Pages

▼

Friday, January 31, 2020

When Hope Ends Blitz


When Hope Ends (life begins)
Freya Barker
Publication date: January 21st 2020
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
It’s the best day of his life–the worst of hers.
She left her soul behind in the dead silence of a hospital room.
He is bright with hope after being so close to losing faith.
One moment in time leaves their paths unavoidably entwined.
An invisible connection held by one heart beating between them.
***Previously part of the anthology; Then There Was You.
—
EXCERPT:
I pull myself up and run my hands through my hair as I walk down the steps. There I turn back to her. “Stay.”
Her eyes brim with tears. “But the risk is—”
“Every day you get out of bed is a risk. You and I know better than most how true that is. Whether you’re here, or somewhere else, won’t make a difference once the truth is out there. If they dig they could still find us, and all those other families. Leaving won’t serve any purpose.” I’ve been pacing back and forth, but on my last words I stop and face her.
“I don’t know what the smart thing is to do.”
She wrings her hands in her lap and her teeth are biting her bottom lip so hard I’m afraid she’ll break the skin.
I’ll examine why it’s so important to keep her here later, but for now I place my hands on the stair railing to brace myself, and lean forward, my nose almost touching hers.
“Stay.”


Author Bio:
Award-winning author Freya Barker loves writing about ordinary people with extraordinary stories.
Driven to make her books about 'real' people; she creates characters who are perhaps less than perfect, each struggling to find their own slice of happy, but just as deserving of romance, thrills and chills in their lives.
Recipient of the ReadFREE.ly 2019 Best Book We've Read All Year Award for "Covering Ollie, the 2015 RomCon “Reader’s Choice” Award for Best First Book, “Slim To None”, and Finalist for the 2017 Kindle Book Award with “From Dust”, Freya continues to add to her rapidly growing collection of published novels as she spins story after story with an endless supply of bruised and dented characters, vying for attention!

XBTBanner1
at No comments:

Release Blitz for The Only Exception by LJ Stock, Victoria L James

The Only Exception (A Road to Wonderland Story)
by L.J. Stock and Victoria L. James
Add The Only Exception to Goodreads here: 
https://www.goodreads.com/…/show/50362097-the-only-exception
Buy The Book: 
mybook.to/theonlyexception
BLURB:
𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙜𝙤.
I'd been pining for her for more than a decade, and thought I'd messed up.
𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙥𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙙𝙤𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙥.
I went to her, faster than lightning, desperate to taste her kiss.
𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙄 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚.
She offered me her trust, and I took it in my hands, desperate to hold on tight.
𝙃𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜.
I’d do anything for her.
𝙃𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢.
I wanted to be in all her fantasies.
𝙈𝙮 𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙮 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙢.
I was born again with her, no longer the recovering addict. No longer a mistake.
𝙏𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚.
Together, we learned how to live.
𝙄’𝙙 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙒𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙤 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙.
She made me believe in our story. She made me want to rewrite my own.
𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩'𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚...
We forgot to keep our eyes open to the things around us.
𝙒𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙮.
We made mistakes.
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙨 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙀𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙝.
Just when I thought I was winning, I was forced to fight again.
𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙜𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙣𝙤 𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙖 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄’𝙙 𝙙𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙀𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙒𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙚𝙧.
Those ghosts underestimated my love for Izzy Moffit.
𝙏𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙬𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙬𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙨. 𝙏𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙬𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨.
She had no idea what I was willing to do, who I used to be, and what I was capable of when it came to protecting those I loved. She had no idea the lengths I’d go to to give her a happy ever after. My girl had no idea at all.
Authors' Bios
Victoria L. James is a teenage girl stuck inside a thirty-something-year-old’s body. A Corona and nacho appreciator with a ridiculous obsession for all things Rocky Balboa, she currently lives in Yorkshire, England, with her husband and two baby boys. Having had a strong passion for words and stories going as far back as she can remember, she credits her love of literature to her Grandma Bess who taught her that you don’t need a lot of money to travel to different worlds, experience new places, and live a thousand lives.
L.J. Stock has always lived in a world of her own, continuously lost in her imagination. Whether in the forests that backed up to her home in Aberdeen when she was only six years old, the unique landscape of Singapore she discovered at eight, or the rolling woodlands that rolled up to Dartmoor during her teen years, there have always been new worlds to explore.
Now an adult living in Houston, Texas, there's more concrete in the jungle surrounding her, but that doesn't mean there aren't stories to tell. She now has too many. When she's not writing, Louise can be found hanging out with her family, crazy pup, or at the computer lost in her creativity of her successful graphic design business, L.J. Designs.
The Playlist!
The Only Exception could be read as a standalone, but in order to fully understand their history and backstory, we strongly, strongly advise reading The Trouble with Izzy and/or A Fight for Ethan first, both of which are available for #FREE in Kindle Unlimited.
Read The Trouble With Izzy ⇢ mybook.to/IzzyMoffit
Read A Fight for Ethan ⇢ mybook.to/EthanWalker
#Comment #Share #Like #Free #KindleUnlimited #KU
at No comments:

Insatiable by Helen Hardt - Release Blitz

Insatiable (Steel Brothers Saga #12) 
by New York Times Bestselling author Helen Hardt
AVAILABLE NOW!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Vebwx7
Print: https://amzn.to/2XLyVX8
Nook: http://bit.ly/2Y8e24X
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2GAnDf8
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2VWwn4k
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2IJL2wg
Goodreads: bit.ly/GR_Insatiable
Genre: Contemporary Romance 
#Insatiable #SteelBrothersSaga #HelenHardt
#ReleaseBlitz #RomanceRead #BareNakedWords #WaterhousePress
Synopsis
Marjorie Steel and Bryce Simpson have finally declared their love for each other, but their chance for happiness is once again yanked out from under them. As Marjorie is forced to confront her demons and find an inner strength to save herself and another, Bryce rushes to solve the puzzles his dead father left behind.
An ominous lawyer, twins with a secret, and a premature birth present new obstacles as the two lovers scramble to escape the conundrum and leave their families in peace, all while their desire for each other becomes more and more insatiable. When an unexpected figure from the past emerges, leaving them both thunderstruck, the mystery deepens even further.
It’s a race for healing.
It’s a race for love.
And Marjorie and Bryce are determined to have their happy ending.
Craving - book 1
#1 New York Times, #1 USA Today, and #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Helen Hardt’s passion for the written word began with the books her mother read to her at bedtime. She wrote her first story at age six and hasn’t stopped since. In addition to being an award winning author of contemporary and historical romance and erotica, she’s a mother, a black belt in Taekwondo, a grammar geek, an appreciator of fine red wine, and a lover of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. She writes from her home in Colorado, where she lives with her family. Helen loves to hear from readers.
https://www.facebook.com/HelenHardt/
https://twitter.com/helenhardt
Buy Links for all Helen's Books: http://www.helenhardt.com/book/
at No comments:

Thursday, January 30, 2020

Release Blitz for Dare Me

-->
Dare Me (Unchained Attraction. Dare Duet)
By
K.L. Shandwick
Add to your TBR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49370586-dare-me
**BUY NOW** mybook.to/DareMeDuet
Blurb
When Sawyer Wild dared a stranger to ask him to kiss her, he had no idea that kiss would leave its mark.
With her estranged husband looking on, a normally shy Billie Collier, the gorgeous older, soon-to-be divorcee, shocked herself and complied.
Leaving the wine bar alone, Sawyer felt they had unfinished business when the memory of their all-to-brief, blistering chemistry had left him with an ache he'd been unable to shake.
Ten months later, an second chance to know Billie unexpectedly fell into his hands and he grabbed it.
Love, be it a slow burn or hard and fast, usually happens when it is least expected. Sawyer accepted love is love and was confident he could smooth most of the bumps on the road, after all the path to true love never runs smooth. However, in Billie's case accepting that she was enough took a little longer to achieve. 
Excerpt – Dare Me
Copyright: K.L. Shandwick
“Dare you,” she said, and a thrill of forbidden yearning mingled with the privilege of her trust to deliver a swift dose of justice to her cheating husband.
The responsibility and the potential danger the circumstance could have provoked only made the act of kissing her in front of him infinitely more potent.
My intention had been to deliver a small tender kiss. A kiss without tongues, nothing more, and for the first few seconds we’d achieved that. At that point I had expected Billie to pull away but when she didn’t, I felt we had both needed more.
Taking her lead, I slid my tongue along the seam of her lips and I felt delighted and surprised when she let me in. For the following few seconds, all thoughts of revenge and her soon to be ex, Logan vanished from my mind as I took what I’d wanted from her. From that moment the situation changed from me kissing her to us sharing something far more explosive and intimate.
A small “Oh,” she breathed. The breathy sound entered my mouth and sunk straight to my cock. She tasted of white wine and warmth, and desire flowed through my veins like warm honey as the sexual chemistry grew between us. Surprisingly for a shy woman, she never held back.
When she grabbed hold of my tie I immediately deepened the kiss. For another few seconds we were almost lost in each other. Remembering where we were, who she was and why I’d kissed her in the first place, I tore my lips away; even when I knew what we had done had felt different from any other kiss I’d experienced before.
From the breathless, starry-eyed way she looked at me I had figured she may have felt something similar, but I couldn’t be sure. The circumstances hadn’t allowed for time to reflect.
Afterward her husband had ranted; tried to belittle her even and I took over the conversation, because she was no match for his overbearing arrogance, to suggest the beautiful woman he’d left for another couldn’t attract someone like me. I should be so lucky.
Remembering everything she had told me and being a creative type, I spun him a line about how Billie and I had met. To say he was furious with her was an understatement, but I saw we’d made him think even if he hadn’t believed us.
After he’d gone, I apologized for all I had done, but all I saw in her eyes in return was forgiveness and a tinge of regret. My first thought had been to ask her to meet me again, but I knew I could never do that. Her estranged husband had only left the premises moments before. Hard as it felt, given the circumstances, I knew I had to walk away.
As I made to leave, I remembered I had one final ray of hope left to salvage something of our meeting. It was a business card, which had been made as a joke, and the wording was far from accurate, as to the person that I am. But the number displayed upon it was real. I knew it was a long shot but gave it to her anyway. In that situation it was the only card I felt I had left to play.
Book 1 in the duet - Dare You - is also **LIVE** 
mybook.to/DareYou
**BUY NOW** mybook.to/DareMeDuet
at No comments:

Black Ties Duet Blitz


Blue
Brynn Ford
(Black Ties #1)
Publication date: September 15th 2019
Genres: Erotica Romance
“Whatever your dark tastes may be, this is where you transition from your tattered and stained and mundane life into Black Ties, our underground world of pain and pleasure, dominance and submission.”
Desi is no stranger to pain. Her young, newlywed life had been blissfully perfect before tragedy turned it into daily emotional hell. When she meets a kind stranger outside a mysterious members only club, she’s drawn into a secret world that promises to show her how to turn her pain into pleasure.
Vaughn would do anything to protect his wife and save his marriage. When he discovers unexplainable bruises and marks on her body after solo outings late at night, he resolves to discover the secrets she’s been keeping and fight for their marriage at all costs.
Will Desi’s secrets destroy her?
Can Vaughn fulfill his wife’s darkest desires?
With hope, Desi and Vaughn attempt to find the beauty of letting go while fighting the demons of their past that threaten to destroy them for good.
CONTENT WARNING: This book contains sexually explicit scenes and mature themes. Desi’s story features a sexual journey that involves kink, bondage, multiple partners, a sex club, and questionable fidelity (with a purpose). It is not a standalone and the books must be read in order. This is book 1 of 2.

Switch
Brynn Ford
(Black Ties #2)
Publication date: December 17th 2019
Genres: Erotica Romance
"Falling in love with a friend is terrifying. Especially if you’ve fallen in love before only to lose it in the most tragic way possible. It’s that much harder when you know the pain that could be waiting right around the corner."
Damaged.
Brokenhearted.
The man I had built a life with tried to kill me, shattering my existence as I knew it.
I was broken and lonely when my dominant friend-slash-ex came to my rescue, promising to guide me back to empowerment. But I wanted more from him than he was capable of giving.
I tried to be okay with our uneven balance of power, and it worked for a while, but eventually my heart spoke out against it.
It told me I couldn't lose myself in submission to him.
It told me to demand he get down on his knees for me when I wanted to switch.
It told me he could never change for me.
It told me not to fall in love.
“I never stopped missing the way Law could bring me to my knees with a flick of his eyes, the way he could make my legs tremble with a simple soft whisper.”
CONTENT WARNING: This book contains sexually explicit scenes and mature themes. Ris' story features sexual healing that involves kink, dominance & submission, multiple partners (including same sex), and a sex club. It is not a standalone and the books must be read in order. This is book 2 of 2.
Get book 1 for only 99¢ for a limited time!
—
EXCERPT:
I pushed out a breath rather dramatically, “Oh, boy. Well, I can say with compete honesty that I did not expect this kind of action and excitement this evening.”
He raised an eyebrow at me while I signed and pushed the papers back to him, “And yet you’re still here. It’s intriguing, really.”
“I know, right?” I grinned, “Next.”
“Common Safeword and Consent Policy. This is very important, Blue, especially because you’re new to this world. You’ll see things that surprise you downstairs. You may see things that disturb you or concern you. But I want you to know that our members’ safety is our priority. That’s why all members and their guests must adhere to a common safeword policy. We push limits here, Blue. We skirt the edge of our boundaries, waltz across the line, see if we can push it just a little further.”
Law came alive as he spoke, eyes sparkling with passion. He was telling me about something that outwardly seemed so crude and taboo but explained it all with such poise and conviction. This world was important to him, it belonged to him, and he belonged to it. It chilled me to see that kind of affinity. It gave me goosebumps to listen to him explain these rules.
He continued, “It is possible that someone might say no as a reflex, without really meaning it. For some, saying no is part of the fun. Consent always has to be given explicitly here. And it can still be given even if someone is screaming for you to stop. But it only works if everyone understands and follows the rules and we enforce them fiercely. No one here should ever fear being forced to do something they haven’t consented to.”
I watched him in consideration, “Am I gonna need any safewords tonight, Law?”
I saw a flicker of interest brush across his eyes as I immediately realized my tone had sounded inviting. Unintentionally inviting.
I shouldn’t have said that.
Why did I say that?
“No, not unless you consent to putting yourself in that position,” he looked suddenly disappointed, “And as you are happily married and without your husband this evening, I imagine you won’t want to do that.”
“No,” the word tasted bad coming out of my mouth, “I don’t want to do that tonight.”
“Then you won’t, Blue. Not tonight.”
Not tonight?


Author Bio:
Brynn Ford is an independent author of romance in all of its beautiful and sensually taboo forms. She is a lover of the dark, twisted, and playful and strives to bring the unmentionable aspects of passionate romance into her stories.
Brynn resides in the Midwest with her husband and sons, whom she expects will someday be embarrassed by their mom's books. When she isn't obsessively writing, you may find her binge watching favorite shows while eating far too much junk food or fanatically reading, always seeking to lose herself in the emotional roller coaster of a damn good story.
She is quite the idealist, despite her fascination with the wicked and warped aspects of humanity. Some of her stories may run out of words before a happily ever after, but she's a firm believer that her characters continue to live on outside the pages in the minds of her readers. Stories don't end just because there aren't anymore pages to turn.

XBTBanner1
at No comments:

Rocco Reveal


Rocco
Giulia Lagomarsino
(Reed Security, #21)
Publication date: March 16th 2020
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rocco has his world all wrapped up in a neat package. He has a job that he loves and his daughter, the best thing that’s ever happened to him. And he has his rules. These rules keep the order and balance in his life and the women where they should be. But he never counted on Brooke, and she’s about to turn his world upside down.
Brooke never had the typical love life. She tried to have it all, but there was always something that held her back from committing. Until Gary. Gary was…not really important. But being with him led her to Rocco in the most unusual way, and now she’s about to find out all about his rulebook.


Author Bio:
I'm a stay at home mom that loves to read. Some of my favorite titles are Pride and Prejudice, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Horatio Hornblower. I started writing when I was trying to come up with suggestions on ways I could help bring in some extra money. I came up with the idea that I could donate plasma because you could earn an extra $500/month. My husband responded with, "No. Find something else. Write a blog. Write a book." I didn't think I had anything to share on blog that a thousand other mothers hadn't already thought of. I decided to take his challenge seriously and sat down to write my first book, Jack. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed writing. From there, the stories continued to flow and I haven't been able to stop. I hope my readers enjoy my books as much as I enjoy writing them. Between reading, writing, and taking care of three small kids, my days are quite full.

XBTBanner1
at No comments:

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Nightblood Academy Blitz


Nightblood Academy
Allison West
Publication date: January 27th 2020
Genres: Adult, Romance, Urban Fantasy
I’m the missing girl who left school with a stranger, the story you’re warned about as a child. Was I kidnapped? Or did I go willingly?
I didn’t listen. I never listen. And now, I’m stuck in another universe, protecting my best friend, worried about my sick sister back home, and forced to face the academy bully, who happens to be hot and single. He should be off-limits, but I can’t stop myself from falling for him, hard.
Get it for only 99¢ for a limited time!
—
EXCERPT:
“I want your word that you won’t hurt her,” Bray said. “She’s under my protection.”
Eilith glided closer, leaning in, smelling him as she exhaled a soft, putrid breath.
Bray’s eyes slammed shut and his nostrils flared with a scrunched nose. This was going to be hell. Willow would owe him big time when they were done with whatever the hell this creature was.
“You think you have any power here at all?” Eilith laughed, her breath caressing his neck, a sharp tongue skimming over his skin just below his ear, drawing blood. “I could eat you alive, and no one would ever know what happened to you.”
Swallowing nervously, his eyes opened, feeling the drip of blood cascade down his neck. “Are you a vampire?” he whispered.
“Some call me an energy vampire,” Eilith said, “but no. I am an ordinary Nightblood turned demon.” She reached behind her back and revealed a scroll and a feather pen, already dipped in ink. “Sign your name so we can complete this transaction.”
The lump that had once formed in his throat grew even bigger. “Demon?” He hadn’t wanted to believe it might be true.
“Demon Sorceress, the one and only.” Eilith sounded quite pleased with herself.
He took the pen, his actions again not his own as he stared at the scroll. He was back in charge, if only for a moment, while she let him willingly sign his name. What choice did he have? He wasn’t giving away his soul, only his virginity. That didn’t mean anything to a demon, right?


Author Bio:
Allison West is a #1 International Best-Selling Author in Erotica, BDSM, Romantic Erotica, Sci-Fi, Victorian, and Historical Erotica. She also writes young adult novels under the name Ruth Silver.
Allison West has been inventing worlds and writing stories for years. Her favorite novels are those that leave a lasting impression, long after the final page is read. You can find more about Allison on Facebook, Twitter, and her blog "Spanking Author." http://spankingauthor.com

XBTBanner1
at No comments:

Shopping for a Billionaire Boxed Set Blitz


Shopping for a Billionaire Boxed Set
Julia Kent
(Shopping Box, #2)
Publication date: May 26th 2019
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Romance
A BUNDLE OF LAUGHTER FROM NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR JULIA KENT
Get books 6 (Shopping for a Billionaire’s Fiancee), 7 (Shopping for a CEO) and 8 (Shopping for a Billionaire’s Wife) in one BIG bundle of laughter, community, and – of course – romance in Julia Kent’s New York Times bestselling series.
Audiobook lovers can also get all three books in one big, 26-hour-long bundle! Narrated by Zachary Webber, Amy McFadden and Tanya Eby. Give your ears something to look forward to!
99¢ for a limited time only (reg $9.99) and 24 hour audio Whispersync for $7.49!
—
EXCERPTS:
Shopping for a Billionaire’s Fiancee:
Shannon has a key to my place, and as I walk in the door I see candlelight. Flickering flame is to a man what Ben & Jerry’s is to a woman.
A sign of a sure thing.
“Shannon?” I call out, following the disorganized scatter of lit candles in the living room. Shadows dance on the wall in my hallway, and I round the corner to my bedroom to find her, spread out on my bed, wearing garters, stockings, the red corset, and—
She’s asleep.
That’s okay. I can work with asleep.
I can’t work with absent.
You’d be surprised how fast a man can undress when under the complete control of testicles so full they look like a case of mumps. I’m out of my clothes in seventeen sec-onds or so (who’s counting?) and on the bed, my hands taking in her prone body. I’m allowed to touch. We have an unwritten rule. It goes something like this:
Touch Shannon.
It’s a simple rule.
Her skin is so soft, my fingers scraping against the rolling contour of her inner thigh, from knee to heaven. The whorls of ridges on my fingertips feel like raw sandpaper against her porcelain flesh. My breathing slows, eyes adjusting to the dim light, taking in her body. How did I ever get so lucky?
From Toilet Girl to Mrs. McCormick in eighteen months.
Shopping for a CEO:
It’s Andrew McCormick.
Oh, sweet holy hell.
I haven’t seen him in months. Haven’t kissed him since we were in the emergency room after my best friend, Shannon, swallowed the engagement ring his brother, Declan, gave to her as he proposed.
(A tip: don’t bury a three-carat diamond ring in a piece of tiramisu at a fancy restaurant as a way of proposing to a woman. Any woman. Why ruin the dessert like that?)
I’m the maid of honor for the wedding. Andrew is the best man. We’ve managed to avoid each other so far, but the wedding is three months away. I knew this day was coming.
But I didn’t expect it to be today.
My heart starts skipping beats as I take him in from afar, shielded by the angle of my bench. He has no idea I’m watching him. Thick hair, cut short and with the kind of layered sophistication that only comes from a stylist who charges three figures. Shaded eyes that I know are sharp and smoldering, a blend of brown and honey that makes you melt inside. He’s in a full suit, tie still snug against his neck, the moonlight reflecting off a white shirt. His grin is contagious, making my own smile widen as I tilt my head and let myself get lost in wondering.
Shopping for a Billionaire’s Wife:
As we walk into the lounge, every single pair of eyes swivels to take us in.
“Why are they staring at us?” I ask Declan, clutching his arm.
“Because you’re wearing a wedding dress and I look like something out of a BBC documentary?” he answers smoothly.
I look down at myself. Look over at him. Take in the kilt, the socks covering his calves, the laces on his special Scottish shoes.
“Oh.”
One of the patrons, a man who is sitting next to a woman who looks like an adventurous traveler and not a mannequin on a rich man’s arm, points to the television, then back to us.
“You two on the run?”
Declan frowns and pulls me closer to the television.
Where someone is interviewing my mother.


Author Bio:
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Julia Kent writes romantic comedy with an edge. From billionaires to BBWs to new adult rock stars, Julia finds a sensual, goofy joy in every contemporary romance she writes. Unlike Shannon from Shopping for a Billionaire, she did not meet her husband after dropping her phone in a men's room toilet (and he isn't a billionaire). She lives in New England with her husband and three children.

XBTBanner1
at No comments: