Tag Archives: contemporary

Game On by Collette West #new #release @Collette_West @GCReading

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Title: Game On

Author: Collette West

Genre: Romance   Publication: October 17th, 2014

Pitching phenom Bruce “Jilly” Gillette has a hard time talking to women. His hulking presence of tattoos and muscles is what makes him an intimidating closer on the mound, yet off the field, he’s painfully shy, uncomfortable in his own skin.

Desperate to revamp his loner image, the New York Kings hold a dream date contest, granting the lucky winner a night on the town with their surly reliever, doing whatever it takes to force Jilly out of his comfort zone.

Hailey Halpert enters the contest on a whim, looking for answers as to why her high school relationship with Jilly hit the skids. Now she’s a popular romance author writing under a pen name, and her reappearance in Jilly’s life is no accident. It turns out that her novels are all about the sexy players on the Kings, and Jilly has no clue that he’s about to become her new leading man.

 

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Collette West grew up as somewhat of a jock-nerd hybrid. Entering the world three weeks premature, her dad nearly missed her birth because he had seats behind the dugout for a sold-out, highly-anticipated match-up between two of baseball’s biggest rivals. Not to be outdone, her book-loving mom taught her how to read by the time she was three. A love of the game coupled with an appreciation for the written word were instilled in Collette’s impressionable brain from a young age. No wonder her characters believe in the philosophy: sports + romance = a little slice of heaven.

Splitting her time between the Pocono Mountains and Manhattan, Collette indulges her inner fangirl by going to as many games as she can from hockey to baseball and downloading every sports romance novel in existence onto her iPad. When she’s not clicking away on her laptop, she enjoys walking her dog in Central Park, satisfying her caffeine craving at the Starbucks on Broadway and keeping an eye out for Mr. Right. But above all, she loves dishing with her readers. Email her at collette_west@yahoo.com.

She is the author of NIGHT GAMES, GAME CHANGER and GAME ON.

Buy the book 1 Night Games on Amazon
 
 

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All Things Pretty by M. Leighton @mleightonbooks #ReleaseDay or @InkSlingerPR

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We are so stoked to bring you the Release Day Launch for M. Leighton’s ALL THINGS PRETTY! ALL THINGS PRETTY is a Contemporary Adult Romance and the third novel in M. Leighton’s Pretty Series. Sig’s book is here!

 

All Things Pretty

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Excerpt:

Her lips are still curved when she turns her attention back to me. Something about the moment hits me like a punch to the gut. I think for a second that I could stand here and stare at her, just enjoy her smile and her happiness for hours. Days, maybe. But I can’t. We can’t. So, instead, I brush a clump of mud from the end of her nose. “Have fun?”

“I did. Thank you. This was so good for him.”

“And you.”

“And me,” she concedes.

“You can be the real you around me anytime. I won’t tell a soul.”

“So you prefer this?”

“Oh, hell yeah! I don’t need glamorous. Or proper.”

“I’m not proper.”

“You forget that I heard your…expressiveness that day on the side of the road. And it didn’t consist of ‘darn’ or ‘golly gee’. But I haven’t heard anything like that come out of your mouth since then.”

“Ladies aren’t supposed to talk that way, according to Lance.”

“I don’t want a lady. I want a woman. One who knows her own mind. One who wears what she’s comfortable in, one who says what she’s thinking.” I take a step closer. I can’t help myself. Her scent draws me in. Even covered in mud, she smells like sexy sunshine. “I want the woman who kisses like she’s on fire and makes me feel like I’m the only one who can put her out.”

“Sig,” she begins.

I break in to cut her off. I know her objections. And I know how much I don’t want to hear them. “I’m just being honest. I’m not even touching you.”

Her eyes are glued to mine, a damn near irresistible gravity pulling us together. “It’s not like you can anyway. I mean, we’re in public. With my little brother. What could you possibly touch?”

I reach down and smear my hand in mud. With her eyes locked on mine, I reach between us and flatten my palm on her chest, right over her heart. “This. I’d touch this.”

 

ALL THINGS PRETTY Synopsis:

Pretending to be something they’re not, afraid to trust anyone completely, destined to tear each other apart– this is the story of unlikely love and unbearable consequences.

Sig Locke is a cop. He was raised by a cop and all his brothers are cops. He bleeds blue, believes in right and wrong, and sees in black and white, never in shades of gray.

But that was before he met Tommi.

Tommi, with her long legs and bright green eyes, she captured Sig’s interest from the moment he saw her. Even after he discovered who she was–the girlfriend of a drug dealer, the beauty behind a criminal–he still found her utterly irresistible. What Sig doesn’t know, however, is that she has a secret even a cop can’t uncover.

Tommi Lawrence hasn’t had an easy life, and it only got more complicated the day she met Sig. She learned long ago that she can’t trust anyone. Her gut tells her that Sig is no exception, her heart tells her that he is. But that was before she found out his real identity.

Can love be forged in a fire of lies? Or will the truth destroy them both?

 

Author PhotoM. Leighton Bio:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, M. Leighton, is a native of Ohio. She relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, M. Leighton finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: literary fiction. Having written over a dozen novels, these days M. Leighton enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you’ll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren’t roaming in that direction, she’ll be riding horses, swimming in ponds and experiencing life on a ranch, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.

A note from M. Leighton: I love coffee and chocolate, even more so when they are combined. I’m convinced that one day they could be the basis for world peace. I also love the color red and am seriously considering dying my hair.

Twitter | Author Goodreads | Website | ALL THINGS PRETTYGoodreads | Facebook

 

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One Last Kiss by Susan Ward @Susaninlaguna @OnceUponAnAlpha

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Synopsis

 

Linda is on a mission to find her father. Her journey to locate the gifted musician who abandoned her before she was born takes her through the steamy and drug fueled world of the LA music scene where she is rapidly climbing the ranks as a prime groupie sought after by the brilliant and talented men of rock music.

Jackson Parker is a living music legend from the ‘60s. But hard living, the death of his wife, private tragedies, and a personal life in shambles sends him on a downward spiral into despair.

On a lonely night on a Santa Barbara beach the last thing either expects is to find the one person they absolutely need to make their lives complete. Will Linda’s chance meeting with a drunken Jackson change both their lives forever?

Together these two broken and desperate souls collide in a passionate affair that is impossible for either of them resist. Together they each find the solace they need: a man searching for peace and a girl searching for closure. One thing is certain, their chance meeting has kicked off an affair without end…

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About Author

I’ve written 26 books in 25 years. I write contemporary romance novels about messed up rich girls with perfect looking lives & naughty little souls and the hot mercurial men they take captive…and on occasion messed up rich girls from exciting periods in US and British history, and the poor Lords and Pirates they hold under their spell.

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Who We Were by Christy Sloat @christysloat @GCReading #excerpt

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Title: Who We Were
Author: Christy Sloat

Genre: YA, Contemporary Romance

Publication: September 15th, 2014

“Who we were had washed away with the summer. Who we are was yet to be seen.”

Summer school at Alcott High was only supposed to gain Sadie Peters extra credit, nothing more. Her goal wasn’t to make friends, or gain the attention of the most popular football player, yet she managed both. Her life was cruising along on course … until that summer.

Could a simple stint in a different school change her identity completely and introduce her to love for the first time? How would that affect her relationship with Lily, her best friend?

Hopefully their friendship was strong enough to make it through the tumultuous summer. Sadie learns that great things come with change, but sometimes memories of the past are hardest to part with.

 

 

Purchase:

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Excerpt

I entered the lunchroom and met Nash at the same table as yesterday. He gave me a huge smile, but that was all. No hug or kiss on the cheek. Okay, fine. I set down my lunch tray that held pizza, an apple and an orange juice. Not exactly healthy, but I tried. Nash sat with me and ate his pizza, but he didn’t engage in conversation with me. Instead he sat and talked to Oliver and some other kid named Henry, who I learned played ball with them. I was secure enough to realize that Nash and I weren’t a couple; we were just getting to know each other. So, I would just need to cool it and not get upset by his ignoring me. I mean really, was he ignoring me on purpose or perhaps just busy with his guy friends? I chose the latter.
“Oh, you sit here too?” I looked up to see the shaggy haired boy sit across from me. I scowled at him and said, “I was invited to sit here. Why are you here?”
I dropped my pizza on my plate and realized I had an audience. All the boys at my table were now watching me engage in a fight with this rude ass across from me. “Last I checked this was my team’s table. Is that okay with you or should I ask Nash for permission?” What a complete jerk-face!
“So I see you’ve met Nolan, my brother.” Nash laughed.
“Wait! What?
This kid is your brother?” I asked confused.
Nolan laughed and said, “The one and only Nolan Rylan at your service. Twin brother of the oh-so-fabulous Nash Rylan. And before you say, ‘But you don’t look like him,’ it’s because we’re not identical twins.”
I found myself with my mouth hanging open and closed it quickly. I couldn’t believe it. Nash had a twin brother. The more I stared at Nolan, the more I noticed slight similarities in their appearance. Nash had dark hair and so did Nolan. Their
smiles were the same, big white teeth grins. Their eye color wasn’t the same though. Nash’s were crystal blue and Nolan’s were honey brown. Nash dressed casual like his personality, easy going. Nolan was crisp and clean. And from his personality, it didn’t seem to match. He really threw me when he put on his glasses and pulled out our homework assignment right
there at the table. He leaned back, ignoring me with ease, and read. I couldn’t help but stare at him. He wasn’t a football player. No way.
“You play football?” I inquired. He looked up from his book, and I felt a strange sensation. The other guys went back to talking and ignoring me. “Why is that hard to believe? Do I look like a nerd to you?”
I looked at his body. No, not really. He was fit enough, but he was slightly nerdy. Between
his well-manicured nails to his brown high end shoes, it was hard to picture
him in a football uniform.
“You just dress so … so,” I struggled.
“So, nicely perhaps? Not like a jock, I know. But thanks for noticing.” He pulled his book higher and did as the other boys did, ignored me.

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About the Author

 

 

Christy Sloat is a SoCal born girl who resides in New Jersey currently with her husband, two daughters and Sophie her Chihuahua. Christy has embraced the love of reading and writing since her youth and was inspired by her grandmother’s loving support. Christy passes that love of reading, writing, and creativity to her daughters, family, and friends. When you do not find Christy within the pages of a book you can find her being mommy, wife, crafter, and dear friend. She loves adventurous journeys with her friends and can be known to get lost inside a bookstore. Be sure to venture into her Past Lives Series, The Visitor’s Series, and watch for many more exciting things to come.

 

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook
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Owned By Him by Kendall Ryan @KendallRyan1 @InkSlingerPR @LaurelinPaige @clarejamesbooks @EmmaHartAuthor

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Title: Owned By Him
Release Date: September 15, 2014

An alpha male boxed set by New York Times bestselling romance authors Laurelin Paige, Emma Hart, and Kendall Ryan, including Fixed on You, Late Call, and When I Break, featuring the hot new romance Dirty Little Lies by Clare James.

Four full length novels for one low price! Available for a limited time only!

Fixed on You
By New York Times bestselling author Laurelin Paige
A bartender with obsessive tendencies and a billionaire built on dominance come together in a steamy story that explores the line between head games and love-cures-all.

Late Call
By New York Times bestselling author Emma Hart
She’s a high class call girl. He’s taking over his father’s business.
Seven years ago, they fell in love in Paris.
They walked away at the end of the summer, never imagining they’d meet again.
Now he’s her client.

When I Break
By New York Times bestselling author Kendall Ryan
What happens when a sex addict falls for a virgin? With his life unraveling, Knox Bauer attends a local Sex Addicts Anonymous meeting where he finds himself tempted by the alluring instructor, McKenna.

Dirty Little Lies
By Clare James
After a nasty breakup, good girl Stevie Sinclair creates a sexual bucket list. And the mysterious Gabe Shannon is all too willing to help her check off each and every item … and then some.

Buy Links
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Relentless Rhythm (Book 4 Tempest Series) by Michelle Mankin @MichelleMankin @Brandeesbook #Cover #Reveal

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 Michelle Mankin is excited to share the Cover to Relentless Rhythm with you today! Make sure to check out the cover below add to your Goodreads, join Michelle’s Black Cat Records fan signup list, pre-order your copy & enter the GIVEAWAY below!

Release date: October 9, 2014

Come join our Release Day & Blog Tour Event

 
The one she really wants is out of reach.
The one he really needs is already taken.
Dizzy Lowell, rhythm man for the rising rock band Tempest is a wizard on the guitar and a wonder with women. But the hookup specialist hides his emotional scars beneath his suave exterior. He never lets anyone truly touch him.
April Reynolds, the confident bartender of the Diamond Mine, knows her way around a cocktail, but Dizzy has her all mixed up. She knows what’s safe. She’s tired of settling, though. It would be so easy to fall under his spell.
Except for that ring around her finger.
Two searching souls separated by a thin metal band.
Some dreams are dangerous.
Some secrets shouldn’t be shared.
Sometimes what we wish for most can never be.

You can pre-order the book at Amazon

Then go ahead and add to your Goodreads list as well.

Michelle Mankin is the author of the Black Cat Records series of novels.
Romance with subtext.
Reimagining classic stories with sexy rock stars and thought provoking issues.
For many years she worked in the insurance industry as an underwriter. Somehow, the boredom didn’t kill her but the hours and hours of looking at facts and figures provided ample time for her mind to wander.
Black Cat Records in Vancouver provides the central backdrop for all of Michelle’s current novels. Love Evolution, Love Revolution, and Love Resolution are a Brutal Strength centered trilogy, combining the plot underpinnings of Shakespeare with the drama, excitement, and indisputable sexiness of the rock ‘n roll industry.
Things take a bit of an edgier, once upon a time turn with the Tempest series. These pierced, tatted, and troubled Seattle rockers are young and on the cusp of making it big, but with serious obstacles to overcome that may prevent them from ever getting there.
When Michelle is not prowling the streets of her Texas town listening to her rock music much too loud, she is putting her daydreams down on paper or traveling the world with her family and friends, sometimes for real, and sometimes just for pretend as she takes the children to school and back. 
Connect with Michelle Mankin 
Facebook    On Twitter   Website 
Brutal Strength series:
Love Evolution 
Love Revolution  
Love Resolution 
Tempest series:
Irresistible Refrain 
Enticing Interlude 
Captivating Bridge 
 

Undercover Lovers (L.A. Girls Romance Series) by Julia Derek @juliaderekNY #Spotlight

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Annika’s real name is Gabi and she isn’t really a trainer from Sweden but a rookie cop from L.A. She’s working at a Manhattan health club to help the feds nail a covert drug lord. In order to do so, she must infiltrate his world by becoming his trainer.Getting on the fast track to becomean LAPD detective isn’t the only reason Gabi took this dangerous undercover assignment. She also views it as the ideal opportunity to get over her cheatingex-fiancé.In the hope of acquiring information that might help her mission, Gabi befriends one of the drug lord’s soldiers, the devastatingly handsome Paul, only to realize she has yet again fallen for the wrong man. And this time around, it’s one who’s not only a criminal, but who must do whatever it takes to protect his boss—including killing Gabi, if he finds out what she’s really up to.

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My name is Julia Derek and I’m a fitness trainer by day, writer by night.  My fitness career began in Stockholm where I  taught group fitness, primarily step, high and low impact dance classes, and body sculpting.  While studying journalism at George Mason University, I taught corporate fitness for Fit Physique. After graduating, I headed to Los Angeles where I taught group fitness at places such as Beverly Hills Country Club, L.A. Fitness and Crunch. I trained primarily high-powered executives and movie producers.
After five and a half years, I’d had enough of sunny California and headed to NYC. I was hired as a senior trainer and group ex instructor at the exclusive health club Reebok Sports Club/NY where I have worked since 2005.  My specialties are core/functional training, body sculpting, interval training, group exercise, small group training and boot camps.
 I’ve been writing since I was a kid and published my first short story in the Swedish equivalent of Seventeen Magazine at age fifteen. While in L.A. I did stand-up comedy, enjoying writing material more than performing, which was how I re-discovered writing. My memoir, Confessions of a Serial Egg Donor, was published in 2004. A cautionary tale meant to inform prospective egg donors about the fertility industry, it has garnered lots of media attention.  I’ve also written several fitness articles for Livestrong.com and E-How.com.  If you like steamy but sweet romance, check out my L.A. Girls Romance Series. If you like YA and thrillers, check out THE SMILEY KILLER. Click here to find out more about my books.
 

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Grayson by Lisa Eugene @lisaeugene43 @HeavenSentProm0 #Cover #Reveal

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Cover

SynopsisAll she needed was a job…

The last thing twenty-four year old grad student Angie Roberts needs is to worry about her new boss’s father. After all, she’s never even seen him. He remains sequestered upstairs in a house that looks like it should be the main feature in an episode of Hoarders. She had no idea the house was such a dump when she took the job. But she’s concerned about the safety and health of the old man living under such horrid conditions.

What she got was a mystery…

Despite warnings not to venture upstairs, she wanders up to the second floor. What she sees is shocking. The man she finds is a gorgeous, sexy, middle-aged man– and he’s stepping out of the shower. But something is definitely not right. Why would this wealthy, handsome man live in a house in such disrepair while his nine-teen year old son resides in a lavish penthouse? Why does he hide away from society? Why does he come to her rescue and then run away?

What she discovered was heartbreaking…

Angie learns that forty-four year old Grayson Whitmore suffers from schizophrenia. Paranoid, he retreats into his own world.

What she ended up with was a treasure…

Angie is determined to get through to him. They form a friendship that blazes into an inconceivable love fired with erotic passion. Angie must now come to Grayson’s rescue because the wicked that has been perpetrated on him is unconscionable. First, though, she must gain the trust of a man whose mind does not allow for such a thing.

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About the Author

Lisa Eugene began writing as a way to mentally escape from the hectic medical world where she has been a practicing nurse for over twenty years. After publishing her first novel, STRICTLY BUSINESS, she quickly learned that readers couldn’t get enough of the world she created and now she lives out her wildest fantasies by writing steamy romantic suspense for her fan-favorite Washington Memorial Hospital series.

When she’s not plotting her next dangerous, fast-paced, sexy adventure, you can find her juggling a full time job, playing soccer mom, or curled up reading a good romance.

Instagram: http://instagram.com/lisaeugene43

Website: http://lisaeugenebooks.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lisaeugene43

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LisaEugeneTheSweetSpot?ref=hl

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Fat Girl by Leigh Carron @LeighCarron #Review

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The main character in this book Dee aka Deeana Chase is amazingly REAL. I loved her as well as her faults. I will say the author does a wonderful job by creating Dee and her issues. Sometimes I didnt think they were issues I thought maybe she was normal and looking at Elle or Vogue wanting a “look” she saw but NO. There is a little eating disorder, therapy, binges and real life within these pages. I really recommend this one.

Now for the others. It is not easy to give a review without a synopsis but the other characters are equally as grand as Dee. Micah was someone who got away. I really think that the separation, which was revealed and is stunning!, had to happen. Micah was under the thumb of an abusive law enforcement dad. It was heartbreaking to read about these kids brought together by a common bond- foster homes.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I AM a BIG basketball fan. I have virtually no life when October comes, its all my ballers! Micah is a basketball player who played for the Heat and then the Bulls. WOW just my ideal guy.

His career is now over and he enjoyed 15 years of fame with the perks and notoriety, but something is missing… and I think it is the love he lost.

If you want a real moving story with some sexy chick lit vibes then grab this you wont be disappointed. I loved it! I want more from this author pronto!!

FAT GIRL is the first book in this provocative two-part series about love and self-acceptance

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An American living in Canada. Chocolate snob. Recovering yo-yo dieter. Devoted mom and wife, blessed with a brilliantly witty daughter and unintentionally humorous husband. My wacky family feed my creativity and fuel my passion. Most nights, you will find me either curled up with a great book or, more often, sitting at my computer, tapping out the countless visions in my head.

To me, there is nothing better in a narrative than perfectly flawed but strong characters and intense romance that is sexy, deep, and sensual. Mm…I liken such stories to a box of Godiva. Decadent and delicious! You can’t stop at just one. In fact, I’m now hard at work on my next novel—A Naked Beauty, the conclusion to Fat Girl.

CAN’T RESIST SERIES by Violet Duke‏ @VioletDukeBooks @ReadLoveLust

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RESISTING THE BAD BOY BOOK SUMMARY:

 

“A heartfelt, fast-paced, and fun read!” — NYT Bestselling Author Lauren Blakely

The book that started it all. Book #1 of the Nice Girl trilogy, the acclaimed three-book serial that began the New York Times & USA Today bestselling CAN’T RESIST series.

Abby Bartlett is the quintessential nice girl. Between teaching, volunteering, completing her PhD, and helping her best friend raise his daughter, Abby never gets the chance to be anything but nice. That is, until the all-wrong-for-her man she’s only ever known from afar starts daring her to simply take that chance for herself. His sage advice? Try something wild and fast.

Preferably him.

An unbridled, hotshot attorney with a not-so-little black book, Connor Sullivan has earned himself quite the bad boy reputation. But in his defense, he’s a very conscientious one. He knows far too well that sometimes in life, love isn’t enough…or worse, not even a factor at all. To avoid that misery—and repel the drama—Connor always makes his one and only rule crystal clear right from the start. Absolutely nothing more than a month.

Turns out, a whole lot can happen in one month.

Note: This is NOT a standalone. This is the first book in a three-book serial.

This three-book serial is part of the CAN’T RESIST series. Books #1-3 (Abby’s story) must be read in order. While Books #4-6 are separate standalones, it is recommended that they be read after the trilogy. Books #1-3 are also available as a bundled boxed set.

Buy the Box Set Nice Girl to Love: Trilogy Boxed Set (#1 Resisting, #2 Falling, #3 Choosing) (CAN’T RESIST) Amazon
*Also available as a three-book bundle in the Nice Girl trilogy boxed set

THE CAN’T RESIST SERIES:
BOOK 1: Resisting the Bad Boy* Amazon
BOOK 2: Falling for the Good Guy* Amazon
BOOK 3: Choosing the Right Man* Amazon
BOOK 4: Finding the Right Girl Amazon
BOOK 5: Keeping the Rebound Fling- Coming 2015
BOOK 6: Having the Real Thing- Coming 2015

PRAISE FOR VIOLET DUKE:

“Emotionally charged with wonderful characters! Violet Duke made me laugh and cry in this incredible romance. One of the best I’ve read this year!” — NYT Bestselling Author J.S. Scott

“A sexy, emotional treat!” — NYT Bestselling Author Lexi Ryan

“A unique series that will take you on a roller coaster of emotions. I couldn’t put these books down!” — NYT Bestselling Author Carly Phillips

 

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 Resisting the Bad Boy – FREE

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   AUTHOR BIO

NEW YORK TIMES & USA TODAY bestselling author Violet Duke is a former professor of English Education who is ecstatic to now be on the other side of the page writing wickedly fun contemporary romance novels. Her NYT and USA Today bestselling books have been Top 10 bestsellers on Amazon, iTunes, and Barnes & Noble, and featured on IndieReader and GalleyCat as breakout hits. When she’s not writing or feeding her book-a-day reading addiction, Violet enjoys tackling reno projects with her power tools, trying pretty much anything without reading the directions first, and cooking ‘special edition’ dishes that laugh in the face of recipes. She lives in Hawai’i with her two cute kids (daughter Violet & son Duke) and similarly adorable husband.

AUTHOR WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA

WEBSITE

www.violetduke.com

FACEBOOK PAGE

https://www.facebook.com/VioletDukeBooks

GIVEAWAY 

 

 Excerpt from Resisting the Bad Boy  © Violet Duke

 

“Doesn’t sound like you have that much time for yourself. What do you do for fun?”

She got up to grab them another two beers from the kitchen. “Honestly, I’m a homebody. Never got into the nightlife scene here. Plus, by the time I was twenty-one, I was basically babysitting Skylar all day every weekend, and nearly all my weeknights. Since that pretty much carried on clear until last year, I guess my idea of fun is hanging out with her. Lame, I know.”

He felt like he was talking to a martian. He hadn’t realized she’d spent even more time babysitting Skylar than he had. And he knew for a fact—from Brian’s complaints about it—that she hadn’t taken a single cent from them for babysitting.

For God’s sakes, she was just so nice.

“So you don’t do anything just for yourself? Just for fun?”

“Well, I have been privately executing my mission to learn how to cook the most beloved dishes from every country in the world,” she returned with a smile. “That’s fun.”

It was possible baby bluebirds helped her get dressed in the morning.

She was just that sweet.

“You’re driving me crazy.” He swept an arm around her waist and lifted her right up onto his lap.

“Connor!”

He slid a hand into her hair, rubbed a thumb over her heated cheekbone as he brought his lips to within inches of hers. “I shouldn’t want you this much. You’re everything I’m not, and I’m everything you couldn’t possibly want. I know I should leave you alone, but I just can’t. I can’t stop myself from wanting you.”

Her breathing had grown so erratic, he was actually starting to get concerned. “Say something, sweetheart. I’m baring my soul here.”

“I shouldn’t want you either,” she whispered, “but I do.”

His arms locked around her, instinctively staking a claim on her. Mine.

For now.

The two words were his only anchor keeping him in the reality he maintained for himself. He had to be brutally honest with her, with them both. “I meant what I said earlier, Abby. I’m never going to break my one-month rule.” Feeling like the lowest piece of scum, he hammered that last nail in, “Not for anyone. Not even you.”

She was silent for a long while, and Connor started preparing himself for the rejection to come.

“I know our fifteen minutes of friendship are up but can I ask you something as a friend? Will you answer me as one?”

He tensed. “I’ll try.”

She chuckled. “Again with the copout.” Raising her warm doe eyes up to his, she asked quietly, “If you weren’t trying to get in my pants, if you were just my friend and I asked you what one thing I could do to stop being ‘a nice girl’ for just a little while, what advice would you give me?”

That was easy. “I’d tell you to try something new. Something that excites you. Something that’ll take you from zero to sixty just as fast as it could take you back to zero whenever you were ready to return.”

“Something wild and fast…” She loosened her death grip on his shoulders, slid her hands down his back slowly. “That’s good advice.”

He saw her gaze travel down to his lips and it took everything he had not to kiss her right then and there.

“Are you volunteering, Connor? To be that something wild and fast for me to try?”

“No,” he replied raggedly, “I’m insisting. Requiring.” He dropped his forehead against hers. “Asking.”

Christ, that was close.

But just when he’d gotten a handle on his roiling emotions, just when he thought he could be the good guy for a change, he felt two gentle hands smooth over the sides of his face.

And he was lost.