R.E. Hargrave's Blog, page 80
July 28, 2021
B@@K REVEAL: The Inn at Summer Island by Rachel Magee
The Inn at Summer Island
Rachel Magee
Published by: Entangled: Amara
Publication date: August 23rd 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Millie Leclair is a mess, complete with a dead-end career and a flat-lining love life. So when she inherits her great aunt’s oceanfront B&B in a resort town in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, she doesn’t hesitate to pack up her car and set off on a new adventure. It’ll be fun.
Of course, life seldom goes according to plan. The B&B is barely habitable for one person, let alone ready to open for business. With dwindling funds, Millie has no choice but to roll up her sleeves and tackle the repairs by herself. Yeah, so much fun.
Ex-pro golfer Braxton Channing thought being a full-time single parent kept him on his toes. That was before he spotted his new neighbor teetering on her rooftop—which is only the beginning of her long list of renovations for the old house—and he added keeping her safe to his to-do list.
But Millie is determined to dive headfirst into repairs regardless of the risk, and suddenly, battling with his daughter over brushing her teeth seems easier than winning an argument with Millie. She’s exasperating. And oddly delightful. And most definitely shouldn’t be let anywhere near a tall ladder.
For a guy who’s sworn off romantic relationships, why does he suddenly want to be the one who gets the privilege of watching Millie conquer not just the B&B but his heart as well?
Author Bio:
Rachel wrote her first novel when she was twelve and entered it into a contest for young author/illustrators. Unfortunately, the judges weren't impressed with her stick figures. So she dropped the dream of becoming a world famous illustrator and stuck to spinning stories. When she's not busy working on her latest book, she loves to travel with her family and friends. By far, her favorite destination is the beach, which tends to work its way into most of her stories. Between vacations, you can find her at home in The Woodlands, TX with her wonderful husband, their two adventurous kids and a couple of spirited pets, all of whom share Rachel's love of the ocean. Well, except the cat and dog. They're both afraid of water. Find out more about what Rachel has been up to at rachelmageebooks.com.
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BOOK BLITZ: The Stolen Husband by Loretta Lost #GIVEAWAY
The Stolen Husband
Loretta Lost
(Marriage Mistake Thrillers, #2)
Publication date: July 22nd 2021
Genres: Adult, Thriller
My husband was stolen. While I was in a coma.
But I’m okay. I swear. Am I a little salty? Sure.Have I fantasized about revenge? Absolutely. Made plans to get him back? Naturally. Have I stabbed a voodoo doll while crying my eyes out? Just a little bit.But I am a strong, independent badass, and I am choosing to let go and move on. I got attached to my new guy a little too fast to soothe my wounds, but Lukas is amazing. Younger, hotter, obsessed with the gym, and his body shows it. He’s all I need to forget about my stupid ex-husband.
But when I start getting cryptic messages on social media to stay away from him… and creepy letters shoved under my front door? Cars following me late at night? I am starting to regret diving in so fast…
I may have bitten off more than I can chew. But I would rather be the predator than the prey…
—
EXCERPT:
Now I wish I hadn’t worn the heels.
“Lukas!” I call out hoarsely, afraid for him.
As I run through the narrow, twisty cobblestoned streets in six-inch stilettos, my legs begin to ache again and remind me that I’m still not in great health. As swarms of people surround me, it gets even worse as my heart rate doubles, pounding so rapidly that my chest hurts. I can feel it in my ears, and it’s making me dizzy. I feel like I’m going to pass out. I try to breathe.
People are brushing past me and touching me, coming from every direction. Spinning me around until I’m lost and don’t know where I am. I haven’t been this close to so many strangers without masks since before I got sick with Covid. And even way before that, I was mostly being careful… I only had a few, select indiscretions that I thought would be safe.
But this all happened to me because I trusted people, and got close to people. The wrong people. And now I’m in a crowd of strangers breathing on me, and I don’t know any of them, and… I’m alone.
“Lukas!” I call out again, desperately. I run in a different direction, trying to find some sign of him.
What if I never see him again? Wouldn’t that be a cruel trick for fate to play on me? To give me just a little taste of happiness, a sampler plate like the tapas appetizers, and then just tear it away completely?
Wouldn’t that be just my luck? Of course.
Nothing else seems to go right for me lately. I should have known that the moment I agree to marry a guy, he’s bound to get kidnapped and murdered immediately when we try to go out to dinner. Why did we post our location on social media? Why were we so stupid?
All these thoughts are getting to me. Worrying if Lukas is okay. Running around the restaurant in heels. I feel so useless. I find a spot where some grass is growing, and let my body sink to the ground. The grass is cool and wet underneath my legs, and that’s a bit comforting, as my body was kind of overheating. I reach down and undo the straps of my high heels to slip them off my aching feet.
I just hope he’s okay. I really couldn’t take it right now if anything happened to him. I need him a lot more than I realized. Just the prospect of losing him is making me feel so sick and afraid—I guess this shows me how much I actually do love him.
I am sitting here on the street corner in my red dress, like an abandoned kitten, watching the people pass me by on the sidewalk. I’m not sure what to do. Should I call the police? And what do I tell them? Would they even do anything to help? Or do they have to wait a certain period of time before they can start searching?
Author Bio:
Loretta Lost is a USA Today bestselling author who writes stories about survivors. She is the author of the CLARITY series and Sophie Shields novels. She lives in Toronto, Canada with adorable cats, and she hopes to find a good boyfriend who isn't fictional before all her hair turns grey.
Follow @loretta.lost on Instagram, @LorettaLost on Twitter, or connect on Facebook: www.facebook.com/LorettaLost
You can also subscribe to Loretta's mailing list for updates and a free book: www.eepurl.com/O0WTL
Fun fact: The author's real name is Nadia-- she chose her pen name because her sister's name is Loretta, and her sister is lost.
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BOOK BLITZ: The Shadow Queen by K. Rea #GIVEAWAY
The Shadow Queen
K. Rea
(The Wolfrik Trilogy, #2)
Publication date: July 22nd 2021
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy
A SMOLDERING COURT.A DIVIDED PEOPLE.A WARNING FROM THE GODDESS.
With the Court of Shadows in ruins, Evelyn Wolfrik has one goal – to rebuild.After an encounter with the God of the Forest himself and a summons from the Court of Light, Evelyn’s future seems anything but certain.Leaving the forests, her pack, and fledgling Court behind, Evelyn travels to the white mountains of the Court of Light. Deep in the mountains, navigating not only a frigid court but also challenges and trials she never could have foreseen, she risks losing more than just her crown.
—
EXCERPT:
Gryphons in the Night
I snuck up the mountainside as quickly and quietly as I could. The rocks beneath my feet slid, the goats noticed. The ones awake went on alert as I ran towards them, weaving through the coverage. They darted. The sleepy one, though, was slow. Its instincts kicked in, and it ran for open ground away from me. I herded it up the mountainside to the snow in its panic. It floundered in the snow as I stalked it. The goat recognized me as a predator; its bleats became screeches on the wind as I lunged.
With the goat’s neck in my jaws, the screeches I heard grew louder, to an unbearable volume. I snapped the goat’s neck as a roar erupted around me, and the screech kept going. They did not belong to the goat. I pulled my prey free from the snow and ran with it down the mountain to a boulder I had seen earlier.
A shadow crossed over me as a gryphon collided with Ares; both creatures were engulfed in Ares’s cloud of flame. Training in the woods, watching Aiden and Ares tussle, did nothing to prepare me for the violence I now witnessed. The goat carcass slowed me down, but we needed the food, and I knew I needed to get out of Ares’ way. I’d only be a distraction on the ground. A second shadow passed over me, more screeches echoed through the mountain. I reached the boulder and dropped the damned goat in the shadow of the large stone before peeking back around the rock.
There in the fading light, Ares fought in his dragon form, swooping and diving between two gryphons. Their lion bodies were dark, like their avian heads and wings, a silhouette against the darkening sky. Their beaks were sharp and screeching, yet Ares didn’t hesitate or run. He maneuvered around them as if it was all a choreographed dance; to him, maybe it was. The ribbon of light from the protective barrier grew brighter in the growing darkness.
A rake of Ares’ claws along the gryphon rendered its wings useless. As it fell from the sky, its cries rattled the mountains. It was disorienting enough that Ares did not focus back on the other gryphon until it was too late. As if time had stopped, I watched, frozen, as the gryphon launched itself at Ares’ back and ripped his wings to shreds in the same fashion Ares had done to his companion. Ares’s roar of anguish struck a chord deep in my soul. Still in my wolf form, I scrambled to the top of the boulder, and I launched myself into the air.
Author Bio:
K. Rea is a part-time romance writer and full-time mom. When she isn't writing or playing with her daughter, she's reading and crafting. She lives with her husband and family in Florida.
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July 27, 2021
BOOK BLITZ: Wrath by Marteeka Karland #GIVEAWAY
Wrath
Marteeka Karland
(Black Reign MC, #2)
Publication date: July 23rd 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Wrath: When El Diablo sends me to infiltrate the DA’s office and find out who’s involved in the corruption there, I’m all over it. Being a lawyer, I’m singularly suited to El Diablo’s purpose, and I know the system inside and out. I am also adept at blending in, even with my muscles and tatts. We’ve known since Justice from Salvation’s Bane took a prison sentence he didn’t deserve that someone from the DA’s office was in the back pocket of the wrong people. Those wrong people are in the form of a rival MC who rule their territory with an iron fist and are trying to encroach on Salvation’s Bane as well as Black Reign.
Then I meet a sexy little platinum-haired escort and all bets are off. I’m attracted to her like I’ve never been to another woman, and it’s messing with the Zen-like calm I’m famous for. If I can’t pull myself together enough to complete this job, I’ll fail my club and, more importantly, my mentor, the club president, El Diablo. That’s something even this unholy attraction can’t cause. But what’s a man to do when all that stands in the way of the happiness of a sexy single mom and her feisty but vulnerable daughter is club business, and a few Saint Bernard puppies?
Celeste: I’m in a financial jam of the worst kind. I need to make enough money to pay for my daughter Holly’s medical bills. The sheer volume of money I need is overwhelming. Working doesn’t touch it, and no one wants to hire me full-time because of the cost of insurance. The only way to finish Holly’s leukemia treatments is for me to keep up the payments to the hospital and clinic. If I can’t, then Holly’s chances of remission may only be a lost dream. Out of options, I accept an offer to be an escort. Not only that, but I soon find myself working for a motorcycle club as a “cam girl,” doing live sex shows. Glamorous? Not at all. But it’s more money than I can make working three jobs. Imagine my surprise when the man who paid for my services as an escort turns up in the control room of my first cam show. He’s sexy as sin, and much more than he appears to be. He’s also got me completely under his spell. Which sucks because he’s quite possibly the rudest jackass I’ve ever had the displeasure of meeting.
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—
EXCERPT:
“Well, my friend,” Gray continued. “If you want to make money, I guarantee you, you’ve come to the right place. Lawson, Hughsman, and Gray can make you a lot of money.” He emphasized “a lot” and gave me a knowing look. “With money comes power. With power comes perks.” He gestured toward a long table with pretty much any kind of quality drug or liquor a man could want. There were Cuban cigars, Legacy rum, some kind of expensive absinthe, and, of course, heroin, cocaine, and various other mind-altering substances.
As if that whole line had been a setup, a door opened just beyond the well-stocked table and several very beautiful, very sophisticated women entered. “See what I mean?” Gray looked positively gleeful, actually rubbing his hands together as he eyed each woman like a kid in a candy store. “Yours to enjoy, Vincent. Take your pick. There’s nothing they won’t do. Live out your nastiest fantasies with as many of them as you like for as long as you like.” He clapped my shoulder. “These are just a very few of the perks you can enjoy as one of us.”
Normally, I’d have smiled politely and passed, but one woman caught my eye in a huge way. She was ethereal in her beauty. Long, platinum-blonde hair, flawlessly pale skin. She’d dressed in red, naturally. Some skimpy little number I couldn’t even register. All I saw was the woman. Short and slight, she had rounded hips but was very slender. Her legs were perfectly formed. Just the right amount of muscle to grip a man tight during sex. She looked out of place among the other women. It wasn’t something I could put my finger on, but she just didn’t fit.
Nervous. She looked nervous. Where the other women smiled and sought out a partner, this girl seemed unsure of herself. She smiled politely when she had to, but she didn’t have that shark-like quality the others did. If she was looking for the wealthiest man of the bunch — and when did an escort not do that? — she wasn’t doing a good job. In fact, she seemed to avoid eye contact whenever she could. Lord knew more than one of the men in the room tried to get her attention. She was easily the most beautiful woman in that room. Instead, she wandered around, looking at the artwork on the walls. She avoided the table with the alcohol and drugs.
My very first thought the second I could see her from head to toe was that if I fucked her the way I wanted, I might break her delicate frame. My next thought was, “I can be gentle.” It was a Goddamned lie, but I told myself that anyway.
“Ahh, I see one of them has caught your eye? Which one?”
I glanced at Gray, standing next to me. He leaned forward in anticipation. Did he have his eye on the little blonde, too? “Where do you get these girls?” I knew, of course, but I wanted to hear what he had to say.
He shrugged. “Most are from a high-end escort service out of Miami. One or two are local, I think. All of them were vetted and screened medically. All disease-free and with an IUD, verified by our physician.”
I gulped down the rest of the scotch in the lowball glass I held. Without saying anything else to Gray, I approached the young woman before anyone else had a chance.
“Come with me.” I wasn’t big on words and, really, if she was a paid escort there was no need for them.
Her eyes widened, and there was the slightest quiver to her bottom lip before she lowered her eyes and ducked her head slightly. Hmm… A little more demure than I’d like, but I could work with it. I took her hand, and I’ll be Goddamned if she didn’t tremble. My gaze snapped to hers.
“You OK?” I was a bastard, and I wanted this girl, but the farther away we got from the other women with their cloying perfumes and the more her unique clean, fresh scent wrapped itself around me, the more she wrapped herself around my insides. It was like discovering a new life form. I was eager, excited, and just plain in awe of her. She looked like a fuckin’ angel.
“Of course,” she said softly. “Where are we going?”
“To be alone,” I said gruffly, my grip on her hand tightening.
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.
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July 26, 2021
BOOK BLITZ: All I've Wanted All I've Needed by A.E. Valdez #GIVEAWAY
All I’ve Wanted All I’ve Needed
A.E. Valdez
Publication date: July 23rd 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Harlow Shaw feels naïve for believing in happily ever afters but she craves a love that lights her up.
She thought she had it all with her boyfriend. Until his promising baseball career overshadows their relationship and he asks her a life changing question. It causes her to wonder if what they have is all she ever truly wanted.
Harlow is yearning for more than the curated life she is living.
A trip to Bali, a move to Seattle, and a “burned” cup of coffee lead her to a friendship she didn’t know she needed and a love so deep she can feel it in her bones.
—
EXCERPT:
Harlow
I should’ve known something was up when a race red Ferrari pulled up to my house. Hendrix has always been flashy, from his material items to his personality. He commands the spaces he occupies. Hendrix is a man used to going after, and getting, anything and anyone he wants.
Except me. I’m the girl to tell him, “No.”
My response stuns him, and he asks, “It’s a no then?”
Slowly, he rises from the kneeling position he adopted mere seconds ago to ask me this life changing question.
“You deserve better than me,” I say as tears sting my eyes. I’m aware people are staring now. I thought we were in for an intimate night, sitting at a candle-lit table scattered with rose petals, tucked away at the back of the restaurant. But there’s nothing intimate about prying eyes focused on us, watching me refuse my boyfriend’s proposal.
He sits back down in his seat and reaches across the table for my hand. “You’re my beginning and end, Harlow. All I want is you.”
I can’t bring myself to meet his gaze. Staring into his honey brown eyes will only make this harder.
He watches me in silence, probably trying to figure out why I would say no to his proposal. We’ve been together for two years and things were going great. We’re often the couple people describe as “relationship goals.” But despite seeming picture perfect, I can’t shake the feeling that this isn’t lasting love.
“Don’t you ever feel like we’re just settling, Hendrix? As though we’re together because we’re comfortable, not because we’re in love with one another?” My eyes still haven’t met his. I didn’t want to have to sift through this with him tonight. I hadn’t expected him to propose to me. I for damn sure didn’t expect him to do it in a public place.
Still not letting go of my hand, he asks, “Are you saying you’re no longer in love with me?”
Author Bio:
A.E. Valdez discovered her passion for writing when she was given a journal by her 5th grade teacher and has been creating poetry, works of fiction, and gaming narratives ever since. As a child, she wanted to read more stories with people that looked like her.
She loves all things romance, from heartbreak to happily ever afters. She pours her own heart and soul into the stories she brings to life. Causing readers to fall in, and sometimes out, of love alongside her characters.
Amanda currently resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their two sons. Most days you can find her sipping on an iced latte while she writes or enjoying time with her family.
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July 25, 2021
BOOK BLITZ: Honeybees & Sexy Tees by Katie Mettner #GIVEAWAY
Honeybees & Sexy Tees
Katie Mettner
Publication date: July 20th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Suspense
The devil is in the details, and the Lady of the Lake holds the clue.
Honey Blois is no stranger to pain. The lasting effects of an abusive childhood have made her life challenging, but it’s the ache of unrequited love she can no longer bear. When her confession goes unanswered, she has no choice but to fall out of love with her best friend.
Mathias Jørgensen is living a lie. The billionaire playboy buries the pain of loving the one woman he can’t have with flashy cars and bad decisions—until Honey’s letter comes to light. With renewed hope for the future, he vows to find his way back to the boy she fell in love with if it’s the last thing he does.
And it might be.
As the pair blurs the line between friends and lovers, his unscrupulous past demands a reckoning. To save the woman he loves from a watery grave, Mathias will have to remember every last detail of the life he’s desperate to forget.
—
EXCERPT:
I had dreamed of kissing my best friend for as long as I could remember. Now, here I was in the middle of the most romantic place in Plentiful, his lips pressed to mine and my heart pounding in my chest. Who was this man? Why was he kissing me? How had I missed how much he’d changed over the last year? Was my Mattie finely going to rise up and take control? I sighed again.
Mattie was kissing me.
Finally, my soul was connected with what it had needed for twenty years. Its mate.
His lips left mine slowly, and I waited. I waited to open my eyes and find out all of this was a dream. Instead, I opened them to the lake blue of his. I dropped my arms from around his neck and brought one hand to my lips in a haze of shock and lust.
“Why—why did you do that?” My voice shook from the array of emotions coursing through me. I was drowning in the love that swelled inside my heart for this man. I couldn’t catch my breath, and I wasn’t sure I ever would again.
He ran his thumb over my lips with tenderness and wonder. “Because I’ve been pretending that I haven’t wanted to for years.”
“And now you’re done pretending?” I was unsure of myself when I spoke, and I didn’t want to say too much before letting him explain.
“No,” he said with a dazed head shake. “Now I had to know if I was crazy.”
“You had to kiss me to know if you were crazy?” The thrumming of my heart paused in my chest while I waited for his answer.
His gaze darted away from mine while he put his thoughts together. The expression on his face and the stiffness of his spine told me he was looking for the right way to describe what he was feeling. “I guess curiosity is a better word.”
Anger filled me and overpowered the love I’d found just moments ago. I pushed myself up off the bench with purpose. “I’m thrilled to have appeased your curiosity then.” My voice and body shook from the soul-shattering pain of betrayal. “Don’t mistake me for one of your playthings, Mathias Jørgensen. You don’t get to use me to relieve an itch or as a gauge of how well you’re doing in the morality department.”
He opened his mouth, but I held up my hand. “I can’t, Mathias. No, you know what? You can’t. You can’t do this to me when you know how I feel about you. It’s not fair,” I whispered right before I disappeared into the trees, tears on my face and my life with him over.
I almost collapsed to one knee at the thought. Tears fell down my cheeks, and I wiped them away as I plowed on into a new life. I didn’t know where I was going to go or what I was going to do, but I did know it would no longer be with him. I might need someone to watch over me but allowing Mathias to be that someone was no longer possible. Not after that kiss. It was more than I’d ever dreamed it could be, and now the memory of it would break my heart over and over for the rest of my days.
Author Bio:
Katie Mettner writes small-town romantic tales, filled with epic love stories and happily-ever-afters. She proudly wears the title of 'the only person to lose her leg after falling down the bunny hill' and loves decorating her prosthetic with the latest fashion trends. She lives in Northern Wisconsin with her own happily-ever-after and three mini-mes. Katie has a massive addiction to coffee and Twitter, and a lessening aversion to Pinterest— now that she’s quit trying to make the things she pins.
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July 24, 2021
BOOK BLITZ: Flash Point by Luna Joya #GIVEAWAY
Flash Point
Luna Joya
(Legacy Series, #5)
Publication date: June 29th 2021
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Banish the demon, stop the prophecy, and do not fall in love. Easy, right? Yeah, not so much.
Mina Donovan is a woman of many talents. Fire elemental, psychic, Legacy witch, magical asset for an FBI paranormal task force…she does it all. Her latest struggle? Not crushing on her sexy best friend. Logically, she knows they can’t be together. Too bad her heart has never bothered with logic.
The friend zone is the last place pyro expert Josh wants to be with Mina. Not that he has any choice in the matter. A witch hunter falling for a witch? Not smart. He’ll just have to learn to ignore his attraction to the gorgeous woman who already owns so much of his heart.
If Mina and Josh have any hope of finding their way to happily ever after, they’ll have to banish an all-powerful demon and take down an evil magical organization. Oh, and they’ll also have to figure out how to stop the prophecy that warns a dragon will consume Mina.
It’ll take more than magic to fix this supernatural dilemma.
—
EXCERPT:
Chapter One
The staked witch burst into flames. Mina swore and jumped clear of the blaze. By the powers, she’d lit the wrong target with her elemental magic.
Again.
At least it’d only been a mannequin.
The camera above the door blinked a steady red, a judgment of her failure. Her boss could be watching right now. Or worse—her sisters.
Embarrassment sent hot tingles across her skin, and her pulse thudded louder in her ears than the massive fan above. Why couldn’t she control her powers?
If this had been one of her video games, she’d wield her magic with precision worthy of a stupendous title. Something inspiring. Something enviable. Something that would make her, Mina Donovan, legendary.
Second spare to the heir of a ruling witch family? Yeah, not so much.
Reality sucked in every supernatural way. Or at least it had these last few weeks.
Her actual targets—giant cotton balls tacked to a wall across the room—mocked her with their bright white while the mannequin and its formerly Mean-Girls-esque you-can’t-sit-with-us designer threads burned like a tiki torch.
“You missed.” Of course her district attorney sister picked that moment to walk into the room. Delia was everything Mina wasn’t—accomplished, distinguished, polished. Never mind how her sister’s blue-eyed, blonde-haired dressed-to-the-elevens flawlessness compared to her own frizzy-curled, height-deprived, rolled-out-of-bed look. “Unless you’re practicing to light one of us up like a witchy sparkler?”
“Hardly.” Being recruited to a secret FBI task force right after college had seemed cool. But it should’ve come with a neon warning: “All loved ones may be collateral damage.” Last night, her oldest sister and baby niece had almost died. Not her fault entirely, but that didn’t ease her guilt. Or help her get a grip on her powers. The now flaming mannequin was proof of that. “What happened to safety cones and boring bulls-eyes for training? Whose idea was it to put humanish targets in here anyway?”
“The boss’s. A13 wanted to test your aim so you won’t torch us out in the field. After this little demonstration, I’ll be sure to stay out of the line of—”
“Don’t say it.” Mina jabbed the button for the secondary exhaust system to blast out her know-it-all sister’s opinions as much as smoke. If she’d heard one bad fire joke, she’d heard them all from her snarky sisters.
The roar of the combined fans wasn’t enough to shut Delia up. “Good thing this place is retrofitted for magical elements training. One wrong spark in LA, and the whole city burns.”
Not the reminder Mina needed right now. She changed the subject. “Who decided on the witch hat and the giant demon dummy?” Red-sequined horns sparkled in the light from the fire.
“My fiancé has a sick sense of humor. You started that little inferno. You going to put it out?”
“Yes.” She hoped. But when she pulsed a thread of magic toward the mannequin, the flames shot higher than its pointed hat.
“Did you mean to make the fire worse?”
“Yep.”
Delia’s yeah-right look was a speed dial straight to Mina’s self-doubt.
If the place had been made of anything but concrete, the fire would’ve raced across the room taking everything out. As it was, black circles spread in a messy scrawl on the ceiling.
Mina closed her eyes. The orange glow burned behind her lids, a flashing pyrotechnics show that didn’t help her maxed-out stress levels. With a deep breath, she imagined darkness where there was light. When she dared a peek, the fire was gone. Thank the powers.
“Quick work.” Delia sounded almost impressed. “Maybe we should race sometime.”
“Right, except if you’d used your air element, we’d both be unconscious. Me from oxygen deprivation and you from magic drain.” Petty, but true.
Delia’s powers would have her blonde butt on the floor within seconds—the price of her whirlwind-slinging element. Then the designer diva would be pissed off that she’d gotten soot on her suit. The tornado-tosser looked anything but amused. “Okay, super witch.” Which sounded like a not-so-subtle reference to another word ending in –itch. This was big sister bossiness at its worst. “Care to hit any of the real targets now? I thought you’d been working on this during your training sessions.”
“Don’t you have something better to do? Like making out with your fiancé? Since that’s all I see you doing these days when you’re training.” Mina wiggled her fingers in air quotes with the last word.
“Jealous?”
“Nope.” She totally was. Legacy daughters—those witches born to rule the witch Senate—were traditionally forced into arranged matches for powerful bloodlines and big bank accounts. But not her sisters. No. They’d each risen above that to find true freaking love. “So why don’t you get back to your guy instead of interrupting me?”
“Don’t be such a brat. I was just checking on you.”
Because Mina was the screw-up baby sister. Not as bad as their brother, but he’d set the bar low. As in conspiring with the Revelare, a demon-led organization looking to overthrow the witch Senate—that kind of low. “I can do this by myself.”
Author Bio:
Luna Joya writes sexy hexy romances in the award-winning Legacy Series.
Fluent in sarcasm and penal code, Luna prosecutes by day and writes at night. She loves history, especially Los Angeles and Hollywood lore.
A survivor of traumatic brain injury with steel body parts, she lives in SoCal with her combat veteran husband and their two-pound terror of a rescue pup.
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July 23, 2021
#RachelReviews CHASING THE WHITE RABBIT by Felicity Brandon
BLURB:
I'm savage, suave and calculating,
And so is the organization I work for.
Poor Alice doesn't stand a chance.
Since she tumbled into our dark world,
I'll take her, play with her--devour her.
But once she's had a taste of my madness,
Will there be any coming back?
From USA Today Bestselling author, Felicity Brandon, comes a dark mafia romance series. Hold tight, and let this fast-paced, prequel leave you breathless.
I’m not even sure where to begin with this review… this is my first book by Felicity Brandon, but it won’t be my last. Simply stated, I LOVED this tale. While I’m familiar with the mafia genre through film, I’ve not read much of it, so this was a treat. A tumbling, turning, curiouser and curiouser manipulation of words.
Chasing the White Rabbit is just one of many installments in the Bleeding Souls Saved by Love! collection of fable retellings, and Ms. Brandon nailed it. She balances a plausible storyline threaded with an undercurrent of BDSM, much to the pleasure of my kinky heart, with aptly placed Alice in Wonderland Easter eggs.
A quick and easy read, both in brevity and page-swiping need, this book will pull you down the rabbit hole and take you into an underground world of titillating nuances between reality and fantasy. If you can deny the lure of the White Rabbit and the Mad Hatter, more power to you. I’d rather not resist, however, so I’ll be sat here grinning like the Cheshire Cat who got the cream.
BOOK BLITZ: The Fake Prince Jake by Geoffrey Knight #GIVEAWAY
The Fake Prince Jake
Geoffrey Knight
Publication date: July 20th 2021
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
♥ Gay Rom-Com ♥ Royal Romance ♥ Pretend Prince
A pretend prince, a crazy king and a daring royal ruse that may or may not lead to true love… what could possibly go wrong?
Far too busy with his career to barely look twice at the hot barista who makes his coffee every morning – let alone ever dream of having a love life of his own – events manager Oliver Albright commits all his time and energy to the PR company that keeps the British Royal Family in the business of, well, being royal. But when he is charged with the job of finding the wayward Prince Jacob of Nottingham and escorting him to the tiny medieval kingdom of Zsnovania, Oliver must throw his run sheets out the window and pull off the greatest royal bluff of the century in order to prevent the utterly bonkers King Zorg of Zsnovania from declaring war on England.
With the help of his trusty assistant Audrey, his recently separated mother Judy, and a sexy American barista with an uncanny likeness to the missing prince, Oliver finds himself embroiled in the craziest quest of his career, all the while falling head over heels in love with…
The Fake Prince Jake.
The Fake Prince Jake is a 65k-word, laugh-out-loud, royal rom-com filled with fairytale romance, crazy capers and a zany cast of supporting characters. Expect to be swept off your feet but be sure to avoid the woofenschlok!
—
EXCERPT:
A short time later there I was, sitting opposite sexy barista guy in the small, empty restaurant wondering how exactly I was going to open this conversation. Thankfully, the waiter kicked things off.
“Would you like to order?”
“Yes please.” Without even looking at the menus the waiter offered I said to Jace, “Can I recommend the Caesar salad? It’s very good.”
“That sounds great.”
“We’ll have two of those, thanks.”
The waiter left and I took a deep breath. “So… thanks for agreeing to come to lunch,” was the safe yet successful start to my pitch. So far, so good.
“I gotta admit, I wasn’t expecting it. To be honest, most days I didn’t think you even noticed me. I never imagined you’d ask me out on a date.”
“Oh! Ah…” I didn’t have time to let him down easy, so I cut to the chase. “Sorry, but this isn’t a date.”
He gave me a confused smirk and his dimple appeared. “I thought you asked me out to lunch. And now we’re sitting here… in a restaurant… just ordered lunch. Am I missing something?”
“Perhaps I should have made myself a little clearer. You see, Jason…”
“Jace.”
“You see, Jace. The thing is, I’m here to discuss a job offer with you.”
“You want me to work at one of your events?”
“Yes. In a way.”
He shrugged casually and said, “Sure. I’m always looking for a little extra cash. Do you need me to make coffees or work as a waiter? Wow, imagine working for the Royal Family. What an adventure that’d be!”
As he spoke, I saw the smile spread across his face and the faraway gleam in his eye. For a fleeting moment I was envious of this handsome traveller. He was a man who saw mountains and oceans in his dreams, while all I saw were run sheets and production schedules.
But envy was replaced by the notion that Jace was exactly the person we needed right now.
Someone who loved the thought of adventure.
“Actually, I don’t need you to make coffee or wait tables. But trust me, I’m willing to pay you above and beyond what you’re earning now.”
“Oh!” Jace said, a realisation dawning on his face. “Hell, I’m up for anything. Although to be honest, you could have had me for free… you’re an attractive guy and if I told you my heart didn’t skip a beat when you asked me out for lunch I’d be lying. So, if that’s what you’re offering, I sure as hell won’t say no.”
He’d lost me. “Say no to what?”
“Sex. You wanna pay me to have sex with you, right?”
I gasped so hard I began to splutter. “No! Oh God, no! There is strictly no sex involved here.”
“That’s kinda disappointing. Do you need a glass of water? Waiter! Can we please get some water over here?”
The waiter came over with a pitcher of water and two glasses.
As the waiter left, I drained a glass and my coughing settled.
“So that’s a ‘no’ to sex?” Jace asked, rather amused.
I nodded. “Forgive me, I’m normally quite good at pitching ideas but I dare say I’ve done a dreadful job of this one. Do you mind if we start over? I’m a little flustered.”
“You’re cute when you’re flustered.”
“I am?” I gulped more water and tried to ignore the stirring in my loins. ‘Cute’ was not a word people normally used to describe me, what with my boring brown eyes and my boring brown hair combed neatly in a nerdish and rather boring part to the left. People called me ‘capable,’ People called me ‘reliable.’ People called me ‘organised.’ But ‘cute’?
“You heard me. Cute.” He smiled, and there was that dimple again. For God’s sake, if he wanted to be shown the real definition of ‘cute,’ all he needed was a mirror. “But let’s not get you even more flustered than you already are. Tell me about this strictly-no-sex job offer of yours.”
I cleared my throat. “As you know, Audrey and I work in events for the Royal Family. We organise charity events, the opening of a library, the extension of a hospital wing, things like that. At each event, someone from the Royal Family does the honours of marking the occasion, they cut a ribbon, they say some words of encouragement, shake a few hands, collect a couple of bouquets of flowers and that’s pretty much it.”
“I think you’re selling yourself short. I’ve seen how stressed you get, I think your job is a bigger deal than you’re making out.”
“Thank you. Yes, it can be stressful. Like the assignment we have right now.”
“What is it?”
“Let me try to be as succinct as possible for you. In a nutshell, there’s a tiny kingdom in Eastern Europe called Zsnovania ruled by a king named Zorg. We need to return a royal sceptre that once belonged to Zsnovania. More specifically, the King has requested Prince Jacob of Nottingham to present him the sceptre in person, as something of an apology from England and the Royal Family. There’s just one catch. We need to fly to Zsnovania tomorrow and Prince Jake, as he’s known— among other things— has gone missing with little to no hope of finding him in time.”
“Wow. That does sound stressful. But what’s it got to do with me?”
“Here’s the kicker,” I said, sitting forward. “With a haircut and a shave, you’re a dead ringer for the Prince of Nottingham.”
“I am?”
“You are.”
Jace pondered this a moment, then suddenly the pennies dropped like a jackpot into the coin tray of a slot machine. “Oh my God! You want me to go to Zsnovania with you.”
“You do have a passport, don’t you?”
“Yes, but the name on it says Jason Daniels. There’s no Prince in front of it.”
“Leave all that to me. So long as you’ve got a passport, I can get you out of the country. We don’t need you to dress up as Prince Jake till we get to Zsnovania. Once we’re there, fingers crossed nobody will know the difference.”
“Fingers crossed?”
“And toes of course.”
“Is this how you run all your events?”
“Oh, bloody hell no. I’m normally very professional. This particular assignment’s a little different though. Apparently, it’s my traineeship in thinking outside the square.”
I let my crazy plan sink in a little more as Jace sat there pondering for a moment longer. Eventually he said, “So let me get this right. I look like the Prince of Nottingham.”
“Yes.”
“The same Prince of Nottingham who needs to be in Eastern Europe tomorrow but has gone missing.”
“That’s correct.”
“So, you want me… to pretend to be him.”
“Bingo!”
“You’re putting your job in my hands when you don’t even know me?”
“You’re the spitting image of the Prince. That’s all I need to know. And to be perfectly honest, without you I won’t have a job anyway.”
His eyes narrowed. “How much are you offering?”
“Five-thousand pounds. That should be enough to fund your stay in London for a while.”
He nodded approvingly at the offer and I could see I almost had him across the line until his brow creased with suspicion. “Wait a minute… I’m not gonna wake up in a bathtub full of ice and a note that says one of my kidneys is missing, am I?”
I thought about all the stories of Zsnovania and King Zorg I’d heard so far. “Truthfully… I can’t guarantee that won’t happen. But if it does, I promise it won’t be my doing.”
Jace grinned. “That’s good enough for me. Oliver, you’ve got yourself a prince.” He reached across the table and shaking my hand he added, “This is gonna be one hell of an adventure.”
I took a deep breath. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
“Wait a second,” he suddenly thought aloud. “I’ve got an American accent. I don’t know how to speak English.”
“You’re speaking English now.”
“You know what I mean. I don’t have a British accent. How can I pull that off? I’m not an actor.”
“Don’t worry,” I assured him. “I’ve got that covered too… I hope.”
Author Bio:
For exclusive bonus material, giveaways, sneak peeks and all the latest news on Geoffrey's books, sign up to his newsletter at: www.authorgeoffreyknight.com
Geoffrey Knight is the author of gay fiction novels, novellas and short stories, ranging in genre from gay adventure, gay romance, gay suspense and gay comedies.
The heroes of Geoffrey's books love to spend their time jumping off the page, seeking lost treasures, unraveling mysteries or falling in love.
Geoffrey is the recipient of two Rainbow Awards including Best Mystery Winner and Best Overall Gay Fiction Runner-up. His work has been featured in several anthologies including Best Gay Erotica 2013, and he appeared as Guest of Honor at the inaugural Rainbow Con in Florida, 2014.
Geoffrey has worked in advertising, politics, journalism and event management, but nothing is as fun as telling stories. He lives with his partner, their young daughter and their small furry family in a rambling old house in North Queensland, Australia, where the paint is fraying and life is good.
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BOOK BLITZ: Ranger by Harley Wylde #GIVEAWAY
Ranger
Harley Wylde
(Reckless Kings MC, #3)
Published by: Changeling Press
Publication date: July 16th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Danica — I followed in my dad’s footsteps, chasing the rodeo. It’s been my life, other than friends and family with the Dixie Reapers. Until now, no one’s really noticed me. I’ve barely dated, and at twenty-three, I’m still a virgin. Then he walks in. Ranger. A Reckless King, and so far out of my league. But one kiss, and I know I’ll remember him forever… even after he walks away.
I didn’t think we had a future. Thought he’d forget I exist. But I was wrong. He wants me, every bit as much as I want him.
Ranger — I saw her ride in a rodeo a year ago, and she held me spellbound. Running into her again at the Dixie Reapers, I’m not sure I can keep my hands to myself. She’s Cowboy’s daughter, and I should keep my distance. Too bad I’ve never been all that great at following the rules.
Only one thing is standing in my way. There’s someone stalking her. A man who thinks she’s his. He’s wrong. Danica will be mine, one way or another. Anyone who stands in the way will wish they’d never heard of me.
WARNING: Ranger is recommended for adult readers. It has coarse language, adult situations, and discusses events, like stalking and assault, that may trigger some readers. There is no cheating, a guaranteed happily-ever-after, and no cliffhanger!
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—
EXCERPT:
“Why did I let you talk me into this?” I asked.
Scott grinned. “You’ll like it. First time a bull stomps some poor cowboy, you’ll be just as into it as the rest of the crowd.”
“Your idea of entertainment is fucked up.”
He ignored me and led us farther through the crowd. We ended up on bleachers halfway up, which gave us a decent view of the arena. I should have told him to fuck off and gone to a bar. Instead, I’d let him talk me into going to a rodeo. In my cut and motorcycle boots, I stuck out like a sore thumb. Scott had on his cowboy boots and a cowboy hat, which made sense seeing as how he worked on a horse farm outside Atlanta. My cowboy days were over. Long over.
“We just have to make it through the bronc riders and barrel racers before the bulls come out,” Scott said. “Some of the barrel racers are good eye candy, though. A few of them compete all over the country.”
Why did it not surprise me he’d be checking out the women, even the ones in the rodeo? The ladies had always loved Scott. Back when I’d served with him in the Army, I’d seen him walk out of a bar with two or three women hanging off him. I’d been leery of being with random women, unless I used a condom I’d brought with me. Even then, nothing was foolproof.
“Next up is Danica Adler on Windstorm,” the announcer said.
“Oh, this will be good.” Scott rubbed his hands on his thighs. “She’s one of the favorites.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Her dad is a champion rodeo rider. Last I heard, he was like you… a biker. They live down someplace in Alabama. Both his kids are following in his footsteps. Danica runs barrels and his son rides bulls. They’re both damn good too.”
I focused on the arena when a horse shot out of the gate. The slim rider on his back clung to him as he raced around the barrels. I couldn’t see much of her, except long honey-colored hair and curves that made my mouth water. When she finished her run, the announcer whooped with excitement.
“She did good?” I asked Scott. I might have lived around horses most of my life, but I’d never really cared about going to a rodeo. I damn sure hadn’t had a reason to watch anyone run barrels.
“Hell yeah! I bet she wins tonight.” He smiled and nudged me with his shoulder. “Told you this would be fun.”
Beast had sent me to Atlanta for a drop-off, so I’d thought I’d hang at a bar tonight before heading home. Nope. I’d decided to look up my old buddy Scott, and he’d nixed that idea almost immediately, so here I was at a rodeo. A rodeo. Although, I had to admit, watching Danica had been pretty exciting, even if it had ended quickly.
I spotted Danica making her way through the crowd. The smile on her face made my heart slam against my ribs. Fuck but she was pretty. Not gorgeous, but a sweet girl-next-door type. She just happened to be exactly the sort of woman I went for. Knowing she was a biker’s daughter, and from Alabama, made me think she was most likely Cowboy’s daughter and therefore the property of the Dixie Reapers. Which meant she was hands-off. Didn’t stop me from wanting her.
One night of fun was one thing, but forever? I knew if I put my hands on her, one of two things would happen. Either her daddy would demand I claim her, or he’d make sure no one ever found my body. Hell, he’d probably string me up for even looking at her the way I was right now. If he was like the others, and like Beast, then I had no doubt he was overprotective of his daughter.
Scott jammed his elbow into my ribs. “Don’t stare too hard. You know damn well her dad would have your balls.”
Right. I scanned the crowd, wondering if there might be a willing woman, and soon realized they were all about the cowboys and boots and wouldn’t want a damn thing to do with a biker. I may have grown up on a horse farm in Middle Tennessee, but those days were a thing of the past. I hadn’t been on a horse in years and didn’t plan to start now. Why the fuck did I let Scott talk me into shit like this? It wasn’t the first time I’d listened to him instead of doing what I’d originally planned, and it always came back to bite me in the ass in one way or another.
“You owe me,” I said.
“Oh, please. You may not be able to touch, but you can’t tell me Danica won’t be in your spank bank for a long while. The girl has legs for days, even if she is on the petite side. I’m not blind. I can appreciate all she has to offer. Doesn’t mean I’m stupid enough to try and go there.”
“I had plans for tonight. None of which included going to bed alone, so thanks for nothing.”
Scott sighed. “We’ll hit up a bar on the way back to the motel. You can find some easy pussy.”
“Like you plan on abstaining?” I asked.
He shrugged and looked off in the direction Danica had just disappeared. I narrowed my eyes at him and had the sudden urge to beat the shit out of Scott. Did he have a thing for the Reaper’s daughter? I hadn’t even spoken to her, and yet part of me wanted to blind any fucker who dared look her way. Scott included. What the fuck was wrong with me?
I definitely needed to get laid and put Danica out of my mind. No fucking way I’d ever be able to go there. Scott was right about one thing, though. She’d be starring in my fantasies for a long while.[image error]
Author Bio:
Harley Wylde is the International Bestselling Author of the Dixie Reapers MC, Devil's Boneyard MC, and Hades Abyss MC series.When Harley's writing, her motto is the hotter the better -- off the charts sex, commanding men, and the women who can't deny them. If you want men who talk dirty, are sexy as hell, and take what they want, then you've come to the right place. She doesn't shy away from the dangers and nastiness in the world, bringing those realities to the pages of her books, but always gives her characters a happily-ever-after and makes sure the bad guys get what they deserve.The times Harley isn't writing, she's thinking up naughty things to do to her husband, drinking copious amounts of Starbucks, and reading. She loves to read and devours a book a day, sometimes more. She's also fond of TV shows and movies from the 1980's, as well as paranormal shows from the 1990's to today, even though she'd much rather be reading or writing.
You can find out more about Harley or enter her monthly giveaway on her website. Be sure to join her newsletter while you're there to learn more about discounts, signing events, and other goodies!
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