Excerpt: Surrender to Sin by Nicola Davidson

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Publication Date: December 12, 2016
Genres: Entangled: Scorched, Erotic, Historical Romance

Buy online: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

About the Book

To save her, he must ruin her.

Lord Sebastian St. John, dedicated bachelor and a co-owner of Fallen, the most scandalous pleasure club in London, is known as Sin for good reason. Orphaned by a shocking accident, Sin long ago vowed a life of solitude and
decadence. Yet when Lady Grace Carrington begs for his help destroying her reputation, Sin can’t turn the ton’s most proper lady away.

Obedient daughter, wife, and young widow, Grace has had enough of being controlled. After her father arranges a second loveless marriage to an eminently respectable ancient, Grace plans a fortnight of defiance and self-ruination to stop the wedding. But as Grace enters the heady, risky world of an affair with Sin, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to him— and she soon realizes two weeks won’t be nearly enough.

Excerpt

“Now. To the task at hand. How should you like it to play out?” 

“A kiss,” said Grace, irritable at her own transparency when she’d been able to mask herself so well in the past. “In public. Like in a phaeton, or while strolling in a park or perhaps in a box at the theater.” 

“All right. What kind of kiss?” 

An incredulous laugh escaped. “You are asking me about kissing?” 

Sin didn’t smile. “Yes. There are many types, pet. Chaste kisses. Ones of friendship. Relief. A teasing kiss, nothing more than a vague promise. Then new desire, clumsy and hungry but still with the edge of non-consummation. And finally the raw carnality of lovers. What do you want Baxter to believe?” 

Grace stared at him, mouth dry and heart pounding. Nell had been right. This was a man who knew every nuance of pleasure, utterly at ease with his knowledge and expertise. “I…I’m not sure.” 

“Well then. Why don’t we try an experiment? Kiss me, and I’ll tell you what it says.” 

For a long moment she hesitated. Sweet heaven she wanted to. Badly. But it had been so very long since she kissed someone she actually wanted to kiss; the secrets of finishing school seemed like a hundred years ago. What if she and Sin banged noses or foreheads? What if all she could demonstrate was friendship or lukewarm teasing? A mild scandal had seemed so easy. Perhaps it wasn’t at all.  

“I’m woefully out of practice,” she said awkwardly. “Probably not very seductive.” 

“I’ll be the judge of that. Look, I’ll even meet you halfway on the chaise. Shimmy closer, pet, and kiss me as though bloody Baxter was peering through the window right now.” 

Grace nodded, excitement coiling in her belly at the chance to have something she’d wanted for the longest time. Then she leaned across and carefully brushed her mouth against his, once, twice, before timidly touching the tip of her tongue to his lips. A low growl escaped him, and she jerked back. “I did it wrong, didn’t I,” she said tightly, embarrassed. What a countrified twit she must appear to someone of his experience. “I’m sorry.” 

“On the contrary. It was sweet and perfect. But sweet and perfect won’t end an engagement. If we are to create a public scandal, you cannot hold back. You must give me your all, so any gossips looking on unequivocally believe that rather than the quiet, virtuous widow of repute, you are an independent, hot-blooded woman with reckless, ungovernable sexual needs. For that is the last kind of wife a man like Baxter wants.” 

“I understand. Can we try again?” 

His smile was pure wickedness. “Oh, I dare you to.” 

About the Author

NICOLA DAVIDSON worked for many years in communications and marketing as well as television and print journalism, but hasn’t looked back since she decided writing wicked historical romance was infinitely more fun. When not chained to a computer she can be found ambling along one of New Zealand’s beautiful beaches, cheering on the champion All Blacks rugby team, history geeking on the internet or daydreaming. If this includes chocolate – even better!

Connect: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Excerpt: The Millionaire's Revenge by Wendy Byrne

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Publication Date: December 12, 2016
Genres: Adult, Entangled: Indulgence, Contemporary Romance

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About the Book

Real estate tycoon Luke McCall has a plan to take down the underhanded competitor messing with his livelihood. He intends to romance the man’s daughter, gain her trust, and get the information he needs to put his rival out of business once and for all. He just didn’t plan for the way she makes him feel.Grace Wilson is tired of men using her smarts, social position, or her father’s status for their personal gain. It’s time for a new philosophy: Test. Screw. Dump. But after she meets Luke, she’s not sure she’ll be able to walk away. Not only is he sexy and charming, but he survives every test she puts him through. But can she trust a guy who seems too good to be true?

Excerpt

“Body shots?” Grace’s face paled for a second before she recovered. “No problem. I can hold my liquor.”

“Body shots make things more interesting, don’t you think? Or is it your virtue you’re worried about?”

“Have we been transported to the nineteenth century or something?” She hit the play button. “I can play hard with the big boys. No worries about that.”

The movie had been on for less than five minutes when Luke spoke. “Looks like you’ll have to go first.” He paused the movie, stripped his shirt over his head, and placed a full shot glass on his navel, some salt right below, and stuck a wedge of lime in his mouth.

She licked her lips before hovering over his torso. Her tongue snaked out and licked the salt. When her breath warmed his skin, his dick noticed. The situation got worse when she cupped her mouth around the shot glass and sucked it down. By the time she captured the lime wedge from his mouth, he’d come perilously close to the point of no return.

Ah hell...and the movie had just started.

It was his turn next. She lifted her sweater to beneath her rib cage and placed the shot and salt like he’d done. The smell of her skin tickled his nose as he inched closer. It took every ounce of willpower he possessed to not do something really stupid. Even though taking her to bed wasn’t the reason he was here, right now it felt like a great idea, especially when he kissed her, and the taste of lime, tequila, and her mixed inside his mouth.

Her breath whooshed out between her lips. “I...I...”

She couldn’t seem to get the words out and neither could he. Instead, she hit the play button.

High on raging testosterone, it was soon his turn again.

“Oh no.” He pushed her hands away from only revealing her rib cage. “It’s time to go big or go home.”

“What do you mean?” The gulp eased down her throat as she looked at him.

Instead of verbalizing the wayward trajectory of his thoughts, he pulled the sweater over her head, revealing a red lacy bra that didn’t hide a damn thing. Taut nipples poked through like a siren’s call to his overcharged hormones.

Because he wanted to up the ante for no other reason than he’d lost his damn mind, he made the whole situation even more difficult for himself. “This time we’re doing it properly—between your breasts.”

Her eyes drew wide as she lay down. A mixture of trepidation and sexual attraction reflected in her expression. She pulled in a breath as he placed the shot glass and sprinkled the salt on the swell of her right breast. He handed her the slice of lime, and her fingers shook as she placed it in her mouth.

Before he knew what was happening, he’d unhooked her bra.

About the Author

Wendy has a Masters in Social Work and worked in the child welfare field for twelve years before she decided to pursue her dream of writing.

Between teaching college classes, trying to get her morbidly obese cat to slim down, and tempering the will of her five-year-old granddaughter, who’s determined to become a witch when she turns six so she can fly on her broom to see the Eiffel Tower and put hexes on people—not necessarily in that order—somehow Wendy still manages to fit in writing. She spends the remainder of her days inflicting mayhem on her hero and heroine until they beg for mercy.

Connect: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Bookbub

Excerpt: Meet Me Halfway by Kim Carmody

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Buy on Amazon | Barnes and Noble

About the Book

An ambitious journalist on a fast track to success.

A round one draft pick determined to keep his personal life his own.

And a documentary that proves sometimes opposites really do attract.

Olivia Callahan is a woman on a mission. When she lands a career defining opportunity in the male-dominated world of sports journalism, she knows it’s make or break time. Olivia’s boss has given her the green light to produce her very own documentary, and she’s not going to let anything get in the way of perfection.

After a few setbacks in college, Nate Sullivan is finally on his way to the big leagues as the newest recruit for the New York Warriors. Determined to put his somewhat colorful past behind him, Nate’s all about the straight and narrow as he sets out to prove he’s worthy of the first round draft pick that’s caused so much debate from fans and media.

The last thing Nate wants is to delve into stories from his past. But when his new team directs him to set the record straight, he has no choice but to cooperate with the feisty, determined reporter who shows up on campus. Olivia is thrilled that Nate Sullivan is her man. His colorful background is just the thing to take her story from memorable to award winning.

What neither of them expected is their attraction to one another, yet try as they might, determination gives way to temptation eventually. As Nate battles to protect his privacy and Olivia fights to produce the story of her career, they must decide what they’re willing to give up in order to gain each other.

Excerpt

“Thank you for back there.”

He grunted in response, shaking his head. “Don’t worry about it.”

We reached the motel entrance and I paused, turning to Nate when we got to the stairs that led to the second floor rooms. Without a word, he put his hand on my lower back, edging me on, and I heard the rickety wooden steps creak under his weight a second later. Apparently when he said he’d walk me home, he literally meant all the way to my door.

Pulling the key from my pocket, I stopped in front of my room and turned around to face him.

“I’m sorry if this has ruined your—” I froze mid-sentence as I took him in fully for the first time since we’d left the party, eyes roaming from his face down across his chest and back up again. “Oh my God, are you…you’re shaking.” I did another run over his body, his broad shoulders solid and firm but his arms vibrating ever so slightly, full of pent-up rage. Still. Four blocks later.

Dropping my key back in my pocket I clutched his wrists, tugging them gently.

He squeezed his eyes shut and pulled one arm from my grip, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry? What do you have to be sorry for?”

When he didn’t say anything, I pulled his hand away from his face. “Look at me.” I waited until he did, his head inclining on an exhale. “I really am fine. I promise. He barely touched me.” He still didn’t relax, and I only faltered for a split second before deciding on my next words, my need to calm him stronger than anything else. “Trust me, you got way closer than he did.”

A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth and his nostrils flared, his attention shifting to something other than the douchebag who was in all likelihood now nursing a broken nose. Unfortunately bringing up our little moment hadn’t really steered us to much safer territory.

I couldn’t look away from him, not with the way he was staring at me. I could see the war playing out behind his eyes, the need to wash away his rage with me, with us, even though it was possibly the worst decision he could make.

Let’s face it, it wasn’t going to be one of my better life choices either. I should have turned from him and gone inside.

I didn’t.

He took a step forward, closing the gap between us. My breath caught when he lifted me off the ground, his hands pulling my legs to wrap around his waist as he used his hips to push me up against the door.

And still he just stared at me.

Through his thin shirt, I could feel the frantic beat of his heart, the heat radiating off his skin.

“I won’t break,” I said, my voice that of a stranger, all soft and gentle, making me sound like I was in fact quite breakable.

His face dropped to my neck, lips hovering without actually kissing me, stubble tickling the soft skin there and I moved against him, pulling him closer. He grunted, dragging his face up, resting his forehead against mine. “I need you to go inside.”

I nodded, not caring if it was a bad idea to move this party into my room. And then realizing what he’d said, I opened my eyes. “Just me?”

“Yeah.”

Oh, right. Well that was unexpected.

“Are you umm…are you sure?”

He shut his eyes, shaking his head even as he said, “Yes.”

Taking his time to lower me to the ground, his hands followed the outline of my body and landed on my waist, squeezing just a little. “Go.” He started to pull away from me but leaned in at the last second and ran his nose along the line of my neck, inhaling my skin.  He squeezed my waist once more and with a pained expression said, “Go.”

I went.

About the Author

Kim Carmody lives in Australia with her husband, in a sunny little part of Melbourne that she never wants to leave. Except for frequent trips to New York, she is happy to leave at least once a year for those.

She holds a Masters in Commerce Marketing and while she spent her younger years training to become a professional dancer, she somehow ended up working in the sports industry, where she met her now husband.  Never a participant or spectator of sport growing up (she was too busy flitting around in a tutu), she has grown to appreciate, if not love many sports and eventually found herself writing about them too.

As an avid book lover from the moment she was introduced to The Babysitters Club as a seven year-old, Kim never expected to be able to call herself an author, but is beyond excited that she now can.

Meet Me Halfway is her second novel.

Connect with Kim: Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram: @kimmycarmody

Spotlight: Unexpected Rewards (Not Every Girl #2) by Jane McGarry

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Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: April 27th 2015
Clean Reads

Buy on Amazon

Summary

Olivia Davenport’s plan is destined to fail.

She is going through with it anyway, of course. After all, it is the chance of a lifetime. The unreasonable rules of others should not stand in her way.

In her small kingdom of Stewartsland, Olivia trains with the squires and harbors a secret dream. She longs to become a knight under the command of the Master-of–Arms, who just happens to be her father. He has indulged her passion so far, but they both know a simple fact – girls may not attain knighthood. Dismayed by the constant discouragement of her ambitions, she makes an impetuous decision to disguise herself as a boy in order to sneak on a mission. The consequences are not at all what she anticipated.

When her deception is revealed, she is sent home in disgrace; however, an unexpected turn of events puts her at the center of a dangerous plot against the King. The ensuing adventure finds her grappling with mercenaries and outlaws, yet these pale in comparison to her newly awakened emotions. She finds not only her life at risk, but also her heart, when the aloof Prince Liam begins to affect her in ways she never thought possible. In the end, it is her courage and unique spirit which must guide her through the challenges she encounters both physical and emotional. 

Excerpt

“Excuse me, Sir Davenport, Lady Davenport,” says a voice, and suddenly Liam stands beside us. “But I would very much like to have a dance with your daughter.”

“Of course, Your Highness,” Mother replies in awe, dipping into a curtsey.

My acknowledgement is a much stiffer bow of the head. The moments with my family had briefly smothered my worry, but now it hurtles back full force. He takes my hand and I follow him onto the floor, silently praying my knees don’t give out from the terror that rises in me like the tide. One hand fits on the small of my back, the other grasps mine. His palms are uncharacteristically sweaty.

Something is definitely wrong.

I look into his beautiful, blue eyes. They swim with misery. Now that I am going to find out the reason, I am not sure I want to anymore.

He clears his throat. “I didn’t want to have to tell you in public, but I can’t let the night pass and deceive you.”

Not good.

At my silence, he continues, “Somehow Jocelyn has influenced my father. He wants me to court her, to give her a fair chance, because he considers her a more suitable match.”

There she sits now, right next to King William, her usual smug expression in place. Our monarch absently surveys the room. The monarch I saved—who praised me for it—stabs me in the back without a second thought. I should have left him to die in that escape tunnel.

“And what do you think of that?” I ask pointedly.

“Naturally, I protested…abundantly, but…” He stops, won’t meet my eyes.

But? But cannot be good. But can only be disastrous.

I stop moving and we stand looking at each other like mannequins while

couples rotate around us.

“But what?” I whisper, the cacophony of music and chatter turning into an otherworldly buzz while my senses brace for the impact of his answer.

“But…my father told me if I did not give Jocelyn a fair chance, he would not only send you from the palace, but ship you down to Prescott and arrange a marriage for you there. I don’t

know what to do, Olivia. I don’t know how to fix this.”

A barrage of thoughts leap to mind, none of them in any way accepting of this information. Send me away? Ship me to Prescott? As if I were livestock? And arrange a marriage? So many protests, I hardly know where to begin.

The music ends and couples saunter off the floor. Liam and I stand alone in the center.

Eyes will be upon us soon if we remain here like statues.

With every ounce of composure I can muster, I curtsey and hear my voice say, “Thank you for the dance, Your Highness. I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening.”

Then, I walk away.

About the Author

Reading was always a big part of my life. Creating my own stories developed out of this love. Finally, I decided to try my hand at writing a novel and that was when Not Every Girl was conceived.

I live in New Jersey with my husband, two sons and an extremely spoiled cat. When I am not running around with my family or writing, I can be found curled up with a good book and said cat. It is my belief that a good book, a loyal pet and anything made of chocolate can brighten just about any day.

Connect: Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

Excerpt: Trying Sophie by Rebecca Norinne

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Publication Date: December 6, 2016
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Sports Romance

Buy online: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

About the Book

She doesn’t date players…
Sophie loves her life: she’s travelled the world and lived by her own rules. But when she finds out about her grandfather’s heart attack, she drops everything and boards a plane to Ireland. Two weeks, that’s the plan. Until one look at her childhood nemesis has her rethinking everything. She’s sworn off athletes, but she might just give him a try…

He’s the biggest player of all.
Sex and rugby. Those were the only two things Declan cared about, right up until his first love waltzed back into his life. Even as he slept his way through Dublin, he never stopped thinking about her. Never stopped wondering if she thought about him, too. So even though he’s never gone after a woman the way he chases down opponents on the field, this time, he won’t let her get away.

On the field, he’s invincible, but she just might break him.

Excerpt

“My house,” I clarified.

“Oh, right.”

Paying the driver, we exited his car and stood side by side on the wet pavement outside my house.

“It rained,” she observed groggily, wrapping her arm through mine. Looking up at me with a shy smile, she added, “Thanks for today, by the way.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I had a good time,” she continued, her eyes searching my face.

“I’m glad,” I answered, refusing to meet her stare. “Be careful, the tiles can be slippery, especially in those shoes.”

Clinging tighter, she whispered, “You won’t let me fall.”

“Nope, you’re safe.”

“I am, aren’t I?” she asked as I fitted my key in the lock. “Safe?”

I dragged my eyes to hers. I couldn’t be sure, but suddenly it felt like we weren’t talking about slippery walkways anymore, that there was hidden meaning in her words … and mine.

“Always,” I intoned, pulling her through the door and into me. With her palms resting flat against my chest, I was sure she could feel my heart hammering against my sternum.

Despite the pep talk I’d just given myself, I couldn’t deny how I felt about this woman. She was in my veins. I knew she didn’t trust me not to break her heart, not yet, but I was just as vulnerable. And even though I was probably setting myself up for further rejection, I needed her to know she had a home here. That there was a place for her in my life if she’d only let herself take it.

“You’re safe with me Sophie,” I repeated, my lips dropping to hers. “All you have to do is let me in. I’m yours for the taking.” I kissed her again. “Please, take me.

About the Author

Rebecca read her first book when she was four years old and has been hooked on the written word ever since. While working in technology PR in Silicon Valley, she began writing her debut novel and eventually published it six years later. At the end of 2014, she left behind her career in corporate communications to become a full time author. When she’s not writing, you can find Rebecca exploring her new city of Dublin, Ireland, watching Leinster Rugby matches, or traveling the globe searching for inspiration for her next book.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | Goodreads 

Playlist: Serendipity of Fate by Becky Banks

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The playlist for Serendipity of Fate started out as just a mish mash of songs I love. I like to block out my internal writing critic with loud music when I create, plus it helps keep me focused and not thinking of the 32 million other things on my to do list. Then, about the time when I was halfway through writing the book my husband got the latest Major Laser CD… After binge-listening to the entire album like a chocoholic with a pan of freshly baked chocolate cake, I added my fav songs to my writing playlist making it even more moody and inspiring. At some point, I think it was at the end of writing Serendipity, the Credence tracks were added when I wanted a bit more Southern rock to set the scene.  I have eclectic tastes when it comes to music, I was raised in Hawai’i with local island music but my mother was a military brat who grew up in the mainland listening to everything from gospel to Guns n’ Roses. I like a bit of everything, and I think this playlist shows that. BTW, I recommend listening to Faded, Be Together and Powerful when reading chapter 26’s love scene. ;0)  

Cheers, 
B

About the Book

It’s been two years since Cason McPherson watched his best friend die in his arms. With shrapnel in his hip and a war behind him, he keeps focused on building a civilian life and not on what he wants most: the woman of his dreams, Savannah. If only she’d stop bringing up topics he has to keep secrets about. 

Savannah Sparling has no time for baggage, and Cason McPherson brought home a matching set in scathing green—with a carry-on duffel bag full of lies. He’s the childhood friend who enlisted with her brother. He came home, and her brother didn’t. 

Balancing work with demanding clients while fulfilling a personal vendetta against Cason consumes Savannah’s already full schedule—until a series of unstoppable events leads to a collision between Savannah’s work and personal lives. Her carefully structured path in the world is crushed, her own blood is spilled, and passion between her and an unlikely bedfellow ignite. 

Cason and Savannah find the only the people strong enough to save them from themselves is each other. But will either one of them accept the help—and the love—that’s offered?

Find it online: Amazon

Listen to Playlist here.

About the Author

Becky Banks grew up, like the generations of Bankses before her, in the Hawaiian Islands. With the islands as her roots, Becky was raised within the time-honored tradition of “talking story” before a backdrop of grassy fields, blue waters, and cloud-clad mountains. She moved to the mainland after high school to attend Oregon State University, where she studied forestry, natural resources, and science education. One fateful day she realized that her decades of scribblings promised the makings of a romance writer. Becky’s first novel, The Legend of Lady MacLaoch, achieved the Night Owl Reviews Top Pick Award and Amazon’s Best Seller for Historical Romanc

Becky lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband, Keith, and their wild toddler, Sammy.

Contact Becky online at www.beckybanksonline.com.