Thank you M.S. Willis for making me tear up laughing the entire time reading this book. Romcom from Queen of Dark-Wow!
This is first in this new series, of which will have you anxiously waiting for next book.
Jane is normal girl, working at bookstore. She lives with best friend, Rich. Jane is a reader of romance books and would love to find that book boyfriend Romance. Jane got daring and placed an online ad with specifics looking for the real life special guy just like in the books.
Will she find the perfect guy,just like the ones she reads about in her romance books? Follow Jane in her dating adventures. First date Hot fireman,FIRE FIRE...will she need to be hosed down?
Review on Amazon
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Saturday, January 31, 2015
The Final Straight by Charlotte Howard
The Final Straight by Charlotte Howard (@shy_tiger)
Blurb:
April Miller works for her best friend, Max Knight on his livery and competition yard.
Their friendship has withstood many turbulent times, and while April is deeply in love with
Max, she is also aware of his womanising ways and has refused to succumb to his flirtatious
charms. When her ex, AJ, suddenly comes back with a business proposal, April finds herself
torn between the two men.
Buy Links:
Kindle US: http://amzn.to/1Es09Cc
Kindle UK: http://amzn.to/1Dk0h2I
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/514851?ref=cw1985
Coming soon to all other eBook retailers.
Excerpt:
“You up there?” she called. The thud of footsteps grew louder as she made her way
up the stairs. It wasn’t long before she was in the doorway, hands on hips, surrounded by a
halo of curls the same colour as her temper.
The dog had followed and was panting by her leg. April batted her away, and Max
rolled his eyes at the anger and frustration that exuded from her every pore, turning his back
on her and dropping the towel.
“What the hell, Max?” she exclaimed, but it wasn’t because of his nudity. She’d seen
him naked more times than any other woman.
He stepped into a pair of tight boxer shorts and turned around, preparing himself for
the grief he had been hoping to avoid. “What have I done now?” he asked, walking towards
the wardrobe and pulling out a pair of dark, shredded jeans.
“What’s the point? Do you even remember her name?”
He didn’t answer. She wasn’t expecting him to; she never did. Fastening the button on
his waistband, he went to the chest of drawers and took out a clean T-shirt.
“Well, I’ll tell you what her name was,” April said, walking into the room. “Mellie
Banks. Ring a bell?”
Max shrugged.
“It should,” she snapped. “Her father has three horses on this yard, or did until he
turned up this morning and took them off.”
He moved behind her and started to massage at the knot of tension that had built at the
base of her neck.
“Don’t try to appease me, Max,” she said, but he could tell that her anger was waning.
He continued to press into her muscles, letting his thumbs make small circles either side of
her spine. Bending his head to the curve of her shoulder, he placed his forehead on the sleeve
of her polo T-shirt and took a deep breath, inhaling the dusty scent of straw and shavings.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured into her back.
She shrugged out of his touch and turned to face him. “You’re hopeless,” she sighed.
The corners of her lips flickered into the smallest of smiles.
“We could just hide in bed all day,” he said, taking her hands and tugging her
forwards. “Forget about Mellie Banks. Forget about the yard...”
“And who’s going to pay my bills when this place falls on its arse?”
The edge of the mattress connected with his knees and he fell backwards, pulling her
with him. “You know I’ll always take care of you.”
She landed on top of him, inches away from his face. He lifted a hand and tucked a
stray red curl behind her ear. With a frustrated groan, she rolled off of him and lay on her
side.
“As much as I would like to be the next notch on your bedpost, we have a business to
run.” She shoved herself up.
He watched as she straightened her clothes and ran her fingers through her hair.
“Anyway,” she said, glancing over her shoulder. “I’m not your type. I have a brain.”
She flashed him a smile before bending down to pick up the towel and tossing it in his
direction.
“Ouch.” He feigned a hurt expression before getting up to follow her. Bracken panted
around his ankles.
“I’ll make you a coffee, and then if you need me I’ll be saving your business.”
Author Bio / Links:
Charlotte lives in Somerset with her husband, two children, and growing menagerie of pets
and can always be found with a cup of tea in her hand. When she's not writing or running
around after small people and animals, she loves to eat curry and watch action films.
Charlotte is an active (and vocal) member of the Yeovil Creative Writers.
http://www.charlottehowardauthor.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/CharlotteHowardAuthor
https://twitter.com/Shy_Tiger
http://choward2614.wordpress.com/
http://www.pinterest.com/choward2614/
http://instagram.com/choward_author/
Blurb:
April Miller works for her best friend, Max Knight on his livery and competition yard.
Their friendship has withstood many turbulent times, and while April is deeply in love with
Max, she is also aware of his womanising ways and has refused to succumb to his flirtatious
charms. When her ex, AJ, suddenly comes back with a business proposal, April finds herself
torn between the two men.
Buy Links:
Kindle US: http://amzn.to/1Es09Cc
Kindle UK: http://amzn.to/1Dk0h2I
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/514851?ref=cw1985
Coming soon to all other eBook retailers.
Excerpt:
“You up there?” she called. The thud of footsteps grew louder as she made her way
up the stairs. It wasn’t long before she was in the doorway, hands on hips, surrounded by a
halo of curls the same colour as her temper.
The dog had followed and was panting by her leg. April batted her away, and Max
rolled his eyes at the anger and frustration that exuded from her every pore, turning his back
on her and dropping the towel.
“What the hell, Max?” she exclaimed, but it wasn’t because of his nudity. She’d seen
him naked more times than any other woman.
He stepped into a pair of tight boxer shorts and turned around, preparing himself for
the grief he had been hoping to avoid. “What have I done now?” he asked, walking towards
the wardrobe and pulling out a pair of dark, shredded jeans.
“What’s the point? Do you even remember her name?”
He didn’t answer. She wasn’t expecting him to; she never did. Fastening the button on
his waistband, he went to the chest of drawers and took out a clean T-shirt.
“Well, I’ll tell you what her name was,” April said, walking into the room. “Mellie
Banks. Ring a bell?”
Max shrugged.
“It should,” she snapped. “Her father has three horses on this yard, or did until he
turned up this morning and took them off.”
He moved behind her and started to massage at the knot of tension that had built at the
base of her neck.
“Don’t try to appease me, Max,” she said, but he could tell that her anger was waning.
He continued to press into her muscles, letting his thumbs make small circles either side of
her spine. Bending his head to the curve of her shoulder, he placed his forehead on the sleeve
of her polo T-shirt and took a deep breath, inhaling the dusty scent of straw and shavings.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured into her back.
She shrugged out of his touch and turned to face him. “You’re hopeless,” she sighed.
The corners of her lips flickered into the smallest of smiles.
“We could just hide in bed all day,” he said, taking her hands and tugging her
forwards. “Forget about Mellie Banks. Forget about the yard...”
“And who’s going to pay my bills when this place falls on its arse?”
The edge of the mattress connected with his knees and he fell backwards, pulling her
with him. “You know I’ll always take care of you.”
She landed on top of him, inches away from his face. He lifted a hand and tucked a
stray red curl behind her ear. With a frustrated groan, she rolled off of him and lay on her
side.
“As much as I would like to be the next notch on your bedpost, we have a business to
run.” She shoved herself up.
He watched as she straightened her clothes and ran her fingers through her hair.
“Anyway,” she said, glancing over her shoulder. “I’m not your type. I have a brain.”
She flashed him a smile before bending down to pick up the towel and tossing it in his
direction.
“Ouch.” He feigned a hurt expression before getting up to follow her. Bracken panted
around his ankles.
“I’ll make you a coffee, and then if you need me I’ll be saving your business.”
Author Bio / Links:
Charlotte lives in Somerset with her husband, two children, and growing menagerie of pets
and can always be found with a cup of tea in her hand. When she's not writing or running
around after small people and animals, she loves to eat curry and watch action films.
Charlotte is an active (and vocal) member of the Yeovil Creative Writers.
http://www.charlottehowardauthor.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/CharlotteHowardAuthor
https://twitter.com/Shy_Tiger
http://choward2614.wordpress.com/
http://www.pinterest.com/choward2614/
http://instagram.com/choward_author/
Losing at Love Cover Reveal
Today we’re having a cover reveal for Jennifer Iacopelli’s Losing at Love. And—bonus
points!!—we’re also revealing the new redesign for the first book in the series, Game. Set.
Match. Jennifer is sharing an excerpt from Losing at Love, as well as a giveaway, so be
sure to check it all out.
Title: Losing at Love
Author: Jennifer Iacopelli
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Day: February 24th
Excerpt:
Stepping into the sunshine, Indy shouldered her bag and turned towards the OBX library, her mind
running through the assignments she still had to complete when a shadow crossed over her path, a large
body falling into step with her, close, but not touching, their strides matching.
“Jack,” she said, glancing up at him sideways, a small smile threatening at the corner of her mouth.
“Indiana,” he said, echoing back her name, sending a shiver down her spine. He was the only one
allowed to call her that, the only person who made the name she’d hated since forever sound friggin’
good.
They walked together without another word, turning the corner that separated the courts from the
residential area of the complex, but her stride was suddenly cut off when Jack shuffled his feet, sliding
his arm around her waist and pulled her into a shady walkway between buildings. Her bag slid off her
shoulder, but he caught it before it crashed to the ground and smashed her laptop to smithereens. He
let it settle on the ground gently before leaning over her, forcing her to step back into the wall.
Walls were their thing. Their first kiss had been against a wall in a random hallway at Roland Garros,
their second pressed against the wall of their hotel in Paris and now that they were back in North
Carolina, they found any excuse to push each other against a wall and kiss until they were gasping for air
and their bodies begged for relief. Jack’s lips trailed from her temple, using the wall behind her as an
anchor before bending his head to hers. Pushing up onto her toes, Indy met him halfway. She’d never
been so grateful for every millimeter of her five feet ten inches as she was when she was kissing Jack.
His hands slid through her hair, twisting it around his fingers, then cradling the back of her head,
drawing her mouth more firmly against his. Indy brought her hands to his torso, gripping his t-shirt,
letting her palms press against the cut of muscle that disappeared into his cargo shorts. The skin on skin
contact made his breath hitch, his mouth opening just enough to allow her tongue to slide in, deepening
the kiss, before letting her teeth nip at his bottom lip. A groan rumbled in his throat as he stumbled
forward, pressing his body full length against hers. He wrenched his lips from hers, trailing his mouth
over the line of her jaw to the spot just behind her ear. It was her turn to gasp and her head fell back as
she arched into him. No one had ever kissed her there before. Jack smiled against her skin as her
fingertips dug into his sides and she let a moan slip free as he focused his attention on that spot,
scraping his teeth against it then soothing that small pain with a flick of his tongue. Her hands scrambled
to get purchase against his shoulders, desperate for some leverage, anything to help her slide her body
against his. Then he was gone, his hand gone from her hair, his mouth gone from her neck and his body
inches then feet away. Indy blinked at him, trying to figure out what happened when the voices echoing
down the pathway towards them finally reached her ears.
Bending down, he lifted her bag as she ran her fingers through her hair, knowing he’d made an unholy
mess of it. “You’re fine,” he muttered, handing her the bag, then keeping the distance between them as
a group of junior boys stomped past them, none giving them a second glance.
“You have good ears,” Indy said, biting her lip at the close call. If those boys had seen them, the news
would have spread like wildfire through the OBX campus and everyone would have known by the end of
the day. She was only seventeen for another few months, but that wasn’t really the problem, seventeen
or eighteen wouldn’t matter to other people. She was a young tennis pro, he was an up and coming
agent. The last thing either of their careers needed was the heightened publicity of a controversial
relationship, even if Jack Harrison was far more of a gentleman than any guy she’d ever met. Sometimes
a little too much of a gentleman, truth be told.
Jack shrugged, glancing back over his shoulder again before facing her fully. “I’m sorry about this.”
She reached out and took his hand, “We both agreed,” she said, entwining their fingers together, “it’s
just between us for now. It makes sense for the both of us.” Pressing his lips together in a thin line, he
nodded, but she knew he wasn’t entirely convinced. “Jack, we talked about this. You said you were okay
with it.”
“I just wish it were different,” he said, tugging her closer, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. His hands
released hers and dropped to her hips, the edges of his thumbs brushing against her hipbones in slow
circles sending shivers over her skin.
“Me too.” She wanted to scream it from the rooftops that this amazing guy was hers. That he had deep
green eyes and a smile that brightened them whenever he looked at her. That he was brilliant in ways
that she couldn’t even fathom with his degree from Harvard. That he’d fought their attraction for so
long because of that ingrained sense of honor, like one of those heroes in a fairy tale, except Jack was
real, flesh and blood.
"Have you thought...maybe we should tell Penny?" Indy asked, her fingertips landing on his forearms,
gently stroking up to his elbows and back down to his wrists.
Jack let out a heavy breath. "Penny has a lot on her plate right now."
"I know, I just feel funny keeping it from her. Jasmine knows."
"We'll do whatever you want to do. This is your show, baby."
"I don't need a supportive…" she hesitated, almost using the word boyfriend, but that didn't really fit,
did it? Not if they were keeping it a secret, "I need honest Jack."
He leaned back, looking her in the eye. "Honest? Honestly, my sister doesn't do well with change. It
freaks her out and right now, I'm not sure that the idea of you and me will go over that well. On the
other hand, if we don't tell her and she finds out?"
"She'll be pissed."
"Yep."
"Maybe we wait a little longer. We could tell her in London?"
Jack nodded, "Face to face instead of over the phone."
“There’s always Skype,” she said, not really sure if she wanted to know what Penny, the only girl who’d
made an effort to befriend her when she first arrived at OBX, would think if she found out she and Jack
were together.
“There’s that.”
Indy shook her head. They should do it in person. They should have done it before they left Paris, but
Penny had been so devastated by withdrawing from the tournament that it hadn’t felt like the right time
then either. “In London. We’ll be there in less than a week. We’ll tell her then.”
“Okay, in London.” They stood there for a moment, just breathing each other in until Jack leaned away.
“I’ve gotta go. I have a meeting with a potential new client this afternoon and I’ve got to prep.”
Indy snorted a laugh. “Right, like you don’t already have a complete profile worked up along with
potential sponsors to contact if they sign.”
“You know me so well,” he said, leaning around the building, checking the pathway for any more
unwanted spectators. “I’ll go this way.”
Indy nodded back in the opposite direction. “And I’ll go that way.”
With a bow, he was gone, around the corner and out of sight, so she turned and adjusted her bag over
her shoulder, heading out from between the buildings and towards the library. She’d have about half
the time to get her Calc done than she originally planned. Fingertips pressing against that spot on her
neck lightly recalling the feel of his mouth and the way her entire body was lit on fire by his touch, it was
totally worth it.
“Are you sure that is a good idea?” a voice rang out from just a few steps behind her, the French accent
giving its owner away, if the superiority and condescension weren’t enough of a clue. Indy spun around
and came face to face with her agent, tall, blonde, perfectly put together in a silk blouse and linen skirt,
somehow looking completely cool and calm despite the blaze of the sun. She was in town before they all
left for England, mostly to go over her plans for Indy’s future off the court.
A denial formed on Indy’s tongue, but she knew it was useless. Caroline had seen them and it probably
just confirmed what she’d suspected for a while. Her agent was damn good at her job and it wasn’t like
she and Jack had been super careful about keeping private moments behind closed doors. “Good idea or
not, it’s none of your business.”
Raising her eyes to the sky and shaking her head Caroline said, “You are my business, Indiana.”
“How many times do I have to say it? Don’t call me that, and my tennis is your business,” Indy corrected.
“Keep your nose out of everything else.”
“It is not that simple,” Caroline insisted, her voice inching up in pitch.
“It really is.” She turned on her toe and walked away, wanting to look back, hoping that Caroline’s brow
was furrowed and her hands were on her hips, lips pursed in aggravation. But looking back would ruin
the moment because despite getting in the last word, Caroline now had the upper hand and it was only
a matter of time before she used it to her advantage.
About Losing at Love:
Grass courts, tennis whites and the fiercest competition in the world. Wimbledon. After two crazy weeks
in Paris, the girls of the Outer Banks Tennis Academy are headed to London with just one thing on their
minds: winning. Indiana Gaffney is fresh off a surprise win at the French Open junior tournament.
Sponsors are clamoring for her attention, but what she wants more than anything—aside from a wild
card to Wimbledon—is to be with Jack Harrison, but international fame and a secret relationship rarely
mix well. When Penny Harrison dreamed of playing at Wimbledon she never imagined agonizing pain
shooting through her ankle with every step. With just a month until the tournament and the whole
world expecting her to win, she’s determined to play, with or without the support of her coach or the
love of her life, Alex Russell. For the first time ever, no one expects anything from Jasmine Randazzo.
After a crushing first-round defeat in the French Open juniors, the tennis world has given up on her, but
worse than that, so have her parents, her best friend Teddy and maybe even her coach. With everyone
writing her off, can she find it within herself to go after her dreams?
Pre order now!!
Add on Goodreads!
To celebrate the cover reveal, Game. Set. Match. is on sale for .99!!
About Game. Set. Match.:
Nestled along the North Carolina coast, the Outer Banks Tennis Academy is the world's most elite
training facility. In this pressure-cooker environment, futures are forged in blood and sweat, and dreams
are shattered in an instant. Penny Harrison, a rising female star, is determined to win the French Open
and beat her archrival, Zina Lutrova. But when her coach imports British bad boy Alex Russell as her new
training partner, will Penny be able to keep her laser-like focus? Tennis is all Jasmine Randazzo has ever
known. The daughter of two Grand Slam champions, she's hell-bent on extending her family’s legacy
and writing her own happily-ever-after...until her chosen Prince Charming gives her the just-friends
speech right before the biggest junior tournament of the year, the Outer Banks Classic. With a powerful
serve and killer forehand, newcomer Indiana Gaffney is turning heads. She’s thrilled by all of the
attention, especially from Jack Harrison, Penny’s agent and hot older brother, except he keeps backing
off every time things start heating up. With so much at stake, dreams—and hearts—are bound to break.
Welcome to OBX: Where LOVE is a four-letter word, on and off the court.
Amazon | BN | iTunes | Kobo | Goodreads
About Jennifer Iacopelli:
Jennifer Iacopelli was born in New York and has no plans to leave...ever. Growing up, she read
everything she could get her hands on, but her favorite authors were Laura Ingalls Wilder, L.M.
Montgomery and Frances Hodgson Burnett all of whom wrote about kick-ass girls before it was cool for
girls to be kick-ass. She got a Bachelor's degree in Adolescence Education and English Literature quickly
followed up by a Master's in Library Science, which lets her frolic all day with her books and computers,
leaving plenty of time in the evenings to write and yell at the Yankees, Giants and her favorite tennis
players through the TV.
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website | Goodreads | Instagram | Amazon Author
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Enter Jennifer’s giveaway!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
City Nights:One Night in Madrid by JD Martins
Blurb:
Danny left Dublin for Madrid two years ago, but still scans the crowd in the Irish pubs
for the face of someone from home. Though doubtful he'll ever recognise anybody,
one evening he sees Aisling, a girl he'd known - or wished he'd known - at university.
Beautiful but haughty, she'd always ignored Danny, and though he'd fantasised about
making love to her, she'd never so much as smiled at him.
To his amazement, Aisling is extremely friendly when she meets him all these years later
and away from home. She is still snobby and condescending, but Danny decides to make
her night as enjoyable as he can, hoping for one last chance to impress her and make his
teenage fantasies come true. As the sultry Madrid night progresses, mere lust grows into
affection, and Danny begins to see her snobbery as something else entirely. Will Aisling
see Danny as more than just a way to pass her night in Madrid?
Purchase links for all formats:
http://tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Martins_JD/one-night-in-madrid.htm
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/15OOFtu
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/161xgxx
Amazon CA: http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00RY328RY
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B00RY328RY
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/508086?ref=cw1985
iBooks US: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/one-night-in-madrid/id955923487
iBooks UK: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/one-night-in-madrid/id955923487
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/one-night-in-madrid
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/one-night-in-madrid-jd-martins/
1121018278
Excerpt:
Draining the glass, Danny placed it on the bar, debating whether to have another pint,
or stroll home and have a glass of wine while he prepared dinner. The plan was just one
pint, but he needed to tell himself that twice; once when he went into the bar and again
when he'd finished the drink.
And then he saw her.
She stood quite near, surrounded by a tight knot of people at the edge of the dance floor
that had parted momentarily. She wore a cotton summer dress that showed the sweep
of her shoulder blades and spine. The dress was floral, red with splashes of black and
dark blue. She wore soft brown leather sandals that were almost invisible against her
tanned feet. Her toenails were painted red but her fingernails were French polished. A
silver or white-gold bracelet hung from her right wrist, and on her left she wore a silver
wristwatch, which a discreet look later told him was a Patek Philippe. In her ears she had
diamond stud earrings, and on the ring finger of her right hand was a silver ring with a
blue stone he couldn't identify.
He didn't see her face straight away, yet something deep inside him said it had to be her.
In college, he'd often stared at this girl's long blonde hair from a few seats behind in the
lecture theatre, while far below them a maths professor droned on about matrices. He
knew the shape of her head and neck, had observed her tie up that hair, amazed at the
beauty of the fine, straight filaments, the way the strands slid like silk over one another,
yet held as one tight rope. When she was an infant her mother had clearly decided ever
cutting such hair would be a sin, and she’d concurred. She plaited it, put it in a ponytail,
tied it up around a clip made of what seemed to Danny like a piece of wood and two
chopsticks, or simply a spare pencil. Sometimes it splayed out across her shoulders like a
cascade of spun gold. Now it was pulled up in a silver clasp, to reveal the nape of a long,
fine neck, and soft-skinned shoulders.
Those shoulders had been bared before, in a hot September of their freshman year, and
later, during the intense study month when the cherry blossoms bloomed and fell across
the lawns of campus. Danny had fantasised about slipping off that shoulder strap, letting
the silky string fall down along her arm, trailing his fingers along her collarbone and ribs
and pushing aside the top to expose her breasts.
When she turned around in the bar and he saw her face, Danny instantly searched through
his memory to match her visage, and see all six numbers of recognition. It came out a
winner. She stared back at him, her brain no doubt doing the same. Although still early,
and most—apart from the pre-marriage revellers—were only on their second or third
drink, Danny thought she must have been fairly merry already, because as she recognised
him she smiled.
She’d never smiled at him before—not in four years of college. Then again, they’d not
interacted much. They'd never really talked, never attended the same classes after second
year. He'd always told himself she’d never smiled at him because she didn’t know him.
Once or twice, of course, she'd turned around, casually, and seen him. But she'd seen lots
of others sitting behind her, too. The back rows of the lecture theatre were filled with
Danny's friends, who'd varying levels of interest in her hair and the maths lecture; from
zero to all-absorbed.
The chance to get to know her had never come around. She'd majored in chemistry,
Danny in computer science. He had taken a chemistry class in second year, but she'd
always seemed to sit on the opposite side of the theatre then. His gaze had often paused
upon her face as he searched through those assembled in a lecture the way he did through
the throng of a bar.
She was stunning. Her frame was that of someone who was fit without effort. A swimmer
or a gymnast at some point, she had a fine body, breasts the way Hemingway described,
wide womanly hips and a behind that eyes or hands could never tire of. She had crystal
blue eyes like deep Antarctic ice, and a button nose. Her mouth was perfect. Her teeth
had had money spent on them, but her lips were natural; she had a dazzling smile. But
before that moment in a Madrid bar, Danny had only received the coldness of those
glacial eyes.
Bio:
JD Martins has been called Spanish, Mexican, Chinese, Philippine and English and
Australian. He is none of these.
He's lived in four cities in three countries on two continents, but he doesn't feel like he's
travelled very much. His life in each city was rather mundane and he didn't get out much
- tending to move his pen more than his body.
He still aspires to see much more of the world - probably when his wife becomes rich
enough to let him retire from day jobs.
He would like to live like Ernest Hemmingway: periodically sending novel manuscripts
to his publisher from various far-flung corners of the world, though he's not sure the
quality will be quite the same. Until then, he has contented himself with living like
Robert Graves - in a pleasant part of Spain with a quiet life - and being able to do some
things that Hemmingway did - trout fishing in Spain, game hunting in Africa, watching
bullfights and running with the bulls, - and a few that he did not get to do - surfing,
skydiving, bungee jumping, and getting erotic stories published.
links:
http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Martins_JD/index.htm
https://www.facebook.com/JDMartinsauthor
Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/113993899494442135197/about/p/pub
email: jdmartinsauthor@gmail.com
Tagged for Life Cover Reveal
Title: Tagged For Life
Author: Sam Destiny
Blurb:
A career. A perfect future. Everything he could wish for.
That’s what Corporal Jesse ‘Jazz’ Connor thinks about his life. He can’t understand why his comrades feel
the need to find a girl and settle down when the Army career latter has so many steps to climb. Up, up,
up; that’s where he’s looking – and that’s the reason, too, why he stumbles over the only thing that
maybe can change his view on life forever: Tessa.
No job. No plan. An open future. That’s how Tessa Connor likes to
see her life as she starts a trip to see some friends half way across the world. And Jazz will be her first
step to the new Tessa. Build up your confidence; show the world what you can do, that’s her new
motto. The problem is that Jazz maybe turns out to be so much more than she could ever have hoped
for – and still not be able to hold onto.
Together they need to find a way to make A and B come together
with an ocean between them that threatens to drown everything – maybe even their
love.
Once upon a time there was a young girl with her head full of
dreams and her heart full of stories. Her parents, though not a unit, always supported her and told her
more stories, encouraging her to become what she wanted to be. The problem was, young Sam didn't
know what she wanted to be, so after getting her A-levels she started studying Computer Science and
Media. After not even one year she realized it wasn't what her heart wanted, and so she stopped,
staying home and trying to find her purpose in life. Through some detours she landed an internship and
eventually an apprenticeship in a company that sells cell phones. Not a dreamy career, but hey. Today
she's doing an accounting job from nine-to-five, which mainly consists of daydreaming and scribbling
notes wherever she can.
All through that time little Sam never once lost the stories in her
heart, writing a few little of them here and there, writing for and with her best friend, who always told
her to take that last step. Only when a certain twin-couple entered her mind, bothering her with
ideas and talking to her nonstop did she start to write down their story - getting as far as thinking she
could finish it. Through the help of some author friends, and the encouragement of earlier mentioned
best friend, little Sam, now not so little anymore and in her twenty-seventh year, decided
to try her luck as an Indie author. She finished the story of the first twin, Jaden, and realized she couldn't
ever stop. So, it is only after five that the real Sam comes out. The one that hungers for love,
romance, some blood, a good story, and, at the end of the day, a nice hot cup of Chai Tea
Latte.
And if the boys are still talking to her, she'll write happily ever
after.
Author links:
Friday, January 30, 2015
Coast to Coast Reviews: VEGAS follows you home....by Sadie Grubor
VEGAS follows you home
by Sadie Grubor
www.sadiegrubor.com
www.facebook.com/authorsadiegrubor
www.twitter.com/sadiegrubor
Olivia Harlow ended up married to Damon Knyght billionaire, but does not remember it happening
Olivia wanted the marriage to Damion to be annulled, but Damion won't have it. He forces himself into Olivia's life in a stalker way...but WHY? The truth comes out and now everything changes in a blink of an eye.
The emotional pull is strong between Damion and Olivia. The tragedy both Damion and Olivia have experienced in the past plays a big role in how they want to protect themselves from ever being hurt again.
Will Olivia and Damion stay married after the truth comes out? Will they fall in love with each other? Will their past heartache hinder them from ever having a relationship?
I was drawn into Olivia and Damion's story from the beginning.
This was a great read and I very much enjoyed it. There is a lot of emotions at play. I did not give away a lot in this review because I felt it would ruined the awe factor of the read!
AMAZON BUY LINK:
http://www.amazon.com/VEGAS-follows-you-home-Vegas-ebook/dp/B00RLUPYA8
BLURB:
"We are going to Vegas. We are going to Vegas!" They used the damn Blue's Clues theme music to their
lyrics.
Olivia Harlow
It's a trip with friends. A single girl's celebratory getaway. Olivia Harlow finishes the biggest job she's
been offered since starting Harlow Cakes, her custom and specialty cake shop and bakery. So, it's a
Vegas weekend for Olivia, the level headed, single mother, with her life scheduled.
There is no way she could guess what would happen and who would follow her home.
Damon Knyght
His search is over. After rising up from the ashes of his life and the pain, he found them. Now that he has
them, there is no letting go.
FULL PROLOGUE:
"Olivia!" Mercedes shouted as she emerged from the office on the furthest side of the kitchen.
"Yeah?" I replied, quietly, my attention focused on creating the complicated ribbon pattern for
the wedding cake I needed to finish today.
"You'll never guess the call I just had." She stopped just before crashing into my worktable.
"Ced, if you don't calm down, I'm going to ask you take three steps away from this cake before I
end up wearing all five tiers of it."
Sarah, my baking assistant, giggled from my right.
Mercedes put her hands up and took two steps back.
"But, Liv, seriously, you just got the job of a lifetime!" She vibrated with excitement.
Securing the last ribbon detail, I straightened and stretched out my spine, the three pops
accentuating relief. Taking a deep breath, I focused on Ced and the topic at hand.
"What are you talking about?"
"Okay, so, I was going over the books and the upcoming schedule. Because, as you know, since
we were featured on that reality wedding show, our business has completely increased, and if I don't
keep on top of the books and schedule, things just get hectic crazy around here. And when things are
hectic crazy around here you get gar-um-pee."
Known for her ability to complete full conversations in one breath and without another person
actually participating, if I didn't interrupt, we would be here for a while.
"Ced, take a breath and circle back to the phone call."
"Oh," she blinked rapidly, "yeah, thanks. As I was saying, I got a call requesting you to prepare
desserts and a cake for over two thousand people." Ced's eyes twinkled with excitement. "Two
thousand people, Olivia! Do you realize how big this is?"
"Wait, a wedding with two thousand people? Is it some celebrity?"
Sara started to go over the cake details with iridescent sugar powder, giving the ribbons a glossy
sparkle.
"No, no, not a celebrity. It's a corporate function." She lifted a notepad I hadn't noticed her
holding. "Vivianne Lachlan will be arriving to discuss the details with you personally, but they want you
to prepare all the desserts and the large cake for their company function. They are even going to pay the
traveling costs."
"Didn't you tell her we account for travel and delivery costs in the fees?"
"Of course I did." She may as well have said Duh! "But we've never had flight costs before, so I
figured we would—"
"Wait, flight costs? Why am I flying somewhere?"
"It's in New York," Ced responded. "They want you to come to New York and prepare everything
there. Hotel and travel expenses will be handled by Miss Lachlan and her employer."
"Whoa, Ced, I don't fly to other states to work. We can't do it. Call her back and apologize for
the misunderstanding." I began cleaning up the icing bags.
"Are you crazy, Liv?" Mercedes stepped back up to the table. "This job will be enough money to
pay for half of this year’s expenses. You will retain a large profit margin this year," Mercedes argued.
From Mercedes appearance — her rainbow-dyed shag hair, purple-blue contacts, and standard
vintage-inspired style, along with her A.D.D. — you would never guess the girl was a numbers genius.
Appearances were deceiving. In fact, Mercedes Welch graduated valedictorian at Carnegie Mellon
University in Mathematical Sciences. She had been dating one of the instructors at my Pittsburgh
Culinary School when I met her. Mercedes had and always would be one of the most interesting people
in my life.
"I'm not going to leave Alex and go to New York. You know—"
"I believe it would be worth your while to accept."
Snapping my attention toward the unfamiliar voice, I allowed myself a moment to absorb the
unexpected visitor. A very tall, thin woman with sleek, dark brown hair wrapped smartly into a bun atop
her head, stood at the doorway between the kitchen and storefront of my bakery. Her skin, fair and
flawless, contrasted with her dark eyes. Beside her stood Mrs. Dorn, a woman I'd hired a few years back
to run the storefront.
"I'm so sorry, Olivia. She said you were expecting her, but she wouldn't wait at the consultation
table." Mrs. Dorn turned her apologetic eyes from me and glared at the corporate woman next to her.
"It's fine, Mrs. Dorn. She was expected. Thank you." Forcing a smile in the new woman's
direction, I turned to Sarah. "Can you finish this up and get Greg to help you carry the cake to the
cooler?"
Sarah nodded and I turned back to the tall woman. A woman whose put-together, pristine
appearance had me wiping my hands on my oversized, worn, and food-color-stained jeans. As if that
would fancy up the old band t-shirt and knotted red mess held on my head by a bandana. I refused to
wear a hairnet like a lunch lady.
"I'm sorry, Miss…"
"Lachlan." She stepped forward with her hand held out for me.
I met her halfway between my table and the door, taking her hand and shaking it.
Mrs. Dorn retreated to the front of the shop.
"Miss Lachlan, there's been a misunderstanding. I don't travel. I can send a team from the shop
to put together—"
"I'm afraid Mr. Knyght is requesting you be on site to handle things," she said, matter-of-factly,
as she reached into the leather bag at her side. Pulling out an envelope, she handed it to me. "You will
be well compensated. Oh, and this does not include the travel. B.I.G. will make all flight and hotel
accommodations on your behalf.
Slipping the check from out of the envelope, I read the amount three times to be sure my vision
wasn't doubling. It held far more zeros than I'd ever seen in person. For a moment, my greedy side
wanted to drop to my knees and thank the woman, but my realistic nature tampered down the impulse.
"I'm flattered to be so in demand, but I'm afraid it just simply isn't possible." Handing the check
back to the shocked corporate woman, her dark eyes grew wide with what looked like worry.
"Olivia," Ced hissed, stepping in front of me, "are you crazy?" Giving me her back, she turned
toward Miss Lachlan. "Give us a moment, please?"
Grabbing my arm, she pulled me across the kitchen and into her small office. In a hush, she
began her reprimand.
"Are you an idiot? You'd have to be to pass up this opportunity." She sighed heavily, grabbing
the financial breakdown she must have created while on the phone with Miss Lachlan earlier. "Do you
see this?" She held the clipboard in front of me. "This is a ton of money for the bakery, you, and Alex."
She put her hand up, halting my protest.
"You can go to New York, take Sarah and Greg with you. You have Emily so groomed that
between her, Mrs. Dorn, and Jeff, we can take care of the bakery. I'll call some of students at the
culinary school to do some temp work if needed."
Before I could try to protest again, she put her hand over my mouth.
"I will stay and take care of Alex. We haven't had any Auntie Cedie time lately. Everything will be
perfectly fine for one day and night."
A light tap on the half-closed door interrupted our discussion.
"Miss Harlow?" Reaching out, I pushed the door all the way open. Miss Corporate Ladder stood
there looking haughty. "I just got off the phone with my employer." She raised the cell phone she held in
her left hand. "He is prepared to double the offer."
"She'll do it," Ced blurted.
"Excellent." Miss Lachlan held out the same envelope holding the check.
"Mercedes," I hissed.
She covered my mouth with her hand once more and took the check with her other. I pushed
her hand from my mouth.
"The other half of the payment will be given after you have completed the job." She pulled more
papers from her bag. "Now, we need to discuss the details."
After all this damn time and effort, she's turning down the offer. It's enough money to give her
business a major gain at the end of the fiscal year. I should know, I've seen her financial records. I
clenched my free hand into a fist.
"Vivianne, offer whatever she wants," I growled through clenched teeth.
"Sir? Are you sure about this? I mean, I can arrange—"
"Don't question me! Double the offer! Give her the initial check and she will receive the other
half upon completion of the job. Don't fuck this up, Vivianne!" I slammed my desk phone down and
moved to the small bar in my oversized office.
As I poured the whiskey into the chilled tumbler, I caught a glimpse of the silver frame turned
over on the bar. Knowing the absolute torture I would be putting myself through, I slid my fingers across
the cool silver and picked it up. Inhaling deeply, I flipped it over and looked at him. Tightness in my lungs
suffocated me. I slammed the frame back to the bar and the glass shattered from the force, scattering
across the lacquered wood. Grasping a tumbler and filling it halfway with whiskey, I tossed back the
aged smoothness in one swig.
"M-Mister Knyght?" My secretary's timid voice carried across my vast office from the partially
opened doorway.
"Yes?" I replied, my voice gravelly. I cleared my throat.
"Is, uh…is everything okay, sir?" She fidgeted, well aware of my temper.
"Yes," I answered, curtly. "Could you please have housekeeping clean the glass near my bar?"
"Of course, sir." She smiled and turned to tend to the task.
"Don't let them touch the picture frame!"
She snapped her head around quickly.
"Y-yes, sir," she said, continuing her retreat.
Sitting back into the chair at my desk, I impatiently waited for another call from Vivianne. This
time, it had better be a confirmation of Olivia Harlow taking the job.
When the intercom buzzed, I grabbed the phone.
"Is it Vivianne?"
"No, sir. It's your brother." My secretary's voice wavered.
"Send him through," I said with a disappointed sigh.
Our father, Damon Senior, remarried after he and my mother divorced. I had been two. He
wanted a housewife and my mother, much too independent and intelligent to waste away in a house
with multiple children, refused to comply with his desires.
The conflict brought about the divorce. Luckily for me, my parents worked hard to remain civil
with one another, mostly for the sake of the public eye. With my father being a world-renowned
surgeon and my mother residing as the CEO of B.I.G., they needed to keep a certain level of
professionalism, even in their private lives.
Damon Senior remarried about six months after the divorce and soon produced Hugh with his
wife, Heidi. She is much younger than my father and more than content to be a trophy housewife. Her
dependence on him also made his affairs easier for him to get away with.
The phone buzzed again. "Hugh?" I answered.
"Good morning, Damon," he greeted in his usual pleasant tone.
"So, to what do I owe this call? We didn't have a call set up, did we?" Scanning my calendar, I
saw nothing.
"No, I'm just calling to let you know Scarlett and I have finally set a date."
Settling back against my chair, I took a deep breath and smiled.
"That is…great news. So, when are you finally going to make an honest woman of her?"
"I heard that!" Scarlett's charming voice in the background revealed that she was in my
brother's office. I chuckled.
Scarlett started with B.I.G. as an intern during her last year of college. The impression she had in
the department with her imaginative and out of the box marketing skills was clear from the beginning.
The impression she left on my brother was also clear from the beginning.
Hugh was still enamored by her intelligence and beauty. There was no denying Scarlett's
physical appeal to men and, to be honest, even certain women. Scarlett stands at about five-foot-six,
but her height means nothing when you’re matched up against the ferocity of her presentations and
campaigns. Scarlett is a natural force, only enhanced by her golden blonde hair, porcelain skin,
hypnotizing crystal blue eyes, which were most often framed in black rimmed glasses, and her hourglass
figure. Her relationship with Hugh only manifested after I pulled her into my office and demanded she
go out with my brother at least once before I killed him. From that moment forward, they've been
together.
"Anyhow," she feigned annoyance, "we will be getting married near my family's hometown in
Pennsylvania."
"Sounds like a good idea." Realizing that would put me close to Pittsburgh, a smile crossed my
face.
"So, you won't object to traveling and standing as my best man?" Hugh rejoined the
conversation.
"I couldn't be more thrilled to do just that." My brother meant a lot to me and he just gave me
reason to be in Pennsylvania.
"Are you sure it—"
"Scarlett," Hugh hissed.
Knowing exactly what she’s referring to, I sighed.
"It's fine." I stiffened in my seat. "We can discuss more about this later." The buzz of my
intercom interrupted the direction the call had taken. "I need to get this." I hung up without a goodbye
and hit the button. "Yes?"
"Sorry, sir, but it’s Miss Lachlan."
"Send her through," I quipped, impatiently.
The phone beeped. "Well?!"
"She agreed to the double payment and will be—"
"Excellent! Good work, Vivianne!" A happiness I hadn't felt in years filled me.
Vivianne went over the logistics and details, but I didn't care. All that mattered was that I had
found them. She would be within my grasp in just a few, agonizing days.
The day of the corporate party arrived and I couldn't get through the workday quick enough. I
planned to cut out of the office early, dress, and find Miss Harlow before the party began, but a last
minute disaster with one of our larger clients made it impossible. My only hope was to get to her before
too many people arrived.
Arriving at the venue, I groaned at how many others arrived early. There were board members
and employees I had no other option but to greet and speak with. After all, this party was in celebration
of the company and its employees.
Finally getting through the throng of people, I arrived at the kitchen. Upon entering, I was
greeted by a tall, dark skinned man, eyeing me skeptically.
"Hello, I'm Damon Knyght, CEO of B.I.G." Holding out my hand, I eyed him up. Who was this man
to her? Employee? Lover?
His eyes widened. He quickly wiped his hand before holding it out. "It's a pleasure to meet you,
Mr. Knyght."
"I just wanted to come back and see…thank Miss Harlow for traveling out here for us this
evening. I know it was an inconvenience for—"
The man's brow furrowed.
"Is there a problem?"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Knyght." Turning, I came face to face with a tall, thin brunette with large blue
eyes. "Liv…Miss Harlow had to get back to Pittsburgh." She twisted her fingers in her apron nervously.
Looking back at the tall, dark man, I realized they were both awaiting my reaction.
"I see," I said, biting back my anger — my fury. She wasn't there. "Well, please thank her for
me." Forcing a smile and a nod, I left the kitchen.
Reaching inside my dark suit jacket, I pulled out my phone and dialed.
"Yes, Mr. Knyght?" Vivianne's voice always reminded me of what a loyal dog would sound like if
a dog could speak.
"Why is Miss Harlow gone already?" I growled.
Vivianne always tried to please and take care of everything, but she would never make amends
with me. Not unless she finally resigned from her position and went far, far away.
"I, uh, wasn't aware she was required to stay once the job was finished. Her assistants stayed to
help out during the—"
"Goddamn it, Vivianne! Where is she?"
"Uh…um…" Vivianne stuttered.
I shouldn't be taking this out on her, but she's ruined everything. She'd always been a thorn in
my side. If it weren't for my mother, I would've dropped Vivianne from the payroll years ago.
"Let me find out if she's left yet, Mr. Knyght. I will call—"
"Where are you?!" I returned to the large crowd of employees and business associates and
scanned the room for her dark hair.
"I'm about to walk out the front entrance to make the call privately, sir."
"I'll meet you there. Don't move!" I ended the call and snaked my way through the crowd.
A few stops to talk and a couple of handshakes later, I was out the front door. Vivianne stood,
leaning her forehead against the stone wall of the building. I cleared my throat. She jumped.
"Sir, she's already on a plane back to Pittsburgh." Tears formed in her eyes as she took in the
tension of my body. She knew how angry I was.
"I'm leaving." Turning to the valet, I growled, "Get my car."
His eyes widened and he moved quickly to locate my vehicle.
"Sir, you have to make your speech. You can't just—"
"Have Hugh do it. I have some business to attend."
Before she could say anything more, my car appeared. Tipping the valet for his fast work, I slid
behind the wheel of the sleek, midnight blue car, spinning the tires as I pulled away.
Pulling out my private cell phone, I dialed.
"Hello?"
"Mitch, its Damon. I need you to locate someone for me. In fact, I need you to find out as much
as you can about this person and I need everything as soon as you get it."
"Anything and everything?" He wanted reassurance.
"Yes."
"Does this have anything to do with our prior contract?"
"Yes."
"Name?"
"Olivia Harlow."
"So, you found her." He wasn't asking, Mitch was stating a fact. "I'll get what I can, but you have
to give me some time, Damon. Pennsylvania is a bit out of my jurisdiction and there is only so much a
computer can give me. I may have to contact a few people—"
"Just keep my name out of it and do what you have to do. We both know money isn't an issue." I
ended the call and tossed the phone on the passenger seat. With a heavy sigh, I sped home to bury
myself in whiskey and memories I'd rather escape.
The day after the New York job, Mercedes recruited Felicity to convince me to celebrate the
opportunity. Felicity Valiente, an event planner who had grown to be a close friend after so many jobs
brought us together over the years, towered over Mercedes at almost six feet tall in her heels. Today,
she wore her long, thick, dark hair in a braid over her shoulder. The turquoise wrap dress complimented
her golden brown skin and dark brown eyes. With her Filipino and Hawaiian heritage, she was the kind
of woman men wanted and other women wanted to be.
"A trip to Las Vegas for a Girls Gone Wild weekend will be help you wind down from the big job."
Mercedes pushed the topic when I didn't initially respond to the idea.
"I’m a mother. There will be no Girls Gone Wild." Laughing, I stacked the third tier, out of the
five, on a wedding cake.
"Come on, Olivia. Live a little!" Felicity chided.
"Your dad can watch Alex for the weekend. We can all go and let loose. Besides, I didn’t get to
go to New York like you did!" Ced brought out the puppy dog eyes and pouty lip.
"You two go ahead. I have a lot of cakes to get done." Waving, I tried to shoo them away.
"There are only three cakes this weekend and Sarah and Greg can handle them both, plus Emily
is like your mini-me. She can handle it." They both stood on the opposite side of the table, staring
intently. "Come on!" Mercedes pleaded.
"It’s to celebrate your success, Liv!" Felicity added.
"We all know how celebrating ended for me before." An image of Isaac flashed into my head.
"I’m sorry, Liv. You know how sorry I am that that happened, but this isn’t like that. You need to
get out, be a woman, and get laid!" Mercedes stated.
The room erupted in laughter.
"Hush it, all of you," I said between my own laughter. "I can't believe you just announced it to
the kitchen." Heat flushed my face.
"A vibrator can only do so much." She shrugged off my embarrassment and ignored my beet red
face. The chorus of laughter around us grew louder.
"If I agree, will you shut up about my sex life, batteries or no batteries?"
Felicity and Ced gave me a synchronized smile.
"Yes!" Ced hugged Felicity, then both burst into song.
"We are going to Vegas. We are going to Vegas!" they sang, using the damn Blue's Clues theme
tune.
"Get away from my table before you knock over this cake, you loons!" Laughing, I shook my
head at them.
"You love, L-O-V-E, us!" Ced sang.
Two extremely long days later, Mitch called while I was in the middle of a meeting. Unable to
take the call, but unable to concentrate on the topic any longer, I rushed the meeting. I wasn’t going to
lose her now.
"Hello," he said. His voice was always guarded when he answered.
"You got the information I requested?"
"Damon?"
"Of course."
He chuckled. "I'm sending the information to you now, by messenger."
"Give me the summary." I closed my office door a little too roughly, excitement flowing through
my body.
"Well, Miss Harlow will be taking a trip to Vegas this weekend. The flight arrangements were
just made this week under the name of Mercedes Bennett, but it's Harlow." A beeping noise sounded
through the phone. "Listen, I have to go, but the details should be there within the hour."
"Very well." I ended the call and hit the button on my desk intercom.
"I am expecting a messenger within the hour. I need the delivery immediately."
"Yes, sir," Mrs. Shaw quickly responded.
I settled back in my leather chair, unable to think about work. Vegas was the only thing on my
mind.
The messenger arrived forty-five minutes later and Mrs. Shaw brought in the large manila
envelope with a large smile on her face. I took it and thanked her. Once she closed the door behind her,
I tore into the envelope. It was everything I needed. A plan began to form in my mind. I hadn't been to
Vegas in years.
by Sadie Grubor
www.sadiegrubor.com
www.facebook.com/authorsadiegrubor
www.twitter.com/sadiegrubor
Oliva Harlow, owner of Harlows cakes, is a single mother to a little boy named Alex. Olivia just finished a huge job event and her friends begged her to get away for weekend. So the trip was planned and Vegas was on the agenda with the girls for the weekend
It is said" What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!"Olivia Harlow ended up married to Damon Knyght billionaire, but does not remember it happening
Olivia wanted the marriage to Damion to be annulled, but Damion won't have it. He forces himself into Olivia's life in a stalker way...but WHY? The truth comes out and now everything changes in a blink of an eye.
The emotional pull is strong between Damion and Olivia. The tragedy both Damion and Olivia have experienced in the past plays a big role in how they want to protect themselves from ever being hurt again.
Will Olivia and Damion stay married after the truth comes out? Will they fall in love with each other? Will their past heartache hinder them from ever having a relationship?
I was drawn into Olivia and Damion's story from the beginning.
This was a great read and I very much enjoyed it. There is a lot of emotions at play. I did not give away a lot in this review because I felt it would ruined the awe factor of the read!
AMAZON BUY LINK:
http://www.amazon.com/VEGAS-follows-you-home-Vegas-ebook/dp/B00RLUPYA8
BLURB:
"We are going to Vegas. We are going to Vegas!" They used the damn Blue's Clues theme music to their
lyrics.
Olivia Harlow
It's a trip with friends. A single girl's celebratory getaway. Olivia Harlow finishes the biggest job she's
been offered since starting Harlow Cakes, her custom and specialty cake shop and bakery. So, it's a
Vegas weekend for Olivia, the level headed, single mother, with her life scheduled.
There is no way she could guess what would happen and who would follow her home.
Damon Knyght
His search is over. After rising up from the ashes of his life and the pain, he found them. Now that he has
them, there is no letting go.
FULL PROLOGUE:
"Olivia!" Mercedes shouted as she emerged from the office on the furthest side of the kitchen.
"Yeah?" I replied, quietly, my attention focused on creating the complicated ribbon pattern for
the wedding cake I needed to finish today.
"You'll never guess the call I just had." She stopped just before crashing into my worktable.
"Ced, if you don't calm down, I'm going to ask you take three steps away from this cake before I
end up wearing all five tiers of it."
Sarah, my baking assistant, giggled from my right.
Mercedes put her hands up and took two steps back.
"But, Liv, seriously, you just got the job of a lifetime!" She vibrated with excitement.
Securing the last ribbon detail, I straightened and stretched out my spine, the three pops
accentuating relief. Taking a deep breath, I focused on Ced and the topic at hand.
"What are you talking about?"
"Okay, so, I was going over the books and the upcoming schedule. Because, as you know, since
we were featured on that reality wedding show, our business has completely increased, and if I don't
keep on top of the books and schedule, things just get hectic crazy around here. And when things are
hectic crazy around here you get gar-um-pee."
Known for her ability to complete full conversations in one breath and without another person
actually participating, if I didn't interrupt, we would be here for a while.
"Ced, take a breath and circle back to the phone call."
"Oh," she blinked rapidly, "yeah, thanks. As I was saying, I got a call requesting you to prepare
desserts and a cake for over two thousand people." Ced's eyes twinkled with excitement. "Two
thousand people, Olivia! Do you realize how big this is?"
"Wait, a wedding with two thousand people? Is it some celebrity?"
Sara started to go over the cake details with iridescent sugar powder, giving the ribbons a glossy
sparkle.
"No, no, not a celebrity. It's a corporate function." She lifted a notepad I hadn't noticed her
holding. "Vivianne Lachlan will be arriving to discuss the details with you personally, but they want you
to prepare all the desserts and the large cake for their company function. They are even going to pay the
traveling costs."
"Didn't you tell her we account for travel and delivery costs in the fees?"
"Of course I did." She may as well have said Duh! "But we've never had flight costs before, so I
figured we would—"
"Wait, flight costs? Why am I flying somewhere?"
"It's in New York," Ced responded. "They want you to come to New York and prepare everything
there. Hotel and travel expenses will be handled by Miss Lachlan and her employer."
"Whoa, Ced, I don't fly to other states to work. We can't do it. Call her back and apologize for
the misunderstanding." I began cleaning up the icing bags.
"Are you crazy, Liv?" Mercedes stepped back up to the table. "This job will be enough money to
pay for half of this year’s expenses. You will retain a large profit margin this year," Mercedes argued.
From Mercedes appearance — her rainbow-dyed shag hair, purple-blue contacts, and standard
vintage-inspired style, along with her A.D.D. — you would never guess the girl was a numbers genius.
Appearances were deceiving. In fact, Mercedes Welch graduated valedictorian at Carnegie Mellon
University in Mathematical Sciences. She had been dating one of the instructors at my Pittsburgh
Culinary School when I met her. Mercedes had and always would be one of the most interesting people
in my life.
"I'm not going to leave Alex and go to New York. You know—"
"I believe it would be worth your while to accept."
Snapping my attention toward the unfamiliar voice, I allowed myself a moment to absorb the
unexpected visitor. A very tall, thin woman with sleek, dark brown hair wrapped smartly into a bun atop
her head, stood at the doorway between the kitchen and storefront of my bakery. Her skin, fair and
flawless, contrasted with her dark eyes. Beside her stood Mrs. Dorn, a woman I'd hired a few years back
to run the storefront.
"I'm so sorry, Olivia. She said you were expecting her, but she wouldn't wait at the consultation
table." Mrs. Dorn turned her apologetic eyes from me and glared at the corporate woman next to her.
"It's fine, Mrs. Dorn. She was expected. Thank you." Forcing a smile in the new woman's
direction, I turned to Sarah. "Can you finish this up and get Greg to help you carry the cake to the
cooler?"
Sarah nodded and I turned back to the tall woman. A woman whose put-together, pristine
appearance had me wiping my hands on my oversized, worn, and food-color-stained jeans. As if that
would fancy up the old band t-shirt and knotted red mess held on my head by a bandana. I refused to
wear a hairnet like a lunch lady.
"I'm sorry, Miss…"
"Lachlan." She stepped forward with her hand held out for me.
I met her halfway between my table and the door, taking her hand and shaking it.
Mrs. Dorn retreated to the front of the shop.
"Miss Lachlan, there's been a misunderstanding. I don't travel. I can send a team from the shop
to put together—"
"I'm afraid Mr. Knyght is requesting you be on site to handle things," she said, matter-of-factly,
as she reached into the leather bag at her side. Pulling out an envelope, she handed it to me. "You will
be well compensated. Oh, and this does not include the travel. B.I.G. will make all flight and hotel
accommodations on your behalf.
Slipping the check from out of the envelope, I read the amount three times to be sure my vision
wasn't doubling. It held far more zeros than I'd ever seen in person. For a moment, my greedy side
wanted to drop to my knees and thank the woman, but my realistic nature tampered down the impulse.
"I'm flattered to be so in demand, but I'm afraid it just simply isn't possible." Handing the check
back to the shocked corporate woman, her dark eyes grew wide with what looked like worry.
"Olivia," Ced hissed, stepping in front of me, "are you crazy?" Giving me her back, she turned
toward Miss Lachlan. "Give us a moment, please?"
Grabbing my arm, she pulled me across the kitchen and into her small office. In a hush, she
began her reprimand.
"Are you an idiot? You'd have to be to pass up this opportunity." She sighed heavily, grabbing
the financial breakdown she must have created while on the phone with Miss Lachlan earlier. "Do you
see this?" She held the clipboard in front of me. "This is a ton of money for the bakery, you, and Alex."
She put her hand up, halting my protest.
"You can go to New York, take Sarah and Greg with you. You have Emily so groomed that
between her, Mrs. Dorn, and Jeff, we can take care of the bakery. I'll call some of students at the
culinary school to do some temp work if needed."
Before I could try to protest again, she put her hand over my mouth.
"I will stay and take care of Alex. We haven't had any Auntie Cedie time lately. Everything will be
perfectly fine for one day and night."
A light tap on the half-closed door interrupted our discussion.
"Miss Harlow?" Reaching out, I pushed the door all the way open. Miss Corporate Ladder stood
there looking haughty. "I just got off the phone with my employer." She raised the cell phone she held in
her left hand. "He is prepared to double the offer."
"She'll do it," Ced blurted.
"Excellent." Miss Lachlan held out the same envelope holding the check.
"Mercedes," I hissed.
She covered my mouth with her hand once more and took the check with her other. I pushed
her hand from my mouth.
"The other half of the payment will be given after you have completed the job." She pulled more
papers from her bag. "Now, we need to discuss the details."
After all this damn time and effort, she's turning down the offer. It's enough money to give her
business a major gain at the end of the fiscal year. I should know, I've seen her financial records. I
clenched my free hand into a fist.
"Vivianne, offer whatever she wants," I growled through clenched teeth.
"Sir? Are you sure about this? I mean, I can arrange—"
"Don't question me! Double the offer! Give her the initial check and she will receive the other
half upon completion of the job. Don't fuck this up, Vivianne!" I slammed my desk phone down and
moved to the small bar in my oversized office.
As I poured the whiskey into the chilled tumbler, I caught a glimpse of the silver frame turned
over on the bar. Knowing the absolute torture I would be putting myself through, I slid my fingers across
the cool silver and picked it up. Inhaling deeply, I flipped it over and looked at him. Tightness in my lungs
suffocated me. I slammed the frame back to the bar and the glass shattered from the force, scattering
across the lacquered wood. Grasping a tumbler and filling it halfway with whiskey, I tossed back the
aged smoothness in one swig.
"M-Mister Knyght?" My secretary's timid voice carried across my vast office from the partially
opened doorway.
"Yes?" I replied, my voice gravelly. I cleared my throat.
"Is, uh…is everything okay, sir?" She fidgeted, well aware of my temper.
"Yes," I answered, curtly. "Could you please have housekeeping clean the glass near my bar?"
"Of course, sir." She smiled and turned to tend to the task.
"Don't let them touch the picture frame!"
She snapped her head around quickly.
"Y-yes, sir," she said, continuing her retreat.
Sitting back into the chair at my desk, I impatiently waited for another call from Vivianne. This
time, it had better be a confirmation of Olivia Harlow taking the job.
When the intercom buzzed, I grabbed the phone.
"Is it Vivianne?"
"No, sir. It's your brother." My secretary's voice wavered.
"Send him through," I said with a disappointed sigh.
Our father, Damon Senior, remarried after he and my mother divorced. I had been two. He
wanted a housewife and my mother, much too independent and intelligent to waste away in a house
with multiple children, refused to comply with his desires.
The conflict brought about the divorce. Luckily for me, my parents worked hard to remain civil
with one another, mostly for the sake of the public eye. With my father being a world-renowned
surgeon and my mother residing as the CEO of B.I.G., they needed to keep a certain level of
professionalism, even in their private lives.
Damon Senior remarried about six months after the divorce and soon produced Hugh with his
wife, Heidi. She is much younger than my father and more than content to be a trophy housewife. Her
dependence on him also made his affairs easier for him to get away with.
The phone buzzed again. "Hugh?" I answered.
"Good morning, Damon," he greeted in his usual pleasant tone.
"So, to what do I owe this call? We didn't have a call set up, did we?" Scanning my calendar, I
saw nothing.
"No, I'm just calling to let you know Scarlett and I have finally set a date."
Settling back against my chair, I took a deep breath and smiled.
"That is…great news. So, when are you finally going to make an honest woman of her?"
"I heard that!" Scarlett's charming voice in the background revealed that she was in my
brother's office. I chuckled.
Scarlett started with B.I.G. as an intern during her last year of college. The impression she had in
the department with her imaginative and out of the box marketing skills was clear from the beginning.
The impression she left on my brother was also clear from the beginning.
Hugh was still enamored by her intelligence and beauty. There was no denying Scarlett's
physical appeal to men and, to be honest, even certain women. Scarlett stands at about five-foot-six,
but her height means nothing when you’re matched up against the ferocity of her presentations and
campaigns. Scarlett is a natural force, only enhanced by her golden blonde hair, porcelain skin,
hypnotizing crystal blue eyes, which were most often framed in black rimmed glasses, and her hourglass
figure. Her relationship with Hugh only manifested after I pulled her into my office and demanded she
go out with my brother at least once before I killed him. From that moment forward, they've been
together.
"Anyhow," she feigned annoyance, "we will be getting married near my family's hometown in
Pennsylvania."
"Sounds like a good idea." Realizing that would put me close to Pittsburgh, a smile crossed my
face.
"So, you won't object to traveling and standing as my best man?" Hugh rejoined the
conversation.
"I couldn't be more thrilled to do just that." My brother meant a lot to me and he just gave me
reason to be in Pennsylvania.
"Are you sure it—"
"Scarlett," Hugh hissed.
Knowing exactly what she’s referring to, I sighed.
"It's fine." I stiffened in my seat. "We can discuss more about this later." The buzz of my
intercom interrupted the direction the call had taken. "I need to get this." I hung up without a goodbye
and hit the button. "Yes?"
"Sorry, sir, but it’s Miss Lachlan."
"Send her through," I quipped, impatiently.
The phone beeped. "Well?!"
"She agreed to the double payment and will be—"
"Excellent! Good work, Vivianne!" A happiness I hadn't felt in years filled me.
Vivianne went over the logistics and details, but I didn't care. All that mattered was that I had
found them. She would be within my grasp in just a few, agonizing days.
The day of the corporate party arrived and I couldn't get through the workday quick enough. I
planned to cut out of the office early, dress, and find Miss Harlow before the party began, but a last
minute disaster with one of our larger clients made it impossible. My only hope was to get to her before
too many people arrived.
Arriving at the venue, I groaned at how many others arrived early. There were board members
and employees I had no other option but to greet and speak with. After all, this party was in celebration
of the company and its employees.
Finally getting through the throng of people, I arrived at the kitchen. Upon entering, I was
greeted by a tall, dark skinned man, eyeing me skeptically.
"Hello, I'm Damon Knyght, CEO of B.I.G." Holding out my hand, I eyed him up. Who was this man
to her? Employee? Lover?
His eyes widened. He quickly wiped his hand before holding it out. "It's a pleasure to meet you,
Mr. Knyght."
"I just wanted to come back and see…thank Miss Harlow for traveling out here for us this
evening. I know it was an inconvenience for—"
The man's brow furrowed.
"Is there a problem?"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Knyght." Turning, I came face to face with a tall, thin brunette with large blue
eyes. "Liv…Miss Harlow had to get back to Pittsburgh." She twisted her fingers in her apron nervously.
Looking back at the tall, dark man, I realized they were both awaiting my reaction.
"I see," I said, biting back my anger — my fury. She wasn't there. "Well, please thank her for
me." Forcing a smile and a nod, I left the kitchen.
Reaching inside my dark suit jacket, I pulled out my phone and dialed.
"Yes, Mr. Knyght?" Vivianne's voice always reminded me of what a loyal dog would sound like if
a dog could speak.
"Why is Miss Harlow gone already?" I growled.
Vivianne always tried to please and take care of everything, but she would never make amends
with me. Not unless she finally resigned from her position and went far, far away.
"I, uh, wasn't aware she was required to stay once the job was finished. Her assistants stayed to
help out during the—"
"Goddamn it, Vivianne! Where is she?"
"Uh…um…" Vivianne stuttered.
I shouldn't be taking this out on her, but she's ruined everything. She'd always been a thorn in
my side. If it weren't for my mother, I would've dropped Vivianne from the payroll years ago.
"Let me find out if she's left yet, Mr. Knyght. I will call—"
"Where are you?!" I returned to the large crowd of employees and business associates and
scanned the room for her dark hair.
"I'm about to walk out the front entrance to make the call privately, sir."
"I'll meet you there. Don't move!" I ended the call and snaked my way through the crowd.
A few stops to talk and a couple of handshakes later, I was out the front door. Vivianne stood,
leaning her forehead against the stone wall of the building. I cleared my throat. She jumped.
"Sir, she's already on a plane back to Pittsburgh." Tears formed in her eyes as she took in the
tension of my body. She knew how angry I was.
"I'm leaving." Turning to the valet, I growled, "Get my car."
His eyes widened and he moved quickly to locate my vehicle.
"Sir, you have to make your speech. You can't just—"
"Have Hugh do it. I have some business to attend."
Before she could say anything more, my car appeared. Tipping the valet for his fast work, I slid
behind the wheel of the sleek, midnight blue car, spinning the tires as I pulled away.
Pulling out my private cell phone, I dialed.
"Hello?"
"Mitch, its Damon. I need you to locate someone for me. In fact, I need you to find out as much
as you can about this person and I need everything as soon as you get it."
"Anything and everything?" He wanted reassurance.
"Yes."
"Does this have anything to do with our prior contract?"
"Yes."
"Name?"
"Olivia Harlow."
"So, you found her." He wasn't asking, Mitch was stating a fact. "I'll get what I can, but you have
to give me some time, Damon. Pennsylvania is a bit out of my jurisdiction and there is only so much a
computer can give me. I may have to contact a few people—"
"Just keep my name out of it and do what you have to do. We both know money isn't an issue." I
ended the call and tossed the phone on the passenger seat. With a heavy sigh, I sped home to bury
myself in whiskey and memories I'd rather escape.
The day after the New York job, Mercedes recruited Felicity to convince me to celebrate the
opportunity. Felicity Valiente, an event planner who had grown to be a close friend after so many jobs
brought us together over the years, towered over Mercedes at almost six feet tall in her heels. Today,
she wore her long, thick, dark hair in a braid over her shoulder. The turquoise wrap dress complimented
her golden brown skin and dark brown eyes. With her Filipino and Hawaiian heritage, she was the kind
of woman men wanted and other women wanted to be.
"A trip to Las Vegas for a Girls Gone Wild weekend will be help you wind down from the big job."
Mercedes pushed the topic when I didn't initially respond to the idea.
"I’m a mother. There will be no Girls Gone Wild." Laughing, I stacked the third tier, out of the
five, on a wedding cake.
"Come on, Olivia. Live a little!" Felicity chided.
"Your dad can watch Alex for the weekend. We can all go and let loose. Besides, I didn’t get to
go to New York like you did!" Ced brought out the puppy dog eyes and pouty lip.
"You two go ahead. I have a lot of cakes to get done." Waving, I tried to shoo them away.
"There are only three cakes this weekend and Sarah and Greg can handle them both, plus Emily
is like your mini-me. She can handle it." They both stood on the opposite side of the table, staring
intently. "Come on!" Mercedes pleaded.
"It’s to celebrate your success, Liv!" Felicity added.
"We all know how celebrating ended for me before." An image of Isaac flashed into my head.
"I’m sorry, Liv. You know how sorry I am that that happened, but this isn’t like that. You need to
get out, be a woman, and get laid!" Mercedes stated.
The room erupted in laughter.
"Hush it, all of you," I said between my own laughter. "I can't believe you just announced it to
the kitchen." Heat flushed my face.
"A vibrator can only do so much." She shrugged off my embarrassment and ignored my beet red
face. The chorus of laughter around us grew louder.
"If I agree, will you shut up about my sex life, batteries or no batteries?"
Felicity and Ced gave me a synchronized smile.
"Yes!" Ced hugged Felicity, then both burst into song.
"We are going to Vegas. We are going to Vegas!" they sang, using the damn Blue's Clues theme
tune.
"Get away from my table before you knock over this cake, you loons!" Laughing, I shook my
head at them.
"You love, L-O-V-E, us!" Ced sang.
Two extremely long days later, Mitch called while I was in the middle of a meeting. Unable to
take the call, but unable to concentrate on the topic any longer, I rushed the meeting. I wasn’t going to
lose her now.
"Hello," he said. His voice was always guarded when he answered.
"You got the information I requested?"
"Damon?"
"Of course."
He chuckled. "I'm sending the information to you now, by messenger."
"Give me the summary." I closed my office door a little too roughly, excitement flowing through
my body.
"Well, Miss Harlow will be taking a trip to Vegas this weekend. The flight arrangements were
just made this week under the name of Mercedes Bennett, but it's Harlow." A beeping noise sounded
through the phone. "Listen, I have to go, but the details should be there within the hour."
"Very well." I ended the call and hit the button on my desk intercom.
"I am expecting a messenger within the hour. I need the delivery immediately."
"Yes, sir," Mrs. Shaw quickly responded.
I settled back in my leather chair, unable to think about work. Vegas was the only thing on my
mind.
The messenger arrived forty-five minutes later and Mrs. Shaw brought in the large manila
envelope with a large smile on her face. I took it and thanked her. Once she closed the door behind her,
I tore into the envelope. It was everything I needed. A plan began to form in my mind. I hadn't been to
Vegas in years.
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Author Spotlight: Magan Vernon
Magan Vernon is a Young Adult and New Adult writer who lives with her family in the
insurance capital of the world. She is in a very serious, fake relationship with Adam
Lambert and constantly asks her husband to wear guyliner. He still refuses. She also
believes her husband is secretly an alien, disguised as a southern gentleman.
Twitter
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Magan-Vernon/215620155165079
Blog/website
insurance capital of the world. She is in a very serious, fake relationship with Adam
Lambert and constantly asks her husband to wear guyliner. He still refuses. She also
believes her husband is secretly an alien, disguised as a southern gentleman.
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Magan-Vernon/215620155165079
Blog/website
Ensnared **COVER REVEAL**
Title: Ensnared
Series: (The Life of Anna #4)
Author: Marissa Honeycutt
Release Date: February 13th
Synopsis:
Everything Anna cared about is lost; the only thing left is Devin. She gives him all of herself, but even that seems too little.
As Anna realizes the truth of her Master's desire, she must decide what it is that she truly wants.
There is a subculture within our own world that you’ve only heard whispers of. The conspiracy theorists wish they knew Anna’s story. What the conspiracy theorists think they know is only disinformation, put out there to keep them from the real story.
***NOTE***
This is not a stand-alone novel. This is the fourth of five novels that tell Anna’s story.
***WARNING***
This book is for grownups. This book is not for people who are easily offended, get nightmares easily, or have difficulty reading books about tough subjects. I do not glorify bad things, but bad things do happen to my poor characters. This is not your typical love story. My heroine does not fall in love and live happily ever after... at least not like the typical heroine. There is a happily ever after, but it is a long, painful journey to that end.
This book will likely offend you. This book might make you cry; it might make you throw up. It is a dark book. As my friend, Heidi, said, “It’s dark. It gets darker. It gets even darker, and then it gets even more darker. And then, just when you think it can’t get any darker, it does.”
But, don’t worry. I take you to the deep end gradually. ;)
There are many sexual situations in this series of books. People die. People get hurt. Things aren’t always truly the way they appear. The antagonist isn’t just a bad guy; he’s EVIL. My heroine’s worldview is skewed; things that may appall you are perfectly normal to her.
Any violence in this book is non-gratuitous and crucial to the plot and character development.
Do not read this if you are under the age of consent in your country. Do not get angry if the subject or actual book upsets you. If you're reading this, you've been warned.
Pre-Order links:
Have you joined the release day party:
Other books in the series:
The Life of Anna, Part 1: Enslaved (FREE)
Anna's entire life was scripted out before she was born by Devin Andersen, a man who doesn't have her best interests in mind. She is to be a tool in his hands to gain ultimate power in the USA. No, not as the President, but as the man who controls the President.
Raised by an extremely abusive guardian, Anna was molded into the perfect sex slave for Devin's use. Devin will use Anna's unique gifts to control everyone around him and eventually take her gifts for himself.
When Devin took her for himself at the age of twelve, she had a vision of a man. A man who Devin was very interested in. But why? Why would Devin care about a little girl's dreams?
When Devin took her for himself at the age of twelve, she had a vision of a man. A man who Devin was very interested in. But why? Why would Devin care about a little girl's dreams?
Buy Links:
The Life of Anna, Part 2: Entwined
Anna has two masters, one she hardly knows, but who makes her feel safe, the other she's known all her life and says he needs her.
Alex wants her to be free.
Devin demands her obedience.
As Anna takes her first steps into the world, into love, into friendship, she wonders if she will ever understand either of them.
Alex wants her to be free.
Devin demands her obedience.
As Anna takes her first steps into the world, into love, into friendship, she wonders if she will ever understand either of them.
Buy Links:
The Life of Anna, Part 3: Embraced
Devin has achieved his goal of becoming Chairman and all seems peaceful...until Devin performs an act of cruelty that pushes Anna to fight back for the first time in her life. Meanwhile, Alex is working hard to give her something that Devin can never take away.
As her Masters work around her, Anna must navigate a life she never wanted.
As her Masters work around her, Anna must navigate a life she never wanted.
Buy Links:
Author Bio:
Marissa's story of Anna began with a dream about being kidnapped with Adam Savage from Mythbusters (Yes, really). Over the next year and a half, it morphed into the story that is now known as "The Life of Anna." She has several other stories in progress, one of which is based on her kidnapped dream.
When she's not writing or editing, Marissa is taking care of two young boys, training to be an astronaut, running her household, wrestling with gorillas, playing around on Facebook, promoting whirled peas, and busting her tush for her accounting degree. She enjoys chocolate, air conditioning in the desert's summer heat, really good strawberry margaritas, sleeping, and shopping.
When she's not writing or editing, Marissa is taking care of two young boys, training to be an astronaut, running her household, wrestling with gorillas, playing around on Facebook, promoting whirled peas, and busting her tush for her accounting degree. She enjoys chocolate, air conditioning in the desert's summer heat, really good strawberry margaritas, sleeping, and shopping.