Spotlight: You Shook Me All Night Long by Simone Harlow

/

About the Book

Scorned rhythm guitarist Travis Rexford is lost. After the unexpected death of his best friend and fellow band member he can’t find his music anymore. His band is on the verge of breaking up. Then one night a beautiful, mysterious, seductive woman steps into his life. The next morning- she’s gone. Determined to find her, woo her, and claim her again, he is a man on mission.

Charlotte Lambert is still reeling from the tragic death of her twin sister. The last gift her sister gave her is a to do list to get her back into the business of living. Tell a lie, steal something, climb a mountain... sleep with a rock star? Determined to get out of the rut of mourning, she finds a sexy bad boy rocker and takes him to bed. Then she slips quietly into the morning light not looking back.

But life has a funny way of turning on you. Travis finds his enigmatic siren and under the sex kitten veneer he saw on their one night stand is a sweet, kind, gentle woman who is in just as much pain as he is. He brings her home and they begin the process of healing. Their losses brought them together, but can they heal each other and find the will to go on?

The only way you can find what you want is to get lost.

Buy on Amazon

About the Author

Once upon a time Simone Harlow decided to write a book. She never understood why she had to write a book she just did. She has a great life. A family that loves her. Friends she can mother. And a dog who thinks she’s his reason for living. (No, really, he told her so.) She should be content. But alas she still had to write that book. So she did, and it was the beginning of an excellent adventure.

Connect: Website | Facebook | Twitter: @simone_harlow

Excerpt: Life of the Party by Kris Fletcher

/

About the Book

In this all-new contemporary romance series, the five Elias sisters of Calypso Falls, New York, discover that love sometimes arrives in surprising ways...

Jenna Elias was always the life of the party, coasting on her charm and beauty, hiding the shame of the scandal surrounding her absentee father, a corrupt politician. But the party ended all too soon with an injury that left her partially paralyzed and a husband who simply left her. Now, at age thirty, she’s back in Calypso Falls. She leads a simple existence working in her sister’s coffee shop, but Jenna misses the joy she once had in her life. Then Cole Dekker walks into the coffee shop.

As idealistic as he is sexy, the local lawyer is running for mayor of Calypso Falls. Drawn to Jenna’s quick wit and radiance, he asks her to volunteer for his campaign. As the two start working together, there’s no denying the powerful attraction they feel for each other. A desktop makeout session leads to much more. But when Jenna’s dad returns to Calypso Falls and wants to be a part of her life again, the association could spell political suicide for Cole—and the end of a once-in-a-lifetime chance at true love.

Excerpt

(Jenna) couldn’t quite stop staring at him.

Her rational brain ticked through the points—attractive guy, my age, waiting politely—while something within her urged her to look harder. Deeper. Before she missed something vital.                                                                                                                                     

Then he raised his eyebrows and tipped his head, and she caught it. The flash of humor. The air of expectancy. The feeling that, in this moment, she was the only thing that mattered to him.

“Could I get a coffee, please?”

Hello, reality, you cruel bitch.

“Um . . . sure. Sorry. I’ll be right with you.”

Okay. So his desperate focus had been not on her, but the caffeine she represented. Nothing wrong with that. Better, even, than the possibilities being offered up by her imagination.
She returned to the register and focused on the order she needed to modify. It would be a lot easier if she wasn’t certain that he was following her every move, watching her hands glide across the keyboard like they held Harry Potter’s wand. Or maybe he was the one with the magic. It certainly took all of her resolve to stay on task when she had this sense that she was being compelled to turn back to him.

Lucky for her, learning to walk again had taught her a few things about determination.

At last the receipt was modified. She braced herself and returned to Mr. Compelling with the practiced smile she kept in her pocket for any situation requiring tact and/or faking.

“Sorry for the delay. One coffee, right?”

“Right. Milk, no sugar.”

“Let me deliver these and I’ll get right on that.”

She reached for the tray, but he placed a hand across it.

“Hang on,” he said.

Well, hell. There was nothing like watching a guy turn into an entitled, demanding jerk to crash through the Hormone Net.

“I’ll be right back.” She said it firmly, resisting the urge to explain playground rules about taking turns to him.

“That’s going to the table in the corner, right? The loud group?” At her nod, he added, “I’m with them. Add my coffee to the bill, let me pay up, and I’ll do the delivery myself.”

Her first thought was that Aunt Margie had got things seriously wrong when she said that all men were shortsighted asses who couldn’t see beyond the ends of their peckers.

Her second was that he’d caught her limping and felt sorry for her.

She straightened her shoulders, her backbone, her hips. “Thanks, but I can manage.”

“Sure you can. But I’m heading that way anyway.”

“That’s very kind of you, but I’ve kept them waiting long enough.”

“Yeah, well, I kept them waiting longer. If I come bearing gifts, they might be more forgiving.” The grin flashed again. “In fact, why don’t you toss a few of those muffins on the tray, too. I have a lot of groveling ahead. It might go better if I feed the beasts before I throw myself on their mercy.”

How was a girl supposed to resist that? 

Buy on Amazon | Barnes and Noble

About the Author

Kris Fletcher writes about small towns, big families, and the love that grows despite them. She has a thing for underdogs, which probably explains her lifelong devotion to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Kris shares her central New York home - fondly known as Casa Kitty – with her husband, kids, two cats, and a large population of wild killer dust bunnies. 

Connect: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

Excerpt: Surrender by Lisa Renee Jones

/

About the Book

New York Times bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones returns with the third book in the sexy, suspenseful Careless Whispers series.

Passion burns fiercely hot between Ella Ferguson and Kayden Wilkens, the man who held secrets and lies in his hands, and then allowed them to fall into hers. But even though he has become her anchor–helping her recover from amnesia after finding her unconscious in an alley, and allowing her into his secret world–all is not what it seems. Kayden still has secrets, and pieces of Ella’s past are still shrouded in the darkness of her mind, while the powerful man who hunts her will not stop until she is his. In this final, explosive novel in the Careless Whispers series, Ella discovers that while her life with Kayden didn’t begin in that dark alley…it could easily end there.

Excerpt

“Just know this. I would never betray you. I would never hurt you. I would, as I have said, and will say over and over, die for you.”

“As I—”

“No,” he says roughly, his voice gravelly, affected. “Do not say you would die for me, because that is not what I want from you. Never do I want that from you.”

“I know you don’t want that,” I say, my voice now gravelly as well, “but you see, I feel what you feel. I can’t stand the idea of living instead of you, without you.”

“I don’t plan to let you.” His fingers flex around my hands. “Hold them right here.” He waits for my reply and I give a tiny nod, before he reaches beside me and produces a roll of masking tape, already tearing a long piece.

“What are you doing?” I ask again, my heart now skipping and racing, but by the time I start to pull my hands back, he’s already holding them.

“Aside from protecting your newly inked wrist by avoiding a tie that would be on top of it,” he says as he attaches one side of the tape several inches up my arm, “I’m proving a point.” He finishes wrapping my arm, then grabs the roll to pull off another piece.

“What point?”

He wraps more tape around my arm. “You can’t get free,” he says, tossing the roll over his shoulder. “I can do anything to you I want to do to you, and you can’t stop me. You could fight, but I’m bigger and stronger. Does that scare you?”

“No, it doesn’t scare me, but if I wanted to get free, I could fight. I’m good at fighting.”

“Do you want to fight me, Ella?”

“No. Of course not.”

“Because you’re safe with me. I want you to stay safe with me. That is why we can’t go to Paris. Not now. Not yet. I’m not trying to dominate you or control you. I just want you to be alive to fight with me like you just were. To change my mind. And for me to change yours, and in this case, I’m going to.” He folds my hands behind my head, and orders me to keep them there while his hands slide to my back, molding me to him, his breath a warm wash on my lips. “I can’t lose you, Ella.”

“Kayden,” I breathe out, emotion tightening my chest, so many emotions I cannot even begin to name them. Things I’ve felt in the past and present, things I know and do not know, colliding and erupting inside me. I need him and I know he needs me, and I have never felt such a thing with anyone, ever.

“Not can’t,” he amends. “I won’t lose you. Do you understand?” He doesn’t give me time to answer, or to let my fears that I will become his weakness take shape. Already he is kissing me, deeply, fiercely, kissing me and lifting me as he does. And even this, the way he holds me and I cannot hold him, not with my hands behind my head and my forearms taped. So I just savor the taste of him, of us together, and all we are here and now.

Buy on Amazon | Barnes and Noble

About Lisa Renee Jones

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT series, which is now in development for a television show to be produced by Suzanne Todd of Team Todd (Alice in Wonderland). Suzanne Todd on the INSIDE OUT series: Lisa has created a beautiful, complicated, and sensual world that is filled with intrigue and suspense. Sara’s character is strong, flawed, complex, and sexy - a modern girl we all can identify with. I’m thrilled to develop a television show that will tell Sara’s whole story - her life, her work, her friends, and her sexuality.

In addition to the success of Lisa's INSIDE OUT series, she has published many successful titles. The TALL, DARK AND DEADLY series and THE SECRET LIFE OF AMY BENSEN series, both spent several months on a combination of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling lists. Lisa is presently working on a dark, edgy new series, Dirty Money, for St. Martin's Press.

Prior to publishing Lisa owned multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by the Dallas Women's Magazine. In 1998 Lisa was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine.

Lisa loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her on  Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Website

Spotlight: Lethal Game by Katie Reus

/

Synopsis

Read the action-packed finale of the USA Today bestselling Red Stone Security series!

He broke her heart.

Graysen’s betrayal nearly destroyed Isa a year ago. Now that she’s working for Red Stone Security, she’s managed to piece her life back together after a rough year and a broken heart. Then he appears back in her life and makes it clear he’s not going anywhere until she gives them a second chance. A chance she refuses to take.

Now he’s back to claim what’s his.

Graysen’s never gotten over Isa and he knows he never will. It’s his fault she walked away, but he can’t seem to let her go. He quit his job with the CIA and called in every favor he had to get hired by Red Stone Security just to be near her again. But Isa doesn’t care that he’s desperate to make things right between them—she wants nothing to do with him. He doesn’t blame her, but he’s not willing to give her up. When they’re cornered by lethal terrorists, everything changes. Graysen and Isa will have to find a way to work together if they want to survive. Only then will he be able to convince her to claim the chance at happiness the past stole from them.

Excerpt

Copyright 2017 © Katie Reus

Did you do what I told you to?

Isa shook her head as she read Mara’s text, a smile tugging at her lips. A man stepped up next to her, joining the crowd of people waiting for the elevator.

Her fingers flew across the screen. Yes, weirdo. You’re the only woman I know who would order me to dress sexy when going to a meeting with said woman’s own husband.

Mara had called her this morning and ordered her to wear something designed to make a man’s tongue fall out of his mouth. She hadn’t actually done what Mara had said because this was a professional environment, but she’d dressed up a little more than normal.

You’ll thank me later, came Mara’s responding text.

Is this about who I’m meeting with today? You know I don’t mix business and pleasure. So even if her new partner was sexy as sin it wouldn’t matter. He might as well be sexless. She didn’t have any interest in anyone, anyway. Not since… She swallowed hard, shutting that thought down.

“You look really familiar,” the man next to her said.

Since Mara hadn’t responded Isa tucked her phone into her purse and gave the man a neutral smile. When she looked at him, however, she realized she had seen him somewhere. The memory of that ‘meeting’ was disgusting. “I don’t think so,” she murmured. Yeah, she really didn’t want to talk to this guy.

“No, I’m really good with faces and I’m certain we’ve met before.” He watched her carefully, looking at her as if he was trying to decide if he’d seen her naked or not.

The guy’s whole demeanor was off-putting and she wondered if he was a new client for Red Stone. She certainly hoped not. “The reason I probably look familiar,” she said quietly, dropping her voice so that the others around them couldn’t hear, “is because I was at Club Bardot the other night and saw a prostitute give you a blow job right in the VIP section.” She’d been there following someone for one of her past jobs—seeing if there was another angle to being able to infiltrate the company. Meaning, potential bribery of an employee. She hadn’t had to use that angle, thankfully.

He blinked in clear surprise, but he didn’t seem embarrassed. “She wasn’t a prostitute.”

That was his response? She coughed to cover up an uncomfortable laugh. “Oh, I just assumed.”

He straightened, clearly not deterred. “Well, listen—”

She shook her head. “I’m not trying to be rude, but I literally had to see your dick against my will when you whipped it out for the entire VIP section to see. I don’t think we have anything to say to each other.”

Isa heard a woman snicker behind her and realized she hadn’t been as quiet as she’d thought. But seriously, it was too early in the morning for this. She hadn’t even had her coffee yet.

The guy shrugged, not even fazed. “Your loss.”

She snorted to herself. Yeah, she was sure she’d lose a lot of sleep over this guy. When two elevators’ doors opened, she slipped into the opposite one he got into. At thirty she was too young to be out of the dating game, but damn, if this was what was out there, she was fine being single.

Buy on Amazon | Barnes and Noble

About the Authors

Katie Reus is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Red Stone Security series, the Darkness series and the Deadly Ops series. She fell in love with romance at a young age thanks to books she pilfered from her mom’s stash. Years later she loves reading romance almost as much as she loves writing it.

However, she didn’t always know she wanted to be a writer. After changing majors many times, she finally graduated summa cum laude with a degree in psychology. Not long after that she discovered a new love. Writing. She now spends her days writing dark paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense.

For more information on Katie please visit her website: www.katiereus.com. Also find her on twitter @katiereus or visit her on facebook at: www.facebook.com/katiereusauthor.

Spotlight: My Peace by Courtney Cole

/

My Peace, the continuation of Pax Tate's story from IF YOU STAY, is live today!

Happy endings must be worked for.

Pax Tate used to be an effed up asshole, but you’d never know it now.

He’s got a sexy wife, their own little family, a cozy home, and a successful career.

Everything is perfect.

Until his past rears its ugly head.

Pax will do anything to protect his family,

even if he destroys himself in the process.

 

Dear Readers,

I announced recently that I based the character of Pax Tate on my twenty-two year old son, Gunner.

Gunner is a drug addict.  He's currently in rehab, and he's doing well, but it's been a long roller-coaster of a journey to get here.

Pax's personality traits are Gunner's.  Even though Gunner's moods have been mercurial because of drugs, deep down he is strong and funny, charming and sweet.  I wanted that to come through in Pax.

(Of course, when I'm writing the "sexy time" scenes, I'm definitely picturing Jensen Ackles or Alex Pettyfer in my head.  :)

Pax's heart is as deep as the ocean, even though sometimes, he can be an asshole.  I think readers realized that in IF YOU STAY, and that book sat on the New York Times for twelve weeks back in 2013.

Readers have asked for more Pax over the years, and it is only now, that I wanted to add more to the story. It is only now that I have come to terms with the fact, based on my son's own life, that happy endings must be worked for.

I hope you love Pax's story.

I wrote it with the ending I want for my own son, one of hope, of happiness and of good health.

I will give anything to make that true.

From my pen to God's ear.

I hope you enjoy the story.  Thank you for reading!

XO,

Courtney

Buy on Amazon

Spotlight: The Life Group by Maura Jortner

/

Genre: YA Thriller
Release Date: January 9th 2017
Lakewater Press

About the Book

ONE MISSING GIRL. NO SUSPECTS.

Every day since her sister vanished, Rachel has visited the radical church where Leah was last seen. There are still no suspects or leads, but Rachel’s positive clues lie in that church somewhere.

Thirteen days on from Leah's disappearance, the pastor introduces Rachel to Tim, a devout worshiper of his Lord. To avoid dealing with his own demons, he agrees to spend the day helping Rachel search for her sister.

It’s Saturday, March 14. Maybe today will be the day. Maybe today Rachel will be reunited with Leah. Or maybe today will change Rachel’s life forever.

For fans of GONE GIRL, this gripping Young Adult thriller will keep you guessing until its explosive climax.

'...a truly original storyline and taut pacing that pulls the reader relentlessly toward the devastating conclusion.' USA Today Bestselling author Lisa Stormes Hawker

'Teens and adults alike will devour this rollercoaster story...' Emily Bleeker, author of WRECKAGE and WHEN I'M GONE

Excerpt

The podium and cross look lonely within the dim space ahead of me. As I gaze forward, I imagine myself standing there, dressed all in black, singing at Leah’s funeral. My parents huddle together, arms entwined, in a front pew. I alone face the congregation, and though I’m shaking so hard my voice falters, I don’t want to let my sister down. I bravely confront her coffin and dig deep to summon more vocal strength. I make it through the end of “Amazing Grace.”

For the record, Leah would be pissed. She hates that song.

In the next minute, I’m praying again. Please let her be okay. Please, God. Please? It must be something that happens automatically in a church. Please, God. She’s my sister. My sister. My only sister…

Stupid. God knows that.

I swallow and blink at the ceiling. When I’m ready, I face the front anew.

The cross up front is simple, sparse. A small podium draped with a cloth sits on the left. It’s decorated with things cut from felt, something a youth group would make. Thick, fuzzy red writing shouts, “The Blood of the Lamb Has Saved Us, Sinners All”; yellow, orange, and blue flames lick at the text.

Something creaks—maybe a floorboard—and I swivel around, hoping to see someone suspicious. No. It’s just Pastor James and the guy he’s praying with. Their heads still hang down. One of them must have shifted in his seat. I puff out a deep breath and turn back to the front.

“She’ll turn up. She’ll turn up. She’s done lots of stupid stuff before and she’s always been okay.” I whisper this over and over. Inside, though, I’m not sure it’s true this time.

Please. Please let her be okay. Please let her not be dead.

Tears gather in my eyes, and a lump the size of Texas knots in my throat. I dig a tissue from my purse and wipe my nose. I dab under my eyes, careful to veer around my eyeliner, and sniffle. But going into meltdown mode here, in this church? No. It won’t happen. I won’t let it. I press my knuckles into the old wood. My joints start to throb, but I hold them against the smooth surface until physical pain replaces emotion, and the tears vanish down my throat. Happy with my show of self-control, I shove the wadded up mess of tissue into the side pocket of my purse.

I let out a sigh. This is probably a huge waste of time. What am I hoping to find? I’ve come here for six days in a row and nothing’s turned up. Nothing’s happened. Why am I expecting something different now? God, I just want to help Leah. Please give me a sign. Let me know she’s okay.

When I glance down, I discover my hands are clasped together. Am I praying? Am I seriously praying?

Another noise; I swing around in my seat. The two in the back. I wonder how long they can keep up with it—talking to God. Together. Exactly when that thought crosses my brain, Pastor James’s head bobs up. He smiles at me. I freeze. Crap. Grimacing, I face the front again. Whatever. Worst case: I interrupted his prayer. Best case: He has something to report.

I force myself to stay seated the way I am, but I finally give in to the impulse I’ve been fighting. “God,” I whisper, “are you listening? Where is she? Did Mason have something to do with it?”

God doesn’t answer, but a sound echoes behind me—a mumble and then movement. I can’t help myself. I swivel.

Pastor James is coming up the center aisle, strutting almost, in his usual swaying gait. His hands are in his pockets. As he gazes at me, his eyebrows shoot up to hide in his long bangs; he looks like he has something important to tell me.

Buy on Amazon | Barnes and Noble

About the Author

Maura Jortner grew up in New Hampshire and now lives in Waco, Texas with her patient husband, two amazing daughters, and one unruly cat. She teaches literature and writing classes at Baylor University. A lifetime ago, she used to direct plays and put on puppet shows for kids, which led to a Ph.D. in Theatre History. Currently, when Maura’s not writing, she’s spending her time like every native-born Texan: worrying about how many chiggers might be hidden in the grass outside her house or if she put enough sunscreen on her kids.

Connect: Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook