Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Release Blitz: My Lucky #13 by Piper Rayne

Release Date: June 29

Lucky.

The one adjective used to describe my entire hockey career. I prefer to call it hard work, at least I did until my game went to complete crap. I haven’t scored in eight games and my team owner is talking about trading me. 

 

I’ve never believed in superstitions. 


Never needed one. I suppose I was “lucky” in that way. But now the best way to refer to me is desperate. I’d wear the same socks for an entire year just to be the high-scoring center I used to be. 

 

Imagine my surprise when after spending New Year’s Eve with a woman, I score a hat trick in the next game—that’s three goals in one game for you non-hockey lovers. 


Now, I have to track  her down and bribe her to do it again before every game. Get your mind out of the gutter, I’m not talking about it.

 

I find her and when I get to know her better, I end up spending more time thinking about her than my game, but she’s made it clear she wants no part of me. She’s going to learn that I didn’t become a professional hockey player without having to fight for what I want.



4 Stars

Review by Jen Skewes


Piper Rayne is one 0f my favorite writing duos.  Every book that I have read by them I have loved!!!  To find out that they were writing a new series that involved hot hockey players, absolutely made my day.  I am a sucker for a hockey player and could not wait to read My Lucky #13.  And they did not disappoint!

 

Aidan is one of the hottest hockey starts, both on and off the ice.  He has been in a bit of a slump lately and could face being traded if he doesn’t pick up his game.  But then he meets this feisty woman who throws a drink in his face.  When he scores at his next game, he tries to figure out what changed in his routine that made him score.  The only thing he can think of is the drink in his face.  He know what he has to do, find Saige and make her throw a drink in his face before every game.  That’s a lot to ask of someone that he doesn’t even know, but he’s desperate for her help.  

 

Saige is not sure what to think of Aidan’s proposition, but when he offers her something that she needs she cannot say no.  She’s attracted to him, but things are complicated, and he is a hockey player. She has trust issues, especially when it comes to athletes,  But that doesn’t mean her feelings for him just go away.    

 

Aidan on the other hand feels something for her, which is something that is foreign to him.  She’s also considered off limits for reasons I won’t mention.  Aidan too, has trust issues and because of his past.  Neither one of them can control their feelings or ignore the connection that they have.  Their trust issues may get in the way, but will they give into this undeniable connection?

 

I loved Aidan and Saige together.  Aidan may be a hockey player and along with that comes the stereotypical bad boy persona.  But he really is not that guy.  Aside from being sexy and completely swoon worthy, he is a good guy with a big heart.  I loved the chemistry between them.  I loved the friendship they formed.  They both has their baggage and trust issues, but they were so perfect for each other.  Once they could admit their feelings and trust each other.  I am loving this series and cannot wait for the next one.  Oh, and I loved that we got to see a couple from a prior series. 


Grab Your Copy Here

Meet Piper Rayne: 
Piper Rayne, or Piper and Rayne, whichever you prefer because we're not one author, we're two. Yep, you get two USA Today Bestselling authors for the price of one. Our goal is to bring you romance stories that have "Heartwarming Humor With a Side of Sizzle" (okay...you caught us, that's our tagline). 

A little about us.... We both have kindle's full of one-clickable books. We're both married to husbands who drive us to drink. We're both chauffeurs to our kids. Most of all, we love hot heroes and quirky heroines that make us laugh, and we hope you do, too. 


Connect with Piper Rayne:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | BookBub | Goodreads 

Join our newsletter & get 2 FREE BOOKS!


Be one of our Unicorns!

Hosted By:

Friday, June 25, 2021

Blog tour: The Next Mrs. Russo by Jana Aston

     

THE NEXT MRS. RUSSO by Jana Aston

Release Date: June 22nd

         

AVAILABLE NOW!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vkXW97

Nook: http://bit.ly/TNMR_BN

Apple: http://bit.ly/TNMR_Apple

Kobo: http://bit.ly/TNMR_Kobo

   

   

Add to Goodreads:

http://bit.ly/TNMR_Goodreads

   

   

Blurb:

I was not looking for a date.

Another questionable relationship was the last thing I needed.

Because trust me, they were all questionable.

But through a series of unfortunate events involving my cat and

his poor decision-making skills, I agreed to a set-up.

Except… the set-up is with the governor.

I am not political girlfriend material.

For one, I’m a little bit crazy.

For two, I have secrets.

But I also have a big crush on the governor.



5 Fantastic Stars!

Review by Lisa Kane


Let me start this review by saying I adored this book! The main characters, secondary characters, scene stealing animals, yep, loved them all! 

Audrey owns a vintage dress shop in the rambling, falling apart house she inherited. She is barely surviving, but has talent out the wazoo. She buys hidden gems in vintage shops, pieces that are stained, have holes, things most people pass on. But Audrey has the soul of a romantic and she sees the potential in these once expensive garments and has the talent to transform them into one of a kind creations. The only thing holding her back-no one really knows about her shop. That is until Mrs. Bianchi comes in. She's a bit eccentric, but Audrey knows that she will appreciate a dress she is creating for her. When she comes in for a fitting, there is silence from the dressing room. Audrey thinks she is going to try to negotiate the price. But Mrs. Bianchi actually sees Audrey in a new light and knows Audrey has talent, real talent. 

Poor Audrey, right when Mrs. Bianchi is telling Audrey all about her son who has problems dating, Audrey's cat, Gary, drags in a live mouse. Anxious to get rid of her customer, she agrees to go on a date with her son. It's a free meal and Audrey loves a free meal, especially if there's cake at the end. 

Audrey meets Mrs. Bianchi at the Governor's mansion, why she wants to meet there is beyond Audrey. Turns out her son who has problems with his love life is the Governor. The same guy Audrey has secretly been crushing on. She watches his press conferences, just to get a glimpse of him. 

Now let's talk about Warren Russo. He reminds me a bit of JFK Jr. (oh how I loved that guy, gone far too soon) He's reserved and aloof but really passionate about his position. Audrey would like to get a little passionate about any position with him. When they meet he is a big annoyed at his mother, but she is a hoot. She has a "very good feeling" about Audrey. Warren will fall into line. Just give him time. 

This all happens pages into the story. This sets up the story. This book is so funny and the thoughts that Audrey has just fall out of her mouth. Even when she doesn't realize she's saying them. 

Audrey has a high school student, Miller, who hangs out at her shop. He doesn't work for her, and yet she fires him on a daily basis. This kid needs his own book. He has a flair for fashion, is highly talented and knows Audrey like a book. He constantly calls her on her stuff and does all he can for Audrey to take chances and live life. 

Animals can sometimes be distractions in stories. Not this one. Duke, Warren's dog is a belly loving, big teddy bear who lets himself be second banana to Audrey's bullying cat, Gary. There's even a chip monk who plays a part in a scene with Warren and Audrey and unbeknownst to Audrey, this is neither Chip nor Dale and she's about to find that out the hard way. 

There are so many good things about this book. It's just one of those stories that carries you away into a little world where the heroine is real and genuine and you fall in love with her nerdy, quirky self. The hero is straight laced, but such a good man, trying to do the right thing. Audrey just wants him to do her. And she sets about trying to accomplish this in a multitude of ways. Just hilarious. 

It's been a while since we've had a new book from Jana Aston, and man, this one is so worth the wait! 

   

   

About the Author:

Jana Aston likes cats, big coffee cups and books about billionaires who deflower virgins. She wrote her debut novel while fielding customer service calls about electrical bills, and she's ever grateful for the fictional gynecologist in Wrong that readers embraced so much she was able to make working in her pajamas a reality. Jana’s novels have appeared on the NYT, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists, some multiple times. She likes multiples.

   

Connect w/ Jana:

Facebook: http://bit.ly/FBJanaAston

Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/GrindMeCafe

Twitter: http://bit.ly/TwitterJanaAston

Book + Main: http://bit.ly/BookMainJanaAston

Amazon Page: http://bit.ly/AmazonJanaAston

Bookbub: http://bit.ly/BBJanaAston

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/GRJanaAston

Website: http://www.janaaston.com

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/NewsletterJana

Society 6: http://bit.ly/Society6Jana

Instagram: http://bit.ly/IGJanaAston

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Blog tour: Fortunate Son by Jay Crownover

We are so excited to help celebrate the release of FORTUNATE SON by Jay Crownover with you today! FORTUNATE SON is part of Forever Marked: The Second Generation of the Marked Men.

Join Jay's Group for details about all of her titles.

FORTUNATE SON by Jay Crownover

Forever Marked: The Second Generation of the Marked Men

------------

Purchase your copy of FORTUNATE SON to-day!

Amazon | Nook | Apple | Kobo

Purchase in Paperback

About FORTUNATE SON:

Ry Archer and Bowe Keller are as different as night and day. But that doesn't stop the child-hood frenemies from reconnecting whenever one of them needs some help tackling any of life's major puzzles, like figuring out why getting what you always thought you wanted isn't living up to all the hype. They might constantly rub each other the wrong way (except for the times when they rub each other the really-really right way), but there is no denying they've always made one hell of a great team. They manage to balance each other out… when they aren't driving each other crazy. For Ry, he thought he had the perfect girl, the one who was going to run headfirst into a me-thodically planned future. He was going to marry young and have the same kind of legendary, life-long romance his parents did… or so he believed. His girl was going to stand by his side as he chased his dream of being a professional football player all the way to the NFL. He was wrong. Now, Ry's gotta figure out the difference between a bruised heart and a broken one, and the only person who can teach him the difference is Bowe. Bowe always felt like she had to run before she learned to walk to keep up with her father's musical legacy. He's her hero, and she wants nothing more than to make him proud. Bowe's about to figure out that maybe she wasn't meant to be in a rock and roll band and that it is possible she let her father's success cloud her idea of what making music should be. Bowe needs to find her own path to fame, and there's a good chance she wouldn't be brave enough or bold enough to start over if Ry Archer hadn't charmed his way back into her life when she least expected it. Some days they're enemies. Other days they're lovers. For a while, they were strangers. But now, it feels more like they might have always been soulmates. Eventually, Ry and Bowe realize that letting go of an old dream and creating a new one is much easier to do with the right person by your side.

Add FORTUNATE SON to your Goodreads TBR here!




4 stars

Review by Lisa Kane

Years ago I remember how much I loved Rule Archer after reading Rule, the first story in the Marked Men series. I devoured each subsequent book, but Rule remained my first love. So reading Fortunate Son, about Rule and Shaw's son, Ry, was such a treat. He is truly a blending of his mother-disciplined, focused, determined to always do his best. And yet, there is a lost soul seeking its mate that reminded me so much of Rule. 

Bowe Keller is the daughter of rocker Jet and his feisty wife, Ayden. She too, is a musician. She wants to be part of a band of a lifetime like her dad, but her style may be more of a solo performer. Although she lacks the confidence to recognize this. 

Ry and Bowe grew up snarling and growling at each other. But in their mid teens anger turned to passion. Then it turned to regret and pain. Both have avoided each other for years. When Ry is dumped by his girlfriend, who does he turn to? Whose house, hours away, is it that compels him to leave his own town and travel to without even finding out if he would be welcome? Ry needs to be with Bowe, even if he doesn't quite understand why she is the person who can help him heal. 

These two bring out the worst and the best in each other. They see what others can't. Even if their words don't alway match their feelings they speak to each other in some unknown language that only they speak. Both so stubborn they will infuriate the reader, refusing to see what is right in front of their faces. 

Fast forwarding with familiar characters was so much fun. Make no mistake, I had to think really hard about who was with who, and what happened in their stories. There are a lot of characters from both the Marked Men and the Saints of Denver series and it's been years since I read these books. But there were enough references to follow the lineage. 

There are so many children of the original characters and plenty of plots and story lines to keep us reading for a long time. I am loving this next generation! 


Purchase your copy of FORTUNATE SON to-day!

Amazon | Nook | Apple | Kobo

Purchase in Paperback

---------------------

About JAY CROWNOVER:

  Jay Crownover is the international and multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men Series, The Saints of Denver Series, The Point Series, Breaking Point Series, and the Getaway Series. Her books can be found translated in many different languages all around the world. She is a tattooed, crazy haired Colorado native who lives at the base of the Rockies with her awesome dogs. This is where she can frequently be found enjoying a cold beer and Taco Tuesdays. Jay is a self-declared music snob and outspoken book lover who is always looking for her next adventure, between the pages and on the road. Connect with her: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Reader Group IS-Blogger-1-1024x158

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Blog Tour: The Monster by LJ Shen

The Monster, an all-new addictive and moving standalone romance from USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling author L.J. Shen is available now!

The most important thing I’d ever read was scribbled on the door of a portable restroom, engraved into plastic at a carnival on the outskirts of Boston.
Lust lingers, love stays.
Lust is impatient, love waits.
Lust burns, love warms.
Lust destroys, but love? Love kills.
Maybe it was always my destiny to fall in love with a monster.
When other kids stayed awake at night fearing the pointy-toothed beast hiding in their closet, I longed to see mine.
I wanted to feed it, domesticate it, understand it.
Sam and I were only allowed to love each other in the dark.
Once our story unfolded, and the truth came to light, I was the one to cut the cord.
My name is Aisling Fitzpatrick, and I have a confession to make.
Sam Brennan is not the only monster in this story.



4.5 Stars

Review by Lisa Kane

Once again, this author has roped me in, hog tied me and willingly had me offer up a limb to be branded! I love her books-and her series may have similarities (the "hero's are usually broken and twisted) but there are enough differences to keep me reading.

Ainsley is strong and yet she melts for Sam. To be honest she crushed on him without little encouragement far longer than I hope I would moon over a guy but she didn't just sit there, in a corner, crying her eyes out. Her parents, particularly her mother, do their best to stunt her emotional growth, but she matures and moves forward with her life. 

Sam lacked for love early in his life and grew up believing that once he ruled Boston and its underbelly, he would be king. His ambition drives him to control, to kill without mercy and to have no regrets. A chance meeting with Ainsley affects him more than he will ever admit, but he will still conquer, still gain power regardless of the price. There's a few twists to the story that will leave the reader questioning if it's Ainsley or Sam that is the monster, or maybe both? 

The story covers almost a decade and that's a lot of time to fill. But the author colors the blank canvass with interactions and angst and down right heartbreak at times. I never felt the story drag or felt that less story would actually be more. She held my attention through out. Although, at times, I wanted to smack a little sense into Ainsley and wanted to throat punch Sam on more than one occasion. Both infuriated me, but who wants to read about characters that always do what you expect from them?

I love reading a series and being able to figure out where previous characters fit in-what they were like years ago. It's like catching up with old acquaintances and remembering why you loved them so much in their own stories. I'm thinking the next book is probably about Belle-now she is one interesting character. She has copious amounts of sex, owns a notorious club, is a self proclaimed hater of monogamy and is going to be damn hard to get that chick to settle down!  

Grab your copy today or read FREE on Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3mppmqP
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/TheMonster

Add The Monster to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3urVU6f

Excerpt

Haunted mansions were my playground. 

I lived in one, after all—my house held the secrets of seven generations of Fitzpatricks—and I’d always been drawn to ghosts and monsters.

I took my place in line, shifting from foot to foot as I checked my phone. My mother and brothers were all looking for me. 

Cillian: Where are you, Aisling? Call me back immediately.

Hunter: Yo, sis. You okay? Sounds like you were involved in some heavy shit. Sending hugz from Cali.

Mother: I heard what happened. Quite terrible, dear. Please come home so we can discuss this. So dreadful that you saw this. 

Mother: You know how bad my anxiety gets when I can’t get hold of you. You need to come back home, Ash.

Mother: Oh, Aisling, what am I to do? You didn’t even make my herbal tea before you left. I’m a wreck over here!

That was my mother. Self-centered even when it was my world imploding into miniscule pieces. Always worried for her own well-being before mine. 

I tucked my phone back in my pocket and craned my neck to look at the carts as they slid back from the jaws of an evil, laughing clown. Muffled screams bled from the inside of the ride. The people who came out stepped out of the carts with wobbly knees, buzzing with excitement. 

When I was finally put in one of the wagons—it looked like a rickety pod with red paint smeared all over it to symbolize blood—I was alone, even though there was enough space for two people.

I knew nothing would happen to me on a fair ride. 

Still, I felt lost, fragile, and unbearably lonely tonight. Like someone had peeled away my skin in one go and left me to carry my bones and veins and muscles in a messy heap. 

I’d just lost my best friend. The only one that counted.

I grabbed onto the shirtsleeve of the guy manning the ride, tugging.

“I want to get off.”

He gave me a slow once-over, his gaze lingering a second too long on my bare thighs.  

“Hell, sugar, I’d like to get you off, too. But you’ll have to wait till the end of my shift. I need the money,” he slurred, sounding stoned.

I clutched onto his Hurley hoodie sleeve, throwing fourteen years of etiquette lessons out the window in one moment of desperation. “No! I want to get off the ride. Unless you can put someone in the cart with me?” Hope trickled into my voice. 

“Bro, it’s, like, a ride anyone four feet or over can get on.” He shook my touch off, frowning. “You’ll make it out alive.”

“I know. It’s not that I’m scared. I just—” 

 “Look…” he raised a hand to stop my stream of words “…if I don’t press that red button over there every three minutes, I lose my job. You getting out or sucking it up?”

I was about to answer that it was fine, that I was just being silly, when someone stepped forward, cutting the entire line behind them.

“She’ll suck it up, Sir Smokes-a-Lot.”

A curtain of unshed tears blocked my vision, and I knew if I blinked it away, everyone would see I was crying. I was so embarrassed I wanted to die. Blurry Stoner Guy pushed the metal rail open obediently, muttering a quick hello to the stranger approaching us, ducking his head down. 

The person slid into my cart, pulling the metal bar against our waists, flicking a cigarette sideways, an umbrella of smoke cocooning us together.

I wiped my eyes, mouthing a mortified thank you. When I looked up, our gazes collided, and my insides crushed like a glass ceiling shattered by a supernova.

Him. 

I didn’t know him, but I dreamed of him. 

I’d dreamed of this man every night since I was nine.

Since I’d started reading kissing books under the covers about brave knights and the princesses who loved them.

Beautiful and princely, with eyes that could see through your soul.

He looked to be in his early twenties. With tawny, wind-swept hair tousled in untidy sexiness. His eyes were two silver moons—the kind that change color in different lights. His skin glowed, like he’d been dipped in gold, and he was so tall his knees poked out of the cart. He wore a black V-neck that clung onto his muscular chest and biceps and black jeans ripped at the knees. 

A Saint Anthony charm was wrapped around his neck, held by a tattered leather string.

“I—I’m Aisling.” I stuck my hand out to him. Our cart jerked forward and whined as two girls my age jumped into the pod behind us, gossiping hotly about a girl named Emmabelle who used to go to school with them and apparently had sex with half the football team then sucked off the other half. 

He ignored my outstretched hand. I swallowed, withdrawing my hand and dumping it in my lap. 

“Bad night?” His eyes lingered on my puffy eyes. 

“The worst.” I didn’t even have the good manners to smile politely. 

“I highly doubt that.”

“Oh, I’ll bet you anything my night is going worse than anyone else’s in this carnival.”

He offered me an arched eyebrow, showing me his handsomeness had a devilish quality to it, the kind I suspected very few women could resist.  

“I wouldn’t bet with me.”

“Oh? Why’s that?” 

“I always win.”

About LJ Shen
L.J. Shen is a USA Today, Washington Post and Amazon #1 best-selling author of contemporary, New Adult and YA romance. Her books have been sold to nineteen different countries.

She lives in California with her husband, son, cat and eccentric fashion choices, and enjoys good wine, bad reality TV shows and catching sun rays with her lazy cat.

Connect with L.J. Shen
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2OhSvp1
Twitter: http://bit.ly/36ELHZc
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2oMbFsu
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2AIOiTo
Stay up to date with L.J. Shen by signing up for her mailing list:
http://bit.ly/36MnmAQ
Website: http://www.authorljshen.com/

Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Release Blitz: Tryst Six Venom by Penelope Douglas


 

 

♦ ♦ ♦




CLAY

Marymount girls are good girls. We’re chaste, we’re untouched, and even if we weren’t, no one would know, because we keep our mouths shut.

Not that I have anything to share anyway. I never let guys go too far. I’m behaved. 

Beautiful, smart, talented, popular, my skirt’s always pressed, and I never have a hair out of place. I own the hallways, walking tall on Monday and dropping to my knees like the good Catholic girl I am on Sunday.

That’s me. Always in control. 

Or so they think. The truth is that it’s easy for me to resist them, because what I truly want, they can never be. Something soft and smooth. Someone dangerous and wild. 

Unfortunately, what I want I have to hide. In the locker room after hours. The bathroom stall between classes. The showers after practice. 

My head swimming. My hand up her skirt. 

For me, life is a web of secrets. No one can find out mine.  

OLIVIA

I cross the tracks every day for one reason—to graduate from this school and get into the Ivy League. I’m not ashamed of where I come from, my family, or how everyone at Marymount thinks my skirts are too short and my lipstick is too red. 

Clay Collins and her friends have always turned up their noses at me. The witch with her beautiful skin, clean shoes, and rich parents who torments me daily and thinks I won’t fight back.

At least not until I get her alone and find out she’s hiding so much more than just what’s underneath those pretty clothes. 

The princess thinks I’ll scratch her itch. She thinks she’s still pure as long as it’s not a guy touching her. 

I told her to stay on her side of town. I told her not to cross the tracks. 

But one night, she did. And when I’m done with her, she’ll never be pure again. 

*Tryst Six Venom is a standalone, new adult romance between the wealthy princess with a temper for what’s hers and the hard girl from the wrong crowd. One battles convention. The other, her pride. But nothing will stop it.

#TSV-6

 

 

♦ ♦ ♦








♦ ♦ ♦

  

 

#TSV-8

I stalk down the nearly empty row, drop my bag, and look at her. She turns her head, sees me and rises, grabbing her backpack, but I slide into the seat, grab her wrist, and yank her ass back down. 

“Sit,” I growl through my teeth, feeling heat rise up my neck as she crashes back into the wooden pew, her jaw flexing. 

There’s no point in denying myself any of this. I’m a bitch, but only to her, and only because it feels so good. Fuck it. 

“Do something for me?” I ask her, keeping my voice low as students fill the rows around us, and the altar servers light the candles. “Move your ass a little faster down the field than my grandmother this Saturday, or is that too much trouble?”

Liv doesn’t look at me, just stares ahead as she lets out a quiet little laugh. “I haul ass down that field.” Relaxing back into her seat, she hangs her elbows over the back of the pew, and her shirt creeps up a little. I spot the switchblade she keeps hooked over the waist of her skirt, but hidden on the inside, that only I seem to know about. So far anyway. She goes on, “I’ll never understand how a princess who can’t pass a ball for shit and brags to anyone who will listen about being a Swiftie,” and she does air quotes, “‘even before she went pop’ is our team captain. Oh, wait. Yes, I do understand. Daddy is useful. When he’s there.”

My father didn’t get me that position. She can think what she likes. 

But I grin and turn toward the front of the church, my arm brushing hers. 

“Swiftie?” I say. “Aw, you stalk my Twitter.”

That was like four years ago when I said that. 

But she just mumbles, “I couldn’t care less about your Twitter and your twenty-eight followers.”

“At least I don’t lose a dozen every day,” I retort. 

Yeah, maybe I stalk her Twitter, too. And I don’t have twenty-eight followers. I don’t have as many as her, but it’s more than twenty-eight.

“The world just doesn’t like tattooed feminazis with hairy armpits,” I tell her, my gaze catching the dimple on her cheek as she smirks, “who pass judgments like all the other constipated Captain Americas on social media who act like they really know anything when they’re just angry their life sucks donkey nuts.”

The dimple grows deeper, her matte red lips pursing to keep her amusement at bay. My heart thumps, and for a moment, I can’t look away. Sometimes I get lost, looking at her. The shape of her nose that I’m kind of jealous of. How soft the lobe of her ear looks. The way she chews the corner of her mouth sometimes.  

“Is everything okay?” someone says, snapping me out of it. 

I turn my head, seeing Megan Martelle standing over us, holding a stack of collection baskets. Her blue eyes flit between Liv and me, knowing very well that this isn’t a friendly conversation, but lucky for her, this isn’t any of her damn business.   

“Fine, thanks,” I reply, my tone a big enough hint she’d have to be blind to miss. 

But she looks to Liv instead. “Liv?” 

Excuse me? It’s not the name. It’s how she says it. Like they know each other. 

Liv must give her some gesture or something, because Martelle gives me one last look and then slowly leaves, continuing down the aisle toward the back of the church without another word. 

What the hell is she thinking? Does she want to become my next hobby or something? 

I reach down and pull my backpack closer before turning my eyes back to Liv to see if she’s watching her leave. 

But she’s staring at me instead, amusement in her eyes.  

“What the hell are you smiling at?” I demand. 

She never loses her cool, and it pisses me off. 

But she just replies, “You have a tattoo.”

Her gaze drifts to my hand, and I squeeze my fingers together, covering it. All over again, I feel the needle carve into the inside of my middle finger on my left hand. 

Fair enough. I’d mocked tattooed feminazis, an umbrella term I tossed her under, when, in fact, she doesn’t actually have any tattoos. Not even the one of her family’s little Sanoa Bay gang—the snake and hourglass that she wears on a bracelet around her wrist. Her brothers all seem to have it inked on them somewhere. 

Her eyes hold mine, maybe waiting for a response or daring me for one, but the light coming in from the stained-glass windows catches the coppery glint of the strands in her dark hair, a lock hanging over her eye as the rest spills around her shoulders. A dozen or so little braids decorate her hair, none of the ends secured with rubber bands. She looks like a warrior girl in one of those futuristic dystopian movies.  

And all of a sudden, nothing is hot anymore. It’s just incredibly warm. 

I squeeze my fingers tighter, the lines inked on the inside of my finger making the four quarters of an inch on a ruler, very few ever notice the lines, and those who do probably just assume I’ve leaked pen on myself. 

Within that inch we are free. One inch. 

“Clay?” she says, her tone different. 

I don’t realize I’m staring off until I bring my eyes back into focus and see the black of her Polo shirt. I lift my gaze, seeing a worried expression on hers. 

Her eyes shift to my hand on the pew in front of us, and I notice that it’s shaking. 

“You okay?” she asks. 

I inhale hard, angry at myself. Why would I not be okay?

She grabs my backpack. “You need one of your little blue pills?”

But I snatch the pack out of her hands and glare at her. “If you let her touch you,” I bite out, changing the subject. “She will live to regret it. I don’t even have to leave this seat to ruin her life.”

Liv looks back at me, and I want to get closer—get in her face, because I want a reaction. 

“She won’t be able to take it,” I growl in a low voice. “I will keep going until she can’t take it.” 

I can ruin anyone’s life from my phone. It would be fun. And easy. 

“You’re not embarrassing our team,” I finally tell her. 

Megan was flirting yesterday. There’s no way in hell that’s happening. 

She holds my gaze and then draws in a breath, another fucking air of delight written all over her stupid, fucking face. “I don’t like women who chase me anyway,” she says. “When I want them, they know.”

A tingle spreads up my spine, and when I expect to feel anger at her boldness, something else comes over me instead. 

When I want them, they know. How do they know? What does she do?

But she rises from her seat without elaborating. “Excuse me,” she says, and takes her bag, trying to leave.  

But I stomp down the kneeler, grab her wrist, and yank her to her knees. She sucks in a breath as she catches herself on the pew in front of her, and I pick up my backpack and rise. 

“Sit your ass down,” I grit out. 

I don’t stay to see her reaction. I spin around, ignoring the spying eyes from those around us, and leave the chapel just as Mass begins. 

When I want them… 

I blink long and hard. Jesus. 


 

♦ ♦ ♦


 

#TSV-5

Read the First Chapter HERE!

 

 

♦ ♦ ♦



 

#TSV-3

Penelope Douglas is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Her books have been translated into fifteen languages and include The Fall Away Series, The Devil's Night Series, and the stand-alones, Misconduct, Punk 57, Birthday Girl, and Credence. Please look for Tryst Six Venom and Motel, as well as the Hellbent series, coming next!

She lives in Las Vegas with her husband and their daughter.

#TSV-4

84faf-website 481e5-facebook 868e4-twitter 1a806-instagram black icon - goodreads 

bookbub group icon - black

 

  

♦ ♦ ♦

 

 


website gold facebook gold twitter gold instagram gold gold label_newsletter Pinterest gold youtube gold

MASTER LIST - JOIN OUR TEAM

Thursday, June 3, 2021

Release Blitz: A Gorgeous Villain by Saffron Kent

Release Date: June 3

Two years ago, Reed Jackson betrayed Calliope Thorne and broke her heart. So she stole his most prized possession – a white mustang – and drove it into the lake for revenge.
 
Now, Callie is stuck at a reform school while Reed is off at college, living his life without repercussions.
 
Until he comes back.
 
With him comes back all the feelings that Callie has been trying to bury: anger and heartbreak.
 
But most of all, desire. At the sight of his beautiful but lying lips and his gunmetal gray eyes that still taunt and smolder when he looks at her.
 
Whatever though. It's not as if Callie is ever going to fall for her ex-boyfriend again. Or let him corner her in a bar one night and touch her, kiss her…
 
Neither is she going to kiss him back. Or worse, sleep with him.
 
Because that would make her naïve and foolish.
 
Oh, and also pregnant.
 
And there's no way Callie is ever going to get pregnant at eighteen and with Reed's baby, no less. The guy she hates.
 
The guy who taught her all about heartbreak. Who might look like a gorgeous hero but really
is the villain of her story.
 
NOTE: This story is a standalone and does not contain cheating.


3.5 Stars

Review by Jen Skewes

I have read all of Ms. Kent’s books and loved them all.  Especially My Darling Arrow which is the first book in this series.  I could not wait to read this on, but unfortunately I did not love it as much as I thought I would. 

 

This is about Callie, a 16-year-old girl who has a thing for Reed, her brother’s enemy both on the soccer field and off.  She is not supposed to fall for him and should always rake her brother’s side.  And she does until one night at his party, Reed notices her, and everything changes from that moment.  They spend time together; he gives her a ride in his Mustang, and she dances for him.  But then he completely shatters her heart into a million pieces.  She gets revenge on him by destroying the only thing he loves.  And then lands in an all-Girls’ reform school as her punishment.  

 

Fast Forward two years where she sees Reed at a bar one night when her and her friends sneak out of school.  She hates him!  Why shouldn’t she?  He broke her heart.  But I don’t think her heart and her body got the memo about hating him.  Because whether she realizes it or now, she still loves him, and her body still reacts to him.  Reed needs to stay away from her because he does not want to hurt her again, but at the same time he is very protective over her and wants to make sure that she is always safe.  Things between them are tense and complicated and will make your head spin.  But things happen, she gets pregnant and what happens from here?  You will have to read to find out.

 

Reed was not the most loveable person, but you could tell deep down that he loved Callie and has for years.  He is filled with so much anger and hate that he truly believes that he is not capable of love.  He is a broken young man with a lot of demons and for that reason he feels he needs to stay away from Callie.  But it is not that easy.

 

Callie is a sweet girl who cares about people and always tries to do the right thing.  She wants to hate Reed, but she has a hard time doing so.  She still hasn’t forgiven him, but she doesn’t quite hate him either.  As complicated as these two were I was rooting for them and though they were so good together.  

 

I loved Callie and Reed and the story itself.  But for me personally what made me give this 3.5 stars is that I found it to be very repetitive at times, repeating the same phrases and descriptions over and over again. There is also some moments of intimacy that for me was just very odd.  The book was long and filled with more inner monologue that actual dialogue which was not always necessary.  Aside from this I really did love the book and the characters.  It was just missing something for me.  Maybe more emotions, or more dialogue?  Either way I did enjoy the book and the storyline itself was great.  Just a few missteps for me.  But I cannot wait for Wynn’s story!!  

 

 




Grab Your 
Copy Here:
Free in KU 


Meet Saffron A. Kent


Connect with Saffron A. Kent



Hosted By:
How to Configure Numbered Page Navigation After installing, you might want to change these default settings: