Read an excerpt from Bold by Jennifer Michael

Are you living your life to the fullest?
Do you have regrets?

Noah Mackenzie knows what abandonment feels like, but she’s the girl who dreams big.
Nothing will stand in her way.
Her new world is exciting, and exploring it is the adventure she’s always wished for.

How far would you go for the people you love?
Do you protect the important things in your life with all you’ve got?

Brazen Hale is all heart.
Hard work has gotten him to where he is today, and loyalty runs deep within him.
He’s the perfect catch, but of course, there’s an obstacle for these two . . .

The timing for Noah and Brazen is all wrong.
She’s a temptation that he must find a way to resist.
Will circumstance stand in the way of love, or will these two boldly find their way into one another’s hearts?

Excerpt

The moment of truth isn’t far away as I pull into my parking spot. I envision her desk empty and what that’ll mean.

Will I chase her?

Yes. Unequivocally, yes.

Would she want me to?

I don’t know. I hope so.

However, there will be no chasing today. Noah is standing right in the entryway, as if she’s waiting for me. A tiny bit of the pressure on my gut subsides. Her hands fidget at her sides. Her face is free from makeup, and worry lines frame her profile.

So, when I reach her, the first thing I do is hug her. I pull her toward me and wrap my arms around her tightly.

“I’m so sorry, Brazen,” she whispers.

I don’t respond. I know she’s sorry, and I don’t want to make her feel worse about having assumed the worst about me. This bright, optimistic girl I’m getting to know jumped to the conclusion that I was a monster.

It doesn’t feel good.

My arms stay tightly wrapped around her, so she can’t see the pain on my face. 

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About Jennifer Michael

As a child, Jennifer Michael dreamed of being an author. Life and adulting pushed that dream down to a mere fantasy. Then, as a reader, she found the indie romance world, and the dream that had been long ago deemed unattainable became a reality.

Writing fulfills pieces of Jennifer she lost. She writes stories that range from sweet and sultry to dark and daring. Behind her computer, she’s constantly dreaming up where she’ll go next, not wanting to be put in a specific romance genre box. Pushing limits and striving to conquer wherever the characters take her is the ultimate methods to her madness.

Jennifer resides in southwest Florida where she wishes she spent much more time at the beach. She’s an avid reader of gritty books with deep emotion or dark, twisty plots and fond of more than a few guilty-pleasure television shows. She gets sucked into the world of characters from all mediums.

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Spotlight: xo, Zach by Kendall Ryan

The first time we met was at a party.

Your ex arrived to show off the person he'd left you for last month, and you asked me to pretend to be your date. 

I was more than happy to help. You were attractive, smart and witty--and that kiss we shared? It left me wanting you for days. 

The second time we met was in my office on campus where we were both surprised to discover you were the new master’s degree student in poetry that I would be working with. You promised to be professional. I did no such thing.

The late nights and intense study sessions spent alongside you majorly throw me off my game. I want you, and I fight with myself daily over this fact. 

I know I'm crass, that my sexual innuendos and dirty mouth annoy you, but I live for those two bright spots of color in your cheeks. If that's the only reaction I can get out of you, I'll gladly take it. 

You hate Mondays so every Monday I slip an anonymous poem into your bag and your smile gets me through the week.

I think I'm falling for you, and I know it's wrong. I know that I'm only supposed to be your adviser and nothing more, but here's the thing. I think you're falling for me too. 

xo, Zach

Excerpt

"This is serious, Poppy. Will you promise?"

"What am I promising?" This man had a way of getting me to say things, to feel things, to admit things that I might not have otherwise. I wasn't sure if it was because he was older and wiser and that much more cunning at these types of discussions, or if it was just because being near him seemed to physically lower my inhibitions. He was like a walking shot of tequila. 

"I need you to promise me that if anything physical happens between us—that it will be very consensual, and very sex-positive. I need you to understand that I will worship you and make you come So. Many. Fucking Times."

He annunciated those words so clearly and slowly, I felt them with every beat of my heart, every pulse of heat between my legs.

Oblivious to my hammering heart, Zach continued. "But I also need you to know that if I do or say anything you don't like, all you have to do is say so and everything will stop. Just the word no, Poppy. Use it and I promise to leave you alone."

"Leave me alone as in stop mentoring me, stop helping me in the program?"

His face was serious and he shook his head without even considering it. "I will never stop mentoring you, as long as you want it. Giving in to our attraction—or not—will never be a condition for my help. I want you to succeed, and it has nothing to do with how much I want you in my bed. Do you understand that?"

I felt myself nodding my head. 

I knew what he was saying. Despite how aggressively Zach put his feelings on the subject of us out there—I knew he'd never betray my wishes. 

"Okay," I murmured.

He considered me for a long moment, neither of us blinking. 

"Why did you approach me that night at the party, Poppy. Did you find me attractive?"

Was he fucking serious?

Of course I find him attractive. Actually, attractive was too weak a word. I found him mesmerizing. Addictive. Enchanting. Impossible. 

"I'm not saying I do, but if I wanted something to happen ..." I swallowed a wave of nerves and took a shallow breath as Zach's mouth curved into a grin.

"Something as in finding out how many times in a row I can make you come using my mouth, my hands, and my ..."

I held up one hand. "Yes. That. How would it work, isn't it, like, forbidden?"

God, why did the word forbidden make me feel even hotter? 

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About the Author

A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over 1.5 million books and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. She's a traditionally published author with Simon & Schuster and Harper Collins UK, as well as an independently published author. Since she first began self-publishing in 2012, she's appeared at #1 on Barnes & Noble and iBooks charts around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than three dozen times. Ryan has been featured in such publications as USA Today, Newsweek, and InTouch Magazine.

Visit her at: www.kendallryanbooks.com for the latest book news, and fun extras

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Spotlight: The Moral Compass by K.A. Servian

Florence lives like a Princess attending dinner parties and balls away from the gritty reality, filth and poverty of Victorian London.

However, her world comes crashing around her when her father suffers a spectacular fall from grace. She must abandon her life of luxury, leave behind the man she loves and sail to the far side of the world where compromise and suffering beyond anything she can imagine await her.

When she is offered the opportunity to regain some of what she has lost, she takes it, but soon discovers that not everything is as it seems. The choice she has made has a high price attached and she must live with the heart-breaking consequences of her decision.

This novel is part one in the ‘Shaking the Tree’ series.

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About the Author

As a life-long creative, Kathy gained qualifications in fashion design, applied design to fabric and jewellery making and enjoyed a twenty-year-plus career in the fashion and applied arts industries as a pattern maker, designer and owner of her own clothing and jewellery labels.

She then discovered a love of teaching and began passing on the skills accumulated over the years—design, pattern-making, sewing, Art Clay Silver, screen-printing and machine embroidery to name a few.

Creative writing started as a self-dare to see if she had the chops to write a manuscript. Writing quickly became an obsession and Kathy’s first novel, Peak Hill, which was developed from the original manuscript, was a finalist in the Romance Writers of New Zealand Pacific Hearts Full Manuscript contest in 2016.

Kathy now squeezes full-time study for an advanced diploma in creative writing in around working on her novels, knocking out the occasional short story, teaching part-time and being a wife and mother.

For more information please visit K.A. Servian’s website and blog.  You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. Sign up for K.A. Servian’s newsletter to receive news and updates.

The Moral Compass

Spotlight: Right Kiss. Wrong Guy. by Natalie Decker

Right Kiss. Wrong Guy.
Natalie Decker
Published by: Swoon Romance
Publication date: January 23rd 2018
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

You’d think a girl with the most romantic name in the world would have her pick of boyfriends.

But Valentine’s Day sucks when you’re single. Just ask Juliet Valentine, whose last name happens to also be the name of the most dreaded made-up holiday ever.

A romantic at heart, this year is especially hard on Juliet. Her sister, Layla, is in a new relationship, her mom’s match-making business is doing great, and her school’s new fundraiser is “Love-Grams.”

Juliet’s miserable, a little jealous, and lonely.

Quarterback Jared Black is the most popular guy in school. A star athlete, Jared tops the most-eligible bachelor list year after year. But to Juliet Valentine, he’s all but invisible. She isn’t impressed.

Jared’s never had to work hard to get the attention of a girl before. Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and he’s determined to ask Juliet out. After all, if Tyler can win over Layla, Jared ought to have a shot with Layla’s sister.

Unlike Tyler and Layla, charm, flattery and good looks won’t work on Juliet. So with the V-Day dance coming up, Jared uses the school’s Love-Grams to let Juliet know how he feels. Should be simple enough, right?

Wrong. Each attempt ends up either in the trash or thrown in someone’s face. Juliet won’t play his game.

Now, without a date to the dance Jared realizes it’s going to take a Hail Mary to win the girl of his dreams.

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Author Bio:

Natalie Decker is the author of RIVAL LOVE series and the Scandalous Boys series. She loves oceans, sunsets, sand between her toes, and carefree days. Her imagination is always going, which some find odd. But she believes in seeing the world in a different light at all times. Her first passion for writing started at age twelve when she had to write a poem for English class. However, seventh grade wasn't her favorite time and books were her source of comfort. She took all college prep classes in High school, and attended the University of Akron. Although she studied Mathematics she never lost her passion for writing or her comfort in books. She's a mean cook in the kitchen, loves her family and friends and her awesome dog infinity times infinity. If she's not writing, reading, traveling, hanging out with her family and friends, then she's off having an adventure. Because Natalie believes in a saying: Your life is your own journey, so make it amazing!
Find out more visit: www.authornataliedecker.com

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Spotlight: Heart of Eden with Caroline Fyffe

Heart of Eden is a coming-home story for five sisters who remember very little about their early life in a rustic Colorado settlement. Eighteen years before, their mother whisked them away from all the dangers of an untamed territory.

Belle Brinkman, second oldest, barely remembers Blake Harding, the starving boy her father took in only months before the sisters’ departure. On their return, Belle finds a man has replaced the child—completely different, hard-edged, and vexing…yet the scar marring one side of his face is as she remembers. Tall, strong, and bold, Blake has a simmering anger that’s replaced his fear and timidity. 

Blake, still committed to his late benefactor, John Brinkman, can’t understand what has kept the sisters away for so many years, ignoring their father’s requests that they come home, if not forever, then for a visit. Could they really be that hard-hearted? Their feigned unawareness of the situation keeps him from softening, but when Belle decides she will step into her father’s boots, at least where the ranch is concerned, Blake has no recourse but to comply and show her around. After all, the admonition that he hold no grudge against any of the sisters was bluntly stated in the will. As was another astounding revelation. If the sisters prove tougher than his impression of them, they’ll end up partners with him in one of the largest ranches in the state.

In the mountains, meadows, and plains of Colorado, Blake and Belle find a common ground where there’s no competition or troubling questions, and that place is deep in their hearts.  

About the Book

Raised by guardians in Philadelphia, the Brinkman sisters have suddenly been bequeathed more than the truth about their late, estranged father—they’ve also inherited the Five Sisters Ranch, the dynasty he’d built for them in Eden, Colorado. It’s theirs on one condition: to claim it, they must live on it for six months—a wilderness worlds away from the comforts of the city. For Belle Brinkman, her father’s last wish could fulfill a dream she never knew she had.

Though Blake Harding, their father’s protective friend and faithful foreman, has yet to come to terms with his own broken past, he finds his heart opening to the inspiring and determined Belle. But Eden soon proves to be a tough paradise for all of them when the sisters’ lives are threatened by someone hell-bent on driving them out of town. Now they must gather their courage if they’re going to secure their legacy and have a chance at claiming the new life and possibilities of love that the untamed territory offers.

Excerpt

“I see you found your father’s grave,” he said, his voice bringing a surprising peace to her jittery heart.

So much has happened so fast. Learning about Father’s death, then the trip here. The inheritance. The stunning discovery Father wasn’t the scoundrel we’d all believed.

And now this all-encompassing feeling she got whenever she took in the sight of these mountains, the ranch, the old house. Even the man beside her. All parts of her father. She wished with her whole heart she could have him back. Even for one minute.

“I did. I hope you don’t mind?”

“You need to be careful, at least until we find Praig.” He held her gaze. “This isn’t a game. You understand?”

She nodded. “How’s Moses?”

“Still feeling the effects of the morphine. He fell asleep a few minutes ago.”

He shifted his weight from one leg to the other, gazing at her father’s grave. He seemed to be wrestling with a problem in his mind. The mourning dove that had been breaking her heart suddenly fluttered down onto the grass a few feet away.

“Will you tell me about him?”

“Your pa?”

She nodded. “Your father as well, by the words on his headstone.”

“I didn’t have anything to do with that. Henry took care of all his last wishes.”

“I see.”

He was hurting too. The long grass around the perimeter of the small, quaint burial ground waved gently, and she had the urge to step closer to him, but she didn’t. The peace here was intoxicating.

“John was a darned good man. Best I’ve ever known. He fed the Andersons through a hard winter, making sure they had plenty to eat after Mr. Anderson hurt his back. He did the same for Widow Lang and her granddaughter. Sent the Greens’ twins to a hospital in Denver when Doc Dodge couldn’t diagnose the problem at hand.” He shook his head thoughtfully. “Made sure the orphanage had firewood and food. He never turned anyone away, no matter their problem. There’re too many instances to list.”

“Did he ever talk about us?”

A sentimental smile crossed his lips. “All the time. He’d worry I’d get sick of listening and said so, but I didn’t. I liked how reminiscing made him feel. He wondered about you. What you looked like. What your characters and behaviors turned out to be. What you liked, or disliked. If any of you had married. He had his opinions from when you were babes.” He turned his head and winked at her. “‘Now Belle,’ he used to say, ‘she’s my firecracker. I pity the man who she decides to marry. He better be strong, because I’ve never seen a spirit on any of my girls like I do in her.’”

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About the Author

Caroline Fyffe is the author of the award-winning Prairie Hearts books. Where the Wind Blows, her debut novel and Book One in the Prairie Hearts series, won both the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Golden Heart Award and the Wisconsin RWA’s Write Touch Readers’ Award. She was born in Waco, Texas, the first of many towns she would call home during her father’s career with the US Air Force. She earned a bachelor of arts in communications from California State University, Chico. A horse aficionado from an early age, she had a twenty-year career as an equine photographer. She began writing fiction to pass the time during long days in the show arena, channeling her love of horses and old-fashioned Westerns into a series of historical fiction works. She and her husband have two grown sons. She currently resides in the Pacific Northwest.

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Read an excerpt from After the Storm by Katy Ames

Tristan Hurst is tired of running. He’s spent every day since he was 16 trying to escape the consequences of one inexplicable, horrible night. So when his cousin buys a Caribbean resort and offers him a job away from the family firm, Tristan jumps at the chance to leave behind his intolerable father and the life he barely lives.

Tessa Armstrong has a plan and moving to a tropical island isn’t part of it. But when she lands the position of head pastry chef at a luxury hotel, she can’t pass it up. A new country, a new kitchen. And a fresh start far away from the secrets that are becoming harder to ignore.

On an island where neither expected to end up, Tessa and Tristan discover something they’ve always wanted: a safe haven. And when friendship becomes something more, they think they’ve landed in paradise.

But there’s a storm coming, and the secrets they’ve worked so hard to escape aren’t far behind. And with them, a truth that has the power to wash away a love they never dreamed to find.

A standalone contemporary romance from the author of After the Island and After the Fall.

Excerpt

“What the fuck did you think you were doing?” Tristan let go of her hands and clenched his fists in the blanket, on either side of her hips. “Why the hell were you out there?”

Tessa opened her eyes, her fingertips digging into the corded muscles at the back of his neck. “I needed to find you.” She said it like it was the most obvious answer in the entire world.

“You didn’t,” Tristan growled. His shins ached against the rough floor of the cabin, his clothes were frozen to his chest and thighs. Tessa shifted closer, her bare knees bracketing his torso, the hollow between them offering the threat of salvation. The promise of damnation.

“I did,” she swore, eyes dark but certain.

Tristan wondered if she could feel it. The storm howling inside him. He was furious with her. Terrified that she could have been hurt, or worse. The reality of her alive and in one piece hadn’t sunk in. Tristan’s heart—that organ he’d thought had dried out and gone dark years ago—was, at that second, breaking at the mere idea he could have lost her.

Tessa wasn’t his. She didn’t belong to him in any way. He knew that. He could never ask it, not after the way he’d yelled at her, scared her. But she was there, with him. Her hands were deep in his hair, the strands slipping through her fingers as she cradled the back of his head. She held his body between her legs, the touch scalding.

Tristan squeezed his eyes shut. Looking at her was too much. It would never be enough.

“You’re hurt,” he managed to get out.

“I’ll heal.”

“It could’ve been so much worse.” Tristan shifted his grip from the bed to her waist, needing to feel her alive and breathing.

“It wasn’t.”

“You could’ve died.”

“I didn’t.”

“You hate storms.” Tristan leaned towards her. He couldn’t stop himself.

“I do.” Tessa pressed a kiss, hot and soft, next to his ear. “But I realized something.”

Tristan’s fingers flexed into the lush curve of her hips. The back of his neck burned, the scar a phantom pain that would never go away. But he wasn’t letting go. It hurt. But not touching Tessa would hurt more.

She gave him another kiss, at the corner of his jaw. “Do you want to know what it was?”

Tristan’s voice was gone. He nodded, his eyes still closed.

“I realized,” Tessa whispered, “that I hated something else more.” She kissed his cheek, lingering. Waiting for him to ask the question.

“What?”

“I realized,” Tessa said, dropping to his mouth, “I hated the idea of you out here alone more than I hated any storm.”

“That’s insane.” It was half whisper, half kiss.

“Maybe.”

Tristan felt her lips curve against his. A small smile.

“But it’s also the truth.”

She didn’t say anything else. Didn’t move. She was so still Tristan wasn’t sure she was breathing. He opened his eyes, instantly worried.

“I’m right here,” she said, answering his concerned stare. “I’m right here, Tristan. And I’m not going anywhere.”

Her attention fell to his mouth and Tristan gave up. Gave in. Lost every battle and silenced every argument. His hands were in her hair before he could think, wet strands clinging and twisting around his fingers. He pulled just enough so that her head tipped back, chin up, her bottom lip dropping in surprise. In anticipation.

“Don’t ever do that again,” he growled, before covering her mouth with his.

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About the Author

Katy Ames has spent most of her life on the East Coast and hopes to spend more of it in the UK. In part, so she can indulge in her serious plaid obsession. There isn’t a teenage drama on the CW or a period British TV show she hasn’t binge-watched at least twice. And she can be persuaded to do most things with the promise of bourbon, coffee, chocolate, or a nap, not necessarily in that order. Katy is mom to a small human who has an obscene amount of energy and a blissful ability to ignore swear words, and wife to a man whose reading habits are far too serious. Katy and her family reside in Washington, D.C., a city she where never planned to live and loves so much she’d be happy to talk about it for hours. Just ask. 

Katy writes contemporary romances that feature heroes who are strong but not so silent, heroines who aren’t afraid to kick ass, and stories that get a little messy before they end happily ever after.

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