Posts Tagged ‘romance’

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page.
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
~

My tease for today is from Broken Illusions by Ellie James

A Midnight Dragonfly Novel

Broken Illusions (Midnight Dragonfly, #2)

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A sexy, suspenseful paranormal thriller.

Here’s my tease.

“Love isn’t supposed to have conditions,” I said, staring at the dull haze of moonlight from behind the clouds. “Or rules. It’s not supposed to hurt.”

Chase stiffened. I felt it, even through the feather-light touch of his fingers.

 Love was something we didn’t talk about.

“How can it not hurt?” he asked quietly. “When someone else has that much control over you?”

I’m about two-thirds through with this one and it’s fun. I like books with a psychic element and this  has a lot of suspense and some light romance.

~

How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

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Have you seen the cover art for A.M. Hargrove’s upcoming new release Kissing Fire?

Well, I have it here just for you.

I love it! Check it out!

What do you think?

Read further to get the description and she’s also given us a teaser!

Make sure you read all the way through and catch sight of all of Hargrove’s other books too!

She has some amazing covers and I’ve read all of the books and can tell you, they are incredible!

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Releasing April 15th!

Kissing Fire….Description

Preston Mitchell, undercover DEA agent, has led a life of danger and obscurity. Knowing his job would never allow a normal relationship, he’s never opened himself up to any woman…that is until the lovely Avery Middleton stumbles into his life.

To the outsider, Avery has it all…wealth, family, connections and a great job. But on the inside, she’s miserable. Her social life is in the dumpster, the kooky gal next door has some zany plans for her and her selfish mother drives Avery to the point of insanity. Her only salvation is to get out of Charleston and start a new life. So that’s precisely what she does. She moves to Seattle and steps right into the path of hot and sexy, Preston.

Unfortunately for both of them, Avery ends up being in the wrong place at the wrong time and is now running for her life. But she’s not alone. She has a gorgeous DEA agent protecting her and suddenly finds herself irresistibly captivated by him. There’s only one problem. Preston carries more than his share of mental baggage, courtesy of his job. His covert missions have put him in places and situations he can barely stand to think about. Avery rocks Preston’s world because she is nothing like anyone he’s ever met and something extraordinary begins to happen between them.  But can their love survive in this world, where danger, intrigue and deception lurk on every corner?

KISSING FIRE Teaser

Boy oh boy, was Preston hot. Make that boiling. Scorching. Molten lava kind of hot. Messy dark brown, slightly wavy hair that was not long but not short either. And, oh what a mouth he had. His mouth made me want to jump on board and ride that train for life. His lips were the perfect kind of full and every so often, he’d run his tongue across them and I’d automatically squirm. His face was pure angular perfection…high cheekbones with those slight hollows beneath them, that were the perfect shape to accommodate my lips. But those eyes…my oh my. They were golden brown, like coffee with lots of cream. I could only imagine what they looked like right when he was…

Cheezits Ava, get your head out of the bedroom!

“Wouldn’t you agree Ava?” my brother was asking me.

I shook my head and swallowed. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

“We were talking about the weather here in the summer and I was saying how much more pleasant it is than in Charleston?”

“Oh, yes it is.” Was my voice breathy sounding, or was it my imagination?

Preston was wearing jeans that rode low on his hips. They were tight and he had a superior set of buns. What would I pay to see those babies?

“Ava? What do you think?” someone asked.

“Buns!” I blurted out.

“Excuse me?” Caroline, my sister-in-law, asked.

Holy Toledo, did I just say buns out loud? What the hell Ava!!!

“Fun! Anything sounds fun!” I quickly said.

“Ava, you look a little flushed. Are you sure you’re feeling okay?”

“Hot! I mean no, I’m fine.” I looked across the room and my face totally flamed. Everyone was staring at me. I had unbuttoned my blouse and was fanning myself. I’d noticed that Preston had a gloriously hot tattoo of a sideways cross on his arm. I think I needed to go home.

“So Avery, where are you staying?” Caroline asked.

“Oh, I’m at the Four Sexy. Seasons! I mean the Four Seasons.”

Oh dear God, I need to get my act together here.

About the author and her books.
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A.M. Hargrove

One day, on her way home from work as a sales manager, A. M. Hargrove, realized her life was on fast forward and if she didn’t do something soon, it would quickly be too late to write that work of fiction she had been dreaming of her whole life.  So, she rolled down the passenger window of her fabulous (not) company car and tossed out her leather briefcase.  Luckily, the pedestrian in the direct line of fire was a dodgeball pro and had über quick reflexes enabling him to avoid getting bashed in the head.  Feeling a tad guilty about the near miss, A. M. made a speedy turn down a deserted side street before tossing her crummy, outdated piece-of-you-know-what lap top out the window.   She breathed a liberating sigh of relief, picked up her cell phone and hit #4 on her speed dial.

“Hello.” “Boss, is that you?” “Why yes, A. M., who else would be answering my phone?” “Er… right.  Well, I’m calling to let you know you can pick up my luxury Ford Focus at Starbucks near the interstate.” “Why ever would I want to do that?” “Because I quit you idiot!”

A.M. hit the end button and speed dialed her husband.

“Hi hubs, can you pick me up at Starbucks?” “Sure… Having some car trouble?” “Not at all.  I don’t have a car to have trouble with because I just quit my job.” “WHAT?!” “It’s time for a new career and I am going to be a very famous novelist.”

So began A. M. Hargrove’s career as a young adult paranormal romance author of self-published ebooks.  Her series, The Guardians of Vesturon, centers around a family of six siblings and is a mix of humor, mystery, suspense and of course, love. If you’re wondering, it didn’t happen EXACTLY that way, but….

Author links:

   Blog        http://www.amhargrove.blogspot.com/
   Twitter      http://www.twitter.com/amhargrove1

Goodreads   http://www.goodreads.com/amhargrove1

 The Guardians of Vesturon Series

Beginnings: Prequel to The Guardians of Vesturon Survival (The Guardians of Vesturon, #1)  Resurrection (The Guardians of Vesturon, #2)  Determinant (The Guardians of Vesturon #3)

The Praestani Novels

  Dark Waltz (Praestani, #1)

Edge Novels

  Edge of Disaster (An Edge Novel, #1)  Shattered Edge (An Edge Novel, #2)

I won Thread on Arrival by Amanda Lee from a giveaway on Lori’s blog escape with dollycas.

I fell in love with the soft, pastel colors on the cover art. I love a cover that is, well, cozy.

Thread on Arrival (An Embroidery Mystery, #5)

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It’s been almost a year since Marcy moved to Tallulah Falls and opened up her embroidery shop,  The Seven-Year Stitch. She’s made some close friends and even has a couple of love interests.

When she agreed to help her friend, Reggie, by teaching an embroidery class to abused women, she had no idea she’d become entangled in a hunt for lost treasure and a murder.

The town and its denizens reminds of Cabot Cove from Murder She Wrote. Everyone knows each others business and like with most small towns, news travels faster than the telephone.

Marcy is a smart business woman, a very loyal friend, and is either gifted or cursed with an impulsive nature. She dives into things quickly, wanting to help out, and often lands in hot water. Her close-knit (no pun intended) group of friends are often right in the middle of it with her.

In the beginning, there is a bit of a love triangle, but Marcy makes her choice fairly early on in the book. She’s not a player, doesn’t want anyone to get hurt. She just cautious after her last relationship ended badly.

The fact she has this giant wolfhound, Angus, really drew me to this story. If you don’t know the breed, they are one of the largest dogs, over six feet standing on their hind legs. Marcy, or Inch-High Private Eye, as her beau fondly calls her, is a tiny thing and her dog dwarfs her.

Angus is the first to know when Marcy chooses her man.

I giggle. “I’ve got a boyfriend, Angus!”

From the back seat, he woofed his approval before slurping my ear with his tongue.

I totally approve of her choice. He’s sexy, funny, and his more serious nature is a perfect match for the impetuous Marcy.

“Is this where I say something horribly corny like Yeah, but you’re a thief – you stole my heart?” he asked.

From murder, to a new beau, to a reality show, Marcy is right in the thick of things. Now she just needs to put the threads together, to solve the mystery before anyone else ends up dead.

As I got a little ways into the book, I realized this was a series and Thread on Arrival wasn’t the first book.  Imagine my surprise and delight to discover this was book #5 in the Embroidery Series. Four more cozy mysteries to read.

I had no trouble reading this book before the others. The author placed small bits of history from the other books throughout the story, kind of filling in the blanks. You could read this without having read the others and feel completely comfortable and satisfied.

Of course, I’ll be reading the other four books. Right at 300 pages, I read this in about three hours, and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Almost forgot! When I was checking out other books by the author, I found out Amanda Lee is a pseudonym for Gayle Trent. She has also written The Daphne Martin Series and the Myrtle Crumb Series.

Four Stars for this sparkling read.

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About the author

Gayle Trent

Amanda Lee is a pseudonym of Gayle Trent.

Series:
* Embroidery Mystery

(from Gayle Trent’s webpage)

“Thank you so much for stopping by my site!

I live in Southwest Virginia with my husband and two beautiful children, a boy and a girl. I’m a full-time writer/editor/mom/wife and chief cook and bottle washer, and I love every minute of it. Okay, not the bottle washing so much, but the rest of it is great.

I’m happy to introduce you to my latest characters, cake decorator Daphne Martin and embroidery shop owner Marcy Singer.

Read more about Daphne and Marcy at my blog.

Who’s Amanda Lee?

Amanda Lee is a pseudonym Gayle is using for the new cozy mystery series featuring a heroine who owns an embroidery shop. The series is set on the Oregon Coast and features Marcy Singer, a spunky, thirty-something, entrepreneur who is handy with a needle.

Goodreads

Website

Twitter

The Embroidery Series

The Quick and the Thread (An Embroidery Mystery, #1) Stitch Me Deadly (An Embroidery Mystery, #2)  Thread Reckoning (An Embroidery Mystery, #3)  The Long Stitch Good Night (An Embroidery Mystery, #4)  Thread on Arrival (An Embroidery Mystery, #5)

Go here for more of Amanda Lee’s books.

And go here for Gayle Trent’s books.

I’ve always loved reading stories about firefighters and investigators. It’s fascinating and terrifying.

Fire and Ash sounds like it will keep me on my toes, staying one step ahead of the flames!

Fire and Ash by Anne Patrick



Fire and Ash is the story of female fire investigator Sadie McGregor.  When she was a child, Sadie lost her family in a horrific fire that still haunts her.  She’s now been called in to investigate a fatality fire in her hometown of Emerald Point, Missouri. What Sadie and the handsome new police chief discover will not only affect those close to them, but will rock the entire community.
 
 
Reviews and Awards
“This is a beautiful, yet hard-hitting story, fluently written, presenting characters you fall in love with.” ~ Reviewed by Fennel at LASR
“A Top Pick! Another Fantastic Novel!!!! Anne Patrick’s novel, “Fire and Ash” is a well-written novel that flows wonderfully. A fantastic read!” ~ Night Owl Reviews
“A wonderful read, this book had me laughing and crying. True to life characters and vivid descriptions, along with comedy and heart stopping moments, make this a page turner you’ll want to read again.” ~ Happily Ever After Reviews
“As a forensics show enthusiast, I found that Anne Patrick, in her book, Fire and Ash, goes into great, minute detail of the fire investigation, that puts you on the scent of a perpetrator.  Her unique ability to incorporate multiple plots to throw you off course makes the pages fly by to connect the dots.”  ~ Onedesertrose’s Christian Book Reviews Blog
“As a retired fire investigator I have to say kudos to Ms Patrick on her research. I normally don’t read romantic suspense, but this book sounded intriguing so I couldn’t resist. I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED” ~Review from ‘Fireboy’ at Christianbook.com


Received Four Stars from Romantic Times Book Reviews!
LASR BEST BOOK of 2010 Nominee!
‘Best Inspirational’ 2010 at The Romance Reviews!
#1 Bestselling Suspense eBook, and #1 Bestselling Romance eBook at Christianbook.com!
Amazon Top 100 Bestseller in Christian Fiction!
 

Author Anne Patrick

 
Anne Patrick is the author of more than a dozen novels of Romance, Mayhem & Faith, including the award winning and bestselling WOUNDED HEROES SERIES, FIRE AND ASH, and TIES THAT BIND. When she isn’t working on her next novel she enjoys spending time with family and friends, and traveling to foreign countries to experience new cultures and adventures. Born and raised in Oklahoma, she now makes her home in Kansas. 



She loves to hear from her readers!

Book Blast Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 4/10/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you for visiting fuonlyknew.

For all of my giveaways go here.

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I love being a part of this Cover Reveal for The Last Hour by Charles Sheehan -Miles !

Isn’t it gorgeous?

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Title: The Last Hour

Author: Charles Sheehan-Miles

Genre: Contemporary fiction

Age Group: Adult

Cover Designer: Okay Creations

Expected release date: May 15, 2013

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Twenty-seven year old Carrie Thompson-Sherman has the life she always wanted: her PhD, a prestigious fellowship, and an amazing husband.

Her life begins to unravel as a jealous colleague puts her fellowship in jeopardy and a haunting secret Ray Sherman carried home from Afghanistan comes to light.

Hounded by a federal investigation and the ensuing media feeding frenzy, Carrie and Ray desperately lean on each other, until a disastrous accident puts both Ray and her sister’s lives at risk.

In the last hour, Carrie and Ray will each find themselves faced with a choice.

A choice that will change everything.

About the Author

Charles Sheehan-Miles

Charles Sheehan-Miles has been a soldier, computer programmer, short-order cook and non-profit executive. He is the author of several fiction and non-fiction books, including the indie bestsellers Just Remember to Breathe and Republic: A Novel of America’s Future.

Charles Sheehan-Miles | Facebook | Twitter

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Welcome to my stop on the tour for Fare Well by Penny Piva hosted be Good Choice Reading Promotions .

I’m celebrating this newest release with my review.

Let’s get to know Madeleine.

Fare Well

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Available on Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Description

Thrown together at the funeral of a mutual friend, Madeleine’s three closest friends come from different parts of her life –her childhood, her former job, and a failed relationship. Tragedy and their fondness for Madeleine bring them together. Their fondness for each other forges new friendships that strengthen through sickness, a bad marriage, a crack in a seemingly-perfect life, and an unplanned pregnancy.

Through this all, Madeleine must overcome the pain of her former relationship and the loss of a once-successful career. With memories of her childhood friendship and her beloved nana running through her mind, she learns to live for the future—a new guy, a new job, and renewed, honest relationships

My Review

When I first met Madeleine, she was at a former co-workers funeral. Her and Amy used to teach at the same school.

Madeleine used to envy Amy for her size zero figure and her bubbling, genuinely caring personality. Never would she have imagined her being murdered. Now she’s at her house, listening to the comments usually spoken at these things, and hanging out by the food tables.

That’s where she is as she encounters each of her friends. Each one from a different time or place in her life. Seems they all feel a bit lost.

Madeline takes you on a journey, flashing back and forth to different remembrances in her life as she starts a new one. She’s sent her boyfriend Rob to California to pursue his dream, ending a nine-year relationship. She quit her teaching job of ten years. Now she’s alone, jobless, and at a loss. She’s also afraid.

Afraid of what the future holds, what new symptoms will appear.

She can’t tell her friends about her illness.

‘It wasn’t something she really wanted to reveal to anyone. Her mother hovering and her dad looking at her differently, like she might just break if pushed too hard or too far was more than enough. She wanted to be the same to everyone. She wanted her friends to treat her the same as always, obnoxiously or nicely…’

‘She’d keep up the secrets and lies.’

She wonders about Rose, her ex-beau’s mother, and why she’s injected herself into her circle of friends. What could she be up to? Is she just lonely?

Are they all just lonely? It seems like they are all needing each other and it seems like food is always a part of it. I guess that’s why they call it ‘comfort food.’

It’s not all serious. There are some lighter moments. Here’s a funny scene I really liked, and yep, it’s got food in it?

Ellen and Madeleine

“Please, my grandmother messes up frozen dinners. Can you imagine the pain she’d cause Mother Nature if we gave her real food to cook?”

“It’s a wonder you didn’t starve to death when you were a kid,” Madeleine joked.

“Why do you think I was always over here even when you weren’t? I was hungry! Thank God I learned how to drive so now I can forage for my own food.”

“At McDonald’s.”

“I’ve never been much of a hunter or a gatherer.’

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As you get to know Madeleine and her friends. you’ll learn they all have secrets.

I wanted to know what was going on with her friend Maria, what wasn’t she telling? Why was she sad?

And her friend Ellen, the policewoman. Why was she acting weird? What was she hiding?

How long could these friends keep hiding? Who would break and tell their secret first?

As their secrets were revealed, I felt connected, I shared their worries and their pain. They became as friends to me and I wanted everything to be okay for them. I wanted them to be happy.

Four Stars for this moving sojourn of friendship.

About Penny Piva

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Lives in Massachusetts with The Chef.

Teaches writing at several universities.

Laughs every single day.

Does not like olives or blue cheese or sushi.

Studied pastry arts at a superior university.

Only listens to audio books in the car when driving.

Eats pasta every Sunday (house rules).

Loves visiting New York City, Disney World, and Italy.

Has a fun website at www.PennyPiva.com.

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Twitter

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Enchanter (Giver of Life #1)

by Kristy Centeno

YA Romance

Category: Adventure

Publisher: Lazy Day Publisher

Release Date: January 23, 2013

Heat Level: Sweet

Length: 164 pages

Buy Links

Amazon

ARe

B&N

Blurb

Leah Parker is furious when she finds out she’s been paired up for a class project with deadly silent, tough as nails, and incredibly intimidating Brandon Morris. Though she’s known him for years, Leah has made it a priority to stay away from him for a reason. As they are forced to spend time together however, Leah comes to find that there is more to Brandon than what meets the eye.

When a series of unexpected events forces Brandon to reveal his true identity, Leah suddenly finds herself fighting to come to terms with who he is and with the fact that by fulfilling his destiny she will come to lose the only guy she’s ever loved. As a family secret is unveiled and old threats possess new risks, they both have to find the strength to do what is expected of them. Even if that means losing each other in the process.

Love brought them together. His bloodline threatens to pull them apart. Will Brandon choose duty over love? Or will other forces far beyond their control separate them first?

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Excerpt

Brandon tore his lips away from mine so he could explore my neck, nipping and nibbling as he traveled the length of it. Deliberately, gently, passionately, he kissed a path down my skin and paused only when he reached my naked shoulder. “So soft,” he murmured, the hoarseness of his voice forcing my body to break out in goose bumps.

My fingers intertwined in his hair, forcing the long locks out of the black bow keeping it neatly tied at the nape of his neck. As soon as it came loose, his dark hair cascaded around his face like a curtain, making him look like some exotic creature of the night.

“Brandon…” I glanced up at his pale blue eyes, admiring the beauty of them. “Kiss me… please.”

He immediately obliged, devouring my lips with so much intensity it caused my knees to wobble. Heat, fast and powerful, spread through my body in rapid sequences as our tongues playfully toyed with each other and our bodies touched. I moaned when the feel of his strong, hard, and warm body pressed against mine. I did enjoy his masculinity and how wonderful it felt to have his hands massaging my back.

Feeling the need to explore, I untangled my fingers from his long mane and slowly allowed my hands to glide down his neck, and to his upper torso where they paused just over his pectorals. The tips of my fingers slowly slithered over his hard-as-steel chest and there they lingered for a while, exploring, touching, and feeling. Ever so slightly, they lowered to his abs, which despite the jacket and white shirt, I detected to be just as defined as the rest of him.

My greedy fingers worked their magic over Brandon, who immediately groaned and pulled away from me. His breath was ragged, his eyes filled with lust, his body language tense.

“Leah… I…”

A movement over his left shoulder caught my attention and I no longer focused on him or on what he was saying.

“Brandon, I don’t think we’re alone anymore,” I murmured as another flash of whiteness rushed from one side to the other, some ten to fifteen feet from us. It was too dark for me to determine who it was, but I was certain of one thing: we were being watched.

March 20, 2013
Aspired Writer (Review)
I Heart Romance (Review)
Margay Leah
Justice
(Review)
My Seryniti
Once Upon A Book
paranormal book club
Proserpine Craving Books
The Broke Book
Bank

The Stuff of Success
YA Novel Reader

March 21, 2013
Andi’s Young Adult Books
Brianna’s YA Bookshelf
Bunny’s Review
Full Moon Bites
fuonlyknew
House Millar
In This World of
Books..

Keeping Up With
The Rheinlander’s

Lindsay’s Scribblings (Review)
Musings of a Writing
Reader

Mythical
Books
(Review)
Sweet n’ Sassi (Review)
The YA Cafe
Wicked Readings
By Tawania

About the Author

kcenteno-authorphoto enchanter

As a child, I used to lose myself in an imaginary world by the means of a good book. Now that I’m all grown up, I get to create my own fictional realms and make them come to life in ways that most readers might not expect.

I’ve always had a passion for writing but never had the opportunity do so until now. After trying out numerous options I realized that writing was what I loved the most so when I found myself with some free time on my hands, I decided to give it a shot. As it turned out, my very active imagination helped me achieve my goals of creating believable plots with some ordinary, and some not so ordinary characters that helped the stories move along in one way or another.

As I keep moving along in achieving my dreams of becoming a published author, I divide my time in between my four children and my very understanding husband.

Connect with Kristy Centeno

http://www.kristycenteno.com

http://www.booksbycenteno.com

http://www.facebook.com/KristyCenteno

http://www.twitter.com/KrissyGirl122

http://www.goodreads.com/KristyCenteno

Don’t you just love this cover art! I just had to be a part of the Virtual Book Tour  when I spotted this.

Thanks to Reading Addiction Blog Tours!

Wait until you read the description and excerpt. I know it’ll grab your attention!

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Going Under by  S. Walden

New Adult

Date to be Published: March 19, 2013
Synopsis:
Brooke Wright has only two goals her senior year at Charity Run High School: stay out of trouble and learn to forgive herself for the past. Forgiveness proves elusive, and trouble finds her anyway when she discovers a secret club at school connected to the death of her best friend. She learns that swim team members participate in a “Fantasy Slut League,” scoring points for their sexual acts with unsuspecting girls.
Brooke, wracked with guilt over her friend’s death, decides to infiltrate the league by becoming one of the “unsuspecting girls,” and exact revenge on the boys who stole away her best friend. An unexpected romance complicates her plans, and her dogged pursuit of justice turns her reckless as she underestimates just how far the boys will go to keep their sex club a secret.
(This is a New Adult fiction book with mature themes.  It contains explicit language and descriptions of sexual violence.)
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Excerpt

I left the bathroom in a hurry, turning the corner for the foyer and slamming into him. The force of the hit was so great that I stumbled backwards, nearly falling on my bottom if not for his outstretched hand. I grabbed it before going down and wobbled on my too-high heels, clutching him as I worked to regain my balance.

“God, I’m sorry!” he exclaimed.

I looked at his face then, unprepared to see something so beautiful. I think I gasped. And then I averted my eyes out of sheer embarrassment.

“I really should watch where I’m going,” he said.

He still held my hand, and I let him. I couldn’t remember who I was or where I was going. I couldn’t remember where I had just been. I only knew that a very cute boy . . . no, he was more than cute. He was gorgeous. This very gorgeous boy was holding my hand, and I had only one thought. I wanted to make our handholding more intimate. I wanted to lace my fingers with his.

“I think I should,” I mumbled.

I chanced another look at him. I made a conscientious effort not to gasp as I took in his light blue eyes. I’d never seen eyes that color. Jared Leto had nothing on this guy’s eyes, and Jared’s eyes were the color of the Mediterranean. No, the eyes I looked into now were so light blue they looked translucent. I thought if I stared a little longer I could see right inside his head, to his brain, and I don’t know why that turned me on so much. I wanted to witness the workings of his mind, the firing synapses, information traveling safely inside neurons to different parts of his body. A few made it to his hand, and they must have told him to keep holding mine because he didn’t let go.

I stared shamelessly, licking my lips at one point. He stared back just as boldly. I wanted him to like what he saw. I wanted him to think I was sexy. I wanted him to feel the same instant attraction I did. I’d never felt it before. Not really. Not even with Finn. It was unsettling, and I wondered how people functioned after being smacked upside the head with it. Instant. Physical. Chemical.

Primal.

Just rip my clothes off, I thought. Just rip my clothes off and do me right here in the hallway!

He smiled and released my hand. I thought he did it reluctantly, like his brain ordered him to and he finally acquiesced. I smiled back, a flirty grin. I pulled my ponytail forward over my shoulder and played with the strands. I bit my lower lip. And then reality came crashing down like a hailstorm, large lumps of ice banging my head and screaming at me in unison.

“YOU’RE AT A FUNERAL!”

I looked at the gorgeous guy, and my face went white.

“Oh my God,” I whispered.

He stared at me for a moment before saying, “Are you okay?”

I shook my head and started towards the sanctuary doors. He followed behind.

“I’m awful, I’m awful, I’m awful,” I whispered over and over. I didn’t care if he could hear.

What the hell was I doing? Trying to flirt with a guy at my best friend’s funeral? How could I even forget for a second that I was at a funeral? I was supposed to be carrying around heavy, black sorrow to match my black dress and black heart, not batting lashes and fantasizing about sex with a stranger. Was I so ridiculous that a hot guy could make me forget to have any kind of decency? Or shame?

I rounded the corner and saw my mother waiting for me. And then I ran to her, threw myself into her arms, and burst into a fit of tears.

“Brooklyn,” she whispered, holding me in a tight hug. “It’s okay,” she cooed as she stroked my hair.

“I’m a terrible friend!” I wailed. I saw the fuzzy outline of a boy walking past us tentatively through the doors.

“No, you aren’t,” my mother replied.

“Yes, I am! I don’t even know why I’m here! Beth hated my guts! She wouldn’t talk to me all summer!”

“Brooke,” Mom said. “I want you to calm down. Now, we talked about this. You knew it would be hard, but she was your best friend for all those years. Do you think she wouldn’t have wanted you here?”

“No, I don’t!” I cried.

“Yes, she would,” Mom said. “Now we have to go in.”

“I can’t!”

“Brooke, Beth was your best friend,” Mom said, trying for patience.

“No she wasn’t! Not after what I did! I ruined everything! I’m a freaking slut!” I sobbed, shaking my head from side to side.

“Sweetheart, don’t say words like ‘freaking’ and ‘slut’ in a church,” Mom replied.

I only sobbed louder.

“You can do this,” Mom encouraged.

I stood my ground, shaking my head violently, refusing to go in.

“Brooklyn Wright!” Mom hissed, pushing me away and grabbing my upper arm. She squeezed too tightly, and I squeaked in discomfort. There was no more tenderness in her voice. “Get yourself together. This isn’t about you. So stop making it about you. You’re going into that sanctuary and you’re going to pay your respects to your friend, and you’re going to make it about Beth. Do you understand me?”

I swallowed hard and wiped my face.

“Do you understand me?” Mom repeated.

I nodded grudgingly, and she took my hand, leading me through the doors.

Visit all of the stops. All kinds of fun!

Virtual Book Tour Schedule March 19 -March 21
March 19th
PROMO Stops
1. Reading Addiction Blog Tours – Meet and Greet
18.
March 20th
Review Stops
March 21st
PROMO/Excerpts

S. Walden

Author Bio:
S. Walden used to teach English before making the best decision of her life by becoming a
full-time writer. She lives in Georgia with her very supportive husband who prefers physics
textbooks over fiction and has a difficult time understanding why her characters must have
personality flaws. She is wary of small children, so she has a Westie instead. Her dreams
include raising chickens and owning and operating a beachside inn on the Gulf Coast (chickens
included). When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about it.
She loves her fans and loves to hear from them. Email her at swaldenauthor@hotmail.com and
follow her blog at http://swaldenauthor.blogspot.com where you can get up-to-date information
on her current projects.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page.
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
~

My tease for today is from Renegade

The Captive Series~Book 2

by Erica Stevens

Renegade (The Captive, #2)

goodreads-badge-add-plus

While he would like her punished for her treachery, would like her to suffer for what she had done to him, did he truly want her dead?

This is so good. Already went and grabbed the next book so I don’t have to wait!

How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

stick out tongue photo: rr-sticking-out-tongue roadrunner-stick-out-tongue.gif

sometimesnevertourbanner1
~
Welcome to my stop on the Sometimes Never Blog Tour organized by Good Choice Reading Promotions.
~

~

Hope and Mason’s playlist:

Wondering by: Good Charlotte

Dark Side by: Kelly Clarkson

Animal by: Neon Trees

Amazing by: Aerosmith

How to Love by: Lil Wayne

Crash into Me by: The Dave Mathews Band

More than Words by: Extreme

Looks like Love by: Needtobreathe

When She Begins by: Social Distortion

The Only Exception by: Paramore

Love Like Woe by: The Ready Set

Lost In You by: Three Days Grace

Down by: Blink 182

Truly Madly Deeply by: Savage Garden

After Midnight by: Blink 182

You Make Me Smile by: Uncle Kracker

Say When by: The Fray

I Wanna by: The All-American Rejects

Blackbird by: The Beatles

And Then He Kissed Me by: The Crystals

Paradise by: Craig Owens

Demons by: Imagine Dragons

Marry Me by: Train

Lovesong by: Adele

****Giveaway****

There is an awesome Giveaway. Check it out!

10 Paperbacks of Sometimes Never (with original book cover)

2 – $25 Amazon Gift Cards

12 Kindle ebooks of Sometimes Never.

To enter click on the rafflecopter link below.

Rafflecopter Giveaway

Thank you for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

Cheryl McIntyre is a
mother, author, and insomniac, as well as a reader, movie critic, and
incredibly bad singer. She’s lived in the same area of Ohio her whole life,
though she secretly has dreams of moving somewhere a little warmer—preferably
near a beach.
Her life revolves
around four things: family, music, books, and really bad scary movies. If she
doesn’t have a kid on her hip, an iPod in her hand, or a laptop in front of her
face, it’s one of those rare moments when she’s actually sleeping.
You can follow her
author page on Facebook where she lives part time. On Goodreads, which is like
crack for avid readers. Or on Twitter, though it’s rumored she has yet to
master the art of tweeting.
 
Enter the MEGA GIVEAWAY each day by visiting every stop.
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