Cara Faith Donvovan's Blog, page 15

Shock Me - Casey Hagen

Title: Shock Me
Series: So Wrong It's Right #1Author: Casey HagenGenre: Opposites Attract RomanceRelease Date: September 1, 2020


Blurb
Mama always warned her that a sense of adventure would only lead to trouble…
Tall. Dark. Delicious. Trouble.

Mabel Lee Montgomery lives in the cradle of the church’s stifling arms. A disgraced preacher’s dutiful daughter, she’s protective of her mama and works endlessly to abolish the stigma left by her father’s scandal. But sometimes a woman just has to hang up her good girl ways and break free for a night. What better way than a bachelorette celebration at a wildly popular and completely taboo strip club outside the city limits?

Kellen Savage never thought a brief stint stripping would be more than a quick infusion of cash to repair the wreckage of his tumultuous past. Repelling the hungry pursuit of a serious relationship by the female persuasion just served as an added bonus. Until the prim and proper hot mess sitting front and center gives him an unintended show of her own between her tongue, a cherry, and enticing cleavage. Fascinated by her resilience as she stubbornly tries to keep up with her fast friends, he might just have to rethink his bachelor status.

Call it fate or call it a night of sin ending with a phone number scrawled on a condom. Either way, Mabel Lee and Kellen are about to embark on the joy ride of their lives. Their adventure starts out with fun and games, but the blind curves in the road ahead may prove too sharp for this unlikely match to maneuver. When the dust settles, Mabel Lee may have to face that fact that she’s more apt for scandal than a church pew, but will she be cut out for the scarlet letter it comes with?

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Excerpt
“What’s a body shot?” Mabel Lee asked.Catalina reared back. “My God, where did you find her, Kellen?”He laughed and scratched his head. “Ironically, I found her right here in the crowd.”“Girl, you have to do a body shot. It’s practically a rite of passage.”Mabel Lee’s eyes lit up and she bounced on her seat. “Will you show me?”“Sure. Kellen, hop up on the table,” Catalina said, rising to her feet.“You are kidding, right?” he said, giving her a look through his lashes.“Nope. I mean, I don’t mind if she does one off me, but I have a feeling she’d feel more comfortable if it’s you.”“One shot, Mabel Lee,” he said.“I promise. Just one,” Mabel Lee said with an excited grin.“I can’t believe I’m about to do this,” he said, tugging his t-shirt over his head.Catalina snagged an empty table and dragged it over, sliding it right up against Mabel Lee’s. “Can I get a shot of tequila over here?” she called.Kellen climbed onto the table just to have Catalina tsk him. “Really, guy? It’s your girlfriend. Take the pants off.”“I’m not looking to perform a sex act, Catalina. I’m on the freaking clock.”“I’ll vouch that it’s on the up and up. You’ll be fine. Besides, the owners adore you. You make them a shit ton of money. You’re good.”He knew what an asset he was, but he sure as hell didn’t feel good about taking advantage.Catalina sighed when he didn’t reply. “Look, Mabel Lee is too dignified for that. Hell, she’s too dignified for this, but she trusts me, so ditch the pants, man.”“Fine.” He slid off his jeans, leaving him in the G-string he’d grabbed from his clothes as he hurried out to catch her.“Oooh, seems he prepared for the occasion,” Catalina said, letting out a laugh.He climbed on the table, laid down with his back against the wood, and schooled his breathing so he wouldn’t knock the shot off his stomach.“Where do you want it, Mabel Lee? Chest, stomach, or right about here?” Catalina asked, touching the glass to his inner thigh.High on his inner thigh.Like, right next to his fucking nut.“Catalina,” he growled.“Kellen…shut up,” she said and shoved the wedge of lime in between his teeth.“You only live once, right? Put it there.” Mabel said.He lifted his head, surprised to see her pointing to the nut zone. Shit.Blood rushed south, and his cock perked up.Not now. Not now. Not now.He could see the headline now. Beloved Local Stripper Causes Eye Injury with His Wayward Erection. It was a goddamned nightmare twist on the old A Christmas Story line. The fucking X-rated version.“Looks like he’s giving us a tighter gap to support the glass. Thanks, Kellen,” Catalina said, followed by a snort.Mabel Lee giggled.And that was with no alcohol in her system. Just as long as she didn’t start slapping things again, because his junk was in the swing zone.He muttered a few choice swears through the lime that would singe Mabel Lee’s ears clean off as his head smacked the table. God was a funny dude putting him in this position.“Okay, sugar. So here’s what you’re going to do. No using your hands now; you keep those tucked behind your back.” There was a brief pause. “Good, just like that. I’m going to do you a favor and hold your hair. Lord, it’s gorgeous. You need to tell me what shampoo and conditioner you use.”“Well, aren’t you sweet. Thank you. I use Kevin Murphy, but I use the cleansing crème in between washes so I don’t dry it out. Have you heard of Water Lilies in Clendon? That’s where I get it.”Nice they could exchange recommended bath products while held a shot glass with his knob.“Thanks, girl. I’ll check it out. Now, are you ready? On three, I want you to bend down and wrap your lips around that glass and bring it right back up with you. The liquor will slide right down. Just swallow and roll with it.”“Okay, I can do that,” Mabel Lee said, her voice dropping in that way it did when she adopted that laser focus of hers.“After, you go on up there and bite into that lime.”“Mmm, okay.”“One…two…three.”He clenched as Mabel Lee’s warm breath fanned over his thigh. The glass bobbled, and what he thought might be her chin grazed his cock, making it jump, but before he knew it, she and the glass were gone.





Author Bio

Casey Hagen pens her snarky, passionate stories from the salty air of Kennebunk, Maine. She’s a born and raised Vermont native, a New England girl to the core, with Ben & Jerry’s in her heart and real Vermont maple syrup pumping through her veins.
She’s the proud mother of three girls and a new, first-time grandma with an insatiable addiction to Fall Out Boy, and a new, rather concerning obsession with tattoos and piercings. Can you say “cool grandma?”
The inked and pierced grandma spends her time tucked away in her office, coated in cat hair, alternating between tearing her hair out trying to find the perfect words and being one step ahead of her three scheming fur babies she is positive are plotting her demise with every swirl around her ankles at the top of her office stairs.She loves writing stories about real people, with complicated histories, relatable everyday problems, and giving them the hard-won happily-ever-afters they deserve.
And she thanks every last one of you who picks up one of her stories.
Casey is done talking about herself in the third person.
*Casey out*

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Thanks for joining us at Tears of Crimson. Home to Bestselling Author Michelle Hughes,and all the Friends of Crimson!

To Give Or Not to Give - Dating in 2020

 Written By:  Michelle Hughes   

Is there a place in today's society for women that choose to wait before they experience their first time?  Surprisingly enough, yes.  As our culture is filled with sexual freedom being blasted into our homes on both the internet and television daily, some women still choose to wait.  According to several surveys of college women, 14 % chose to hold onto their virginity after the age of 20.  I've talked with several women who have chosen to wait and the reasons why, might (or may not) shock you.

Women today don't feel like they need to be defined by their sexuality.  Other's feel that sex isn't an important goal for them, while focusing on their careers and life choices rank higher.  With more people over twenty turning to online socializing it should come as no surprise that this means less physical contact with people in their age demographic.  Most of the women I talked to that decided to wait said it had little or nothing to do with religious belief, which somewhat shocked me.

So, what's it like to be a 20 year old virgin in 2020?  The women that I spoke with said it wasn't something discussed openly and didn't feel like it was a topic of conversation that needed to be brought up unless a relationship was getting serious.  It came as no surprise to me that these women were college students, who had strong goals for their lives involving their careers.  When asked if they used other forms of sexual gratification it was a fifty-fifty split.  They either felt no need to sexually satisfy themselves or felt it was easier to masturbate than worry about finding a partnership with their busy work, and college classes.

While it might seem that the entire world is getting it on in the bedroom, at least that's what we see on our television constantly, there are  more than a few women out there deciding to wait until they feel the need to explore that sexuality.  What I did find somewhat shocking was that many of these 20-something virgins decided to not date at all.  

I decided to conduct a poll here and talk to readers.  In the comments below, if you feel so obliged, leave a comment about how old you were when you decided to give it all, or are still holding on to that V-card. Obviously, this blog is meant for eighteen or older, so let's see where the majority of our readers fall.  Either way, Tears of Crimson will always be here to support your decision to give or not give.  For us it's all about what you want to do.

Thanks for joining us at Tears of Crimson. Home to Bestselling Author Michelle Hughes,and all the Friends of Crimson!

Nera: A Dark Retelling of The Lion King

Title: Nera: A Dark Retelling
of The Lion KingAuthor: Raven AmorGenre: MC/Dark Romance
Release Date: September 3, 2020


Blurb
Nera is a dark retelling of The Lion King in Nera’s POV.
Every story has two sides; you’ve heard his before.Now, it’s time for mine.It’s not pretty, and it’s no fairy tale.Full of blood-soaked betrayal, it will break open your chest and pull out your beating heart.We will find love and lose it.Blood will be shed, lives lost.We will be brought to our knees, to rise once again.
This book is the stunning full story of King, the first section was previously released in The Dark Kingdom Anthology. 
You do not need to have read The Dark Kingdom Anthology to enjoy this dark MC standalone.WARNING: Adult content. Explicit sexual content and violence. This a dark romance don't expect a fairy tale. No unicorns in this book.

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Excerpt
He made a foolish mistake. He doesn’t see me as a threat, not the same way he did that night at the concert when I held a gun to him. He thought that breaking me made me weak. He was wrong, so fucking wrong. It made me thirsty for his blood. I didn’t want to submit to him; I hungered to bring him to his knees until it consumed me.
It’s time, my demon whispers.
I cross the room slowly, the moon catching the metal of the blade and making it twinkle. So, fucking beautiful.
He doesn’t stir as something rushes through my veins, something much more potent than any drug he’s given me. My lips twitch into a smirk, oh Joker… if only you knew what’s coming!
My demon smirks right alongside me, her eyes on the prize that’s sleeping in front of us.
I grab at his dirty black hair, feeling the grease between my fingers. His eyes spring open wide, fear comes into them the more he looks at me making my mouth water… He starts thrashing about, that is, until he feels the blade pressing at his neck.
I smirk the way Horse did. I can feel them all in the room with me. Beast, Cub, Horse, Cross, and all the brothers that have lost their lives to this sick piece of shit.
“See you in hell, baby,” I whisper, my breathing ragged as I pull the blade across his skin. Any words he was going to say are lost in the gurgling of his blood. We watch him, smiling, eyes never leaving his, and making sure I’m the last thing he sees as life seeps from him.


Author Bio

Raven loves writing dark romance wrapped in suspense. She loves finding the beauty in the pain, love in tragedy. And of course writing those hot scenes. Raven describes her books as darkness mixed with blood stained passion. Raven is fluent in sarcasm and adult languageIf you can’t find Raven in her writing cave or editing hell. Then you will find her curled up with a book lost in the words of other authors. Raven has three daughters and one man child. All who she adores. She comes from a large welsh family who are completely crazy in all the right ways. You can find Raven on Facebook and Instagram. Or hanging out in her group Raven Rebels.

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Thanks for joining us at Tears of Crimson. Home to Bestselling Author Michelle Hughes,and all the Friends of Crimson!

Real Fake Love - Pippa Grant

Title: Real Fake Love
Series: Copper Valley Fireballs #2Author: Pippa GrantGenre: Romantic Comedy
 Release Date: September 3, 2020


Blurb
If people have polar opposites, Luca Rossi is mine.His butt is in the baseball hall of fame. Mine’s comfortably seated in the hall of lame.When he’s not snagging fly balls out in center field, he’s modeling in shampoo commercials. I once jammed my own finger while stirring cookie dough, and sometimes I forget shampoo is a thing.He’s a total cynic when it comes to love.I make a living writing love stories.But after my latest broken engagement (no, I don’t want to talk about how many times that’s happened), it’s clear he’s exactly the man I need.If anyone can teach me to be the opposite of me, it’s him.The first thing I want him to teach me?How to not fall in love.And as luck would have it, he’s in desperate need of a fake girlfriend to get a meddling grandmother off his back.We couldn’t be more perfect together, because the last thing Luca Rossi will ever be is the next man to leave me at the altar.Or will he?
Real Fake Love is a line drive straight to the heart featuring a grumpy athlete, a jilted bride, a fake relationship, and the world’s laziest cat. It stands alone and comes complete with sibling rivalry, the world’s most awkward shower scene, and a sweetly satisfying happily ever after.

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Excerpt
Henri, in the middle of Chapter Four...
It's probably weird to be sitting on the doorstep of the man I cyberstalked after his whole love sucks speech after my failed wedding. But I won’t apologize for waiting for Luca here at what I think is his house, because you don’t get what you need in life if you don’t go for it.
Still, maybe Dogzilla and I should be waiting in my car instead? At least that way, I could turn on the radio while we wait. And the air conditioning.
I’m about to move to the car when a clunker chugs around the corner, one headlight out, and turns into the driveway.
This is definitely the wrong house.
I’m sitting on the porch of a stranger’s house, hoping that’s a woman driving, because if it’s a woman, at least I know I won’t be in danger.Of falling in love with her at first sight, I mean.
The engine shuts off, and while I don’t often trespass at midnight, I have this feeling that jumping up with Dogzilla and making a run for it right now is exactly the wrong move. A well-timed, "Oh, sorry, I thought you were someone else," will give us all a laugh, I’ll take my cat and leave, and then two complete strangers will have a weird story to tell their friends over margaritas—or an iced tea, in my case—and huh.
This would make an excellent meet-cute for my friend Dorothea’s next steamy romance novel. I’ll have to drop her a note too.
The occupant of the car is still sitting in it, and the figure illuminated by the street light looks too big to be a woman.
Dang it.
He also seems to be—
Is he hitting his head against the steering wheel?
Uh-oh.
If I picked the house of a nutjob, all bets are off.
"Be ready to run, Dogzilla," I whisper.
My lazy cat doesn’t move, and instead snores in my lap.
Easier this way anyway, since it’s not like I can count on her to follow alone when I take off running at full-steam.
Which doesn’t happen all that often, if we’re being honest here. I’m a writer, not a runner.
But—wait.
The way his hair is moving—
That is Luca Rossi.
I rise, cradling Dogzilla, and when Luca looks my way, I give him a finger wave and a smile.
The light isn’t bright enough for me to see what he’s saying, but his lips are definitely moving, and if I’m not mistaken, he’s wearing the same long-suffering expression my father usually has when I tell him I’m engaged.
Again.
It might also be remarkably similar to the expression Luca was wearing when he recognized me at Duggan Field earlier today too.
Not my intention to ambush him at work, I swear. I was curious about the ballpark—I’m curious about a lot of things—so when I caught wind on social media of a writer organization that was touring the park, it was easy enough to get here in time today to join the group.
And it was fascinating to see where the players work out, to smell the chairs the announcers sit in, what it feels like to stand in the dugout, and hear how many light bulbs have to be replaced every day.
There’s a pop and a creak as the car door swings open, and I suddenly desperately need to know why Luca Rossi, millionaire sports star, lives on a grocery store clerk’s salary.
For research.
I swear.
I like to do research.
It’s one of the things my ex-fiancé Kyle liked about me.
"Henri," Luca says.
My brain hears what the hell are you doing here, and why are you between me and my bed, and I’m not asking out loud because I don’t honestly want to know.
I either have a lot of experience understanding people because I write good characters, or I have a lot of experience with frustrating men after five failed engagements.
Plus my lifelong relationship with my father.
"Hi, Luca! Great game tonight. That catch you made in center field was like—"
"The one where I didn’t move, the one where I stepped three feet to my left, or the one where I had to take two steps back?"
Okay, yeah, he had an easy game. "How did you know where the ball was going to be? That’s like—it’s like you’re psychic."
"It’s called being a professional." He squeezes his eyes shut briefly, opens them, eyeballs Dogzilla in my arms, and then sighs again. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company tonight?"
Wow. He’s cranky.
Not gonna lie.
I know it’s probably me.
But that’s no excuse for not forging ahead. I didn’t come all this way to chicken out. "You remember the last time we saw each other?"
"This afternoon in the clubhouse?"
"I liked your hat, but I meant the time…before that."
He closes the distance between us with three casual steps. "Nope."
And I go momentarily speechless as a waft of something delicious teases my nose.
But only momentarily. A quick recovery is a gift. Or possibly a defense mechanism. "The time we were together…in that town…with that big monument…and the event thing…"
No answer.
"The event thing that didn’t—"
"I’m trying to block it from my memory."
"Oh. Oh! Thank you. That’s very kind of you. Sorry. I didn’t realize—"
"That I wouldn’t want to remember your ruined wedding, that you like to redecorate people with dessert, and that your ex-fiancé is the first man that my mother’s dated in three years and I might have to start calling him Stepdad?"
I wince.
My heart also weeps because yeah, still not over seeing Jerry lock lips with a woman who could’ve been my mother, and hearing that it might actually be going somewhere is salt in the wound.
"So, no, Henri, I don’t remember the last time we were together. At least, I won’t, once I get inside and pour myself a large enough vodka tonic. Care for one?"
Once again, I’m momentarily speechless. "Um, I’m kinda allergic—"
I cut myself off when one of his brows rises infinitesimally, and then I gasp. Of course he knows I’m allergic. We had an entire conversation about it. "Are you trying to send me to the hospital?"
"No, but I am trying to get into my house. Alone. Preferably without the sad panda thoughts I’d finally managed to shake before you showed up today."
"Oh. That was a hint."
"It was."
"I’m bad with the subtle."
He swipes a hand over his mouth and looks up at the sky, and I’m certain he’s not stifling a smile.
Probably the exact opposite.
Time to forge ahead. "I’m here because I need your help."
"And now I pay the price for my sins," he mutters.
I’d ask what his sins are, but my google searches were verythorough.Normally, he really would be the last person on earth I’d turn to for help.
"I don’t want money or anything like that. And I’d rather no one know I’m here, so I’m not after your fame either, though I wouldn’t mind some tips on how to get my hair as good as yours always is. I’ve tried Kangapoo before, and—wait. Sorry. Off-topic. I need you to teach me how to not fall in love."


Thanks for joining us at Tears of Crimson. Home to Bestselling Author Michelle Hughes,and all the Friends of Crimson!

The God - SR Jones

Title: The God
Series: Bratva Blood #3Author: SR JonesGenre: Dark Romance/Romantic SuspenseRelease Date: August 30, 2020


Blurb
Dasha:
Bohdan. His name means given by God.He seemed to be. With a body to rival Adonis, a sharp mind, and the face of an angel.Pity his soul was forged by the devil himself.
He was the boy I loved.He was the boy who broke me.I never wanted to see him again.Now--he's back.
Bohdan:
Dasha. My ballerina, with the red hair and the bluest eyes.The girl who betrayed me.The girl who lied to me.The girl I still see as mine.
Mine to love. Mine to hate.Mine to either reap unholy vengeance on, or ply with endless love.She thinks our story is over.I say it's only just begun.

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Author Bio

Hi guys. I’m Skye, a paranormal and contemporary romance author from rainy Northern England. I write Paranormal romance as Skye Jones, and steamy dark romance as S.R. Jones.
The one thing my books in both genres have in common are gritty themes, and alpha heroes who are damaged but oh-so-redeemable!When I’m not writing, I’m either walking my dogs, drinking coffee, or watching my fave TV shows such as The Sopranos, McMafia, and Little House on the Prairie, yep I have eclectic taste!

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Rated-XXX - Mya Oh

Title: Rated-XXXAuthor: Mya OhGenre: New Adult Romantic ComedyRelease Date: September 1, 2020


Blurb
So, this whole thing started with a dick cake. Literally, a cake shaped like a dick. Phallic confectionary. I spill a cup of coffee on the patron. We become friends. We fall in love.

Wait, let’s back-track a bit.

I’m Bailey Finch: twenty-four, living in LA, and working as the lowly Calendar Editor for a trendy Sex & Relationships magazine - think Cosmo on methamphetamines. I mostly take coffee orders.

I’m also woefully body-conscious, clinically anxious, and still a virgin. Not the cute, quirky sort, either. I’m a borderline train-wreck on my best days, and a dumpster fire on my worst.

But here’s the real kicker: the Dick Cake Guy? He also ends up being the best career opportunity to possibly fall into my lap. His name is Elijah Mattox: BDSM Porn Star prodigy, wanna-be mainstream actor, and the subject of my very first magazine interview.

Or at least, that’s how it started. There was something much bigger yet to come - no pun intended.

Rated XXX: A virgin. A porn star. A comedy.

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Excerpt
“Well, fuck me.”Nothing makes you second-guess yourself like a room full of voluptuous models with tiny waists and breasts that still remained perky – side-boob abundant – without a bra. I told myself that if they were silicone, my boobs would look just as great in a thin, lacy bralette – but still found myself giving my own a mournful squeeze while hiding behind a potted plant. There there, boobs. You are stunning, even if you do fall sideways when I lie down. And one might be slightly bigger than the other. Spoiler alert: it was the left one. I'd named her Carly.I'm still sexy, I told myself. I'm still thatgirl. You go, Bailey. When I tip-toed from behind my hiding spot, I was immediately hit by the blinding light of bleached-white smiles and perfectly-winged eyeliner. Glossy mouths, long faux eyelashes. Laughter that rang higher, almost melodic, alongside the beating music that was playing. I could feel my pulse rise; my brain determinedly running hurdles as I quickly looked around, trying to find a spot to belong in a room – nay, a house – brimming with men and women who looked like they belonged on the set of Ex on the Beach.Or, you know, a porn set.And then, brain trip. I think I went cross-eyed. Anxious, uncertain of myself, feeling like a mouse amongst sphinxes. One looked at me, then another, and I could tell what they were thinking: who is this girl? The girl in what now felt like an ill-fitting maroon-colored dress with a high-neckline and full-length sleeves. The girl who bought her makeup at Target and had never worn a single false eyelash, and had actually forgotten to put mascara on before leaving the house. Who is she?And it wasn't in any sort of inspired way. A maybe-she's-born-with-itway. More like, who invited the walking tater tot? With no mascara, and practically blonde eyelashes, I suddenly felt as if I looked like a plague-ridden Victorian child.You've made a massive mistake, the mean, DJ-sounding voice in my head informed. Also, you're ugly.I waited restlessly for Eli to pop up, texting him that I had arrived, when one of the women approached me. Pink-frosted hair, milky pale complexion – absolutely perfect, carved from ivory. Her highlighter made her cheeks pop; her eyes sparkled in that half-drunk, post-orgasm sort of way. She hadn't forgotten the mascara, and oh, how her ensemble was flawless. She was beautiful.She smiled at me, almost too politely, and had the nerve to brush a strand of hair from my forehead.“I've never seen you before,” she remarked. “Have you worked with Eli?”“Erm,” I looked down at my knees. I felt, in that instant, like I had stumpy Hobbit legs. What was I thinking, wearing a dress that cut off mid-thigh? I should have gone for shorter; something to elongate my legs. And here I was. Dildo Baggins. “No. I work with Come Magazine. I've been interviewing him for an article.”“Ah,” she nodded. “That makes sense.”What was that supposed to mean? I could feel the Spanx sucking in my middle, wondering why the hell none of these women had an ounce of cellulite on them. Where were the actually curvy girls? Not to body-shame, of course – just for variety, for God's sake. My face grew hot, and I had only just turned to walk straight out – sorry, Eli, another time, by which I mean a big fat NOPE – when he tapped me on the shoulder, extending a cocktail. The same he'd made me before.“Morgan,” he didn't take his eyes off me. I felt myself swallow, hard. He wore a fitted black button-down, black slacks, and a silver watch. His hair was purposefully messy. His smile cunning as ever. “This is my good friend, Bailey. Doesn't she look stunning?”“Oh yes,” Morgan agreed. “I love your shoes.”“Thanks,” I told her. “Payless. Shoe Source.”She looked at me as if puzzled. Then, giving Eli a wide smile, she walked away and disappeared into the throw of glittery bodies.“For the love of God,” I exhaled heavily, relieved. I could hear Eli chuckle under his breath. “Could I just have some cake, please?”He laughed louder, almost adoringly. As if he were charmed, and maybe he was. He left, returned with a big slice, and I happily accepted.“I gave you a slice of the tip,” he told me. “I wasn't sure if you were ready for the shaft, or into balls.”“I appreciate your consideration,” I dug in, shoving a large spoonful into my mouth while the eyes of a hundred former Miss-Carson-Citiesstudied me like I was anything but a human woman. “But it's all cake to me.”





Author Bio

Mya Oh is an author, mother, and amateur baker. Rated-XXX is her debut novel.
When not writing, she enjoys spending time exploring the woods of her rural town. She currently resides on the East Coast with her husband, two sons, and ginger tabby cat.

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Thanks for joining us at Tears of Crimson. Home to Bestselling Author Michelle Hughes,and all the Friends of Crimson!

Necessary Cruelty - Ashley Gee

Title: Necessary CrueltySeries: Lords of Deception #1Author: Ashley GeeGenre: New Adult RomanceRelease Date: August 31, 2020


Blurb
Will he save me or break me?
Vin Cortland is the crowned prince of Deception High. He is beloved by his subjects and ruthless with his enemies.

We used to be friends, once. Not anymore.

It’s no secret that he hates me, but only the two of us will ever know why. And the guilt of what I’ve done makes me hate myself more than he ever could.

Except love and hate are two sides of the same coin and both will make you burn.

Then he comes to me with a proposition: one fake marriage in exchange for enough money to finally escape this town and leave the past behind me. The offer is hard to refuse and Vin isn’t the type to take no for an answer.

I want to know why me, but I won’t ask for his secrets when it means revealing my own.

He is the best and worst thing that has ever happened to me.

My savior and my destruction.

It’s a deal with the devil.

I’ll let him take my body and my hand in marriage.

The only question is whether or not he also gets my soul.

Necessary Cruelty is a standalone, enemies-to-lovers romance with an HEA and no cliffhanger. Lords of Deception is a New Adult series of standalone romances featuring drama, angsty sensuality and Alpha males who will be brought to their knees. This book is intended for mature readers.

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Excerpt
When I snap awake in the middle of the night, I immediately know I’m not alone.The thin curtains covering the window let in enough of a glow from the floodlights outside that I can just make out the figure sitting at the desk chair in the corner of my room. For a moment, fear tightens my throat and steals my breath as I reorient myself to the present instead of dreams about the past. The fear only lasts until my vision adjusts to the darkness enough that I can tell who it is sitting there.As if there is more than one person that it could be.Vin watches me come awake with an expression that isn’t visible in the dark, but I know he has a scowl on his face. Wood creaks in the silence as he shifts his weight, but he doesn’t say anything.And neither do I.Grandpa is long asleep, not that he would be capable of mounting the stairs to come to my rescue. And I know Zion hasn’t returned from wherever he goes at night, because the noise he makes coming in the house would have woken me up.Vin and I are never alone at school. He either has the other Vice Lords with him, or he avoids me like the plague. At least, it feels like he avoids me. But I can’t ignore the fact that he always seems to be around anytime the rules are broken. One time, Liam Connelly grabbed my elbow and tried to pull me into a broom closet, knowing I probably wouldn’t open my mouth to protest. Vin was there before Liam even had the chance to close the door behind us, breaking my would-be rapist’s jaw badly enough that he required corrective surgery.But that has always been one of the rules: no one else gets to touch me.I see a flash of white in the darkness, and I know it’s the note Jake had my brother pass me at lunch. Vin leaves it on the table as he stands, seeming to loom over me even though he is still across the room. He circles the bed like a shark in the water, scenting blood. But it’s his scent that permeates the room, a heady mix of wood-smoke and bergamot with just the barest hint of oleander. Always, with the fucking oleanders. I have the feeling he rubs himself down with them just to mess with me. That scent will stay here, tainting the air, long after he leaves.It’s been so long since the last time he showed up here like this that I almost had myself convinced we were done. But the two of us are like two meteors on a collision course in the darkness of space, destined to collide in a spectacular display of destruction. In a moment of fancy, I wonder if it’s jealousy or possession that has brought him here tonight, after months of staying away. Realistically, I know the reality is both simpler and more complicated than that. He is here because he can’t stop himself from coming. He wants me in a peculiar and twisted way, but he also might wrap his hands around my throat and squeeze the life from me, something he has threatened to do more than once in the past. His presence here is inexplicable, because there isn’t any explanation required.Vincent Cortland does whatever he wants whenever he feels like doing it. That is the way it has always been.Everybody talks about destiny like it’s some wondrous thing that must be written in the stars. Really, destiny is just the inevitable result of your decisions rushing up from the future to blast you in the face. If you jump off a cliff, hitting the rocks below becomes your destiny. You’re accelerating towards destiny in a free fall, and at that point there isn’t any stopping what has to happen next. Just because something is your destiny doesn’t mean it won’t destroy you.I fold my legs in front of me and wrap my arms around my knees as my gaze tracks his movements in the dim light. He paces like a caged predator in a zoo, desperate for a way out. I don’t say anything as I continue to watch him. This always plays out the same way, and I figured out it’s better to be patient a long time ago.Vin crawls into the bed without asking for permission, and I scoot over to make room for him. He lies on his side on top of the blankets behind me while one hand wraps around my waist to haul me back against him. His open hand rests heavily against my stomach, forcing me down with pressure that is just on the wrong side of too much. Spooning is supposed to be a romantic thing, but he manages to turn it into a punishment. That has always been a talent of his, taking something good and twisting it into a thing that I both love and loathe.We lie together in the dark until our breathing is in sync. I try to take slower and shallower breaths, because I hate that it is so easy for our bodies to become a perfect match. But there isn’t any use trying to fight it. Our chests rise and fall together, his breath tickling the back of my neck as he exhales.An hour passes in silence, but neither of us have fallen asleep. Every place his body touches mine burns. My muscles are clenched and taut as he forces me back against him, but his proximity compels me to relax even as I wish it wasn’t the case. Our hearts might be at war, but our bodies have a mind of their own.I only wear a t-shirt to bed most nights, maybe throwing on a pair of sweatpants when it gets particularly cold. Pajamas are a luxury I simply do not understand. I can’t imagine spending money on clothes that I never wear outside the house.The hand that has been still on my stomach this entire time shifts to my hip, stroking down the bare skin of my exposed thigh. His lips touch the back of my neck, so softly it makes me want to cry. But I won’t call it a kiss, refuse to even think that word. Despite everything, despite my fear, the one thing we never do is kiss.Vin Cortland doesn’t kiss anyone.





Author Bio

Ashley writes moody, atmospheric romance with characters who have to earn their happily ever after. Her stories are angsty and emotional, featuring unique heroines and alphas brought to their knees.
She lives in Indiana with her husband, two children, two cats, two dogs and partridge in a pear tree (okay not really!). She doesn’t enjoy long walks on the beach because the sand gets everywhere but can often be found binging Netflix and drinking wine from Kroger.
Necessary Cruelty is her debut novel.

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Mowed Over - Mae Harden

Title: Mowed OverSeries: Sonoma #2Author: Mae HardenGenre: Contemporary RomanceRelease Date: August 28, 2020


Blurb
LilahI don’t ask for much. I’d like a job where my boss isn’t a total douche bag. I’d like to sleep in past 8 am on my day off. Mostly, I would love my new next-door neighbor to keep his sexy dimples and cocky smiles to himself. He may look like pure southern temptation, but he seems determined to irritate me as often as possible.Letting him in might feel like I’m carving out my heart and handing it to a stranger, but it’s quickly becoming apparent that someone else is watching me and Ben may be the only person who can help me uncover the truth.
BenLilah Donovan is pure walking sin. The more time I spend with her, the harder I fall. She’s an adorable, feisty, half-pint of everything I never knew I wanted. She may have built the Great Wall of China around her heart, but I’m not averse to climbing if that’s what it takes to find a way in.Getting through to her is an exercise in patience, but it’s not the only thing testing my abilities. Between the phone calls from unknown numbers, the car problems that are looking more and more like sabotage, and the shadowy figure in her yard, it’s obvious that someone is stalking my girl. But he’s messing with the wrong person because I am uniquely qualified to end this, and there are no lengths I wouldn’t go to when it comes to protecting Lilah.

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Excerpt
"You can trust me," he says. "No, I can't." My voice comes out too breathy.Ben grins, his dimples popping even as his eyes bore into me with pure hunger. "Why not?""You're too handsome and you're trying to get me to break my only rule. You're obviously trouble." The kind of trouble I'm finding it harder and harder to resist. Ben circles my wrist with his hand and pulls me out of my chair. I go willingly because I am weak, and I don't want to fight the way he makes me feel. He settles me across his lap and kisses my neck. "Maybe I'm the best kind of trouble," he says as he runs his lips along the length of my neck. "I'm inclined to agree with that statement."Ben chuckles and the sound vibrates through my body, sending up little goosebumps all over my skin. I wrap my arms around his neck and brush my lips against his. He kisses me back softly, one hand supporting my back and the other venturing up my thigh. Every second he spends touching me ratchets up my desire and every tiny movement makes me more and more aware of how wet I am. I'm seriously in danger of needing a new pair of panties, but I couldn't care less at this point. He deepens the kiss, cradling the back of my neck and dragging my ass across his lap. The feeling of his hard length under me and the moan that rumbles through him is breathtaking, stoking the fire that has been burning in my body all night back into a blaze. I slide my hands under his sweater, seeking out the warmth of his skin. He shivers at my touch and it's insanely gratifying to have that kind of effect on him."If you want me to stop," he growls, "now would be a good time to say so." His eyes are dark with lust and the expression matches the aching need swirling inside me."Don't stop," I whisper.
- An excerpt from Mowed Over by Mae Harden
Copyright © 2020 by Mae Harden





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Author Bio

Mae Harden is an author, pastry chef, podcast co-host, and lover of all things dirty. She writes extra steamy contemporary romance with a penchant for dirty talk and a healthy dose of humor. She loves Alpha men with marshmallowy insides, and women that don’t need to be saved, even if they enjoy it. Mae lives in Virginia with her husband, two kids, a chunky cat, and a pair of fluffy border collie sisters.

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Southside High -Michelle Mankin

Title: Southside High
A Full-Length Tempest Rock Star 
Romance Series PrequelAuthor: Michelle MankinGenre: New Adult Rock Star Romance:
An enemies-to-lovers romance 
with maximum bad boy rocker angstRelease Date: August 27, 2020


Blurb
My best friend and I want the same girl. But Lace Lowell is mine. She was mine first. She’ll be mine forever. Sure, she was his friend when they were kids, long before I ever met her. But that’s in the past. This is now. I’m Warren Jinkins. War. My name is my battle cry. I take what I want. I don’t ask, and I want her.

I’m in love with two men. Bryan Jackson is the guitarist in our band, and War is the lead singer. They’re sexy bad boys, the most dangerous guys in our school. All the girls at Southside High want them. But loving two guys is a problem—especially when those two guys also love each other.  

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Author Bio

Michelle Mankin is the New York Times bestselling author of the Black Cat Records series of novels.
Fall in love with a rock star.
Love Evolution, Love Revolution, and Love Resolution are a BRUTAL STRENGTH centered trilogy, combining the plot underpinnings of Shakespeare with the drama, excitement, and indisputable sexiness of the rock 'n roll industry.
Things take a bit of an edgier, once upon a time turn with the TEMPEST series. These pierced, tatted, and troubled Seattle rockers are young and on the cusp of making it big, but with serious obstacles to overcome that may prevent them from ever getting there.
Rock stars, myths, and legends collide with paranormal romance in a totally mesmerizing way in the MAGIC series.
Get swept away by temptation in the ROCK STARS, SURF AND SECOND CHANCES series.
Romance and self-discovery, the FINDING ME series is a Tempest spin off with a more experienced but familiar cast of characters.
The ROCK F*CK CLUB series is a girl-power fueled reality show with the girls ranking the rock stars.
The ONCE UPON A ROCK STAR series is sexy modern-day fairytale retellings.
When Michelle is not prowling the streets of her Texas town listening to her rock or NOLA funk music much too loud, she is putting her daydreams down on paper or traveling the world with her family and friends, sometimes for real, and sometimes just for pretend.
ALSO AVAILABLE BY MICHELLE MANKIN
BRUTAL STRENGTH series:Love EvolutionLove RevolutionLove ResolutionLove Rock’ollection  
TEMPEST series (also available in audio):SOUTHSIDE HIGHIrresistible RefrainEnticing InterludeCaptivating BridgeRelentless RhythmTempest RagingTempting TempoScandalous Beat  The Complete Tempest Rock Star Series, books 1-6
The MAGIC series (also available in audio):Strange MagicDream Magic Twisted Magic
Thanks for joining us at Tears of Crimson. Home to Bestselling Author Michelle Hughes,and all the Friends of Crimson!

Tackling Love - Kathleen Kelly

Title: Tackling Love
Series: Tackling #1
Author: Kathleen Kelly
Genre: Sports RomanceRelease Date: August 20, 2020



Blurb
Colton AndersQuarterback for the New England Warriors.Playboy, cocky, self-assured, used to getting what he wants.
Skye HadleyTeacher at a high-profile private school.Quiet, plays it safe, never break the rules.
Unexpectedly, their two worlds collide.Colton tempts Skye one night and she throws caution to the wind, taking him home.Unknowingly propelling herself into a world filled with fans, media, and an abundance of unwanted attention.
The media are grueling, but their chemistry is undeniable. Vulnerable in lust, Skye wants nothing more than to give in to her heart’s desires.
With the world watching, will Colt be able to win Skye over in this fun, sports, romance?

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Kathleen Kelly was born in Penrith, NSW, Australia. When she was four her family moved to Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Although born in NSW she considers herself a QUEENSLANDER!!
She married her childhood sweetheart and they live in Toowoomba.
Kathleen enjoys writing contemporary, romance novels with a little bit of steam. She draws her inspiration from family, friends and the people around her. She can often be found in cafes writing and observing the locals.
If you have any questions about her novels or would like to ask Kathleen a question she can be contacted via e-mail: kathleenkellyauthor@gmail.comor she can be found on Facebook. She loves to be contacted by those that love her books. 

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