Read an excerpt from Just Pretend by J.P. Nicholas

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When yet another publisher rejects Hannah’s most recent book due to poor love scenes, she concocts a fail-proof plan to increase her creativity… spine-tingling, no strings attached sex. How can she write about love and lust if she's never really felt it? As the only man in her life she truly trusts, Logan is the perfect one to help her find this new side of herself—and stand in as her pretend boyfriend at an upcoming reunion.

For Logan, a Broadway actor by trade and passion, Hannah’s proposal is both outrageous and intriguing—especially since he's fought for nineteen years of friendship to avoid thinking of her in a physical way. Against all reason, Logan takes the bait and agrees… then ups the ante by turning their pretend relationship into a pretend engagement in front of her entire family.

Now, they just have to navigate their new situation while playing house… and somehow remember this is all Just Pretend…

Excerpt

"Lesson one: if it feels good…tell me," I whisper into the crook of her neck, letting my lips linger over the spot I know she's going to love. I bite down on her tender flesh, drawing a high-pitched squeal from her; it lingers in the air above us.

"Logan?"

I answer her through clenched teeth. "Yeah?"

"That. Feels. Good."

Those three words were all it took to break the ice and help me unleash my inner beast. I release my grip on her neck and put my lips up to hers.

Our mouths crash together, tongues twisting and wrestling with passion. I send a trail of kisses down the column of her throat and reach around her to unzip the back of her dress. She tugs at the hem of my shirt. Taking the hint, I grab it, fling it over my head, and onto the floor.

I throw her onto the bed, and her dress falls to the floor during the transfer. I lean over her, our bodies close, but not touching. With a swipe of my thumb, I unhook her bra, causing her perky breasts to spring into place.

"Fuck," I husk out.

I take her right breast in my mouth and massage the raspberry nipple with my tongue. She starts grinding her pelvis against my erection. Her breaths grow shallow as I tweak her left nipple between my fingers. She moans from the pleasure. I pick my head up and let my gaze find hers.

I laugh.

"You like that?"

She nods. "Don't stop," she orders through her panting.

I slide my finger under her panties. I can feel her raw heat radiating off her body. Without warning, I plunge my finger into her pussy. She's dripping wet. Fuck.

Then I take off her panties and bring my head down to her most sensitive region. I inhale deeply, wanting to memorize her scent. She smells so good.

Our eyes lock, causing me to stop dead in my tracks. "Are you sure this is what you want, Han?"

"Oh, God, yes," she hollers.

Unable to satisfy my insatiable hunger, I bring my mouth to her pussy, exploring every fold. She seems to like it because she places her hand on the back of my head and pushes me deeper into her. God, she tastes so fucking sweet. Better than I could have ever imagined. I curve the tip of my tongue upward as I massage her clit aggressively with my forefinger. Her breaths grow shorter and shorter, alerting me that she is close. I don't let up; this is what she needs, and it's what I fucking want. Her legs writhe out of control, and I love feeling her go wild under my tongue. She howls as her orgasm rips through her.

I lick her sweet orgasm off my lips.

She stares at me with dazed eyes as she drops her voice to a sexy whisper. "That's fucking hot."

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About J.P. Nicolas

J.P. Nicholas has the great misfortune to be A Male Romance Writer. Turns out, men are also hopeless romantics, given half the chance, and Nicholas’ fascination with love began long before he could write. His parents—high school sweethearts who are still mad for each other—left him enamored with the idea of true love, and its ability to transform and redeem even the most jaded soul. Nicholas lives to capture this magic, lust, and passion on the page; his characters known for their sizzling chemistry and chest-squeezing plot lines. 

When J.P. Nicholas isn’t tapping away at his laptop, he can be found in his home state of Florida, binge-watching This Is Us with his girlfriend, or devouring Italian food with his family. His latest novel, Just Pretend, is a friends-to-lovers drama and the first in his new Sandy Heights series, to be released in June.

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Read an excerpt from Finding Wicked by Kathryn L. James

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Brooke Sheridan has the weight of the world on her shoulders—her mother’s terminal illness, financial woes. When she’s offered a promotion as Executive Assistant to the cocky arrogant and sexy Garrett Mitchell, CEO, she accepts without second thought.

Together on a business trip, Garrett an avid pilot must make an emergency crash landing on a deserted island. With no satellite service, no phone signal, or any means of rescue on the horizon, they are forced to find ways of survival. But that’s not all they find—sizzling chemistry, undeniable attraction, and HOT passionate sex explode.

But amidst paradise, there are also secrets that threaten to tear them apart.

Excerpt

“Why do I make you nervous?”

Because the moment we’re rescued, it’ll be the end of us.

Because you’ve opened my eyes and I don’t want to close them.

I’m scared because this is starting to feel like something more than sex.

“Talk to me, Brooke. What makes you so nervous? When you’re in my arms, there’s nothing nervous about you.”

“Talking is overrated and too personal.” I turned away from him, staring across the dusky sea.

“Not as personal as me buried deep inside you.”

A blush crept into my cheeks. “That wasn’t personal. That was…what did you call it? Dirty fucking?”

“Make no mistake, I haven’t begun to dirty fuck you yet.”

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About the Author

Kathryn James lives in a southern small town with her husband and a very sweet and spoiled poodle named Macy. Being a hopeless romantic, she loves to read and write about bad-boy sexy alpha males and strong heroines. The beach is one of her favorite places to hangout, relax, and write. She debuted her first novel, Crazy Beautiful Lies and released a short Crazy Beautiful Kiss which was published in A Story of a Kiss anthology. She plans to release it again as a novella by the end of summer.   

For information about Kathryn L. James or to stay updated on upcoming releases, please drop by:

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Audio Spotlight: Just an Ilusion - The B Side by D. Kelly

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Three life-altering months …

That’s how long it’s been since Amelia Greyson joined the Just an Illusion Tour with Bastards and Dangerous. She’s made new friends, embraced her past, and even found love.  

Back on the road …

Following a tragic situation, Amelia is determined to hit the road, put her life in order, and finish the book she was hired to write. Mel’s not the only one affected by what happened; the men of BAD are all trying to move forward, not wanting the past to ruin the remainder of their farewell tour.

Brother vs Brother …

Tensions are high on the Weston brothers’ bus. As each brother settles into their role in Amelia’s life, secrets threaten to rip their relationship to shreds. Can Noah and Sawyer find a way to save the brotherly bond they share? Or will the woman of their dreams end up tearing them apart for good?  

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About the Author

D. Kelly, author of The Acceptance Series, The Illusion Series, and standalone companion novels Chasing Cassidy and Sharing Rylee, was born and raised in Southern California. She’s a wife, mom, dog lover, taxi, problem fixer, and extreme multi-tasker. She married her high school sweetheart and is her kids’ biggest fan.

Kelly has been writing since she was young and took joy in spinning stories to her childhood friends. Margaritas and sarcasm make her smile, she loves the beach but hates the sand, and she believes Starbucks makes any day better.

A contemporary romance writer, D. Kelly’s stories revolve around friendship and the bond it creates, strengthening the love of the people who share it.

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Spotlight: Rainy Day Friends by Jill Shalvis

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Starting over was her plan. Getting derailed by secrets wasn’t...


RAINY DAY FRIENDS
A Wildstone Novel
Jill Shalvis
William Morrow/Harper Collins


Following the USA Today bestselling author of Lost and Found Sisters comes Jill Shalvis' moving story of heart, loss, betrayal, and friendship

Six months after Lanie Jacobs’ husband’s death, it’s hard to imagine anything could deepen her sense of pain and loss. But then Lanie discovers she isn’t the only one grieving his sudden passing. A serial adulterer, he left behind several other women who, like Lanie, each believe she was his legally wedded wife.

Rocked by the infidelity, Lanie is left to grapple with searing questions. How could she be so wrong about a man she thought she knew better than anyone? Will she ever be able to trust another person? Can she even trust herself?

Desperate to make a fresh start, Lanie impulsively takes a job at the family-run Capriotti Winery. At first, she feels like an outsider among the boisterous Capriottis. With no real family of her own, she’s bewildered by how quickly they all take her under their wing and make her feel like she belongs. Especially Mark Capriotti, a gruffly handsome Air Force veteran turned deputy sheriff who manages to wind his way into Lanie’s cold, broken heart—along with the rest of the clan.

Everything is finally going well for her, but the arrival of River Brown changes all that. The fresh-faced twenty-one-year old seems as sweet as they come…until her dark secrets come to light—secrets that could destroy the new life Lanie’s only just begun to build.

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New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis writes warm, funny, sexy contemporary romances and women’s fiction. An Amazon, BN & iBooks bestseller, she’s also a two-time RITA winner and has more than 10 million copies of her books sold worldwide.

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Read an excerpt from Love & Alliances by Davina Lacey

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“She will be his salvation… And he will build her empire.”

Jenga Rollins
Hollywood… The ultimate dream. One of the hardest goals to accomplish for anyone brave enough to climb the entertainment ladder, especially for a woman. Yet fiercely independent cinematography student, Jenga Rollins, is determined to finish her master’s degree and to make a difference in the movie industry for females of all races. Trying to bury the most tragic memory of her childhood, Jenga fights to build a new life and doesn’t expect to run into the handsome stranger with the soulful, sad eyes.

Ashton Blasetti
A man of many faces, the son of a self-made Hollywood billionaire and running from a past he can’t forget. A man of both success and mystery, Ashton is known for leaving a string of broken hearts in his trail and for producing some of the most intriguing erotic scenes on film. He’s quite content reigning as the bachelor prince of underground tinseltown. That is, until he finds  himself saving Jenga Rollins one day on Malibu beach, a twist of fate that changes everything.
What happens when two people from worlds as different as fire and ice come together?
The scandal continues in Love & Alliances.

**This book is for mature audiences**

Excerpt

Yes, I’m drowning.

As I said, I’m not a swimmer.

That sucks. It’s pretty stupid considering I attend a university that has a campus situated along the Malibu coastline, but that’s just the way things sometimes roll.

Life doesn’t always make a lot of sense.

Panic slams into my chest and I lose control of my ability to think coherently. My head surfaces for a moment, and I start yelling out for help while still keeping a death hold on Professor Stark’s camera. Water flows over my head and into my nostrils, stinging the sensitive tissue.

Only Jenga Rollins would drown in front of an audience of thousands while trying to save a camera. Oh yeah, forgot to mention the water is probably only about ten feet deep.

At once a hand surrounds my right arm, pulling my body up against a rock-hard chest as we glide back toward the shores. I go airborne next, and I can feel the ripple in the mystery guy’s muscles. Both I and my camera get to ride inside a set of arms that make the Arnold look steroidal. Well, not really, but that’s how it feels since my rescuer with the strong arms just saved me from drowning.

I’m so mortified that I don’t dare try and glance into his face.

What must he be thinking right now?

Poor, desperate woman attempts suicide while trying to rescue a camera.

Gathering plenty of courage, I look up. Why’d I go and do that?

“Thanks for rescuing my camera. It truly appreciates your chivalry.”

I manage to tear my gaze away from his face long enough

to reach out and take my camera out of his hands.

“No problem. I specialize in unique rescue missions.” He holds my

gaze, humor swimming in his eyes and a smile growing on those perfectly

shaped red lips, a mouth made for kissing.

Wow. What a beautiful man.

Find out what happens next in Love & Alliances!

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About the Author

Davina Lacey writes steamy, fun, and glamorous interracial romances that push the boundaries of the imagination and offers a unique and refreshing spin on classic love stories. When she isn't writing, she enjoys gardening, playing & composing music and spending a large amount of time gobbling up all things historical.

The Love & Alliances series is her Interracial Romance debut. Davina also writes under the bestselling fantasy author pseudonym KaSonndra Leigh.

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Spotlight: A Merciful Silence by Kendra Elliott

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Message from Kendra Elliot: Mercy’s road to the FBI

Mercy Kilpatrick, the heroine from my newest release A Merciful Silence, was raised by anti-government preppers in Central Oregon. She grew up learning to live off the land, avoid law enforcement, and never trust the government. When she was eighteen, she and her father had a falling out that forced Mercy from the home.

She entered the regular world but could never leave her prepping roots behind. She eventually joined the FBI—thereby becoming the two things that her father hated most. Estranged from her family, Mercy keeps one foot in the regular world and another in her hidden past. She can’t help but prepare for the end of the world. No one at the FBI knows she escapes to her mountain hideaway every weekend where she stocks firewood, food, fuel, and medical supplies.

An FBI domestic terrorism case pulls her to back to her hometown where she must face her family for the first time in fifteen years. The case takes place in a survivalist world with which she is all too familiar, and suspects some of her family may be involved.

Release Date: June 19, 2018
Publisher: Montlake Romance

Summary

For FBI agent Mercy Kilpatrick, returning to rural Oregon has meant coming to terms with her roots. Raised as a prepper, Mercy is now relying on her survivalist instincts to defend her town from the people the law can’t reach. But this time, an investigation calling up a dark past for her and police chief Truman Daly may be hitting too close to home.

A rainstorm has uncovered the remains of five people—a reprise of the distinctive slaughter of two families twenty years ago. Except the convicted killer is in prison. Is this the case of a sick copycat, or is the wrong man behind bars? One person might have the answer. The lone survivor of the decades-old crimes has returned to town still claiming that she can’t remember a thing about the night she was left for dead. As the search for the truth becomes more dangerous, Mercy fears that the traumatized woman may not have buried her memories at all. She might be keeping them a secret. And there’s a price to be paid for revealing them.

Excerpt

Her GPS took her on a wet, winding trip thirty miles out of Bend. Mercy revered privacy, and it appeared Britta Vale did the same. The terrain was flat, with clumps of huge trees and fields of scattered volcanic rock. She took the final turn off the two-lane road and was pleasantly surprised to find a well-maintained gravel driveway. A wood fence lined one side of the drive, and Mercy idly wondered if Britta kept cows or sheep in the field. A wide creek rapidly flowed through the pasture, full of the recent rains. A few minutes later she stopped in front of an old white farmhouse. Fields flanked the house on two sides, and a small ancient grove of fruit trees was to the east. 

The paint flaked from the two-story building, and large pieces of railing were missing from the wraparound deck. Lace curtains appeared at most of the windows, and a newer Ford pickup was parked next to the home. As Mercy stepped out of her Tahoe, faint barking greeted her, and she spotted a black lab inside, watching through a tall window next to the front door, alerting the residents that company had arrived. Its wagging tail defied the belligerent barks. 

Overall, Mercy liked the home. It felt shy but friendly. Sequestered but welcoming. 

The door opened and a woman appeared. In one hand she gripped the lab’s collar. With the other she balanced a rifle against her shoulder. 

Not threatening, but making her stance clear. 

Mercy approved. And stopped moving forward. Mercy stood with her right shoulder and hip slightly farther back and casually held her hands out in front of her stomach, the palms up. A nonaggressive pose, but she was ready to move to the gun in her shoulder holster if needed. “Britta Vale?” 

“Who wants to know?” The woman’s tone was polite but direct. Her long hair was black. The flat-black, obviously dyed tone. Blunt-cut bangs just above Britta’s eyebrows gave her a no-nonsense look. 

“I’m Special Agent Mercy Kilpatrick from the Bend FBI office. You’re welcome to call them to verify me.” 

“Take three steps closer.” 

Mercy took three measured steps, her hands still exposed. She felt the weight of her weapon at her side and watched Britta for any warning movements. The woman stood perfectly still, the dog’s wagging tail a contrast. At this distance Mercy could meet Britta’s gaze. The woman had light-blue eyes and skin that looked as if it’d never seen the sun. She also had a huge tattoo that wrapped around the front of her neck. Mercy couldn’t read it but wondered how painful the process had been. She swallowed, imagining tiny sharp needles jabbing at the tender skin on her throat. 

The woman released the dog, who instantly sat, its dark eyes still locked on Mercy. 

“Are you here about Grady Baldwin?” 

“Yes,” Mercy answered. 

“Is he out? I’m supposed to be notified if he gets out. No one has said anything to me.” Britta’s voice shot up an octave as the words spilled out of her mouth, terror and anger flashing in her eyes. Her fingers tightened on the butt of the rifle, and Mercy tensed. 

“He’s not out and he’s not getting out.” 

The woman lowered her chin a notch, and her shoulders moved as she exhaled. “I have nightmares about police vehicles abruptly showing up at my home, trying to get me to safety. They’re always too late.” She nodded at Mercy’s Tahoe. “You’re clearly armed, and you have government plates, so you understand my reaction.” 

“I do. You are Britta, right?” The woman acted like a survivor, but Mercy wanted to be certain. 

“I am. Why are you here?” 

“Yesterday we uncovered five bodies. Possibly a family—we aren’t certain about that. But each one of them had been struck in the mouth. Their teeth and jaws shattered.” 

The pale woman went a shade whiter as she slapped a hand across her mouth, and the dog whined, leaning hard against her thigh.

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About the Author

Kendra Elliot has landed on the Wall Street Journal bestseller list multiple times and is the award-winning author of the Bone Secrets and Callahan & McLane series, as well as the Mercy Kilpatrick novels: A Merciful Death, A Merciful Truth, and A Merciful Secret. Kendra is a three-time winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award, an International Thriller Writers finalist, and an RT Award finalist. She has always been a voracious reader, cutting her teeth on classic female heroines such as Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, and Laura Ingalls. She was born, raised, and still lives in the rainy Pacific Northwest with her husband and three daughters, but she looks forward to the day she can live in flip-flops. Visit her at www.kendraelliot.com.