Twinkle (Sugandha) Varshney's Blog, page 289

This Time By Laura N. Andrews

 On sale for $1.99! Author: Laura N. AndrewsTitle: This TimeSeries: Timeless Love series, Book 1Genre: Erotic Romance / HumorRelease Date: July 23, 2016Publisher: Hot Tree PublishingDesigner: Claire Smith When Charlie Blake goes out scouting for a man at a club, she isn’t playing for keeps. Her life is too crazy complicated and busy to get involved with another guy who could screw her over.

Brad Jackson has a painful history with women. He has no intention to lower his guard enough to trust again. The burns remain too raw.

From the moment Brad spots her, his conviction crumbles. In its wake is possibility. But it'll take more than sexual attraction to pave their way to trust and love. Can there be a happily ever after... This time?

New Release Sale! Only $1.99 now through August 8th Amazon: US | UK | AU | CA
iBooks | ARe | Nook | Kobo

“Thank you,” she murmurs with tired gratitude.
“You’re welcome.”
“I’ll go. I just need a moment.”
I sit down on the bed. “There’s no rush. I don’t have to leave for another half hour.” 
Her eyes close. The poor thing; she’s exhausted. For some reason, I get the sense it isn’t just because of our sexual activities. She did seem stressed before….
“Hop in the shower with me?” I suggest, stroking her hair back from her face.
She opens her eyes, and suspicion is evident. “A shower?”
“Yeah.” I grin with a shrug. “The act of being underneath a spray of water used to clean oneself?”
“Smart-arse,” she grunts with a smile. “Um… Okay.” 
Charlie sits up and takes my offered hand. I lead the way and get the hot water started. She seems timid; maybe she isn’t used to too much interaction with a guy after the sex is over. Mind you, I don’t usually make a habit of dragging these things out. But Charlie is different. The attraction I have for her is completely new for me. Without even knowing her at all, there is still a sense of connection. At least, for me there is.
Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
I was born in Canada, Montreal, and have lived in Australia since I was three years old. When I finished high school I studied – and received a Diploma – in Law Enforcement. Now, I’ve been working for over five years as a pharmacy assistant. When I’m not working or spending time with family and friends, you will find me either curled up with a book or writing one of my own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Rafflecopter Share Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/disp...

Off Key by C.J. Martin

[image error] One Agreement. Two friends. Three Rules.No one gets hurt…Brandon Kresge has it all. A hot music career. An even hotter body. And tons of adoring fans willing to…yeah. By all appearances his life is perfect. But appearances aren’t always what they seem.Years of experience have made him skilled at hiding the truth. From the media. From his friends. From his band mates. But all that changes when he meets her. She breaks down every one of his barriers and leaves him stripped bare.Brynn Richer doesn’t have her life figured out, but then again, how many twenty-three-year-olds do? All she wants is to dance, a decision her mother is adamantly against. But despite the cards being stacked against her, she moves to New York City to pursue her passion. One crazy decision causes her path to intersect with the sexy, troubled lead singer of Wreckless Abandon. She knows this man will break her, knows she should steer clear of him, but she’s powerless to resist him.What happens when lines between friendship and love are blurred? What happens when rules are broken and they are forced to choose? Can they work through their struggles to find their happily ever after or are some things too hurtful, too damaged to be fixed?This is a standalone novel with an HEA. It contains mature themes, strong language and sexual situations, and is intended for mature readers. Amazon US I Amazon UK [image error] CJ Martín lives in Pennsylvania with her wonderful husband and her adorable (sometimes infuriating) dog, Albert. She is an avid reader and has been known to spend her days ignoring her responsibilities while engrossed in a good book. She enjoys traveling and yoga. [image error] [image error] [image error]

Shadows May Fall By Mell Corcoran

Thriller / Mystery / CrimePublisher: Mill City PressDate Published: June 2016



Barely catching her breath after wrapping up a string of complex murders, homicide detective Lou Donovan finds herself on the hunt for a new killer with some seriously twisted methods. The ghastly slaughters turn even veteran cops several shades of green, and it’s up to Lou and her new partner to follow their instincts down their dark and deadly path.
As if tracking down a murderer wasn’t enough, Lou finds herself in the middle of a delicate balancing act. Her new and unfamiliar role among one of the world’s most powerful, clandestine organizations has her second-guessing her own instincts. It’s made all the more difficult due to Lou’s refusal to face her inexplicable longing for the new man that looms at the center of her universe.
The third installment in the Series of Shadows saga, Shadows May Fall, follows the series’s beloved detective as she faces new challenges, both professional and personal. Will Lou sort out her tangled life, or will her unresolved emotions result in tragedy?

Other Books in the Series of Shadows Series

Publisher: Mill City PressPublished: March 2013
Humans sit comfortably at the summit of the food chain; rarely does any other animal get the advantage. But other people? Now there's something to fear. 
In Mell Corcoran's thrilling crime novel debut, Shadows of Doubt, women are being hunted, tortured, killed and their assailant leaves the same clue on each of them but it has no scientific explanation. Detective Lou Donovan must figure out this killer's signature because he's escalating and no one knows where he will strike next. 
When the first victim appears in Shadow of Doubt Lou nor her partner wants the case but it's shoved in their laps. As soon as they make some progress, however, the case is taken from them and the explanation is weak at best. Lou won't let go and tries to work below the radar but she's foiled at every turn. It's as if someone is watching her and knows her every move. 
Publisher: Mill City PressPublished: February 2014

An affluent community, a gruesome crime scene and zero forensic evidence. Three headless bodies and an empty house are all detectives have to go on and the clock is ticking. In this second installment in a Series of Shadows, Detective Lou Donovan is back on the case barely recovered from her brush with death in Shadows of Doubt. Despite her life being turned upside down after stumbling upon a world she never knew existed, Lou must adapt and face her new circumstances in a hurry before more bodies start piling up.
In this intense and complex case, Lou and her team must figure out who their headless victims are, who would go to such elaborate lengths and why. As they dig, they uncover more questions than answers. On top of that, Lou must deal with being assigned a new partner and the problems that adds to the mix.
Is a notorious drug cartel behind these brutal slayings or is something far more evil behind the scenes? Sometimes the truth is better left in the shadows.




About the Author

After nearly two decades working in the legal profession, Mell Corcoran made a major career shift to pursue her passion as a writer. The author of the critically acclaimed Series of Shadows, including Shadows of Doubt and Shadows of Deceit, Mell has found her bliss as a mystery-thriller writer.
A native Southern Californian, Mell was born into a large stereotypical Irish-American family, many in law enforcement, which fostered a unique perspective in her writing. She is an avid animal lover, hockey fan, would-be golfer and aspiring tech geek. Mell resides with her family just outside Los Angeles, California.
Contact Links
WebsiteTwitterFacebook
Purchase Links
Barnes and NobleAmazon

Avarice by A.C. Melody

[image error] Devils OnlyIt was a permanent note-to-self tattooed right above Kameo Kross's panties, because anything less was a disappointment. Had anyone cared to issue the warning: Be careful what you wish for, she might have thought twice before wording it like an actual invitation.Kami doesn't fear pain, death or eternal damnation. She fears only submitting completely. A matter she usually has well in hand... until an unexpected detour into kink and a relentless bastard of a new boss decide to put all of her resistance–and chosen ink–to the trickiest of tests. [image error] A.C. Melody is a quirky, unconventional and often contrary (mostly to herself) hybrid author, both traditionally and self-published. She has a soft spot for hard ass alphas and the strong women who capture their hearts. Her favorite part of writing, is having the ability to explore her favorite subjects from angels she's never read before. Also, she loves putting her characters through the ringer one way or another, to expose all of the various facets that make them tick.Outside of writing, A.C. is a confessed javaholic who loves reading, music, gaming, American Football, ancient civilizations, foreign cultures and everything supernatural. She has an insatiable curiosity that tends to earn her more hobbies than time. You can find her in the beautifully green Pacific Northwest with her two teenage sons and two blue-eyed, Himalayan-Siamese mixes who think they own the joint. [image error] [image error] [image error] [image error] [image error] [image error]

BOOMERANG by E.M. Denning

BOOMERANGbyE.M. DenningPublisher: Paper Gold PublishingGenre: Stepbrother RomanceContent Warning: 18+
Eli Cooper and Violet Holt haven’t gotten along well in the year their parents have been married, so it’s better that they don’t see each other often. After an averted disaster, sparks fly and now Violet can’t get Eli off her mind. Violet only has to avoid him for thirty more days, then she’ll be safely back at college and can focus her energy on her studies, but Eli isn’t so easily ignored.

Eventually, passion flares and they both give into temptation. Only one question remains when it’s over– What do you do when the one person you can’t get over is the one person you’re not supposed to be with?

Three hours until I was on a plane, and my heart was a rock in my chest. Eli and I had avoided each other since the other day after the country club, but not because we suddenly regretted what we’d done. I sighed and shoved another armload of clothes into my suitcase. It would be easier if I regretted it. The problem was I didn’t. I should have, probably, at least a little, but I couldn’t. And I didn’t think he regretted it either. Every time we were alone we stole glances at one another, and when our gazes met, I always felt a shockwave in the deepest parts of myself.

I turned as someone softly knocked on my door.

“Come in.”

My breath caught in my throat when Eli walked into my room. He softly shut the door behind him.

“I wanted to say goodbye.” His voice sounded strained, as if he held back a mountain of emotion.

I tried to force a smile, but it fell flat. “You’ll see me at Thanksgiving.” I tore my gaze away. “I have a lot of packing to do.”

Eli nodded. “I should let you get to it.”

He headed for the door, and I suddenly couldn’t stand the thought of him leaving this room. A stilted goodbye wasn’t how I wanted to leave things between us.

“Eli, wait.” I reached for my sketchbook and flipped to a recent sketch I’d done of him and Boomer. I carefully tore it out. “I want you to have this.” My fingers trembled as I held it out to him.

He took the paper, held it carefully in his fingers. After a long moment, he slowly raised his gaze. “Violet.”

Our resolve collectively crumbled and we took a step toward each other at the same time. Our mouths crashed together, and for thirty or forty of the most delicious seconds I’d ever experienced, we kissed. Nothing else existed. Just his breath, my breath. His lips, his tongue, the way his hand felt as he tenderly cupped the side of my face. I was the first to pull away, though, because this couldn’t go on. This had to stop now, with the end of summer. I’d go to college and get over this, whatever it was. Everything would go back to normal. It had to.

“Goodbye, Eli.” Two words. Four syllables. That was all it took to break my heart.

Eli took a step back and cocked a smile. “See you later, Vi.”

The words came out in his usual careless way, but his smile didn’t reach his eyes, and I saw the sadness in them. He slipped out of the room, and I spent the next few minutes staring at the door. I was completely hollow, numb inside and out. I told myself it would pass. The emptiness would fade and life would go back to normal once I was back on campus.
Amazon ✯ Paperback ✯ B&N ✯ Kobo ✯ Goodreads ✯ Scribd ✯ iTunes E. M. Denning is a writer from British Columbia. She loves her family and her animals and anything cute and fuzzy. She was born a hopeless romantic and when she’s not writing romance, she’s probably reading it. She loves love.

Goodreads ✯ Twitter ✯ Facebook ✯ Amazon ✯ Website ✯ Google+ ✯ Tumblr ✯ Paper Gold Publishing
MoB Promotions

Never A Choice By Dee Palmer

Erotic Romantic SuspenseRomantic: Hot Alpha, Billionaire Romantic SuspenseDate Published: March 2016

Bethany Thorne has secrets and she’s told a few lies but she’s hurt no-one. She just wants a better life, she works hard for a better life, a life with choices but a chance encounter at her new University with billionaire, hot alpha Daniel Stone makes her heart beat, her body tremble and rocks her very foundation. Reeling from the intensity of her unfathomable reactions to this man her world is sent further spiralling out of her control when on this first meeting he casually whispers that he knows she’s a liar. Bethany begins to feel her hard earned choices start to disintegrate before her.
Her innate and newly discovered submissive nature is highlighted further by her extreme reaction to each encounter with alpha Daniel Stone. Seriously hot, dark and dominant he evokes an instant heat and desire she has never felt before, but he is dangerous, he is powerful and he seems to see right through her. Choosing to try and stay under his radar proves to be the first choice to slip through her fingers.
Other Books in The Choices Trilogy 
Published: April 2015
Dark and erotically demanding Daniel is everything and more, Bethany embraces the challenge of being with a man like Daniel whilst trying to come to terms with what he needs and what she can give him of herself. Is it ever going to be enough? Daniel consumes and possess every part of her, its intoxicating and seductive. Bethany needs to choose between being true to herself and the promises she made and being the type woman Daniel demands.
Published: June 2015
Bethany’s devastation is complete. Secrets, lies and impossible choices have torn her world apart but it is not the first time she has had to rebuild her world. So she’ll do it again...she has to.
When Bethany meets Daniel, she is backed into a corner and with the threat of losing even more she comes out fighting. Daniel quickly learns there is nothing quite as intoxicating as a woman with nothing left to lose and nothing quite as irresistible as his Bethany. But there are more games being played than either of them are truly aware and the winning prize is a coveted Happy Ever After.

About the Author
Dee Palmer hates talking about herself in the third person so I won't. My husband had my iPod engraved one Christmas with 'sing like no-one's listening' and I know my family actually wish they weren't listening because I am, in fact, tone deaf but it doesn't stop me and this gentle support has enabled me to fulfill a dream. This has been a truly brilliant experience. It has undoubtedly been made possible by my incredibly supportive family. I know this is very much another acknowledgment bit but I know I wouldn't be writing even this single paragraph if it wasn't for them so this is about who I am, I am because they let me be.
Contact Links
WebsiteTwitterFacebook

Purchase Links
Amazon

The Absolution of Catherine Brodie by Grace Harper

THE ABSOLUTION OF CATHERINE BRODIE  Book 4 of the Brodie Saga by  Grace Harper
Cover Designer: The Graphics Shed Genre: Romantic Suspense
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today . . .”

Erin Brodie is engaged to record label owner, Alexander Devlin and they are to be married in one week’s time. They have to get through seven days of wedding preparation and then their happily ever after is sealed.

However, Stacey Chambers has been given a day pass for the nuptials. Jude North is contemplating defecting from Red&Black’s to Quinn’s record label. Then there’s Quinn, who manages to smash apart Erin’s legacy in one day.

Everyone returns to gather for the wedding. Tom and Mickey come back to protect the happy couple. Tara, Seb and Louise are determined to get them down the aisle.

It’s time Catherine Brodie became Mrs Devlin, will she make it?

The final book in the Brodie Saga

Prologue from The Disappearance of Catherine Brodie

Patrick ChambersJuly, Ten Years AgoBrighton

Patrick panicked quietly in the corner of the waiting area. He was going out of his mind with worry, the hearing had been taking so long. His father had been in the meeting room for four hours and no one had left or entered during that time. His mother’s nerves were so fraught she couldn’t leave the house. His sister preferred to be at the courthouse to hear the outcome of the public case against the hospital. He wanted to be there for his dad to hear the news. Each minute that passed caused his heart to constrict, the beginnings of a headache formed behind his eyes. The hospital board needed to decide his father’s fate, but Patrick believed his father wasn’t to blame. He didn’t do what they were accusing him of, he didn’t kill that boy.

The constant activity in the hospital corridor irritated him, people rushing back and forth to their offices, carrying files and folders. Several people smiled as they passed, he didn’t acknowledge them. Some of the blurred bodies tried to talk to him, but he ignored them. He didn’t care that they wanted to offer support, but he couldn’t hear them. The screaming noises in his head drowned out any words spoken.

He had his back to the door to the conference room when it opened and he spun around. He knocked a young girl off balance in his hurry to get to his father. Patrick grabbed her shoulders to steady her and stalked off in the direction of the open doors. His father stumbled out through the conference room door, his face was ashen, and his eyes glazed over as he clung to the metal frame. He found his balance and strode along the corridor with purpose, ignoring Patrick’s questions about what had happened.

Patrick and his father descended in the elevator in silence, they were not alone. All the passengers squashed in to get to the floor they needed. Patrick kept his eyes on his dad who ended up on the opposite side of the small box elevator. He didn’t let him out of his sight as his father bolted as soon as the door opened. Patrick chased him down the corridor and out into the sunshine, his father advanced around the building towards the car park, ignoring his pleas to stop. Finally, Patrick’s father came to a stop at his car, and he stood there squinting, blinking rapidly.

“What did they say, dad? What’s happening?” Patrick asked frantically. He circled around his father’s body to stand in front of him, and they were eye to eye. He had aged mentally ten years in the last six months, he wished he was still the foolish, naive nineteen-year-old he was six months ago. Patrick may have equalled his dad’s height, but he was no match in stature. Patrick was skinny and awkward and his father was tall, broad and foreboding. At this moment, his youthful features had aged, with his shoulders sagging in defeat. Patrick placed his hands on his dad’s shoulders and gave him a little shake. He lifted his head, looked him straight in the eyes and told him what they said.

The news shocked Patrick, genuinely stunned, he had an unpleasant taste in his mouth, his family would never be the same again and there was only one person to blame.

Amazon ✯ Goodreads
The Disappearance of Catherine Brodie ✯ The Recovery of Catherine Brodie ✯ The Survivial of Catherine Brodie
Grace Harper is a British author who loves to write about strong women and the friends and lovers who make them stronger. She adores writing steamy scenes of first encounters and there is always a little twist along the way.

When Grace is not writing, she can be found mooching about in stationery stores, dreaming up tattoo designs or teasing her friends until everyone is in fits of giggles. Grace might have a Maltesers addiction but is not ready to stand up and own that just yet.

Goodreads ✯ Twitter ✯ Facebook (group) ✯ Website ✯ Facebook ✯ Instagram ✯ Amazon a Rafflecopter giveaway MoB Promotions

Revenge by Anne L. Parks

Title: Revenge, A Tri-Stone Trilogy Book TwoAuthor: Anne L. ParksGenre: Romantic SuspenseRelease Date: July 28, 2016    
Buy The BookAmazon ~ iBooks ~ BN ~ KoboBlurbRecovering from a gunshot wound that nearly killed her, Kylie is tormented by her ex-boyfriend’s final words—to have her forever, even if it means she must die. 
Desperate to regain her life, Kylie’s world is turned upside down when she discovers Alex betrayed her. The life she dreamed of now uncertain, she slips further into madness, convinced she is being stalked by John’s ghost. 
Kylie fights to regain control of her life and salvage her relationship with Alex. Fearing she will never escape her ex-boyfriend’s revenge, she devises a plan to destroy her demon—at any cost.   
Excerpt"Well, well, if it isn't Kylie Tate."

 My eyes pop open. Heat flushes through my body, and I'm instantly tense.

Rebekah. The woman who tried her damnedest to come between Alex and me—who nearly succeeded with her lies about a fake affair—stands in an identical robe with a glass of champagne. She slithers onto the chaise next to me.

"How's your closed head injury?" She tips back her champagne, but her gaze never leaves mine.
My pulse races. I want to smack the glass right out of her hand and choke the shit out of her.
"Getting better everyday. Thank you. How's your escort service?"

"Same rude little bitch you've always been, I see. I hear you drove your ex-boyfriend insane, and he tried to kill you."

"Yes, turns out the two of you have a great deal in common. You're both psychotic and have failed at getting rid of me." Heat surges through my body. How dare she twist John's sadistic games into witty reparte? My head is pounding. The pressure at the base of my neck is about to explode. My jaw is clenched so tight, it’s painful. I don't think I have ever wished violence on anyone—until now.    
Other Books In The Series 
SURPRISE COVER REVEALComing March 2017Vindication, A Tri-Stone Trilogy Book ThreeOf Demons & StonesA Tri-Stone Trilogy Book One 
Buy Of Demons & StonesAmazon ~ iBooks ~ BN ~ Kobo     
About The Author 
Born and raised in the Rocky Mountains, Anne L. Parks has spent the last 25 years moving all over the United States. Married to the Navy - well a Commander in the Navy - Parks has lived in various locales throughout the United States. She currently resides in the Washington D.C area, and is loving every minute. When not writing, she spends her time reading, doing yoga, mountain biking, and keeping track of four kids. And drinking wine.
2013 marked her debut in publishing. Her first novel, Strangers, released on her 45th birthday. She was amazed at the number of  people who fell in love with a story about two people dealing with grief, and finding love again. Abby and Bryce were the perfect couple to introduce Parks as an up-and-coming author.
Her second novel, The Return, released in December 2013. A wonderful Christmas romance, it is the first book in the Return To Me series. Book two, Return To Newport, released April 29th, and followed the couple through the murky waters of saying good-bye to a past that refused to let go. Lauren's Return, the third book in the series, released on August 19th. This chronicles the challenges of bringing together a family amidst tragedy and death, and still holding firmly to the love they have fought so hard to keep alive. The fourth book, Returning Home, shifts the focus away from Jake and Eve, and delves into the life Eve's eldest daughter. Clarissa has a secret she has guarded for most of her life. Fearing it will be revealed, she refuses to allow love into her heart - until she meets Griff. December 2014 brought the close of this series, with the release of RSVP: A Return To Me Christmas novella. The wedding of the year is threatened by Mother Nature, forcing the couple to re-evaluate whether "happily ever after" is really attainable.
Stepping out of her comfort zone, Parks delved into the paranormal with a group of highly talented authors. The result? An unexpected fantasy of four sisters fighting to save the earth - and each other - from their deranged mother. Elementals, A Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance Anthology, released on May 15th. Summer brought more collaboration with the release of a Fourth of July themed short story, FlyBoy, that was included in the Sparks Fly boxed set. 
Connect with AnneEmail ~ Reader Group ~  Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads   

Magic And Mayhem Boxed Set by Jasmine Walt

The ULTIMATE Fantasy Boxed Set! 22 NY Times, USA Today and International Bestselling Authors 
21 full-length novels of magic, mayhem, mystery, adventure and romance. Yours for an insanely low price.Get ready to be swept off into lands filled with magic, mystery, action, adventure and even romance with these 21 full-length fantasy novels! With over one-million words packed with witches, dragons, pirates, shape shifters, mercenaries, gods and more, these stories will introduce you to some of the most memorable characters and exotic worlds that exist in fantasy today. No cliffhangers here -- each book is either a standalone or first in series and all have satisfying endings.
22 of the hottest fantasy authors have banded together to bring you this incredible boxed set, but it's only available for a limited time! At this incredibly low price, you're paying a penny per sixty minutes of spellbinding fiction -- a bargain that can't be beat. Grab this collection today before it's gone for good!About the BookMagic And Mayhem Boxed Set
by Jasmine WaltFeaturing
Jasmine Walt 
Internationally Bestselling Author of The Baine Chronicles Series Dima Zales & Anna Zaires
New York Times Bestselling Authors of The Mind Dimensions Series Rebecca Hamilton
USA Today Bestselling Author of The Forever Girl Series Emily Goodwin
Internationally Bestselling Author of the Contagium SeriesMargo Bond Collins
Internationally Bestselling Author of the Legally Undead SeriesJ.A. Cipriano
Internationally Bestselling Author of the Lillim Callina ChroniclesRabia Gale
Internationally Bestselling Author of the Broken Fairy Tales SeriesD.K. Holmberg
Internationally Bestselling Author of The Cloud Warrior SagaThea Atkinson
Internationally Bestselling Author of the Witches of Elantium SeriesEmma L. Adams
Internationally Bestselling Author of The Alliance SeriesS.C. Green
Internationally Bestselling Author of The Engine Ward SeriesA.W. Exley
Internationally Bestselling Author of The Artifact Hunters SeriesJack Conner
Internationally Bestselling Author of The Atomic Sea SeriesGwynn White
Internationally Bestselling Author of The Crown of Blood SeriesLindsey Fairleigh
Internationally Bestselling Author of the Echo TrilogySusan Stec
USA Today Bestselling Author of the Grateful Undead SeriesK. De Long
USA Today Bestselling Author of the Inkubus SeriesTom Shutt
Internationally Bestselling Author of the Brooding City SeriesErin Hayes
Internationally Bestselling Author of The Harker TrilogyCalinda B
Internationally Bestselling Author of the Blurred Lines SeriesNatasha Larry
Internationally Bestselling Author of the Darwin's Children SeriesGenre
Fantasy
Paranormal Fantasy
Urban FantasyPublisher
Blue Bolt PublishingPublication Date
August 2, 2016    This promotion is brought to you by Pure Textuality PR.

Rock with You by Rachel Lacey

[image error] SWEET AS SUGAR. SEXY AS SIN . . . Carly Taylor is pretty sure she's dreaming. It's not possible that Sam Weiss - rock star god and sexy hotness personified - is actually in her bakery. This sort of thing never happens in the too-small town of Haven. Or to her. And being stranded in a secluded mountain cabin with the deliciously decadent Sam during an ice storm? This is definitely not Carly's real life . . .Now there's just the two of them, a roaring fire, lots of food and drink, and a sizzling attraction - one that just might make Carly do the unexpected. For one night, she'll live the fantasy. For one night, nothing else matters. . . not her struggling business, not her lonely life, not Sam's bad-boy reputation. But sometimes one night can turn one crazy, beautiful dream into something real. [image error] Amazon US I Amazon UK I B&N I iBooks I Kobo I Google Play Carly Taylor crouched behind the display case, peeking out between the blueberry muffins and the orange-cranberry scones. A man stood just inside the door, baseball cap pulled low, talking on his phone. He’d never come into A Piece of Cake Bakery before. And it was probably just her imagination playing tricks on her, but she could swear it was Sam Weiss. As in, one of the hottest rock stars in America. Carly peeked at him again from behind the scones, then leaned over to pick up the napkin she’d pretended to drop to give herself an excuse to snoop. Sam Weiss probably lived in Hollywood. There was no way he’d be standing here—sans entourage—in the doorway of her little bakery in Haven, North Carolina, a town in the Smoky Mountains so small that it barely registered as a blip on the map. Nope. She was daydreaming, as usual. She’d listened to Sam’s latest album, Renegade, this morning while she baked, and now she was imagining him here in her shop. “What are you doing down there, Carly?” Carly looked up to see her grandma, Marlene, peering at her over the glass countertop. “I, ah, dropped something.” “Lost in your thoughts again?” her grandmother asked with a wide smile. “Something like that.” Carly climbed to her feet, clutching the dropped napkin. Her grandmother’s friend Dixie stood beside her, her blue eyes twinkling mischievously. “Daydreaming about that handsome young man over by the door, I bet.” Carly resisted the urge to glance in his direction but felt herself grinning anyway. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” “Well, we’re on our way out,” her grandmother said. “Aqua aerobics to work off those muffins.” “Worth every calorie,” Dixie added. The two women waved as they headed for the door, walking past the mystery hottie as they left. Carly’s grandma had created this bakery and ran it happily for over twenty years. She’d retired six months ago, handing over the reins to Carly. But owning A Piece of Cake had been anything but a piece of cake for Carly so far. Profits were down, way down. She needed to get her head out of the clouds—and her mind off certain rock star look-a-likes—before she ran her grandmother’s pride and joy straight into the ground. With a heavy sigh, she tossed the napkin she still held into the trash. “What do you recommend?” She looked up and into the blue eyes of Sam Weiss—or his non-celebrity twin. Lookalike or not, he was ridiculously hot, and she was a dork because her cheeks were burning. He wore a leather jacket over a black T-shirt and dark-washed jeans. But his eyes…wow. He still wore the baseball cap pulled low, with a sinful amount of stubble on his cheeks that all screamed Rock God. “If you have a sweet tooth, you should, um, try a cinnamon bun. They’re my specialty.” He leaned in, resting his elbows on the counter. “I do have a sweet tooth, especially for a pretty woman who bakes. This your place?” That voice. Sweet Jesus. It was smooth as caramel with just a hint of a southern twang, and she’d know it anywhere. Sam Weiss is in my shop! And did he just hit on me? “Yes.” She cleared her throat because why did she suddenly sound like Minnie Mouse? “Yes, this is my shop.” A slow smile curved his lips. “A pretty woman who bakes and owns her own business. I like you already.” “Thanks.” She really shouldn’t keep staring, but whoa, her brain was short-circuiting because…Sam Weiss. In her shop. Looking like sex on a stick, and he smelled pretty awesome too, like some kind of expensive cologne. Yum. “I’ll try one of your cinnamon buns…” He paused, glancing down for the nametag she never wore since everyone in town already knew her name. “Carly,” she said, still sounding a bit like she’d inhaled helium. “Carly.” He met her gaze again, and the sound of her name on his lips made her knees wobble. “And a coffee, black.” “You got it,” she said with a smile that felt weird on her face, and God, why was she being such an idiot? “For here?” He nodded, watching her intently as if he’d figured out by all her bumbling dorkiness that she’d recognized him because, really, how could he not? At least he looked amused instead of annoyed. She dished up a cinnamon bun and a cup of coffee without dropping anything or making a further fool of herself, and he paid in cash—denying her the thrill of seeing what name might be on his credit card. He probably went by some cool alter ego when he traveled anyway. “Thanks, Carly,” he said in that butter-soft voice that made her feel all hot and fluttery inside. Then he leaned in, winked, and pressed a finger to his lips, making a silent, “sh.” And oh my God, he knew she knew. Which meant it was definitely him. And she grinned like an idiot while he walked to a table in the back and sat, long legs stretched in front of him. A muffled beep from the direction of the kitchen told her she’d forgotten to take the last batch of butterscotch pecan sandies out of the oven. So much for keeping her mind on business this morning. But at this exact moment—her eyes still on Sam Weiss—she didn’t care. Not even a little bit. [image error] Rachel Lacey is a contemporary romance author and semi-reformed travel junkie. She's been climbed by a monkey on a mountain in Japan, gone scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, and camped out overnight in New York City for a chance to be an extra in a movie. These days, the majority of her adventures take place on the pages of the books she writes. She lives in warm and sunny North Carolina with her husband, son, and a variety of rescue pets. [image error] [image error] [image error] [image error] [image error]