Author: Kelly

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Audio Book Lovin’ Presents: A Spotlight Feature of Lia Davis’ audio books + a giveaway

Audiobook Lovin’ is pleased to have Lia Davis on the blog this year.  We are pleased to share with you a few of her audio books.  But first let me introduce you to Lia.

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Bio:

In 2008, Lia Davis ventured into the world of writing and publishing and never looked back. She has published more than twenty books, including the bestselling A Tiger’s Claim, book one in her fan favorite Ashwood Falls series. Her novels feature compassionate yet strong alpha heroes who know how to please their women and her leading ladies are each strong in their own way. No matter what obstacle she throws at them, they come out better in the end.

While writing was initially a way escape from real world drama, Lia now makes her living creating worlds filled with magic, mystery, romance, and adventure so that others can leave real life behind for a few hours at a time.

Lia’s favorite things are spending time with family, traveling, reading, writing, chocolate, coffee, nature and hanging out with her kitties. She and her family live in Northeast Florida battling hurricanes and very humid summers, but it’s her home and she loves it! Sign up for her newsletter, become a member of her fan club, and follow her on Twitter @NovelsByLia.

Social media links: Website | Newsletter | Facebook author fan page | Facebook Fan Club | Twitter | Tumblr | Pinterest |

Goodreads | Amazon author page | About.Lia | Get your eBook personalized at Author graph.

*****

Now to the part you have been looking forward t0o!!  

Sunstone’s Fire

(Cursed in Stone, book 1)
A fatal kiss, forbidden love – cursed in stone.
Aspiring author Nate Wilson wants some space from his overbearing family and a job he doesn’t like. A week on the Oregon coast sounds like paradise and just what he needs to get the creative juices flowing. Unfortunately, his plans are derailed when a storm moves in and a ghostly figure flashes in his headlights, sending him skidding off the road and into a tree. Lucky for him, he ends up in front of a bed and breakfast, and the beautiful owner may do more to spur his creativity than any beach could.
Hesitant witch and inn owner, Haylee Clark is cursed. Well, not her exactly – at least not yet – but all of the women in her family have suffered the same fate. They fell in love, only to have that passion turn sour and their husbands die tragically, leaving them brokenhearted. So far, Haylee has done well to avoid that destiny, but when the captivating Nate Wilson crashes into her life, he awakens something within her that she never thought to feel.
When the pair stumbles upon a hidden room where Haylee’s grandmother used to conduct her rituals, they unknowingly unleash a dark entity hell-bent on destruction, and discover that a family heirloom is the source of the Clark family curse. Despite the spell, they can’t deny their attraction, and give in to the magic between them. But the closer Haylee and Nate get, the more the curse tries to tear them apart. If they don’t find a way to defeat the evil, they may lose more than their hearts.

Buy link: http://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/Sunstones-Fire-Audiobook/B01EJYD6R6
SoundCloud code:

*****

A Tiger’s Claim, book 1

(Includes the series prequel, Winter Eve) – Ashwood Falls, book 1
As the Alpha’s only daughter Shayna Andrews has always been treated like a rare gem, protected like royalty, and she’s suffocating. Her longing to be independent has driven her to sneak out one evening after dinner. After relishing in being able to run free without an escort, she finds herself face-to-face with the enemy, miles from home, and nearly loses her life until a lone wolf comes to her aid. But when he discovers she wears the enemy’s brand, things will go from bad to worse.
Buy Link: http://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/A-Tigers-Claim-Audiobook/B00T3DEEH0
Soundcloud code:

*****

War’s Passion

(Sons of War, book 1)
After losing her parents in a brutal attack from a monster straight out of her nightmares, Gwendolyn Preston tries to pick up the shattered pieces of her life. Along with her best friend, she moves to a small fishing village on the coast of Maine to find a new life away from the nightmares that haunt her. Just when she believes her life could go back to normal, the deliciously dark and handsome Markus Sullivan disrupts her hopes to grieve in peace.

Buy link: http://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/Wars-Passion-Audiobook/B00STQSCEI
Soundcloud code:

Check out other Lia Davis titles on Audible HERE
Listen to samples at HERE

 

Giveaway Time!!!!

Lia Davis is giving away the following

1 winner will receive a box of books and goodies
10 winners will receive a Audible code
To enter please leave a comment or question for Lia.
**giveaway ends June 9th**

 

And don’t forget to check out Viviana, Enchantress of Books’ post today

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Audio Book Lovin’ Presents: Audio Books Here, Audio Books There Audio Books Everywhere!

Day two of  Audio Book Lovin’ and we thought we’d chat about where audio books are available besides the major vendors, of course! HOWEVER, before we get into that, if you missed yesterday’s post, please make sure to visit to see the list of over 40 authors, narrators and special guests participating in this year’s Audio Book Lovin’ event! The post also included information on the series and how it will work!  So make sure to visit us BOTH daily!!! Click on our individual buttons (see the pretty ones below) that will take you to our respective post of the day. 

 

 

Okay! On with the show!

Okay, June is audio book month and if you didn’t know, well now you do! Before we start sharing with you all the awesome audio books clips and the narrators that voice the characters and bring the stories to life as well as the authors who write the stories, we wanted to chat with you about the different ways for you to get or listen to audiobooks besides the major vendors where you can purchase them (listed below). 
Sometimes you can purchase them directly from the publisher.  Throughout the years of my love of books and audiobooks as well, one thing I’ve heard a lot of is “but they are so expensive” or “They cost so much and I’m only going to listen to it once.” 
 
I do get it to some degree. The way that I read/listen… it CAN be an expensive hobby. However, how much was that latte at Starbucks? Oh, wait… what about that glass of wine with your dinner? No, no.. hold on… Didn’t you just recently upgrade to the latest phone model and you JUST upgraded again? LOL I’m not judging. Really, I’m not. I’m just saying that BEFORE you start, ahem.. complaining that a book costs too much you should take a second to think about the questions I just asked. Now… I did say that it can be an expensive hobby for book lovers like myself. THANKFULLY there’s a wonderful and magical place called
 
 
In this magical place you can borrow the books for FREE! Yes, you read correctly! FREE! This is where it gets better… they have them in different formats  – paperback, ebooks and audiobooks!! I know some of you may be thinking “Jeez Viv, a bit much on the sarcasm.” or my favorite “No, duh!? Really?!” LOL. But the truth is, many people tend to forget that there is a library and that they do provide the advance technology of not only ebooks but audiobooks as well. Before anyone starts with the “Oh, but my library is SMALL.” or the “I live in a rural…” mentality, we live in a GLOBAL world where many of the libraries are reducing physical inventory but working with neighboring (and at times, larger cities) areas to enhance their electronic inventory!  This means they will work together with other libraries via third party vendors like Overdrive, OneClickdigital, and Hoopla Digital.
 
Lets start with OneClickdigital which is owned and operated by Recorded Books Publishing
“OneClickdigital brings exclusive Recorded Books eAudio, as well as content from all major publishers, together with an eBook service. Combine eBooks and eAudio in one collection, offering the most comprehensive platform for your content. Curated title lists feature the best literature in a wide variety of genres along with an outstanding collection of award-winning Children’s and Young Adult titles.”
 
The cool thing about OneClickdigital? They have their mobile app available for iPad®, 
iPhone®, Android™, and Kindle Fire™! 
 
 
 
Overdrive is another great provider that lends eBooks, audiobooks, music and video! 
Overdrive works with every major Device!
With Kindle® compatibility (U.S. only), apps for every major platform and OverDrive Read, your digital library service is compatible with every major device on the market. Visit the website for more information! 




 

HooplaDigital is actually one of my favorites and I use it ALL THE TIME!! 

Instantly borrow free digital movies, music, and more, 24/7 with your library card.These are just THREE resources that many libraries have that allow its patrons to listen to audiobooks. I hope that you go and find out what your local library has to offer and SIGN UP!!! Remember it’s FREE!!! You can’t beat that AWESOME deal!!! 🙂

Now, time for the giveaway!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

 



 


Time to go visit Viviana!!!!
 

 
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Guest Blogger: Lara Adrian talks about her new book For 100 Days.

Today is the release day of For 100 Day by Lara Adrian! I am so excited to share this fantastic new contemporary romance with you! Check out the excerpt Lara is sharing and be sure to enter her giveaway!

100DAYS RDL Ban

Thank you for inviting me to guest post on your blog today!

Avery and Nick have been living in my mind for a quite some time now, waiting (not so patiently) for their turn on the page. The series began in a Paris cafe in June 2014 while I was on book tour in France. As my husband and I were having lunch, I told him about a Cinderella-with-a-twist story idea I had that centered on a struggling artist who gets a temporary housesitting gig at a posh Manhattan highrise and finds herself swept into a glamorous, sensual world with a handsome, powerful man whose secrets run as deep and dark as her own.

John and I had planned to visit a bunch of museums that day, but instead we spent the next several hours obsessed with Avery Ross and Dominic Baine’s story. By the time we left Cafe Mucha, we had sketched out the bones of all three books in the series. I couldn’t be more excited to finally share Nick and Avery’s story!

FOR 100 DAYS is the first in the trilogy, which will continue with FOR 100 NIGHTS later this year, and FOR 100 REASONS in early 2017. Be sure to sign up for my VIP Reader List at http://bit.ly/LaraAdrianNews to get notified of all my new releases!

Happy reading!

 

Lara Adrian

www.LaraAdrian.com

 

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Pleasure has a price . . .

Just when everything in my life is falling apart, I find a chance to turn it around–to step into someone else’s glittering world, if only for a little while. I become someone new, no longer the woman defined by an ugly past, but a woman freer and bolder than myself. A woman who isn’t afraid to explore every passion, even at its darkest, with a mysterious and seductive man who believes my mask is real.

Handsome and commanding, enigmatic and irresistible, billionaire Dominic Baine is an obsession I cannot afford and should not risk. He ushers me into consuming new pleasures and addicting new desires, until the line between my real life and the fantasy one I’ve stolen with him begins to blur.

I know I cannot keep my truth from him. I know my past will not stay buried forever. But before I can make it right, everything comes crashing down. I have deceived this powerful, dangerous man . . . and now there is a price to be paid.

Make sure to check out Kelly’s review of FOR 100 DAYS here

* * * * * * * *

FOR 100 DAYS is the first novel in a passionate new contemporary romance trilogy from New York Times and #1 international bestselling author Lara Adrian. Coming soon: FOR 100 NIGHTS and FOR 100 REASONS.

Grab your copy of For 100 Days: Kindle US | B&N Nook | iBooks | Kobo

Exclusive Excerpt:

Tasha and I head for the elevators. Neither of the two cars are parked on the ground level, so, as we wait for one to come down, I can’t resist pivoting for another look at the opulence of the lobby.

A moment later, a soft chime sounds behind me as the elevator comes to a rest. I wheel back around and step toward the doors as soon as they slide open.

I don’t even register that the wall I’m facing is human until I’ve almost crashed right into him.

I stop short and lift my head with a half-formed apology on my lips. The sound evaporates on my tongue as I glance up and my gaze collides with a pair of cerulean blue eyes. They skewer me from under the slash of inky black brows.

Brows that are furrowed into a deep scowl at the uncouth clod who nearly body-slammed her way onto the elevator.

“Um, sorry.”

No reply from him. Not even a flicker of polite response in his handsome, sharply cut features. Under a crown of dark hair that’s neatly trimmed, fit for a boardroom, but thick with rebellious waves that catch the light in a glossy, raven’s wing sheen, his face is a blending of hard, chiseled angles. With his high cheekbones and square jaw, I’d be tempted to call his face brutal if not for the supple line of his mouth.

And he’s tall and muscular too, dressed in a dark gray track jacket and pants that do little to disguise the physically fit body within. Despite his athletic appearance, I can tell immediately that he’s not some meat-head gym rat who’s more brawn than brain.

No, this man’s eyes blast me with the kind of intelligence and seriousness—a powerful confidence—that I can’t ignore.

A shocking and inexplicable heat pours through me as he holds my gaze. His stare is bold, unflinching, as if he’s accustomed to taking his fill of anything in his sights. That air of assumption should offend me for many reasons, but as his brilliant blue eyes travel the length of me, all I feel is the rapid igniting of every cell in my body.

Tasha clears her throat when my muteness appears to be permanent. “Pardon us, please.”

He barely acknowledges her comment, nor her huff of indignation that follows. No, those piercing eyes staying rooted on me alone. I feel stripped bare under that hard gaze, as if he can see right through me with a single glance and knows I don’t belong here. Even worse, the barely imperceptible twist of his lips seems to say that he’s very much aware of the effect he has on me.

He doesn’t move, then I am mortified to realize it’s because I’m standing in his way.

I wince inwardly and step aside, wishing I would just melt into the crack between the marble floor and the elevator shaft before I embarrass myself any more.

His path cleared, he steps into the lobby without a word.

I follow Tasha into the elevator, but all of my attention is on the dark-haired stranger now prowling across the marble with fluid, almost urgent strides.

I hear Manny greet him as the elevator doors slide shut, blocking my view.

“Evening, Mr. Baine. Enjoy your run, sir.”

Once we’re sealed inside the car, my breath leaks out of me on a groan.

Tasha arches a brow. “Hot as sin, but obviously a superior prick. Do yourself a favor and steer clear of that one, honey.”

As if I need the warning.

Whoever he is, I doubt I’ll be seeing much of Mr. Baine. In fact, I’m already promising myself I’ll head in the opposite direction if I ever see him in the building again while I’m here. God knows, I don’t need to relive tonight’s awkward semi-introduction with the man anytime soon.

I push the button for the fifth floor, wishing it was as easy to push the memory of those searing blue eyes from my mind.

 

 

Lara Adrian Bio:

lara-selfie-11-2015

LARA ADRIAN is a New York Times and #1 internationally best-selling author, with nearly 4 million books in print worldwide and translations licensed to more than 20 countries. Her books regularly appear in the top spots of all the major bestseller lists including the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Indiebound, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, etc. Reviewers have called Lara’s books “addictively readable” (Chicago Tribune), “extraordinary” (Fresh Fiction), and “one of the best on the market” (Romantic Times).

Writing as TINA ST. JOHN, her historical romances have won numerous awards including the National Readers Choice; Romantic Times Magazine Reviewer’s Choice; Booksellers Best; and many others. She was twice named a Finalist in Romance Writers of America’s RITA Awards, for Best Historical Romance (White Lion’s Lady) and Best Paranormal Romance (Heart of the Hunter). More recently, the German translation of Heart of the Hunter debuted on Der Spiegel bestseller list.

With an ancestry stretching back to the Mayflower and the court of King Henry VIII, the author lives with her husband in New England.

 

Visit the author’s website and sign up for new release announcements at http://bit.ly/LaraAdrianNews

Connect with Lara here: Amazon | BookBub | Join Lara’s VIP Reader List | Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | GoodReads | Pinterest

 

Enter Lara’s Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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We are back!!!! Audio Book Lovin 2016 is here!!!

 

 

 

June is Audio Book Month and we’re celebrating all month long with fabulous Authors and Narrators!!! The official page for the 2016 event can be found here, which is hosted by both Viviana, Enchantress of Books and myself, Books-n-Kisses  .Below we have the line-up of participating Authors and Narrators! Scroll down and get to know them. As the days progress, we’ll be linking the “Click here…” buttons (below) to the author’s/narrator’s post. So you can always go to the official page to find everything! 


Not only do we have phenomenal authors and narrators joining us this year, which is great all on it’s own, many of the authors and narrators will be including giveaways as well!! But Wait… There’s More!!! Viviana, Enchantress of Books and I are also hosting our own MONTH LONG Giveaway! Our giveaway will be included in each post! Make sure to visit us each day to not only hang out with us but also enter the giveaway! Remember to visit us BOTH throughout the ENTIRE MONTH as you never know what surprises we might throw your way!! And remember, our giveaway runs the ENTIRE MONTH of JUNE and there are multiple entries you can gain by hanging out with the BOTH OF US!! Just sayin’! LOL

If you haven’t already, make sure to follow our social media platforms as we’ll be sharing lots of fun info and maybe even some extra goodies (hint hint… did you get the HINT)! We’ll be using the hash tag #AudioBookLovin. You can visit our websites to find us via all of our social media platforms, but I’ve linked our Facebook Pages to our buttons below!




    

Check out our current list of Authors, Narrators and Special Guests!!

Authors

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Spotlight feature of Gena Showalter’s The Darkest Torment

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The Queen of Paranormal Romance, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Gena Showalter, returns with THE DARKEST TORMENT, the eagerly anticipated twelfth novel in her Lords of the Underworld series, available May 31, 2016! Pre-order your copy today!

 

 

TheDarkestTorment - cover

Preorder THE DARKEST TORMENT here!

Amazon * Kindle * Barnes & Noble * Nook * Book Depository * GooglePlay *iBooks * BAM * Kobo * IndieBound

 

THE DARKEST TORMENT Synopsis:

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter returns with her most explosive Lords of the Underworld tale to date, about a fierce warrior on the brink of sanity who will stop at nothing to claim the exquisite human with the power to soothe the beast inside him…

Driven to his death by the demon of Distrust, Baden spent centuries in purgatory. Now he’s back, but at what cost? Bound to the king of the underworld, an even darker force, he’s unable to withstand the touch of another…and he’s quickly devolving into a heartless assassin with an uncontrollable temper. Things only get worse when a mission goes awry and he finds himself saddled with a bride—just not his own.

Famed dog trainer Katarina Joelle is forced to marry a monster to protect her loved ones. When she’s taken hostage by the ruthless, beautiful Baden immediately after the ceremony, she’s plunged into a war between two evils—with a protector more dangerous than the monsters he hunts. They are meant to be enemies, but neither can resist the passion burning between them…and all too soon the biggest threat is to her heart.

But as Baden slips deeper into the abyss, she’ll have to teach him to love…or lose him forever.

 

Check out this exclusive graphic teaser we have for
THE DARKEST TORMENT!

TDT Teaser 8_edited-2

 

Add it to your Goodreads Now!

 

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Pre-order your copy of THE DARKEST TORMENT by Gena Showalter, and each week, be entered to win 1 of 4 darkly dangerous prizes! Just fill out the form!

http://bit.ly/23mjCxS

 

Author pic- Gena ShowalterAbout Gena Showalter:

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the spellbinding Lords of the Underworld and Angels of the Dark series, two young adult series–Everlife and the White Rabbit Chronicles–and the highly addictive Original Heartbreakers series. In addition to being a National Reader’s Choice and two time RITA nominee, her romance novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan (Red Hot Read) and Seventeen magazine, she’s appeared on Nightline and been mentioned in Orange is the New Black–if you ask her about it, she’ll talk for hours…hours! Her books have been translated in multiple languages.

She’s hard at work on her next novel, a tale featuring an alpha male with a dark side and the strong woman who brings him to his knees. You can learn more about Gena, her menagerie of rescue dogs, and all her upcoming books at genashowalter.com or Facebook.com/genashowalterfan

 

 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

 

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#TBW Kelly’s review of Dire Needs by Stephanie Tyler – Catch Up From The Beginning

TITLE: DIRE NEEDS
Book 1: Eternal Wolf Clan Series
AUTHOR: Stephanie Tyler
PUBLICATION DATE:   03/06/2012
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N | Powell’s

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The full moon is their mistress. They are predators of pleasure and pain. Feared by humans, envied by werewolves, the Dire Wolves are immortal shifters, obeying no laws but their own bestial natures. Once they were many, but now only six remain, a dangerous wolfpack forever on the hunt…

Rifter leads the pack, embracing the lifestyle and ethics of an outlaw biker even as he battles an ancient enemy who has become a new, powerful force. But with his Brother Wolf raging inside him, howling to be unleashed, he needs to satisfy his hungers. And when he meets a drop-dead gorgeous blonde drinking alone in a bar that caters to both human and inhuman, Rifter’s primal instinct is to claim her.

Gwen has her own desires, long unfulfilled. She hopes a passionate night with the leather-clad, Harley-riding biker will ease her suffering. The seizures that have wracked her body her entire life are incurable—and they’re killing her.

But none of that will matter if Rifter can’t stop the growing threat to them all–trappers who are determined to enslave humankind and use the Dire wolves as part of their nefarious plan.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Kelly           
NUMBER OF STARS: 4 Stars

I really enjoyed this story.  As with most first books in a series there is a lot of world building and introductions of characters.  And boy are there characters in this book.   I am already looking forward to Jinx, Vice, Rogue, Stray & Liam’s books. Oh and don’t forget the twins…. But I am getting to far ahead of myself, back to the review. Dire Needs is Rifter and Gwen’s story.

Rifter is the reluctant leader of the last remaining Dires (an immortal werewolf).  The last thing Rifter ever expected to find was Gwen.  Trouble, Yes!!  Danger, Yes!!  But Gwen, Never.  Now he can’t do anything but think about her.  When Gwen is put in danger Rifter does what any wolf would do to protect his mate.  He fights to the death for her.  But how can this human be his mate? He and his brothers are cursed to never find mates.  This has to be some cruel joke, but will Rifter fight for what he wants or fight against fate?

Gwen doesn’t have much time left.  She is a walking time bomb and one of these days she will die.  So Gwen decides it is time to live her life and do the one thing that she has never done before, fight a man.  Gwen lives for now, not the past that tries to haunt her, not the future she will never have, but now, because that is all she has left.  When Gwen sees Rifter for the very first time, she know he is just what she has been looking for.  What Gwen doesn’t know is how the beautiful stranger will completely change her life in a very, very short time.

So back to what I was saying about the characters.  The cast of characters in this book are great.  Each has such strong personalities.  Vice, is cocky (wink, wink) to a fault, Jinx is so caring, Rogue is lost, Stray is quite, Liam is angry, and the twins, well the twins are just naughty.   

I loved Rifter.  He is strong, stubborn, loyal and willing to protect everyone even if it means to sacrifice himself.  Everything a born leader should be. Now that he has found his Queen he is finally ready to step into the role of leader.

I look forward to seeing where Stephanie takes us next in this series.   Thank you Stephanie for the opportunity to review your book.  

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Kissin’ the week of May 16th-21st Goodbye

05.16.16

Kelly reviews Dark Alpha’s Demand by Donna Grant

05.17.16

Guest blogger: Terry Spear talks about her trip to a Wolf reserve + a giveaway 

Kimberly reviews Beyond The Ice Limit by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

05.18.16

Kimberly reviews Spare Me The Truth by CJ Carver

05.19.16

#TBT Kimberly’s review of Beside A Dreamswept Sea by Vicki Hinze – Catch Up From The Beginning

05.20.16

Spotlight Feature & Excerpt of Nicole Helm’s Outlaw Cowboy + a giveaway

Kimberly reviews Little Bones by Sam Blake

05.21.16

 

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Spotlight Feature & Excerpt of Nicole Helm’s Outlaw Cowboy + a giveaway

9781492621270

Series: Big Sky Cowboys, #2

Pubdate: May 3rd, 2016

ISBN: 9781492621270

 Amazon | Apple | BAM | B&N | Chapters | Indiebound | Kobo

BIG SKY TROUBLE

Ever since his father’s accident, Caleb Shaw vowed he’d mend his wild ways, and he means to keep his word. He’s a changed man. A better man. And he knows he should want absolutely nothing to do with his crazy old life…or the maddening temptation that is Delia Rogers.

Because Delia? Is nothing but trouble.

Delia’s been stealing her sisters away from their violent father ever since she was old enough to fight back. But now with the police on her trail and all her bridges burned, there’s nowhere left to run but back into the arms of the one cowboy she knows she shouldn’t need. Caleb has always been too good for her, no matter how bad he claimed to be. Yet when close quarters turn into something more, Delia and Caleb are forced to decide what really matters: mending their reputations or healing their wary hearts…

An Excerpt:

“I know. I’m not comparing, Delia. I can’t.” He shook his head as his gaze returned to hers.

If she looked closely enough, she could probably see her own reflection, but getting any closer than this already too-close cab of his truck held zero appeal.

“But if you had something that was yours, that made you who you are, that gave you a reason to get up in the morning, wouldn’t you do everything to keep it? Wouldn’t you fight to keep the thing that made you feel like you weren’t a complete waste of space?”

She should look away. She should get out of the truck or demand he drive her to her family home. She should do anything but keep his gaze and let his words wrap around her heart and squeeze.

She didn’t have a thing that made her who she was, or a reason to get up in the morning—at least not once Steph was out. Yet she’d always kept plowing ahead, because no matter how bleak things were, she knew who she was. Strong. Resilient. And she knew, deep in her heart most of the time, that once she did her duty to her sisters, there would be something waiting for her on the other side.

She hadn’t planned on it being jail, but even in her darkest moments she knew even that would be a temporary thing, as long as she could get Steph safe first.

All the crap Caleb was complaining about was easier, but somehow sadder, because he didn’t know how to go on without this beautiful, amazing piece of land that made her feel an aching kind of hope.

Hope. Somehow, it kept her going. It kept people like them going. And all of Caleb’s was tied up in something that could be taken from him.

“I’m not expecting sympathy,” he said, his voice hushed and his eyes on hers.

She felt herself lean forward, as if there was some force pushing her there. Him or the sun disappearing in his eyes.

“I just want you to understand why I did what I did. Helping you isn’t an easy choice for me. It threatens my only chance at this. But I want to do it anyway.”

She couldn’t swallow the lump in her throat, and her eyes burned. It shouldn’t make it better and it shouldn’t make it understandable. It certainly shouldn’t make her forgive him for trying to kick her off Shaw.

But she saw his battle, and that thing inside of him so lost he couldn’t find a center without the beauty that surrounded them, and that seemed more depressing than getting up every morning ready to fight. Thinking the only thing that made you worthwhile could be so easily taken away seemed worse than working to save people you loved. At least, at the end of the day, she knew she’d have her determination.

He cleared his throat. “Christ, Delia. Why are you crying?”

“I’m not crying.”

He reached out and touched his thumb to an unruly tear trailing down her cheek. She had a handle on the rest, but that one escaped and now he was touching it. Her.

Why were they so close? Why was she letting him be this close? Letting him touch her? She should push him away. Knock that stupid hat off his head while she was at it. She should do everything but lean into that gentle touch. It was a lie, a distraction, anything but something she could believe in or allow.

But somehow their mouths were close, and her heart was beating frantically against her chest, pushing her even closer to him. With his mouth a whisper from hers, her body completely warm for the first time since she’d woken up in the Shaw house this morning, he didn’t press his mouth to hers. He shook his head.

“I can’t do this with you.” But he didn’t back away, and when his eyes searched her face, they didn’t seem to mean that at all.

“But here you are,” she managed to croak out, sounding not at all like the cool, unaffected, kick-ass woman she’d like to be. Here she was, letting him swoop in, letting him touch her and affect her. “I don’t trust you,” she whispered, because she had to put that between them. She had to remind herself.

“Good. I don’t trust myself.”

Why? Why did she feel sorry for him? He had everything, including all the power. But sympathy softened her heart against her will, because the jackass didn’t know himself at all, and that was damn sad.

She’d rather be stupid than sad. She’d rather feel than run away from it. So she did the stupid, feeling thing to do.

She leaned in and pressed her mouth to his.

 

 

 

 

Would you rather go without a car or electricity for a month?

Car! I could not leave my house for weeks and, as long as I had someone bringing me groceries, be quite content.

Author-PhotoNicole Helm writes down-to-earth contemporary romance specializing in people who don’t live close enough to neighbors for them to be a problem. When she’s not writing, she spends her time dreaming about someday owning a barn. She lives with her husband and two young sons in O’Fallon, Missouri.

 Visit Nicole’s website for more down-to-earth contemporary romance!

 

 

 

 

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Guest blogger: Terry Spear talks about her trip to a Wolf reserve + a giveaway

A Note from Terry Spear:

When I was writing Alpha Wolf Need Not Apply, I went with some of my friends, who are also big-time fans of my wolf series, to stay on a wolf reserve in a cabin complete with solar lighting. Which meant we had a tiny bit of light at night, and then we were using flashlights or camp lights. Water was restricted, so we used an outhouse until it grew dark, and two of us slept on mattresses on the attic floor, the others in rooms on the first floor. We had a blast.

Every morning and night and sometimes in between, we heard the wolves howling in the reserve a short distance away. The cabin is also owned by the wolf reserve and all the land around it. But what made the trip extra special was when Rory, one of the wolf handlers, brought two of the wolves, ambassador wolves, to meet with us up at the cabin.

If you’ve been around dogs, that’s what they’re like—sniffing to learn more about you. Checking you out to see if you’re female or male. You have to wait to let them accept you before you can make contact. Zoerro was the gray timber wolf, male, alpha. He’s been in promotional advertising for Game of Thrones. How cool is that to pet the wolf who was in the ads? He allowed me to pet him and stood by me for some time while I asked Rory about their behavior. He raised him from a pup, but said how wrong it was to raise wild animals like that, and he now educates people on not doing so.

Sabine Arctic Wolf, girlfriend to Zoerro (427x640) Spotlight 2The other wolf was an Arctic wolf, Sabine, and sadly she has passed away. She and Zoerro were fast friends, and the staff has no clue why she had suddenly become sick and died. But she was so sweet. She tried to give me a kiss. I wasn’t quite ready for that! Rory told me she loved to be petted from behind on her legs underneath her. I sure hoped he knew what he was talking about as I reached between her legs and petted her!

Like dogs, they have their own likes and dislikes, and that was hers.

As an alpha wolf, Zoerro had to scent mark. He claimed the tire on my Escort, and after we went driving all over a Native American reservation seeing ruins that dated back to 1100 AD, we returned and Zoerro came back to see us. He smelled the tire, satisfied it was still his, and re-scent marked it.

But that wasn’t all he scent marked. We had filled a water dish for him on the patio. After he drank from it, he lifted his leg and peed in it, not missing a drop. We all laughed and said if only husbands could be that accurate!

The morning before we packed up and left, we all went down to the compound in the car, parked before the sun began to rise and readied ourselves to record the howling. With a picture of the sunrise, I recorded the wolves, wolf dogs, dogs, and New Guinea singing dogs all adding to the chorus. It was a thrill of a lifetime. And perfect for writing about those sexy alpha wolves.

What would you do if you had a chance to pet a wolf?

Petting Zoerro (2) (551x640) Spotlight 2

*****

9781492621867

 

Series: Silver Town Wolf, #6

Pubdate: May 3rd, 2016

ISBN: 9781492621867

 Amazon | Apple | BAM | B&N | Chapters | Indiebound | Kobo

An alpha werewolf meets his match in this sizzling paranormal romance from USA Today bestselling author Terry Spear

THERE’S A NEW WOLF PACK IN SILVER TERRITORY

Wolf shifter and park ranger Eric Silver is committed to his job policing spectacular San Isabel National Forest, and he’s hot on the scent of some mysterious wolves who are up to no good. When Eric’s investigation leads him to cross paths with forester Pepper Grayling, he’s fascinated to learn this she-wolf is her pack’s leader—strong, independent, and definitely not looking for a mate.

AND THIS TIME THE LEADER’S A SHE…

With unknown dangers on the prowl, Pepper is tempted to give in to her attraction to Eric and align her pack with his. But Pepper’s been pursued by many an alpha male out to take over her pack and gain her hard-won territory—and Eric is a born leader. How does Eric earn the trust of a she-wolf who’s been betrayed so often in the past?

Excerpt:

Pepper Grayling couldn’t believe it when she heard two wolves fighting in the woods. She’d caught a glimpse of both male wolves, the snarling, big tan and gray that bit at Waldron Mason, and Waldron himself, a beige wolf with a white front and a smattering of gray hairs. The mystery wolf had snapped at Waldron before he raced off. The way he didn’t tuck tail meant he wasn’t cowed by the aggressor. And that had intrigued her.

She was furious that Waldron was pulling her away from her own pack to deal with him when she wanted to ensure Susan was properly cared for. As quickly as she was able, she stripped off her clothes, shifted, and ran like the devil to chase Waldron down. Whoever the other wolf had been, he had posed no threat to them. When she ran after the two wolves, she smelled their scents. The mystery wolf was indeed Eric Silver. No way would she want Waldron to hurt Eric after he’d helped Susan!

She was so angry, she could have killed Waldron for his unwarranted actions.

When she spied Waldron still chasing after Eric, she tore into him, growling and snapping to let him know just how angry he’d made her. He whipped around as if to attack, then recognized her and realized that by attacking, he’d lose any chance of courting and mating her—not that he had any—so he backed off. From his narrow-eyed, harsh gaze, she could tell he was irritated to the max with her. If he could have, he would have continued to hunt the other wolf down and finished him off. She worried about Eric—she smelled his blood on Waldron. How badly had Waldron hurt him?

But she knew Eric had been injured even before this because she’d smelled both an antiseptic and blood on him when she first met him.

She listened but didn’t hear any sign of Eric. Growling at Waldron again, she turned and ran off. She continued to pay attention to the sounds around her, making sure he wasn’t following her back to their campsite. She didn’t want to have to say a word to him about any of this when she reached camp. All she wanted to do was see that her cousin Susan was taken care of.

When she didn’t hear Waldron following her, she wondered if he had gone back after Eric.

As for Eric, she already had trouble with one alpha male wanting to court her. She sure didn’t need a second one bugging her, if Eric had any such notion. Still, she felt bad that Waldron had attacked him, and she really hoped he wasn’t hurt too seriously.

 

 

 

TerrySpearPhotoUSA Today bestselling author Terry Spear has written over fifty paranormal and medieval Highland historical romances. In 2008 Heart of the Wolf was named a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. A retired officer of the U.S. Army Reserves, Terry also creates award-winning teddy bears that have found homes all over the world and is raising two Havanese puppies. She lives in Crawford, Texas.

 

Visit Terry’s website for more sizzling werewolf romance!

 

 

 

 

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Release Day Blitz: Donna Grant’s Dark Alpha Demand

Dark Alpha's Demand Release Day Blitz
dark alphas demand
(Reaper Series, #3)
by Donna Grant
 
Available for purchase here:
                
There is no escaping a Reaper. I am an elite assassin, part of a brotherhood that only answers to Death. And when Death says your time is up, I am coming for you…
My secret is an ancient one. I exist to exact vengeance on the Fae for their wrongs per Death’s orders. When I’m sent to one of the most treacherous, deceitful places on any realm – the court of the Light Queen – as a spy, things awry. Neve captured my soul with just a look from her seductive gaze. She is who I want, who I crave…who I hunger for. But someone has set out to kill her – and expose me. I’ll destroy any man – human or Fae – who brings harm to her, for she is the light my soul can’t risk losing…
***
Make sure to check out Kelly’s review of Dark Alpha’s Demand HERE

 

 Excerpt

 

Neve pushed the door open and walked into the library. A three-story room stretched endlessly before her. In the center of it all, high above them, was a dome of windows, allowing light to stream in. There were comfy chairs, sofas, and even tables one could go to.

Though she’d rather do her research in private, that wasn’t possible since she was being watched. The millions of books before her gave her pause, but just for a second.

“Reapers. Origin and facts,” she said aloud.

All around the library, small, hovering lights appeared next to the books that mentioned Reapers. Neve walked to the closest book and opened it.

Since she was being observed, Neve wasn’t going to be able to write down the things she found. It would all have to stay in her head.

She went to each and every book regarding the Reapers. Neve was shocked at just how many there were in the library, but most merely mentioned them as a legend.

Just as she was about to give up, Neve saw something within a small book titled The Truth of Legends. Within the pages, she learned that the Reapers were real.

The volume went on to tell her that Reapers weren’t around to ensure a Fae didn’t turn Dark. Though it never told her exactly what a Reaper did, the author was explicitly clear that they should be avoided at all costs because they were highly dangerous.

Neve closed the book and moved on. Twenty books later, she ran across another obscure text that mentioned the Reapers as being harbingers of Death. This author surmised the Reapers were not to be feared, but accepted as part of Fae culture.

She looked at the book and how pristine the pages were. It was at least a million years old, but no one had read it.

Neve spent another hour finishing off the rest of the books containing anything about Reapers. The last book held the most information, however. On the back cover, in the lower left-hand corner was the same symbol painted on the wall.

She opened the book, flipping through pages and searching for information on Reapers. Then the light coming from the dome above struck a page. And she saw the faint watermark of the symbol once more. It was on the upper inner corner and was so small it would be missed unless someone knew what they were looking for.

If only she’d read this one first, she could’ve saved herself a lot of time.

On the same page as the watermark, she found a poem.

The seven there are, warriors all.

Do not do wrong or their blade will fall.

Their appearances shrouded.

Their approach, clouded.

Against evil they fight.

 Power and magic are their might.

They serve only one.

If you expose their identity – run.

Secrecy is their defense.

If the truth escapes, Death will commence.

 

 

Dark Alpha’s Demand Trailer

 

DarkAlpha'sDemand



The Reapers Series
 
Reaper #1
Available for purchase at
           
Reaper #2
Available for purchase at
            
*****
About the Author
Donna Grant is the New York Timesand USA Today bestselling author of the sizzling Dark King series featuring dragons, immortal Highlanders, and the Fae.
She was born and raised in Texas but loves to travel. Her adventures have taken her throughout the United States as well as to Jamaica, Mexico, and Scotland. Growing up on the Texas/Louisiana border, Donna’s Cajun side of the family taught her the “spicy” side of life while her Texas roots gave her two-steppin’ and bareback riding.
Despite deadlines and voracious reading, Donna still manages to keep up with her two children, four cats, and one long haired Chihuahua.
 You can find Donna here:                       
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