R.E. Hargrave's Blog, page 153

BOOK BLITZ: One Hot Texas Summer by Nicole Flockton #GIVEAWAY

One Hot Texas Summer
Nicole Flockton
(Prentice Brothers of Sweet Ridge #1)
Published by: Tule Publishing
Publication date: May 26th 2020
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

She’s been fooled before by sweet words and hot kissesKelly Turner loves being a florist, and being asked to take the lead on the new site for the town’s festival is an honor. If only she didn’t have to work closely with the town player, Tate Prentice. After being burned once by a serial cheater, her inconvenient attraction toward Tate needs to be nipped in the bud.Tate Prentice’s focus is on ensuring his father recovers fully from his stroke and making sure the family’s peach farm continues to thrive. When his brother nominates the farm to be the satellite site for the festival, he’s less than impressed. The only good thing is he’ll be working with Kelly – even though he knows she’ll never give him a second glance, not with his reputation.The more time Kelly spends with Tate, the more she sees the man behind the reputation. Can she trust her instincts, or will her heart be broken once again?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo—EXCERPT:Outside, the sounds of summer surrounded them. Crick- ets trilled, calling for company. A light veil of humidity hung in the air, not quite stifling yet. Come July and August, humidity would be heavy and unpleasant. Hopefully, Mother Nature would play nice for Founders’ Day and make the days and evenings pleasant.“Where did you park your car?” he asked.“Behind the shop.”“Okay.” Tate headed in that direction, aware that he still had his arm around Kelly’s shoulders. Interesting. Why hadn’t she shaken him off? Not that he was complaining. She fit snugly, and he could get used to it.A second later, she took a step to the right and his arm slipped to his side. The universe liked to give and then take away from him pretty quickly.“You don’t have to walk me to my car, Tate. I’m a big girl and can get there by myself. The town is safe.”He shoved his hands in his pocket to stop from reaching for her again. “I’m aware of that, but Dad would box my ears if he knew I’d let you walk alone after spending the evening with you.”“Ahh, the gentlemanly gestures. It’s kind of sad they’re dying out.”“You sound like you don’t want that to happen. You do know you just told me I didn’t have to do one of those gentlemanly gestures with dinner.”She shrugged. “I have mixed feelings. I’ve been on my own for a long time. I’m an independent business owner. I’m in charge of my own life. And I love that, but when I listen to Mom talk about the early days of her and Dad’s courtship, it kind of makes me sad that some of those traditions are being lost. Some days, I’d like to experience it, and other days I don’t.”Tate itched to rest his arm on her lower back as they walked down the darkened alley by her shop. Would this be one of those gestures she wanted? He compromised and raised his hand to her lower back, not touching but close enough that he could if she needed it. “I’m sure in time a balance will be struck that will please everyone.”“I hope so,” she murmured as they stopped by her car, unlocking it. The flashing lights brightened the night for a heartbeat.Deciding to risk it, he leaned around her and opened the door for her. “I had a really nice evening tonight, Kel. Thanks for asking me to join you.”She looked up at him, the action bringing her face closer to his. In the muted glow from the only light in the parking lot, he caught the way her tongue darted out to moisten her lips. Tate bit back a groan. Memories from earlier in the day when he’d been tempted to kiss her in his kitchen slammed into him. His blood heated and his lower body tightened in his jeans.He didn’t miss the increase in her breathing. “Kel?” he asked, sure of what he wanted but not wanting to assume she wanted the same thing.“Tate,” she whispered and swayed a fraction toward him.He rested his hand on her hip and lowered his head, keeping his eyes open. If she pulled back, he would give her space. Only she raised her face and their lips met.

Author Bio:
USA Today Bestselling author Nicole Flockton writes sexy contemporary romances, seducing you one kiss at a time as you turn the pages. Nicole likes nothing better than taking characters and creating unique situations where they fight to find their true love.On her first school report her teacher noted "Nicole likes to tell her own stories". It wasn’t until after the birth of her first child and after having fun on a romance community forum that she finally decided to take the plunge and write a book.Apart from writing Nicole is busy looking after her very own hero – her wonderfully supportive husband, and two fabulous kids. She also enjoys watching sports and, of course, reading.

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B@@K REVEAL: Devious Savior by Lynn Burke

Devious Savior
Lynn Burke
(Vicious Vipers MC, #6)
Publication date: June 25th 2020
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

I was responsible for my soulmate’s death, and twenty years later, the demons of guilt still try to suffocate me. Drowning them with liquor doesn’t work, so I run, leaving everything—my colors, my brothers, and my addictions behind.Fate brings me to a place that matches my dried out soul—Vegas.A ray of pole-dancing sunshine breaks through my darkness, giving me hope for a future. An independent, stubborn woman, Casey doesn’t need me to be her knight in shining armor, but I can’t give up my addiction to her.She’s an inescapable temptation. A curvy glass of thirst-quenching water. And she’s off limits, under the protection of the Vegas Chapter. When Casey’s life is placed in my hands, will my lies and her manipulation be our undoing or will facing our insecurities save us both?

*This is the sixth book in the Vicious Vipers MC series and may be unsuitable for someone under 18 years of age. HEA guaranteed, however, secondary characters make appearances in other’s stories. Reading in order is recommended.

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Author Bio:
Lynn Burke is a full time mother, voracious gardener, and scribbler of spicy romance stories. A country bumpkin turned Bay Stater, she enjoys her chowdah and Dunkin Donuts when not trying to escape the reality of city life.Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

WANTED needs your vote!

“Yes, these fifteen books are amazing – but which one is the Best Book We’ve Read All Year? We want to celebrate that book. We want to reward its author with prizes, a beautiful trophy, all the might of our publicity machine. We want YOU to help us find that book. The opinion of our internal judging panel will make up 50% of the final result, with that of our subscriber base making up the rest of the score. Please buy as many of them as you can afford, and then vote for your favourite (you are entitled to 2 votes, in case you just can’t choose). We’ll be doing the same.”~ReadFreely
My upcoming romance novel, WANTED, made the cut and needs your vote! [image error]

VOTE HERE➙  https://www.readfree.ly/bbwray2020/
·         How Deep is the Darkness by Mary Anne Edwards·         Love Inside the Silence by AL Long·         Until You Set Me Free by DM Davis·         First Class Flirtation by Susan Jean Ricci·         Pemberton by Parker R Sinclair·         The Last Legwoman by Penny Pence Smith·         For the love of a Centaur by AS McGowan·         Wanted by RE Hargrave·         Rising Alpha by Jen L Grey·         Among These Bones by Amanda Luzzader·         Brightwill by Randolph Lalonde·         Demon Mine by Marina Simcoe·         Will Rise from Ashes by Jean M Grant·         The Education of Sarah Brown by Michele E Gwynn·         Mercy by Stephen Bentley

BOOK BLITZ: Vicious by Marteeka Karland #GIVEAWAY

Vicious
Marteeka Karland
(Salvation’s Bane, #1)
Published by: Changeling Press
Publication date: May 29th 2020
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Lucrecia: All I have in the world is my sister Mae. We were adrift, on our own until a guy from Black Reign, one of Lake Worth’s most infamous MCs, spotted us and took us in. Ryks isn’t cruel, but he’s hard on us. We have to earn our keep, but then everyone does. Me? I dance for the club. I get a secret thrill from it — until Mae is kidnapped by enemies of Black Reign, and Ryks sends me to Palm Beach — straight into the hands of Salvation’s Bane.Vicious: It all started with some MFer stole my F’in’ pizza and two cans of beer. I went looking for the SOB. What I found was a raven-haired spitfire too sexy for my own good. Her sister’s in trouble, and wouldn’t you know it that bastard El-Diablo’s at the very center of yet more trouble. It’s his club Mae’s been taken from. His club Lucy was sent away from. Now, we have to get her back. Because I might be falling for the little dancer in my care. Not that I’ll ever admit it. We’ll have to call out all the stops for this. Bones. Shadow Demons. Hell, even Black Reign. If we’re going to rescue Mae, nothing is out of bounds. But busting her out of some rich banker’s estate will be a piece of cake. No worries. Yeah. Right…

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo—EXCERPT:“Don’t think I’m letting this go, brother,” Vicious said. “I’m findin’ out who stole my fuckin’ pizza and I’m gonna nail someone’s balls to the fuckin’ wall.”“So, let’s talk about Mercedes.”“I just won a fuckin’ million dollars, you cocksucker.” Vicious tried to snarl at Havoc, but it only came out a sigh.“Oh? How’s that?”“I bet myself a mil that was why you brought up Mercedes’ name in the first Goddamned place. What the fuck did she do now?”Havoc raised his hand in surrender. “Not a fuckin’ thing, brother. Just wondering where we stood with her. You know as well as I do — great lay aside — the girl don’t belong here. She needs to go back to wherever she came from before she gets hurt.”“I know. Thought assigning her stuff to do, outside of fuckin’, would help her realize just how much she wasn’t ready for this, but I think she’s got it in her head she’s gonna be Thorn’s ol’ lady. You know. Get some clout in the club and have the girls all submitting to her every whim.”Havoc shook his head. “Yeah. Figured. Girl ain’t smart enough to figure out a brother doesn’t take an ol’ lady from the club girl population, especially if everyone in the fuckin’ club has already screwed her.”“She’s a spoiled little rich girl, trying to thwart her daddy or some shit. I’d hoped she’d leave on her own but I’m afraid I’m gonna have to get Thorn to go with me and help her come to the decision.”“Well, I ain’t seen her in a couple days. Maybe she already bailed.”“Maybe. I’ll check her room in a while. You know. Soon as I find the motherfuckin’ cocksuckin’ son of a bitch who stole my fuckin’ pizza.”Havoc snickered then pushed off the counter to leave. “Let me know what you decide. I’ll tell the guys to back off for a while.”Vicious waved Havoc on, not sparing him a glance as he continued to stare into the fridge like the stupid pizza would just appear in front of him. He wished it would cause it was a seriously good pie. Which was when he noticed two of the six beers he’d put in the fridge next to the pizza were also gone. Someone was getting a beatdown like never before.“Mother fuck,” he bit out. “Mother Goddamned fuck.”He stalked into the common room. It was a perfect day for riding, so it didn’t surprise him no one was there. Carnage, the road captain, had organized a ride for that evening, but, true to form, no one wanted to wait that long. Likely, the whole club had taken off in pairs for a little free time on the road.With a growl he clenched his fists. No use getting angry right now. His wrath would be waisted with everyone gone. Might as well go check Mercedes’s room. If the girl was gone, he’d need to make sure it was cleaned out and any personal belongings she left behind bagged and stored in case she came back for them. He hoped she was in her room because he was dying to confront someone. While protocol demanded Thorn be with him if he evicted a non-club inhabitant, it wasn’t strictly necessary. His job was to see to the wellbeing of the club and anyone living with them. Mercedes’s behavior was self-destructive. She needed to go home.He stomped up the stairs. Club members were on the first floor. Women not ol’ ladies were on the second floor in the middle rooms. Officers took the rooms on the outside, so the women were protected on both sides and below. Mercedes was no exception. In fact, Vicious had been careful to put her as close to the center as he could because he’d known sooner or later someone would come looking for her, and he wanted to be able to tell the girl’s father she’d been as protected as any woman in their club. Of course, he’d neglect to mention she’d fucked nearly every single patched member in Salvation’s Bane. Cause, yeah. No.He was surprised to find the door wide open and stripped bare of anything other than the furniture. He sighed. Well, it was one less thing he had to deal with.Again, that prickly sensation on the back of his neck had him rubbing it before scrubbing a hand through his hair. His years as a SEAL had him refusing to ignore the feeling. It had saved his life more than once, but what the fuck? Danger? In his own clubhouse? No fucking way.Still, he gave the room a visual once-over. The longer he stood there, the louder his senses pinged. He wished he had a better idea of how the room should be, but with the recent departure of its occupant, all he had to go on was immediate visual clues. He moved around the room slowly, looking at the windows, the bathroom and windows there, the walls, and the ceiling. He was about to chalk it up to him being a paranoid son of a bitch when there was a muffled sneeze from the bathroom.“What the fuck?” His muttered question seemed loud but was met with silence. Once again, Vicious checked the bathroom. Nothing. It wasn’t exactly like there were a ton of places to hide. The place was pretty small. Wide enough for the bathtub/shower at the far end, the toilet beside the tub, and the sink beside the toilet. The window was in front of the sink with a small, wall-mounted cabinet for towels and washcloths beside the window. The only other closed-in space was the vanity under the sink.Before he thought about it, Vicious opened the door under the sink and shut it again. Did a double take. He opened the cabinet door again to find a small girl tucked in the limited space, folded with her knees against her chest. Her eyes were enormous. A vibrant gold framed with coal-black lashes. Jet-black hair tumbled around her in tight curls. Cutoff shorts and a black tank revealed snow-white skin. Skin that looked like it had never seen the sun a single day in her life.“What the everlastin’ fuck?” Vicious tried not to raise his voice too much. This girl didn’t look like she could take the shock of a six-foot-seven, three-hundred-pound man roaring at her. She looked like it would be nothing for him to break her in half. “Get your ass outta there, young lady!” Great. Now he sounded like an old man.The girl hesitated until he tilted his head, giving her his best “so help me…” expression. Then she squeaked her distress as she tumbled out of the cramped space to stand in front of him. Good thing he was between her and the door, because he was certain she’d have tried to make a run for it otherwise.“Wanna tell me what the fuck you’re doin’ in here?”


Author Bio:
Romance author by night, emergency room tech/clerk by day, Marteeka Karland works really hard to drive everyone in her life completely and totally nuts. She has been creating stories from her warped imagination since she was in the third grade. Her love of writing blossomed throughout her teenage years until it developed into the totally unorthodox and irreverent style her English teachers tried so hard to rid her of. Now, she breathes life into faeries, space hunters, werewolves, vampires, shapeshifters, and a few just plane ole ordinary people. She loves to see the awkward, self-conscious band geek get the captain of the football team and make him beg for it.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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BOOK BLITZ: Malcolm by D.B. West & Lane Hart #GIVEAWAY

Malcolm
D.B. West & Lane Hart
(Dirty Aces MC, #1)
Publication date: May 30th 2020
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

While Malcolm Hyde may look like your very own personal Jesus, he’s anything but a saint. Covered in tattoos and leather, he’s a smoking hot biker and nothing but trouble.As the president of the Dirty Aces MC, Malcolm is known for being cold and calculating. One bad decision – getting into business with the wrong person – is all it takes to bring down the entire MC. It’s happened before to his predecessor, which is why Malcolm refuses to let it happen again on his watch. He doesn’t trust anyone except for the few men who wear the same ace of spades patch on their back.And that’s exactly why he doesn’t ever take his eyes off of me – the new girl. I never intended to make an enemy out of Malcolm or the MC when I was sent to steal everything I could from them.After Malcolm finds out what I’ve been doing, he’s furious and shows no mercy until I spill all of my secrets, ones that could very well end my life. That’s when he makes me a surprising offer – he’s willing to take care of all of my problems, and the only thing he’s asking for in return is for me to completely surrender myself to him.Spending two weeks in bed with a bad boy biker sounds more like a reward than a punishment.There’s just one little catch – once he claims my body, there’s no guarantee he won’t steal my heart too.

Goodreads / Amazon—EXCERPT:~ Naomi ~Swallowing down a bad case of the nerves, I slowly make my way over until I’m standing beside Malcolm’s desk near his feet. A second later, he pounces on me, so fast I didn’t even see him stand up. I just blink, and then he’s towering over me, his immense size making me gasp. He’s always intimidating when he’s just sitting down at the bar, but now he’s just plain scary standing at least a foot taller than me with his linebacker shoulders blocking out the rest of the room. He’s so close I have to tilt my head backward to see his face. Malcolm takes a drag off his cigarette and blows the smoke out of the corner of his lips before reaching around me to put it out in the ashtray, which means the front of his body is pressed even tighter to mine. From the corner of my eye, I then see him reach down and pull something from his pocket or his belt, but I don’t know what it is until the sharp point of what can only be a knife is pressing into the center of my chest.A yelp of surprise escapes me before I find my voice again. “Wh-what are you doing?” I ask him.He lowers the point until it meets the top of my dress. Grabbing the material with his free hand, the other slices the blade through the fabric, cutting my dress straight down the middle with enough force that I feel the pressure, but it doesn’t leave a mark on my skin. All the tips I’ve stuffed inside earlier float down to the floor around our feet, causing Malcolm to growl angrily through his gritted teeth.“Those are-are my tips,” I tell him as I slap my palms over my bare breasts, feeling way too exposed at the moment wearing only a pair of red panties. “Sure they are,” is his stony reply. “No need to act shy now and cover yourself up. Wasn’t it just a few weeks ago that you were rubbing your pussy on my dick like you wanted to ride it?”“Y-yes,” I answer, remembering the embarrassing moment when he said he would never fuck me. “So, what’s the matter? You changed your mind?”“No.” I shake my head to confirm my answer. “No, sir.” Malcolm may be scary at the moment, but I still want him. I’ve wanted him since the second I saw him, even though I know I shouldn’t.“We’ll see about that.”Closing the knife on the edge of his desk beside my thigh, he thankfully slips it back into his belt holster. As soon as his hands are free, though, he spins me around and presses his large palm between my shoulder blades, roughly forcing my bare upper body down until the side of my face is flat against a stack of papers on his desk.“There’s nothing I hate more than liars except for thieves,” he mutters. Crap. He knows! “Do you have any idea how furious I am with you?” Keeping one strong hand on the center of my back, the other comes up over my hip, giving my panties a tug when he starts to peel them down my legs.I shake my head no as much as I can because I’m incapable of speaking now that he has me naked and bent over the desk like he’s not planning on letting me up anytime soon. I don’t know if he’s going to whip me or kill me or fuck me for stealing from him.He said a few weeks ago that he would never fuck me; but he put the knife away, so I think I can probably cross kill me off the list. Maybe. Hopefully.“Wh-what are you going to do to me?” I cave and ask.Placing his lips against my ear, his teeth nip at the cuff before he whispers, “I’m going to fucking ruin you.”

Author Bios:New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lane Hart has more than forty steamy stories currently available on Amazon. Sign up for her newsletter to receive updates on new releases and free promotions by copying and pasting this link into your web browser: http://bit.ly/LHDBWNewsletterLane lives in North Carolina with her husband, author D.B. West, their two daughters, a few lazy cats and a pair of rambunctious Pomeranians. She has a Masters in Criminal Justice and spent ten years working as a paralegal for a criminal defense attorney before walking away to become a full-time writer.In October 2015, the paranormal romance anthology Wicked After Dark, including her standalone, Let Him Reign, hit #13 on the New York Times bestseller list. Since then, she's been climbing the Amazon charts with hot new releases. So, whether you're looking for MMA superstars, hot cops, arrogant football players, sweet millionaires, or romantic weddings, there's a little bit of something for everyone.Lane loves to hear from her readers on Facebook, Twitter, on her website, or by email!Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Bookbub--USA Today bestselling author D.B. West was born and raised in the southern United States. While studying at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, he met his wife and fellow author, Lane Hart. They now reside together with their two young daughters and their pets, a pair of Pomeranians.After losing his father to a lingering illness, West began writing 'Awakening' as a way to channel his emotions, and honor the memory of a true friend. In addition to writing, he enjoys video games, motorcycles, and traveling.Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Bookbub

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BOOK BLITZ: Forsaken by A.D. Starrling #GIVEAWAY

Forsaken
A.D. Starrling
(Legion #4)
Publication date: May 28th 2020
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

They thought they knew who the enemy was…When the Vatican extends an official invitation to Artemus and his allies to visit Rome, Artemus is wary of their intentions. Especially since the demon inside Drake has turned out to be one of Hell’s strongest princes, while Otis’s newly awakened powers means he is their most powerful tool against Hell’s army. Heading for Rome despite his misgivings, their arrival precipitates a series of attacks that soon has them questioning everyone around them.Daniel Lenton is a shadow. Afflicted by a disease that weakened him as a child, the priest has dedicated his life to the church and wants nothing to do with Artemus and his friends. Not when such an association would risk exposing the lie he wants to keep buried. But when an ambush rouses Daniel’s beast to defend him against a monster, he is left with little choice but to embrace who he was born to be.After the precious cargo they are hired to protect is attacked by demons, Serena and Nate are convinced that Ba’al is after something hidden among the artifacts bound for an exhibition in Rome. The last thing the super soldiers expect when they arrive in the city is to come face to face with their past.As a new and formidable foe grows closer, Artemus and his allies must decipher the mysteries that await them in Rome, help a guardian find his key, and uncover the location of the next gate to Hell, all before Ba’al destroys the Holy See.

Goodreads / Amazon—EXCERPT:The woman crouched over the child, her body taking the brunt of the blows raining down on them. The punches and kicks came erratically, the man delivering them so inebriated he could barely stand. Still, the attack was as savage as it would have been had he been sober.“Get off him!” the man roared where he towered above them. His spit pelted the woman’s nape, so hot she could barely distinguish it from the blood flowing out of the fresh cut on her scalp. “Let me see the ugly freak!”That’s going to need stitches for sure.She whimpered as the steel cap of his boot connected with her side, denting her flesh with enough force to leave an imprint. Pain exploded inside her chest. She gasped and bit her lip.She’d suffered enough broken bones to know that he’d just shattered one of her ribs.The boy let out a low sob. It was the first sound he’d made since her husband had flown into a rage and started beating them, his anger fueled by the cheap booze he’d been drinking all afternoon in their tiny, one-bedroom apartment. Despite the illness that had rendered his body weak, the boy clung ferociously to her with his tiny hands, his tears soaking into her grimy shirt; she had just returned from a grueling shift on the assembly line at the factory and had not had time to change out of her work clothes.Even though her husband was making enough noise to raise the dead, the woman knew no help would come. Not a single person in their drab and lifeless, red-brick housing block would raise a finger to stop the monster who was currently striking her and her nephew.“Mama,” the boy hiccupped softly.The man froze for a moment. The woman waited breathlessly, wondering if the sound had somehow finally brought him to his senses.The blow came from nowhere and sent stars flashing before her eyes. She slumped to the floor, body limp and skull ringing. The object her husband had used to strike her landed with a thump by her head.It was her Bible. The one she read every night to the boy.She should have known that the endearment would just infuriate her husband more. He hated that the boy called her mother. Not just because he considered the child a cripple and an embarrassment, but also because she had never been able to bear him his own child.A hand grabbed the back of her shirt, coarse fingertips digging into the fresh bruises on her body. She was yanked off the boy and cast violently to the side. A choked grunt left her as she struck the edge of a sideboard. The meagermeagre porcelain dinner set she had received as part of her dowry rattled on the shelves inside the cabinet.The boy curled up into a ball on the kitchen floor, his small frame dwarfed by the monster who loomed over him. The man clutched a handful of his dark hair and started dragging him across the floor.The boy reached out to her, his crying face and desperate eyes blurring in and out of her sight.A scream left his lips for the first time. “Mama! Mama! Help me!”Fear gripped the woman when she saw where her husband was heading.She rolled awkwardly onto her front and tried to push up onto her hands and knees. Her arms and legs trembled. They gave way. Once. Twice.The woman slammed her palms weakly on the linoleum floor, her tears falling in a hot, steady flow. She sobbed and cursed the frailty of her female body and the cruel fate that had ever seen her cross paths with the monster she had married.The roar of water reached her ears. Her heart lurched painfully in her chest.He was going to drown the boy. Just like he had drowned the puppy the child had rescued a few weeks ago.The face of her late sister swam before the woman’s eyes. She’d promised Magda that she would look after her son.A loud splash came from the bathroom. The boy’s screams were abruptly cut off.The woman pushed up once more. This time, her body obeyed her will.The room spun dizzyingly around her as she staggered to her feet. She clutched the sideboard and closed her eyes briefly. Then she was moving, her fingers finding a carving knife in the wooden block by the sink.Her husband had his back to her when she entered the bathroom. He was on his knees by the tiny copper tub in the corner, his arms elbow deep in the water.The boy’s legs kicked weakly through the surface as he fought to free himself from the monstrous hold around his neck, his shape a blur.The woman rushed across the room with an animal noise and sank the knife into the man’s back all the way to the hilt, right between his shoulder blades. The sound it made as it carved through flesh and bone made her gag.A low grunt left the man. He grew deathly still before twisting and glaring at her, his face a vicious mask. His pupils flashed yellow for an instant.The woman froze, terror locking her mind and limbs rigid.Something else was looking at her out of her husband’s body. He turned back to his task as if she weren’t even there.The woman blinked. Awareness returned. She snarled and started pummeling his body with her fists. The monster did not so much as budge.The turbulence in the water started to abate. The boy finally became motionless at the bottom of the tub.The woman sank to her knees and started to sob, despair a living entity that choked her very breath. “God, please help us! Help this child! He has suffered so much already!”A low cackle reached her. It was coming from her husband. The inhuman laughter echoed around the bathroom, an evil sound that frayed her nerves and made her stomach roil.“Your God will not help him,” he growled in a voice she did not recognize.He let go of the dead boy and climbed to his feet before turning to face her, water dripping down his arms and a sickening smile splitting his mouth.The woman gasped, hands moving automatically to make the sign of the cross.The monster advanced toward her, his grin growing impossibly wide. The whites of his eyes shifted to obsidian. His hand, when he grabbed her neck, was no longer human, his fingers and nails having lengthened to razor-sharp talons that scraped across her skin.Blood pounded thickly in the woman’s ears as she stared blindly into the face of the demon. She knew she would be dead in the next few seconds. She cast a final prayer to Heaven and closed her eyes.Forgive me, Magda.A voice came then. One neither she nor the creature who was slowly strangling her to death had expected.“Let her go!”The woman’s eyes snapped open. She gasped, the sound a wheeze.The demon paused, his deadly grip stopping shy of crushing her windpipe. He looked over his shoulder.The woman’s eyes widened.The boy stood in the middle of the copper tub. Steam was curling up from his skin and hair. His wet clothes were already half dry. But it was his face and hands that captured her shocked gaze and the attention of the demon.Fire danced on the boy’s fingertips and blazed from his eyes. The air around him trembled and shimmered, as if struck by an intense heat. A faint aura of flames flickered into life around his body as he climbed out of the tub.Dark scorch marks stained the marble tiles under his feet as he came toward them. Some cracked, the limestone warping and bubbling as the blaze licked them.The demon released her and turned to face the boy.“Run!” the woman yelled, her voice hoarse.The boy glanced at her.The demon moved.What happened next was something the woman never recounted to another living soul and took to her grave when she passed away years later in prison.The demon swung lethal talons at the boy. The boy blocked the strike with one hand. Fire raced from his fingers and engulfed the demon. First the arm. Then the chest. Then the entire body of the creature was swallowed up by the flames.As the thing that had once been her husband shrieked and dropped to the floor, skin and flesh blackening while he writhed helplessly, the woman realized that the monsters she had read about in her Bible walked this mortal realm.A hush fell across the apartment when the demon exhaled his last breath, his corpse a dark husk that was barely recognizable where he lay curled up on the floor.The boy blinked. The fire went out of his eyes and faded from his fingertips. He looked utterly lost and forlorn swaying where he stood, the weakness in his limbs evident once more.The woman caught him before he collapsed to the floor.“Mama!” The boy gazed at her beseechingly, fat tears rolling down his pale cheeks. “I didn’t mean to kill him! I didn’t!”The woman tightened her hold on the boy. “It’s okay, Judah. It’s okay, my little kokhana.” She took a shaky breath, her mind clearer than it had been in years. “Now, here’s what we’re going to do.”The boy protested when he heard what she said next. In the end, she made him promise on his mother’s grave that he would do as he was told.And so, when the police finally came, the boy stayed quiet. And as she was led away in handcuffs and the neighbors gathered in the corridors of the building and mumbled about what a terrible man her husband had been and how he had deserved what had happened to him, the boy kept his word and remained silent.“I love you, Judah,” the woman called out as she was pushed roughly into the back of a police car. “Remember that.”“I love you, Mama,” the little boy whispered where he stood in the entrance of the housing block, a policeman holding his hand.That was the last the woman saw of him.

Author Bio:
AD Starrling's bestselling supernatural thriller series Seventeen combines action, suspense, and a heavy dose of the paranormal to make each book an explosive, adrenaline-fueled ride. Her spin-off urban fantasy series Legion has been compared to Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files. If you prefer your action hot and your heroes sexy and strong-willed, then check out her romantic military thriller series Division Eight.When she's not busy writing, AD can be found eating Thai food, being tortured by her back therapists, drooling over gadgets, working part-time as a doctor on a Neonatal Intensive Care unit somewhere in the UK, reading manga, and watching action flicks and anime. She has occasionally been accused of committing art with a charcoal stick and some drawing paper.Here are some other places where you can connect with her:Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Newsletter / Amazon / Bookbub / Pinterest

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BOOK BLITZ: Stealing the Heiress by Samantha Holt #GIVEAWAY

Stealing the Heiress
Samantha Holt
(The Kidnap Club, #2)
Publication date: May 28th 2020
Genres: Adult, Historical Romance

She was looking for adventure…Lady Rosamunde Stanley just never expected in the form of a kidnapping.
Well, an almost-kidnapping. The dastardly man only went and took the wrong woman!But she soon discovers the dark, handsome man is not quite the terrible rogue she thinks him to be and she decides to put his experience to use. Her uncle has gone missing and no one believes her when she says he’s in trouble. Can she persuade Russell to help?Russell might have kidnapped her, but he has no intention of keeping her. Even if the heat between them is driving him out of his wits and her crazy family makes him long for things a battle-hardened orphan like him should never want.Their societal divide isn’t the only reason to keep his distance. Rosamunde is a bloody knife-carrying, picklock-wielding madwoman.A far too appealing madwoman…He’s not the only one struggling. Rosamunde is finding it just as difficult to fight the attraction, despite knowing it is most likely her over-active imagination leading her down this path. Somehow, she must keep her head around the most exciting man she’s ever met.

Goodreads / Amazon—EXCERPT:“Stay where you are or I shall shoot,” he ordered firmly.The driver nodded, his hands trembling around his loose grip on the reins. Russell moved around the carriage and glanced through the window to find two women clutched together. He eyed the younger one. Dark haired and attractive, just as Guy had described.Very attractive. Russell clenched his jaw. Miss Heston looked a little older than the one-and-twenty-year-old he had expected but Guy had certainly downplayed her looks. She peered at him with wide eyes then murmured something to her older companion.Before he pulled open the door, the woman shoved it and pushed her head out, meeting his gaze head on. Without the hazy glass between them, he had a full view of generous lips, a slightly stubborn chin, and wire framed spectacles that emphasized a warm, nutty gaze. However, there was nothing warm about the way she looked at him.He let a brow rise. The woman was an excellent actress.“Come with me.” He kept his voice low, just in case her companion did not know of their arrangement.“Like hell!”He blinked at the blasphemy. As far as he knew, the woman they were kidnapping was gently bred and trying to escape the persistent overtures of a gentleman. Still, perhaps she was trying to play the role of helpless victim for her companion’s benefit. Very well. She wasn’t the only one who could act. He had not read every one of Shakespeare’s plays for no reason. “Come with me or I shall shoot,” he warned her, keeping his tones low and aggressive.Miss Heston scanned the length of him and lifted her chin. “If it is money you want, I am quite wealthy.” She put her hand to a broach at the neckline of her crimson gown.Russell’s gaze tracked the movement, unintentionally. He only realized her cleavage had caught his attention when she began to undo the gold and ruby broach. He swiftly looked away and blinked, feeling as though the image of soft skin, dark shadows, and generous curves might well be burned into his mind. Every time he blinked from now on, he suspected he would see the image there again.Fool. He’d seen many a cleavage in his lifetime. A little glimpse of what appeared to be a most excellent cleavage wouldn’t be the undoing of him. If he could survive on the streets and forge a life for himself from nothing, he could most certainly rid himself of the image of the faintest glimpse of not even a third of a breast.Or two.Damn it. He blinked a few more times then scowled when she handed over the broach.“Here, this is worth far more than you could get for me from ransom.”He ignored it, letting his frown deepen. Why the devil was she dragging this out? Much longer and the driver might get the courage to fight him or someone would happen along, and Russell could end up getting shot.“If that isn’t enough…” She hitched up her skirt, revealing a shapely, stocking-clad leg.Well, the cleavage image no longer bothered him so that was something. He swallowed hard and frowned as she revealed the lacy edge of her stocking and the garter holding them up. Her hand moved slowly to the band and she tugged out a bank note.Why the hell did this woman keep banknotes in her undergarments?She reached for the note then curled her fingers around something else—a jeweled handle.A damned penknife.She grabbed it swiftly and thrust it outward. Russell dodged back, the blade skimming past his stomach and catching briefly on the fabric.“Bloody hell, woman.” He grabbed her wrist. This play-acting was becoming far too dangerous. This needed to end now.

Author Bio:
USA Today Bestselling author Samantha Holt lives in a small village in England with her twin girls and a dachshund called Duke. If you’re not sure where to start why not try…Amelia and the Viscount (Bluestocking Brides #1) for a fun, slightly hot shorter length read. Meet the Chadwick sisters and follow their adventures in each of their standalone stories.You’re the Rogue That I Want (Rogues of Redmere #1) is a longer read with heat, witty dialogue, a feisty heroine and adventure. All books in the series are standalone.Sinful Confessions is the first in the Cynfell Brothers Series. These are all novella length and standalone–ideal for a quick dip into the world of the sexy Cynfell brothers.Wake Me With a Kiss is a sweet, fairytale romance. Twists on Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella are also available if you love a clean, fun read.To Steal a Highlander’s Heart is a full length dive into the world of sexy highlanders. For those who love braw Scots, some steamy scenes, and medieval romance, this series is a perfect escape.Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Newsletter

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B@@K REVEAL: Eagles in Flight by Ramcy Diek

Eagles in Flight
Ramcy Diek
Published by: Acorn Publishing
Publication date: August 25th 2020
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Emma’s life changes the day Ruben Templeton walks in and asks her out on a date. Over dinner, she’s a little disappointed when his best friend, Jesse Kimball, joins them. Jesse is a senator’s son who just announced his candidacy for mayor.Twenty-seven-year-old Emma is surprised, but excited when it’s Jesse who calls her the next day instead of Ruben.
Jesse introduces Emma to a life with mansions, expensive cars, cocktail dresses, and status. It doesn’t take long for him to sweep her off her feet. He’s handsome and charming, making her feel like the center of his universe.
When Emma receives devastating news, Jesse asks her to marry him. From the moment she agrees, their relationship starts to deteriorate. Desperate to understand why her new husband is so cold and distant, she reaches out to him, only to be met by anger.Hurt and confused, Emma turns to Ruben for advice.
Ruben suggests they give each other space for a few weeks. Weeks she can use to help him locate his younger brother Axel, who has gone missing. Emma agrees, and soon finds herself on a road trip across the country.Will Emma and Jesse’s temporary separation clear the distance between them, or will she find love in the arms of another man?

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Author Bio:

A long time ago, I fell in love with the United States while traveling around in an Oldsmobile station-wagon with my husband. We are both born and raised in the Netherlands.Together, we eventually found our way to the Pacific Northwest, built up a business, and raised our two boys into amazing young adults with their own careers. During this time, I also made a slow transition from reader to writer of many different stories.

My multiple award winning debut novel "Storm at Keizer Manor" sets the bar high for my second novel, Eagles in Flight.All my books are stand alone novels in different genres. You might be in for a surprise, or a disappointment.
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BOOK BLITZ: The Divorce Attorney by Melanie Munton #GIVEAWAY

The Divorce Attorney
Melanie Munton
Publication date: May 26th 2020
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

What are you supposed to do when your insanely hot divorce attorney leans over after you’ve signed your divorce papers and seductively whispers in your ear, “Give me a call if you want to know how it feels to be handled by a real man since you were clearly too much woman for him,” before sliding his business card over and walking out the door?I mean, what do you do with that?Sure, I’m tempted. I just lost a hundred and eighty pounds of stupid, cheating man. I deserve to treat myself.The thing is, I think he might be too much man for me.After all, he’s fifteen years my senior, though he doesn’t look it.But the urge to learn what this seasoned pro could teach me proves irresistible.And as it turns out, he’s a pro at a lot of things…like destroying people’s lives.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo—EXCERPT:“Hey,” he coaxes, framing my face with his hands. “Where’d you go, darlin’? Come back to me.”I put all of our potential issues on a detour and focus on the man in front of me. “How could I be anywhere else when I’ve got that”—I wriggle my hips, grinding against the ridge in his pants—“beneath me?”He grunts. “Just checking. I was worried I was losing my edge there for a second.”He shifts the angle of his hips, driving his jutting erection directly against my mons.My eyes fall shut on a moan. “Pretty sure that’s impossible.”“No, what’s impossible is your body. You’ve been shoving these tits at me in my dreams ever since you first walked into my office. You know that? They’ve been the first thing on my mind every morning for almost a week now.”Hearing that does all kinds of fluttery things to my insides.His hands guide my hips into a rocking motion. I earnestly follow his direction, creating a simmering friction between our connected bodies.“Funny,” I whisper up at the night sky. “I’ve had similar dreams about you. Only you’re shoving something of yours in my face.”He growls, his mouth drifting over the swell of my breasts. “Is that right? You want to tell me more about that?”“You want me to show you instead?”He stills. “Is that a serious question?”I grin. “Predictable man.”“I’ve been called worse.”Before I can shimmy off his lap, his hand slides up to the back of my neck and pulls me down for a kiss that is so searing hot, it feels more like a brand.And dear God, that’s exactly what he’s managing to do. With every second I spend in his company, with every flick of his tongue, with every drawl of the word darlin’, he’s embedding himself beneath my skin, tattooing his touch onto every inch of my body.He might as well have already branded his initials right on my ass.And his expression after he pulls out of the kiss tells me I may be doing the very same thing to him. Surprisingly, after the conversation about marriage and kids, seeing that symmetry between us is comforting.I can’t take my eyes off of his as I open the button of his shorts, lower the zipper, and peel the material down his legs. His eyelids grow heavy with lust, his breaths shallowing.“You were sitting much like this in my dreams,” I tell him as I take in the beautiful sight of his thick shaft tenting his briefs. “But your arms were stretched out along the bench.”As if his body is being controlled by my words, he drapes his muscular arms over the back of the bench.I nod. “Just like that. And your shirt was off.”He obeys without hesitation, ripping the shirt over his head. “I was sitting naked on a public bench with you standing fully clothed in front of me? You dirty girl.”I have never seen anything more arousing than the sight of him sitting almost completely naked, sprawled out for my viewing pleasure, in one of the most breathtaking places I could ever imagine, awaiting a blow job from my mouth.“I never said we were in public.” I reach for the hem of my tank top and pull it over my head. “And I never said I was fully clothed.”His heated gaze inspects my lacy lavender bra. “That’s better.”“That’s all that’s coming off for now.”He frowns. “But I want more.”I quirk an eyebrow. “I believe I was the naked one on your chaise last night, and you were the clothed one. You going to complain?”His legs fall wider. “Not on your life. Show me how you dream about me, darlin’.”I inch his briefs down his legs, my anticipation rising. I’m biting my lip as I fall to my knees, bracing myself with my hands on his thighs.“My pleasure, Counselor.”“Pretty sure that’s going to be mine.”I dive right in without warning.With the level of steel his rod is at, I figure our words have been enough foreplay.“Jesus!” His thigh muscles tighten as he jolts in surprise. “That’s a good way to give a man a heart attack.”I ease my mouth back a hair, my lips just shy of grazing his tip. “I’m sorry, did you say heart attack or hard attack?”His head falls back. “I think I’m having both right now.”“Then you better hold on because this next part might kill you.”I swipe my tongue over his head, then glance up to see his hands clutching the bench in a death grip.“Any last words?”He blows out a long breath. “Fucking flatline me.”

Author Bio:

Traveler. Reader. Beach-goer. St. Louis Cardinals fan. Pasta-obsessed. North Carolina resident. Sarcastic. Bit of a nerd.Author of the Cruz Brothers, Possession and Politics, and Timid Souls series, Melanie loves all things romance, comedies and suspense in particular because it’s boring to only stick to one sub-genre! From light-hearted comedies to sexy thrillers, she likes to mix it up, but loves her some strong alpha males and sassy heroines.Go visit Melanie’s website and sign up for her newsletter to stay updated on release dates, teasers, and other details for all of her projects!
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Newsletter / Bookbub

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BOOK BLITZ: Fury of the Gods by Amy Braun #GIVEAWAY

Fury of the Gods
Amy Braun
(Areios Brothers #3)
Publication date: May 26th 2020
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

Fate brings consequence.Separated from his brother by curses and lies, Derek Areios is forced into hiding. With rogue goddesses on his side, he begins his search for the Mind of Cronus. But his plans come to a screeching halt when the Olympians send nightmarish warriors to hunt him. Creatures even the gods themselves fear.Liam Areios, lost without his brother and trapped in service for the Olympians, continues the hunt for the Mind of Cronus. The remaining gods refuse to trust him—or any human—and Liam begins to see just how mad power has made them. Becoming entangled in the schemes of mortals and immortals, Liam will have to fight or lose everyone he loves.Deadly monsters, betrayal, and pulse-pounding action fill the pages of the third novel in the AREIOS BROTHERS series.

Goodreads / Amazon—EXCERPT:CHAPTER ONEDEREKTHINGS GO WRONG.Sometimes it’s from a small crack that crumbles the foundations. Sometimes it’s just a string of bad luck that ties into a truly horrific end.Today was definitely the latter.I lay on my back and blinked rapidly against the rain pounding down on me and pooling in the crater beneath my spine. My left hand throbbed in agony, broken again. I curled my right hand around it and used my magic to heal the bones. I’d had to do that twice already in this fight alone.I could hear Selena fighting the Crocotta on the hill above me—alone—after it kicked its cloven hooves into my chest and knocked me down a hill.Getting close to a Crocotta was never a good idea, but I hadn’t been having many of those lately.And bad habits were easy to fall into.Get up, Derek, my internal voice demanded. Have an existential crisis later. Exactly the kind of thing Liam would have said.After clasping my wounded hand and swiftly healing it, I rolled onto my stomach. Water soaked through my armor. I grimaced as my bruises throbbed. This Crocotta had not wanted to be disturbed but would settle for us being a late-night snack.Being devoured by a twisted stag/hyena hybrid was not how I intended to end my day. The cursed thing had imitated a man’s cry for help, and I ran into the Crocotta’s trap without thinking.Now, my fingers clawed up the slope. The toes of my boots sank into the muck. I slipped my way up, clamping my lips shut so as not to swallow more mud and finally dragged myself to the hilltop.Everything ached as I took a moment to catch my breath. A moment that ended as soon as I heard the Crocotta scream.Instinct kicked in and I rolled through the mud as fast as I could. The hooves stabbed down inches from my head, splashing my back with muck.I twisted to my feet and called Ki̱demónas back to me. The spear responded to my telepathic call and struck my hand a split second later. The monster twisted to face me.The Crocotta was a ruddy brown stag with patchy fur and a knobby spine. It had a shaggy, lion-like mane and cloven hooves. Its beady black eyes glowered at me and my weapon. Saliva dripped from its frightfully wide mouth, filled with a jagged bone ridge instead of teeth.It growled, a jagged hitching noise, like a hyena trying to cough. It was amazing—and horrifying—that the same animal could mimic a human voice and even call out names perfectly when they chose to hunt.Which they did often.It pounced and I Adapted, sidestepping to the left. I jabbed Ki̱demónas into its hind legs. The Crocotta screeched as the steel tip pierced its thick hide. It twisted, yanking Ki̱demónas from my hands, as its front hooves kicked out. I leaned back and watched the split in its hooves pass my chin.The Crocotta’s rear leg buckled, causing it to stagger on its right side. Selena snuck out from behind the Crocotta and slashed her kukri along its flank once, twice, three times, doing as much damage as she could.I couldn’t help but grin, my heart reveling at the graceful, effortless, and brutal way Selena moved.The Crocotta roared and twisted, kicking at her. She nimbly jumped back and lifted her free hand. Flames spooled out from her palm and struck the Crocotta in the face. As it reared back from the intense heat, Selena darted forward and chopped at its foreleg. It howled and leaped again to catch up with her. I ran straight for its back.Selena hurled a blast of fire at the Crocotta. It hunched its shoulder and took the blast against its arm rather than its face. It swiped at her with its hoof. The kick missed her, but it bounded through the mud and rammed its head in her stomach. She toppled backward, striking a boulder before her head slammed hard against the stone. The Crocotta opened its sneering, sliced-open mouth, leaping at her slumped, dazed form––I Adapted my weight a split second before I slammed into the Crocotta. I made myself heavier and swung into the beast like a wrecking ball. It jolted but I hooked my hand onto the stark ridges in its spine. It wasn’t going to dislodge me; I was ready to end this fight.The Crocotta wrenched its head left and right, but my magically added weight kept me from rag-dolling against its body. I centered that weight while pressing my back against its rough hide. I jabbed Ki̱demónas into its ear, pushing deep. The Crocotta howled and thrashed, nearly throwing me off. I held on but my grip slipped from the spear. I cursed and filled my free hand with aether. Maybe I’d have luck with the second, more dangerous element.I swung my aether-filled hand up toward the Crocotta’s face. My palm brushed its bony fangs, leaving a trail of black, corrosive smoke along its snout. The dark magic crawled up its face, the smoky edges digging in like hooks. It howled in agony, twisting guilt into my heart, but I couldn’t let it live. With our friends vanished, Selena and I were each other’s only backup.The Crocotta roared again, its face now engulfed by the thick black smoke. I sent a command to Ki̱demónas. Burn.The spear, still embedded in the Crocotta’s ear canal, exploded to life. My flames brushed harmlessly against me. With my free hand, I closed my fingers against the Crocotta’s throat and summoned aether––My left hand, the one I was using to hold onto the monster, exploded with pain. Invisible glass shards splintered through my flesh. I hissed and let go reflexively. My right hand scrambled to get another hold on its spine, just as the Crocotta kicked me in the side. Pain exploded through my hip and ribs. Something cracked uncomfortably.Clapping a hand to my side to at least set the rib, I sent another quick thought to Ki̱demónas. The spear tore from the creature’s ear and flipped end over end. Seven feet of bronze and steel stabbed through the monster’s leg. I reached for Ki̱demónas again and watched as the Crocotta closed its ridged, bone-filled mouth over my arm.Ridged bone crunched down on my elbow, crushing the joint and breaking skin. Blood gushed from the wound. A little more pressure, a little more tearing, and the arm was coming off.I didn’t think about what I was doing. I slipped my broken left hand up and set it inside the Crocotta’s mouth. I pushed a block of aether into its throat and hardened it in place, cutting off its air. Every push of magic sent waves of pain onto my shattered fingers, but I couldn’t lose my arm.My left hand turned slippery from saliva and blood. The creature widened its jaws, freeing my right arm. I commanded Ki̱demónas and whip quick, it flipped from my hand and smashed through the Crocotta’s skull, puncturing deep. The monster’s coal-colored eyes rolled into the back of its head. I jumped away from the Crocotta as it collapsed.I tucked my broken hand into my chest, trying not to think about the jagged pain within it as I looked at the monster. It had fallen on its side, its one undamaged eye glazed and lifeless, and its body entirely still. Even the rain seemed lighter now.We survived, remained mostly unharmed, and were absolutely filthy. A winning outcome, all things considered.Selena stumbled through the long grass toward me, one hand pressed against her skull. I covered my left hand with my right––wincing at the pull of raw cuts at the fold of my arm––and healed it again.“Are you all right?”“Yeah,” she muttered, wincing when she moved her hand. There didn’t seem to be any blood or swelling, which I was grateful for. She looked more angry than pained. Her eyes turned to me, noting the blood on my arm. “Gods.”“Looks worse than it feels,” I half-lied.She hurried over to me and pressed her fingers to my arm just below the wound. It stung, but my arm swiftly filled with soothing, healing magic.“Thanks. Didn’t expect a Crocotta to be here.” Though to be fair, we’d wandered into the wilds of Yosemite National Park. Artemis’s region. A huge risk for anyone, given how many creatures roamed free in that verdant territory, but more so for me, since Artemis likely wanted me dead for a crime I hadn’t––My hand splintered again. I hissed.Finished with my arm, Selena wrapped her fingers around my hand and healed it again. Her eyes flitted to the creature.I tilted forward slightly to peer into her face, seeing the shadows on it. Her ponytail, soaked and caked in mud, rested heavily against her back. Her pale face glistened under the coat of rainwater, and her silver-blue eyes were just as stormy as the clouds above us. She’d dropped her kukris somewhere and didn’t seem to care about the smears of mud and grime on her neck, chin, and leather combat uniform.“It’s not here,” she finally muttered. “All of this, crossing paths with a Crocotta that nearly concussed me and almost maimed you, and it’s not godsdamned here.”It being the Helm of Darkness—the last of the three Trinity Weapons we had been tasked to find by the Olympians. There were still two more Cronus Shards to find, but we figured that finding the Helm took priority. Recovering the last key to Tartarus was the best way to ensure that the mad Titan himself, Cronus, couldn’t escape his prison.Not that we needed to look anymore, to be honest. I was on the outs with the Olympians. They believed I murdered two of their own: Poseidon and Apollo. Sneaking into Artemis’s territory had been a huge risk—if we were caught, she would have my head on a spike.Never mind that my forefather had lied to her—possibly even mentioned I was the Bringer of Shadow and Fire, the leader of an army bent on destroying the world when the Titans were released.Olympians only saw things their way. Half their legends were born from their stubbornness and pettiness. The myths had been true.But I couldn’t say these things out loud. I could barely think them, because Ares had hexed me. Every time I tried to speak the truth, my left hand would break.At first, it didn’t seem like a debilitating curse. Painful? Absolutely. I’d had more than a few broken bones in my twenty-five years of life, so I was accustomed to pain and could use magic to heal.But the hex was changing. My hand would break on its own at completely random times, and that sharp explosion of pain would drastically hinder me in combat. I was ambidextrous, but the pain caused a split second of distraction and hesitation. A split second meant the difference between surviving and maiming. The hex was becoming slow poison putting mine and Selena’s lives in danger.And I wasn’t the only one who’d been cursed.Selena had endured a two-thousand-year-old curse because she did not want to bed Apollo. At the time, Selena had been known as Cassandra, Princess of Troy. Not only were her visions doomed to never be believed, but he cursed her with immortality. Everything she Saw became muddled and skewed. It led us into situations like these, where she was certain she had Seen the Helm’s hiding spot, only to be greeted by a hungry Crocotta instead.Selena blamed herself for the position we found ourselves in, but I never had. How could I, after the choices I had made? “We’ll find it,” I promised her. We had to, because what else were we going to do? We couldn’t get our friends back, and there was no way to exonerate me, even if I had an extremely powerful Farseer and two goddesses on my side. Zeus’ decrees were law and he would never admit to making a mistake.Selena’s gaze stayed on my hand, our intertwined fingers. My broken bones were long since healed. I wondered at her thoughts. Before I could ask, she sighed.“We should go.”I didn’t argue with her. Since learning about her past and how Athena tricked and betrayed her, Selena had become closed off. It didn’t help that her friends––and mine––were missing. We trusted and cared for each other, but I told her the truth about my feelings. Namely, that I loved her.We hadn’t spoken about it, and neither of us seemed keen to. We talked as friends, and we didn’t touch unless we had to. When we needed healing or brushed against each other quickly turning around a corridor. I wouldn’t push for anything, either. Finding a way to clear my name and help my captive friends mattered more than finding a girlfriend.But my memory so often betrayed me, and I thought about those moments back when things had been normal and Selena lived with Liam and me. We’d watched movies until she fell asleep against my chest. She’d curled her fingers around my arms or chest when I stood in the way of something she wanted to reach. She grinned as we sparred, eyes bright with challenge and ambition.She kissed me to save my life.I wanted to go back to those things, to feel her comfortable against me, curling my arms around her so we could be closer. I wanted to use my height to tease her until I could kiss her frustration away. I wanted to make her laugh and kiss her for the sake of it, not just because I was charmed or dying.One day, we’d have to face this question. And if she wanted to remain friends, I would step back.Right now, I just missed normality. Things were different now between us, distant and unsure, but I could no sooner change my feelings than I could tell the Olympians that Ares was manipulating them.“Yeah,” I conceded, glancing at my blood- and mud-soaked body. “I’m ready for a shower.”Selena just nodded and followed me as we trod through the forest, saying little.It had been this way for three months, both of us silent and moving straight forward, trying not to think about the four people missing from our lives.The nervous transporter. The wealthy and flirtatious heir to Zeus. The ex-con-turned-sea-goddess. The sharp-witted, loyal little brother.We hadn’t heard anything about them, making these past three months agonizing. Even my blood bond with Liam remained silent. I only heard updates through Athena’s spies in the Zeus region.They were alive. But they were with the Council of Clouds.If anything, they were in more danger than we were.Fighting monsters was one thing. Fighting gods…?It would take a miracle to win. And the Olympians rarely traded in miracles.

Author Bio:
Amy is a Canadian urban fantasy and horror author. Her work revolves around monsters, magic, mythology, and mayhem. She started writing in her early teens, and never stopped. She loves building unique worlds filled with fun characters and intense action. When she isn’t writing, she’s reading, watching movies, taking photos, gaming, struggling with chocoholism and ice cream addiction, and diving headfirst into danger in Dungeons & Dragons campaigns.

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