Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: The Director And Don Juan by Katy Regnery – The Story Sisters – Book 2 : Blueberry Lane Series – Book 16

DIRECTOR_RBBANNER
The Director and Don Juan by Katy Regnery is LIVE!
FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
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young couple in love, studio shot

From New York Times bestselling author Katy Regnery comes a brand new series set on Blueberry Lane!

The Director and Don Juan is the second of four books about the Philadelphia-based Story sisters who are all on the look-out for love.

Heiress Alice Story left her father’s company three years ago in a blaze of glory, inviting all of his employees to jump ship and join her, but only one accepted her offer: mail room clerk, Carlos Vega.

While Alice spent the next three years getting her own company off the ground, Carlos became her indispensable right-hand man — executive assistant and office manager, loyal counsel and trusted co-worker.

And all the while, they were quietly falling in love with each other.

When Alice is offered a lucrative business deal in Puerto Rico, island-born Carlos is the perfect person to accompany her on her trip as translator, but as they travel together from Philadelphia to Santo Domingo to Ponce, two unlikely co-workers will discover that during their three years working together, their feelings for each other have grown far deeper than they ever could have guessed.

And though business-minded, proper Alice will try her very best to ignore the longings of her heart, scorching hot, insanely sexy Boricua, Carlos, has no intention of letting her go.
***

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Michel’s Review

The Story sisters are back in Katy Regnery’s latest release, The Director And Don Juan.  Once again Katy takes us back to the Blueberry Lane world with a new unique story to add to this phenomenal romance series.

Alice Story has worked hard to become the successful business woman she is today.  When she blatantly defied her father and struck out on her own there was only one other person that had her back other than her sisters.  Carlos Vega chose to follow her rather than staying in a stagnant job.  He respected her business abilities as well as her integrity. He believed she could build her dream and was willing to sacrifice his own questionable career.  He saw this as an opportunity for growth and direction towards his own business goals.  It also brought him closer to Alice Story.

Alice Story is determined to build a company that is based on fair business practices for her employees as well as her clients.  Carlos Vega was the only person who believed in her when she set out on her own.  He has been monumental in building her business and has become her right hand.  She doesn’t feel like it’s fair to keep him in a position as her PA and office manager when he has so much more potential in the company.  She feels like she is selfish hanging onto him for herself rather than letting him spread his wings.  He’s become her confidant, her best friend, and right hand man.  She shouldn’t be harboring romantic feelings towards him.  He’s her employee and he’s six years younger than her. It goes against every business ethic and personal ethic she believes in.

A business trip to Puerto Rico forces her take Carlos with her.  Carlos is from Puerto Rico and can navigate the business negotiations with ease.  Carlos also plans to negotiate his relationship with Alice Story.  It may not be easy but it’s worth every effort.  She is his dream and the future he wants.

Katy Regnery sealed the deal with Carlos and Alice in a very delightful, entertaining romance that had me swooning.  I absolutely loved this book!

 

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Don’t forget to preorder The Flirt and the Fox!
RELEASE DATE: September 21st

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Amazon: http://amzn.to/2tqwMBj
APPLE: http://ow.ly/mgEZ30cQKCG
NOOK: http://ow.ly/PkGw30cQKzy
KOBO: http://ow.ly/HAy330cQKGV

About the Author:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katy Regnery started her writing career by enrolling in a short story class in January 2012. One year later, she signed her first contract and Katy’s first novel was published in September 2013.

Twenty-five books later, Katy claims authorship of the multi-titled, New York Times and USA Today Blueberry Lane Series, which follows the English, Winslow, Rousseau, Story, and Ambler families of Philadelphia; the six-book, bestselling ~a modern fairytale~ series; and several other standalone novels and novellas.

Katy’s first modern fairytale romance, The Vixen and the Vet, was nominated for a RITA® in 2015 and won the 2015 Kindle Book Award for romance. Katy’s boxed set, The English Brothers Boxed Set, Books #1–4, hit the USA Today bestseller list in 2015, and her Christmas story, Marrying Mr. English, appeared on the list a week later. In May 2016, Katy’s Blueberry Lane collection, The Winslow Brothers Boxed Set, Books #1-4, became a New York Times E-book bestseller.

In 2016, Katy signed a print-only agreement with Spencerhill Press. As a result, her Blueberry Lane paperback books will now be distributed to brick and mortar bookstores all over the United States.

Katy lives in the relative wilds of northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, where her writing room looks out at the woods, and her husband, two young children, two dogs, and one Blue Tonkinese kitten create just enough cheerful chaos to remind her that the very best love stories begin at home.

Author Links:

Website/Newsletter Signup: http://katyregnery.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7211470.Katy_Regnery
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2dqySsy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatyRegnery
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KatyRegnery
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/katharineregner/

Duo 5+ Reviews and 2017 Favorite : The Player Duet by K. Bromberg – The Player… Book 1 and The Catch … Book 2

The Catch

The Player Duet – Book 2

By K. Bromberg

Buy: Amazon

 

 

 

After an unexpected twist of fate, All-Star catcher Easton Wylder is left questioning the loyalty of everyone around him.

Even the woman who shares his bed, Scout Dalton.

But if Easton thought being uprooted to the last place he expected was the only challenge life had to throw at him, he was dead wrong.

With an ailing shoulder and his career in limbo, his decision to make an unexpected change leads him to question everything – Scout’s love, family loyalties, and whether he can conquer the one obstacle he’s never been able to overcome. The secret he’s never shared with anyone.

He may be a man pushed to his limits, but he’s hell-bent on proving his worth no matter the cost.

 

Amazon | iBooks | B&N | Kobo | Paperback

 

Michel’s Review

The Player

The Player Duet – Book 1

When The Player released in April I was unable to read it because my personal life was out of control.  I knew that it was going to be a part of a duet and decided to wait to read it closer to the second book’s release.  I read this book days before the second book released and was completely mesmerized with this story.  I was counting down the days for the second book to release.

The Player by K. Bromberg is very different from any sports romance I have read.  She took a different approach with the characters personalities as well as the plot.  It was not your typical sports romance where the player is a player and his lady is oblivious to the professional sports world.  K. Bromberg flipped the switch and threw some fast balls that most readers wouldn’t see coming.  She also created complex and compelling characters who were intelligent, responsible, and attuned to their world.  She added extra layers by giving them both very different kinds of daddy issues, career goals, and personal issues. She added the competitive side of the professional athlete and business practices in professional sports.  Then she added the most important element of all, the sizzling hot romance that would make any reader feel like they were scoring a home run.

Easton Wylder is baseball royalty.  He has been a part of the Aces since he was a kid watching his father, Cal Wylder make major league records.  He’s followed in his father’s footsteps and is quickly building record breaking stats when a deliberate and illegal play results in an injury that could end his career.  He’s still in the rehab process weeks after his surgery and management is not happy.   He’s signed a contract to be back on the field within months rather than letting nature take it’s course in healing properly.  His career is on the line and the management has brought in the best physical therapist in the sport to rehab him.  Rather than Doc Dalton showing up for therapy sessions, his daughter Scout Dalton has been assigned to him.  He’s reluctant to put his trust in her until she finally proves she is just as good as her father is at her job. She earns his respect and in the process wins his heart.

Scout Dalton is determined to get Easton back on the diamond in the allotted time even though she thinks it’s a ludicrous demand by management.  She’s a professional and very good at what she does.  She’s determined to gain the season contract as the lead physical therapist for the Aces for her father’s practice.  It all depends on Easton getting back in the game.  The last thing she needs is to fall in love with Easton when her professional ethics are on the line.

At this point I’m sure you are thinking that this plot has been covered before and you would be right.  The difference is the layers and the complexities that K. Bromberg brings to the game.  Both Easton and Scout have their own secrets and insecurities.  They are both drowning because of their father’s professional reputations.  Add a competitive enemy determined to ruin Easton’s career, it puts both their careers on the line.  Then the unthinkable happens and you guessed it…CLIFFHANGER!

The cliffhanger was shocking!  It had me counting down the days for The Catch to release.

K. Bromberg brought her A Game in this book!

Michel’s Review

The Catch

The Player Duet – Book 2

I downloaded The Catch the moment it went live and started reading it immediately .  I did not put this book down until I finished it.  As soon as it was finished I was texting my friend, who also read the first book in this duet, raving about the book!

OMG… K. Bromberg scored big with The Catch!

So without giving away spoilers, K. Bromberg resolved the shocking cliffhanger right off the bat but not without a lot of tension and unease.  That part of the story becomes less important as the rest of the story begins to play out.  Both Easton and Scout’s secrets are exposed.  Both of their father’s ulterior motives and ruthless control over them becomes even more complex.  The result is both of their careers at this point in time are ruined.  The expectations of the management, the league, and the fans is beyond their control.  The only thing they have is each other and their relationship is strained.

They are both going to have to re-evalute their professional goals, their family responsibilities, and their relationship with one another.  Once their secrets are out they are going to be fighting to save their relationship and careers.  They may find that they are their own worst enemy.  Can these two look beyond what’s on the surface and look at what’s in their hearts.

Of course K. Bromberg is going to give them their happily ever after but she is going to make them work for it.  In the end it’s better than winning the World Series.

 

 

 

 

_____________________________________

 

 

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000038_00074]Baseball has never been sexier in an all-new novel by New York Times Bestselling Author, K. Bromberg.

Easton Wylder is baseball royalty. The game is his life. His passion. His everything.

So, when an injury threatens to end Easton’s season early, the team calls in renowned physical therapist, Doc Dalton, to oversee his recovery. Except it’s not Doc who greets Easton for his first session, but rather, his daughter, Scout. She may be feisty, athletic, defiant, and gorgeous, but Easton is left questioning whether she has what it takes to help him.

Scout Dalton’s out to prove a female can handle the pressure of running the physical therapy regimen of an MLB club. And that proof comes in the form of getting phenom Easton Wylder back on the field. But getting him healthy means being hands-on.

And with a man as irresistible as Easton, being hands-on can only lead to one thing, trouble. Because the more she touches him, the more she wants him, and she can’t want him. Not when it’s her job to maintain the club’s best interest, in regards to whether he’s ready to play.

But when sparks fly and fine lines are crossed, can they withstand the heat, or is one of them bound to get burned?

AMAZON | iBooks | B&N | Kobo | Paperback

 

 

 

 

HeadShot ColorNew York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines, and damaged heroes who we love to hate and hate to love.

A mom of three, she plots her novels in between school runs and soccer practices, more often than not with her laptop in tow.

Since publishing her first book in 2013, K. has sold over one million copies of her books and has landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists over twenty-five times.

In April, she’ll release The Player, the first in a two-book sports romance series (The Catch, book 2, will be released late June), with many more already outlined and ready to be written.

She loves to hear from her readers so make sure you check her out on social media or sign up for her newsletter to stay up to date on all her latest releases and sales HERE

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon Author | Driven Group

Release Blitz: The Catch by K. Bromberg – The Player Duet – Book 2

The Catch

The Player Duet – Book 2

By K. Bromberg

Buy: Amazon

 

 

 

After an unexpected twist of fate, All-Star catcher Easton Wylder is left questioning the loyalty of everyone around him.

Even the woman who shares his bed, Scout Dalton.

But if Easton thought being uprooted to the last place he expected was the only challenge life had to throw at him, he was dead wrong.

With an ailing shoulder and his career in limbo, his decision to make an unexpected change leads him to question everything – Scout’s love, family loyalties, and whether he can conquer the one obstacle he’s never been able to overcome. The secret he’s never shared with anyone.

He may be a man pushed to his limits, but he’s hell-bent on proving his worth no matter the cost.

 

Amazon | iBooks | B&N | Kobo | Paperback

 

 

 

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000038_00074]Baseball has never been sexier in an all-new novel by New York Times Bestselling Author, K. Bromberg.

Easton Wylder is baseball royalty. The game is his life. His passion. His everything.

So, when an injury threatens to end Easton’s season early, the team calls in renowned physical therapist, Doc Dalton, to oversee his recovery. Except it’s not Doc who greets Easton for his first session, but rather, his daughter, Scout. She may be feisty, athletic, defiant, and gorgeous, but Easton is left questioning whether she has what it takes to help him.

Scout Dalton’s out to prove a female can handle the pressure of running the physical therapy regimen of an MLB club. And that proof comes in the form of getting phenom Easton Wylder back on the field. But getting him healthy means being hands-on.

And with a man as irresistible as Easton, being hands-on can only lead to one thing, trouble. Because the more she touches him, the more she wants him, and she can’t want him. Not when it’s her job to maintain the club’s best interest, in regards to whether he’s ready to play.

But when sparks fly and fine lines are crossed, can they withstand the heat, or is one of them bound to get burned?

AMAZON | iBooks | B&N | Kobo | Paperback

 

 

 

 

HeadShot ColorNew York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines, and damaged heroes who we love to hate and hate to love.

A mom of three, she plots her novels in between school runs and soccer practices, more often than not with her laptop in tow.

Since publishing her first book in 2013, K. has sold over one million copies of her books and has landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists over twenty-five times.

In April, she’ll release The Player, the first in a two-book sports romance series (The Catch, book 2, will be released late June), with many more already outlined and ready to be written.

She loves to hear from her readers so make sure you check her out on social media or sign up for her newsletter to stay up to date on all her latest releases and sales HERE

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon Author | Driven Group

Release Blitz: King Of Clubs by Sandra Owens – Aces & Eights Series – Book 2

Passions—and tempers—flare as one star-crossed couple gets a second chance at love.

KING OF CLUBS
Aces & Eights #2
Sandra Owens
Releasing June 27, 2017
Montlake Romance

 

In the second novel in acclaimed
author Sandra Owens’s Aces & Eights series, passions—and tempers—flare as
one star-crossed couple gets a second chance at love.
 
Covert FBI
agent Court Gentry loves his brothers, his job, and his Harley-Davidson. Once
he loved a girl, too, but when she broke his heart, he put his emotions on
lockdown…until she crosses his path again.
 
On vacation
six years ago, free-spirited Lauren Montgomery fell hard for Court Gentry. She
returned home happier than ever, only to descend into a spiral of abuse by her
ex-husband, Stephan. When Stephan threatened to kill any man who touched her,
Lauren cut Court from her life—but not from her heart.
When Lauren
and Court reunite after her friend marries his brother, Court guards himself
against the person who made him feel such intense passion and pain. Except the
undeniable spark between them is impossible to contain and heating up fast. Six
years ago, it was love. Now, it’s just lust. Keeping it merely physical is a
foolproof plan…right?

When Stephan is released from prison, Lauren can’t outrun her past anymore, and
Court vows to protect her. But with Lauren in imminent danger, Court must
question his heart and risk his life to save the woman he never stopped loving.

 

A
best-selling, award winning author, Sandra Owens lives in the
beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Her family and friends often
question her sanity, but have ceased being surprised by what she might get up
to next. She’s jumped out of a plane, flown in an aerobatic plane while the
pilot performed death-defying stunts, has flown Air Combat (two fighter planes
dogfighting, pretending to shoot at each other with laser guns), and rode a
Harley motorcycle for years. She regrets nothing.
A member of Romance Writers of America’s Honor Roll, Sandra is a 2013 Golden
Heart® Finalist for her contemporary romance, CRAZY FOR HER. In addition to her
contemporary romantic suspense novels, she writes Regency stories.
 

Release Day Launch + Excerpt + Giveaway: Martinis & Moonlight by Andrea Johnston

Today we have the release day blitz for Martinis & Moonlight by Andrea Johnston! Check out the release day festivities and be sure to grab your copy today!

Title: Martinis & Moonlight

Author: Andrea Johnston

Genre: Contemporary Romance

About Martinis & Moonlight:

Minnesota “Minnie” Walker has worked hard for the life she has – a close knit family, successful career, and long-term relationship. When a tragedy strikes, Minnie sacrifices everything to be there for her family. Never expecting a move to the small town of Lexington would change the course of her future, Minnie finds herself wondering if what she always thought was perfect is really what’s best for her … and her heart.

Owen Butler has lived in the town of Lexington his entire life. After years of feeling second best and wasting his time vying for the attention of his father, Owen has settled into an uncomplicated life. Not one to believe in happily ever after, he never expected the new woman in town to have him questioning everything he thought he wanted in life.

Together, under the rays of the moonlight, Owen and Minnie find themselves wondering what the future holds and if facing it together is worth the risk.

 

Martinis & Moonlight:

Amazon US | Amazon.AU | Amazon.CA | Amazon.UK | Kobo | iBooks | B&N | Goodreads

Check out the rest of the series!

Whiskey & Honey (A Country Road Novel Book 1)

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Kobo | iBooks | B&N

Tequila & Tailgates (A Country Road Novel Book 2):

Amazon | Kobo | iBooks | Nook

Exclusive Excerpt:

This week has been particularly quiet in the office, and as much as I hate to admit it, I’d even take an encounter with Owen at this point. Yep, be careful what you wish for.

The door to the office opens and I sense him before I hear him. Maybe it’s that I smell him. Not smell in a gross way, but a way that is like some weird mating call. I’m sure there’s a name for that but I can’t think of it because there he is, walking toward me in a pair of khaki cargo shorts, a sleeveless T-shirt that, thanks to the sweat on his body, is clinging to his torso and chiseled chest, and a pair of sunglasses sitting atop his head. That smile I mentioned taking over his face as he gets closer to my desk has me quickly looking away in embarrassment. I know he can tell that he affects me. I know my tell-tale giveaway to embarrassment has completely taken over my arms, neck, and cheeks in a glorious shade of strawberry.

“Well, Miss Walker, fancy meeting you here.”

“Oh, hey.” I don’t take my eyes from my screen and very diligently read the same line over and over. Why does he make me nervous? I don’t get nervous.

“Here are some invoices for you and I signed off on the time cards for my crew.”

I finally lift my eyes from my screen to see Owen sitting in the chair in front of my desk, leaning back so he is rocking on the back two legs of the chair, with his arms crossed, and a smirk on his face. The same smirk he usually offers me before not so subtlety suggesting something flirtatious.

“Thanks. Checks will be ready Monday as usual. Was there anything else?”

“What’re your plans this weekend? Date with your boyfriend? Painting your nails with the squirt?”

Clicking the save icon on the spreadsheet I’m working on, I sit back in my seat, crossing my feet at the ankle while folding my arms, and contemplating how to answer this. He’s trying to get to know me and I promised myself I’d be open to new friendships. Owen Butler is a lot of things, and while I’m not sure he’s completely harmless, I doubt he’s much more than talk.

“No boyfriend,” I casually respond before whispering under my breath, “anymore.”

“What? Some schmuck let you go? What a loser.”

I snort out a laugh; I guess my whisper was louder than I thought. The more I’ve thought about my relationship with Kent, the more appropriate a word like “schmuck” is a perfect way to describe him. Boring, self-absorbed, career driven, and missionary style are also other ways.

“Well anyway, I’m actually going to just hang out this weekend. The girls are going with my parents and it’ll be the first time in weeks I’ve had time to myself. How about you? Got a date?”

Owen chokes on what I think was supposed to be a laugh, startling me a little while simultaneously sending a little shiver down my spine to my lady bits. His voice is deep and gravelly, as is his attempt to laugh, almost like he doesn’t do it very often and his vocal cords don’t know how to respond.

“Yeah, I don’t date. Hook up maybe, but dating indicates I’m interested in a relationship and that’s not the case.”

“I hear ya. A relationship is the last thing on my mind these days.”

We sit in silence for a few ticks before Owen clears his throat and rests his chair on all four feet. I follow suit by sitting up more in my chair and grabbing my mouse. A few clicks and Owen stands and then taps the top of my monitor.

“You should call the girls.”

I look up at him, slightly confused, but not before acknowledging the sweat has dried from his torso while his shirt still clings to his skin. He must notice my gaze has lingered a little longer than necessary because he offers me that smirk again.

“Sorry, the girls – Piper and Ashton. Me and the guys are heading to the lake for a little fishing so I’m sure they’re around.”

“Oh.” The realization of how much my life has changed in the last few months struck me; when he said “the girls,” I thought of my nieces. “Yeah, uh, maybe.”

“Well, all right then. Have a good weekend, Minnesota. See ya next week.”

I don’t bother asking Owen to not call me by my full name. I know he knows it’s not my preference. And honestly, for whatever reason, it doesn’t bother me when he says it. I would never tell him that, but it’s true.

 

About Andrea Johnston:

Andrea Johnston spent her childhood with her nose in a book and a pen to paper. An avid people watcher, her mind is full of stories that yearn to be told. A fan of angsty romance with a happy ending, super sexy erotica and a good mystery, Andrea can always be found with her Kindle nearby fully charged.

Andrea lives in Idaho with her family and two dogs. When she isn’t spending time with her partner in crime aka her husband, she can be found binge watching all things Bravo and enjoying a cocktail. Nothing makes her happier than the laughter of her children, a good book, her feet in the water, and cocktail in hand all at the same time.

 

Connect with Andrea:

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter

Enter Andrea’s Giveaway:

A Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Blitz: Beware The Ranger by Debra Holt

Will they be able to lay the past to rest and rekindle their love from the ashes?
BEWARE THE RANGER
In the Long Arms of the Lawman #1
Debra Holt
Releasing June 28, 2017
Tule Publishing

 

Twelve
years ago, Kaitlyn Russell had a dream: living happily ever after with
Clay Morgan. Except her grandmother had bigger plans for her beloved
granddaughter and they didn’t include life in the small town of McKenna Springs
as the wife of a young, poor deputy. Kaitlyn’s heart was broken when Clay and
her grandmother convinced her to pursue her second love, Broadway stardom.
 
Texas
Ranger Clay Morgan is a widower with a young son to raise. A dozen years
before, he had to make the most difficult decision of his life when he agreed
to let go of the only woman he’d ever loved so that she could pursue her
dreams.
Now, fate
and an old woman’s guilty conscience conspire to bring Clay and Kaitlyn back
together once more. Will they be able to lay the past to rest and rekindle
their love from the ashes?

 

Born
and raised in the Lone Star state of Texas, Debra Holt grew up
among horses, cowboys, wide open spaces, and real Texas Rangers. Pride in her
state and ancestry knows no bounds and it is these heroes and heroines she
loves to write about the most. She also draws upon a variety of life
experiences including working with abused children, caring for baby animals at
a major zoo, and planning high-end weddings (ah, romance!).
Debra’s real pride and joys, however, are her son, an aspiring film actor, and
a daughter with aspirations to join the Federal Bureau of Investigation. (more
story ideas!) When she isn’t busy writing about tall Texans and feisty
heroines, she can be found cheering on her Texas Tech Red Raiders, or heading
off on another cruise adventure. She read her first romance…Janet Dailey’s
Fiesta San Antonio, over thirty years ago and became hooked on the genre.
Writing contemporary western romances, is both her passion and dream come true,
and she hopes her books will bring smiles…and sighs… to all who believe in
happily-ever-after’s.Debra invites you to visit her website. She loves to hear from
other aspiring authors or readers via her email.

 

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Make Me Stay by Sidney Halston – Panic Series – Book 2

Make Me Stay

Panic Series – Book 2

By Sidney Halston

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

Secret identities, second chances, drama, desire: It’s all going down in Miami Beach in this tantalizing novel from the bestselling author of Pull Me Close, which was hailed by Aurora Rose Reynolds as “a heart-gripping story about . . . the power of love.”

April: Walking away from Matt Moreno was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Lying to him was a close second, but for his safety, I had no other choice. I was undercover, working to put some nasty people behind bars. But when Matt nearly recognizes me on Lincoln Road a year later, all those very real feelings come rushing back. Now that my assignment’s almost over, will he understand why I lied? Why I had to leave? Most important, can he ever forgive me?

Matt: I was madly in love with June Simpson . . . or, at least, with the woman I thought was June. Then she just disappeared while my family’s nightclub went through hell. And after months of searching, when I think I’ve finally found that sexy, raspy voice and those exquisite blue eyes, she slips away once more. Turns out, “June” is actually Detective April White. She’s been playing me the whole time. And she’s about to rock my world all over again.

*****

Michel’s Review

Make Me Stay by Sidney Halston is the second book in the Panic series and the twin brother, Matt Moreno’s story.  It can be read as a stand alone but I would highly recommend reading it after the first book, Pull Me Close.

Matt’s story takes place before his father was arrested which was before Nick’s story (Pull Me Close) and after the repercussions of his father’s crimes and near destruction of their family nightclub Panic.  Pull Me Close takes place in between these two timeframes.

On the surface Matt has always appeared to be the happy go lucky twin.  His easy going attitude is a deceptive armor for the complex man beneath the surface. In the beginning he’s juggling two full time careers.  He’s a successful attorney and has made partner in his firm in Fort Lauderdale.  From Thursday to Sunday he’s a successful businessman helping to manage the iconic family nightclub, Panic in Miami Beach. He’s trying to help his brother with the heavy burdens that come with running an iconic night club in the rapidly changing industry in Miami Beach while trying to change their father’s archaic business practices.  He barely has time for himself let alone relationships.  He’s known to enjoy the rewards that come with being a successful club owner. He’s known to imbibe in a little recreational cocaine and enjoy the easy pickings of ladies, His easy going mannerisms make it hard for his brother and father to take his presence in the club seriously. After their father is arrested for drug trafficking everything in his life changes.  He’s pulling his weight and trying very hard to take some of the responsibilities off of his brother’s back.  Nick is having a hard time letting go of the responsibilities especially after their father has been convicted and the club’s reputation is shattered.  Their business is on a downward decline, they are on every law enforcement agencies radar, and he lost his position with the firm he worked for. What makes his situation worse is the one woman he fell hopelessly in love with is the same woman who not only left him heartbroken but destroyed his family and career.  June Simpson stole his heart and disappeared from his life.  June Simpson is not the woman he thought her to be.  She’s the undercover cop that brought his father down, caused him to be arrested, destroyed his career, and shattered his soul. June Simpson is Detective April White and she has returned to Miami to testify in several trials of the drug trafficking ring.

April White’s return to Miami is anything but a happy homecoming.  Facing Matt Moreno is devastating because she really loved him with all her heart. When she’s brutally attacked by one of the criminals, she loses all of her memories.  She’s left in Miami alone and dependent on Matt Moreno to take care of her until she can function on her own.  She senses that Matt is more than an old friend from her past, she senses animosity beneath the surface.

Matt is forced to take care of the woman who ruined his life.  It’s hard to forgive and forget but it is also hard not to love her.  Now he has to decide what is more important in his life, love and happiness or his family legacy.

Sidney Landon added so many new layers and elements to the Panic series.  She not only gave her readers a phenomenal romance, she also gave the readers a better understanding of the first book in the series.  The Moreno brothers both had to tackle very complex issues within their family as well as their personal lives.  Their relationship with each other was as close as expected of twins but also strained because of the club.  This book put them on equal grounds and made them both better men.  It also gave the club more life.  Readers were introduced to the people that are making Panic more than a popular nightclub but a close knit kind of family. I can’t wait to see what comes next in the sultry nights in Miami at the Panic Club.

_______________________________________

Pull Me Close

Panic Series – Book 1

By Sidney Halston

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

Welcome to Panic, a sultry Miami nightclub where bodies and hearts move to a beat that doesn’t stop at sunrise—the setting for “a magnificent story full of deep emotion” (Sawyer Bennett).

Katherine: I thought I could enjoy a night out like a normal person. I thought I could handle the flashing lights, the pulsing music, the crowded dance floor. I couldn’t have been more wrong. After having an anxiety attack and passing out during my sister’s engagement party at Panic, I wake up in the arms of the hottest guy I’ve ever seen. Nick Moreno’s no gentleman. But he might just be the man I need to help me take control of my life.

Nick: When I hear there’s some random girl passed out in the back room of my family’s South Beach nightclub, I’m pissed. My dad’s already behind bars and we can’t afford any more bad press. But after giving her a lift—literally—back to her apartment, I stop seeing Katherine Wilson as some random girl. She’s gorgeous, vulnerable, and braver than she knows. And when we kiss, all I want to do is pull her close and promise that she’ll always be safe in my arms.

Michel’s Review

Wow! Sidney Landon has taken readers on a new adventure in the sizzling hot new Panic series.  She takes her readers to Miami Beach and the sinful, sultry Panic Nightclub, where decadence is the norm.

Nick Moreno is stressed out to the max after his father was arrested and convicted of drug trafficking.  Their family nightclub, Panic has been “the club” to go to in Miami since the eighties.  After his father’s arrest the club is struggling to stay afloat.  They are on the every law enforcement agencies radar and it’s imperative for the club to stay clean.  That means keeping out the drugs, the hookers, and every other kind of criminal element that enters the club.  To top it off, his twin brother, Matt is off the rails with his drinking, womanizing, and lackluster management. He’s become a control freak and the last thing he needs is trouble entering his club.  When a drugged up woman passes out in his club and he’s forced to take her home and babysit, he’s beyond pissed.  Strangely enough it’s also the first moment of peace he’s had in months.  This odd woman claims she’s not a druggy but her actions say differently until he gets to know her.

Katherine suffers from extreme anxiety, panic attacks, agoraphobia, and severe PTSD. Every moment of her life is a struggle.  Every moment leads to more depression and loneliness. She’s trapped in a bubble she cannot burst no matter how hard she tries.  When she takes one step forward it forces her three steps backward.  When she met Nick Moreno at one her lowest moments it made her brutally aware of how bad her life had become.  When Nick offers her friendship she’s even more desperate to become a somewhat normal person.  Her life isn’t easy to overcome and she may never overcome it all completely but it’s worth every effort.  She deserves friendship, companionship, and love.  She has so much to give of herself if only she can find the way out of her self inflicted prison.

Katie and Nick have found something special and worth hanging onto.  It’s going to take a lot of work and nothing may ever be perfect for them but it’s worth the effort. They give each other peace in a world where peacefulness is hard to find. In the end they both find out that even though life isn’t perfect their love is the glue that keeps them together.They learn that they can’t always control life but together they can get through it’s ups and downs.

Sidney Landon floored me with this book.  She didn’t hold back and delivered a vivid picture of mental disorders and how they not only affect the person suffering but those who love them.

I highly recommend reading Pull Me Close by Sidney Landon. It’s an unforgettable and emotional reading experience.

___________________________________________

 

Sidney Halston

USA Today bestselling author, Sidney Halston lives her life with one simple rule: “Just Do It” Nike, and that’s exactly what she did. After working hard as an attorney, Sidney picked up a pen for the first time at thirty years old to begin her dream of writing. Having never written anything other than very exciting legal briefs, she found an outlet for her imaginative romantic side and wrote Seeing Red, among four other novels currently in the works, including the sequel to Seeing Red. That first pen stroke sealed the deal and she fell in love with writing.

Sidney lives in South Florida with her husband and children. She loves her family above all else, and reading follows a close second. When she’s not writing you can find her reading and reading and reading… She’s a reader first and a writer second.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Release Day Blitz + Excerpt + 5-Star Review: Small Town Scandal by Daisy Prescott

Today we are sharing the release for SMALL TOWN SCANDAL by Daisy Prescott. This book is a standalone, romantic comedy, and it is the 5th book in the Wingmen series. Check out the buy links for the book below and for the previous books in the series!

 

SMALL TOWN SCANDAL by Daisy Prescott
(Wingmen, #5)

PURCHASE NOW

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BOOK BLURB:

Another wingmen meets his match and this time it’s scandalous.

Carter Kelso is a man with a plan. And goats.

Ashley Kingston is a woman with a reputation.

Can he earn back her love before their past catches up with them and destroys everything?

On the island, my last name is synonymous with scandal. With a notorious father and a famous brother, I’ve been on the sidelines of our small town’s gossip circle for years. Nothing to see here. Just a man and his goats, happily going through life. Not a care in the world. Too bad it’s all lies.

I’m tired of trying not to be in love with Ashley Kingston, our very own island jezebel. Some people think she’s a slut. They think they know her. They’re wrong. Screw them.

Reputations can be deceiving. I should know.

Small Town Scandal is a second chance romance standalone novel and the fifth book in the Wingmen series. You do not have to read the other novels first.

ADD SMALL TOWN SCANDAL TO GOODREADS

 

EXCERPT:

“Worried about history repeating itself?” Ashley meets my eyes.

“With you?” Yes, please.

She gives a slight nod in response.

“Never. I’m not some dumb eighteen-year-old kid with his head up his ass. I’m not my father. You’re not your parents. We’re adults now.”

She gazes out over the water for a moment. “I don’t see any, do you?”

“Any what?” I scan the sky.

“Flying pigs.” Her smile is shy and more vulnerable than I’ve seen in years.

I bump her shoulder again with mine. “Stranger things have happened.”

“Says you.” She returns the pressure with her arm against mine with a brief nudge.

“You mentioned dinner? Were you serious?” I circle back to her comment before my random business idea.

“We both gotta eat. Plus, the baristas can close up for me. It’s good responsibility for them to have.”

“You trust them?”

“I do. If they mess up, then it’s a learning lesson for all of us.”

“When did you get to be so wise?” I almost say smart, but she’s always been smart. Definitely has the brains along with the body and the looks. She’s the trifecta. With a cherry on top.

I pick up the stem and then toss it over to the other bench.

“Hey! I thought that was my present,” she protests.

“You want a cherry stem that I’ve tongued into a knot?”

“Your tongue’s been in my mouth, so it’s kind of the same thing.”

We both stare at the stem laying on the concrete in who knows what combination of fluids and dirt.

“I’ll make you another one.”

“I have a better use for your tongue.” She surprises me with a small hop to peck my lips.

We’re going to need some rules of engagement. A SWOT of our own.

First, we need to stick to well lit, public places.

Second, we shouldn’t be alone.

Ten minutes of sitting on a bench together and certain parts of my body are coiled and ready to spring into action, not caring it’s daylight and a few hundred bored people are sitting in their cars with nothing better to do than watch us.

Nah, they’re all on their phones. She could probably straddle me on this bench and no one would pay any attention.

Damn, if I’m not tempted to test this theory.

“Are you coming?” She’s halfway back to the coffee hut.

“I wish,” I mumble, dipping my head and mentally cursing myself for setting limits.

Ashley’s smile says she probably heard me and agrees.

——–

 

PURCHASE SMALL TOWN SCANDAL NOW

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Tracey’s Review

What do you get when you take a guy, some goats, and a fiery-haired vixen with a chip on her shoulder and put them all together? You have SMALL TOWN SCANDAL, the fifth book in the Wingmen series by author Daisy Prescott.

Whidbey Island might be one of my most favorite places ever. For such a small town, there sure is always something going on, and it’s usually shenanigans of the very best sort. Carter Kelso is pretty much the last unattached Wingmen standing, unless you count Olaf, and, well, no…Carter, though, is ready to change things up, to show everyone that he is more than just a slacker, content to drift through life. He’s got his goats, he’s got his goals, and he’d really like to have another chance with Ashley Kingston.

Carter and Ashley have what you might call a complicated past. Thanks to small-town gossip, Ashley has somehow earned a less-than-pure reputation, and she’s happily embracing it, if only to show her fellow Whidbeyites that she’s in control of her own life, thank you very much. But Carter knows the truth behind the lies, and he’s ready to make Ashley his own, in a very public and very permanent way.

These stories, these characters, they have won my heart so many times over that they feel like real-life. The picture that Daisy so expertly paints is one of the unexpectedly complex and intertwined lives of people in a small town, where there is often so much more going on than meets the eye, and people are continually surprising each other with the way that they rise above expectations.

Carter’s and Ashley’s story has been a long time in the making, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing them finally sort things out. This is one second-chance love story that deserves the happiest of endings, because the two of them have gone through so much to come back to each other. And, through it all, there are laugh-out-loud moments that I’ve come to expect and that I adore so much in Daisy’s writing, characters that continue to delight because they are so darned much like the rest of us, and a place that I wish I could visit, because it just seems so magical.

This Wingman has finally settled down, and I couldn’t be happier to see it. I’m not giving up hope that Daisy’s got more Whidbey in store for us, though, because there’s still Ashley’s brother Jonah, and, well, Olaf. 5 stars for SMALL TOWN SCANDAL. If you’ve not read these books, you must, because they are just the best. Add them to your TBR, and enjoy.

 

PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES

READY TO FALL (Wingmen #1)

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | B&N

24327646

CONFESSIONS OF A REFORMED TOM CAT (Wingmen, #2)

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | B&N

ABL 6x9

ANYTHING BUT LOVE (Wingmen, #3)

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | B&N

BETTER LOVE (Wingmen, #4)

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | B&N

————–

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

 

new daisy prescott full size

USA Today Bestselling Author Daisy Prescott writes romantic comedies with heart.

Her Modern Love Stories feature characters in their thirties and forties finding and rediscovering love in unexpected and humorous ways. Her Wingmen books star regular guys who often have beards, drive trucks, and love deeply once they fall. Look for her new Rom Com series, Love with Altitude, in 2017.

Born and raised in San Diego, Daisy currently lives in a real life Stars Hollow in the Boston suburbs with her husband, their rescue dog, and an indeterminate number of imaginary house goats. When not writing about herself in the third person, Daisy can be found traveling, gardening, baking, or lost in a good book.

To learn more about Daisy and her writing, sign up for her mailing list here. Send her an email at: daisyauthor AT gmail DOT com Or chat with her on Twitter (@daisy_prescott) and Facebook: /daisyprescottauthorpage, and follow her on Instagram: /daisyprescott

AUTHOR LINKS:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Newsletter

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Release Day Launch+ Excerpt + Giveaway: The Impossible Vastness of Us by Samantha Young

 

From New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young comes a story of friendship, identity, and acceptance that will break your heart—and make it whole again. Grab your copy of THE IMPOSSIBLE VASTNESS OF US today!

 

About THE IMPOSSIBLE VASTNESS OF US:

“I know how to watch my back. I’m the only one that ever has.”

India Maxwell hasn’t just moved across the country—she’s plummeted to the bottom rung of the social ladder. It’s taken years to cover the mess of her home life with a veneer of popularity. Now she’s living in one of Boston’s wealthiest neighborhoods with her mom’s fiancé and his daughter, Eloise. Thanks to her soon-to-be stepsister’s clique of friends, including Eloise’s gorgeous, arrogant boyfriend Finn, India feels like the one thing she hoped never to be seen as again: trash.

But India’s not alone in struggling to control the secrets of her past. Eloise and Finn, the school’s golden couple, aren’t all they seem to be. In fact, everyone’s life is infinitely more complex than it first appears. And as India grows closer to Finn and befriends Eloise, threatening the facades that hold them together, what’s left are truths that are brutal, beautiful, and big enough to change them forever…

 

Amazon US Hardcover | Amazon US eBook | Barnes & Noble | iBooks US

Amazon UK | Kobo UK | GooglePlay | iBooks UK | Kobo US

 

Add to your Goodreads

 

 

 

EXCERPT:

“India, I’m not using her. I mean, I am, but it’s not like that. Eloise is getting what she wants out of this relationship, as well.”

“Like what?”

“I can’t tell you.”

“You are using her.”

“I’m not.” His chair screeched as he pulled it closer so our knees touched. His dark eyes moved over my face and I sucked in my breath at the open appreciation I saw there. “I’m not using her…but we are in a relationship together. I guess it just never occurred to me that I might actually meet someone in high school. Someone I…”

That feeling in my chest, that thick, hot feeling, threatened to overwhelm me at all the things he wasn’t saying. “Finn, Eloise is going to be my family.”

He looked so forlorn it took everything within me not to reach for him.

“What is it you’re hiding?”

“I can’t tell you. Please, just trust me.”

Hurt and frustration swept through me in equal measure but I tamped it down. It wasn’t my place to demand his secrets.

My frustration was suddenly mirrored in his eyes as he looked up at me. “I wish things were different.”

But they weren’t different. And yet they were the same, history repeating itself. I cared about someone and they didn’t care enough about me back to be honest about what was really going on.

I didn’t know if I was angry at Finn or just angry that nothing ever seemed to be easy for me. Everything was always a fight.

It felt like I lived in a constant clusterfuck.

I gave a huff of laughter. “Story of my life.” I shook my head, grabbed up my bag and, unable to look at him, said, “Thank you for your help tonight.”

“You’re not leaving without me.”

His protectiveness confused and pissed me off even more. “I’m not? Funny, it looks like that’s exactly what I’m doing.”

His familiar scowl was back in place at my sarcasm. “You’re also not going home alone after what happened here. I’ll give you a ride.”

“Finn.” I slumped, suddenly feeling exhausted. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Sadness flittered through his eyes before he managed a carefully blank expression. “I think I can handle driving you home.”

Still a trembling mess after everything that had happened, I gave in and followed Finn out to his car.

The tension that we’d shared before was nothing compared to how it was now. Now that Finn had in a roundabout way admitted he liked me and I’d realized that what I was feeling for him was attraction, the tension could not be mistaken for anything else but sexual.

I’d never felt anything like it before—it was the most frustrating, scary and exhilarating feeling in the world.

When we eventually pulled up outside the house, the guilt washed over me. I shouldn’t be feeling this way about Eloise’s boyfriend and he certainly shouldn’t be feeling this way about me.

I felt like we were to blame for the whole thing but I didn’t know why.

I hadn’t asked the universe to make Finn like me.

And I had definitely not intended to like him in return.

“India,” he said just as I moved to get out of his car. “I’ve never really cared what anybody thought of me before…but I really don’t want you to think I’m a bad person.”

I stared into his beautiful eyes. “I can’t imagine ever thinking you’re a bad person. I meant it earlier…thank you for coming for me tonight. I’ll never forget it.”

“This feels weirdly like a goodbye,” he said with a bitter twist to his gorgeous lips.

“Maybe it is. I guess we’re both just a complication the other doesn’t need.”

Slowly, so slowly my heart had time to increase in hard, steady thumps, Finn slid his hand over the center console between us and stroked his thumb along the side of my hand. I felt that simple touch in every nerve, my body reacting to it in a way it never had to the touches and deep kisses that had come before it.

I stared at our hands for a moment, wondering how different my life could be if Finn wasn’t Eloise’s boyfriend, if we’d just met as strangers at school, felt the inexplicable bond between us and were free to do something about it.

Suddenly very aware of how long I’d been sitting outside the house in his car, I fumbled for the door handle. “See you around, Finn.”

 

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About Samantha Young:

Samantha Young is the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of adult contemporary romances, including the On Dublin Street series and Hero, as well as the New Adult duology Into the Deep and Out of the Shallows. Every Little Thing, the second book in her new Hart’s Boardwalk series, will be published by Berkley in March 2017. Before turning to contemporary fiction, she wrote several young adult paranormal and fantasy series, including the amazon bestselling Tale of Lunarmorte trilogy. Samantha’s debut YA contemporary novel The Impossible Vastness of Us will be published by Harlequin TEEN in ebook& hardback June 2017

Samantha has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award 2012 for Best Author and Best Romance for On Dublin Street, Best Romance 2014 for Before Jamaica Lane, and Best Romance 2015 for Hero. On Dublin Street, a #1 bestseller in Germany, was the Bronze Award Winner in the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2013, Before Jamaica Lane the Gold Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2014 and Echoes of Scotland Street the Bronze Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2015.

Samantha is currently published in 30 countries and is a #1 international bestselling author.

 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

 

 

Release Blitz + Excerpt + Giveaway : Rock Star by Stacey Kennedy

 

Today we have the release day blitz for Rock Star by Stacey Kennedy! Check it out and grab your copy now!

Title: Rock Star

Author: Stacey Kennedy

Genre: Contemporary Romance

About Rock Star:

A high school reunion is about to get down and dirty and a whole lot more complicated in this new erotic romance from USA Today bestselling author Stacey Kennedy.

Veterinarian, Rae Evans expects to attend a dreadful ten-year high school reunion. Instead, she’s confronted by a past she’s never gotten over. The love of her life, Travis Walker, has returned to Catfish Creek, and the now-famous rock star wants only three things: Her. Naked. And screaming his name.

Fresh off his last world tour, Travis has returned to town to get a dose of reality. With fame casting a superficial cloud over Travis’s life, he’s scrambling to stay afloat. He needs an anchor, and Rae is that for him. But as he finds himself, he’s determined to remind Rae of the heat that once burned between them.

Before they know it, their one hot night is three, and soon, just like ten years ago, Travis holds the strings to Rae’s heart. But Rae’s not that young girl who watched her high school sweetheart race off to become famous. She’s a woman who knows what she wants and realizes when a man needs her. She just has to decide if she should put the past on repeat, or walk away from it forever.

Get ROCK STAR today:

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Exclusive Excerpt:

Travis Walker made women’s panties disappear.

On most nights, anyway.

Tonight, sitting on a wooden stool set upon the stage at Catfish Creek High School’s conference center, only one woman was on his mind. His fingers strummed over the strings of the guitar, mouth rested near the microphone, and after he sang the final two lines of the chorus—I wanna kiss you under the moonlight. And love you ‘til the sun comes up—the applause from the crowd reopened his eyes.

Sparkling string lights and masquerade masks hung from the ceiling above him, reminding him that he wasn’t surrounded by thousands of his typical screaming and wild fans. In his Texas hometown, he stared out at teachers, old friends, and classmates, all dressed in formal wear and masquerade masks.

From his seat in the spotlight, he recalled playing for smaller crowds on this very stage back in high school. Those had been some of the happiest days of his life. Now, fresh off his last world tour, he realized he loved that scene, too. The energy of a smaller crowd, who knew him personally, and a larger crowd, who thought they were in love with him, was so different he couldn’t compare the two, but admittedly, he missed the intimacy that came from a smaller venue.

Done with his song, and with the crowd quieting, he slid the guitar strap over his head and handed the instrument back to a member of the band that’d been hired to play at Catfish Creek High School’s ten-year reunion. When he jumped off the stage, he sighed in relief, finding that all the cell phones pointed in his direction were now put away, and the flashing lights were gone.

That’s when he set his focus on what mattered tonight: finding her. Rae Evans—the muse behind the song he sang tonight, Moonlight.

He scanned the crowd overtop the decorated tables with their gold chairs, but the beauty had escaped him somehow. He recognized Annie Flowers, the librarian, who gave him a little wave, and Christopher Christianson, the principal, who was grabbing a drink from the bar. Travis could have sworn he spotted Rae entering the masquerade ball when he began his song. Desperation now clawed at his chest.

Determined to find her, he moved farther into the crowd, just as his cell vibrated in his pocket. Knowing exactly who it’d be, and that he couldn’t ignore the call, he reached for his phone and then frowned at the text from his manager, Scott Price.

Awesome job. The video is already up on YouTube. Fans are loving it. The mask was a nice touch. Don’t miss your flight in the a.m.

Travis shifted the black masquerade mask around his eyes, and the muscles along his shoulders tightened with the reminder of the weight they carried; of the need for him to always be on point, and the fact that nothing, not even his high school reunion, was sacred anymore.

Life had changed dramatically since the last time Travis stepped foot in the conference center. But he didn’t want to think about the shit weighing on him, so he fired off a response—I’ll be on it—then tucked his cell phone back into his pocket.

He had tonight to fix everything that was wrong with his life, and he wouldn’t waste it.

In the eyes of his manager, Travis had come to the reunion to put on a show and to look real to his fans. But Travis hadn’t come for the publicity; he had come for one very good reason: to find his anchor—the woman who stopped his world from spinning wildly out of control.

Lately, in a sea of chaos, he’d finally stopped drowning and saw a way back to the happiness he once had. That happiness had started with Rae, and surely, she was his way to find himself again.

One touch. One taste. He wanted to remember what that happiness felt like.

Again, he searched the crowd, ignoring the way some men glowered at him, and some women batted their lashes. Rae. That’s whom he’d come here to see tonight. Only her.

The band behind him started playing another ballad, and that’s when he found her, staring right at him from across the room. She wore a sleek, black, strapless gown around her slender figure with matching long, black gloves.

His muscles surged with adrenaline, and he went to move toward her when a hard voice came from behind him.

“Karly wants you to play another song.”

Travis slowly glanced over his shoulder to find the biggest asshole in Catfish Creek High School history, Jason, a blond-haired, slender, one-time big shot. Rae was best friends with Kate, and Kate had loved—and later married and divorced—the dipshit behind him.

Times had changed.

Travis didn’t owe Jason anything now, and he certainly didn’t owe the reunion’s event planner, Karly, shit. “You can tell Karly that I told her I’d play one song, and that’s exactly what I did. Bother me again, and we’ll have a problem.”

Jason didn’t make a move or say a word in rebuttal. Once a coward, always a coward.

Refocused on the only person who mattered tonight, and pulled by the energy only Rae conjured, Travis stretched out his fingers, shedding his frustrations as he moved with purpose through the crowd. Her pretty, hazel eyes surrounded by dark makeup followed his every move, and she yanked him forward with a simple look.

She’d always been a pretty girl, but she’d grown into a blindingly beautiful and stunning woman. Her gown fit her like a glove. A gold filigree mask somehow made the creaminess of her skin appear richer. She wore her shoulder-length, brown hair in big waves framing her round face.

Tonight, she didn’t look so fresh-faced and innocent. She looked sexy as hell, and just the sight of her again caused Travis’s cock to swell eagerly.

While he’d talked to her through email, text, and the occasional late-night, drunk phone call every birthday and Christmas over the last ten years, he hadn’t seen her. Not since that day on his parents’ porch. Sure, he’d kept an eye on her through the Catfish Creek Chronicle when they featured her for her charity work, and also on the website for the vet clinic she owned. But after he’d walked the path that led away from her, he’d never found his way back. Life got busy. New friends were found. Fame overtook him.

Now, he was…home.

When he finally reached her, the air between them felt charged. “Rae,” he said.

Her eyes warmed. Dark, red-painted lips curved. “Travis.”

Christ, he remembered how those lips tasted. How she tasted—every goddamn inch of her.

Beneath her mask, those pretty eyes now turned a little suspicious. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming to the reunion?”

Perhaps he should have called, but… “I wanted to surprise you.” Because there were important reasons he returned to his hometown, ones that he didn’t want her to know about. Yet.

It all began with an article in the Catfish Creek Chronicle.

Dr. Rae Evans feels she’s done what was needed to help the animals in Catfish Creek, and she’s ready to begin a new journey. She’s looking to open another clinic in one of the neighboring towns.

At twenty-eight years old, she’d achieved what she hoped to do by thirty, and that article reminded him of the guy he used to be when she’d first made those plans. He wasn’t the same man who left Catfish Creek all those years ago, and he didn’t know when exactly he lost himself. While Rae had likely found all the happiness she wanted in her success, he simply wanted to find his way back to the carefree guy he once was.

To do that, he had to come back to the place where he was the happiest. He had to come back to her. “But to tell you why I wanted to surprise you, I need to tell you a story.” He offered his hand. “How about we dance, and I’ll share it.”

For a second, he thought she might refuse him. She simply stared at his hand.

When her eyes met his again, and she slowly slid her palm into his, the tightening in his chest eased. He closed his fingers around hers and sensed her soften, making him smile.

Reliving that infectious energy she carried, he led her into the middle of the dance floor, then he spun her around and pulled her to him, nice and close, sliding his hand across her lower back.

She laughed softly, eyes twinkling behind her mask. “You’ve still got the moves, I see.”

“My moves will never fail me.” He grinned.

The band played the perfect song. Something a little sexy and slow, keeping her hips swaying perfectly with his. He did nothing to shield his erection, but one look into her eyes told him that was all right. With her breasts pressed against his chest, her cheeks a little pink now, he noticed the heat in the depths of her gaze. He’d recognize it anywhere. That fire felt like it belonged to him—always had, always would. Yet in the past, she’d shy away from that desire. Now, he noted how she firmly held his gaze, telling him she wasn’t the young lover he once had.

“How long are you staying in town?” she asked, in an obvious attempt to divert their attention away from his cock.

“Just tonight.” He stroked his thumb over the back of her hand, keeping her as close as he could, inhaling her flowery scent that had faded from his memory. “I fly out bright and early in the morning.”

“Only tonight?” She shot him a questioning glance. “You came all the way here from New York just for the reunion?”

“You seem surprised.”

She shrugged, seemingly unaffected when another couple bumped into her, her interest obviously centered on him. “Seems like a long way to come for only a few hours.”

A very good point, indeed. “Well, you see, that brings us to my story.” He sent her out, twirling her around before bringing her in close again and returning the smile she gave him. “But I think we need to go back even further for you to truly understand.”

“Go on,” she said, watching him closely.

He paused, collecting his thoughts, then he began. “You’ll never hear me complain about my life. I have far more than I probably deserve.”

“That’s a good thing,” she said firmly, even as a playful grin teased her lips. “You have a pretty amazing life, and you’d better not complain to me about all the fabulous trips you get to take around the world, or you might lose a tooth.”

He chuckled but leaned in, calling her out. “And how do you know so much about my life? Reading up on me?”

“A little,” she admitted.

That’s what he liked most about Rae. She was honest, through and through. The fact that she followed his life could bite him in the ass later, but at this point, there was no going back, so he pushed the conversation along. “So, then you know that I have a very good life. I travel. I stay in fancy hotels. I eat at amazing restaurants. I never have to lift a finger. I have everything that anyone should want.”

Her eyes searched his. “But it’s not the life you want?”

Of course, she caught on. He didn’t expect otherwise. That’s why he’d come to the reunion—to be with someone who truly knew him. “It’s not that I don’t want the life I live,” he explained gently. “It’s that something is missing. Something very important.”

“Which is?”

“The guy I used to be.”

She began nibbling her lip like she used to do in high school when she became confused. “What do you mean?”

“I can have anything I want, Rae. There is nothing that’s not available to me.” He slid his hand along her spine, pulling her in closer, leaving no room between them. “But the guy I was when we were together…I don’t know him anymore.”

Her eyes softened, and her voice grew quiet. “That’s really kinda sad, Travis.”

“It is what it is.” He shrugged, not wanting to get stuck on the things he couldn’t change. “My manager told me that I’d been invited to the reunion and saw it as a business opportunity. But I saw it as a personal one.”

The song shifted to something faster, and the crowd began to fill the dance floor, bumping into his back. He refused to let her go, holding her tightly against him. “Do you want to know the real reason I came to the reunion tonight?”

“Yes,” she said, a little breathlessly.

“I came to relive the past, Rae.” He released her hand, wrapping his other arm around her and bringing his mouth close to hers. “That’s the only reason I’m here. I want to remember what it’s like to be with a woman who knows the real me.” He was encouraged by her shiver. An involuntary movement that spoke of her willingness to give him all that he wanted and more.

Hot and hard, he dropped his head into her neck, inhaled the subtle hints of her flowery perfume, and said into her ear, “We have a chance that many people don’t get. To go back and feel what we felt before.” He dragged his nose across her neck in the way he knew she liked, feeling her quiver under his hands. “Tomorrow, our lives will return to normal. Nothing will have changed. You’ll live here, entirely focused on your clinic and your life, and I’ll live mine in New York. Tonight’s our one free pass to dip into the past, and I want to take it. Because tonight, Rae”—he brushed his lips across her neck, and a soft moan escaped her mouth as he murmured—“I want one more taste of you.”

She gasped and stepped back, blinking rapidly. “I…sorry, excuse me. I need to get some air.” Then those pretty pink cheeks and wide, excited eyes were gone, her dress trailing behind her as she ran for the door.

Travis shoved his hands into the pockets of his suit and grinned. He didn’t mind hunting her, it sweetened his reward.

 

 

Don’t miss the other books of Bad Boy Homecoming:

Dropout by Carrie Ann Ryan

Trouble by Avery Flynn

Prom Queen by Katee Robert

Honor by Kennedy Layne

About the Author:

USA Today bestselling author Stacey Kennedy has written more than 30 romances, including titles in her wildly hot Club Sin, Dirty Little Secrets, and Filthy Dirty Love series. Her books are about real people with real-life problems, searching for that special thing we call love…in a very sexy way. When she’s not burning up the pages and setting e-readers ablaze, she’s living her happily ever after with her husband and two young children in southwestern Ontario. She’s a firm believer that wine, chocolate, and sinfully sexy books can cure all of life’s problems. To keep in touch with Stacey, get updates right to your inbox at staceykennedy.com/newsletter/.

 

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