K.T. Castle's Blog, page 8
November 30, 2017
Take a Chance and Win
by Wellington Manjengwa
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GENRE
Non-Fiction
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BLURB
Risks are a part of life. What differentiates those who take a risk and succeed and those who don’t is how they manage that risk. Tony Robins once said, “It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.”
This book takes that philosophy and expands upon it. Grounded in the idea that how you approach decision making and risk management determines success or failure, Take A Chance And Win aims to teach you the tenets of success in all aspects of your life and shows you how to capitalize upon effective risk management for regular decision making.
Inside you’ll discover:
Strategies to avoid making poor decisions
How risk management and decision making go hand in hand
Why risk management is the biggest ingredient for success
Practical strategies to clear obstacles to success
Whether you’re just beginning your life’s journey or have already endured your share of failure, an opportunity to succeed still exists. Embrace the proven strategies laid out in this book and discover the power of moving forward strategically for maximum impact. Essentially this book shows you how to TAKE A CHANCE AND WIN at the game of life.
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EXCERPT
Each one of us is a decision maker. We make decisions every day, about what to wear, where to go, what to do, what to listen to, the list goes on. Simplistic as it may seem, it is true that each of us is a decision maker in all facets of our lives. I would like to introduce you to something that you also are…even though it may not be so obvious. YOU ARE A RISK TAKER. Ok, so someone has told you before that you are not a risk taker and so on, but the reality is that you take risks every day; in fact, in every decision that you make at any given time, you are doing any of these four things: ACCEPTING A RISK, AVOIDING A RISK, TRANSFERRING A RISK, MITIGATING A RISK. My contention in this book is that as the world continues to change and innovations keep transforming lives and ushering in new opportunities, it is imperative that champions in the making, millionaires, and billionaires in the making also adapt to the changes and accept that in making decisions, it is smarter to avoid pitfalls while pursuing success, and that this is an important part of every success story together with the ability to rise after falling on your face.
The reality is that everything in life is risky. John Maxwell once said, “If you want to avoid all risks, then, well, don’t ride in a car. According to statistics, 20% of all fatal accidents are caused by cars. You can’t even travel by air or get on a boat because it’s very risky. It is said 16% of all accidents happen through these modes of transport. You might also want to stay away from walking on the streets since 15% of accidents happen on the street. It is even worse to stay at home because 17% of all accidents happen in the home.”
You see, there are no safe places in life, and this is the reason I would like to open your mind to this reality: YOU ARE A RISK TAKER. With every decision that you have, you need to choose approaches and strategies and plan their implementation.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I don’t know if you do this as well, but I keep old notebooks in my drawers; some of them go way back. My drawers get really cluttered sometimes because I dump all kinds of papers with notes from books, speeches, workshops, ideas that just crop up, brainstorming etc.
One Sunday in 2008, I needed to do a bit of cleaning, which included my desk and drawers. So I got started throwing stuff away and cleaning up. I was determined to leave the place sparkling clean.
And then I came to my desk, happily throwing away papers, notes, and unwanted clutter, when I came across this diary. A nice, leather-bound diary I had used the previous year, with many inspirational quotes on every page. While thumbing through the diary and reliving the appointments and meetings in it, I noticed one interesting quote; Success is due to our stretching to the challenges of life. Failure comes when we shrink from them. I didn’t know who John Maxwell was but his words were immensely profound
Then I read one of John’s quotes from my old daily planner, which said: “Your thoughts will attract opportunities to you but it is your actions that will put money to that opportunity.”
This was at a time when my life was at crossroads. I was contemplating making a huge career move, which entailed me leaving my country and comfort zone. I had lost money through some speculative investments in the era of hyperinflation in my home country, Zimbabwe. I was running a small business which was my passion but it just wasn’t making enough money to make it reasonable to keep going, in fact I was sustaining it with my salary because it was just not doing well. John’s messages and quotes touched me at the very core and left me questioning every decision I had ever made about my life. I kept saying to myself, this is so painful, why isn’t there some guidance out there to help me make these decisions. I realised my limitations but I had no-one to turn to, no big brother to run to for advice. I was confused about life, I had many questions but no answers. I have always been quite ambitious and hungry for success but at this point I was really afraid. I had a family that depended on me for everything and I needed to make sure that whatever decision I made would enable me to be successful and be able to continue being the provider. There was no room for mistakes. Failure was just not an option. How was I going to make this happen?
EVERYONE IS A RISK TAKER
I have since gone through a long path of self-discovery and self-development that has led me to discover something:
One of the greatest challenges we face in life is DECISION MAKING. As you weigh the options for yourself or your company’s next step, how do you decide which way to turn? Successful outcomes can only be evaluated after the fact. But by the time the results are in, it’s normally too late to take corrective action. Often our decisions involve risk, and our big failures come from failing to manage the risk. Some people consider themselves risk-averse, while others consider themselves risk-takers. This drives their decision making and the strategies they implement to achieve what they want. The cold, hard truth is that everyone is a risk taker, what differs is the size, type, and amount of risk you take. The key element that distinguishes the successful from the unsuccessful is how we manage our risk. To take a risk is not the same as being careless. Many people confuse the two.
SO, WHO STARTED ALL THIS?
My name is Wellington, I was born and raised in one of the most populous townships in Harare, Zimbabwe. Yeah, you’ve heard of that country. Does one million percent inflation ring a bell for you?? At some point we were millionaires and billionaires but could barely afford a loaf of bread. I come from humble beginnings. No silver spoon in my mouth. I get that you don’t know me that well yet. Usually when you have a background like mine, you are not given much of a chance. But I have lived this one truth that has transformed my life forever: The battle for success is an internal battle. Great things always begin from your inside.
That is why I fell in love with learning expert, Jim Kwik’s saying the first time I saw it;
“If an egg is broken from outside force, life ends, but if it is broken from inside, life begins.”
Failure to understand this is the reason one can be sitting on a treasure but be treating it like trash.
I have discovered an intensity and passion that has led me through a journey of self-discovery, adventure, conquering doubt, fear, and many limiting beliefs to establish the Well of Inspiration. My team and I work with individuals and companies providing them with information, ideas, and strategies that help to take their lives and businesses to their next level of success.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google | Amazon
The book is on sale for $0.99.
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GIVEAWAY
Wellington Manjengwa will be awarding an autographed copy of Take a Chance and Win (US/international) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
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November 25, 2017
Deal Breaker
by Tara Leigh
I am so excited to share this with you—check it out and grab your copy today!
About Deal Breaker:
Nixie Rowland is having a bad day. Rushing home to drown her sorrows in ice cream and reality television, she decides to take a shortcut to the subway where things take a turn for the worst. But Nixie’s bad luck doesn’t end there—the white knight who comes to her rescue is none other than the Dark Knight of Wall Street, a cocky Manhattan mogul whose ego barely fits inside his penthouse. To her horror, Nixie discovers the sizzling attraction between them is off the charts, and rising fast. Spending the night in his bed does nothing to lower the heat… And everything to set her heart on fire.
Nash Knight doesn’t have room in his life, or his heart, for anything beyond one-night stands or casual flings. And he certainly doesn’t make a habit of rescuing damsels in distress. Except that this particular damsel slips beneath his armor, the vulnerability she covers with a false show of bravado hitting him somewhere deep. Nixie is everything he never wanted… And exactly what he needs.
With Nixie on the run from a controlling ex, and Nash trying to salvage a business deal at risk because his conquests in the bedroom are overshadowing his wins in the boardroom, there’s one simple solution for them both: a marriage in name only. But when lust becomes love, will their untamed emotions be a deal breaker?
Grab Your Copy Today!
Amazon | Nook | iBooks | Kobo
Read and excerpt
I wasn’t blind. I could see the results of my time in the gym. Women threw themselves at me on a regular basis, and I enjoyed playing with them. Could appreciate the softness of their bodies and the lushness of their curves. Wasn’t immune to their full lips and husky laughs. But they were interchangeable. Easily forgettable.
There were people I respected in my life. Most of whom now worked for me. If they were smart, they ignored my impatience. If they weren’t . . . well, I fired them.
And if I had any doubts that I was on the right track, all I had to do was look at my bank balance. There, in black and white, or maybe I should say green, was proof of my success. For those who called me a coldhearted bastard, I’d say the Arctic was treating me pretty damn well.
What was it about Nixie that was raising the temperature? At the twinge in my pants, I looked down. Jesus Christ. She was raising something else as well. If she didn’t get out of the bathroom soon, I was going to embarrass myself. Not that there was any reason to rush. She’d made it perfectly clear she wasn’t interested in my joining her, and it wasn’t just because of the slice in her side. Nixie wasn’t interested in me. She was counting the minutes until daylight, until she could make an escape.
Which brought me back to my original question. I’d seen two emotions on Nixie’s face, besides her obviously false show of confidence. Fear, at first. And then sadness.
God help me, I wanted to grab hold of a sword and slay whatever dragons dared turn their fire on her.
And afterward, I wanted to ride triumphantly through gates she opened just for me and see what lay inside.
Why? No idea. This was new territory for me. Sure, she was beautiful. But so was every woman I’d ever slept with, and the list was long. She was unimpressed by me, and wanted to be anywhere but here, in my apartment.
I shouldn’t care. But I did. I wanted her to want me as much as I wanted her. Even though that would be a disaster. I had too much on my plate right now. My business, family obligations. The last thing I needed was to fuck it all up by getting involved with a flame-haired art student.
I was completely out of my element, even though I was standing in the middle of my own damn bedroom. I preferred women who wanted the same things I wanted, women who enjoyed a fun night here and there but didn’t expect any more from me than a series of mind-blowing orgasms. Which I delivered.
This one, though, she had baggage. I could feel the weight of her expectations through the closed door separating us.
This one, I needed to leave the fuck alone.
Catch up on the series now!
PENTHOUSE PLAYER
Amazon | Nook | iBooks | Kobo
About Tara Leigh
Tara Leigh attended Washington University in St. Louis and Columbia Business School in New York, and worked on Wall Street and Main Street before “retiring” to become a wife and mother. When the people in her head became just as real as the people in her life, she decided to put their stories on paper. Tara currently lives in Fairfield County, Connecticut with her husband, children and fur-baby, Pixie.
Connect with Tara
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Enter Tara’s Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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November 20, 2017
Wicked Torture
by J. Kenner
Don’t think about it too much, if it’s by J. Kenner it’s a one-click read for me!
Outwardly, Noah Carter is riding high as the tech world’s hottest new genius. Inside, he’s still reeling from the abduction of his wife and baby daughter eight years ago, and then the devastating discovery of his child’s body. For years, he kept up hope that his wife was alive, but now that she’s been declared legally dead, he’s thrown himself even more deeply into his work, cutting himself off from emotional ties because they just hurt too damn much.
Then he meets Kiki Porter, an eternal optimist with a killer work ethic and dreams of fronting a band. And everything changes. Even though he tries his damnedest to fight it…
Sexually, they are combustible together. But their true fire is emotional, though it is a slow to burn. But once it lights, it is all consuming. The relationship grows emotionally, the sex is hot, things are good.
But just when it’s looking like they might have a real future together, the past comes back to haunt them. And Noah’s going to have to decide what he’s willing to give up for love …
All Wicked Novels Stand Alone
Here’s an excerpt and my review of Wicked Dirty if you need a bit more encouragement 
November 16, 2017
In Between The Earth and Sky
Today I have the blog tour for In Between the Earth and Sky by Heidi Hutchinson!
Check it out and be sure to grab your copy today!
In Between the Earth and Sky
by Heidi Hutchinson
Genre
Contemporary Romance
About In Between the Earth and Sky
What happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object?
Remington Rohan was not a rule follower.
Former model (though not one of the “super” kind), successful influencer and life coach. Currently paid to tell people how to achieve the best from their lives and careers. In other words, a complete contradiction to how he preferred to live—namely, on his own terms and without input from others.
Everything about his life was going according to plan.
Until he started spending way too much time with a woman who defied his prejudices and challenged his beliefs.
Lydia Larkin was not a genius.
Gifted, clever, and stubborn. Raised on star maps and Hendrix, she was born an explorer. Temporarily tied down to a private sector science job, she knew she was biding her time before she was off to discover and build something new.
Not one to let society tell her who she was, she wasn’t about to let a professional influencer tell her she had to change to be happy.
Buckle up and brace for impact.
Amazon US |Amazon AU | Amazon UK |Goodreads
Excerpt
In Between the Earth and Sky
© 2017 Heidi Hutchinson
Yes, he was a former Marine sniper.
And a successful entrepreneur.
A published model.
A highly sought after business strategist.
A public speaker, life coach, and self-help guru with a wave of followers who believed he was God’s gift.
And Lydia was probably the only person in the world who disliked him.
But she suspected the feeling was mutual.
“I had forgotten about you to be honest,” she said, still not looking right at him.
It made her feel like a chicken shit, but he was insanely attractive. And her brain had always loved beautiful things. So instead of turning into a swoony fangirl (like she’d seen so many level-headed and highly educated scientists she respected in the building do around him), she kept her eyes on her work. Or looked at his chest if she needed to address him directly.
It also helped to picture him as Hans Gruber from Die Hard.
Handsome and charming, but ultimately the bad guy.
Remington helped himself to a dark chocolate candy from the dish on her desk. She ground her teeth together a little more than necessary.
“Can I help you with something?” she asked, forcing herself to be polite.
“You’re so tense, Lydia. You know…”
The way he drew his sentence out had her bracing.
“I would love to help you with that.” His words dripped with innuendo.
Her eyes narrowed and she made the mistake of looking at his face. He met her gaze with a relaxed and crooked smile. Those brown eyes alive with mischief and amusement.
He fucking loved to mess with her. Merrick had told her time and again to stop rising to the bait. To let it go and ignore him.
“Gross,” she said flatly, blinking once.
His smirk twitched as he tisked. “That’s so inappropriate. You know I was talking about a nutritional cleanse.” He made a show of looking around her desk. “I’ve left you some information before.”
Yes, he fucking had.
He even mailed them to her while he was out of town.
“Still peddling your pyramid scheme, huh?” she asked, going back to her computer and opening the email app.
“It’s not a pyramid scheme,” he responded tightly.
She sensed rather than saw him straighten his spine.
“Whatever you need to tell yourself to help you sleep at night, Charles Ponzi.”
Before he could fire back, the double doors opened and Merrick ushered him in. “Rem, good, right on time. Miss Larkin, please hold my calls.”
Lydia nodded her acknowledgment.
Remington hesitated in front of her desk until she finally raised her eyes to his. His mouth was a flat line, all amusement gone and the lines around his eyes deepened with his stare.
He knocked once on her desk as he tilted his head and ran his tongue over his teeth. “You know, this internship is doing good things for you. In a couple years, I think you’ll be ready for real employment.”
Lydia sucked in a breath as he turned around and flashed a smile at Merrick.
She hated him.
He was such a dick.
About Heidi Hutchinson
Heidi Hutchinson was born in South Dakota and raised the exact right distance away from the Black Hills. She had an overactive imagination very early on, and wasted no time in getting most of her friends in trouble due to her unrealistic and completely ridiculous ideas. Seeing as she was so lazy and also afraid people would think she was bonkers, she didn’t write down any of the story lines that played out in her daydreams.
During her high school years, she took pen to paper and filled more notebooks than she is proud of with angsty, depressing, self-deprecating poetry. This led to her writing down more things: notes, ideas, character bios, plot twists that had no plot yet to twist. After years of cleaning up her own scraps of imagination with nothing solid to hold on to, she sat down and wrote the story that had been in her head the longest. Fueled by coffee and her unwavering and perfectly normal devotion to Dave Grohl, she discovered a writer living inside of her.
She still lives in the Midwest, though not as close to the Black Hills as she would prefer, with her alarmingly handsome husband and their fearless child. They eat more pizza than God intended and she listens to her music the same way she lives: loudly.
Connect with Heidi
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
Enter Heidi’s Giveaway
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November 14, 2017
Acting on Impulse
Today I have the blog tour for Acting on Impulse by Thea Dawson!
Check it out and be sure to grab your copy today!
Acting on Impulse
by Thea Dawson
Genre
Contemporary Romance
About Acting on Impulse
She’s camera shy. He’s a big star. Is love worth the limelight?
Thirteen years ago, Chris McPherson drunkenly declared his love for Joy Albright… right in front of her husband. Though her angry rejection still stings, Chris, now a successful Hollywood actor, has never forgotten his feelings for her. When he returns to Silverweed Falls to direct a summer Shakespeare play, he is thrilled–and a little nervous–to learn that Joy will be managing the play.
Joy Albright’s marriage imploded in a public scandal a year ago when her husband was caught by the press with another woman. All she wants now is to avoid the limelight, but she can’t refuse the request of a dying friend to help save the local theater group.
Reunited, sparks fly. Joy is desperate to avoid more gossip. Chris comes trailed by the tabloids. But neither of them can deny the temptation to act on their impulses.
Get Your Copy Today!
Catch up on the series with Desire by Design
Excerpt
Hoping she didn’t look as self-conscious as she felt, Joy steered Chris to the Riverfront Café, letting out a breath of relief as they stepped over the threshold to the chime of the little bells over the door.
The café was crowded, but a couple of the smaller tables toward the back were empty.
“I’ll grab us a drink, you grab us a table,” Chris suggested. “Iced espresso?”
Against her will, she was impressed. “That would be lovely, thank you.”
She took a seat at a small table by the window that overlooked the river that flowed through the middle of town. A few minutes later he joined her, putting a frosty glass down on the table in front of her.
“I’m amazed you remembered,” she said.
“You were the first person I ever met who liked ice cubes in her coffee. It was the weirdest thing I’d ever encountered,” he said, sliding into the seat across from her. “It’s like how you never forget the first girl who asks you to do something really kinky.” He flashed her the cheeky smile that had helped make him famous.
There was the cockiness.
So this was how it was going to be. They were falling back into the flirty one-upmanship that had been the hallmark of their friendship thirteen years ago, him the comedian, her the straight man. It was fun, it was sweet, it was … safe.
He wasn’t about to bring up their last encounter—possibly he’d been so drunk he didn’t really remember it. And she wasn’t going to bring it up because, after all … awkward.
A relationship based on friendly banter—she could do that.
She met his remark with a condescending lift of her eyebrows. “You think regular ice cubes are weird?” She tapped her glass. “Here, the ice cubes are made out of coffee. Gives it an extra kick.” She raised her eyebrows suggestively and pushed her straw toward him. “Try it.”
“Whoa, mama!” He lifted his hands up in mock surrender. “Pretty sure that’s banned in at least thirty states.” He nodded knowingly at her. “You may look all straight-laced, but I always knew you had a freaky side just waiting to come out.”
About Thea Dawson
Thea Dawson has lived in Rome, Tokyo and London, and spent much of her twenties traveling around the world. Eventually she met the love of her life and settled down in the Pacific Northwest, where she now lives with her husband and three children.
After a checkered career which included stints as an English teacher, librarian and editor, she now writes full time, telling tales of romance and adventure.
Connect with Thea
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Enter Thea’s Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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At Your Service
by Lexi Blake
Juliana O’Neil’s promising future was burned away in the heat of battle. She had been an officer with a bright future in the military, but now she is struggling to survive. Her husband gone and her career in shambles, she finds a job at Top as a hostess and tries to put together the pieces of her life. The last thing she needs is any kind of male attention, but she can’t help but be amused at her neighbor and coworker’s lothario antics. Not that she would have anything to do with him, at least not for more than one night.
Javier Leones doesn’t understand monogamy. No woman could ever be enough for his endless libido, but he has to admit Juliana has his attention. For reasons he doesn’t fully understand, he can’t seem to get the gorgeous redhead with the sad eyes out of his head. After one scorching night together, he realizes he’ll never be able to get her out of his system. But with his reputation, he fears she’ll never see him as more than a one-night stand.
When their passions collide, these new lovers will be forced to confront Juliana’s past and come to terms with Javier’s present. Will they find their way or will this reservation be canceled at the last minute?
Amazon | iBooks | Google Play | Barnes & Noble
Excerpt
All alone with the storm. Maybe she should call Kai. And ask him to get out in the middle of this? That seemed pretty selfish especially since she knew exactly how poorly driving in storms could go.
A hard flash of white light made her jump back.
Nope. She wasn’t going there. She was going to stay in the here and now, and that meant finding a flashlight and trying to get some candles lit. Someone was out there working on getting the power back on, and then she would ride out the storm watching rom coms and falling asleep on the couch. It was going to be okay. Deep breath. It was going to be okay.
A few moments later she’d found her one flashlight and had a nice set of candles out, and she was faced with the problem of lighting the suckers. Oh, she had a big box of matches, but she’d never struck a match without her left hand.
A lighter would be easier. She could figure out a lighter maybe. Jules tried holding the box against the table with her stump while she struck the match with her right hand. She fumbled, the action so unnatural it made her slip up and break the match.
And the second one.
And the third one.
Tears pierced her eyes, but she wasn’t going to shed them. She was going to figure this out or she would make due with the flashlight. It was all about adapting. That was what she had to do. Adapt.
She wasn’t going to let this beat her. Normally she was tough. It had happened and she dealt with it, but between the storm and the conversation with Suzanne the day before about her mother and the sweetness of flirting with a handsome man she couldn’t have, she was feeling awfully vulnerable. She wasn’t going to sit here in the dark and cry.
A knock on the door made her gasp and jump.
Fuck. She wasn’t like this. She hated this…this anxiety she got when it rained. It was weakness and she couldn’t abide it.
If you walk away from this you’ll ruin your life, Juliana. Don’t think I’ll watch you do it. You go through with this and you do it on your own. Am I understood?
Sometimes she felt like she was still seven years old, and if she could just get her mom’s attention everything would be okay.
Jules gripped the flashlight and walked across her apartment to the door. It was likely one of the neighbors coming to check on her. Actually, that was an excellent idea. She could go down and see if Mrs. Gleeson needed some company. There were some elderly residents she could check on and a single mom she’d met at the end of the hall. She could see if she could be of any assistance and that would get her through the night.
She opened the door expecting to see anyone but the man she saw standing there.
Javier Leones. He had a flashlight in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other. He was wearing jeans and a button down that he’d left undone enough she could see a nice swath of golden brown skin. His hair was deliciously mussed, as though he’d taken a shower and simply rubbed a towel over it to get it dry.
He was big and male and so sexy it hurt to look at him, and Jules realized she could do something else to take her mind off things.
Those plump, sensual lips of his broke into a bright smile. “I thought you might like some company. I know I would. I actually don’t have any candles, so I was sitting in my living room with this sad one flashlight. You look like a woman who likes some candles.”
But she couldn’t light them. She hadn’t figured that part out.
His face fell and he walked into her place, closing and locking the door behind him. “Hey, what’s wrong? It’s okay if you don’t have any candles. It’s cool. Two flashlights are better than one.”
He set the flashlight and wine bottle down and moved into her space, his hands coming up to cup her shoulders. “Jules, what’s wrong?”
She had to be stronger than this. She shook her head. “Nothing. I’m fine.”
His jaw tightened. “Don’t. Please don’t. I live with a stubborn asshole who won’t let me help him in any way. I get that we’ve only known each other for a few weeks, but I thought we were friends. You help me out all the time. You’re kind to me. Fucking let me be kind to you. I spend every day trying to help someone who won’t let me. Please let me feel like I’m worth something.”
If he’d said anything else, joked about the weather or told her to suck it up, she could have, but he’d opened a door. He’d been vulnerable and honest, and she found she couldn’t pay that back with stubbornness.
“I have candles and I can’t figure out how to light them.” Tears rolled down her face. She was vulnerable. All the time. Even when she pretended like she wasn’t.
“You can’t…” he began and then he looked down. Instead of stepping back and giving her space, he drew his hand down her arm, warming her skin where he touched her. It was dark but the moon was full and gave enough light to see the outline of his face. There was no look of horror there. He caressed her arm until he got to the place where she’d been split apart and sewn back together unwhole. He brought it up and wrapped it against his palm, his fingers closing around it until the whole thing was surrounded with his warmth. “You haven’t figured out how to do it yet. Probably hasn’t come up or you would know what to do. How long since you lost your hand?”
“A year and a half,” she said. He was touching her there. No one had touched her there except her doctors and therapists.
Come to think of it, no one had touched her at all since before the accident. Had it really been so long since she’d felt warm flesh against her own? He was so close, close enough that all she would have to do was go up on her toes to brush her lips against his.
Would that be wrong? As long as she remembered who she was dealing with, why couldn’t she take a few moments of respite for herself? If he wanted her.
About the Author
NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.
FACEBOOK / TWITTER / WEBSITE / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE
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November 13, 2017
GETAWAY SERIES
I’m very excited to post the new covers of the GETAWAY SERIES by fabulous Jay Crownover.
The first book in the series, Retreat, stole our heart. Now it’s time for the next Warner brothers to do the same. The best thing about this series isn’t that the main characters are cowboys, not all all, it’s that they deal with relatable character and strong female heroines. Don’t miss any book in this seires! They’re all standalones but you’ll get so much love, action and satisfaction to read them all.
Right now RETREAT is $.99.
Get your copy of the first book of the seires while it’s on this great promotion.
✦ RETREAT on Amazon
✦ RETREAT on Other Retailers
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From New York Times Bestselling author Jay Crownover comes the next two standalone titles in her Getaway series, SHELTER and ESCAPE! And that’s not all!
SHELTER
(Coming out 12/26/17)
His life is chaos and confusion. It’s a storm of uncertainty and raging emotion.
Sutton Warner is a mess. Everything in his life feels like it’s unraveling.
He’s let a lot of people down lately, including his daughter. Sutton always promised his little girl he would never disappoint her and that he would always be there when she needed him. Until he wasn’t.
The truth is, he’s used to disappointing the women in his life. First was his mother who couldn’t find a reason to stick around when he was growing up. Then there’s his ex. The woman who takes unbridled delight in making his life incredibly complicated. Luckily, his daughter is still young enough to believe her old man is some kind of hero. But, he knows the day is coming when she realizes the truth, that he’s just a man with some serious flaws and a list of ever-growing weaknesses.
Finally, there’s the woman he’s desperately trying to forget with every shot tossed back and each pill popped.
He more than disappointed Emrys…he almost got her killed.
Her love is steady and sure. It’s a shelter shaped by conviction and silent assurance.
Emrys Santos is lost. Everything in her life feels pointless and futile.
She’s been busy running away from her feelings and all the people who love her the most—including her best friend, the one person who knows exactly what she’s been through. They promised to always stick together and to lean on one another. It was a promise Em had to break so she could lick her wounds and figure out her next move. For once, there is no easy way out of the tangled web of emotions she’s caught up in, and right now, she recognizes that all roads lead back to Wyoming…and back to Sutton.
The man she nearly got killed.
Shelter is a standalone novel, the second book in the Getaway series, which features the hardheaded and brokenhearted Warner brothers and the women who dare to love them. These boys are very good at putting the wild in wilderness.
PREORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!
✦ Amazon ✦ Other Retailers ✦ Goodreads
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ESCAPE
(Coming 1/30/18)
Everything inside of him is screaming that he needs to run, he needs to go, he needs to escape.
Lane Warner is used to being overshadowed and overlooked.
After all, he’s the youngest brother and the most laid back one in the family. He’s the one known for going with the flow and not making waves, even when things seem to be at their worst.
Very few things in life have had the ability to rile Lane up and get under his skin. At the top of that list is his childhood friend Brynn Fox…no…Brynn Warner. The fact that they share a last name was the one thing that has the power to light him up and spin him out of control like no other. There was no calm, cool and collected when it comes to all the reasons why Brynn had to become part of his family.
It’s slowly killing him to keep wanting what he can’t have, so Lane sees only one way to stop himself from doing something they’ll both regret…he has to leave.
Everything inside of her is calling out to find him, to follow, to bring him home.
Brynn Warner is used to being stuck between a rock and a hard place.
After all, she’s the daughter of an unrepentant gold-digger who never once blinked at being the cause of her daughter’s pain and suffering.
Very few things in her life have ever brought happiness and a sense of security. At the very top of that list is Lane Warner. She has unwaveringly loved the youngest Warner since the first minute she laid eyes on him. He was everything Brynn ever wanted and everything she knew she could never have.
Sometimes the right choice is the one that hurts the most and Brynn’s had to make a few that felt like they might be the end of her.
When Lane takes off, one thing is clear, the only choice Brynn has is to go after him.
She’s going to bring her wayward cowboy home….whatever it takes.
Escape is a standalone novel, the third book in the Getaway series, which features the hardheaded and brokenhearted Warner brothers and the women who dare to love them. These boys are very good at putting the wild in wilderness.
PREORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!
✦ Amazon ✦ Other Retailers ✦ Goodreads
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RETREAT
Every once in a while, you need to get away from it all.
I was a woman on the edge, shaken and shattered after a breakup that felt like it tore my entire world apart.
My best friend, sick of watching me drown in misery and melancholy, harassed me until I agreed to go with her on a week-long wilderness retreat.
She promised days spent bonding and getting in touch with our inner badasses. It was supposed to be all about the two of us roughing it and making do with the bare minimum. She assured me we were going to be pushed to our limits in ways that were unimaginable. Neither one of us could have ever guessed just how right she was.
Nowhere in the glossy brochure did it say anything about the fact I was going to have to battle the insufferable but deliciously rugged and sexy trail guide instead of the elements. The brochure also forgot to mention the part that warned when you left civilization behind, there was no place to pack your inhibitions and fears.
I was told that I would be facing a week where the only thing I should expect was the unexpected. However, no one mentioned that I was going to have to fight for my life…and my heart as soon as I ventured into the unknown.
I was a pro at hiding from my feelings but when it came time to face a real threat, one that could change everything, I learned I was more of a no surrender, no retreat kind of girl.
Retreat is a standalone novel, the first in the Getaway series which centers on the hardheaded and brokenhearted Warner brothers and the women that dare to love them.
These boys are very good at putting the wild in wilderness.
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And don’t miss the first standalone novel in the Getaway Series, RETREAT, on sale for just $.99! Grab your copy today!
✦ RETREAT on Amazon
✦ RETREAT on Other Retailers
About Jay CrownoverJay Crownover is the international and multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men Series, The Saints of Denver Series, the Point Series, the Breaking Point Series, and the Getaway Series. Her books can be found translated in many different languages all around the world. She is a tattooed, crazy haired Colorado native who lives at the base of the Rockies with her awesome dogs. This is where she can frequently be found enjoying a cold beer and Taco Tuesdays. Jay is a self-declared music snob and outspoken book lover who is always looking for her next adventure, between the pages and on the road.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
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November 10, 2017
Hinder
by Kristin Ping
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GENRE
New Adult Paranormal
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BLURB
Ethan SUTCLIFF is no normal seventeen-year-old, but he tries to be really hard. He is what witches call a Guardian, or a the easier term will be a Bender. Benders are crucial to elemental witches as they have the ability to bend their witches’ gifts. In Alex’s case he is one of the rarest, an Earth Bender, but his witch is either dead or deep in hiding and Ethan needs to find whoever they are otherwise the witching race might be in danger.
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EXCERPT
Awe filled me as I watched Ethan playing in the garden. Though only ten years old and scrawny, he was… a wonder.
The farm was the safest place for him. A few miles from the city and its prying eyes. Less danger here.
His hands lightly stroked the rosebushes as he walked past them.
It wasn’t time for them to bloom yet, but at Ethan’s tender touch, pink and white rosebuds opened and expanded into the most beautiful roses I’d ever seen.
“Ethan,” I called from the porch, warning in my tone.
His blond head snapped toward me. He pulled his hand to his chest. “Sorry, Dad.”
“Be careful.” I spoke as if he was pulling the cat’s tail—not lending nature a hand.
With one flutter of the newspaper, I pretended to return to reading. After a few seconds scowling at the small black letters, I peeked over the top of the page and stared back at Ethan.
Natalie his mother, never let him explore. She worried about the others. That they would see.
Ethan walked over to the willow sapling Natalie had planted a few weeks ago. It wasn’t tall; the top barely reached Ethan’s waistline. He stumbled and fell with hands first—diving right into the willow.
It started to grow… and grow. In a matter of seconds, it was a full-grown tree. Slender, silver-green leaves swayed in the lazy breeze.
The newspaper fluttered as I set it aside and stood, mouth agape. Not many could do that at his age.
Surprise galloped on the heels of awe, followed by a dash of fear—okay, more than a dash— as Ethan stood and brushed himself off.
So this was what Natalie felt most of the time
My eyes darted this way and that. What if anyone saw?
Everything was exactly as it had been a few moments ago, except for the mature willow in the middle of the yard, its graceful branches lazily stroking the earth. A few cows grazed serenely in the green pasture. The chickens clucked in their pen. The ginger tomcat lay on the opposite chair to mine.
Behind me, the door opened. Natalie gasped. She smacked my shoulder with a dish cloth—hard. I scrambled back from her wrath.
“I told you to watch him!” she hissed. She ran down the steps with huge eyes and long strides. She reached him and crouched down in front of him, almost pulling the boy down with her, scowling.
Rubbing my shoulder, I watched the expression on my son’s face. He hadn’t meant to do it. It was an accident. Ethan never asked to be born into our family of Benders.
Ever since he got a taste of his element, well, he’d just been so damn curious.
He would need to find his match: an earth Wielder.
Earth Wielders rarely reached their fifteenth birthdays. And because of what Ethan would become one day, his life was in mortal danger.
Benders were born to protect Wielders. The payoff was being able to manipulate the Wielder’s element. To use it to their advantage. To, well, bend it into whatever they wanted the element to do. Whether it was to make a tree grow or a fire burn or the wind blow… Wielders could start the
process, but the Benders performed the magic. They told the flame how to crackle, or the earth how to quake, or the gale how to waft.
Without a Bender, Wielders would cause chaos.
If a water Wielder or an earth Wielder had no Bender, then a tsunami was inevitable.
Wielders and Benders were a mechanism, an interdependent team that functioned as one. They benefited mutually from one another and kept each other safe.
It had always been this way since Wielders were labeled as Witches. Now they had plenty of names—alchemists, spellbinders, and shifters, to name a few.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
[image error]Kristin resides in South Africa with her husband, two beautiful girls and two bulldogs that tries to eat her house. She has been writing for the past eight years and her first debut novel, Hinder: A Bender’s novel will be published 2018 by Fire Quill Publishing.
When she isn’t writing, she is spending her time with her family, or trying to teach her two bulldogs to not eat her house. You can find more about Kristin at http://www.authorkristinping.com
Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter
A CHANCE TO WIN
Follow the steps and you can stand a chance to win a Macintosh laptop. It’s easy.
Please note that your entry will not count if you haven’t followed all the steps.
Want to win a Mac? Every two to three months, Kristin Ping is giving away a mac, all you have to do is subscribe to her newsletter, confirm to the confirmation email that will either be in your inbox or spam, and open the letter. Find the secret facebook group, join and enter the giveaway. It’s as easy as that. We even give you extra entries by inviting your friends to subscribe too. We already gave away the fist laptop.
INTRODUCING THE PING CRATE
The Ping Crate is a crate filled with goodies for readers. It’s built around the theme of the Guardian of Monster Series. The first few boxes will be built around witches. Think journals, cups, books, novelty jewelry, swag and something electronic that will push the worth of the crate up to $700 and more.
All you have to do is stay subscribed to the subscription list and open the monthly newsletter that Kristin will send out to find the rafflecopter for you to enter in this lovely giveaway.
It’s a box full of reader goodies and a surprise. Sometimes it will be a gift card if there isn’t any electronics.
Believe me it will be worth your time.
PRE ORDER HINDER FOR 99c. Yes, you’ve heard right. The pre order special is 99c only. The price will go up to 2.99 in its first month, think of it as a release day blitz, and from the second month it will go up to its normal price of 4.99c. So it’s a major deal of getting the pre-order for just 99c. GRAB YOUR COPY NOW!!!
When you purchase Hinder, you can claim your free gift through the subscriber link. Don’t miss out on this amazing Pre-Order deal ‘Even Witches needs saving now and then.’ Use the link below:
Reminder: “The book is available for pre-order for only $0.99!”
BUY LINKS
Amazon | Barnes and Noble
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GIVEAWAY
Kristin will be awarding a $50 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Enter to win a $50 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway
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November 7, 2017
The Boyfriend Swap
The Boyfriend Swap
by Meredith Schorr
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GENRE
Romantic Comedy
BLURB
Is Christmas really the most wonderful time of the year? New Yorkers Robyn Lane and Sidney Bellows aren’t so sure. Robyn has always dated struggling creative types. For once, her parents would love her to bring someone with health insurance and a 401(k) to their Chrismukkah celebration. Her actor boyfriend doesn’t qualify. While across town, Sidney’s professional life already belongs to her parents. She’s an attorney at her father’s law firm and she works tirelessly to keep her love life private. If she brings her lawyer boyfriend to their annual Christmas extravaganza, her parents will have the wedding planned by New Year’s Eve.
A mutual friend playfully suggests they trade boyfriends for the holidays. The women share a laugh, but after copious amounts of wine, decide The Boyfriend Swap could be the perfect solution. This way, Robyn can show off her stable attorney boyfriend and Sidney’s high-society family will take no interest in her flaky actor beau.
It’s a brilliant plan—in theory. In practice—not so much. When Will turns out to be the boy-next-door Robyn crushed on hard throughout her teenage years, and Sidney’s family fawns all over Perry like he’s an Oscar-winner rather than a D-list wannabe, one thing is certain: The Boyfriend Swap might just change their lives forever.
EXCERPT
Piling on the incentives, Sidney said, “Have I mentioned the largest practice area in my firm is entertainment law? It’s what both my dad and I specialize in. My father invites his most prestigious clients and business colleagues to Christmas. This means networking opportunities galore for you.”
Perry pressed his lips together, appearing to ponder his next words. “Okay, I’ll do it. I’ll be Sidney’s boyfriend for a few days—in name only, of course.” He shined his baby blues on me. “I’ll miss you, but if it’s what you really want…”
I swallowed hard. It was what I wanted, wasn’t it? Why else would I be on a double date with Sidney, a virtual stranger, and her boyfriend—Will Brady? I’d agreed to lie to my parents, something I never did, just to avoid their blatant disdain for my dating choices. So what if I had an unrequited crush on Will the entire duration of my childhood? I was an adult now, and I was dating Perry. I needed to protect him from my parents’ judgement and maintain my sanity over the holiday weekend. This was what I wanted.
Then why did I feel like I was going to throw up?
“Of course it’s what she wants,” Sidney responded for me.
I nodded timidly. “Sure.” Taking a deep breath in and letting it out, I clarified my answer with a more confident “Yes.” I met Will’s eyes across the table. “As long as Will’s okay with it too.”
“What do you say, Will?” Sidney asked, sounding certain the answer would be a resounding “Yes.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
[image error]A born-and-bred New Yorker, Meredith Schorr discovered her passion for writing when she began to enjoy drafting work-related emails way more than she was probably supposed to. After trying her hand penning children’s stories and blogging her personal experiences, Meredith found her calling writing romantic comedy and humorous women’s fiction. She secures much inspiration from her day job as a hardworking trademark paralegal and her still-single (but looking) status. Meredith is a loyal New York Yankees fan, an avid runner, and an unashamed television addict. To learn more, visit her at http://www.meredithschorr.com.
Social media links
Facebook | Twitter | Website | Instagram
GIVEAWAY
Meredith will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Enter to win a $10 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway
November 2, 2017
Hide and Seek Review
by Desiree Holt
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GENRE
Romantic Suspense
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BLURB
Anything can happen when you let your guard down . . .
After receiving a violent threat on the heels of her father’s disappearance from the town of Arrowhead Bay, Devon Cole fears for her life—until Vigilance, a local private security agency, steps in to shield her from danger. Although she isn’t usually quick to surrender her freedom, she has no problem stripping her defenses for her new sexy bodyguard . . .
Tortured by the painful memory of lost love, Logan Malik is determined not to fall for a client again. So when he’s tasked with watching over Devon day and night, he’s focused on doing his job. Day is no problem, but as tensions rise at night, nothing can protect them from giving in to unbridled passion . . .
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EXCERPT
He wasn’t as much shocked by his physical reaction as by the fact that it happened at all. For a long time now, he’d managed to keep a clamp on his sex drive and take it out only when required, like taking aspirin for a headache.
“You’re a smart woman,” he congratulated her. “I didn’t know if you’d play along with me.”
She inhaled an unsteady breath and blew it out. “I took a chance. You could have been worse than they were.”
“Still, that shows brains and quick thinking. Good for you.” He studied the interior of her car. “Wow. They did a number with that window. Don’t move. There’s chunks and pebbles everywhere.”
She stared at him, studying his face. “You promise you aren’t the second wave? You know, like good cop, bad cop? The bad guys threaten me and you come along and win my confidence by helping me?”
“Nope. Scout’s honor.”
“I, uh, saw that you have a gun.”
“So did those jackasses. I wanted them to see it.” He smiled at her. “But I only use it as part of my job.”
She caught her lower lip in her teeth. “They just came at me out of nowhere and ran me off the road. Then they boxed me in and smashed the window.”
“Later I’ll want all the details. Right now let’s get you out of here.”
“Do you know who they are? Those men?”
“No.” His voice hardened. “But I know other garbage like them.”
She swallowed. “So who are you, anyway?”
“Oh. Sorry.” He winked at her, and the tension in her body visibly eased. “Logan Malik. Savior of women in danger.”
“Devyn Cole.” She dug up a smile. “Woman in danger who needed saving.”
Read another excerpt of this exciting book!
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AUTHOR Bio and Links
[image error]Desiree Holt is the world’s oldest living published author of erotic and spicy romance. A graduate of the University of Michigan with double majors in English and History, her earlier careers include agent and manager in the music industry, public television, associate vice-president of university advancement, public relations, and economic development.
She is three times a finalist for an EPIC E-Book Award (and a winner in 2014), a nominee for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, winner of the first 5 Heart Sweetheart of the Year Award at The Romance Studio as well as twice a CAPA Award winner for best BDSM book of the year, a USA Today Bestselling author and winner of the Holt Medallion for Excellence in Romance Literature.
She has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning and in The Village Voice, The Daily Beast, USA Today, The (London) Daily Mail, The New Delhi Times, The Huffington Post and numerous other national and international publications. She is also the Authors After Dark 2014 Author of the Year.
“Desiree Holt is the most amazing erotica author of our time and each story is more fulfilling then the last.”
─Romance Junkies
Learn more about her and read her novels here:
Websites: www.desireeholt.com and www.desiremeonly.com
Facebook: Desiree Holt Author and Author Desiree Holt
Twitter: @desireeholt
Pinterest: desiree02holt
Buy Links
Barnes and Noble | Amazon
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GIVEAWAY
Desiree will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Enter to win a $25 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway
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MY REVIEW
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Devon Cole is a strong woman who would do anything to protect those she love and do right by them. She’s independent, she had to be, since her mother died and now the only parent she has left is missing. She is sad to discover exactly why her father is missing, he’s been doing the kind of business that can only result in that.
Logan Malik is nothing but serious when he makes a promise, especially when that promise is to protect those who need it. From the start, he clearly is drawn to Devon. And his many talents come in handy as the drama intensifies in their story together. Their connection is almost palpable through the pages, it’s deep and meaningful.
Hide and Seek isn’t the kind of book I usually read (I usually go for romantic and fun, rather than erotic and intense), but it captivated me and it was hard to put down once I started. It has all kinds of twist and turns as the chapters go by.
If you are looking for romantic suspense, look no more, this is the book for you. This is a sexy read that you’ll love!
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