Title: Touch Me #3 by Skye Malone Series: Touch Me Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance Publisher: Wildflower Isle Publication Date: February 18, 2015 Cover Designer: Karri Klawiter
Monsters walk among us.
And now they have Ruby.
Best friend. Confidant. Ally when everything in my life felt like hell. There are very few people I trust.
And none of them come close to Ruby.
But now demons have her. House Volgert has taken her, demanding that I serve as their emissary to the equally dangerous and terrifying House Linden. But Linden is after me too.
I’m stuck between two titans of the demon world. I’m running out of options and I’m running out of time. But when I find out what demons do to the humans they capture, the nightmare gets even worse.
If I don’t find Ruby soon, it won’t matter if she escapes the Houses.
I’m still going to lose her forever.
**Touch Me 3 is the third installment of a New Adult paranormal romance serial filled with twists, turns, and dark surprises. This episode is 30,000 words (approximately 125 pages) long.**
**Due to strong language and some sexual situations in this and later installments of the series, it is appropriate for readers 18+.**
Skye Malone is a
fantasy and paranormal romance author, which means she spends most of her time
not-quite-convinced that the magical things she imagines couldn’t actually
exist.
A Midwestern
girl who migrated to the Pacific Northwest, she hopes someday to travel the world — though in the meantime she’ll take any story that whisks her off to a place where the fantastic lives inside the everyday. She loves strong and
passionate characters, complex villains, and satisfying endings that stay with
you long after the book is closed. An inveterate writer, she can’t go a day
without getting her hands on a keyboard, and can usually be found typing away
while she listens to all the adventures unfolding in her head.
Skye also writes YA urban fantasy as Megan Joel Peterson and is the author of The
Children and the Blood trilogy.
Amar is studying me. His hand moves, taking my own carefully
like he’s afraid I’ll pull away. And I freeze. The look in his eyes… it’s like
I’m all he sees. Me, now. Me, then, back in that restroom, alone in the moments
before Ruby walked in. But there’s no pity in his gaze. Just something else,
dark and deep.
Safety.
I can’t breathe. My thoughts are trying to catch up to my
impressions, struggling to put words to a man so unfathomable it should be
funny. I don’t know what he wants, though. To kiss me? To have sex? Somewhere
inside, I’m still ready for that, but that part of me feels like it’s drowning
in the nightmare of this evening, the exhaustion of all the hours since, and
the rawness of what I’ve just said.
He lifts his other hand, taking my cheek, and his thumb
strays across my lips, parting them while his eyes track the motion. My heart
slams into my ribs. Even the simple contact makes my insides start to burn.
Maybe I’m drowning in all this madness.
The Dreamer E.J. Mellow
(Dreamland #1)
Publication date: May 15th 2015
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult
THE DREAMER has been awarded a Silver for Best Fantasy/Science Fiction from the eLit Book Awards & a Finalist medal for Best Cover Design from the Next Generation Indie Book Awards.
It’s night. Always night. Dreams guard against the evil forged by nightmares. Infinite shooting stars illuminate a moonless sky. A city stands alone, surrounded by a darkened field. On its fringes, a man watches one star separate from the masses and fall. What survives the crash will unveil a secret centuries long hidden.
Molly hasn’t slept well since the night of her twenty-fourth birthday. Being struck by lightning might have something to do with it, but then again, her chicken did look a little undercooked at dinner. Whatever the culprit, her life quickly catapults from mundane to insane as, night after night, Molly is transported through her once dreamless sleep to a mysterious land illuminated by shooting stars.
There she meets the captivating but frustrating Dev, and together they discover Molly possesses a power coveted by his people—the ability to conjure almost anything she desires into existence. Seduced by the possibilities of this gift, Molly shifts her attention from waking life toward the man, the magic, and the world found in her dreams.
But Molly must ask herself—does something truly exist if you only see it when you close your eyes?
Faced with the threat of losing everything—her job, best friend, boyfriend, and most importantly, that little thing called her sanity—Molly will learn just how far she’ll go to uncover what is real and what is merely a figment of her imagination.
Reaching out, I coax him to hand over whatever he’s concealing. He wears a playful smile that slips away when he sees my arm. Noticing that I’ve extended my bandaged wrist, I move it away, but Dev gingerly grabs my hand and brings it closer.
“No! I don’t think you should do that,” I say as he begins to unwrap the bandage, remembering what the doctor told me about exposing the burn too much. He holds me steady.
“Do you want this to heal?”
“What?”
“It’s a simple question. Do you want this to heal?” He nods to my bandage.
“Of course I do.” I frown. “I want nothing more than for it to heal so I don’t have to wear this stupid thing.”
As soon as I finish speaking, the coolness of his hands seep through the bandage and reaches my skin. The sensation startles me, and I try tugging my arm back, but Dev laces his long fingers with mine, holding me in place. After a beat he continues to unwrap the dressing, my newly exposed skin feeling sensitive in the fresh air.
My breath catches at what I’m pretty sure shouldn’t be there. The puffy, raw skin I was used to seeing circle my wrist is now nothing more than an ugly scab. How did it heal so fast? I slowly turn my hand over, lightly touching it to make sure it’s real.
“The mind is a powerful thing, Molly. Always remember that.”
He looks so much older in this moment…his eyes seem to hold centuries of secrets. I wonder what his age actually is. I thought he was just a few years older than myself, but now that I see his face smoothly lit by the night sky, empty of anything but a gentle expression, he possesses something ancient.
“What type of jewelry were you wearing?” He brings me back to the present by lightly stroking the sensitive part of my wrist.
I hold in a shiver. “Um, a charm bracelet. It was a gift for my birthday.”
He removes his hand. “Who gave it to you?”
I hesitate. Jared obviously gave it to me, but do I just say that? Then Dev will ask who Jared is, and for some reason I’m reluctant to admit what he might be to me.
I tuck my hair behind my ear. “A guy.”
Dev searches my eyes as I try to read how my answer might have affected him—deep down, I know I desperately want it to.
Dear Lord! What is wrong with me? This guy isn’t even real! And isn’t this the same man who made me furious earlier tonight?
“What do you do when you’re awake?”
“What?”
“What do you do when you’re not here? Do you have a job?”
“Uh, yes I have a job…” I hesitate, confused by the change of subject. “It’s all very boring though.”
He pushes me to explain, asking question after question about my mundane existence.
Slowly, his voice begins to fade and sound distant. I dig my fingers into the grass in an attempt to hold myself here, and Dev flashes me a sad smile.
“I’m waking up, aren’t I?”
“Yes.”
“But I wanted to ask you questions now.”
He reaches out, grazing my cheek with his hand. The sensation of his touch is barely there as my body has begun to recognize another surrounding. “There will be plenty of time for that.” His voice is buried under layers, and my heart trembles that there might not be. Will I dream of this again?
With that last thought, light fills my vision, and my eyes flutter open to early morning rays stretching into my window, laying their gentle warmth on my skin like a touch I long to remember.
Author Bio:
E.J. Mellow is the Award Winning author behind the NA Contemporary Fantasy trilogy The Dreamland Series. With a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, E.J. Mellow splits her time between her two loves – visual design and writing. Residing in NYC, E.J. is a member of Romance Writers of America and their Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal Chapter. She has no animals but loves those who do.
Lindsay Paige is the author of multiple Young Adult, New Adult, and Sports romances. She also coauthored sports romances with Mary Smith. Along with writing, she loves reading, watching hockey, especially the Pittsburgh Penguins, and finding funny terrible puns and recipes on Pinterest. All the while, she is also focused on completing college.
Lindsay resides in North Carolina and is inspired by the world around her and the people in it. She is currently working on numerous solo works.
The Lunam Ceremony Nicole Loufas
Publication date: May 20th 2016
Genres: New Adult, Urban Fantasy
Born from a curse that allows her kind to shift from human to wolf, Kalysia won the genetic lottery. She is the offspring of an original, born to lead and bound by her duty to produce an heir to continue their bloodline she must leave the only life she has ever known to take part in The Lunam Ceremony. This ancient ritual will solidify her place in the pack and determine who she will love for the rest of her life. There’s just one problem – Kalysia doesn’t believe in love.
That changes when she falls into the hands of Dillan Dukes. The attraction is undeniable. The connection unbreakable. He is everything love at first site is supposed to be, suddenly her future doesn’t look that bad.
Unwilling to give up hope on going to college and having the life her and Dillan fantasize about outside the pack, she reluctantly takes on the role as pack leader. When an unexpected proposal is made that will grant both Dillan and Kalysia their freedom she is willing to put her ego, and her heart aside, to make her dream come true.
One night.
One act of selflessness.
For the life she’s always dreamt about.
Only things are not what they seem.
Can Kalysia and Dillan find happily ever after with the consequences of that night haunting them forever?
Will one fateful night destroy Kalysia’s future along with the future of the pack?
A loud boom rattles the windows in the building and I hit the floor. It sounds like a bomb has gone off, but I hear laughing and the music comes back on. It was just fireworks. I make my way back downstairs and out the back door. I’ll hide in the woods. By the time the ceremony starts and Layla notices I’m missing, it will be too late to find me.
I see Bonnie and Jessie carrying out the white garments. It’s almost time. I move towards the woods and I spot Cassie looking for me. I flatten myself against the wall and slide across it until I reach the end of the building. I round the corner and take off in a full sprint towards the woods. I make it three steps and then I trip.
That hurt. I spit dirt from my mouth as I push myself up to a sitting position. I look down at my knee and hear someone laughing. When I turn my head, I see Dillan Dukes leaning against the wall.
“Slow down there, speedy,” he quips.
In moments like this, there is nothing you can say. All you can do is laugh. I burst into an uncontrollable fit of laughter. Dillan joins me on the ground.
“Are you laughing with me or at me?” I finally ask.
“A little of both.” His voice is deep and sexy. He smells like sage and cigarettes. “I’m Dillan, by the way.” He holds his hand out to me and I shake it.
“I know who you are. I’m Kalysia.”
“I know who you are.” He smiles and turns my hand over. “Don’t worry about this.” He swipes his fingers across the scrapes on my palm. “After Lunam, you’ll be all healed.”
“So I’ve heard,” I say as Dillan springs off the ground and helps me up.
We stand face to face in silence. I feel his heart beating between us and suddenly something sparks inside of me. This time the burning begins in my chest. My breathing becomes erratic. I taste his breath on my tongue, and I want to kiss him. I edge forward until we are chest to chest. He steps back. I reach for his hand, and he pulls away.
“Kalysia, we can’t,” he whispers into the space between us. “Lunam is beginning.” He brushes his lips across my hand and walks away.
Author Bio:
Nicole was born and raised in California. She claims to be a San Francisco native, however she’s lived in both Northern and Southern California. She credits her creativity to the fact that she attended 12 schools between kindergarten and her senior year in high school. Her nomadic childhood allowed her to reinvent herself often. Some might say she was a liar. While others see the stories she told as a coping mechanism. Twelve schools, in six cities, in twelve years – give her a break. Today she channels her storytelling ability into writing novels. Long story short – kids that lie become writers.
The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader and find a sentence or a few (no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.
Then go over to Freda’s Voice and leave your link so we can visit your 56!
My 56 for this week is from
A Hold On Me
The Dark Heart Series #1
by Pat Esden
Genre: New Adult Paranormal/Fantasy Romance
My 56 from the paperback.
“Confining a soul like this is despicable.”
Then, before I could turn and run, Dad closed the distance between us. The old-time straight razor he used for shaving appeared in his fisted hand….What the hell?
He grabbed my hair in one hand, yanked my head back, and sliced the back side of my ear with the blade.
In this scene, her father isn’t trying to kill her. Something strange has come over him.
Read on if you want to know more.
~~~~~
Synopsis
She never wanted to return.
He wants nothing more than for her to leave.
But the fire between them is as strong as the past that haunts them.
Annie Freemont grew up on the road, immersed in the romance of rare things, cultivating an eye for artifacts and a spirit for bargaining. It’s a freewheeling life she loves and plans to continue–until her dad is diagnosed with dementia. His illness forces them to return to Moonhill, their ancestral home on the coast of Maine–and to the family they left behind fifteen years ago, after Annie’s mother died in a suspicious accident.
Once at Moonhill, Annie is shocked when her aunt separates her from her father. The next time Annie sees him, he’s a bizarre, violent shadow of his former self. Confused, she turns to an unlikely ally for support–Chase, the dangerously seductive young groundskeeper. With his dark good looks and powerful presence, Chase has an air of mystery that Annie is irresistibly drawn to. But she also senses that behind his penetrating eyes are secrets she can’t even begin to imagine. Secrets that hold the key to the past, to Annie’s own longings–and to all of their futures. Now, to unlock them, she’ll have to face her greatest fears and embrace her legacy…
The small wooden box is dirty, the size of a human fist, and sealed with wax. When Corbin takes it upon herself to clean it and break the seal, a voice she has tried to ignore gathers strength. Shadows play on the walls at night, and with a family history of mental illness, Corbin fears the worst. But the voice tells her it is real. That its name is Six and it will prove it in time.
Drawn to this mysterious entity, Corbin isn’t sure what to believe and the line between reality and her imagination blurs more every day.
Some doors should not be opened; can this one be closed?
A tap on the window. Something that was too much like a tree branch to really draw any attention. Then it got louder. I shoved the pillow over my head, sinking its weight into the cool fabric and throwing the covers over my head for extra good measure. I almost forgot where I was until I felt the rough fabric of the blanket that wasn’t mine. I tried to open my eyes, but I didn’t care enough to exert the amount of energy it took. Instead, I rolled over, sinking deeper into the darkness surrounding me.
I knew somehow that I had slept through all the daily activities, through group therapy and arts and crafts and TV hour. I knew it was past lights out and I found myself not caring that it would all be monitored. I could stay in this room, in this bed forever. Somewhere between sleeping and waking, between my body and muddy, thick mind, I heard the voice. I couldn’t understand what it said, but it was a gentle, almost cooing sound, like one a mother would use on a child who had woken in the middle of the night from a bad dream. But they were down the hall and too far away to offer me anything.
The blanket shifted and I couldn’t see because my eyes were closed; the blankets and pillow still covered my head. A moment of quiet, then the mattress dipped in next to me, in front of me. My heart pounded in my head, my throat. A second later, the pillow slid from my head, but I couldn’t tell if it was my own doing. My head was too heavy; my thoughts were too clogged to get one solitary explanation through.
Hush now, the voice whispered. It was right next to my ear, right next to me. I’ll show you.
Yes. Show me. Show me how to be insane. Show me how to be just like my mother. I kept my eyes completely closed.
Corbin, said the voice. As much as I hated to admit it, I liked the sound of my name in its tone. I liked how it hit me deep. It was the sound of sand being blown by the sea on a windy day. It was the feeling of fingers in your hair as you fell asleep, tangled limbs after a closely spent night. Softness and hardness of an intimate touch, one that couldn’t have possibly been delivered by anyone or anything else.
“Yes?” I hadn’t realized I said the word out loud until my hot breath was bouncing back at me against the covers. I was afraid my roommate would hear, but her heavy snoring reassured me.
So you are with me, it whispered. Each word caressed my face, sent warm shivers through my skin and into the bone.
I opened my mouth to say something else, but I couldn’t think of anything; I doubted I would even be able to get the words past my teeth.
Hushhhhhh, said the voice. I felt something slightly cold, yet not completely solid against my waist. It wasn’t enough to make me shiver. It wasn’t anything that woke me further from the drugs. My shirt slipped upward, past my belly button before it stopped.
I inhaled sharply and turned over onto my back, convinced that I was half-dreaming and if I switched positions, the dream would change just as easily.
A few moments of silence. A few moments of the tapping on the glass, the rustle of the wind outside as the rain pelted the roof. It lulled me back into comfort, back into darkness.
My little crow, crooned the voice. Again, right in my ear, right in front of my face. It made the blackness behind my eyelids shake, sprout leaves and take root. My precious petal.
I was almost unaware of the sheet moving off of me, the blankets shifting until I heard them rumple into a careless pile on the floor. My face became warm, the smell of damp dirt in my nostrils, the sound of static electricity zipping through my brain, setting off synapses to synapses.
“What are you doing?” I whispered. But my voice sounded so far away, like I was standing on top of a very high tower and trying to make my words heard to people down below.
I felt my hair being moved from my forehead, then a small, sweet amount of pressure applied there. Kissing you, my love.
I liked the gesture. It overrode any logic, any sense of self I could bring forth from the darkness.
“Why do you only kiss me at night?” I whispered.
Another small peck, warm and then cool against my cheek. I am strongest at this hour. The words slithered around my skin, crawled to the back of my skull like some creature that had suddenly sprouted legs. And you are most open to me.
“Open?” I asked, my head swimming with medication, my eyes glued shut, my body heavy with sleep that had yet to come.
I felt the slight breath of an amused, silent laugh. Yessssss, the voice whispered. Open, my crow.
I opened my eyes, but I was only met with darkness. I knew that it was all in my head as the dim room spun around me, but I didn’t care. I didn’t want to think about it or what it meant. It was easier to pretend. If I was the only one who knew, I was the only one who knew the truth. I couldn’t be losing my mind if I was so in control of it.
~~~~~
About the Author:
Nikki Rae is an independent author who lives in New Jersey. She explores human nature through fiction, concentrating on making the imaginary as real as possible. Her genres of choice are mainly dark, scary, romantic tales, but she’ll try anything once. When she is not writing, reading, or thinking, you can find her spending time with animals, drawing in a quiet corner, or studying people. Closely.
Monster Monstre Mira Toria
Publication date: February 7th 2016
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal
Welcome to Axane.
Where the monsters are real and wicked has already come this way.
1×01 — Pilot
Aurore Duval never thought she would be foolish enough to fall into a trap, let alone one constructed by humans. She’s a witch, but she was careless. Now she and Matthias Levitt are caught up in something more dangerous than anything they ever could have expected… and may just cause the unravelling of a world she thought she knew.
1×02 — Papercuts
Still recovering from her previous adventure with Matthias, Aurore is plunged into another mystery. The Paranormal Crime Division are stumped by the bodies arriving in the morgue. Something that seemingly kills without a motive — or remorse — is on the loose, and differences must be set aside to solve the case.
But while the deaths seem random, Aurore is forced to admit to herself that the monster may not be unfamiliar and there’s a chance she’s the next victim on the list.
Join Aurore and Matthias as they team up to solve paranormal mysteries and discover that not all monsters hide in the dark.
Sometimes the worst monsters are the ones that live inside us.
Mira Toria is a a bit of a romantic even though she flat out denies it. She daydreams more often than she would like to admit and often times she can be found scribbling story ideas onto any writeable surface because a clean napkin comes to mind before her phone.
She is also 1/5th of MALICE Authors, a group of authors that have banded together with their love of story telling to bring together an array of stories.
Dealing with the loss of his fiancée, Emma, and the confusion of his troubled relationship with her sister, Dawson Phillips decides to leave his hometown of Parish Cove behind.
As he battles between denial and depression, Dawson travels the states placing distance between himself and his painful memories of Emma’s death. With each rolling mile behind him, he gains new hope that he will eventually be able to repair his tattered heart.
The problem: He never thought he’d heal while igniting feelings for someone else.
Strengths will be tested. Boundaries will be blurred. And hope will mend the hearts of those fearing they would stay forever crumbled.
Teaser
Emotions warred through me, making it hard for me to decipher what I was feeling. Closing my eyes, I tried to still my pounding heart and calm my thoughts. Lightning struck close by, lighting the backs of my eyelids. I counted, waiting for another loud clap of thunder to follow. I’d made it to twenty-four before it happened again.
Twenty-four.
My eyes snapped open. I glanced at my cell. The date and time stared back at me, piercing me straight through the heart.
It was October 24. The day I was supposed to marry the love of my life.
_________________________
Book #1
Paper Thin by Jennifer Snyder
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Available September 29th, 2015
Fate has always seemed to mock Charlotte Montgomery, continuously dangling the man of her dreams just out of reach. It isn’t until Charlotte receives word her older sister Emma is getting engaged that she feels fate’s teasing has hit a new high.
Once she begrudgingly decides to return home to the tiny town of Parish Cove, curious to find out who has captured her sister’s heart, fate suddenly seems as though it may have tossed her a bone.
The problem: Charlotte forgot one simple thing…Fate has never been her friend.
Emotions run high. Happiness will be shattered. And tragedy will strike, leaving everyone feeling paper thin.
I’ve read Tellulah’s Blooming Goddess series and had a blast with them, so I was excited to read her newest release, Get Real.
She always has fun, flirty characters and if I go by the cover for this one, there’s more fun in store.
Enjoy my review.
And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!
Get Real
byTellulah Darling
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(Get Real, #1)
Publication date: September 26th 2015
Genres: Comedy, New Adult, Paranormal, Romance
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My Review
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Sure, there’s a lot going on in this book. Covert ops, a wanna be paranormal detective. Supernatural shenanigans. But that’s only part of it.
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I’m huge on character driven stories and Get Real has some fun ones.
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I fell for Francesca immediately. She’s snarky, sexy, and so ready to become a paranormal detective and kick some supernatural butt.
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Enter bad boy Rafael. Ooh, he’s swoon worthy to look at, has the under the lashes come hither look down pat, and a mouth begging to be kissed.
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When Francesca and Rafa catch each others eye at a party, the heat goes up in the room. When they end up together in the bathroom, their kiss is steamy.
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If you’re thinking, oh no, another love at first story, you’d be right, for a few minutes. Then Rafa drops an ice cube on the passion and walks away, leaving Francesca gasping for air. You can bet she’s not happy. She knew better than to go with a bad guy like Rafa. See if he ever kisses her again.
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There are some other fun characters, but these two really had me going. The snarky dialogue, their inner thoughts, all of it cracked me up.
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What happens next, you ask? You guessed it. Francesca and Rafa wind up having to work together as the world around them starts going wiggy. And that’s just as fun. The two of them are as busy trying to ignore their attraction for each other, as they are for trying to stay alive.
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Nothing but fun here. Looking for a little mystery and danger, some witty dialogue, and steamy romance? You should read this book. I promise you’ll laugh.
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4 Stars
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~~~~~~
Synopsis:
Magic and Mayhem in Manhattan
Francesca Bellafiore comes from a nice Jewish family — one that happens to have magical powers. Underneath her good-girl exterior, though, she’s a wannabe badass with dreams of becoming a paranormal detective.
Party boy Rafael Muñoz does everything possible to publicly disappoint his high profile father. Privately, it’s a different story. His carefully crafted bad boy reputation masks the fact he’s a master illusionist, forced into solo covert ops. The role is wearing thin and Rafael longs to be part of a team.
When Francesca and Rafael meet, it’s love at first sight… For about five minutes. Rafael is spectacularly attractive—and, Francesca discovers, fully aware of the fact. Rafael knows from experience that girls like Francesca are more trouble than they’re worth.
So it sucks big time when they’re caught in a web of magic, minions, secrets, and enough sexual tension to power NYC. Their only chance to save the city and survive is to team up, trust each other–and maybe even fall in love.
Provided they don’t kill each other first.
Get Real is a romantic comedy, urban fantasy whirlwind with sass, sex, and swoon.
Tellulah Darling
nounSassy girls. Swoony boys. What could go wrong?1) YA & New Adult romantic comedy author because her first kiss sucked and she’s compensating.
2) Firm believer that some of the best stories happen when love meets comedy and awkwardness ensues.
3) Sassy minx.Both a hopeless romantic and total cynic, Tellulah Darling is all about the happily-ever-after, with a huge dose of hilarity along the way. Her romcoms come in a variety of flavours and heat levels.Author links:
