Shelli Stevens's Blog, page 7

Changing Covers!

So guess what? My McLaughlin series? Well they just got new covers! We loved the old ones, but realized they might be giving off more of a historical vibe, when these are clearly contemporary books. So Samhain Publishing Ltd. just sent me brand spanking new ones that should be popping up on retailer sites soon.

These covers are super different, fun, flirty and I’m pretty excited. What do you think?

Cover Reveal for Kilty Pleasure!

Today I can finally share the cover for Kilty Pleasure (book 2 in The McLaughlins series) which releases January 28th! I’m super excited and love this cover SO MUCH! I think the cover artist has done a fantastic job on the covers so far for this series which is set on Whidbey Island.

Also, if you haven’t read book 1 yet (Good Girl Gone Plaid) I’d be thrilled if you added it to your Good Reads shelf! To quote the Library Journal’s starred review: “Readers will enjoy meeting the McLaughlin clan and be eager for the next series installments.”

Snippet Saturday ~ Author’s Choice

Welcome to another Snippet Saturday. Today’s theme is Author’s Choice. Feel free to check out my excerpt from Negligee Behavior and hop around to other blogs!

When lingerie heiress Brandy Summer gets cold feet and runs out on her Vegas wedding, she has nowhere to turn—so she hijacks a hunky biker waiting for a red light and begs him for help. What she doesn’t know is that her instincts are right: the groom has a hidden agenda. He needs her money to pay off his gambling debts and she’s his ticket to the good life.

Marco Vargas isn’t sure what he’s getting himself into when he rescues Brandy, but figures he’ll do the chivalrous thing. He offers her a job in his bar and the chance to sort out her feelings. But it seems that keeping Brandy hidden is easier than keeping his hands off her—and what will happen when Brandy discovers that Marco has secrets of his own?

Order from Carina Press |Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Also available in Audiobook

EXCERPT

Brandy looked up at him and her lips parted on a silent oh. And then, suddenly, she did look like she was going to cry. Fuck. He’d just had to remind her of the luggage.

“My luggage,” she said with a tiny sniff, and she blinked rapidly a few times. “I’ll be fine. We—I’ll figure out something.”

“We’ll figure something out.” Had he just made a commitment to her?

But he couldn’t leave her like this. Not yet. Even though he’d rather break any single bone in his body than deal with a weepy woman, he wouldn’t be able to look at himself in the mirror if he left her now.

He’d get through the evening—somehow—and then send her on her way. Wherever that was. The bottom line was she wasn’t his responsibility and he would be stupid to make her so.

Brandy’s blue eyes connected with his, and he could see the faint sheen of tears across them. Damn. His hardened resolve melted a bit at the sight of her quivering lips.

Who was she? Besides some uptight teacher.

Her phone began to ring in her purse and she pulled it out and then turned it off with jerky movements.

The doors to the elevator opened and they stepped out, making their way through the casino. The sound of slot machines was deafening and the floor appeared packed. Marco, in a hurry to get them out of the hotel, grabbed her hand and weaved them through the Friday night crowd.

Soon they were back out on the Strip. The sun had set, but the lights were so bright that darkness never really fell in Vegas.

“Where do you want to go?” Marco asked as they stood at the crosswalk.

“I don’t know.” Her eyes lit up. “Do you live around here?”

Shit, she wanted to go home with him? No. No way. “Henderson.”

“Oh. That’s not too far.” When he didn’t say anything, she looked away chewing on her lip. “You don’t have to stay with me. I can book a room somewhere and figure things out.”

“Do you want me to leave?” Marco steered her out of the path of a bunch of drunken men crossing the street in the opposite direction.

“No. I don’t want you to leave. But I can’t expect you to stay.”

She turned to face him once they were on the sidewalk again. He saw the spark of interest in her eyes and then she stared at his lips. He watched her swallow hard. Her tongue dart out to wet her lush mouth.

He bit back a groan and his jaw hardened. You don’t want to kiss me, sweetheart.

She had no idea what she was asking. But faced with the naked vulnerability in her eyes and obvious interest, something shifted inside him. Some of the hardness melted around his resolve, and before he could stop himself he reached out to stroke his thumb down the side of her cheek.

“I’m not going anywhere.” His thumb moved to rub across her bottom lip, which parted on a sigh. That mouth. God, if she didn’t have the mouth and those legs…she’d be some freak mutant, you idiot.

Don’t do it. Kissing her will just complicate things. Don’t even go there…

“Ah, shit.” He lowered his head toward hers.

For some reason, it seemed perfectly natural for Brandy to lean forward into Marco’s kiss. The smell of leather and spice enveloped her senses, just before his arms wrapped around her body.

His mouth closed over hers, firm and confident. It was a hard kiss, nothing hesitant about it. Definitely not the kind she was used to getting from Gordon.

His tongue traced the seam of her lips and a shiver raced down her spine. With a deft move, he slipped inside her mouth and she grabbed onto his T-shirt to keep her balance as the world around them spun.

His tongue rasped against hers. He tasted faintly of beer and all kinds of sin.

Pressing his body harder against her, he moved his hands down her waist to grab her ass. Brandy gasped at the contact and he used it to his advantage, stroking his tongue deeper.

Heat speared down her belly, between her legs and she curved her body closer to his, wanting so much more.

He pulled back suddenly and she tightened her grip on his T-shirt to keep from falling forward. Dazed, but not so far out of it that she didn’t notice the hard muscles under her fingers.

She groaned. This was insanity. Pure insanity. Or just lust. That was a pretty plausible explanation too.

“We should go somewhere.”

Perfect, let’s get a room. The words were on the tip of her tongue, but then she swallowed them.

This was all too crazy, too sudden. She should be grieving or at least a little confused about the whole Gordon situation.

But Gordon was the last darn thing on her mind. Instead all she could think about was that erotic kiss she’d just shared with a perfect stranger. The thing was, she knew why she’d kissed him—he oozed sex and danger. He was attractive.

The question was why had he kissed her? She was nothing like the models she’d grown up envying.

She raised her gaze to his and noticed he looked a little uneasy about what had just passed between them.

“Why did you kiss me?” she blurted, the passion bubble starting to deflate. God. Why had she even asked that? But since she had…“Men like you don’t kiss women like me.”

He shook his head and looked away. “Don’t worry, it won’t happen again.”

Lauren Dane

Caris Roane

Eliza Gayle

Lissa Matthews

McKenna Jeffries

Shiloh Walker

Taige Crenshaw

Delilah Devlin

HelenKay Dimon

Mari Carr

Savage Revenge is up for pre-order!

It’s here!! Savage Revenge is up for pre-order on Amazon | Barnes and Noble  Here’s a never seen before sneak peak :D

Taking her captive could prove his innocence…or make her a target.

Savage, Book 3

Agent and Alpha Nathan Larson has fled his pack, his agency and Washington State on a life-or-death mission to prove himself innocent of a savage massacre he’s pretty sure he didn’t commit.

So far he’s covered his tracks, but it’s only a matter of time. He needs a place to hunker down under the radar, and he intends to make it happen. No matter who becomes collateral damage.

Sage Christensen knows every shifter in this small California town, and the darkly attractive, brooding alpha attempting to flirt with her stands out like a flea on a white cat. She quickly realizes she was right to be wary when he follows her home and holds her captive.

Despite her refusal to be a compliant victim, she can’t deny their chemistry. Or the gut instinct that maybe he really is innocent. But with the trail of dead women growing longer, Sage begins to wonder if it was a mistake to trust her safety, her body—and her heart—to a man who has no idea how deep his dark side is buried.

Warning: This book has an Alpha male on the run, and a quirky novelist destined to be his captive. There will be bloodshed, lovemaking, and excitement aplenty.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

EXCERPT

“For a criminal, you’re awfully full of yourself. It would take more than a kiss for me to have brought you home.”

“Careful, Sage,” he warned softly and leaned in closer. His breath mingled with hers. “Because that almost sounds like a challenge.”

He heard it then. The slow thud of her heart that had become a pounding thunder. She didn’t reply to his statement, and the wolf within him rose to the surface in an instant.

Was he right? Was she as physically drawn to him right now as he was to her?

Maybe he was going about this wrong. Maybe if he tried to seduce her mind—her heart—he’d have her cooperation. She’d stop trying to escape and break his skull in.

Or maybe, you just want to charter the inside of her mouth with your tongue.

Whatever it was, the primitive side of him was far too close to the surface to be denied now.

He lowered his head and lightly touched his lips to hers—waited for her to pull away. She was so soft. Wonderfully sweet.

She didn’t move, though her shoulders tensed. A moment later she gave a stiff shrug. “See? That did noth—”

He didn’t let her finish that thought before he’d crushed his mouth on hers again. Not gentle this time, but with the sole intent to explore that amazing mouth deeper. To conquer and take.

Snippet Saturday ~ Smooth Operator

Welcome to another Snippet Saturday. Today’s theme is Friends to Lovers (apparently I jumped the gun last week and posted this too soon! So hear it is again!) Feel free to check out my excerpt from The Billionaire’s Baby Bargain and then hop around to other blogs!

Indulge your fantasies with these steamy, contemporary romances about sexy, billionaire alpha males, and the women who capture their hearts.

There’s nothing he won’t do…

Searching for adventure, Chloe doesn’t expect to find it in the dark, sexy man who makes his desire—and his intentions to bed her—blatantly clear. Working at one of Spain’s most exclusive resorts, she soon discovers her new lover isn’t just a guest, but the powerful and ruthless owner.

Hotel tycoon Andrés Montero’s reputation as Spain’s most elusive bachelor billionaire is slow to trust. And when Andres believes his relationship with Chloe is born from a more sinister purpose, he ends their affair with the harshness of a business deal gone sour.

But the realization that Chloe is carrying his baby brings Andrés back into her life, and there’s nothing he won’t do to protect his unborn child—and claim the woman he still secretly desires. Even if he must resort to blackmail.

Available on Kindle | Nook | Smashwords

EXCERPT

Andrés was beginning to wonder if she would ever give him her name, when the woman murmured a soft, “Chloe.”

“Chloe,” he repeated, and traced his thumbs over the silky naked skin of her forearm. “A beautiful name for a beautiful woman.”

And an American. He had realized the moment she spoke. Was she a guest at his resort? Beneath his hands a small tremor moved through her body. She had the most succulent full lips, which were just slightly parted to draw in unsteady breaths. What would that mouth feel like beneath his?

She stared up at him, frozen like a doe trapped by a hunter, with round, soft brown eyes. But more than the fear in her stare, there was interest and an awareness of him. A very good sign.

Electricity seemed to snap through his body. Dios, but he could not have predicted this. He’d deliberately decided not to have Pablo seek her out and yet now here she was, in his arms.

Andrés drew in a controlled breath and moved a hand to her bare waist, pulling her closer and ignoring her startled gasp. “You were not on tonight’s agenda,” he murmured, moving his hand up to slide his fingers into her hair. Soft, like the most expensive silk, and with the scent of jasmine. “But I certainly won’t protest the change in plans.”

Her brows drew together in surprise, but before she could reply, he lowered his head and captured her mouth with his.

So soft and sweet, Chloe tasted of vanilla and innocence. She let out a distraught cry, the move opening her mouth just enough for him to discover the temptation inside.

Her hands, small and quick, came up to his chest, almost to push him away. But he changed his technique quickly and softened his mouth against hers, flicking his tongue in light, teasing movements instead.

A moment later she made a soft but revealing moan that signified her pleasure and surrender. She ceased in her efforts to push him away and instead gripped the white cotton of his pressed shirt.

Pure male triumph shot through him. He gathered her closer and angled his head to get deeper access to her mouth. Her breasts crushed against his chest, the now firm tips just further proof of her arousal.

Heat built between them, and an urgency that made him nearly forget where he was. Fueling him with the temptation to pull her down onto the sand on his beach and take her, no matter how many other guests might be wandering the night.

That’s what finally grounded him again. The realization at just how far gone he nearly was. Dios. From a simple kiss. A kiss that left him as dazed as a knock on the head.

Andrés pulled his mouth from hers, so discombobulated by his own reaction that he could barely appreciate the murmur of protest she made. But it soon registered, along with the passion-drugged look in her eyes when her lashes fluttered upward.

Ah, yes. She wanted him. Would likely accompany him to his room if he requested. But that would be something he never did. Bring a woman back to his room without knowing everything about her. Without having Pablo discuss the confidentiality contract.

He smoothed a thumb down the softness of her cheek, then shocked himself by making the request anyway. “Join me for a drink later tonight in my room.”

“In your room?” she repeated. The haze of arousal slowly faded from her stare, like a wave retreating back to the sea. Instead her expression turned wary, and she gave a slow shake of her head. “I-I can’t. I’m sorry.”

Her cheeks filled with color and she glanced beyond his shoulder to look at some point down the beach.

A moment ago she’d been melting in his arms, and now she appeared eager to be far away from him.

“Why is that, Chloe?”

Her breathing hitched; she lifted her chin and swung a defiant look back to him. “I don’t owe you an explanation of why I’m choosing not to go to your room. Now if you would please release me.”

She’d dismissed him. Quite curtly. Andrés’s gave a tight smile, and he found himself torn between amusement and dismay. “After that kiss, cariño, I think you at least owe me a reason.”

The color in her cheeks heightened. “Excuse me? I don’t recall actually asking you to kiss me.”

He offered a small smile. “Though you may not have used words, you most certainly asked.” He let his fingers trace the skin of her lower back, just above her sarong. So delicate. So alluring. “I know when a woman desires me.”

Her mouth fell open and her eyes flashed with anger now. “Well, guess what? I know when a man is far too arrogant for his own good.”

Her body trembled with indignation beneath his fingers. He was surprised to find himself enjoying her frustration as she struggled to deny the attraction between them.

“Come to my room tonight,” he cajoled. “I promise you will not regret it.”

She made a noise of exasperation. “Do you ever get told no?”

He gave a slight shrug and replied matter-of-factly, “I do, but generally in the context of no, don’t stop.”

Her lips twitched, and he thought for a moment perhaps she might be fighting amusement.

“Chloe,” a male voice called out from down the beach. “Are you coming with us or not?”

Andrés stilled when she winced. Had she declined because she was with someone else? His nostrils flared when he realized the kick in his gut was something akin to jealousy.

No. That couldn’t be right. He set the thoughts of jealousy—of  her being already spoken for—quickly aside. Chloe would not have succumbed so easily to his kiss if she had belonged to another man.

“I…I really must go,” she stammered and lowered her gaze. “I’m sorry.”

Lauren Dane

Caris Roane

Eliza Gayle

Lissa Matthews

McKenna Jeffries

Shiloh Walker

Taige Crenshaw

Delilah Devlin

HelenKay Dimon

Mari Carr

Snippet Saturday ~ Friends to Lovers

Welcome to another Snippet Saturday. Today’s theme is Friends to Lovers. Feel free to check out my excerpt from Flash Point and then hop around to other blogs!

One taste of her lips, and friendship is off the menu

Holding Out for a Hero, Book 3

Kate has always been everybody’s friend and the de-facto little sister to the Wyatt brothers. But her feelings for Todd Wyatt, the town’s hottest firefighter, run far beyond the sibling variety. Not that he’s ever noticed.

After years of nursing her crush, Kate decides it’s time to take action. Except she has one awkward little secret: she’s still a virgin. She hopes she can seduce Todd without him realizing just how inexperienced she is.

In Todd’s mind, Kate’s the sweet girl he teases and hits up for free cupcakes. One surprise kiss over the summer, though, and suddenly she’s jumped from the platonic side of his brain to the want-her-in-my-bed side. Even though the last thing he wants is to lose her friendship, his resistance to her determined seduction is slipping. Fast.

When malicious attacks on her bakery escalate, it soon becomes clear that for all Kate’s friends, she’s made at least one big enemy. And if they don’t figure it out soon, things could take a deadly turn.

 

Order at Samhain| Amazon |Barnes and Noble

Before opening the door, she gave herself one quick glance in the mirror. Her hair shined almost white blonde and loose over her shoulders, and the sweater hugged her excess of curves nicely. The V-neck giving just a hint of cleavage—definitely no push-up bra needed there.

Good enough.

Kate jerked her gaze away from the mirror and opened the door.

“Hi,” she said brightly.

Todd’s answering smile never left her face, didn’t drift over the cleavage she’d been more than a little proud of, but she tried not to feel a sting of rejection. This was, after all, exactly what she wanted. Friends.

“So where are we off to?” she asked.

“You up for Mexican? I’m craving some fajitas.”

“I’m always up for fajitas,” she said, following him out to his truck. “Just load up the guacamole.”

“Amen to that.” He opened her door and her heart did a little flip.

It’s just manners, Kate, some men still have them.

She braced her hands on the door and the truck frame and climbed into the truck. She’d almost made it in, when she wobbled to the left, brushing up against Todd’s arm. Or at least her breast did.

Heat rocketed through her body and she lost the air in her lungs. Her right breast tingled with awareness as the nipple slowly tightened.

Should she apologize? Would he say something? But then she was in the truck and he’d shut the door as if nothing had happened.

Right, you dork, she scolded herself silently. Todd probably touches breasts at least once a day. He probably didn’t even realize yours was all over his arm like icing on cake.

Even still, she was glad for the darkness of the truck so he couldn’t see the pink in her cheeks. God, it was going to be a long night.

The streets of Wyattsville were dark and deserted with most people in for the night. Still, Todd gripped the steering wheel like he expected kids to be darting out in the road any minute.

It was just a breast. Kate’s breast. It should’ve been like bumping into his sister—if he’d had one. But when she’d fell against him, the thoughts in his head sure as hell hadn’t been brotherly. Just like that night at the tavern, he’d been thrown into an alternate reality with Kate that left him a bit dazed.

When she’d opened the door, he’d deliberately not let his gaze drop to her breasts peeking out of her sweater. Which was damn hard, because he’d still seen the large swells out of the corner of his eye without glancing down for closer inspection.

She was different than most of the women he’d dated over the years. Her personality earthier and a body that was lush and curvy. She was unique…intriguing in a way he was only just now starting to notice.

Shit. Maybe this was a bad idea. Dinner tonight. What the hell was wrong with him? Was he being naïve to think he could keep looking at Kate as just a friend? Had that silly little impulse kiss she’d given him at the tavern screwed that up entirely?

It was part of the reason he’d stop coming around so much. He’d needed to distance himself from her, from the memory of that kiss.

“Weren’t we going to El Gordo’s?”

He blinked. “What?”

“I think you just passed the restaurant.”

For fuck’s sake, really? Todd’s jaw clenched with disbelief as he swerved the truck around at the next intersection.

“Good catch. My mind must’ve been elsewhere.” Like on your tits.

“No problem, I’ve been accused more than once for having my head in the clouds,” she teased.

He glanced over at her and smiled, but caught another flash of creamy cleavage as they pulled under a street lamp. Her breasts looked soft and pillowy, kind of like clouds. Might not be such a bad place to have his hea—fuck! Sweat broke out on the back of his neck and he jerked his attention back out the windshield as he parked the truck.

Fuck, fuck, fuck. Dinner had definitely been a bad idea. Definitely. How the hell was going to stop his dick from taking control of his brain the rest of the night? He couldn’t be thinking about sleeping with Kate. Could not even consider the possibility. He was an asshole, but he wasn’t that big of one.

His brothers would kick his ass to Portland and back if they were aware what he was thinking. Jesus, he was in trouble.

Lauren Dane

Caris Roane

Eliza Gayle

Lissa Matthews

McKenna Jeffries

Shiloh Walker

Taige Crenshaw

Delilah Devlin

HelenKay Dimon

Jody Wallace

Snippet Saturday ~ Author’s Chocie

Welcome to another Snippet Saturday. Today’s theme is Author’s Choice. Enjoy my excerpt from Beauty and the Sheikh and then blog hop to the other blogs listed below.

A is for Alpha series (book 1)

Indulge your fantasies with these steamy, contemporary romances about sexy, billionaire alpha males, and the women who capture their hearts.

His price is her innocence…

Holly Winchester is desperate. With her brother facing theft charges and a potential prison sentence in a foreign country, she seeks help from the one man she knows can give it. But will the ruthless, billionaire sheikh who once broke her heart be able to forget and forgive their painful past?

Two years ago, Sheikh Rafiq Al Hakimi allowed a beautiful foreigner not only into his country, but nearly his heart. It was all too easy, falling for the one woman who didn’t fear him or his scars. Until he discovered her intentions were as shallow as the modeling world she thrived in.

Now Holly’s returned to his country, begging for his help. He’s willing to give her brother his freedom—if Holly gives up hers by agreeing to become his mistress…

Available at Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Smashwords

 

EXCERPT

“Your brother is guilty.”

The world around her spun out of focus at his flat declaration. A clammy cold sweat broke out on the back of her neck and she forced herself to suck in a needed breath. Her hands shook at the image of her brother locked in a prison in this intimidating, foreign land for ten years. “You condemn him as judge and jury without a trial.”

“I have seen the footage. He was as discreet as a three-year-old stealing from a cookie jar.” Rafiq leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. “And it’s not the first time he’s done this, is it, habiba? Your brother has also stolen money from you in the past, countless times.”

“He’s changed,” she whispered. How could Rafiq possibly have known about Andrew stealing from her? “He promised me.”

“I understand why you would like to think as much, but the evidence says otherwise.”

Bile rose in her throat. She believed him. She didn’t want to, but oh God, she did. “So you intend to lock him up? For how many years? He’s all I have, Rafiq.” She didn’t care that she’d dropped his respected title. What would he do? Call in his servants to scold her again? Throw her in prison next to her brother? Let them!

Tears blurred her vision as she plunged on. “He kept me from going into foster care after our parents were killed. He gave up everything and quit school to raise me. Please, you can’t throw away his life like this.”

“I would think twice before trying to place the blame on me.” His words snapped like a whip through the empty dining hall, his stare glacial. “You’ve protected him for too long, Holly. When will it end? He’s a grown man who lives the life of a spoiled boy.”

“You’ve known all along you wouldn’t help him.” She thrust back her chair and stood. “I don’t even know why I let myself think you would. You’d probably rather face a firing squad than assist me. I’ll go to the American embassy. I’ll—”

“No one would dare challenge my decision.”

Her heart pinched with helplessness and the despondency that flowed through her blood thickened until it consumed her. “Then why did you do this?” Tears burned. “Why toy with me and keep me here last night?”

“It’s simple, habiba. Because I want you.”

Holly’s heart slammed into her ribcage. He still wanted her? For a moment she didn’t believe it, refused to believe it. Until she stared long enough into Rafiq’s eyes to see the smoldering heat and desire.

It was so potent it sent a rush of warmth through her body and quickened her blood.

“What are you saying?”

Rafiq stood and approached her, or rather, stalked her like a lion with his prey. Holly just barely resisted the urge to turn heel and run, and then it was too late as he stood in front of her, blocking her exit.

Every harsh and beautiful feature on his face came into focus, especially the thick scar that began barely an inch away from his captivating dark eyes. “I will release your brother under one condition.”

She knew. Even before he could say it, she knew. Her head jerked from side to side in denial, but her gaze was riveted to his lips as named his price.

“You will agree to stay in Raljahar as my mistress.”

Lauren Dane

Shelli Stevens

Leah Braemel

Jody Wallace

Caris Roane

Eliza Gayle

Lissa Matthews

Mandy M. Roth

McKenna Jeffries

Shiloh Walker

Taige Crenshaw

Delilah Devlin

HelenKay Dimon

TJ Michaels

Mari Carr

Snippet Saturday ~ Boys of Summer

Welcome to another Snippet Saturday. Today’s theme is Boys of Summer! Enjoy my excerpt from and then blog hop to the other blogs listed below.

 

Falling for the bad boy is even more dangerous the second time around.
The McLaughlins, Book 1In high school Sarah fell for her best friend’s older brother—one of the sexy, Scottish McLaughlin boys. But a painful betrayal showed her she’d been a fool to give her heart to a bad boy. At least it made it easier to leave him and move halfway around the world when her Navy dad got stationed in Japan.Eleven years later, the death of her grandmother has forced Sarah back to Whidbey Island for a month. It’s the length of time she must stay in her inherited house before she’s allowed to sell it, take the money and run. But when she sees Ian, bad as ever and still looking like sin on a stick, she can’t keep her mouth from watering.

One look at Sarah stirs up the regret lingering in Ian’s heart—and never-forgotten desire lingering in his body. He should walk away, especially since divorced single mothers aren’t his style. But when she starts showing up at his family’s pub, he can’t resist a little casual seduction for old time’s sake.

One thing quickly becomes clear, though. The heat between them is causing an avalanche of secrets and betrayal and nothing will ever be the same.

Now available on Kindle | Kindle UK | Nook | Kobo

EXCERPT

After the Highland Dancers finished and Kenzie had joined up with them, they all made their way over to the games where Ian and his brothers were set to compete.

They spent a good while watching several games being played. The “weight over the bar” event where men attempted to toss a fifty-six pound weight over a bar with just one hand. Or there was the fascinating “stone put” where the athletes threw a large stone as far as possible.

But what drew the biggest crowd was the caber toss. Women, men and children of all ages lined up to watch the event.

“Look at them all.” Kenzie gestured to the athletes set to compete. “You’d swear it was Christmas, they’re so excited.”

Sarah focused again on all the burly men lined up. Most with large upper bodies and thick calf muscles, no doubt from being constant participants in these types of games.

They were chatting and friendly, but obviously in competitive mode. Almost all wore kilts with some kind of T-shirt—some of the guys had even ripped the sleeves to show off more muscle.

And there was no lacking of muscles among them. But then, they’d have to be fairly muscular to lift a nearly twenty-foot pole that weighed close to two hundred pounds.

The three McLaughlin brothers stood together, wide grins on their faces as they chatted and watched the other contestants.

“I’m just saying, I wouldn’t kick any of those McLaughlin boys out of my bed for eating crackers.”

Kenzie snorted and Sarah turned to stare at the group of women passing by. One had to be close to seventy.

“I see they’ve still got their fan club,” she murmured.

Kenzie rolled her eyes and turned back to the field. “They always will. Not like it goes to their head or anything.”

Sarah didn’t miss the sarcasm and laughed softly. Maybe it did go to their head, but for the most part the McLaughlins were a down-to-earth bunch.

“What did those ladies mean by that, Mom?” Emily asked. “Toss them out of bed for eating crackers?”

Yikes, she’d heard that too, huh?

“It’s just a saying, dear. Oh, look, Ian’s about to compete next.”

“Oh, really?” Just like that her daughter’s attention was diverted. “Come on, Ian, you can do it!”

Ian glanced over at them, his grin expanding as he waved. He blew them a kiss and Emily squealed appropriately.

Sarah couldn’t help but shake her head, but when he met her gaze and winked, there were definitely butterflies in her stomach again.

Lauren Dane

Shelli Stevens

Leah Braemel

Jody Wallace

Caris Roane

Eliza Gayle

Lissa Matthews

Mandy M. Roth

McKenna Jeffries

Shiloh Walker

Taige Crenshaw

Delilah Devlin

HelenKay Dimon

TJ Michaels

Felicity Heaton

The Billionaire’s Baby Bargain is one year’s old!

GIVEAWAY! Did you know I have an A is for Alpha series? Sexy, alpha billionaires type of thing. My book The Billionaire’s Baby Bargain just has been out a year and so I’m celebrating its first birthday! To celebrate, I’ll give away a copy. Just visit my Facebook fan page, leave a comment on your favorite trope (friends to lovers, enemies, secret babies, etc.) to enter!

Will draw a winner tomorrow morning! (6-8am PST depending on how much my kitten lets me sleep in ;)

Click here to enter

Snippet Saturday~ Belong to the city

Welcome to another Snippet Saturday. Today’s theme is Belong to the City! Enjoy my excerpt from Dangerous Grounds and then blog hop to the other blogs listed below.

 

Somethings hot in Seattle, and its not just the espresso.

The Seattle Steam series.

Madisons needs are simple. All she wants are two things: Make Ooo La Latt the newest trend in espresso, and seduce the sexiest cop in Seattle. But things arent going exactly as planned. First, Gabes a little hung up on the fact that shes his best friends little sister, and hes determined to keep his hands off. Second, her shop gets robbed by the increasingly violent Espresso Bandit, and now shes the only one who can identify him. Gabe whisks her into hiding for her own protection, but soon finds his heart is under assault by the lusciousand persistentMadison. But no matter where they hide, danger follows. On such dangerous grounds, the trick will be to live long enough to keep the flame alive.

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EXCERPT

She rested her arms on the stone railing and stared out into the night, taking a moment to consider her new status as a single woman. She needed to move on, and fast. What was that saying? The best way to get over someone was to get under someone. Easier said than done, though.

Her thoughts were momentarily distracted by the view in front of her. She’d never get used to it. Her parents’ home sat atop Queen Anne Hill and looked out over the Seattle skyline. Tonight the buildings twinkled through a clear night, and the Space Needle seemed close enough to touch.

She sighed and inhaled the warm spring air. Her mind turned back to the idea of meeting a man just for fun. Rebound sex. Hmm, not a bad idea, but could she actually do it? Having casual sex had never been her thing.

Though it was inevitable that the next person she tried to sleep with would pretty much just turn out to be the transition guy. Why not choose the time and the man, and get it over with? She could find someone available, attractive, and with no strings attached. Besides, getting laid would be good for her.

Images flitted through her head. Images of a man’s weight pinning her to the bed while he moved deep inside her. Her sex clenched, wanting something to fill the constant ache.

“You know…I think I’m gonna do it,” she muttered aloud.

“Do what?”

She spun from the railing, her eyes widening with surprise as she made out the shape of a man half-hidden in the shadows. He stepped forward into the light and her breath caught.

Thank you, God. Whoever had coined the expression tall, dark, and handsome must’ve meant this man. His eyes were a dark coffee brown, the expression in them closed off and unreadable. He had short hair, just darker than his eyes. Even if the trace of accent hadn’t colored his voice, his features gave away his Latino heritage. And the body? He had Bradley beat hands down.

Her body, already jacked up from the possibility of having sex, grew warm and tingly.

“Are you done?”

Madison’s gaze snapped back up to meet his. Done? She hadn’t even gotten started. If she planned on going through with this, then he had to be her man. Gabriel Martinez—her brother’s best friend. Her mind compared the Gabe from several years ago to the Gabe now standing in front of her. He was, without a doubt, a sex god. A sex god who would be her rebound. Well, if he could be persuaded.

“Am I done?” She licked her lips. “What do you mean?”

“Giving me a visual inspection.”

His voice ran deep, with the slightest bit of abrasiveness to it. You knew right away this was a man you didn’t want to piss off. Good thing he sounded somewhat amused. “Well, now.” She stepped forward and tilted her head, giving him a small smile.

“What if I said that you require closer inspection?”

“Nice.” He shook his head and then smiled. “Were you always this much of a flirt,

Maddie?”

“Sorry, Gabe. I haven’t seen you in a while and am just discovering that being a cop has been good to you.” Her gaze drifted down his body again. Tall, muscular, hard. “Very good to you.”

 

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