R.E. Hargrave's Blog, page 48

BOOK BLITZ: Love at 20,000 Leagues by Lizzy Gayle #GIVEAWAY

Love at 20,000 Leagues
Lizzy Gayle
(Fantasy Resorts, #1)
Publication date: February 3rd 2022
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction

Paradise Atlantis: The underwater, high tech vacation destination where utopia awaits.

Not for Sam. Not only is she deathly afraid of being submerged under millions of tons of ocean water, she’s stuck for an entire month with the people she blames for her family falling apart. Even with the unexpected attention of two sexy men, including her longtime celebrity infatuation, Sam is sure the trip will be a nightmare.

She’s both right and wrong. A type of pressure sickness she was unprepared for hits Sam hard, causing both lowered inhibitions and blackouts. When she gives in to her desires, a passionate romance blossoms.

Unfortunately, even this steamy new relationship can’t salvage the trip when a saboteur uses the AI to commit murder – murder timed perfectly with Sam’s mysterious blackouts. Now Sam must clear her conscience by finding the truth. But is she prepared for what she’ll find? Because either she’s a killer or she’s setting herself up to be next on the growing list of victims.

“Gayle transports readers to an underwater utopia in Love at 20,000 Leagues… Devoted paranormal and sci-fi romance fans will enjoy the futuristic setting.” – Publisher’s Weekly

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—

EXCERPT:

“I guess this is my stop,” I said, hesitating at the threshold.

“Mine too.” Mason joined me, letting the doors slide shut behind him.

“What are you doing on the sixth floor?” I was flattered if this was his way of trying to have some more time with me.

“I wish I was hanging out with you.” He leaned close, seeming to read my mind. “Unfortunately, my dear mother has asked me to investigate a lead on the resident vandal.”

“On my floor?” I asked, curious.

“It wasn’t you, was it?” He grinned. “Personally, I think you taking a stand against my mother would be quite sexy.”

“Hate to ruin your daydream, but I was locked safely in my room last night. What have you found out so far?” I had to admit, curiosity was starting to get to me.

“That’s need-to-know.” Mason raised a hand in a Boy Scout gesture.

“What if I need to know?” I asked, stepping in close. “I can be rather convincing.”

“Do demonstrate.” Mason quirked his mouth up in the corner, and I imagined tasting those lips. “I’m not beyond bribery.”

I cleared my throat. “What exactly do you have in mind?”

“Well, you already promised me dinner this evening. What say we trade classified information for another date tomorrow? I’d say it’s a fair arrangement.” Mason’s smile nearly blinded me as sparks flew to all the right parts of my body.

I pretended to think about his offer, tilting my head and tapping my chin. “I suppose it would be acceptable. Why don’t you come in to my room, so we can talk?” Talking isn’t all I wanted to do with him.

I led the way inside my quarters to the white sofa. I sat on one end, giving Mason his choice, and crossed my legs as casually as possible.

Without hesitation, he planted himself right beside me. He wrapped one arm over the back of the cushion and tilted his body so he could face me.

“Sometime last night around two in the morning, as far as we can tell, someone took a can of spray paint and left a message at the base of the Poseidon statue.” Mason watched carefully for my reaction, I suppose knowing it was my mother’s artwork. But I needed more information to truly process this on top of everything else that had happened. Was it possible to be so overrun with emotion that at some point there wasn’t room for any more?

“What sort of message?” I asked.

Mason coughed, but it didn’t cover his laugh. “Down with the bitch. Your reign is near an end.”

“A threat against your mom?” I asked, unsure who else it could’ve meant. “Aren’t you worried?”

“Nah. You don’t get to where my mother is without making a few enemies. And let’s face it, they pegged her just right.” When he saw my face, he added, “Don’t worry, I’m sure it’s harmless. We did background checks on everyone before inviting them down here. She gets empty threats like this all the time.”

That hardly made me feel better. Who would have done that while trapped down here with her? “So…why this floor?”

Mason furrowed his brow, seeming uncomfortable. “The security footage around the area blacked out for an hour, but so did the footage all the way back to Mermaid’s Cove.”

“Let me guess. The sixth floor went out too.”

“Yep.” Mason leaned forward.

“You can’t seriously believe the person who did this is really on this floor.” I snorted.

Mason straightened in his seat. “I think it’s pretty obvious that’s precisely where they are.”

“It’s too obvious. I mean, if someone had the ability to get through your security system, why would they be stupid enough to leave you a trail right to them?”

Mason’s face blanked and then slowly broke into a smile. “Maybe we should put you in charge of the investigation.”

“Leave me out of it,” I said. “I mean yeah, I’m pissed that someone took it out on my mom’s statue, but it’s not like that’s common knowledge, so curiosity is as far as I get with this investigation. Feel free to run things by me though.”

“I’ll take you up on that. You can be my secret weapon. Of course, if you demand payment, I’m not sure what more I have to offer.” His voice lowered, sending tingles of anticipation down to my toes as he leaned in.

My heart thumped as those luscious lips finally met mine. I’d dreamed of this moment since I was twelve, and it didn’t disappoint. His tongue slipped inside my parted mouth, gently probing my own, and my entire body responded. A moan escaped from somewhere deep in my throat as his hands slid beneath my shirt, running up the sides of my ribcage.

Author Bio:

Lizzy Gayle loves paranormal so much, she lives it. She is both an author and a psychic. Between mothering her three kids, attempting to understand her rocket scientist husband, and consistently attempting to declutter her home (that she is convinced is a secret portal to a clutter-creating dimension), she does her best to use her creative gifts and share them with you. Lizzy is a people person ​so if you contact her, it will make her very happy and she will likely answer while possibly including pictures of her bunnies and/or bird.

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BOOK BLITZ: Doll Parts by Cara Dee #GIVEAWAY

Doll Parts
Cara Dee
(The Game, #4)
Publication date: February 18th 2022
Genres: Erotica, Romance

I won’t tell my boyfriend this, but I don’t believe in absolute happiness. Not with the cards I was dealt. We were dealt, I should say. While he’s been pining after Lucian, one of the Masters in his kink community, for several years, I’ve been depressingly in love with my former stepdad, KC, who happens to be a sadistic Daddy Dom.

It’s complicated, to be honest. I try not to think about it too much. I have Cameron, and I love him so damn much. Why can’t we try to make it on our own? Why does he want us to find a Top that’s just ours? It won’t work. Our stupid hearts refuse to move on.

What’s even stupider is that Cameron insists we seek out a Dom for our relationship in the very kink community where we can find both KC and Lucian.

Crap. I think he’s got a plan.

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—

EXCERPT:

I couldn’t go up there, could I?

I squinted for the sun and peered up at the pale-green–painted trendy restaurant, all three stories of it, including the rooftop terrace. It was one of those restaurants that used to be an apartment building, so you had a bunch of smaller dining areas inside.

I chewed on the inside of my cheek and wondered how the hell I hadn’t connected the dots sooner.

Fuck, it was hot. I ran a hand through my hair and looked around me. The restaurant was right on the corner of a busy intersection, and the sleepy locals on their way to brunch were sharing the sidewalk with tourists.

Maybe I should text him and call it off…

“Excuse me, are you going to the munch?”

I cocked my head to the guy to my left. He was about my age, I estimated. “What if I didn’t know what a munch was?”

He grinned, and it was hot. Hot and cute. “I would’ve said never mind and hightailed it out of here,” he replied. “But I’ve been around long enough to spot someone too nervous to join an event.”

Oh. I wasn’t nervous to join an event. My very first munch, I’d been the first to arrive.

I scratched my head. “I’m stalling because I’m pretty sure I’m barging into someone else’s territory,” I admitted. “My mom’s ex-husband is kinky too.”

The guy made a yikes-face, and I felt the need to elaborate.

“I check his Instagram sometimes, and if he posts four pictures every month, one is from this place,” I explained. “Usually with a caption like ‘Luke is teaching me to post foodporn, whatever that is’ and ‘Macklin’s eggs Benedict are a bit of a religious experience.’”

I could tell I’d mentioned names the guy recognized. I was right. This was the munch of KC’s kink community. Motherfucker. I’d seen eight pictures from this place on KC’s dusty Instagram—or parts of the place. Mostly from the rooftop terrace. Maybe that was where they hosted the munch.

“You know them, don’t you?” I pressed.

The guy smiled uncertainly and shrugged slightly. “We take integrity seriously, but…”

Yeah.

“Who’s your mother’s ex-husband?”

“KC Hayles.”

He nodded once. He’d heard that name too. Then he eyed someone else, or two someones, coming up the sidewalk. They were twins. Hot-as-shit set of twins in their forties.

One of them smirked upon seeing the guy I’d been talking to. “You hidin’, Cameron?”

I observed the guy’s reaction. Cameron. A crooked grin full of mischief lit up his face. He was really fucking cute, and I didn’t usually feel attraction toward men my age. He was a bit taller than me but not much. Blue eyes.

“Does that sound like something I would do, Sir?” Cameron countered.

Definitely a submissive.

One of the twins chuckled and ruffled Cameron’s shaggy, dirty-blond hair. “See you upstairs, boy.” He spared me the quickest of glances, lifted his brow a little, maybe in curiosity, before he and his brother took the steps up to the restaurant.

Cameron turned back to me. “It’s possible you’ve stumbled upon your stepdad’s community.”

I figured. “I’ll just reschedule with the guy I was gonna meet. Thanks for letting me know.”

It wasn’t too important I met him today anyway. It was only a bite to eat to see if I was compatible to play with him and his boyfriend.

Cameron cleared his throat. “Hey, wait. If you know KC… Does that mean you know Lucian too?”

That would be a stretch. “I’ve met him a few times, sure. I wouldn’t say I know him, though.” I’d had my suspicions about Lucian—that he was kinky too. It wasn’t a surprise whatsoever to have it confirmed. He was big-time Master material. “Why? Are you together or something?”

Cameron snorted. “I wish. No, he’s with some dude who’s manipulating him like fucking whoa, and Lucian won’t see it.”

I frowned. That didn’t compute with my impression of Lucian.

“Anyway,” Cameron went on. “Here’s a crazy idea. You wanna get out of here and grab a burger or something? Your plan fell through, and I can think of better things to do than watch Lucian and his little troll.”

I stood straighter instantly. This guy wanted to hang out? Fuck yes! I could use a new friend.

“Absolutely,” I said, sticking out my hand. “I’m Noa.”

Cameron smiled, visibly relieved. “Cameron.”

Author Bio:

I’m often awkwardly silent or, if the topic interests me, a chronic rambler. In other words, I can discuss writing forever and ever. Fiction, in particular. The love story—while a huge draw and constantly present—is secondary for me, because there’s so much more to writing romance fiction than just making two (or more) people fall in love and have hot sex.

There’s a world to build, characters to develop, interests to create, and a topic or two to research thoroughly.

Every book is a challenge for me, an opportunity to learn something new, and a puzzle to piece together. I want my characters to come to life, and the only way I know to do that is to give them substance—passions, history, goals, quirks, and strong opinions—and to let them evolve.

I want my men and women to be relatable. That means allowing room for everyday problems and, for lack of a better word, flaws. My characters will never be perfect.

Wait…this was supposed to be about me, not my writing.

I'm a writey person who loves to write. Always wanderlusting, twitterpating, kinking, cooking, baking, and geeking. There’s time for hockey and family, too. But mostly, I just love to write.

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BOOK BLITZ: A Blessed Darkness by Elexis Bell #GIVEAWAY

A Blessed Darkness
Elexis Bell
Publication date: February 22nd 2022
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

A dark connection. A deadly responsibility.

Sparks fly when Elairie, a mixed-blood elf living on the edge of society and serving as a night guard, meets her latest prisoner. Strange auras surround them, and a magical gravity draws her to him, despite what her associates might say about his race. But the connection they share comes with a dark side.

When Beluroan learns that he and his guard are Blessed Ones, hand-crafted by the Gods to stop a madman from recreating the Blood Magic of old, his veins run cold. Threatened with a return to the magical slavery such magic commands, fear grips him, and memories of his childhood Master fill his mind.

But together, their potential power frightens even the Gods. Can they overcome the prejudices marring their land and master their new magic in time to stop the man trying to enslave their country? Or will they succumb to their own power?

Filled with grit and magic, this literary romantic fantasy will take you on a ride.

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—

EXCERPT:

The vision whisks us away from the cottage, and our spirits fly to a tiny camp deep in the forest. We stand with hands joined, staring at four Elves gathered around a campfire.

Fortune magic whispers through my mind, telling me these are the Elves who took my mother. My blood boils, and I grit my teeth.

One of them, a young woman with a shaved head, has the faraway look of someone in the grip of a vision. The others wait, staring into the flames.

When her eyes focus on the world before her, she hisses, “Fetch her.”

A form beside her separates from the shadows. A malicious smile spreads over his features, but darkness hides sunken eyes. He disappears into a tent only to return, dragging my mother along behind him.

My heart twists in my chest.

Dirty ropes bind her hands. A gash on the side of her face sucks in the light, and dried blood coats her skin.

“Mother!” I scream, voice breaking.

But she doesn’t hear me.

The woman with the shaved head steps closer to her. “What do you know and who did you tell?”

“All I know is that Gourmaht wants to renew the Blood Magic, and he’s somewhere in the Cargam Mountains. That’s it.”

The bald woman looms over my mother, leaning close. “Who did you tell?”

“No one.”

The woman steps back and motions to the shadowy man. His hand flies out, slamming into my mother’s face.

She stumbles backward, nearly toppling into the flames, and I gasp. Cold horror sweeps through me.

But my mother doesn’t make a sound.

She squares her shoulders, lifts her chin. A single tear trickles over her cheek, and blood flows from the gash on her face, now weeping once more, cascading to her tattered shirt.

The bald woman shouts, “Who did you tell?”

Mother’s words come out a whisper, “No one. I told no one. I couldn’t bear to speak of it.”

Finally, this satisfies them. The bald woman enters another vision. But fortune magic tells me it isn’t by choice. Waergou triggered it. The same man who traced Mother’s location.

When she snaps out of it, she says, “Gourmaht believes that she told no one. She has no one, after all, so who would she tell? Such a pitiful, lonely existence.”

Turning to the remaining two figures, she says, “Make it look like an animal attack. Provoke one if you can.”

Then, she vanishes into the tent behind her.

The shadow man shoves Mother to the ground, and my mouth falls open. Beluroan’s grip on my hand tightens.

Don’t let them do this.

The remaining Elves, two faceless figures, drag her to the edge of the firelight. Shadow wraps around them, hiding their faces.

I reach for a stick, anything to use as a weapon, but my hand passes through. Only my spirit stands here.

The Elves pull knives from within their cloaks and slash my mother’s arms, her stomach, her legs. A terrible scream erupts from me, but they hear nothing.

Mother bites her lip, silent and still. Blood trickles from her mouth where teeth pierce flesh.

I tug at Beluroan’s arm, desperate to go to her, to save her, but he pulls me into his arms.

“Elairie, we can’t do anything,” he gasps, voice cracking as he tucks my head against his chest.

They drag her past us, leaving a trail of blood glistening on leaves and broken twigs.

Author Bio:

I'm a nerd with a lot of hobbies and enough sarcasm and swear words to make a sailor blush, though, you'll never hear a word of it if I'm not comfortable around you. I've been an introvert since birth. When I'm writing, though, words come easily.

At the end of the day, I just want to write stories that make people feel something.

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BOOK BLITZ: Wilder With You by Serena Bell #GIVEAWAY

Wilder With You
Serena Bell
(Wilder Adventures, #3)
Publication date: February 15th 2022
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

Who knew pretending could be so hot?

It started as a joke. After all, I’d never pretend to date a woman just to get my mom and sister off my back.

I would, however, pretend to date her to get her ex-husband off hers.

Now the two of us, the wilderness warrior and the wedding planner, are stuck sharing a very small tent. I had no idea how fast things would heat up in here, or how hard it would be to keep my hands—among other things—to myself.

I also didn’t guess how quickly the news of our “relationship” would spread to my big, nosy family.

We can’t “break up” yet, because she’s planning my brother’s wedding and I’m his best man. Through venue visits, DIY disasters, and Vegas trips, we’re thrown together, and the chemistry’s off-the-charts. But the kicker is, I feel like she gets me.

Maybe that’s what scares me the most. I’m still reeling from the loss of my wife, and she’s still hurting from her ex’s betrayal. There’s no way this can ever be real.

But what if I’m starting to hope it is?

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—

EXCERPT:

I’m about to holler out that all the camping trip attendees need to gather ’round when I notice Jessa looks absolutely fucking miserable.

Yup, I’m looking at her again.

She’s a few people away from me in the circle. Her head’s ducked and her body language screams that she wants to disappear. Which I don’t understand, because when we left the staging area, she was bummed that her friend was bailing, but still seemed basically game. I admired her spirit—a lot of people cancel when their friends bail out. But since then something has obviously killed her moxie.

I want to know what.

And for fuck’s sake, I don’t want to want that.

Even all hunched up, Jessa’s prettiness and presence unsettle me, and I’m hit with a strong memory of that night at the Love for Books literacy fundraiser when I looked up and saw her. She was standing across the room, smiling and talking, eyes bright, lips red, slim body just curvy enough under her long black gown to make my own body come to life.

It was uncomfortable, like the feeling when pins and needles come back into a numb limb.

I didn’t want it, or the tug I felt, the sharp desire to walk across the room and steal her attention away from whoever she was talking to.I looked away from her and refused to look at her again.

And when she said hi to me at the food table a half hour later, I was a dick to her.

Non-redeemably.

I’m thinking about all that—Jessa smiling, talking, waking me up with her aliveness, and then how she froze when I blew her off at the food table—when I hear a voice say, “Hey, Jessa.”

I raise my head to see the couple that we had to stop for. He’s a white guy dressed in what Portland hipsters think people wear in the woods, and she looks like she just came from the gym, but that’s not what makes my blood freeze.

I know him.

How do I know him? I haven’t put it together yet.

“Hi, Reuben,” Jessa says, her voice small and tight.

Jessa knows him, too.

“I don’t think you two ever officially met,” Reuben says. “This is my girlfriend, Corinna.” He turns to the woman beside him. She’s pretty in that way that a lot of guys go for: blond, blue-eyed, busty, and polished. She’s just a little too plastic for my tastes.

Jessa, standing on Reuben’s other side, is a hell of a lot more beautiful. Not that anyone asked me.

I’m not the most emotionally savvy dude on the planet—after all, I spend a lot of my free time alone with a knife—but even I can tell that something seriously ugly is going on here. The two women haven’t stepped forward, not even a millimeter, to greet each other. Or even looked at each other, really. Jessa looks like she’d like the earth to swallow her. And I get the strong feeling I’m about to find out why.

Reuben turns to Corinna. “Jessa’s my ex-wife.”

Oh, shit.

That’s why Jessa’s mood flatlined. Because when Reuben and Corinna got on the bus, Jessa realized she was about to have to spend three days with her ex-husband and his new girlfriend. And if Amanda’s intel is sound, Reuben cheated on Jessa…

I don’t think you two ever officially met.

Oh, fuck. Could that guy be any more of a dick?

My hands ball into fists, and it takes everything I have not to bury one of them in his smug, asshole face.

“Nice to meet you.” Jessa’s voice is even smaller and tighter. And I’m not gonna lie, it hurts my chest to hear it. I know divorce isn’t the same as death, not by a long shot, but that woman is hurting, and I’m way too familiar with that feeling.

Reuben rocks back on one foot, his arms crossing. Now I remember him from one of our parties. He wore a jacket with elbow patches and black-rimmed glasses. No joke.

A smug look settles on his face. “Jessa. Are you here by yourself?”

Afterwards, I’d wish I’d just punched him, because it would have been smarter than what I do next. Propelled by a force stronger than good sense and a lot faster-acting, I take a step to the side.

“She’s with me.”

And I drop an arm around Jessa Olsen’s slim, warm shoulders.

Then I look up to discover my sister and brother staring at me like I’ve grown another head—

Which honestly, would have probably surprised all of us—me included—less.

Author Bio:

USA Today bestselling author Serena Bell writes contemporary romance with heat, heart, and humor. A former journalist, Serena has always believed that everyone has an amazing story to tell if you listen carefully, and you can often find her scribbling in her tiny garret office, mainlining chocolate and bringing to life the tales in her head.

Serena’s books have earned many honors, including an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, Apple Books Best Book of the Month, and Amazon Best Book of the Year for Romance.

When not writing, Serena loves to spend time with her college-sweetheart husband and two hilarious kiddos—all of whom are incredibly tolerant not just of Serena’s imaginary friends but also of how often she changes her hobbies and how passionately she embraces the new ones. These days, it’s stand-up paddle boarding, board-gaming, meditation, and long walks with good friends.

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BOOK BLITZ: Too Far by Lauren Fraser #GIVEAWAY

Too Far
Lauren Fraser
Publication date: February 12th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Something needs to change if their marriage is going to work. But how far is too far?

To the outside world, Lia Dahl has it all. Her business is thriving. She has a gorgeous husband and great friends.

Jaxon Dahl is everything Lia had ever dreamed of. Successful, handsome, committed. Marriage should have been the answer to the life she’d always imagined. But three years in and unfortunately, it’s not all smooth sailing. Somewhere along the way, she got lost.

How has she allowed herself to become invisible in their relationship when she is so confident everywhere else? Well, no more.

It’s time for drastic action to get this marriage back on track. This will either be the jumpstart they need or the final nail in the coffin.

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—

EXCERPT:

Where the hell was he? Lia Dahl pushed her empty glass of wine away and glanced at the clock again for the umpteenth time. 9 o’clock. Jaxon should have been home by six at the latest. Clearly, celebrating their third anniversary wasn’t a huge priority for him. Her gaze lingered on the ruined dinner she had carefully prepared. Good thing she’d taken the afternoon off. What a waste.

Lia pushed away from the table, catching a glimpse of herself in the dining room mirror as she walked past. She felt ridiculous standing there in the caged corset teddy she had bought especially for the night. When she’d seen it in Fredricks, she’d thought for sure it was the perfect thing to help get their relationship back on track.

Ever since Jaxon’s boss had dangled the possibility of a partnership in front of his nose, he’d been virtually non-existent at home. Tears welled up in her eyes. He’d promised he would be home early tonight.

Well, she was sick of it. Wiping the tears from her eyes, Lia grabbed her purse from the hall table and dug out her eyeliner. With a couple of swipes, her makeup was repaired. She gave herself another once over in the mirror. If Jaxon didn’t swallow his tongue, then there really was no hope for them. Grabbing her trench coat from the closet, she slid it on over her teddy and slipped her feet into a fierce pair of heels that would knock Jaxon on his ass when he saw them. She’d be damned if she’d sit here at home alone on their anniversary. The man needed a wake-up call, and he was damn sure going to get it.

Lia pulled her car up to Lincoln Towers. A few offices still remained lit. She scanned the rows of windows, tenth floor, fourth over from the right. Of course, her husband’s office was still one of the ones lit. She took a deep breath and got out of her car. The fabric of her coat rubbed against the peek-a-boo teddy and her nipples stood at attention. Shit, she really hoped this wasn’t a bad idea.

Walking towards the office building, a blast of cool air fired up the back of her coat. Damn it. Jaxon better bloody appreciate what she was willing to do for their relationship. At the front door of the building, she waited patiently for the security guard to let her in. She fought the urge to adjust her coat to ensure she was well covered.

“Evening, Mrs. Dahl. What brings you by this late?” the security guard asked. His curious gaze roamed over her.

She smiled. “Hi Charlie, I’ve come to drag my husband home. The man works far too much.”

“That’s for sure,” Charlie replied. He tipped his head towards the elevator. “You head on up. The man would have to be crazy not to want to rush home with you.”

She patted the old man on the cheek. “You are a sweetheart, Charlie.”

The foyer of Tanner, Kaufman and Company was unlit. From the dark hallway, light spilled out of a lone office. She shook her head. Jaxon was the only one still here.

Squaring her shoulders, she sauntered down the hallway. At the open doorway to Jaxon’s office, she stopped. His blond hair stood up in several directions, his tie tossed haphazardly on the chair, the neck of his shirt undone. He looked exhausted. Engrossed in what he was working on he didn’t even register that she was there.

With a quick glance down the hall to ensure they really were alone, Lia stepped into the office, closed the door behind her, and flicked the lock.

“Lia? What are you doing here?” Jaxon asked. His brow furrowed in confusion.

“What do you think I’m doing here?”

“Fuck, our anniversary,” he groaned. “Jesus, Li. I’m sorry, I completely forgot.”

Like a knife stabbing her in the stomach, his comment cut deeply. She’d bribed her employees to take her afternoon classes for her so she could sneak out early to make today special and he’d completely forgotten. What did that say about their relationship?

Drastic times called for drastic measures. There was no way she was going to let their relationship become an after-thought. She licked her lips and moved her hands to the opening of her jacket. “That’s why I came to you.” She eased the coat off her shoulders, slowly exposing the peek-a-boo top of her teddy. Jaxon’s eyes widened. “Lia?” he croaked.

“Hmm?” She lowered the jacket completely and dropped it on the floor. “Oops,” she said. Well, here goes nothing.

Author Bio:

Lauren has always been a dreamer, weaving stories to keep herself entertained. Through her stories she can travel anywhere in the world and money is not an object. Now, who wouldn't want that? Unfortunately, the demands of the real world pushed her dreams to the side for a while.

After talking to her children about going after what they wanted and not letting fear stand in their way, she realized she needed to lead by example and chase her own dreams. She enjoys going hiking, camping and paddle boarding with her husband and two daughters.

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B@@K REVEAL: Iron & Ink by Melanie Munton #PreORDER

Iron & Ink
Melanie Munton
(Brooklyn Brothers, #5)
Publication date: March 29th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Suspense

We are the Rossetti’s.

The exiled “sixth family” of the New York mafia. We’re the good guys.

People don’t fear us…much. They respect us.

The five of us? We’re the Brooklyn Brothers.

And we protect what’s ours.

After a gunshot wound to the chest, I died on an operating table. Then I came back to life. Yet the thing that’s going to take me down is a redheaded Irish bartender who has a pension for trouble and drinking me under the table. Ash Donahue is brave, beautiful, and scarily street wise. In fact, she’s the only woman I’ve ever met who seems remotely capable of handling the kind of baggage a man like me comes with.

Not to mention, she has secrets that could very well rival my own.

I’m a soldier, a warrior. That’s all I’ll ever be. No woman wants to be strapped with that for the rest of her life. But every time we remind ourselves why we’re completely wrong for each other, we end up tangled together in the stock room. Or on top of the bar. Or against a wall.

That all changes when I find out what brought her to my city. How could she not tell me her uncle is the Irish mob boss? And how am I supposed to protect her from him and my family from our countless enemies, all at the same time?

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Author Bio:

Melanie grew up in the Midwest, but she loves living in the Southeast (where the beaches are!) now with her husband and daughter.Melanie's other passion is traveling and seeing the world. With anthropology degrees under their belts, she and her husband have made it their goal in life to see as many archaeological sites around the world as possible.She has a horrible food addiction to pasta and candy (not together...ew). And she gets sad when her wine rack is empty.At the end of the day, she is a true romantic at heart. She loves writing the cheesy and corny of romantic comedies, and the sassy and sexy of suspense. She aims to make her readers swoon, laugh out loud, maybe sweat a little, and above all, fall in love.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!

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B@@K REVEAL: Come True by Brindi Quinn #PreORDER

Come True: A Bomb-Ass Genie Romance
Brindi Quinn
Published by: Midnight Tide Publishing
Publication date: April 27th 2022
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult, Paranormal, Romance

A jaded girl. A persistent genie. A contest of souls.

Recent college graduate Dolly Jones has spent the last year stubbornly trying to atone for a mistake that cost her everything. She doesn’t go out, she doesn’t make new friends and she sure as hell doesn’t treat herself to things she hasn’t earned, but when her most recent thrift store purchase proves home to a hot, magical genie determined to draw out her darkest desires in exchange for a taste of her soul, Dolly’s restraint, and patience, will be put to the test.

Newbie genie Velis Reilhander will do anything to beat his older half-brothers in a soul-collecting contest that will determine the next heir to their family estate, even if it means coaxing desire out of the least palatable human he’s ever contracted. As a djinn from a ‘polluted’ bloodline, Velis knows what it’s like to work twice as hard as everyone else, and he won’t let anyone—not even Dolly f*cking Jones—stand in the way of his birthright. He just needs to figure out her heart’s greatest desire before his asshole brothers can get to her first.

COME TRUE: A BOMB-ASS GENIE ROMANCE is the romantic, fantastic second-coming-of-age story of two flawed twenty-somethings from different realms battling their inner demons, and each other, one wish at a time.

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Author Bio:

"The queen of world-building." – Goodreads Reviewer

Brindi Quinn is a fantasy/paranormal author from Minnesota specializing in world-building and romance. She is an advocate of quirky love and firmly believes that banter makes the heart grow fonder.

Since 2011, Quinn has written over a dozen young adult and new adult novels beginning with her debut epic fantasy series, Heart of Farellah. Her works often blur the lines between paranormal romance, science fiction and fantasy, and her series have been hailed as unique, addictive reads by reviewers across platforms.

Quinn has a bachelor’s in general communication studies and is published through Never & Ever Publishing and Midnight Tide Publishing (forthcoming). She considers herself an avid fangirl, indulging heavily in video game lore and all things swoony.

Be sure to catch her upcoming new adult fantasy, Come True, set for publication by Midnight Tide Publishing spring 2022!

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BOOK BLITZ: Onyx Sanctuary by M.F. Adele & T.L. Adele #GIVEAWAY

Onyx Sanctuary
M.F. Adele & T.L. Adele
(The Chronicles of a Toy Monster, #1)
Publication date: February 11th 2022
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Reverse Harem, Romance

What do a fake client, an attempted abduction, and a decade of secrets have in common?

Apparently everything.

I don’t remember the shadow realm, but the land recognizes me as someone it once knew.

The lost heir, worshipped and adored… She’s painted on the sides of buildings like some demonic vigilante waiting to accost you in the nearest alleyway.

What I don’t know is that she is me.

Badass bounty hunter.Mostly fearless.Pint-size terror.Full-size train wreck.

I’m surrounded by an onyx cloak; from the demons I befriended in my sanctuary to the creatures I grew up with inside the castle walls. Now, even the strangers who desperately need me bring a cloud of darkness to aid in my fight.

The men in my life are spine-chilling monsters, but I might be the worst one of all.

Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

Boom, boom, boom.

The drumming bass in my head ebbed and flowed with my consciousness. Voices echoed, their words warped and distant as visions of the past played in fast forward.

I couldn’t make it stop.

Until, finally… the images slowed, spiraling out of control one last time.

Burning intensity was all I had left. My life didn’t exist outside of the inferno, radiating agony and nightmares.

I was on fire. My veins filled with lava, scorching my skin each time my muscles spasmed. Itching drew my hands to my back. Nausea overtook me as I felt open sores, raw flesh, and sticky scabs.

Fuck. Would the anguish ever end?

Was this the death I deserved?

I awoke in a panic, expecting pain to ambush me again. I lay on the floor for a silent eternity, trying to even my breathing before I attempted to stand. My legs shook as I took the two steps between me and the wall. I stumbled and caught myself before slumping over.

Did those guys drug me?

The first assholes had. The second ones, though… That was to be determined.

But the answer was in front of me as soon as I surveyed the damage. I pulled my knees to my chest, staring in disbelief at the destruction I’d caused in the room. Bloody marks adorned the shredded padding that had previously covered the walls. My entire being was raw, still mending torn skin and self-inflicted wounds.

I closed my eyes, and the movie ran in my mind anew. Still going. Still harassing me. But since I had calmed down, I could see them for what they were. My childhood memories. The gaps between the start of my life and living with Juliet.

Why were they hidden?

And what had changed inside of me to release them?

Author Bio:

M.F. Adele resides in the outskirts of the Rocket City in Alabama. She lives in her overactive imagination, often fueled by caffeine and no sleep. When she isn’t writing, M.F. is outdoors with her family, obsessing over spicy margaritas and cigars, or reading books by her favorite authors.

If you’re looking for M.F. Adele, you can find her on social media in her group:

M.F. Adele's Hellacious Hybrids.

M.F. loves to interact with her readers, hear character theories, and share embarrassing stories.

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BOOK BLITZ: In Step by Jay Hogan #GIVEAWAY

In Step
Jay Hogan
(Painted Bay, #3)
Publication date: February 10th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance

Karma. You reap what you sow, and KANE MARTIN isn’t looking for forgiveness. But the arrival of ABE TYLER in Painted Bay has Kane dreaming of the impossible. The sexy, silver fox choreographer is determined to pull Kane out from the shadows, but Abe’s career isn’t about to shift to Painted Bay, and Kane’s life is in neat little boxes for a reason.

A past he isn’t proud of.A family he’s walked away from.A job he doesn’t deserve.A secret he’s ashamed of.

But life’s dance can make for unexpected partners, and learning to trust and keep up with the footwork is the name of the game.

Two steps forward, one step back.It takes two to tango.

 

Trigger Warning: Contains references to past abuse and bullying.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

The pattering rain grew heavy on the iron roof and my thoughts ran to the beautiful guy I’d glimpsed in the window above the garage the night before. His name was Kane, apparently. He worked with Fox and Leroy and rented the bedsit, and I wondered why Judah had made no mention of him when he’d given me a rundown on virtually the entire town.

Even in the gloom and lit only by the reflected porch light, Kane’s stunning good looks and shoulder-length sun-bleached locks belonged on the cover of a surfing magazine, not manning a boat on a mussel farm. Just the memory had my cock thickening in my hand. Nope. I dropped it with a groan. Way too creepy since I was surely gonna have to talk to the guy at some point.

Get a life, Abraham.

The click of claws on wood made their way up the hall and a black nose pushed my door open. I scooted back and patted the bed. “Come on, gorgeous.”

Mack pushed through and jumped on the bed, quickly settling in a big lump behind my knees. Prue followed soon after, curling her small feline body into a ball between Mack’s front paws.

“So that’s how it’s going to be, huh?” I scratched Mack behind the ears. “Why do I sense I’m being played here? Are you normally allowed on the bed?”

They both ignored me.

“Okay, you get a free pass this time, but I’m taking it under advisement. One word from your daddies and this is all over. Now move over, you’re hogging the blankets and there’s a dirty paw print on my damn sheet. I th—” I jumped at the loud knock on the front door right outside my bedroom.

At this hour? I got up on one elbow to peek through the window. Huh. Surfer boy himself. But with no answering footsteps from Leroy and Fox’s bedroom, I figured they were still . . . occupied.

“Guess I’m it.” I threw back the covers and bounced out of bed, shivering with the sudden wash of cold over my bed-warm skin. “Shit.” I glanced down at my black briefs, then briefly considered my still-unpacked bag before pulling the spare blanket around my waist instead and hotfooting it to the front door. The glacial blast when I hauled it open almost knocked me sideways and instantly pebbled my skin.

“Damn, that’s cold.” I fumbled the blanket up under my armpits but not before I noticed Kane’s eyes bug out of their sockets. “Sorry.” I motioned back down the hall. “It’s just me. Leroy and Fox are . . .” I snorted in amusement. “Well, they’re likely having a lot more fun than either of us and getting a damn sight warmer in the process. How can I help you? It’s Kane, right?”

Kane nodded, still staring at my naked chest, and for some ridiculous reason, my cheeks warmed. Oh, for fuck’s sake. I was far too old and comfortable in my own skin for that rubbish. I danced for a living and there wasn’t a square inch of my skin that hadn’t come under intense scrutiny at one time or another. Age might’ve frayed me around the edges a bit—I wasn’t as tight or streamlined as I used to be—but I didn’t suck for a forty-two-year-old who was pushing middle age and with a perilous fondness for pasta.

“Kane? Hello?” I sucked in a breath laced with a strong hit of ocean salt.

“Um.” He licked his lips and his gaze shot up as if suddenly aware he’d been staring, and I got a good look at his eyes for the first time. They were the clearest, deepest blue, like those tropical lagoons you drooled over in tourist brochures. Although that’s where the similarity ended as they jackrabbited nervously across my face, making me wonder what the hell I’d done to unnerve the guy.

“I, um, came to drop off the food,” he muttered, still not meeting my eyes. “For Mack.” He dropped the weighty bag of dog food on the deck at my feet, pulled up the waistband of his jeans, and turned to leave.

“Wait.” My hand shot out. “We haven’t met. I’m Abe Tyler. I’m staying with Leroy and Fox while I help Judah out with his class recital.”

Kane stared at my hand for a second like it might bite him, and his grasp when it came was cool, dry, and very short. “Hi. I’m Kane Martin.” He blushed prettily. “But then . . . you obviously know that.” Once again, those magnetic-blue eyes flitted away, and I realised Kane was older than the whole surfer vibe indicated—closer to thirty than twenty.

“Yeah, Leroy mentioned your name and that you worked with them. It was you at the window last night, right?” I inclined my head toward the bedsit, prolonging an unnecessary conversation that was turning me into a human popsicle. But the man in front of me was as gorgeous as I remembered, and a man’s balls worked strange magic on his brain that way. “We, ah, waved.” I bit back a smile and he blushed. He fucking blushed.

Kane tugged at his jeans, then glanced up at the bedsit and sighed. “Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to be nosy—” He hesitated and the flush deepened. “Yeah, total lie. It’s a small town, you know?” He dropped his gaze and scuffed the sole of his boot on the old plank deck worn smooth with age.

I chuckled. “I get it. I came from a small town too.” I willed him to look at me, wanting another moment with those cobalt eyes and the cut-glass cheekbones with a spray of freckles like someone had thrown chocolate hail and only a few had stuck—a darkly sweet and all-too-inviting constellation.

“Really?” He finally met my gaze. “I thought you hailed from Wellington?”

I shook my head. “We moved to Wellington when I was eight. But I was actually born in Reefton on the South Island. You don’t get much more small-town New Zealand than that. Couldn’t wait to leave, to be honest.”

His lips quirked up, soft and red and . . . fuck me, I wanted nothing more than to kiss them. They were the only soft thing about Kane. Like his cheekbones and the hollow beneath them, everything else seemed a little too sharp, a little too thin, a little too . . . hungry. Like the tips of his shoulders that poked through his sweater and the outline of his clavicle at its neck. The bulky knit hung loose on a narrow frame over a pair of jeans that seemed perilously close to falling from his hips, judging by the number of times he hauled them up. I felt the ridiculous urge to sit him down and feed some meat onto those bones.

Author Bio:

Heart, humour and keeping it real.

Jay is a 2020 Lambda Literary Award Finalist in Gay Romance and her book Off Balance was the 2021 New Zealand Romance Book of the Year.

She is a New Zealand author writing mm romance and romantic suspense, primarily set in New Zealand. She writes character driven romances with lots of humour, a good dose of reality and a splash of angst. She's travelled extensively, lived in many countries, and in a past life she was a critical care nurse, nurse educator and counsellor. Jay is owned by a huge Maine Coon cat and a gorgeous Cocker Spaniel.

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BOOK BLITZ: A Court of Crows by Eliza Eveland #GIVEAWAY

A Court of Crows
Eliza Eveland
(Talons and Tethers, #1)
Publication date: February 10th 2022
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

A young queen in peril. A city under siege. An elven mercenary with a dark desire.

Nineteen-year-old Eris Telari was never supposed to rule Brucia. She’s always been more interested in swordplay than courtly intrigue.

After her brother’s assassination, however, Eris has no choice but to take up the crown and defend her city against an invasion led by an undefeated elven warlord.

With Brucia’s forces decimated, and a siege looming, Eris needs help. Who better to repel the elven invaders than a band of elven mercenaries?

Their leader, Ruith, is as charming as he is deadly, and used to getting what he wants. Six thousand swords strong, his Crows have a reputation for winning against impossible odds. He won’t take a fight he can’t win, and now he has his sights set on Eris…

Is it her kingdom he wants? Or her?

With assassins and traitors still lurking around every corner, and an army nearly twenty thousand strong at her gates, Eris cannot afford to turn away the Crows’ assistance. Even with their help, the battle for Brucia will be hard-won.

And the most dangerous threat may already be inside her walls and vying for a place at her side…

A Court of Crows is the first book in the gripping Talons and Tethers Saga, a new adult fantasy romance series. Expect courtly intrigue, assassination plots, plenty of heart-pounding action sequences, and strong heroines who do their own rescuing.

NOTE: This series contains four separate slow-burn romances that unfold over several books. Ruith and his Crow commanders have varying and diverse tastes when it comes to romance, but all of them enjoy plenty of spice, so grab your copy and prepare to meet your next book boyfriend(s)!

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

Eris lifted the paper. “You didn’t really expect me to implement such restrictive measures on day one of a siege, did you?”

“Of course not,” said Ruith with a shrug.

“Then why give it to me at all?”

“Because they think I’m here to take Brucia from under you.”

The queen’s mouth was dry. “And are you?”

Ruith stood. His heavy footsteps thumped in time with her heart as he came around the table. Trailing his fingertips over the tabletop, he stopped next to her throne, towering over her. “I have six thousand Crows at my command. I am stronger than any man, better with my sword than all three of your queensguard put together, and faster than every human I have ever met. If I wanted your city, it would be mine. Whatever I want, I get.” He lifted his fingers from the table and brushed them against her cheek.

Eris’s heart skipped a beat.

She grabbed his hand. “You do not have me.”

The sound of his dark chuckle left her fighting a shudder.

“Not yet,” he said.

“If you ever touch me uninvited…”

“Please.” He wrinkled his nose, disgusted, and pulled his hand away. “I would never. I have no interest in bedding a woman who doesn’t wish it. If the touch is truly uninvited, then I apologize. But if it isn’t, and if these sultry looks you’ve been throwing me are more than just curiosity…” Ruith leaned down, lips hovering next to her ear. He smelled like warm leather with a sharp citrus bite. “I will touch you in ways no one ever has, or ever will again. I could give you more pleasure with one finger than you’ve ever known.”

Eris’s insides turned molten, skin prickling at the thought. She turned her head toward his, their mouths suddenly so close that they shared breath for a moment. “That’s a bold claim. I’m a queen. I could have anyone I wanted.”

He leaned back, his smirk returning. “I’ve seen the men in this city. I know what I’m up against, and I stand by my statement.”

Author Bio:

Eliza Eveland is a coffee addict living in woods of West Virginia where fairies are real, and magic grows on trees like vines.

She writes real, relatable characters in fantastic worlds that just happen to have wings or pointed ears and a little bit of magic.

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