Spotlight: Object of My Desire by R.L. Kenderson

Publication date: March 14th 2019

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

A romance author, a cover model, a book signing … a crush.

Ordinary women like me know we shouldn’t fall for beautiful men like Travis Zehler, one of the hottest cover models in romance fiction. But, sometimes, we can’t help ourselves.

When I meet him at a book signing, my attraction to him is instant. I’m infatuated, and I can’t stop thinking about him.

Even though I have doubts he’d ever be interested, I invite Travis to attend a book signing with me. And he says yes.

My fantasy comes true when he takes me to his bed, and the more time we spend together, the more I see that Travis isn’t some object to be desired.

He’s a man with a past. A man who’s been burned. A man who’s learned to keep his guard up.

I want to show him he can trust again, but when our confidence in each other is shaken, I begin to wonder if happily ever afters are only for my romance novels.

Excerpt

I turned my attention to the TV and what I wanted to watch. Like the hotel in Iowa, I was able to sign into my Netflix account, and soon, I was scrolling through the movies. I knew I’d fall asleep, so I searched for something I’d seen before. I settled on Empire Records, a cult classic.

A few minutes later, the door pushed open, and Travis walked in, wearing just a pair of shorts and glasses.

Holy crap. He looked adorable with glasses on. I had always been a sucker for a man in spectacles. Can he just stop being so damn good-looking already?

Travis jumped on the other side of my bed. “What are we watching?”

“What are you doing?”

“You said you were staying in, so it looks like I’m watching TV with you.”

I couldn’t believe he wanted to stay in and hang out with me.

He waved his hand in front of my face. “Are you okay?” He tried to reach for the remote.

Quickly, I yanked my hand away. “I’m fine.” Just a little surprised. “But you’re going to watch what I want to watch,” I said with a grin.

“Okay.” He sank down onto the pillows. “So, what is this?”

“Empire Records.”

“Never heard of it.”

I groaned. Yeah, I’m not old, my butt.

*******

I should have known I would dream about Travis. In my dream, instead of going back to his room to sleep, he stayed in my bed.

I rolled on my side toward Travis, and my mouth grazed the top of his back. I pushed my nose into the back of his neck and inhaled. I could wake up to this scent every morning.

Slipping my arm around his waist, I brushed my fingers over his chest. I loved the feel of his muscles. I slid my palm down his washboard stomach, admiring his dedication to physical fitness, until I hit the top of his shorts.

Reminding myself I was dreaming and I should just go for it, I slid my hand underneath until I found what I was looking for. Since he was sleeping, Travis wasn’t hard, but that soon changed as I wrapped my hand around him.

His cock was hard and smooth, and it put my penis suckers to shame.

I couldn’t wait to tell Harper she was wrong.

He rolled onto his back, giving me better access. “Sydney, do you know what you’re doing?”

I frowned. It wasn’t exactly what I wanted to hear out of dream Travis’s mouth. I had been hoping for something like, That feels good.

He put his hand on top of mine. “Sydney. Wake up, honey.”

I opened my eyes and worked to clear the sleep from my brain.

It was still dark outside, but there was some light coming from the TV. It was the black Netflix profile screen, but it still gave off a bit of light. I turned my face away and hit male skin. Hmm. I leaned back and looked up into Travis’s eyes.

His brow went up, and a small smile fell across his face. He squeezed my hand, and I realized that my fingers were wrapped around his very hard penis.

I gasped as I yanked my hand away. I rolled to my other side, so he couldn’t see the shame on my face. “Oh my God. I am so sorry!”

I had violated him in his sleep.

I realized now that I had passed out sometime during the movie. I didn’t remember Travis leaving. He must have fallen asleep, too.

“It’s okay, Sydney.”

He put his hand on my shoulder, and I jumped.

“No, it’s not.”

I felt the bed shift as he sat up and then stood. Fearing that he was coming around to talk to me, I covered my face with my hands and rolled onto my stomach. I couldn’t face him right now.

“Sydney, I’m not mad.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that. But I still molested you in your sleep.”

“Molested is a strong word.”

“But an appropriate one.”

“Will you please look at me?”

“No.”

He sighed.

“Please, just go. We can talk about it in the morning.”

“Okay. I will. On one condition.”

“What’s that?” I said from between my hands.

“You stop beating yourself up. I’m not mad. I’m not offended. If you want to know the truth, it felt good. So, give yourself a break.”

He didn’t wait for me to answer. His footsteps faded as he walked away.

When I was sure I was alone, I turned onto my back and stared at the ceiling.

I couldn’t believe I had done that. I knew that I had thought I was dreaming, but I couldn’t help but feel like I’d violated him.

What if the situation were reversed?

You’d open your legs and tell him not to stop.

Okay, I would do that but only because it was Travis, and I wanted it. It didn’t make it right. Because, if it was someone I didn’t want, I would feel completely different. And, despite the kiss Travis had given me, he had never even hinted he wanted me to touch his dick.

I looked at the clock and groaned. It was only a little after two in the morning. I was never going to go back to sleep.

I found the TV remote where I had dropped it in the middle of the bed and shut off the TV. And then I began to think of ways to make my mistake right.

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About the Author

R.L. Kenderson is two best friends writing under one name.

Renae has always loved reading, and in third grade, she wrote her first poem where she learned she might have a knack for this writing thing. Lara remembers sneaking her grandmother’s Harlequin novels when she was probably too young to be reading them, and since then, she knew she wanted to write her own.

When they met in college, they bonded over their love of reading and the TV show Charmed. What really spiced up their friendship was when Lara introduced Renae to romance novels. When they discovered their first vampire romance, they knew there would always be a special place in their hearts for paranormal romance. After being unable to find certain storylines and characteristics they wanted to read about in the hundreds of books they consumed, they decided to write their own.

One lives in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and the other in the Kansas City area where they’re a sonographer/stay-at-home mom/wife and pharmacist/mother by day, and together they’re a sexy author by night. They communicate through phone, email, and whole lot of messaging.

Website: http://www.rlkenderson.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rlkenderson
FB Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rlkendersonreaderlounge/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rlkenderson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rlkenderson/
Tumblr: http://rlkenderson.tumblr.com/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/R.L.-Kenderson/e/B00LFT16R6
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7375708.R_L_Kenderson
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/r-l-kenderson
Books+Main: https://bookandmainbites.com/rlkenderson

Spotlight: Finding Lord Farlisle by Cassandra Dean

The girl he finally remembers

Eleven years ago, a shipwreck robbed Lord Maxim Farlisle of his memory. Recovering himself, he journeys to his childhood home to find Waithe Hall shut and deserted. Unwilling to face what remains of his family, Maxim makes his home in the abandoned hall…only to have a determined ghost hunter invade his uneasy peace.

The boy she never forgot

Fascinated by spirits, Lady Alexandra Torrence cannot disregard the opportunity to investigate the estate she knew so well. She arrives at the shuttered hall to discover a ghost of a different kind—the boy she thought to never see again. Maxim had been the boy next door, her best friend, her soul mate…and then he’d vanished.

As the two rediscover their connection, the promise of young love burns into an overwhelming passion. But the time apart has scarred them both—will they discover a love that will draw them together or will the past tear them apart forever?

READ AN EXCERPT

Buy on Amazon | Barnes and Noble

About the Author

Cassandra Dean is an award-winning, best-selling author of historical and fantasy romance. She is a 2018 recipient of the coveted Romance Writers of Australia Ruby Award.

Her next novel will be FINDING LORD FARLISLE, kicking off a new series, LOST LORDS.

Cassandra is proud to call South Australia her home, where she regularly cheers on her AFL football team and creates her next tale.

WEBSITE | NEWSLETTER | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

Spotlight: Faking Forever by Catherine Bybee

Release Date: March 12, 2019

Publisher: Montlake Romance

Summary

Shannon Wentworth’s biological clock is ticking, and she isn’t going to let her single status keep her from having a baby. When her wedding-photography business takes her to Mexico, she has every intention of finding a willing baby daddy to help her out. Until the bride goes AWOL, leaving Shannon to coddle the arrogant fiancé who has accused her of sabotaging his wedding.

Victor Brooks never could have imagined that he’d be on a honeymoon for one. Only here he is, taking a hard look at his life after the younger women he thought he loved walked out. The woman who volunteers to help him reflect is the last person he expects to be attracted to. Between the tequila, the sun, and one earth-shattering kiss, Victor finds Shannon a distraction too sexy to ignore.

They strike a deal: wait three months, cool off, and see if their tropical beach attraction is worth taking up when they go back home. Unfortunately, that’s just enough time for the past to come calling. All their best-laid plans are at risk. So is the last thing Shannon expected to matter the most: her heart.

Excerpt

Victor noticed Shannon sitting in the open dining area of the hotel the next morning, drinking coffee and reading on her e-reader. He’d spent most of the previous day licking his metaphorical wounds and nursing a headache.

Dressed in cotton pants that went midcalf and a light shirt, she looked like she was dressed for a long plane ride home. As much a pain in the ass as the woman had been, he felt compelled to say goodbye. After all, he was the reason she was there.

He walked up quietly behind her. “If it isn’t woman who fed me mezcal.”

The sound of his voice made her jump.

Too bad she wasn’t holding her coffee.

“You have got to stop doing that.”

Without an invitation, he sat and smiled. She took a deep breath and looked away, came painfully close to rolling her eyes. For some reason, he appreciated the fact she held back and wondered just how much it would take for her to disregard him with such a gesture.

“Please, sit down,” she said.

He glanced at his chair. “Thank you.”

She set her e-reader aside and regarded him. “I thought for sure you’d be back at the office by now.”

So did he. “I couldn’t fly yesterday even if I’d found a flight.”

“Oh?”

He didn’t miss the tiny shine in the corner of her eye.

“No. I had one too many the other night. Inflicting that on whoever had the misfortune of sitting next to me on the flight home was more than I could take after my flight here.”

She smiled, briefly, and lifted her chin. “I’m glad to hear you’ve evolved since Friday.”

Unable to help himself, he laughed.

Her smile returned.

Victor felt a twist in his gut, a pull to something he didn’t want to name. “I guess you’re leaving today,” he said.

She shrugged. “I am.”

He nodded. “Justin informed me you made sure I didn’t decide to go for a late night swim.”

“It was tempting. But then I realized you wouldn’t be able to pay me if you swallowed too much water.”

“Self-preserving. Very smart of you.”

“It’s a gift.”

When the woman wasn’t tossing barbs at him, she was beautiful. Perfect lines in her face, high cheekbones … he couldn’t tell if her olive skin was from an ancestor or the byproduct of living in Southern California. Not anything like anyone he’d been attracted to before.

What was he thinking? He wasn’t attracted.

Victor shook his head and stood. “Well, I saw you sitting here and thought I’d at least say goodbye.”

She stood with him and extended her hand. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry things didn’t go as planned this weekend.”

Her fingers were long, elegant. Just like the woman. Disappointment saying goodbye was an emotion he had no business feeling. Yet there it was, like a lump in his chest.

“Are you?”

Her smile cracked. “No. But it seemed the right thing to say. I am sorry for the heartache. That’s never easy, even if it’s for the right reason.”

Victor realized he was still shaking her hand and let go.

“Goodbye, Victor. Good luck to you.”

“Goodbye, Shannon.” And because it was the appropriate thing to do once you said goodbye, Victor walked away. When he turned to take a last look, Shannon sharply moved her gaze to her coffee.

Grab your copy: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

About the Author

New York TimesWall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee has written twenty-eight books that have collectively sold more than five million copies and have been translated into more than eighteen languages. Raised in Washington State, Bybee moved to Southern California in the hope of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned the Not Quite Series, the Weekday Brides Series, the Most Likely To Series, and the First Wives Series.

Connect:

Website: http://www.catherinebybee.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCatherineBybee

Twitter: https://twitter.com/catherinebybee

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2905789.Catherine_Bybee

Spotlight: It Ends Here by Willow Rose


It Ends Here
Rebekka Franck Book 10
by Willow Rose
Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Every Parent's Worst Fear!

Inspired by a true story!
She thought it would be okay.
She thought her son would be fine if she left him in the car.
It was after all just for a few minutes while she went to grab something at the store. It was no big deal. But when Mrs. Cunningham came back out from the store, the car was empty, and her 5-year-old boy was gone.
In a town filled with dark secrets, who will you dare to believe?
Reporter Rebekka Franck is traveling to central Florida to interview a famous author when the body of a young boy turns up inside an abandoned house.
The death of the boy leaves the small town of Webster horror-stricken.
Forty years ago, another little boy was found killed in that exact same house.
Now they are all asking themselves: Will it end here?
As Rebekka Franck digs deep into the story, she realizes this town is harboring a lot of secrets that some people will go to extremes to keep hidden.
This highly anticipated and exhilarating new chapter in the Bestselling Rebekka Franck Mystery series,IT ENDS HERE, is a stand-alone mystery. It serves up a double dose of nail-biting, chilling suspense, twists, and shocking revelations as only #1 Amazon bestselling author Willow Rose can. This mystery is determined to terrify you. No one is more addicting than the Queen of Scream.





The Queen of Scream aka Willow Rose is a #1 Amazon Best-selling Author and an Amazon ALL-star Author of more than 60 novels.

She writes Mystery, Thriller, Paranormal, Romance, Suspense, Horror, Supernatural thrillers, and Fantasy.

Willow's books are fast-paced, nail-biting pageturners with twists you won't see coming. Several of her books have reached the Kindle top 10 of ALL books in the US, UK, and Canada. She has sold more than three million books.

Willow lives on Florida's Space Coast with her husband and two daughters. When she is not writing or reading, you will find her surfing and watch the dolphins play in the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.






Follow the tour HERE for exclusive content and a giveaway!





Spotlight: The Hashtag Hunt by Kristina Seek

Today we have the blog tour for The Hashtag Hunt by Kristina Seek! Check it out and be sure to grab your copy today!

About The Hashtag Hunt:

The only reason Lauren entered the Hashtag Hunt was for the $10,000 grand prize. She needed seed money for her startup, and it sounded easy enough: twelve hours to text twelve photos to someone called the Wizard. For hashtag number five, Lauren needs a #HottieInTheWild, and with the help of her best friend, Ivy, she finds the perfect subject.

The only reason Brenner entered Barkley's Pub was to have beers with Scott, an Army brother back in town. The reunion is interrupted when a woman is caught crouched in a dark corner, taking pictures of Brenner. Lauren explains, and though embarrassed, she accepts Scott and Brenner's offer to help with hashtag number six.

While hunting for hashtags, Lauren finds adventure and romance with her #Hottie, but she must stay focused to beat the clock and win the cash.

Excerpt

“I’m sorry. Are you saying ‘hottie?’ ‘In the wild?’” Scott didn’t hide his confusion. “That’s not a thing, is it?”

“Oh yeah,” Ivy said. “It’s a thing. My Facebook friends post pictures of hot guys out in public all the time. Subways, airports, Disney World, construction sites, tattoo parlors, in line for coffee, carpool…” she trailed off with a shrug. “Wherever.”

“Are you serious?” Scott looked at Brenner and said, “I’m not sure men could get away with a ‘Honey in the Wild’ Facebook group.”

“Please, Scott. We ladies are making up for lost time,” said Ivy. “A handful of hotties on Facebook doesn’t compare to the tons of T & A on the Internet.”

All who heard Ivy’s voice nodded, and Margot shouted, “Preach!”

“Okay. Let me see if I understand what you’re saying,” Jess said as she sat up straighter in her chair. “Women take and post pictures of hot men they see out and about in town.”

“All. Day,” confirmed Ivy.

Jess left her chair and went behind the bar. She bent down and then reappeared, plopping her oversized purse on the bar top. She fished her phone out of the bag. “Show me the way.”

“Get on Facebook.” Ivy walked over to Jess. “I got you.”

Lauren looked at Brenner. Pointing to Ivy and Jess at the bar, she said, “I did not take your picture for that Facebook group. I needed it for this contest, I swear.”

Brenner said, “I’m flattered you found me attractive enough for your photo.”

“I knew it!” Ivy shouted from the bar. She looked up from Jess’s phone. “I told her any normal guy would love knowing he was a hottie in the wild.”

“Well,” said Jess, looking at her phone, “Facebook just got a hell of a lot better.” Lauren watched her move her thumb across the screen. “And these guys have no idea these pictures are being taken?”

“Plenty of women get caught,” Ivy said with a pointed look toward Lauren. “Most play it off by pretending they’re texting someone or taking a selfie. A friend of mine once acted like she was looking for a coupon when she was busted in line at Dick’s Sporting Goods.”

Jess looked up from her phone and said, “And some women run away and hide in the ladies’ room.”

“Take it easy on her,” Brenner said to Jess. He turned his attention to Lauren and said, “It’s worth it if the picture helped you win the contest.” When Lauren didn’t respond, he asked, “Did you win?”

“The contest doesn’t end until tomorrow. I have to take twelve pictures, and yours was number five,” Lauren responded. “If your picture is accepted, I’ll get a text with instructions for number six.”

“And if it’s not accepted?” Brenner asked.

“Then I’m out of the contest. First contestant to have twelve pictures approved before the deadline wins.”

“Wins what?” the crowd asked.

“Ten thousand dollars,” said Lauren.

Buy on Amazon

About Kristina Seek

Kristina Seek is the marketing and communications director for a residential design-build firm. Sometime near her fortieth birthday, she kicked around the idea of self-publishing a romance novel. With the support of her family and friends, Kristina completed her first book, The Hashtag Hunt, in 2018.

Kristina enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her loved ones. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and son and is currently writing her second contemporary romance novel.

Connect with Kristina: Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Website

Spotlight: Nanaville: Adventures in Grandparenting by Anna Quindlen

A bighearted book of wisdom, wit, and insight, celebrating the love and joy of being a grandmother, from the Pulitzer Prize–winning columnist and #1 New York Times bestselling author

“I am changing his diaper, he is kicking and complaining, his exhausted father has gone to the kitchen for a glass of water, his exhausted mother is prone on the couch. He weighs little more than a large sack of flour and yet he has laid waste to the living room: swaddles on the chair, a nursing pillow on the sofa, a car seat, a stroller. No one cares about order, he is our order, we revolve around him. And as I try to get in the creases of his thighs with a wipe, I look at his, let’s be honest, largely formless face and unfocused eyes and fall in love with him. Look at him and think, well, that’s taken care of, I will do anything for you as long as we both shall live, world without end, amen.”

Before blogs even existed, Anna Quindlen became a go-to writer on the joys and challenges of family, motherhood, and modern life, in her nationally syndicated column. Now she’s taking the next step and going full nana in the pages of this lively, beautiful, and moving book about being a grandmother. Quindlen offers thoughtful and telling observations about her new role, no longer mother and decision-maker but secondary character and support to the parents of her grandson. She writes, “Where I once led, I have to learn to follow.” Eventually a close friend provides words to live by: “Did they ask you?”

Candid, funny, frank, and illuminating, Quindlen’s singular voice has never been sharper or warmer. With the same insights she brought to motherhood in Living Out Loud and to growing older in Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake, this new nana uses her own experiences to illuminate those of many others.

Buy on Amazon | Barnes and Noble

About the Author

Anna Quindlen is a novelist and journalist whose work has appeared on fiction, nonfiction, and self-help bestseller lists. She is the author of many novels: Object Lessons, One True Thing, Black and Blue, Blessings, Rise and Shine, Every Last OneStill Life with Bread Crumbs, and Miller’s Valley. Her memoir Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake, published in 2012, was a #1 New York Times bestseller. Her book A Short Guide to a Happy Life has sold more than a million copies. While a columnist at The New York Times she won the Pulitzer Prize and published two collections, Living Out Loud and Thinking Out Loud. Her Newsweek columns were collected in Loud and Clear.