Category Archives: Contemporary

Cover Reveal: Spark by Aleatha Romig – Web of Desire Series

Posted on by
Reply








“From a little spark may burst a flame.” ~ Dante Alighieri

 
A simple ember to dried kindling can ignite a raging fire.

 

I’ve made my mark and proven my loyalty to a man, a city, and a way of life. That loyalty has provided me with all the spoils of success. Until now that hasn’t included a woman at my side.

 

What is it about this unobtainable beauty that brings my untapped desire to life?

 

Cracking open the stone and striking the flint is my doing. What follows is hers.

 

With something so intense will this spark lead to a blazing inferno? Will we make it out of the ashes before everything I hold dear is ravaged?

 

From New York Times bestselling author Aleatha Romig comes a brand-new dark romance, Spark, set in the same dangerous world as Secrets and Twisted. You do not need to read the Web of Sin or Tangled Web trilogy to get caught up in this new and intriguing saga, Web of Desire

 

SPARK is book one of the WEB OF DESIRE trilogy that continues in FLAME and concludes in ASHES.
 
Have You Been Aleatha’d?
 


Add to your Goodreads TBR List!

 

 

 

Pre-Order Your Copy Now!
 
Aleatha Romig is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana, USA. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis. Aleatha has raised three children with her high school sweetheart and husband of over thirty years. 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 a with her family and friends. Her other pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams and bring your imagination to life!
Aleatha released her first novel, CONSEQUENCES, in August of 2011. CONSEQUENCES became a bestselling series with five novels and two companions released from 2011 through 2015. The compelling and epic story of Anthony and Claire Rawlings has graced more than half a million e-readers. Aleatha released the first of her series TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE, INSIDIOUS, in the fall of 2014. These stand alone thrillers continue Aleatha’s twisted style with an increase in heat.
In the fall of 2015, Aleatha moved head first into the world of dark romantic suspense with the release of BETRAYAL, the first of her
five novel INFIDELITY series that has taken the reading world by storm. She also began her traditional publishing career with Thomas and Mercer. Her books INTO THE LIGHT and AWAY FROM THE DARK were published through this mystery/thriller publisher in 2016.
In the spring of 2017, Aleatha released her first stand-alone, fun, and sexy romantic comedy with PLUS ONE, followed by the sweet stand-alone, ONE NIGHT.
Aleatha is a “Published Author’s Network” member of the Romance Writers of America and PEN America. She is represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.
Get Aleatha’d Here:






Hosted By:

 

Cover Reveal: Kiss Me With Lies by S.M. Soto

Posted on by
Reply

KMWL - CR banner.jpg

Two sisters. One unsolved murder. A sickening plot for revenge.

Kiss Me With Lies, an all-new sexy, edge-of-your-seat romance from S.M. Soto, is coming December 3rd and we have the beautiful cover!

image2.jpeg

When Mackenzie Wright attends her first real high school party, held somewhere deep in the woods of her small California town, no one expects to wake up the next morning to news of a gruesome murder. Especially not her own sister’s.

No suspects.

No motive.

No convictions.

Just one unsolved murder and whatever’s left of the now deserted town.

Mackenzie has spent years with her sister’s death weighing heavily on her shoulders, but it isn’t until she stumbles across a photograph that changes everything for her. The memories, everything from that night, come flashing back in high-speed technicolor and Mackenzie soon finds herself obsessed with the truth.

Determined to find out what really happened to her sister, Mackenzie relies on that one photograph to give her the answers she needs by embedding herself into the lives of five of the wealthiest men in Los Angeles. Consumed by her need for revenge, Mackenzie infiltrates the world of the rich and elite, only to come face-to-face with an alluring complication in the form an elusive playboy.

When enemy lines are drawn, Mackenzie has to choose between her loyalty to her sister and the man who has stolen her heart.

KMWL - PO IG.jpg

Pre-order your copy exclusively on AppleBooks: https://apple.co/2kY9Jv9

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2m7sDQo

Be notified FIRST when Kiss Me With Lies is live: http://bit.ly/2oxOi6c

Cover designed by Najla Qamber

About S.M. Soto

S.M. Soto was born and raised in Northern, California where she currently resides with her son. Her love for reading began when she was a young girl, and has only continued to grow into adulthood. S.M. lives for reading books in the romance genre and writing novels with relatable characters. She refers to herself as a bit of a romance junkie. S.M. loves to connect with readers and eat copious of donuts that will surely lead to her demise.

SMSotoLogo.jpg

Connect with S.M. Soto

Facebook: http://bit.ly/31RzqNu

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2MVdVHe

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2pmyOlG

Stay up today with S.M. by joining her mailing list today: http://bit.ly/2oxOi6c

Website: https://authorsmsoto.com

 

New Release + Release Blitz and Blog Tour + Excerpt: Overnight Service by Lauren Blakely

Posted on by
Reply

 

OVERNIGHT SERVICE by Lauren Blakely
Release Date: October 30th

 

A brand new enemies-to-lovers standalone romance from #1 NYT Bestseller Lauren Blakely! The passionate, fiery and witty OVERNIGHT SERVICE is NOW LIVE!

 

AVAILABLE NOW!!
✦Kindle ➜ https://amzn.to/2WnQ6Lz
✦Apple ➜ https://blkly.pub/OvernightApple
✦Kobo ➜ https://blkly.pub/KoboOvernight
✦BN ➜ https://blkly.pub/NookOvernight
✦Google ➜ https://blkly.pub/OvernightGoogle
✦Paperback ➜ https://amzn.to/2BWmzPI

✦Audio ➜ https://amzn.to/2JzMaSB

The full-cast audiobook production of Overnight Service is performed by a cast of 10 all-star narrators – Jason Clarke, Emma Wilder, Andi Arndt, Shane East, Erin Mallon, Teddy Hamilton, Vikas Adam, Dan Bittner, Lili Valente and Dion Graham.

The audiobook also includes the After Dark novella The Engagement Gift performed by Teddy Hamilton and Elena Wolfe and available in audio for the first time!

 

 

Add to Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46009538-overnight-service

 

 

Blurb:
Top three reasons why sleeping with the enemy is a bad idea…

1. She’s my fiercest rival.
2. She’s also my fiery ex.
3. We’re going up against each other in a stiff competition to win the hottest new client on the market.

And yet, I’d like to be up against the wall in a stiff competition to get her to call out my name.

Time to double down on my resistance to her tough-as-nails, take-no-prisoners, sexy-as-sin attitude. The same attitude I find irresistible.

That’s a big problem, because in this race to nab the client, I run into Haven in the hotel, on the beach, in the guest quarters late at night.

Hate sex would be a terrible idea.

Except, it’s the complete opposite, and now we can’t keep our hands off each other.

Trouble is, I’m not so sure it’s hate I’m feeling anymore.

And that’s the biggest reason sleeping with the enemy you’re falling for is a bad idea — my job literally depends on never letting her into my heart.

 

 

Excerpt:
Her hand slides down my back, and it feels reverent. Her touch does so many things to me. It turns me on, it riles me up, and it sends me soaring. And now, it makes my heart thunder like a wild animal in my chest. One that wants to be with her, next to her, beside her.

“More,” I whisper. “Give me more of your kisses.”

“Take them all,” she tells me.

I am ravenous for her. I don’t know if I will ever be sated.

Not with her scent in my head, her body curled around me, and her kisses on my lips and in my soul.

We might have come in here for one final hurrah, but as we kiss like we can’t ever get enough, this doesn’t feel like the last time for either of us. It doesn’t seem like the end run down the slopes.

I should keep that thought to myself. But when I’m with her, when she’s close like this, I can’t think rationally. It’s too hard to lie or to pretend like she’s the enemy.

My rival, yes.

The competition, yes.

But she’s also the woman I can’t quit.

The woman I don’t want to quit.

 

 

About the Author:
A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s sweet, sexy and witty. Her heroines are strong and smart and her heroes have hearts of gold and fantastic funny bones. She lives on the West Coast with her family, including her smoking hot and hilarious husband and her two brilliant and kind teenagers. She has plotted entire novels while walking her dogs — she might have four dogs, or maybe five. If she’s lucky, she’ll soon have six dogs. With fourteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than 100 times, and she’s sold more than 3 million books.

She’d love to give you a free book today! Check out her web site to grab your free read: laurenblakely.com/one-free-book/

 

Connect w/Lauren:
Website: http://www.laurenblakely.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenBlakelyBooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LaurenBlakely3
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenblakelybooks/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lauren-blakely
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2YzfGNv
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6860216.Lauren_Blakely

Release Blitz- Landon & Shay: Part One by Brittany C. Cherry

Posted on by
Reply

L&S RB banner.jpg

You know what they say…

All’s fair in the game of love and war—especially the heartbreaks.

Landon & Shay: Part One, an all-new must read enemies to lovers romance by Brittainy C. Cherry, is available now!

Landon & Shay FOR WEB.jpg

Shay Gable hated my guts, and I hated hers, too.

We went out of our way to avoid one another at all times. When she came my direction, I went the other. When we locked eyes, she’d turn and walk away.

All of that changed the day I was presented with a challenge. It started out as a stupid bet: make Shay fall in love with me before I fell in love with her first.

That was an easy bet for me to win.

I didn’t love, I hardly liked.

Yet slowly the game started to shift. Shay made me crave things I never knew I wanted like love, happiness, and her.

The closer we grew, the more she challenged my darkness, and the parts I kept locked away.

The hurts.

The pains.

The truth.

The game between us became too real, our feelings intermixed, and the risks of hurting one another grew higher.

But you know what they say…

All’s fair in the game of love and war—especially the heartbreaks.

L&S - AN.jpg

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2VIRvvK

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/LandonShay1

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2khPhFv

L&S 1 - Teaser 2 AN.jpg

Pre-order the emotional conclusion, Landon and Shay: Part Two, releasing on December 4th!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2BQhBDW

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/landonshay2

Be notified FIRST when Landon & Shay: Part Two goes live: http://bit.ly/2oK1voU

___________________________________

About Brittainy

Author Brittainy C. Cherry is an Amazon #1 bestselling author.

She has been in love with words since the day she took her first breath. She graduated from Carroll University with a Bachelor Degree in Theatre Arts and a minor in Creative Writing.

Her novels have been published in 18+ countries around the world. Brittainy lives in Brookfield, Wisconsin with her fur babies.

Connect with Brittainy

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2Fc8izo

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2Oe1m8V

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2Fltnc1

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Fk2jKg

GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2ThAciJ

Join Brittainy’s Golden Girls (And Boys) Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2Y4WEir

Stay up to date with Brittainy by joining her mailing list: http://bit.ly/2oK1voU

https://bcherrybooks.com

 

Cover Reveal: Come Back For Me by Corinne Michaels – The Arrowood Brothers – Book 1

Posted on by
Reply

CBFM_CoverCome Back for Me

The Arrowood Brothers – Book 1

By Corinne Michaels

Release Date: January 7, 2020

images

***

Cover Design: Perfect Pear Creative

Photographer: Brian Kaminski

Synopsis:

From New York Times Bestselling author Corinne Michaels comes a new emotional and riveting love story in the first standalone novel in the Arrowood Brothers series.

One night, eight years ago, she gave me peace.
No names.
No promises.
Just two broken people, desperate to quiet their pain and grief.

In the morning, she was gone and had taken my solace with her. I left for the military that day, vowing never to return to Pennsylvania.

When my father dies, I’m forced to go home to bury him. At least I’ll finally be rid of his farm, which is grown over and tangled with memories I’ve fought to forget.

And that’s when I find her. She’s even more beautiful than I remember and has the most adorable kid I’ve ever seen.

Years have passed, but my feelings are the same, and this time I refuse to let her go. They say you can’t bury the past, and they’re right. Because when long-ago secrets are exposed, rocking us both to the core, I have no choice but to watch her walk away again. . .

***

 Preorder:

● Amazon ➜ https://geni.us/CBFMzon

● AppleBooks ➜ https://geni.us/CBFMApple

● Barnes & Noble ➜ https://geni.us/CBFMnook

● Kobo ➜ https://geni.us/CBFMKobo

● Google Play ➜ https://geni.us/CBFMGoogle

● Goodreads ➜ https://geni.us/CBFMGR

CBFM_IG

______________________________

About Corinne:

Corinne MichaelsCorinne Michaels is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of romance novels. Her stories are chock full of emotion, humor, and unrelenting love, and she enjoys putting her characters through intense heartbreak before finding a way to heal them through their struggles.
Corinne is a former Navy wife and happily married to the man of her dreams. She began her writing career after spending months away from her husband while he was deployed—reading and writing were her escapes from the loneliness. Corinne now lives in Virginia with her husband and is the emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun-loving mom of two beautiful children.

***

Connect with Corinne:

Newsletter Sign Up: http://bit.ly/2W1xRxu
I

nstagram: http://bit.ly/2Vjo6qa

Facebook Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2VdWiU8

BookBub: http://bit.ly/2JzC5pJ

Book+Main: http://bit.ly/2vQ64S5

***

CBFM_Cover

New Release + Release Blitz + 4.5 Star Review: Gypsy King by Devney Perry

Posted on by
Reply

 



The former Tin Gypsy 
motorcycle club has everyone in Clifton Forge, Montana convinced they’ve locked their clubhouse doors and ripped off their patches. Everyone but Bryce Ryan. There’s more happening at the club’s garage than muscle car restorations and Harley rebuilds. Her instincts are screaming there’s a story—one she’s going to tell.

 

 

 

As the new owner of the small town’s newspaper, Bryce is hungry for more than birth announcements and obituaries. When a woman is brutally killed and all signs point to the Tin Gypsies, Bryce is determined to expose the club and their leader, Kingston “Dash” Slater, as murderers.

 

 
Bryce bests Dash match after match, disappointed her rugged and handsome opponent turns out to be an underwhelming adversary. Secrets are exposed. Truths defeat lies. Bryce is poised to win this battle in a landslide.
 

 

Then Dash breaks all the rules and tips the scales. 

 

 
One kiss, and she’s fighting to save more than just her story. 

 

 

 

She’s fighting to save her heart from the Gypsy King. 

 

Buy Your Copy Here:

Tracey’s Review

Devney Perry first won me over with her heartfelt and emotional books. They are always written with so much heart and passion that they never fail to draw me in from start to finish. When I saw that Devney was writing a trilogy about a former MC, I was intrigued. It was a bit different from her other books, but, being that it was from Devney Perry, there was no way that these wouldn’t be right atop my TBR.

And, so, GYPSY KING. Big win for me, with a strong, take no nonsense female lead, and a cocky hero that is not beyond redemption. Bryce and Dash are an unlikely couple, but once they find that they share a common goal, spending time together only serves to show them that opposites sometimes are the best fit.

There is suspense and angst aplenty here, with surprises around every corner. Devney has created a whole new world and group of characters to love, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for them. I will say that this is not the typical MC read, so, if that’s putting you off, I challenge you to give GYPSY KING a chance. You will not be sorry. ❤️

 

Devney is a USA Today bestselling author. Born and raised in Montana, she loves writing books set in her treasured home state. After working in the technology industry for nearly a decade, she abandoned conference calls and project schedules to enjoy a slower pace at home with her husband and two sons. Writing one book, let alone many, was not something she ever expected to do. But now that she’s discovered her true passion for writing romance, she has no plans to ever stop. Devney loves hearing from readers! 

 

 

Connect with her on social media!

 

 

 

 




Hosted By:

New Release + Release Blitz: If You Say So by Lani Lynn Vale

Posted on by
Reply

 

Gabriel Luca Maldonado, III and Francesca Leandra Solomon were meant to be. They were so in love that everybody prayed for what they had.
Everything was glorious. They would get married, have children and live a perfect life. She would be a doctor in the emergency room once she finished her doctorate, and he would be a badass Navy SEAL and save people for a living. 
But then Luca is deployed across the world, and per military regulations, Frankie isn’t allowed to follow.
They’ve overcome a lot in their short relationship, and they can overcome this, too. Two years was a piece of cake. She’d finish her schooling and wait for him. And when he finally returned home, they would marry.
But two months into Luca’s deployment, the unthinkable happens, and Frankie is left alone and heartbroken, knowing that she’ll have to face the rest of life without Luca at her side.
***
Fast forward two years, and Frankie is exactly where her fiancé’s father left her, in a pit of despair that she has no hope of ever finding her way out of.
She lives life one second at a time, depressed and alone, hoping tomorrow won’t hurt like today.
She finds a job, moves, and hopes that the nightmares won’t swallow her whole.
But just as she thinks that she’s getting better, one of her nightmares walks through the doors of her ER, and that nightmare has a name.
Gabriel Luca Maldonado, III. In the flesh.
Also healthy and whole, and definitely no longer missing.
Sadly, it only takes her a half a second to realize that the man that left her isn’t the same man that returned.
The old one wanted her. The new one? Well, he’s definitely not interested anymore.




Get Your Copy HERE
















Lani Lynn Vale is a USA Today Bestselling Author of over thirty titles. She is married with three children, two dogs, two cats, a donkey, and a couple (a couple also meaning over twenty) chickens.
When she’s not writing, you can find her curled up in her favorite chair reading.
Lani is married with three children and lives in the Great State of Texas.

 

 

 

Stalk Lani Lynn Vale:

 

 

Hosted By:

New Release + Release Blitz: Tangled Up In Christmas by Lisa Renee Jones

Posted on by
Reply

 

 

 

I might be a country girl from the same small town of Sweetwater, Texas, as horse wrangler Roarke Frost, the girl next door who knows him like few know him, but I didn’t know enough to save my heart.

 
He’s the reason why I left Sweetwater behind.
 
But now fate proves she loves a wicked twist and sends me back to Sweetwater to pull together a Christmas festival—and I run smack into the man again, quite literally. His body is pressed to mine, his hands on my arms, and I’m melting like chocolate in the sizzling Texas sunshine. And I run.
 
I know it’s not exactly respectable, but it works, just not for long. No matter how much I try to get tangled up in Christmas, I end up tangled up in Roarke instead—and the man has me feeling the heat of our attraction and the warmth of our past friendship. He feels like Mr. Right, but history says he’s Mr. Wrong.
 
But if he wants a second chance, Roarke Frost is going to have to work for it. He’ll need to prove to me that this holiday is a season of new beginnings, the kind that last forever.
Get Your Copy Here:

 

Add caption







 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT series. Suzanne Todd (producer of Alice in Wonderland) on the INSIDE OUT series: Lisa has created a beautiful, complicated, and sensual world that is filled with intrigue and suspense. Sara’s character is strong, flawed, complex, and sexy – a modern girl we all can identify with.

 

In addition to the success of Lisa’s INSIDE OUT series, she has published many successful titles. The TALL, DARK AND DEADLY series and THE SECRET LIFE OF AMY BENSEN series, both spent several months on a combination of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling lists. Lisa is presently working on a dark, edgy new series, Dirty Money, for St. Martin’s Press.
Prior to publishing Lisa owned multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by the Dallas Women’s Magazine. In 1998 Lisa was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine.
 
Check out all things Lisa Renee Jones Here:

 

Hosted By:

New Release + Release Blitz: Stud Muffin by Jiffy Kate

Posted on by
Reply

DB02-RBBANNER-SBPR

It’s hard to get revenge without getting a rap sheet.

Stud Muffin, an all-new friends-to-lovers standalone romance from Jiffy Kate, is available now!

20190718_DB02_Stud Muffin_Kate_KDP_FINAL

After Tempest Cassidy walks in on her husband banging her high school nemesis, her whole world gets turned upside down. She goes from being known as the Duchess of Muffins to the town crazy. Her new MO: revenge. Eventually, Tempest grows weary being arrested. Yet what choice does she have? If she’s not angry, then she’s simply . . . sad.

Just as she decides to get her life back on track, in walks Cage Erickson, the new bouncer at the local strip club. He’s scary-handsome and the polar opposite of her ex. She’s attracted to him, but she’s not looking for a rebound. He’s attracted to her, but he’s not looking for a serious relationship. So, they agree to be friends.

But when lines get blurred in the friend zone, will they both get burned? Or will it be a TKO?

‘Stud Muffin’ is a full-length contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book#2 in the Donner Bakery series, Green Valley World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

Copy of DB02-LIVE

Download your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2BPp0Dv

Apple Books: https://apple.co/2lWf2eJ

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/StudMuffin

Nook: http://bit.ly/2m1a1lk

Kobo: Coming Soon!

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2kkIo6o

Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2pZzSw1

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2m25z5P

About Jiffy Kate

Jiffy Kate is the joint pen name for Jiff Simpson and Jenny Kate Altman. They’re co-writing besties who share a brain. They also share a love of cute boys, stiff drinks, and fun times.

Together, they’ve written over twenty stories. Their first published book, Finding Focus, was released in November 2015. Since then, they’ve continued to write what they know–southern settings full of swoony heroes and strong heroines.

Connect with Jiffy Kate

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2kkDmqx

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2ki0mq5

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2lGyhsz

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2kkDkPr

Website: http://www.jiffykate.com/

Connect with Smartypants Romance

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2kvDnb4

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2lzyduO

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2lGdIMQ

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2kwKsYK

Website: https://smartypantsromance.com/

New Release + Release Blitz + Excerpt: Knox by Brenda Rothert

Posted on by
Reply

Today we are celebrating the release of KNOX by Brenda Rothert. This is a contemporary romance, and it is the fourth, standalone title in the Chicago Blaze hockey romance series. Purchase your copy now!

Purchase KNOX Now:

Amazon | Nook | Kobo | Apple Books

—————-

Follow Brenda’s newsletter and join her Facebook group for exclusive details!

 

Knox by Brenda Rothert

Available Now | Chicago Blaze, #4

Purchase KNOX Now:

Amazon | Nook | Kobo | Apple Books

Reese

I’m done.

Getting ditched at the altar is nothing compared to being humiliated there in front of three hundred shocked guests. Apparently I’m no good at spotting the signs your man’s a cheating liar. So I set off solo on my honeymoon to Hawaii, where I realize I’ve got this life thing down just fine on my own.

Friendships and laughter? Yes.

Adventures? Absolutely.

But relationships? Hell no. Never again.

Knox

I’m a man of few words. My reputation as a moody prick is deserved, but only the handful of people who really know me see the man beneath the professional mask.

I’m a protector. A warrior. That part is true. But the world doesn’t get to see the rest of me. And women don’t seem to mind my gruff exterior—my bed’s always warm.

I’m content with life—loving it, even—or so I thought. But when I meet a beautiful pastry chef with a broken heart and a smile that softens me down to my soul, I realize I wasn’t really content at all before her.

I only wish I had the words to let her know.

Add the book to Goodreads

 

EXCERPT:

Mrs. Eric Darnell. I’ve practiced saying it and writing it, but it still doesn’t feel real. There’s a part of me that’s still scared, but this is the right thing. After nine years together, where else can our relationship go?

At the sound of a sniffle, I turn to my maid of honor, my best friend Mandy, who’s already crying. I never knew her to be a softie. The ceremony hasn’t really even started yet. She takes a tissue out from around her bouquet and wipes the corners of her eyes.

“Before we begin the ceremony, let us pray,” the pastor says.

“Hang on,” Eric blurts out.

Did he just say hang on as our wedding ceremony was about to start? My heart skips several beats as I look around to see what’s going on. Is there a medical emergency? Why else would Eric go off script?

The pastor and I both stare at him as he closes his eyes and grimaces.

“I’m sorry,” he says, sighing as he opens his eyes and lets go of my hands.

As my hands drop to my sides, an icy shiver zips down my spine. He let go. I only asked him for one thing when we talked on the phone this morning, honoring the tradition of not seeing each other on our wedding day. Hold onto my hands the entire time.

The church is still, everyone seeming to hold their breath as they wait for Eric to speak. My heart races and my hands start to shake as I realize something’s not right here. There’s no medical emergency.

“Reese.” Eric’s tone is both apologetic and pleading. “I need to tell you something. I want to go into this marriage with a clean conscience.”

I swallow back the bile that rises in my throat. This can’t be happening. In all my worst-case scenarios about what could go wrong on my wedding day, I never imagined this.

I worried I’d be having a heavy period today. That I’d trip on my way down the aisle and face plant in front of everyone. Or that the last week of stress eating would catch up with me and my dress wouldn’t zip up.

But this? Never this.

Eric lets out a shaky breath and says, “Please forgive me. I did something so stupid.”

Mandy’s crying intensifies. I feel like I could pass out at any second.

“Uh…” the pastor looks between me and Eric. “Do you two want to step out for a moment?”

“What did you do?” I ask Eric, my voice nearly a whisper.

The sound and scent of the ocean has vanished. I can only feel my racing heart and a creeping sense of complete dread.

“So now it was stupid?” Mandy demands loudly. “Eight months together and you’re saying it was a mistake?”

The guests collectively gasp.

As it sets in, I’m too stunned to even breathe. Eric. Fucked. Mandy. A lot.

My bouquet falls to the ground, making a whooshing sound as it hits. My breathing is more of a pant now, an angry, breathy pant with a growl now surfacing.

PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES

Purchase ANTON Now:

Amazon | Nook | Kobo | Apple Books

 

Purchase LUCA Now:

Amazon | Nook | Kobo | Apple Books

 

Purchase VICTOR Now:

Amazon | Nook | Kobo | Apple Books

————–

AUTHOR INFORMATION:


Brenda Rothert is an Illinois native who was a print journalist for nine years. She made the jump from fact to fiction in 2013 and never looked back. From new adult to steamy contemporary romance, Brenda creates fresh characters in every story she tells. She’s a lover of Diet Coke, chocolate, lazy weekends and happily ever afters.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Wattpad | Amazon