Wednesday, May 29, 2019

REVIEW: The Initiation by Nikki Sloane

The Initiation by Nikki Sloane

Release Date: May 28, 2019

OUR REVIEW:

Shel: The Initiation is a page turner--I inhaled it in one day and am now DYING for book two. This novel is complete escapism/twisted fairy tale/totally messed up romance and let me tell you, I am here for it. Court: Amen, sister, I die! With a tagline of "Filthy Rich Americans" I knew somebody would be getting up to no good, and I was NOT disappointed! Lawd!

Shel: The tension and history between Royce and Marist and their families started immediately and I was completely sucked in. Then as more and more was revealed, I decided that yard work could wait because I had to know how all of this was going to play out. If you've read the synopsis, there are things that aren't surprises at all and yet there are other things that intrigued me. And to be honest, there's not a lot of character backstory, yet,--so there's a lot I question about why someone do some of the things that are done and what motivates these characters besides power, money, and the fear of losing it...or maybe that's the gist of it? At any rate, I honestly wasn't too concerned about that as I was busy flipping pages and caught up in trying to figure these two out. I liked Marist, even if I hated that she was going to sacrifice herself for people who didn't seem to deserve it. I wanted to like Royce and there were times when I really did...and then he'd do something that infuriated me. So here I am--lots of questions because this thing between Royce and Marist is crazy--can we she trust him? Is there anyone she can trust? Is she going to survive this arrangement, and if so how? And what the hell is wrong with her family? And what is Royce up to? And why is his dad so icky? Will they make it with their sanity and goodness intact?! Court: I definitely can't say too much more than she already covered! But...can I say again, lawd, ya'll...These people are just..wow. It was unexpected turn after turn for me...I could not stop reading and it was a wild ride to say the least. I definitely did not see a lot of what happened coming, and like Shelley I am definitely intrigued in their omtivations and getting to know more about why Royce is the way he is...and how Marist is going to navigate these murky waters that she finds herself in.

Shel: SO.MANY.QUESTIONS. and while I honestly don't want August to get here any sooner than it has to because that means I'll be back to work, having the second book coming will definitely make back to school less painful! Court: YES! Another one that is on the list to devour as soon as it comes out!

The Initiation, book 1 in the Filthy Rich Americans Trilogy, an all-new erotic romance by USA Today bestselling author Nikki Sloane is LIVE!

No one knows how new members are selected to the board of Hale Banking and Holding. But there are rumors of a sordid rite of initiation.

Whispers how one woman and nine men disappear into a boardroom.

This time, that woman will be me.

The Hale family owns everything—the eighth largest bank in the world, everyone in our town, even the mortgage on my parents’ mansion. And now Royce Hale wants to own me.

He is charming. Seductive. Ruthless. But above all, he’s the prince of lies. My body may tighten with white-hot desire under his penetrating gaze, but I refuse to enjoy it.

I’ll make a deal with the devil to save my family and sell myself to the Hales. But Royce will never own my heart.

Download your copy today!

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Excerpt:

Every pair of eyes in the restaurant was on us as we were led to our table for dinner. Probably not every pair, but God, it felt that way. “Is it just me,” I asked over the top of my menu, “or is everyone staring at us?” Royce was indifferent. “They’re staring at you.” His statement rattled me. “Why?” “Because you’re here with me.” His gaze never lifted to mine, like he couldn’t be bothered. “Or more likely, because you’re fucking gorgeous. Who knows?” Breath halted in my lungs. “You can’t just say shit like that.” The leather-bound menu holder dropped onto the table with a thud, and I was met with the full power of Royce’s irritated stare. “That you’re beautiful? You are. Get over it.” Dismay twisted my lips into a frown. “Please, don’t. I don’t need bullshit lines from someone like you.” “It’s not a line, and . . . someone like me?” More annoyance darted through his eyes, but intrigue too. “What’s that supposed to mean?” How was I going to put it into words? “You’re a ‘haver.’ I mean, you could have any woman in this room if you wanted, and probably some of the guys too. You’re young, hot, and filthy rich.” His irritation vanished. It was replaced with an arrogant expression that said none of this was news to him. I pushed forward, gathering steam. “Me?” I said. “I’m a ‘have-not.’ I’m sure you didn’t intend for it to happen, but when you said I was a nobody, you made it true. No one will touch me.” “I touched you.” He was immune to my scorching glare. “You wanted to know why I was still a virgin last year. Well, there’s your answer. You’re the reason, Royce. Nobody would be caught dead with me.” He considered the accusation I’d lobbed at him. “You’re wrong,” he said finally. “I was aware what was going to happen. It’s exactly why I said it.” My head turned into a void. “What?” He leaned over the table to ensure he had my full attention. “I saw you at the bar with your sister that night. You were swaying to the music, all happy, and pretty, and it pissed me off. My father had already laid out plans for me. I was supposed to be with Emily, but that wasn’t what I wanted.” I clenched the menu in my hands. I sensed where he was going, but I couldn’t wrap my head around it. My heart chugged along, thumping loudly in my ears. “So, yeah. I knew you were behind me when I called you a nobody. I did it on purpose, because I couldn’t stand you with anyone else. I wanted you for myself.” “Oh, my God.” My body flushed hot, although I didn’t know if it was with anger or excitement, or a deadly combination of the two.

About Nikki:

USA Today bestselling author Nikki Sloane landed in graphic design after her careers as a waitress, a screenwriter, and a ballroom dance instructor fell through. For eight years she worked for a design firm in that extremely tall, black, and tiered building in Chicago that went through an unfortunate name change during her time there.

Now she lives in Kentucky, is married and has two sons. She is a three-time Romance Writers of America RITA© Finalist, a Passionate Plume winner, a HOLT Medallion finalist, and couldn't be any happier that people enjoy reading her sexy words.

Connect with Nikki:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1SbBUyM

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikkisloaneauthor/?fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorNSloane

Stay up to date with Nikki by joining her mailing list: https://www.nikkisloane.com/newsletter

Monday, May 20, 2019

REVIEW: The Billionaire Boss Next Door by Max Monroe

The Billionaire Boss Next Door, an all-new hilarious romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Max Monroe, is available now!

OUR REVIEW:

Shel: Max Monroe has a new romcom ready for you—and let me suggest that if you follow it right after an emotional read because it’ll take you right out of that book hangover with laughs. Between the enemies to lovers, snide banter and funny inner monologues you’ll be smiling and laughing your worries away. And bonus, Greer and Trent aren’t the only funny ones—the cast of friends is equally funny and fun. Not only do the Max Monroe bring the funny, they bring the swoon. When Greer and Trent move from enemies and coworkers and neighbors to friends and the more, the swoon factor comes into play and it’s so sweet and, well, swoony. Court: YES! I devoured this one too, as always with Max Monroe, and it was a delightful ride! I love when friends are co-conspirators (in a good way!) and enemies to dot-dot-dot in the process. Their journey was really great, and I really appreciated how well rounded out this world is. The characters are funny, but real and have a lot of heart to really draw us as the reader in, and the writing is spot on!

Shel: If you know Max Monroe, you know they can deliver on a solid romcom and The Billionaire Boss Next Door will definitely leave you with a smile on your face and all warm and fuzzy in your heart. A fun summer read. Court: Absolutely, and I absolutely cannot wait to see what comes next in this series! (Hopefully Cap, asap!)

My new boss has it all. In spades.

Gorgeous green eyes? Check.

Hard-and-sexy body? Check.

Intelligence? Check.

Success? A big fat billionaire… Check.

Too bad I haven’t started out on the best foot.

My big mouth has already turned him against me, and tempting good looks and success aside, Trent Turner is no peach either. He’s stubborn and thick-headed, and son of a fruitcake, he thinks he knows everything there is to know about the hotel business.

With him running the development of the new Vanderturn New Orleans Hotel and me doing the design, our work relationship is far too intimate for two people who absolutely despise one another.

But that’s not all.

See, he isn’t just my billionaire boss from hell. He’s my new neighbor, too.

Same city.

Same building.

Same floor.

Trent Turner is my billionaire boss next door.

Holy moly, let’s hope my career—and hormones—can survive.

Disclaimer: If you generally love to suffer, hate fun of any kind, and are allergic to laughter, this book is not for you.

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Vy4KOk

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/TBBND

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2uEva5S

Excerpt:

It only takes five minutes inside the hotel gym to realize why my original plan was to eat a hamburger in bed. I do not got this. I’m not good at working out, I’ve never been good at working out, and I’ll never be good at working out. I don’t know what to do with the equipment, and it doesn’t know what to do with me. Clearly, it’s been designed for people with half a foot more height and fifty percent more muscle, and even on the lowest of settings, I fumble my way through biceps curls like an uncoordinated inchworm. I can barely reach the handles, so I have to kind of stoop to get in position, but the newly formed curve of my spine makes me have to arch and wiggle to complete the curl. If it weren’t for my kick-ass Metallica T-shirt, I might start to worry that I look foolish. The ten-pound weight clanks as I drop it the inch and a half I managed to lift it in the first place, and I stand up to find a different machine. Surely there’s something in here I can operate without having a special license. I find some kind of seated thing with weights on one end and a padded face rest on the other. I sit, lay my face down, and attempt to slide my legs underneath the weighted bar. But, it’s completely awkward and uncomfortable, and I start questioning what in the fuck this thing is even supposed to do. Just before I give up completely, a throat clears deeply beside me, and I look up to see a far too muscular man staring down at me in confusion. “Uh…wow…I didn’t realize you could use it that way…” Huh? I nearly ask him what he’s talking about, but his actions answer any and all questions I might have. He sits down on the machine beside mine—an identical machine to mine—and it’s then I realize the face rest is not a face rest. It’s a seat. For asses. A seat for sweaty, workout asses. Jesus Christ. I shudder and disentangle myself from the machine. “You okay?” Arnold Schwarzenegger’s long-lost brother asks, but I just nod off his question and put some much-needed distance between us. Also, I scrub my face with the hand towel I brought down from my room like it’s a fucking Brillo pad capable of removing the ball sweat that’s probably found itself a home in my pores. Note to self: take one thousand scalding-hot showers tonight. With a deep inhale, I try to regain some of the pride I lost back there by Mr. Muscles and peruse the room until I find a machine that’s labeled with instructional pictures to boot. Hip. Abduction. Do I need aliens to use this thing? Against my better judgment, I study the pictures and peptalk myself into sitting down on the seat and swing my legs over to the inside of the knee pads. No face-to-butt-sweat mistakes happening here, folks! The weight is set on one hundred and fifty pounds from the person before me, and it makes me wonder if Thor is staying at this hideous hotel too. I pull out the pin and put it on forty instead. After a quick test push with my legs, the setting seems doable, so I take out my phone and start scrolling through it to set up some music to accompany me. Yes. Yes. That’s exactly what I need. Some workout jams. Of course, once I’m on it, I get distracted by Instagram, and five minutes go by before I realize I’m sitting on a machine, not a couch, and the purpose here is to do something other than lounge. I glance up from my phone and scan the room, wondering slightly if anyone knows how long I’ve been sitting here. Mr. Muscles has moved on to a new machine, but a different guy across the room makes eye contact and smirks. Busted. Normal human decency dictates he should let me off the hook and go about his day, but this fit, Adonis-looking, sweat-covered, brown-haired, green-eyed—good God, he’s attractive—man apparently has no manners. Shit. His sleeveless white T-shirt clings to his tanned body as he strides my way, and his athletic shorts conform to a muscular set of thighs and ass. I look everywhere but at him, fiddling with the machine as though I’m doing something productive, but he still doesn’t get the hint. Raspy and firm, the clearing of his throat sounds right next to me. I look up as innocently as I can manage and pull out my earbuds as though I had music playing. “Um, hi,” I say with a cute little manufactured laugh. “I’ll be done in just a second.” He laughs too, but his seems genuine and undeniably directed at me. “If you keep up your current pace, I think it’s going to be a little longer.” “Excuse me?” “Come on,” he says good-naturedly—the prick. “You’re just pretending to work out.” Oh no, he did not just say that…. “I’m not pretending to work out,” I deny. “I’m just getting warmed up.” He nods knowingly. “And setting up my music,” I continue. He hums. “I’m just about to catch my stride.” “Sure you are.” He calls bullshit with his smug, green as fuck eyes, and for the briefest of moments, they glance down at my chest and my legs before meeting my gaze again. “But there are people who would like to really use it, so if you’re done…” What. The. Fuck. Who does this guy think he is? “Are you always this rude?” I question, and his green eyes lighten a bit. “All right, you’re right. I’m really not trying to be a dick,” he says and runs a hand through his hair. Should it really take that much effort not to be a dick? “Let’s start over…” He pauses and pushes a small smile to his full, kissable lips. “How are you enjoying the hotel?” Start over? How about let’s never have started at all? Still annoyed, I don’t censor my answer. “It’s…swell.” He laughs at first, but when I raise an eyebrow in contention, he frowns. “You don’t like it?” “Maybe ugly décor and a whole buttload of pretention are good for some people, but not for me.” “Ugly décor? Really?” How can he be shocked by this? Anyone with eyes could see the design flaws here. “Are you kidding? I feel like I’m in my ninety-year-old grandmother’s living room, except it’s a waking nightmare and I’m about to be eaten alive by the curtains.” “I don’t think it’s that bad. It’s timeless.” Normally, I’m not such a snob about design, nor do I make a point to make other people feel bad for their likes and dislikes, but for some reason, this handsome prick and his dickish attitude just bring it out in me. Before I know it, I’m channeling Regina George. “Well…” I pause and scrunch up my nose dramatically. “I’m sorry to break the news to you, but the design of this place looks like it was done by a blind rat. Gilded sailboat pictures and tapestries with oxen on them aren’t timeless. They’re old.” His eyebrows pinch together, highlighting the otherwise perfect features of his face. Goddamn this ugly hotel for housing such perfect-looking humans. “What did you say your name was again?” Shit. Emory will absolutely murder me if she finds out I got into some kind of confrontational tête-à-tête with a random Romeo in the hotel gym. Let’s also not forget this hotel gym is located inside a hotel that is owned by the company you’re about to interview with… Shit. Yeah. I’d better cut and run while I can. “I didn’t.” I jump up from the machine with the exact agility I’ve lacked during the rest of my workout and offer a saccharine smile. “But, hey, good news. Machine’s all yours.” “Aren’t you going to wipe it down?” he asks as I walk toward the door, and I can’t help but turn around for my parting shot. “Why?” I smirk at the pouty-lipped asshole. “After all, I was just pretending to work out.” Because you know what dicks can do? They can go fuck themselves and wipe down their own workout equipment, tight asses and chiseled jaws be damned. Suck on that, workout Romeo.

About Max Monroe:

A secret duo of romance authors team up under the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling pseudonym Max Monroe to bring you sexy, laugh-out-loud reads. Max Monroe is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of more than ten contemporary romance titles. Favorite writing partners and long time friends, Max and Monroe strive to live and write all the fun, sexy swoon so often missing from their Facebook newsfeed. Sarcastic by nature, their two writing souls feel like they’ve found their other half. This is their most favorite adventure thus far.

Connect with Max Monroe:

Website: https://www.authormaxmonroe.com/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/max-monroe

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2ReoxkK

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormaxmonroe/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authormaxmonroe/

Stay up to date with Max Monroe by joining their mailing list today: https://www.authormaxmonroe.com/newsletter

Friday, May 17, 2019

REVIEW: A Five Minute Life by Emma Scott

A Five-Minute Life by Emma Scott

Release Date: May 16th, 2019

OUR REVIEW:

A Five Minute Life has me all up in my feelings, y’all. I just texted Court all the emojis because the emotions I felt were just too spoilery for words (she's still reading) and I had lots of conflicting emotions that I neeeeeded to get out.

Without regurgitating the synopsis (see below)—let me say I just loved the interesting concept—someone living in 5 minute increments only to have those minutes disappear? How does one think of such a thing, make it interesting and not repetitive, and push the plot forward? They put Emma Scott in charge because that’s what happened--it was interesting, not repetitive, and the plot moved forward. I was interested and intrigued—dying to know how she was going to resolve the conflicts so that Jim and Thea could have all the happiness I wanted them to have (thank the #lordt that happened because I think I was having heart palpitations and heartburn just getting to those epilogues! Yep, plural—epilogues.).

There’s just so much to love about this novel from Thea’s almost eternal sunshiney optimism to Jim’s steadfast goodness and their interesting backgrounds and current conflicts-I don’t think I’ve liked two characters this much in a long time.

Thank you, Emma Scott for always giving us interesting characters and plot lines and writing novels that never fail to have me 100% emotionally invested from start to finish.

A Five-Minute Life, an all-new standalone new adult romance by International bestselling author Emma Scott.

Thea Hughes has five minutes to live.

A car accident stole her parents and left her with the second-worst documented case of amnesia in the world. She now has only minutes of experiences, of consciousness, of life…before her memory is wiped clean. The once effervescent artist with a promising future is reduced to scribbling with pens and paper, living an empty, quiet life, three hundred seconds at a time.

Jim Whelan is on autopilot.

A foster kid shuffled around the system since birth, he’s lived his entire life without knowing love…and it’s taken its toll—until he learned to fight back, carry his armor, and keep his head down.

Working as an orderly in the Blue Ridge Sanitarium, deep in Virginia countryside, Jim looked up…and found Thea.

When Thea has the chance to break free of her five-minute prison with a risky, experimental surgery, it could lead them both to an epic love they never thought possible… or one that could require the ultimate sacrifice.

A stand-alone, new adult romance.

Download your copy today or Read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2EaBVBk

Amazon Worldwide: mybook.to/AFiveMinuteLife

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2DlYSRY

Excerpt:

“Marc Antony,” I said and nodded at her drawing. “Part of your Egyptian studies?”

Thea leaned her cheek on her folded hands like she was warming herself before a fire. “Marc Antony is part of the romance. A love story with Cleopatra. He went to war for her. Died for her. When they told her he was dead, she put her hand in a basket with an asp. Can you imagine? Loving someone so much that the thought of life without them is too unbearable?” “No,” I said. “I can’t.” Her gaze dropped to my hand on the table and her fingers reached to trace the scars on my knuckles. These tell a story, don’t they?” She traced one of the fine lines. “You put your hand in with the snakes, too.” I nodded slowly, savoring the feel of her warm skin on mine. “So the bullies would leave me alone.” “And did they?” “Eventually.” “I’m glad.” She put her hand in mine completely, her fingers wrapping around and holding tight. “I’m being too… something. Personal. Delia would throw a fit, but I feel like…” “Like what, Thea?” “Like I have to hold on to this moment, you know? Or you… I don’t even know you and yet I don’t want to stop talking to you.” Her hand squeezed mine. “I don’t care if you have a stutter, but please keep talking to me, Jimmy. Okay?” My mouth went dry at the nameless desperation in her eyes. Jesus, does she know she’s trapped? She can’t. Impossible… “I won’t,” I said. “I’ll talk to you every day. I promise.” Thea breathed a small sigh of relief and released my hand. “Thank you, Jimmy. That makes me feel better.” With a final smile—a parting smile, I realized—she took up her pen and then froze. She’s resetting. Confusion passed over her features. She looked up at me, flinching a little to see a big man in close proximity. I instantly leaned back to give her space. “How long has it been?” she asked. “Two years,” I said, my voice hardly more than a whisper. “But the doctors are working on your case.” “Yes, they are.” She smiled hesitantly and found my nametag. “I’m Thea Hughes.” Seven. Seven times now. “Jim Whelan,” I said. She offered her hand. Again. I took it robotically, enduring her one-pump shake. Again. Her fingers didn’t linger in mine but released immediately, the way you do with a stranger. Again. “Nice to meet you, Jim Whelan.” Fuck. I can’t do this. I rose to my feet. “I have to get to work.” Her face fell. “Oh. Bummer. Will I see you again?” I could promise her I would, but she wouldn’t remember. There was no promise. I could tell her the sky was falling or my name was Abraham Lincoln and she wouldn’t know the damn difference. It’d vanish, like every other word we’d ever spoken to each other. I vanished every time her reset hit and was recreated over again in Thea’s eyes. I could be whatever I wanted; whomever I wanted. And yet she was the one woman I might’ve had a chance to be myself with. The terrible irony of it was like copper in my mouth. “Sure, Miss Hughes,” I said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

About Emma: Emma Scott is a bestselling author of emotional, character-driven romances in which art and love intertwine to heal, and in which love always wins. If you enjoy emotionally-charged stories that rip your heart out and put it back together again, with diverse characters and kind-hearted heroes, you will enjoy her novels.

Connect with Emma:

Stay up to date with Emma by joining her mailing list:

http://bit.ly/2nTGLf6

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Monday, May 13, 2019

REVIEW: Bred by Ginger Scott

We're celebrating BRED by Ginger Scott! BRED is a coming-of-age romance inspired by Great Expectations you won't want to miss!

Bred by Ginger Scott

Mature Young Adult Contemporary Romance

Release day: May 10, 2019

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2TwSsER

#Free with #KindleUnlimited

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RKK8P4L/

OUR REVIEW:

Ginger's latest is so interesting--it has that Ginger Scott feel, of course--but there's something about it that just feels different. It's this feeling of timelessness and modernity all mixed together. If you've read Great Expectations you definitely get the mood and atmospheric-ness and all of the nods to the characters of that classic novel and yet Lily and Henry are their own thing too. They're young and angsty and I love, Love, LOVE that we get to follow them through several years--Ginger delivers a depth to their story that develops over a span of time that covers years rather than weeks or months. Seeing them mature and develop over the course of years had me fully interested and engaged -- because, duuude, Henry had me feeling all sorts of ways!!! And Lily? Well, to see her grow up and become more confident and sure of her self, was so fulfilling.

Additionally, the Chicago setting was something new and different--I liked this new setting. The backdrop of the city just added something fresh. As did the secondary characters--the roommates were the best!

All in all, this new YA from Ginger Scott is something I'm absolutely certain my teen students are going to enjoy the heck out of!

BRED
A coming-of-age romance inspired by Great Expectations
By Ginger Scott

My life was irrevocably changed the moment I stepped foot inside Elena Alderman’s grand front doors. A lifeless tomb on the edge of Chicago’s South Side, the Alderman home sat in one of the city’s oldest and wealthiest neighborhoods, and Elena Alderman was the queen.

She was also mad.

Not the kind of madness that’s readily apparent. No, her psychopathy was far more surgical—more…insidious. She was surrounded by beautiful things—most notably her grand piano and her adopted son, Henry.

I fell in love with both.

My gift blossomed when my fingers touched her black and white keys. But my life began when I became haunted by the boy. Henry Alderman was a handsome blend of arrogance and seduction, and as we grew up together, I found it more and more impossible to separate him from my thoughts. I envied his life. I imagined how my name—Lily—would look with his. I became his closest friend…and more. I gave him my kiss, locked away his secrets, and loved him even when it was hard to.

But we were just a game. Elena Alderman made the rules. And when she decided to change them, she broke everything.

Almost.
--
Excerpt from BRED By Ginger Scott
A coming-of-age love story inspired by Great Expectations

(Copyright Ginger Scott, 2019)

“You know this stuff…” he starts, but I interrupt with an emphatic shake of my head. When his fingers splay out over my back I freeze. I follow the path my book takes back to the place it started in front of me as Henry slides it in place, flipping open to the chapter I’m trying to memorize. Knelt down next to me, he leans closer, resting his right arm next to my left one—we are touching.

I swallow. I’m going to fail. I cannot memorize something like the varied historical degrees of differences between a Protestant hell and a Lutheran one while the master of all hotness is sharing a desktop with me. My arm hairs are literally electric, standing up and reaching to plant themselves in his skin. I’ve gone completely primal—my body convinced that I am the gatherer in need of this hunter.

“Look,” he says, leaning in even closer and reaching to flip the pages. I barely register the movement of his thumb under a bold section of words. When his eyes catch mine still stuck on his face, I jump in my seat a little.

“Sorry,” I say, clearing my throat. “I’m just overwhelmed. Maybe a little slow, too, from being in here so long.”

It’s partly true, but I’m also just crushing. Crushing—that’s what Nicki calls it. She rolls her eyes every time she catches me doing it too, then labels it with that word. I crush in the dining area. I crush between classes when Henry pokes my arm with his index finger as we pass in the halls. I crush when I watch him sprint across the lawn every day at three in the afternoon, late for rowing. It’s literally become how I know it’s three o’clock! My body just instinctually glides toward my window at exactly 2:59. Pathetic!

At this point, we should just say that I’m crushed rather than crushing. Crushed and utterly destroyed of all pride.

I am gatherer.
“What you need to do is make up a rhyme. Something that will help you keep all of the key words in your brain so when it comes time to write them down in order, you’ll have them there.”

I draw in my lips and let the acid climb up my throat.

“I don’t even understand that. Ugg, I’m hopeless,” I say, letting my head fall flat against the book. I bounce my forehead there lightly while I eke out a desperate laugh at my own expense.

“You aren’t hopeless.” I feel the warm breath from his chuckle and smell the mint of his gum, and it’s intoxicating enough without his touch, so when the warm hand slides the hair from my cheek I go full hypnosis. His fingers trace my jaw, and my head lifts from the light pressure of his hold. For a moment, I believe in myself just because of the look in his eyes when our stares meet. He’s dead serious—and God, the way he’s looking at me, hair all tousled, smile soft and true, cheeks lifted as if they’re glad to see me.

Like a drunk, I lean closer, my lips parting and ready—my mind imagining everything I’m about to feel—Henry’s mouth on mine, the graze of teeth against my lips, us standing as his arms sweep around my back before his hands rush up my spine into my own messy hair.

None of that happens.

I get an inch away from his mouth, my eyelids fluttering with nerves and uncertainty whether they should close or remain open, and Henry turns a few inches to his left, stiffening and backing away just enough to keep me from making this worse—as if I can make this worse somehow. The rush of heat that coats me isn’t from passion—it’s from humiliation. My eyes remain open just long enough to see the movement in his neck as he clears his throat. His soft smile is replaced with a hard line, drawn under the pity that slants his eyes.

I think I understand hell a little better now. It helps that I’m in it.

“I’m just tired. I…” Why I try to speak, I don’t know.

“It’s fine.” His voice is laced with discomfort. In one blink I erased everything that was easy between us. All because of my damn fantasies.

Fine. That word—so short, so four-lettered. Such a lie. I ruined everything.

About the Author:

Ginger Scott is an Amazon-bestselling and Goodreads Choice Award-nominated author of several young and new adult romances, including Waiting on the Sidelines, Going Long, The Hail Mary, Blindness, How We Deal With Gravity, This Is Falling, You and Everything After, The Girl I Was Before, Wild Reckless, Wicked Restless, In Your Dreams, The Hard Count, Hold My Breath, A Boy Like You, A Girl Like Me, Memphis and Cry Baby.

A sucker for a good romance, Ginger’s other passion is sports, and she often blends the two in her stories. (She’s also a sucker for a hot quarterback, catcher, pitcher, point guard…the list goes on.) Ginger has been writing and editing for newspapers, magazines and blogs for more than 15 years. She has told the stories of Olympians, politicians, actors, scientists, cowboys, criminals and towns. For more on her and her work, visit her website at http://www.littlemisswrite.com.

When she's not writing, the odds are high that she's somewhere near a baseball diamond, either watching her son field pop flies like Bryce Harper or cheering on her favorite baseball team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ginger lives in Arizona and is married to her college sweetheart whom she met at ASU (fork 'em, Devils).

Social Media Links:
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GingerScottAuthor
Twitter: @TheGingerScott
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/thegingerscott/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/GingerScottAuthor
Google: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+GingerScottAuthor/posts
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/GingerScott
Website: http://www.littlemisswrite.com

Friday, May 10, 2019

NEW RELEASE: Bred by Ginger Scott

We're celebrating BRED by Ginger Scott! BRED is a coming-of-age romance inspired by Great Expectations you won't want to miss!

Bred by Ginger Scott

Mature Young Adult Contemporary Romance

Release day: May 10, 2019

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2TwSsER

#Free with #KindleUnlimited

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RKK8P4L/

About the Author:

Thursday, May 9, 2019

COVER REVEAL: All Grown Up by Vi Keeland

COVER REVEAL

Release date July 8^th, 2019

A Standalone Contemporary Ro-mance

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author Vi Keeland

SYNOPSIS:

When I first encountered Ford Donovan, I had no idea who he was…well, other than the obvi-ous. Young, gorgeous, successful, smart. Did I mention young? If I did, it bears repeating. Ford Do-novan was too young for me. Let’s back up to how it all started. My best friend decided I needed to start dating again. So, without my knowledge, she set up a profile for me on a popular dating site—one that invited men ages twen-ty-one to twenty-seven to apply for a date. Those nicknamed Cunnilingus King were told they’d go straight to the top for consideration. The profile wasn’t supposed to go live. Another point that bears repeating—it wasn’t supposed to. Nevertheless, that’s how I met Ford, and we started messaging. He made me laugh; yet I was ada-mant that because of his age, we could only be friends. But after weeks of wearing me down, I finally agreed to one date only—my first after twenty years of being with my high school sweet-heart. I knew it couldn’t last, but I was curious about him. Though, you know what they say…curiosity kills the cat. My legs wobbled walking into the restaurant. Ford was seated at the bar. When he turned around, he took my breath away. His sexy smile nearly melted my panties. But…he looked so familiar. As I got closer I realized why. He was the son of the neighbor at our family’s summer home. The boy next door. Only now…he was all man. I hadn’t seen him in years. I left the restaurant and planned to put the entire crazy thing behind me. Which I did. Until summer came. And guess who decided to use his family’s summer home this year?

COVER CRED-ITS:

Model: Christian Hogue www.imdmodeling.com

Cover designer: Sommer Stein, Perfect Pear Creative

PURCHASE LINKS: iBooks ➜ http://smarturl.it/f07b66
Goodreads ➜ http://smarturl.it/nqw8dp
Amazon print ➜ https://amzn.to/2YfVpMS
Sign up for Vi’s mailing list now and be the first one notified when it goes live! ➜ https://www.subscribepage.com/i6h3o5

Do you like texts better than email? Receive text notices of Vi’s new releases by texting the word BOOKS to 77948 You will ONLY receive a text when a new book goes live - no other messages at all!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Vi Keeland

Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles have appeared in over a hundred Bestseller lists and are currently translated in two dozen languages. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six. Sign up for Vi’s mailing list now and be the first one notified when books go live! ➜ https://www.subscribepage.com/i6h3o5 Do you like texts better than email? Receive text notices of Vi’s new releases by texting the word BOOKS to 77948 You will ONLY receive a text when a new book goes live - no other messages at all!