The Tour Stop
Check out these featured authors making their way around the blog scene!
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Queen’s Blood Claim
-- EXCERPT: “I remember the first time I saw you.” Davina chuckled. “I’m sure I was screeching in the halls of the palace in Zhar. My mother hated that I’d been so wild.” A rumble from Alexios’ chest vibrated against her ear, and she found comfort in the sound. “No. The first time I laid eyes on you, you were scurrying in the woods, tripping over yourself carrying food, which I’m sure you’d stolen from the kitchens. You were heading to a baby foal you’d discovered under some bramble.” Davina took a moment to enjoy his face. Lines fanned the corners of his eyes while his dark lashes stretched away from them. He smiled, and his lone dimple made its tiny dent. Her mouth parted. It had been a long time since she’d seen him smile like this. His joy spread through her. “I remember the foal. I named him Laeb,” she chuckled. “I knew someone was there! I’d stopped to look, but I couldn’t see anyone. It was you?” “Yes. I was in the woods taking some time to myself. The barracks were loud, and I still struggled with my transition. It was my first time seeing the Queen’s daughter, but I knew instantly who you were.” He buried his hand into her hair at her nape, his thumb lightly caressing her scalp. “I saw you and knew then that this world was not so bleak. That there is light and beauty capable of vanquishing any darkness. And that a beautiful, rambunctious, young girl who sneaked food for an injured foal, would always have a piece of my heart.”
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Title: First Time Player
Author: Poppy Parkes
Genre: Contemporary Second Chance Romance
Release Date: December 22, 2018
Cover Designer: Angela Haddon Book Cover Design
Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC.
 
It’s their first time — in more ways than one. But will that be enough to make their second chance at love last?
Ana has worked hard — and endured a lot of b.s. — to establish herself as owner of the best damn video game store in town (if she does say so herself). She’s at the top of her game, nerd pun intended, but she can’t help longing for love. At the same time, she can’t decide if true love really exists, thanks to all the basement-dwelling, toxic, doxxing men she’s had to handle in her line of work. Then she runs into Wes, her secret high school crush, at a gaming con. The sweet desire she felt for him as a teen has transformed into an overwhelming, magnetizing attraction, and Ana doesn’t know if she should resist it or abandon herself to it. But Wes has his own secrets, and his own doubts. If Ana breaks all her rules and gives into her hunger for him, will he meet her there or break her heart? First Time Player is a sweet and sassy second chance instalove nerd romance from the author of The Light Between Us books and will be sure to please fans of quick ’n’ dirty love stories.
 
CHAPTER 7
WES
“And you, Wes — what do you want to do with me?” Her words were heavy with a bold and unabashed hunger. And yet they held a barely perceptible tremble of vulnerability that made Wes want to cradle her body close, not to blend their flesh into one — although he certainly wanted that, too — but to protect this woman whose brisk exterior only served to shield the sensitive soul it housed.
Some ancient instinct deep within him rose, wanting to be not only her lover but also her defender. I wondered if she would allow me to be either, or if she only wanted me for the night.
He thought about how, over the course of his life to this point, he’d lucked out on love even while he’d done so well in nearly every other endeavor he put his hand to. But for some reason, he seemed to attract women that only wanted what they saw without attending to his heart. They wanted his body, but for one night or two.
Wes wanted more. He wanted a woman who would let him pursue her, romance her, win her hand. He wanted a woman who would fall back in love with him, with his heart and mind. A woman to share life with.
He knew exactly what he wanted, and what most women offered him? That was exactly the opposite of his desires, and he never said yes to that which was not right for him.
So he’d retained his principles — and also his virginity.
Wes swallowed hard. He wondered if he, inexperienced as he was, could give Ana what her dark eyes were asking him for. And at the same time, everything in him longed to try.
He didn’t know if she wanted him for this night or a string of nights or for forever. She probably didn’t know herself.
But for some reason, with her, he didn’t care. Unlike every other woman who’d wanted him, he didn’t give a shit about how long Ana wanted him for. He would take anything and everything she was willing to give him.
Because this connection, this pull to each other that they both clearly felt — and had been feeling for a long time? He couldn’t walk away from it. He wouldn’t.
He looked at their fingers twisting together, and then at Ana’s eyes, where need and doubt swirled together.
“I want to be as close to you as you’ll allow,” he said, voice husky with his own hunger. “I’ll sit on a bench outside and hold your hand and watch the moon rise and set, or I’ll take you back to my hotel room and make love to you all night. I’ll do anything for you, and with you, Ana. What do you want?”
The worry washed from her eyes, and her full lips turned up at the corners. “I want you to kiss me. Now.”
Wes grinned. “I was hoping you might say that.”
He slid his hands around her waist, fingertips digging into those delicious curves, pulling her to him so that their hips pressed together. She reached up to Wes, clutching his collar and tugging his head down to hers. He hesitated a moment, teasing, lips a breath away, exhalations hot against each other’s faces. And then he tasted her, plying her mouth with his own.
The kiss was soft and hard at the same time, and she tasted like sweet fire and cinnamon. Wes pulled back to press his lips at the corners of her mouth, then crushed back into her full on. She gave a little sigh and yanked on his collar, opening her mouth and teasing his tongue with hers.
He could feel himself growing hard, ready, and he ground his pelvis against hers. She must have felt his arousal, because she grabbed a handful of his ass, drawing his hips into her even more.
Without warning she released him and stepped back, leaving Wes gasping and blinking in shock. The sudden space between them felt cold, drafty, and he longed to return to the heat of their embrace.
“Is everything okay?” he managed, struggling to get his body under control.
A flirty smile flickered across her face. Ana reached out a single hand without stepping closer, taking his.
“More than okay.” Tossing him a last searing glance over her shoulder, she headed for the door of the con bar, leading him by the hand. He followed, eager and willing to submit to her control.
Wes let her lead him through the venue’s foyer and to the main entrance. Here she paused, winding herself around him and flicked her tongue over his lips before diving in for a bottomless kiss that practically made him see stars.
It felt like the kiss lasted a moment, or forever. When she pulled away, she said, voice guttural. “I want you, Wes. Tonight. Take me to your hotel.”
He closed the space between them, cupping her face in his palms and planting blossoming kisses across her cheeks.
And then it was his turn to lead her, fingers entwined, his low belly pulsing with primal desire, ready to let Ana make him hers.
Poppy Parkes is the author of sweet and hot love stories, including THE LIGHT BETWEEN US and FINDING ME AND YOU. Poppy writes, paints, and dreams in Montana, where she raises her two boys. She is in love with luscious color, moon-gazing, and dancing wild. And coffee. And wine. And chocolate. You know how it is.
     
Songs for Cricket
by Terri E. Laine
Genre: New Adult Romance
She’s his best friend’s little sister and off limits.
College freshman, Finley Farrow, has two fairly ambitious goals this school year: make the football team and get over Shepard Connelly. The gorgeous football player with the magnificent voice would one day be a star on or off the field. But he’ll never see her as more than his best friend’s sister. Now her eye is on the end zone. Making the team could turn out to be the easy part. Practicing with Shepard every day while ignoring her feelings? The real challenge.
Shepard hasn’t had it easy like the Farrows. He won his ticket to the prestigious Layton University through football. Yet his passion lies in music. His killer smile can get him almost any girl he wants, except the one he can’t have. Everything he’s wanted to say to her is channeled into his soul wrenching lyrics. But he’s been sitting on the sideline far too long and it’s time to make a move before the team’s starting quarterback wins her heart.
A life altering accusation could fumble everything for him. Most importantly, his big play for the only girl he’s ever wanted.
Family, friendship and love bind them together. Secrets, lies, and rules keep them apart.
Terri E. Laine, USA Today bestselling author, left a lucrative career as a CPA to pursue her love for writing. Outside of her roles as a wife and mother of three, she's always been a dreamer and as such became an avid reader at a young age.
Many years later, she got a crazy idea to write a novel and set out to try to publish it. With over a dozen titles published under various pen names, the rest is history. Her journey has been a blessing, and a dream realized. She looks forward to many more memories to come.
Follow the tour HERE for exclusive content and a giveaway!
This is my stop during the blog tour for The Jade Rebellion by Alanna Mackenzie. This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The blog tour runs from 18 February till 3 March. See the tour schedule here.  The Jade Rebellion (The Jade Chronicles #1)By Alanna Mackenzie Genre: Science Fiction/ Fantasy Age category: Young Adult Release Date: 1 May, 2018 Blurb: You can find The Jade Rebellion on Goodreads You can buy The Jade Rebellion here: - Amazon - B&N - Booktopia  About the Author:Alanna Mackenzie lives in Vancouver, Canada. She holds degrees in History, French studies, and Law from the University of British Columbia. An environmentalist at heart, she believes in using the law as a tool for social and environmental change. When she is not pursuing that passion, she can be found brainstorming the next chapter in her novels, playing Irish fiddle tunes on the violin, and hiking West Coast trails. You can find and contact Alanna Mackenzie here: - Website - Goodreads - Amazon Giveaway There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of The Jade Rebellion. One winner will win a physical copy of The Jade Rebellion by Alanna Mackenzie (US Only). For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below: a Rafflecopter giveaway 
Lost Souls
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo -- EXCERPT: “I’ve worked security at four other buildings.” Benton held up as many fingers. His nails were short and black. Whether from blood or dirt, Callie didn’t care to guess. She stood behind him and leaned forward to speak into his ear. Stale cigar stench clogged her nose. “You’ve worked jobs, but haven’t paid the Soul Charmer.” Benton surged closer to the bar. His whiskey sloshed over the lip of the glass and onto his fingers. He slammed his shoulder backward and shifted to face Callie. The wide, milky eyes and taut tendons in his neck eased. Idiot. He licked the spilled liquor from his fingers. “I have experience, but they still won’t even let me take their exam.” She gave two fucks about his ability to get a job. “That must suck. You owe the Charmer.” “What do you mean?” That’s not how this worked, and he knew it. “Cash or souls.” “I ain’t got anything on me.” “How are you paying for that Wild Turkey?” Benton shot scattered looks in either direction. “It just you?” It was, and normally she hated that. Her boyfriend Derek typically made these collection calls. He looked the part. Hulking and covered in leather and scars. She hid her wounds on the inside, and wielded dark eyeliner as war paint. Not exactly scary mofo material. Callie needed more from Benton than a simple rented soul, though, and that information need to be acquired alone.
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The Winnowing
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Google Play -- EXCERPT: “Where do you go, Hazel Malloy?” Gabriel said in her ear. “What?” “I can feel you thinking hard.” He chuckled. Hazel smiled. “I like this song,” she said, embarrassed as though he could actually tell that he’d caught her thinking about him. “I do too.” He pressed his cheek to hers, and she let him. As the song ended, there was a slight disturbance from the far end of the room. Hazel glanced up, and her heart paused. Bananas. Stanley stood in the entrance of the conservatory, tall and suited up, a hard look on his face, one eye almost swollen shut. He was flanked by some of his Knights, looking rough and out of place in suits, smirks on their faces as they scanned the room. It was like Eliot Ness and his Untouchables about to raid. The “good people” of St. Louis stared uneasily and made way as the boys stalked into the room. Hazel sometimes forgot what they must look like to everyone else. They were a tough looking lot, battle scarred, and imposing. The song ended and in the pause before the next one began, Stanley took long strides across the room, toward where Hazel and Gabriel stood, still holding hands. Stanley’s eye twitched. “Heya, Haze.” He tilted his head toward Gabriel. “If it isn’t soft slugger trying to get to first base.” His jaw flexed, and he breathed in through his nose, and Hazel knew he was counting to ten. Gabriel released Hazel’s hand and calmly replied, “Good to see you, Fields. You clean up nice.” 
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Title: Finding Mercy (Next Generation, #3)
Author: Riley Edwards
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: February 26th
Cover Designer: Lori Jackson
Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC.
DEA Jason Walker became a widower at Twenty-eight. Two years later he’s still torturing himself with guilt. They’d married young, and she’d been his first love, but her illness changed everything. They’d fought a losing battle and he’d held her to the very end. Now he just wants to be left alone with his misery and memories. Mercy James is no stranger to grief and loneliness. Her brother’s death of a drug overdose, and her police officer father’s death in the line of duty were the driving forces behind her pursuit of a career in the DEA. In spite of—or maybe because of—her past, Mercy doesn’t believe in feeling sorry for others, or for herself. When a case brings Jason and Mercy together, and their attraction heats up, can her tough, straightforwardness help Jason learn to live in the light again? He’d lost his first love, but is he ready for a forever love?
  
Riley Edwards is a bestselling multi-genre author, wife, and military mom. Riley was born and raised in Los Angeles but now resides on the east coast with her fantastic husband and children.
Riley writes heart-stopping romance with sexy alpha heroes and even stronger heroines. Riley's favorite genres to write are romantic suspense and military romance.
Coming For You
-- EXCERPT:
Chapter 7 KATE Five months earlier March 2017 Dinkytown, Minneapolis I wasn’t really paying attention until the boy was right in front of me. Instead, I was concentrating on the big stack of books on the counter. I was rearranging them like the bookstore owner wanted—to showcase the week’s bestsellers. It was busy work—I was looking for anything to keep me from thinking about my mom. If I thought about her, I would start screaming or crying or hit something. I hated her so much. Okay. I didn’t really really hate her, but I’d never been so angry at her in my life. I thought she loved me, but really, she’s been lying to me my whole life and keeping me from my family. My grandmother. Who was apparently alive despite my mom saying she was dead. My entire childhood I was insanely jealous of the other kids who had grandparents. On grandparents’ day at school, my mom didn’t even try to find someone else to go. Sadie’s grandparents were dead, too, but at least Sadie’s mom had arranged for this grandma-like neighbor to go. My mom just shrugged when I complained about it. Now I know why. She’s a liar. When I first saw the message on Facebook, I thought it was probably from some creepy old pervert pretending to be my long-lost grandma. Nobody I know ever gets on Facebook anymore. I don’t even know why I checked it that day. I didn’t want to believe her, but then she told me things about my mom that most people would never know. Like how the burn scar on my mom’s arm is from when she was trying to cook her own pancakes for breakfast when she was four. Or how she has this one mole on the back of her neck that you can only see when she puts her hair in a bun to take a shower. What I can’t understand, or forgive, is why my mother lied. My grandma said that she’d explain soon enough. She told me not to trust my mom. She said that everything my mom says is a lie. She also told me not to say anything to my dad. Yet. I’m so confused. Nothing seems real. Every day I come home and pretend I have a lot of homework, but instead, I go in my room and get in bed. I worry if I even look at my mom I’m going to scream. Sometimes when she’s not paying attention, I’ve caught myself staring at her, wondering who the hell this lying woman really is and where did my real mom go? I was so upset about my mom that I barely noticed the boy at the counter in front of me. When I looked up and saw him there, I jumped and he laughed. He stared at me with these black eyes and I couldn’t look away. It was unnerving. For a second I didn’t know what to say. And then when I did talk it was like I was ten again talking snotty to a cute boy. “What?” He laughed again. “Is that how you greet your customers?” His accent was lilting and sounded sophisticated. Before he opened his mouth, if you looked at him, with his short spiky dreads and baggy jeans, you’d think he was just some really cute thuggish boy from the north side. But when he spoke, he suddenly seemed like he should be on stage doing Shakespeare. It was unsettling. Who spoke that way? I blushed. “Sorry. Can I help you?” “Yes.” He crunched an already wrinkled piece of paper he was holding. “I’m looking for ‘The History of Herodotus.’” “Oh.” There you go, Kate, wow him with your scintillating response. “Actually, I’m not sure we carry that book but I can point you in the right direction, show you where it might be if we have it. It’s nonfiction, right?” I’d never heard of the book. “Yes. There are actually a few books by him. They are called ‘The Histories.’ They are about the history, politics, cultures, and traditions of Greece and North Africa and Asia. There are nine books in the series.” “Oh.” Again, brilliant answer, Kate. “I can see if we carry it.” My tone was officious, businesslike to hide that I felt like an idiot. I started to come out from behind the counter. “You don’t have it on your computer?” He eyed the laptop on the counter. I shook my head. It was the bane of my life. “The owner is a little old-fashioned. I’ve been trying to talk him into cataloging online, but it’s a slow process. We order online, but we don’t keep our inventory there yet. Kind of stupid, huh?” He shrugged. He gave me this smile and I couldn’t help but smile back. I came out from behind the counter, self-consciously smoothing my skirt down as I stepped in front of him. “Follow me. I’ll show you the nonfiction section and the area where it might be.” The old bookstore was a maze with one tiny room winding into another. And then there was the basement, which was more open, but still had lots of nooks and crannies. And had two creepy cats. And was haunted. And was where we were heading. The cats were doing their usual freak show. Caterwauling and running around like banshees, hopping from old sofas to worn-out armchairs scattered around the basement of the store. I usually tried to avoid the basement. It gave me the creeps. Today, I blamed the haunted part for the hairs on the back of my neck sticking straight up as I made my way down the stairs. It was that—not him being so close behind me. We wove through the stacks to a back corner where I swung around to face him. “If we have it, it would be somewhere around here.” I gestured to a small bookshelf. He didn’t say anything just stared at me. I held my breath, staring back. His eyes moved down to my mouth and he swallowed. It seemed impossible, but he was acting like he was nervous. He cleared his throat. “Okay. Thanks,” he finally said. I turned to go and he said, “You’re leaving?” “Yes, I’m the only one here. I have to stay upstairs at the counter.” “Oh.” I waited. “It’s just kind of freaking creepy down here. It’s like cold and shit and those cats are freaking me out.” “Yup.” I said with a smile, tilting my head. “It’s haunted.” His eyes grew wide. “Bloody hell?” His voice was incredulous and he quickly looked around. “Seriously, though.” His voice wavered and a panic flitted across his face. “Can you just wait a second while I look?” I was taken aback. He was six-feet-tall and looked like he could thump anyone who messed with him and, yet, he was frightened out of his wits. I shrugged. “Okay. I’ll probably hear the bell if someone comes in.” It was a lie, but I wanted to stay close to this boy. For no good reason. “I’ll help you look.” Kneeling, I scanned the bottom shelf. He knelt beside me, reading the titles quietly out loud. It took a while, but then I found it on the second shelf from the top. “Voila!” I plucked it off the shelf and handed it to him, plopping it in his arms. It was heavy. I was rewarded a smile. “Great. Let’s get the hell out of here,” he said and took off without waiting for me. I followed him up the stairs this time, trying not to smile, but it was tough. He was still at the bookstore an hour later, stretched out on one of our old beat-up leather chairs, concentrating on whatever he was reading. For the rest of my shift, I mostly forgot he was even there as I went about my work. Every once in a while, I’d look over and watch him beneath my eyelashes. Watch how his brow furrowed for a few seconds and then he’d nod as if he just understood something. It was cute. When it was a few minutes after closing time, I cleared my throat until he looked up. Behind him through the window, I could see that the world outside was white with snow pummeling down. He looked up as I reached for my coat. “Oh.” He sat up straighter. “Oh. What time do you close?” He seemed dazed, his finger holding his place in the book. “Five minutes ago.” He scrambled up. “Oh dear, I’m sorry.” He shrugged on his coat. I laughed. Who said “oh, dear?” Nobody I knew. At least nobody under seventy. I waited for him to bring the book up to the counter to buy, but he didn’t, just held it dangling from his arm and then, seemingly reluctantly, set it on the coffee table. It was a heavy book. And expensive. At least for our used bookstore. It probably cost twenty-five dollars or more. Maybe if he was a college kid, like I suspected, he couldn’t afford it. He opened the door and paused. A whoosh of cold air and small flakes of snow swooped inside. Then he turned. “See you next time?” I didn’t know what to say so I just smiled. I’m sure it looked like a grimace. So that wasn’t awkward, was it? Totally. Cringy. After I was sure he was gone, disappeared into the whiteness of the snowstorm, I picked up the book and put it behind the counter on a shelf where I kept my things. I hoped the boy would come back for it. And I didn’t know why. Sure, his smile was nice. And he seemed smart. In addition, his accent proved he wasn’t from around here. All those things combined made him the most intriguing boy I’d ever met.
GIVEAWAY!
 
You've sensed it, but haven't acknowledged it, except in your darkest moments. You worry you are a horrible person. But you're not so bad, because truly awful people don't waste time thinking about such things. Look at all the other books on these shelves (virtual or actual). They all want you to feel better, whether you deserve to or not. If you want a pat on the hand and someone to tell you you're doing just fine, you got the wrong book. Why do you want more of that kind of shit? It's why you dig your rut deeper every year. It's why you keep making the same mistakes, repeating the same fucked up shit, and why you keep asking yourself why bad things happen to you. Bad shit will keep happening as long as you keep the same mentality that created those situations in the first place. But you don't even know what your thinking is doing to you, or which thoughts are fucking you up, so how the fuck are you ever going to change? You want comfort, talk to your grandma. You want to be a better you, and have good shit come your way? Read on. 
  
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42740913-the-little-book-of-big-roolz Amazon: https://amzn.to/2TTAAEP Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-little-book-of-big-roolz-sk-berit/1129780821?ean=2940155734109  
Twitter: @skberit
IG: @skberitofficial
 Full Girlfriend Experience
By Dana Ross
Dana is giving away 2 Full Girlfriend Experience ebooks during the tour. Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Remember there is a chance to enter everyday so be sure to follow the Blog Tour. You may find the tour schedule and locations here https://goo.gl/4Zd12n About Full Girlfriend Experience:  When DC Madam Faith Crawley receives a call from former client, Senator William Drummond, it's the answer to her prayers. The money the dirty politician offers her to smear his rival Finn Billings will save Faith's business, her lifestyle, and her girls.Raised in the shadow of a political magnate, Finn Billings has the credentials to get the job done, but he lacks confidence and wonders if politics is truly the life he desires. Using the façade of her front business, a PR firm, Faith turns Finn into a political powerhouse while obtaining the evidence Drummond needs to destroy Finn's political chances. But Faith didn't plan on falling in love with her mark. Now she has the toughest decision ever—give the sleazy senator incriminating photos of Finn to save her business or give up everything for the sake of love. Genre: Romantic Suspense Publisher: The Wild Rose Press Buy Links:
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Excerpt: In the biz, your word was golden, and there were rules that had to be upheld. White lies were acceptable, but there were certain lines one never crossed. Keep data in code, shield clients’ privacy, and, most importantly, protect the girls. At all costs. I’d always honored these precepts to the best of my abilities. It helped me stay afloat while other madams sank like flat tires in the Anacostia River. Yet there I was after one free lunch, considering a partnership with a man who didn’t deserve to lick my stilettoes. Why? Was it the champagne? Drummond’s smooth tongue? The fact that creditors were calling on a regular basis? Whatever the reason, I couldn’t dismiss him until I exhausted every option. Unfortunately, I only had one. Even worse, she hated my guts.
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