Ayden K. Morgen's Blog, page 21

All Through the Night #historical #romance

I seem to have missed Teaser Tuesday, so how about we call this one Thinking Thursday?

It's rather fitting since I'm not quite sure what I intend to do with this story. I'm thinking I may post the entire story for free here on the blog as a serial, but it needs quite a bit of work before that happens.


This one has always been a little vexing to me. I started it as original years ago, turned it into fanfic, and then set it aside. It's a rather tragic love story that happens to end well enough, set in 1840s England when the New Poor Laws forced many desperate women to hand their young children over to nurses who didn't always have their best interests at heart. In fact, several of those nurses were later convicted of willfully murdering the children placed into their care. Whether or not the mothers knew this would happen, no one knows for sure, but it's a damn sad reality that lasted far too long.


This story introduces Sophia and Dante, lovers pulled apart by circumstance and brought back together after tragedy strikes, leaving Sophia's heart shattered. Dante will do anything to help her find herself again, even if that means helping her to rescue children from farmers and housing them himself. And if doing so happens to remind her why she ever loved him in the first place... well, Dante wouldn't mind that either. He's always loved Sophia. He always will. He just has to convince her that whatever she's hiding from him won't send him running again. It won't, will it?


***


"Lady Sophia?"

Sophia opened her eyes, blinking against the sun, to find her elderly butler making his way toward her down the cobbled path. "Yes, Bertie?"

The old man drew to a stop in front of her and bowed smoothly. "I'm sorry to disturb you, my lady, but Lord Adaire is here to see you."

"Again?"

Good heavens, Jonathan had been to see her every day since she'd taken up residence in the home he'd found for her. His constant hovering had to stop. She hated to send him away, but her brother had promised to give her space and thus far, she had gotten none of it.

"Inform him I am indisposed," she said.

"No. I shan’t be sent away today, Sophia." Jonathan's deep voice rang out from farther down the path.

Sophia sighed heavily and stood to face him.

Bertie wisely stepped out of the way, revealing the top of her brother's blond head. The tall hedge hiding her little bench from the house obscured the rest of his body, but the resolute look on his handsome face made it clear he would not be easily satisfied today.

"What do you want, Jonathan?"

She loved her brother, but gad! This truly had to stop. He had to stop. No matter how she tried to convince him, he would not accept that what had happened to her was not his fault. He'd been in Barbados for heaven's sake, completely unable to do a thing. He refused to believe that though, and seemed intent upon making up for it by smothering her half to death now.

"Can't I just want to see you?" Jonathan stepped around the hedge completely into her view. He looked like he'd spent the night in his cups again. His clothing was rumpled, his hair tousled, and the beginnings of a beard shadowed his face. His brown eyes were bloodshot and bruised beneath from lack of sleep.

Sophia steeled herself against the sight, refusing to feel sorry for him. Every time she allowed herself to soften toward him, unable to disappoint him when he looked so bloody sad, she found herself giving in to whatever he wanted–a quick jaunt around the square, dinner at the Adaire townhome… a little conversation. The list went on and on, keeping him stuck to her side from sun-up until sundown most days.

This time she would not give in.

Crossing her arms over her chest, she frowned at him. "Jonathan, you promised me!"

"Dash it, Sophia," he sighed and then his dogged expression crumbled, leaving pure misery in its place. "I miss you."

That expression, those words, tugged at her heart. She missed him too, terribly. But she forced the emotion ruthlessly away and continued to hold her ground. "I do not see how that's possible. I have seen you nigh on every day since I left!"

"I worry about you." He shrugged as if that explained everything.

Sophia closed her eyes for a brief moment, searching for a little patience and a bit more will. "I know you worry about me, but this–you being here all the time–isn't helping, Jonathan. I cannot even breathe without you or Sebastian or the Marquess and Emma popping up. You are all driving me mad!"

"I suppose that means you don't want to join us for a house party?"

"No!" Sophia cried, stomping her foot in frustration. "No, no, no!"

Cover Reveal: The Single Game by Amanda Black #romance

Cover Reveal: The Single GameBy Amanda Black
 

In this third, stand-alone installment of Amanda Black’s Apartment Novels series, sparks fly during a sexy party game. When Eden Foster’s parents tell her they’re moving from the suburbs of Chicago to the tiny farm town of Aledo, Illinois, Eden is crushed. That is, until she runs crying to her jock boyfriend, who she finds on top of her so-called best friend. Moving’s not looking so bad anymore.

Now a senior at Mercer County High, Eden is ready to re-enter the dating scene. Still burned over the betrayal of her ex, she’s looking for someone sweet and innocent. With the help of her two new friends, Zoe and Amy, Eden makes a list of what she’s looking for: an eager virgin, ready for training—and no jocks. Eden thinks she’s found what she’s looking for in Logan Black, a shy and geeky classmate. But why are Zoe and Amy convinced that the answer to her search is a party game…with kissing? Eden better get ready, because she’s about to play the Single Game.

The Single Game is the latest addition to the erotic Apartment Novels series, which began with Lily and Ethan in The Apartment and The Blank Canvas. Want more? Follow Amanda on her Blog, Facebook and Twitter! And make sure to preorder The Singe Game today!

Cover Reveal: All Cried Out #romance #giveaway

With Jared Corbit and Savannah Martin's wedding day quickly approaching, everything should be golden for the two, but their trouble has only just begun. When the media learns of the damage Stewart Paulson has inflicted on the Talbot family, Savannah and Jared get caught in the cross-hairs.

 Even worse, the past has caught up with Savannah in a big way, and nothing will prepare her or Jared for the danger headed their way or the devastating decisions they'll be forced to make as a result. 

Jared's determined to protect his fiancée from the people milling in the shadows, but good intentions only go so far. When Savannah learns the truth he's desperately trying to keep from her, their future together begins to unravel. How can she trust him when he's lying to her? And just how far is he willing to go to protect the woman he loves from her past?

All Cried Out, told exclusively from Jared's POV, is the exciting follow up to Ayden K. Morgen's All Falls Down.

All Cried Out  is available for pre-order on Amazon!
Add All Cried Out to your TBR list on Goodreads.

25% of proceeds from All Cried Out will go to the Polaris Project, a national nonprofit working to combat human trafficking around the world, in honor of Cassie M. Combs. You can learn more at http://polarisproject.org.

Excerpt ALL FALLS DOWN (Book One)


When Savannah Martin walks in on her abusive boyfriend and her best friend in bed together, she thinks life can't possibly get any worse. And then she wakes up in a hospital in Italy, scared and alone. With nowhere left to go, Savannah runs to the family who took her in when her mother abandoned her as a teenager. But things aren't as simple as they were then.

For starters, two years of constant emotional abuse has broken Savannah in ways she's not sure can be repaired. And patriarch Matthew Talbot has been murdered, leaving his eldest daughter, Lexi, in charge of a global non-profit and her younger sisters.

Jared Corbit, Lexi's gorgeous boyfriend, is the only thing standing between her and whoever murdered her father. That doesn't stop Savannah from falling in love with him. She knows it's wrong, but she just can't stay away from him when he makes he feel like no one else ever has before.

Finding out his relationship with Lexi is a ruse should make things easier, but when the truth is finally revealed, Savannah's fragile world threatens to fall apart. There's a murderer on the loose, and he's gunning for the only family she has. To save their lives, she and Jared will be forced to make a decision that just might destroy her completely.

How is she supposed to let the man she loves be with another woman?

All Falls Down  is only $0.99 until 5/9 on Amazon!


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You and I, Alone by Melissa Toppen #atozchallenge

The ABCs of Romance

This one has been on my TBR list for a while, and I haven't had a chance to dive into it yet. I love the premise of the story, and have heard some really good things about it. I'm looking forward to reading this one when I get a few minutes to spare!

You and I, Alone by Mellisa Toppen

Twenty-one year old Anna Blake has lived her life by one simple rule; never get attached. Having learned early on in life that nothing is guaranteed, she knows there is only one person she can truly rely on; herself.

But when she accepts a job as a dancer at one of the most secretive and exclusive clubs in the country, operating under the name Logan, she meets the one man who makes her question everything she thought she knew.

Bentley Reed is exactly the type of man women crave. Rich, powerful, and as sexy as they come; the definition of a playboy. A former soccer star turned business mogul, Bentley is used to getting what he wants, when he wants it.... but he has never met a girl like Logan before.

Their undeniable attraction is clear from their first encounter and neither can deny the sexual chemistry that flows between them. When Logan agrees to one night with Bentley, she has no idea that one night will alter her very existence.

Determined to walk away from a man insistent on not letting her go, Logan struggles to resist the temptation of what her body desires above all else.

What happens when two people who operate by the same rules, find themselves breaking them all for the chance to experience just one more night in each others arms?

Add to your TBR list on Goodreads.
Grab a copy on Amazon.

About the Author:

Melissa is the Reader's Choice Award Winning and Amazon Bestselling Author of The You and I Series; You and I Alone, You and I Together, and You and I Forever. Her other projects include the standalone novel; Claimed by You. The Breathless Series; Consumed, Taken, and Released. As well as The Two Hearts Series; Collide and Embrace. She is a lover of books and enjoys nothing more than losing herself in a good novel. She has a soft spot for Romance and focuses her writing in that direction; writing what she loves to read. 

Connect with Melissa Toppen
www.mtoppen.com www.facebook.com/mtoppenauthor
www.twitter.com/mtoppenauthor
www.amazon.com/author/melissatoppen

Zandor by M.J. Fields #atozchallenge

The ABCs of Romance

I can't believe we've made it all the way to Z already. It feels like the Challenge just started a few days ago. Weird how time flies when you're having fun. :) 

This is another in the Men of Steel series that I haven't had the opportunity to read yet, but I fully intend to do so! 

Zandor by M.J. Fields

Book 3 in the Men of Steel Series 
This book is Zandor's story. 

Zandor Steel had spent the better part of the past year in Italy helping to oversee the building of a posh casino resort. A playground for the rich and famous. A place any man with money could afford to live a life of leisure and pleasure. 

After hearing about what had been going on back at the Jersey Shore he knew he must return to help his brother’s remember who they were. Jase and Cyrus the oldest of the Steel brothers had been his sexual mentors. They taught him to never get attached, to know the difference between your dick and your heart, never give false hope to a female, and that sex should be used for nothing more than a physical release and recreation. 

He hopped a plane and raced home in hopes that he could stop yet another one of his brothers from making a mistake. Little did he know he was going to come face to face with a beautiful southern Bell, Bekah George, who would challenge everything he thought he desired. 

Zandor knew his expectation in the bedroom were not for the faint of heart. He had lived a year living out his sexual fantasies. He required control and trust in order to fill his deep dark sexual needs. He saw in Bekah the same raw untamed heat that burned within him. 

The strong, sexual, woman who he had met turned out to be a bit broken. Will he stay to see if the spark will ignite into a flame of passion or run back to the lifestyle he had grown to enjoy. To the clubs, the kink, the control and the woman he left behind that could fill his needs without expecting anymore. Or is Zandor, in to deep? 

Add to your TBR list on Goodreads.
Grab a copy on Amazon.

About the Author:

MJ Fields's love of writing was in full swing by age eight. Together with her cousins, she wrote a newsletter for family members. The newsletter was put back into 'publication' in September of 2001 for the entertainment of her cousin on a Navy aircraft carrier in the gulf, (Her cousin is a female Navy officer and helicopter pilot).

She self-published her first New Adult romance in January 18, 2013. Today, she has completed four self-published series, The Love series, The Wrapped series, The Burning Souls series, and The Men of Steel series. Ties of Steel, (the first series spun off of some the Men of Steel series) book 1 ABE is available now. Book 2 Dominic releases January 18th, 2015 (MJ's 2 year pub-aversary)
The Norfolk series, has two titles available now, Irons 1 and Irons 2.

MJ is an Amazon bestselling author in multiple categories as well as all of Amazon as a whole. MJ lives in central New York, surrounded by family and friends. Her house is full of pets, friends, and noise ninety percent of the time, and she would have it no other way.

Xavier by M.J. Fields #atozchallenge

The ABCs of Romance

I haven't started this one yet, but I'm dying to do so. I adore the name Xavier, and this sounds like such a good book.

Xavier by M.J. Fields

Twenty three year old Xavier is out to prove his independence to his brothers and Momma Joe.

Needing a change Xavier Steel decided to plant his feet in the Jersey sand and start a production company allowing him the ability to re acquaint himself with his true passion in life and make a living doing what he loved, playing and creating music.

Taelyn Patrick is offered an opportunity to make much needed extra money. The hours would be grueling, but she doesn't care. She needs the money to help her fiancé’ Daniel. Daniel and Taelyn had lived together and went to the same college when he was accepted into the medical program at Harvard. Together they made the decision to live separately until Taelyn finished her internship and graduated from college. They had looked at several apartments near Harvard together and fell in love with one. Supporting two households would be a huge financial burden but they knew the apartment would be gone if they waited until she graduated; when they would reunited and again live together.

Taelyn was offered an opportunity she could not afford to turn down. She wasn’t looking forward to helping a spoiled kid start a production company that she was sure would fail. She was less enthusiastic when his mother, her boss, asked that she be available at all times. Josephina explained that she was worried about woman taking advantage of her son financially and damage his kind heart.

Can Xavier curb his sexual appetite and become a responsible young man? Or will he find himself in bed with women who will do whatever they have to for there own financial gain?

Add to your TBR list on Goodreads.
Grab a copy on Amazon. 

About the Author

MJ Fields's love of writing was in full swing by age eight. Together with her cousins, she wrote a newsletter for family members. The newsletter was put back into 'publication' in September of 2001 for the entertainment of her cousin on a Navy aircraft carrier in the gulf, (Her cousin is a female Navy officer and helicopter pilot).
She self-published her first New Adult romance in January 18, 2013. Today, she has completed four self-published series, The Love series, The Wrapped series,
The Burning Souls series, and The Men of Steel series.
Ties of Steel, (the first series spun off of some the Men of Steel series) book 1 ABE is available now. Book 2 Dominic releases January 18th, 2015 (MJ's 2 year pub-aversary)
The Norfolk series, has two titles available now, Irons 1 and Irons 2.
MJ is an Amazon bestselling author in multiple categories as well as all of Amazon as a whole.
MJ lives in central New York, surrounded by family and friends. Her house is full of pets, friends, and noise ninety percent of the time, and she would
have it no other way.

Taming the Alpha Boxset #atozchallenge

The ABCs of Romance

This one is a little different than the others included in the challenge. Taming the Alpha is a boxset of twenty short stories by a variety of romance authors. I dove into this as soon as it released and had a lot of fun with it. I love alpha males, and there were some seriously hot ones included here. 

My favorites in the collection are Coming Home by N.J. Walters, Falling for the Firefighter by Shelli Stevens, Bound and Tamed by Sidney Bristol, Reconnected by Jaycee Clark, Mistaken Identity by Lauren Hawkeye, and The Bet by Kennedy Kovit. 

Taming the Alpha

When an alpha is too hot to handle, what's a girl to do?
Simple...Tame the Alpha and make him purr.

From deliciously sizzling contemporary bad boys, to
pulse-tingling paranormal hotties, you're sure to fall in love and in lust with any or all of these alphas. Over twenty fabulous authors bring their A-game to
tempt your every desire.

Anthology Includes: Werewolves & Shifters, Demons &
Devils, Paranormal & Urban, Military, Vampires, Genetic Engineering, Witches & Wizards, Contemporary, Special Forces, Dystopia, Romantic Comedy, Romantic Suspense, Special Forces, Dragons, Demons, Billionaires, Magic,
Fantasy, Futuristics and so much more!

Get this limited time box set now! Over $50 worth of titles
boxed into one collection. 

Add to your TBR list on Goodreads
Grab a copy on Amazon.

Safe With Me by Kristen Proby #atozchallenge

The ABCs of Romance

I recently devoured the entire With Me in Seattle series by Kristen Proby, and fell in love. Safe With Me, the fifth book in the series, is one of my top two (the other being Forever With Me, the final book in the series). Safe With Me tells Caleb and Brynna's story, and it's such a great one. I adore how Caleb protects Brynna and her girls, and how hard he fights his feelings, believing he isn't worthy of them. The man is intense, and incredibly fucking HOT when he's telling Brynna what his job entails when it comes to her. Just... rawr! This one is really sweet at times, really sad at others, and just beautiful all the way through. 

Safe With Me by Kristen Proby


Keeping others safe is what Caleb Montgomery does. He's never had a problem taking on an assignment, whether it was during his dangerous SEAL days or his most recent job of training war mercenaries. But being assigned to keep Brynna Vincent and her adorable daughters, Maddie and Josie, safe from an unknown threat has thrown Caleb off his axis. Hot for the tall brunette since she came back to town more than a year ago, being close to her day in and day out is cracking Caleb's resolve to keep his hands off her gorgeous body and his head in the mission. 

Brynna is sick and tired of being afraid. All she wants is a normal, quiet life for her and her precious girls. Just as she's settling into her new home in Seattle and feeling safe again, Caleb shows up on her doorstep insisting the danger is as high as ever. But whether she needs to be sheltered from the threat in her past, or from the intense emotions she feels for the sexy, protective man sleeping in her home, remains to be seen. What will happen if Brynna and her girls fall in love with a man so broken he may not be able to protect them from the danger that threatens, much less himself?" 

SAFE WITH ME is the fifth book in the With Me In Seattle series, and continues to follow this tight-knit, loving family through life's trials and tribulations with humor, passion and everlasting love.

Add to your TBR list on Goodreads.
You can grab a copy on Amazon.

About the Author

Kristen is the author of the Amazon and USA Today bestselling With Me In Seattle series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong characters who love humor and have a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type; fiercely protective and a bit bossy, and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves.

Kristen spends her days with her muse in the Pacific Northwest. She enjoys coffee, chocolate and sunshine. And naps. 

Until Nico by Aurora Rose Reynolds #atozchallenge

The ABCs of Romance

I stumbled across this series a few months ago and decided I had to read it. I enjoyed the first three books, but I absolutely freaking adored this one. I think I've read it seven times since December. Apparently I have a thing for tatted bad-ass alpha males who have no qualms letting their women know exactly how they feel about them. And Nico is definitely that. He's so freaking sweet with Sophie, you can't help but love him. He's a total bad-ass. And he's hot as hell when he's got Sophie in his bedroom. *sighs* Now I want to read this again. This book just makes me happy. 


Until Nico by Aurora Rose Reynolds

Sophie Grates has never had it easy, but she’s finding her way through life one step and one day at a time. That is, Until Nico comes in and flips her world upside-down. He forces her to see you cannot live life from the outside looking in, and sometimes you have to step out onto the ledge so you can really enjoy the view. 

Nico Mayson knew the moment he saw Sophie Grates that she was the one. His whole life, he has been judged by what’s on the outside, so finding a beautiful woman who sees the real him only makes his feelings that much stronger. 

Nico knows the kind of man he is, and the things he is capable of, and he will do everything in his power to help Sophie fight her demons so they can have their happily ever after. Everything in life worth having is worth fighting for.


Add to your TBR list on Goodreads.
Grab a copy on Amazon.

About the Author

NEW YORK TIMES & USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR Aurora Rose Reynolds started writing so that the over the top alpha men that lived in her head would leave her alone. When she's not writing or reading she spends her days with her very own real life alpha who loves her as much as the men in her books love their women and their Great Dane Blue that always keeps her on her toes.

Pros and Cons by Sydney Logan #atozchallenge

The ABCs of Romance

I have not had the opportunity to read this one yet, but I'm hearing a lot of really great things about it. It's one of the next novels on my TBR list. 

Pros and Cons by Sydney Logan

Con artists Jenna York and Ethan Summers always seem to cross paths during their travels around the world. With their partners in tow, the cunning criminals wreak havoc across the globe, stealing from the rich and giving to the richer. While Jenna tries to convince herself that she sees him as nothing more than a professional rival, Ethan finds it a little harder to fight his attraction to the beautiful thief.

When tragedy strikes, Jenna and Ethan join forces, but are the stakes too high? Can they escape this last job with their lives—and their hearts—intact?

Add to your TBR list on Goodreads.
Grab a copy from Amazon.

About the Author

Amazon best selling author Sydney Logan holds a Master's degree in Elementary Education. She is the author of three novels - Lessons Learned, Mountain Charm, and Soldier On. Sydney has also penned several short stories and is a contributor to Chicken Soup for the Soul.

A native of East Tennessee, Sydney enjoys playing piano and relaxing on her porch with her wonderful husband and their very spoiled cat.

Visit her website at www.sydneylogan.com.