Lori L. Clark's Blog, page 23

Release Blitz: The Debt

Her life changed in an instant.

And he's the only one who could have prevented it.

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Pact and The Lie comes a new standalone contemporary romance about those McGregor men.

Jessica Charles shouldn't have even been in London when the unthinkable happened.

She should have been back at home in Edinburgh, perhaps hanging with her boyfriend, having drinks with her sister or doing yoga with her group of friends. She should have been going on in her normal, dependable life as always.

But on that fateful day in August, when a mentally-ill ex-soldier opened fire in public, Jessica's world changed forever.

Now single and crippled from the gunshot wounds, Jessica finds herself scared and alone, losing faith in herself and humanity with each agonizing moment that passes.

That is until a stranger enters her life. A stranger who makes her live again.

Keir McGregor has always been the strong, silent type. Throw in tall, dark, and handsome and you've got pretty much the perfect Scotsman.

Except Keir is anything but perfect. He's got a past he's running away from and a guilty conscience he can't seem to shed. But the more time he spends with Jessica, the more he falls in love with her.

And the more his secret threatens to tear them apart.

He may have been a stranger to her.

But she’s never been a stranger to him.




iBooks | Kindle | Kobo | Nook





“You’re not going anywhere,” he says. “Sit. I’ll get you another drink.”



“It’s getting late,” I say feebly but I sit down anyway, my leg giving a protest of pain.



“You need something for that?” he says, noticing my wince.



“The scotch will do fine,” I tell him quickly, not wanting him to make a fuss. “But really, I should go.”



“Why?” he asks from the kitchen. I hear the top pop off the bottle, the slosh of liquid in the glass. “Where do you have to be?”



I have to think about that for a moment. He comes over and holds out the glass. “I won’t keep you here if you don’t want to be here. But if you do want to be here, you don’t need to make any excuses.”



I take the glass from him, holding it delicately in my fingers. He stands over me, a massive wall, waiting for some kind of response.



“I just…” I begin. “I…” I take a sip for bravery. Swallow. “I’m not very good at this.”



“Good at what?”



“At…this. Being with a man.”



When he doesn’t say anything to that, I look up at him. He’s got a peculiar smile on his face, his brows raised. “You call this being with a man?”



I clear my throat, feeling my cheeks grow hot. “I mean. I’ve told you before –”



“Yes, how you don’t do relationships, how you don’t do sex.”



“I never said I don’t do sex,” I remind him quickly.



His eyes never stop searching my face. “Then what is it? What are you afraid to say?”



I have the sudden urge to flee and I know it must show because he suddenly points at me and says, “Don’t you dare say you have to go again. I want you to go back to what you said, that you’re not good at this. What is this? Us? You and me? There’s nothing mystifying about you and me, Jessica. You know quite well how I feel.”



I stare at him in shock. I do? “How?”



He looks off with an air of impatience. “I invited you to dinner, you turned me down.”



“But then you said just as friends.”



“And I meant it. But there are different types of friends. It’s up to you to decide what kind we are.”



I put my drink down with a clunk. “Holy pressure.” And now it’s not just my face going hot but my entire body, flushed from head to toe.



“You’re on fire, little red,” he says, his gaze skirting over my limbs in such a hungry way I can almost feel them on my skin. “I have to say, I like this look on you. Hot and bothered.”



“Back with the innuendos again,” I comment but my voice is weak.



“No, no innuendos this time. You came looking for me tonight not because you wanted to confess but because you want something from me. What is it? What do you want from me? What do you think I can give you?”



Jesus. This is so utterly unnerving. His words slice right through me, his eyes still peeling under the layers, trying to get at something I’m not even sure of myself.



If I lie, he’ll know. I can only be honest with him.



“I want…” I take in a deep breath, my eyes breaking away. “I want…company.”



“Company?” He sounds surprised.



I nod. “That’s the truth. I’m lonely. And I’m afraid. And I’m tired of being both those things. I want to be with someone who makes me forget who I am. You make me feel fearless in a way I didn’t think possible.”



There. That’s the truth. Most of it. It hangs in the air, thickening the tension like flour to stock.



He sits down next to me, has a mouthful of Scotch. “Wow,” he says, running his hand over the beard on his jaw. “And here I was thinking you wanted my cock.”



I burst out laughing. So does he, a big wonderful bellow. The tension in the room eases up a notch.



“Sorry,” I tell him when I catch my breath. “I guess they can both mean the same thing.”



He sucks in his lip briefly, his eyes taking a lustful turn. “If you want it to.” We stare at each other for a few heavy beats. Then his focus trails back to my gaze and he says, “Why don’t you stay over?”



And there I have it. The chance to know what those full lips would feel like on mine, what his skin would taste like. I swallow hard.

























Karina Halle is a former travel writer and music journalist and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author of The Pact, Racing the Sun, Sins & Needles and over 25 other wild and romantic reads. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband and her rescue pup, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails and devours a lot of books.

Halle is represented by the Waxman Leavell Agency and is both self-published and published by Simon & Schuster and Hachette in North America and in the UK.

Hit her up on Instagram at @authorHalle, on Twitter at @MetalBlonde and on Facebook. You can also visit www.authorkarinahalle.com and sign up for the newsletter for news, excerpts, previews, private book signing sales and more.

FACEBOOK TWITTER GOODREADS AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE
&nbsp

Cover Reveal: Illusion of Ecstacy

Illusion of Ecstasy
Nicole Loufas
(2nd Dose in the Thizz Series)
Publication date: October 21st 2016
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult

When Dani discovered the cash hidden in her attic, she had no idea the problems it would bring. With the help of the Marino’s, Dani is able to launder her father’s dirty money, but their help comes with a price. Her relationship with Matt.
Not wanting to hurt Dani’s future or freedom, Matt removes himself from the equation until it’s safe to return. When it’s time to go home, Matt can’t leave his family. Will being with his dying sister cost him the love of his life?
Nick is determined to make good on all the bad he’s caused. Helping Dani launder her father’ money. Making sure Matt is taken care of. Finally, accepting his role as a Marino. Fate doesn’t make it easy for him. Especially, when he returns from Europe to find Dani is falling apart on her own. With Matt out of the picture, Nick contemplates a future with the only girl he’s ever loved.
In the conclusion to Thizz, A Love Story, follow Dani, Matt, and Nick on a soul-searching journey into adulthood. The Illusion of Ecstasy explores the emotional tribulations they encounter without the help of thizz. How to deal with real emotion becomes the biggest obstacle of all on their road to maturity.

Add to Goodreads

Author Bio:
Nicole was born and raised in California. She claims to be a San Francisco native, however she’s lived in both Northern and Southern California. She credits her creativity to the fact that she attended 12 schools between kindergarten and her senior year in high school. Her nomadic childhood allowed her to reinvent herself often. Some might say she was a liar. While others see the stories she told as a coping mechanism. Twelve schools, in six cities, in twelve years – give her a break. Today she channels her storytelling ability into writing novels. Long story short – kids that lie become writers.
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Cover Reveal: Meeting the Unpredictable

Meeting The Unpredictable
Riann C. Miller
Publication date: September 29th 2016
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

What happens when opposites attract?
Tyler has spent the last six years constructing his perfectly boring life, which is exactly the way he wants it. He spends his days hiding behind the protective walls he has so carefully built and has no intentions of changing . . . until he meets the unpredictable.
Lennie Jacobs is an intoxicating mess. She never stays anywhere long enough to form a solid relationship with anyone, including her family, because she has taught her fragile heart that love isn’t an option.
What started as a way to pass the time soon blossoms into something neither expected.
He was never meant to be permanent.
She can’t promise forever.
But, when life and love are on the line, everything changes.
Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

Goodreads / AmazonPre-order today for only 99¢!—

Author Bio:
Hi, I'm Riann. I've been obsessed with reading romance novels for close to five years. I love getting to know new people in the book community and I've met several people along the way that I consider true friends.
I'm happily married with two children. When I'm not reading or writing, I'm usually spending time with my family, friends or watching baseball.
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Happy Release Day: Eternal Temptations

Eternal Temptationsby Janine Infante Bosco
Tempted #6
Publication Date: August 23, 2016
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Erotic, MC, Mafia, Romance


Buy:Amazon (#FREE with #KindleUnlimited): http://amzn.to/2bv8eiFPaperback: http://amzn.to/2b8qf4c
Synopsis: You’ve seen them through their most illicit temptations.
Guided them through their forbidden temptations.Stuck with them through their uncontrollable temptations.Owned their reckless temptations.And survived their lethal temptations.Five couples.One threat.Who will survive the eternal temptation?Just when the men of the Pastore crime family and the brothers of the Satan’s Knights MC, think they can rest easy—a danger no one saw coming threatens to destroy everyone’s perfect life.The men of the mob are resurrected and the boys in leather are back.It’s time for one final ride.And for you to ask yourself one last time…Are you tempted?NOTE: This is the final book in the Tempted series. Eternal Temptations can be read as a stand alone novel.
#THELASTHIT
#AMERICASNEXTGANGSTER EXCERPT: Grace & Victor Grace's POVIt was the early eighties, Maryann and I were barely legal but that didn’t stop us from painting the town red. I had a part-time job at Rosalie’s bakery, making just enough money to spend my paycheck—that’s a lie. I never received a paycheck, those days we were paid in cash, sixty dollars stuffed in a white envelope that Rosalie scribbled my name on. It was enough cash for me to buy a brand new outfit every Friday. I would take my envelope, cross three avenues and make my way to Something Else boutique on 86th Street. I teased my hair six inches to the sky, applied enough blue eyeshadow to my eyelids, you had no choice but to notice my almond shaped eyes. Lastly, I ripped the tags and put on my silk turquoise jumpsuit. Maryann stole her father’s car out of the garage and picked me up at exactly ten o’clock. Studio 54 was packed, the line to get inside the club wrapped around the block but Maryann grabbed my hand and walked us straight to the front of the line.“I’m a friend of Val’s,” she told the bouncer guarding the door. At the time, I only knew Val as one of the neighborhood guys. He, like most of the guys our age living in Bensonhurst, hung around with the old-timers, the made-men, goodfellas—you know the type of men I’m talking about. Gangsters. I didn’t know if Val was in fact a made man or part of a family, I just knew one day he would be and I understood why Maryann had taken a liking toward him. Who didn’t find that type of man sexy? There was nothing more attractive than the unattainable bad boy who exuded charisma. The bouncer lifted the red velvet rope and escorted us into the pulsating night club. I remember the song playing as I stepped foot onto the colorful dance floor that lit up as the patrons danced the night away, ‘How Deep Is Your Love’ by the Bee Gees. It was one of my favorites and I wanted to dance so badly but Maryann had other plans, taking my hand as she dragged me across the dance floor to the bar where Val stood. He was surrounded by a bunch of guys, some I knew and others were a mystery. A delicious mystery. “Order us a couple of Long Island Iced Teas and I’ll be right back,” she shouted over the music. I sat down at the bar and ordered the drinks, glancing across the bar as she worked her way into the circle and straight to Val. The bartender placed the two drinks in front of me and I waited five minutes before I pulled the little paper umbrella from the glass and lifted the straw to my lips. I averted my eyes back to the other end of the bar and noticed Maryann and Val had disappeared from the crowd. “Those things are lethal,” a voice said from behind me, forcing me to spin around on the bar stool and stare at the most handsome man I ever laid eyes on. The first thing I noticed was his clothes. He wasn’t dressed like the other men. His charcoal gray suit looked as if it was tailor made for him. He opted to wear a black turtleneck under the suit, no button down, collar popping shirt for the handsome stranger before me. He did however engage in the fad of gold chains. My eyes zeroed in on the crucifix dangling from the thick, gold rope chain hanging around his neck. I lifted my eyes to his face and was greeted by a smile I’d never forget. His eyes drifted toward the two drinks that sat in front of me to the empty stool beside me. “May I?” “Sure,” I said, twirling back around to face the bar as he slipped onto the stool and signaled for the bartender. He ordered a Martini, dry with extra olives as I toyed with the paper umbrella and brought my drink to my lips for another sip. The song changed, Tavares filtered the nightclub with their hit, ‘More Than a Woman’.“What’s your name, beautiful?” He asked, casually draping an arm over the back of my stool. “Grace,” I said, mesmerized by the way he stared so intently at me.“Grace,” he repeated, testing the name on his tongue, grinning once he decided he liked the way it sounded.“And who are you?” I stammered, taking another sip, hoping to calm my nerves. This man had the power to undo me with a simple glance.“Me? I’m the man who’s going to marry you one day,” he said pointedly.I nearly spat my drink out.“That’s pretty presumptuous don’t you think?” Or cocky depending on who you ask, I added silently.He grinned at me as he lifted his hand and ran his index finger down my cheek.“Watch and see, Gracie,” he promised, dropping his hand but keeping his gaze locked on me. “The name is Victor, Victor Pastore.”It is so easy to forget those first blissful moments when you meet the person you’re meant to spend the rest of your life with. Instead, we harbor the resentment life has brought upon us and lose touch of the magic that brought two unsuspecting strangers together.Sitting across from the man I love for the final time I wonder how I ever let myself become so jaded by the trials and tribulations we stumbled upon in our years together. Why did I let the heartache trump the happiness? Why couldn’t I hang on to all the times he made me smile, all the times I looked into his eyes and knew I was his one and only. Why wasn’t the love we created enough to outweigh the torment of the mob?
#FOREVERTEMPTED
#ETERNALTEMPTATIONS BOOK VIDEO
ARE YOU READY TO #GETTEMPTED?
Author Janine Infante Bosco & model Nick Bennett will be signing at Tempted and Tantalizing in Staten Island Author Event. Tickets on sale now!
#LEATHERANDLACE
EXCERPT: Blackie & LaceyBlackie POVI don’t tell her I’ll be on the road for the next three days, instead I pretend like everything is fine and I’m not about to declare war on the Corrupt Bastards. Ignorance is bliss and for tonight all I want to be is blissfully buried inside Lacey, drowning in the sweetness she possesses.

Holding her hand as the needle pricked her skin and marked her flesh provided the perfect distraction for a while but now we’re home and the only thing I want distracting me is her body. I watch her unzip the hoodie she’s wearing, glancing over her shoulder as she lowers it down her shoulders and checks to see if the gauze is still taped to her back, covering her new tattoo.

She’s not trying to be seductive but every fucking move she makes has me hard and craving her. Poor girl, I will demolish her tonight so that when I’m on the road, the ache in between her thighs keeps her company, reminding her I’m never too far from her.

She turns around and peers at me from under her eyelashes, slowly reaching behind her to unclasp her bra as I lean against the wall and drink in the show she’s about to treat me to.

“Go on, girl,” I urge, crossing my arms against my chest as I bite the inside of my cheek and watch the straps slide down her arms and expose her to my hungry eyes.

Her thumbs slide into the waistband of her pants, dragging them down her legs before she steps out of them.

“No panties?”

“Not tonight,” she says, reaching behind her to pull her hair out of the clip. Her back arches and her perky tits salute me. “Give me your phone,” she says, shaking out her long hair so it falls down her back and over her shoulders.

Fucking gorgeous.

Curiously, I pull my phone out of the back pocket of my jeans and hand it to her, watching as she pushes her breasts together and snaps a photo of herself. Bending over, she angles her phone and snaps another photo of her heart-shaped ass.

“Damn, girl,” I groan.

She straightens up, eyes on me as she takes two steps closer and spreads her legs. Holding the phone with both hands she lowers it so the lens is level with her pussy and snaps another picture.

“Don’t say I never gave you anything,” she teases as she tosses the phone back, clarifying I’m not the only one leaving reminders behind.

I catch the phone, place it down on dresser before closing the distance between us. With one hand I reach behind me, my ribs are still bruised but I don’t react to the twinge pulling across my midsection as I pull my shirt over my head.

“You want something in return, girl?”

“Depends what you’re offering,” she says coyly, placing both hands on her bare hips as she winks at me.

I don’t offer anything instead I drop to my knees and take what I want and give her what I know she needs, placing my open mouth over the lips of her pussy and pushing my tongue between them. Her hands fall from her hips to my shoulders and her nails dig into my skin as my tongue lavishly strokes her.

Starving.

Insatiable.

I feed off her, lapping at her clit, sucking on it until her hands are in my hair, pulling it begging me to take her over the edge.

Not yet.

Girl needs to squirm a little. That’s right, grind on me girl.

“Blackie--,” she shrieks as I slip two fingers insider her.

“Give it to me, girl,” I grunt against her pussy, pumping my fingers to the same beat my tongue is playing.

Give me something to dream of when I’m off the grid.

Give me something to remember in case I break my promise to you and can’t come back.

I feel her tighten around my fingers, hear her cry out in ecstasy as I continue to selfishly take my memory from her, ingraining it to my mind, body and soul as she loses control over my mouth. Her body goes lax after the tremors subside and I slowly pull my mouth away from her. I lift my eyes to hers and lick my lips, savoring the taste to my palette.

“Fuck, Blackie,” she says breathless, dropping to her knees as she takes my face with her hands. Leaning forward, her tongue sneaks out tasting what’s left behind of her on my mouth.

“You like that don’t you? That’s all you, girl,” I speak against her mouth. Taking hold of her face I pull back and stare into her dark eyes only they’re not dark with demons but dark with lust.

On our knees, arms wrapped around one another, mouths fused together the both of us wish tomorrow never comes.

But it does.

And I kiss Lacey goodbye, promise to come back to her and pray that I do.

I love you, girl.


#THEFINALRIDE
#BETEMPTED AND READ WHERE IT ALL STARTED WITH THE FIRST 5 BOOKS IN THE #TEMPTED SERIES!

ABOUT JANINE INFANTE BOSCO Janine Infante Bosco lives in New York City, she has always loved reading and writing. When she was thirteen, she began to write her own stories and her passion for writing took off as the years went on. At eighteen, she even wrote a full screenplay with dreams of one day becoming a member of the Screen Actors Guild.

Janine writes emotionally charged novels with an emphasis on family bonds, strong willed female characters, and alpha male men who will do anything for the women they love. She loves to interact with fans and fellow avid romance readers like herself.

She is proud of her success as an author and the friendships she’s made in the book community but her greatest accomplishment to date would be her two sons Joseph and Paul.
Website • Facebook • Twitter • Pinterest • Goodreads • Newsletter • Amazon
ENTER THE GIVEAWAY
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Day Blitz: All of the Lights

All of the Lightsby K. Ryan
Publication Date: August 22, 2016
Genres: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Suspense


BUY:Amazon (99c or #FREE with #KindleUnlimited): http://bit.ly/AlloftheLightsKRyanPaperback: http://amzn.to/2bw1XC4Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2bFMyxK
Synopsis: Two households. One secret that will change everything.
I was raised to believe his family was nothing but trash.
I was raised to believe her family was the root of all evil.I sent his brother to prison.
I should hate her for what she did.I’ve never fought a day in my life.
I’ve fought every day of my life.I need him to help me find answers.
I need her to set the record straight.I should stay away from him.
I should walk away from her.But I can’t.
But I can’t.*This book is a standalone, contemporary/mystery romance and is intended for readers 18 and older*
EXCERPTJust as I lean in with both hands splayed out on the bar top, the door opens and hell might as well have broken loose. Because as much as I’ve tried to push Friday night down to the deepest, darkest recesses of my memory where I’ll never have to worry about it again, it’s back with a vengeance.Or, rather, she’s back with a fiery vengeance if her hair is any indication.Her green eyes sweep around the bar and, considering there’s just two other people in it, those eyes find what they’re looking for quickly. There’s a determination in them that scares me a little more than it should—I should be the one breathing fire, not her. She’s the one treading on my space and yet, I’m the one ready to run and hide.And then my memory clears. She played me Friday night, good and hard. Had me right where she wanted me, eating out of the palm of her damn hand, practically begging her to throw me a bone, to give me her number, and all for...what? So she could turn around and brag to all her friends that she conned Jack Flynn on Callahan turf?It was probably all bullshit anyway. She probably went home to her boyfriend in Back Bay and laughed about me in bed all night long.Now I react accordingly. Heat rises up from my feet and shoots right up to my chest. I want her the hell out of my bar. I want her the hell out of my sight.Still, my body is frozen right where I stand as she crosses the short distance between us and tentatively rests her palms against the bar. My lips press into a firm, grim line and animosity pours off me in waves, filling the few feet between us. There’s no good reason for her to be here right now, or ever, and before she finds her way out the door, we need to clear something up first.“Can we talk?” Rae asks, her voice shaking a little.Good. She should be scared. She should turn her ass around and never come back.“No,” I snap. My eyes slice into her and I hope she can feel every inch.She swallows hard and her gaze shifts anxiously to Cal, who lifts an eyebrow and takes another swig of his beer nonchalantly as if the daughter of our community’s number one enemy didn’t just walk through the door.Her chest rises and falls one more time and her hands clench around the edge of the bar top so tightly her knuckles turn pale.“Please,” she tries again, but I’m already shaking my head. “I just need to—”“You don’t need to do anything except leave,” I cut in briskly and slam the towel down on the bar. “You know, you must really be stupid...showing up here again like this. Do you have a death wish or something?”“You’re not going to hurt me,” she shoots back in defiance.No, I’m not.“Try me,” I growl instead and her eyebrows just lift, unimpressed and unconvinced.And for a moment, I almost admire the kind of backbone it must’ve taken her to actually get in her car, drive down here, and walk inside our bar. She’s not weak—I could see it Friday night and I see it now, but being strong isn’t going to do her any favors. Not here. Not like this.I’d never lay hands on a woman, but given everything this particular woman has done to my family, to my brother, the way she just keeps showing up like a cockroach...the temptation itches at me.She’s lucky I can control myself outside the ring.Rae leans forward, her pretty face contorted a little too much for my liking and I know where this is going. I’ve seen this look before. Not from her, but other women at other times when they want something. This is exactly why the only woman I’ve ever been able to put up with in long doses is my mom because every other woman is a complicated mess I don’t have the time or the energy to spend untangling.I might have fallen for her act Friday night, but I’m not biting tonight.“Please,” she tries again. This time, her voice is softer, more urgent, and that raging determination is at the forefront now more than ever. “I just want to explain and then I’ll leave. I promise. Just one minute—that’s all I’m asking for. Besides,” she waves a hand around my near-empty bar, “it looks to me like you’ve got some time to kill.”I blow out a deep breath and mull over my options. Unfortunately, she kinda has a point and I have a feeling that she really will leave if I just give her the one minute she’s asking for. Shit. Now I’m just annoyed she was able to convince me so quickly.A beat later, I tip my chin at Cal.“Why don’t you step outside for a smoke.”He just lifts a shoulder, takes one more long gulp of his beer, and pushes off his stool to head toward the door. Once the door shuts behind him, my gaze shifts to the current bane of my existence and I lift an eyebrow at her. The ball’s in her court now.“You’ve got 30 seconds and then you either get out or I’ll throw you out.”Rae’s jaw clenches and for the first time since she walked in, she falters. Her hands tremble around the edge of the bar top, she inhales sharply, and if I look closely enough, I could probably see her lips quiver ever so slightly. Then, everything changes again on a dime. Her back straightens, her chin tips up, and her eyes meet mine dead-on. It’s like this girl is afraid of nothing. Jesus, maybe she really does have a death wish.But when she finally opens her mouth, it’s not to tell me she’s sorry for playing my stupid ass on Friday night.“I want to get Sean out of prison.”Wait a minute...what? My head rears back and shakes from side to side. There’s no way I heard her right.“What?”That’s all I’ve got.She seems to take my response as a good sign, but she’s wrong. If my blood was simmering before, it’s cranked up to a boil now. My head just needs a little time to catch up with my emotions.“I know he wasn’t the one who…” she trails off, her eyes still blazing green with a grit I just can’t reconcile right now. “I know he wasn’t the one who hurt me. I think I’ve always known it—I just never knew what to do about it until now.”“You tell the fucking truth from the start, that’s what you do,” I snap back at her.Rae winces from the impact, but I don’t care. She can’t come up in here and spew this kind of bullshit seven years too late.“I’m so—”“Don’t,” I lean forward as I growl again, inching just close enough so she can read the menace on my face. “You’re not sorry. If you were sorry, you wouldn’t have done it in the first place. Get out of my bar.”“Please,” her eyes widen and her hands spread out in front of her in a futile attempt at getting any sympathy from me. “Just listen, okay? I know you hate me—”“Hate you?” I cock an eyebrow at her and fold my arms across my chest. “Sweetheart, hate doesn’t even round the corner of what I feel for you. There isn’t a word in the dictionary for what I feel for you.”
ABOUT K. RYAN
K. Ryan lives in the Green Bay area with her crazy-supportive boyfriend and the best decision of her adult life, a not-so-stray cat named Oliver. When not writing, she’s either binge-watching something on Netflix, running, reading, or cheering on the Packers.Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@authorkryan) and Facebook or visit her website,www.authorkryan.com, for updates and news. Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | Newsletter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Profile
ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Promo: The Departed

The Departed
by Kristy Cooper
Genre: YA Dystopian
Release Date: July 6th 2016

Summary from Goodreads: 

What if someone tried to fake the rapture?

When hundreds of thousands of people disappear in the middle of the night, including sixteen-year-old Gwen's best friend Lana, no one knows why. Some believe they were taken in the rapture, while others are convinced that it can't be true. Doomsday prophecies abound that involve horrifying tales of plague, famine, earthquakes, and more.

At first, Gwen doesn't know what to think. While she is busy mourning Lana, many people around her are getting taken in by the cultish True Believers Temple, including Gwen's dad and her friend Mindy. It is clear that more and more people are going to be pressured to join this church, as it starts taking over the media and the government, gaining zealous followers all over the world.

Then Gwen starts receiving emails from Lana. She claims to have been forced into hiding with thousands of others in an underground compound. Gwen is convinced the emails are real and the only other person who also believes her is Isaiah, her moody crush. Together they resolve to find out where everyone is hiding and help set Lana free.Add to GoodreadsBuy Links:Amazon
About the AuthorKristy Cooper found herself often contemplating unusual what-if scenarios and knew it was time to start writing them down. She worked as a librarian for years and is now busy raising small children and writing YA novels. Stay up to date with her books at kristycooper.com.
Author Links:
Website│Goodreads│Twitter│FacebookGIVEAWAY:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Organized by:
YA Bound Book Tours

Book Review: Dark Matter

Dark Matterby Blake Crouch (Goodreads Author) 4.21  ·   Rating Details  ·  5,641 Ratings  ·  1,489 Reviews“Are you happy with your life?”

Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the masked abductor knocks him unconscious.

Before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits.

Before a man Jason’s never met smiles down at him and says, “Welcome back, my friend.”

In this world he’s woken up to, Jason’s life is not the one he knows. His wife is not his wife. His son was never born. And Jason is not an ordinary college physics professor, but a celebrated genius who has achieved something remarkable. Something impossible.

Is it this world or the other that’s the dream? And even if the home he remembers is real, how can Jason possibly make it back to the family he loves? The answers lie in a journey more wondrous and horrifying than anything he could’ve imagined—one that will force him to confront the darkest parts of himself even as he battles a terrifying, seemingly unbeatable foe.

From the author of the bestselling Wayward Pines trilogy, Dark Matter is a brilliantly plotted tale that is at once sweeping and intimate, mind-bendingly strange and profoundly human—a relentlessly surprising science-fiction thriller about choices, paths not taken, and how far we’ll go to claim the lives we dream of. 
Lori's thoughts: When I started reading this book, I didn't realize it was a work of science fiction. I went in without knowing anything about it. I read the first chapter and was sucked in immediately. I couldn't put it down. Intense and thought provoking! It would make an amazing movie. I purchased this book from Amazon.

Release Blitz: Chased By Love

Today we’ve got the release week blitz for Chased by Love by Melissa Foster! Check it out and be sure to enter her giveaway today!



About Chased by Love:



The Ryders are a series of stand-alone romances that may also be enjoyed as part of the larger Love in Bloom series.



"You can always rely on Melissa Foster to deliver a story that's fresh, emotional and entertaining. Make sure you have all night, because once you start you won't want to stop reading. Every book's a winner!" New York Times Bestselling Author Brenda Novak



"Melissa Foster is synonymous with sexy, swoony, heartfelt romance!" New York Times Bestseller Lauren Blakely



In CHASED BY LOVE...

Actress Trish Ryder takes her job seriously and has no time for those who don't. When she's awarded a major role in a new movie featuring America's hottest rock star, Boone Stryker, she's beyond excited. The six-two, tattooed hunk of burning desire is known for his dedication to his craft--but when he ditches their first meeting, she begins to wonder if he's just another rocker with a great PR team.



Sex, booze, women, and music pretty much sum up Boone Stryker's private world. He's coasted through life playing by his own rules with plenty of people willing to cover his tracks, and he's not likely to change--until he meets a woman who refuses to give him the time of day, much less anything more.



Sparks fly from the first moment Trish and Boone meet--Tensions run hot and desire runs hotter when they're trapped together on a remote location with no place to hide. Will sparks ignite, or will a hurricane douse the flames?



MORE RYDERS coming soon!

Seized by Love (Blue)

Claimed by Love (Duke)

Chased by Love (Trish)

Rescued by Love (Jake)

Swept Into Love (Gage)



The RYDERS are part of the LOVE IN BLOOM big family romance collection. Each book may be read as a stand-alone novel, or as part of the series.



Get your copy today!

Amazon

NOOK

KOBO

GPLAY

iBOOKS

SMASHWORDS

Paperback: Amazon US



Exclusive Excerpt

Unwilling to give him the upper hand, she flashed a haughty smirk and returned his assessment with a lecherous leer of her own, drinking in every inch of his athletic build, from his bulging biceps to the ripped abs evident beneath his clingy shirt, all the way to the formidable package at the juncture of his powerful thighs. She lingered there, brazenly licking her lips.



He leaned in close—so close she thought he might kiss her. And damn it to hell, she wanted him to. Lust and challenge pulsed between them, thick and alive like a third heart.





About Melissa Foster:



Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and new adult romance, contemporary women’s fiction, suspense, and historical fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Her books have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the World Literary Café and Fostering Success. When she’s not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. Melissa has been published in Calgary’s Child Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Women Business Owners magazine.

Melissa hosts an Aspiring Authors contest for children and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Melissa lives in Maryland with her family.

Visit Melissa on social media. Melissa enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups, and welcomes an invitation to your event.



Links:

NEWSLETTER:

http://www.melissafoster.com/newsletter

CONNECT WITH MELISSA

FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/MelissaFosterAuthor

TWITTER:

https://twitter.com/Melissa_Foster

WEBSITE:

http://www.MelissaFoster.com

STREET TEAM:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/melissafosterfans



Enter Melissa’s Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway






Release Week Blitz:August 17thSassy Book LoversRustys ReadingWild and Dirty Book BlogBrittany's Book BlogAbibliophobia Anonymous Book ReviewsRipe For Reader Little Shop of ReadersMy Nook, Books & MoreFictional Rendezvous Book BlogSocially Awkward Book NerdA Sky Filled with Sparkling Stars BlogKinkyGirlsBookObsessions Shelf_lifeSBB ReviewsAugust 18thTextteaserFangirl Moments and My Two CentsSassy Book LoversG & T's Indie CaféLiterary MeanderingsBest Book BoyfriendsA Bookish MessReese's ReviewsPenny for My ThoughtsMaari Loves Her IndiesShe Reads New Adultoh the book feelsAugust 19thSouthern Vixens Book ObsessionsJade's ReadsSweet Sexy EscapeSouthern Vixens Book ObsessionsBritish Book Binge Quesarasera Book BlogSocially Awkward Book NerdEast Coast Book ChicksHEA Romances With A Little KickSassy Southern Book BlogMelena's ReviewsRead My MindHellmouth's Bookblog & ReviewsAugust 20thA crazy vermonters book reviewsIrishdaisylovesRomance 2 girls who love booksBooks, Books, The Magical Fruit Rock Out With Sweet ReadsBooks and Things BlogPervy Ladies Book BlogNovel Addiction Friends Till The End Book BlogSofia Loves BooksChapter 5 by Love KokoMaari Loves Her IndiesPrincess Reads August 21stDani's Book Review BlogMJ's Book Blog and ReviewsThose Crazy Book ChicksOnce Upon a Book Blog Sweet ReadingSofia Loves BooksAlpha Book ClubHappily Ever ChapterCruising Susan Book ReviewsBook JunkiezAlphas Do It Better Book Blog August 22ndT&L Book ReviewsRead-Love-BlogZili in the SkyTBR Book BlogBloggin with M. Brennanbooks are loveAll For Love of the WordOutrageous Heroes of RomanceBlazinbear's Book BlogReese's ReviewsSofia Loves BooksBound BY Books Book ReviewAugust 23rdLoves Great Reads BlogCutting Muse Blog Review Book Butterfly in DreamlandBook JunkiezOne Book Boyfriend At A TimeBook Loving FairyA Taste of SinBarbara Book ReviewsI Love My AuthorsReese's Reviews

Blitz & Excerpt: Extracted

Extracted
Sherry D. Ficklin & Tyler Jolley
Published by: Clean Teen Publishing
Publication date: August 15th 2016
Genres: Steampunk, Young Adult

Two opposing factions of time travelers vie for control of the future in this thrilling steampunk series opener dubbed “Interesting” and “Unexpected” by Kirkus Reviews.
Lex and Ember—two time travelers with no memories of their lives before being recruited into the time war—are torn between the factions. When Lex accepts a mission that lands him deep within the heart of the Telsa Institute, he meets Ember, and the past that was stolen from them comes flooding back. Now armed with the truth of who they were, Lex and Ember must work together to save the future before the battle for time destroys them once again.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble—EXCERPT:My breath comes in short, shallow bursts. I can feel the warmth of Ethan’s body radiating like a tuning fork against my back. In front of me, there is only darkness. I strain, listening, waiting for the next wave of attack. The leather straps holding up my suede harness dig into the skin of my shoulders, but the ache only sharpens my focus. The urge to turn around is strong, though I know better. Months of training have taught me exactly what happens when I turn my back to the darkness. So I listen, honing my senses until I catch the sound of Ethan taking a small step forward, away from me. My eyes are useless, so I close them. Knowing my attackers are well paid for their ability to move in silence, there is little hope that they will give themselves away. We need another strategy. As if reading my mind, Ethan picks up the conversation we were having earlier.
“All I’m saying is, maybe you need the extra practice,” Ethan says, his tone mocking. Even without being able to see him, I can sense him moving, beginning to circle counterclockwise. I know he’s trying to draw them out, to bring the fight to him. It seems like a sound strategy, so I jump on board.
“Oh, yes, because it isn’t like she turned around and kicked the crap out of you, too.” I’m mimicking his movements now. My voice is flat, free from emotion, and my words are empty. I can’t see him moving, but I can feel him, as if we’re connected by a million invisible threads.
“How am I supposed to just punch a girl?” Ethan asks. “And I was tired from taking the guy out like five seconds earlier.”
“She isn’t a girl. She’s more like a pissed-off kangaroo in a top hat. She has a nasty right hook, I’ll give you that.”
I hear the sharp whip of air as a bamboo pole cuts through the darkness, headed toward my face. Even with our phony argument going on, I’m able to hear it coming before it lands. I bring up my hands and block the blow with my forearms. The impact stings, bruising the bones there, but better my arms than my face. With a movement perfected after one too many blows to the head, I grab the pole and pull it aside, dragging my attacker with it. As he closes in, I drop the pole and lock arms with Ethan. I flip over his back and kick out, knocking my attacker to the mat. As he struggles back to his feet, Ethan spins into my place, delivering a secondary kick that sends the man flying into the wall with a dull thud. “Yeah, but she’s scrappy,” he says.
“Scrappy? Is that boy code for you couldn’t stop staring at her rack?”
Behind me, I feel Ethan duck a blow, and then land one of his own before pressing his back against mine. “I… that’s not… I didn’t even… I mean…” he sputters.
I smirk. Busted.
Footsteps approach, but we keep sparring. I bend over, using my attacker’s own momentum against him as I put my shoulder into his gut and stand, propelling him over my head and onto his back on the mat. I don’t need to see my victory to realize what the maneuver has cost me. A muscle in my lower back seizes, and it’s all I can do not to drop to my knees in agony. I clench my fists until I feel my fingernails cut bloody crescents in my palms. There is no way I’m going to be the weak link—no way I’m going to let Ethan fight alone. Back to back, that’s how Rifters are trained to fight. And Ethan always has my back.
“Don’t feel too bad. She was pretty scrappy after all.”
Ethan mumbles, “It’s a girl thing.”
“Hold up, what’s that supposed to mean?” I ask, stiffly regaining my footing as my back screams in protest.
As usual, Ethan turns to check on me. “Nothing personal, Ember.”
Not wanting him to get slammed for it again, I grab him by the shoulder and pull, revolving us to our starting positions just as the first attacker flips back onto his feet and lunges. He would have taken me in the stomach, but I bring up my knee just in time to block his advance before kicking him in the face. There is a loud crunch that sounds like breaking bone. I hear him hit the mat with a groan. The lights flick back on, and Mistress Catherine blows her whistle.
Normally we spar with off-duty guards, since most of them have military training of some kind. They know how to take a hit and how to deliver one without doing too much damage. We might be lowly recruits, but Rifters are rare, and our lives are precious.
But as the man whose nose I have just broken pulls off his black ski mask, my heart falls into my shoes. Flynn is staring up at me, and his face is covered in blood.
“Nice hit, Ember,” he says as blood drips from his nose and onto his white shirt. Mistress Catherine hands him his horn-rimmed glasses and shoots me an amused smirk. Behind me, Ethan snickers.
Great. And here I was thinking this day couldn’t get any worse.
Reaching down, I offer Flynn a hand up, which he accepts with a smile.
“I’m so sorry,” I mutter, but he waves it off.
“Catherine told me you were really coming along. I wanted to see for myself.”
The others are shuffling out, so I turn to grab a towel and follow them, but Mistress Catherine closes the door behind a worried-looking Ethan, presses her back against it, and narrows her eyes at me. I used to think it was hard to look menacing in a knee-length pencil skirt and beige brocade top, but she radiates power. It might be the stern pucker of her thin lips, or the way her graying hair is knotted tightly at the nape of her neck. She resembles a librarian except for the long, jagged scar that runs from her left temple to the cleft in her chin. Well, that and the spider-shaped, iron shoulder harness permanently affixed to her upper arm.
Not sure what’s going on, I freeze, yellow towel in hand. Before I can say anything, I feel something moving behind me. I manage to move to the side just as a wooden staff comes slamming down against the spot where I’d stood a heartbeat earlier. I turn and see Flynn grinning, blood still dripping off his chin. He spits before whirling the staff like a windmill in front of him. “What I don’t understand,” he says, circling to my left, “is how that Hollow got the best of you. According to Ethan’s report, Kara had no problem with her. And Catherine here tells me that you mat Kara at almost every practice now.”
I have no idea what to say. Does he think I let her beat up on me? Just then, my legs are swept out from under me. I fall to the mat, but, rolling swiftly backward, I bounce up onto my feet. Catherine has a staff, too, and comes toward me from the right. I hold up my hands and back up slowly. In the corner of the room, a vent erupts in a cloud of steam, and Tesla’s image appears but says nothing.
“Look, I didn’t let her get away,” I say. “If that’s what you’re implying. She was strong. And fast.”
Catherine shakes her head. “You are strong. And fast. And clever.”
“I’m sorry!” I blurt out when my back hits the corner and they are still coming at me.
I don’t think Flynn would ever hurt me, not really, but Catherine, well…
Without another word, they both attack. I manage to duck one blow but take another in the ribs before I decide to make a break for it. Jumping as high as possible, I’m able to get a hand on the chain attaching one of the punching bags to the ceiling and hoist myself up. I leap over Flynn and roll as I hit the ground behind him. They’re quick, though, and have me surrounded again in seconds.
It’s easy to forget that they are trained Rifters, too. Catherine doesn’t rift anymore, but Flynn is still active and in really good shape. They aren’t holding anything back either. Flynn lands a blow to my lower back, but when Catherine moves in, I’m able to grab her staff and force it from her bad arm. Suddenly, time is moving in a blur. I’m not thinking about my next move anymore. My body is reacting of its own accord. I’m not sure how it happens, but I blink and Catherine is on her knees. Flynn is standing in front of me, and I have the two staffs crossed at his neck. He’s holding up his hands and saying my name.
I drop the sticks and step back. The muscles in my arms and legs are twitching like I’ve just run ten miles.
“That’s what we mean,” Catherine says, climbing stiffly to her feet. “You could have taken the Hollow girl. So, why did you hesitate?”
I close my eyes, calling the fight to the front of my memory. There was something about the girl. She was beautiful, for sure, but that wasn’t it. There was something else, too. Something I can’t put into words. I look up to find they’re staring at me, waiting for some kind of answer. I can feel Tesla glaring holes into my back, watching me like one of his little science experiments. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”
Flynn sighs and holds his hands out to me. I take them without hesitation. “Ember, I know it’s hard. I know you don’t like hurting people. It’s against your very nature to harm someone or let someone suffer. But you are too important to risk losing. Understand? Sometimes, you have to put someone down, let someone get hurt or even die, to save yourself and your team. You can’t hold anything back.”
I take a deep breath. “And what if someone dies because of me? Because, for some reason, my life is worth more than theirs?”
Flynn lowers his head, looking me in the eye. “That is a burden you will have to learn to carry.”

Author Bio:
Sherry D. Ficklin is a full time writer from Colorado where she lives with her husband, four kids, two dogs, and a fluctuating number of chickens and house guests. A former military brat, she loves to travel and meet new people. She can often be found browsing her local bookstore with a large white hot chocolate in one hand and a towering stack of books in the other. That is, unless she’s on deadline at which time she, like the Loch Ness monster, is only seen in blurry photographs.
Author links:

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter--Tyler H. Jolley is a sci-fi/fantasy author and full-time orthodontist, periodontist (see: Overachiever). He divides his spare time between writing, reading, mountain biking, and camping with his family.
Author links:

Website / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Day & Giveaway: The Sapphire Heist

✮✮✮ THE SAPPHIRE HEIST is here! The highly anticipated conclusion of New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely’s new contemporary romance Jewel Novel series, this enemies-to-lovers series is filled with sex, wit, glamour, and high stakes, with a rugged, ex-military, dirty-talking alpha hero! Don’t miss this explosive and passionate series! ✮✮✮





EXCERPT:
He grabbed her waist and slammed her close. Her breath caught. He nipped her earlobe.“Admit it,” he growled. “Admit I am masterful at darts. Then, and only then, will I accept your rematch offer.”She shook her head and made a move to reach for the dart in his hand. Like she was trying to subtly snatch it away. He clamped his palm around it and raised an eyebrow.“You trying to pickpocket me?”“If pickpocketing from your hand counts, then yes. I was.”“You need a lesson in proper pickpocketing then, woman. You’re too obvious. Like you were in the alley earlier today.”“You’re telling me you know how to pick pockets, too?” She narrowed her eyes, skepticism in her tone as she grabbed her iced tea from the nearby counter and took a drink.He laughed. “I do. I don’t do it often, but it’s a useful skill.”She put down the glass, then parked her hands on her hips, hiking up her purse on her shoulder. “Teach me.”“Can’t really teach you everything in one night, but it’s all about the art of deception,” he said as he led her back to the dartboard. Grabbing a dart from the green felt, he raised it and took aim at the bull’s-eye. Her gaze followed the dart. “That means you need to get the person to look elsewhere, like at the dartboard.”She nodded and stared at the dartboard. For one second. Two seconds. Three. Then it dawned on her. When she snapped her focus back to him, he brandished her wallet.“You got that from my purse,” she said, stomping a foot.“I sure did. But that was the point. To show you how it’s done.”“OK,” she said, wiggling her fingers. “Let me try.”He taught her a few basic distraction tricks, and she practiced on him, dipping her hands in his pockets and trying to pilfer his watch. She was no pro, and he was aware of her moves every time. But her technique improved with the brief lesson. However, the constant gliding of her hands into his pockets zapped his focus away from teaching and onto the next phase of tonight.“That’s all for today’s lesson,” he said, since he had no more interest in being out with her. “Need to get you alone now.”Her eyes told him she wanted that, too. “Let’s say good night to Marie.”She’d been busy all evening pulling the tap and pouring drinks, so he drummed his fingertips against the bar, tipped an imaginary hat to her, and waved good-bye. But she beckoned them over. “Hey. You found your sexy fisherman,” Marie said to Steph, flicking her long braid off her shoulder so it hung down her back. She turned to Jake. “And you found my favorite mermaid.”“We did find each other,” Steph said in a sweet voice that nailed him right in the heart. We found each other.Those words. They pulsed with double meaning.
THE SAPPHIRE AFFAIR & THE SAPPHIRE HEIST are being released by Montlake, which is an Amazon publishing company, and will only be available for sale at Amazon. You can download a free Kindle reading app for any smartphone or tablet here: http://amzn.to/1MIyrHi **THE SAPPHIRE AFFAIR & THE SAPPHIRE HEIST are available for free on Kindle Unlimited!**




ABOUT THE SAPPHIRE HEIST (Jewel Novel #2):Keep your lover close and your enemy closer…After giving in to a fiery night of passion, island adventurer Steph Anderson and bounty hunter Jake Harlowe are back to square one. With millions in stolen jewels at stake, it’s hard for Steph not to question her new partner’s true motives—no matter how sexy he might be. Jake is hungry for more of Steph, but he can sense her growing mistrust, which only fuels his own doubts. Worse, there’s undeniable evidence that someone else is now after the jewels—and that they are both in real danger.Fighting against their magnetic attraction is a distraction these two can’t afford. In order to survive, they’ll have to pull off one more heist—and trust each other with something even more precious than jewels: their hearts.


✦ Amazon US ✦ Amazon UK ✦ Amazon Paperback ✦ Amazon AU ✦ Amazon CA✦ Audiobook (narrated by Sebastian York)




And Don’t Miss the First Book, THE SAPPHIRE AFFAIR, now available! Order your copy today!
✦ Amazon US ✦ Amazon UK ✦ Amazon Paperback ✦ Amazon AU ✦ Amazon CA✦ Audiobook (narrated by Sebastian York)










a Rafflecopter giveaway




About Lauren Blakely:

Since self-publishing her debut romance novel CAUGHT UP IN US three years ago, Lauren Blakely has sold more than 1 million books. She is known for her sexy contemporary romance style that’s full of heat, heart and humor. A devout fan of cake and canines, Lauren has plotted entire novels while walking her four-legged friends. She lives in California with her family. With ten New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than fifty times. Her bestselling series include Sinful Nights, Seductive Nights, No Regrets, Caught Up in Love, and Fighting Fire as well as standalone romantic comedies like BIG ROCK and MISTER O, which were both instant New York Times Bestsellers. In the fall she’ll release WELL HUNG, another romantic comedy. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter:laurenblakely.com/newsletter.


Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter | THE SAPPHIRE AFFAIR Goodreads |THE SAPPHIRE HEIST Goodreads |Lauren Blakely Goodreads