissa has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Her interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping others see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod.

Melissa is available to chat with book clubs and welcomes comments and emails from her readers. Visit Melissa on social media or her personal website.
 
Never miss a brand new release, special promotions or inside gossip again by simply signing up to receive your newsletter from Melissa.

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Bailey Rossum was living out a bad country song. 

After being stood up and having her pickup truck break down, Bailey found herself walking barefoot in a ball gown down a back road. And when her sexier-than-sin ex rides up on his steel horse Bon Jovi style to rescue her, she knows she has to accept his help even if it means breaking her heart all over again. 

Josh Scott had no interest in being anyone’s hero. 

After finding the only woman he’d ever loved stranded on the side of the road, Josh knew that he had to do the right thing. And when his headlight shone on long silky, blonde hair, huge doe eyes, and the most perfect set of lips ever created he knew his already shattered heart was in serious trouble. 

To live in the present, Josh and Bailey have to face their past. If they do they just might have a future…and it all starts with just one night. 

18+ Stand-alone Crossroads romance, complete with HEA--and plenty of heat and heart along the way!

To say the novel is heart-wrenching and emotional is just scraping the surface. The feels go deep, the angst is intense, and the tears were multiple, both from sorrow and pain as well as from joy and jubilee. To say I sobbed through the book is an exaggeration but not by much. 
Bailey Rossum and Josh Scott hadn't had the easiest start in life, but they had had each other. In the most amazing, finding your soulmate kind of way that will blow you away and steep deeply into your heart. Until they didn't. Until things went wrong in the worst moment in the worst kind of way. And even though they both had managed to succeed in their lives, to be successful in their careers, it might have been, cause all their energy and efforts were focused on the task at hand to avoid the feelings churning in their souls and core beings.
The energy, connection, chemistry between Bailey and Josh is something amazing and tangible and adorable all at the same time. The attraction they have for each other is a palpable force, and they are helpless to avoid it now that the connection between them is established again. And the love scenes these two create, are off the chart smoking hot. 
The challenge they face is the secrets from their past. Can they overcome everything they left behind and is there enough room in their hearts and minds for the understanding and forgiveness needed to move forward? I loved the road, the struggle they faced but mostly how the handled it. I loved both Josh and Bailey, how they saw each other and how honest they were with each other. 
The half spoon dropped - from my opinion - cause there was some third person drama involved that continued after the first love scene between Josh and Bailey. Was it physical, not really - a kiss - but it bothered me as it was first mentioned, it bothered me when it continued, and then when it was ignored after all the turbulence started in the hospital, I wondered why, oh why was it mentioned in the first place. I know, this is me and my silly hard limits, but this is my opinion so... 
The chaos created by unraveling secrets and the mayhem it caused in the protagonists' lives took me for an emotional road with angst and passionate adoration as the main vehicles riding down the curvy path... A journey that I am thankful I was able to experience, not only because of the lovely visit with my friends in Harper’s Crossing but because of both Josh and Bailey deserved to find peace, redemption, and most of all, love into their lives. 
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

​“Bring it,” Sean said, giving her a wink.
 
Ignoring his head games, Dani got into position. Fists up, elbows close to her ribs, lead leg forward. In this drill, Sean as the kicker could only make offensive moves with his legs. While, as the puncher, she couldn’t use her legs at all. Which meant she had to get in close while defending against his strikes.
 
They circled. Feinted. Attacked.
 
Sean was strong as hell, but she was faster by a lot. Dani used that to her advantage. Blocking and dodging his kicks and then getting inside to attack his ribs and gut and kidneys in the spare seconds before he regained his footing.
 
Each punch she landed released a pressure valve somewhere deep in her brain. And that release was so fundamental that she barely felt the kicks that Sean landed. Not that she gave him much chance to get them in, because she kept him close, under pressure, and on the defense blocking her punches.
 
“Damn, girl,” he said, respect and wariness plain in his voice. 
 
“You told me to bring it,” she said, looking for another in. He blocked a shot at his ribs and delivered a spinning side kick that landed on the side of her thigh. 
 
“Someone has some aggression to work out today,” he said.
 
“Do you have to talk so much?” she asked, sweat curling down the side of her face as she attacked again. This time she drove forward, forcing him to retreat and not letting him get in a kick.
 
Sean blocked and covered and dodged until they were in a clinch, breathing hard and face to face with no room to punch or kick. And for no good reason, heat roared over Dani. Heat that almost incinerated her from the inside out. Maybe it was the bulk of his muscles or the slick slide of their sweat or his scent of clean soap from a recent shower that couldn’t quite remove the hint of fire from his skin and hair. 
 
As if he sensed it, Sean’s dark eyes flashed hot and his jaw went tight. Breaking the rules, he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her in close, letting her feel his erection for one spare moment before taking her to the mats in a controlled move that showed just how freaking strong he was. She expected to get the wind knocked out of her, but he’d more laid her out than knocked her down.
 
A whistle blew. “Switch up,” Colby called. “And follow the damn rules, Riddick. We’re not doing ground work right now.”
 
Everyone laughed.
 
But Dani and Sean were caught in a staring contest with their faces mere inches apart.
 
She wanted him inside her so bad that she nearly gave voice to it. 
 
Her brain went immediately to that night.
 
How they’d circled each other throughout that whole damn party. How Sean had walked her to her car, parked right in front of his, which she’d begrudgingly thought sweet despite her insistence she didn’t need a damn chaperone. How they’d started bantering about something she couldn’t even remember now—because all she could remember was how desperately aroused she’d felt. How she’d teasingly punched him and he’d caught her arm and hauled her in against him. How the shock of his erection against her hip had made her look up at him. And how he’d claimed her mouth and she’d let him.
 
Oh, hell yeah, she’d let him do that and so much more…
 
And she wanted it again.
 
It was that thought that finally made her brain come back online. “Get. Off.”
 
His brow arched. Just the tiniest bit. “You can take your aggression out on me anytime.” He spoke in a rushed whisper, but the words impacted her like a body slam, pressing her back into the floor with some unseen force. Because she’d heard that tone in his voice before, when she’d straddled his lap on the big bench of his pick-up and finally taken him deep.
 
“Fucking hell, Dani. Take all of me.”
 
“Now,” Dani said, hoping he didn’t hear that her voice was affected, too.
 
In a move that seemed too lithe for someone his size, Sean hopped up then extended his hand to her.
 
Shook as she was, Dani accepted his help, then regretted it when he didn’t immediately release her hand but instead held her right in front of him—exactly like he had that night. “Just say the word.”
 
Dani swallowed hard. “Hold your breath waiting for it. Please.” She glared up at him, irritated with herself for letting him see inside her for that one unguarded moment when her body had reacted so viscerally to his. It was like that night had tuned their bodies into the same wavelength, and now they could communicate whether she wanted it or not.
 
Amusement and challenge slid into his gaze. “You’ll not only say it, Dani. You’ll beg me for it.”
 

Check out the whole Warrior Fight Club Series:
https://bit.ly/2U4BxcV
Fighting for Everything – Available now!
Fighting for What’s His – Available now!
Worth Fighting For – Available now!
Fighting the Fire – April 23, 2019!
​

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FORGIVEN by Carrie Aarons is now live! 

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Author of romance novels such as Red Card and Privileged, Carrie Aarons writes books that are just as swoon-worthy as they are sarcastic. A former journalist, she prefers the stories she dreams up, and the yoga pant dress code, much better.

When she isn't writing, Carrie is busy binging reality TV, having a love/hate relationship with cardio, and trying not to burn dinner. She lives in the suburbs of New Jersey with her husband, daughter and dog.

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