Jennifer Bene's Blog, page 7
October 18, 2018
Teaser Thursday! ‘Tattered Pieces’ by Dani René
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Have you #oneclicked the Just Breathe anthology yet? It is selling very well, which makes my heart sing because I love that it is for charity. To close out the last of the teasers from the Just Breathe anthology, this week I am bringing you ‘Tattered Pieces’ by Dani René.
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Tattered Pieces
I ran to save my life. I escaped the arms of a monster and ended up in a place that offered to shelter me from harm. But in this sanctuary, I find him. A man ink adorning every inch of skin that the eye can see. He intrigues me, but after my tumultuous past, I can’t get involved with anyone.
Trust is something I cannot give freely, but he makes me wonder if he’s worthy.
I’ve lived a life without rules. Being part of the Fallen Saints MC has allowed me to find a family I never thought I’d have. But when a mistake lands me in her path, I believe she’s been put there for a reason. A beauty with snow white hair, and the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. But there’s something lurking in those depths, and I am adamant on finding out what it is.
Love is something I may not be able to offer, but I can give her protection. The question is, would she accept it?
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Teaser
Time stills.
Moments pass.
But there’s no peace.
The tension that coils in my stomach is a serpent, readying its attack on my body. I watch his chest rise and fall from the corner where I’ve been huddled up. I don’t move. I can’t. The agony has riddled me motionless. It’s easier to hide.
His form is peaceful, but it’s a lie. There’s no peace when the slightest movement can bring war. He breathes — in and out — until those black lashes flutter open and his dark eyes pin me to the spot. It’s as if he’s someone else. And I believe he’s been overtaken by an alien force rather than admit he’s the man I love.
His legs swing over the edge of the sofa. He doesn’t speak, because silence is more terrifying than the vile words he utters. He doesn’t see me, I’m nothing, but something all at the same time. I’m his solace, I’m his frustration, and as I watch him move about the room, I know I’ll soon be his punching bag.
Guilt weighs on me.
Sadness grips my heart.
And with each day that passes, I know no matter how many times the words “I’m sorry” pass those lips, it will never be enough. Because in the same breath, he hisses, “You’re a stupid whore.”
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Now that Cocoon is in your hands, I can tell you that I may have just finished a quick little story that *may* make your kindle require a nightlight. I have a surprise coming very shortly, lovelies, stay tuned and be ready because it is VERY dark!
Amazon: 1-Click now!
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Want more of Dani René
A fan of dark romance that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. It’s from this passion that her writing has evolved from sweet and romantic, to dark and delicious. It’s in this world she’s found her calling, growing from strength to strength and hitting her stride.
On a daily basis, she has a few hundred characters, storylines, and ideas floating around in her head. From the feisty heroines she delivers to the dark, dominant alphas that grace the pages of her books, she promises light in a world filled with danger and darkness.
She has a healthy addiction to reading, tv series, music, tattoos, chocolate, and ice cream.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/danireneauthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/danireneauthor
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October 15, 2018
‘Just Breathe’ is live-get a sneak peek of Cocoon!
It’s not #TeaserTuesday, lovelies, but it is RELEASE DAY for ‘Just Breathe’ which I know you have all been waiting for since I have been sharing so many of the stories! You’re going to love it, I just know it. BUT! To tempt you with ‘Cocoon’ I’m sharing the teaser below which I only previously shared in my Dark Haven. Enjoy, and then 1-click!
* * *
Cocoon
Without order, without the rules, she’ll go mad.
Amy has issues, but she’s organized her life in such a way that the Noise will never reach her again. No one understands it, understands her, except for the one who writes her messages with perfectly counted words. Equilibre, whose name is French for balance, made up of nine letters. Three times three.
And he wants her.
Forever.
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Teaser
At six o’clock the alarm goes off. Exactly three beeps before Amy reaches over to press the off button. The pale, oval pill on the bedside table is supposed to make it all stop — but it doesn’t work.
Nothing works.
Still, every night she puts it there. One inch from the edge of the square coaster, lined up parallel to the lip of the table, with the two-thirds full glass of water exactly centered.
It is the first thing she puts in her body every morning. Supposedly, with enough of the pills piled up inside her, everything will stop.
The counting — counting — counting. The need for everything to be in the right place.
Getting out of bed seems pointless, but as the clock ticks to 6:01 the needle scratch inside her brain starts to grow. Finish the water, stand up, nine steps to the bathroom door.
She sets the empty glass down beside the toothbrush holder, exactly two-inches away. She used to have to measure it, carried a ruler around like a safety blanket, but that’s not necessary anymore.
Is that progress, or practice?
Dr. Lehey would have an answer, but it wouldn’t be one she wants to hear. It would be another round of questions about why things have to be this way. But if she had the answer, why would she need Dr. Lehey?
* * *
Happy Release Day to everyone in the Just Breathe anthology! There are some amazingly good stories and I really hope you #oneclick. Not only are there good stories, the entire purchase price also is 100% for charity. 100% of the proceeds goes to To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA), a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery.
Amazon: One click now!
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Are you stalking me yet?
Jennifer Bene is a USA Today bestselling author of dangerously sexy and deviously dark romance. From BDSM, to Suspense, Dark Romance, and Thrillers—she writes it all. Always delivering a twisty, spine-tingling journey with the promise of a happily-ever-after.
Don’t miss a release! Sign up for the newsletter to get new book alerts (and a free welcome book) at https://jenniferbene.com/newsletter
Website – https://jenniferbene.com/
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October 11, 2018
Teaser Thursday! ‘Ashes to Ashes’ by Natalie Bennett
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Just Breathe releases on Monday, lovelies! Words are flowing, wine is flowing, things may be okay for now. I wanted to drop this off for you because it sounds SO GOOD and I can’t wait to dive into Natalie Bennett’s story.
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Ashes to Ashes
I was ashes. He was dust. We forged a blood pact over angels made of snow. It was stronger than a vow and deeper than a promise. Where one went, the other swore to follow. We were always supposed to be together. What we had was greater than love. It was gratitude, trust, and vulnerability. No barriers, no secrets. Just him and I. I thought he’d make me whole. He only left me broken.
* * *
Excerpt
Sometimes it felt like too much. Too much sadness, but not just sadness.
No, It was so much more than that. It was too much anger. Too much disappointment. Too much feeling like an unwelcome stranger inside my own body. Too many highs to crash and burn because of miniscule speed-bumps that everyone else dealt with just fine.
Even worse was the inability to talk to anyone about it because no one ever understood.
So I hid it behind smiles, beneath pretty dresses, make-up that I loathed, and in the bloody cuts, he used to create on my thighs. Looking back at my twenty-two years through a microscopic lens had me laying blame on my crack-whore of a grandmother’s doorstep.
I didn’t know who my actual mom was and my father was just some random guy who didn’t wrap his dick up. I’m not sure if he knew I existed and I no longer had the energy to care. I just wished someone would have taken the time to get me help before I became…this.
I was at a point where I no longer cared to hide the wreckage inside me. The night before I’d gone to bed praying for death.
So why was I wide awake? For a moment I was confused, but then reality quickly honed in.
* * *
This is your last chance to pick up Just Breathe at the special preorder price, it will go up on release day. If you haven’t joined me in my Dark Haven on Facebook, hop over and see if you can help me out with my book. I posted a question on ‘Inheritance’ and I want your feedback!
Amazon: Preorder now!
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Want more of Natalie Bennett?
Natalie Bennett is your average socially awkward author that turns her spontaneous head ramblings into stories. She has a penchant for writing about villainous immoral men, crazed anti-heroines, and tends to deviate away from traditional HEA’s. She likes chocolate, Netflix, and Prickly Pear Margaritas. When she isn’t writing she’s hanging out with her husband and their three (adorable) spawns.
Website: www.nataliebennett.net
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cAAY4v
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NatalieBennettWriter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authornat
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authornbennett
Teaser Tuesday! ‘Ashes to Ashes’ by Natalie Bennett
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Just Breathe releases on Monday, lovelies! Words are flowing, wine is flowing, things may be okay for now. I wanted to drop this off for you because it sounds SO GOOD and I can’t wait to dive into Natalie Bennett’s story.
* * *
Ashes to Ashes
I was ashes. He was dust. We forged a blood pact over angels made of snow. It was stronger than a vow and deeper than a promise. Where one went, the other swore to follow. We were always supposed to be together. What we had was greater than love. It was gratitude, trust, and vulnerability. No barriers, no secrets. Just him and I. I thought he’d make me whole. He only left me broken.
* * *
Excerpt
Sometimes it felt like too much. Too much sadness, but not just sadness.
No, It was so much more than that. It was too much anger. Too much disappointment. Too much feeling like an unwelcome stranger inside my own body. Too many highs to crash and burn because of miniscule speed-bumps that everyone else dealt with just fine.
Even worse was the inability to talk to anyone about it because no one ever understood.
So I hid it behind smiles, beneath pretty dresses, make-up that I loathed, and in the bloody cuts, he used to create on my thighs. Looking back at my twenty-two years through a microscopic lens had me laying blame on my crack-whore of a grandmother’s doorstep.
I didn’t know who my actual mom was and my father was just some random guy who didn’t wrap his dick up. I’m not sure if he knew I existed and I no longer had the energy to care. I just wished someone would have taken the time to get me help before I became…this.
I was at a point where I no longer cared to hide the wreckage inside me. The night before I’d gone to bed praying for death.
So why was I wide awake? For a moment I was confused, but then reality quickly honed in.
* * *
This is your last chance to pick up Just Breathe at the special preorder price, it will go up on release day. If you haven’t joined me in my Dark Haven on Facebook, hop over and see if you can help me out with my book. I posted a question on ‘Inheritance’ and I want your feedback!
Amazon: Preorder now!
* * *
Want more of Natalie Bennett?
Natalie Bennett is your average socially awkward author that turns her spontaneous head ramblings into stories. She has a penchant for writing about villainous immoral men, crazed anti-heroines, and tends to deviate away from traditional HEA’s. She likes chocolate, Netflix, and Prickly Pear Margaritas. When she isn’t writing she’s hanging out with her husband and their three (adorable) spawns.
Website: www.nataliebennett.net
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cAAY4v
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NatalieBennettWriter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authornat
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authornbennett
October 9, 2018
Teaser Tuesday! ‘Forbidden Sorrows’ by Missy Ann
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Can you believe Just Breathe releases in just one week!? I am quite excited over this, I can’t wait for you to get your hands on Cocoon. This week I wanted to bring you a short excerpt from Missy Ann, with her story Forbidden Sorrows in the Just Breathe Anthology.
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Forbidden Sorrows
Grief strikes hard, with each blow harder than the last. It’s like I’m drowning, burning alive but the most painful is when I’m numb. Don’t tell me everything is going to okay, that’s the last thing I want to hear because nothing will be again. All I want is for it to all go away so I can hide behind my forbidden sorrows.
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Excerpt
Waiting is the easiest and hardest thing I have ever had to do. My emotions are at war. I’m petrified of what might happen next, but worry for Milo’s safety keeps me from losing control.
I constantly check my phone, hoping for a message or any type of contact from Milo.
Father, please let him be safe.
One hand grips my phone and the other rhythmically squeezes my thigh. The kids around me act similarly. Some students hunch over, eyes still focusing on the doorway. Others curl in the fetal position with their hands covering their head, trying to block out what is going on around them. Friends huddle together under desks, arms wrapped tightly around each other. Tension fills the air.
Our lives are in a state of suspended animation as we wait to be rescued. It seems like hours have come and gone before police covered head to toe in riot gear rush in to secure the room and then start leading us out.
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Don’t forget the price of Just Breathe goes up on release day, so preorder your copy and feel good about yourself. 100% of all proceeds goes to To Write Love On Her Arms, a nonprofit that helps fight against and support people with mental illnesses.
Amazon: Preorder now!
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Want more of Missy Ann?
I’m a firm believer that it’s not about the happily ever after at the end but, the emotional journey that takes you there. I’m a new contemporary romance author who is ready to pull at your heartstrings.
I live in Kentucky (Go CATS!) with my husband and two boys. We love basketball and MMA.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissyAnnBooks/
October 4, 2018
Teaser Thursday! ‘Purged’ by Livia Grant
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I have successfully edited TWO books, lovelies, and author brain is slowly starting to function again. I don’t have much time but got this from one of my best friends, Livia Grant, and could not WAIT to share it with you! If you have read Black Light: Rescued or Black Light: Valentine Roulette you know these characters, ‘Purged’ is a short story about Khloe and Ryder.
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Purged
Khloe finally has it all, good friends, a successful acting career, a Dom who loves her, and a bright future ahead of her. Despite that, when old insecurities arise after she is turned down for a role, Khloe falls back into old habits that lead down a dark and potentially dangerous path. If she can just hurry up, she can achieve her goal weight by the time anyone finds out. Because stopping is always the easy part, right?
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Excerpt
“Don’t say it. I’m perfect for this role. Nothing you are going to say to me will convince me otherwise.”
“It’s not that simple,” Edward asserted.
Before he could continue, she retorted, “Of course it is. I’ve earned this role, Edward, and you know it. The first two projects we did together were box-office mega hits as well as raking in numerous award nominations. I’m a proven commodity for you, Edward.”
Khloe hated the desperation she heard creeping into her voice. She had started to let the success and fame go to her head. She had forgotten what it felt like to have to fight for every role like she had just a few short years before.
Edward reached out to place his hand over hers on the table, patting her as if to placate a child. She resisted the urge to rip her hand away.
“I couldn’t be happier with your performance in the last two films we worked on together, Khloe, I am sure we’ll work together again, but we just don’t feel you’re right for the Margot role.”
“Why not? What is it you think I can’t bring to the part?” She wasn’t going to give up without a fight.
Edward nodded towards the director. Khloe turned to pin him with an expectant glare as she waited for him to answer.
“You’re too perfect. Margot is way too flawed for you to play convincingly.”
“That’s bullshit. Stop with the backhanded compliments. I’m an actress, not a model. You pay me to portray a character. I am the perfect person for this role.”
The director finally looked her directly in the eye. “I disagree. I don’t think you can pull it off. She is a tormented character who will need to sink into despair, ravaged by drugs and will…” he paused before adding, “waste away to nothing before she finally pulls herself up from near death.”
“And you think that level isn’t in my range as an actress?” she pressed him.
“What I think is that your body won’t be able to handle the strenuous trials I’m going to need to put Margot through.”
Her heart was pounding so hard, she could feel the beat in her ears as she tried to understand what he was saying.
“I resent that.” She turned, pinning Edward and adding, “Tell him Edward. Both Dirty Business and Smuggled Dreams were physically demanding roles.”
It was Angie who answered from across the table. “This role is different. I think what Charles is saying is that…”
Khloe cut her off. “Don’t forget, you work for me, Angie. You’re supposed to be convincing them there is no one better for this role, remember?”
The man in the three-piece suit who had been sitting silently finally spoke. “Your medical history has eliminated you from the running, Ms. Monroe.”
The small amount of food in her stomach threatened to make an appearance as the ringing in her ears got louder. A red-hot anger flared inside her. She had warned Ryder that all of the fucking weight he had made her gain was going to cost her jobs and how right she had been.
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I have a couple more excerpts to share from this anthology, I can’t wait to start reading this book. It is HUGE but it is for SUCH a good cause and it has so many good authors in it!
Amazon: Preorder now!
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Want more Livia Grant?
USA Today bestselling author Livia Grant lives in Chicago with her husband and furry rescue dog named Max. She is fortunate to have been able to travel extensively and as much as she loves to visit places around the globe, the Midwest and its changing seasons will always be home. Livia’s readers appreciate her riveting stories filled with deep, character driven plots, often spiced with elements of BDSM.
Website: https://www.liviagrant.com/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/lb.grant.9
Author FB Page: https://facebook.com/liviagrantauthor
BookBub: http://www.bookbub.com/authors/livia-grant
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/LiviaGrant
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Livia-Grant/e/B00MZC71LC
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lbgrantauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liviagrantauthor/
October 2, 2018
Teaser Tuesday! ‘Little Lies’ by Michelle Brown
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Believe it or not, I am alive. And I am writing. No one scare the muse or look directly at it, because words are flowing again FINALLY. It is a super dark, super fucked up story that will be part of a surprise coming a little later so stay tuned lovelies! Don’t you love surprises?
The Just Breathe anthology is doing very well in pre-sales, I hope you grab your copy before it goes live as the price goes up on release day! This week I want to share ‘Little Lies’ by Michelle Brown from the anthology. Take a peek!
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Little Lies
No one knows the lies I tell.
I tell them so well even to myself.
One swipe of the blade across my skin and I feel alive, I can finally breathe.
I don’t need it, I can stop anytime I chose. See I told another little lie.
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Excerpt
I make my way to my bathroom bypassing the small bag on my way. The bag that holds my secrets, my kryptonite, my razor blades.
I won’t do it today. I can go without it. I don’t need Clark to save me. These are the little lies I tell myself.
I turn around, picking up the bag and closing the door behind me. I peel my clothes off my body as I stare at my reflection. I’m not fat, not by medical standards but I am by mine. One more thing I can’t seem to control much to the dismay of my mother. I prop my foot on the counter and grab the blade. I don’t remember the first time I did this. I only remember the feeling of euphoria that chased away all the bad things.
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I am really looking forward to diving into the anthology and reading all of the stories. I have gotten so much feedback about my story, ‘Cocoon’, already and the OCD tendencies are kicking in for people. It really messed with me when writing it too! I can’t wait to share more excerpts from the stories in the anthology because they all sound so good!
Amazon: Preorder now!
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Want more of Michelle Brown?
Michelle Brown has always been an avid reader and music lover. She lives in a small town located in North Carolina. She likes Oreos, and pizza rolls when writing. Lover of GIFs and dark books, she spends way too much time stalking her favorite authors.
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/authormichellelbrown
Twitter – https://twitter.com/authmbrown
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/michellebrownauthor/
Website – https://www.authormichellebrown.com/
September 25, 2018
Teaser Tuesday! ‘Ignite’ by Ally Vance
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Happy Cover Reveal to the anthology Just Breathe! Authors Ally Vance, Amy Lynn, Anna Edwards, Ashleigh Giannoccaro, Dani Rene, Jane Anthony, K.S. Marshall, Livia Grant, Michelle Brown, Missy Ann, Murphy Wallace, Natalie Bennett, Skye Callahan, Toni LeMay, Yolanda Olson, and myself have created an anthology for charity. All proceeds from the anthology will benefit To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA), a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery.
I want to share Ally Vance’s story today, ‘Ignite’ and let you get a taste of the anthology.
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Ignite
I’m Aiden, and every single day I fight a war between my mind, my memories and an unshakeable desire. Fire is inside of me, it blooms, dances and burns through every inch of my mind and flows through my veins. Fire is my weakness, my desire, my past, present and future.
* * *
Excerpt
Matches are my weakness. The smell of lighter fluid does nothing for me when I have a box of matches to hand.
The nicotine takes the edge off; it doesn’t fully satisfy, but in public watching the cigarette burn and feeling it in my lungs is enough until I’m alone once more.
I won’t risk them locking me up again, and if they knew I was still as in love with the flames as I was back then, they’d incarcerate me quicker than I could breathe out the acrid smoke.
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I am excited that this is now available for pre-order and I am able to share all of these excerpts with you. Just Breathe releases on October 15th and I plan on giving you pieces of the stories until then!
Amazon: Preorder now!
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Want more of Ally Vance?
Reader, Reviewer and finally Writer. I have been writing since I was 14 years old when I started writing my first stories and then branched off into poetry for about 8 years. I studied Professional Writing at university and this led to me starting my very first review blog Ally’s Book Reviews which I am still running alongside writing and will continue to do so.
I have had many inspirations and authors I love who have shown me that I can do this if I really set my mind to it. So here I am, on my way to publishing my first book! I read a bit of everything but my go-to is dark romance and dark books in general, they are my absolute favorites, and what I’ll favor when writing.
I am married with a stepson and I love him and my hubs to bits. I absolutely adore cats so if I’m ever upset or annoyed, send me cat videos and memes..
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ally.vance.923
Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAllyVance
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyvanceauthor1/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Ally-Vance/e/B07FM5HB9M
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18108097
September 20, 2018
Teaser Thursday! ‘Hostile Takeover’ by Murphy Wallace
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I finally saw the cover of Just Breathe and I am so excited, it looks so good. It also looks so innocent compared to the stories, but that is what makes it fun, right? Haaa! Today I wanted to give you a short excerpt from Murphy Wallace’s story, ‘Hostile Takeover’ so you could see just how not-innocent the stories actually are.
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Just Breathe
From Ashes to Ashes, and dusk to dusk, there are those that Cocoon themselves in the Little Lies they tell.
When the Wreckage keeps them Awake at night, they see the Sickness In The Sunrise. They Ignite everything in their path.
When their minds run through the Unbearable and Forbidden Sorrows. Until one day they find the thing that keeps them Grounded.
All while others feel the Hostile Takeover of their lives. The constant Loops and The Rows of Tattered Pieces and fragments that plague them. Sometimes those can’t be Purged driving them to the Edge of Madness.
* * *
Excerpt from Hostile Takeover
I saw red. Yes, I flew into a rage. I was angry, but can you really blame me?
He wasn’t playing me when he said that he was into me.
We had a connection. We were made for one another. I was out for once. Free.
And then all of the attention was back on him. Like it always is.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I should have shot him that night instead, but I wasn’t strong enough.
Saying goodbye to him wouldn’t work out well for me.
* * *
I can’t wait for everyone to read these stories, each one deals with a different mental illness or disorder and it is so heartbreaking to know people deal with this so regularly. I can’t wait for you to get your hands on this anthology, stay tuned as I should have preorder links on Tuesday!
Add to your TBR on Goodreads
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Want to know more about Murphy Wallace?
Murphy Wallace, though a new author on the scene, has always had a deep appreciation for the written word. She started writing at a young age after discovering that the most amazingly beautiful art forms just by stringing words and sentences together. She never thought that she would be publishing a novel one day and she’s still in complete shock over it.
When she isn’t writing she’s most likely fallen down the internet rabbit-hole, searching for new images and videos of model Stephen James.
She doesn’t watch much TV but she can sit and watch Shameless for hours; sometimes days.
Murphy recently relocated to Florida with her husband, who doubles as her best friend, and their two boys. She has a cat named Maisy who is her constant writing partner.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/murphywallaceauthor
Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/authormurphywallace
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_murphywallace_
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/murphywallaceauthor/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Murphy-Wallace/e/B07CRT7YSG
September 18, 2018
Teaser Tuesday! ‘The Row’ by Jane Anthony
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The good news, lovelies, is I am writing again. There is a delightfully sinful story I am writing that is going to offend so many people HAAAA! I am *not* sorry for how fucked up this story is. Hopefully things finally settle down and I can get back to some semblance of a normal life.
This week for Teaser Tuesday, I want to share another story in the anthology. I read this excerpt and am just in love with Jane Anthony’s story. Take a peek at ‘The Row’ and let me know what you think.
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The Row
Dangers lurk in the shadows of The Row, an LA slum inhabited by junkies and miscreants. The place young Trinity calls home.
She and King, the de facto leader of a group of runaways, dream of a future free from crooked cops and dirty needles. A new life embodied by the love they share.
Desperation makes a man do crazy things. Including infiltrating the home of Diego Villarreal, California’s most ruthless and feared sex trafficker.
But in his quest for justice, King uncovers more than cash and drugs. Hidden beyond the opulent gates of Diego’s mansion are deadly secrets that might cost him and Trinity everything––including their lives.
* * *
Excerpt
A putrid wind blows down the alley of Second and Main, the stink of garbage and poverty infiltrating my nostrils, spinning around me in a veil of disgust. A few doors down, my home awaits, but violent flashes of cop car lights spin in the background. Dropping my head, I walk on, trying my best to remain unnoticed.
It doesn’t work.
“Trinity! Just the girl I was looking for.”
When I chuck a glance toward the voice on my right, I notice the arm hanging from the dumpster. Onyx lines snake up the slender, lifeless wrist. Another dope head thrown in the trash. I’m numb to it at this point. Death is nothing but a part of life. If you’re lucky you can avoid it, but when that shit finally comes after you, there’s nothing you can do to stop it.
This one’s different, though. Embedded within the milky-blue skin, crisp, perfect pages of an open book shine in the brilliant sun. O’Hara . . . fuck.
I tear my gaze away from my friend and lock on a set of steel-gray eyes. “Just going home, Officer Bower.” The narco detective has been breathing down my neck ever since I first landed on Skid Row. That’s the nickname for this area of city. A section most people avoid at all costs, yet the only place I’ve ever felt at home.
“I need to ask you a few questions about Miss Westerfield.”
“Who?” I shoot back, my lids narrowed into slits. Here on the Row we never exchange names. O’Hara could actually be Jessica, Nicole, or Ava. She could be the fucking queen of England, for all I know. Most of us are hiding from whatever pushed us here in the first place. No one comes by choice. We end up here because we weren’t given one.
“We can talk here, Trin, or we can talk at the station. Think King’s lucid enough to come bail you out if you call?”
“I don’t know anything, okay?” I reply at the end of a sigh. “She was out on the corner waiting for some guy when I left last night, and here she is now.”
Tears threaten to burst over my lashes as I remember our last moments together, but I won’t give Officer Fuckface the satisfaction. She was already out when I hit the pavement, that part is true. Leaning against the lamppost, a tattered copy of Gone with the Wind in her petite hands. She smiled when she saw me, a dopey lovesick look on her face. She was getting out. That’s all she said. My Rhett Butler is coming. Nose in a book. Always. She wanted to be a writer or something. I don’t know. Had she not started messing with the junk, she probably could have done something good. But now her big claim to fame is nothing more than this, a dead body in a dumpster. Ward of the state now, she’ll be disposed of accordingly. Another kid off the streets. A warning for those huddled in their warm beds at night.
Averting my gaze, I swing my bag off my shoulder and rifle through for my smokes. Anything to keep my shaking hands busy. I squeeze the filter between my lips and light the tip, feeling Bower’s stare burn through my clothing.
“Did she say who?”
“I don’t know, man. I didn’t stick around long enough to ask. Figured I would see her later.” The cherry burns bright as I suck hard on the end of my cigarette before letting the smoke stream from my mouth in the direction of my creepy acquaintance.
Office Bower isn’t put off by open fuck you. Instead, he takes a step into my personal space. I recede, pushing against the warm brick wall of the row house. “Shame to see such a pretty young thing reduced to this, Trinity. How long is it gonna be until I’m pulling your body from a dumpster?”
The bitter tang of disgust hits my tongue. I purse my trembling lips and meet his icy glare. “I’m a survivor.”
“I know you think King can protect you. But he can’t.” He lifts his hand and touches the scar that runs the length of my cheek. A constant reminder of the hell I lived through. “He doesn’t run these streets. I do. For a price.”
“Don’t touch me, pig,” I spit, smacking his hand away like a spider.
Cruel laughter follows. A grimy baritone that rumbles in his chest seconds before booming from his throat like thunder. Sirens wail in the distance. More cops on the scene coming to remove one of the remaining members of our tribe. “Take my offer, Trinity. Or you’ll be sorry.”
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Doesn’t this sound so helpless? I love how Jane has spun this world in so few words and I can’t wait to read the rest of it. Until then, Just Breathe is coming right along and is currently ranked 2nd place in October’s Most Anticipated Romances! Click here and vote if you can, I will love you forever if you could also add it to your TBR!
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Want to more about Jane Anthony?
Jane Anthony is an Amazon best-selling author of contemporary/erotic romance. She writes hot blue-collar dudes, raunchy rockstars, and fun feisty heroines. Her work is gritty and real and will have you cursing her name and begging for more. Jane gives a bit of herself and her quirky knowledge in each novel by incorporating her love of music through a book-specific playlist and adding things uniquely Jane to the plot, like her crazy family or ’80s trivia. When she’s not busy being mom or Mrs. A, you’ll find her at a concert, lost in a book, or watching horror movies with her husband.
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