Eight years ago, Merric Case—AKA Merc, freelance assassin—was sent to rescue a sixteen year old girl from a Wyoming-based militia group on Christmas Eve. A new life, new friends, and a whole lot of new money came out of that job. But a choice had to be made that night, and the girl he should’ve saved was left behind.
Sydney Channing was collateral damage in more ways than one when the rescue she expected turned into an eight-year nightmare filled with lies, sexual servitude, and mind manipulation. Case’s last threat gave her hope that one day he’d be back—even if it was just to kill her.
And now Merc is back. But he’s not here to save Sydney. His job is to pick through her damaged psyche and find the truth using whatever means necessary. Sex, drugs, lies, and love. Those are his weapons of choice. And when Merric Case takes aim—he never misses the target.
Meet Me In The Dark is a full-length dark suspense novel due to be published on April 15, 2015.
J. A. Huss likes to write new adult books that make you think and keep you guessing. Her favorite genre to read is space opera, but since practically no one reads those books, she writes new adult science fiction, paranormal romance, contemporary romance, urban fantasy, and books about Junco (who refuses to be saddled with a label).
She has an undergraduate degree in horses, (yes, really–Thank you, Colorado State University) and a master’s degree in forensic toxicology from the University of Florida. She used to have a job driving around Colorado doing pretty much nothing but shooting the breeze with farmers, but now she just writes, runs the New Adult Addiction and Clean Teen Reads Book Blogs, and runs an online science classroom for homeschoolers.
The girl who’s had everyone meets the boy who has no one.
For Bella, the sweet-talking, free-loving, hip-checking student manager of the Harkness men’s hockey team, sex is a second language. She’s used to being fluent where others stutter, and the things people say behind her back don’t (often) bother her. So she can’t understand why her smoking hot downstairs neighbor has so much trouble staying friends after their spontaneous night together. She knows better than to worry about it, but there’s something in those espresso eyes that makes her second guess herself.
Rafe is appalled with himself for losing his virginity in a drunken hookup. His strict Catholic upbringing always emphasized loving thy neighbor—but not with a bottle of wine and a box of condoms. The result is an Ivy League bout of awkwardness. But when Bella is leveled by a little bad luck and a downright sinister fraternity prank, it’s Rafe who is there to pick up the pieces.
Bella doesn’t want Rafe’s help, and she’s through with men. Too bad the undeniable spark that crackles between the two of them just can’t be snuffed.
I heard the band start to play the classic one-two Merengue rhythm that I’d heard my whole life. On the dance floor, the energy picked up as the geezers began to move to the faster beat.
“Let’s go,” I said, standing up. I offered Bella my hand.
But Bella shook her head. Even worse, she scooted her chair toward the wall.
“Don’t leave me hanging,” I said, my hand still waiting in the air. “Come on now. Nobody puts Bella in a corner.”
On the other side of the table, Bella’s sister snorted into her white wine.
Bella rolled her eyes. Hard. “You did not just quote Dirty Dancing.”
I leaned down near Bella’s ear. “I did. Now get your ass out of that chair, like the girl in the movie, or I’ll have to put you in a fireman’s hold.”
Her mouth tight, Bella stood up. Not one to waste an opportunity, I clasped her hand, tugging her onto the dance floor. When we were right in the center, I put one hand onto Bella’s waist and took her opposite hand in mine. She was as stiff as a piece of wood. “Shake it off, chica. This is supposed to be fun.”
“Your job tonight was to make my life less embarrassing. Not more.”
“I am doing that. We’re going to be the best looking dancers on this floor, and everyone in this mausoleum is going to wonder how I got so lucky as to be here with you. Now listen to this rhythm, okay? Just step to the beat. And let your hips absorb the motion.” I began to move to the music. The merengue is a Dominican dance, and every kid in my neighborhood can merengue before his fifth birthday. It’s just not that complicated.
With nervous eyes, Bella began to move.
“Use these hips,” I prompted, touching the silky fabric of her dress. As I watched, she loosened up a tiny fraction. “Yes! But even more. You look great. I wouldn’t steer you wrong. And think of pressing the balls of your feet into the floor.”
Biting her lip, Bella moved with me.
“That’s it! See? Nothing to it.” Just like that, we had a proper merengue going on.
“Can I sit down yet?” Bella asked.
“Not even close,” I laughed. “See, I knew you could move.”
Bella pouted. “We’ve seen each other’s moves, Rafe.”
She lifted her eyes, and the heat in them went straight to my dick.
Jesucristo. That was the trouble with getting so close to Bella. I was always going to be susceptible to her. Anything she did to remind me of that night was always going to knock me right over.
“Ha.” She said. “I finally found a way to shut you up.” Bella put a little more effort into her merengue then, looking smug.
Michel’s Review
The Shameless Hour is the fourth book in the Ivy Years Series by Sarina Bowen. Each and every book in this series has been beyond excellent and made our 2014 Favorites list. The Shameless Hour is following in the foot steps of it’s predecessors with a very unique story and very unique characters. There is nothing predictable about this book. This book paves the path for new characters in the series as well as featuring some of the beloved characters from previous books. She has allowed her characters to mature, grow as individuals, and move forward in their lives. Some have graduated and left Harkness College, others are working towards graduating, some are changing their interests and goals, others are finding new paths to follow; the one thing that remains the same is their dedication to friendship and love. Each character has a story to tell and hopefully each one will get a book. Up on the Harkness Roll Sheet in the Ivy Years series is Bella Hall, the student hockey team manager.
Bella Hall is in a class by herself. She can manage a team full of college hockey players and take any kind of crap from the guys and give it right back, She is a progressive thinker and is very open about her own sexuality. She doesn’t see any harm in hooking up with a guy as long as it doesn’t hurt any one else and there are no expectations for a relationship. She is a free spirit until a horrific mistake makes her the joke of the campus. Her mistake has been posted on the internet as a fraternity prank and it ruins her self esteem. The once outgoing girl turns into an introvert. But another previous mistake ends up being her redemption and the best thing to ever happen to her. It opens her eyes about the true meaning of love and relationships. It opens the door for new friendships. It shows her how loyal and valuable her friendship has been to others. It also gives her an opportunity to focus on her goals and ambitions for the future. Most of all… these two mistakes, one good and one bad, will be life changing for her in a very good way. She will find the kind of love she never knew she wanted or needed.
Rafe Santiago is a sophomore Soccer player at Harkness. He comes from a humble background. He was raised by a single mother in a strict Hispanic Catholic environment. He has been taught to respect women, that one night stand hookups are wrong, and that love should be the only reason to have sex out of wedlock. When a bad break up leads to a drunken one night stand with the beautiful Bella Hall, he is mortified the next day. He isn’t mortified because he had sex, he is mortified that he treated Bella with disrespect the morning after. He truly likes her as a person and has always harbored a secret crush on her. He is determined to apologize and make things right with Bella. He wants to date her and show her what a caring relationship means. When the unthinkable happens to Bella he’s determined to show her what an exceptional and beautiful person she is inside and out.
Rafe and Bella will form a beautiful friendship that comes from true respect. They will find that they have more in common than they think. They will also learn new things about themselves as well as each other.
Sarina Bowen penned another emotional and heart wrenching story. When Bella’s mistake was revealed I was floored. I was having an OMG moment and was completely stunned. I have never read a book with this kind of dilemma as part of the plot. How she handled this dilemma and how the characters reacted to it was amazing. She once again showed that people can overcome the things that hurt them most. This was a beautiful love story that showed the readers the value of friendship and respect. Rafe was another swoon worthy hero in the Harkness Hall of Fame. Well done Sarina! I can’t wait to see what’s coming next…. maybe a movie star, a hot shot soccer player, or some of our beloved hockey players.
Read The Shameless Hour by Sarina Bowen. It can be read in series order or as a stand alone romance.
The Ivy Years
The Year We Fell Down – Book 1
The sport she loves is out of reach. The boy she loves has someone else. What now?
She expected to start Harkness College as a varsity ice hockey player. But a serious accident means that Corey Callahan will start school in a wheelchair instead.
Across the hall, in the other handicapped-accessible dorm room, lives the too-delicious-to-be real Adam Hartley, another would-be hockey star with his leg broken in two places. He’s way out of Corey’s league.
Also, he’s taken.
Nevertheless, an unlikely alliance blooms between Corey and Hartley in the “gimp ghetto” of McHerrin Hall. Over tequila, perilously balanced dining hall trays, and video games, the two cope with disappointments that nobody else understands.
They’re just friends, of course, until one night when things fall apart. Or fall together. All Corey knows is that she’s falling. Hard.
But will Hartley set aside his trophy girl to love someone as broken as Corey? If he won’t, she will need to find the courage to make a life for herself at Harkness — one which does not revolve around the sport she can no longer play, or the brown-eyed boy who’s afraid to love her back.
She’s hiding something big. He’s hiding someone small.
Scarlet Crowley’s life was torn apart the day father was arrested for unspeakable crimes. Now the shock has worn off, but not the horror.
It’s a safe bet that Scarlet is the only first year at Harkness College who had to sneak past TV news trucks parked on her front lawn just to leave town. But college will be Scarlet’s fresh start.
Clutching a shiny new student ID — with a newly minted name on it — she leaves it all behind. Even if it means lying to the boy she’s falling for.
Bridger McCaulley is a varsity hockey star known for being a player both on and off the ice. But a sobering family crisis takes that all away. Protecting his sister means a precarious living arrangement and constant deception. The only bright spot in his week is the few sensual, stolen hours he spends with Scarlet.
The two form a tentative relationship based on the understanding that some things must always be held back. But when grim developments threaten them both, going it alone just won’t work anymore. And if they can’t learn to trust one another now, the families who let them down will take everything they’ve struggled to keep.
A blind date. A nervous sorority girl. A mean-spirited fraternity prank. What could go wrong?
As a sorority pledge, there are commandments that Katie Vickery must live by. One: thou shalt not show up for the party without a date. Two: the guy shall be an athlete, preferably an upperclassman.
Unfortunately, Katie just broke up with her jerkface football player boyfriend. Even worse, her last encounter with him resulted in utter humiliation. She’d rather hide under the bed than attend a party where he’ll be.
Yet staying home would mean letting him win.
Enjoying herself tonight was out of the question. She could only hope to get through the evening without her blind date noticing that he was spending the evening with a crazy person.
Andrew Baschnagel is living proof that nice guys don’t finish first. He’s had his eye on Katie since the moment her long legs waltzed into his art history class. So when her roommate sets Andy up to be Katie’s date, he’d be crazy to say no. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have a lot of practice with either girls or parties. Yet.
What happened in high school stayed in high school. Until now.
Five years ago, Michael Graham betrayed the only person who ever really knew him. Since then, he’s made an art of hiding his sexual orientation from everyone. Including himself.
So it’s a shock when his past strolls right into the Harkness College locker room, sporting a bag of hockey gear and the same slow smile that had always rendered Graham defenseless. For Graham, there is only one possible reaction: total, debilitating panic. With one loose word, the team’s new left wing could destroy Graham’s life as he knows it.
John Rikker is stuck being the new guy. Again. And it’s worse than usual, because the media has latched onto the story of the only “out” player in Division One hockey. As the satellite trucks line the sidewalk outside the rink, his new teammates are not amused.
And one player in particular looks sick every time he enters the room.
Rikker didn’t exactly expect a warm welcome from Graham. But the guy won’t even meet his eyes. From the looks of it, his former… best friend / boyfriend / whatever isn’t doing so well. He drinks too much and can’t focus during practice.
Either the two loneliest guys on the team will self destruct from all the new pressures in their lives, or they can navigate the pain to find a way back to one another. To say that it won’t be easy is the Understatement of the Year.
Warning: unlike the other books in this series, this heartbreaking love story is about two guys. Contains sexual situations, dance music, snarky t-shirts and a poker-playing grandmother.
The Ivy Years Collection- Three Full Length Novels + Novella
Life at the elite Harkness College is brought to you in four tales, each one sexier and more heartbreaking than the last. Contains: hockey hotties, snarky T-shirts, a slow-burn love affair, a liar (with reasons,) a virgin (with reasons,) and one adorkable basketball player.
Book 1: The Year We Fell Down
The sport she loves is out of reach. The boy she loves has someone else.
Corey was supposed to start college as a member of the women’s ice hockey team. Instead, she’ll spend it in a wheelchair. The only upside? Her too-delicious-to-be-real neighbor across the hall.
Book 2: The Year We Hid Away
She’s hiding something big. He’s hiding someone small.
Dorm rooms are supposed to be for sleeping, studying, and partying. Not for hiding your eight-year-old sister.
Novella: Blonde Date
A blind date. A nervous sorority girl. A mean-spirited fraternity prank. What could go wrong?
Book 3: The Understatement of the Year
What happened in high school stayed in high school. Until now.
Michael Graham will never tell anyone the truth about himself. Too bad his past walks right into the locker room on the first day of hockey practice.
Sarina Bowen writes steamy, angsty Contemporary Romance and New Adult fiction from the wilds of Vermont.
The Year We Fell Down, Book #1 in The Ivy Years series, began breaking hearts in March 2014. Book #2, The Year We Hid Away, is brand new.
For Harlequin-E, Sarina writes the Gravity series. Coming in From the Cold features an angsty downhill ski racer and one of the most unique plot conflicts in contemporary romance today.
Sarina enjoys skiing, coffee products and a nice glass of wine. She lives with her family, eight chickens and more ski gear and hockey equipment than seems necessary.
Maxim is a droid halfsie, part human and part android, created in a lab. Now free from the madman that converted him, he must find a way to make a new life for himself. In an effort to put his past behind him, he takes a job as a fighter for the Galactic Cage Fighter Association. Unfortunately, he soon learns that the position comes with some unwanted benefits, like constantly being surrounded by adoring fans. It’s a situation that’s definitely all new for him, and he has to work hard to adjust. Just when he thinks he has finally moved on and gotten used to his new life, he discovers that the past cannot simply be ignored forever. These revelations of his past put everyone around him in danger, including the one woman that holds the key to his hidden heart.
Alona is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful halfsie women in the world. But human men only seem to seek her out when they want to display her as their trophy, and most halfsie men see her delicate features as far too human-like. Just as she feels ready to give up on the hope of a real relationship, she meets a droid halfsie that attracts her like no other. The more she tries to fight her attraction, the more she seems to want him.
Will Maxim let down his guard and allow Alona to see him for who he is? Will Alona overcome her disenchanted view of relationships and give Maxim a chance to prove there is more to him than the surface? Can they find their way to one another while surviving the dangers surrounding them?
Warning: For Mature Adult Audiences. Contains sexual content, language, and actions some may deem offensive. M/F
TAKE THE QUIZ AT THE BACK OF MAXIM FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A $200 VISA GIFTCARD
Maxim grunted as he took the brunt of the punch to his ribs. His internal operating (IO) chip reported that he would suffer a break if he took another direct hit. He needed to end this match soon. His internal clock told him the second round wasn’t near the end yet, but he knew it would be more efficient for him to get it over with before his systems started to shut down automatically.
He stood in the center of the GCFA cage. He didn’t try to protect his ribs. His Beastial opponent grew in size right before he ran and jumped at Maxim, attempting a superman punch with one arm extended. Maxim didn’t move until right before the other man’s fist was about to make contact. Then he stepped to the side so quickly, hardly anyone saw him. The Beastial landed on his stomach and face hard, clearly a bit dazed.
As the Beastial attempted to get up, Maxim stepped forward and aimed a punch at his temple. He pulled the punch slightly, hitting with just the amount of force his IO chip calculated was necessary to knock his opponent out. He didn’t want to kill the other man, after all. It was just enough to make the Beastial slump over and black out.
He straightened up and waited for the bell to ring. It took a few seconds for the crowd to realize that the match was over. Half of them applauded and the other half booed. He was not the most popular halfsie fighter, but his fans were slowly growing in number. Mostly they seemed to be women, and they were constantly throwing themselves at him. He found this strange. He had no interest in them. Maxim turned and headed for the healing facility to recuperate.
*****
“Well, that was quite a match Johann,” said the commentator, sounding a little uncertain of what to think about the outcome.
“Yes, quite an interesting and . . . short match, Poland. You would have thought that the Beastial, with his larger size advantage, would easily defeat the smaller Droid halfsie. But that may be the fastest match I’ve ever witnessed.”
“I think I have whiplash from the speed with which the Droid knocked out his opponent. Speed and strength are definite factors on the Droid halfsie’s side. He’ll be a fighter to watch! But I’d say he still needs to work on his personality a bit to be much of a crowd pleaser.”
“I agree, Poland. He won’t keep his fans happy with his non-existent charm. The winner of the match, ladies and gentleman . . . Maxim the Cyborg.”
*****
“They’re right. At this rate he’ll start losing fans and we’ll have to buy him out of his contract. He’s making us look bad for hiring him. You need to do something.”
Nigel sat back in his seat in the VIP box and stared at the assistant director of the Galactic Cage Fighter Association, William Macey. “What do you want me to do about it?”
“Clean up his image, make him more appealing. I don’t care what it is, just do something. He’s not pulling in the numbers that we need,” William ordered, taking a sip of his beer.
“He’s got a good number of female fans already,” Nigel pointed out.
“Great, expand on that.”
“How am I supposed to do that?” Nigel had the beginnings of a headache. He rubbed his temple. His assistant Amelia silently handed him a bottle of pain medication. He looked at her briefly in surprise. How did she always know what he needed?
William certainly didn’t seem to notice that anything might be wrong with his minion. He continued, “I don’t care what you have to do, just change his cold and mechanical image any way you can.”
Nigel sighed. There were times like these where he hated his job. He took the pain meds and handed the bottle back to his assistant. At this rate, he was going to have to invest in a pharmaceutical company to keep his headaches away.
*****
Maxim heard them announce his fighting name as the winner and cringed on the inside. He wasn’t a Cyborg. He was a human droid halfsie. Why the GCFA insisted on calling him that was beyond him.
He walked to the healer’s facility to have his injuries checked, although he honestly considered it a waste of time. The healing program on his IO chip told him that most of the injuries would be healed by the morning. As he entered, he saw there was one other fighter being treated. Hammer was lying on a bed with IV fluids running into him. They grunted at each other but didn’t say anything.
“Lay down on the bed, Mr. Maxim,” one of the healers said, directing him to an empty bed.
He shook his head. “I don’t need to lay down. I need a chair and an outlet so that I can recharge myself.”
“But, sir, we need to evaluate how severe your injuries are.”
“I have already run an internal diagnostic. I have bruises on my chest and upper arms. My ribs are also bruised and require a healing agent. I have some minor scrapes, but no infection has been detected.” He ignored the bed and walked over to the corner, where he pulled a chair over next to a power outlet.
He placed his hand over the outlet and pulled the current of power out and through his fingers. There was tingling sensation, neither painful nor pleasant. He could ignore it for the most part. But it was necessary for his IO chip to have full power in order to heal him from within much faster.
“That was a quick match,” Hammer commented.
Maxim didn’t look at the other fighter as he responded. “My IO chip reported that if I took another direct hit in the ribs, they would be a break. I would rather not have broken ribs, it takes longer to heal from those.”
“Hey man, I understand that. But we’re here to put on a show for these people. They don’t care about your ribs taking longer to heal.” Hammer sat up further on the bed.
Maxim nodded but didn’t say anything else. He understood what his job was; he didn’t need anyone else telling him. He knew that he was not the most well liked of the GCFA fighters, but he had no clue how to fix that. He enjoyed working with the GCFA. If he had friends, they would be those here, his fellow GCFA fighters. He had spent the most time with them since his conversion. He was honestly willing to work on improving his demeanor to appease the fans, but it was all just so foreign to him. There wasn’t a program he could upload that would teach him how to relate to others.
Maybe the problem was in how he was converted to a halfsie. He wasn’t the result of a natural conception or even fertilization splicing, as most halfsies were. He had a whole human life before his droid conversion. He didn’t remember any of it, of course, but he read the report and been told things by the human family he didn’t remember.
His name had been Maxwell Copely. He had been twenty-seven years old. He was training for the Galactic Olympics as a weight lifter. A freak accident had him rushed to the hospital, where they pronounced him brain dead. His human parents had agreed to turn off the life support system when they were told it was the only thing keeping his body alive. As far as they knew, he had died in that hospital room. His brain hadn’t been completely dead yet, but it showed so little activity, and the doctors argued that his body would be useful to others because it was athletic in build and he was otherwise healthy. What his parents didn’t know until much later was that Maxwell had still had brain activity. The reports had been falsified to make it look like he was dead. All in the supposed name of science.
He didn’t recall being this Maxwell, or being in an accident, or any of that. What he did remember was waking to excruciating pain and having wires and tubes running all throughout his body. He had actually thought his body was on fire at first and begged for them to kill him. He had to be restrained. The next time he woke there was less pain and less fire and he found that his brain was processing at an abnormally high rate. He understood things he shouldn’t have, but also seemed to feel fewer and fewer emotions.
It had taken a week for him to be able to sit up, stand, and walk. Maxim was introduced to the scientists that had brought him back to life: Dr. Forbes, Dr. Deans, and a crew of about twelve lab technicians. They all looked at him like he was some kind of experimental equipment instead of a human being. Technically, he was as full of internal operating chips and wiring as he was human organs, so maybe they were right. He hadn’t dwelled on the whys; he only knew he had to learn everything he could so he could escape. So he accepted whatever programming they wanted to upload.
It wasn’t until the IDJ, Intergalactic Department of Justice, raided the lab that had become his only home that he fully understood what had been done to him. The scientists had lied to his human parents, lied to the authorities, and lied to him. They weren’t creating him to help improve medical advancements. They were creating him to be their working model, so they could get funding from the military for a new line of weapons. The military wanted an army of droids just like him.
They had implanted computer chips and wiring all through his body and a central operating chip inside his brain. As far as appearances went, he still looked completely human, but he wasn’t. The IDJ showed him the lower level of the lab, where the scientists kept most of the failed experiments. It sickened him to see all the half-alive, mostly dead species that they had attempted to make into droids.
Human DNA seemed the most compatible for the droid conversion process, but it had taken many failed attempts for them to discover this. Seeing those failed attempts made him realize how close it had been for him. That was the first time since his conversion that he could remember feeling actual fear. He didn’t like it. The IDJ claimed that some of the staff had gotten away and wanted his help to locate them. But Maxim wanted nothing more to do with the lab.
The IDJ took him back to his human family, whom he didn’t remember at all. At first they welcomed him and treated him like a miracle. But it didn’t take long before his stoic and rather blank personality, added to the fact that he couldn’t remember any of them, made it difficult for them to accept him. It was clear that he didn’t belong with them anymore; his human life before was gone. His human mother begged him not to leave, but he knew it was for the best, for their sakes as well as his. They only re-lived the loss of their son over and over, every time they looked at him.
So he left. He changed his name to Maxim, dropping the last name completely. He looked for jobs that didn’t mind his unnatural strength and stoic personality. But it was a chance meeting with one of the trainers for the Galactic Cage Fighter Association that connected him to the fighting circuit. He owed the GCFA a great deal for the opportunity, so he needed to find a way to uphold his contract with them.
“I’ll work on it,” he told Hammer, switching hands over the outlet to focus the charge through the other side of his body. He was determined to make this life work.
Author Bio
KD Jones has been a huge fan of both romance novels and science fiction novels since she was 16 years old. Her favorite television shows growing up were Star Trek and Doctor Who. When not writing, she can usually be found curled up on the couch with a good book, working on her hobby of photography, or spending time with her family. As a single working Mom she wants to show her son that a person can follow their dreams no matter how old they are and where they are in life. Dreams can come true if you work hard and keep believing.
Warning: For Mature Adult Audiences. Contains language and actions some may deem offensive. M/F
RAGE
Special Agent Rachel Kegan of the Intergalactic Department of Justice is sent on an undercover assignment. She must pose as a fighter for the Galactic Cage Fighters Association, GCFA, in order to investigate the disappearances of several human women. In the midst of all the blood and broken bones common in this sport, she finds herself attracted to a half-human, half-alien fighter with an inner beast–literally.
Rage the Animal is angry that a pure human female has been hired to travel on the GCFA tour circuit. No matter what he says or does, or how hard he tries to intimidate the little human, she refuses to quit. Normally he could ignore the human, but something about her stirs his inner beast and leaves the man–unable to resist.
TALON
Lindy is finally finished with school. Now she wants a taste of freedom before she begins the life her parents have planned out for her since childhood. She admits to being sheltered but doesn’t believe she’s spoiled. She believes in hard work and persistence. She and her college friends are going to celebrate their graduation at the one event that has Lindy enthralled, the GCFA Cage Fighting match. She gets more than just a good show, she meets a man that fires her up and leaves her craving more. Her infatuation quickly deepens. However, she is in more danger than just losing her heart.
Talon lives his life simple and easy, just how he likes his women. But when he encounters a captivating little human, all that changes for him. He is determined to have her at any cost. He finds that once with her would never be enough and craves more. Unfortunately, he’s not the only one who becomes obsessed with the little human. Someone else wants her for himself and he will kill anyone who gets in his way.
TAURUS
Maya is looking for a change of pace. Being a full blood Arian, she is sheltered against the human elements. She is tired of being kept in the dark and wants to know what the real world is like. She takes a job as a ring girl for the GCFA. The moment she meets Taurus she is instantly attracted to him but is reluctant to her charms. After Maya witnesses something suspicious, she is in danger and Taurus can no longer keep himself from her.
Taurus the Ape Man is one of the popular GCFA fighters. It’s a living, one that pays well and he is in charge of what happens with his career. The females find his unique abilities appealing. Little do they know how unique his abilities were. After the abuse he suffered growing up in the orphanage and then in the breeding programs, he doesn’t care to get close to anyone especially females. When he meets the halfsie Arian hired to be a ring girl, his senses go crazy. He fights his attraction but it is a losing battle. Once she is in danger, all bets are off.
Warning: For Mature Adult Audiences. Contains language and actions some may deem offensive. M/F
ZARA
They call her–Zara the Amazon. She has been a fighter from birth, a fighter growing up, and a fighter with a life’s mission, so it made sense for her to fight for a living. The Galactic Cage Fighter Association is the ideal venue. She is paid to do something she enjoys, which is fighting and kicking ass. At the same time, it takes her all over the different regions where she can continue her search for the prize possession that had been taken from her years ago. What she doesn’t count on is having to fight these strange overwhelming feelings she develops for a very attractive human.
Special Agent Trig Roberts agrees to help the female fighter with her search. It is part of his job and he is the best at what he does. He travels with the GCFA while doing his investigation and finds himself frustrated when the beautiful leggy woman wants to be an active participant. He normally doesn’t allow the inexperienced to get involved with his investigations, but he has a hard time turning her down. As they spend more time together, he realizes there is more to the woman than she allows the world to see. He wants to know more and more about the mysterious woman.
HAMMER
The Sledge Hammer is one tough, mean, fighter for the Galactic Cage Fighters Association. He doesn’t take crap from anyone and if a person makes the mistake of pissing him off, they will pay for it … painfully. He prides himself on being able to handle any kind of situation that arises. He is unafraid of anyone or anything except for … the kids.
A terrible tragedy leaves the halfsie fighter the sole guardian of his sister’s children. His life is about to be turned upside down and inside out. No longer responsible for just himself, he must find a way to balance working the hectic schedule a top GCFA fighter and with being a single parent. He finds that it is not as easy as he thought.
Molly Maynard is ready for a fresh start. Her divorce that she has been waiting two long years for is finally within her grasp. She wants a new life for herself free of her lying, cheating ex-husband. She ends up homeless, jobless, and with limited funds available to her. With few choices remaining, she agrees to take a job traveling with the Galactic Fighters Association as a nanny for one of their fighters. But her ex-husband continues to cause problems for her even from a distance.
Hammer expects the usual nanny that the company would send. She is sure to be stuffy, uptight, old, and half senile. He worries that the kids be their usual rowdy selves. The nannies never last long. He doesn’t think the newest nanny will be any different. It’s a real shame because Nanny Molly was hot! Hammer has to keep his mind and his hands off the nanny and her curvaceous body. He finds himself protective of her when she is harassed.
ZEN
In book six of the Galactic Cage Fighters: Zen the Sin is the hottest male in the Galaxy according to the Galactic Times and every woman who attends a GCFA fight. Being charming comes naturally to Zen, giving him the ability to play the part of the Galactic Cage fighter playboy–well. He poses with fans, signs autographs, and is a pro at doing commercials. No one sells sex better than Zen the Sin. So when the Galactic Times sends a female to do a two week long expose; it should have been just another day in the life of Zen the Sin. Problem is, she doesn’t seem to fall for his usual playboy routine nor does she seem swayed by his good looks.
womanizer but decides
Shawna Baker jumps at the opportunity by the magazine she works for and agrees to do an in-depth interview with the fighter known as Zen the Sin. She has been waiting for this day to come for years, a chance to travel on the Galactic Cage Fighters ship and get to learn about a man from her past.
Things are heating up for the Sinclair boys! With one already in the NHL, Jayden Sinclair is hoping to be next!
This has been the toughest year of my life. I watched my brother go into the draft without me, my mom got divorced, and the weight of my family’s issues is heavy on my shoulders. I feel like it’s my job to fix everything while working my butt off in school and trying to make my game better. I have to go into the draft. It will give my family the support they need, and it will prove that I’m good enough. But to get there, I have to show I can be the best captain for the Bellevue Bullies. The spot is mine—no one can take it. First though, Jude is making me go on a brother’s weekend. Innocent enough, I guess…until I see her. She’s the biggest competitor I’ve ever faced. Not only for my spot but also my heart. It’s hard to ignore someone like Baylor Moore.
***
I don’t lose. I can’t. My dad has bred me to be the best in anything I do. I am driven, I am smart, and I am going to be the first woman in the National Hockey League. No two ways about it. I’ve worked too hard. I’ve been through too much not to have what I want. I know I can do it. I will make my dad proud, and no one will stand in the way of that. That is, until I let him in. He scares me. He makes me feel. And he could very well be the one person who can make me want more than just to win.
We both have the same goal. Victory. But how do you compete against the person you want to win? It’s not easy. Love isn’t something you can control. It isn’t like a puck that can be handled by a stick. No, it has a mind of its own and does what it wants.
Neither of us saw it coming, and we really don’t know if there is a way to score, especially when you’re being Clipped by Love.
When not rooting for her beloved Nashville Predators, she’s probably going to her husband’s and son’s hockey games and her daughter’s dance competitions, taking pictures, scrapbooking, or reading the latest romance novel.
She lives in the Nashville area with her husband, two children, and a bulldog. Read more about Toni here.
Two broken hearts, one chance to make something beautiful with the pieces…
Eight months ago, John Lawson lost his wife and best friend in a tragic accident on his family’s ranch. In the time since, he’s devoted himself to two things–taking care of his two newly motherless sons and proving that Lily’s accident was no accident. Now, he finally has hard evidence that his wife was murdered and he won’t rest until he has the killer’s blood on his hands. He doesn’t have time for anything but vengeance, especially not a crazy ghost hunter wanting to poke around the old spring on his family’s ranch.
Persephone Styles–Percy to her friends–learned about ghosts the hard way, when she was orphaned by a violent crime at the age of seven. Ever since, she’s seen spirits and been obsessed with studying souls beyond the grave. She’s in Lonesome Point to document the town’s spectral activity, but finds herself powerfully drawn to widower John Lawson and empathizing with his grieving children. For the first time in years, Percy is as riveted by the living as she’s always been by the dead and longs to be a part of John’s life.
But when one night of passion becomes something more, Percy realizes John is as haunted as she is and that the man she’s coming to love is walking a dangerous road that may end with him becoming a murderer’s next victim.
John Lawson is a broken man. Having lost the love of his life, he’s having a hard time putting the pieces of his life back together. Although Lonesome Point law enforcement has ruled Lily’s death an accident, John is sure that there is more to the story, and lives for the moments that he meets Lily in the in-between, the space between waking and sleeping.
Persephone ‘Percy’ Styles has a gift. Able to communicate with the spirit world, and having spent all of her time with those no longer here, she’s ready to focus on the living, and to bring comfort to a man she doesn’t even know. After encountering a psychic exchange between John and Lily, Percy feels called to visit Lonesome Point and to help John heal, and Lily to pass over to the next world.
The Lonesome Point, TX, series by Jessie Evans has been a favorite of mine since the first book. Small-town life, quirky and loveable characters, mystery and intrigue, and, oh, yes, absolutely swoony cowboys and the ladies that are lucky enough to capture their hearts, make for a winning combination at every level.
I have loved each and every book in this series, but the Lawson brothers hold a special place in my heart. Loving, loyal, and completely committed to family, these three men are truly something. John, the eldest, is the rock of the family, the man that had stepped in when his father died, who has always been there for his mother and brothers, and who had found happiness with his true love only to have it ripped away. Losing Lily has thrown him into a tailspin, and the feeling that her death was no accident has kept him from being able to move on. When Percy shows up, he wants nothing to do with her particular brand of ‘help,’ figuring her for a nutcase, and pushes her away.
“I understand that’s not part of your belief system,” she said. “And I can respect that, but I have reason to believe there are spirits here who need my help and I’d like to stay until they feel safe enough to make contact.”
“Safe enough to make contact,” he echoed, his next breath emerging with a huff. “What are they going to do, come whisper in your ear?”
“Something like that,” she said, lifting her chin.
Percy quickly shows that she is what she says, and John, eager for answers, and intrigued by Percy and her gifts, finds himself working with her to unravel the mystery of Lily’s death.
This wouldn’t be a Jessie Evans book without a sweet, sexy, and heart-melting romance, and she does not disappoint. Almost from the beginning, John finds himself drawn to Percy, not only as someone to help him in his quest, but as a woman. She is unlike no one he’s known before, but his guilt over being attracted to her is a major stumbling block. Percy, for her part, has never felt the way she does about John for anyone else, and is determined to show him that his place is in the here and now, with her.
“…You deserve better than a man who doesn’t know if he’ll ever be able to love someone else again.”
“Maybe I don’t want better…And I know I don’t want to leave. I want to stay until you get your answers.”
“I care about you, Percy,” he said, his chest aching as his heart stretched in two different directions. “I don’t want to see you hurt, and I especially don’t want to be the one doing the hurting.”
“If you ask me to leave again, you will hurt me,” she said. “I need to see this through. Not just for you, but for me too. I need to see where this goes. Not just the investigation, but this. Us.”
Ropes and Revenge is the last book in the Lonesome Point series, and, although I am sad to see this series end, I am completely satisfied with the way that everything is wrapped up. I’m excited to be able to say that I will get to revisit the characters and place that I have come to love, as Jessie will be writing an off-shoot series based on the children of Lonesome Point. What could be better than a whole new generation of people to love? As ever, 5+ ‘happily ever after, what a fantastic story’ stars for Jessie Evans and Lonesome Point, TX.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Jessie Evans, gave up a career as an international woman of mystery to write the sexy, contemporary Southern romances she loves to read.
She’s married to the man of her dreams, and together they’re raising a few adorable, mischievous children in a cottage in the jungle. She grew up in rural Arkansas, spending summers running wild, being chewed by chiggers, and now appreciates her home in a chigger-free part of the world even more.
When she’s not writing, Jessie enjoys playing her dulcimer (badly), sewing the worlds ugliest quilts to give to her friends, going for bike rides with her house full of boys, and drifting in and out on the waves, feeling thankful for sun, surf, and lovely people to share them with.
Genre: YA/ NA Crossover Suspense/Psychological Thriller
By S. Walden
Synopsis
Book Description:
~A lot can change in the space between devising a plan and carrying it out. That space is called the Interim.~
High school seniors Jeremy Stahl and Regan Walters aren’t friends. Not even close. He’s a picked-on, picked-apart loser outcast. She’s a cool kid running with the popular crowd. It’s unlikely they’d ever speak to one another. Too bad he’s madly in love with her. But what does it matter, anyway? He’s got no time for love. Only revenge.
Meticulously detailed in the pages of his battered red notebook is his master plan: April 14, 9:30 A.M., two guns, eighty rounds of ammo, backup knives, eleven victims. He’s finally ready to answer every single taunt, jeer, and flying fist—unwarranted abuse that’s spanned six years of his lonely life. He’s justified. He’s ready. But he never readied himself for her.
Regan finds his journal. She reads it, and when he discovers her intrusion, he has to switch tactics. She’s a liability now.
Better fix that.
(WARNING: This is a New Adult standalone that contains graphic language and violence, including gun violence. If school shootings are an especially sensitive subject for you, then I urge you to refrain from reading this book.)
Not many authors will discourage you from reading their work. After all, the goal of our stories is to grow our readership, not diminish it. I’m well aware of that, but when I first became inspired with Jeremy’s story, I knew I would have to go about promoting it in an entirely different way—something far removed from my past marketing campaigns. I knew I would have to hide the book, stamp disclaimers all over it, plant seeds of doubt in your minds, decline requests for advanced reviews—in essence, all the things an author SHOULD NOT do when marketing her book. That’s why it took me so long to write the damn thing—over a year of worrying, second-guessing, flip-flopping, arguing. Jeremy sat waiting patiently, and I stared back at him wondering just how much he would destroy my career.
Then I remembered that his story is exactly the type of controversial social issue I enjoy tackling. I knew I had to write it because I could. I could be sensitive to the subject matter without being PC. I could leave my political and moral opinions out of it. I could make it a human story, not a gun story. I could do all these things if I worked very hard—if I was diligent and faithful to my characters and their experiences. Once I realized these things, I stopped fretting and just started writing, careful to keep all the details private and sacred. That’s how writing should be: private and sacred.
Now Jeremy’s story is no longer private, but I hope you will find it sacred. I hope you will throw off your preconceptions and bury your social and political views, your moral judgments. It’s too easy to go into a story like this already angry, especially if you or someone you love has experienced gun violence. I urge you to think long and hard before starting Interim if you are especially sensitive to the topic of school shootings. There are extremely violent, descriptive scenes, and I do not wish for my book to be a trigger for you.
I am well aware of the social debate a book like this may provoke. I did not write it for debate. I did not write it to make a statement about guns, gun control, gun access, Constitutional rights, etc. I am not interested in comparing my story to the horrific school shootings that have taken place in the United States. I have no motive other than to tell a story about an abused boy who felt he deserved justice. What you take away from the novel is entirely up to you.
Love,
Summer
Excerpt
Who was he? What was his purpose? He knew it once. Once, a long time ago, he decided to be a hero. He decided to avenge himself and all the other kids who were helpless against abuse. Once, a long time ago, he learned the difference between justice and mercy. He learned when justice was required. He learned when mercy was allowed. Once, a long time ago, he faced himself in the mirror and saw a stranger—a better boy than he could ever be. A boy with a mission. A boy with convictions. And he reached out to take hold of that boy, through the looking-glass, falling into a wonderland where righteousness ruled supreme and evil was destroyed with the pop pop! of a gun. The world made sense to him. Then.
Twenty-three years ago, Pearl Jam released the alternative rock single named Jeremy. Jeremy is one of the most widely-recognized songs performed by Pearl Jam and is based on two different true stories. The main inspiration for Jeremy was a newspaper article about Jeremy Wade Delle of Richardson, Texas. On the morning of January 8, 1991, Jeremy Delle shot himself in front of his second-period English class. This song is also inspired by a student songwriter Eddie Vedder knew when he was in junior high school in San Diego. Instead of taking his own life, this student decided to gun down his classmates.
Now that you know the story behind the song, have you ever taken a moment to focus on the words of Jeremy? Go on…..pull out your iPod or do a search of YouTube videos and listen. It’s a very deep and dark song about a troubled teenager who decides to take control of his life and fight back on his own terms. It didn’t take long for me to recall Pearl Jam’s Jeremy once I began reading Interim, and the song will forever mean more to me now that I have read this novel.
It wasn’t easy for S. Walden to write her story about Jeremy Stahl. It took her a long time to come to terms with what was bouncing around in her head. Walden wants readers to know she is not speaking to a point. She has no agenda. She just has a story. Knowing Walden’s proclivity to write about dark and controversial subjects, I was nervous about reading Interim. In fact, I have never feared the content of a novel like I did with Interim. I had a healthy respect for this story based on the synopsis and personal discussion with the author before I began reading.
Walden truly agonized over writing Interim. Bullying. Parental neglect and abuse. Gun violence in schools. When you combine controversial subjects with violence, you have a recipe for something dark and scary. Something to be feared. This is the truth of the matter – the events that take place in Interim could happen at any school or shopping mall or workplace on any given day. So before you begin reading Interim, please be sure to read the letter from S. Walden at the beginning of the novel and be very sure you can handle the content.
I’m going to get straight to the point. Interim is a 6-star novel. It’s everything I could have hoped for in a thriller. Intense emotions, anger and panic. Darkness. Suspense. Graphic violence. Young adult romance. The authentic feel of the high school social scene. Issues teenagers deal with on daily basis. Walden was a teacher for several years, and she’s acquainted with the age group. She’s familiar with bullying. The dialogue, conversations between Jeremy and Regan, Hannah and other secondary characters, kept me on the edge of my seat. Interim completely held my interest. It’s one of the finest examples of character development that I can recall. It may have taken a long time for Walden to write this story, but I applaud the amount of time and thought she put into writing it. There is nothing rushed or sloppy about Interim. It’s one of the best novels I have read this year, and it has definitely earned a place on my list of 2015 favorites!
S.Walden used to teach English before making the best decision of her life by becoming a full-time writer. She lives in Georgia with her very supportive husband who prefers physics textbooks over fiction and has a difficult time understanding why her characters must have personality flaws. She is wary of small children, so she has a Westie instead. She is the USA Today bestselling author of Going Under. When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about it.
She loves her fans and loves to hear from them. Email her at swaldenauthor@hotmail.com and follow her twitter feed at @swaldenauthor.
The third installment of the Only series. Must be read in order.
Grayson and Emma. First love. True love. And… they have a daughter. Abandonment is his curse. He left his woman, survived his team, and missed the moment most precious to a father. Until now.
I didn’t know you were killing yourself with work. I didn’t know you’re raising our daughter. So help me God, had I known, there is no military force on earth that would’ve kept me from you.
Love needs to heal all, or they won’t survive the collision of their separate lives. Emma must reach deep into her heart that is barely hanging on and find forgiveness. Grayson, wrecked with PTSD-filled nightmares, must prove that he’s here to stay and able to rebuild his family against all odds.
I need to say I love you. But what I mean is I love you–in a way that defies definition and exists only in a world that you and I are in.
Only for Us is the third installment in the Only series. All novellas will release Spring 2015.
“I’ve done nothing for you to give me that trust, but I need you to anyway.”
I’m not pressed against his chest anymore. The warmth that encapsulated me moments ago is gone, but I feel different. Life’s shifted—I’ve been hanging on this roller coaster for years, and now it’s as if we’re cautiously slipping toward smooth sailing. The lump in my throat eases, and my eyelids lift, my gaze falling on the most handsome man I’ve ever seen.
“What do you say?” He inches closer.
“I love you, Grayson.” Deep breath. “When it comes to us, I’m all in.”
Michel’s Review
Grayson and Emma have found their way back to one another. Their separation was the catalyst to a very hard journey for both of them. For Grayson it was turning his back on the only thing he loved to serve in the military. For Emma it was mission of daily survival after the only man she ever loved left her without a word. The only thing that has made this betrayal easier is the beautiful baby he doesn’t know he has left behind. Their daughter is the only thing that came out good and pure.
Now Grayson is back and wants to reclaim the future he and Emma should of had. The separation has left a lot of mistrust and emotional scars. He vows he has become a better man. A man that will honor the woman he loves and cherish the daughter they created.
Emma and Grayson want to put their lives back together. They want to hang onto the love they have for one another. Although they have accepted and forgave each other, their path still will not be easy. They will have to win over Emma’s family, put Grayson’s childhood in the past, and find a new path to travel. First on the agenda is for Grayson to find a job in the civilian world. Lucky that Titan has their eyes on him. He may find a job that suits his skill set and will keep him close to home with Emma. It may be dangerous but not as bad as his job in the military. Emma will have to come clean to Grayson on how she has been supporting her daughter while going to college. It could be a deal breaker for them.
Just as things look like they are going to work out, Emma’s secret will be exposed in the worst possible way. What happens next? Cliffhanger. The final installment in the Only series, Only Forever, will release soon.
The Only Series is addicting. Cristin Harber has written an emotional story of first love and true love that will forever stay true. Read this series!
Only Series
Only For Him
Only Series – Book 1
Genre – New Adult
By Cristin Harber
Synopsis
Grayson Ford and Emma Kinglsey–close since they were kids, opposites in every way. He’s the stuff high school crushes are made of, Mister Popular, and captain of every team. She’s artsy, cute, and not in his league, though fully aware of Summerland’s “I Dream of Dating Grayson Ford” support group.
I can’t say no. The girl’s had my heart since before I knew it went missing.
He hides a life of hell. His father hates him, his mother’s gone. Emma is his only savior, yet she doesn’t know her power over him. She’s the only girl he wants, the only one he could ever tell–though he won’t.
I’m stronger, bigger, more of a man than he’ll ever be, but because I ruined his life, I’ve taken his crap, his attacks, the vulgar nature of his existence.
Until she discovers Gray’s embarrassment, his humiliation. Emma fights for him and for a chance. Theirs is a Cinderella story that she believes impossible. But as the layers peel back, it’s just a guy who needs a girl in order to keep breathing.
My mind is already doodling Mrs. Grayson Ford in imaginary notebooks. He has no clue where my head is at… But, given that I didn’t see what just happened coming, maybe I have no clue where his head is at either.
Only for Him. Only series, Volume One.
All novellas will release Spring 2015.
The second installment in the Only series. Must read book one first!!
First loves never die but Grayson Ford comes close. Bleeding out in a war zone, he barters with God. Bring him back alive, and he’ll make it right with his girl.
All I want is Emma. I need her, and I fight for her memory. A story. A smile. Anything. But it’s all blank.
Emma is not his girl anymore. Time has skipped by and life’s been hard. She strips to pay the bills, waitresses to fill the hours between classes and her third job. All while working to be the best mama she can be to the little girl who will never know her daddy. Even though Grayson abandoned her, she mourned his death. Until he calls, and everything she knew was wrong.
It’s him. The him that ruined my life. That made my life. That confused my mind to the point that I can’t figure out if I’ve been destroyed or set free. The him that… is… dead.
He’s back with one objective–Emma Kingsley–and she never sees it coming.
The third installment of the Only series. Must be read in order.
Grayson and Emma. First love. True love. And… they have a daughter. Abandonment is his curse. He left his woman, survived his team, and missed the moment most precious to a father. Until now.
I didn’t know you were killing yourself with work. I didn’t know you’re raising our daughter. So help me God, had I known, there is no military force on earth that would’ve kept me from you.
Love needs to heal all, or they won’t survive the collision of their separate lives. Emma must reach deep into her heart that is barely hanging on and find forgiveness. Grayson, wrecked with PTSD-filled nightmares, must prove that he’s here to stay and able to rebuild his family against all odds.
I need to say I love you. But what I mean is I love you–in a way that defies definition and exists only in a world that you and I are in.
Only for Us is the third installment in the Only series. All novellas will release Spring 2015.
The third installment of the Only series. Must be read in order.
Grayson and Emma. First love. True love. And… they have a daughter. Abandonment is his curse. He left his woman, survived his team, and missed the moments most precious to a father. Until now.
I didn’t know you were killing yourself with work. I didn’t know you’re raising our daughter. So help me God, had I known, there is no military force on earth that would’ve kept me from you.
Love needs to heal all, or they won’t survive the collision of their separate lives. Emma must reach deep into her heart that is barely hanging on and find forgiveness. Grayson, wrecked with PTSD-filled nightmares, must prove that he’s here to stay and able to rebuild his family against all odds.
I need to say I love you. But what I mean is I love you–in a way that defies definition and exists only in a world that you and I are in.
Only for Us is the third installment in the Only series. All novellas will release Spring 2015.
ABOUT CRISTIN HARBER
Cristin Harber is a USA Today bestselling romantic suspense and military romance author. Fans voted her onto Amazon’s Top Picks for Debut Romance Authors in 2013, and her debut Titan series was #1 romantic suspense, #1 military romance, and a USA Today Top 100 bestseller.
She lives outside Washington, DC with her family and English Bulldog.
Lauren Layne’s latest novel about the healing power of redemption tells the story of a crush gone wickedly wrong, proving that what you want isn’t always what you need.
Growing up in New York, Michael St. Claire never expected to spend his twenties wearing cowboy boots. But that was before he learned about his real father, a total stranger with a family in Cedar Grove, Texas. Once in the Lone Star State, Michael meets Kristin Bellamy, who is exquisitely refined and everything Michael always thought he wanted in a woman. The only problem is that Kristin is dating Michael’s new half brother, Devon.
Kristin’s mouthy, curvy sister Chloe has always been in love with Devon Patterson. So when Michael offers to help Chloe break up Devon and Kristin, Chloe agrees to a deal that seems too good to be true. Before long, Chloe finally gets her man, only to make a startling discovery: She no longer wants the guy she had to fight for—she wants the one who stood by her side.
After all he and Chloe have been through, Michael swears he’s damaged goods. Can Chloe convince him that love is worth the risk?
Judging a Book by it’s cover: The cover is sweet, soft, and inviting – a bit misleading when considering the drama and angst inside. The synopsis is a little busy and chaotic, but captures the general essence of the book.
Looking Deeper: The beginning starts out with a bang… pun intended. There are several important characters and key factors introduced within the first chapter, so make sure you’re paying attention -oh, and, keep your hand and feet inside the car at all times – it promises to be a crazy ride! It’s hard to break this one down purely by Lead male, lead female, and secondary characters because of the relationship dynamics. We know Michael *is* the lead male, but from there, it’s mix-and-match drama for a bit. Unrequited lust, drama, angst, chaos, jealousy, spite… oh, it’s got it all. The characters are all unique in personality and attitude, which provides some entertaining moments. Dialogue and interaction range from a bit awkward to natural and believable. The plot is solid with a steady and progressive flow. As you could imagine when a several love triangles intertwine, there is plenty of conflict. Add in there the parental and sibling drama and it’s truly a drama of epic proportions, but the conflicts are handled in realistic, age-appropriate ways. There was not a lot of predictability. The conclusion was rather solid, but the epilogue felt like an afterthought without a significant, defined purpose. Overall, it was a good read for those who enjoy the angsty, dramatic plots of the NA genre.
____________________________
Author Bio:
Lauren Layne is the USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance.
Prior to becoming an author, Lauren worked in e-commerce and web-marketing. In 2011, she and her husband moved from Seattle to New York City, where Lauren decided to pursue a full-time writing career. It took six months to get her first book deal (despite ardent assurances to her husband that it would only take three). Since then, Lauren’s gone on to publish ten books, including the bestselling Stiletto series, with several more on the way in 2015.
Lauren currently lives in Chicago with her husband and spoiled Pomeranian. When not writing, you’ll find her at happy hour, running at a doggedly slow pace, or trying to straighten her naturally curly hair.
We are so, so excited to bring you guy the Release Week Blitz for Laura Kaye’s HARD TO BE GOOD!! HARD TO BE GOOD is a novella in Laura’s Hard Ink Series, published by Avon Romance. We absolutely loveLaura’s Hard Ink men and are so excited to see Jeremy and Charlie get their HEA!!
Hard Ink Tattoo owner Jeremy Rixey has taken on his brother’s stateside fight against the forces that nearly killed Nick and his Special Forces team a year before. Now, Jeremy’s whole world has been turned upside down—not the least of which by a brilliant, quiet blond man who tempts Jeremy to settle down for the first time ever.
Recent kidnapping victim Charlie Merritt has always been better with computers than people, so when he’s drawn into the SF team’s investigation of his army colonel father’s corruption, he’s surprised to find acceptance and friendship—especially since his father never accepted who Charlie was. Even more surprising is the heated tension Charlie feels with sexy, tattooed Jeremy, Charlie’s opposite in almost every way.
With tragedy and chaos all around them, temptation flashes hot, and Jeremy and Charlie can’t help but wonder why they’re trying so hard to be good…
EXCERPT:
“You should be inside celebrating,” Jeremy said, his voice a raw scrape. “You and Marz did an amazing thing this morning.” An hour ago, Marz and Charlie had cracked open a heavily encrypted microchip that contained a wealth of information that not only seemed likely to help the team clear its name, but proved that Charlie’s father hadn’t been dirty, like they’d all thought. “And I’m so happy for you about your dad.”
A wounded darkness passed through Charlie’s gaze, but he finally nodded. “Didn’t feel right without you there.” Pink filtered into his cheeks, and damn if that wasn’t as cute as it was sexy. Jeremy wasn’t sure anything had ever made him blush.
“I’m just not—” Jeremy shrugged and looked down at Charlie’s chest again. Having seen the guy dress more than once, he knew that shirt covered lean muscle that ran from strong shoulders down to his narrow hips. Jeremy fisted his hands against the urge to burrow them under the hem of the tee. After weeks of looking, and wanting, he was dying to touch. Jeremy found Charlie hard to read though, and hadn’t wanted to do anything to scare him off. “—very good company right now. I’m sorry if that—”
Charlie nudged Jeremy’s chin up with his hand, his fingers just barely touching Jer’s stubble-covered skin. But then his thumb landed softly against his lips.
Jeremy’s heartbeat kicked up and his lips fell open. Slowly, oh so tentatively, Charlie stroked the soft pad of his thumb back and forth across them.
“Charlie,” Jeremy whispered as arousal surged through his body, spiking his pulse, tensing his muscles, hardening his dick.
Uncertainty poured off Charlie as the man’s hand trembled where it touched him, but those blue eyes absolutely blazed desire. No way was Jeremy imagining that.
“You’re always good company, to me,” Charlie said in a low voice, his gaze dropping to Jeremy’s lips. Charlie leaned in closer, and closer still, and Jeremy could hardly believe the other man was the one to initiate this. But he was fucking thrilled.
Jeremy swallowed, his lips anticipating that first soft brush. Charlie was so close his shaky breath caressed Jeremy’s lips. His pace was maddening but so damn sexy Jer could barely breathe. And then Charlie’s eyelids fluttered closed and he was right there…
And don’t miss the other Hard Ink books, now available:
“TOP PICK! If you’re looking for danger, gritty action, and sizzling passion, then Kaye has just the book and the series for you.” ~RT Book Reviews Magazine
Michel’s Review
Hard To Be Good by Laura Kaye is the one book that the Hard Ink Fans have been dying for. The build up throughout the series has left the readers wondering when Jeremy and Charlie would get their happily ever after. This novella gives the readers what they want and so much more. I am amazed how Laura Kaye can pack so much into a novella. The emotional depth of this story was phenomenal. The pacing wasn’t too fast or too slow. The sexual tension and chemistry between Jer and Charlie was sizzling hot.
Although the story didn’t revolve around all the suspense that has been going on at Hard Ink, it did move the overall plot closer to the final revelations. This book focused more on the relationship between these two strong men. It showed how even in today’s society it is still hard to find acceptance of gay relationships. Exposing your deepest feelings and vulnerabilities to your loved ones, family, and friends is hard enough without the added taboo. Also trying to find your footing in a committed relationship whether straight or gay is very hard. We all have insecurities about showing our true emotions. The freedom of letting these emotions out and allowing them to grow is the ultimate surrender. Jer and Charlie will take the readers on an emotional journey that will not only touch their own hearts but capture the readers as well.
Once again Laura Kaye has written a beautiful love story.
About Laura Kaye:
Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty books in contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.
One night with a hero is just what she needs. But more spells trouble . . .
Dr. Katherine “Kat” Arnold left Oregon and never looked back at the town that failed her as a child. But when a new patient from Independence Falls joins her clinical trail, she returns determined forward to show everyone in her hometown how she has thrived—including her high school crush.
Brody Summers saves people. For years, he looked out for his younger siblings and ran the family business. Now, he works search and rescue. After a failed mission, Brody plans to take a night off. When a blonde city-girl knocks him off his feet, he refuses to walk away from desire. But it doesn’t take long for Brody to realize the past is returning to haunt him—and it goes back further than one wild night.
The last thing Kat wants is a reason to extend her stay in Independence Falls. But she can’t escape the memory of Brody’s wicked touch. As their passion heats up, Brody wonders if he’s falling for the one woman who doesn’t need rescuing.
Falling for his rivals’ little sister could cost him everything …
For Liam Trulane, failure is not an option. He is determined to win a place in Katie Summers’ life before she leaves Independence Falls for good. But first, he needs to make amends for the last time they got down and dirty.
Only problem?
His professional success hinges on striking a deal to buy Katie’s family business. And after Liam’s relationship with their Katie went south years ago, the Summers brothers are more enemy than friend. If both parties agree to set the past aside, they can reach an understanding. But when Katie welcomes him back into her bed, Liam risks everything to make her his.
After Liam betrayed her trust, Katie Summers will do anything to keep him from walking away with the family business. She decides to seduce him, knowing that when her brothers find out, they will back off from the deal. And she’ll finally have her revenge. But when her plan spirals out of control, Katie learns that payback may come at too high a price …
After serving her country, Georgia Trulane craves adventure—and sex. She’s set her sights on her brother’s best friend—now her boss, since she took a temporary job as his nephew’s live-in nanny. Only problem? Eric refuses to touch her. That doesn’t stop Georgia from seducing him. But an earth-shattering encounter leaves her fully exposed, body and soul.
Eric has a long list of reasons to steer clear of the woman he has wanted for as long as he can remember. For one, he refuses to be her next thrill ride. When he claims her, it will be for good. But the attraction is undeniable, and the more they fight it, the stronger it pulls. But will it be enough to conquer their obstacles?
He was nobody’s hero until he landed in the wrong bed …
Armed with a golden retriever and a concealed weapons permit, Lena Clark is fighting for normal. She served her country, but the experience left her emotionally numb and estranged from her career-military family. Staying in Independence Falls seems like the first step to reclaiming her life until the town playboy stumbles into her bed …
Chad Summers is living his dream—helicopter logging by day and slipping between the sheets with Mrs. Right Now by night. Until his wild nights threaten his day job, leaving Chad with a choice: prove he can settle down or kiss his dream goodbye. But when he ends up in the wrong bed, the one woman in Independence Falls he can’t touch offers a tempting proposition. Chad is ready and willing to give in to the primal desire to make Lena his at night—on one condition. By day, they pretend their relationship is real.
But their connection extends beyond the bedroom, threatening to turn their sham into reality if Chad can prove he’s the hero Lena needs night and day … forever.
Author Bio
After several years on the other side of the publishing industry, Sara Jane Stone bid goodbye to her sales career to pursue her dream—writing romance novels. Sara Jane currently resides in Brooklyn, New York with her very supportive real-life hero, two lively young children and a lazy Burmese cat. Visit her online at http://www.sarajanestone.com or find her on Facebook at Sara Jane Stone.
J. A. Huss likes to write new adult books that make you think and keep you guessing. Her favorite genre to read is space opera, but since practically no one reads those books, she writes new adult science fiction, paranormal romance, contemporary romance, urban fantasy, and books about Junco (who refuses to be saddled with a label).
Saucy Southern Readers 