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Title: INNOCENCE
Book One of THE BREEDING PROGRAM TRILOGY
by T.B. Cooper
**Cover Reveal Promotion & Pre-order SALE for just 99cents!!
Available Approximately March 14th 2017**
Genres: YA Romance/Science Fiction/Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic
Page Length: (around)400 Pages
Blurb:
Born an Underling, raised by Uplinders as part of the Breeding Program, Poppy's world is very simple:
Everyone's looks are similar,
Those allowed to breed have a purpose,
and the Ageless Chancellor is God, and His word is Law.
This is true for both groups she has belonged to.
Upon proving her breedability through a battery of tests, Poppy is ready to take her place as a married woman, whose only job is to help repopulate the post-apocalyptic world they live in. When her husband dies in a tragic work accident, her reality is put into jeopardy by a series of events that threaten to expose secrets of her society.
Will she find out the truth behind her existence? Or will she be destroyed by her wavering sanity and the gravity of the startling facts she discovers?
T.B. Cooper lives with her husband, four kids, a grand-baby, her mom, and her sister, on a farm in the Nevada Desert. With farm chores, home-schooling and herds of animals needing attention, it’s a miracle she finds anytime to write at all. But writing has always been her passion. She’s written and construed stories, her whole life. Now she’s jumping in with both feet into the world of social media... publishing her thoughts on paper and her blogs, and is ready to open the next chapter in an overwhelmingly enriched and precariously balanced life.
You can find out more by visiting her website www.tbcooper.com to view her two blogs 'A Precariously Balanced Life' and 'For all the Books I've Loved so far...,' or to checkout her upcoming projects--including her new short story series 'Tentaglian Empire:House of Tentagel.'
Contact Links:
Website: http://www.tbcooper.com
Tentaglian Empire: http://www.tbcooper.com/tentaglianempire
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authortbcooper
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@tb_cooper
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/authortbcooper
Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/57669762-t-b-cooper
Amazon Profile (For Reviews): https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A3NU64OZ3JJ6R4?ie=UTF8
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/T.B.-Cooper/e/B01MXEGKRC/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
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Markus Reeves is sucking. Big-time. Toiling away on a minor-league hockey team hundreds of miles away from home, he's watching his dreams of an NHL career fade away. Add in the lingering guilt he has over the dramatic demise of his relationship with college girlfriend, Mekena, and he's a mess on and off the ice.
But the family of his heart, the Sinclairs, won't let Markus suffer any longer. When he arrives himself back in Nashville for a trial run on the Assassins, it feels like his life may be making a turn for the better. If only he could get Mekena to forgive him...
Mekena Preston has been hurting since fleeing Nashville following the horror of Markus's betrayal with her sister. Now a professional photographer, Mekena finds herself in the same place at the same time with Markus to celebrate Lucy and Benji Paxton's wedding. Neither of them has been able to move on—and they're starting to wonder if they really want to.
They're headed for a face-off at the altar unless they can confront their past and unearth the truth about what really happened on that fateful night.
“You are, by far, the most patient man I know.” Baylor grimaced as she took Dawson from Markus’s outstretched hands. He smiled as Dawson looked at him innocently. He knew the little guy didn’t mean to puke all over him and he wasn’t upset, but he was trying to figure out a way to get to the house and shower before he had to talk to Mekena. He highly doubted that baby puke would be an aphrodisiac. Maybe it would be? Huh. He wasn’t going to try, though. As Baylor cuddled Dawson against her, Markus waved her off. “It’s no big deal. He’s a baby.” She smiled shyly. “Yes, but Ashlyn pooped on you too.” He grinned as he shrugged, trying not to laugh. It was a tough rehearsal for Dawson, Ashlyn, and Markus. Puke and poop were big-time stars during the hour of watching the Sinclairs and Grace Justice try to put together a wedding. He wasn’t sure what was funnier, Jace glaring as Jordie walked with Avery, or Ashlyn farting and then realizing she had just shit all over him. It was a toss-up, but then Dawson decided to puke down the front of his shirt, and he figured he was now a substitute for a baby rag. “I volunteered.” “Still, we’re really sorry,” Avery said, holding Ashlyn close as she rocked her back and forth. “I understand if you don’t want to watch her ever again.” “Nonsense,” he said, laughing as he tucked his hands into his pockets and looked around. He spotted Mekena at the front of the altar, taking pictures of random things. He wasn’t sure if she was done, but maybe he could slip away. “How much longer until y’all are done?” “We’re done, but Lucy and Benji have some pre-wedding pictures they’re having done with Angie.” “So Mekena isn’t done?” Avery smiled. “Nope, she’s got a bit.” “Can you pass a message for me?” “Sure.” “Let her know that I went back to the cabin to shower and clean up?” “Yeah, of course. I’ll tell Jace to tell her since I’m taking Ashlyn to bed.” “Cool, thanks,” he said, kissing her cheek and then Baylor’s, before rubbing Dawson’s head. “I’ll see you guys in the morning.” Before he could get far, though, Baylor smiled. “Thanks again.” “Anytime. I mean that.” Avery smiled. “Thanks.” “Also, good luck,” Baylor added. Flashing them both a big grin, he nodded. “I need it.” Heading out the back, he made it back to the cabin quickly. When he entered, though, Mr. Right was sitting on the windowsill howling. “Whoa, man. What’s up?” Meoooooowwwwwwww, he wailed, with his mouth wide open as his hair stood on end. “Bro, I don’t know what to say. I don’t speak your language. Are you singing? Do you want me to sing too? Meoooowwwwww,” he said, and Mr. Right looked back at him, almost with a glare. “We should add some beat to that and make a remix,” Markus joked as the cat wailed. Deciding that was a good idea, he pulled out his phone and started to beatbox as the cat wailed, recording it on his SnapChat. The cat must have realized what he was doing because he looked back, scowling, and Markus hid his phone. He didn’t want to admit it, but Mr. Right kind of freaked him out.
My Review
Face Off at the Altar is book 10 of Toni Aleo’s Assassins hockey series. It can be read as a stand-alone or as part of the Assassins series. Markus is currently in Florida playing minor league hockey. After his college girlfriend caught him in bed with her sister, things have not been going well for him. Now, he has to face Makena again at Lucy’s and Benjie’s wedding in Nashville. Markus hopes that he can corner Makena to explain what happened because he has truly been lost since the broke-up. The only good thing going on in Markus’s life is that Elli wants to bring him up to the Assassins and give him a chance to prove himself in the hockey rink. Makena is dreading returning to Nashville but she is accompanying her aunt to take pictures at one of the assassin's players wedding. She dreads seeing Markus and still for the life of her, can’t figure out how he fell into bed with her sister. Markus is determined he is going to talk to Mekena because he feels she is the one that got away and they could possibly be it for each other but would be happy if he could just talk to her and get some type of closure. Face Off at the Altar is the story of Markus and Mekena finding their ways back to each other as well as their journey to get there. I really love the Assassins series but I thought this book in particular was a little different compared to previous novels in the series. I thought Face Off at the Alter dealt was more emotional and series. I still liked it but I thought it was missing a little bit of the hot factor that was in previous books. If you are fan of the Assassins series, you won’t want to miss this one.
My name is Toni Aleo and I’m a total dork. I am a wife, mother of two and a bulldog, and also a hopeless romantic. I am the biggest Shea Weber fan ever, and can be found during hockey season with my nose pressed against the Bridgestone Arena’s glass, watching my Nashville Predators play! When my nose isn’t pressed against the glass, I enjoy going to my husband and son’s hockey games, my daughter’s dance competition, hanging with my best friends, taking pictures, scrapbooking, and reading the latest romance novel. I have a slight Disney and Harry Potter obsession, I love things that sparkle, I love the color pink, I might have been a Disney Princess in a past life… probably Belle. … and did I mention I love hockey?
Author Links
ON SALE FOR 99c
Title: Dirty Play
Author: Amy Olle
Genre: Sports Romance
Series: The Nolan Brothers Series, book 3
Release Date: December 27, 2016
Cover Designer: Okay Creations Editor: Hot Tree Editing
When reformed party girl, Haven Callahan, is given the reins to daddyâs pro hockey team, she discovers veteran player, Jack Nolan, is the one calling the shots...
Thrust into her new role, Haven strikes a hasty but lucrative trade deal, only to find out her new star forward and the sexy groomsman she hooked up with at a friendâs wedding are the same man.
At thirty-two, Jack knows if heâs going to have his chance at the Stanley Cup, itâs now or never. But instead of landing a spot on his dream team, he winds up traded to the last-place Milwaukee
Renegades, where he soon finds himself playing to a non-existent fan base in a rundown stadium named after crappy pizza. Heâs tempted to hang up his skates, except heâs fought for everything he has and he isnât about to give up without a fight.
In a sport where men coach, play, and call the shots, Haven struggles to find her footing. Worse, she canât keep her hands off the team merchandiseâJack. With Jack on the team and on her side, the Renegades are playing less like middling beer-leaguers and more like a pro-level hockey club.
But Jack and Haven are hiding a dirty little secret, and if the media discovers theyâre melting the ice after hours, itâs game over.
Amazon: US | UK | AU | CA
Satiated and powerless, an unguarded smile teased its way to Havenâs lips.
âThank you.â Jack dropped a soft kiss on her forehead. âBut next time, we do it for real.â
She sputtered, âWh-what do you mean?â
âDonât get me wrong. That was amazing. You are amazing.â He pressed his mouth to her shoulder, over the spot where her clavicle had been broken. âBut that wasnât real sex.â
He rolled off her and pushed up off the bed.
She thrashed to a sitting position. âYou thought that wasnât real sex?â
The long shaft of his manhood still plump, he tugged his boxer briefs over his hips. âThat was porn sex. It looked great, it felt fucking fantastic, but itâs not real sex.â
Heâd stunned her to speechlessness. She hadnât been speechless since she was a troubled teenager craving attention.
âI-I-I donât understand you.â With the plaintive ring in her voice, she even sounded like that troubled teenager.
His gaze clamped on her face, he moved to the edge of the bed and wrapped his hand around her ankle.
âReal sex is out of control.â His thumb traced circles around her anklebone. âItâs losing your mind and forgetting about everything that doesnât serve the purpose of getting you off.â Lifting her leg, he sat on the bed. âItâs total surrender. To me.â He kissed the bottom of her foot. Then his hand on her knee gently eased her legs apart. âTo your body.â He kissed the soft skin on the inside of her thigh. âTo us.â
Other Books in the Series
Beautiful Ruin
Book 1
Sweetest Mistake
Book 2
Amy Olle writes sexy contemporary romances filled with charmingly flawed characters and settings. Her first book, Beautiful Ruin, is the first in a series about five Irish-born brothers sent as children to live with family on a remote island off the coast of northern Michigan. She is delighted to put her Psychology degrees to good use writing romance.
Amy lives in Michigan with her longsuffering husband, brilliant son, and (female) turtle named George.
For new releases and giveaways, join Amyâs mailing list. She loves to hear from readers! Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook or contact her at [email protected].
After being reunited with the only man she’s ever loved, Kylee Parker willingly returns to the hell from which she was rescued in hopes of saving others from the nightmare she endured. While attempting to find strength in this newfound power struggle, Kylee begins to question her sanity. Alexander Grant’s sole mission has been to serve his country, until the day his Goddess walked into his life and tilted his world on its axis. Having rescued her from her captors, he thought he would spend the rest of his life making up for lost time, but his world goes dark when she deliberately walks back into the hands of the underground mafia. Can Kylee survive the evil surrounding her to avenge what she has lost, or is she destined to become what her mother always wanted? Will Alex risk it all to follow her into the depths of hell, or will he uphold the oath he swore to protect his country? As Kylee and Alexander fight their way back to each other, love and honor will be put to the ultimate test in this shocking conclusion to The Betrayed Series.
Amazon US I Amazon UK I Amazon CA I Amazon AU Amazon US I Amazon UK I Amazon CA I Amazon AU Amazon US I Amazon UK I Amazon CA I Amazon AU Former Director for a major corporation, Victoria has spent most of her life inside of a book. When she wasn’t reading, she was busy scribbling down stories of her own. Meeting her husband while he was in the United States Army, Victoria quickly adapted and learned the role of the military spouse. After finishing her Business Management Degree in college, she spent years working in the corporate world where her writing quickly fell to the wayside. Finally, taking time away from the corporate world, Victoria has been able to dive into her stories and create a whole new world for you to live in. She now resides in the sunny Tampa, Florida area with her husband, son, and two amazing boxers. When she isn’t writing, you can find her on the beach or hiking. Maybe even writing on the beach . . .
Title: The Do-Over Author: Julie A. Richman Publication Date: January 26th, 2017 Genre: Contemporary Romance Photographer: Wander Aguiar Cover Model: Forrest Harrison Cover Designer: Jena Brignola
Synopsis:~ Sometimes, one degree is all that separates you from the one you were meant to be with ~ Wes Bergman was sex on a stick. We’d been circling one another our entire lives, mingling at the same clubs... attending the same events…sharing mutual acquaintances…yet we’d never actually met. Until . . . we both boarded a Windjammer Cruise in the Caribbean. And it was like meeting my long, lost best friend for the first time. I hadn’t ever connected with a guy that way before. But Wes had a girlfriend. So, when the week was over, he walked off the ship, unknowingly taking a piece of my heart with him. Now, over a decade later, newly divorced, I’m the proverbial fish out of water. Dating has totally changed. Apps. Swipe left. Swipe right. Catfishing. Men my age want two things: twenty-five-year-olds—like my ex’s new child bride of a wife—or just a quick hook-up. After a string of bad dates, I finally did something I never thought I’d do. I had a hot one-night stand with a really handsome guy I met online who didn’t even know my real name. Turned out Mr. Fling is a big shot for my company’s newest client. And just my luck, that client’s CEO is none other than . . . Wes Bergman. Now I’m separated by one degree again from the man who stole my heart. And Mr. Fling could destroy my chance of what I want most – A Do-Over with Wes. Add to GoodreadsPre-Order Links:iBooks: http://tinyurl.com/zc8ou65 About the Author:USA Today Bestselling author Julie A. Richman is a native New Yorker living deep in the heart of Texas. A creative writing major in college, reading and writing fiction has always been a passion. Julie began her corporate career in publishing in NYC and writing played a major role throughout her career as she created and wrote marketing, advertising, direct mail and fundraising materials for Fortune 500 corporations, advertising agencies and non-profit organizations. She is an award winning nature photographer plagued with insatiable wanderlust. Julie and her husband have one son and a white German Shepherd named Juneau. Connect with Julie:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJulieARichman Goodreads: http://tinyurl.com/ore7g3u Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JulieARichman Website: http://juliearichman.com/ Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/znsvx5u Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/RYac1
Markus Reeves is sucking. Big-time. Toiling away on a minor-league hockey team hundreds of miles away from home, he's watching his dreams of an NHL career fade away. Add in the lingering guilt he has over the dramatic demise of his relationship with college girlfriend, Mekena, and he's a mess on and off the ice.
But the family of his heart, the Sinclairs, won't let Markus suffer any longer. When he arrives himself back in Nashville for a trial run on the Assassins, it feels like his life may be making a turn for the better. If only he could get Mekena to forgive him...
Mekena Preston has been hurting since fleeing Nashville following the horror of Markus's betrayal with her sister. Now a professional photographer, Mekena finds herself in the same place at the same time with Markus to celebrate Lucy and Benji Paxton's wedding. Neither of them has been able to move on—and they're starting to wonder if they really want to.
They're headed for a face-off at the altar unless they can confront their past and unearth the truth about what really happened on that fateful night.
Watching as Elli crossed the ice, saying hi to everyone she passed, Mekena knew she had to go. Standing, she wobbled a lot, but she still made it to the entry to the ice. She could do this. It wasn’t that hard. Just like walking—on water. No big deal. Oh, God, she was going to die, and everyone was going to see it. Swallowing hard, she stepped out on the ice and figured she could ride the side of the boards to him. Elli was already there, gushing over the kids and kissing all over the guy Mekena assumed was her nephew. And holy hot genes. Dark hair, bright blue eyes, and a jawbone that could slice the ice. He was beautiful, just like his uncle and his momma. Tall, too, and thick. Obviously a hockey player. That should have given her a little more confidence to skate over there, but instead, her fingers dug into the siding as she slowly made her way toward them. When Elli looked up, Mekena let go of the sides and waved. “I’m a little slow. I’m coming!” Elli said something to Ryan, whose eyes lit up when he looked over at her. As he detangled himself from the kids that were trying to climb him like a wall, she figured he was coming to help. Oh, no, that was embarrassing. No, she could skate. She had it! Letting go of the siding, she went with ease. And at first, things were good. She was skating! But as well as it was going, it suddenly went very bad. She felt her knee bend funny and then her body start to fall. And as the ice came into view, she let out a cry, waiting for the ice to break not only her glasses but her nose too. Maybe her teeth. But she didn’t fall. No, instead, someone had her by her hips, pulling her up and to her feet. “Whoa there, girlie. I thought you knew what you were doing?” Markus. Everything inside her went hot. Not from embarrassment but from pure, burning desire. Trying to catch her breath, she looked up at him, his eyes so dark, his mouth so close to her cheek as he smiled. Crap. Crap on a cracker. “Markus.” “Yup, it’s me,” he said, grinning as he stood her on her feet. “Saving your life.”
My name is Toni Aleo and I’m a total dork. I am a wife, mother of two and a bulldog, and also a hopeless romantic. I am the biggest Shea Weber fan ever, and can be found during hockey season with my nose pressed against the Bridgestone Arena’s glass, watching my Nashville Predators play! When my nose isn’t pressed against the glass, I enjoy going to my husband and son’s hockey games, my daughter’s dance competition, hanging with my best friends, taking pictures, scrapbooking, and reading the latest romance novel. I have a slight Disney and Harry Potter obsession, I love things that sparkle, I love the color pink, I might have been a Disney Princess in a past life… probably Belle. … and did I mention I love hockey?
Author Links
Title: It Started with a Kiss
By: Melanie Moreland
Publication Date: January 23, 2017
Publisher: Enchanted Publications
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Cover Designer: Monark Designs
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You can sign up - HERE
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New York Times/USA Today bestselling author Melanie Moreland, lives a happy and content life in a quiet area of Ontario with her beloved husband of twenty-seven-plus years and their rescue cat Amber. Nothing means more to her than her friends and family, and she cherishes every moment spent with them.
While seriously addicted to coffee, and highly challenged with all things computer-related and technical, she relishes baking, cooking, and trying new recipes for people to sample. She loves to throw dinner parties, and also enjoys travelling, here and abroad, but finds coming home is always the best part of any trip.
Melanie delights in a good romance story with some bumps along the way, but is a true believer in happily ever after. When her head isn’t buried in a book, it is bent over a keyboard, furiously typing away as her characters dictate their creative storylines to her, often with a large glass of wine keeping her company.
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7355350.Melanie_Moreland Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/authormoreland/ Twitter - @MorelandMelanie
Into the Blood by BT Urruela Book 2 in The Broken Outlaw Series RELEASE: December 20, 2016 COVER DESIGNER: @Marisa-rose Shor / @Cover Me Darling MODELS: @Tessi Conquest, @Sam Ashley, @Gideon Connolly, @Golden Czermak, @Rob Somers, @BT Urruela Photographer: @furiousfotog **BUY LINKS** Amazon US: http://a.co/bDAfdTh Amazon UK: http://amzn.eu/6ytjeBV Amazon CA: http://a.co/1sMGrwp Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2hPrKWt **PAPERBACK LINKS** Amazon US: http://a.co/0ui6KeH Amazon UK: http://amzn.eu/0l3qjJm Synopsis: Being released from prison, Xander Evans needs to find the sister he hasn’t seen in years. She holds the key to healing a past he hasn’t come to terms with. That desire has him making the difficult decision of leaving Paige behind. When he discovers just how much trouble Gabriela is in, he fears even he can’t help her survive. After an ugly separation from the Army, Gabriela Michaels fell in with the wrong crowd. With a drug deal gone wrong, she now has a month to pay back more money than she ever could… or see her life come to a swift end. Her former flame, Shane Presley, must unite a band of Broken Outlaws to save the woman he’s always loved. My Review Into the Blood by BT Urruela is the second book in the Broken Outlaws series. Zander has released from prison for the crime he didn’t commit. Reunited with Paige, he once again sets his sights on finding his sister that he hasn’t seen since she was two. His friend has been keeping an eye on her while Zander was locked-up but has bad news for Zander. She is into some bad stuff with very bad people. Zander kisses Paige good-bye and heads-out. Zander unexpectedly meets his sister before he planned and scared of the outcome, he introduces himself as a friend of a friend of her “best” friend (although he wants to be more) Shane. Shane has been in love with Gabi for years and although he has pressed for more, she keeps him at an arm’s length. Gabi has unfortunately made her dealer angry so he kidnaps her for ransom to cover the money she still owes him. Shane, Zander, Paige and with a little help from their other friends, set out to try and raise the money and save Zander’s sister, who he just met. Into the Blood had a steady pace of action and suspense. The book keep me guessing on what direction is was going to go. Into the Blood deals with a lot more serious issues that Into the Nothing did. This story focused more on the team working together to save Gabi. Now, let me talk about bartender Jimmy….I think he stole the book. He was funny, crazy, and unexpected. Read this book if not for the story of an nontraditional family banded together to save one of their own but for the fact that Jimmy was absolutely hilarious, and sometimes, not even meaning to be.
Follow BT Urruela: Amazon - Amazon.com/author/bturruela Facebook – http://bit.ly/1RdUEIa Instagram – http://www.instagram.com/bturruela/ Twitter – http://bit.ly/1OQE4nD Website – http://bit.ly/1NCxnVX Once you finish reading please join The Broken Outlaw Series Spoiler Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/492513690944840/ COVER REVEAL FOR CROWN OF LIESA Brand New Erotic Romance Coming Soon From New York Times Bestseller, Pepper Winters. CROWN OF LIES Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2fhNdcM Giveaway: http://gvwy.io/5xejb9a Exclusive iBooks Preorder: http://apple.co/2i2Exbj Book Trailer: http://bit.ly/2i3STbk Release Alert Sign Up: http://bit.ly/2cpSLhF Pepper Winters Other Books: http://bit.ly/2bUTvgO Release Date: 31st January 2017 (or sooner) Blurb:“I met the man I wanted. But then he vanished and a new man claimed me instead. My father approved, my colleagues congratulated, and behind closed doors, I was bedded by a master.” Noelle Charlston lived a fairy-tale life: a doting father, a powerful job, and a future blessed with financial security. However, two meetings with two men changed her happy existence forever. First, she met the man who made her heart sing. Second, she met the man who made her blood quiver. Noelle’s freedom was no longer hers. It belonged to the stranger her father believed was the perfect match. The stranger who pulled his lies over everyone he touched. Including her. The lies he spins, the truth he hides, the mystery he webs—it’s all enough to slowly erode the woman she’d been and turn her into something else. Until her past collides with her present. And it’s her turn to lie. To everyone…including herself. EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT R18 ONLY (unedited, subject to change, copyright 2016 Pepper Winters) * CROWN OF LIES * “YOU MUST BE Chloe.” “I am.” The girl who tormented me in high school simpered, tossing her chestnut hair like a high-strung pony. Her green dress complimented the tan she said she’d earned from the Caribbean last week. Her gaze sank into Penn as if he were some prize to be won. A prize she’d very much like to taste. Penn pulled me into his side, running his hand erotically up and down my arm. “And I believe you know my partner Elle.” “Wait, partner?” She blinked. “I thought she was with Greg.” Finally her eyes left Penn and locked on mine. “You got two men now, Ding Dong Bell? A little greedy don’t you think?” Her giggle sounded forced and fake. I wanted to sink into the ground and never reappear. I waited for Penn to mock the nickname, just like Greg had. But he stood cold and primitive, a velvet purr falling from his mouth. “She only has one. Believe me, all she needs is me.” I opened my mouth to reply but Penn squeezed me, keeping me silent. His arm was a hot band controlling me and making me wet in equal measure. The other girls from school slowly looked up from their conversations, paying attention while trying to appear uninterested. They didn’t fool me or Penn as he smiled his signature sexy smirk and grabbed my chin. His lips planted on mine in a brutal kiss, bruising me, consuming me as his tongue took liberties and his power stole all my remaining breath. He made me stupid. He made me proud. The instant I lost the tension in my spine, he let me go—almost as if he’d kissed me deliberately to keep me out of my head and in my body with him. “Are you going to tell them the good news, or shall I?” His authoritative tone blended with a dark flirt. I blinked. “Tell them what?” I was one step behind. I couldn’t catch up. I’d never been that way before. I’d always been the boss, leading. I didn’t know if I liked being the follower. “Tell them you’ve decided to let me own you.” “Wait, what?” Chloe’s mouth hung open. “What does that mean?” I shook my head, rubbing the sudden goosebumps on my arms. Penn said we were playing a game. And yet I didn’t know the rules or what was expected. He answered for me again. “We met a few days ago and it was love at first sight.” He dragged me close, his eyes black. “It took some convincing but Elle has agreed to give me a chance.” He glanced at Chloe, filling his handsome face with ardent satisfaction. “She said yes.” “Yes to what?” Frankie appeared, eyeing Penn from his black shoes to his five o’ clock shadow. “Yes to marrying me.” The world screeched to a halt. What? I flinched, trying to tear myself from Penn’s embrace. He held me tighter, his fingers sinking like keys into my arms, turning a lock, keeping me bound to him and useless. Chloe’s mouth hung open. “Wow, Elle, I never knew—” “Never knew she was the sexiest woman alive?” Penn snarled with sudden viciousness. “Never knew she worked so damn hard, first for her father and now for thousands of employees around the world? Never knew she was one of the richest women alive? Never knew that she was ten times the fucking woman you’ll ever be?” Whoa, this was too much. Too fast. Too scary. Too far out of my comfort zone. Yes to marrying him? I never agreed to that. I’d agreed to sex. Stupid, silly, sensual sex. And now it’s time to say no. I tore myself from his embrace, my body shaking. “Stop. That’s not true. Don’t spread such lies.” I stared helplessly at Chloe whose face had turned snow white. “I’m so sorry. Ignore him. I don’t know what’s gotten into him. We’ve only just got together. We’re not engaged. He’s not—” “What my fiancé here is trying to say—” Penn interrupted. “Is she’s too kind-hearted to rub her success in your face even though you do the same to her. I don’t need to hear stories of what it was like to grow up with you. I see her and I see you and I understand the shadow you made her exist in. But not anymore.” His teeth flashed as he snarled, “I’m stealing her from you now. From all of you. She’s mine. And it’s a sad loss that you never figured out what an incredible creature you had under your noses the entire time.” Greg sidled up, hate stares fired at Penn. “That includes you.” Penn pointed at him. “I don’t know how long you’ve known each other but you fucked up.” He laughed low. “You’ll never get her back because she’ll never be the same once I’ve had her.” My cheeks turned into flames of hell. I ducked my chin, doing my best to hide. I wanted the club to vanish and Penn to disintegrate into dust. Words and curses tangled to spew at him but he pulled me from the crowd, away from cringe-worthy declarations, away from high-school trolls and wanna-be boyfriends, and through the nightclub to the fresh air outside. I managed a few gulps of oxygen before he yanked me down the alleyway between the nightclub and a restaurant and slammed me against the brick wall. Quicksilver memories of another alleyway and another man once upon a time tried to twist my present with my past, and then it had no power as Penn’s lips crashed over mine and he kissed me. He kissed me and then he kissed me. Each swipe of his tongue blasted through my decorum, dragging alive the sexual being inside who’d never been allowed to evolve. His right hand bunched my dress up my leg. My brain tried to split—to focus on the foot traffic only a few metres away and not on the blistering heat of his fingertips on my inner thigh. And then nothing else mattered as his touch found my core, pushing against my underwear. He didn’t ask permission. He didn’t pull back to see if I was okay with this. He merely kissed me and fingered me over the lace. All I wanted to do was to let go. To trust in the magic he created in my blood and allow him to be as arrogant as he wanted. To take charge. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t let him get away with what he’d said. His lies. His verbal telling off to people I had to converse with. He was far too brash and daredevil for my world. His mouth kept working mine, dragging a moan deep from my lungs. I had a second before I drowned under his powerful wave and lost myself. A second and then I would be gone and I couldn’t blame anyone but myself. So I bit him. My teeth sank into his lip, not holding back as I did the only thing I could to slow things down and breathe. He stumbled backward, holding his bottom lip where a bead of blood welled. “Fuck.” My ribcage rose and fell. I sucked in gasps, giving in to the slight hysteria he’d caused. I held up a shaky finger. “Don’t touch me.” “Touch you? Fuck, I own you.” My plait caught like Velcro on the bricks behind me as I shook my head. “No, you don’t.” His eyes etched with black. “You said yes, remember?” “Yes to a beneficial sexual relationship. Not to damn marriage!” He chuckled. “That’s what’s got you afraid? Marriage? I have no intention of marrying you.” I frowned. “Then why lie about it?” “Why not?” He shrugged. “Why do other people have to know exactly what we do and who we are? Why do they have to hear our truth when they’re so fucking fake themselves?” I hated that he had a point. He placed a hand on the brick wall by my head, his body swaying into mine. If he touched me again, I doubted I’d have the willpower to stop him. My clit still throbbed from his touch, the echoing bands of release a phantom cry in my veins. “Stay back.” He lowered his head, a tight smile on his lips. “Fine.” Holding his hands up in surrender, he kept his distance but didn’t move away. “What will it take for you to let me touch you again?” His voice dropped to sand and sleet. “Because I really want to touch you again, Elle.” I shivered, doing my best to keep my thoughts focused and not on the molten heat inside. Having him so close didn’t help. He’d been gorgeous in the club—dappled in strobes and painted in shadows—but out here; out here where the vague lights of apartments and street lamps didn’t dare enter the sanctity of the alleyway, he was cloaked in darkness. His shoulders strained against the stitches of his suit. His forearms ropy and tanned with his cuffs pushed up. His entire body flexed as he waved a hand with feline grace, hiding the throbbing tension between us, pretending he hadn’t just fired my libido to the point of excruciation. “I’m not answering anymore of your questions,” I hissed. “Who the hell are you? What do you want from me?” Sighing heavily, his lips pouted, blood smeared a little to make him seem part vampire. “You already know what I want.” “But who are you?” “I’m someone you can be free with.” “I don’t know what that means.” “It means you don’t need to be afraid of me.” I clasped my hands together, seeking comfort from myself. Fighting with a strange man—even one who’d touched and kissed me—in an empty alleyway wasn’t exactly encouraged. “I’m not afraid of you.” He cocked his head, his throat muscles tight and tense. “Are you sure about that?” “I’m not sure about anything anymore.” He ran a hand through his hair, disrupting the strands into a mess. “Isn’t that the point?” “Stop answering everything with a question.” “Fine.” He stood tall, his legs spread with dominion. “You said yes to me. I won’t let you take that back. But I will try to ease your mind.” His face tightened as if this game had higher stakes for him than he let on. “I’ll only say this once so listen carefully. I will lie to others about us. I will paint a picture that isn’t true for people who wish to know what we do. I will curse and hurt and do whatever I damn well want, but you have my word on one thing.” My voice carried on a hesitant whisper. “What word?” “That I won’t lie to you. What you see from me will be the honest fucking truth. I’ll only hurt you if you want me to hurt you and I’ll protect you even while I do it. Give me yourself, let me take control, and I promise you, you’ll enjoy it.” Enter MASSIVE GIVEAWAY: http://gvwy.io/5xejb9a Pre-order on iBooks: http://apple.co/2i2Exbj Sign up for Release Alerts: http://bit.ly/2cpSLhF Pepper Winters other books: http://bit.ly/2bUTvgO About the Author
Pepper Winters wears many roles. Some of them include writer, reader, sometimes wife. She loves dark, taboo stories that twist with your head. The more tortured the hero, the better, and she constantly thinks up ways to break and fix her characters. Oh, and sex... her books have sex. She loves to travel and has an amazing, fabulous hubby who puts up with her love affair with her book boyfriends. STALK Pepper: Website | Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Goodreads GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23686727-jaded-hearts Amazon US : http://amzn.to/2fUFOM3 Amazon UK : https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01N7DU3GC Amazon CA : https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01N7DU3GC Amazon AU : https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01N7DU3GC Nook : http://tinyurl.com/gtkmbfm Kobo : https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/jaded-hearts-6 iTunes : https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1182237126 JADED HEARTS Loaded Replay Series By Harper Sloan Signing with Brighthouse Records was supposed to be everything we ever wanted—our better life. Our chance at everything we never had but always wanted. All our dreams would finally come true and we were on top of the world. It was our chance at the happiness we never had in life. Our every desire was at our fingertips and the power of that feeling was all consuming. But then it took every dream we thought would come true and it slapped us in the face with the cold hard reality. Dreams were just that…something that floated on the cusp of untouchable, taunting you with every graze of your fingertips before slipping even further away. Happiness…that feeling is a joke. In the end it became painfully obvious that each of us would always have each other, but we would forever be alone. EXCERPT Goddamn, that smile is dangerous. Who am I kidding? He is dangerous. I do my best to ignore him, but it’s impossible. The steady brush of his arm against where mine is resting on our shared armrest constantly reminds me how much my body wants his touch. The scent of his delicious cologne hits my senses, making me want to climb in his lap and rub my face over his chest to get a potent lungful of it. I can’t even remember the last time I was this horny, which is pathetically sad, since it was probably around the same time I actually got laid. Years. I think. Close to three. Maybe that’s why I’m a hot mess lately. I turn my head to study the side of his face and wonder if I can use this situation to my advantage. I mean, after all, we are in a ‘relationship’ now. He turns and gives me a questioning arch of his dark brows, but I brush it off in favor of playing Disney Emoji Blitz on my phone. By the time we had hit cruising altitude, I could hear the other men around me snoring away but not Chance. He’s fiddling with his phone, completely ignorant of the fact I’m about to start humping his leg. “Excuse me,” I breathily say, unbuckling my belt and standing to move around him. I stand there, my head bent slightly because of the overhead, and wait. He doesn’t move, though. Instead, he drops his phone to his lap and gives me his complete attention; his eyes even dance a little like he’s finding this whole damn thing funny. “Excuse me,” I repeat, no longer breathy, and seconds away from coming. No, that’s a lie. I’m still breathy and very much seconds away from soaking my panties even more than they already are. His large hands grab my hips, and he guides me down on his lap with no resistance from my treacherous body. “Not what I meant,” I say through clenched teeth, trying to sound harsh and offended, but I just sound dazed and turned on. I wiggle in his hold, trying to get free, but he’s too strong for me. He leans up in his seat, his chest hitting my back and buries his face in my neck. I’m sure anyone who saw us would see a loving couple who just can’t keep their hands to themselves. He’s playing a dangerous game, though, because the second the solid, hard length of him presses against my backside, I forget this is supposed to be a game and squirm a little more. His teeth nip at my shoulder at the same time his groan hits my ears. “Stop moving, Wren,” he demands, tightening his fingers on my hips. “You’re the one who put me on your lap.” I curl my fingers over the empty seat in front of me and squeeze my eyes shut when I feel him growing harder under me. “Yeah, because the flight attendant who just walked by had her phone out and pointed right at us. She’s doing a shit job of making it look like she’s doing something with her paperwork.” His hand comes off my hip, and he cups my jaw, turning my head to the side just when I was about to look up at where I last saw the attendant, forcing me to shift until all it would take is me throwing one leg over his body to be face-to-face. “Do not look at her,” he stresses; the sudden movement of twisting my body makes me bounce slightly in his lap, rubbing my legging-clad ass against his erection. His eyes drop to my mouth where I pull my bottom lip between my teeth and groan. “Give me a reason not to look,” I dare him. “You don’t want to go down that road, Wren. I’ll protect you from the world, but you need to protect yourself from me.” “No one is asking you to.” Not even knowing if we’re still being watched, I twist my torso the rest of the way, pulling my legs up until they’re bent at his stomach between us. Now that I’m facing him completely, I bring my hands up to curl them both around his shoulders before dragging them up to wrap around the corded muscles at the sides of his neck. His nostrils flare, but he doesn’t stop me. I give him the chance, but it never comes. Dropping my head, I press my lips to his. I explore his lips with small pecks and little licks of my tongue, learning his mouth before pressing more firmly. He sucks in a breath when I open my mouth and slowly drag the tip of my tongue over his bottom lip. And then his control snaps. His hands—still at my hips—lift me effortlessly until my legs are no longer folded between us, but now digging into the hard armrests with my knees pushing into his thighs, my back hitting the seat in front of me. His mouth opens, and his tongue meets mine, no hesitation whatsoever, as he deepens the kiss. Our breathing echoes around us, making it sound like everyone on this plane could hear us, but I know it’s just because our faces are so close. I let out a moan, one that he swallows, that turns into a whine when he pulls back. “That can’t happen again,” he softly scolds, just as breathless as I am. What the hell? I might not have been into this whole fake-boyfriend-slash-bodyguard thing before, but I’ll be damned if I’m not going to take advantage of the situation. Especially now that I know how alive he makes me feel. Three years since I had pleasure from anything other than my own hand, and if that kiss is anything to go by, what Chance could make me feel is ten times more powerful than anything I’ve ever felt in my whole life. I’m not passing that up. Nope. No fucking way. “We’ll see about that.” Review Jaded Hearts, is book 1 of the Loaded Replay series by Harper Sloan. Loaded Replay is one of the most successful bands currently touring but lead singer Wrenlee just isn’t feeling it anymore. The band, Loaded Replay consists of Wrenlee, her twin brother and their two friends they grew-up with. The band has decided that Wrenlee needs protection after she has received some creepy messages. The band hires Chance from Corps Security. (side note: if you have read any of Harper’s other books, which you definitely should, Chance is Cohen Cage’s roommate from the Hope Town series where he had previously made an appearance). The minute Wren lays her eyes on Chance, she feels an electricity, which Chance feels too. After trying to fight the draw they have to each other, Chance and Wren finally get together and oh my, do they ever. Chance is now on a mission to protect the woman he is falling in love with at all cost. I am a big fan of Harper’s and Jaded Hearts is just as amazing as her Corps Security and Hope Town Series. Harper just has a way of writing that makes you fall in love with her characters. Wrenlee was such a strong, independent woman and as the book progressed, the character retained these traits while falling in love with the alpha Chance. It was refreshing to see a female character written this way. Jaded Hearts was amazing. I hope the next book features Wren’s brother (hint, hint Harper).
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