HERE WITH ME by New York Times Bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin will be released in just 2 weeks (on October 23rd!)! Today we have a few teasers from the book and a bio teaser for Evan Archer.
Synopsis for HERE WITH ME:
Ryley Clarke has grown up with the military in her blood, with both parents serving their country. Ryley knows the risks of being married to the military. But when the unthinkable happens, and her future husband is killed in action, Ryley can barely survive… until Evan’s twin brother, Nate, helps her pick up the pieces.
After serving on a special mission with the military for six years, Evan Archer returns home to find the unthinkable – the love of his life, Ryley Clarke – engaged to his brother, Nate. With Nate on deployment, Evan needs to figure out what happened in his absence, and more importantly, how to win Ryley back from the man he once considered his best friend, but now thinks of as his rival.
Heidi is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author.
Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell and two Parakeets.
During the day Heidi is behind a desk talking about Land Use. At night, she’s writing one of the many stories planned for release or sitting court-side during either daughter’s basketball games.
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wait for You and Be with Me comes a daring tale that pushes boundaries . . .
At 21, Calla hasn’t done a lot of things. She’s never been kissed, never seen the ocean, never gone to an amusement park. But growing up, she witnessed some things no child ever should. She still carries the physical and emotional scars of living with a strung-out mother, Mona—secrets she keeps from everyone, including her close circle of college friends.
But the safe cocoon Calla has carefully built is shattered when she discovers her mom has stolen her college money and run up a huge credit card debt in her name. Now, Calla has to go back to the small town she thought shed left behind and clean up her mom’s mess again. Of course, when she arrives at her mother’s bar, Mona is nowhere to be found. Instead, six feet of hotness named Jackson James is pouring drinks and keeping the place humming.
Sexy and intense, Jax is in Calla’s business from they moment they meet, giving her a job and helping her search for Mona. And the way he looks at her makes it clear he wants to get horizontal . . . and maybe something more. Before Calla can let him get close, though, she’s got to deal with the pain of the past—and some very bad guys out to mess her up if she doesn’t give them her mom.
As I lay there, trying to swallow a loud, obnoxious yawn, I remembered something he’d said when we first met, about life being too short. I imagined he had firsthand experience with shortened lives while he was serving. That mentality came from experience. I got that now. Could even understand it, but there was something I didn’t understand.
“Why?” I asked.
There was a beat. “Why what?”
Jax sounded tired, and I should shut up or point out that I was now tired and could sleep, so he could leave. But I didn’t. “Why are you here? You don’t know me and . . .” I trailed off, because there really wasn’t anything left to say.
A minute went by, and he hadn’t answered my question, and then I think another minute ticked on, and I was okay with him not answering because maybe he didn’t even know. Or maybe he was just bored and that was why he was here.
But then he moved.
Jax pressed against my back, and the next breath I took got stuck in my throat. My eyes shot open. The sheet and blanket were between us, but they felt like nothing.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Getting comfortable.” He dropped an arm over my waist, and my entire body jerked against his. “It’s time to sleep I think.”
“But—”
“You can’t sleep when you talk,” he remarked.
“You don’t need to be all up on me,” I pointed out.
His answering chuckle stirred the hair along the back of my neck. “Honey, I’m not all up on you.”
I freaking begged to differ on that point. I started to wiggle away, but the arm around my waist tightened, holding me in place.
“You’re not going anywhere,” he announced casually, as if he wasn’t holding me prisoner in the bed.
Okay. The whole prisoner thing might be melodramatic, but he wasn’t letting me up. Not when he was getting all kinds of comfy behind me.
Oh my God, this was spooning. Total spooning. I was spooning with an honorary member of the Hot Guy Brigade. Did I wake up in a parallel universe?
“Sleep,” he demanded, as if the one word carried that much power. “Go to sleep, Calla.” This time his voice was softer, quieter.
“Yeah, it doesn’t work that way, Jax. You have a nice voice, but it doesn’t hold the power to make me sleep on your command.”
He chuckled.
I rolled my eyes, but the most ridiculous thing ever was the fact that after a couple of minutes, my eyes stayed shut. I . . . I actually settled in against him. With his front pressed to my back, his long legs cradling mine, and his arm snug around my waist, I actually did feel safe. More than that, I felt something else—something I hadn’t felt in years.
I felt cared for . . . cherished.
Which was the epitome of dumb, because I barely knew him, but feeling that, recognizing what the warm, buzzing feeling was, I fell right asleep.
Michel’s Review
Stay With Me by J. Lynn is another fine addition to the Wait For You series. It delivered an emotional romance that brought me to tears. This story showed readers the true meaning of unconditional love. It redefined the term “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. It also showed how building ones self esteem and confidence can heal more than the wounded soul.
Stay With Me is quite different from the other books in Wait For You series. Unlike the other books, this book takes place off campus. It also has an edgier plot that has some violence. The background and undertones of this book are bit darker than campus life. It depicts the ugly underside of a failing small town. But in all it’s darkness the characters make this book shine brightly.
Calla has endured many ugly things in her young life. Her mother is a junkie and has brought the dregs of society into her home too many times. Calla finally thought she escaped her mother for good when she left for college. Her mother has managed to pull her back when she takes all of her college money and runs up her credit cards. Calla is forced to return home to get her money back.
When she arrives home, not only has her money gone missing, her mother has gone missing as well. Left destitute, she cannot return to college. She is forced to take a job as a waitress in the family bar. She is dreading going back to that hole in the wall where she spent many of her childhood years. But like most things in life, the bar has changed since she has been gone. It no longer seems as seedy as it once was. There is a better crew running the place in her mother’s absence. One of these people is the sexy bartender Jax.
Jax sends her world spinning with his sexy flirting, genuine concern, protectiveness, and fun personality. He gives her a chance to let her guard down and be the person she really is. He gives her the hope that she can finally find a real boyfriend, experience a real kiss, and maybe find a love loyal to her.
Jax fell for Calla the moment she walked through the door. She is the kind of girl he has been waiting for to share his life. He wants to see Calla healthy, happy, and at peace. He knows her history, he knows how her mother is, he knows the demons she fights, and he loves her all the more for it.
Calla’s mother has severely scarred Calla emotionally and physically. She has ruined their lives. She has brought trouble to Calla’s doorstep when she skipped town with Calla’s money. Her mother has buried herself deep with the dregs of society. She has burned the wrong people. She has stole drugs from the wrong people. They want their money back. They don’t care how they get it, who they hurt, or what consequences will be paid. They want retribution. That retribution is Calla. Jax will do everything in his power to protect Calla from her mother’s enemies. It looks like the only thing that is going to save them both is the reappearance of her mother. No one is holding their breaths.
Through all the threats and violence, Calla and Jax will find a love filled with beauty.
Stay With Me was loaded with suspense and mystery. It also had all the elements we love in a new adult romance. The wonder of new love, the recognition of self worth, and finding the inner strength to build a better life. Some of the old characters from the series put in their appearances and we met quite a few new intriguing characters.
I highly recommend Stay With Me. It can be read as a stand alone novel or in series order.
Jennifer L. Armentrout/J.Lynn Bio:
# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.
Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV.
She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.
Jack Rossi is Dare Island’s new police chief. The laid-back North Carolina community is just what he needs to recover from a rocky marriage and a big-city police department. He’s learned his lesson: no more high-profile women or high-pressure jobs. The last thing he wants is an unconventional alt girl rocking his world.
Grad student Lauren Patterson made headlines when she kept a bank robbery from going bad. She’s fled to Dare Island to clear her head and focus on writing her story. However, sexy Jack Rossi is a distraction that’s too hot to ignore, and it’s igniting an affair too combustible to resist—or quit.
Jack Rossi, Philadelphia born and bred, is a cop and military veteran. Reeling from the ultimate betrayal, Jack has relocated to Dare Island, NC, trading a high profile professional life in his hometown for one where his duties revolve more around making sure that vacationers abide by traffic laws and finding out what is making the noise under Dora Abrams’ house. Lauren Patterson is a grad student and bestselling author. She’s come to Dare Island to try and find the inspiration to write the follow-up to her bestselling book Hostage Girl, and to escape the pressure of living a life under the magnifying glass of the public eye. And, while these two people have, at first glance, very little in common, it isn’t long before they find that they may be just exactly what the other needs.
I really enjoyed this book. I have to admit that I had no real idea of what to expect beforehand, having never read any of the previous books in the Dare Island series. What a pleasure to learn that Virginia Kantra writes such a great story, one that truly engaged me from the first page. The setting, the characters, the relationships, all of these things together made Carolina Blues a winner for me. Jack is jaded and just a little bitter, but not so closed off that he can’t recognize that Lauren’s openness and free spirit make him feel things that he thought he’d never feel again. And Lauren, although she talks a good game, is in need of some of the therapeutic wisdom that she so freely dispenses, and Jack is able to meet that need in every possible way.
I am a big fan of books that are not only sexy, but that bring a fresh take on things, and tell a story that makes me want to be a part of it. The community of Dare Island, and all its residents and their stories, make Carolina Blue, and the rest of this series, one that I would not only read, but would absolutely recommend.
Author Bio:
New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra has written over twenty books of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. Her deeply emotional stories have won numerous writing awards, including Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award and two National Readers’ Choice Awards. Married to her college sweetheart and the mother of three kids, she is a firm believer in the strength of family, the importance of storytelling, and the power of love.
Her favorite thing to make for dinner? Reservations.
The world knows the notorious Kevlar Killer, but few have ever seen what lies beneath his armor. The abused child. The neglected teenager. The broken man. He always did whatever he had to do in order to survive.
It’s kill or be killed.
Throughout his life, he has been there in the shadows, a witness to everything from beginning to end. Bound by loyalty and honor, there’s only one thing he would sacrifice it all for: family.
Never get close. Never get attached. It’s a lesson that has been brutally pounded into him since childhood, but they’re words the DeMarcos make it difficult for him to follow. Through them he finds love and grieves loss, realizing the world isn’t quite as black and white as it’s made out to be.
Made.
Teaser Excerpt
The low groan on the first floor roused Corrado from sleep. His eyes snapped open, suddenly alert, as the relentless noise seemed to echo through the house. A window. He often slept with them open a crack to let the air circulate, but someone shoved one open the whole way.
His heart thumped wildly in his chest as he reached onto his bedside stand and grabbed his gun. He habitually checked it, ensuring it was still loaded, and jumped out of bed. There was no time to waste getting dressed; he crept down the hallway in his plaid boxers, his bare feet lightly touching the floor, making not a sound.
The second he made it downstairs, a breeze struck him from the living room. A few steps later he appeared in the doorway, pointing his gun at the form halfway through the window. He flipped off the safety as his finger lightly touched the trigger. Two seconds. Two seconds were all it would take to blow them away.
A pair of wide brown eyes instantly met Corrado’s. “Whoa, there, big guy.”
Just as fast as he’d aimed, prepared to kill whoever was breaking into his house, he lowered the gun. “Dammit, Celia!”
“Nice to see you, too.” She swung both legs inside but remained perched on the windowsill. “You weren’t really going to shoot me, were you?”
“Yes,” he said, no hesitation. “I was.”
“Well, I’m lucky you didn’t.”
“Lucky?” Corrado stared at her with disbelief. “I would’ve shot you, Celia. Two more seconds and I would’ve killed you. And then your father… your father would’ve killed me.”
“Yeah, he probably would’ve.”
“There’s no probably about it. He would’ve mutilated me. You… you wouldn’t have felt a thing. But me…” He shuddered just thinking about it. “What are you doing here? Are you in some kind of trouble?”
“I wanted to talk to you.”
Corrado gaped at her. “You broke into my house to talk?”
“Well, I would’ve called, but I don’t have your number.” Celia stood and strolled around the darkened living room, glancing at his belongings. “Besides, something tells me you’re not the talking-on-the-phone type.”
Novellas:
FRIENDS:
One moment.
One wrong choice.
That was all it took to destroy a friendship.
*takes place before Sempre*
FOREVER:
Halloween.
With a three year old.
‘Nuff said.
*takes place after Sempre: Redemption*
Author Bio:
JM Darhower is the author of countless stories and poems, most of which only she has ever read. She lives in a tiny town in rural North Carolina, where she churns out more words than will ever see the light of day. She has a deep passion for politics and speaking out against human trafficking, and when she isn’t writing she’s usually ranting about those things. Chronic crimper with a vulgar mouth, she admits to having a Twitter addiction. You can find her there.
Deacon has an ugly history, a history that broke him, leaving him a ghost of a man. Out of necessity, he left the normal world to descend into the criminal world and found he fit. So he stayed. Cold as ice and living off the grid, Deacon has no intention to connect, not with anyone.
Then he returns to some remote cabins in the Colorado Mountains and finds they have new owners. One of them is Cassidy Swallow, a young woman willing to work hard to live her quiet dream in a house by a river surrounded by aspen and pine.
Suddenly, Deacon finds he’s at war. Cassidy’s pull for him to connect is strong. He fights it, but he loses, always coming back for more. But when he does, he gives her nothing.
From the first time she sees him, Cassidy knows Deacon is dead inside. She knows he’s the kind of man who could destroy a woman. But one night when Deacon’s control slips, Cassidy takes a chance.
He might break her. He also might be her dream come true.
The Unfinished Heroes are back. Kristen Ashley’s rugged alphas that live on the edge, live by their own laws, and contain the dredges of the underworld have stolen the reader’s hearts. Throughout the series, there has been one of those alphas that has stood out among these bad boys. His air of mystery, intrigue, lack of emotions, unfathomable personality, and expertise in the dregs of humanity have had the reader’s in love with him before he uttered one word. We have been anxiously waiting for Deacon to open his mouth and tell us his story. We have been waiting to embrace this badass alpha and give him the love he desperately needs. It looks like Cassidy Swallow beat us to it and she is not letting Deacon go.
Deacon is quite a surprise. I don’t think any of us could see the man he kept behind closed doors. I can honestly say that I am head over heels in love with this man. He has one of the most beautiful souls. When he finally opened up his closed doors the sunshine he let out was blinding. The pure radiance of Deacon will warm the readers through and through. How can you not love a man that cleans gutters, BBQ’s, and uses songs that speak of the emotions he’s feeling?
What could bring the true Deacon out of hiding and appear to be an open book? Cassidy Swallow of course. She is a strong independent, caring, yet vulnerable woman that has always showed Deacon that the sun shines even on the dreariest day. He has been coming to her rental cabins for six years on his down time. Throughout these six years, she has stayed consistent with her bright personality, quit wit, and acceptance. She doesn’t push him to open up but leaves the invitation open at all times. She always makes him feel welcome.
When these two finally come together after skirting around each other for six years it is HOT! They are perfection together. They build a strong and steady relationship that not only burns passionately, but is also built on a foundation of acceptance and trust. Their passionate need for one another will have the readers fanning themselves. Their charming relationship will have the readers swooning. They may appear to have the perfect relationship but Deacon is still keeping some secrets. Those secrets will eventually tear them apart. Deacon will have to let go of all his secrets in order to have the sunshine in his life that only Cassidy can give.
Of course the badass alpha gang will make their appearance and lead the Unfinished Heroes into another adventure. It looks like Nick has dug himself into a hole. With that, Kristen Ashley left us dangling and dying for Nick’s book.
Deacon had all the special elements that only Kristen Ashley can conjure up. Her alphas with their badass personalities and unique charm never fail to have the reader’s falling hard. Her lovely leading ladies are strong women with enough humor to handle these badass alphas.
The one thing I will say is that the tone in this book was not overly original. It had the same kind of voice that all the other books have had. I found quite a bit of the dialogue and interaction predictable. The pacing was a bit dragging in areas. This book did not have the suspense and action that the other Unfinished Heroes books have had. Also some of the kinkier sex scenes were very awkward. They felt kind of mechanical rather than passionate. I don’t think Kristen Ashley has found her zone in writing this kind of kinky sex scene. There was something off in each of these scenes that just didn’t make my tummy tingle.
Because of these things I could not give the book a five star rating. I was expecting a little more originality and growth in the writing.
I still enjoyed the book. I love Deacon and Cassidy. I closed the book with the tingly feel good smile that Kristen Ashley always delivers. I would highly recommend the book and the Unfinished Heroes series. It will charm your soul.
Author Bio:
Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA and nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn’t taken her first breath!). Her mother said they took Kristen away, put her Mom back in her room, her mother looked out the window, and Gary was on fire (Dr. King had been assassinated four days before). Kristen’s Mom remembered thinking it was the end of the world. Quite the dramatic beginning.
Nothing’s changed.
Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana and has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus, she’s blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her family was (is) loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. They all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).
Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.
And as she keeps growing, it keeps getting better.
The Cavanaugh brothers left behind River Black, Texas, long ago. But after their father dies, bequeathing them the Triple C, a cattle ranch that sustains their small town, they return—and confront the painful memories of their childhood home and the truth about their sister’s murder…
For years, James Cavanaugh has traveled the world as a horse whisperer, but even the millions he’s earned hasn’t healed the pain he hides behind his stoic exterior. Forced to tackle old demons at the ranch, James throws himself into work to avoid his true feelings. Until he meets a woman who shakes the foundations of his well-built walls…
Sheridan O’Neil’s quiet confidence has served her well, except when it comes to romance. Tired of rejection, she’s ready to swear off men. But after being rescued from a horse stampede by the most beautiful cowboy she’s ever met, her resolve wavers. Only, as Sheridan uncovers James’s belief that no woman is safe with him, she wonders if such a wounded man could ever give in to love, or if some hearts are too broken to be healed…
James Cavanaugh, second oldest Cavanaugh brother and world famous “Horse Whisperer”, is still in River Black, Texas tending to the large herd of wild mustangs that Mac agreed to take onto Triple C. After Cass’s disappearance and death, the mental abuse doled out by his broken and hollow mother left eternal scars. Believing himself “never good enough”, he swears off anything that could become a serious relationship but there’s something about the city girl that is Deac’s assistant that has James struggling to keep focused when she’s around.
Sheridan O’Neil is Deac’s assistant from Cavanaugh Group. Normally, she’s stationed in Dallas, but when he opened his local office, he asked her into town to get things set up. She is nothing if not loyal and determined and is perfectly willing to make the adjustments from big city to tiny country town to please her boss, even when there’s a distractingly sexy cowboy nearby. Her beliefs on relationships as well as the Personal vs Profession life seperation put’s her in a lonely position, but it’s one she’s been willing to endure in order to advance in her career… until now. Now, she wonders what it might be like.
My Thoughts:
Immediately, you are drawn back in to the tortured beings that are the Cavanaugh brothers. James is such a sweet, carming, gentle soul with a calming presence. The brothers are still trying to deal with the bombshell that was dropped on them at the very end of BRANDED [no spoilers here, sorry!]. There are also decisions to be made about Triple C, a long-lost again-lost brother to locate, Redemption Ranch to complete and a wedding to finalize. There are more minor elements at play as well that I suspect are teases to things to come in The plot is certainly not lacking for content, but in no way does it feel to busy. For the most part, the characters are the same cast, but now that you know them a little better, they are more endearing. Sheridan is very well-written. A tiny little thing with a lot of fight, a lot of spirit. The chemistry between character is solidifying even more. James and Sheridan are magic. What I love most about this series so far is that although the hero and heroine are dancing around one another with a tangible, fiery desire, Ms. Wright allows the tension build up. She successfully teases us until FINALLY the character come together in a maelstrom of desire, passion and raw NEED, effectually taking us right with them! Dialogue and interaction are very believable, enough to make you feel a part of the unfolding tale. Ms. Wright’s writing style is so dang smooth, it easily makes her books a “one-sitting” read. You can glide through the pages like floating down a lazy river. The conflict and resolve for the main characters, again, is minor in comparison to the unfolding mystery that looms over them all throughout the series thus far. I do have a suspicion on the diary as well as Sweet, but I guess I’ll have to wait to see if they pan out. And although James and Sheridan look to get their HEA, the story itself is left open-ended, presumably for BRASH to pickup in March. Yes, that will make many readers (myself included) want to scream in frustration, but if BRASH is nearly as good as BRANDED and BROKEN have been…. it’s going to be an EPIC ending to a Fantastic Trilogy!
Watch for Cole’s story in BRASH, the third book in the Cavanaugh series, to release in March 2015!
n the small town of River Black, Texas, sits the Triple C—a working cattle ranch that sustains the town. But it also holds painful memories and shocking secrets for the Cavanaugh brothers….
When the Cavanaugh brothers return home for their father’s funeral, they discover unexpected evidence of the old man’s surprising double life—a son named Blue, who wants the Triple C Ranch as much as they do. The eldest son, Deacon, a wealthy businessman who couldn’t wait to leave the ranch and move on with his life, is looking to use his powerful connections to stop Blue at any cost. He never expected the ranch’s forewoman, Mackenzie Byrd, to get in his way.
Mac knows Deacon means to destroy the ranch and therefore destroy her livelihood. But as the two battle for control, their attraction builds. Now Deacon is faced with the choice of a lifetime: Take down the Triple C to feed his need for revenge, or embrace the love of the one person who has broken down every barrier to his heart.
Tina’s Review
Deacon is the oldest Cavanaugh and a powerful businessman what with heading Cavanaugh Group. He returns home to River Black, Texas for his father’s funeral with the goal of destroying TRIPLE C, the cattle ranch he grew up on. Only he finds some major complications in the form of a younger brother he never knew about and a forewoman he used to admire but avoid like the plague.
Mackenzie Byrd has all but grown up on TRIPLE C with her childhood friend, Cassie Cavanaugh. Everett had become a dad to her after she’d lost hers and TRIPLE C had become more than “in her blood”, it was her home, her livelihood. When Deacon returns, intent on destroying the ranch, she’s prepared to do anything and everything it takes to change his mind.
A decade ago, tragedy struck. Unsolved to this day, grief manifested in all manners of blame, betrayal, secrets and lies. Vengeance, hatred and bitterness grew to overwhelming proportions.
First thought: Wow, Deacon’s a dick.
The cumulative tragedies from many years ago still play a strong part in the minds of the characters as they converge once again onto Triple C land for Everett Cavanaugh’s funeral. The mysterious, unsolved status of the crime that set everything else in motion intrigues and pulls the reader in from the get-go. A lot of tension and build up, keeps you hooked. Even once the plot begins to unfold and reveal it’s secrets, you are still wanting – needing – more. The characters are dynamic and multifaceted, very well-written. Deacon’s pain and sense of betrayal in damn-near palpable. Chemistry burns and seethes below the surface only to ignite, becoming all-consuming. Dialogue and interaction is outstanding. The plot keeps you guessing, keeps you intrigued, keeps you wanting more! The conflict and resolve were minor when compared to the bigger picture. The writing is smooth and endearing, you can hear the Texas drawl oozing off the pages. ❤
Final thought: Well, hell… to be continued. While the main characters get a solid ending, the mystery of the bigger picture continues with a giant bombshell in the final paragraph! Whooo boy!
Author Bio:
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Laura Wright is passionate about romantic fiction. Though she has spent most of her life immersed in acting, singing and competitive ballroom dancing, when she found the world of writing and books and endless cups of coffee she knew she was home. Laura is the author of the bestselling Mark of the Vampire series and the USA Today bestselling series, Bayou Heat, which she co-authors with Alexandra Ivy. Laura lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two young children and three loveable dogs.
In the fourth sexy romance by the New York Times bestselling author of Tangled and Twisted, Drew and Kate can’t wait to tie the knot—if they can survive the pre-wedding festivities.
For most of my life, I never imagined I’d get married. But Kate did the impossible: she changed me. I think we can all agree I was pretty frigging awesome before, but now I’m even better.
The road to this day wasn’t all rainbows and boners. There were mistakes and misunderstandings worthy of a Greek tragedy. But Kate and I made it through with our inexhaustible lust, boundless admiration, and everlasting love for one another intact.
That being said, there were some unexpected incidents in Vegas last weekend that could have been a problem. It was kind of… my final test.
I know what you’re thinking—what the hell did you do this time? Relax. Let’s not judge, or call for my castration, until you’ve heard the whole story.
And hold on tight, because you’re in for a wild ride. Did you expect anything less?
What do they say about laughter? Laughter is the best medicine. Laughter is good for the soul. If you are looking to lift your spirits or reduce stress in your life, laughter is a sure thing. I just finished the concluding novel of the Tangled series, Tied, and laughed out loud the entire time I was reading! Emma Chase is incredibly talented at writing romantic comedy. If you are looking for a fantastic series in the romantic comedy genre, I highly recommend you begin with her first novel titled Tangled!
Drew and Kate are finally ready to take the plunge in Tied – to dive headfirst into marriage! Our couple is already living together and raising James, their two year-old son. One week prior to their wedding, the entire gang is heading to Las Vegas for one last hurrah! Drew is joined by Matthew, Steven, Jack O’Shay and Billy Warren. Kate is joined by Delores, Alexandra, and Drew’s secretary, Erin Burrows. The group is traveling together and staying in the same suite, with Vegas-style bachelor and bachelorette parties on the agenda. Now, I know what you are thinking. If you have read any of this series, you can only imagine the high jinx and misunderstandings which are bound to happen in Vegas. And guess what? Tied is infinitely better than anything your mind can conjure up! Author Bio:
By day, Emma Chase is a devoted wife and mother who resides in a small, rural town in New Jersey. By night she toils away the hours bringing her colorful characters and their endless antics to life. She has a long standing love/hate relationship with caffeine.
Emma is an avid reader. Before her children were born she was known to consume whole books in a single day. Writing has also always been a passion and with the 2013 release of her debut romantic comedy, Tangled, the ability to now call herself an author is nothing less than a dream come true.
Holy cannoli, y’all! It’s finally here! We are so excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for K.A. Tucker’s BURYING WATER! BURYING WATER is a New Adult Romantic Suspense novel, published by Simon & Schuster and it will blow. You. Away! Check out the excerpt, teasers, and giveaway then run–don’t walk–to your nearest retailer!
The top-selling, beloved indie author of Ten Tiny Breaths returns with a new romance about a young woman who loses her memory—and the man who knows that the only way to protect her is to stay away.
Left for dead in the fields of rural Oregon, a young woman defies all odds and survives—but she awakens with no idea who she is, or what happened to her. Refusing to answer to “Jane Doe” for another day, the woman renames herself “Water” for the tiny, hidden marking on her body—the only clue to her past. Taken in by old Ginny Fitzgerald, a crotchety but kind lady living on a nearby horse farm, Water slowly begins building a new life. But as she attempts to piece together the fleeting slivers of her memory, more questions emerge: Who is the next-door neighbor, quietly toiling under the hood of his Barracuda? Why won’t Ginny let him step foot on her property? And why does Water feel she recognizes him?
Twenty-four-year-old Jesse Welles doesn’t know how long it will be before Water gets her memory back. For her sake, Jesse hopes the answer is never. He knows that she’ll stay so much safer—and happier—that way. And that’s why, as hard as it is, he needs to keep his distance. Because getting too close could flood her with realities better left buried.
The trouble is, water always seems to find its way to the surface.
BURYING WATER Excerpt:
Prologue
Jesse
Now
This can’t be real . . . This can’t be real . . . This can’t be real . . .
The words cycle round and round in my mind like the wheels on my speeding ’Cuda as its ass-end slips and slides over the gravel and ice. This car is hard to handle on the best of days, built front-heavy and overloaded with horsepower. I’m going to put myself into one of these damn trees if I don’t slow down.
I jam my foot against the gas pedal.
I can’t slow down now.
Not until I know that Boone was wrong about what he claims to have overheard. His Russian is mediocre at best. I’ll giveanything for him to be wrong about this.
My gut clenches as my car skids around another turn,the cone shape of Black Butte looming like a monstrous shadow ahead of me in the pre-dawn light. The snowy tire tracks framed by my headlights might not even be the right ones, but they’re wide like Viktor’s Hummer and they’re sure as hell the only ones down this old, deserted logging road. No one comes out here in January.
The line of trees marking the dead end comes up on me before I expect it. I slam on my brakes, sending my car sliding sideways toward the old totem pole. It’s still sliding when I cut the rumbling engine, throw open the door, and jump out, fumbling with my flashlight. It takes three hard presses with my shaking hands to get the light to hold.
I begin searching the ground. The mess of tread marks tells me that someone pulled a U-turn. The footprints tell me that more than one person got out. And when I see the half-finished cigarette butt with that weird alphabet on the filter, I know Boone wasn’t wrong.
“Alex!” My echo answers once . . . twice . . . before the vast wilderness swallows up my desperate cry. With frantic passes of my flashlight, my knuckles white against its body, I search the area until I spot the sets of footprints that lead off the old, narrow road and into the trees.
Frigid fingers curl around my heart.
Darting back to my car, I snatch the old red-and-blue plaid wool blanket that she loves so much from the backseat. Ice-cold snow packs into the sides of my sneakers as I chase the trail past the line of trees and into the barren field ahead, my blood rushing through my ears the only sound I process.
The only sign of life.
Raw fear numbs my senses, the Pacific Northwest winter numbs my body, but I push forward because if . . .
The beam of light passes over a still form lying facedown in the snow. I’d recognize that pink coat and platinum-blond hair of hers anywhere; the sparkly blue dress that she hates so much looks like a heap of sapphires against a white canvas.
My heart freezes.
“Alex.” It’s barely a whisper. I’m unable to produce more, my lungs giving up on me. I run, stumbling through the foot of snow until I’m on my knees and crawling forward to close the distance. A distance of no more than ten feet and yet one that seems like miles.
There’s no mistaking the spray of crimson freckling the snow around her head. Or that most of her long hair is now dark and matted. Or that her silver stockings are torn and stained red, and a pool of blood has formed where her dress barely covers her thighs. Plenty of footprints mark the ground around her. He must have been here for a while.
I know that there are rules to follow, steps to make sure that I don’t cause her further harm. But I ignore them because the sinking feeling in my stomach tells me I can’t possibly hurt her more than he already has. I nestle her head with one hand while I slide the other under her shoulder. I roll her over.
Cold shock knocks the wind out of me.
I’ve never seen anybody look like this.
I scoop her limp body into my arms, cradling the once beautiful face that I’ve seen in every light—rage to ecstasy and the full gamut in between—yet is now unrecognizable. Placing two blood-coated fingers over her throat, I wait. Nothing.
A light pinch against her lifeless wrist.Nothing.
Maybe a pulse does exist but it’s hidden, masked by my own racing one.
Then again, by the look of her, likely not.
One . . . two . . . three . . . plump, serene snowflakes begin floating down from the unseen sky above. Soon, they will converge and cover the tracks, the blood. The evidence.Mother Nature’s own blanket to hide the unsightly blemish in her yard.
“I’m so sorry.” I don’t try to restrain the hot tears as they roll down my cheeks to land on her mangled lips—lips I had stolen plenty of kisses from, back when I was too stupid to realize how dangerous that really was. This is my fault. She had warned me. If I had just listened, had stayed away from her, had not told her how I felt . . .
. . . had not fallen wildly in love with her.
I lean down to steal a kiss even now, the coppery taste of her blood mixing with my salty tears. “I’m so damn sorry. I should never have even looked your way,” I manage to get out around my sobs, tucking the blanket she loved to curl up in over her.
An almost inaudible gasp slips out. A slight breeze against my mouth more than anything else.
My lungs freeze, my eyes glued to her, afraid to hope. “Alex?” Is it possible?
A moment later, a second gasp—a wet, rattling sound—escapes.
She’s not dead.
Not yet, anyway.
Michel’s Review
K. A. Tucker’s writing always blows me away. Her gift of story telling has readers enthralled from the very first word to the very last punctuation mark. Her characters come to life and jump off the pages. Their stories keep the reader captivated.
Unlike the Ten Tiny Breaths series, Burying Water has taken K.A. Tucker in a new direction. This gripping novel has some darker undertones. Although the darker undertones set the pace for the story, the real focus is the kind of love that will be cherished forever.
Burying Water is thrilling novel packed with mystery, intrigue, violence, romance, and the importance of family ties.
I am not going to give many more details because there would be too many spoilers.
I found the characters, Jesse and Water, compelling. The secondary cast and their contributions were an integral part of this story. Their characters stood out and made the readers take just as much notice of their part in the story as the main characters did.
Burying Water played on every emotion. One moment I was laughing, the next I was cringing, crying, or overwhelmed with excitement. It is an intense book that engages the reader’s mind as well as senses.
The romance in the story was amazing. It was almost like two romances in one. There was the before romance that was consuming and forbidding. The after romance was a deep sensual slow build that slowly kindled into a blaze.
I was blown away with this book. K. A. Tucker has become one of my all time favorite writers.
I highly recommend Burying Water!
About K.A. Tucker:
Born in small-town Ontario, K.A. Tucker published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader, and currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.
Vanessa Campbell is a CPA by day and a perfectionist by night. She’s fit, successful…and decidedly lonely. She can’t stop thinking about the youngest McCauley brother, Cameron. He’s just like her: smart, attractive, and usually right—except when dealing with her.
…BUT SOMEONE’S GOT TO DO IT
Cameron McCauley likes Vanessa a little too much. She’s a blond goddess with a razor-sharp tongue. She hates to be wrong, just like him. But she can hold a grudge and is stubborn to a fault—also like him.
A past disagreement has them rubbing each other the wrong way. Cam is dying to shake Vanessa up—get her to let loose. But if he succeeds, can his heart handle it?
“Colin,” Cam tried again. “You know dumping water on someone in the shower is a no-no. And especially Ubie’s new girlfriend.” Ubie—short for Uncle Brody. Brody Singer, the blond “adopted” McCauley who had grown up as part of the family
“But he told me to do it.”
Cam blinked. “He did? Well, you should never—”
“Dad thought it was kind of funny after he yelled at me.” Colin gave him a sharp nod, then added with a smirk, “Dad said he used to do that to you, and that you cried like a girrrl.” Considering Colin’s anti-girl phase, that was a high insult.
“Is that right?” Cam frowned, remembering being the butt of too many jokes while growing up. “Mike has no idea what he’s dealing with. You think your dad’s tough? Watch Uncle Cam.” Knowing he shouldn’t encourage the mischief in his nephew’s eyes but unable to stop himself from the unspoken dare, Cam hurried to the kitchen, found a large glass and filled it with ice-cold water. Considering the freezing January wind outside, Mike would be basking in a hot shower to warm up. Cam grinned, looking forward to his brother’s howl of misery.
Colin trailed him like a puppy. “Oh wow, Uncle Cam. Are you going to get Dad?” He clapped.
“Shh.”
“Oh, sorry.” Colin’s big grin showed a missing front tooth.
Cam walked down more ugly brown carpet that looked as it if had been vacuumed to death—Mike and his obsession with cleanliness—and tiptoed into the big guy’s room. He made sure he had a clear exit. If his goliath big brother caught him, he’d be toast. Fortunately, he could move like a gazelle.
Gliding into the master bathroom, he readied himself. One, two…three. He yanked open the curtain and tossed the cold water at…Vanessa Campbell?
He stared in shock at the sexiest woman he’d seen in a long, long time. Naked, her creamy skin glistened with water as she gaped at him in horror. Which quickly turned to anger.
“Cameron McCauley!”
“Oh, wow.” He couldn’t look away
Michel’s Review
The McCauly’s are back. In the third book of the McCauly Brothers Series, Ruining Mr. Perfect we get Cameron’s story. Cameron McCauly is the youngest of the McCauly clan and quite different from his older brothers. Being a successful investment advisor has led him to develop a taste for the finer things in life. He is not as rough and rugged as his brothers. He is more of a perfectionist. He has taken quite a bit of ribbing from his siblings because of his more refined nature. It has also created some tension with his father. This tension between them is hard to deal with in a close knit family like the McCaulys.
Vanessa Campbell is a hardcore, driven CPA with an attitude that can make grown men weep. She has issues that go beyond her need for order, control, and cleanliness. She’s beautiful and smart but comes across as being a downright bitch.
Vanessa and Cam have butted heads throughout this series. They are very similar in a lot of ways but also very different in others. They are antagonistic to one another and don’t see eye to eye. Both have the need to be right all the time. The one thing they have in common is their attraction to one another.
When these two get together and finally let go, it is smoking hot. Cam has the ability to get Vanessa to let go and loosen up. His playful but witty antics have a way of breaking through her ice princess persona. Between Cam’s dirty talking and her need for control in the bedroom, the sheets sizzle.
These two can be perfect together but first both will have to learn to compromise.
Meanwhile, outside of the steamy head butting relationship between Cam and Vanessa, there is another plot going on in the McCauly family. The parents are having some serious problems in their marriage. The build up of these tensions just adds to the ongoing saga of the McCauly family.
I absolutely loved this book. I had hesitations about Vanessa’s character because of the ice princess attitude. She is one of those characters that you love to hate. Marie Harte did a brilliant job with her character. Vanessa is who she is, but Marie showed us a softer and vulnerable side that most people don’t see on the outside. Cameron stole my heart. He may be quite different from his brothers, but he has the right amount of McCauly traits and the right amount of unique traits that will endear him to the readers.
The McCauly family and their contributions to this novel made the book even more endearing. This family has captured the reader’s hearts. I am looking forward to the next book in the McCauly Brothers series. What To Do With A Bad Boy is going to be explosive.
I am a huge fan of Marie Harte and the McCauly Brothers series. Ruining Mr. Perfect was fantastic and I highly recommend this book and series.
Caffeine addict, boy referee, and romance aficionado, NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Marie Harte has over 100 books published with more constantly on the way. She’s a confessed bibliophile and devotee of action movies. Whether hiking in Central Oregon, biking around town, or hanging at the local tea shop, she’s constantly plotting to give everyone a happily ever after.
As Rolling Stone magazine prepares an issue on successful rock star marriages, they sit down with Brayden and Lily Vanderburg. After all, the two have been a couple since they were fifteen years old. But there is more to the story than meets the eye, and their love took a slight detour before finding happily ever after.
Told in flashbacks from the present to the past, Brayden and Lily share the story of their unbreakable love.
Excerpt
By the time we reached Brayden’s floor, I was out of breath. While the three flights of stairs had been a bit of an exertion, it was more about the fact that we hadn’t been able to keep our hands off each other. At each landing, we paused to let our mouths crash together, our tongues tangling in a passionate dance. When we finally got to his apartment door, I was in his arms, my legs wrapped around his waist. He grunted as he shifted me to the side, so he could dig his key out.
“Hurry,” I moaned, as I kissed a trail across his jawline to his ear.
“Trying,” he muttered.
Instead of putting the key in, he shoved my back against the door. His free hand delved under my top to grab my breast. “Hmm, yes,” I murmured, as my nipple began to harden under his touch. He began to rub his jean-clad erection against me. It was getting to be too much.
Gripping the back of his T-shirt, I started tugging it off him. Once I had it in my hands, I dropped it to the floor beside us. He followed my lead by stripping off my shirt. He then buried his head in my cleavage, licking the tops of my breasts before moving to put his mouth over my bra covered nipples.
“I want you inside me, Brayden,” I panted.
His hand with the key in it left my waist to unlock the door. When it opened, we fell through, nearly collapsing to the floor. I giggled at our sex-crazed antics as Brayden tossed the key onto the table next to the door. As we started across the room, his fingers dug into my buttocks, kneading my flesh. “I can’t wait until I’m buried inside you, making you come so hard you scream.”
I opened my mouth to say how much I wanted him to do just that when a guy’s voice interrupted me. “Just try to keep it down, will ya? I’m watching a movie.”
At the stranger’s voice, I squealed and gripped Brayden’s shoulders tighter. “Dude, what the fuck are you doing here?” Brayden demanded.
“Uh, last time I checked, I lived here.”
“You said you were going home this weekend to stay with your parents.”
“I said I might.”
Brayden grunted in frustration. “You said you would because you knew Lily was coming this weekend.”
“Oh yeah, I kinda forgot about that.”
“Sorry, baby,” Brayden said, before he gently eased me onto my feet. Considering I was in my bra and jeans, I pivoted around to hide behind Brayden.
“You told me she was a hell of a looker, but you didn’t mention that she was so shy. Of course, she didn’t sound shy when you guys were out in the hallway.”
“Oh God,” I moaned, as mortification filled me.
I heard the guy rise off the couch and start over to us. When I shrank further behind Brayden, he said, “Come on, mi amor, a bra is like a bikini top. Nothing to be ashamed of.”
Slowly, I peeked around Brayden’s shoulder. A tall, dark-haired, dark-eyed guy stood grinning at me, his arms crossed over his broad, bare chest. The only article of clothing he had on was a pair of boxer shorts that hung low on his hips. If I hadn’t been totally in love with Brayden, I would have probably fallen to the floor in a pool of lust for this guy. He was that good-looking. But the thing I liked most about him was his warm smile and the mischievous glint in his eyes.
“Lily, this is my roommate, AJ,” Brayden introduced.
Throwing out his hand, AJ said, “That’s Alejandro Joaquin Resendiz actually. And I’m not just his roommate. I’m the drummer in his new band.”
With a resigned sigh, I stepped around Brayden to shake his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
He winked. “Nice meeting you in the flesh. I feel like I already know you because Bray talks about you all the fucking time.” Smacking Brayden’s chest playfully, AJ said, “He’s such a sap!”
Katie Ashley is a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon Best-Selling author. She lives outside of Atlanta, Georgia with her two very spoiled dogs. She has a slight obsession with Pinterest, The Golden Girls, Harry Potter, Shakespeare, Supernatural, Designing Women, and Scooby-Doo.With a BA in English, a BS in Secondary English Education, and a Masters in Adolescent English Education, she spent 11 1/2 years educating the Youth of America aka teaching MS and HS English until she left to write full time in December 2012.
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