Cover Reveal + Giveaway: The Exception by Adriana Locke

ecoverThe Exception

Release Date: September 18, 2014

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By Adriana Locke

Synopsis:

They say there is an exception to every rule…

Jada Stanley is starting over, refusing to repeat her past mistakes. Everything is going great until she meets Cane Alexander. He is gorgeous, cocky, and everything she needs to avoid.

Cane lives within a set of carefully constructed guidelines to ensure his life remains uncomplicated. When he sets his eyes on Jada, all of his rules are called into question.

As their worlds become intertwined, they find it impossible to stay away from each other. Will they be able to maintain the rules they’ve created to protect their hearts? Or will they make an exception?

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Excerpt:

“I’m on it. I’ll bitch out Franklin for calling you. I was on the phone getting everything figured out when he decided we couldn’t handle this on our own.”

“Let me know if you have any problems. If they don’t show up tomorrow – call me. I’ll be by early in the morning to make sure everything is kosher.” I ended the call before tossing my phone on the passenger’s seat.

I needed to make sure I was there before the guys were in the morning. That’s what Dad would have done. He led by example and that’s why everyone respected him. He kept calm, made rational decisions and didn’t get worked up. Unfortunately for me, my maternal DNA was a little stronger.

“Treat me good, I’ll treat you better. Treat me bad, I’ll treat you worse.”

I saw that in a bar in Newport shortly before my world flipped upside down. I liked the little motto that had been carved into a wooden table and it had stayed with me. It appealed to the side of me that was more like her, the side of me that was a pure hedonist.

My shoulders tensed as I recalled playing with my black and yellow trucks, running them over and over the sand, waiting on her to come home. And the feeling of my hopes go down with the sun behind the palm trees.

Fuck her.

I tossed my sunglasses beside my phone as I glanced at the clock. 7:54 P.M.

I briefly considered turning around and heading back to the restaurant. Traffic was a motherfucker and it would be an hour to get back the other direction, so I continued towards home.

I zipped through the lanes, weaving in and out of the cars, my driving a little erratic – mirroring my thoughts. I had spent less than thirty minutes with the girl at the restaurant and now my mind was focused on her? What the fuck? That is not how I operated.

She told me no. I shook my head, a grin touching my lips.

 

 Author Bio:

10417535_410952569047862_7436604482570084096_n-1Adriana Locke lives and breathes books. After years of slightly obsessive relationships with the flawed bad boys created by other authors, Adriana has created her own. The Exception is Adriana’s debut novel and will be released on September 18th.

Adriana lives in the Midwest with her family. She spends a large amount of time playing with her kids, drinking coffee, and cooking. Her favorite things include sunshine, candy, and random quotes. Please contact Adriana at http://www.adrianalocke.com. She loves to hear from readers.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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Giveaway:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1eeafd78178/

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Cover Reveal: Nights With Him by Lauren Blakely

Nights With Him

Cover design by Sarah Hansen at Okay Creations

Releases November 11th!

Add NIGHTS WITH HIM on Goodreads

Pre-Order on iTunes Today

 

One Night With her for Aug 13 reveal

 Releases October 21st!

Message from Lauren:

The Seductive Nights erotic romance series continues with a new installment starring a new couple later this fall! While the first four books in the series followed Julia and Clay, the next two will be about Michelle and Jack, and can be read without having read the earlier books. (Though, why wouldn’t you want to read about Clay and Julia?!)

I can’t wait to introduce readers to Jack Sullivan. He’s sexy, broody,witty, smart, and a little bit damaged and he’s also my favorite kind of hero – the kind who wears a suit! Jack Sullivan is a sex toy mogul and is the CEO of a high-end line of pleasure products – he’ll bring all that experience to the bedroom as he sweeps Michelle Milo off her feet – expect many steamy encounters between these two! Michelle needs some good loving after all – readers know her already as Clay’s friend from Night After Night who loved him unrequitedly from afar. Now it’s
finally her turn in the romance arena, and Jack will make sure she gets it good!!

To give readers a chance to get to know this newest dirty-talking alpha hero of mine, I will be releasing a free prequel novella called ONE NIGHT WITH HER on October 21 about the night they meet and the mind-blowing encounter they have in a New York City hotel. The novel itself will release on Nov. 11. NIGHTS WITH HIM is available to preorder on iBooks, with an Amazon preorder to go up about three weeks before the novel’s release.

 

Nights With Him -Full Wrap

About NIGHTS WITH HIM:

A sensual, sexy, standalone romance novel in the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Seductive Nights Series by Lauren Blakely…

Jack Sullivan is a Sex Toy Mogul.

An extremely eligible bachelor in New York, he’s the full package,right down to his full package. Hell, this man could be the model forone of the toys his company, Joy Delivered, peddles. Instead, he’s thepowerful and successful CEO and he’s got commitment issues a mile-longafter the tragic way his relationship with his fiancée ended.

He’s looking for a way to erase the pain and that arrives in the formof Michelle Milo. From her pencil skirts to her high heels, she’s hisperfect fantasy, especially since she has no idea who he is the nightthey meet at a hotel bar. He doesn’t have a clue either that she’s thebrilliant psychologist his sister has arranged for him to see to helphim get over his past. She’s simply the stunning woman he takes to bedthat night and delivers many Os of joy too.

His touch helps her forget that other man.

When he shows up at her office door the next day, there’s no way inhell she’s going to treat him after they’ve slept together. Jack isn’twilling to let go of the first woman he’s felt anything for in yearsso he proposes a deal – share her nights with him for thirty days. Atthe end of one month of exquisite pleasure, they walk away, havinghelped each other move on from their haunted pasts.

But soon, all those nights threaten to turn into days as the linesbetween lust and matters of the heart start to blur. Can two people soterribly afraid of love truly fall head over heels?

**NIGHTS WITH HIM is a standalone full-length novel in the bestselling SEDUCTIVE NIGHTS series following the love affair of a new couple.**

Author Photo

About Lauren Blakely:

Lauren Blakely writes sexy contemporary romance novels with heat, heart, and humor, and her books have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks bestseller lists. Like the heroine in FAR TOO TEMPTING, she thinks life should be filled with family, laughter, and the kind of love that love songs promise. Lauren lives in California with her husband, children, and dogs. Her novels include Caught Up In Us, Pretending He’s Mine, Playing With Her Heart, and Trophy Husband. She also writes for young adults under the name Daisy Whitney.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | NIGHTS WITH HIM Goodreads | Lauren Blakely Goodreads

Cover Reveal: A Peek Beyond the Consequences by Aleatha Romig

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Title: A Peek Beyond the Consequences
Author: Aleatha Romig
Genre: Dark Erotica Romance
Release Date: September 1st 2014
 
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Synopsis: Aleatha_cover

Anthony Rawlings is a man most women love to hate or hate to love. Domineering yet caring, demanding yet sensual, he’s truly an enigma, but can he be the one Claire needs and deserves? Will she ever truly find happiness with the man who stole her life but gave her the world? For a glimpse into the future, take a Peek Beyond the Consequences, a novella.

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Teaser:

a peek beyond the consequences

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About the Author: ar

Aleatha Romig is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, who has been voted #1 “New Author to Read” on Goodreads, July 2012 – Present!

Aleatha has lived most of her life in Indiana, growing up in Mishawaka, graduating from Indiana University, and currently living south of Indianapolis. Together with her high-school sweetheart and husband of twenty-seven years, they’ve raised three children. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she’s not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time with her family and friends. Her pastimes include exercising, reading, and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams!
Aleatha enjoys traveling, especially when there is a beach involved. In 2011, she had the opportunity to visit Sydney, Australia, to visit her daughter studying at the University of Wollongong. Her dream is to travel to places in her novels and around the world.
CONSEQUENCES, her first novel, was released August 2011, by Xlibris Publishing. Then in October of 2012, Ms. Romig re-released CONSEQUENCES as an indie author. TRUTH, the sequel, was released October 30, 2012, and CONVICTED, the third in the series, was released October 8, 2013. Unexpectedly, the fourth book of the Consequences series came to life with REVEALED: THE MISSING YEARS. It is the fourth full-length novel in the series. It explores the missing years in CONVICTED that previously were only mentioned, as well as a complete character glossary and timeline. REVEALED was released May 20, 2014.
Aleatha also wrote reading companions for the Consequences Series. BEHIND HIS EYES CONSEQUENCES (Book 1.5) and BEHIND HIS EYES TRUTH (Book 2.5) are currently available for those times and scenes when the readers asked, “What was he thinking?” These companions also contain never before released behind-the-scenes scenes.
Aleatha is a “Published Author’s Network” member of the Romance Writers of America and represented by Danielle Egan-Miller of Brown and Miller Literary Associates.

::: Connect With the Author :::

Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

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Cover Reveal: Stepbrother Dearest by Penelope Ward

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Stepbrother Dearest

Coming : September 2014

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By Penelope Ward

Synopsis

You’re not supposed to want the one who torments you.

When my stepbrother, Elec, came to live with us my senior year, I wasn’t prepared for how much of a jerk he’d be.

I hated that he took it out on me because he didn’t want to be here.

I hated that he brought girls from our high school back to his room.

But what I hated the most was the unwanted way my body reacted to him.

At first, I thought all he had going for him were his rock-hard tattooed abs and chiseled face. Then, things started changing between us, and it all came to a head one night.

Just as quickly as he’d come into my life, he was gone back to California.

It had been years since I’d seen Elec.

When tragedy struck our family, I’d have to face him again.

And holy hell, the teenager who made me crazy was now a man that drove me insane.

I had a feeling my heart was about to get broken again.

Stepbrother Dearest is a standalone novel.

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Author Bio

 

penelope wardPenelope Ward is a USA Today Bestselling author.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers. She spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor, before switching to a more family friendly career.

Penelope lives for reading books in the new adult genre, coffee and hanging out with her friends and family on weekends.

She is the proud mother of a beautiful 9-year-old girl with autism (the inspiration for the character Callie in Gemini) and a 7-year-old boy, both of whom are the lights of her life.

Penelope, her husband and kids reside in Rhode Island.

She is currently working on her third novel and loves friend requests from readers!

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon Author Page

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Cover Reveal: Falling For Fate by Caisey Quinn- Second Chance Series-Book 2

The second book in the Second Chance series by Caisey Quinn has a cover!
While the series is made up of standalone novels featuring different couples, it does center around a location: The Second Chance Ranch, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility owned by Trace Corbin and Gretchen Gibson from the Kylie Ryans series. Here’s what Caisey had to say about the series!
Caisey: I really love writing this series because with each new novel I get a new story to build around the ranch. The overlap between characters in each book is a lot of fun for me, even though readers don’t always catch them. It’s almost like a hidden treasure. For instance, Fate’s mom appears briefly in Van’s story (Last Second Chance), but as the books are released approximately 3-4 months apart, not everyone remembers those details. It’s such a treat for me knowing that they’re in there!
Readers have asked if they will see Trace and Kylie in this series and they will! Trace will pop in from time to time and then towards the end of the series they’ll both attend a celebratory dinner at the Ranch.
While Last Second Chance was pretty hot, with tortured soul musician Van Ransom, Falling for Fate is a bit on the sweeter side. Though y’all know me, there will still be plenty of steam! Dean and Fate have a chance encounter and then meet again unexpectedly. While they’re both young professionals, having very different relationship backgrounds and experiences leaves them a bit out of their league when it comes to one another.
I am so in love with this cover because my characters meet on the beach and I asked the designer (Regina Wamba of Mae I Design) to give it an ocean water feel. She did such a wonderful job! I hope y’all like it as much as I do!
 
MORE ABOUT FALLING FOR FATE
Fate Buchanan just wants to escape the constraints of her old life. After checking her mother into rehab and catching her fiancé with her Maid of Honor the night before their wedding, she ran. Angry and hurt, she’s aching to do something reckless

Dean Maxwell is having one last summer of freedom before taking over his family’s multi-billion dollar medical conglomerate. When he sees a beautiful woman running down the beach alone after dark he knows it’s not safe. So he does something impulsive

When their paths cross unexpectedly after a night of unbridled passion, neither of them can forget the memory of the affair they shared. What began as one night is about to become a whole lot more
 
*Note: While part of the Second Chance series, this novel stands alone. 
 
Falling for Fate
(Second Chance #2)
Adult Contemporary Romance
Cover Designed by Regina Wamba | Mae I Design
Scheduled Release Date: September 23, 2014
FOR MORE ABOUT THIS RELEASE OR THE AUTHOR
Caisey loves chatting with readers online so drop her a note at any of the above!
 

 

Cover Reveal: Her Destiny by Monica Murphy-Sequel to His Reverie

We are absolutely in love with this cover for Monica Murphy’s HER DESTINY! HER DESTINY is the sequel to Monica Murphy’s HIS REVERIE. Be sure to add this one to your TBR pile, folks!

 

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Add HER DESTINY on Goodreads

About HER DESTINY:

I knew from the moment I first saw him he was the one. The only boy I could ever want.
The only boy I could ever love.

They say he’s bad for me.

But I know he’s not.

Until the day he rejects me.

And breaks my heart.

Everything changes in the blink of an eye. My entire life as I’ve known it is…gone. Secrets are revealed. Promises once made are irrevocably broken. There’s no way my family can get back to what we once were.

So when Nicholas Fairfield walks back into my life like he never left it, I’m furious. Thrilled. Irritated. Excited.

Despite my confusion, I want to be with him. I love him. But danger lurks where we least expect it. Someone will do whatever it takes to tear us apart. All I know is: I won’t let them.

 

Don’t forget to read HIS REVERIE while you wait…

His Reverie

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About HIS REVERIE:

I knew from the moment I first saw her she was the one. The only girl I could ever want.

The only girl I could ever love.

She is light.

I am darkness.

She is innocent.

I’ve done too much.

She is good.

I am bad.

She is my every dream.

I should be her every nightmare.

We come from different worlds. She’s…perfect. And I’m…

Not.

Somehow she wants me anyway. So we’ll grasp at what we can. We’re going to make this summer count. She’s my secret. And I’m hers.

The problem with secrets is they never last for long. And when others discover we’re together, they’ll do whatever it takes to keep us apart. All I know is: I won’t let them.

Because Reverie Hale? She’s mine.

 

MonicaMurphypic-250x373About Monica Murphy:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Monica Murphy is a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite. A wife and mother of three, she writes New Adult and contemporary romance for Bantam and Avon. She is the author of One Week Girlfriend and Second Chance Boyfriend.

 

 

 

 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Author Goodreads | Amazon author page

Cover Reveals: Dare to Love Series by Carly Phillips

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Dare to Submit Synopsis: Release: Sept 8

Decklan Dare knows about the unexpected loss of loved ones and for this reason, he values control in all areas of his life. Amanda Collins enjoys the freedom she finds in casual encounters without the emotional connection a relationship brings. They meet and their physical attraction is mutual but both experience feelings that could run deeper – if they drop their guard and let each other in. Decklan is first to trust, but when he discovers the secret Amanda’s been hiding, will he forgive? Or will he rebuild every wall before she has a chance to explain?

Pre-order Dare to Submit for only $2.99 on iTunes.

daretolove DARE TO LOVE

When it comes to family, Ian Dare gives his all but in relationships he offers the bare minimum. Until one glimpse of sensual Riley Taylor arouses his dominant and protective instincts. He will do anything to possess her … and does. But any future with Riley must include him dealing his half-brother who is a constant reminder of the pain he’d rather forget.
Riley Taylor believes herself immune to domineering men – until charismatic Ian Dare turns a simple kiss into an all out assault on her senses and she discovers she likes his brand of control in the bedroom. As their affair heats up, they soon realize they complete each other in ways neither imagined. But Riley’s past is closer than she cares to remember, and her struggles with Ian’s dominance might just cost her everything. (love story, contemporary romance, alpha heroes, beach reads, sports heroes, bad boys, billionaire)

 AMAZON ~ Barnes and Noble ~ iTunes

daretodesire DARE TO DESIRE

Quarterback Alex Dare, had it all — an all-star football career and his choice of willing women — until a severe injury forces him into early retirement. Social worker Madison Evans grew up in foster homes and knows what it means to have-not. She isn’t impressed by Alex Dare’s wealth or charm. Not since she fell hard for him once before, only to discover she was just one of his too-easy conquests.

This time around Madison refuses to succumb to Alex so easily. But Alex wants Madison. And if there is one thing Alex does well, it’s to get what he wants. Can he convince Madison to take a risk and dare to love?

 Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ iTunes 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

#8173 Carly Website PhotoNew 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.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~  Amazon Author Page 

Cover Reveal: After The Rain by Renee Carlino

After The Rain-w-quote FINAL

About AFTER THE RAIN:

From the USA TODAY bestselling author of Sweet Thing and Nowhere But Here comes a deeply emotional contemporary romance about the second chances waiting beyond the shattered dreams of youth.

Under the bright arena lights of a rodeo show, young Avelina Belo falls for a handsome cowboy with a larger-than-life personality. After a whirlwind courtship, she happily moves away from her family in northern California and settles into married life with her cowboy on a seven-thousand-acre cattle ranch in Montana. One freak accident later, Avelina’s hopes for the future come to an end.

Nate Myers graduated from UCLA medical school at the top of his class, ready to follow in the footsteps of his father, a superstar cardiothoracic surgeon. Six years later, Nate’s career is being ruined by a malpractice suit. Questioning himself for the first time, he retreats to a Montana cattle ranch to visit his uncle and gain perspective. There, he meets a beautiful young woman named Avelina who teaches him more than he ever knew about matters of the heart.

Pre-Order Links:

Amazon ~ Apple ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Blio ~ Books-a-Million ~ IndieBound ~ Google

UK Links:

Amazon ~ Waterstones ~ Foyles ~ WHS ~ Apple ~ Google

AUS Links:

Bookworld ~ Amazon ~ Apple ~ Google

About the author:

reneeRenée Carlino lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their sweet dog, June. When she’s not at the beach with her boys or working on her next book, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate. To learn more, visit ReneeCarlino.com.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram

Cover Reveal: A Beautiful Purpose by Alicia Rae

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Title: A BEAUTIFUL PURPOSE

Author: Alicia Rae

Release Date: October 21st

Genre: New Adult Romance

Cover Design: Sarah of Okay Creations

About A Beautiful Purpose:

Book 6 in The Beautiful Series or Standalone All Blake Johnson knows is the life of a Marine. After serving his country for eight years, he returns to his family for some rest and rehabilitation. Fighting an internal war, he battles sleepless nights as images of his former military days haunt him. From the moment Audrey Hampton walks into his life, he is drawn to her. Her beauty leaves him breathless and weak in the knees. She kindles a spark of hope deep within his soul, igniting a part of himself he feared was missing. Her never-ending compassion for others opens his heart in a way he never dreamed. But Audrey is hiding wounds of her own. Returning to Lake Tahoe to care for her ill mother triggers painful childhood memories of her parents’ loveless marriage, reminding her there is no such thing as true love. Will Blake’s resolve be powerful enough to open Audrey’s sealed heart? Or will Audrey fear the past and risk losing the man who could give her life a newfound purpose? Can two wounded souls become one?

Add on Goodreads

 Exclusive Excerpt

~Audrey~

“What about you?” Blake asked gently.

“I’m home to see my family.” I shifted on my feet, not wanting to go into too much detail either. I refrained from laughing at observing how we seemed to share that minor detail. “However, I now live in San Francisco.”

Blake’s dark eyebrow curled, slightly lifting, and his lower lip twitched in amusement. Gosh, he was just so damn sexy, it was distracting.

“You gave up the country life for the city?” he finally teased.

I let out a laugh at his expression and nodded. “Yeah.”

“How’s that working out for you?”

I tilted my head his way, failing to stifle my humor. “If you ignore all the absurdly confusing highways, traffic and noise, then it’s not so bad.”

Blake laughed, deep and throatily. The sound sent an undeniable shiver down my spine. I chastised myself for letting a simple conversation with a man affect me so, as he replied, “That’s a lot to ignore.”

You have no idea, I thought, referring to not being able to deflect his effects on me. I felt my inner strength wavering.

“It is,” I responded in more ways than one, realizing that I needed to get away from here. Being here was too much. He was too much. I swallowed deeply before saying, “Well it was a pleasure to meet you, Blake. But I do have to be going now.” I felt guilty for dismissing myself, so I added, “But maybe I’ll see you around with the other’s another time?”

His gaze turned speculative, and he parted his lips to speak. But he didn’t. The look he was giving me felt as though he could see right through me. It was unnerving.

Within seconds, his eyes shifted again, appearing to let me off the hook.

I released a silent sigh, thankful for his respecting my privacy, and not asking for any explanation.

“Since my two brothers are marrying your friends, I would say there is a good chance.” Blake grinned at last, revealing a sexy dimple at the corner of his mouth.

My eyes were captivated by the faint movement.

Stop thinking about his mouth!

He definitely had a good point, which only made me even more nervous. “I’ll see you later,” I waved with a pleasant smile and excused myself before my nerves melted into a puddle at his feet.

I quickly found Abbey, Gail and Lily, and then each of their significant others to congratulate them and say my goodbyes before racing to my car. All the while feeling like I could not breathe, as though I was being suffocated by thoughts of how breathtakingly handsome Blake was.

After stopping at the store for my mother’s saltine crackers, I sped home, yearning to step through the front doors, so I could be reminded of all the reasons to stay clear away from that man. All it took was sixty seconds of seeing how my father treated my mother, and it was a reality slap that love does not exist.

I would not allow myself to be so effected by a man, and weakened by the idea of having one of my own. I shook my head. Being around Gail, Abbey, and Lily with their men today had just played tricks on my mind. Sure, each of my friends had found great, loving men. But it was a risk I would never take a chance on.

And I would never cave to temptation. It could only lead to a broken heart.

 

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About the Author:

Alicia Rae is a Contemporary Romance Author who lives in Dekalb, Illinois, with her husband and three beautiful boys. Alicia has a passion for reading all types of romance, writing to bring a story to life, and photography.

Thank you to my dear sister, Kels, who showed me a few years ago how much I truly missed reading. And to my loving husband, for not throwing away my Nook, and planting the seed of writing in my mind. I am forever grateful. Xo

Readers, words cannot thank you enough for supporting me along this incredible journey. I hope you enjoy my novels as much as I do writing them. I thank each and every one of you.

Believe in yourself and follow your dreams…

Facebook | Twitter | Amazon

 

Sneak Peek: All For This by Lexi Ryan

All for This cover

Releasing August 4, 2014

New Adult Contemporary Romance

Pre-order NOW

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**ALL FOR THIS is book three in the Here and Now series. It is not a stand-alone and it’s intended to be read after LOST IN ME and FALL TO YOU.**

What if you would never remember the day you made the most important decision of your life?

That’s what they’re telling me about the day of my accident—the day I put on Max’s ring and chose him over Nate. I’m counting on the wisdom behind a decision I don’t remember making.

Max is amazing—sexy, sweet, and kind. I was starting to believe happily-ever-after might be in my future after all. Then the unthinkable happened and my world imploded. If I’m going to make this work with Max, I need my missing memories, or at least answers from about those five days before my accident.

But what does my future hold if those answers aren’t anything like I imagined?

 

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 The following excerpt from ALL FOR THIS by its very nature contains spoilers for the first two books in the Here and Now series, LOST IN ME and FALL TO YOU. If you hate spoilers and haven’t read the first two books, I recommend you don’t read any further.

 EXCERPT

Max

 “How are you holding up? Did it go okay with Nate last night?”

She stiffens at his name. “He asked me to move to LA.”

Of course he did. “And what did you say?”

She blinks at me. “I’m not leaving New Hope. This is my home.”

“He wanted more than for you to move to LA.” I take a step closer. I need to touch her. I wonder if she knows she’s pulling away from me, if she can feel it like I can. It’s as if we’re connected by a thousand little threads like those in a woven rug and they’ve been breaking one at a time since the moment Nate came back into town. With every breath, I feel another thread snap. “He wanted you.”

She shrugs. “I’m already taken.”

I draw in a deep breath. She lifts her hand to my face and skims her fingers along my jaw.

I groan softly and slide my hand into her hair as I lower my mouth to hers. She’s soft and sweet, and I need more of her.

Taking a fistful of her skirt, I yank her dress up around her waist and find the cotton of her panties. She gasps, and I rub her through the fabric as her fingers curl into my back. My lips find her neck and the skin in the sensitive juncture of neck and shoulder.

“Max,” she says. But it’s not the normal breathy, needy whispering of my name. The word is a warning. A yield sign. “Max.”

My hand stills and I pull back to look into her eyes. I’m blindsided by the apology I see there. “Let’s move in together.”

“What?” She blinks at me. If she’s thinking I have the world’s worst timing with important proposals, she’s not wrong.

“We could rent out our apartments and use the money to rent a little place together. Someplace without those stairs that scare the living shit out of me every time I think of you climbing them. Someplace we can make our own.” I take her hand and squeeze. “You didn’t want to move in together last spring because you knew your mom would flip if you lived with a guy before marriage, but we’re not trying to maintain appearances anymore, are we?” She looks at the floor, and I tilt her chin back up so her eyes meet mine. “I could give two shits about appearances. I want to wake up with you in my arms, Hanna. I want to know I’m going to be right there when you need me, every time you need me. You and Claire are all that matter in my world. I want everything that matters to be what I come home to every night.”

“I’m sorry.” She steps back. “I just can’t. I’m too confused right now.”

My lungs burn as I fill them—it hurts to breathe in a world where Hanna isn’t mine.

“I know it’s not fair. And I want a future with you, but…”

“But you can’t stop thinking about him.”

“I can’t move in with you right now,” she says softly. “That wouldn’t be fair to either of us. It’s not that simple.”

“You keep saying that.”

I swallow back the rest of what I want to say right along with my anger, frustration, and the betrayal I’ve never allowed myself to feel. While I was waiting for her to take my ring, she was with another man, and I was never allowed to be angry because that man died and she needed to grieve.

I drag a hand through my hair and look at the ceiling. “Was it that simple when you made love to him?”

“Can we not do this?”

Torment is etched across her face, and I can’t stand to know I’m the one who put it there. I pull her against my chest.

“I won’t rush you, but remember something for me,” I whisper into her hair. “You put on my ring.”

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About the Author

lexi ryanOnce a college English professor, I now write full time. I live in rural Indiana, where, when I’m not writing, I get to hang out with my husband and two kids–a six-year-old boy and a two-year-old hellion, er, girl. Not surprisingly, reading and writing remain my favorite activities, though both come in bits and pieces these days, not the big hunks of time I enjoyed before I had children. When I’m feeling virtuous, I like to go running (I use that word liberally. I’m really, really slow) or do yoga. Don’t worry, I’m always careful to balance out such activities with a hearty serving of ice cream or a chocolate martini.

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