Elle Phillips’s relationship with the Forsaken Motorcycle
Club is strained, much like the relationship she had with her father, a
Forsaken brother, before he died. The only piece of Forsaken that Elle wants to
hold onto is their sergeant-at-arms and her former lover, Sterling “Bloody
Knuckles” Grady. Unfortunately, Grady’s moved on and he doesn’t seem to be
coming back. With her heart hurting over one man who’s died and another who’s
practically dead to her, Elle throws herself into her work as a private
investigator and tries to keep a low profile where the club’s concerned. But
when a case comes along that she can’t refuse, she finds herself embroiled in
club business in a way that leaves her questioning everything she thought she
knew about Forsaken.
Diesel knows that keeping tabs on Elle Phillips is going to
bring him trouble. He already loves her even though he barely knows her, but
when Grady asks Diesel to keep her safe, he can’t say no. His patience has run
out and he’s going to do anything to get Elle to realize he’s the man she’s
been craving— even going behind the club’s back to help her solve a case she
shouldn’t be working.
As a child, JC was fascinated by things that went bump in the night. As they say, some things never change. Now, as an adult, she divides her time between the sexy law men, mythical creatures, and kick-ass heroines that live inside her head and pursuing her bachelor’s degree in English. JC is a San Francisco Bay Area native, but has also called both Texas and Louisiana home. These days she rocks her flip flops year round in Northern California and can’t imagine a climate more beautiful.
JC writes adult, new adult, and young adult fiction. She dabbles in many different genres including science fiction, horror, chick lit, and murder mysteries, yet she is most enthralled by supernatural stories– and everything has at least a splash of romance.
We are pleased to announce this unique collection of
short stories featuring three amazing authors releasing
on Sept 1.
Enrapture by Rachel Van Dyken
Trace is everything.
My freaking world.
And I would do anything to keep her safe.
But, I can’t protect her from every kind of evil..and I can
no longer keep the past a secret…
We were left folders.
Each one filled with the sins of our pasts.
And Traces grandfather just asked us to read his.
There was no preparation.
And now I’m wondering if I should have let the love of my
life read it at all, because some things can’t be unsaid, some words stay with us forever.
I know, from this day forward, nothing will ever be the same.
EXCERPT
“Would you like to see the rest of the house, Joyce?”
“Why do you do that?”
“Do what?” He frowned.
“Say my name every time you address me.”
Luca quickly averted his eyes, something I’d seen him do possibly once in all our time we’d known each other — right before he’d invited me up to his apartment and made love to me for the first time. He was nervous.
“Luca?” I prompted.
“Because…” His voice was gruff. “…I don’t get to say it often enough — your name.” He licked his lips, his eyes still staring hard at the dirt clinging to his polished black Prada shoes. “If I said your name every second of every day for the rest of my life, it still wouldn’t be enough. Saying your name is like saying a prayer. Sometimes, I think it’s the only prayer God hears these days. Your name is a promise, a vow. It’s also a reminder that no matter what hell I’ve gone through, heaven still exists.”
—————————————————————————
The Initiation by Kristin Vayden
It wasn’t blood in…no out.
It was death the moment were initiated with the mob and a living hell from that moment on. I knew, because it was my hell. But I wanted…no I needed out.
I had watched it suck the life from my father till nothing was left but the ashes from betrayal, and I wanted more.
So I made a deal, one that got me shot. But the nurse made up for the injury—Daphne had always teased my dreams, out of reach but close enough to tease me with the fantasy of what if. But what if…was now my reality and there was no way I was giving it up.
So I called in a favor…to the Mafia.
Made a deal with the devil, to save my soul.
And if it works, I’ll die…so that I’ll have a chance at really living.
EXCERPT
“Love is never simple, sweetheart. There’s complications, obstacles, decisions that must be made, priorities that have to be established… but when it’s real love, you’ll find everything will fall into place because love puts the other ahead of itself. Love replaces fear with faith. It destroys indecision with loyalty, breaks through every barrier because it’s stronger, wiser, more courageous than anything else you’ll face, because from that point on, you face everything together.”
——————————————————————
ICE by Elise Faber
One night of weakness five years ago turned out to be the
biggest mistake of Laila’s life.
The sex with her coworker, and then commander, Ryker had
been hot. But the ensuing strain of having to work with him, having to see him
seduce and sleep with other women tore her heart from her chest and crushed it
beneath his military-grade boot.
Now they’re on a mission together and she’s running command.
Her damaged heart would like to make him pay, but her body isn’t so sure,
especially when Ryker apologizes and tries to make things right between them.
Can Laila put aside the past, if it means another chance — a
real one this time — with Ryker? Or will those old wounds never heal? And when
their mission goes awry, will they even survive to have a shot at that future?
Excerpt
He wrapped his arms around her in return, maybe a little too
low for a friendly hug.
But with Laila sprawled out atop him, reminding him how
perfectly they fit, it was impossible to not grab her hips and bring her even closer.
She melted for a moment then, as though suddenly coming back
into herself — or probably feeling the erection he had no hope of hiding —
released him.
“Really?”
“Wish I could say it was a one-off, but it’s a pretty common problem for me when you’re around.”
Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she’s not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor. She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!
Want to be kept up to date on new releases? Text MAFIA to 66866!
Kristin’s inspiration for the romance she writes comes from her tall, dark and handsome husband with killer blue eyes. With five children to chase, she is never at a loss for someone to kiss, something to cook or some mess to clean but she loves every moment of it! She loves to make soap, sauerkraut, sourdough bread and gluten free muffins. Life is full of blessings and she praises God for the blessed and abundant life He’s given her.
When she’s not writing bestselling dark and sexy paranormal romances, Elise is often found on the ice rink where she and her husband hold regular hockey date nights. She is the mom to two exuberant boys and addicted to Dancing With the Stars. The beaches, mountains and redwood forests of Northern California serve as inspiration for her books. Connect with her on facebook (facebook.com/elisefaberauthor), twitter (@faberelise) or www.elisefaber.com
After years of hard work and determination, I am exactly where I want to be in life. As the top ranked Freestyle Motocross rider in the world, I have more money than I could ever dream of spending and gorgeous women throwing themselves at me in every city I land. I have everything I could ever want.
Everything except her.
While in Breckenridge for my best friend’s wedding, I was introduced to Dakota Shavell, a friend of the bride-to-be, and from the moment our blue gazes met, sparks flew.
What I initially intended to be a single steamy night together turned into a scorching two week road trip to New Orleans with a sassy-mouthed blonde. Being between her legs gave me a bigger adrenaline rush than I’d ever gotten from flying through the air while straddling a bike.
It was supposed to just be fun, a good time. I planned to walk away unchanged.
But it was more. Feelings I never intended to have got involved, and I’ll never be the same.
Yet, I still walked away.
Except now I’m injured and my outlook has changed. Priorities have become clear.
And I’m going back to reclaim her…to show her that together we can make the fire between us burst into flames.
El Pinto Mexican food restaurant is the fucking bomb. A combination of gorgeous, sprawling hacienda-style ambiance, delicious authentic New Mexico cuisine, mouth-watering pitchers of house fresh margaritas, and a fun-loving, exuberant group of people sitting with me around a patio table. My cheeks hurt from the permanent smile that’s been stamped across my face since the moment we stepped under the vine-covered arch and through the glass double doors. After several big O’s on the trek down here, and then this phenomenal meal, I’d have to say my impromptu summer road trip has started out a tremendous success.
“So you seriously know nothing about motocross or dirt bikes? You’ve never seen anything on TV like X-Games? Red Bull X-Fighters? Metal Mulisha? You don’t have any brothers into this stuff?” Gunner gawks at me in utter disbelief while the four of us finish our last drinks at the restaurant before heading back to Sandia Motocross Park, where the bus is parked.
Tapping my chin, I pretend to think for a moment then shake my head. “I mean I’m familiar with what the X-Games are. I do live in Colorado, the winter action sports mecca, but I don’t know anything specifically about motocross other than you ride a motorcycle on a dirt track stupidly fast and do crazy-ass stunts while flying through the air.”
Emilia bursts out laughing at my oversimplified explanation of what her husband and Levi do for a living, but the two guys are still in shock at my revelation. It’s like they’ve never met anyone else who isn’t up to date on all their lingo and shit. I should’ve never asked why people made that braaappp noise at the wedding…
“Oh, and I do have one brother,” I add, “but he’s eight and likes to snowboard in the winter and fish in the summer. If any of my sisters were into dirt bikes, it’d be Juno. She’s the athletic one—but softball and volleyball are more her thing.”
Another peculiar look from Gunner. “How many sisters do you have?”
“Five. There are seven of us total. All from the same parents, who yes, are still married.” I answer the questions I know are coming before he even asks. Everyone is always intrigued by the size of my family, especially in this day and age. “My family is a little…unconventional.”
“A little?” Emilia scoffs. “You call your parents by their first names, and you grew up on a weed farm! You’ve got the coolest fucking family ever. Plus, you all look like Barbie dolls! When I used to dream about running away from home, I either wanted to be a trapeze artist in the circus or a Shavell sister.”
Snickering, I wrap my lips around my straw and suck in the chilled, tangy strawberry margarita. “Either way, you would’ve been joining a circus. There’s never a dull moment in a house with ten people in it.”
“Sunshine,” Levi leans over to me, resting his hand on the inside of my thigh, right below the frayed hem of my shorts, “I promise I want to learn all about your family. They sound cool as fuck—especially the part about the weed farm—but can we get back to where you said motocross is driving fast and doing stupid, crazy-ass stunts while flying through the air? ’Cause if you’re gonna be my girl on this trip, we need to give you a crash course tonight in all things motocross, so you can truly appreciate my awesomeness when you see me in action.”
I blink hard. His girl? Did he already dip his grubby hand into Grams’ special cookies?
“Hulk,” I lift my hand up to cradle his chin, bringing my face close to his, “I’ve already appreciated your awesomeness in action earlier today, and it had nothing to do with dirt bikes. So unless you want to show me how you can eat dessert on one, I’ll pass on the crash course and embrace my lingo ignorance.”
His eyes grow wide at my suggestion, and suddenly, the space between my mouth and his is gone, obliterated by a searing, possessive kiss. My lips part on a quick inhale of surprise, and he takes full advantage of my momentary vulnerability, sliding his tongue into my mouth to tangle with mine.
Everyone and everything around us fades away while his hypnotic lips move over mine. The world could come crashing down all around us right now, and the only thing I’d be concerned about is how to prolong the mind-boggling way he makes me feel each time he kisses me. It’s like the first time every time. Pounding heart. Trembling hands. Fluttering belly. Sizzling core.
Michel’s Review
Flame by Erin Noelle is the second book in the Fire On The Mountain series. It can be read as a stand alone novel.
Flame was a refreshing romance novel! It is not loaded with angst, indecision, or the usual formula readers have grown accustom to in New Adult Romance. The leading characters, Dakota and Levi, are strong free spirited individuals. They aren’t looking for a relationship. They are enjoying their summer fling on a two week road trip to New Orleans for the X Games championship. They are both sexual creatures that fully appreciate their intense chemistry. They are going to make the most of their time together in the very sexiest way. What neither counted on was falling in love and what comes after their summer fling is over.
Flame was fun and very realistic view on how many relationships evolve into something more. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Erin Noelle is a Texas native, where she lives with her husband and two young daughters. While earning her degree in History at the University of Houston, she rediscovered her love for reading that was first instilled by her grandmother when she was a young child.
A lover of happily-ever-afters, both historical and current, Erin is an avid reader of all romance novels. Her titles published include the Book Boyfriend Series, the Dusk ‘Til Dawn Series, Translucent, Conspire — co-authored with SE Hall, Surviving Us, MILF: Wrong Kind of Love and Spark.
Her books have been a part of the USA Today Bestselling list and the Amazon and Barnes & Noble overall Top 100.
Make sure to check out the Book Trailers, add this series to your Goodreads, and grab your Box Set!
Dear Emily – Book #1 in the Forever Family Series
This book is not suitable for young readers. It is intended for mature adults only (18+). It contains strong language, adult/sexual situations, non-consensual sex and some violence.
Dear Tabitha – Book #2 in the Forever Family Series
Dear Juliet – Book #3 in the Forever Family Series
The Epic Fail series will begin this fall (2015) This is a spinoff of the bestselling Forever Family series. These will all be standalone novels focusing on the various characters from the band Epic Fail that were introduced in Dear Emily.
Trudy Stiles is a New Adult author, mom to two beautiful children, and married to the love of her life. She’s the author of the bestselling Forever Family series including “Dear Emily,” “Dear Tabitha,” and now “Dear Juliet.” She plans to write many more stories about some of the characters you’ve already met, and maybe a few new ones. The Epic Fail series will begin in the Fall of 2015.
Trudy is a music junkie and you’ll know that she’s writing when you see her plugged into her laptop with her earbuds in. Her playlist is unique and is a must for her writing sprints.
When she’s not writing, she’s carting her children to their various activities while avoiding any kind of laundry or housework. She also loves to run along the boardwalk of the beautiful New Jersey shore.
She celebrates Wine Wednesday almost every day.
Email: authortrudystiles@gmail.com
Website: http://trudystiles.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authortrudystiles
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/trudy_stiles
Twitter: @trudystiles
Instagram: https://instagram.com/trudystiles/
Down and out with an injury keeping him away from the game, Assassins’ defenseman Jordie Thomas lives for the blades of his skates on the ice and the feeling of oblivion off it. With no choice but to heal, he’s forced away from the sport that runs through his veins. With everything at stake and darkness setting in, he quickly finds himself spiraling even further out of control. As his life begins to come crashing down around him and his contract with the Nashville Assassins on the line, he’s given an ultimatum. Ready or not, Jordie is forced to face his past, the fears that consume him, and the one woman he let walk away.
Kacey King had her professional dreams come true, yet her heart was battered and broken. With an Olympic gold medal around her neck, she’s ready to look forward to the future but without the one man she wanted in it. She’s missing the key pieces of her heart she left months ago with the only person who was capable of destroying it, causing her to falter in all her plans to move on.
>In the game of life, there are winners and losers, and neither Jordie nor Kacey want to be on the losing bench. If only Jordie could convince Kacey he’s a changed man and that he wants her right by his side as his MVP for the biggest and best parts of a life they build together. With emotions running high and the game on the line, can two proud people find happiness with each other, or will their hearts and souls be left in the cold? Will they see that sometimes having someone by your side who knows the good, bad, and broken is better than going it alone and losing everything through the back of the net? They are out of time on the game clock and fighting for the win of their lives.
But overtime was made for an Assassin like Jordie.
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.
Sebastian Stone, Sunder front man and guitarist with a rap sheet about ten miles long, escaped to Savannah, Georgia, to get away from the trouble he’d caused.
Not find more of it.
The moment he saw Shea Bentley, he saw beneath all her sweet and innocence to something that went deeper.
Their relationship was built on secrets; their love built on lies.
Sebastian never imagined how deep her secrets went.
When the past and present collide, Sebastian and Shea find themselves fighting for a future neither believed they deserved. Their passion is consuming and their need unending.
Now, holding the truth in his hands, Sebastian is faced with sacrificing everything he’s come to love to protect Shea and his family.
Two pasts intertwined.
Two lives bound.
Will their demons drown them or will Shea and Sebastian finally learn to breathe?
Sunder lead singer and guitarist Sebastian Stone has
everything—fans, fame, and fortune. He also has a heart full of bitterness and
a reputation for a short-fused temper. But an outward reputation rarely reveals
the true man inside. Facing assault charges after trying to protect his younger
brother, Sebastian is sent to Savannah, Georgia to lie low until the dust
settles in L.A.
Shea Bentley is beautiful, kind, and hiding from the very
lifestyle Sebastian has always embraced.
When the mysterious, tattooed stranger begins hanging out at the
bar where she works, Shea is quick to recognize he is nothing but trouble, but
she’s helpless to the way her body lights up every time his intense gray eyes
tangle with hers.
They both soon find themselves drowning in a sea of desire and
passion that won’t let them up for air.
Sebastian knows firsthand secrets never die, and he’s not the only
one who’s hiding them.
Loving someone always comes with a price. But will it be Shea’s
past that costs them everything?
A.L. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary and new adult romance.
She first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college
student. She filled the journals she
carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the
difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life.
Years later, she shared a short story she’d been working on with her two closest friends
and, with their encouragement, this story became her first full length novel.
A.L. now spends her days writing in Southern Arizona where she lives with her
husband and three children.
To stay up to date with important news on A.L. Jackson, including new releases, sales, and exclusive specials and
excerpts, text “jackson” to 96000 to subscribe!
On Perfect Harmony, the ambitious competitors heat things up on stage and off…
Cody Rivers is determined to be a rock star, but couch-surfing between bar shows gets old fast. Joining an a cappella group for a new singing competition show could be his last chance at real fame—unless the college boy from the heart of the country messes it up for him. Lucas Norwood is everything gothy, glittery Cody is not—conservative, clean-cut, and virginal. But when a twist in the show forces them together, even the sweetest songs get steamy as the attraction between them lights up the stage. Lucas wants to take it slow, but Cody’s singing a different tune—and this time it maybe a love song…
Judging a Book by it’s Cover:
The cover displays an eye-catching, colored background with a male model in the foreground in black and white. In the heat of the PITCH PERFECT craze, Ms Albert makes a smart choice to utilize the competitive a cappella world to her favor.
Looking Deeper:
Boy, I have giving critical reviews, but I fear this one was not one of my favorites and I am so sorry to say so as I’ve really liked the other books I’ve read by this author.
Third person POV. Taking you behind the scenes of a reality TV talent competition, not unlike “The Sing-Off”, the story focuses on two young gay men who start out as each other’s competition but become much more. There’s a lot of drama and chaos, as one would expect, in a setting such as this. This story is nothing like the more-mature settings and characters from Ms. Albert’s Portland Heat series; the angst and drama are exhausting at times. It was quite difficult to connect with the street-wise and emotionally hardened fame-hungry Cody, or with the overly innocent and sheltered, wholesome naive college boy, Lucas. The chemistry between them felt disconnected and, at times, even forced. There were a plethora of secondary characters, some no more than filler while others made a strong contribution. Dialogue was decent. Interaction was mostly good, although there was plenty of awkwardness. The plot had a lot of potential and a unique behind-the-scenes perspective that lent credibility and realism to the competition scenes. This one read real slow to me, like trudging through molasses; I think, because I could not connect with the lead characters but I could not find any fault in the writing style and pace set forth. There were several conflicts that were resolved in ways that I can’t necessarily agree with for a long-term solution, but apparently in the land of fiction all works out well in the end. Predictability was low and the conclusion was solid. Maybe someone younger would enjoy the book more, but it was mediocre to me – which again, I truly apologize for saying.
______________________________________________
Author Bio:
Frequent tweeter, professional grammar nerd, and obsessive reader, Annabeth Albert is also a Pacific Northwest romance writer in a variety of subgenres.
Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two toddlers.
When you make an enemy of a man like Vitaly Karahalios, there is nowhere on earth you can go to escape his wrath. He’ll find you. He found me, he found Roth. He found Layla.
He found us, and now the unthinkable has happened. Someone I love has been kidnapped.
Again.
This isn’t a fairy tale.
Not everyone will get a happily ever after.
Sometimes we can’t just walk away from the past.
Love doesn’t always save the day.
The beast won’t always get his beauty.
But maybe, just maybe we can get our happy ending.
Omega cannot be read as a stand alone romance. It must be read in series order.
I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Omega by Jasinda Wilder. Omega is the third book in the Alpha series. This series is a combination of erotica, sensual romance, romantic suspense, and dark thrillers. Each book has changed the direction of the series and added multiple layers of intrigue and suspense while maintaining the sensual erotic relationship between Kyrie and Roth. The third book, Omega, added another layer and another sensual romance between Harris and Layla while still giving Kyrie and Roth their happily ever after. Omega is my favorite book in this series!
In the previous books, Alpha and Beta, Roth and Kyrie’s world went from erotic intrigue to an action packed dark thriller. Due to Roth’s past dealings as an arms dealer on the black market he made some powerful enemies. When they killed Vitaly’s , the most powerful player, psychotic daughter; they started a war. A war they could not win. Vitaly has more power, more men, and more resources. He has a reputation to protect. The only way to keep his throne in the underworld is to destroy Roth, Kyrie, and anyone that has any connections to them. Roth and Kyrie are on the run. It will be up to Harris to save them all. Harris is the man for the job. He is the true Alpha in this series. Every Alpha needs a mate and Kyrie’s wild and crazy best friend Layla is the perfect woman to tame Nicolas Harris, Alpha extraordinaire.
Harris is in for an adventure that his special ops training never prepared him for. Layla is going to capture his heart and claim his soul. She is the perfect partner to stand by his side when facing the most brutal enemy. She will kick ass, take names, and rock Harris’s world at the same time.
Layla is my favorite heroine that Jasinda Wilder has created. I think I have a major girl crush on this woman. She’s strong, resourceful, intelligent, fun, and downright sexy. Harris is one of the sexiest heroes to grace Jasinda’s pages. This strong silent man doesn’t have to say more than three words before your panties are dropping.
And finally, Kyrie and Roth are just as hot for each other as they have been in the previous books. They are finally going to get their happily ever after.
I loved Omega. It was the perfect ending to this exceptional series!
Read the Alpha series by Jasinda Wilder.
________________________________
The Alpha Series
Alpha – Book 1
The first time it happened, it seemed like an impossible miracle. Bills were piling up, adding up to more money than I could ever make. Mom’s hospital bills. My baby brother’s tuition. My tuition. Rent. Electricity. All of it on my shoulders. And I had just lost my job. There was no hope, no money in my account, no work to be found. And then, just when I thought all hope was lost, I found an envelope in the mail. No return address. My name on the front, my address. Inside was a check, made out to me, in the amount of ten thousand dollars. Enough to pay the bills and leave me some left over to live on until I found a job. Enough to let me focus on classes. There was no name on the check, just “VRI Inc.,” and a post office box address for somewhere in the city. No hint of identity or reason for the check or anything. No mention of repayment, interest, nothing…except a single word, on the notes line: “You.” Just those three letters.
If you receive a mysterious check, for enough money to erase all your worries, would you cash it?
I did.
The next month, I received another check, again from VRI Incorporated. It too contained a single word: “belong.”
A third check, the next month. This time, two words. Four letters. “To me.”
The checks kept coming. The notes stopped. Ten thousand dollars, every month. A girl gets used to that, real quick. It let me pay the bills without going into debt. Let me keep my baby brother in school and Mom’s hospice care paid for. How do you turn down what seems like free money, when you’re desperate? You don’t. I didn’t.
And then, after a year, there was a knock on my door. A sleek black limousine sat on the curb in front of my house. A driver stood in front of me, and he spoke six words: “It’s time to pay your debt.”
Roth and I are on an open-ended tour of the world. Roth being Roth, this means missionary in Morocco, reverse cowgirl in Calcutta, bent over the bow of a houseboat in Hanoi, slow and sleepy on St. John. Anywhere and everywhere, in every conceivable position, and some I didn’t know were possible.
Life was pretty incredible.
Until I woke up in his chateau in France, alone. On the bed next to me was a note. There were only four words:
When you make an enemy of a man like Vitaly Karahalios, there is nowhere on earth you can go to escape his wrath. He’ll find you. He found me, he found Roth. He found Layla.
He found us, and now the unthinkable has happened. Someone I love has been kidnapped.
Again.
This isn’t a fairy tale.
Not everyone will get a happily ever after.
Sometimes we can’t just walk away from the past.
Love doesn’t always save the day.
The beast won’t always get his beauty.
But maybe, just maybe we can get our happy ending.
NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY, WALL STREET JOURNAL and international bestselling author Jasinda Wilder is a Michigan native with a penchant for titillating tales about sexy men and strong women. Her bestselling titles include ALPHA, STRIPPED, WOUNDED, and the #1 Amazon and international bestseller FALLING INTO YOU. You can find her on her farm in Northern Michigan with her husband, author Jack Wilder, her five children and menagerie of animals.
Avery Dare lives a quiet life in Miami as an online fashion/makeup video blogger. She has good friends, a close, large family and if her love life is lacking, she likes it that way. But when she receives an invitation to one of her ex’s concerts along with an invitation to meet him back stage, she decides to take the risk… and comes face to face with the reality of his rock star lifestyle – the press, the crowds, and the half-naked groupies.
At eighteen, Grey Kingston left everything he knew and loved behind to seek fame and fortune as a rock star, and he found it as the lead guitarist and singer for the band, Tangled Royal. Fans adore him, women throw themselves at him, and he can afford everything he couldn’t growing up. Yet at the height of his career, he’s ready to walk away and return home to a simpler life… and the woman he left behind, if he can convince her to give him another chance.
Except moving on isn’t as easy as Grey would like. When Avery is threatened by a stalker, it becomes evident Grey’s fans not only don’t want him to retire, they don’t want Avery in his life either. And Avery isn’t sure she wants the pressures that are part of Grey’s life… but she doesn’t want to lose him again, either. Can their recently renewed love survive the fallout?
Sweat poured off Grey Kingston’s body, and his heart beat a too-rapid rhythm, the high and adrenaline rush from his performance still pulsing through his veins as he walked into the lounge backstage. He pulled off his soaked shirt and tossed it onto the floor, grateful for the stocked room and waiting pile of towels. He grabbed one and dried his face and hair, deliberately trying to slow his breathing.
The sound of Tangled Royal fans stomping their feet and demanding an encore echoed through the walls, but the band had performed their final set. Even as his pulse still soared.
He glanced toward the door. “Did she pick up the ticket?” Grey asked Simon Colson, their manager, who was busy texting on his phone.
“What? Who?” Simon, ever the well-dressed Brit, shoved his phone into his trouser pocket. No jeans for him. “Good show,” he said to Grey and the rest of the band, ignoring Grey’s question.
Lola Corbin, their lead singer and Grey’s best friend, was still bouncing in her heels, not yet coming down from their shared high either. “We did rock it,” she said, tossing her dark hair over her shoulder.
Milo Davis, their bassist, grunted something and fell into a chair in the corner. Grey narrowed his gaze. Milo barely had the energy for a full concert these days, and that worried him.
But right now Grey had bigger concerns and turned to Simon. “I asked you if Avery Dare picked up the VIP tickets I told you to leave at the box office.”
Simon shrugged. “I couldn’t tell you.”
Grey scowled at his manager’s I don’t give a shit tone. More and more lately, Simon’s lack of consideration about what the band members wanted grated on Grey’s nerves. Lola might be considering using him for her solo career, but anything Grey did going forward wouldn’t be with the man.
At least he’d indicated he had left the tickets. He’d be out of a job if he screwed with Grey on this. “Fucking find out.”
“What’s so special about this piece of ass?” Simon barely got the words out because Grey grabbed him by his collared shirt and pinned him up against the wall.
“Talk about her like that again and you’re done.”
“Whoa.” Lola put her petite body between them, pushing Grey away from their manager. “Everyone breathe,” she muttered. “You. Go take a walk and calm down before your company shows up,” she ordered Grey.
He stormed off, missing whatever lecture she gave to Simon next.
Though the man had done his job well, helping maneuver Tangled Royal to the elusive top of the charts, he cared about the bottom line and not much else. Especially not the fact that Tangled Royal was more than a band, people with real feelings, issues, and lives. No wonder Simon didn’t believe how serious both Grey and Lola were about changing their futures.
Danny Bills, their drummer, already had a wife and two daughters who lived in L.A. He was ready for home time, and everyone knew it. Milo was another story. If he didn’t stop the drugs, he wouldn’t have a future.
As for Grey, he hoped for more than the travel and fame that had been so important to him way back when. He hoped for her.
His eyes flickered to the door. No sign of Avery. He tipped his head back, wondering if she’d come backstage or ignore the invitation … and him. His stomach gripped painfully at the thought of not seeing her again. She was the one person who not only understood the loner musician he’d been as a teen but who’d grounded him when he’d threatened to spiral. With her soft voice, that thick mane of dark hair, and those lavender-like eyes, she’d burrowed someplace deep inside him. Still, she hadn’t been enough to hold him, not when fame, fortune, and the need to be something more lived within him.
But it was Avery whose face he saw in the nameless women he’d fucked over the years. Avery whose belief in him kept him going when times were hard. Funny how that worked. He wondered if she’d thought of him over the years and if she was as hyped up about possibly seeing him again now.
Tracey’s Review
Grey Kingston is every girl’s fantasy. The lead singer of Tangled Royal, he’s got the fame and the name to prove to himself and everyone else that he has what it takes to be a success. Avery Dare is the girl that Grey left behind. But now he’s back and determined to show her that he’s worth a second chance.
I love the DARE series by Carly Phillip. DARE TO ROCK, the seventh book in the series, is just as delicious as the previous ones. I love the whole convoluted Dare family history, and have enjoyed getting to know each of the members. As one of Robert Dare’s children, Avery knows what it’s like to be in the public eye. Forced at a young age to deal with her father’s fallibility, it has taken Avery a long time to recognize her own worth. When Grey returns to Miami and wants to start their relationship where they left off, Avery is not sure that she can trust him. But Grey will do anything to prove to her that he’s finished with the life of a rock star, and that his future is with her.
I really like Grey and Avery. He’s aware of the mistakes that he’s made, and is ready to step up and make amends. He’s smart, sexy, genuine, and very much in love with Avery. He’s also not afraid to stand up to her very alpha brothers, which is nice to see. And Avery has overcome a lot of obstacles to get to where she is. She recognizes the things holding her back, and really takes strides to overcome them so that she can be who she wants to be, and so that she can be with Grey.
DARE TO ROCK is a speedy read, entertaining, and full of memorable moments with the Dares. I highly recommend this book, as well as the entire series. 5 ‘hot rock star boyfriend’ stars for this one. Read these books!
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About Carly Phillips:
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carly Phillips N.Y. Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carly Phillips has written over 40 sexy contemporary romance novels that today’s readers identify with and enjoy. After a successful 15 year career with various New York publishing houses, Carly is making the leap to Indie author, with the goal of giving her readers more books at a faster pace at a better price. Her Serendipity books will still finish up in January/February 2014 via Berkley as planned. Carly lives in Purchase, NY with her family, two nearly adult daughters and two crazy dogs who star on her Facebook Fan Page and website. She’s a writer, a knitter of sorts, a wife, and a mom. In addition, she’s a Twitter and Internet junkie and is always around to interact with her readers. You can find all information about Carly at her website and other social media sites …
Jude Pearson could just as well kill me as kiss me most days. He was my captor, my living hell, and yet, he became my saviour, my heart. Stupid. He’s heartless, conditioned to feel nothing, and so I ran… straight into the clutches of his enemy. Joe Campbell wants Jude to suffer, and I just became a pawn in a very dangerous game.Joe has broken me in every way, everything that I once was stripped away, and in it’s place is festering hatred and a rage so cold I feel nothing else. I have one purpose. Revenge.
Jude
Love makes you weak, it makes you irrational. She was collateral, completely innocent when she was unwillingly dragged into my corrupt world. With the damage I’d already caused her, I couldn’t let her love me, so I let her go, and now…he has her.
No matter where she is, she will always be mine. This man has taken every-fucking-thing from me, and he has the last thing that matters to me. I will kill him. Slowly. Joe Campbell better run because the devil is fucking coming for him.
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She’s a self-confessed shameless pervert, who may be suffering from slight peen envy.
Stevie J. Cole is a secret rock star. Sex, drugs and, oh wait, no, just sex. She’s a whore for a British accent and has an unhealthy obsession with Russell Brand. She and LP plan to elope in Vegas and breed the world’s most epic child.
Saucy Southern Readers 