I wasn’t prepared to hear those words. Neither was my loving husband, family or friends. And none of us were prepared for what life had in store after they were spoken.
I should have seen the signs all around me. I should have paid attention to the people who supposedly loved me, the people who I’d always trusted. But I was blind to what was going on. The effects on my flourishing career, passionate marriage and carefree lifestyle would be insurmountable.
It was time to take control of my life and the overwhelming chaos. Time to make the choices that were right for me. Right for my future. The future I hadn’t planned on.
My life didn’t stop when I heard those four little words…it was only just beginning.
About the Author Happily married and the mother of two, Tori has spent the last seven years in the non-profit world making a difference in lives of others. She is an avid reader, lover of life and a breast cancer survivor.
Writing a book was never on her radar. After a challenge from a friend to write 1,500 words the story came to life and a new opportunity to make a difference was born. Beneath It All is her debut novel and she is currently working on a second book.
“If this story can touch the life of just one woman, then I succeeded.”
The newest book in the bestselling Forever Series is out – Forever Sheltered!
Tina would rather sew up her girl parts with dental floss than go on a second date with a man. She’s been dumped enough to know not to get attached.
So how DOES she end up half-naked in Surgical Suite B with Dr. Darion?
Dr. Darion has a lot to hide. His baby sister is the only family he has left, and he’s not leaving her treatment to some incompetent hack.
But now he’s breaking every hospital rule imaginable. He lied about his sister so he can manage her care, and now he’s banging the art therapy teacher between patient rounds like a fraternity boy at a keg party.
But Dr. Darion and Tina have one thing going for them – a fierce passion for each other that just might obliterate all their doubts, and solve all their problems.
Forever Sheltered includes many favorite characters from Forever Innocent and Forever Loved, as well as the much-anticipated wedding of Gavin and Corabelle.
It is a standalone HEA that does not require reading any other parts of the Forever series.
Excerpt:
The voice that came from the door was like an icy blast. “Do you have any more personal questions that are completely out of line for your relationship with my patient?”
I whipped around. Dr. Darion stood in the door, glowering like a gargoyle.
“I—I was just asking about a song Cynthia performed for me yesterday.”
His eyes narrowed. I wondered what I possibly saw in him before, because now he was clearly the biggest jerk in the universe.
He snatched my arm and dragged me from the room.
I tried to wrench free as he moved us down the hall. “What is going ON with you?” I asked.
“Hush,” he said.
We turned down a narrow corridor, and he buzzed us through a door with his ID. I had never been in this part of the hospital and tried to figure out where we were. The back side of ICU, maybe.
He shouldered open a door marked Surgical Suite B. The room was dim and empty. Boxes were stacked along one wall, and it had an unused smell to it, stuffy and antiseptic. A pair of gurneys were pushed together next to a line of cabinets.
“What is this about?” I asked, jerking my arm out of his grasp.
“Why were you in Cynthia’s room asking questions?”
“Why are you dragging me through the hospital like a lunatic?”
We were only inches apart, me defiantly on my toes to try to eliminate the advantage of his height.
“You have no business questioning my patients or their family.”
Oh, I wanted to punch him. My hand curled into a fist. “You are an awful man, Darion Marks.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed up, then down, like he had swallowed something nasty. “I’m sorry I dragged you down here,” he said.
I shoved at his chest. “Sorry? You just embarrassed the hell out of me! No telling who saw that.”
I pushed him again. I was really in a fury. “Are you TRYING to get me fired?”
The contact between us sparked, like a match being lit. I forgot why I was mad. He was so freaking close. He wore cologne, just a hint of it. He smelled like heaven. My heart sped up. Crap.
I tried to think how to get out of this. I needed to just walk away. We were alone in a dark room.
Shoot. I could already tell my body was getting ahead of my head. It was calculating distance. Seeing how far I could push this man. How close I could get.
Remembering how long it had been since my last tryst with anybody.
I would have to do the one-and-done with Dr. Darion after all.
I leaned in, just to see what he would do.
WHEW! See what happens in Surgical Suite B in Forever Sheltered by USA Today bestselling author Deanna Roy.
“Our baby died on prom night, and nothing was ever the same again.”
Corabelle doesn’t feel like any of the other college girls. On what should have been one of the happiest nights of her life, she and her boyfriend Gavin watched a nurse disconnect the ventilator from their seven-day-old baby. During the funeral two days later, Gavin walked out and never returned.
Since then, her life has been a spiral of disasters. The only thing that has helped is her ability to black out whenever the pain gets too hard to bear, a habit that has become an addiction.
When Gavin shows up in her astronomy class four years later, he is hell-bent on getting her back, insisting she forgive him. Corabelle knows she can’t resist the touch that fills the empty ache that has haunted her since he left. But if he learns what she has done, if he follows the trail back through her past, her secrets will destroy their love completely. And once again, she’ll lose the only person who always believed she was innocent.
The much-anticipated sequel to the Top 10 bestselling new adult romance Forever Innocent.
“How do I tell the woman I love that I fathered a son with a prostitute?”
After four long years of separation, Gavin has finally reunited with his childhood love Corabelle. She’s forgiven him for leaving her during the funeral of their seven-day-old baby, and also for where he ended up — in Mexico to get a vasectomy.
But a message from Rosa, a prostitute he met the day of his surgery, brings his life to a crashing halt. She claims Gavin has fathered a son, now three years old and living with her cousin in Ensenada. He doesn’t know if he can trust Rosa, who never mentioned the boy before, or if his delicate reconciliation with Corabelle can withstand the shock if it is true.
Corabelle believes their future together is the right thing despite their past. But when she learns of this other child, the one thing she lost long ago and might never have again with Gavin, Corabelle’s faith that her life will ever follow her old dream is shattered. To make things right for Gavin and his son, she just might have to let go of the only person she always believed would be her forever love.
Forever Loved is the heart-wrenching conclusion to Gavin and Corabelle’s passionate story.
HEA. 276 print pages.
Wow! If you haven’t read the Forever Series by Deanna Roy then you need to put these books on your to be read list. Deanna Roy writes a powerful story that comes from the heart. Her stories are realistic, emotional, thought provoking, and romantic. Her characters come to life. Their story will jump off the pages and grab your heart. The writing is flawless. Her subject matter is very well researched. Not only do readers experience the emotions of the characters , they also get an insight into the medical world (in layman terms). She writes the story from alternate POV’s and gives each character, whether they are the main character or a secondary character, a very strong voice.
Forever Sheltered can be read as a stand alone novel or in series order.
The readers met Tina in the previous books. She was a public speaker for suicide awareness. She was offered a job at the hospital as an Art teacher for the patients. They wanted to install a program that would be therapy for long term patients. Art is a means of self expression and Tina has an intimate understanding of the therapeutic effects using art.
Through her group sessions, she meets Dr. Darion Marks. Dr. Marks has requested that Tina do a special favor for one of his young patients.
Tina recognizes a wounded soul that has hidden layers and secrets. She is also very attracted to the handsome Doctor. She also recognizes that this handsome doctor could be the one that can bring down all the walls she has built to protect herself from her past. She cannot date him.
But the laws of attraction don’t always follow the rules. These two are drawn to each other.
Dr. Darion Marks has his own secrets. He is treating his baby sister. He is breaking every rule to keep her alive. He could lose his career because of it. He will do anything to keep her alive. When he meets Tina, she adds another clog to the wheel in his self destruction. Not only is he jeopardizing his career with his sister, he is jeopardizing it by fraternizing with Tina.
These two can’t stay away from each other. Together they are the perfect medicine for two wounded souls. Together they will discover that “healing” comes in many different ways.
Forever Sheltered is a powerful story that will engage your heart. Make an appointment to visit Dr. Darion Marks and Tina for your next reading therapy. They have a cure for the hopeless romantic.
Author Bio:
Deanna Roy is the USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction.
She is a passionate advocate for women who have lost babies. She has several books on the subject, including her bestseller FOREVER INNOCENT, a romance about a couple whose baby is taken off life support at seven days old.
She has run the website PregnancyLoss.Info for fifteen years, including many large spin-off support groups both online and in person.
On my last birthday, I made one vow for the year. Live with no regrets. Eleven months have passed, though, and nothing has changed. I still sleep alone, spend my life working, and never move out of my comfort zone.
Then the loss of my dog throws my whole life out of orbit, and I end up in bed with a very hot and slightly-too-young veterinarian, who has recently made a vow of his own. Live with no strings. Josh is more than happy to help me with the list of things I’ve been afraid to try. Semi-public sex. Spanking. Anal sex. He’s a willing partner for everything I’ve wondered about, as long as I don’t demand more.
He’s serious about his no-strings philosophy. As serious as I am about living with no regrets. I can’t help but fall for him, even though I know better. So my biggest regret might be a broken heart.
Leslie has made herself a promise to live her life with no regrets. And while her life is not bad, nothing significant has changed in the year since she made her vow to herself. But when Leslie loses Polly, her dog and best friend, she is devastated, and left unable to move beyond her depression.
Josh Bennett has faced some dark times, but has left them behind to come home and become a vet. He and Leslie meet when she brings Polly to his office, and again later after Polly’s death. They’re attracted to each other, but Josh is only interested in a sexual relationship, with no strings attached. In the interest of living with ‘no regrets,’ Leslie agrees to his rules, and they begin a casual, yet extremely passionate, affair.
I had a hard time with this book. The nature of Leslie’s and Josh’s relationship, while not my cup of tea, was not the issue. The characters themselves often came across as oddly formal with each other, even as they were as close as two people can be, and the language that they used during their trysts was both stilted and slangy at the same time. I just had a really hard time getting into their interactions, and understanding how they sustained being together. As well, some of the scenes were far too graphic in nature than the situation warranted, in my opinion, and not erotic at all. I have seen the same sort of scenarios in other books in this genre presented in ways that added to, rather than detracted from, the moment.
I always want to like a book that I’m reading, and hate not to finish once I’ve started. I did make it to the end of ‘No Regrets,’ and the story and the characters did redeem themselves a bit, but this one just missed the mark for me, and I can only give it 2.5 stars.
Author Bio:
Claire has been writing romance novels since she was twelve years old. She has a PhD in British literature and, when she’s not writing, she teaches English at the university level.
She also writes romance novels under the penname Noelle Adams.
A widow of eight years, Jordie is devoted to her daughter and knows how to protect her own heart… until Nathan Harper lends a hand when she’s punched by a drunkard being forcefully removed from her NYC East Village bar.
Nathan is fascinated by the sassy bar owner, who doesn’t recognize him from the Silver Screen and who appears more interested in conversation than sex.
But when shared words spark mutual passion, the menacing phone calls begin, and a stalker, who will stop at nothing to have Jordie, turns his crosshairs on Nathan.
Don’t you just love it when you stumble on a new author and good book?
While I was attending The Tennessee Valley Author Event , a very well known author pulled me aside. She said, “There is a book I want you to read. I want you to promise not to look at the cover. Just read the book. It’s very good.”
How could I not read this book? My curiosity was piqued.
When I opened this book, I tried very hard not to look at the cover. From the very first paragraph I was drawn into the book. I could not put this book down. This book has everything a reader looks for in a good book. The story is fast paced, loaded with humor, full of red-hot chemistry and sexual tension, romantic, and hair raising suspense. And as a bonus the author created delightful, quirky characters that wiggle their way into your heart the moment they are introduced.
When I finished this book I was very satisfied with the time I had invested in it. I was heading straight to Amazon to one click the second book in this series. Finding Jordie did not end on a cliffhanger that forced me to buy the next book. I just wanted more of these characters and more of their happily ever after story.
Jordie Spagnato is a strong woman. She is a business woman, tough bar owner, single mother, and widow. She keeps her friends close to heart and loves fiercely. She has learned to be tough when necessary, compassionate towards others, insightful to people’s needs, and gives her heart in full measures. She doesn’t let the past drag her down. She moves forward in life and makes the best of it. When she meets Nathan Harper her world she created for herself is tilted on it’s axis. Before she knows what has hit her, she is head over heels in love with the sexiest man she ever met. When she finds out that man is the hottest Hollywood star, it doesn’t change her opinion of him.
Nathan Harper is enthralled with Jordie Spagnato. She looks at him as a man and not a superstar. She treats him like she treats her friends and loved ones. How could he not fall in love with her?
Just as they are about to take the next step in their relationship a nasty stalker makes his presence known. The danger is just beginning. The suspense will escalate and keep you on the edge of your seat.
This book had every element I look for in a book. It is well written and fast paced. H.J. Harley is a new author that is going to make her mark in the romance world.
Read this book!
Author Bio:
I grew up in Bricktown New Jersey, less than an hour away from New York City. As a teenager and my early twenties, I loved hanging out in the glamor of NYC. I was a “City Brat” so it was pretty hard for me when I packed up all my crap and three cats in 2005, for a life changing road trip and moved to California. I travelled around the country until I met my other half in 2005.
After serving twelve years in the Air Force, the man of my dreams ended his military career and we moved to Georgia six years ago. Since then, we’ve settled down in Leesburg GA, and had our first child.
No place has ever come close to replacing the magic of New York City in my mind. So when I decided to try this romance writing gig out, naturally I set my first book, ‘Finding Jordie’ there.
I enjoy reading, and spending time with my family. Reality shows are my guilty pleasure. I’m a sucker for romantic comedies and Robert Pattinson. I am a pro at goofing off, I talk with my hands, (I’m Italian!) I drink way too much coffee, and get too little sleep. Oh, and I have a thing for Jackie-O sized sunglasses. I have four furry kids and most importantly, I have a beautiful daughter. I’m always striving to be the best Mom possible.
I’m very passionate about the things I love, that’s why I was outraged when they cancelled SMASH and Southland! It should be considered to be a small miracle if you ever get to see a serious or pic of me posing all nice and pretty…yeah, I’m not that girl. I’m a spontaneous goof and believe the best things in life come naturally. Yes, that includes random no make-up selfies during a 2:00a.m. writing marathon.
Former Marine MacArthur Patton has made a small fortune on top-secret government contracts and black-ops missions, but his new assignment involves something more dangerous—marriage.
Well, fake marriage anyway.
To keep weapons out of the hands of terrorists, Mac has to secure a fiancée. A sweet, demure, compliant fiancée to serve as his arm candy for a few weeks while he completes the covert arms deal in Mexico. His sister claims to know just the woman, and sends her best friend to play the role.
“Sweet” and “demure” aren’t in Kelli Landers’s repertoire. A badass veterinarian who neuters big dogs and bigger men on a regular basis, she can’t wait to bring Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Detached to his knees. Her longtime crush on the commitment-phobe makes her plan to seduce him even sweeter.
Love wasn’t part of the plan, but the deeper Mac and Kelli fall into their ruse, the more danger they attract, until more than just their hearts are on the line…
Kelley’s Review
Fiancée For Hire is fun, flirty, and full of sizzle.
Have you ever read a book and once you were finished decided to read it again? That is what I did with Fiancée For Hire. I adored this book. It was hysterically funny and yet the chemistry between Mac and Kelli was sizzling hot. Of course I am going to love this book because the heroine is named Kelli even if Tawna spelled it wrong. Ha! I promise that you will be hooked by the end of chapter one.
Kelli is an amazingly talented Veterinarian. Several papers published about her mad skills as a Vet. When her best friend Sheri approaches her about acting as her brother Mac’s fiancee Kelli thinks she has lost her mind. Sheri knows that Kelli has had a secret crush on Mac since they were kids. The more she thinks about this crazy scheme of Sheri’s the more she considers going through with it. There is a chance she could finally act on her crush and possibility build a spay and neuter clinic to deal with a very large and well know feral cat colony that resides in Todos Santos.
“So Mac is expecting sweet, calm, and pliable fiancée?
Sheri nodded. “And instead we send him you.”
Kelli gave her most angelic smile and sliced off the cat’s testicles.
“I’m in.”
Mac knows that he needs a fiancee if he is going to pull off the arms deal he has been working on. Why? Because Mac was a bit of a bad boy and might have messed around with Pedro Zapata’s wife. The deal would probably go a lot smoother if Zapata believed that Mac no longer had feelings for his bride. My favorite part of this book is the witty banter between the characters. It kept me turning the pages to see what kind of bomb Kelli was going to drop on him next.
“What can you tell me about the mission?”
She said the word with air quotes, a detail Mac found both endearing and irritating. “Have you heard the name Pedro Ubano Tujillo Zapata?” he asked carefully.
“No. Though I appreciate the fact that his initials spell PUTZ.”
“You’ll want to refrain from pointing that out if you meet him.”
The chemistry between Mac and Kelli was off the charts hot. Kelly is the mistress of seduction when she teases Mac while trying to pick out a cocktail dress for for dinner with Zapata. When they finally give in to their urges albeit after she repairs a prolapsed penis on a lizard in Zapata’s bathroom, it is scorching hot. Get ready for some new panties ladies.
I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to any one that enjoys romantic comedy with a little sizzle. Tawna Fenske delivers a great read once again!
ARC provided by Entangled
You need to grab this read while it is only $.99 cents!!! It will go up to $3.79 shortly. This is a steal!!!
Tawna Fenske traveled a career path that took her from newspaper reporter to English teacher in Venezuela to marketing geek to PR manager for her city’s tourism bureau. An avid globetrotter and social media fiend, Tawna is the author of the popular blog, Don’t Pet Me, I’m Writing, and a member of Romance Writers of America. She lives with her fiancée in Bend, Oregon, where she’ll invent any excuse to hike, bike, snowshoe, float the river, or sip wine on her back deck.
She’s published several romantic comedies with Sourcebooks, including Making Waves and Believe it or Not, as well as the interactive fiction caper, Getting Dumped, with Coliloquy and the novella Eat, Play, Lust, with Entangled Publishing. Her newest release with Entangled Brazen, Marine for Hire, blends steamy romance with heartwarming humor.
Tawna’s quirky brand of comedy and romance has won praises from RT Book Reviews, which nominated Making Waves for Contemporary Romance of the Year, and from the Chicago Tribune, which noted, “Fenske’s wildly inventive plot & wonderfully quirky characters provide the perfect literary antidote to any romance reader’s summer reading doldrums.”
Farrah Miller and Cody “Casper” Butler have a longstanding relationship that both refuse to discuss.
It isn’t romantic.
It may not even be classified as a friendship.
Casper’s been saving Farrah from herself for longer than he’d care to admit, watching silently as she drowned herself in alcohol and bad decisions. Then when she finally got her act together, he left. He told himself he was giving her time to sort herself out. He tried to give her space.
But getting shot in the chest can change a man’s perspective, and Casper’s done waiting.
When he shows up on her doorstep one night, everything changes.
He’s the man who’s seen her at her very worst.
She’s his weakness.
He runs when things get hard.
She never lets anyone see below the surface and is terrified of being abandoned.
Casper knows it’s a long shot, that there’s a good chance she’ll never drop her guard for him- but he has to try. Because a life with Farrah is exactly what he wants…
I have been dying for Craving Absolution to release. Nicole Jacquelyn’s Aces MC series has made my 2014 Favorite Reads list. I cannot praise this series enough.
With the market being saturated with Biker themed series, ranging from bad boy bikers, bikers undercover, bikers down under, and lifer bikers, I have to say The Aces MC is at the tops. It is a portrayal of a club compiled of members from various walks in life that have banned together as a family. They live by their own codes, laws, and rules. They love just as fiercely as their commitments to the club. They will give their lives, serve time, turn their backs on those who betray the club, and leave their old lives behind to live by the code. In return they will be embraced by a dedicated family that will have their backs at all times.
At times they will have to hurt the ones they love the most for the for the club. There will be times that they will have to sacrifice their own personal desires for the club. It is not an easy life.
Craving Absolution is the third book in this series. We met Casper, the new prospect for the club in the first book of this series. He is young, quiet, and a bit mysterious. He can move throughout various situations like a ghost. Thus, the nickname Casper.
In the second book we get to see who Casper was before joining The Aces MC club. He was a young man with a brilliant future. He was away at a prestigious school in the east. His academic success had gained him scholarships that would eventually land him a full scholarship to Yale. When his parents are brutally murdered by a gang with a vendetta, his life is forever changed.
At the age of fifteen he has a first hand experience with the brutality of the harsh and violent world. Through his older sister Callie he is introduced to the Aces MC club and her best friend Farrah. He will witness another world he never knew existed. He will seize the opportunity to join the Aces to get retribution for the deaths of his parents. He will find a world that is a better fit for him than the perfect world at Yale. He will find the one woman that can complete him. The life he chose, the woman he claimed will be the most challenging and satisfying endeavor he will ever take. There will be good, bad, violence, love, friendship, danger, diabolical enemies, and a support system that will have his back at all times. Cody will embrace this life and he will do everything in his power to capture Farrah’s heart.
We met Farrah in the second book of this series. She is Callie’s best friend. They met in high school and become sisters by choice. Farrah has had a very rough life. Her mother is a drug addict and former club whore. She is the illegitimate child of the president of the Aces. He has abandoned her and left her to survive in the horrific word in which her mother lives. Not only has she suffered abuse from her mother, she has witnessed the violent world that comes with the members of the Aces. Her boyfriend is brutally gunned down right on her doorstep. She has watched Callie suffer from the enemies of the Aces. She has a very bitter attitude towards the Aces and everything they stand for. The one person that has always showed her pure kindness and respect has now joined with the Aces. Can she give her heart to Cody knowing that their life will be ruled by the very club that has done nothing but break her?
Craving Absolution has lived up to the high standards that the first two books in this series has set. I was addicted from page one and could not put it down. There were so many surprises, underlying plots, emotional scenes, and pure love scenes. This book played on every emotion. Nicole Jacquelyn is a talented writer that has created a world that is unforgettable.
I cannot wait for more from this author and this series!
I highly recommend this series. It is on my 2014 Favorite Reads list.
Q & A with Nicole Jacquelyn
What inspired the The Aces MC series?
I don’t know that there was any one thing that inspired the series. It started out as just one story—and even that started out as a really abstract idea. What if a woman on the run from her abusive husband ran straight to safety… with the bad guys. It was intriguing, and it wouldn’t let me go. So I sat down one day and started writing in between wiping my kids’ asses and doing massive amounts of school work. I honest to God never thought that it would get as big as it did. I just wanted to do it, just get my story down and have someone, anyone read it. After I’d finished Craving Constellations, I knew that I wasn’t done. Grease and Casper needed their stories… so I kept writing, and you guys kept reading. Pretty freaking cool. Will there be more books in The Aces MC series?
Well… yes. But maybe not for a while. I’ve been saying that this is a trilogy, because that’s what it feels like. BUT, Poet’s story is already in my head… and so is another couple’s that I’m not going to detail here, but once you’ve read the book, you’ll know who I’m talking about.
Who is your favorite character in the series?
This is hard to answer, it’s like picking a favorite child! But truthfully…
It’s Gram. Always Gram. She’s very very similar to my own Gram that I lost a few years ago, and she was my favorite real person.
Do you have any other new books or series in the works?
Yep! I’ve got a new series that’s in the early stages. I’m writing in a little notebook about all these different characters and how they’re connected. They’re foster kids, from two different families. Good families. Solid ones. And years after they all go their separate ways, military, college, work, they start trickling back into their hometown.
Tell us about your writing techniques, habits, and inspirations.
Hmmm… Well, I write at night mostly. It’s the only time that the house is quiet for longer than a few minutes- and I need the silence. I listen to music while I write, but only after I’m about 50% done with the story, because I feel like I need the first half to learn the characters’ voices before I can cloud my head with any external stuff. I drink RedBull Red like water (That stuff is amazing). I sleep about 3-4 hours a night when I’m working, and if the story isn’t flowing, I take a step back until it is, which makes it hard to work on a timeline!
I’m inspired by all sorts of stuff—reading, hanging with my kids, driving, showering, ironing my hair. It happens at the weirdest moments, and I don’t know how many times I’ve been so lost in my head that I’ve missed the turn for my kids’ school.
The Aces MC Series
Craving Constellations
How could someone make decision after decision attempting to get away from their past and somehow end up right back where they started?
When Brenna decided to leave the only life she’d ever known, she swore she’d never go back. Now, five years later, she’s running from her clean-cut husband straight back to the motorcycle club that raised her… and the man she left behind.
She left with a secret, and the truth will soon break her carefully constructed life wide open.
Warning: This book contains graphic sex and language, domestic abuse, and the loss of a child. It is meant for mature audiences.
Asa and Callie had nothing in common. He was an Ace, raised in the club and loyal to it above all else. She was a high school student with braces on her teeth and a narrow view of the world.
They should have never crossed paths.
But when Callie decides to defy her parents, and Asa goes on an errand for the club, their lives collide. He saves her, and she mesmerizes him.
They part believing they’ll never see each other again.
Neither could have predicted the chain of events they’d put in motion.
Now the two have to navigate the dark waters of a relationship built on tragedy and need without drowning in guilt for things outside their control.
How do you love someone when the worst decision of your life was the reason you met them?
Warning: This book contains graphic language, sex and violence. It is meant for mature audiences.
Nicole Jacquelyn is the mom of two little girls and a full time college student. She hasn’t watched television in well over a year, she still does things that drive her mother crazy, and she loves to read. At eight years old, when asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, she told people she wanted to be a mom. When she was twelve her answer changed- to author. By the time she was eighteen, when people asked her what she wanted to do with her life, she told them she really wanted to be a writer- but the odds of that happening were so slim that she’d get her business degree “just to be safe”. Her dreams stayed constant. First she became a mom, then she went to college, and during her senior year- with one daughter in first grade and the other in preschool, she sat down and wrote a story.
“One week. No rules, no limits, just us. I can save you from this unrequited love of yours. And you… you can save me from myself.”
He’ll teach her a pleasure beyond her wildest dreams…
Alicia Wright isn’t the kind of girl to make out with a stranger in a dark alley. She’s spent years playing it safe, pining after the perfect man – who’s about to marry someone else. She doesn’t know how to move on, until a sexy stranger turns her world upside down with a wickedly tempting proposition…
She’ll rescue him from the edge of oblivion…
Rock star Dex Callahan swore his days of fame and debauchery were behind him, but the spotlight keeps calling his name. Determined not to fall into his old life, he goes looking for distraction — and finds an intoxicating red-head with a mouth made for sin. One kiss could never be enough, so Dex offers her a deal: spend one week with him, and she’ll forget her old flame ever existed.
Together, they’ll ignite a passion that will change them forever…
No rules. No limits. As the whirlwind week of pleasure unfolds, Alicia discovers a desire she never knew existed – and the tortured heart Dex hides behind his charming smile. But can old loves so easily be replaced? And when the week is over, will their bond be strong enough to weather the storm?
Heat up your summer with the sizzling new novel from New York Time bestselling author, Melody Grace.
*This book contains adult situations and explicit content. 17+*
UNINHIBITED is set 3 months after the events of the UNREQUITED novella, but can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel.
‘Some things, you can’t plan for. Some people, you know before you even meet. Some loves are forever.’
Dex Callahan and Alicia Wright were first introduced in ‘Unrequited.’ Alicia was trying to bury the pain of seeing Hunter, the love of her life, prepare to marry someone else. Dex had plenty of darkness in his past, and was desperate to find a way to fill the void. When the two met by chance, Dex was like a whirlwind, sweeping in to awaken things in Alicia that she didn’t even know were missing from her well-ordered but lonely life. But Alicia wasn’t ready for Dex, and ran when their night of passion threatened her idea of how things should be.
Fast forward two months. As Hunter’s wedding becomes a reality that Alicia can’t deny, she is desperate to find a way to numb the pain. When she ran from Dex, he’d given her his phone number and told her to call if she ever wanted him to show her just how great things could be between them. She does call, and they agree to one week together, no strings, before they go their separate ways. Only, things never go just as planned, and both Dex and Alicia find themselves involved in something much deeper than they’d anticipated.
Oh, my goodness, for the love of all things holy, I am so in love with ‘Uninhibited’ that I just don’t know what to do with myself. After reading and loving ‘Unrequited,’ I couldn’t wait for ‘Uninhibited’ so that I could see how things unfolded for Dex and Alicia. I mean, the chemistry between these two was off the charts hot, and I was interested to see whether that level of heat could last. Well, I am still fanning myself from all the scenes between Dex (oh, Dex, I am still drooling) and Alicia, so mission accomplished. It is impossible not to become deeply invested in the stories that Melody Grace writes. There are always equal parts angst, bliss, and white hot passion. I had every intention of taking my time with ‘Uninhibited’ savoring it like a nice piece of chocolate, going slowly and enjoying each bite. Instead, I gobbled this book down in no time, unable to stop until I’d read the entire book. I am going to be thinking about this one for days, and cannot wait for ‘Unstoppable,’ the next book in the ‘Callahan’ series.
Author Bio:
Melody Grace is a small-town girl turned SoCal beach lover. After spending her life with her nose in a book, she decided it was time she wrote one herself. She loves steamy romance novels, happily-ever-afters, and lusting after fictional menfolk.
She traced his lips with her fingertip, her touch so light it sent a shiver stealing through him. He parted his lips and she dropped her hand, brushed his mouth with hers again, softer this time. Lingering. As if she wanted more.
God knew he wanted more. Needed more. He’d missed his wife so damn much.
Reaching up, he cupped her uninjured cheek, holding her to him as he took over the kiss, parting her lips with his delving tongue. She welcomed him, the soft sound of pleasure making his skin tight, and he slid his fingers into her thick, silky hair, holding her to him.
When was the last time they kissed like this? He couldn’t remember. All he knew was he could devour her. Kiss her for hours. Touch her everywhere. Slowly strip off her clothes…
“Sorry.” He broke away from her still seeking lips, feeling like an ass. “We’ve gone too far.”
“What? Are you serious?” The teasing smile curving her lips would be the death of him. He knew it. “We aren’t teenagers with curfews, Vince. You’re my husband. You can do with me what you wish.”
If that wasn’t a bold invitation… “You’re still in recovery, Amber. I can’t push too hard. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I’m not dead.” She slid closer to him, pressing her cheek to his so her lips rested just beside his ear. “I want you. It’s been too long since I’ve felt you inside me.”
If she only knew the truth to that statement. They hadn’t been together in months. And her words of promise, the way she moved against him, the honey sweet taste of her still on his lips…it was taking everything within him not to jump her. Take her back to their new bedroom and christen that giant king-sized bed properly.
“Amber,” he said warningly, but it was no use. His persistent wife was now nibbling on his ear.
And she knew how much he loved that. What it did to him. Such a dirty trick.
“If you’re afraid you’ll hurt me, don’t be.” She nipped his earlobe, and a low hum that he couldn’t hold back escaped him. “I know you’ll be gentle this time. We can take it slow. Can’t we?”
He wanted to. God knew how badly he missed having her beneath him, naked and willing. But it would kill him if he hurt her. He’d never forgive himself. And what if he couldn’t control himself? Her body, the way she responded to his every touch and kiss had always been his weakness. The first time they met she’d flashed that wicked smile at him and he’d been done. Dead.
They’d moved fast. One minute they were flirting, the next, they were kissing. And then…he got her into his bed.
He never let her out of his life after that. Sexually, they were combustible.
Could he hold himself back if he had her naked in his bed? He wasn’t sure.
ABOUT FALLING FOR HER HUSBAND:
She’s desperate to remember…and he’s desperate to forget.
The Renaldis, Book 3
As one of the heads of his family’s well-respected fashion house, Vincenzo Renaldi is used to living life at light speed. His relationship with Amber, a successful model, was the definition of “jet-set”, from whirlwind romance to quickie wedding. Now, at the rate these two workaholics are going, they may as well live in two different worlds.
Determined to recapture the magic that drew them together, Vince flies to New York to confront his wife. And only succeeds in chasing her away—straight into the path of a moving car.
When Amber awakens in the hospital, she’s overjoyed to see her husband by her side. Yet there’s something behind the relief in his tired eyes. And something behind his determination to treat her like a queen. Something that lurks just beyond the shadows of her missing memories.
And when the truth re-emerges, the pain could be a sign of healing…or the final straw that tears them apart once and for all.
Warning: The last of the Renaldi brothers finally gets his story. Which means a hot and possessive Italian man is on the menu, determined to show his beautiful wife just how much he loves her. In every sizzling, sexy way he can.
USA Today bestselling author Karen Erickson writes what she loves to read – sexy contemporary romance. Digitally published since 2006, she’s a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite with her husband and three children.
“We all know how fragile life is, especially when faced with a life threatening illness.” ~Nic, Flirty and Dirty Book Blog.
Fiction introduced us. Reality binds us together.
Stephanie Thomas—co-founder of The Indie Bookshelf—has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma. Stephanie isn’t only a blogger; she’s a loving wife, and mother to three young boys.
In the independent author community, we have an extraordinary network of fellow authors, and readers. A special group of people who bridge this gap—helping authors connect with readers—is book bloggers. These men and women dedicate hours upon hours to reading and reviewing our works, and spreading the word to help us reach new readers.
Now, one of these women needs our help.
100% of the proceeds of the Rise Up anthology (volumes one and two) will go directly to Stephanie and her family to help them on this unexpected leg of their journey together.
Inside the pages of this collection, you’ll find amazing works of fiction. But please remember the reality, and help support Stephanie and her family.
Included in Volume Two of this collection are the following novels:
Carol Ann Albright-Eastman is a wife and mother of four, crazy, adorable, incorrigible, intelligent, kind, and athletic children. She’s taught high school English for fifteen years. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English from The Ohio State University, a teaching license and a communications minor from the University of Akron, and holds a Master’s in Education from the University of Akron.
Eastman spends the majority of her time grading papers, reading, but not as voraciously as other “indie” authors and their devout followers, watching her sons play baseball (or whatever seasonal sport they’re in at the time), negotiating futilely with a toddler, and falling deeper in love with her husband every day. Eastman is a motherless and fatherless daughter, but a day doesn’t go by that she doesn’t think of them. She misses her mother and is grateful to her for teaching her about the importance of true love and lasting friendships.
Charles Sheehan-Miles has been a soldier, computer programmer, short-order cook and non-profit executive, and is the author of several fiction and non-fiction books, including the indie bestsellers Just Remember to Breathe and Republic: A Novel of America’s Future. Charles and his partner Andrea Randall live and write together in South Hadley, Massachusetts.
Melissa is completely and utterly ordinary. She was born, raised and currently resides in sunny California. If she told you her life story nothing would really stand out. So she’s gonna keep it simple…
“I get very cranky when I am tired. If getting fat wasn’t a side effect, I would eat freshly baked cookies and milk every day for breakfast. Currently–I have two kids, one husband and one dog. I would like to add more to the kids and possibly the dogs, but definitely keeping the husband to one. I am obsessed with literature. If for some random reason you stumbled upon my high school yearbook you would find a picture of me under “Class Clown”. I have a college degree, but instead of earning dollar bills with my educated mind, I spend my days playing with my offspring. My life is super fun.”
Willow Aster loves nothing more than writing the day away–anywhere will do. Her ideal place to write would be a remote treehouse somewhere, but not just any treehouse. It would need to be more like a fabulous cottage inside and free of bugs. Oh!–and a refrigerator full of Coca-cola, Orangina, and cheese. http://www.willowaster.com
Author of True L̶o̶v̶e̶ Story (USA Today Bestseller), In the Fields, and the upcoming Maybe Maby
“A love story at its core, this intensely emotional novel connects to readers on many levels as it examines the ideas of family, identity and the complicated relationships that grew out of the civil rights movement.” — In the Fields Kirkus Review
Words are beautiful and powerful. The ammunition held in a single word is infinite.
I’ve been writing poetry since I was in first grade. Words have always mattered to me, and it’s fun to combine them into a multitude of masterpieces.
While I’ve written either Romance or General Fiction thus far, you’ll find something unique in each one of my books. I don’t own cookie cutters.
I am a mother, wife, Registered Nurse, avid reader, and most recently have pursued taking my own writing to the next level. Born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, the beach is my happy place.
Being an astute people watcher gives me constant inspiration for my stories. But my characters, like many authors, are conceived from actual people in my life. A hodgepodge of personality traits, real world instances, and conversations that I have directly taken part in are the foundation for my fictional world.
Likes: attending and/or hosting ANY kind of party; dancing (not very well but like no one is watching); jamming out to any and all music that is not in the country genre (especially 80’s); girls’ nights out (preferably with wine); a good cup of strong coffee with enough creamer to make it blonde; painting (also not very well); getting pedicures; comedy movies, shows, and books; a wicked sense of humor; brutal honesty but not cruelty; taking impromptu nature walks with her daughter and husband; people watching (for research purposes, of course); eating good food (especially cheese, bacon, chocolate, and anything with any of those three items in, on top of, or around it); wasting obnoxious amounts of time on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and Goodreads; and of course I luuuurrrrvvvveeee to read!
Dislikes: people who are closed-minded; hotdogs, peaches, and cantaloupe; doing the dishes; cleaning the litter box; the smell of fresh cut grass and anything to do with yard work; wearing a bra and/or spanx (especially the combination of wearing them both at the same time); slow internet speed; slow drivers; slow people; slow anything; not being in control; the smell of cigarette smoke; when people spoil books in their reviews; not having lip gloss on at all times; when the toilet paper is not put onto the holder correctly (with the roll coming over the top); and of course that there aren’t more hours in the day to write.
Some may consider me a jack of all trades, but I consider myself well rounded. I’ve waitressed, styled hair, answered phones and, most recently, worked full time as mom to my two beautiful little boys and my precious baby girl.
I discovered my love for writing through my passion for reading. My life is my inspiration. I’ve had many ups and downs throughout my life, but after it all, I found my happily ever after. My husband has shown me light and love like no other, allowing love stories to easily form in my head. Whether they’re light and fluffy, or hot and intense, you will always find love as the underlying force behind my books.
For more information about me and my books, please follow my website at ashleywilcoxauthor.com
I have enjoyed reading and writing since I was very young. Some of my fondest memories from childhood are of spending time with my mom or grandma reading a good book. Over the years, it never crossed my mind that writing my own novel would be an attainable goal. After reading several independently published novels by Jamie McGuire, Colleen Hoover and others, I decided I needed to give that dream a chance. So, here I am.
My first novel, Crossing Paths, will be released on August 29, 2013.
When I’m not reading and writing, I enjoy spending time with my three favorite guys: my husband and my two little boys.
In addition to being an author, I work as a Speech Language Pathologist to provide therapy to adults who are dealing with speech, language, cognition or voice deficits. My day job is rewarding in many different ways and I love having the opportunity to help others in a time of need.
Rhonda Dennis’ first career was in EMS, but later in life, she attended college as a non-traditional student. After graduating, she felt compelled to write a short story. The words flowed, and the manuscript for “Going Home: A Green Bayou Novel Book One” was drafted. Rhonda has since published six novels and three short stories in The Green Bayou series, and has released a romantic comedy called “Magnolia Blossoms.” Rhonda, who resides in South Louisiana, was a nominee in multiple categories for the 2013 Indie Romance Convention Readers’ Choice Awards, and is also a Nook and Amazon Best Selling Author.
This is where normally people write professional bio’s in the third person. I don’t do normal well, so here is some quick bits off the top of my head.
***
I’m an addict to all things awesome, books, coffee, anything series, coffee, music and lets not forget coffee!
People call me Batman-okay so I started that rumour and once spread means it’s got to be true right.
Proud Australian who wishes there wasn’t such a huge pond between me and my friends and readers- USA especially.
Why I write? Because I love reading and have been extremely lucky in life to experience true love. At 16 I met my now husband and since had our wonderful children known as ‘The Lollies.’
I’m not afraid to say my writing gets better with every book so keep reading and growing with me. I am afraid of sharks, snakes, clowns, spiders or anything that wants to fly at my face or crawl near me…with the exception of maybe a ladybug. They’re pretty innocent until proven otherwise.
I write Young (YA) love novels, New Adult (NA) and contemporary romance because lets face it, I’m a genre whore and if I had the imagination I’d write paranormal and more,
Yes I have a day job and write because I like stuff and stuff costs money. Dang it!
So I keep writing and run this site and An Indie Affair for readers because one day I’ll earn enough to write full time, be able to travel, buy lots of stuff for me and my girls because they love stuff too & provide for hubs who deserves the freaking world for putting up with such a nutty dreamer like me.
A little about me… well, I’m a wife and mother and I have a ton of hobbies! Lots of things catch my interest, which drives my husband nuts! I love, LOVE! Romance is my thing, in any shape or form I can get it! I write contemporary Adult romance and will probably always stick to that genre. I hate angst, even putting my characters through it is a hard concept for me to grasp, I just want them to be happy!! Couple more things… I am about as claustrophobic as they come, I am terrified of mice, Football is like a foreign language to me, my favorite parts of the day are when my 4 yr old son wakes me up with a kiss every morning without fail and reading them their stories just before prayer time at bedtime! I have been with my husband for a million years and wouldn’t trade him for the world! I have BIG plans for 2014 and cant wait to get it started!!
Rebecca Espinoza, an Army wife, has lived in 8 different houses and 5 different states in the past 10 years and she can’t wait for the next move. She is skilled in the arts of basket weaving, origami, and bullshitting. She is a book thief and likely to pilfer any she sees lying around in friends’ houses, so keep an eye out if you invite her in. She currently resides in beautiful Wahiawa, Hawaii (Army wives will get this joke) with her two sons and dog, Tosh.0 (her most favorite person in the world…the dog, not the comedian), and her husband pops in from the field, missions, or deployment every now and then to say hello. She tends towards the sarcastic when referring to herself in third person. Rebecca is a Turtle, are you?
Laura Howard lives in New Hampshire with her husband and four children. Her obsession with books began at the age of 6 when she got her first library card. Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and other girly novels were routinely devoured in single sittings. Books took a backseat to diapers when she had her first child. It wasn’t until the release of a little novel called Twilight, 8 years later, that she rediscovered her love of fiction. Soon after, her own characters began to make themselves known. The Forgotten Ones is her first published novel.
We are so excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for Alyssa Rose Ivy’s THE HAZARDS OF SEX ON THE BEACH! THE HAZARDS OF SEX ON THE BEACH is a contemporary romance and is a part of Alyssa Rose Ivy’s Hazards Series.It is priced at just $.99 right now. This will last for a limited time only to celebrate the release! This book, y’all. Holy cow.
One broken heart, one drink too many, one steamy night in the sand…
No one warns you about the dangers of drinking with a broken heart. At least no one warned me. I never imagined I’d fall for a musician, especially not one like Chase, but then again I never expected to have my heart broken into a million pieces by the frat guy I thought was the love of my life.
Sometimes it’s the rash decisions, like hooking up in the sand, that lead you to the best places—the kinds of places where it’s possible to let yourself fall in love again.
Excerpt
He took a strand of my hair and studied it. “Is this your natural color?”
“Yes.”
He dropped the strand. “I’ve never dated a girl with blonde hair.”
“Well, you’re not dating me.”
He gently brushed his fingers down my bare arm. “No, but I want to kiss you.”
“Then kiss me.” I was used to pushy guys. The kind that knew what they wanted and took it.
“Okay.” He smiled before leaning in.
The kiss was hesitant at first, the kind of kiss that gets your whole body excited because you know there’s more to come. I waited—hoping he’d take it further. His hand slid just under the hem of my shirt, brushing against my skin. The touch was light, but it was still enough to get a response out of me. I moaned.
That must have been what he was waiting for. He deepened the kiss, pushing into my mouth with such force I was taken by surprise. I kissed him back, enjoying the sweet taste of his mouth, and the way his hand slowly inched its way up my stomach. Blazer moved from zero to sixty. I didn’t mind it. I moved onto his lap, welcoming the arm he put around me to pull me closer. I wrapped my arms around his neck.
His hand moved higher, cupping my breast over my bra. I was drunk and hot, and so turned on I was going to lose it.
That’s when the door to the roof opened. The loud laughter of a group of girls pulled me half out of my lustful stupor.
“Want to go for a walk?” His question was asking something else entirely. I knew that when I answered with an enthusiastic yes.
Blazer held my hand as we made our way through the crowds. I looked briefly for Gabriella, but I didn’t see her. The normal Cara would have called her to tell her I was leaving with a random guy—but was Blazer random? We had chatted for hours already.
Before I could worry about it long, we were walking along the dark and nearly vacant beach. It was January on the South Carolina coast, and the crowds were months away.
“You never told me your name.” He said it as a statement as he led me further away from the party.
“Cara.”
“Hi, Cara. I’m Chase.”
I smiled. “Isn’t it a little late for introductions?” I stopped and turned toward the ocean.
“It’s never too late.” He drew something on my arm with his finger. The sensation felt good. I closed my eyes.
“You look so gorgeous. The moonlight, that look on your face.”
I opened my eyes and his face was inches from mine. “If you’ve never dated a blonde, does that mean you’ve never had sex with one?”
“Why? Are you looking to change that?” His eyes were lidded.
“I’d like to.” I slipped a finger into the waistband of his jeans.
“Should we go back to my hotel room, or do you have one?” He looked down. “I’m going to be honest here. I haven’t done this before.”
“Please don’t tell me you’re a virgin.” That would be just my luck.
He laughed. “No. Not saying that at all. I just don’t generally hook up with girls I’ve just met.”
“At least you know my name.”
“I do know your name, don’t I, Cara?”
Something happened to me when he said my name. I needed him. I reached up again, wrapping my arms around him. I crushed my lips into his.
We came up for air only after ending up horizontal on the sand. He laughed. “Or we can just pick things up right here.”
Tracey’s Review
When Cara and Chase met, there may have been some alcohol involved. Okay, a lot of alcohol. And maybe Cara was still trying to get over a cheating ex that had broken her heart. Because, why else would she get frisky with a guy that she didn’t know, hooking up and then running, without even telling him her last name or phone number? After all, she figured, she’d never see Chase again. If only life was that simple…
Alyssa Rose Ivy has done an entertaining job of taking this scenario and writing a story that shows how a chance encounter can turn into something much more. As the relationship between Cara and Chase grows and evolves, so do their characters. Cara finds strengths and interests that she didn’t know she had, and both she and Chance find that the right relationship allows each person to grow and shine, rather than conform to someone else’s idea of who they should be. I always enjoy Alyssa’s writing, both the stories and the characters. Besides Cara and Chase, all of the supporting cast had great personalities, and I found myself laughing out loud at the interactions between Cara and her friends. I look forward so the next book in the series (Alyssa, if you’re reading this, I’m hoping that Jade or Kyle will be next!).
Alyssa Rose Ivy Bio:
Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.
Happily married and the mother of two, Tori has spent the last seven years in the non-profit world making a difference in lives of others. She is an avid reader, lover of life and a breast cancer survivor.
Saucy Southern Readers 
