Twinkle (Sugandha) Varshney's Blog, page 4

Beneath Submission

An Unbreakable SeriesErotic RomanceDate Published: August 28, 2018

Award-winning author of the Shattered Innocence Trilogy

Xavier London was the only man Tessa Sands could ever love, but when she finds out that he isn’t the man she thought he was she is torn between doing what is right and what her heart wants. Believing in second chances, Tessa follows her heart and lets Xavier back into her life.
Just when things begin where they left off, her second chance comes to an end when Colin Gates enters her life, taking away her freedom and her happiness.
Thinking that her life couldn’t get any worse, she is sold to another man, more ruthless than Colin Gates. Her only hope is that Xavier will find her before she disappears forever.
Can she escape a life of torment or will she forever be under the control of Colin Gates?
This is the second book to the Unbreakable Series. It is recommended that the first book Beneath Deception be read first.

Other Books in the An Unbreakable Series:

Beneath DeceptionAn Unbreakable Series

From The Award Winning Author of the Shattered Innocence Trilogy

Everyone has a story and for Xavier London, he preferred to keep his hidden. As ruthless as he was, he still had morals and those morals included betraying the one man who saved his life. He never thought that meeting one woman could change everything.
Tessa Sands never knew the truth about her life, nor did she ever question it. The only life she knew was the one she was taught, disciplined by the man who raised and groomed her to be only his. But, when another man entered her life, she slowly begins to discover that she had been deceived from the start.
Can she find true love or will his secrets get in the way?
Their love for each other will be tested. Only they can determine if love will win.

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Excerpt



 My restless night had me up later than I had wanted. Looking over to my alarm clock, it was already 8:00 a.m. Mr. Colin hadn’t come to get me. I could only guess that the arrangement with Mr. Milford wasn’t going to happen until later. Crawling out of bed, I headed to the bathroom to take a quick shower and get dressed before he came to get me.
Slipping on a floral dress with matching shoes, I headed down the steps before anyone suspected that I had slept in. Just as I rounded the staircase, I heard Mr. Colin’s voice. “Meet me in an hour. Our usual spot.”
I wasn’t sure who he was talking to, but I assumed it was one of his business associates or another client. Hurrying to the kitchen, I didn’t want to be seen, or worse yet, caught hearing his conversation. As I pushed the door open, Mr. Colin said behind me, “Tessa, we need to leave in ten minutes.”
Stopping in mid-step, my hands remained glued to the door as I replied, “Yes, sir.”
Grabbing a to-go cup of coffee, I headed out the front door to where Simon was waiting with his body leaning against the front fender, sporting an arrogant grin which showed just what an asshole he was. Pushing from the car, he moved to the back door and pulled it open for me with a sarcastic comment, “How about another round tonight, love?”
If it wasn’t for the fact that he was much bigger and stronger than me, I would have punched him in the face. Giving him an evil look, I dipped my head and took a seat next to Mr. Colin, who was already inside. There was one thing I hated about Simon more than his cocky attitude, he always managed to speak his mind out of earshot of Mr. Colin, knowing full and well that if I said anything, it would be my word against his.
As we drove into the city, there was only silence between us. Not once did Mr. Colin reference the slight bruising on my cheek or what Simon had done to me after he left the training room. Maybe it was best that nothing was said. I wasn’t sure that he could have said anything that would have made me feel any better. Turning my head, I gazed out the side window
watching the beautiful homes with their perfectly manicured lawns and expertly trimmed hedges pass by. As I looked, I wondered how the lifestyles of the families that occupied those beautiful homes compared to mine. Were they happy? Was there love between them? But most of all I wondered if they were they free to do as they pleased.
Consumed by my thoughts, at first I didn’t notice that Simon turned off the main road and headed to what appeared to be an industrial part of LA. I couldn’t understand why we would have driven here. Then I remembered what he said about meeting in the “usual place.”
Adjusting my position, I tried to get a better view by looking out the front window. Simon pulled inside an empty warehouse. There was no one inside, only pallets of merchandise occupied the large building. Taking in my surroundings, a few minutes passed when a fancy red sports car began to approach us. My eyes were focused on the man driving the expensive looking car. Lowering his sunglasses, he had to have been the most handsome man I had ever seen. Normally, most of Mr. Colin’s associates are old and overweight, but this man was gorgeous. Everything about him was perfect.
Breaking my fixation, Mr. Colin opened his briefcase and pulled out a manila envelope before opening the back door and exiting the car. All I could do was watch him approach the man as he stepped out of his car. As Mr. Colin stood in front of him, I wished that I could hear what was being said. I wanted so badly to roll down the window but knew that would be a big mistake. When he handed the handsome man the envelope, he didn’t seem very happy. I got the feeling that Mr. Colin and this man were not on friendly terms.
As Mr. Colin walked back to the car, my focus was only on the gorgeous man as he got in his car. Opening the door, I couldn’t help but ask, “Who was that man?”
“No one you need to worry about,” he replied sharply.
As we drove off, I couldn’t help but look at the red sports car and the man inside as he backed up and pulled out of the warehouse. Watching him drive away, I felt a strong pull on my hair, knowing that it was Mr. Colin trying to get my attention. I wasn’t sure what he was trying
to prove, but when he pressed his lips hard against mine, I only thought of one thing and that was to push him away. Instead of going with my defensive instinct, I should have allowed him to have what he wanted. It would have saved me the pain of getting slapped across the face.
Placing my hand on my cheek to soothe some of the pain, Mr. Colin warned, “You will not defy me, Tessa. Just remember who you belong to.”
Feeling defeated, I lowered my eyes and responded, “Yes, sir.”
~*~*~*~
When we returned to Mr. Colin’s home, I was once again ordered to meet him in the training room. Adhering to his request, I changed into a black corset with matching panties and silk stockings. One thing I wished he would have left out were the four-inch stilettos. Something special must have been planned. Never had Mr. Colin requested I wear this form of attire. Slipping on my shoes, I took a quick look in the mirror to make sure that I looked presentable. Everything was perfect except my hair. Gathering it to one side, I braided it in one long braid and tied it in place with a red ribbon to match the red in the corset.
Heading out of the bedroom, I slowly descended the stairs and made my way to the basement where the training room was. The temperature was about ten degrees cooler as I took each step, carefully balancing myself to keep from tumbling headfirst down the stairs. Safely reaching the bottom, I walked down the long hallway until I reached the training room. Pushing open the door, no one was inside, which made me think that I may have misunderstood Mr. Colin. He wasn’t one to be late or one to accept anyone else being late. I thought about leaving and searching for him, but my instinct told me that I should wait until he arrived. Taking a seat on the edge of the bed, I folded my hands across my lap and focused on the door.
Since I hadn’t slept very well the night before, I decide to lie down for just a moment. I had been waiting for such a long time that I could feel my eyes begin to get heavy. I just needed
to close them for a moment. Drifting off, I entered the world that I loved so much with the green meadow and wildflowers blowing against the warm breeze giving off a sweet fragrance.
Lying on the soft grass, the sky was so blue, and the sun felt so warm against my face. As I took in the warmth, there was something different about this dream. Off in the distance, I saw the form of a man approaching me. Propping my body on one elbow, I held my hand above my eyes to block the sun. I watched with anticipation, keeping my eyes focused on his every step as he got closer. As he stood in front of me, I knew this man. Although I didn’t know his name, I would know that face anywhere. What I didn’t understand was why he was in my dream? Yes, he was gorgeous. Beyond gorgeous, to be exact, but why would he be here?
As he held out his hand, I couldn’t help but take it. Lifting me to my feet, we stood only inches apart. I could feel his breath on my forehead as he leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine. His scent was masculine and filled my senses. With a willing mind, I parted my lips and allowed him to dip inside. Never had I been kissed in this manner. It wasn’t demanding, but gentle and compassionate. The way I had always imagined a kiss should be.
In the distance, I kept hearing Mr. Colin calling me. I couldn’t bring myself to wake up. All I wanted was to remain in my perfect world with this amazing man. His voice became louder and I could sense the anger in the tone; even then, I didn’t want to leave. Then it happened. Mr. Colin entered my dream, only I was wide awake. The grip he had on my arms as he shook me back to reality told me that my fantasy was over. His voice was stern as he ordered, “Put something appropriate on. We need to leave.”


About the Author

Award-winning Author of the Independent Press Award and NYC Big Book Award. A.L. Long is also the recipient of the National Indie Excellence Award.
My love for writing began several years ago after an early retirement from a demanding job that I loved, but also hated because it consumed so much of my time. Now, I am able to focus my time on what I love. Writing romance has been a lifelong dream and to actually say that I am a published author is beyond what I would have ever expected.
Even though some may say I have a little naughtiness in my books, I look at it as an added bonus for my readers. After all, what is a romance book without a little spice?
When I am not writing, I enjoy spending time with friends either at home or out on the town. Mostly, I enjoy a relaxing night at home where I can enjoy a glass of wine in the company of a good book.

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Pushing Arlo By MV Ellis

Author: MV EllisTitle: Pushing ArloGenre: Rock Star RomanceSeries: Heartless Few, book 3
Release Date: September 1, 2018
Publisher: Hot Tree PublishingCover Designer: Claire Smith  Available now! 
Amazon: US | UK | CA | AU He thought he had it all, until he met her.
They say you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone, but for notorious womanizer Arlo Jones, it's a case of not knowing what you want 'til it's standing in front of you. The moment he meets London, he realizes she's the piece of the puzzle he never knew was missing, but can't live without. He does everything he can to get her, but just as he thinks she's finally ready to give in to her feelings, he's reminded how empty his life was without her in it.
She thought she had a plan, until she met him.
They say the best-laid plans often go awry, and for aspiring photographer London Llwellyn, that's definitely the case when she falls for Arlo. That was never part of her plan. She tries her best to avoid being pulled into his vortex, but he manages to turn her head upside down and her heart inside out. Just as she thinks she's ready to commit to forever, she's reminded of the reasons she resisted him for so long. 
He's pulling her closer. How long can she keep pushing him away?  Available now!  Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2Judyi2 Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2usmnV0 Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2JsGCX7 Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2Nn0jSB
Prologue Six Months Ago, 5:00 a.m.
I pull Marnie out into the parking lot with a sense of urgency, but once we get out there, I’m hazy as to why. It must have seemed like a good idea moments ago, but I’m buzzed as fuck, and right now, any possible logic to my thinking escapes me. I don’t waste much time trying to figure it out. Who cares about the past, even if it was only moments ago? I’m here for the here and now. Right here, right now, I have Marnie, and a stiff dick. That’s plenty to work with. More than enough, in fact—the two of us together is a recipe for a good time. Every time.
The next thing I know, I’m fucking her from behind on the hood of somebody’s car. A Porsche, I think. Maybe Hunter’s? I make a mental note to apologize when I speak to him next, but all I can think about is the feel of Marnie wrapped around me. The sex is off the hook, as always. Emotionally detached and hotter than Hades. Just how I like it. That has always been what keeps us coming back for more. Well, for me anyway.
I’m lost in the ever-pleasant feeling of being inside her; there’s nowhere else I’d rather be right now than here. The world around me is a dim blur, screened out so I can focus totally on giving and receiving pleasure, but somewhere in the depths of my addled consciousness, I become dimly aware of a commotion overhead. What the hell is that? A plane? A UFO? The nuclear apocalypse? Wait… it’s a fucking drone. Damn the paparazzi. Just when you think you know what you’re dealing with, they find new depths to sink to. I lose my shit, yelling and screaming, even though I know it’s futile.
I’m playing right into their hands, standing there with my dick on display, carrying on like a crazy person, but even knowing that, I can’t seem to stop. Someone—Hunter—intervenes, shoving me into my ride while I stuff myself back into my pants. Hunter is a legend. I make a note to thank him for saving my ass, as well as apologize for violating his luxury baby. Marnie follows me into the back seat, and as we speed off into the night, I try to put the pieces together, and work out how we got here….
 Heartless Few Series Available on
Catching London (Book 1) Amazon: US | UK | CA | AU
Cold, Hard, & Heartless
(Book 2)
ONLY 99c Amazon: US | UK | CA | AU
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
MV ELLIS knows what it’s like to fall head over heels in love with a badass musician. She followed her heart halfway around the world to be with one. She moved from London to Sydney after a steamy holiday romance with a sexy bass player in sultry Brazil.
Twelve years, two children and a dog later, and she’s still smitten. All this with a guy she sat next to on a bus for 36 hours! She has toured internationally as a “WAG,” and her experiences inspire her writing.Ellis’s love of romance began when she was 11 years old, after a summer spent secretly reading her auntie’s books. She’s been a sucker for an alpha hero and strong heroine ever since.
An avid reader, Ellis always knew she’d write a book of her own one day. She was right about that. Following a career spanning advertising, marketing, and social media, she finally wrote Catching London in 2017.
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Obake Neko

Mystery/Historical FictionDate Published: May 31, 2018

It begins with a disappearance… In the waning days of World War II, the Obake Neko is the last surviving Sen-Toku—a huge secret aircraft-carrier submarine created by the Imperial Japanese Navy. As the war comes to an end, the Obake Neko sets sail back to Japan with a cargo of unimaginable value. In the chaos of Japanese surrender, the clandestine vessel and its crew vanish in the seas of the South Pacific.
Fifty-five years after the war’s end, former U.S. Navy pilot, Bud Brennan breaks into Pearl Harbor’s submarine museum in Hawaii. Bud’s son, Mike, is still raw from the death of his wife and grappling with a new career but still jumps in to help his dad. But when Bud’s antics garner the attention of the Navy’s JAG, Mike realizes his father may possess knowledge about the near-mythical Obake Neko and its fabled cargo—knowledge that is also of great value to the Japanese Yakuza. Now, Mike must scramble to learn the whole truth of his father’s decades-old connection with the legendary Japanese submarine and fight to defend his father from relentless military authorities and deadly Yakuza operatives. Even decades later, the Obake Neko and its legendary cargo are still worth killing over.
Can Mike discover the truth and protect his dad before deadly assailants succeed in silencing Bud forever?

About the Author
David Gillespie moved to Hawaii as a teenager, where he attended public schools and graduated with a BBA and MBA from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Gillespie has had a varied career in Hawaii’s business community. As a consultant with a University of Hawaii program, he traveled to many Pacific Island nations. His experiences in these exotic locales, along with his keen interest and research about the Sen-Toku Japanese submarines, inform and enhance his writing.

Gillespie is retired and has taken up home improvement projects, earned a private pilot license, and works on writing historical adventure novels. He continues to enjoy life in Hawaii, his home, with his family and a tuxedo cat named Tick Tock.


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Nell and Lady By Ashley Farley

Title: Love Under Siege (A Military Romantic Suspense Collection) Genre: Military Romance Release Date: September 18, 2018 Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC. 

Eight Brand NEW Sizzling Full-Length Novels featuring Military Heroes by acclaimed authors who know how to bring the Heat, Action and Suspense!Tuff Enough by Samantha A. Cole While security operative Jason "Tuff" Tanner lives for dangerous assignments, he likes his downtime in his quiet neighborhood too. But that peacefulness is suddenly interrupted when his new next-door neighbor becomes a target for someone hell bent on revenge. Canine rescuer Concetta "Chet" Suarez brings all his protective instincts to the surface, along with feelings he's never experienced with any other woman. Will he lose her before he ever gets a chance to make her his?Never Forget by KaLyn Cooper Dreams or nightmares. Truth or lies. He can't tell them apart after he sees the woman in his dreams. She is the key to his past, present, and future... She just buried her husband next to her fiancé who was killed in an explosion while they were on a mission together ten years ago. She doesn't need another man in her life, until someone tries to kill her.Ravished River by Lindsay Cross Special Forces Operative Aaron Spears dealt with relationships like he dealt with battle – something to be avoided if at all possible, until Celine Latimer walked into his life and turned his world upside down.Lincoln by PJ Fiala Lincoln Winter is hired to bring in a criminal who is selling arms on the black market and he never misses a mark. That is until the sultry Skye Sommers crosses his path and unwittingly gets herself caught up in much more than she can handle. Can they stay alive long enough to find a killer, an arms dealer and love?Mace by Maryann Jordan Mace Hanna's security business keeps him busy...too busy for a relationship. When providing security for a single mom and her young son who has witnessed a murder, he vows to keep them safe...and finds love along the way.Black Jack by MJ Nightingale Undercover FBI agent, Jackson Black doesn't expect to find love while working deep undercover on a RICO case. But he can't resist Dawn, the sexy accountant, who keeps crossing his path during the investigation putting both of their lives on the line.Her Guarded Hero by Caitlyn O'Leary It's been five years since his tragic loss and Navy SEAL, Dalton Sullivan heads to Lake Tahoe to be alone. The last thing he expects is horse trainer, Aurora Chance to literally fall at his feet. As danger and raw emotion churn around them, can Dalton be brought back into the light?Not Quite Broken by Abbie Zanders Former POW Brian McCain is so busy fighting his demons, there's not enough left over for anyone else – not even the one woman who has a way of shining light into his darkness. But when a serial killer turns his sights on her, Brian realizes he's not quite as broken as he thinks he is. Love Under Siege will only be available for a limited time, grab your copy now before it's gone forever!
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Maryann Jordan has been a devoted romance reader since the late 1970’s! After a career in adolescent counseling, she is thrilled to be a full-time romance author, writing military romantic suspense and small-town romance. With one of her cats usually perched next to her laptop, she keeps her readers entertained with tales of sweet alphas and the independent heroines that catch their eyes. Now a USA Today Bestselling Author, she always promises a Happily Ever After. www.maryannjordanauthor.com

Caitlyn O'Leary is an avid reader, and considers herself a fan first and an author second. She reads a wide variety of genres, but finds herself going back to happily-ever-afters. Getting a chance to write, after years in corporate America, is a dream come true. She hopes her stories provide the kind of entertainment and escape she has found from some of her favorite authors. www.caitlynoleary.com

Abbie Zanders loves to read and write romance in all forms; she is quite obsessive, really. Her ultimate fantasy is to spend all of her free time doing both, preferably in a secluded mountain cabin overlooking a pristine lake, though a private beach on a lush tropical island works, too. Sharing her work with others of similar mind is a dream come true. She promises her readers two things: no cliffhangers, and there will always be a happy ending. Beyond that, you never know… https://abbiezandersromance.com

Samantha A. Cole is a retired policewoman and former paramedic, who is thrilled to add award-winning author to her list of exciting careers. After being gifted with a stack of romance novels from her grandmother, her love affair with the genre began in her teens. Many years later, she discovered her love for writing stories was just as strong. Taking her life experiences and training, she strives to find the perfect mix of suspense and romance for her readers to enjoy. www.samanthacoleauthor.com

PJ Fiala has toyed with many careers in her life, looking for that perfect fit. Finally, when her love for writing took root, a match was made. A lifelong reader of romance novels of all genres, she still reads her favorite authors and enjoys finding new authors to entertain her. An avid biker, she plots most of her stories while riding and enjoying new adventures with her husband, then bringing those adventures to her stories filled with steamy passion and love, and they always end with a happily ever after, 'cause who doesn’t love that? www.pjfiala.com

KaLyn Cooper writes military romantic suspense, often based in facts ripped from the headlines. Twenty-seven years as a military wife has shown her the world and the men and women who protect it every day. Thirty years in PR taught her fact can be stranger than fiction, but leaves it up to the reader to separate truth from imagination. All of her heroes, and many of her heroines, are active duty and veterans, all who find a happy ending. www.KaLynCooper.com

Lindsay Cross is the award-winning author of the Men of Mercy series. She is the fun loving mom of two beautiful daughters and one precocious Great Dane. Lindsay is happily married to the man of her dreams – a soldier and veteran. During one of her husband’s deployments from home, writing became her escape and motivation. An avid reader since childhood, reading and writing is in her blood. After years of reading, she discovered her true passion – writing. Her alpha military men are damaged, drop-dead gorgeous and determined to win the heart of the woman of their dreams. www.lindsaycross.com

MJ Nightingale is the best-selling author of The Bounty Hunters: The Marino Bros. She is an avid reader of all things romantic and suspenseful. She is married to a wonderful loving husband and they have two fun and fabulous sons. Going on road trips with her family provide the settings to many of her books. Her leading men are bounty hunters, detectives or ex-military--but all are alphas with heart and heat. And the women are strong--the perfect match to all that testosterone. Her books will have you page-turning late into the night. She surely brings the heat with stories that sizzle! 
www.mjnightingaleblog.com


Enter the Goodreads Giveaway <<HERE>>

Bollywood Invasion by Ricardo Alexanders

A fantasy novel of a modern-day American boy's journey back in time as the reincarnation of John Lennon.
Sixteen-year-old John Palmieri is living an average life in Brooklyn until one day he wakes up as a prince in India, thirty-five years before he was born. Suddenly, he finds himself with riches and power beyond his wildest fantasies.
Brooklyn is readily forgotten. Life becomes a constant stream of debauchery, coming to a stand-still only when he meets "the one." However, love doesn't come easy. He must become a better man and sing his way into her heart, a pursuit ignited by his memories of the vintage Beatles music on his iPod.
Will these legendary songs change John's life? Can he escape Lennon's tragic fate? Will he ever find his way back to Brooklyn at his own time?  His fate will unfold in Bollywood Invasion.
About the BookBollywood Invasionby Ricardo Alexanders
Series
n/a; standalone
Genre
Adult
Historical Fantasy
Publisher
Independent
Publication Date
September 18, 2018
Purchase Your Copy Today!
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Tour Wide GiveawayTo celebrate the release of BOLLYWOOD INVASION by Ricardo Alexanders, we're giving away a $25 Amazon gift card and a $50 Amazon gift card to one lucky winner! Once your initial entry is confirmed, additional entry options are unlocked!
GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS:  Open to internationally. Two winners will be chosen, one to receive a $25 Amazon gift card and one to receive a $50 Amazon gift card. This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR on behalf of Ricardo Alexanders.  Giveaway ends 10/1/2018 @ 11:59pm EST. Limit one entry per reader. Duplicates will be deleted.   CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

About Ricardo Alexanders
RICARDO ALEXANDERS is a descendant of the Great Yyu, a.k.a. the first king of China. He lives in Massachusetts and enjoys experiencing all kinds of cultures around the world. After obtaining his doctorate in science, he became fascinated with time-travel. As an aspiring writer, he loves to write time-travel fictions that blend fantasy, science, and real history together.In 2017, he published his debut time-travel novel Dragon Tomb, the first book of his TLR (The Last Resistance) pentalogy. This history science fiction series starts from World War II, during which a young archaeologist discovers the true origin of Chinese civilization and saves the world from Armageddon.Website  |  Facebook Group  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  |  Amazon


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The Competition

Young AdultDate Published: September 18, 2018


Publisher: Dangerous Hope Productions
 On sale for $.99 until September 20th. Regular Price $2.99


For Mary Sofia, The Penultimate writing competition is more than a chance at a free college education; she wants to show her younger siblings that they can all rise above their violent family history. For Raiden, the pressure to succeed comes from within, although he knows that family traditions play a part in his determination. For Camara, writing fiction is almost compulsive, but her own dark secret may be the best story she can ever tell. For Michael, swimming and writing fit his introverted personality perfectly, but meeting a smart and beautiful girl at The Penultimate makes stepping outside of his comfort zone easy. All four will compete against each other along with 96 other high school juniors for the chance of a lifetime: a full scholarship to a prestigious private college. Some students will do anything to win, but others may pay the price.



 Excerpt

Matias had warned her to be careful what she wished for.
When Mary Sofia was a little girl, she wanted to ride a school bus. There were plenty that traveled up and down her street in the morning, and she saw them on the television she watched with the other children at the shelter while the older kids and parents readied themselves for school and work. They clattered and clunked over and through the potholes in the street, but she could see the red and blue hats of the passengers flopping around, the bright colors visible through the smudgy windows. Now, she shook her head at the memory of her earnest and innocent desire, just as she tried to stop herself from tipping sideways, holding onto the seat in front of her as the bus turned a corner sharply.
“How did these kids survive this torture all these years?”
The girl beside her had never actually been Mary Sofia’s friend, not in the twelve years they had spent together at the same small Catholic school, but the two of them were now bound by their allegiance to their school, as well as the feeling that they were vastly outnumbered, but not outsmarted. Jada had bullied Mary Sofia about her brother once, long ago, and after years of silence in response, the two began to speak when they found each other accepting an invitation to compete for a spot on the Penultimate team. Mary Sofia had acted as if she didn’t remember the long ago slight, but Jada apologized for it, and in such a small school, it was always better to have more options when it came to companions.
“I used to cry when I watched the neighbors step into their bus every morning, wishing I could go with them instead of walking to school with my mother.”
Mary Sofia shook her head as she spoke, her voice quiet and clear. Jada looked ahead, but Mary Sofia could tell that she was listening to her as she continued.
“Now I know what I was missing, it makes me even more grateful for the opportunity to stay at St. Cat’s.”
Jada wrinkled her nose.
“What in the world is that smell?”
A boy two seats ahead and across the aisle from them must have heard her, because he leaned over and barked out a laugh as his gaze drank the girls in. His seatmate, most likely his teammate as well, bumped shoulders with him but didn’t look at the girls. Jada rolled her eyes as she looked back at Mary Sofia.
“The next time Emma, Syd, or Livia complains about the lack of boys at school . . .”
St. Cat’s had a certain reputation, one that was not actually earned. It was said that because it was an all girls school, the students must be nymphomaniacs or lesbians, and while Mary Sofia knew of one classmate who had a girlfriend, the others were no more boy crazy than the girls at church or the neighborhood. Still, at least the three girls Jada mentioned would have been distracted by the sight of boys in class, or worried about what to wear or how to act in order to compete for their attention. As if school wasn’t difficult enough without all that romantic drama.
“Did they expect us to prepare during the ride, or rest, or something besides hold on for dear life?”
Jada’s hands gripped the space on the seat in front of them beside Mary Sofia’s and sighed. It wasn’t going to be too long of a drive, but it would certainly feel longer with the way the bus driver was speeding and perhaps the need for new shocks, not to mention the annoying boys they hadn’t officially met. At St. Cat’s, there were a few athletic teams, but of course they all played against girls’ teams from other schools, and the boys who came to audition for school plays or attend open dances were usually from other private schools. Not that it made them saints, or even anything close, but still, Mary Sofia hadn’t ever had one of them look at her the way that boy had just now.
Five schools in the public school district, St. Cat’s along with three of the public high schools and one other private school, Advance, had gone in together to use one bus to take them to the state tournament, which was in a small college town almost directly in the center of the state. A two-hour drive, an overnight spent in the campus dorm, then back home, one of them returning to his or her home and school with a guaranteed future. One hundred high school juniors, the top writers of their age in the state after district and regional tournaments, writing for a full-scholarship to the highest ranking small private college in the Midwest. For some of them, including Jada, it was a matter of prestige. Her father could afford to send her anywhere, but she was smart and would earn plenty of merit scholarships wherever she applied. For Mary Sofia, as well as, she imagined, many of the other competitors, this would make a huge difference in options, and not just for the winner. Making it to the state-level Penultimate tournament looked spectacular on any college or scholarship application, but Mary Sofia knew that each and every one of the one hundred that weekend wanted to win, because none of them would be there if they weren’t in it for the trophy. She didn’t like the attention any more than she liked attention for anything: her grades, her appearance, her family situation - but she had always stood out, had always been different, no matter how quiet or reserved she tried to be.
Tried to be?
“Don’t give him the satisfaction, Sofi,” Jada nudged her with her shoulder as Mary Sofia shrunk in on herself, just as she had her entire life. She fought her battles on paper, with the written word, and was generally successful. Time, patience, or at least the semblance of it, worked in her favor. Physical or verbal confrontation, though, was not in her skill set. She wasn’t sure if she wanted it to be, but a part of her knew that she needed to cultivate something, even just a more intimidating stare. The idea was laughable.
“When they say girls mature faster than boys, they aren’t kidding.”
Jada always had a smart comeback, but also knew when to keep her mouth shut. She was beautiful, and everyone assumed that whatever she had, it was because her father was an investment banker, and her mother, an English professor who left her husband and only child for a colleague when Mary Sofia and Jada were in seventh grade, gave it to her. Mary Sofia knew better, although, to be honest with herself, she did envy the ease with which Jada obtained anything she needed for school. While Mary Sofia used whatever leftovers the shelter had from previous girls or donations from the convent, whether it was notecards or pens, or the occasional foam trifold for a presentation, she knew that Jada ordered her materials online or in a pinch, drove herself in her SUV (seventeenth, not sixteenth birthday present) to the corner drugstore. It was those day to day, smaller things that Mary Sofia wished were just a little easier, a little less worrisome, although perhaps it was those that kept her focus, and emotions, far from her larger and more important problems, the ones she could do so little about.
“He’s probably one of kids who writes about his dying pet, or terminally ill sister.”
She felt bad saying it, because sometimes those stories were true. She had her own sad stories to tell, but she had never written anything so personal for competition. Their coach, Ms. Dacha, said that the judges could usually tell when it was a lie, but sometimes, if the writer was good enough, he or she could get away with it. Not only get away with it, but excel. Fiction was fiction, after all, but if the judges were carried away by their emotions and believed that the story was a reflection on reality regardless of how the writer presented it, those entries were successful. Dacha had smiled wryly.
“Those aren’t my favorites, to be honest. Call me jaded - sorry, Jada - but they feel so Nicholas Sparks sometimes that I assume they have to be lies, and I am sure they are true just as often.”
Their coach, a teacher at St. Cat’s who was known for reality checks on the girls’ romantic notions of life, love, and everything else that might matter, had sighed.
“Those stories aren’t the worst ones I’ve seen, or the hardest to judge. The loss of virginity ones are tricky, and usually not pretty.”
Mary Sofia had looked away, unsure how to respond, but Jada, the only other one on the team who was going to State with her, had nodded. What did that mean, Mary Sofia still wondered. Had Jada been with a boy, without everyone else at school knowing? The way gossip ran through the halls at St. Cat’s, with fewer than 200 girls in the building and eyes and ears open to anything scandalous, she wondered how Jada had managed it. If she had managed it.
“Yeah, but I bet plenty of judges eat that up. Still, you’re the best writer I know, Sof, and a boy like that, the way he acts, must feel like he has to be intimidating in some other way if he knows his writing doesn’t measure up.”
Mary Sofia looked at Jada then, their eyes meeting for a long moment before Mary Sofia looked away. She always looked away first, no matter who the other person was.
“And I don’t know anyplace else where we are required to go to a party, even if it is with a bunch of writing dorks.”
Mary Sofia smiled.
“A party with dorks like that.”
“Dorks like us.”
They laughed loudly, for the first time during the trip making as much noise as the others on the bus, but they didn’t notice the boy two seats ahead of the one who had sneered at Mary Sofia, who was noticing them for the first time that morning.


Michael had been awake long before his alarm went off, even though it was a hour earlier than usual. He had to get some practice in before leaving for the tournament, and the bus was scheduled to leave for that at six. Two hours there, three rounds of writing, and then, dinner, a dance party, and most likely, a late bedtime. There would be no practice for him tomorrow morning, although he asked, as soon as he found out that he had qualified for State, if he could use the college’s indoor pool while he was there. No, his writing coach had explained, as there was no lifeguard and really, he should just be resting after the eventful day before. His swim coach understood his need to practice, though, and was empathetic.
“One day isn’t going to put you off your times, but I know, believe me, I know, it would help offset the stress of the event. You could go for a run, maybe?”
Michael didn’t run as a habit, but sometimes he would just take off for a jog now and then, or if he needed to do something physical later in the day, long after swimming to clear his head. He was curious about the college, the campus, and the opportunities there, although winning The Penultimate was a long shot. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to take a look around, especially early in the morning when it should be more quiet. Maybe there were other students who would be interested in an early run. There had to be.
He was the only student in his school, on his large Penultimate team, to make it to State, and while the pressure was on, the school wasn’t that focused on the tournament. It was a small event in a larger pool of athletic and academic opportunities, most of which were of greater interest to the other students, faculty, and parents. Still, he had loved to write since he was in elementary school, and his English teacher had singled him out right away for the team. It had taken the teacher, also the team coach, a bit longer to choose other participants, all of whom were interested but not as focused, perhaps, as Michael was. He loved swimming as much as writing, and for now, at least, no one was pressuring him to choose one over the other. He hoped that he would never have to make such a decision.
The book on swimming anatomy that his father had given him yesterday sat open in his lap, but now his head was turned just enough to see the source of laughter that came from the back of the bus. He hadn’t heard any noise from that direction, although he had been focusing on the words on the pages against the conversations around him for over an hour now. The two girls were looking out the window as they laughed, and the one with long dark hair was pointing at something. She was, he thought, Latina, definitely, with delicate feminine features, and her friend, her shorter hair dark as well, looked like she might be Middle Eastern, with a wide smile that showed perfect white teeth. Both of them had light brown skin that shone in the morning sunlight, and he found himself smiling at the beautiful picture the two of them made. He wondered what they wrote about that earned them placement at State, and wondered even more if he would find the courage to ask them



About the Author

Cecily Wolfe writes whatever her characters tell her to write, including YA, contemporary family drama and romance, and Christian historical romance. She was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. She graduated from Kent State University with degrees in English and library science, and enjoys her career as a librarian in Cleveland. She is the author of That Night, (longlisted for the 2018 In the Margins national book award), Reckless Treasure, A Harvest of Stars, and the Cliff Walk Courtships series.



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No Tomorrow by Carian Cole

Title: No Tomorrow Author: Carian ColeGenre: Contemporary Romance Standalone Release Date: September 13, 2018


Blurb
The people we love are thieves.
They steal our hearts. They steal our breath.
They steal our sanity.
And we let them.
Over and over and over again.


They say you never forget your first time.
Mine was with a homeless musician who effed my brains out under a bridge.

He was my first love. And fourteen years later, I still can’t get him out of my head.

He broke all my rules.
He also broke my heart.

I watched him climb to stardom, cheering him on from afar.
But I was never a fan; just a girl in love.

Like a tornado, he spiraled, leaving a path of destruction in his wake.

But love conquers all, right? It has to. Because here I stand, ravaged and ruined, needing it to be true.

You can’t go back, but I want to. Back to the bridge. Back to when he sang only for me. Before he was famous. Before he shattered my heart.

I thought I knew everything about him.
But I could not have been more wrong.

He promised me every tomorrow. And here I am, waiting.
And hoping.
Again.

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Author Bio
I have a passion for the bad boys, those covered in tattoos, sexy smirks, ripped jeans, fast cars, motorcycles and of course, the sweet girls that try to tame them and win their hearts. My debut series, Ashes & Embers, follows the lives of rock band members as they find, and sometimes lose, the loves of their lives.

Born and raised a Jersey girl, I now reside in beautiful New Hampshire with my husband and our multitude of furry pets and spend most of my time writing, reading, and vacuuming.

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All Shook Up by Ashley Bostock Cover Reveal

Title: All Shook Up (Irresistible Billionaires Book 2) Author: Ashley Bostock Genre: Contemporary Romance Release Date: October 23, 2018 Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC. 


Billionaire CEO Cole Carrington knew the only way to check the seemingly downward spiral of his lingerie store was to go undercover. If it was being mismanaged he’d be able to get to the bottom of it. What he wasn’t expecting was to run into Jillian Winters, the gorgeous woman he’d evicted months ago from the same location. When Jillian Winters gets evicted from the building she rented, she’s forced to shut down her five-star lingerie store. Unable to have the proper funds to relocate into an equally swank location in Downtown Denver, Jillian is certain her managing skills aren’t what she believed them to be. Still sulking weeks later, Jillian’s pesky sister helps her get a new job—same location,new lingerie store—owned by the handsome stranger who evicted her. Unforeseen circumstances force Jillian into the management position where she realizes she’ll have the chance to learn from her previous mistakes. But she’s taken aback when a competitor offers Jillian part of her dream again—half owner of a lingerie store. Jillian must decide where she wants to be: working at her hot boss’s upscale lingerie store and helping him succeed. Or working toward her ultimate goal of being an owner again—even if that means taking a step down from the five-star norm she’s used to. Especially when she realizes that dealing with Cole Carrington on a day to day basis isn’t as difficult as she first thought it might be.







Ashley Bostock was born and raised in Colorado where she currently resides with her husband, two children and her animals. She loves reading, writing, and music and is always trying to find more time in the day to incorporate all three. Seeking an outlet and pursuing her life-long passion for writing, she began composing her first novel in 2013. She has traveled all over the world, but still has an extensive list of places she would love to visit. Anywhere near a sky-blue ocean will always be at the top of that list. She carries a Bachelor’s Degree in History with a concentration in Elementary Education from Metropolitan State College of Denver. While she loves children, she now fears teaching, which probably has something to do with being a stay-at-home mom. She is mostly active on Instagram, but feel free to follow her at any or all of her social media pages!

Violet Souls By Abbey MacMunn

Fantasy RomanceRelease Date: 5th September 2018

While searching for clues to her past, shy single mum, Bree Mills discovers a subculture of aliens with supernatural abilities living on Earth.
And she’s one of them.
Finding herself hurled into a world of possibilities, it’s made more alluring by Quinn Taylor, the violet-eyed Evoxian from her childhood dreams.
324-year-old Quinn knows his destiny is entwined with Bree’s, but before he can confess his love, he must wait for her to sense the Akui, a mysterious force tied with ancient Evoxian law.
At a Cotswolds country manor, passions awaken and ignite a love more magical than the once-Utopian planet, Evox. Then Fate delivers a cruel and heart-breaking blow when Bree is kidnapped by a malicious alien who wants her and her power.
Will Quinn still love her when she’s faced with protecting her half-human daughter… whatever the cost?


About the Author

Abbey MacMunn writes paranormal and fantasy romance. She lives in Hampshire, UK, with her husband and their four children.
When she’s not writing, she likes to watch films and TV shows – anything from rom-coms to superheroes to science fiction movies.
She is a proud member of the Romantic Novelists' Association.


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The Paris Apartment by Sophia Karlson

Title: The Paris ApartmentSeries: Love Nests #1Author: Sophia KarlsonGenre: Erotic Romance
Cover Design: Regina Wamba, Mae I DesignRelease Date: October 19, 2018


Blurb
James Sinclair keeps his life uncomplicated. His job as a trader is intense, he travels a lot and everything else must fit in or buzz off. Relationships don’t make a blip on his radar, and the world is really better off without that thing called love.
When James returns to his Paris apartment from a business trip to find a beautiful, unknown brunette in his bed, his cage of perfect existence is rattled. Said brunette turns out to be his little sister’s best friend, there by his own unwitting invitation.
Mila Johnson has done a lot of growing up since James had last seen her, and what’s a man to do but to claim his side of the bed, with a whisper that the situation is total fantasy material?
Mila is in Paris seeking inspiration for her first solo art exhibition. James’s unexpected arrival adds another dimension to her stay, especially since her teenage fantasy is still larger than life and slipping between the sheets with her.
One night of fooling around opens a Pandora’s box which Mila wants to pry open wider, whereas James wants to keep the lid on—Mila is a sweet innocent and no way is he going to expose her to anything, especially not to the real James Sinclair.
As he free-falls into complication territory, James struggles to keep control over his past and his heart. When his ex-girlfriend arrives out of the blue, hell might just be a place where he’d rather be.

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Excerpt
James appeared in the entrance hall and Mila’s heart skipped a beat at seeing him. He looked ruffled, his tie loose around his neck and his hair disheveled as if he’d dragged his fingers through it too many times. She sat straighter, brushing the tendrils of hair from her face. “Hi.”He dropped his laptop bag at the entrance and tossed his keys into the bowl on the table. “Hi.” He closed in on her, and with each step he took, her heartbeat edged up a notch. By the time he stood at her feet and she had to lean back to see his face, her pulse was racing. “Rough day at the office?” she breathed, their earlier sexting running on repeat in her mind. “You could say that.”She looked down so that he couldn’t see her grin, but her eyes came level with a budding bulge in his trousers and she had to look even lower. There was a rustle of fabric and with a sigh, he dropped his jacket to the floor. She looked up to see him tugging at his tie. He unknotted it slowly, intentionally, and her stomach did a slow warm-up at seeing his fingers, the memory of him licking her juices off them earlier as vivid as if he’d done so a second ago. The tie landed on top of his jacket. “We have unfinished business.” He stared down at her as he started to roll up his sleeves.She shifted in the chair, sudden heat crashing through her at the look in his eyes. Yes, we do.“Your business dinner?” she whispered. She was in it deep this time.He took his time to finish rolling up his sleeves. Every cell in her beat in a frantic tick-tock. She had no idea what he was getting up to, but within her, there was an unruly reawakening of this morning’s unfulfilled desire. “Cancelled.” He placed his hands on the armrests and bent over her. She wanted to lean back, to get away from his gaze that didn’t break with hers, but she was trapped. His lips were inches from hers, and hers felt dry in anticipation that he might kiss her. She ran her tongue across her lips, her breathing stalling as he bent over to run his lips across her temple. At any moment he could slip lower, to her lips. But instead of searching for her mouth, he grazed her ear. “But that’s a good thing because now I can take care of other… issues.”She closed her eyes as a heated wetness gushed between her legs. “What issues?”“Someone called me a pussy tease.” He nibbled her earlobe and she dropped her head to the side to give him access to her neck. “What does that even mean, Mila?”





Author Bio

I've always been drawn to the magical escape of books and the journeys they take us on without leaving the comfort of home. I’ve been fortunate to have traveled to France, and this book was inspired by a visit to Paris some years ago. We were walking in some narrow alley in the 1st arrondissementof Paris, when I noticed a door with a single plaque with Club Privé written on it. My imagination got going, and at some point, things got pretty wild. I’ve wanted to write for a long time, but life had plans of its own. I’m grateful to finally have time to write, and love writing contemporary and erotic romance in far-flung settings. Taking readers on a journey of their own with my books is part of the plot. Bon voyage!


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