Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5 Star Review: Quick Trick by Skye Jordan – Rough Riders Hockey Series – Book 1

51-tutdspl

Quick Trick

Rough Riders Hockey Series – Book 1

By Skye Jordan

Buy: Amazon

Synopsis

Infamous Rough Riders’ playboy Grant Saber has been sidelined for a bum shoulder. If he has to be off the ice for three weeks of recovery, he‘ll do it on his back—breaking in a new wanna-be cowgirl every night. But pressure from the team’s owner and Grant’s parents land him in his hometown of Holly, North Carolina instead. Things look up when he learns the hometown beauty who was once so out of his league is now single, and sexier than ever. Determined to slip in a night with her while he’s in town, Grant is shocked to discover one will never be enough.
Faith Nicholas has no interest in the newest Saber-son gossip. After losing her father just months before, she is now on the verge of losing their family hardware store—which is also her home. She couldn’t care less about the Saber’s big money or flashy toys. But she can’t seem to keep Grant out of her store–or her dreams. His magnetic charisma is impossible to ignore, and the longer he stays in town, the more she finds to love about a man who isn’t as superficial as he’d like others to believe.
With a struggling store, four-hundred miles and a rigorous hockey season looming between them, Grant will have to pull out his very best moves if he’s going to make this quick trick last forever.

teaser21

 

Quick Trick by Skye Jordan Excerpt 1:

But he turned and pushed her up against a wall. Her laughter died, and heat sparked in her eyes. She lifted her hands, pressing them against his chest, but didn’t push him away. He leaned in until their hips met and their thighs brushed. Her breath quickened. Her pupils dilated. And the look on her face… She wanted him just as badly. She just didn’t know how to jump. But Grant couldn’t keep playing this game with her. He didn’t do games at all, yet she’d dragged him into this one. And as enticing as it might be, Grant didn’t have enough time. Or enough patience.

She needed a push.

He slid an arm behind her and drew her in with a forearm at the base of her spine. Her softness pressed against his growing erection, and pleasure washed through the lower half of his body. He moaned softly and rocked against her until she made the same sound. Until her lids grew heavy. Until her fingers curled into his shirt. Until she murmured his name in that voice that said make me come. “Grant…”

“Is this what you want, Faith? If you want me to take control, I will. But if I lead, I’ll do it my way.”

Her gaze jumped from his mouth to his eyes. “What’s… your way?”

For a split second, he considered lying. He thought about telling her what she wanted to hear just to get her into bed. He wanted her that badly. And that reality— more than anything else— pushed a very harsh description from his mouth.

“If I did it my way, I’d do you right here, right now, up against this wall.”

Her breathing picked up. Her eyes sparked with surprise and lust.

“I’d cover your mouth with my hand and drive into you until you snapped in a screaming climax. All while the whole store, the whole fucking town of Holly, was just six inches away. And it would be our sweet little secret.
One you’d think about every time you walked into this room.”

She made a sound in her throat. Her lids dipped. She licked her lips.

“You like that idea,” he said, “don’t you?” And wasn’t that the biggest fucking surprise and the hottest rush?
Her gaze darted away. “I… I don’t know. I can’t think…”

“Then imagine”— he told her, pushing harder, half hoping she shoved him off and walked away, half hoping she told him to take her right then—“ because I talk as dirty as I fight, and I fuck as hard as I play.”

She breathed a moan, and her eyelids slid closed.

But it was the feel of her body softening, of the way she started moving with him, not against him, that finally blocked his ability to think.

 

 

 

teaser11

_____________________

5Star

Michel’s Review

I love sports romance books.  I love Hockey themed books. I love small town romance books. I love Skye Jordan’s books.  Combine all these together and you get Quick Trick by Skye Jordan, a delightful reading experience that left me wanting more in the new Rough Riders Hockey Series.

Grant Saber has not been home to Holly, NC in many years.  His busy hockey schedule has been a great excuse not to visit home.  After a shoulder injury that put him out of play, he’s ran out of excuses.   He purposely stayed away because of his dysfunctional family and tormented past.  He was bullied throughout school.  His only escape was playing hockey.  A sport that his parents discouraged and most of his peers could care less about.  Their small town was on perpetual Christmas mode.  It celebrated Christmas 365 days in the year.  When the holiday season was finally in full swing, the town went out with a festival that attracted tourists from near and far.

Grant’s first day home is anything but pleasant.  His cold hearted parents are anything but welcoming.  His two brothers, who are just as unpleasant, have not arrived home yet.  Without his brothers as a buffer he’s forced to do his parents bidding.  Their social status within the community is their prime concern.  They have volunteered him to judge an ice sculpting contest with a social climbing woman he can’t stand.  The only reason he would even consider judging would be for the high school hockey team.  The funds from the festival go to the local sports programs.

 His mother has also sent him on a mission to pick up the family christmas tree from the local hardware at closing time.  Rather than finding the store still open, he has to hunt down the owner at a local bar to get his tree.  He couldn’t believe that Faith Nicholas now owns the store.  The girl who was the head cheerleader, the most popular, and the most blind to him in high school is holding the christmas tree hostage.  With a little bit of charm that fails more than seduces, he finally convinces her to open the store to get his tree.

Grant is intrigued with Faith.  She’s not the same girl she was in high school.  She’s an independent woman struggling to keep her father’s hardware opened.  He creates new fixer upper tasks daily just to visit Faith at the store and keep his parents off his back.

The past eight years have been very hard on Faith.  She gave up college when her father became ill.  She has spent those years taking care of him and trying to keep the hardware afloat.  She was lost when he passed away.  She goes through the motions everyday just trying to survive in Holly,NC.  She has to find a way to make this small store thrive.

Faith and Grant begin a shaky friendship that turns into more.  Just as things start looking bright in Faith’s future, Grant is pulled back into his world of fame and super stardom. A world where Faith doesn’t fit and has no chance of belonging to.

I absolutely loved this book.  Grant and Faith both had personal journeys they had to go through in Holly, NC.  They had to let go of the past and look to the future.  While traveling that road , they found each other.

I can’t wait to see what comes next for the Rough Rider Hockey team.

teaser31

_________________________

 Joan Author PhotoSkye Jordan is a pseudonym for New York Times bestselling romantic suspense author Joan Swan. Skye’s novels are about enjoying that little wild streak we don’t let out often enough. About those fantasies we rarely get the opportunity to indulge. About stretching limits, checking out the dark side, and maybe even acting a little naughty. They’re about escape and fun and pleasure and romance. And, yes, even love, because while wicked-great sex is good, happily ever after with wicked-great sex is even better.

When she’s not writing, Skye loves to read, knit, craft, row, ride, and dabble in photography.

 Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

51-tutdspl

Cover Reveal + Excerpt: My Lucky Days by SD Hendrickson

 

 

My Lucky Days
Genre: Adult / Coming Of Age / Contemporary Romance
By SD Hendrickson
Release Date: September 20, 2016

 

(with sets of original song lyrics) 
Cover Design: Najla Qamber Design
Cover Models: Garret Pentecost & Daria Rottenberk

 

Blurb

He was an up-and-coming country singer.
She was the last girl you’d ever see in a bar.
But one night, under those neon lights,
Lucky and Katie found each other.

Beginnings are always exciting.
Always fun. Always hopeful.

Katie was in her last year of college.
Lucky was still playing local stages.
She fell for his voice. She fell for his words.
They fell in love.
It was beautiful.

But time changed their world.
She was alone. He was on the road.
Life happened.
And that love was torn apart.

Endings are always painful.
Always heart wrenching.
But not always final.

One day, Lucky came back to Katie.
And this is their story.

 

 

Pre-order Links
AMAZON US / UK

Excerpt

Lucky parked in the driveway, turning off the motor. He unbuckled his seatbelt but didn’t get out of the truck. Reaching across the seat, he took my hand. “Come over here.”

Even though he only touched my fingers, my whole body felt the tingles of anticipation at the meaning behind his words.

“I think you already used your kiss credit tonight,” I teased.

He laughed. “Well, if you think that was a kiss earlier, then I must not have much past competition to erase.”

Lucky scooted out from behind the steering wheel into the middle of the bench seat. Tugging my hand, it didn’t take much con­vincing to close the gap between us. He slipped an arm around my back, holding me against him. Lucky touched my cheek with his other hand. “Close your eyes.”

I did what he asked, sending the cab into dark­ness. The rest of my senses heightened. His body felt warmer. His cologne smelled stronger. I felt his breath against my lips. “Katie, I want you to know that I have thought about this moment for forty-six hours and about thirteen minutes. And every second that passed, I just wanted to kiss you more.”

His mouth touched mine with a faint brush. He captured my upper lip, pulling it slightly before letting go. He did it again with just a little bit more pressure, letting his tongue graze my bottom lip.

I let out a gasp as the next kiss went deep and his tongue brushed over mine. Our mouths blended together effortless­ly.

First kisses had always been awkward. Noses hitting. Tongues passing just a little too much spit. I had always as­sumed there wasn’t any way around it until you got used to the other person’s movements.

Tonight was different.

I wasn’t in control. It was all Lucky. He was almost pos­sessive, tugging and pulling at my lips, making the adren­aline pump through my body as I struggled to catch my breath. And then he went back to slow, delicate passes with his tongue, fanning the ache in places I shouldn’t have while sitting in a truck with someone I had only met two days ago.But I didn’t have a choice in the matter. He was a better kisser than a singer. And that was saying a lot because his voice could melt ice cream.

Author Bio

SD Hendrickson received a Bachelor’s of Science in Journalism and Public Relations from Oklahoma State University. She lives in Tulsa with her husband and two schnauzers. Currently, her days are spent teaching computer software to oil and gas companies. The Mason List was her first novel and it was a 2015 Goodreads Choice Award Semi- Finalist for Best Debut Author.

She loves chocolate, romance books, Oklahoma State Cowboys, music, Lost, chocolate, beaches, coffee, cooking, Gilmore Girls, beautiful sunsets, Friends, chocolate, sad puppy stories, concerts, dreaming of Australia, The Walking Dead, guacamole, quotes, Netflixs binge-watching, Dawson’s Creek, chocolate, hot tubs, exotic animal rescues, Friday Night Lights, writing, and of course, chocolate.

Other books:

The Mason List
Waiting for Wyatt
Author Links

Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5+ Star Review + Giveaway: Fighting To Be Free by Kirsty Moseley

fighting-to-be-free-banner

moseley_fightingtobefree_tr

Fighting To Be Free

Fighting To Be Free Series – Book 1

By Kirsty Mosely

Buy: Amazon / B & N / IBooks / Kobo

Synopsis

FIGHTING TO BE FREE

All his life, people have told Jamie Cole that he was born bad. Maybe it’s true, maybe it’s not. But that doesn’t matter now. Because after a lifetime of demons, Jamie has finally found an angel.

Ellie Pearce learned the hard way that boys can’t be trusted. But the night she meets Jamie, something shifts. He’s different: brooding, a bit dark, determined to change. The connection they share is intense, compelling. Ellie tries to resist, but with each breathtaking kiss, she can’t help falling deeper.

Things between Ellie and Jamie are perfect-and perfection can’t last. When fate goes horribly wrong, Jamie’s only hope of saving his family is to strike a deal with the devil. Most of all, Jamie wants to prove he’s the person Ellie believes him to be. But if she learns just how much he’s been hiding, Ellie won’t be able to believe anything Jamie has ever told her . . .

fighting-to-be-free-quote-graphic-3

Excerpt

He rolled onto his side, reaching out his hand and pulling me against him as he slowly ran his hands down my back.

“That was incredible, Ellie,” he murmured, kissing my nose. He was grinning from ear to ear as he stroked his fingers across my cheekbone.

I smiled and sighed contentedly. “Yeah, it was.” And it really had been. That was incredible; he had been soft and tender, his hands seeming to explore every part of me as he’d taken my body to heaven and back again. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me tightly against him, tangling our legs together as he just looked at every inch of my face with a small, satisfied smile on his lips.

“You don’t have much stuff,” I stated after we’d been silently cuddling on his bed for a couple of minutes.

He frowned. “Uh, no, I haven’t even been here a week.”

“Where were you living before?” I probed, wanting to hear the sound of his sexy voice some more. He shifted uncomfortably, and I took the hint that he didn’t want to talk about it. “That’s okay, you don’t have to say.” I rolled so that I was on top of him and sat up, straddling him. He ran his hands up my thighs and rested them on my hips, just watching me with a satisfied smile on his face.

I sighed. It was time to go. This was where it got a little awkward. What was I supposed to say? Thanks and good-bye? “So, I guess I should get going. Would you mind calling me a cab?” I asked, climbing off him and looking around the room for my clothes.

The bed creaked behind me. “You’re going? Why?” I didn’t need to look to know he would be frowning—I could hear the shock in his tone.

I smiled at him over my shoulder. He was sitting up on the bed, a little pouty expression on his face as he watched my every move. “Well, I’ve never had a one-night stand before, but I thought that was how it worked: You have sex and then you leave,” I joked as I pulled on my panties.

He shook his head. “No, I mean, why do you have to go now? You can stay the night; I’ll drive you home in the morning.”

“You want me to stay the night?” I asked disbelievingly.

He pushed himself up off the bed and walked to me in all his naked glory. I couldn’t keep my eyes off his body. “Yeah, I want you to stay the night,” he confirmed, smiling his sexy smile at me, making my stomach flutter.

Oh, I can definitely stay the night!

fighting-to-be-free-quote-graphic-2-2

________________________

5Star+

Michel’s Review

Fighting To Be Free is the first book I have read by Kirsty Moseley and it won’t be the last.  Fighting To Be Free delivered a heartbreaking story of a young man at a disadvantage who had a sincere heart of gold and a strong desire to be a better person.  He was a victim of the life he was born into.  His choices were taken away from him at an early age.  He was in survival mode his entire life.  He had regrets and life long scars that he would carry in his soul the rest of his life.  Jamie Cole is a survivor and  is determined to live the rest of his life on the right path.  His new beginning started the day he was released from the juvenile facility.  Fate had a different plan for Jamie.

Jamie Cole spent four years in juvie for murder.  Because he was a fourteen year old minor and a victim of domestic violence, the courts prosecuted him as a minor rather than an adult.  The murder he committed was not a premeditated crime, it was an act of passion brought on by emotional distress.  He had been a criminal and a thief since he was eleven. He was drawn into a life of crime to survive in the world he was born. His family life was pathetic.  His father was dead, his mother was a drug addict, and his little sister was just as much a victim of their life as he was.  He would do anything to protect his sister and make her life easier than his own.

Being in prison for four years changed Jamie.  At eighteen he was finally getting his freedom.  He was being released on parole.  The conditions of his parole were cut and dry.  He had to get a job, find a home, and stay out of trouble.  His future  prospects are very limited with only a little money in his pocket , a limited education, no job training, and a criminal record.  He’s been set up in an apartment in the sketchy part of town where he came from.  His former crime lord boss wants him back in the fold.  He wants him to start stealing high end cars once again.  Jamie’s trapped because once you are in Brett Reyes employ the only way out is death.  Jamie’s determined to live crime free even if it means death.

After negotiations with Brett, Jamie is almost free.  He struggles in his new life.  Finally he finds a break when he visits a local junkyard.  It’s the beginning he was hoping for.  He also meets a girl that no only reinforces his will to stay crime free, she makes him want to be a better man.  He has never had the opportunity to date a girl from the right side of town that has morals and a good life.  He wants to be the kind of man she can be proud of.  He wants to give her the world.

Ellie Pearce has been bogged down with her life.  She has finally gotten up the nerve to break off with her controlling jock boyfriend.  She’s tired of being controlled and forced into a position of being the perfect cheerleader girlfriend.  Her parents are pushing her towards colleges she has no interest in.  Her mother wants her to stay with her boyfriend because he’s from a prominent family.  She just wants the freedom to be herself.  She has a desire to travel and see the world before she has to make choices about her adult life.  Her first night out after breaking off with her boyfriend will change her senior year.  She met a guy who is more than a hook up or rebound guy.  He’s everything.  She can be herself with him.  He admires her dreams and wants her to go after them.

Fate has a different plan for Jamie and Ellie.  Jamie’s past life comes back to haunt them.  Jamie is fearful for Ellie.  He will do anything to keep her safe even if means returning back into the criminal he once was.  This time he’s doing it for Ellie.  He is going to give her the world even if it means sacrificing himself.

This book just ripped me apart.  As a mature adult I could see the validity in this story. Life isn’t always good, it can be downright cruel with a some good moments that make it worth going on.  It’s not easy to rise above the past nor is it easy to escape upbringing. As a mother my heart bled for Jamie.  Most parents want to give their children opportunities they never had.  They want to nurture, protect, and love their children.  They are willing to sacrifice for their children.  They want their children to succeed in life.  Jamie never had that.  He never had anyone fight for him until he met Ellie.

Although this book had a heartbreaking ending, it’s not the end of Jamie and Ellie’s story.  They are just at the beginning of their adult lives.  The test of time is going to determine their fate. They have just begun their journey.  I can’t wait for their next step in the journey called life.

________________________

series

51ergft2ctl-_sy346_

Worth Fighting For

Sequel To Fighting To Be Free

By Kirsty Moseley

Release Date: December 6, 2016

Pre Order: Amazon

Synopsis

Kirsty Moseley brings us the sequel to Fighting to be Free.

Sometimes in life you have to walk away . . .

Leaving Jamie Cole was the hardest thing Ellie Pearce ever had to do. Somehow, she moved on. She made a new life in a new city with a new man. So when a family tragedy calls Ellie back home, she believes all her old feelings for Jamie-the hunger, the heat, the heartbreak-are safely behind her. But the second she lays eyes on him, the intensity of their connection is as strong as ever.

Sometimes you stay and fight . . .

Jamie knows pain. He’s felt it fighting in the streets, and he felt it fighting to survive in prison. Yet nothing he’s experienced has been as painful as the day Ellie left-until the moment she came back. This time Jamie is determined to hold on to Ellie forever. But as much as she still loves him, she can’t ignore the dark world he’s now a part of. Jamie has enemies. Dangerous ones. And after seeing Jamie with Ellie, they know exactly how to take him out . . .

_________________________________

kirsty-moseley-credit-trish-thompson-photographyKirsty Moseley has always been a passionate reader with stories brewing in her head. Once she discovered Wattpad, she finally posted a story. Seven million reads later, she self-published her debut novel, The Boy who Sneaks in my Bedroom Window, which later became a finalists for the 2012 Goodreads’ Choice Awards. Kirsty lives in Norfolk, England with her husband and son.

 

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Pinterest ~ Goodreads

******

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

moseley_fightingtobefree_tr

Excerpt Reveal: Junkie by Heather C. Leigh – Broken Dolls Series – Book 1

junkie_excerpt-1

junkie_preorderJunkie-ebook

Junkie

Broken Dolls Series – Book 1

By Heather C. Leigh

Release Date: September 13, 2016

Pre Order: Amazon / Amazon UK

7f56d-goodreads

Blurb

I’m a heroin addict. A junkie. A whore. I’ll do anything to get my next fix.

Anything.

Including walking right onto the property of Austin’s most ruthless and feared drug lord to beg for some H. I don’t know his name, only that people call him Boss. Oh, and that he won’t think twice to put a bullet in my head.

But like I said, I’ll do anything to get my next fix. Even if it costs me my life.

Or changes it forever.

__________________________

junkiead4-1

Excerpt

“Don’t worry about the dishes.” Boss’s southern drawl was less obvious this morning, but I still picked up a hint of it here and there. “My housekeeper will take care of them.” He buttoned his jacket, turned to leave the room, and I panicked.

“Wait!”

Boss pivoted until his shrewd gaze landed on me. Once again, when I was the sole focus of those intense blue eyes, my voice failed. His eyebrows rose as if to ask, what the fuck do you want?

I cleared my throat and stood behind my chair, fingers gripping the wood slats. “Ummm, what should I do?” One of my hands found its way into my hair. I wrapped a curl around my finger over and over. “I mean…” I took a quick glance around the huge kitchen. It was incredibly uncomfortable just to be in this stranger’s house, but to be here without him somewhere nearby, knowing other men were all over the place? My anxiety level skyrocketed.

Boss snapped his fingers and a man in a black suit, pressed white shirt, and black tie appeared from who knew where, to stand at Boss’s side.

“Boss.”

“Jase, bring Miri back to her room.”

I swallowed thickly. He was locking me back up. The illusion of being treated kindly splintered to pieces as reality sunk in. I wasn’t a guest. I was a prisoner.

“Miri, I have work to do and will be otherwise occupied for a few hours. One of my men is out shopping for some clothes since it seems I have nothing in the house that will fit you.”

I stared at the floor, not knowing what to do. I wanted to scream at Boss for thinking he could lock me up and keep me here, but really, where would I go? I needed H, and Boss was willing to give it to me. It was knowing I had no choice in the matter that had me shrinking back from Jase as he moved to take my arm.

“No!” I stepped away and tensed every muscle in my body, poised on the balls of my feet, ready to bolt.

Boss grimaced, and spoke in a low voice to his man. “Jase, wait here.” Suddenly, a hand clamped tight around my wrist. I was tripping over my own feet to keep up as Boss dragged me through the kitchen and down the hall to the regal staircase.

“Wait! Please, don’t lock me in.”

My plea went unanswered. I dug in my heels when we reached the bottom step. Boss spun around and shot me a glare so dark I nearly passed out from pure terror. The kind man from the kitchen was gone. Boss, the violent drug lord, the bloodthirsty bastard I heard about on the streets, curled his lip in a derisive sneer. Without a word, he grabbed me by the waist and threw me over his shoulder. My head dangled down his back and my long hair obscured my vision.

“Stop!” I curled my hands into fists and pounded uselessly on his backside. “Put me down!”

I may as well have been a fly buzzing around his head for all the good my protesting did. Boss climbed the stairs and stalked into “my” bedroom to rudely toss me onto the bed. I scrambled to my feet before he could shut the door.

“You can’t do this!” Panicked, I struck out and clawed at his neck and face, terrified at the thought of being locked away in this room.

Lightning quick, Boss pinned my wrists in one hand and shoved me down on the mattress, his heavy body holding me in place. I kicked out at him, aiming for his groin while screaming for help. Boss trapped my legs between his thick thighs and hovered over me, his furious face bright red and just inches from mine, welts from my nails standing out in stark relief on his skin.

Boss squeezed my wrists until I whimpered. “Don’t test my patience, Miri. You came to me, you begged me for help, you entered my fucking house. You want more of my drugs? You need to learn how things are done in this world, doll. If you can’t deal with the consequences of your actions, you shouldn’t have started shooting heroin and you most certainly shouldn’t have come here. Now,” he growled. “…this room will be your new home and if you value your life, you will not question a single word I say.” His grip on my wrists tightened to the point I cried out. By now he was so close, our noses almost touched. “Remember, I don’t owe you shit. If anything, you owe me.”

Boss gave me one last terror-inducing glare before releasing me and stepping back. He raised a hand and touched one of the scratches on his neck. When he examined his finger and saw blood, his face darkened.

“That was your one mistake.” He looked down and inspected his clothes. “You’re lucky it didn’t get blood on my suit. Make another mistake and you won’t live to see tomorrow.” Boss spun on his heel, left the room, and slammed the door. The click of the lock sealed my fate.

My mind was filled with so many questions—Why was he doing this? What did he want from me? How long would I be here? But I couldn’t focus long enough to come up with any answers. I was too busy shaking from head to toe, gasping for air and fighting the tears stinging my eyes.

What did I get myself into?

I’d jumped out of Mason’s frying pan, directly into a roaring bonfire named Boss.

_________________________

Jagger-ebook

Jagger

Broken Dolls Series – Book 2

Release Date: September 27, 2016

Pre Order: Amazon

7f56d-goodreads

Blurb

I sell drugs. Heroin to be specific. And I’m fucking good at my job. Enough to fight my way to the top position, controlling all of Austin’s supply.

So what if I had to kill the previous boss to do it. I do what has to be done. Never cared about consequences because I never had anything to lose.

Until I met Miri. My doll. She’s my weakness and somehow, my enemies found out about her.

If they hurt her, they will regret the day they ever heard my name. Boss. They call me Boss for a reason. What I say goes, including the price on the heads of anyone who dares to fuck with what belongs to me.

My Miri.

___________________________________________

 

About Heather C. Leigh

heather c leigh bioI’m the author of the Amazon best selling Famous series. I like to write about the ‘dark’ side of fame. The part that the public doesn’t get to see, how difficult it is to live in a fishbowl and how that affects relationships.

I was born and raised in New England and currently live outside Atlanta, GA.

I love the Red Sox, the Patriots, and anything made of chocolate (but not white chocolate, that doesn’t count).

My favorite authors are Dan Wells, Tina Reber, Ken Follett, and Stephen King. Happy reading!

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Broken Doll

Release Blitz … Excerpt … 5+ Star Review: The Hard Way by Katie Ashley

HARDWAY_BOOK_TOUR

HARDWAY_LIVE

the hard way cover-2

Sports + Bad Boy + Second Chance

The Hard Way by Katie Ashley NOW AVAILABLE!

*****

The Hard Way

By Katie Ashley

Buy: Amazon / Amazon UK

7f56d-goodreads

Synopsis

Cade Hall has always been the golden boy of the gridiron. Because of his talent at football, coupled with his father’s wealth, he’s always gotten his way. But when a night of drunken debauchery lands him in hot water with the college athletic board, neither his influential father nor his charming grin can save him. Cade finds it a total buzz kill when he is sentenced to community service with troubled youth at an inner-city shelter. But his nightmare is only beginning when his greatest high school regret is the very one in charge of the program, and she has him by the balls in more ways than one.

 

For Avery Prescott, senior year was a nightmare of epic proportions, and Cade Hall played the lead villain. After she fled her small town for college in the bright lights of Atlanta, she thought she had escaped the painful memories of her past. She never could have imagined Cade would waltz through the door of the outreach program she presided over. But Avery has news for Cade—she isn’t the same shy, doormat of a girl she was in high school. Since she holds Cade’s football future in her hands, she’s more than ready to make payback a real bitch.

 

Will they stay in the defensive zone or discover that sometimes life’s greatest lessons are learned the hard way?

the hard way teaser use excerpt-2

Excerpt

“Is this one of those old-timey record players?”

“A Victrola,” I answered as I joined him.

Cade snapped his fingers. “That’s right. There was one of these at my grandparents’ house.” He eyed the contraption curiously. “Does it work?”

“Sure.” I set my cup down before winding up the crank. Then I placed the needle on the record, and a slow instrumental tune came out of the Victrola’s horn. At Cade’s groan, I grinned. “Not a fan of classical music?”

“No. It’s more about the fact that it’s one of Strauss’s waltzes.”

Cocking my brows at him, I asked, “You know Strauss?”

With a snort, Cade said, “Don’t look so surprised, and no, I didn’t learn about him in Harlington’s music appreciation class either.”

I held up my hands. “I wasn’t alluding to anything.”

“Yes, you were alluding, as you say, to the stereotype of me being an uncivilized jock,” Cade teased in a snooty-sounding voice.

“I’m sorry. I’ve got to stop doing that. You really are so much more than a jock.”

He swept his hand to his heart. “Why, thank you.”

“So tell me how you know Strauss.”

“I have waltzed at ten cotillions and three debutante balls.”

“Wow. That’s quite impressive.”

“What about you?”

“I’ve never been to a cotillion or deb ball.”

“No, I mean, haven’t you ever waltzed before?”

I laughed. “Oh yeah, I often practice my dance skills out in the corn.”

“Every lady should know how to dance.”

“But I’m not a lady.”

Cade smiled. “Yeah. You are.” When I started to protest, he said, “Money and position aren’t what make a lady. It’s what’s inside you that counts.”

His words and his tone caused the breath to wheeze out of my lungs. Just when I thought he couldn’t surprise me any more with the things he said, he went and said something like that. “Thank you,” I finally mumbled.

“You’re welcome.” The world seemed to slow to a crawl around us as we stood there staring at each other. The sound of Cade clapping his hands together caused me to jump. “Okay. One waltz lesson coming up.”

“I’m going to warn you that you’re probably going to regret this. I’m the worst dancer ever.”

“How can anyone who plays the piano suck at dancing?”

“I’m not sure how it’s possible, but trust me, it is.”

Cade laughed. “We’ll see.”

A tingling jolt of electricity shot through me when Cade took one of my hands in his. After he put his other hand on the small of my back, he drew me closer to him. Even with all the times I had sat next to him while we worked on our project, I hadn’t been this close.

“Now you put your other hand on my shoulder.”

“Okay.”

“Step back with your left foot and then bring your right to the side.” After I followed Cade’s lead, he said, “Now bring your left foot to your right, and then step forward with your right.”

My mind spun as I frantically tried processing Cade’s instructions. Somehow it managed to click together, and I followed his lead. “Hey, you’ve got it,” he remarked with a smile.

“It’s not because of me—it must be the teacher.” I glanced up at him and smiled. “Sports, brains, and dancing; you’re really a true triple threat.”

“You forgot devastating good looks and charm.”

I grinned. “Does that make you a quintuple threat?”

“Make it a sextuple threat if you throw in the money.”

“I should have known you’d find a way to have ‘sex’ in your title.”

Cade threw his head back and laughed. “Always busting my balls, Prescott.”

“Yep. Just consider me your Little Ball Buster like Judith in Walking Dead was called Little Ass Kicker.”

Cade’s brows rose in surprise. “You watch Walking Dead?”

“Sure I do.”

“That surprises me.”

“Why?”

“I guess I just figured you only watched pretentious stuff like Downton Abbey.”

Downton Abbey is not pretentious.”

Cade grinned. “I’ll take that as a yes that you watch it.”

“I certainly do.”

“At least I’m 1 and 1 on picking the TV shows you like.”

“While you know me pretty well, you have a lot more to learn, Mr. Hall,” I teased.

“I look forward to you educating me.”

As I stared into his face, Cade’s expression grew serious. The idea of educating him suddenly seemed to take on a deeper meaning—one of both mental and physical knowledge.

Cade dipped his head to where our mouths were just inches apart. His breath fanned across my cheek, causing me to shiver. I stared into his eyes, silently pleading with him to go ahead and kiss me. We’d already been down this road before. Since Thanksgiving night, I’d wanted nothing more than to feel his lips on mine again.

When he finally kissed me, it sent energy humming all over my body. I’d kissed other boys, but it had never felt the way it did with Cade. It was all-consuming of my mind, body, and spirit.

Considering his experience, it shouldn’t have been too surprising that Cade was a good kisser. What surprised me the most was the emotion behind his kiss. It ran so much deeper than just a physical act, as if he was putting his heart and soul into kissing me.

Cade deepened the kiss by plunging his tongue into my mouth. It tangled along with mine in a waltz of its own composing. My hand snaked up his back to capture the hair at the base of his neck, and I ran my fingers through the silky strands, marveling at how much softer it was than I had imagined.

The Victrola ran out of steam, and the only sound filling the room was heavy breathing. At the loss of music, Cade stopped leading me around the floor, and his hands slid underneath my buttocks. He gripped the globes of my ass before hoisting me up to wrap my legs around his, and I molded myself tighter against him. I couldn’t seem to get enough of him—the way his strong arms felt around me, his thick waist against my legs, his broad, muscular back underneath my hands. Even though I knew I shouldn’t, I wanted all of him.

When we crashed into a chest of drawers, Cade momentarily released my lips to breathlessly ask, “Are you okay?”

“Mmhmm.” I gazed into his hooded eyes. “Don’t stop. Please don’t stop.”

I rubbed myself against the ridge in Cade’s pants, causing him to groan against my throat. “Jesus, Prescott, if you keep doing that, I won’t be able to stop.” When I did it again, my action was rewarded with a growl.

Cade’s wild eyes glanced around the room before leading us over to the wide red settee in the back corner. We collapsed onto the smooth velvet material. I widened my legs to allow Cade’s hips between them and his mouth sought out mine in a frantic kiss.

As our tongues battled against each other, Cade’s hand came to my breast. He kneaded and cupped it over the fabric of my uniform, my nipples hardening under his touch. When he began undoing the buttons of my dress, he broke the kiss to glance at me as if asking my permission. At my nod, he practically ripped the remaining buttons open.

He gave me a sheepish grin as he pulled me into a sitting position. “Sorry about that.”

“It’s okay,” I said as I slid my arms out of the sleeves.

My breath hitched when Cade’s arms snaked around my back to undo my bra. Once it was unhooked, I couldn’t help bringing my arms to cover my chest and keep the bra in place. I hated that in this moment I couldn’t seem to get past my modesty, or my fear that my average-sized chest would turn him off.

Cade tilted my chin with his fingers, forcing me to look him in the eye. “You sure you’re okay with this, Prescott?”

“I am, I promise.”

“Then what’s wrong?”

“I’m just a little scared,” I whispered.

“That I’ll hurt you?” Cade questioned with a wounded look.

I gave a quick jerk of my head. “That you won’t like what you see.”

“Huh?”

“You’ve been with so many other girls. I’m afraid I won’t measure up.”

His expression darkened. “That’s the stupidest fucking thing I’ve ever heard.”

I ducked my head. “I’m sorry, but I can’t help the way I feel.”

Cade cupped my face in his hands. “There’s only right here and right now, and there’s no one else but you and me. None of the past, just us and this moment.”

My heartbeat thrummed wildly at his sentiment. “Okay,” I murmured as I stared deeply into his eyes.

“And you could never not be beautiful to me. I like everything about you, both inside and out.” At what must’ve been my incredulous look, Cade grinned. “And I’m not just saying that so you’ll let me in your pants.”

“I know you wouldn’t.” Deep down, I knew it to be the truth. If Cade had really wanted to just screw me, he would have attempted it over the past two months.

“I wouldn’t be here tonight if I didn’t want to be with you for the long haul.”

Once again, my heart began to beat so erratically that I felt a little dizzy. “Really?”

He nodded. “You’re all I need, Avery.”

the hard way teasers-2

____________________________

5Star+

Michel’s Review

Some people learn through the school of hard knocks while others learn by examples.  For some people life is a breeze, everything comes easily without much thought.

Everything came easy for Cade Hall. He’s a star football player at Georgia Tech.  He isn’t the typical jock, he’s special because he is a triple threat.  He has looks, personality, and brains.  He’s also a filthy rich, spoiled brat.  He has a knack for getting in trouble and a dependency on daddy bailing him out when push came to shove.  He has no qualms using his athletic status or flashing his social status to get what he wants. He utilizes every asset and gift he has been blessed with to skate through life.  He has never considered how his actions affected other people.  He has never had to own up to his digressions.  It’s not that he was a bad person, he just isn’t a really good person.

When a college prank lands him in the hot seat, he thinks daddy can bail him out with false threats or a hefty donation.  The Dean of Athletics has a different opinion.  He has given Cade an ultimatum , he has to do community service, or lose his position in football program for the remainder of his college career.  He has to serve forty hours a week throughout the entire summer.  He has to work the service around his football schedule.  If he screws up, he’s out of the football program.  Cade loves football as much as he loves himself.

His sentence is to work at an inner city center for at risk teenagers.  It should be an easy gig.  What he didn’t count on was Avery Prescott being in charge of his duties at the center.  Cade and Avery have a history that didn’t end well.  She was one of Cade’s victims in high school.  She is the one regret Cade has carried in his soul.  Now he has to face the consequences of his actions.

Cade is not only going to learn humility, he is also going to learn humanity.  His time with Avery and the teenagers is going to change how he looks at himself in the mirror.  He’s going to become a better man.  A man that can be respected and admired.  A man that learns by examples and takes it to heart.

Avery Prescott finally has the opportunity to make Cade Hall pay for what he did to her in high school.  She has moved on from the humiliation and devastation, but she never forgot.  The one thing that she did forget is that Cade Hall also had real potential.  There was more than the egotistical rich boy that everyone sees.  There’s a man with a real beating heart.  Still a little revenge is good for the soul.  Seeing Cade Hall grovel will bring her great joy.  Seeing Cade Hall live up to his potential will make her heart soar.

Can Cade Hall be redeemed? Can Avery Prescott forgive him?  Can the two find the love they were meant to share?  Will Cade and Avery help change the lives of the teenagers who desperately need someone in their corner cheering them on?

I was drawn into this book with the very first paragraph.  I could not put it down.  There was an entertaining as well as emotional story that went beyond the typical new adult romance.  Katie Ashley has a gift of bringing her characters to life and making their story unforgettable.  I mean that in a true sense because some of secondary characters were from a previous book, Don’t Hate The Player, Hate The Game ( which I loved), that was released in May 2013.  Three years later these dynamic secondary characters are standing strong and screaming for their own book.

There is a special bonus book, that I mentioned above, at the end of The Hard Way.  Katie graciously has given her readers a sensational gift and another fantastic reading experience.

The Hard Way is my favorite Katie Ashley book to date.

____________________________

10580112_323682794456743_8111805298674043201_n-1Katie Ashley is the New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon Best-Selling author of The Proposition Series, Runaway Train Series, as well as several New Adult and Young Adult titles. Her latest series, Vicious Cycle, has been picked up for publication by Penguin Books.

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, Sons of Anarchy, Downton Abbey, Designing Women, and Scooby-Doo. 

With a BA in English, a BS in Secondary English Education, and a Masters in 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.


She is represented by Jane Dystel of Dystel and Goderich Literary Management.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

the hard way cover-2

Cover Reveal: #BAE by Cambria Hebert – #Hashtag Series – Book 8

#Bae
Cambria Hebert
(Hashtag #8: Conclusion)
Publication date: September 16th 2016
Genres: New Adult College Romance

BEFORE ANYONE ELSE

The Hashtag Series #8

Happily-ever-after.

That’s what happens when you get married.

Right?

Turns out sparkly rings, cake and a fantastic wedding do not automatically grant you that, not even when it’s all you truly want.

I’m even starting to doubt the bottomless, unconditional love I share with the man I married will be enough.

I can’t have happily ever after, know why?

Because I can’t give Romeo what he truly wants. I’ve tried. So hard. I won’t be happy unless he is and something is missing. Someone.

Paparazzi are in my face. The flashing cameras and prying eyes are everywhere. My secret is getting harder to hide, and I know the second the scoop is dished the grip I have on the fraying rope of that happily ever after will snap right in my face.

In our face.

I can’t let that happen. No matter what.

Because with or without a happy ending, Romeo comes Before Anyone Else.

Add to Goodreads

teaser BaeT3

 

Author Bio:

Cambria Hebert is an award winning, bestselling novelist of more than twenty books. She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major, and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair.

Besides writing, Cambria loves a caramel latte, staying up late, sleeping in, and watching movies. She considers math human torture and has an irrational fear of chickens (yes, chickens). You can often find her running on the treadmill (she’d rather be eating a donut), painting her toenails (because she bites her fingernails), or walking her chorkie (the real boss of the house).

Cambria has written within the young adult and new adult genres, penning many paranormal and contemporary titles. Her favorite genre to read and write is romantic suspense. A few of her most recognized titles are: The Hashtag Series, Text, Torch, and Tattoo.

Cambria Hebert owns and operates Cambria Hebert Books, LLC.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

 

XBTBanner1

Review: Rules Of A Rebel And A Shy Girl by Jessica Sorensen

51ztJ5TyHIL

Rules Of A Rebel And A Shy Girl

By Jessica Sorensen

Buy: Amazon

7f56d-goodreads

Synopsis

Willow
It started with a kiss and ended with a list. The middle is a bit more complicated.

The list of rules is supposed to protect mine and Beck’s friendship and stop us from accidentally kissing again. But most of all, it’s supposed to protect my heart from getting crushed and keep me from ending up broken like my mom.

I’ve always been great at following rules. But the more time I spend with Beck, the more I can’t stop thinking about that kiss and how amazing his lips felt against mine. For the first time in my life, I wish I was a rule breaker. But I can never cross that line. Not with Beck. Not with anyone.

Besides, if Beck knew the truth about my life, then the list wouldn’t have to exist because he wouldn’t have kissed me to begin with.

Beck
It started with the most amazing kiss ever and led to Willow handing me a list.

That stupid list. When she gave it to me, I wanted to shred it to pieces, pull her against me, and kiss her until she realized a piece of paper wasn’t going to stop me. Willow’s been my best friend since forever and she should know by now that I’m not a follow-the-rules kind of guy.

She may think that kiss was a mistake, but she’s wrong. Kisses like that can’t be a mistake. Willow and I belong together, have since the day I promised to always protect her from the bad stuff in her life. And somehow I’m going to prove it to her. Just like I’ll always protect her no matter what.

A standalone contemporary romance.

Suggested reading level 18+

________________________________

3 Star

Michel’s Review

Jessica Sorensen is known for her angsty New Adult romances that feature troubled characters and end on mega cliffhangers.  It’s refreshing when she writes a stand alone New Adult romance that ends with a happily ever after.

Rules Of A Rebel And A Shy Girl is a spin off of The Confessions Of A Kleptomaniac.  We met Willow and Beck as secondary characters in a tightly knit group of friends.  This is their time to shine. They have graduated from high school and are now in college.

Willow has always taken care of her mother. At a young age her father abandoned them and her mother fell completely apart. Her mother is an alcoholic / drug addict that can’t take care of herself.  She has put Willow in dangerous situations.  Beck was always there to rescue Willow.  Although Willow appreciates it, she also resents it.  She wants to be able to take care of herself.

Willow and Beck have been best friends for years.  There friendship is turning into something more.  Willow can’t handle it.  She’s afraid she will end up like her mother. Beck is going to do everything within his power to convince Willow he is her prince charming.  He wants her to know it’s okay to be rescued and depend on someone else.  Most of all he wants her to know she is truly loved.

Willow has a set of rules for her and Beck’s relationship.  Beck’s determined to break all of Willow’s rules and win her heart.

I enjoyed revisiting the characters from the previous book.  Although I liked the characters, this was not one of my favorite books by Jessica Sorensen.  It felt a bit repetitive and not enough swoon worthy moments.  Also it felt like Willow and Beck were very similar to other characters from other series.  I didn’t feel their individuality or personalities shining through and making them stand out.

Rules Of A Rebel And Shy Girl by Jessica Sorensen was not a bad book.  It just wasn’t as good as some of Jessica’s other books.

______________________________________________

AboutTheAuthor

 

JessicaSorensenauthor pic_new

Jessica Sorensen is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author from the snowy mountains of Wyoming. When she’s not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family.

New Release + Review: Show Me How by Molly McAdams – Thatch Series – Book 3

51m-hnUNI5L

Show Me How

Thatch Series – Book 3

By Molly McAdams

Buy: Amazon / B & N / IBooks / Kobo

ab38e-goodreads

Synopsis

After her first love was ripped from her grasp four years earlier, Charlie Easton was sure she would never be able to trust anyone with the shattered pieces of her heart again. That is, until Deacon Carver forces himself into her life, and makes those pieces swirl in chaos. But Charlie doesn’t know how to let him in… until a stranger stumbles upon a notebook filled with her innermost secrets, and shows her how.

Deacon Carver is known for sleeping his way through the town of Thatch, as well as the surrounding cities—something he used to take pride in. But that persona has haunted Deacon ever since he decided to leave that life behind for the girl he wants more than anything: Charlie Easton.

But when another girl falls into Deacon’s life, allowing him to be himself without judgment for his past, will their conversations hinder his relationship with Charlie … even if he’s never seen her?

_____________________________

4 Star

Michel’s Review

Oh how the mighty have fallen.  Deacon Carver, the legendary player in Thatch series has fallen hard for a woman he can’t stand.  A woman that betrayed his best friends, used her brother, and has returned home to use them up once again.  Charlie Easton may be one of his best friends little sister but she is not going to win him over.

Like most things, there are always two sides to every story.  What Deacon perceives as betrayals are Charlie’s burdens to carry.  The love of her life is dead, he broke her heart and left her pregnant and alone.  He used her, dumped her, and was engaged to another woman before he died suddenly. He never had a chance to meet his son. That was the beginning of more betrayals to come.  Her mother gained custody of her child and abandon them both.  Her brother gained custody and forced her to go away to school while he raised her son.  Now she’s finished with school and back in town.  She’s determined to get custody of her son and make a good life for them both.  She never anticipated Deacon Carver changing her carefully mapped out plans.  She has trust issues and a notorious player isn’t going to change them.

Both Charlie and Deacon are both going to experience changes in their lives.  These changes are for the better.  They are both going to learn to love and trust with their full hearts.  A beautiful little boy is going to gain a real family that only a super hero can appreciate.

Show Me How was a great addition to the Thatch series by Molly McAdams.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

____________________________________

And don’t miss the first book in the Thatch Series…

51uEOa-DC0L

LETTING GO

Thatch Series – Book 1

By Molly McAdams

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iTunes ** Kobo ** GooglePlay ** Audio

Grey and Ben fell in love at thirteen and believed they’d be together forever. But three days before their wedding, the twenty-year-old groom-to-be suddenly died from an unknown heart condition, destroying his would-be-bride’s world. If it hadn’t been for their best friend, Jagger, Grey never would have made it through those last two years to graduation. He’s the only one who understands her pain, the only one who knows what it’s like to force yourself to keep moving when your dreams are shattered. Jagger swears he’ll always be there for her, but no one has ever been able to hold on to him. He’s not the kind of guy to settle down.

It’s true that no one has ever been able to keep Jagger—because he’s only ever belonged to Grey. While everyone else worries over Grey’s fragility, he’s the only one who sees her strength. Yet as much as he wants Grey, he knows her heart will always be with Ben. Still they can’t deny the heat that is growing between them—a passion that soon becomes too hot to handle. But admitting their feelings for each other means they’ve got to face the past. Is being together what Ben would have wanted . . . or a betrayal of his memory that will eventually destroy them both?

*****

51pKkiWkShL

 

To The Stars

Thatch Series – Book 2

By Molly McAdams

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** iTunes ** Kobo ** GooglePlay

About TO THE STARS:

In the second standalone book in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Molly McAdams’ Thatch series, Knox Alexander must convince his long-time love Harlow Evans that they’re meant to be together.

He promised to wait for her.
She told him he was wasting his time.
Not waiting for him ended up being the biggest mistake of her life.

When they were younger, Knox Alexander swore to Harlow Evans that he would wait for her to turn eighteen so they could be together. But that was two and a half years away, and Harlow couldn’t ask him to give up all the fun and thrills of going away to college for her. As the years passed, Knox remained a constant in her life but when her eighteenth birthday came around, Harlow’s heart belonged to someone else.

Every day for the last four years, Harlow has been haunted by that fateful choice. And though he may appear unaffected by what happened in their past, Knox has always tried to fill the void Harlow left. But when he comes stumbling back into her life and refuses to leave, will Harlow finally let him into her heart…?

 

_______________________________

 Author PhotoAbout Molly McAdams:

Molly grew up in California but now lives in the oh-so-amazing state of Texas with her husband, daughter, and fur babies. When she’s not diving into the world of her characters, some of her hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, traveling, and long walks on the beach … which roughly translates to being a homebody with her hubby and dishing out movie quotes. She has a weakness for crude-humored movies and fried pickles, and loves curling up in a fluffy comforter during a thunderstorm … or under one in a bathtub if there are tornados. That way she can pretend they aren’t really happening.

 

 

 

 

Website ** Tumblr ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Google+

TO THE STARS Goodreads ** Molly McAdams Goodreads

Excerpt Reveal: The Hard Way by Katie Ashley

the hard way excpert reveal

the hard way coming soon

the hard way cover

Sports + Bad Boy + Second Chance

The Hard Way by Katie Ashley Releases on August 31st!

*****

The Hard Way

By Katie Ashley

Release Date: August 31, 2016

ab38e-goodreads

Synopsis

 

Cade Hall has always been the golden boy of the gridiron. Because of his talent at football, coupled with his father’s wealth, he’s always gotten his way. But when a night of drunken debauchery lands him in hot water with the college athletic board, neither his influential father nor his charming grin can save him. He finds it a total buzz kill when he is sentenced to community service with troubled youth at an inner-city shelter. But his nightmare is only beginning when his greatest high school regret is the very one in charge of the program, and she has him by the balls in more ways than one.

 

For Avery Prescott, senior year was a nightmare of epic proportions, and Cade Hall played the lead villain. After she fled her small town for college in the bright lights of Atlanta, she thought she had escaped the painful memories of her past. She never could have imagined Cade would waltz through the door of the outreach program she presided over. But Avery has news for Cade–she isn’t the same shy, doormat of a girl she was in high school. Since she holds Cade’s football future in her hands, she’s more than ready to make payback a real bitch.

 

Will the two stay in the defensive zone or discover that sometimes life’s greatest lessons are learned the hard way?

the hard way teaser use excerpt

Excerpt

Fuuuuuuuuuck! This seriously was not happening. Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse, apparently the universe didn’t just hate me. It fucking despised me. Not only was I stuck working forty hours a week at this shithole, but now I had the worst blast from my past standing before me. Avery Fucking Prescott.

In every “manwhore with seemingly no soul’s” world, there is one girl he regrets. One girl he thinks about from time to time. One girl he measures all the other ones against. One girl he even cries about when he’s shitfaced.

Mine was Avery Fucking Prescott.

I couldn’t help noticing that the Avery standing in front of me didn’t seem the same. Sure, she still had the same long, dark hair that she swept back in one of those ponytail things. Gone were the glasses, which made it a lot easier to see her green eyes that had flecks of gold in them. Of course, today there was pure and unadulterated hate burning in them directed at me where back in the day, there had been love.

But I had managed to kill that love by being a prick. Yeah, I’m sure you’re thinking that isn’t all too shocking based on the pure stupidity you’ve seen me exhibit so far. The thing is that Avery brought out the good that was buried deep down inside me. The good that you needed a fucking bulldozer to unearth.

While there were slight differences in her appearance, her entire personality seemed different, and no, I don’t mean just about how she hated me with a fiery passion. She wasn’t the wide-eyed, innocent farm girl who seemed so out of place at Harlington Prep. It was like she’d had a personality transplant. It reminded of me of what happened to my older sister, Catherine, the summer she turned fifteen, and my mother sent her off to some glamour school shit to detox the awkward out of her. When she came back a month later, it was like she had become a Stepford Kid. Catherine no longer took the time to play with me. She had “more important” things to do like contouring her brows or preparing for cotillions. Things were never the same between us after that.

My ego couldn’t help wondering if what had happened between us had caused the seismic shift in Avery. Like I’d broken the Old Avery with my actions, and this was what had been rebuilt in its place. But another voice rationalized that unlike me, Avery had probably gotten her shit together in the last three years. College had matured her.

After a few moments of a silent standoff, Avery said, “Hello again, Cade.” Her words might have been polite, but her voice was strained. I could tell it was taking everything within her not to go off on me.

“Oh, you two know each other?” Tammy or Theresa, or whatever the hell her name was, questioned.

Do we know each other? Oh yeah, we know each other. Like in the biblical sense. I can even tell you about the heart-shaped birthmark on the inside of her right thigh.

But I knew I would mortify the hell out of Avery if I said anything like that in front of her boss. So instead, I cocked my brows at Avery for her to take the lead on how she wanted us to respond to that question.

“A little. We went to high school together,” she replied diplomatically. The wounded look that momentarily flashed in her eyes told an entirely different story—the story where I played the villain.

But Tammy didn’t seem to pick up on it. “Well, isn’t it a small world?” she mused.

“Yeah,” Avery and I said in unison.

Tammy smiled at me. “I was just about to sing all of Avery’s praises to you, but since you know her, I don’t need to waste my breath, right?”

“Right,” I muttered.

“Well, then. I’ll leave you two alone to catch up, and for Avery to show you the ropes.”

“Thank you, Tamar,” Avery said politely.

Oh it was Tamar. Shit, I needed to remember that. “Yeah, thanks, Tamar.”

Tamar started out of the door and then stopped. She threw a grin over her shoulder. “Now, Avery, just because you know Cade, you can’t go easy on him. He has a debt to pay to Georgia Tech’s athletic department.”

Avery glared at me before flashing a fake smile at Tamar. “Oh, I promise to make him earn his keep.”

Apparently Tamar wasn’t picking up on the heavy tension between us. “Unfuckingbeliveable,” I muttered under my breath.

“Excuse me?” Avery demanded.

I held up my hands. “Nothing.”

Avery crossed her arms over her chest. “I never thought I’d have to see you again.” She shook her head at me, which caused her ponytail to swish back and forth like a whip. “Yet here you are standing before me. I guess, I must’ve done something epic to piss the universe off this much to put you back in my path.”

Whoa, that was sure as hell not what I was expecting. “I could say the same.”

Her green eyes narrowed to fury-filled slits. “Excuse me? You have some nerve to stand here in front of me and say that considering what you did.”

She was right. Only an epic tool would not immediately apologize for what I did to her. It should have been the first words out of my mouth. And not just to make things run smoothly here at The Ark, but because it was the right thing to do. After all, she had truly been an innocent in the whole fucked up situation of me being an emotionally crippled bastard. I’d let her be tortured by a psychotic chick who thought she belonged to me. I’d humiliated her with my deceptive words and cruel actions. But the greatest of my crimes was I had broken her heart.

But in this instance, I was being King Epic Tool because I couldn’t get those words to come out of my mouth. It wasn’t something I struggled with today. I’d had three years to stay those two words. Hell, I’d started off a hundred texts, but I’d never sent them. I’d even done a few stalkerish drives by her house to say how sorry I was in person, but being an emotional pansy ass, I had never gotten out of the car.

So instead of taking the emotional high road, I went slumming. “It’s been three years, Prescott. You really need to get over that.”
the hard way teasers

__________________________________

KATIE ASHLEYKatie Ashley is a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon Best-Selling author. She lives outside of Atlanta, Georgia with her daughter, Olivia, and 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.

 

Twitter Facebook Goodreads Amazon Page | Pinterest

the hard way cover

New Release + Excerpt + 5 Star Review: Anti Stepbrother by Tijan

 

anti stepbrother book tour

anti stepbrother now available

 

 

I came to college with daydreams about being with my stepbrother, but what would happen if I fell in love with the anti-stepbrother instead?

Anti-Stepbrother

By Tijan

Release Date: August 22, 2016

Buy: Amazon  / B & N / IBooks / Kobo

b48ad-goodreads

Synopsis

He told me to ‘settle, girl.’
He asked if ‘something was wrong with me?’
He said I was an ‘easy target.’
That was within minutes when I first met Caden Banks.
I labeled him an *sshole, but he was more than that. Arrogant. Smug. Alpha.

He was also to-die-for gorgeous, and my stepbrother’s fraternity brother.

Okay, yes I was a little naive, a tad bit socially awkward, and the smallest amount of stalker-ish, but if Caden Banks thought he could tell me what to do, he had another thing coming.

I came to college with daydreams about being with my stepbrother, but what would happen if I fell for the anti-stepbrother instead?

 

antistepbrother

anti stepbrother teaser 1

Excerpt

He wasn’t looking at me any more. I wasn’t even sure he was really in the room.

I needed to leave this alone. He had given me the clues—looking away, his jaw clenching, pain like I’d never heard from him sounding loud and clear. My instincts were telling me to shut up, but I couldn’t. I had this burning need to know more about Caden. I needed to get in there, past his walls, and I wanted to understand him.

I wanted to help him.

Caden was hurting, and I wanted to take that away.

“What happened?”

Caden turned his gaze to me now, and I felt branded by the pain I saw. His eyes were stricken. “Does it matter?”

“No.” My breath caught and held in my chest. I wanted to go to him, but I also wanted to slink away. I was stirring up his pain, but I had to know. “What happened, Caden?”

“Why do you have to know?”

“Because it’s hurting you.”

I made a decision, though I had no idea what the ramifications were going to be. I stood, my legs going numb and my stomach clenching, and I moved to his side. He leaned back, his head falling to the couch, and he watched me.

The need to ease some of his hurt outweighed the fear of what would happen next. Swallowing tightly, I stepped over to straddle him and sat down.

“What are you doing?”

He asked that softly, still holding his beer. I took it from his hands and put it on the stand next to the couch. Then I just sat there. He had to do the rest. I’d already made the first move.

I glanced down at his hands, feeling like an idiot. “What happened?”

“Why are you pushing this?”

I looked back up to find confusion warring with need in his eyes. He wasn’t pushing me away, so I sank further into his lap.

“You haven’t told anyone else about this.” It wasn’t really a question, but I saw the confirmation in his eyes. My chest tightened, thinking about whatever secret he held. “Please tell me.”

“No.” He shifted forward, and I braced myself, expecting him to push me away. He didn’t. His hands grasped the backs of my legs and lifted me so I was more fully on his lap.

I could feel him between my legs, and my breasts almost pressed against his chest. I waited. I wanted to see what else he’d say

“But not because I don’t want you to know,” he added. “Because it’s not my secret to tell.”

I nodded, my stomach doing somersaults now. “That makes sense. I can respect that.”

And there we were. His hands cupped my ass, and the pain in his gaze became something darker, something I felt too, something that began to turn off all rational thought.

“What are we doing here?” he questioned, his voice like a caress in itself.

I leaned forward, my gaze lingering on his lips. “I didn’t really think it through.”

“And now?”

“Still not thinking it through.”

“You’re okay with that?”

In that moment, the truth exploded in me. I wanted him. I wanted this—but it was more. I needed this.

I didn’t answer.

I closed the distance between us.

 

anti stepbrother teaser 2

5Star+

Michel’s Review

Summer was looking forward to her first year at North River University.  Not only was it the beginning of her higher education , she was finally going to be with the guy she loved, her stepbrother Kevin Matthews.

Her first day at NRU did not go as expected.  Her first year at NRU was nothing like the plan she had mapped out.  Her higher education was more than academics.  It was a learning experience about “real” life.

All freshman are required to take core classes before beginning their field of study.  One of those classes is Statistics.  Statistics can be a difficult class on it’s own merit but add the statistics of life into the mix and it becomes downright brutal.  Summer began with this problem… What are the chances of Summer surviving freshman year?  Can you figure out this problem ?

One stepsister + One Stepbrother

+

One naive freshman

+

Three Brothers

+

Six Girls

+

One Wild Fraternity

+

Two Best Friends

+

Two Ex Girlfriends

+

Countless Scorned Girls

One cheating jerk

+

Two dysfunctional families

+

Campus Life

_________________________________

The Answer: Read The Book

I could not put this book down.  The twist and turns, the dynamic characters, and college drama kept me glued to the pages.  This book was not only a book with a romance, it was a book about life.  I loved it and would highly recommend this book!

_____________________

tijan bio I didn’t begin writing until after undergraduate college. There’d been storylines and characters in my head all my life, but it came to a boiling point one day and I HAD to get them out of me. So the computer was booted up and I FINALLY felt it click. Writing is what I needed to do. After that, I had to teach myself how to write. I can’t blame my teachers for not teaching me all those years in school. It was my fault. I was one of the students that was wishing I was anywhere but at school! So after that day, it took me lots of work until I was able to put together something that resembled a novel. I’m hoping I got it right since someone must be reading this profile! And I hope you keep enjoying my future stories.

Stalk Her: Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads

anti stepbrother cover