Review, Guest Post, Excerpt & Giveaway: A Lie For A Lie by Helena Hunting

A LIE FOR A LIE
Series: All In #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Helena Hunting
Release Date: October 15, 2019
Publisher: Montlake

Sometimes I need an escape from the demands, the puck bunnies, and the notoriety that come with being an NHL team captain. I just want to be a normal guy for a few weeks. So when I leave Chicago for some peace and quiet, the last thing I expect is for a gorgeous woman to literally fall into my lap on a flight to Alaska. Even better, she has absolutely no idea who I am.

Lainey is the perfect escape from my life. My plan for seclusion becomes a month long sex fest punctuated with domestic bliss. But it ends just as abruptly as it began. When I’m called away on a family emergency, I realize too late that I have no way to contact Lainey.

A year later, a chance encounter throws Lainey and me together again. But I still have a lie hanging over my head, and Lainey’s keeping secrets of her own. With more than lust at stake, the truth may be our game changer.

AMAZON 

Lainey vs. Puck Bunnies in A Lie for a Lie    

A Lie for a Lie is a heartwarming, sexy, emotional romantic comedy. It’s a second chance romance, filled with secrets and there are definitely some exciting, fun twists. It’s also a story of empowerment, self-discovery, and independence.

Rook Bowman, aka RJ or Rookie as he has been known as previously, has recently taken on the role as captain of Chicago’s NHL team, and with that role comes big responsibility and more fame than he sometimes knows how to handle. As with any professional sport, the NHL lifestyle can often be full of excess and decadence; money, fame and an endless stream of women who will do just about anything to get into bed with them, and it’s not always easy to avoid that kind of temptation.

When we meet Rook in A Lie for a Lie we learn that he has a less than shiny past when it comes to the excess and the puck bunnies (hockey groupies). NHL players are often drafted quite young—just watch a game and you’ll notice that the rookies can often barely grown peach fuzz, let alone a full beard. They’re still teenagers when they start their careers, and Rook was no different. Having grown up on an alpaca farm in rural New York, his focus was mainly hockey and the family farm, but once he hit the pros he found himself surrounded by women who literally threw themselves at him. And being young, attractive and full of testosterone, he fell headfirst down that rabbit hole. At least until the drama found him in the form of a fake pregnancy and a social media firestorm. Because of that, and the impact it had on his relationship with his family, Rook swears off the bunnies and refocuses on his career, rather than extracurricular activities.

He meets Lainey on the way to Alaska, where he’s gone every summer since he was a teenager with his dad and his brother. He lost his father a few years earlier, but kept the tradition with his brother because he craves the escape from the demands of his life as an NHL superstar. Lainey encapsulates everything he misses about being a “normal guy.” She doesn’t recognize him or seem to even know anything about hockey, and that makes her even more alluring. For once, he can just be himself. He doesn’t have to worry about ulterior motives or being used. Lainey is refreshingly innocent, incredibly smart, genuine and overwhelmingly sweet and Rook finds himself enamored with her sense of adventure. As they get to know each other, Rook learns about her traumatic past and realizes that despite the challenges she’s faced, Lainey possesses a quiet strength and resilience. Add some insane chemistry and you’ve got a recipe for love. Unfortunately for Rook, he built their entire fragile relationship on lie he can’t take back.

***


 

When Lainey excuses herself to the bathroom, I rush upstairs and throw on a T-shirt. I know she said whatever makes me comfortable, but sitting around shirtless is such a douche move.I make it back to the kitchen and pour her a fresh drink before she returns from the bathroom.

“How can I help with dinner?” Lainey drapes her sweater over the back of a chair.

And my mouth goes dry. Like I ate an entire sleeve of saltines and chased it with a tablespoon of salt. So far I’ve only seen Lainey in a giant parka or an oversize sweater. Under all that bulky fabric is one hell of a body. She’s wearing a simple white waffle shirt that conforms to her curves. A pair of dark-wash skinny jeans encase her toned legs.

I’m used to bunnies throwing themselves at me, often in questionable states of undress. I stopped getting excited about miniskirts and revealing tops a long time ago. There’s something infinitely sexier about a woman who can show off her body without actually showing it off at all.

Lainey tips her head to the side. Her teeth press into her full bottom lip. I want to do that. Suck that pouty, full lip between my teeth and bite it. I want to do a lot of other, far more explicit things than that, but a kiss seems like a good place to start.

“RJ? Is everything okay?” Her eyes dip down to my chest. I’m wearing a shirt from one of my endorsement campaigns. It afforded me the extensive renovations on this cabin a few years ago.

“Huh?” I give my head a shake. “Oh. Yeah. Everything’s good. Sorry, zoned out there for a second.”

She smiles and pushes up on her toes, her eyes twinkling—like, they legit light up, and her excitement makes her entire body vibrate. It also makes her boobs jiggle. I try to keep my eyes glued to her face. It’s not easy, though.

“I do that all the time! Sometimes my brain is busy with so many thoughts I miss entire conversations. Does that happen to you too?”

I grin. I love that she seems to say whatever is on her mind. “All the time.”

“It’s actually a helpful skill when you’re being lectured, because I can sort through stuff in my head, but it’s not so great when your supervising professor is telling you what’s wrong with your thesis.” She pulls her hair over her shoulder and finger combs it.

“I take it that’s happened to you.”

“It did. Thankfully he also emailed all his criticisms, so missing out on it the first time wasn’t that big of a deal.” She divides her hair into three sections and deftly braids it without looking at what she’s doing even once. It’s pretty damn impressive. I almost want to pull it apart so I can watch her do it all over again. “Anyway, enough about that. Let’s get started on dinner!” She nudges me out of the way so she can wash her hands. She dries them on her jeans and moves over to the fridge, opening it to check out the contents.

I kind of like that she makes herself at home. I’m used to women who expect to be catered to. It’s refreshing to meet someone who doesn’t want me to pander to her.

I start pulling things out of the fridge as she starts naming items she’ll need and set them on the counter. I manage to locate most of what she asks for.

“What about garlic? Do you have any of that?” She leans over, peering into the fridge beside me. Her braid slips over her shoulder, skimming my arm.

“Uh, maybe we could forgo the garlic?”

“Are you allergic? My oldest brother gets bloated when he eats it. It took us forever to figure out what was causing it. Sometimes I’ll still put some in when he’s coming for dinner, because it’s funny to see him look like he’s expecting.” She tips her head to the side. “Or you just don’t like garlic?”

“I like it sometimes, but it depends.”

Her brows pinch together. “On what?”

“Who I’m eating with. I mean, if I’m going out with buddies, you bet I’m gonna order the honey garlic wings, or the cheesy garlic bread, or the pasta Alfredo. But if I’m eating dinner with a pretty girl, I’m gonna pass on the garlic.”

“Oh.” She twists the end of her braid around her finger.

I hope I’m not reading things wrong and making her uncomfortable.

“Does that mean you think I’m pretty?”

That she sounds genuinely curious as to my answer is unexpected. “You see yourself in the mirror every day—what do you think?”

She averts her gaze, still playing with the end of her braid. “My eyes are too big, so I always look like I’m surprised. My nose is small, and my lips are too full, so my mouth doesn’t really fit the rest of my face.”

“Wow. I think you need a new mirror, because all I see is a whole lot of gorgeous.”

She snorts a laugh and waves me off. “Once, I took a portrait class, and we learned all about proportion and symmetry of the face. Those are just my flaws based on what I was taught.”

“Well, I’m a big fan of all your flaws, and I think they make you more beautiful, not less.”

“Thanks. I think you’re beautiful too.” She cringes. “I mean handsome. You’re very nice to look at, with or without a shirt on. When I fell in your lap on the airplane, I remember thinking, At least I fell on someone nice looking.”

“Is that so?”

“Mm-hmm.” She opens a drawer, maybe to avoid looking at me. “And as much as I was mortified when you sat beside me on the Cessna, I couldn’t complain about the view, inside or outside of the plane. That you turned out to be really nice, and just so helpful, was a great bonus.” She hands me a roll of foil. “Why don’t you wrap the potatoes? They take the longest, so we should get started on those first.”

I put the potatoes on the barbecue and let Lainey order me around. She definitely knows her way around a kitchen. When I was growing up, my mom did most of the cooking, but my dad could make a mean Saturday-morning brunch. He also made great bread, which I miss a lot.

An hour later we’re seated at the table, plates full of steak, twice-baked potatoes, and crispy brussels sprouts cooked in bacon fat. I open a bottle of red wine and offer Lainey a glass.

“Just a little bit? I’m not sure I like red wine.”

“Maybe you just haven’t had the right red wine.” I pour a little into her glass.

She picks it up and gives it a swirl, then sniffs it. “I’ve seen people do this in the movies, but I don’t really know what the point is,” she admits, then tips the glass back and takes a tentative sip. Her expression turns thoughtful; then she takes another, slightly more robust sip. “This is actually really nice. I like it. Maybe the red wine I had before was bad.”

“Maybe. Some of the cheap stuff tastes pretty awful.” I pour more into her glass before filling mine. I hold up my glass and wait for her to raise hers.

“To chance meetings.”

“To new adventures and great company to share them with.” We toast and take a sip, each smiling behind the rim.

***

My skin burns.
My heart stutters.
I should tell him my own truth.
But for now we’re tied: a lie for a lie.

ALL. OF. THE. SWOONS.

This series couldn’t have started with a better book. I’m totally hooked, line and sinker, and already salivating for more. I’m head over skates in love with Rook and this swoony hockey romance about a reformed NHL star playboy and the quirky nerd that makes him fall.

On this plane I’m not the NHL forward and team captain with a history of being a player on and off the ice. I’m just a guy, and she’s just a girl.

Rook is an NHL star and a former manwhore. He’s a man that’s used to puck bunnies doing anything to get his attention and then getting even crazier to keep it. So when he meets a beautiful woman on his flight to Alaska that ends up being his neighbor, he loves the anonymity of getting to know someone as just him. Lainey is a bit of a nerd and a lot of adorable. She’s a quirky, shy, sweet, and although slightly sheltered in her home schooled ways has also seen things that changed her irrevocably. They don’t see the other one coming but it doesn’t take long at all for them to being a whirlwind romance in the small town of Alaska. But then Rook has an emergency that forces him to leave and as fate would have it they lose touch due to a number of circumstances. Only to be reunited 14 months later in Chicago. This time, Rook knows that he’ll do anything to keep Lainey, if only he can get her to forgive him for the lie.

This was so wonderfully sweet. It was brimming with emotion and sweet heat. I couldn’t get enough of Rook and Lainey. I also loved Lainey’s friendship with Eden, who made for a wonderful secondary character. All of your favorites make a cameo here and I loved how Helena brought it all together. I loved this sweet second chance romance and can’t recommend it enough for all Helena Hunting fans. And if you haven’t read any books by her yet, this is a great one to start with!

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. Helena writes everything from contemporary romance with all the feels to romantic comedies that will have you laughing until you cry.

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Spotlight, Guest Post & Giveaway: Quick Fall by Michelle Dayton

QUICK FALL
Series: Tracy Brothers #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Michelle Dayton
Release Date: October 8, 2018

Justin Tracy, the perennial life of the party, is used to being teased by his friends about his success with the ladies. Not that he’ll ever get serious with one. Why should he? His life is absolutely perfect the way it is. But at his brother’s bachelor party, a drunken bet about his womanizing skill gets a little out of control. Before he knows it, his friends have invited his new tenant – a woman he’s never even met – to go to his brother’s wedding with him.

Single mom Maddy Trainor has just moved back to Chicago, ready to reclaim her life and conquer the city. Maddy’s determined to get her new business off the ground and build a happy home for her son, Teddy. She didn’t expect a gorgeous landlord, but ogling Justin Tracy is definitely a bonus to her new apartment.

Justin intends to apologize to Maddy for the out-of-the-blue wedding invitation and get gone, but his new neighbor turns out to be funny, whip-smart, and sexy as hell. Why not take her to the wedding for real? Just as friends, of course. To Maddy, the wedding – one night of champagne and dancing with a self-admitted Peter Pan – sounds like amazing no-strings fun. But the sparks that blaze between the two of them can’t be contained to one night. And two people who think they have life figured out are about to realize they know nothing about love …

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Inspiration Behind the Tracy Brothers Series – Michelle Dayton

Once upon a time, I was driving home from a crappy day of work and I almost rear-ended a Porsche right in front of a seedy-looking hotel.  So, of course, my writer’s brain said, “Hey, what if …”

I started drafting the very next day and soon I had several chapters of what would eventually be the first book in my Tracy Brothers series, Fast Ride.  The heroine, Jen, rear-ends a red Porsche on her way home from an awful day at work –right in front of a roadside motel. When unexpected chemistry flares between her and Garrett, the Porsche driver, they decide to indulge in a one-night fling in the motel.   

I loved writing the beginning of Fast Ride because it’s ultra-sexy … but as I kept going, I wanted it to be more than just a steamy story.  As I got to know the characters better, I wanted the book to also be sweet and emotional. My goal is always for readers to feel like my characters are real people that they know and like, and I wanted them to believe in Jen & Garrett as they transitioned from a one night stand to friends-with-benefits to their ultimate happily-ever-after.  

I’d always thought of Fast Ride as a standalone book, but as I was writing it, Garrett’s younger brother Justin became a really important character.  (He’s the one who helps pull Garrett’s head out of his ass when it comes to seeing his feelings for Jen clearly!)   Naturally I decided that Justin needed his own love story.  ☺

In Quick Fall, I wanted to have the same balance of sexy & sweet, the same push & pull between two characters who initially seem to be opposites, but who are actually perfect for one another.  Justin is a self-admitted Peter Pan, the life of the party who never wants to settle down. His new tenant, Maddy, is a single mom who owns her own small business. If you went by lifestyle alone, these two seem like the last people on earth who should be in a relationship.  

But people are always more than one thing, right?  Yes, Maddy is a hardworking mom. But you know what else she is?  An outgoing extrovert who can “work the room” as well as Justin can.  And yes, Justin is a guy who dates a lot and goes out on the town every night of the week.  But he’s also sentimental and introspective and very in touch with his emotions. As readers get to know them, I hope they feel like I did – that these two falling head over heels for one another was inevitable.

Please let me know what you think of Garrett & Jen, Justin & Maddy.  I LOVE hearing from readers!!!


Meet Justin’s older brother, Garrett Tracy!

FAST RIDE is on sale for $.99! Grab your copy today!

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There are only three things Michelle Dayton loves more than sexy and suspenseful novels: her family, the city of Chicago, and Mr. Darcy. Michelle dreams of a year of world travel – as long as the trip would include weeks and weeks of beach time. As a bourbon lover and unabashed wine snob, Michelle thinks heaven is discussing a good book over an adult beverage

Follow Michelle: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | BookBub

Enter HERE for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card + ebook copy of Fast Ride

Exclusive Excerpt, Guest Post & Giveaway: Secrets of a (Somewhat) Sunny Girl by @karenbbooth

SECRETS OF A (SOMEWHAT) SUNNY GIRL
Genre: Romantic Women’s Fiction
Author: Karen Booth
Release Date: October 16, 2018

As sisters, they tell each other all their secrets…except one.

With divorce and infidelity hanging from nearly every branch of her family tree, Katherine Fuller sees no point in marriage. Boyfriends? Sure. Sex? Of course. Wedding vows? No, thanks. Still, when her younger sister Amy gets engaged, Katherine gathers all the enthusiasm she can. She won’t let Amy down. She’s done enough of that for a lifetime.

As the sisters embark on wedding plans, Katherine’s college love resurfaces. It nearly killed Katherine to part from sexy Irish musician Eamon more than a decade ago, but falling under his spell a second time forces her to confront everything she hid from him. The secrets surrounding her mother’s death are still fresh and raw in her mind, but one has haunted her more than the others. She can’t bear to tell anyone, especially not Amy. It could ruin far more than a wedding. It could destroy a sister’s love forever.

AMAZON 

 

Katherine and Irish musician Eamon had a super-steamy relationship 11 years ago. Now he’s back in her life, but out on the road, leaving them to talk on the phone every day. This is the night of Katherine’s sister Amy’s engagement party, an event Katherine has been dreading.“How did the party go?” Eamon asked. “You don’t sound drunk, so it must’ve been at least tolerable.”

“It was okay. Everyone was really nice, but I definitely did not feel comfortable. Their whole family is like pod people. They’re all so happy and normal.”

“Why does that make them pod people?”

“I don’t know. Because that’s nothing at all like my family? And there’s no family dirt, which I find a little impossible to believe.”

“You went digging for dirt at your sister’s engagement party?”

“Hey. You’re the one who told me not to drink too much. I had to entertain myself somehow.”

He unleashed the laugh I find most disarming. In my head, I could see his off-kilter smile. “There’s always dirt somewhere. Trust me.”

“That’s what I was thinking.”

It got quiet on the other end of the line and I wondered what he was thinking about or whether he was maybe tired. I would’ve given anything for him to be waiting for me at home right now, rather than thousands of miles away. I couldn’t escape the loneliness of that fact.

“Katherine, can I ask you something?”

“Of course. Anything.”

“What exactly is it about that situation that makes you so deeply uncomfortable? Your sister getting married. I know it’s not just that you feel like you’re losing her. There’s something more to it, isn’t there?”

It felt like my heart was doing a bad impression of an old clock, ticking away at an unreliable pace. There was so much about this for me to unpack, probably because I’d devoted so much of my life to keeping it hidden. “My parents didn’t have a great marriage and they did a lot of things to hurt each other. It’s hard as a kid to witness that. It definitely sours your opinion of the institution.”

“I suppose.”

“Am I being unreasonable?”

“No. You’re not. I just think that’s not the only way to look at it. Some people might go through that and decide that they can do better. Maybe that’s the way your sister feels.”

Was he right? Had Amy taken things one way while I’d run with it in the opposite direction? She’d definitely seemed comfortable at the party, acclimated to the idea that marriage was this normal thing normal people did, and that she was a member of that group. Maybe I needed to accept that just because I saw her one way, and I saw myself the same way, perhaps I’d been completely wrong. After all, she had been younger than me. She’d witnessed less than I had. And of course, she hadn’t been the catalyst for the ultimate bad. She hadn’t set the demise of her own family in motion. Amy didn’t have to live with that.

“Maybe you’re right. Maybe I need to stop looking at it like that.” I knew then that I needed to get my attitude straight. Amy deserved better than a maid of honor who was being a complete pain in the ass.

“I could be wrong.”

“Nope. It’s a great suggestion. You make me a better person, you know. You always have.”

“Do you really think that?”

I thought back to the way I’d been with him the first time, so full of sunny optimism, not at all the way I was right now, but I could admit it was a place I wanted to get back to. “I do, Eamon. I really do.”

2 Truths and a Lie with Katherine and Eamon from Secrets of a (Somewhat) Sunny Girl

I’m so excited to be here today and let Katherine and Eamon, the main characters from Secrets of a (Somewhat) Sunny Girl, play Two Truths and a Lie. Katherine and Eamon met eleven years ago when she was studying abroad in Ireland. There was instant chemistry—as Katherine says, “The first time we did it, we were so hot for each other we didn’t even use a condom. We were half-naked in his front hall. I was out of my mind.” But their romance didn’t last long the first time. Katherine had to return to the U.S. Eamon left for his first world tour. Hearts were broken, big time.

Now they’re back together after a chance run-in in New York, and although they were recently engaged, there’s still a lot they don’t know about each other. Let’s begin!

Katherine: I already have my list. You know I plan for everything.

Eamon: I do know that much.

Katherine: Number one: I have never eaten a Big Mac. Number two: I’m terrified of spiders. Number three: I lost my virginity to a guy with the name Eamon.

Eamon: Are you joking with me right now?

Katherine: I can’t answer that.

Eamon: Were you really a virgin when we met?

Katherine: This isn’t Twenty Questions. Make a guess.

Eamon: (grumbles) The one about spiders has to be true. You don’t seem like a woman who would do well with those. And I don’t want to think that you’ve never had a Big Mac, but I suppose it’s possible. Number three has to be the lie. You were not a virgin when we met.

Katherine: Wrong. I’m ambivalent about spiders, Big Macs do not excite me, and I did lose my virginity to a guy with the name Eamon.

Eamon: You’re lying.

Katherine: It was his middle name. His first name was James. His mom was Irish. Eamon was her father’s name.

Eamon: You cheated. And how long have you been waiting to tell me this?

Katherine: I did not cheat. I just very carefully worded my statement. And I thought you would think it was a cute coincidence.

Eamon: I don’t want to think about James Eamon who took your virginity.

Katherine: Believe me, I don’t either. Your turn.

Eamon: Number one: I was at the top of my class in secondary school. Number two: I broke my leg in a motorcycle accident when I was thirteen. Number three: my favorite candy is black licorice.

Katherine: This seems like a trap. If I say the first one isn’t true, you’ll never forgive me.

Eamon: No hints. It’s not like you helped me.

Katherine: This is hard. I can totally see you breaking your leg in a motorcycle accident. You seem like the type who would like black licorice. You probably like black jellybeans, too. (shudders) So I guess I’ll say that the one about school is the lie. I bet you were in the top 25% of your class though.

Eamon: Nice job hedging your answer.

Katherine: But did I get it right?

Eamon: No. You did not. I was top in my class. Despite my musician ways, my mam was a schoolteacher and wouldn’t take anything less of me. She also did not want me to get the motorcycle I broke my leg riding. And I despise black licorice. Vile stuff.

Katherine: Wow. I was not top in my class. Not even close.

Eamon: It’s not a competition. And I don’t love you any less for it.

Katherine: Good.

Eamon: Might take me a while to come to terms with James Eamon and your virginity though.


Karen Booth is a midwestern girl transplanted in the South, raised on ‘80s music and repeated readings of Forever by Judy Blume. An early preoccupation with rock ‘n’ roll led her to spend her 20s working her way from intern to executive in the music industry. When her kids came along, she traded late nights for early mornings, writing contemporary romance and women’s fiction. Karen was a finalist for RT Magazine’s Series Romance of the Year and Gold Seal of Excellence, and the 2018 National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award. Her books have been translated into seventeen languages.

Connect with Karen: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

Giveaway: Win a signed print set of Karen Booth’s three Romantic Women’s Fiction novels: Secrets of a (Somewhat) Sunny Girl, Bring Me Back and Back Forever, or 1 of 2 e-copies of Bring Me Back!

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About Bring Me Back:

Nearly forty, Claire Abby had thought life would be a whole lot smoother by now. Single parenting her college-bound daughter is trying, her journalism career is fading, her sister’s a handful, her dad is worse, and her mom has been gone so long it’s hard to remember what it was like when she was here.

So it’s both a lucky break and a jaw-dropping distraction when Claire lands an interview with British rock star Christopher Penman. Claire spent her teenage years fantasizing he was her boyfriend. In person, Chris is everything Claire feared—off-the-charts sexy, ridiculously charming, and utterly nerve-wracking. He’s not about to discuss the rumors he’s dodged for a decade. She must earn his trust and unearth the truth, but she never banked on the heartbreaking secret behind it.

His blockbuster story is her first priority when she returns home, a nearly impossible task when Christopher starts calling. And flirting. There’s no denying his wit or his buttery British accent, and once she agrees to see him, it’s beyond anything her teenage brain ever imagined. But when Christopher’s painful past repeats itself, can Claire smooth out her life and save the man she could never forget?

Spotlight, Guest Post & Giveaway: Counterpoint by Anna Zabo

COUNTERPOINT
Series: Twisted Wishes #2
Genre: Contemporary, MM Romance
Genre: MM Contemporary Rockstar Romance (with a bit of kink)
Quirks & Warnings: Contains D/s and bondage. Also discusses anxiety and depicts a panic attack.
Author: Anna Zabo
Release Date: September 24, 2018

Twisted Wishes lead guitarist Dominic “Domino” Bradley is an animal onstage. But behind his tight leather pants and skull-crusher boots lies a different man entirely, one who needs his stage persona not only to perform, but to have the anonymity he craves. A self-imposed exile makes it impossible to get close to anyone outside the band, so he’s forced to get his sexual fix through a few hot nights with a stranger.

When computer programmer Adrian Doran meets Dominic, he’s drawn to the other man’s quiet voice and shy smile. But after a few dirty, demanding nights exploring Dominic’s need to be dominated, Adrian wants more than a casual distraction. He has no idea he’s fallen for Domino Grinder—the outlandish, larger-than-life rock god.

Dominic is reluctant to trust Adrian with his true identity. But when the truth is revealed prematurely, Dominic is forced to reevaluate both his need for Adrian and everything he believes about himself.

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

This book is approximately 93,000 words

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ANNA’S FAVORITE ROCKERS

Musical Influences for Twisted Wishes and Favorite Rockers
(or take a walk through music in 80s with Anna Zabo)

I’ve been asked a few times what bands I used to base Twisted Wishes on, and the answer to that is that I never had a specific band in mind when I created the look and feel of Twisted Wishes. I just knew I wanted a band that was a little outrageous, a little hard and punky, very queer, and that also had a high level of musicality.

The best description I can come up with is that Twisted Wishes is what you’d get if you smashed Erasure, Depeche Mode, and King Crimson together. Queer chaotic punk with a musically sophisticated edge.

Though I do suppose my favorite rock stars have something to do with how Twisted Wishes turned out.

My own favorite rockers tend to be much more pop-oriented and heavily based in the 80s, because that’s when I grew up, and I’ll admit to clinging to the music of my youth.

My very first musical crush was Howard Jones, with his big hair and his orange outfits, ala Things Can Only Get Better. I have so many Howard Jones records—actual 12 inch vinyl records—it’s a little embarrassing. I also spent a lot of time sketching all that hair.

I also adored Eurythmics and had such a crush on Annie Lennox, especially that whole outfit in Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), black gloves and crop-like pointer and all, but if you want a clue to some of Mish’s sassiness, check out Would I Lie to You.

Speaking of women rockstars, there’s Kate Bush and her amazing voice and lyrics. Hounds of Love is a fantastic album, though my favorite song from there probably one most people don’t know: Jig of Life. I also adored all of The Sensual World.

Or Chrissie Hynde from The Pretenders. There are so many good songs, but I rather like My Baby from Get Close.

I was also a huge fan of ABC and still rank The Lexicon of Love as one of the best albums I ever listened to. It’s put together so well, and each song reflects the others. Yes, I’m a huge dork for thinking this, I know. I also kind of wanted to look like Martin Fry (and that really should have been a rather large sign about my gender, honestly). A lot of people know Poison Arrow and Look of Love from that album, but I really enjoy All of My Heart.

I was also a big fan of Marc Almond (who was probably best known for the song by Soft Cell, Tainted Love), and the album The Stars We Are probably racks up there as one of my favorites, as well. It’s also strangely apropos to now, even though it came out in 1988. Go figure. It was the song Tears Run Rings that grabbed me and didn’t let go.

And yes, as I mentioned earlier, I adored Erasure, especially that they were oh so obviously queer. I mean, the opening lines of Chains of Love: How can I explain when there are few words I can use… I think I probably know every lyric to their first several albums.

As for Depeche Mode, if you want a little glimpse of them in concert, here’s a live version of Never Let me Down Again, a song I adored then and adore more now.

My love of King Crimson veers away from pop into progressive rock. There’s not a lot on YouTube, but Red is a good taste for some of that crazy syncopated rhythm stuff I love. The album Discipline is a masterpiece. Sadly, there isn’t much online to link to.

I could keep going for pages, especially since I left out SO MANY of my favorite rockers. And I could do a whole other post just on progressive rock, and probably another about what I love now. But I will spare you all more of my ramblings about music.

Anna Zabo writes contemporary and paranormal romance for all colors of the rainbow. They live and work in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which isn’t nearly as boring as most people think.

Anna grew up in the wilds of suburban Philadelphia before returning to their ancestral homelands in Western Pennsylvania. As a child they were heartily disappointed to discover that they couldn’t grow up to be what they wanted (a boy, a cat, a dragon), so they settled on being themself whenever possible, which may be a combination of a boy, a cat, and a dragon. Or perhaps a girl, a knight, and a writer. Depends on whom you ask. They do have a penchant for colorful ties and may be hording a small collection of cufflinks.They can be easily plied with coffee.

Anna has an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, where they fell in with a roving band of romance writers and never looked back. They also have a BA in Creative Writing from Carnegie Mellon University.

Anna uses they/them pronouns and prefers Mx. Zabo as an honorific.

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Blog Tour, Guest Post, Review & Giveaway: Too Beautiful To Break by Tessa Bailey

TOO BEAUTIFUL TO BREAK
Series: Romancing The Clarksons, #4
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Tessa Bailey
Release Date: September 26, 2017

A love of a lifetime . . .

Leaving Belmont Clarkson is the hardest thing Sage Alexander has ever done.

From the moment they met, she knew Belmont was the one, and getting up close and personal with him on his family’s epic road trip has taken her desire to a new, even hotter level.

But there’s no way she can go there—not without revealing secrets that could devastate them both.

Losing Sage is not an option.

Belmont’s heart is hers, has always been hers.

He knows she’s hiding something from him, but nothing will stand in his way of telling her just how much she means to him.

Finding her is easy—saving her from her past could cost him everything.

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DGR asked Tessa Bailey what her 5 favorite scenes were with the Clarkson siblings. This was her answer:

Hello! Thank you so much for having me! What a great (and difficult) question! LOL. Here are the scenes in the book that stick out as my favorite.

  1. Trust exercise in the desert. This scene is in TOO HOT TO HANDLE. The siblings have been dragged out into the middle of the desert for a bonfire, but they quickly realize they’ve been tricked into making confessions to one another. It’s a funny scene—and really telling.

  2. Hair ribbons. In TOO WILD TO TAME, there is a scene where Aaron cuts his necktie into strips and knots them into Grace’s hair, to replace the ones she lost. It’s the first time he shows his hand (how he feels) and it’s such an unexpected move from our cynical politician.

  3. Fake acting coach. Peggy is my favorite character in the series and there’s no end to her talents. She proves this in TOO HARD TO FORGET by pretending to be an acting coach, sweeping into a high school auditorium with dramatic flare and saving Elliott’s daughter from total embarrassment. It’s a hilarious scene.

  4. Black moment at the football game. Another scene from TOO HARD TO FORGET. Elliott and his daughter are standing on the sidelines while the winning play is happening on the field. And they look at each other and realize Peggy should be there. It’s a great moment and I could just cry thinking about it!

  5. Train platform kiss. In the final book of the series, TOO BEAUTIFUL TO BREAK, the first kiss between the hero and heroine takes place on a smoky, early morning train platform and it was as dramatic as that sounds! I’ve always wanted to write a movie kiss and I finally got my chance!

JENNIFER’S REVIEW


Tessa Bailey out-did herself with this book. This is the most emotional Tessa Bailey book. It’s not sad. It’s beautiful. It’s EPIC.


Tessa has been teasing me with Belmont & Sage throughout this series, feeding me little lines of crack to keep me addicted and coming back for more!! I couldn’t get enough of their weirdness/attachment issues. I felt like I waited forever for these two to be together, but the wait was worth it because this book was every bit of perfect.

Belmont. For the love of Belmont. There is a quiet dignity to this man. A stillness that is rare in a hero. He is the anchor that stays strong when the world is falling to pieces. And what better man for Sage? Her life back home is a mess. Of course, she tries to keep him away from her mess, but Belmont & Sage are the EPIC love story, and their story is MEANT TO BE. And they do. They are. They….be.


These two are unbreakable. You can’t wedge a needle between them. They are so in sync with each other. But sometimes, depending on another person can be dangerous if it is taken to an unhealthy level. Belmont & Sage realize that in order for their relationship to work, they have to learn to overcome their fears apart from each other and be able to accomplish life goals without giving into the never-ending urge to hide from life in each other’s arms all the time.

There is so much beauty in this book. So many tears in this book, beautiful tears. I wouldn’t call this book sad, but it’s not a bunch of rainbows either. I have to say, I’ve never read a book quite like this. I could definitely tell that Tessa was inspired by this story, and I honestly wonder if she wrote this book first before writing the 3 books before it.

There is a spark to Tessa’s writing. It always ignites a fire in my jingle, but she managed to melt my heart as well with Belmont & Sage. They are SOLID to the end. Never once did I doubt their ending. That doesn’t mean this book was predictable. It means that Belmont & Sage’s love is steady and you know it will never end.


LANA’S REVIEW

Sometimes the right thing was the most painful. Sometimes it gutted you and ruined you forever, so a single second wouldn’t pass without a reminder. Sage knew that lesson all too well.

Ever since the very first time we met Belmont, I’ve been fascinated by his quiet intensity. Ever since we get introduced to his and Sage’s somewhat…borderline dysfunctional relationship, I’ve been anticipating their story with a rabid sort of glee. But I was also afraid. See when you anticipate a certain character’s story, you tend to build it up in your head, and it inevitably falls short. Belmont was such an enigma. He’s such a memorable, multi-layered, and broken character. And I’m thrilled to report that not only did Tessa Bailey do him justice, she blew all my expectations out of the water.

Too Beautiful To Break was entirely worth the wait and lived up to every single promise. Belmont’s story was EVERYTHING; Emotional, gripping, swoony and entirely unforgettable.

I’ve never trusted anyone the way I trust you. Not while wanting at the same time. And want…want isn’t the right word for this feeling inside me, Sage.”
“What is the right word?”
“Famine,” he ground out. “I’ve been in a famine.”

The Clarkson siblings tale concludes with this book, as they reach their ultimate destination. Four books in the making, they originally took off on a cross country trip in order to fulfill their mother’s last wish by jumping into the freezing water of the Atlantic on New Year’s Day for the Polar Plunge.

But as they near their destination, Sage announces that she needs to leave, shaking Belmont to the very core. Their relationship is this combination of codependency meet suppressed lust. It’s such a fascinating dynamic. Sage is the balm to Belmont’s tortured soul. She calms him in a way nothing in his life ever has. And Belmont has been Sage’s constant in a life that has been anything but.

Sometimes, she swore they shared a fractured pulse.

Too Beautiful To Break shows just how very versatile this author really is. Belmont is not her typical dirty talking, uber alpha. He’s complex and while no less alpha, there’s also this endearing child like quality to him. His quiet intensity grabs you from the start and completely hooks you in this book. He’s a complete goner for Sage and he doesn’t even want to hide it. He just wants to prove to her that he’s worth it.

If you’re not my perfect Sage, let me learn you. Prove it. So I can prove to you I’m not going anywhere.”

I was dying to know what happened to Belmont to make him the way that he is. I was starving for more details of Sage and her past. While she paints the picture of the perfect little wallflower, there was always this hidden depth to Sage and you certainly saw it come out here.

This was a beautiful and gripping romance about two broken souls piecing themselves back together. It was romantic and emotional. It was swoony and the most perfect book to end the book with.

My one quibble is the somewhat rushed details at the end. There’s a particular revelation of Belmont’s past coming to light and I wanted more of it. Considering that that particular detail is what molded him into the man that he is today, I needed a little more on that end. Aside from that, I enjoyed this book from start to finish and I couldn’t imagine a more perfect book to close this series with.

Tessa Bailey is originally from Carlsbad, California. The day after high school graduation, she packed her yearbook, ripped jeans, and laptop, and drove cross-country to New York City in under four days. Her most valuable life experiences were learned thereafter while waitressing at K-Dees, a Manhattan pub owned by her uncle. Inside those four walls, she met her husband, best friend, and discovered the magic of classic rock, managing to put herself through Kingsborough Community College and the English program at Pace University at the same time. Several stunted attempts to enter the work force as a journalist followed, but romance writing continued to demand her attention.

She now lives in Long Island, New York with her husband and daughter. Although she is severely sleep-deprived, she is incredibly happy to be living her dream of writing about people falling in love.

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Series Spotlight: ★Dirty Billionaire trilogy★ by Meghan March

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Dirty Billionaire
Series: The Dirty Billionaire Trilogy #1
Genre: Erotic Romance
Author: Meghan March
Release Date: December 8, 2015add-to-goodreads-button-2

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I’ve got a big dick and an even bigger bank account. That’s pretty much where my bio ends. Honestly, I don’t need to say anything else. I’ve just sold 99% of women on going home with me.

Do I sound like an asshole to you?

That’s because I am.

And guess what? It works for me just fine.

Or at least it did.

Until I met her.

Books talk about sparks flying. Fuck that shit. With her, it was like emergency flares mixed with jet fuel. Or maybe just straight up napalm.

Only one problem.

She didn’t leave her name or number when she disappeared from the hotel room after the hottest fucking night of my life. Now I’ve had a taste of unicorn pussy—the sweetest, rarest of all pussy—and I need it again.

So what’s an asshole to do?

I took this problem to the street. A missed connection gone viral.

And when I find her? I’m keeping her.

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READ MY FULL REVIEW

Excerpt

Holly

COUNTRY STAR JC HUGHES CAUGHT BETWEEN A COCK AND A HARD PLACE

How is he going to explain this one away to girlfriend Holly Wix and his fans?

“That two-timin’ son of a . . .”

I hiss under my breath as I stare at the headline—and the compromising picture accompanying it—splashed in vivid color across the front page of the gossip rag displayed prominently in the checkout line at my supermarket. For the second time in two months, it’s a picture of my “boyfriend” locked in an unmistakably passionate embrace with another woman, except this time she’s wearing a giant black strap-on.

The edges of the paper crumple in my sweaty grip, and I fight the urge to tear it to shreds, along with every copy sitting on the rack in front of me.

He’s going to destroy my career before it even has a chance to become a reality.

One year, they said. One year in this joke of a “relationship” and I’d earn my stripes, be all set in the world of country music. Judge me all you want for agreeing, but when your brand-new record label puts something like that in the contract that will jet you out of the backwoods town you’re dying to escape, you don’t ask questions. You sign on the dotted line.

But reality is a cold slap in the face, and some days it hits you when you’re standing in line at the grocery store. What happens when they finally catch JC with a guy? His habit of swinging both ways, but preferring men to women, is about to become the worst-kept secret in Nashville.

I’m Holly Wix, winner of a make-me-a-star TV show, and handpicked by the label to buoy JC’s once-impressive but now flagging career. It didn’t seem like a big deal when they slipped it into my contract in the beginning. What starry-eyed girl wouldn’t be thrilled to have her name linked to a country star?

Instead of the one-way ticket to stardom I naively expected, I’m becoming the butt of every industry joke faster than the guys back home can spend their paycheck on twelve-packs and scratch-offs. But I’ve got one shot at keeping this dream career alive, and honestly, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to save it. So this situation with JC needs to get settled before things spiral further out of control.

More from the Dirty Billionaire Series Coming Soon!

Dirty Pleasures: Releasing on 12/29

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I did it. I married a billionaire.

My reasons are my own, but the last thing I expected was to feel owned.

I may have taken vows, but I’m still determined to be me.

Now his rules are taking over my world, but I’m not the kind of girl to just obey.

There’s only one problem: I might actually be falling for him…

I have no idea how this marriage is going to go, but holding onto a piece of myself while succumbing to his dirty pleasures is shaping up to be the ride of a lifetime.

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Dirty Together: Releasing on 1/12 

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My wife.

I love saying those words.

She’s mine, and if she thinks I’m going to let her run without tracking her down and bringing her back to where she belongs—with me—then she’s about to be introduced to a new reality.

Because I’ll fight dirty to give her the happily ever after she deserves.

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Guest-Post

Top 3 reason why people will love Creighton Karas.

1. He’s dirty

2.  He’s 100% alpha.

3. He won’t stop until he gets everything he wants.

About the Author

meghan march headshotMeghan March is the author of contemporary and erotic romance novels.

Meghan March has been known to wear camo face paint and tromp around in woods wearing mud-covered boots, all while sporting a perfect manicure. She’s also impulsive, easily entertained, and absolutely unapologetic about the fact that she loves to read and write smut. Her past lives include slinging auto parts, selling lingerie, making custom jewelry, and practicing corporate law. Writing books about dirty talking alpha males and the strong, sassy women who bring them to their knees is by far the most fabulous job she’s ever had. She loves hearing from her readers at meghanmarchbooks@gmail.com.

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Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: ★Reclaim Me★ by Ann Marie Walker & Amy K. Rogers

reclaim-me-virtual-tour-3aRECLAIM ME
Series: Chasing Fire #3
Authors: Ann Marie Walker & Amy K. Rogers
Release Date: October 20th, 2015
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ReclaimMe_HiRes

As the heart-pounding Chasing Fire trilogy concludes, a dangerous entanglement leaves Hudson and Allie wondering how much they’re willing to risk for the love they can’t live without…

There’s almost nothing Alessandra Sinclair wouldn’t do for Hudson Chase. He was her first love, and she’s determined that he’ll be her last. But when the terrible truth Hudson has been hiding comes to light, Allie finds herself caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse with a man from her past who’s determined to use what he knows to ruin Hudson. Now, the only way to save the man she loves may be to lose him forever…

Hudson has always known that the secrets he keeps could be his downfall, but he never expected them to put Allie’s life in danger as well. It’s time for him to come clean–before everything he’s ever wanted is destroyed…

Includes previews of REMIND ME and RELEASE ME, the first two books of the Chasing Fire trilogy.

Praise for the Chasing Fire trilogy

“Exceptional…Seriously sexy and sinfully steamy. Can’t wait for more from this writing duo!”–New York Times bestselling author Tara Sue Me

“Walker and Rogers strike the perfect balance between blistering physical desire and heartfelt connections…”–RT Book Review  

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ExcerptHudson pored over the dossier, trying to find something, anything, that might explain what the hell was going on. Had the past few days been an act, waiting for the perfect out? Or had it been a final good-bye, fucking each other senseless just to purge it out of her system? Had Allie realized that no matter what his zip code, he still wasn’t good enough? He gripped the document in his hand to avoid punching his fist through the tinted glass. He hadn’t even had a fighting fucking chance to talk her out of it.

“Mr. Chase.” Max’s voice cut through the rhetoricals and Hudson’s laser-sharp eyes darted to the rearview mirror. “The plane is on standby and the crew is ready to depart as soon as we arrive. ETA, eight minutes.”

Hudson checked his watch. “Thank you.” He took a deep breath in an attempt to downshift his nervous energy into focused calm, but his need to find Allie overrode all logic. If she thought she was walking without hearing him out. . . . Well, news flash, she was wrong. So fucking wrong.

After going through the airport’s private security entrance, the Mercedes shot down the tarmac and around the fat turn that lead to the hanger housing the Chase Industries plane. The car came to an abrupt stop inside, its tires squeaking against the highly polished concrete floor. Hudson exploded out of the vehicle. He didn’t give a shit if he had to fly halfway around the world to do it; he was going after her. Winning Allie back was a necessity, and if this was the way she wanted to play it, he was all fucking in.

groom putting on cuff-links as he gets dressed in formal wear close up


 GUEST POST


“Top 5 Hudson Chase Pick Up Lines” from RECLAIM ME

  1. “There is no one else, Allie. Just us.”
  2. “I can’t go this long without you,”
  3. “Spread your legs. Show me how much you want me.”
  4. “You’re aching to feel me inside you, aren’t you?”
  5. “Bend yourself over the desk and lift your skirt.”

 


Review3.5 starsReclaim Me-DGR

He had no idea what tomorrow held. But for now, she was his.

A sexy, captivating and thrilling conclusion to a trilogy that captured me from the very start! If you haven’t met Hudson Chase, you haven’t lived. The man is intense, sinfully sexy, protective, with a touch of broody. While I’m not usually a reader of trilogies since my attention span seems to wane somewhere around book 2, I’ve been dying to get my hands on this book for one reason and one reason only: Hudson.
Reclaim Me teaser-DGRRelease Me ended on a cliffhanger that was guaranteed to leave readers desperately panting for the final book. After everything that Allie and Hudson have been through, will the secrets that Hudson kept from her and a man determined to ruin everything finally tear them apart? I already knew that Julian was going to be playing a huge role in everything that happens in Reclaim Me from the events of Release Me. And now he finds himself with an ace in the hole with the information he’s holding against Allie. He’s determined to get what he believes is rightfully his; Ingram media. This was one villain that I loved to hate. What a slimy, little asshole this one was. Everything considered, however, the suspense part of the story really took a backseat to Allie and Hudson’s relationship. I never thought I’d find myself saying this; but there was a touch too much sex in this story. So much so, that it almost felt like filler at parts. I could have done with less of that and more fleshing out of the actual plot. As it was, I found a lot of it to be almost overshadowed by the amount of sex that took place.

Not to say that I complained too much because said sex happens with Hudson and there’s never a dull movement with that man. He’s that good. Add in a touch of humor and I was putty in his very skilled hands.

How was that?”
“Amazing…Adventurous. Arousing…Awesome.”
He chuckled quietly. “Allie’s orgasm brought to you by the letter ‘A’?”

My only other minor quibble is the big secret from Hudson’s past that has been hovering over him and Allie like a dark shadow for the last two books. I suppose that I built it up in my head and that’s mainly to blame for my finding the big reveal to be anticlimactic , but it did explain quite a few things.

For those that enjoy a thrilling trilogy with intense alpha males that are as protective as they are kinky, this is surely not to be missed. While I enjoyed the previous two books more, the conclusion was still highly satisfying. I’m definitely a big fan of these two authors and look forward to whatever they have in store for the future.


About the Author Though thousands of miles apart, Ann Marie Walker and Amy K. Rogers are in constant contact, plotting story lines and chatting about their love of alpha males, lemon drop martinis and British supermodel, David Gandy. You can find them on twitter as @AnnMarie_Walker and @Amy_KRogers. 

Amy K. Rogers
Ann Marie Walker
 

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Guest Post, Review & #Giveaway: ★Falling For His Best Friend★ by @katee_robert

Meet Avery & Drew in Katee Robert’s newest sexy standalone from Entangled Brazen!
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He’s going above and beyond the call of duty…

Avery Yeung’s biological clock just went off early. Thanks to her family’s medical history, she’s running out of time to get knocked up. And the only guy within donating distance? Her overprotective-and irritatingly hot-best friend. So clearly she needs an anonymous donor…

Anonymous donor? Over Sheriff Drew Flannery’s dead body. While daddyhood will never be in the cards for a man with his past, Drew won’t let Avery shop for a “popsicle pop.” He’ll do what’s right for his best friend by doing his best friend. But only if they do it properly.

But there’s nothing “proper” about it. Between the bed, the kitchen counter, and against his squad car, Avery and Drew are having the hottest sex ever. They can’t get enough of it-or each other. And without knowing it, they’ve crossed the one line that could ruin their friendship forever…

I asked Katee how she keeps coming up with new and sexier sex scenes for her characters and where does she draw her inspiration. (because inquiring pervy minds gots to know!) And here’s what she had to say


Bring on the Sexy Good Times!

I’ve always preferred to read romances where I get all the delicious details, rather than a fade-to-black or sweeter romance. So, when it came time for me to be the one writing romance, the only route that felt natural to take was the one that let the reader see everything going on in the bedroom (or closet or living room…but I digress). The only problem? There’s a whole lot that goes into sex scenes to make them feel effortless and not awkward.

Yeah, I was way in over my head. Writing sex scenes are DIFFICULT. No duh, right? I should have seen that from a mile away.

The thing is, it got easier with each book I wrote, until the sex scenes are now one of my favorite parts of any given book. See, in addition to making me blush (every single time!) and occasionally making me take a lap around the living room to cool off, a good sex scene gives the reader a very intimate view of a character’s fears and desires.

How a hero or heroine chooses to make themselves vulnerable—or not— in the bedroom is telling when it comes down to it. Each pairing presents its own challenges. For example, with FALLING FOR HIS BEST FRIEND, Drew is the dominant partner almost exclusively—he drives the sex scenes. They’re both busy fighting their feelings for each other, but they do it in different ways. Avery lets herself get lost in the moment, and Drew tries to control every little thing.

With each book, there are challenges and with each book there’s the underlying desire to keep the heat level in roughly the same place. I like my sex scenes hot! Which is great in theory, but there’s always the fear in the back of my mind that I’ll write a scene, send it in, and have my editor respond with, “Katee, you wrote this exact same scene in a totally different book!” Or “Katee, every single book in this series has the characters getting busy in the backseat!”

The double ups don’t actually happen that often, though. Each couple brings different desires to the table, so writing to cater to those desires ends up creating a natural variety of sexy good times naturally. Which is a relief, let me tell you!

What about you? How do you feel about sex scenes in romance books?

Holy shit. Whatever he’d expected when he’d agreed to this thing, it wasn’t THIS. He’d just had sexy with Avery. His best friend and partner in crime, the one person in this world who knew all his secrets.
And worst of all, he wanted to do it again.

Ever since Drew and Avery were first introduced in In Bed with Mr. Wrong I just knew they’d be one of my favorites in the series. And you know what? I wasn’t even a little bit wrong. I love a good friends to lovers romance, and this one delivered it in spades.

Avery, shut up and listen to me. If we’re going to do this- and we are- we’re going to do this RIGHT.”
And then he kissed her.

Avery and Drew have been best friends for twenty years. There’s nothing that they haven’t experienced together, especially being the fun loving troublemakers that they are. But there’s one thing that always stayed hands off, especially for Drew, and that’s anything even remotely romantic or sexual. Drew attempted to kiss her once and was turned down flat. He doesn’t want to ruin their friendship, so even though his attraction for Avery hasn’t lessened any through the years, he won’t act on it. Until he has no choice but not to…

Avery has always known Drew for the player that he is. His hit it then quit it ways date back all the way to high school. He’s also been the one solid presence in her life that has been there for her through everything. Especially that terrible day that she got the test results back saying that she has the same genetic markers for cancer that killed her mother. Now her biological clock is ticking and it has a very quick expiration date with her health risk looming over her. Avery is desperate to have the one thing she longs for; a child of her own. After watching her sister that had the same genetic markers go through an emergency hysterectomy, she knows she doesn’t have time to waste. And with no potential men in the plan for her, since Drew seems to scare all of them off with the guise that they’re not good enough, she gets desperate. And what’s a girl to do? Go to a sperm bank, of course.

When the idea of Avery getting pregnant by any man that’s not him hits Drew over the head like a two-by-four, he knows what HE has to do. Why go to the sperm bank when he can get the job done right…the old fashioned way.

Avery may not be too keen on the idea at first, but it’s not long before all that pent up sexual chemistry from the years crackles and sizzles out of control. Let’s just say there’s a certain scene that involves Drew’s sheriff’s uniform, handcuffs, and the side of a road. Holy melting panties!

Avery may know what she wants, but Drew struggles with it. The last thing he wants is to give his heart to a woman only to waste away like his drunk of a father when he looses her. Watching him fall harder and harder for Avery was all the more satisfying to watch because of this. Sure he screws up, but he more than makes up for it.

The irony was that while he’d been trying to ruin her for any other man, she’d gone and done the same for him and any future woman he might meet.

I really loved this latest installment in the series. It’s everything that I love in contemporary romance. It was light, sweet, with the perfect amount of sexy and fantastic characters. If you loved the previous books in this series, you’re definitely going to love this one. And if you haven’t yet read those, then you can easily read this one as a standalone. The operative word here being READ it.

New York Times & USA TODAY Bestselling Author

Katee Robert learned to tell stories at her grandpa’s knee. Her favorites then were the rather epic adventures of The Three Bears, but at age twelve she discovered romance novels and never looked back.

Though she dabbled in writing, life got in the way—as it often does—and she spent a few years traveling, living in both Philadelphia and Germany. In between traveling and raising her two wee ones, she had the crazy idea that she’d like to write a book and try to get published.

Her first novel was an epic fantasy that, God willing, will never see the light of day. From there, she dabbled in YA and horror, before finally finding speculative romance. Because, really, who wouldn’t want to write entire books about the smoking-hot relationships between two people?

She now spends her time—when not lost in Far Reach worlds—playing imaginary games with her wee ones, writing, ogling men, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.

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#NewRelease Spotlight & #Giveaway: ★Destroyed★ by @cariquinn & @TarynElliottFic

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of these authors (read: stalk them incessantly for their new releases). It’s also no secret that I’m an even bigger fan of their Lost in Oblivion series (read: slightly obsessed with). Each book just gets better and better and now it’s finally Simon’s turn! So I am beyond thrilled to be hosting these ladies that are rockstars in their own literary right at DGR today! 

Hi everyone! Cari Quinn and Taryn Elliott here, and we’re super excited to hang out with one of our favorite book bloggers EVER, the most awesome Lana at Dirty Girl Romance!

Why do we love her so much? Well, let’s count the ways.
1)    She likes dirty books as much as we do.
2)    She loves dirty men as much or MORE than we do.
3)    She does the most awesome book graphics EVAH!
Oh wait, are we supposed to be talking about our book DESTROYED, book 3 in the Lost in Oblivion rockstar series? *looks around* Oh yeah, I guess so, huh? While DESTROYED is book 3 in the series, it totally stands alone, though we hope you’ll want to go back and read about the other members of the band. But you don’t *have* to in order to enjoy DESTROYED. Or Simon. 😉
Since we’ve already started with a numbered list, let’s just keep that going. shall we? And read on for how you can win a fabulous prize, because life – and dirty books – are better with gifties! 😉
Top Three Reasons You Want to F@ck Simon Kagan from DESTROYED (I know, this title shocked me too, but hey, when the dirty rockstar muse speaks, we listen!)
1) He’s the lead singer of a sexy as hell up-and-coming rock band, Oblivion. And believe me, they do plenty of the coming part. Early and often. They’ve also come a long way from their laundromat-practice-space roots. Now they’re headlining tours. And banging members of the band on catwalks above the club they just played in…which brings me to number two.

2) Simon will do it everywhere and anywhere. Behind the tour bus, on a catwalk, maybe even tease another girl while you’re watching and can’t quite make up your mind to take the leap…into his bed.

3) He won’t stop until you’re satisfied. Yes, he’ll eat at the Y. And the back exit too. No boundaries, right?

Want more proof? Here’s a little taste of Simon and his leading lady getting dirty on stage…before it happens for real.

Margo matched him in all black except for the bright pink that drew the eye to her spectacular breasts. So much her and yet not. A new breed of prim musician just waiting to bust out of her mold.

And because the song seemed to cry out for it, Simon stalked her around the stage. They held eye contact as the song built and his voice got raspier with each chorus. He swayed forward and she arched back until they were one unit in the song.

Like the ebb and flow of thrusting inside of her. They matched up so effortlessly. By the time the song ended, the room was silent and the cord of the mic was wound so tightly around his wrist his blood throbbed with the restriction.

Book 3 in the NEW ADULT rockstar series, LOST IN OBLIVION

Only one woman has ever refused him… and she’s the only one he wants. 

Now that he’s successful beyond his wildest dreams with his band Oblivion, Simon Kagan is happy to enjoy his all-access pass to the groupie train. After getting more fists in the ribs than hugs growing up, he discovers having a warm female in his bed is an easy way to escape the loneliness.
Until Margo.

From the moment the classy, buttoned up violinist entered his sphere, he knew she was different. After one amazing night in the studio, he feels like he’s finally connected with someone on a deeper level—only to have her walk away without a backward glance.
As a member of the Boston Symphony orchestra, Margo Reece’s life revolves around the regimented structure of a second chair violinist. But Simon’s uncanny ability to crawl into a song and create a smoky, sin-filled experience translated into the hottest night of her life. She walked away afterward because that’s what she was supposed to do.
And Margo always does what she’s supposed to.
Until Simon.
When she’s called on again to blend her sound with Oblivion’s, she has to make the decision to play it safe or let her wild side free.
Hot, right? Yeah, we think so. Simon is a whole new breed of delicious for this series, and we hope you check him out while he’s on sale for only $2.99! But now for the contest. 

Giveaway

For a chance to win a $25.00 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card and a signed print copy of ROCKED, book 1 in the Lost in Oblivion series, plus some fun swag, just answer this question:


You get a backstage pass to see your favorite singer/rocker/band ever. Who is it and why? (Or if you’re not into music, what one actor/actress turns your crank?)

Thanks again for having us here today and thank YOU for reading! <3

Spotlight & Guest Post: ★The Australian★ by @LesleyYoungBks

The Australian (Crime Royalty Romance #2)
Author: Lesley Young
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense
Release Date: March 25, 2015
● Fall in love with an unforgettable female heroine!
● Lose yourself in multiple plot twists!
● Take a trip down under for only $2.99!

Charlie Sykes takes everything and everyone at face value, and believes life would be a lot easier if everyone else did, too. Jace Knight, international Aussie hotelier and purported playboy, has never met anyone like the absurdly literal and obliviously beautiful American who applies to his personal assistant position. The trouble is, how do you seduce a woman whose definition of flirting comes straight out of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary? That, and he’s not the only one after Charlie.

Seems Mr. Knight may not be a reformed criminal after all. Charlie soon finds herself caught up in a whirlwind of dangerous international espionage that takes her from the hip streets of Sydney to the majestic Great Barrier Reef and the wild, desolate outback.

A terrible trap’s being laid, but how will Charlie protect herself and prevent a devastating betrayal when she can’t even sort out what her heart’s telling her?

Buy Links

GUEST POST

3 Things an Authentic
Dirty Girl Heroine Must Have
By The Australian author
(and romantic suspense obsessed reader) Lesley Young
Thanks so much for featuring me on your fantastic blog! I am a
big fan, and thought it would be fun to weigh in with the expectations I have
for realistic dirty girl heroines. In other words . . . turning ereader on . .
. .please let this heroine be real enough to take me on an amazing
rock-my-world vicarious journey.
Heroine must have a strong
sense of self
In order for me to get sucked into a character’s
heart-racing, sexy interludes, she must be self-possessed, self-aware and
generally heartfelt. Now, that doesn’t mean she has to be confident, or sexual
experienced or even a genuinely a good person. But she has to have opinions,
desires and be real enough that the sexual encounter she’s experiences has true
meaning.I guess the hottest dirty girl scenes, for me, have to have significant
meaning for the character’s journey.
Heroine must be torn.
Have you ever experienced absolutely script-worthy sexual encounters, in you
know, real life? And if you did, with say a hot Aussie like a Hemsworth (just a
suggestion), would it be that exciting? Okay, probably any kind of sex with a
Hemsworth would be sexy…I digress. My point is that the best sex scenes, for
me, aren’t a simple sharing and exploration of perfect love where each
character says and does just the right thing in the right moment. No way. I
much prefer sex scenes to be a “sensual conversation” full of rocky emotional
torment. The heroine wants the hero, or vice versa, but there are hang ups,
sacrifices, compromises at stake every time they fall into each other. The
bonus here is the sexual encounters are typically much more spontaneous.
Heroine must be empowered.
Confession: I do like the occasional tryst that involves the hero manipulating
the heroine’s sense of choice (but only when she doesn’t know better and is
totally into him). But generally the most successful dirty girls are those who
know what they want and take it. They may not take it in just the right way at
just the right moment, but they’re willing to take risks in the bedroom to
learn more about themselves and also maybe but not necessarily, to connect
deeper with the hero. If I feel for the second that the author has objectified
the woman needlessly, I’m out.
I hope I stayed true to these aspects with Charlie Sykes, the
quirky heroine in my novel The Australian,
and Fleur Smither, the funny heroine in The
Frenchman
. Both are available in my stand-alone Crime Royalty Romance
series (crime is light, suspense is not!). About the Author

Lesley Young is a genre-defying author of unforgettable heroines who experience thrilling life- and love-altering journeys. Her debut novel was Sky’s End; her most recent stand-alone series, Crime Royalty Romance, includes The Frenchman and The Australian. She loves to hear from readers. Follow her at Facebook.com/LesleyYoungBooks, @LesleyYoungBks and lesleyyoungbooks.com/blog.

Copyright © 2015 · Dirty Girl Romance

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