Author: S.L. Scott
Cover Design: Okay Creations
Photographer: Scott Hoover
for smoking behind the school gymnasium. She inspired me with her laugh and
nonjudgmental attitude and, before I knew it, we were inseparable. Then I left
to pursue my rock star dreams—dreams she encouraged.
think about that little bow at the top of her pink lips, or the way her green
eyes admired mine. Nope, I barely recall the way she fit so perfectly in my
arms when I held her at night. The sweet way she would whisper she loved me has
long faded from memory.
in hopes of believing them one day. Yeah, I was told I’d get over my first
love.
in ninth grade. He called me over—all bravado and bad boy mystery wrapped in a
James Dean-esque package. Dark hair and blue eyes with a rebel without a cause
charisma. He was everything I was warned about, but I couldn’t resist. I
was his from that moment on.
did. I knew it would. I just thought I would be beside him as his partner in
crime, best friend, and lover. That’s what we had always been … before he left
me behind to fend for myself.
Fend? Fight is more like it.
to keep me down.
in the lure of La La Land. His dreams may have come true, but mine were
extinguished. These days I fight for something bigger than me, bigger than we
were ever meant to be.
reality, is this a second chance at that fairy tale ending or another
heartbreak in the making?
Release Day Blitz + Excerpt: Fraud by J.L. Berg
USA Today Bestselling Author J.L. Berg’s FRAUD is available now – and you can get it for a special release week price of just $2.99! Read an excerpt below, enter to win an Amazon gift card, and pick up your copy today!
About FRAUD
From USA Today Bestselling author J.L. Berg comes a sexy standalone about love, lies and every dirty little thing in between.
It wasn’t just a job.
It was my way back to the top.
After losing my position as a journalist for one of the biggest news publications in the world, I knew I’d do anything to get it back.
Even if it meant breaking a few hearts to get there.
She was the hottest author in the country. Known only by a pen name, there wasn’t a person alive who wasn’t dying to discover her true identity.
And I’d figured it out.
Her real name was Kate O’Malley and not only did I plan on finding her, but I fully intended on learning every dirty secret she had and exploiting it for my own gain.
But I underestimated my prey.
I didn’t anticipate how her words would intoxicate me, or how the curves of her body would consume me.
I never meant to fall in love.
And now I had a choice to make.
Do I give up everything for the woman I set out to destroy, or walk away, making me the biggest fraud of all?
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Read an excerpt from FRAUD
What had started as a fun little game to bring this timid beauty out of her shell somehow turned into a wrestling match.
And I was the one about to lose.
Katelyn O’Malley was nothing like I’d imagined.
What had I imagined?
I wasn’t sure exactly.
I’d diligently done my homework— reading Scandal not once, but twice— before I’d hopped on a plane to Oregon. I’d thought the novel would give me insight to this perplexing woman I was about to meet.
It hadn’t.
Not one bit.
If anything, it’d created a thousand more questions.
At first, cracking her ironclad shell seemed like a daunting task. She had come off dry and dull.
God-awful boring.
But boring women didn’t do tequila shots until two in the morning.
Boring women didn’t lie to waiters for free wine and dessert.
And boring women definitely didn’t make me feel this way.
Needy. Desperate. And fucking horny as hell.
Even the way she licked the chocolate off her fork was making me shift uncomfortably in my seat.
This was a job.
Get your head in the game.
“You were pretty good at that,” I said, trying not to stare at the way her pink tongue darted out to grab the last bit of mousse from the tip of her finger.
“Good at what?” she asked.
“Lying.”
She let out a choking cough, patting her chest with her palm. “I’m not a good liar,” she argued.
“Really? You seemed to have everyone around us fooled, including that charming elderly couple who offered their congratulations on their way out.”
“That really was sweet.” She smiled, a touch of whimsy in her gaze. “Did you see the way they held hands? I’m pretty sure he even grabbed her ass when she walked past him to go to the restroom.”
I laughed. “My kind of guy.”
“I just wonder what it’s like— to be that in love after all that time,” she said, bending forward and resting the curve of her chin on her hand.
“How do you know it has been a long time?” I asked. “Maybe they got married late in life.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
“Why?” I asked, curious how she’d reached that conclusion.
“There was a familiarity in the way they touched. The way they leaned into one another, the way they walked. It was as if they’d been doing so forever.”
I studied her for a quiet moment, recalling the intensity of her words and the passion in her voice. It was the first time since meeting Katelyn O’Malley, I could actually see a sliver of Laura Stone, the author, somewhere inside.
“I do believe you are a bit of a romantic at heart,” I replied.
She smiled sweetly. “Maybe a hopeless one.”
My hand reached out to hers, a needless gesture since we’d already achieved our goal for the evening and sold everyone on our false marital status.
This time, I touched her because I wanted to.
“Definitely not hopeless,” I said softly, knowing that instant that I was crossing the line between business and pleasure.
And heading straight to the land of hell.
“So, tell me about technical editing,” she said, shifting topics. “How does one get into something like that?”
I suddenly felt like I’d been hit in the face with a bucket of ice water. Here I was, in a dimly lit room, romancing the hell out of a woman I’d just met, and then reality hit.
I was lying to her.
Flat-out lying.
I needed to remember that. “There’s not much to tell,” I said, straightening slightly in my chair. “Rather boring really.”
We continued to chat about our lives. She told me more about her work at the college. I rambled off more lies about mine until the check came around.
I was feeling quite good about myself as I led us outside.
My head was clear.
But then I saw the way the moonlight highlighted her golden-blonde hair. I became mesmerized by the sway of her hips and the soft curves of her body.
Katelyn O’Malley was casting a spell on me, and she didn’t even know it.
And I wasn’t sure I wanted her to stop.
About J.L. Berg
J.L. Berg is the USA Today bestselling author of the Ready Series, The Walls Duet, and the Lost & Found Duet. She is a California native living in the beautiful state of historic Virginia. Married to her high school sweetheart, they have two beautiful girls that drive them batty on a daily basis. When she’s not writing, you will find her with her nose stuck in a romance novel, in a yoga studio or devouring anything chocolate. J.L. Berg is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, LLC.
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Cover Reveal: Easy Nights by Kristen Proby
From New York Times Bestselling author Kristen Proby, comes a steamy and passionate friends-to-lovers romance—EASY NIGHTS! The sixth standalone title in the Boudreaux Series, Savannah and Ben’s highly anticipated story is now available for preorder on all retailers! Don’t miss the beautiful cover below!
Cover Design by Okay Creations with Photography by Sara Eirew Photography
About EASY NIGHTS (Boudreaux Series #6):
The Boudreaux Series—Sexy. Intriguing. Easy.
No one said change was easy…
Savannah Boudreaux knows what it is to hurt. To bleed. To be afraid that the man she’s promised to be true to until “death do us part” might in fact separate them far sooner than anyone had ever anticipated. But Van also knows what it is to survive. To move on. To live life to the fullest. With five brothers and sisters and a loving mother as her constant source of strength during the pain and the healing, Van realizes there is little else she needs.
But some things never change…
Benjamin Preston sat on the sidelines of the Boudreaux family for years, in love with a woman he couldn’t have. As the best friend of the Boudreaux brothers since childhood, Ben has seen both tragedies and joys in the family. And as a former MMA fighter and KravMaga expert, Ben’s used to fighting for what he wants—and winning. His hands were tied when Savannah married her high school sweetheart not long after graduation, but now two years have passed since Ben found Savannah broken in her own home.
Sometimes what you need most has been right in front of you the whole time…
Van’s convinced that happiness isn’t in the cards for her, no matter how right it feels to be in Ben’s strong arms—and his bed. Ben is determined to win her heart and fight for her trust. He’s promised to protect her, to be her friend. But more than anything, he wants to finally make her his, and this is one fight he’s not willing to lose.
Preorder your copy of EASY NIGHTS today!
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Add to your Goodreads
A Note from Kristen:
Hello, readers!
I’m so excited to finally be able to share the new cover for Easy Nights with you! We’ve all been waiting a long time for Ben and Savannah’s story and it’ll be in your hot little hands on June 27th. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that Ben and Van are two of my favorite characters of all time, and saying goodbye to the Boudreaux clan hasn’t been easy. Thanks for taking this journey of three years with me!
Don’t forget, you can preorder NOW! And be sure to keep an eye on my newsletters and social media in the next two months for sneak peeks and news.
With love,
Kristen
And don’t miss the first standalone titles in the Boudreaux Series!
EASY LOVE-FREE for a limited time only
EASY CHARM-$.99 for a limited time only
EASY MELODY-$1.99 for a limited time only
EASY KISSES
EASY FOR KEEPS: A Boudreaux Novella
EASY MAGIC
About Kristen Proby:
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kristen Proby is the author of the bestselling With Me In Seattle and Love Under the Big Sky series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong, humorous characters with a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type; fiercely protective and a bit bossy, and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves.
Kristen lives in Montana, where she enjoys coffee, chocolate and sunshine. And naps.
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Release Blitz: Distraction by Emily Snow
BLURB
Love.
Marriage.
Baby (preferably twins, because two’s company).
Then she meets Mateo Bailon.
An attorney with a penchant for chains and kink, Mateo isn’t looking for commitment and he sure as hell doesn’t want marriage. Not again. He wants a distraction—a new way to forget his past—and Jamie’s his favorite kind of drug.
He just never counted on getting addicted.
PURCHASE TODAY
Free on Kindle Unlimited
ABOUT EMILY SNOW
Emily Snow is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the DEVOURED series and TIDAL. She loves books, sexy bad boys, and really loud rock music, so naturally, she writes stories about all three. Visit her blog at http://emilysnowbooks.blogspot.com for news, teasers, and contests.
FOLLOW EMILY SNOW
Twitter: @emilysnowbksFacebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/EmilySnowBooks/
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2jgw7ub
Website: http://emilysnowbooks.blogspot.com
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New Release + Excerpt + Review: Hidden Depths by Brenda Rothert
HIDDEN DEPTH by Brenda Rothert is LIVE!
BLURB:
I had it all.
Breaking into the entertainment business as a teenager wasn’t easy. I spent years of my childhood traveling, auditioning and hoping my big break would come. And when I did, I rose to a level I never imagined.
Elle Tyler: model, singer and actress. I couldn’t go anywhere without security anymore. It was everything I ever wanted and more – fame, fortune and worldwide recognition. At age twenty-four, I was living a dream.
But a single act of violence shattered my fairytale existence. In a matter of seconds, all the goodness in me was ripped to shreds. Overnight, the people around me dropped away, moving on to find the next big thing. I gave up on myself, becoming a woman so dark and forlorn I no longer recognized myself.
But the stranger who saved me that day, Justin Lockhart, never gave up on me. He still saw light through my darkness. And as we grew closer, I started to see it, too. And I also started to see that before that terrible day, maybe I didn’t really have it all. Maybe I was always missing the only thing that really matters.
Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32177418-hidden-depth
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EXCERPT:
Elle
I THOUGHT I HAD wrapped my arms around the world. Fortune and fame are the ultimate dream, right? But when an act of violence shattered all my notions, I was forced to face painful truths. It wasn’t until I’d lost so much that I found the one thing that really matters— and the place that made anything seem possible.
“IT’S PERFECT,” MY ASSISTANT Chloe says, grinning proudly as she tucks a loose strand of my hair into the floppy beach hat.
“I’m not sure I’d use that word,” I say, giving her a skeptical look.
“Don’t be hatin’ on the hat. It’s a perfect disguise hat.”
“It’s a beach hat, and it’s February in St. Louis. How is this not going to draw attention?”
She lowers her brows and tries to fold the sides of the hat down. “You think it’s easy making a redhead incognito? A redhead who happens to have one of the most recognizable faces in the world?”
I roll my eyes at that. “Stop. You don’t need to kiss my ass.”
“I know. But I saw a BuzzFeed article this morning about the most recognizable faces in the world, and you were one of them.”
My lips part with surprise. “Really?”
She nods and then stands back to eye the bright pink hat. “With the sunglasses, I think we’ll be ready.”
When she breaks out a pair of black sunglasses with round lenses large enough to hide half my face, I roll my eyes. “Those are the very definition of conspicuous.”
“Hey,” she says defensively. “I did the best I could. That little souvenir shop was the only place I could find with hats.”
“When I sent you out to pick up something, I was thinking like . . . a hoodie. Not Jackie O doing a flamingo impression.”
“It’s a short trip from the room out to our bus. Just keep your head down.”
There’s a knock on the door to my suite, and when Chloe opens it, my bodyguard Andre walks in. “Ready, Elle?”
“Yeah, yeah,” I mutter, noticing his smirk. “Laugh it up.”
“It’s just that it’s sort of a . . . loud disguise.”
Andre kind of looks like The Rock, if The Rock had gotten his nose broken lots of times in fights, and if he were covered in tattoos. Andre’s usually pretty quiet, and since he’s only been my bodyguard for a few months, we’re still adjusting to each other. I’m not quite comfortable firing off a comeback at him yet.
“I’ll give you that,” I say with a sigh.
“I’ll carry that,” he offers, reaching for the bag thrown over my
shoulder.
“Thanks.” I hand it over, wincing a little.
“How’s the shoulder?” he asks, his brows lowering with concern.
I give him a half shrug. “It’s sore.”
At my concert last night, I hurt my shoulder while dancing. I just twisted it in a funny way on accident, and by the end of the performance, it was throbbing. The doctor who travels with me on tour said I have to go to the hospital for tests when we get to Chicago later today. I’m not looking forward to that, and I’m also not canceling the Chicago show if he suggests it.
“You’ll be okay,” Andre says. “You’re only twenty-four, so your body heals fast.”
“How old are you?” I ask him.
“How old do you think I am?”
I can’t believe we haven’t had this conversation yet. I squint as I look him over— laugh lines, grayish temples, and all.
“Thirty-five?”
“Thirty-eight,” he says, opening the door for Chloe and me.
Chloe is wheeling a giant suitcase behind her, and Andre insists on taking it, as well as the bag she has slung over her shoulder.
“The other bus left half an hour ago,” she says. “Ours is waiting.”
I nod, my mind already moving on to Chicago. It’s one of my favorite places to perform. My backup dancers and other crew members ride on another bus, because I like to decompress when I’m on the road. It’ll just be me, Chloe, Andre, and our driver on the main bus.
I’ve come a long way from my days traveling between county fairs to perform in talent shows. At the time, I didn’t even realize how rigorous a schedule it was. Now I think back and wonder if my parents were confident I’d get a break, or if they thought they might be sacrificing everything only for me never to make it.
Tracey’s Review
I’ve been a Brenda Rothert fan for ages, and have read and enjoyed the earlier books in her Lockhart Brothers series. I knew that there was one more Lockhart brother to get to know a little bit better, but thought for sure that his story couldn’t top the others. I mean, Brenda handled some very touchy subjects with grace, passion, and redemption there, and how do you match that? Well, if you’re Brenda, you write HIDDEN DEPTH, that’s how.
I fell in love with Elle and Justin from the very beginning of their story. Beyond the horror, the loss, and the life changes that both had to endure, there was acceptance, compassion, friendship, and a sense of being home. Elle and Justin are two very special people, and their ability to just be themselves and be there for each other made my heart happy.
Is it crazy to think that a man from a small town and a wildly famous entertainer might just be able to find each other in this world and make a go of it? The romantic in me says heck, no, and cheered Justin and Elle on from beginning to end. I could not have been happier with their journey, but I am always happy to see some ‘down the road’ details, so, Brenda, if you decide to visit Lovely, MO, for some more Lockhart family time, I’m totally down with it.
HIDDEN DEPTH is an endearing, sexy, uplifting 4.5-star read for me, and joins the other books in this series in sharing some of my favorite of Brenda’s characters. I highly recommend making a trip to Lovely and getting to know the Lockart family. It’s a trip worth taking.
AUTHOR BIO:
Brenda Rothert is an Illinois native who was a print journalist for nine years. She made the jump from fact to fiction in 2013 and never looked back. From new adult to steamy contemporary romance, Brenda creates fresh characters in every story she tells. She’s a lover of Diet Coke, chocolate, lazy weekends and happily ever afters.
Website: http://brendarothert.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorbrendarothert/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrendaRothert
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/brendarothert/
Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/BrendaRothert
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1TyGXds
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Excerpt Reveal: Fraud by J.L. Berg
We’re less than a week away from the release of USA Today Bestselling Author J.L. Berg’s FRAUD – and we have an excerpt for you! Check it out below and preorder your copy for a special price of just $2.99!
About FRAUD
Available May 1st, 2017
From USA Today Bestselling author J.L. Berg comes a sexy standalone about love, lies and every dirty little thing in between.
It wasn’t just a job.
It was my way back to the top.
After losing my position as a journalist for one of the biggest news publications in the world, I knew I’d do anything to get it back.
Even if it meant breaking a few hearts to get there.
She was the hottest author in the country. Known only by a pen name, there wasn’t a person alive who wasn’t dying to discover her true identity.
And I’d figured it out.
Her real name was Kate O’Malley and not only did I plan on finding her, but I fully intended on learning every dirty secret she had and exploiting it for my own gain.
But I underestimated my prey.
I didn’t anticipate how her words would intoxicate me, or how the curves of her body would consume me.
I never meant to fall in love.
And now I had a choice to make.
Do I give up everything for the woman I set out to destroy, or walk away, making me the biggest fraud of all?
Add FRAUD to your to be read shelf on Goodreads!
Preorder FRAUD for a special preorder and release week price of $2.99:
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Read an excerpt from FRAUD
What had started as a fun little game to bring this timid beauty out of her shell somehow turned into a wrestling match.
And I was the one about to lose.
Katelyn O’Malley was nothing like I’d imagined.
What had I imagined?
I wasn’t sure exactly.
I’d diligently done my homework— reading Scandal not once, but twice— before I’d hopped on a plane to Oregon. I’d thought the novel would give me insight to this perplexing woman I was about to meet.
It hadn’t.
Not one bit.
If anything, it’d created a thousand more questions.
At first, cracking her ironclad shell seemed like a daunting task. She had come off dry and dull.
God-awful boring.
But boring women didn’t do tequila shots until two in the morning.
Boring women didn’t lie to waiters for free wine and dessert.
And boring women definitely didn’t make me feel this way.
Needy. Desperate. And fucking horny as hell.
Even the way she licked the chocolate off her fork was making me shift uncomfortably in my seat.
This was a job.
Get your head in the game.
“You were pretty good at that,” I said, trying not to stare at the way her pink tongue darted out to grab the last bit of mousse from the tip of her finger.
“Good at what?” she asked.
“Lying.”
She let out a choking cough, patting her chest with her palm. “I’m not a good liar,” she argued.
“Really? You seemed to have everyone around us fooled, including that charming elderly couple who offered their congratulations on their way out.”
“That really was sweet.” She smiled, a touch of whimsy in her gaze. “Did you see the way they held hands? I’m pretty sure he even grabbed her ass when she walked past him to go to the restroom.”
I laughed. “My kind of guy.”
“I just wonder what it’s like— to be that in love after all that time,” she said, bending forward and resting the curve of her chin on her hand.
“How do you know it has been a long time?” I asked. “Maybe they got married late in life.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
“Why?” I asked, curious how she’d reached that conclusion.
“There was a familiarity in the way they touched. The way they leaned into one another, the way they walked. It was as if they’d been doing so forever.”
I studied her for a quiet moment, recalling the intensity of her words and the passion in her voice. It was the first time since meeting Katelyn O’Malley, I could actually see a sliver of Laura Stone, the author, somewhere inside.
“I do believe you are a bit of a romantic at heart,” I replied.
She smiled sweetly. “Maybe a hopeless one.”
My hand reached out to hers, a needless gesture since we’d already achieved our goal for the evening and sold everyone on our false marital status.
This time, I touched her because I wanted to.
“Definitely not hopeless,” I said softly, knowing that instant that I was crossing the line between business and pleasure.
And heading straight to the land of hell.
“So, tell me about technical editing,” she said, shifting topics. “How does one get into something like that?”
I suddenly felt like I’d been hit in the face with a bucket of ice water. Here I was, in a dimly lit room, romancing the hell out of a woman I’d just met, and then reality hit.
I was lying to her.
Flat-out lying.
I needed to remember that. “There’s not much to tell,” I said, straightening slightly in my chair. “Rather boring really.”
We continued to chat about our lives. She told me more about her work at the college. I rambled off more lies about mine until the check came around.
I was feeling quite good about myself as I led us outside.
My head was clear.
But then I saw the way the moonlight highlighted her golden-blonde hair. I became mesmerized by the sway of her hips and the soft curves of her body.
Katelyn O’Malley was casting a spell on me, and she didn’t even know it.
And I wasn’t sure I wanted her to stop.
About J.L. Berg
J.L. Berg is the USA Today bestselling author of the Ready Series, The Walls Duet, and the Lost & Found Duet. She is a California native living in the beautiful state of historic Virginia. Married to her high school sweetheart, they have two beautiful girls that drive them batty on a daily basis. When she’s not writing, you will find her with her nose stuck in a romance novel, in a yoga studio or devouring anything chocolate. J.L. Berg is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, LLC.
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Release Blitz + Sneak Peek: Shopping For A CEO’s Wife by Julia Kent
Julia Kent’s hilarious SHOPPING FOR A CEO’S WIFE is available now! You don’t want to miss this next installment in her bestselling romantic comedy series.
About SHOPPING FOR A CEO’S WIFE
Snowbound. Sounds so romantic, with visions of cuddling before a roaring fire, hot chocolate spiked with brandy, and a secret elopement.
Shopping for a CEO’s Wife is the 12th book in Julia Kent’s New York Times bestselling Shopping series. As Shannon and Declan enjoy their newlywed bliss, Andrew’s father wants to exploit Amanda and Andrew’s nuptials, much to Amanda’s chagrin. Can she learn to stand up to her future father-in-law and fight for what’s right? But the real question is: will Spritzy the teacup Chihuahua end up being a flower girl?
Get your hands on SHOPPING FOR A CEO’S WIFE:
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Get a Sneak Peek:
Flash! Flash! Click! Click! Click-click-click-click-click!
Sounds remarkably like machine gun fire.
Paparazzi follow us everywhere now. Everywhere. You know all those pictures on the front of tabloid magazines in the grocery store checkout aisle? Or the myriad websites devoted to celebrity gossip? The paper magazines are bad enough, but the websites are a separate category.
People make money from running advertising on those sites. Which means they need a constant stream of pictures to draw eyeballs, to make a micro-cent per ad on the page.
That’s right.
I’m eyeball lure. Someone, somewhere, wants to see a picture of me without makeup or kissing Andrew or climbing out of a limo without underwear or buying a rival company’s products, or just being.
My presence in Andrew’s life has turned my very existence into money for someone else.
And a picture of me and Andrew, naked in a hot tub, will draw so, so many eyeballs.
“Is my side-boob showing?” I murmur against his nipple, which is now taut with either protective stress or the seventeen-degree air. Not sure which.
I do know that the main event has turned into a not-so-main event. So much for afternoon hot tub sex.
“Sweet tits, Mandy!” one of the photographers shouts. “Show ‘em to us, baby! Don’t let Andy have all the fun!”
Mandy. Andy.
Oh HELL NO.
A ferocious growl starts in Andrew’s throat, reverberating through him as he pins me closer. Panic floods me. Bad enough I have recurrent nightmares about being naked in public, but having a photo of my boobs on the internet – monetized – is pretty much anyone’s biggest nightmare.
Aside from taking an exam in a class you forgot you were enrolled in.
“GET OUT!” Andrew commands, dropping his legs slightly, making me sink deeper into the water as he holds me up. The girls bob like apples at a kids’ Halloween party, though, uncooperative in remaining hidden.
“Turn this way!” someone else shouts. I can’t help myself. That voice is different. I start to turn.
Flash! Flash!
“Don’t look,” Andrew commands. “Gerald’s on it.”
“Is there more than one?”
“Looks like three of them, and one is on some kind of ladder, because his face is right there. ”
Flash!
The voice is very close, so close I look up to find a grinning asshole with a simple phone, snapping photos as fast as he can, thumb on the camera button so it autoclicks.
“You two look so hot,” he says. Click. Click. Click. Click.
“Go away!” Andrew says, peeling me off him.
“Stay under water. Hide yourself.”
“What are you doing?”
“Going after him.”
“What?”
“Gerald!” Andrew shouts.
“Got it!” booms our bodyguard’s voice from the right as Gerald makes a running start and gets to the camera dude, grabbing the phone out of his pocket, tossing it into the hot tub, then grabbing the two sides of the ladder.
“Hey!” the photographer squeaks, shaky and grasping the top rung with a look of sheer terror. “You can’t!”
“I can.”
“I’ll sue!” Gerald shakes the ladder. The guy drops something, looks down, then looks back at Gerald, who has the face of a middle school spelling bee judge.
Less than zero emotion.
“You can’t do this!” the guy screeches.
“Just did.” Gerald looks over at Andrew, whose legs are now tensed and ready to lunge. I am preventing that from happening by the simple act of being in his lap. The feel of so much coiled power in his muscles is an aphrodisiac.
I must say something. Now.
Leaning in, I nip his earlobe and whisper, “You’re really hot when you’re protecting me.”
He jolts, his head moving away from my bite. Andrew’s staring at Gerald and the photographer, but he moves his cheek against mine and says, “Really? You have to share that fact with me right now?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re turning me on.”
“You – you’re turned on by having the paparazzi take pictures of us naked in a hot tub?”
“No. I’m turned on by how your legs and chest and abs and — ” I use hand gestures to indicate a different body part– “feel right now.”
“Duly noted.”
“I think you’re doing more than noting that fact,” I say, as said body part rises to the occasion.
“Amanda,” he warns, voice half angry, half aroused.
“What?” I pretend to be innocent. I’m really good at it. I’m a former mystery shopper, after all, and most of the job involves pretending to be stupid.
About Julia Kent
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Julia Kent writes romantic comedy with an edge, and new adult books that push contemporary boundaries. From billionaires to BBWs to rock stars, Julia finds a sensual, goofy joy in every book she writes, but unlike Trevor from Random Acts of Crazy, she has never kissed a chicken.
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Release Day Blitz: Hidden Depths by Brenda Rothert
Today we are celebrating the release of HIDDEN DEPTH by Brenda Rothert. This book is a contemporary romance, standalone title that is part of the Lockhart Brothers series. Check out the purchase links for the book below.
Hidden Depth (Lockhart Brothers, #4) by Brenda Rothert
An adult standalone, contemporary romance
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Blurb:
I had it all.
Breaking into the entertainment business as a teenager wasn’t easy. I spent years of my childhood traveling, auditioning and hoping my big break would come. And when I did, I rose to a level I never imagined.
Elle Tyler: model, singer and actress. I couldn’t go anywhere without security anymore. It was everything I ever wanted and more – fame, fortune and worldwide recognition. At age twenty-four, I was living a dream.
But a single act of violence shattered my fairytale existence. In a matter of seconds, all the goodness in me was ripped to shreds. Overnight, the people around me dropped away, moving on to find the next big thing. I gave up on myself, becoming a woman so dark and forlorn I no longer recognized myself.
But the stranger who saved me that day, Justin Lockhart, never gave up on me. He still saw light through my darkness. And as we grew closer, I started to see it, too. And I also started to see that before that terrible day, maybe I didn’t really have it all. Maybe I was always missing the only thing that really matters.
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Release Day Launch: Betrayed By Lies by Rebecca Shea
Fall into the deliciously dark world where the line between good and evil becomes blurred.
USA TODAY bestselling author Rebecca Shea brings you the third title in her thrilling and sexy romantic suspense Bound & Broken Series, BETRAYED BY LIES.Grab your copy of BETRAYED BY LIES today, and don’t miss the first two books in the series, BROKEN BY LIES and BOUND BY LIES
From the USA Today bestselling author of the Unbreakable series, comes a sexy, heart-wrenching novel…Betrayed by Lies.
As an ATF agent, bringing down the Estrada cartel has been my sole mission. I’m a skilled agent, determined and fearless, but a relentless pursuit and a willingness to risk everything almost killed me.
A year later, when an opportunity in Los Angeles presents itself, I jump at the chance to start over and rebuild the career and life I almost lost.
Kate Stevens was not part of my new plan. I never expected she would be the one to save me from my past. She was exactly what I needed—smart, beautiful and independent. I finally have a future I look forward to.
Only nothing in my life ever goes according to plan. Losing Kate is not an option, but fate seems poised to ruin me, and there isn’t a damn thing I can do about it.
Order BETRAYED BY LIES Today!
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EXCERPT:
SAM
She shakes her head and laughs. “I don’t judge. It sounds to me like your therapy has helped you see what it is you need versus what you thought you wanted, and I’m so happy you’ve recovered from your injury and you’re able to return to work. So many agents aren’t as lucky as you.” There’s a spark of sadness in her eyes. A look that only the friends and family of those in law enforcement get when they think of those who aren’t as fortunate as I am.
I nod in agreement. “Which is why I was excited to take this opportunity here in L.A. with your brother. He’s giving me another chance to prove myself. California is a fresh start for me.” I smile at her and she smiles in return, and it’s soft, caring, and does things to me that I’m not sure I’m ready for.
“So what do you do?” I ask, turning the questions on her. I’m done spilling my garbage. I want to hear about her.
She drops her eyes from mine and takes another drink of wine before resting it on her thigh. “I’m an attorney. I do corporate law, mostly negotiating and reviewing contracts. It’s extremely boring to someone who’s not interested in legalese, but it keeps me busy and it pays well.” She shrugs.
“Do you ever end up in court?”
“No. Ironically, if there is ever litigation, we typically hire outside counsel. Sounds weird, doesn’t it?” She scrunches her nose up and smiles.
“Not really.” I shake my head. “I get why. You’re an expert at what you do. The attorneys you hire are experts in litigation. Everyone does what they do best.”
“Exactly.”
Our conversation slows, but it’s not uncomfortable in the silence. We both relax in the quiet and jut ‘be’. There’s something to be said for that level of comfort when you’re in the presence of someone else.
“So, when do you think you’ll be moving in?” she asks.
“I’m having some stuff delivered this weekend, so I hope Saturday is okay?” I raise my eyebrow at her, hoping it’s not an inconvenience.
She smiles. “Saturday is perfect.”
“I’m still waiting on a truck from Phoenix, so that’ll be sometime next week, but I’m ready to get out of that hotel. Speaking of that hotel, I really should get going. It’s getting late, and I didn’t mean to keep you up.” I stand up and she follows suit. We both carry our empty glass and beer bottle to the kitchen, and Kate swipes something off the center island.
“This is the key for the house.” She dangles the ring on her pointer finger. “You can have your alarm system installed anytime. If you need anything secured before then, I have a safe and an alarm on this house. You’re welcome to keep anything in here.”
“I appreciate that.” The soft tips of her fingers brush against my palm as she places the key in my hand.
“See you Saturday,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper.
“See you Saturday,” I return. For the first time in a long time, I have something to look forward to.
And don’t miss the first two books in the Bound & Broken Series!
BROKEN BY LIES is just $.99 for a limited time only!
BROKEN BY LIES
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BOUND BY LIES
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ABOUT REBECCA SHEA:
Rebecca Shea is the USA Today Bestselling author of the Unbreakable series (Unbreakable, Undone, and Unforgiven) and the Bound and Broken series (Broken by Lies and Bound by Lies). She lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her family. From the time Rebecca could read she has had a passion for books. Rebecca spends her days working and her nights writing, bringing stories to life. Born and raised in Minnesota, Rebecca moved to Arizona in 1999 to escape the bitter winters. When not working or writing, she can be found on the sidelines of her sons’ football games, or watching her daughter at ballet class. Rebecca is fueled by insane amounts of coffee, margaritas, Laffy Taffy (except the banana ones), and happily ever afters.
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Release Blitz: Too Complicated by Bethany Lopez
Today we are celebrating the release of TOO COMPLICATED by Bethany Lopez. Too Complicated is the second in an all-new small town romance series and it is a contemporary romance title. Check out the excerpt, teasers, and buy links. Purchase your copy now while it’s on sale for just $2.99!
Special Release Week Price is $2.99
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Too Complicated by Bethany Lopez
(Lewis Cousins, #2)
A Contemporary Romance
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TOO COMPLICATED Synopsis:
Reardon Lewis is a small-town lawyer in Cherry Springs, the place where he and his cousins grew up. With the body of a Viking and the heart of a geek, Reardon is loyal to his family and indispensable to his community. The only thing missing in his life is love, and it just so happens that the one woman he has always wanted but could never have has just moved to Cherry Springs.
Chloe Zahn is a successful businesswoman, a city girl, and a single mom. The last thing she ever planned to do was move to a small town, but that’s the choice she’s made to bring her son closer to his dad. The only problem? The Lewis family and the obvious disdain they have for her.
The more time Reardon and Chloe spend together, the harder it is to fight their growing feelings for each other. Things between them have always been Too Complicated, but Reardon knows this may be his last chance to win over the woman he’s always dreamed of, complications be damned.
Too Complicated is the second in an all-new small-town romance series by Bethany Lopez. Follow the Lewis cousins as they learn about love and loss in Cherry Springs, the kind of place where there are festivals for every occasion and everyone knows your business.
Special Release Week Price is $2.99
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EXCERPT:
Crazy tall, with blond, perfectly styled hair and bright-blue eyes, Reardon Lewis was not a hard man to look at. In fact, sometimes I would catch sight of him and my body would react in a completely unexpected way.
Kind of like it is now…
I was aware of the heat coming off his body, his shoulders so large that they were barely a centimeter away from mine, as he slouched into the seat, probably trying to reach some level of comfort. His hands were palm down on his thighs, and were so very large that just looking at them seemed to cause something inside of me to start twitching.
Then there was his smell.
Good Lord on earth, it was heavenly.
I’d caught a whiff every now and then, but at this proximity the bright, clean smell of him seemed to wrap around me in a warm hug.
“Chloe?” he asked, and I snapped out of my scent-induced stupor, and realized he’d asked me something.
“I’m sorry, what?” I asked, hoping he didn’t suspect that I was having a physical reaction to his presence. I clenched my thighs together and started counting to twenty, hoping to make the tingle go away.
“I asked if this is the first time you’re seeing it.”
“Seeing what?” I asked dumbly.
“Star Wars,” he replied with a chuckle, then narrowed his eyes at me. “Are you okay?”
PURCHASE BOOK 1 IN THE SERIES
TOO TEMPTING (Available now!)
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AUTHOR INFORMATION:
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Saucy Southern Readers 