Excerpt: The Natural History of Us by Rachel Harris

About THE NATURAL HISTORY OF US

One class assignment. One second chance at love. The school player is all in. Now he needs to win back the sweet commitment girl who's forever owned his heart.

Justin Carter has a secret. He's not the total player Fairfield Academy believes him to be. Not really. In fact, he used to be a one-woman guy...and his feelings for her never went away. Too bad he broke her heart three years ago and made sure to ruin any chance she'd ever forgive him.

Peyton Williams is a liar. She pretends to be whole, counting down the days until graduation and helping her parents at the family ranch. But the truth is, she's done everything she can to get over Justin, and salvation is just around the corner. With graduation one short month away, she'll soon break free from the painful memories and start her life fresh. Of course, she has to get through working with him on one last assignment first.

For Justin, nothing ever felt as right as being with Peyton, and now that fate's given him a shot at redemption, he's determined to make the most of it. And for Peyton...well, Justin Carter has always been her kryptonite.

Excerpt

“Gabi Avila,” I read, looking at the tough chick from English class. “Huh. You know, I can’t get a read on this girl at all. I’ve gone to school with her for a while but haven’t said like two words to her.”

Carlos glanced over and I held up the book. “Hot,” he announced. “And my luck, a Commitment.”

“She’s friends with Aly Reed, so I’d say that’s probably right.” Brandon pointed at the right side of the legal pad. “I’ve known that girl for a long time and she’s one of my closest friends. I can tell you she’s absolutely a Commitment.”

As Carlos jotted down both names, I flipped to the end of the class photos and found Aly. She was cute. If I remembered right, she played for the volleyball team. In her picture, she was laughing instead of smiling, and something about the way her eyes crinkled reminded me of Peyton.

“I think it’s safe to say most of the Diamond Dolls are Casuals,” Carlos said, already writing Ashley’s name. “They seem cool with just hanging out and having fun, not trying to call any of us their boyfriends or anything, right?”

The other guys nodded in agreement. I wasn’t sure what Lauren wanted from me, but she’d never brought up labels. She left notes in my locker before games, cheered for me in the stands, and saved me a seat at lunch—basically the same things all the Diamond Dolls did. She also ignored me the other six days of the week, openly flirted with the other players, and kissed random dudes in the hallway. I’d say that was probably the definition of Casual.

“What about that new girl?” I asked. “I think her name is Peyton?”

Carlos side-eyed me, having seen her that day in the bleachers, but he didn’t out me.

Drew scratched his chin. “Who?”

“You know, the cute girl who started this semester. Strawberry blonde, kind of quiet, spends most of her lunch break reading a book?”

From the way all three of them turned to stare at me, it was clear my attempt for nonchalance missed by a mile. Carlos smirked, but replied, “Yeah, I’ve seen her around a few times. She came to the game the other day, didn’t she?”

Yes, she had. And I’d felt her watching my ass from behind home plate.

“The girl who screamed bloody murder at the umpire for missing that call?” Brandon asked, and I nodded, fighting a smile at the memory. It had been a horrific mistake, almost cost us the game, but hearing Sunshine yell so loud, and seeing her face turn red while she did it in the stands, had made it damn hard to stay angry.

The guys looked at each other for confirmation before saying in unison, “Commitment.”

I went to argue. I wanted to believe Peyton could be a Casual. If she didn’t want anything serious, then there would be no problem with us hooking up, having some fun, and hopefully getting her out of my head, since nothing else seemed to work. But, I knew the guys were right.

Carlos glanced at me, the pen pressed to the paper. I released a breath and said, “Yeah, she’s totally a Commitment.”

And completely off limits

About Rachel Harris

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Harris writes humorous love stories about sassy girls-next-door and the hot guys that make them swoon. Vibrant settings, witty banter, and strong relationships are a staple in each of her books…and kissing. Lots of kissing.

An admitted Diet Mountain Dew addict and homeschool mom, she gets through each day by laughing at herself, hugging her kids, and watching way too much Food Network with her husband. She writes young adult, new adult, and adult romances, and LOVES talking with readers!

Connect with Rachel: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter Signup | Goodreads

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Read an exclusive excerpt from Luck is No Lady by Amy Sandas

About the Book

“You should not have kissed me,” she replied breathlessly.
“I do a lot of things I shouldn’t. It does not mean I won’t do them again.”

Gently bred Emma Chadwick always assumed she’d live and die the daughter of a gentleman. But when her father’s death reveals a world of staggering debt and dangerous moneylenders, she must risk her good name and put her talent for mathematics to use, taking a position as bookkeeper at London’s most notorious gambling hell. Surrounded by vice and corruption on all sides, it is imperative no one discovers Emma’s shameful secret or her reputation—and her life—will be ruined.

But Roderick Bentley, the hell’s sinfully wealthy owner, awakens a hunger Emma cannot deny. Drawn deep into an underworld of high stakes gambling and reckless overindulgence, she soon discovers that in order to win the love of a ruthless scoundrel, she will have to play the game...and give in to the pleasure of falling from grace.

Luck is No Lady Excerpt

In this scene, our hero, Roderick Bentley, is trying to understand why a young lady of the

What he cannot figure out is why a lady of such exalted social standing would risk ruination by stepping foot in a notorious gambling hell.

What the hell was she doing here?

A daughter of the beau monde did not seek employment at a gambling hell.

He studied her in her common garb. He may never have guessed she had been gowned in fine silk and lace of a high society debutante only a week prior. Her dress today was simple and clean, but worn at the hem. Her spencer was quite dull and her bonnet was of a style he hadn’t seen around in years. Nothing about her appearance now would suggest she belonged in the ballrooms of London’s highest society.

She was intentionally practicing a deception. That much was clear. What Roderick needed to know was whether or not her deception involved any threat to his club.

His experience with women of her social standing was limited and unfavorable. Yet she did not behave as those ladies had. Not so far today, and not when they had met in Hawksworth’s darkened study. That night her witty retorts and thinly veiled sarcasm had helped him forget he stood in the enemy’s lair. Her manner had been far more self-assured than he would have expected from a young debutante.

That same self-assurance had lifted her chin defiantly when he suggested the position as club’s bookkeeper might not be suited to a modest lady. He sensed her indignation even before she challenged his implication. She had a sharp tongue tucked behind her even teeth, though he suspected she did not allow herself much occasion to use it.

None of it explained why she was here.

Relaxing his gaze, he made conscious effort to clear his mind. Whenever he was in doubt about anything, from which card to throw down to which road he should take, Roderick relied on his gut feelings.

As he sought to identify what his intuition might be telling him about the young lady before him, he experienced a strange tightness in his chest. It was not a sensation he had felt before and it took him a moment to get past the odd feeling. When he did, he did not notice any rise of trepidation or tremor of caution through his psyche. There was no tug of reluctance or flash of warning.

There was just an intense tightening sensation spreading out in thin rivers of awareness through his person. It was a sort of inner urging.

She may have applied for the position as the club’s bookkeeper under less than honest circumstances, but there was something about her…something that made Roderick wonder if she might be exactly what he needed.

About the Author

Amy andas's love of romance began one summer when she stumbled across one of her mother's Barbara Cartland books. Her affinity for writing began with sappy pre-teen poems and led to a Bachelor's degree with an emphasis on Creative Writing from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She lives with her husband and children near Milwaukee.

Book Blast: Unloved Again by Elan Golomb

Love can be hell. It is not an accident which moves us to love the wrong person or to hate the right one, over and over again. Most of us remain unaware of how to escape this perpetual cycle of bad relationships.

• Do you continually fall for the wrong person?
• Do you find yourself driving the right person away?
• Do your relationships quickly switch from blissful to tortured?
• Do you criticize unreasonably or find yourself being criticized disproportionally?
In Unloved Again, Dr. Elan Golomb identifies the crux of emotional and psychological problems which underlie love’s repeated failures.
Only in addressing these deep-seated issues can one escape the dance of romantic folly. With this book you will uncover the secret to enjoying a happy and lasting love life.

Meet the Author

Elan Golomb earned her doctorate in clinical psychology and her certificate in psychoanalysis and psychotherapy from New York University. She has been in private practice in New York since 1972. She is also the author of Trapped in the Mirror: Adult Children of Narcissistic Parents in Their Struggle for Self.

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Spotlight: Cin Wikkid by Mary Hughes

Like television's Once Upon a Time, CIN WIKKID is a fairy tale updated for the twenty-first century. A Cinderella’s rags-to-riches meets He’s the Boss—with Mary Hughes’s trademark sizzling sex and a dash of humor. Readers of BEAUTY TOUCHED THE BEAST by Skye Warren or DOUBLE DARE by Jodi Redford will fall in love with Cinderella and her prince in this contemporary romance by Mary Hughes.  

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: March 18, 2016
Publisher: 7th Octave Publishing

Synopsis

THE WRONGED DAUGHTER

Cinderella hungers to escape from under Widow Wikkid's grinding thumb. But to snare a plum job at Prince Industries, Cin desperately needs her degree, and she can't wrap her mind around tax accounting.

Then scarred but sexy Rafe Montoya ignites her imagination with his brilliant tutoring—and, as they work together in his cozy apartment, he sets her body on fire. So why is he pushing her to attend Gideon Prince's marriage-mart ball?

THE HANDSOME PRINCE

Rafe is really Gideon Prince, head of Prince Industries. He must name his bride by his April first birthday or suffer the loss of his family fortune. Rumors say he's still single because women love his money and looks, not him. Is he lonely or just another duplicitous tycoon?

THE GLASS SLIPPER TEST

Hopefuls flock to Prince's birthday ball, but only one will emerge triumphant. Only the woman who's kind, wise, and generous will win his heart. Is it Cin, or will her stepmother, as she always does, snatch the prize for her own daughters?

And on the night of the ball, when Cin discovers Rafe’s true identity, can she even accept his final test?

Warning: Rags-to-riches fairytale meets the texting generation. Stepsisters who are a blush-brush shy of a full makeup set, and a ball gown built like a tank. Contains material intended for mature audiences. Reader discretion advised.

Excerpt

Rafe watched her over the rim of his coffee mug, cobalt eyes twinkling. He knew exactly how badly she’d needed that massage. Exactly how much she’d enjoyed it.

He’d known…even though she hadn’t.

Her heart beat faster. He knew things about her, important things, that even she hadn’t known.

Rafe wasn’t simply the nice boy-next-door tutor she’d thought of him as. He wasn’t well-meaning but bumbling…

He was dangerous.

A little thrill sang through her. She immediately squelched it. His observance would be wonderful if they became a couple. But it also meant that if she ever got on his bad side, he’d know exactly where to stab to hurt her the most.

Be brave, Cinderella.

Before any of that, if they were ever to have the possibility of a real relationship, she had to come clean about the mock-hearing. “Can I confess why I wanted to meet now?”

“Absolutely.”

Hesitantly, she told him. But as she explained, he didn’t seem to be hurt or angry or any of the things she thought he’d be.

Instead, he almost seemed to

Somewhat confused, but with greater confidence, she ended with, “Is that something you can teach me?”

“Ye-es. Probably.” He frowned, thoughtfully. “How long do we have?”

“Until the beginning of April.”

“Then definitely yes. Though, it will take some pretty intense work one-on-one.” One black brow raised, a challenge. “Are you up for it?”

“I’m not afraid of hard work. Are

The right corner of his mouth went up, on the scarred side, crinkling his skin and giving his grin a rakish, devil-may-care look. “Hours of intense work, one-on-one, with you? Oh, yeah. I’m up for it.”

The way he purred “

Then his eyes dropped to her mouth and heated.

Her whole body went

She trembled, her heart pounding, her breath sawing in and out, on the cusp of bright truth. Her stepsiblings’ hatred had taught her to cover herself in bad makeup and baggy clothes and work, the contemporary version of sacks and ashes. But Rafe, looking at her like that…as if he not only was attracted to her but was on fire…God. She wanted to tear off her rags and shine.

Check out the other April Fools For Love books by Roxy Mews, S.L. Carpenter, Kayleigh Malcolm, and Jodi Redford on April Fools For Love!

About Mary Hughes

As a girl, Mary Hughes spun romantic, happily-ever-after stories to get to sleep. A husband, family, two degrees and a blackbelt later, she's delighted to spin them for readers.

She's lived with love and loss, in bright times and dark, and learned we can all use a break from reality every now and then.

So join her for action, sparkling wit and red-hot love. Strong men. Stronger women.

Connect with Mary: Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | Pinterest 

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Spotlight: The Last Mile (Amos Decker series) by David Baldacci

In his #1 New York Times bestseller Memory Man, David Baldacci introduced the extraordinary detective Amos Decker-the man who can forget nothing. Now, Decker returns in a spectacular new thriller . . . 

THE LAST MILE

Convicted murderer Melvin Mars is counting down the last hours before his execution--for the violent killing of his parents twenty years earlier--when he's granted an unexpected reprieve. Another man has confessed to the crime.

Amos Decker, newly hired on an FBI special task force, takes an interest in Mars's case after discovering the striking similarities to his own life: Both men were talented football players with promising careers cut short by tragedy. Both men's families were brutally murdered. And in both cases, another suspect came forward, years after the killing, to confess to the crime. A suspect who may or may not have been telling the truth.

The confession has the potential to make Melvin Mars--guilty or not--a free man. Who wants Mars out of prison? And why now?
But when a member of Decker's team disappears, it becomes clear that something much larger--and more sinister--than just one convicted criminal's life hangs in the balance. Decker will need all of his extraordinary brainpower to stop an innocent man from being executed.

Series: Amos Decker series
Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (April 19, 2016)

About the Author

David Baldacci lives with his family in Virginia. He and his wife have founded the Wish You Well Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting literacy efforts across America. He invites you to visit him at www.davidbaldacci.com and his foundation at www.wishyouwellfoundation.org.

Spotlight: Brush of Wings (Part of Angels Walking) by Karen Kingsbury

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury comes the third novel in an unforgettable series about divine intervention and the trials and triumphs of life for a group of friends.

Despite needing a heart transplant and against the advice of her doctor, Mary Catherine moves to Uganda to work at a new orphanage. Whatever time she has left, Mary Catherine wants to spend it helping children—especially since there will be no children of her own. The only problem is Major League Baseball player Marcus Dillinger, the man she never meant to fall in love with. Neither Marcus nor Mary Catherine’s other friends—Tyler Ames and Sami Dawson—know just how serious her heart condition is.

Still, Marcus is sure in the depths of his soul that something isn’t right. Ultimately his correspondence with Mary Catherine leads him on a desperate life-or-death mission to rescue her and get her to a US hospital before time runs out. Meanwhile, Sami and Tyler struggle with issues of their own. In a season when Tyler plans to ask Sami to marry him, the very core of their relationship is in jeopardy.

The team of angels walking is busier than ever in this epic battle between life and death. Brush of Wings is a poignant tale of love, sacrifice, and the power of faith. 

Series: Angels Walking
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Howard Books (March 29, 2016)

About the Author

Karen Kingsbury, #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, is America’s favorite inspirational storyteller, with more than twenty-five million copies of her award-winning books in print. Her last dozen titles have topped bestseller lists and many of her novels are under development with Hallmark Films and as major motion pictures. She lives in Tennessee with her husband, Don, and their five sons, three of whom are adopted from Haiti. Their actress daughter, Kelsey, lives nearby and is married to Christian recording artist Kyle Kupecky. The couple recently welcomed their first child, Hudson, making Karen and Don grandparents for the first time.