Krista Ames's Blog, page 86

Author, author... One Life by L.A. Cadieux

ONE LIFEA TEDDY OWENS STORYby
L.A. Cadieux
…from Evernight Teen YA (romance, paranormal, shifters, suspense, contemporary)77,000 words, Editor's Pick 


Intent on leaving her troubled childhood in the past, snow-obsessed sixteen year old Teddy Owens has moved from Texas to her uncle's secluded Rocky Mountain estate—a beautiful place, but colder than she imagined. Curious about her surroundings she ignores the persistent advice of new friends and digs around to uncover the allure of the mysterious estate—only to discover her friends have terrifying secrets of their own. With each new revelation, Teddy is thrust further into a clandestine underworld where she is hunted for her dormant supernatural power…the ability to save just one person from death.
After her family's sordid history of betrayal is unearthed, Teddy’s world is rocked when she must travel to New York City and take an oath promising her power to an arrogant heir of the underworld, Leevi Koivu. Can she trust him?
And in the end someone she loves, but cannot save, will die.


Buy Links   Evernight Teen -  http://www.evernightteen.com/one-life-by-l-a-cadieux/
   Amazon  -  http://www.amazon.com/Life-Teddy-Owens-Story-Book-ebook/dp/B00L4N2PYQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1403287368&sr=1-1&keywords=One+Life+by+L.A.+Cadieux
   ARe -  https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-onelife-1555731-140.html
 BookStrand  -  http://www.bookstrand.com/one-life

 Print  -  https://www.createspace.com/4867155
 
B&N and Smashwords coming soon



Excerpt:“Admit it, you’re a mess.” My words were thick with accusation as I showed her the bottle. The lines separating a mother from her daughter began to blur, the tighter my fist clenched around exhibit #1: the medication bottle. “I found this in the trash.”Angelique placed the soda she’d been sipping onto the kitchen counter. “Stop worrying about me. Honey, I’m fine. It was an accident—those merely fell into the garbage earlier,” she said. A bead of condensation rolled down the side of the aluminum can, seeping into a chip in the counter.“Do you take me for an idiot? The trash isn’t exactly accessible.” I pointed to the cupboard beneath the kitchen sink. As I leaned forward my wet hair hung over my face. I’d gone and dyed my locks red a few weeks earlier. Fortunately, the color had faded after two washes.“It’s completely plausible it fell under the sink,” she argued. Angelique turned to search the deserted street outside our tattered screen door—her actions were a clear indication of what I’d suspected all along.“Please, look at me for one minute, and don’t start with one of your conspiracy theories—seriously—I can’t take another. This full bottle was in the washroom trash. I found it after taking a shower.” A knowing expression dawned on her face…she’d been caught in another lie. “You haven’t been taking your prescription. Why?” I shoved a hand into the pocket of my cut-off shorts and pulled out the telephone wiretap.Angelique’s eyes narrowed in on it. “Teddy, give me the bug,” she demanded, placing a thin hand on my shoulder.I tore out of her grasp. “In case you missed the memo, this isn’t normal. It’s not okay to spy on me. Angelique, I’m not your naïve little girl anymore.” I held up the listening device. “Your sickness is worse than ever. Your paranoia is out of control—you need help. I’m tired of trying to fix it.”“I’m fine,” Angelique shrilled. Her hair was matted to her forehead, saturated with the humidity. “You have to trust me. I have my reasons.”“I want to trust you.” I noted how her cheeks and eyes had sunken in. God, she wasn’t eating again. Her anxiety had worsened significantly since my sixteenth birthday. Lately, she’d watched me like I was going to burst into a man-eating tarantula at any moment. “You make it hard.”“You can’t possibly understand.” She reached over to tug at my arm, resulting in a tussle over the bug. “Give me that already—it’s not yours,” she ordered.As I ducked out of the way, she jerked my arm. “Let me go!” I tried to snatch my arm away.“Please, can you try to keep your voice down?” She released me, only to glance outside in search of her imaginary tormentors.“Why can’t you try to be a normal mother?” I asked, red-faced.“It was never in the cards for you, honey.” She pushed a limp strand of brunette hair out of her face.“You don’t listen, not even to the doctors,” I said sadly. “Try to keep care of yourself.” Taking aim, I flung the bottle against the refrigerator and watched with disdain as it burst open, sending pills spewing across the floor. Many of them disappeared into a filthy crack in the linoleum floor under the counter. “I’m not your babysitter!” Angelique stood rigidly, staring down at the pills. Considering her current state of mental health, and knowing my mother, she was probably asking herself if they could possibly be poisoned.I opened my mouth, then closed it, and then opened it again. “Forget this—I’m done.” I threw my fists up into the air.“Teddy,” Angelique shouted as I ran from the house. “Get back here this instant,” she ordered. “It’s dangerous—”I slammed the squeaking screen door behind me, cutting her off.If I wasn’t so livid I’d have taken notice of the police car sitting at the end of our street, but it was too late: the cops were stepping out of the car. An officer waved me over. Angelique was going to lose it on them, and it was my fault.Making my way toward the cops, I started to panic. What should I say?“Hello there,” the first officer said. “Is everything okay?”“Yeah, nothing to report.” I stared down at my sneakers, not wanting to meet their cynical gazes.“What’s your name?” the second asked.“Teddy Owens, sir.”“How old are you?” He leaned against his cruiser, tilting his head to the side to consider me.“Sixteen—at the beginning of August.” I cringed as the screen door on our house banged shut. The officers wore amused expressions as Angelique stomped toward us. They wouldn’t be smiling if they knew what she was capable of.“It’s going to be one of those nights,” the first officer said under his breath.It was one of the last times I’d play the role of an innocent spectator.


About the Author: "Our perception of the world is shaped by our experiences and imagery. As a genre fantasy writer it's my job to create new possibilities."My name is L. A. Cadieux, I’m a YA/New Adult writer and social media-aholic born in Lac La Biche, Alberta, living in Calgary, Canada. Since childhood I've been mesmerized by stories of fairy tales, knights, Greek and Roman mythology and comic book heroes. Naturally, I wanted to create my own worlds/characters and set off on a long quest to write fantasy novels. Creative, yet business minded, I went on to earn a Degree in Management from the University of Alberta Augustana, specializing in Business Economics.I'm a Project Manager by day and by night I work on my stories. After shelving some of my earlier manuscripts I decided to focus on ONE LIFE, the first in a series of Teddy Owens Stories.As a proud mom of two – I spend my days and nights multi-tasking.Random facts: Tim Hortons coffee and ketchup chips are my vices. I’m also a fan of the HBO and CW Networks. My favourite book is Jane Austen’s PRIDE & PREJUDICE.
Website: http://www.lacadieux.com
Blog: http://lacadieux.blogspot.ca
Contact:
Twitter: LACadieux_Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLACadieuxPinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lacadieux/Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7... https://plus.google.com/101606432963829216880/posts




Giveaway   L.A. Cadieux would like to give away a $25 Amazon Gift Card
Rafflecopter code to come separately.

Author, author... Stepping Stones by Elizabeth Morgan + giveaway

Today we are pleased to welcome an interview with the heroine from Stepping Stones by Elizabeth Morgan
~ * ~
Hello, my name is Margaret West, but you can call me, Maggie. And I am the leading lady - as Adrian would put it - in Elizabeth Morgan's latest release, Stepping Stones.

~~ How did you first meet your writer?
I first met Elizabeth when I took control of one of her dreams. I didn't really say hello or introduce myself. I just placed her in my shoes and showed her what was going on in my life. 
  ~~ What are your favorite scenes in your book: the action, the dialog or the romance?
The dialog. It was really good to get everything off my chest; to clear the air, and make peace with everyone. It wasn't easy hearing what they had to say to me, hearing how I hurt them, but then the truth is never easy. I'm just glad that we have all forgiven one another. William can get on with his life. I have my family back. I have Adrian back.

~~ Did you have a hard time convincing your author to write any particular scenes for you?
No. I didn't bother Elizabeth after that one dream, but I must have made some form of impact because she was stewing the idea for about two years before she finally sat down with me and began writing. I don't know if my story is a good one, but then life isn't always good or interesting. A lot of the time it is difficult and dull, filled with mistakes and heartaches, regrets, but Elizabeth must have seen something in what I showed her. Otherwise, there would be no Stepping Stones.

~~  If you could rewrite anything in your book, what would it be?
I would rewrite the pain I put my family through. I would rewrite the past and do everything I should have done, but things happen for a reason. The choice we make, even if they are stupid, selfish, and hurtful, we have to make them sometimes. We all have to learn and grow as individuals. Life is a lesson and even if you wish it, well, you can never rewrite it. You only live once.

~~  Do you like the way the book ended?
Yes, because that was the end of a very lonely six years, and the start of a very new chapter in my life; a time of possibilities and no more fear.

~~  What is your least favorite characteristic your writer has attributed to you?
I'm selfish and a little bit of a coward. I can't really blame Elizabeth for that, because I know I am, but I feel it will go against me in a lot of ways. I don't think anyone really likes a selfish prognostic, or a coward, but I'm human. I'm not perfect and I was very selfish for the six years prior to this book, and it's a hard "habit" to break, which is why I still am during Stepping Stones, which is a transitional point in my life. And I'm a coward for running away in the first place, staying away, and for not wanting to come back. 

~~ What do you do for a living?
I'm an independent fashion designer. I design and sell clothing in a small boutique in London.

~~ What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy Sunday?
Eat ice cream and watch films. You don't ever really want to do anything when it's raining anyway. It's like you become lazy. So, I like to veg out. I don't get to do it a lot of the time because I'm so busy. So, if the weather is super bad and I'm on top of work, then yeah, snuggling on my sofa with a tub of ice cream and a good movie is just the best way to spend a rainy Sunday.

~~ Are you a morning person or a night owl?
Definitely a night owl, I can get very caught up when I am making outfits and hours can fly by and the next thing I know it's two in the morning. 

~~ What is your most favorite memory?
Adrian's first Christmas with us. I was eight, and Aidy was ten. He had slowly been coming out of his shell over the months since he moved in with us, and I don't know, he was sad for a long time over his mother's death, but that Christmas was the first time he really smiled and in the way that his entire face lit up. With his golden hair and his cheeks rosy from the heat of the fire, he looked like an angel. Silly thought I guess, especially for a little girl, but it was just so nice to see him happy after he had been sad for so long.

~~ What do you admire about your parents?
Their teamwork, they are just a solid unit. Even when they are disagreeing with one another and bickering, I don't know, you just know that somehow they still seem to be in agreement with one another. They have an understanding and a mutual respect that I don't think you see very much nowadays. They just balance each other out perfectly. 



~ * ~
Stepping Stones(Sweet Contemporary Romance)
By Elizabeth Morgan

Blurb: There's nothing like a wedding to bring the family together....
If not for her baby sister’s impending marriage, Margaret West would never return home. But after six long years, she finds herself a maid of honor who must answer to the people she left behind.
If her parents’ interrogation doesn’t drive her to drink, facing her foster brother, Adrian, just might. To make matters worse, her ex-fiancé is the vicar who will conduct her sister’s ceremony.

Everyone demands to know why she ran off. But the more time she spends at home, the more Margaret realizes even she doesn’t know the real reason.

Length: Novella (32,000/91 pages)|
Content: Sweet Romance/Contemporary| Publisher: Bono Books


Buy Links:    Amazon    Amazon UK      Decadent Publishing/Bono Books



~ * ~
Excerpt: 

“When is Aidy getting here?” Jessica grabbed the large bowl of scrambled eggs and brought it closer to her plate.

“I think his flight is due in at three.” My mother placed a dish of bacon on the table and took a seat beside me.

“He will be in time for the wedding rehearsal; don’t worry.”

My stomach clenched. “Wedding rehearsal?” I coughed, trying to clear the chunk of toast lodged in my throat. “What wedding rehearsal?”

“Today at four. We’re running through the service.” Jess scooped egg onto her plate. “I told you.”

Nervous laughter bubbled in my throat and try as I may, I couldn’t stop shaking my head. “No.” I patted my chest. “No, you never mentioned a rehearsal.”

“Oh.” She placed the bowl back in the middle of the table. “I could have sworn I did.”

“Nope, you didn’t. Believe me, I would have remembered otherwise.” I grabbed my mug and knocked the coffee back before finishing my piece of toast.

“Well, it’s no big deal.” Edward took the bowl of eggs and helped himself. “Just a quick run-through.”

“Will everyone be there?” Forcing a smile on my face, I looked up at them both, hoping like hell my question would pass as innocent and genuine curiosity.

“Anyone who is involved in the wedding itself will be.”

Great. So that meant Jessica, Edward, the parents, and the bridesmaids, plus me. That left Adrian and…. “Will Vicar Taylor, be there?”

Oh God, did my voice just go higher? 

“Yes, Margaret, William will be there. He is the one who is marrying Jessie and Edward, so he needs to be there.” My father skewered some bacon and tomatoes onto his fork.

Grimacing, I reached out and grabbed another piece of toast. “Just a question, Pa.” A stupid one, but a question nevertheless…. 

“It is normal for people to have wedding rehearsals, Margaret. Just because you—”

Jess picked up the coffeepot. “Does anyone want more coffee?”

I straightened, my focus fixed on Pa. “I’m aware of that.”

“Maggie?”

My father’s shoulders went rigid. He lifted his head and our gazes locked. I didn’t miss the way the muscle in the side of his neck ticked. Arguing with my father in front of Jessica and Edward was not an option, so I looked away.

“Please.” I held out my mug and Jess poured the dark liquid.

I could kick myself. A wedding rehearsal hadn’t even crossed my mind. Having to stand at the altar before William on the actual wedding day would be hard enough, but having to do it twice…my stomach churned.

“So, will Adrian come straight to the church?” Edward cut the awkward silence.

“Yes. He will get a taxi to the church, and then we will bring him and his luggage back here.” My mother held her mug out to Jess.

“Adrian is staying here? Tonight?” I added sugar to my coffee. “Won’t it be crowded? I thought—”

“No more crowded than it was in your childhood.” My father took a bite out of his toast.

More and more good news. Of course he would be staying here; it was his family home after all. I guess, it was stupid of me to hope that he would go to a B&B, but my parents wouldn’t have allowed it even if he did suggest it. I hadn’t seen him in six years, hadn’t spoken to him. And yet, in a couple of hours I would be locked in the same house as him.


~ * ~
Author Bio:

Elizabeth Morgan is a multi-published author of urban fantasy, paranormal, erotic horror, f/f, and contemporary; all with a degree of romance, a dose of action and a hit of sarcasm, sizzle or blood, but you can be sure that no matter what the genre, Elizabeth always manages to give a unique and often humorous spin to her stories.

Like her tagline says; A pick ‘n’ mix genre author. “I’m not greedy. I just like variety.”

And that she does, author of erotic ménage horror, Creak, paranormal erotic horror and UK, US & Australian Amazon best seller (Gay/Lesbian, Fiction, Lesbian), On the Rocks, and erotic romance, US, UK and Spanish Amazon bestseller (Erotica Short Story) Truth or Dare? She also has her hand in self-publishing.

Razel Dazzle, her modern adult retelling of the fairytale Rapunzel, was her first taste of publishing her own stories, and now she has the hang of it, it will definitely not be her last. Look out for more information on her upcoming releases at her website:  www.e-morgan.com


Away from the computer, Elizabeth can be found in the garden trying hard not to kill her plants, dancing around her little cottage with the radio on while she cleans, watching movies or good television programmes – Dr Who? Atlantis? The Musketeers? Heck, yes! – Or curled up with her two cats reading a book.

Where to find Elizabeth Online:

Website:  www.e-morgan.com

   Blog:  www.xxxxmyworldxxxx.blogspot.com


  Twitter: @EMorgan2010

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/ElizabethMorgan
   Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.morgan.944

Pinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/elizabethm2012/boards/
  Blog: (Shared with Dianna Hardy):  http://notjustastiffupperlip.blogspot.co.uk/


~ * ~
Thank you for having me over today and thank you to all of you for stopping by. If you would be interested in winning a copy of my new release, Stepping Stones or maybe a swag pack, then please do leave an entry on the rafflecopter.




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author, author.... A Day in the Life of Trixie Pristine by Laina Turner

...read all about it !!!

 




 A Day in the Life of Trixie Pristine Cozy mystery/chick lit
by
Laina Turner



Blurb: 
 
 In this short story prequel, Trixie and her friends Berklie and Sophie, considered themselves typical thirty something females until someone turned up murdered in their newly opened bookstore/wine bar. They thought they would be living out their dream in their new shop not trying to catch a killer. Who killed Sylvia and why? Or was one of them the intended target?







Buy Links:     Amazon Kobo   iTunes
 B&N    Smashwords   Audible 



 
Excerpt 

 “What the hell!”
 I said for the second time in as many weeks as we walked back in to the shop to find someone had once again been here and not with the intention of helping us clean and organize. 

“Not again! That bitch Sylvia. This is the last straw. I’m calling Tom and telling him he better have a word with her. This has gone too far.” 

“Uh, Berklie. I don’t think it was Sylvia this time.” 

“What are you saying?” Berklie asked but realized what I meant when she saw where I was pointing. 

As Sylvia sprawled out on the floor. Clearly dead. 

“I don’t think she will be bothering us anymore,” said Sophie. I reached for my phone and dialed 911. 

“911, what’s your emergency?”
  
 “I’m calling to report a murder …”




Author’s Bio:
As a child Laina thought she would either be a truck driver (thanks to Jerry Reed in Smokey and the Bandit) or work at Taco Bell (her favorite restaurant as a child). As she grew older she realized her talents lay in academics and business and for the last several years has been a business consultant and college professor where she uses the analytical side of her brain and not the side that makes up stories.
Through all her career choices she has continued to have a passion for writing. This stemmed from childhood whereas an only child she developed a vivid imagination spending most of her time making things up and thinking the Incredible Hulk lived in her closet.Proud of her vast experiences in life from barrel racing to being on the dance team for a semi pro basketball team to being a mom of 2 amazing kids, she tells her family and friends that no one is safe from their escapades slipping in to her books.Taking the plunge to write books that she actually lets people read in 2010, she has worked her way up to having 5 fans (maybe 6 now). Her blog, The Art Of Living Fabulously, was launched to share the daily fun in the life of a Real Housewife of the Midwest along with the musing of other fabulous ladies.


http://www.lainaturner.com/books/a-day-in-the-life-of-trixie-pristine-a-cozy-mystery/  
https://twitter.com/laina_turner  
https://www.facebook.com/LainaTurner  
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+LainaTurner/posts  
http://www.pinterest.com/lainaturner/


 

Author, author... #FREE for a limited time ... A Day in the Life of Trixie Pristine by Laina Turner

...read all about it !!!

 




 A Day in the Life of Trixie Pristine Cozy mystery/chick lit
by
Laina Turner



Blurb: 
 
 In this short story prequel, Trixie and her friends Berklie and Sophie, considered themselves typical thirty something females until someone turned up murdered in their newly opened bookstore/wine bar. They thought they would be living out their dream in their new shop not trying to catch a killer. Who killed Sylvia and why? Or was one of them the intended target?







Buy Links:    
Free at Amazon  for a limited time so get your copy today !!! 
 B&N    Smashwords    




 
Excerpt 

 “What the hell!”
 I said for the second time in as many weeks as we walked back in to the shop to find someone had once again been here and not with the intention of helping us clean and organize. 

“Not again! That bitch Sylvia. This is the last straw. I’m calling Tom and telling him he better have a word with her. This has gone too far.” 

“Uh, Berklie. I don’t think it was Sylvia this time.” 

“What are you saying?” Berklie asked but realized what I meant when she saw where I was pointing. 

As Sylvia sprawled out on the floor. Clearly dead. 

“I don’t think she will be bothering us anymore,” said Sophie. I reached for my phone and dialed 911. 

“911, what’s your emergency?”
  
 “I’m calling to report a murder …”




Author’s Bio:
As a child Laina thought she would either be a truck driver (thanks to Jerry Reed in Smokey and the Bandit) or work at Taco Bell (her favorite restaurant as a child). As she grew older she realized her talents lay in academics and business and for the last several years has been a business consultant and college professor where she uses the analytical side of her brain and not the side that makes up stories.
Through all her career choices she has continued to have a passion for writing. This stemmed from childhood whereas an only child she developed a vivid imagination spending most of her time making things up and thinking the Incredible Hulk lived in her closet.Proud of her vast experiences in life from barrel racing to being on the dance team for a semi pro basketball team to being a mom of 2 amazing kids, she tells her family and friends that no one is safe from their escapades slipping in to her books.Taking the plunge to write books that she actually lets people read in 2010, she has worked her way up to having 5 fans (maybe 6 now). Her blog, The Art Of Living Fabulously, was launched to share the daily fun in the life of a Real Housewife of the Midwest along with the musing of other fabulous ladies.


http://www.lainaturner.com/books/a-day-in-the-life-of-trixie-pristine-a-cozy-mystery/  
https://twitter.com/laina_turner  
https://www.facebook.com/LainaTurner  
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+LainaTurner/posts  
http://www.pinterest.com/lainaturner/


 

Release Day Blitz: Disobedience by Alvania Scarborough

  DisobedienceHarker's Hell Book 1  by Alvania Scarborough


Harker’s Hell. Early settlers thought they’d found a western re-creationist’s heaven.Instead this new world became a hellish version of the Old West.And now the seeds of long-ago conflict are stirring to life…BETRAYED—FORCED INTO OBEDIENCEDissonance Walker is in a world of trouble. Sold by her parents for the price of acookstove, she is used as a lab rat by a secret organization. Even though her ability todisobey was ripped away by a brutal experiment, she isn’t ready to give up. When sheescapes her captors, Dissonance believes the worst is over. She’s dead wrong. She’scaptured again…and this time, sold as a pleasure slave.The key to reversing the experiment lies hidden in the stretch of arid waste called theBadlands. Only the too-sexy bounty hunter who bought her stands in her way.

  HE LOOKED LIKE HE PICKED HIS TEETH WITH THE BONES OF HIS ENEMIESBram Spencer is sure the heat has baked his brains. With his friend murdered and hisranch under attack, he has a little unfinished business he needs to attend. Buying somefool woman because she pokes at scabs he thought long healed hadn’t been part of theplan. Then he discovers the only way to set her free is to marry her.Secrets have a long life. Sometimes decades. Now the past is about to slam into thepresent. Only trust in each other can save them from a shocking evil…but trust is a hardcommodity to come by on the frontier.

Buy Links:  Amazon    B&N      

 
Author Bio: Alvania Scarborough is compulsively interested in a wide variety of topics, everythingfrom space to the Old West. Oh, and ghosts. She loves writing about strong, sexy menand the women who are their equals. She is delighted for the opportunity to share her stories.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alvaniascarboroughBlog: www.alvaniascarborough.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/Alvania8196

Cover Reveal: IN BETWEEN SEASONS by Cassanddra Giovanni

      COMING JULY 31, 2014From Show n'ot Tell PublishingNEW ADULT POST - APOCALYPTIC ROMANCE SERIES  In 2021 the world as we know it changed. The government collapsed, and the worst characteristics of human nature were shown as the world fell into ruins. Years after The Fall, the Tribes that were established are still at war. They still fight to keep what they pillaged, and most of all, they fight to keep their lies a secret. In a world filled with deception, nothing is as it seems. I was born into this world. Hunter Marks was molded into this world; a General— a person cold and harsh. A person meant to kill me. We were told to just believe. We were taught to never question. We’re supposed to be robots, and accept our roles in this altered society. Too bad Hunter and I don’t follow the rules. And we’re a hell of a lot stronger than they ever thought possible. They’ve been searching for the world’s deadliest weapon. It’s me. And I’m not following the leader any more.
 
Cassandra doesn't remember a time when she wasn't writing. In fact, the first time she was published was when she was seven years old and won a contest to be published in an American Girl Doll novel. Since then Cassandra has written more novels than she can count and put just as many in the circular bin. Her personal goal with her writing is to show the reader the character's stories through their dialogue and actions instead of just telling the reader what is happening. Besides being a writer, Cassandra is a professional photographer known for her automotive, nature and architectural shots. She is happily married to the man of her dreams and they live in the rolling hills of New England their dogs, Bubski and Kanga. Cassandra Giovanni is published by Show n’ot Tell Publishing based out of Connecticut, USA. Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~Goodreads                                   
Cover Design: Gio Design StudiosPhotography: Alex Kotlov via iStock


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Author, author... THE KEY by KT Grant + Giveaway

The Key (Book #2 in the Dark Path series)byKT Grant



Erika has reinvented herself as an author of erotic romance under the pseudonym, Lily Fredericks. After her eight month sabbatical in New Orleans, she’s returning to Manhattan to promote her new book. Chris is handling her book tour and wants Erika to give him another chance. She’s forgiven Chris, but Max is always in her thoughts. Sick of waiting for Erika to come to her senses, Max takes matters into his own hands. He’ll go to New Orleans to claim her before it’s too late.
With Erika back in Manhattan, both Chris and Max try to seduce her in the hopes she’ll choose one of them. As both men battle for her heart, a woman from Max’s past reappears, bent on revenge. Chris will ruin Max anyway he can in order to make Erika his own. However Max has something up his sleeve to insure he’s the victor, but not without a price—Erika’s soul.


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Excerpt:
“I never meant to make you cry. I’m sorry.” He rested his cheek on her leg, laid his hands on either side of her hips. He longed to hold her like he did moments ago with her in his lap, but he allowed her to have the upper hand.
He stared at the wall, his heavy breathing the only sound in the room. If he believed in the power of prayer, he would have asked God to pardon his sins this one time and encourage Erika to forgive him along with his spiteful behavior.
She shifted under him, and he peered up at her. She leaned on the edge of the couch while holding his handkerchief to her mouth. A tear spilled from the corner of her eye, slipping down her cheek. She didn’t look at him.
He captured her free hand lying limp on her upper leg and kissed her palm. “Don’t hate me.”
Her fingers curled into her palm, so he wrapped his hand around her fist. She pulled her hand away and tapped his cheek. Expecting her to slap him, he lifted his face for his punishment.
She ran her knuckles up the side of his head and across his scalp. Unfurling her fingers, she pressed her palm flat then sifted her fingertips through his hair.
Placing his face onto her lap, he inhaled the feminine scent he wanted to bathe in. She always smelled so clean and fresh, even after he screwed her until she couldn’t move, or when they made love, boneless from his loving ministrations.
His cock awakened, and he locked his knees together. If he even dared try to seduce Erika, she would maim him. So, he suffered quietly, just like he recklessly made her suffer because of his thoughtless actions.
She gripped his hair, and he looked up, his head suspended. He expected to see loathing in her eyes, but instead found disappointment and regret.
She removed her hand, watching him with her mouth half open as she inhaled. Her throat moved as she swallowed hard. She dropped her hand on her lap.
“Get off the floor,” she commanded with a tired inflection in her tone. She shifted farther away when he sat next to her.
She ran her thumb over his monogrammed initials—MLC—on his handkerchief and sighed. “You say you’re sorry, but for what? For spying on me or for trying to ruin my company and my rep—”
“Sorry for keeping an eye on you. But it was never my intent to destroy Walsh or your reputation.”
“Then what’s your intent? This all comes down to your hostility with Chris? You don’t care your hate for him could cause a ripple effect and there would be other causalities of this on-going war you have with him?” Her lips twisted and a fresh wave of tears filled her eyes. “Me, being number one?”
“I shouldn’t have gone this far. I’m paying the price.” He hated admitting his wrongdoing, but he would do so just to get in her good graces again. “You being here is a wakeup call. Your tears….” He tried dislodging the lump in his throat to no avail. “Have torn me up inside.”
“You really thought I wouldn’t be affected by your deception?’ She rolled his handkerchief in a ball and threw it at his face. It landed too short and floated to the floor.
“I never meant to deceive you,” he said, offering no other explanation for his heartless deed. He didn’t have one.
She shot up from the couch. He started to stand, but she pointed her finger at him. “Don’t move.”
He remained glued to his seat. This was the first time he witnessed an enraged Erika. One more wrong move or statement on his part could have her rejecting him. No amount of groveling on his part would make her take him back.
The idea of him groveling to any woman, even Erika soured his stomach.
“You have no right to look so bent out of shape or sickened. If anyone should be ill, it should be me.” She poked her chest with her thumb.
He folded his hands in between his legs and studied the floor in front of him. “You’re angry, and rightly so, but  we need to fix this before it gets too out of hand.”
“We need to fix this? There’s no we here, M.L. You need to fix this as soon as possible. No excuses.” She jabbed her finger in his direction.
Her hostility threatened to suffocate him, but then again, he had been in many regrettable situations comparable to this one. He would rectify the issue then work on his appeal to Erika. They were connected in such a way that they would always circle back to one another.
“When everything is dealt with to your satisfaction, then what?” He relaxed against the cushion to release the strain in his lower back as well as the stiffness in his shoulders.
“I don’t know, Maxwell. You’ve gone too far this time.” Her voice dropped to an anguished whisper.
“Would it help if I got down on my knees again?” There was a slight overture to his voice he couldn’t hide.
“Not even that.” She wiped her palms down the front of her blouse. “We’re done here. I don’t have anything else to say to you.”
“What if I’m not finished with you yet?” He gripped the arm of the couch. He could make her stay. But he promised he would never do that to her.
“What are you going to do? Keep me here until I give you the answers you want? Maybe engage in some of those kinky games of domination you play at The Gate, which you always tell me you keep separate from your world here?” She opened her arms. “I’m sick of playing.”
“Are you sick of me?” he asked, more concerned by her agitation.
Her chest heaved as she gulped in air. Her face was red—all signs she was about to have a panic attack. But his she surprised him. lowering her arms then backing toward the door, never looking away from him. She opened it wide. He didn’t spring up from his seat to stop her—the last attempt didn’t go over well. He wouldn’t be able to handle her tears a second time.
“Goodbye, Maxwell,” she said, finally turning away from him.
“Is it really goodbye, Erika? You said the same thing the first time you left me, but here we are. We’re connected and will always be no matter what obstacles are thrown at us.”
She stepped out into the hallway, clasping the doorknob. “This time you threw the obstacle out there. I really think you wanted to sabotage our relationship from the very beginning because you don’t know how to have a healthy relationship with a woman.”
“Psychoanalyzing me, Miss Walsh?” He dug his fingers into vacant seat next to him, the bite of the leather digging under his nails.
“I’ve stopped analyzing you because it makes me more confused. You make no sense, Max. I give up.”
“For now,” he volleyed back.
The knob rattled in her hold. “Whatever. I’m much stronger than you give me credit for.”
“I never thought you were weak.”
She proved her strength to him many times over. Confronting him here was a perfect example.
With precise calm, she shut the door. He didn’t even hear the snick of the lock. But then again, the blood rushing in his ears blocked out the sound.
He lay down, hoping his heart would slow down and the pounding in his head would stop. He took his cell out of his pocket, waiting for her to call, expecting some parting shot, for her to get the last word in.
His cell remained silent.
His gut clenched over the profound sense of loss.




About the Author:
KT Grant is a self-proclaimed eccentric redhead who not only loves to read a wide variety of romances, but also loves writing it. Under her alter-ego, she is a well-known book blogger who doesn’t shy away from voicing her opinion. A proud native of New Jersey, KT is multi-published and writes Gay, Lesbian and Straight romance. KT has been a top ten best-selling author at Amazon, as well as being a multiple All Romance Ebooks best seller and a Night Owl Reviews Top Author Pick.
KT loves to hear from readers. You can drop KT an email at ktgrnt@gmail.com.
You can also find KT at these fun places:
Blog: Babbling About Books, and More!
Twitter: @Katiebabs
Facebook
Goodreads


Giveaway
K.T. Grant is giving away 3 ebook sets of the first two books in the Dark Path Series,  The Gate and The Key !


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Author, author... KNOCKDOWN by Brenda Beem + giveaway

...read all about it !!
  

KnockdownBy Brenda Beem

 

  Blurb: A sail boat can tip over and come back up again. Sailors call this a knockdown.

   In eighteen hours a mega tsunami will hit the Pacific Coast. It will leave in its wake massive destruction and the threat of an ice age.   Sixteen-year-old Toni, her brothers, and their friends race the clock as they sail Toni’s family boat far out to sea. They must get beyond where the wave crests, or the boat will be crushed.   Without their parents to guide them, the reluctant crew improvises. Romances bloom and tempers flare. There is no privacy. Cell phones won’t work. The engine breaks down. They are running out of time.   Even if they survive the wave, there is nowhere in this ravaged world to go. When disaster strikes, it is up to Toni to find the strength to lead the crew when her brothers cannot.    








Author Bio:

YOUNG ADULT AUTHOR. SEATTLE NATIVE.SAILING ENTHUSIAST.

I am an only child and growing up books were my best friends. My love of literature and the Pacific Northwest continued at the University of Washington where I earned a degree in English. I began sailing with friends when my children were small, and continue to sail the inland waters of the Puget Sound. When I'm not with family, friends, or writing groups, I'm sailing, kayaking, or boating on the waters of the Puget Sound and Lake Washington. I also like to hike the many trails on the lake and near my cabin.

 Website: http://www.brendabeem.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brenda.beem.9


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Author, author... The Gull Motel by Amie Denman + #giveaway

Please welcome a guest post from Amie Denman !!!  My inspiration for The Gull Motel   There is a Gull Motel in the town where I live. It’s right by the bridge over the river. It has fishing specials advertised on its aging sign. Cars parked right outside the doors. Neglected planters. Asphalt. Concrete. Crooked numbers on the doors. It is actually called The Gull Motel.   God, I love it. I drive by it every single day and wonder who stays there and why. It has all the ambiance and mystique of brown lace-up school shoes, but there is something about it that wouldn’t let me rest.   Until I wrote its story. Now I feel much better. I can drive by it and grin, knowing I’ve written The Gull Motel and worked it all out in my imagination. In my story, a dated but lovable beachside motel strikes a chord with my heroine Savvy. Sure, it’s a Chevrolet and she has big plans for putting her hospitality degree to work in a fancy hotel that’s more Mercedes. But heck, there’s something to be said for cracked patios and sliding glass doors that have been there since the Eisenhower administration.   Curiosity is a trait responsible for most of my mistakes, but also my greatest joy: I’m a writer because I’m curious about other people, things I’ve never tried, places I’ve never been, and what goes on behind closed doors. One of these days, I’m booking a room at The Gull Motel. Sure, I’ll check for bed bugs and I won’t go near the shower. But maybe I’ll find my next story somewhere between the sign out front proudly advertising Color TV and the aqua-blue polyester bedspreads.      *   *   *   *   *   * The Gull Motel
A Sweet Contemporary Romanceby Amie Denman




Savvy Thorpe needs a vacation. Finally finished with college, she heads to her favorite shabby motel on Florida’s Gulf Coast where her aunt and uncle always save her room twenty-four. She quickly finds out, though, that The Gull Motel is not just her home away from home. It’s hers to manage while her aunt and uncle take an extended trip.

Skip McComber, The Gull’s former maintenance man, has been working on Savvy’s nuts and bolts for years. Now the new owner of the bar next door, his mission is to renovate a pirate bar while being a walking temptation for the girl he can’t get off his mind.

For Savvy, keeping her cool running a motel in Florida heat is one thing, but navigating the steamy waters of a former fling takes a whole other kind of savvy. In addition to the motel and the man next door, Savvy stumbles on a plot to swindle land from the residents of Barefoot Key. Devalued properties tumble like dominoes until Savvy musters her colorful crew from The Gull Motel to make the pillagers walk the plank.



Buy Links:
AMAZON  | BARNES & NOBLE | KOBO |  SMASHWORDS ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS   |  TURQUOISE MORNING PRESS






First chapter:

Chapter One
Vacation. Despite my brainy reputation, this was one of the smartest things I’d done in a long time. When my middle school math teacher shortened my name from Savannah to Savvy, I took on a persona that drove me all the way through college at the top of my class. But now, I planned to put my brain on ice and my butt in the hot sand at my aunt and uncle’s lovably shabby beachside Florida motel. It was the most savvy thing I could do while I played an endless waiting game with the job market.It was a hot September morning when I rolled into the steaming lot at the Gull Motel. Everything about it said Old Florida. A miniature palm tree grew in a concrete planter in front of the Office sign. The few cars nosed up to numbered doors looked hot enough to combust. It wasn’t a hotel, it didn’t have the cachet. But it looked like a four-diamond resort to me as my burly Uncle Mike swung open the frosted glass office door and grinned at me like Santa had just landed on his roof. “Your aunt’s got the margarita machine going already,” he said, crushing me in a massive hug. The musty smell of hotel air conditioning permeated his aqua blue polo shirt. The whole range of my vision was aqua—the signature color of The Gull Motel. Its roof had aqua trim, the windows were edged in the same paint, and the sign squatting on top of a twenty foot pole in the parking lot boasted a white seagull outlined against an aqua sky. “Before lunch?” I questioned, the vacationer in me at war with my responsible side.Uncle Mike opened the back hatch and manhandled my suitcase. He nodded toward his beloved motel. “You’re a special occasion,” he said. “Vacation is important. Trust me. I’ve built a business on it.”For the long drive from Michigan—where autumn had started to show its colors—I wore old comfortable knee-length shorts and a t-shirt, but I was overdressed now. The clientele here was more short-shorts and spaghetti straps than college dorm casual. I could adjust. This was not my first trip to the Gulf Coast.I followed Uncle Mike through the office—dingy but familiar—and paused as he deposited my suitcase behind the desk. Rita, the receptionist, had a phone hooked between her ear and shoulder as she simultaneously checked in a guest. Somehow she managed to wave to me and give me a raised eyebrow smile. An experienced multi-tasker, Rita could probably smoke a cigarette, do her nails, and handle three guest complaints at the same time. She pointed toward the patio.Movement—blurred by condensation—grabbed my attention. When my uncle slid the door open, a blonde tornado hit me. I’d been coming to The Gull several times a year all my life. One fact I could still count on was that Aunt Carol got smaller with age but her hair got bigger. Compensation comes in many forms.She pulled me into a tight hug. “You need a nice cold drink.”Carol hauled me over to a concrete table surrounded by old metal chairs. The patio was large enough for several tables and chairs, all shaded by aqua umbrellas. The cracked concrete floor surrounded by a knee-high concrete wall didn’t necessarily invite guests to linger, but the view did.The wide white Florida beach ending in a sparkling blue Gulf of Mexico said resort even if the stacked two story building with parking right outside the rooms said 1950s beach motel.Carol raised the pitcher—also filled with aqua liquid continuing the theme of The Gull—and started to fill three glasses. She didn’t get to the third before Rita shoved the glass door open and leaned out with the cordless phone. “Better take this one, Carol,” she said, holding out the phone.Mike parked himself across from me while his wife went inside. “Your aunt’s all excited to have you down here for a few weeks. I think she wants to pick your brain about making a few updates around here, figuring you got some great ideas with your degree.”Fresh from college and an internship to polish off my hotel and hospitality management degree, I wouldn’t be bragging to say I had some ideas. But telling my aunt and uncle they’d have to spiff up The Gull for a new generation that didn’t remember the moon landing was going to be a tough sell. They loved the old place just as it was. Truth is, so did I. I also loved my ancient slippers, but I wouldn’t wear them on a date.“I think she wants someone to go shopping with, too,” he said, his broad smile highlighting deep wrinkles around his eyes and stretching out his age spots.“I could shop,” I agreed. “My college clothes won’t work if I can land a spot in the management trainee program I applied to.”“The Grand Chicago. Heck of a fancy place,” Uncle Mike said, raising his glass and clinking mine. “I’ll drink to that.”Thinking about the gleaming floors, modern luxury, and five-star everything at the place where I hoped to start in January gave me a little feeling of disloyalty. I would always love The Gull. So what that it was a used Chevy and the Grand Chicago was a Rolls Royce? I’d put in a lot of miles in a Chevrolet.Carol left the sliding door gaping behind her, striding quickly to our sunny table on the patio.“My mother got arrested again,” she said, picking up one of the margarita glasses and slamming half of it.Mike pulled Carol onto his lap and shook his head sympathetically. “What was it this time?”“Trespassing again. One of her card buddies bailed her out, but the police chief thinks she needs a babysitter. That was him on the phone.”“He’s a nice enough guy. But we’re starting to know him better than we should,” Mike said. “Does this mean someone’s headed for Michigan?”Carol’s mother, Aunt Gwen to me, was pushing eighty and still did water aerobics, played cards, and hosted wine-making classes at her lakeside cabin. Located next to a vineyard, the owners used to look the other way when Aunt Gwen gathered grapes near her property line for her little hobby. I’d heard she sent them a bottle every Christmas as a neighborly gesture. However, the vineyard changed hands a few years ago and the new owners see her actions as more theft than eccentricity.“Maybe just for a week until we can talk some sense into her or build a big enough fence,” Carol said. “Too bad she refuses to move down here. Says Florida is for old people.”“Sounds like you’ll need reinforcements this time.” Uncle Mike blew out a long breath. “We haven’t had a vacation in a long time, and Michigan’s nice in the fall. Guess we’ll figure out someone to watch over the place while we’re gone.”They exchanged a glance and turned a laser-beam look on me, making me feel like the one guy who knew the combination in a bank that was being robbed. They glanced away quickly like a search light moving on to its next target.The loyal niece in me wanted to say sure, coach, send me in. I have a degree in hotel management, am nice to children and animals, and always flush the toilet. The vacationer in me wanted to say…uh…I’m on vacation.Carol sucked both lips into her mouth and watched a seagull fly over. Mike scratched the short whiskers on his chin and toed a chip in the concrete.I tried drinking for distraction and effect. Not that I could sustain that tactic for long. I can’t hold my booze and I tend to crack under pressure faster than chapped lips in a Michigan winter.“Maybe I could—”Yelling and barking exploded next door and a half-naked man chased a huge yellow dog out of Harvey’s Pirate Emporium and toward The Gull.I jumped up. “Tulip!” Tulip was a three-year-old yellow Lab who did not know she wasn’t a puppy anymore. She stole things, slept in inappropriate locations, ate stray cigarette butts, and was probably going to come home with a tattoo one of these days. “Not again,” Carol said.Tulip skidded to a stop, dropped something shapeless and slobbery on the patio at my feet, and put her front paws on my shoulders. I sat down hard in my metal chair, off balance and getting licked like a tootsie pop. I was afraid she’d actually find out how many licks it took to get to my center.The man sweating and breathing hard as he finished the race behind the dog already knew how many licks it took to get to my center. Skip McComber had circled me for years, a bonus temptation every time I visited my aunt and uncle’s motel where he’d been the maintenance man since we were both sixteen. Last spring, the circle tightened considerably, aided by a reckless spring break attitude and fueled by tequila. I stood up and tried to compose myself discretely. He looked as tempting as always. Tall, shirtless, eyes and hair the color of caramel splashed with sunshine. In contrast, I looked like a refugee from a pajama party. Shorts twisted, t-shirt violated, ponytail askew. Given the heat burning my cheeks, it was safe to assume I was flushed like an eighty-year-old jogger.“This must be yours,” I said, picking up the leather toolbelt Tulip had dropped at my feet. Covered in dog slime and violated with teethmarks in several places, it was the dog’s latest indiscretion. I could sympathize. Skip was my most recent fling, too.He took the toolbelt and made a slow show of slinging it around his hips. He kept eye contact with me the whole time, like he was daring me to watch his seductive buckling up. I only let my eyes slide south once. I was on vacation. And he looked that good.“Sorry about that,” my aunt said. “Tulip thinks it’s a chew toy. At least your tools are still in it this time and not scattered all over the sand. Most of them anyway.”He broke his focus on me and smiled at my aunt. “It’s my fault for encouraging her to visit me.” He dug a treat out of his pocket and flipped it to the dog. She caught it in midair and tossed him a look of slutty affection.“Savvy just rolled in a few minutes ago,” Carol said.“I can see that,” Skip said.“She was supposed to be enjoying a vacation after all her hard work in college,” Mike added, “but something has come up back home in Michigan with Carol’s mother.”“Hope Aunt Gwen’s okay,” Skip said. “She’s a hoot.”Carol rolled her eyes. “She’s a crazy old lady. Arrested again for liberating grapes from the neighboring vineyard.”“Probably only stole what she was going to eat.”“Or make into wine,” Mike said. “We were just talking to Savvy here about taking care of The Gull for us while we make a quick trip North.” Mike, Carol, Skip, and even Tulip stood in a line, looking at me like I had a stash of free tickets to Disney World. Except Tulip maybe. She probably hoped I had bacon in my pockets.“I believe I was just about to say yes,” I said with as much cheerful enthusiasm as possible. Of course I wanted to help my aunt and uncle. Hospitality is my business. And how hard could it be to manage a twenty-four room beach motel with an established clientele and a dedicated staff?“Forgot to tell you we lost our maintenance man last month,” Mike said, nodding at Skip. “He bought the bar next door and he’s fixing it up.”“Harvey’s Pirate Emporium?” I asked.“Yep,” Skip said. “But I got rid of Harvey already.”Harvey was a larger-than-life pirate statue who stood, shading his eyes like a tobacco store Indian, outside the bar entrance. After a few drinks, he looked either friendlier or more sinister, depending on the drunk.“Gave me the willies,” Skip said, shrugging one shoulder. “Got him in cold storage in an old walk-in freezer.”“Won’t be the same without him,” I said. What I was really thinking was that The Gull wouldn’t be the same without Skip and his extraordinary ability with his hands. “Who’s our new maintenance man?” “Don’t have one. Muddling through for now, calling Skip over for emergencies,” Uncle Mike said.“I can change light bulbs, but I draw the line at using a plunger.”“That’ll work,” Carol said. “Any other surprises I should know about?” I asked. I thought a trace of tension transmitted from Carol to Mike to Skip, but Tulip didn’t seem to notice and I thought I was just seeing mirages in the heat.“Gotta go,” Skip said. He ruffled Tulip’s ears, flicked me a look, and strode across the ten yards of sand separating his bar from my—temporary—motel. I had extension cords longer than the space between our buildings, and it was going to be one tough job keeping my focus on The Gull while my aunt and uncle were away.


********


Amie Denman: Where Falling in Love is Fun!

Amie Denman lives in a small town in her native Ohio with her husband and sons. Her two cats and large yellow labrador are kind enough to share a sunny office where she lets her imagination run wild. Reading books was her favorite escape as a child, and growing up four houses away from the community library encouraged her addiction. When she's not reading or writing, she enjoys walking and running outside. The helpless victim of a lifetime of curiosity, she's been known to chase fire trucks on her bicycle just to see what's going on. Amie believes that everything is fun: especially roller coasters, wedding cake, and falling in love.











  Amie is the author of six contemporary romance novels:
The Gull MotelBlue Bottle BeachHer Lucky CatchHer Lucky PrizeWill Work for LoveHe’s on Her Trail



Please visit her at www.amiedenman.comOn Facebook https://www.facebook.com/amie.denman.1On Twitter @amiedenman




Giveaway
Amie Denman is giving away a paperback copy of The Gull Motel (US only)

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Author, author... The Key by KT Grant + #giveaway

Today we have a special guest interview with...Erika from The Key !

© Finish this sentence: Then I think of love, I think of Max.
© What’s your ideal romantic evening?
Erika: Dinner and drinks at some place quiet.
© What’s the perfect Valentine’s Day gift?
Erika: I always wanted to go on a romantic getaway. I’d love to visit Max’s place on St. Thomas. I don’t go to the beach very often.
© Did you ever think you’d found that perfect love? What happened?
Erika: I thought I knew what perfect love was with my best friend’s, older brother, Chris. But Chris didn’t see me as anything other than his little sister’s friend. By the time he noticed his attraction for me, I fell for Max, who I can’t imagine living without. Max completes me in so many ways.
© What do you find the most appealing about a committed relationship?
Erika: You never have to worry about being alone. Someone will always be there to support you.
© What type of man/woman are you instinctively drawn to?
Erika: Recently I was drawn to the dark, intense type of man who makes you want to fall to your knees and allow him  to do whatever he wants to you.
© What’s an absolute deal breaker in a relationship?
Erika: Lying is a deal breaker. I can’t stand liars.
© What was your first opinion of each other? 
Erika: When I first met Max, I was so turned on! I never been that way with another man. I was also intrigued by his quiet nature and how much I loved his smile. We had this strange connection I still can’t explain. He also enjoys red wine like I do.
© Who made the first move and what was it?

Erika: Max made the first move by giving me his phone number. I then took the chance and asked him to have dinner with me. That’s one night I’ll never forget.

© What are you most looking forward to as a couple?

Erika: I like that Max can teach me new things. It’s never a dull moment with him.

© What could stand in your way?

Erika: Max has many adversaries because of business, and some former friends and lovers who still aren’t happy that he ended their relationships. Chris doesn’t think Max is good for me and wants me to be with him. It scares me to think Chris might hurt Max to get to me.

©  Thank you so much for spending some time with us Erika, it was truly a pleasure !!


*   *   *   *   *

(Book #2 in the Dark Path series)byKT Grant

Erika has reinvented herself as an author of erotic romance under the pseudonym, Lily Fredericks. After her eight month sabbatical in New Orleans, she’s returning to Manhattan to promote her new book. Chris is handling her book tour and wants Erika to give him another chance. She’s forgiven Chris, but Max is always in her thoughts. Sick of waiting for Erika to come to her senses, Max takes matters into his own hands. He’ll go to New Orleans to claim her before it’s too late.
With Erika back in Manhattan, both Chris and Max try to seduce her in the hopes she’ll choose one of them. As both men battle for her heart, a woman from Max’s past reappears, bent on revenge. Chris will ruin Max anyway he can in order to make Erika his own. However Max has something up his sleeve to insure he’s the victor, but not without a price—Erika’s soul.



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Excerpt:
The walk felt like an eternity but lasted mere minutes. When he reached the corner of his hotel, he placed Erika on her feet. Swaying, she latched onto his arms. He spotted the nervousness in her eyes, and his chest tightened.As he set his lips on her forehead, he cupped her face. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. I won’t do anything you don’t want me to. You say stop, and I will.”She spread her palm over his rapidly beating heart. “Does my safe word still apply in this situation?”“Yes, but only because it’s adorable when you scream ‘whiskers’ when you come.”She smacked him in the stomach. He curled his arm around her waist and flicked the tip of her nose with his tongue. Her face colored an adorable pink.He started walking backward and linked her hands with his. “Will you come up to my room and spend the night with me, Miss Walsh?”She dug the edge of her front teeth into her bottom lip and tilted her head, acting shy. “What if I want you to be gentle with me, Mr. Crawford?”He stopped and almost coughed as his breath caught in his lungs. “If…if that’s what I have to do in order for you to be with me, then yes.”She lifted their combined hands, slipped his thumb inside her mouth, and sucked.His dick jerked. That familiar tingling in his lower back spread around front and disembarked between his thighs.“Enough,” he snapped and drew his thumb out of her mouth. He rubbed her saliva across her bottom lip. “Give me your answer. Now.”She presented him with a smile worthy of an experienced seductress. “Yes.”The walk across the lobby took too long for Max. Erika purposely taunted him by not rushing. He would have carried her in his arms like he had on Bourbon Street, but he needed to remain in control. He always stayed at the Hotel Monteleone while in New Orleans, and he didn’t want that to change. He kept his frustration at bay while she viewed the splendor, spying the lounge off to the right and the slow moving carousel inside making up the bar.“Oh, my God, it’s a real carousel? And it moves?” She stepped toward the room, her face full of awe.“At night, they have piano music and live singing. Next time I promise we’ll sit at the bar.” Hooking his arms around Erika from behind, he rested his chin on her shoulder. “But unless you want me to fuck you on top of the bar, we should go up to my suite as soon as possible.”She laid her palm on his cheek and gave him an amused glance. “If we don’t, will you jizz in your pants in front of everyone here?”He dropped his head into the crook of her shoulder and held back a laugh. If only she knew how close he was to losing it. “Put me out of my misery, and let’s go upstairs.”She turned and, grabbing his hand, hurried to the set of elevators. She giggled loud, the sound of her joy echoing off the walls.A few people loitering, including those behind the front desk, sent Erika and him curious stares, but he didn’t care. He chuckled along with her. When they reached the elevator doors, he pushed aside her hands, so he could punch the button first. She gave him a playful pout. He returned the favor by cupping her ass and squeezing her generous flesh.“We’re grabby tonight, aren’t we?” She brushed up against him.He continued caressing those two marvelous muscular globes, exultant her weight loss hadn’t affected her posterior. “I can’t stop touching you.”“How about kissing me?” she whispered. When the elevator doors open, she yanked him inside by his collar.He slapped the button to his floor then pulled Erika into the corner. He snuck a peek behind to see if anyone waited to enter—not that he would have allowed another inside. Once the doors slammed shut, he claimed Erika’s mouth, feasting on her lips, drunk on her taste.

Bio:
KT Grant is a self-proclaimed eccentric redhead who not only loves to read a wide variety of romances, but also loves writing it. Under her alter-ego, she is a well-known book blogger who doesn’t shy away from voicing her opinion. A proud native of New Jersey, KT is multi-published and writes Gay, Lesbian and Straight romance. KT has been a top ten best-selling author at Amazon, as well as being a multiple All Romance Ebooks best seller and a Night Owl Reviews Top Author Pick.
KT loves to hear from readers. You can drop KT an email at ktgrnt@gmail.com.
You can also find KT at these fun places:
Blog: Babbling About Books, and More!
Twitter: @Katiebabs
Facebook
Goodreads



Giveaway


K.T. Grant is giving away 3 ebook sets of the first two books in the Dark Path Series,  The Gate and The Key !

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