Twinkle (Sugandha) Varshney's Blog, page 373

Ashes, Book 4 by Leslie Johnson

   Welcome to Book Four, the final installment of the Ashes Series. You should read books one-three first.As Beth recovers from the shock of her life, Gage tries his best to help her heal. But there's so much ... pain ... disillusion ... uncertainty. So many secrets. So many people who aren't who they appear to be. AMAZON US I AMAZON UK AMAZON US I AMAZON UK AMAZON US I AMAZON UK AMAZON US I AMAZON UK Leslie is a California native but recently moved to Arizona after a stint in Arkansas. She enjoys travel and being with friends. She is an avid reader of many genres, but prefers romances with travel or thriller themes. She loves writing about strong women and strong men because the world needs both! WEBSITE I TWITTER I FACEBOOK

Ashes, Book 4 by Leslie Johnson

 
   Welcome to Book Four, the final installment of the Ashes Series. You should read books one-three first.As Beth recovers from the shock of her life, Gage tries his best to help her heal. But there's so much ... pain ... disillusion ... uncertainty. So many secrets. So many people who aren't who they appear to be. AMAZON US I AMAZON UK AMAZON US I AMAZON UK AMAZON US I AMAZON UK AMAZON US I AMAZON UK Leslie is a California native but recently moved to Arizona after a stint in Arkansas. She enjoys travel and being with friends. She is an avid reader of many genres, but prefers romances with travel or thriller themes. She loves writing about strong women and strong men because the world needs both! WEBSITE I TWITTER I FACEBOOK

Dangerous (The Finn Factor, Book 3) by R.G. Alexander

   Do you like it Dangerous?Brady Finn has been a cop and a Marine, but he’s never been in a situation as dangerous as this one. Waking up naked in the bed of a man he’s wanted for months—with no memory of how he got there—was only the beginning.Rope Dom Ken Tanaka knows kink isn’t Brady’s scene, but he still can’t resist the tall, redheaded Boy Scout. When their search for a missing person requires Brady to go above and beyond the call of duty, they’ll both do what needs to be done for the mission—and give in to the undeniable passion between them.Will their explosive chemistry last once the job is over? Or will taking that chance be more dangerous than either man is willing to risk?Warning: Explicit male/male sexy times. Voyeurism with a touch of noncon, role playing, rope. And, once again, very serious about the graphic gay sex. I’m not sure why you don’t believe me… Also? An Evil League of Evil! Good kink vs scary villain kink (you’ve been warned), Finn Club rules and the aftereffects of The Great Rumming of 2015. I SAID RUMMING. Dirty minds.!!!BONUS FREE READ!!!A Curious Proposal: An Owen and Jeremy quickieYou should at least read the first chapter of Dangerous before starting this. AMAZON US I AMAZON UK I ARe I SMASHWORDS I NOOK The Finn Factor Series(for the reader who enjoys variety) Book 1: Curious (m/m) Book 2: Scandalous (m/f) Book 3: Dangerous (m/m) Book 4: Ravenous (m/f/m) Book 5: Shameless (?) (R.G. Alexander, erotic romance, gay romance, rope bondage, BDSM, Marine, Curious, Scandalous) $100 AMAZON GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY** CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW!! ** R.G. Alexander (aka Rachel Grace) is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author who has written over 30 erotic paranormal, contemporary, sci-fi/fantasy books for multiple epublishers and Berkley Heat. She is a founding member of The Smutketeers, an author formed group blog dedicated to promoting fantastic writers, readers and a positive view of female sexuality. She has lived all over the United States, studied archaeology and mythology, been a nurse, a vocalist, and now a writer who feels lucky everyday that she gets to share her stories with her readers. She loves talking to them on twitter and FB. She is happily married to a man known affectionately as The Cookie-her best friend, research assistant, and the love of her life. Together they battle to tame the wild Rouxgaroux that has taken over their home.  

Fate Interrupted, Book 2 by K.B. Winters

        Music has always been Olivia Sanders driving force and safe haven, in her turbulent life. Now, with her college degree in hand, she begins chasing down her biggest dream, to become the biggest female music manager LA has ever seen. She has the drive and determination to make it big. The only problem is she has no clients—or money—and no leverage to get her started in the cut throat world of talent management. Remington Maddox was born with a fully loaded bank account. He has money, cars, connections, and an all access pass to the hottest women in LA. When Olivia crashes into Remy's high class life, he knows he has to make a choice. Will he choose his billionaire lifestyle of endless wealth and hot hookups? Or will he throw that all away to pursue the small town girl who unknowingly captured his heart?  AMAZON US I AMAZON UK AMAZON US I AMAZON UK   KB Winters is the author of the brand new Billionaire Romance Series, Plush. She has an addiction to caffeine and hard-bodied alpha males. The men in her books are very sexy, protective and sometimes bossy, her ladies are...well...bossier! Living in sunny Southern California, this hopeless romantic writes every chance she gets!  FACEBOOK I TWITTER I NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP

Anna Albergucci : The vivid Author of "The Phoenix Decree Saga"

Anna Albergucci
Anna Albergucci has always had a vivid imagination. When she was a child, she entertained her mother and anyone who would listen with the telling of her intricate dreams. Now she puts that inspiration to paper, weaving her stories into deeply passionate characters that live lives the rest of us only dream about.

Married to her high school sweetheart, Anna lives in Texas surrounded by her ever-growing family and her fur babies. She serves as president of Cisco Writers Club, and is the founder of a yearly writers’ retreat she hosts at her estate each fall.

She loves mornings, coffee, and sitting on the porch appreciating her life. She’s a sucker for hosting parties, especially historical costume parties. And in her spare time you can find her touring old mansions, shopping for antiques, or curled up reading a romance, paranormal, or thriller, whether historical or contemporary.




What is the hardest thing about writing?
Knowing when to pull away from my computer and live life. I am very driven, and I don’t know when to stop.

When you write, do you see yourself in the characters?
Absolutely. I accept that all of my characters—bad included—are in some way like me, even if it’s just a minute personality trait, but the ones I relate to most are the males. Yes, I know, that sounds weird, but it’s true. I’ve decided it’s because in general I make them suffer more than the females. To do that to a character, you dig deep to write the scene. I will say, that it was the character of Jinny in To Each His Own that did the greater amount of suffering. I put that poor girl through hell. She better be glad it was a novella. Had it been a full novel, she was looking at really bad times. :-\

Of all the characters you’ve written, which are your favorites?
Oh, wow, that’s like choosing a favorite child. I love different things about different characters. In To Each His Own, I love Douglass’s gratitude and his desire to please Jinny, and I love Jinny’s concern for others and her broadmindedness toward Douglass. In The Phoenix Decree, my time travel series, I love the protectiveness Devon and Elz feel for each other. Jarrett’s cockiness and Jaymi’s humor. Kyle’s intelligence and Pris’s innocence, etc…

Which famous person would you like to meet and why? – Famous person?
Well, that would be Jason Momoa. Not only is he the most beautiful man on the planet and total eye candy, he is hilarious! He seems the most genuine person—a man without ulterior motives. I like people like that—people you can trust.

What is your favorite quote?
Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia. ~ Kurt Vonnegut

Name ten things one can expect when reading one of your books?
Romance.To be swept up into the scene and atmosphere around the characters.At least one character to be filthy rich, so the doors are opened to that world.To like the characters.To discover the heart or mind of the characters.They can expect characters that are deeply passionate about something, whether it is love, hate, loyalty, revenge, etc…To be drawn to the villain at some point, as all my villains are charming.They can expect the villain to be attractive—I don’t write ugly evil characters. In the real world many evil people are charming and physically beautiful, which is part of what makes them alluring and dangerous. In my books the bad guys are usually near and dear, and so who wants to hang out with a hideous ogre who smells like an outhouse, huh?They can expect to feel strong emotion—to be surprised, shocked, aroused, and maybe even a little grossed out at times, especially in To Each His Own, as I always stay true to my characters. That book is not for the faint of heart.They can expect a great story, filled with love, hate, jealousy, forgiveness, revenge, passion, fight scenes, love scenes, tender scenes—all the good stuff.
To Each His Own by  Anna Albergucci Series: Falling In Deep Collection
Genre: Paranormal Romance with Horror UndertonesRelease Date: September 1, 2015
Buy links available soon!





The Phoenix Decree Saga
​If you were given the opportunity to slip through time, would you? If so here's your chance.​ This time travel series will allow you to break away from life as you know it. Join the characters and get to know each one first hand as you live every moment with them.

Book 1: The Phoenix DecreeBook 2: Phoenix UnboundBook 3: Phoenix Under Fire


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HARD by Ava Jackson

      The last time I saw her, she was asleep—and I'd just taken her virginity.She was my best friend's little sister. I'd broken the guy code, and the guilt had me running before she woke.Ten years later, she's a corporate bad ass negotiating across the table from me—and hotter than ever. I want my second chance, but she's all grown up and isn't about to hand it to me.This time, I've got a whole different game plan in mind.***The last time I saw him, he was balls deep inside me—and I'd just lost my virginity. When I woke up he was gone.Ten years hasn't erased the sting of rejection. And now he wants his second chance?I swore I'd say no ... but then he made me an offer I couldn't refuse: when we're working, we're strangers, but at night? He'll make my every dirty fantasy come true.This time, I'm not going to be the one left wanting more. Standalone steamy, erotic romance. AMAZON US I AMAZON UK Ava enjoys naughty things. She’s drawn to the forbidden and taboo, and writes kink that makes you think. Raised in Idaho, Ava now lives on the East Coast with her husband, and two dogs. FACEBOOK I TWITTER

The Shore by S.E. Brown

The Shore by S.E. Brown Series: The Shore, #1Genre: Contemporary RomanceRelease Date: March 31, 2015


Ryan is a sweet, independent woman who has been betrayed more times than any woman should. All she wants is a week of rest, relaxation and beach time at the shore...but life isn’t ever that easy, is it? A desire to stick her toes in the ocean leads her to a sandy situation she’ll need some help getting out of, and little does she know that sand will change her life forever.

Cody is a down-to-earth, all-around good guy who, for good reason, has been out of the dating scene for quite a while. While stopping to help a stranded woman on the side of the road, he starts feeling things his broken heart hasn’t felt in years. Will his chivalry lead him to the healing touch he so badly needs?

Their story is a roller coaster of emotion with broken hearts, lost loves, and friends long forgotten. In the end, will Ryan finally let go of her past and trust again? Will Cody open his injured heart once more to love?



     “You’re awfully quiet,” Cody said, squeezing Ryan’s hand and breaking her train of thought.
     “You, too,” she answered.
     Cody stopped and turned to face Ryan. He sank slightly in the sand as the waves brushed over his feet.
     “I’ve been thinking about today. How much fun we had. How everyone seems to really like you.” He stopped for a moment, his eyes moving to her lips. “How I’ve wanted to kiss you. All. Damn. Day.”
     Ryan felt the heat in her cheeks and her heart began to race. “Oh yeh?”
     “Yeh,” Cody said quietly, slowly raising his hand and caressing his thumb over her cheek, each stroke getting closer and closer to her lips. He slowly ran his tongue over his bottom lip.
     Ryan loved the color of his eyes, and the way they were looking at her, it was like he would do anything to kiss her.
     “Whatcha waiting for?”
     Cody grinned just the slightest bit as he raised his other hand, placing it on her other cheek and brushed his lips lightly against hers. When he pulled back and looked at Ryan, she was smiling, but he saw a want in her eyes, too. He slowly lowered his mouth to hers again and started with a light kiss that quickly deepened.
     Ryan lifted her arms and circled them around Cody’s neck.
     “God, he tastes wonderful, like chocolate and marshmallows,” she thought.
     His tongue started to tease her bottom lip and she opened her mouth to him. Gently, their tongues played. Cody ran a hand down her back to her waist and pulled her closer. He wanted to feel her body against his. Her lips were so soft and the way she felt… His cock began to stir and he knew he needed to stop.
     Cody began to pull back, adding a couple of soft pecks on Ryan’s lips as he ended the kiss. He looked into her eyes.
     “Hi,” he said quietly.





S.E. Brown is a left-handed, dog-loving, Apple-touting girl that believes in true love. Raised in Northwest Wisconsin, the land of beer and brats and cheese, she’s lived in Metro Detroit for nearly 20 years and has her own furry baby, Siany.




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The Duke's Obsession by Sandra Owens

The Duke's Obsession by Sandra Owens Genre: Historical Romance - RegencyRelease Date: August 19, 2015


Christian Fallon, the Duke of Aubrey, has never forgotten the woman he fell in love with six years earlier. Forced by his father to marry another, he endured a miserable marriage. Now a widower, he arrives in London with the intention of vanquishing his enemy, a man who is set on destroying Christian’s family. When he finds that his enemy is courting the woman Christian tried for years to forget, he conceives of a plan to take everything away from the man, including Katherine, the widowed Duchess of Westervly.

Katherine has intentionally caught the eye of the Viscount of DeWynter, a man she can barely tolerate, but her stepmother is missing, and clues lead to the viscount as having a hand in her disappearance. When Christian appears on the scene, she is torn between the two men; Christian, who has held her heart all these years, and DeWynter, whom she believes can lead her to her stepmother.



As Christian turned to leave, he bumped into a woman.

“My pardon,” he said, then stilled. Katherine.

“Your…Your Grace.” She placed her hand over her heart, and her cheeks paled.

Percy stood behind Katherine, the same maid she’d had when he was courting her. At the time Percy had been a coconspirator in helping them find time alone. From the glare the impertinent maid gave him, it didn’t seem to deter her that he was now a duke. She’d probably like to stick a blade in his heart, and he couldn’t deny it would be deserved.

“Katherine, a pleasure to see you. It has been a long time.” Six years, eight months, and one week to be exact. When he had ended their courtship, she had married the Duke of Westervly almost immediately, and the two had left London for Westervly’s family seat. That she’d married so quickly had been a hard blow to his heart, even though he had lost his right to think anything where she was concerned. That her new husband had been elderly hadn’t mattered. All he knew was that she was truly lost to him.

“Please, I would prefer Your Grace or Duchess.”

Had he detected a tremor in her voice? “Of course, Duchess. Again, my pardon.” Her gaze stayed just below his chin, and he wanted her to look up, wanted to see into those beautiful green eyes to learn if there was any regard for him. Stupid that. He had broken her heart, over six years had elapsed, and the word was that she was as good as betrothed to DeWynter. There would be nothing in her eyes for him. She didn’t even want to hear her name from his lips.

She tilted her head, her gaze on the package he held. “It appears you are in a mood to read.”

Because he expected to be dismissed, it took a moment to realize she’d given him the opportunity to spend a few minutes with her. He lifted the paper-wrapped books. “These are for Mother.” He didn’t include mention of Theresa, as he didn’t want to answer any questions concerning his sister.

“Oh, is she in Town?”

Ignoring the glare Percy was still sending his way, he put his hand on Katherine’s elbow and steered her to a spot away from the door, regretting that he wore gloves, that he wasn’t touching her skin to skin. “She doesn’t come to London. Ever. Believe me, I’ve tried to get her to leave Rosemont, if only for a few days.”

Words were spilling from his mouth that were of no concern to her, but he couldn’t seem to stop them. If he didn’t speak, she would leave. Finally she looked up at him, and he had to force his lungs to keep breathing in air. How had he forgotten that her eyes reminded him of the leaves of a forest tree after a rain? Dark green and luminous.

“I’m sorry. I had hoped to hear that she…”

When she trailed off, he finished her sentence. “That she was happier after His Grace died, doing the world a favor?” Pink stained her cheeks, confirming he had guessed right. “Don’t be embarrassed, Duchess. I had hoped for the very same thing.”

He was relieved she hadn’t offered condolences on behalf of his bastard of a father. Also he hated having to address her as Duchess or Your Grace. She would always be Katherine to him. “As we are speaking of being sorry, my sympathy for the loss of your husband.”

“Thank you, Your Grace. I miss him terribly.”

At the tears pooling in her eyes, Christian wanted to break something. He shouldn’t want to believe her marriage had been one of convenience, but she had obviously loved Westervly. Until he had seen Katherine again at last night’s ball, he’d convinced himself that she was simply a fond memory. How different would his life have been if he had married her? Would they still be happy, still be in love?

She glanced at Percy, then returned her gaze to him and touched her fingers to his. “I hope you are happy, Christian. I truly do.” Without giving him a chance to respond, she walked out the door without looking back. Percy did, however, giving him one last glare.

He couldn’t move, could only stare at the fingers of his glove where it seemed warmth lingered from her touch. She had called him Christian. He had heard her speak his name in his dreams, but to hear it from the living, breathing her made him want to weep for what he had lost.





A best selling, award-winning author, Sandra Owens lives in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Her family and friends often question her sanity, but have ceased being surprised by what she might get up to next. She’s jumped out of a plane, flown in an aerobatic plane while the pilot performed thrilling stunts, has flown Air Combat (two fighter planes dogfighting, pretending to shoot at each other with laser guns), and rode a Harley motorcycle for years. She regrets nothing.

Sandra is a 2013 Golden Heart® Finalist for her contemporary romance, CRAZY FOR HER. In addition to her contemporary romantic suspense novels, she writes Regency stories.

Pure Lust by M.S. Parker & Cassie Wild

AMAZON US I AMAZON UK"I'd always wanted my life to be a fairy-tale. Romance and roses, and a white knight sweeping me off of my feet. But at twenty-two, I'd come to realize that I’d been lying to myself; none of that existed."Gabriella Baine has a way with words. She dreams of one day becoming a staff writer for the biggest TV shows. But dreams don’t pay rent and during a job interview at one of the largest model agencies in the country, she meets fashion photographer, Flynn McCreary. Sparks fly and there’s an intense, visceral pure lust that culminates in the hottest sex Gabriella’s ever experienced. Soon afterwards, Flynn's gone and once again she realize that her wish for Prince Charming will never come true.Then she meets the handsome, romantic and mysterious Edward, a man who seems to have it all but is also keeping secrets that could destroy any chance of Gabriella ever finding her happy ever after.You don't want to miss the first book in M.S. Parker and Cassie Wild's newest sexy and twisted collaboration, Pure Lust. AMAZON US I AMAZON UKWhen Gabriella Baine began her whirlwind romance with rich, handsome Edward Bouvier, she never expected for her one-night stand, photographer Flynn McCreary, to make an appearance. She wants to put everything behind her, but Flynn can't seem to stop playing things hot and cold. To make matters worse, she's broke and needs a good-paying job - like modeling for Flynn again. Will Gabriella be able to resist temptation or will she lose everything? AMAZON US I AMAZON UKGabriella Baine is going to marry the man of her dreams...if her monster-in-law-to-be doesn't drive her away first. As she struggles to deal with wedding plans, she's also beginning to realize that, no matter how much she tries, she can't stay away from her fiancé's younger brother, Flynn McCreary. He's arrogant, rude and lashes out at everyone around him, but that doesn't stop her from going back to him for work. When the unthinkable happens, it forces Gabriella to make the biggest decision of her life. AMAZON US I AMAZON UKIt was almost here. My wedding day. The happiest day of my life. Or at least that's what it should have been, but when Cody brought news that something bad had happened to Edward, I felt my world crashing down.Twenty-two year-old Gabriella Baine is just about to get her happily ever after with her very own rich and handsome Prince Charming, Edward Bouvier, despite his mother's attempts to tear them apart. Now, with the news that Edward's life is in danger, Gabriella knows that she could lose everything. Will this be the end, or only the beginning? M.S. Parker M.S. Parker is a USA Today Bestselling author and the author of the Erotic Romance series, Club Privè and Chasing Perfection. Living in Southern California, she enjoys sitting by the pool with her laptop writing on her next spicy romance. Growing up all she wanted to be was a dancer, actor or author. So far only the latter has come true but M. S. Parker hasn't retired her dancing shoes just yet. She is still waiting for the call for her to appear on Dancing With The Stars. When M. S. isn't writing, she can usually be found reading- oops, scratch that! She is always writing. Cassie Wild Cassie Wild loves romance. Ever since she was eight years old she's been reading every romance novel she could get her hands on, always dreaming of writing her own romance novels. When M.S. Parker approached her about co-authoring Serving HIM series, it didn't take Cassie many second to say a big yes!! Serving HIM is only the beginning to the collaboration between M.S. Parker and Cassie Wild. Another series is already in the planning stages. M.S. Parker WEBSITE I FACEBOOK I TWITTER I NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP Cassie Wild FACEBOOK

Crossing The Line by Michele Shriver

CROSSING THE LINE
Cover designer: Michele ShriverOfficial genre of book: Contemporary romance (sports)


The bestselling Men of the Ice series, featuring the players of the San Antonio Generals hockey team, continues with Crossing the Line.
Nikolai Brantov left his homeland of Russia at the age of nineteen to pursue his dream of playing in the NHL. As the first-ever draft pick of the San Antonio Generals, Nik wants to justify the team’s faith in him Adapting to a new country and culture and learning a new language take up most of his off-ice time, and he doesn’t needed any added complications, especially from the team owner’s beautiful daughter.
Hailing from one of the wealthiest families in Texas, Meryl Johnson should have everything she wants. But money doesn’t buy happiness or her father’s affection. Even though she’s been warned that the player’s on the team are off limits, a new community project puts Meryl in regular contact with the budding Russian superstar, and that’s exactly the way she likes it.
When sparks fly between Nik and Meryl, her father sets out to remind them who is in charge—of both the hockey team and his family. Can the young couple triumph over his manipulations, or will falling in love spell the end of Nik’s time in San Antonio?
Chapter One
Nikolai Brantov knotted his tie and ran his fingers through his damp hair, trying to spike the top exactly the way he liked it. When he first moved to the United States from his native Russia five months before to realize his dream of playing in the National Hockey League, he not only had to learn a new language—one he still struggled with—he had to learn new customs and traditions too. Among those were the expectations of being a player in the NHL, including the team dress code which left Nik primping more in front of a mirror as he prepared to leave the arena after a game than he might to get ready for a date. Not that he had any time for dating. Practice, games and English lessons filled most of his days, and that suited Nik fine. He’d left his family and his homeland at the age of nineteen to move to North America to play hockey, not meet women. 
“Great game tonight, Nik,” the team captain, Colton Tremblay, said as he came up beside Nik. 
Nik nodded at Colton. “Thanks. You too.” The San Antonio Generals beat the Winnipeg Jets three to two in overtime, and Nik scored the winning goal. His first season in the NHL, and the expansion Generals’ first season in the league, were both going well. The country might be unfamiliar, and the rink sizes a little different, but hockey was still hockey, and on the ice was where Nik felt most at home.
“You’re going to stop by the foundation table to see how the toy drive went, right?” Colton asked. 
“Yes.” Nik would because he knew it was expected of him. It was almost Christmas, and the Generals’ charity foundation sponsored a drive to collect toys for needy children. Many of his teammates, included Colton, were excited about the event because their girlfriends and wives had helped organize it. Being single, it was less of a big deal to Nik. Still, as much as he would feel completely out of place, it was an important team event and Nik was expected to show up, even if only briefly.
“I’ll head over there with you,” Colton said. “I want to see my girl.”
Nik nodded and they left the locker room together. Of course, Colton was anxious to see his girlfriend again. With no one there waiting for Nik to greet him with a kiss and congratulate him on a good game, he planned to make a quick appearance—the minimum expected of him—and head home. Such that it was. ‘Home’ to Nik right now meant staying with a host family in San Antonio while he acclimated to his new city and new country.
Sure enough, as they approached the Generals Foundation charity table, Colton’s girlfriend came over gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Nice game, as usual,” she said, then nodded in Nik’s direction. “You too.”
“Thanks.”
“The toy drive was a huge success,” Maya continued. “Come see everything we collected.” She led the way to the boxes of children’s toys. She wore a maroon and silver Generals jersey with Colton’s name and number on the back. A group of women surrounded the table, similarly dressed to support their player.
“Hey Nik, is there something you’re not telling us?” Colton asked, as his eyes darted to a young woman in the group. 
Nik recognized her as Meryl Johnson, the daughter of the Generals team owner. They’d never formally met before, although Nik had seen her at a couple of team events. His impression of her was that she was spoiled and liked to get her way, but that probably wasn’t unusual from the daughter of a billionaire. And maybe it wasn’t fair to judge someone he’d never so much as exchanged a word with. She was attractive, that was for sure, and he liked her casual style, with her long brown hair pulled back in a ponytail and tucked through a ball cap sporting the Generals logo. which featured the team name in a circle around the Alamo facade, with three stars underneath. She, too, wore a team jersey, and it took Nik a moment to realize what Colton referred to. The jersey Meryl wore was Nik’s. 
Before he could answer Colton that he had no idea what it was about, Meryl approached him. “Hi there. I don’t think we’ve ever been introduced,” she said, extending a hand. “I’m Meryl Johnson.”
“Yes. Mr. Johnson’s daughter.” Nik shook her hand. “Nikolai Brantov.”
***
He said it as if he thought she might not know his name, and Meryl appreciated his unassuming nature. So many of the athletes she’d encountered had big egos, and Nikolai had every reason to as well. The hockey season might be only a few months old, but the young Russian had already made an impression on the league. Sports reporters remarked every day that Nik was a superstar in the making. 
Meryl smiled at him. “I know who you are.” After all, her father owned the team, and Meryl made it her business to know about the players he employed. And why shouldn’t she? Hockey players were hot, and in Meryl’s estimation, none more so than Nikolai Brantov, with his gray eyes and spiked brown hair that Meryl longed to run her fingers through.
She’d noticed him during the summer’s NHL draft, when he became the first-ever draft choice of the San Antonio Generals. He appeared awkward in his early interviews, and a little overwhelmed, immediately intriguing Meryl. Was that his true personality, or a byproduct of the circumstances he found himself in? It couldn’t be easy moving to a new country and having to learn a new language at the age of nineteen.
From that moment, Meryl wanted to learn as much about him as possible, so she sought out all the information she could. She knew Nik hailed from the Siberian city of Irkutsk, that his favorite color was orange, and he liked to eat steak and baked potatoes. He listed the Pittsburgh Penguins as his favorite NHL team and his countryman, Evgeni Malkin, as his favorite player. And even knowing all of that, Nik remained an enigma to Meryl.
“I’m wearing your jersey, after all,” she said, and did a little twirl so he could see his name and number, forty-four, on the back. Her choice of attire had raised a few eyebrows among the wives and girlfriends’ who’d put together the event, and who proudly sported their man’s jerseys, but Meryl didn’t care. Her father owned the team, she could wear whatever she wanted. 
“Yes,” Nik said, nodding. “It’s...what is the word?” He frowned a little. “Bold of you?”
He was so cute in his uncertainty. Meryl knew he had a tutor working with him on his English, a job she would have gladly volunteered for. In fact, she had, only half-jokingly. Not surprisingly, Daddy had vetoed that idea and warned her that Nik, and everyone else on the team, was off-limits to Meryl. “That’s me. Bold,” Meryl said. 
“It looks nice on you,” Nik said, causing Meryl’s heart to flutter a little.
“Better on you, I think. Especially when you scored the winning goal.”
Nik shrugged. “I was in the right place and got a good pass from Colton.”
Definitely unassuming, Meryl decided. And hot. She kept going back to that one. Damn her father and his silly prohibitions. He never wanted her to have any fun. “What are you doing tonight?” she asked. “I have to help put this stuff away,” she gestured to the boxes of toys they’d collected during the charity drive, “then my dad is having a little party up in his box, if you want to join me.” He’d already called her bold. Meryl figured she might as well live up to it. 
Nik hesitated before answering, giving Meryl hope that perhaps he’d seriously consider the offer, but the hope was dashed when he shook his head. “No, thank you. I need to go home.”
Meryl knew ‘home’ to Nik was a family of strangers hosting him in their house, and she questioned his need—or desire—to rush back there, but she didn’t press the issue. “Have a good night, then. It was nice to meet you.”
“You as well, Miss Johnson,” he said. 
She watched him walk away, admiring how his perfectly-tailored suit fit his body. Okay, he hadn’t accepted her invitation. Meryl hadn’t really expected him to. At least they’d shared a few words, finally. The rest would happen in due time. Meryl was accustomed to getting everything she wanted, and she’d already decided she wanted Nik Brantov.

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The official website of the San Antonio Generals. The Generals are a fictional NHL expansion franchise based out of San Antonio, Texas and featured in the Men of the Ice series by author Michele Shriver.
The Men of the Ice books are contemporary romance novellas about the Generals players and the women who love them.
More information about the books, as well the team, organization, and news and events can be found on this site.
Visit the official Facebook page of the San Antonio Generals. The Generals are a fictional NHL expansion franchise based out of San Antonio, Texas and featured in the Men of the Ice series by author Michele Shriver.

Michele Shriver writes women’s fiction and contemporary romance. Her books feature flawed-but-likeable characters in real-life settings. She’s not afraid to break the rules, but never stops believing in happily ever after. Michele counts among her favorite things a good glass of wine, a hockey game, and a sweet and sexy book boyfriend, not necessarily in that order.

         

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