Babs Hightower's Blog, page 9
June 3, 2019
Whiskers in the Dark: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery by Rita Mae Brown
Whiskers in the Dark:
A Mrs. Murphy Mystery
by Rita Mae Brown
About the Book
Whiskers in the Dark: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery
Cozy Mystery
28th in Series
Bantam (June 4, 2019)
Hardcover: 288 pages
ISBN-10: 0425287181
ISBN-13: 978-0425287187
Digital ASIN: B07H72MD6Z
Death stalks the Blue Ridge Mountains as a centuries-old mystery resurfaces and murder mars the lead-up to an annual beagle competition, in a thrilling new tale from Rita Mae Brown and her feline co-author Sneaky Pie Brown.
A massive nor’easter has hit northern Virginia, where Mary Minor “Harry” Harristeen joins groundskeeping efforts at the National Beagle Club at Aldie as the date for its springtime Hounds for Heroes veterans’ benefit approaches. Harry’s fellow volunteers, including her oldest friend, Susan Tucker, comprise a spirited group of hunting enthusiasts, some former service members themselves. But things take a sinister turn when, after a routine tree cleanup along the Club’s hunting trails, retired foreign services officer Jason Holzknect is found dead, throat slit from ear to ear. Soon enough, another murder in their midst jolts the preparations, convincing Harry that the killer is familiar with the Club—and must be close by, masked in plain sight.
The intrigue extends to the grounds of Harry’s beloved local church, where the identity of an eighteenth-century skeleton wearing precious pearls remains a mystery. The anonymous woman’s neck had been snapped, and marks on the grave where her body was secreted indicate that someone recently tried to remove it, leading Harry to question how well she really knows those around her.
As always, Harry’s crime-solving cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, and Tee Tucker the Corgi share her determination to sniff out the foes among friends, even those long buried. Harry will need her four-legged companions’ help more than ever: a ghostly beagle only they can see may hold the key to the culprit.
About the Author
Rita Mae Brown is the bestselling author of the Sneaky Pie Brown mysteries; the Sister Jane series; the Runnymede novels, including Six of One and Cakewalk; A Nose for Justice and Murder Unleashed; Rubyfruit Jungle; and In Her Day; as well as many other books. An Emmy-nominated screenwriter and a poet, Brown lives in Afton, Virginia, and is a Master of Foxhounds and the huntsman.
Sneaky Pie Brown, a tiger cat born somewhere in Albemarle County, Virginia, was discovered by Rita Mae Brown at her local SPCA. They have collaborated on numerous Mrs. Murphy mysteries—in addition to Sneaky Pie’s Cookbook for Mystery Lovers and Sneaky Pie for President.
Author Links
Website – http://ritamaebrownbooks.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/RitaMaeBrown
Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Google Play – IndieBound
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June 1, 2019
Primal Possession by Tabitha Black blitz with Xpresso Book Tours
Primal Possession
Tabitha Black
(Alphas of Sandor, #1)
Publication date: May 30th 2019
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance
If only I hadn’t been captured on market night…
Despite being born an Omega, I refused to spend my life in a facility, waiting for a suitable Alpha to claim me as his. Instead, with the help of my family, I broke the law, hiding among the Betas, trying to live a normal life.
It worked for five long years…
… until I was caught.
Now I’ve been chosen by Arius, the second most powerful Alpha in Sandor. The moment my scent reached him, overcome by the rut, he had to take me. As his mate, I can have anything my heart desires – anything he has the power to give.
The only thing I don’t have is a choice.
Publisher’s Note: This dark MF Omegaverse romance contains elements of power exchange and explicit scenes which may trigger some readers.
—
EXCERPT:
Saskia willed herself to stop trembling but it was damn near impossible. Especially when the huge, intimidating man stopped in front of her, pinned her in place with a piercing gray stare, and went absolutely still. It was as though he were carved out of stone.
His nostrils flared as if in slow motion and her heart beat a frantic tattoo in her chest as he inhaled and she watched his expression change from one of mild curiosity to a look of raw, primal hunger.
He looked like he would devour her.
She had seen one or two Alphas from a distance, but never before had she stood in such close proximity to one. Even more impressive than the trademark expensive clothing they wore, which she had only ever viewed from afar, this one up close radiated power and dominance in a way she had never experienced before. He was undeniably attractive, in his perfectly tailored gray suit, but the way he was staring at her—like a cat eyeing a mouse—was distinctly unnerving.
Breathe through your mouth, her mother had always warned her. If an Alpha’s pheromones reach you and he’s a breeding match, it will all be over. He’ll go into rut, you’ll go into estrus, and you’ll be powerless to stop him. It’s imperative that you don’t smell him.
Saskia squeezed her eyes shut; the only way she could think of to escape that penetrating gaze he was leveling on her. But even against the sudden dark backdrop of her closed eyelids, his face remained as though imprinted in her mind.
His long, shaggy black hair.
His slightly hooked nose.
His full, sensuous lips.
The stubble coating his square, tense jaw.
And those eyes… those iron-gray eyes which seemed to see right down into her soul.
Saskia concentrated on breathing through her mouth until he interrupted her with a growl.
“I thought I told you to look at me.”
With a supreme effort, she forced her eyes back open and herself to meet his stare head-on. Determined not to cower or show any sign of fear, she lifted her chin and took a deep breath.
Too late, she realized her mistake.
Author Bio:
USA Today bestselling author Tabitha Black has been writing erotic romance for well over a decade, mostly in the age-play and historical genres. More recently, she’s discovered the joys of writing more contemporary books with a greater emphasis on BDSM, as well as darker, edgier fiction.
Having lived in four countries on three different continents, she likes to “write to discover what she knows.”
She has a weakness for great coffee, strong, kind but dominant men, and tattoos. At the time of writing, she lives in Germany with her very own dominant, sadistic and loyal romantic hero, and a lilac cat who likes to sneeze in her face.
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HOT FOR TEACHER by Kandeis Lynne – Book Trailer Reveal – 1st June
Welcome to the release party of Kandeis Lynne’s book trailer reveal. Welcome to the party!
Hot For Teacher by Kandeis Lynne
Published By: eXtasy Books
Author: Kandeis Lynne
ISBN: 978-1-4874-2316-2
Page: 73
Word Count: 20160
Keywords: contemporary, erotic, romance
Leah Gwaltney and Eric are best friends and have been since freshman year. Eric wants more than friendship but is willing to wait. Leah wants to love Eric. He is her best friend and she cares about him, but something is missing. There is no electricity between them.
Leah discovers what she has been missing when she meets David Leitner, the handsome graduate student who is old enough to be her father. Instantly and powerfully attracted to each other, they play a titillating game of cat and mouse while he does his best to do the right thing.
Eventually, Leah is forced to take things into her own hands and show him that not only does she know what she wants, but she knows how to get it. In a happy-for-now ending, they discover love does not have an age limit.
Amazon USA // https://amzn.to/2WveGMZ
Amazon UK // https://amzn.to/30X3TdB
Extasy Books // https://www.extasybooks.com/?route=pr...
Kandeis Lynne grew up in the deep south as the proverbial preacher’s kid. As a child, she lived up to the expectation; as an adult, she is living up to the reputation. A self-proclaimed hedonist, Kandeis uses her writing to explore ideas and feelings that her strict upbringing denied her. Kandeis is married and teaches science in Tennessee.
May 31, 2019
Coven’s End Series by Lia Davis blitz with Xpresso Book Tours
Coven’s End: Kane
L.A. Boruff & Lia Davis
(Coven’s End, #1)
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Bad boy. Alpha. Lethal.
Some say those are qualities of a good leader. Others disagree.
Heir to the Vampire throne and Lilith’s only son, I’m being forced to find a mate.
Unfortunately for my beloved mama, I found my fated mate already.
No one compares to her.
The problem?
She’s a Lycan princess— completely off limits. If that’s not bad enough, I’m not her only potential mate.
Can I ignore the pull of my fated mate to make my mother happy and take the throne?
The complete series:
—
EXCERPT BOOK 1:
“You will choose a mate, and then take the throne.” Lilith’s voice resonated with a finality that made me cringe. I held in my irritation and scanned the great throne room. When she put her power into her words, no one—not even me—could disobey.
Fucking rules.
Lilith was my mother—and Lucifer knew I loved her—but I couldn’t rule the vampires while under her thumb and no more than her puppet. When I did become the High King of the vampires, there were going to be changes. The old ways didn’t work for us as they once did.
I fisted my hands over the arms of my throne. Why we were meeting in the great room to discuss my mating situation was beyond me. Mother was supposed to be gone already, but The Blood—the vampire council—demanded I find a mate first. They never gave their reasons, which made me suspicious.
“Mother, it isn’t that easy.” My chest tightened with an unfamiliar feeling. Longing and loneliness stirred within. I’d already met my mate, not that it would do me any good. I couldn’t claim my one true mate, ever.
It was several years ago. My guard had convinced me to go to a local bar owned by one of their own that catered to both vampires and lycans. Many of the lycans attended public schools with the humans, able to blend in all but one night a month when the moon was full. The younger lycans were notorious for bar-hopping, and vampires weren’t much different.
A vampire-owned bar wasn’t unusual. We owned the night, after all, and humans in bars made poor choices, leaving us open to feed without detection or having to use our telepathic abilities. Using telepathy to mask our feeding always drained us.
We’d entered a local bar that particular night, and I’d almost left when I smelled them. Lycans. A growl escaped me as I walked through the door, my guard flanking me. It was no secret that vampires and lycans had warred since the beginning of time. Well, maybe not that long, but there were times it felt that way.
Scanning every dark corner of the place, I spotted several of the wolves crammed into booths in near the back of the bar. The entire establishment reeked of them, so I slowed my breathing to minimize the overwhelming scent of dog.
Ignoring the lycans, my guard and I made our way to the bar where a small group of vampires close to my age gathered. They met my gaze briefly and nodded their heads once in a slight bow. I nodded back in greeting. One thing I hated about being the vampire prince was my people insisted on being at attention in my presence. It was annoying. My people weren’t fucking puppets.
They were people with lives. As long as they didn’t expose us to the humans, I didn’t care what they did.
It was one thing I was already starting to change—I only wanted them to address me formally when I was sitting on my throne.
Once seated, the bartender took our drink orders and left. My guard rested against the bar so he could watch the door and my back simultaneously. “You know there are large factions of younger vampires in favor of ending our centuries-long feud with the lycans.”
Yeah, I knew. However, I had little interest. “Nothing I can do about it at the moment.”
My time to rule would come soon enough—three to four years to be exact – and I didn’t want to waste my free years worrying about vampire-lycan politics.
The air conditioning kicked on, blowing cool air through the bar and mixing the scents of vampire and lycans. That was when her scent hit me full-force, nearly knocking me off my stool. Rose water and mint, mixed with an intoxicating earthy spice that called to my soul. My body heated and my heart pulsed, pumping blood straight to my dick. What the fuck?
My head whipped around, searching for the owner of that scent—the scent of my mate. When I spotted her, the noise from the bar around me seemed to disappear for a few moments. Her wavy chestnut hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, and two thick strands of hair framed her oval face. She wore a pair of faded blue jeans with tears cut into the thighs and a black T-shirt that said, “I howl at the moon.”
She was a lycan. Fuck me.
“Who is she?” I nudged my guard. He came to the bar frequently and was more likely to know. I suspected he was one of the ones encouraging vampires to give lycans a chance.
My guard followed my line of sight and grunted. “Jillian,” he said. “She’s hot, but she’s too hot. Trouble. She’s the lycan princess, only heir to the High Alpha.”
Fuck me. She was my mate. I knew it as surely as I knew I could never be with her. An ache formed in my soul at that thought. Normally I didn’t have a problem with breaking the rules and taking what was mine. But this was different.
I had to take the vampire throne one day soon and choose a vampire mate. It was the law and my future. A future I’d have to live without my fated mate. I’d never be accepted if I had a lycan as my mate, much less the lycan princess.
Author Bio:
In 2008, Lia Davis ventured into the world of writing and publishing and never looked back. She has published more than twenty books, including the bestselling A Tiger’s Claim, book one in her fan favorite Ashwood Falls series. Her novels feature compassionate yet strong alpha heroes who know how to please their women and her leading ladies are each strong in their own way. No matter what obstacle she throws at them, they come out better in the end.
While writing was initially a way escape from real world drama, Lia now makes her living creating worlds filled with magic, mystery, romance, and adventure so that others can leave real life behind for a few hours at a time.
Lia’s favorite things are spending time with family, traveling, reading, writing, chocolate, coffee, nature and hanging out with her kitties. She and her family live in Northeast Florida battling hurricanes and very humid summers, but it’s her home and she loves it!
Author links:
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter
L.A. Boruff lives in East Tennessee with her husband, three children, and an ever growing number of cats. She loves reading, watching TV, and procrastinating by browsing Facebook. L.A.’s passions include vampires, food, and listening to heavy metal music. She once won a Harry Potter trivia contest based on the books, and lost one based on the movies. She has two bands on her bucket list that she still hasn’t seen: AC/DC and Alice Cooper. Feel free to send tickets.
Author links:
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High King of Britain by Tracy Cooper-Posey blitz with Xpresso Book Tour
High King of Britain
Tracy Cooper-Posey
(Once and Future Hearts #5)
Publication date: May 30th 2019
Genres: Fantasy, Historical, Romance
All she wants is to fight for Arthur and Britain.
Lady Mair is a daughter of Corneus—the house of perfect warriors—and wants only to serve Arthur, War Duke of Britain, as her brothers Lucan and Bedivere do. Yet King Alun of Brocéliande wants to make her his queen, which would mean leaving Britain and Arthur’s court.
Alun’s younger brother and Mair’s best friend, Rawn, sees things as Mair does—nothing is more important than being the best warriors they can be.
Only Mair is entangled in the politics of the kings and leaders surrounding Arthur, just as his army prepares to fight two major battles in one summer, and people wonder when Arthur will become High King of Britain.
Plus, Rawn is hiding secrets of his own, that run counter to Mair’s desparate wish to be free to fight for Britain.
This novel is part of the ancient historical romance series, Once and Future Hearts, set in Britain during the time of King Arthur.
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo
—
EXCERPT:
After washing and exchanging her bloody war gear for clean leather, Mair ducked under the tent flap and went in search of wine, her mind calm, her thoughts peaceful. The battle had been won. It was time to celebrate.
Somewhere nearby, there would be a campfire with like-minded warriors sitting around it, with wineskins and cups. A place would be made for her.
“Lady Mair.” The call came from her left.
Mair halted to look. The man who came toward her was black of hair, with a sharp jaw. He looked familiar. Mair took in his wide shoulders, and the strong wrists. He had washed and changed just as she had, so there were no house markings on his clothes or cloak to tell her who he was.
She glanced at his face once more as he stopped before her. He had thick dark brows over very blue eyes…and then she knew why he seemed familiar to him. “Arawn Uther,” she said. “You have joined Arthur’s army now?”
“My brother sent me, as he could not be spared himself,” Arawn Uther said. “Alun remains in Lesser Britain to hold the eastern borders with Hoel.” He reached inside his over tunic, underneath the cloak. “I have a letter for you, from Alun.”
The mention of a letter should have filled her with delight. Instead, Mair felt a twisting and tightening in her belly. “He did not send it by messenger?”
“Not this letter,” Arawn Uther held the sealed roll toward her.
The very slight emphasis made her hesitate as she reached for the roll. “Why this letter? You know what is in it, don’t you?”
Arawn Uther didn’t shift his stance. His expression did not change. Yet Mair could feel the wave of sadness that swept him. His blue eyes glittered. “My mother…Ilsa…” His throat worked.
Mair sighed. “Oh, Arawn… I’m so sorry.”
He nodded. Then he cleared his throat. “As you can imagine, my mother’s passing changes things.”
He did not finish the thought, but he did not need to. Mair could finish it all by herself. It changes things between you and Alun.
Alun had been pressing for a solid arrangement between them for years, via messengers and couriers, and letters like this one. Now, with his mother’s passing, he would reasonably expect to secure the next generation.
Mair looked at the roll hanging forgotten in Arawn’s hand. She didn’t want to read it. Once she read Alun’s entreaty that she join him in Brocéliande, she would be forced to make a decision.
Mair gripped Arawn’s arm. “It is not the time to tax our minds with such matters,” she said firmly. “We have clawed victory from this day. I was about to find some wine and I insist you come and drink it with me.”
“But…”
She shook her head. “No. You fought today as I did. You now get to enjoy the warrior’s rights. Drink and…perhaps we can find you a willing, warm woman, to take that care from your eyes.”
Arawn rolled his eyes. “Really, Lady Mair–”
“Mair,” she said firmly.
“Rawn,” he replied, just as firmly. He narrowed his eyes and stuffed the letter back inside his tunic. “Where is this wine you speak of?”
Author Bio:
Tracy Cooper-Posey is a #1 Best Selling Author. She writes romantic suspense, historical, paranormal and science fiction romance. She has published over 100 novels since 1999, been nominated for five CAPAs including Favourite Author, and won the Emma Darcy Award.
She turned to indie publishing in 2011. Her indie titles have been nominated four times for Book Of The Year. Tracy won the award in 2012, and an SFR Galaxy Award in 2016 for “Most Intriguing Philosophical/Social Science Questions in Galaxybuilding”. She has been a national magazine editor and for a decade she taught romance writing at MacEwan University.
She is addicted to Irish Breakfast tea and chocolate, sometimes taken together. In her spare time she enjoys history, Sherlock Holmes, science fiction and ignoring her treadmill. An Australian Canadian, she lives in Edmonton, Canada with her husband, a former professional wrestler, where she moved in 1996 after meeting him on-line.
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May 30, 2019
Their Baby Dragon by Annie Nicholas blitz with Xpresso Book Tours.
Their Baby Dragon
Annie Nicholas
(Not This #5.5)
Publication date: May 31st 2019
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Paranormal, Romance
COUNT DOWN TO DRAGON BABY
Eoin, Harbinger of Smoke and Darkness, and Angie, Angel Dragon of New Port are very pleased to announce they are expecting the birth of their first child in the Spring of 2019.
The popular celebrity couple cannot wait to meet their newest addition. They were recently spotted at the premiere shifter obstetrician’s office looking upset.
Stay tuned for updates.
Warning: DO NOT approach couple, take pictures, or trespass on their land uninvited. Trust this reporter’s advice comes from firsthand experience.
Author Bio:
Annie Nicholas writes paranormal romance with a twist. She has courted vampires, hunted with shifters, and slain a dragon’s ego all with the might of her pen. Riding the wind of her imagination, she travels beyond the restraints of reality and shares them with anyone wanting to read her stories. Mother, daughter, and wife are some of the other hats she wears while hiking through the hills and dales of her adopted state of Vermont.
Annie writes for Samhain Publishing, Carina Press, and Lyrical Press.
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May 29, 2019
New Covers for Crossing Realms Series by Rebecca E. Neely
The Keeper
Rebecca E. Neely
(Crossing Realms #1)
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance
“A fast, punchy story with a colorful fictional world for sequels to explore.” Kirkus Reviews
Nick Geary, jaded clan leader of human guardians, the Keepers, is doomed to love a human woman who’s forgotten him, time after time, for thirteen years: Libby Klink, a skittish accountant who’s as terrified of her recent and strange intuitions as she is of her mundane existence.
When Nick is ordered by the clan’s guiding force to seek Libby’s help in defending the clan against enemy Betrayers, romance sizzles as the pair forms an unlikely alliance in their desperate search to discover the key to the clan’s salvation–which Libby alone holds.
But a haunting secret could cost Nick everything, and in a race against time, both will be forced to choose between their hearts and duty. Can their love, and the clan, survive, or will the very forces that drew them together ultimately destroy them?
—
The Watcher
Rebecca E. Neely
(Crossing Realms #2)
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Hellbent on avenging his own death, former Keeper Dev Geary eagerly accepts when the Watchers task him with returning to the human realm to discover the secret for rendering Similitude—the very thing that killed him.
But to succeed in the seven days he’s been granted, he’ll need to work with the one human who wants nothing to do with him, and who he can’t help falling for—Meda Gabriel, a cagey, street-smart bar owner with a unique skill set and, maybe, the key to his mission.
With the clock ticking and the Betrayers barely a step behind, can Dev conquer his demons and find the answers the clan so desperately needs, with Meda at his side? Can love find a way, or will he be forced to abandon her and the clan, leaving them all to face imminent destruction?
—
The Betrayer
Rebecca E. Neely
(Crossing Realms #3)
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance
With the Second Rebellion raging in the city, Curtis Geary, the Keepers’ tech guru, receives a Compulsion for Jordan, a Betrayer ousted by her brood and left for dead. His orders? Obtain information from her that can save his clan—before it’s too late. Plunged into a war zone, cut off from his clan, Curtis quickly discovers this woman is no ordinary Betrayer. Not only does his Vitality energy inexplicably save her life, she may be the missing link in the Keepers’ quest to restore Similitude—the Betrayers’ manufactured weapon deadly to Keepers.
Despised by her own brood, Jordan’s mysterious ability and a wicked set of street smarts have kept her alive—along with the havoc she’s been forced to wreak on humans as a means of creating dark energy. Against his better judgement, Curtis is helplessly drawn to this enigma of a woman, who defies the logic of his trusty computers.
Despite a lifetime of mistrust and her soldier’s survival instincts, Jordan can’t help falling for this at times awkward but genuine man who offers her what she’s always yearned for—love and an opportunity for a better life. But in a race against time and a brood master hell-bent on destruction, love and loyalty will come under fire—within the brood and the clan.
Can Jordan find the courage to embrace her future and find love? Or will she betray the clan and herself as the Keepers wage what may be their final battle to save the human race?
Author Bio:
A sucker for a happy ending, Rebecca writes the kind of stories she loves to read–gritty, suspenseful and featuring authentic, edgy and vulnerable characters, smack dab in the middle of action that explodes from page one.
JOIN MY VIP READER LIST for sales, special offers & giveaways ~ Visit www.rebeccaneely.com
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Building Up to Love by J.V. Speyer blitz with Xpresso Book Tours.
Building Up to Love
J.V. Speyer
Publication date: May 17th 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance, Suspense
Jared is at the top of his game, professionally. His love life leaves a little to be desired. All he wants is someone who can love him for him, and who doesn’t demand he “pick a side.” The sudden reappearance of his college boyfriend, Logan, doesn’t make anything better.
Logan knows he broke Jared’s heart all those years ago. He plans to keep a respectful distance, especially once he starts defending a mob case. The last thing he wants is to bring more trouble into Jared’s life. As they keep getting thrown together, he finds it harder to stay away.
The Mob isn’t known for being considerate of their targets’ love lives. It’s not going to be easy to build a new relationship with Jared as Logan’s client’s enemies come knocking at his door…
—
EXCERPT:
“You’re a genius.” Gage clapped his hands. His posture loosened, shoulders down and relaxed. “So what’s with you hitting the bottle on a weeknight? I thought you left your partying days behind you in grad school.”
Jared rolled his eyes. “I was such a party animal, too. Because construction sites are great places to be hung over.” He’d worked full time throughout his college years, and Gage knew it too. Sure, he had a full scholarship, but it hadn’t covered books or living expenses, and Jared had felt obligated to help support their mom and younger siblings at home.
He scoffed and took another gulp of his drink. “So your favorite client came by the building to pick out his finishes yesterday.”
Gage paled. “Aw, Geez. Wait— you’re working on that project?”
“Yeah. Well, the other interior guy’s in jail, so I picked it up.”
Gage grimaced. “I guess I couldn’t have kept you apart forever. But it shouldn’t have been a problem. You can be around each other long enough to let him pick out finishes.”
Jared squirmed in his seat. He didn’t want to confess his weakness to anyone, but he had to say something to someone. Gage was the best choice. And he should know. “He came back while I was laying out bathroom tiles.”
Gage closed his eyes. “Tell me that’s not a euphemism.”
Jared blushed. “It wasn’t a euphemism at first. But, um. We were arguing, and then—”
“Oh God, I watched this porno in middle school.”
“It’s not a porn— wait, what?”
“Angry office sex. It’s a classic porn trope. Come on, Jared, have you been living under a rock? The couple — who may not be a couple yet, but you know how it is — they argue, and then the next thing you know they’re getting busy right then and there over a desk or something—” Gage’s eyes bulged open and he grabbed for Jared’s drink. “Oh my God. My baby brother. Cannot unsee.”
Jared took his drink back. “Dude. No. It wasn’t quite like that. I mean there’s no furniture in there.”
Gage whimpered and covered his eyes.
“It’s just— I’m not sure where my brain went. I was just not thinking clearly, and that was all she wrote. I shouldn’t have done it. I should’ve punched him in the face and called the cops for trespassing.”
Gage calmed himself down. “But you didn’t,” he said with a sigh. “I think you need to ask yourself why.”
“I don’t know why. Impulsivity. Stupid bi people doing stupid bi people things—”
“Hey.” Gage’s voice cut through the din of the bar like a whip. “None of that. You never believed any of it before, don’t you start now.” He put his hand on Jared’s drink. “Maybe you’ve had enough of that.”
“Maybe if I drink enough of it, I’ll stop hearing him say it.” Jared took his drink back and drained it, but he could still hear Logan.
Author Bio:
J. V. Speyer has lived in upstate New York and rural Catalonia before settling in the greater Boston area. She has worked in archaeology, security, accountancy, finance, and non-profit management. She currently lives just south of Boston in a house old enough to remember when her town was a tavern community with a farming problem. (No, really. John Adams complained about it. A lot.)
When not writing, J. V. enjoys watching baseball and seeking out all of New England’s creepiest spots. Her Spawn has turned her into a hockey enthusiast. She can be bribed with gin, tequila, and cats.
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May 28, 2019
Cover reveal, Coveting Love & Revenge by Haven Cage
Coveting Love & Revenge
Haven Cage
(A Perilously Pretty Novel)
Publication date: June 12th 2019
Genres: Adult, Historical, Romance, Suspense
Synthia will do anything for her daughter – even murder.
1871, high-society Savannah, Georgia.
Penniless and jaded governess, Synthia James, is trapped with her employer, a man she once loved but now despises. His obsession with money and stature has corrupted them both. When he bids their young housemaid to kill a man who threatens his business, Synthia’s maternal instincts take over, and she commits the heinous deed herself.
Now there’s another business enemy… and her former beau wants him dead. But the new cotton farmer has revived Synthia’s long-forgotten passions.
With blood on her hands already, Synthia is prepared to kill again. But who? The new business partner for her daughter’s sake, or her greedy lover for morality and freedom?
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Author Bio:
Haven Cage lives in the Carolinas with her husband and son. After many years of dabbling with drawing, painting, and working night shift in the medical field, she decided to try her hand at writing. Unfortunately, her love for books came later in life and proved to add a healthy challenge during her writing journey. Determined to hone her craft though, she soaks up as much information as she can, spends her free time tapping away in her favorite local coffee shop, and keeps a good book in hand whenever possible.
What began as a hobby has grown into a way of escape and the yearning to take her journey farther, her love for writing and reading deepening along the way.
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Who’s a Good Boy by Ada Scott blitz with Xpresso Book Tours
Who’s a Good Boy
Ada Scott
Publication date: May 24th 2019
Genres: New Adult, Romance, Suspense
Hazel Rivera was an untouchable small-town princess… but that summer five years ago, she was mine.
All it took was a few hours of hell to destroy the heaven we built. I left Shippensburg with nothing but the shirt on my back and my dog at my side. Leave or die, and ruin the lives of everybody I cared about at the same time. There was no choice.
Now I’m back. I need to find out how she could have done that to us, but somehow she’s got the nerve to be pissed at me? And why does her daughter have my eyes?
I’ll get my answers, make her remember how she used to run her tongue over my abs and dig her nails into my back, then I’ll leave this damn town forever.
—
EXCERPT:
Hazel nodded enthusiastically and held the plate in my direction. I took a brownie and Chopper whined at the brutal injustice of it all.
While chewing, I tried to maintain a poker-face, but under the scrutiny of Hazel and Chopper, I couldn’t help but smile.
“Mmmm… ok, all is forgiven.”
Relief visibly washed over Hazel’s face, and sweet holy fuck what a beautiful face it was. Maybe she wasn’t the unfathomable angel I had assumed from a distance. Maybe she was even better.
Hazel’s eyes flicked down to my bicep as I brought the brownie to my mouth for another bite, and I saw the tip of her tongue touch her lips for a second before she swallowed and looked me in the face again. Hazel, Hazel Rivera, was checking me out.
“So what are you going to be doing with yourself over the summer, now that you’re free?” I asked.
“Well, my friend Ella and I are hatching a scheme that would convince my parents to let me have a gap year. Other than that, just going to hang out with friends, maybe do a road trip before everybody scatters to the four corners of the world.”
“How’s that going for you? The scheme.”
“It’s… still unhatched, shall we say.”
Before I’d been kicked out of school, I’d had my pick of the girls, it had always been pretty easy for me. Since then, I’d gradually stopped going to the local parties, so I wasn’t sure if I was merely rusty or what, but I had almost as much problems getting the next words out of my mouth as Hazel had explaining the brownies.
“So… that’s the long-term plan, what about short term, like tonight?”
“Huh?”
I swallowed. “Well, if you didn’t have plans and wanted to make sure you’d properly apologized, I’m free tonight.”
Hazel’s eyebrows rose along with one side of her mouth. “Oh really? I thought all was forgiven?”
“Well… maybe I misspoke. I’m still pretty offended.”
“Oh no…”
“So, what do you say? Tonight? I could pick you up around seven?”
“I can’t.”
My heart lurched again.
“But… I’m free this afternoon. Say four?” she asked, sheepishly.
“Yep, I can work with that,” I said.
A smile so pure and bright lit up her face that my only defense was to smile back. We stood there for a few seconds smiling like fucking idiots.
“Uh… well, here.” She held out the plate. “These are yours. I gotta go, but I’ll see you at four. You know where I live, right?”
I pointed in the direction of her house.
“That’s it,” she said, taking a few steps backwards. “See you then.” She turned away as she spoke.
“See you then,” I said, just barely loud enough for her to hear, before taking my own backwards steps away from the fence and turning around.
“Hey Jeff?” she called.
I turned.
“It’s a date, right?” Her face was threatening to turn pink again.
“It’s a date.”
Hazel smiled and gave me a rueful ‘gotcha’ point of her finger. If I could have her smile at me like that every day, I’d be a happy man
Author Bio:
A former office drone, a former nurse, I now spend every waking moment doing what I love, creating and publishing these steamy stories about bad boys from the mafia, motorcycle clubs, and mma that make me, and hopefully you, weak at the knees! Anywhere a bad boy can be found, I’ll be there taking notes and making it even sexier
