Lexi Ryan's Blog, page 5

The Entire Reckless and Real Series Available Now

I’m happy to share with you that Liz and Sam’s story is now complete–the entire Reckless and Real Series is now available! I hope you enjoy reading their journey as much as I enjoyed writing it.

The Reckless and Real Series includes:

Book 1: SOMETHING WILD (Liz and Sam’s story begins – novella), FREE

Book 2: SOMETHING RECKLESS (Liz and Sam’s story continues), on sale for $0.99 USD (reg. $3.99) for a limited time!

Book 3: SOMETHING REAL (Liz and Sam’s story concludes)

SOMETHING WILD

FREE

Amazon US – Amazon UK – iBooks – Google Play – Barnes & Noble – Kobo

“You need a good guy. A long-term guy. One who does dates and romance and emotional strings…I’m just an asshole who wants to tie you up, make you come, and walk away.”

Samuel Bradshaw is a man with a reputation—the kind of reputation that should have me running the other way. Instead, it has me searching for the shortest distance to his bed. I won’t be the starry-eyed girl who thinks she can change a man like Sam, and despite what he thinks, forever is not what I need. I need the things he makes me feel, the way he turns me on, and the promise of pleasure in his eyes. I need SOMETHING WILD.

SOMETHING RECKLESS

ON SALE FOR $0.99 USD (REG. $3.99) FOR A LIMITED TIME

Amazon US – Amazon UK – iBooks – Google Play – Barnes & Noble – Kobo

Dive into a world of secrets and temptation. Read the first novel in the sizzling Reckless and Real series from NYT bestselling author Lexi Ryan…

He talks dirty to me, but I don’t know his name.

He wants to tie me up, but I don’t know his face.

He turns me on, but I couldn’t point him out in a crowd.

I’ve fallen for an anonymous stranger, and now the anonymity ends. I want more than typed secrets and texted promises. I want something reckless. Heat. Passion. The thrill of being entirely possessed.

Because I suspect this anonymous stranger isn’t a stranger at all.

**

Lizzy Thompson met Riverrat69 online through Something Real, a service promising to deliver meaningful relationships by forbidding its users to share names or photos until they’ve reached a certain benchmark. She was looking for love. He was researching an investment. They hit it off. Talked and flirted, hid behind screen names and cartoon avatars.

Now they’re breaking the rules and meeting in person. But Liz is prepared. She’s picked up hints and followed clues. She’s ninety-percent convinced she’s discovered the identity of her dirty-talking online friend.

She wonders if her ex-lover Sam Bradshaw knows her identity too.

When she rolls the dice on one reckless night, her chance at something real could crumble.

Something Reckless is book 1 in the sizzling new Reckless and Real series and includes the prequel, Something Wild, for your convenience. Liz and Sam’s story concludes in Something Real.

SOMETHING REAL

Amazon US – Amazon UK – iBooks – Google Play – Barnes & Noble – Kobo

Return to a world of secrets, scandal, and temptation. Read the second novel in the sizzling Reckless and Real series from NYT bestselling author Lexi Ryan…

After everything blew up on Christmas, Liz walked away from me, and I let her. She said she needed space and a chance to pursue her dreams. But we both knew she was running from the mess she made. Now the political campaign she used as an excuse to leave is bringing us back together and I’m proving to her what she really needs—not just the hot nights, greedy hands, and undeniable physical chemistry. What she really needs is something real. What she really needs…is me.

Something Real is book 2 of the Reckless and Real series and intended to be read after book 1, Something Reckless. This book concludes Liz and Sam’s story.

2014: Recap and Gratitude Out My Ears!

It’s the last day of 2014, and though I’m ALWAYS excited for fresh starts (new days, new weeks, new years, new beginnings of all kinds), I’m a little sorry to see this year come to a close. Before I sit down and map out my goals for 2015 (a task I get unreasonably excited about), I want to take a minute to review the AWESOME that was 2014.

This was my first full year as a full-time writer (I left the day job in May 2013), and I feel good about what I’m doing with the time this has granted me. I published 3 novellas and 4 novels. I started the year with Stolen Wishes, a prequel novella for William and Cally. All or Nothing was released as part of the All I Ever Wanted anthology and then on its own in November. Then in April, June, and August, I released the three books in the Here and Now series: Lost in Me, Fall to You, and All for This, which debuted #1 across iTunes US, UK, and Australia, and hit the USA Today list.

Here and Now Series

In December, I released Something Wild, a surprise free novella introducing Liz and Sam and the Reckless and Real series, followed shortly by book 1 in the series, Something Reckless. I’ll release the final book in Liz and Sam’s saga in March of 2015.

Reckless and Real Series

I also sold more translation rights to France, Germany, and made my first translation deal for getting the Here and Now series into Italian. Aren’t these covers hot?

The Italian Here and Now covers. I love them!

In addition to writing and publishing as much as I could, I attended book signings in Cleveland, New Orleans, Seattle, Tampa, Las Vegas, and Indianapolis, and met a lot of amazing authors and readers. I was absolutely thrilled to meet some of my favorite online writer friends in-person, including Lauren Blakely, Monica Murphy, Melody Grace, Rhonda Helms, Megan Mulry, Mira Lynn Kelly, Julia Broadbooks, Jeffe Kennedy, and so many more.

Group of awesome writers and bloggers at NOLA.

Mira Lynn Kelly, who just happened to be in Vegas with her hubby at the same time I was there for the Vegas Valley Book Festival

Rhonda and I met in person the first time after the Cleveland Author Event

Lauren Blakely and me in Seattle

I will undoubtedly remember someone super important the second I click “publish” on this post. I also met hundreds of the amazing readers and bloggers. I LOVE YOU ALL! Seriously. You’re all amazing and wonderful, and I am so grateful.

On a personal level, it was a great year as well. My kids turned 3 and 7, and they’re wild and crazy and wonderful, and I’m grateful to have them. I celebrated my 10th wedding anniversary with my husband, and my brother and several of our close friends got married. Big year for weddings and so much fun!

While we were at this wedding reception, I posted this to facebook and a reader who was there saw it and realized we were at the same reception. Glad she came over to introduce herself. It made my night!

2014 also began my continuing house hunt. We’ve simply outgrown our home, and we’re looking for a bigger place. Alas, I’m picky and I don’t want my son to have to change schools, so I may still be on the hunt this time next year. Regardless, I love looking at houses and thinking about floor plans and lots, etc, so it’s been a fun part of my year for sure.

I’m not 100% sure what 2015 will hold. For those of you who follow my New Hope series, you can look forward to the conclusion of Liz and Sam’s story in Something Real in March. Summer(ish??) will bring Max Hallowell’s story–a long-awaited HEA for a guy some of you have been rooting for all year. I have to decide what comes after that. It’s always hard to choose between all the ideas and characters pulling at me, but I’m pretty sure 2015 will bring the start of an all-new series, and maybe a surprise or two as well.

I hope you all had an equally amazing year, and here’s to new beginnings!

 

ALL FOR THIS hit the USA Today List!

I’m so behind on blogging, as I’m sure you noticed, but I just wanted to thank everyone for your support of the Here and Now Series. I was thrilled to see ALL FOR THIS hit the USA Today list last week. Thank you so much for your part in that. All the ALL FOR THIS goodies are below.

 

All for This is the third book in the Here and Now trilogy.

It is not a stand-alone and it’s intended to be read after Lost in Me and Fall to You .

What if you would never remember the day you made the most important decision of your life?

That’s what they’re telling me about the day of my accident—the day I put on Max’s ring and chose him over Nate. I’m counting on the wisdom behind a decision I don’t remember making.

Max is amazing—sexy, sweet, and kind. I was starting to believe happily-ever-after might be in my future after all. Then the unthinkable happened and my world imploded. If I’m going to make this work with Max, I need my missing memories, or at least answers from about those five days before my accident.

But what does my future hold if those answers aren’t anything like I imagined?

 

 

ALL FOR THIS excerpt

**SPOILER ALERT!** The following excerpt from ALL FOR THIS by its very nature contains spoilers for the first two books in the Here and Now series, LOST IN ME and FALL TO YOU. If you hate spoilers and haven’t read the first two books, don’t read any further.

***
Hanna

“Where’s Hanna?” I know the voice, and an unwelcome thrill dances up my spine as Nate pushes into my kitchen and stalks toward me.

“Customers aren’t allowed back here,” Liz says behind him.

“Don’t do it,” he says, and those dark, broody eyes are all over me like he’s trying to take me in, memorize me.

I take a deep breath and look to my sister. “You should probably go.” Then I turn to Nate. “Don’t do what?”

“Um…” Liz looks Nate up and down. “Are you sure? Because I can stay to protect you. Or…try.” God bless her, she’s standing behind Nate with her hands on her hips, ready to swing on my behalf.

“Why don’t you give us a minute?”

She narrows her eyes at Nate. “Hurt her and I’ll cut off your balls in your sleep.” Then she pushes out of the kitchen, the door swinging wildly behind her.

“Don’t move in with him,” Nate says.

“What are you talking about?” I ask.

“I thought you said you weren’t moving forward with Max until after the babies were born. Don’t you think moving in is moving forward?”

“I don’t know where you get your information, but I’m not moving in with him.”

“You’re not?”

I shake my head. “He asked me to, and I said no.”

He must have been expecting a fight, because his shoulders relax and he drags a hand through his hair. “Thank you.”

I toss my washcloth into the sink. “Is that all?”

“No.” He lifts his eyes to mine. “I need to apologize.”

“For what?”

“For this.”

In two long strides, he closes the space between us and presses his mouth to mine. His lips are hot and hungry as his tongue sweeps inside—coaxing and demanding all at once. And it’s so good. So sweet and easy and safe that, for a breath, I forget how wrong it is. I’m back in the hotel in St. Louis, finding myself in the fire between us. For a breath, I forget that I’m wearing Max’s ring.

EXCERPT © LEXI RYAN, 2014

  All for This Playlist

 Justin Timberlake—Drink You Away

Rihanna—Stay

Muse—Madness

Ingrid Michaelson feat. A Great Big World—Over You

A Great Big World—Already Home

Sam Smith—Stay with Me

Pink, Nate Reuss—Just Give Me a Reason

Ani DiFranco—Falling Is Like This

Norah Jones—Come Away With Me

Train—Marry Me

Oh Honey—Be Okay

 

 

AMAZON US: HTTP://AMZN.TO/WVDHN9
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KOBO: HTTP://BIT.LY/1R3YE7V
GOOGLE PLAY: HTTP://BIT.LY/1SOIITW
SMASHWORDS: HTTP://BIT.LY/1PZTH9F

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOST IN ME: Release Day!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1ijnR3O
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1lKI2OD
iBooks: http://bit.ly/1g8lseX
BN: http://bit.ly/1lKI4Gs
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1fVA5SX

I can’t believe release day is finally here! I feel like I’ve been waiting forever to share Hanna’s story with you, and now I finally can!

LOST IN ME is the first book in my new Here and Now series, a sexy amnesia love triangle featuring Hanna, who you may know from the New Hope series. It’s still set in New Hope and Maggie & Asher and Cally & William are there, along with all the other characters I’ve grown to love.

For the first week, I’m offering LOST IN ME for $0.99 (US). I’m calling this “fan appreciation pricing” because you guys–the ones who snag my books at the first possible opportunity–deserve an opportunity to pick it up at the best deal. Regular price will be $3.99, so I hope you’ll grab it now at the special price.



Lost in Me is the first book in the Here and Now series, a spin-off of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling New Hope series. This sexy amnesia love triangle is intended for mature readers.

The last thing I remember is having drinks at Brady’s and trying to avoid eye-contact with my life-long crush—the gorgeous, unattainable Maximilian Hallowell. They tell me that was a year ago, but I have no memories of anything since then. What I do have is this ring on my finger that Max says he gave me, and this much-thinner body I’ve dreamed of most of my life. Aside from a case of retrograde amnesia, everything seems almost…perfect. 

But the deeper I immerse myself into this new world of mine—planning a wedding to a man I don’t remember dating, attempting to run a business I don’t remember starting—the clearer it becomes that nothing is as it seems. Do I have the life I’ve always wanted or is it a facade propped up by secrets I don’t even know I have? 

I need answers before I marry Max, and the only person who seems to have them is the angry, tatted, sexy-as-sin rocker Nate Crane. And Nate wants me for himself.


Lost in Me is not a standalone novel, as the story continues in Here and Now book two, FALL TO YOU, releasing in June.

Want to read more? Here’s an excerpt:

From LOST IN ME …

I wake up to someone climbing into bed next to me, hot, hard muscle cozying up behind me.

I blink away sleep. Max is in my bed and I want to enjoy it, enjoy him, but sleep has such a tight hold on me I can hardly keep my eyes open. I snuggle as close to him as I can get, but sleep is already tugging me back down.

“Couldn’t stay away?” I murmur in the darkness.

“You know I can’t,” he whispers against my ear. His voice is different somehow. Deeper? Maybe sleepy? I don’t have time to think about it because I’m wrapped up in his heat, his bare chest against my back, one of his hands right between my breasts, and I can’t fight it when my dreams suck me back in. But somehow, with his heat against me and his arms around me, my fitful dreams fade away and I don’t just sleep. I rest.

When I wake again, the room is still dark, but Max’s mouth is doing delicious things to the side of my neck. I arch against him and am greeted by the hard length of his erection against my ass. I have to bite my lip at the thrill that rushes through me. Not only can I do that to him, but he wanted me enough that he had to come back tonight.

Under my shirt, his fingertips skim the underside of my breasts, and a soft moan slips from my lips. He cups my breast in his hot hand and grazes his callused palm against my nipple, toys and teases until it’s hard and tight under his hand and I am rocking back into him instinctively.

“Jesus, I missed you so much.” His voice sounds funny, but I hardly have time for the thought to register before he’s squeezing my nipples, sending electric jolts of pleasure from my breasts and right up through my center. His touch is harder than it was earlier. Rougher. But I like it. He’s so good at this. He knows exactly how to touch me, exactly how much pressure I like. I wouldn’t want him to ever stop touching my breasts if it weren’t for this nearly painful ache that’s been pulsing between my legs since we were interrupted in my living room—the ache my own touch couldn’t quite ease.

I circle my hips and rub my backside against his erection. Thick and wild arousal buzzes through me, electric and sharp with its intensity. He wants me as much as I want him.

“Touch me,” I whisper into the darkness. “I need you to touch me.”

He groans against my neck and then his fingers are dipping into the waistband of my sleep pants.
I turn in his arms just as his hand meets the hot and needy place between my thighs. Our mouths touch in the darkness, and something niggles at the back of my mind. Something’s changed between last night and now. Does he smell different or—

The thought disintegrates as he slides a finger inside me. I can’t believe how slick and wet I am. Except that this is Max and I need his touch.

I rock against him, letting him touch me the way I touched myself in the bath. Only this is hotter. Sweeter. More intense. Not just because it’s him. It’s almost as if he knows what I like better than I do. His finger moves inside me and his teeth nip at my neck almost painfully. But I like it. I want more of this unbridled lust, more of his expert touch.

He withdraws his finger and replaces it with two, stretching me in a way that has my body pulsing around him in response.

“Yes,” I whisper. I want this. Need it.

His thumb finds my clit and his fingers curl.

“Oh God…” Am I a screamer? I bite my lip, but holy shit, I can’t—

“Let me hear you scream,” he growls in my ear, his stubble scraping at the tender skin of my neck. “Let me feel you pulse around my fingers as you come.”

I curl my nails into his forearm, not to stop him, but because this pleasure inside me is so intense I have to do something, put this energy somewhere.

His other hand slides up my side and squeezes right at the bruise on my ribs. Pain vibrates through me, and I cry out.

“Hanna?” He pulls away and clicks on the light.

I’m still wincing at the pain from my manhandled bruise when I look at him through squinted eyes.

And then I scream.

I shove the man off me as hard as I can. My mind gropes for the lessons I learned in the personal defense class I took in college. I bring up my knee, aiming for his balls.

He lets out an airy oomph, and I flail, backing as far away from him as I can get. I fall off the bed, and the impact of my already-battered body slamming into the floor has me crying out.

“Jesus, Hanna!” the man—who is definitely not Max—says from the bed. “What the fuck was that for?”

Oh God. He knows my name.

I’m trembling.

My phone is on the bedside table, and I scramble to get to it before he can take it away.

“I’ll call the police!” I warn, holding the phone up like it’s a weapon.

The man on the bed is white-faced and stricken and looking at me like I’ve lost my mind.

“You can’t just come into a woman’s house and get into her bed.” Shit. Now I’m trying to reason with a sex offender. Jesus. But he’s just sitting there. Is that normal?

His expression goes from confused to desolate as he skims his eyes over my bruised face. “Damn. What happened to you, angel?”

I fumble with my phone, pressing the button on the side and trying to get it to light up. Nothing. It’s dead. Why didn’t I charge it before I fell asleep last night?

He pushes off the bed, and I back into a corner, arms wrapped around myself. “Leave. Please.”

He holds up his hands and takes a step toward me. “Hanna, baby. Tell me what happened. Tell me—”

I press my body as close to the wall as I can. I should have locked myself in the bathroom or something. I am one of those too-dumb-to-live heroines you see in horror movies. Especially since the thing keeping me here—keeping me from running to safety—is the hurt on his face. I’ve always been the kind of person who tries to make people happy, but this is ridiculous.

Think, Hanna. Okay, I’ll need a description for the cops. Tall—taller than Max, maybe—messy dark hair, an Incredible Hulk tattoo on his right shoulder, some numbers tattooed above his left pec. God, is he an ex-con? Don’t convicts get numbers tattooed on themselves?

He steps closer, and a shudder runs through me.

“Please don’t hurt me.” I sink to the floor and cross my arms in front of my face.

His gaze catches on my left hand, and his jaw goes hard. “I see.” He backs off and grabs something off the floor. Then he’s tugging a shirt over his head. It falls into place and covers that amazing body.

Amazing body? What the eff is wrong with me?

As stupid as it is, I don’t believe this man is here to hurt me. There’s nothing intimidating about his body language, and even though his face has gone hard and angry, there’s no violence in his eyes.

He grabs his jeans. “You could have told me.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” My voice cracks.

Jeans unbuttoned and half up his hips, he’s heading toward the door. Stupidly, I follow him. My hands are shaking, my head spinning.

He grabs the doorknob and goes still, but he doesn’t look at me. “When I was touching you just now”—he swallows—“you thought I was…”

“I thought you were my fiancé.” The whisper seems to swell in the small space and vibrate off the walls.

He punches the wall beside the door. “You and Max have a nice life.” Then he’s leaving, slamming the door behind him and making the whole room rattle. And me right along with it.

Excerpt © Lexi Ryan, 2014

Buy now for $0.99! 

Amz US: http://amzn.to/1ijnR3O
Amz UK: http://amzn.to/1lKI2OD
iBooks: http://bit.ly/1g8lseX
BN: http://bit.ly/1lKI4Gs
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1fVA5SX

LOST IN ME

Lost in Me is the first book in the Here and Now series, a spin-off of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling New Hope series.

The last thing I remember is having drinks at Brady’s and trying to avoid eye-contact with my life-long crush—the gorgeous, unattainable Maximilian Hallowell. They tell me that was a year ago, but I have no memories of anything since then. What I do have is this ring on my finger that Max says he gave me, and this much-thinner body I’ve dreamed of most of my life. Aside from a case of retrograde amnesia, everything seems almost…perfect. 

But the deeper I immerse myself into this new world of mine—planning a wedding to a man I don’t remember dating, attempting to run a business I don’t remember starting—the clearer it becomes that nothing is as it seems. Do I have the life I’ve always wanted or is it a facade propped up by secrets I don’t even know I have? 

I need answers before I marry Max, and the only person who seems to have them is the angry, tatted, sexy-as-sin rocker Nate Crane. And Nate wants me for himself.


Available now!

Amz US: http://amzn.to/1ijnR3O
Amz UK: http://amzn.to/1lKI2OD
iBooks: http://bit.ly/1g8lseX
BN: http://bit.ly/1lKI4Gs
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1fVA5SX


Excerpt from LOST IN ME

“You don’t understand what this is like. Not remembering? I’m planning a wedding to this man I’ve wanted most of my life. Don’t I owe it to him—don’t I owe it to myself—to have the truth out there before we promise until death do us part?”

Even in the moonlight, I can see the pain in his eyes.

“I just need answers.” I lift my chin and move toward the back wall of the house, toward him. Immediately, I regret the decision because his lips curve into a wicked smile and he closes what distance is left between us. “I need the truth,” I whisper weakly.

“The truth? Is that what you really want, angel?” His deep voice dances over my skin like a caress. A little tender. A lot wicked.

I can’t reply. I’m too busy holding my breath. Too deep of an inhale might brush my breasts against his chest, and I’m afraid to touch him. Afraid of what it might make me feel.

As if he can read my mind, he takes another step closer, and when I step to the side to turn away, I’m against the wall and his body is against mine, his hot breath at my ear.

“Do you want to know what it was like between us?” he whispers.

“Yes.”

I realize my mistake when a groan rumbles from his chest. “Should I start with how wet you were every time I touched you? Or maybe how you begged me that first night?”

“I didn’t.”

“Have you been telling yourself some wicked rocker seduced you? That I tricked you into my bed? Sorry. You asked for the truth. You begged. Right there outside the club, you begged me until I ripped your panties off and you were too busy biting my neck to talk anymore. Is that what you’re hoping to remember? How you wanted me so badly you let me finger you out in the open, against that building where anyone could have seen?”

My breathing is uneven, my cheeks hot. When I press into his chest to put some distance between us, my traitorous hands curl into his shirt instead.

He makes a low growling sound at the back of his throat. His teeth nip at my earlobe. Lightning cracks in the sky behind him. “You might have forgotten me, but you still like dirty talk, don’t you? And maybe if I made you come now, you’d still scream my name. Because you always screamed my name, Hanna. Never his.”

I gasp. “You are horrible.”

“What are you really upset about? That you wanted me? Or that even as you stand here wearing his ring, you’re secretly hoping I’ll tell you about it. Secretly wishing you could remember all the details.”


LOST IN ME © Lexi Ryan, 2014

Lost in Me is not a standalone novel, as the story continues in Here and Now book two, Fall to You, releasing in June and All for This, releasing in August.

Re-Cover Reveal for Accidental Sex Goddess

I’m so excited to share the new cover for ACCIDENTAL SEX GODDESS! While this book is fun like the previous cover, what fans tell me they love about it is the emotion at the story’s core and, of course, all the fog-up-your-glasses heat the story delivers. It was time to give the book a cover that better represented that.
 







What do you think?




FAKING IT NEVER FELT SO GOOD…

Promotions director Reese Regan isn’t a sex goddess and doesn’t want to be. But when she’s offered a job with Sex Goddess, Inc., she must complete the company’s wildly popular Sex Goddess 101 program. Trying only to avoid the unemployment line, not to become Chicago’s next seductress, she never expected the infamous “steps” might work.Reese’s sexy, off-limits best friend Ben Hawk helps her “fake” her way through lingerie shopping, phone sex, and seduction lessons. The passion that flares between them might be hotter than their friendship can withstand. And the idea that he only wants the “new” her? That’s definitely more than her heart can stand.

Will faking something so important cost her a chance at something real?

~ ~ ~
Excerpt


“I’m going to let Mark take me out.”

His jaw ticked. “Don’t be stupid, Reese.”

“Wha—”

He cut her off with his mouth. He cupped her face in his big palm and brushed his lips across hers. He was warm and gentle.

And from the first brush of his lips, she wanted more.

Maybe tomorrow she’d blame the tequila or maybe she’d blame the lingerie shopping or the dirty stories she’d been logging into her notebook. Maybe she’d blame their tragic beginnings and her endless months of waiting for him to want her, but right now she didn’t even need an excuse. She moaned against him, loving the feel of his mouth, the light scratch of his scruff. Ben was so painfully male. A hot and delicious, long-denied craving.

Ben slanted his mouth over hers and slipped his tongue inside. He tasted like beer. Like male. Like something wicked and addictive. He wasn’t one of those rushed and sloppy kissers. He kissed like it was making love. Like he had all the time in the world. Like his most important task was kissing her. It was a kiss she’d known once and had never forgotten.

He slid his hands under her jaw and into her hair.

Reese grabbed a fistful of his shirt in her hand and pulled him closer, thinking of his eyes on her in the dressing room, thinking of the only other night they’d kissed.
He slid a hand behind her ass and lifted her, pressing her between the wall and his body and nestling his hard-on right between her legs. She gave a moan of approval and rubbed her tongue against his, exploring his mouth for all she was worth. She reached around his neck and slipped her fingers into his hair, tugging gently. Groaning, he pressed himself even closer to her. She cursed the day denim was invented. She wanted closer, closer even as part of her brain told her this was a mistake, told her to end this before they ruined everything.

He tore his mouth from hers and latched onto her neck. Sucking, nibbling, tasting until her eyes closed and she arched into him.


His teeth grazed the shell of her ear. His breath was hot as he whispered, “I’ll be damned if I’m going to let my brotherhelp you with the best parts of this program.”


~ ~ ~


Have you read this book? What do you think of the cover? 


Links if you’re so-inclined to click.


Amazon: http://amzn.to/1lp0oEB
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1hCAKqJ
iBooks: http://bit.ly/MxLtsr

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1fL7lvR

ALL I EVER WANTED: Available Now at a Special Price

Believe it or not, I have another new release to share with you!  Three friends and I worked together last year to create the ALL I EVER WANTED anthology, a collection of four interconnected novellas, all set in the same town during the same weekend and each focusing on a different couple. 

The anthology released last week, and we’re running a 99 cent sale price on it through Wednesday, January 22nd, so I wanted to tell you about it while you can get it at this discount. (It will be $3.99 after the sale ends.)







Amazon
Amazon UK
B&N
iTunes
Kobo
 

ALL I EVER WANTED, a new adult winter anthology

Winterfest is heating up in Abbott Springs…

As the town’s yearly festival kicks off, cold days turn into steamy nights, new flames will be ignited, and old romances will be rekindled.

All About Us by Marilyn Brant—All Sami Abbott ever wanted was permission to be herself. At home, she aims to be the perfect daughter but never measures up. At college, she’s the bold girl who had a one-night stand with sexy musician, Alex Hamilton. When he arrives unexpectedly in Abbott Springs, her worlds collide and she must reconcile the girl she tries to be with the person she really is.

All I Need by Caisey Quinn—All pink-haired rocker chick Everly Abbott thought she wanted was acceptance in her straight-laced hometown. But her best friend and bandmate Justin Cohen is about to show her that what she thinks she wants isn’t necessarily what she needs.

All for Love by Rhonda Helms—All Maya Monterey ever wanted was to belong. Happiest with the Abbott family, Maya’s been secretly in love with sexy pastry chef Oliver Abbott for years. With a flirty new look, she’ll pull out all the stops to get him to notice her. And if her plan fails, she’ll walk away from the only home she’s ever known–and Oliver–for good.

All or Nothing by Lexi Ryan—After years of placing the wrong bets, all Aubree Baxter wanted was someone to take a chance on her. Golden boy Kennedy Hale plays it safe in life and love, but to keep Bree in Abbott Springs, he’ll have to go all in.
 




















From my ALL I EVER WANTED novella, ALL OR NOTHING …

“Get dressed and come hang out with me.”

“Always trying to get me to put more clothes on,” I muttered. I turned to find my bag.

“What?”

Shit. I hadn’t meant for him to actually hear me, but it was too late now. I lifted my chin. “You are the only guy I’ve met who’s not related to me who wants me to put more clothes on.”

“You’re upset that I want you to get dressed before we drink and shoot the shit?”

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “I’m not upset about anything. I’m merely making an observation.”

“An observation about how you want me to look at your mostly naked body?”

I spun on my heel and stomped back to the bathroom, but he beat me to it and his hand stopped the door before I could slam it shut. I could only stare at him wide-eyed as he kicked the door wide and leaned against the frame.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “What are you doing?”

He took a slug of whiskey. “I care about you, Bree. And if asking you to put clothes on makes you feel bad, then I’m not going to do it. My mom taught me to consider the feelings of others.”

“You know that’s not what I meant. I’m not going to sit around in my towel while we drink.”

“Then lose the towel.”

I growled. Actually growled, I was so incensed. He had me cornered in the bathroom, with a nothing but a towel on, and I felt like the world’s biggest fool. “Do you even know that I’m a girl? A woman? A female with working parts?”

“I can only assume the parade of men in and out of your life equates working parts.”

“Whatever. I’m getting dressed.”

He crossed his arms, eyes glued to me. “Whatever makes you comfortable.”

I lifted my palms. “So leave?”

“Nah, you seem pretty convinced that I don’t see you as a sexual creature. I think we’d both feel better if I watched that towel come off.”

A hot flush rushed through me, all the way from my toes to the tops of my ears.

“You’re blushing.” His lips quirked, and I could almost make out that dimple. “I didn’t even know you did that.”

If he was going to play this game, I could give it as good as I got. “Have it your way then, Kennedy.” I dropped the towel onto the floor…

Excerpt © Lexi Ryan, 2014

I hope you check it out. Let me know what you think!

xoxo,
Lexi

A FREE New Release: STOLEN WISHES

I’m so excited to share that STOLEN WISHES, the prequel novella to WISH I MAY, is now available and free (almost?) everywhere. I hope you’ll download it while it’s free. This is my gift to my readers. You buy my books, you read them, you talk about them, you tell your friends, you write me such nice letters…yeah, you’ve earned a freebie and then some.

Cally… 
A sexy smile. Intense blue eyes. A goodness that makes him want to save me from these rumors when no one else would care. I didn’t ask for a hero. William Bailey was never supposed to be anything more than a wish, a dream, an unrequited crush. Not for a girl like me–a girl whose fractured family has stolen her chance at a decent life.

William… 
Since the death of my parents, I’ve always done what’s expected of me, what’s “best” for me. Until Cally. The moment her haunted eyes meet mine, the fractured pieces of my heart feel whole again. I don’t just want to save her. I need her to save me.

Stolen chances. Unbroken wishes. Two lonely souls grasping for hope in the darkness.

Available now and free for a limited time!

Amazon
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AllRomanceebooks

2014: Books and Plans

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you had a wonderful celebration and your year is off to a great start!

2014 is shaping up to be awesome. I’m super excited about the books I have planned and I hope you are too. Here’s what I’ve got planned for you this year.

JANUARY 7th — STOLEN WISHES, the prequel to WISH I MAY

Cally… 
A sexy smile. Intense blue eyes. A goodness that makes him want to save me from these rumors when no one else would care. I didn’t ask for a hero. William Bailey was never supposed to be anything more than a wish, a dream, an unrequited crush. Not for a girl like me–a girl whose fractured family has stolen her chance at a decent life.

William…
Since the death of my parents, I’ve always done what’s expected of me, what’s “best” for me. Until Cally. The moment her haunted eyes meet mine, the fractured pieces of my heart feel whole again. I don’t just want to save her. I need her to save me.

Stolen chances. Unbroken wishes. Two lonely souls grasping for hope in the darkness. 



JANUARY 13th — ALL I EVER WANTED, a new adult winter anthology with Marilyn Brant, Caisey Quinn, and Rhonda Helms

Winterfest is heating up in Abbott Springs…

As the town’s yearly festival kicks off, cold days turn into steamy nights, new flames will be ignited, and old romances will be rekindled.

All About Us by Marilyn Brant—All Sami Abbott ever wanted was permission to be herself. At home, she aims to be the perfect daughter but never measures up. At college, she’s the bold girl who had a one-night stand with sexy musician, Alex Hamilton. When he arrives unexpectedly in Abbott Springs, her worlds collide and she must reconcile the girl she tries to be with the person she really is.

All I Need by Caisey Quinn–All pink-haired rocker chick Everly Abbott thought she wanted was acceptance in her straight-laced hometown. But her best friend and bandmate Justin Cohen is about to show her that what she thinks she wants isn’t necessarily what she needs.

All for Love by Rhonda Helms–All Maya Monterey ever wanted was to belong. Happiest with the Abbott family, Maya’s been secretly in love with sexy pastry chef Oliver Abbott for years. With a flirty new look, she’ll pull out all the stops to get him to notice her. And if her plan fails, she’ll walk away from the only home she’s ever known–and Oliver–for good.

All or Nothing by Lexi Ryan—After years of placing the wrong bets, all Aubree Baxter wanted was someone to take a chance on her. Golden boy Kennedy Hale plays it safe in life and love, but to keep Bree in Abbott Springs, he’ll have to go all in.



Then in spring and summer we’ll go back to New Hope for Hanna’s books. That’s right. Hanna’s story is twisty and turny enough that it’s coming in three parts–two books with a prequel released in between. I’m so excited for this one, and I think you guys will be too. I’ll announce titles and give you the blurb of the first book soon.

That brings us to fall when I’ll be returning to the sexy little town of Decadence Creek. You might know that I’ve put out two shorts from Decadence Creek before I got tangled up in my obsession with New Hope. Just One Night and Just the Way You Are are the first two stories in the Decadence Creek series and they each feature a sibling from the Duval family. One thing I heard again and again in regards to the Decadence Creek stories was that they were too short. I’ll be honest, I intended DC to be a series of short, sexy reads. However, you spoke, and I listened. Frankly, I have to agree with my readers when they say they feel like the characters could carry longer stories. So, in the fall, when I go back to Decadence Creek, it will be for Kaleb and the first full-length novel I’ve set there. I’m looking forward to it, and I hope getting a full novel instead of a novella will make the delay worth it to those of you who have been so patiently waiting.

XOXO,
~Lexi

Goodbye, 2013, You Were Good to Me!

Oh, 2013, you were so amazing. I don’t even know where to start…

Let’s hit the biggies, shall we?

New Releases 

My releases for 2013 were not exactly what I planned. Early March(ish), I was floundering in a few different manuscripts. Finally I decided to throw my writing plans out the window and follow my muse (and she wanted to write something darker and more emotional than I’d ever written before). So though the year started with the light and sexy ACCIDENTAL SEX GODDESS, my other two 2013 releases UNBREAK ME and WISH I MAY brought my writing to a darker, more emotional place. I really like it there, but I wasn’t sure what readers would think…

Holy amazeballs, Batman! I am still blown away when I think about the reception of Unbreak Me. I’m not talking about sales here (though, thank you). I’m talking about the emails and facebook posts and reviews and everything you all did to let me know this book moved you. And you know what? I loved it at much as you did. It scared me to death to put it out there. I mean, there was this professor on my thesis committee in grad school who referred to one of my more experimental, darker stories (a story that the WHOLE committee hated) as “flexing a creative muscle.” I kept hearing his voice in my head as I waited for reviews of UBM to come back in. Was I just flexing a creative muscle or had I really created the story I needed to tell? I was thrilled when I saw that readers wanted to read stories like Maggie’s as much as I wanted to tell them. And I have more planned for 2014, so I hope you’re ready! xoxo

Agents, Editors, and Foreign Rights

I hadn’t agent hunted in years and I’d never successfully found representation in the years I tried, so it was weird when, after I hit the NYT in February, agents started courting me. I asked a lot of questions and wasn’t in a rush to sign. Dan Madel, an agent at Sanford J. Greenburger, had the right answers for me–an author who wanted to continue self-publishing but was looking to begin a hybrid career when the time was right. He’s proven to be a really good match for me, but more on that later.

Just like I never would have imagined agents approaching me, I never would have imagined editors approaching me. But they did after Unbreak Me released, and I spent much of my summer going back and forth with a couple major publishing houses that wanted to buy the rights to Unbreak Me and Wish I May. I was pretty quiet about this as it was going on because, well, it was a hard enough decision without more outside input. I had a lot of reasons for making the decision to keep the rights but I’ll tell you this–the hardest part of walking away was that I adored both of the editors. They were amazing and I know they would have done amazing things with the series. Alas, the time lag and the price jump that would have come with the deal just didn’t feel right. Remember how I said Dan proved to be the right choice for me? His commitment to my needs and priorities through this whole process was just awesome. After so much back and forth, I know a lot of agents who would have pressured their clients to take a deal. He didn’t pressure me, and he was completely supportive when I decided to keep my rights.

I was super excited to accept German-language and French-language deals for UBM and WIM. Tantor Audio also picked up audio rights for both, and that’s been great fun!

When Dreams Come True: Hitting Lists and Leaving the Day Job

When TEXT APPEAL hit the USA Today and NYT lists in February, I was shocked and delighted, but you know what? When it happened again with UNBREAK ME in July, it was just as sweet. Sweeter, maybe, because it was easier to believe the second time. This was a dream of long for as long as I’ve understood that such lists existed. Thank you, thank you to all my readers who made both possible! I’m pretty sure that will never get old!

In May, I resigned from my position as assistant professor of English at the day job. This was a big leap of faith. But the 18 hour days and little time with my family were starting to get to both me and them. It was time to leave teaching and finally live my dream of writing full-time.

You know what? Lists are awesome. Agents are great. Offers from publishers do something for the ego. But none of it–none of it–is anything without my readers. I’ve always enjoyed writing, but my favorite part is sharing my stories. That’s where the magic is. My dreams are literally DOA without you.

So…thank you. Thank you, thank you. A thousand times thank you for making my year amazing and for putting out your hard-earned money for my books so that I may live my dream.

If you haven’t heard already, I wrote a prequel to WISH I MAY called STOLEN WISHES. It’s a novella about Will and Cally when they first fell in love, and I’m trying to make it free everywhere upon release as my thank-you to you. If you see it on Amazon for 99-cents, just hang tight. They should price match to free eventually and I don’t want you paying for something that I intend to be a gift.

Happy New Year!! May your 2014 be filled with love and security and your dreams come to life!

~Lexi