Book Blast: Vicious Cycle (Vicious Cycle #1) by Katie Ashley

About the Author:

Katie Ashley is the New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon Best-Selling author of The Proposition Series, Runaway Train Series, as well as several New Adult and Young Adult titles. Her latest series, Vicious Cycle, has been picked up for publication by Penguin Books.

She lives outside of Atlanta, Georgia with her two very spoiled dogs. She has a slight obsession with Pinterest, The Golden Girls, Harry Potter, Shakespeare, Supernatural, Sons of Anarchy, Downton Abbey, Designing Women, and Scooby-Doo. 

With a BA in English, a BS in Secondary English Education, and a Masters in English Education, she spent 11 1/2 years educating the Youth of America aka teaching MS and HS English until she left to write full time in December 2012.




She is represented by Jane Dystel of Dystel and Goderich Literary Management.

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Excerpt from Vicious Cycle:

As I entered the door, I took a deep breath to try and still my out-of-control nerves. Smoke hung heavy in the air, stinging my eyes and causing me to cough. Several men in leather biker cuts lounged on stools at the bar, nursing beers. Across from me, a heated pool game was taking place.

I took a few steps inside and then froze. “Are you lost, darlin’?” a big busted woman in a halter top asked.

“Uh…I’m looking for David Malloy,” I said.

Two men at the pool table whirled around. The shorter of the two, a tough but cute looking blond, cocked his head curiously at me. But then the moment my gaze locked on the other man, I knew he was Willow’s father. They had the same dark hair, soulful dark eyes, and heart-shaped face. David, however, had dark scruff covering his face. Although he was Rev’s brother, I didn’t see any resemblance between the two. Although he was shorter and slightly less built, David was just as good-looking as Rev. “Mr. Malloy?” I questioned, as I closed the distance between us.

He tossed the pool stick on the table. Taking a long drag on his cigarette, he then stubbed it out in an ashtray on the table. “What do you want?” he demanded.

Without even glancing around the room, I knew that every eye in the place was on us. “I really need to speak with you for a moment.”

His dark eyes narrowed as they raked over my body. Then the next thing I knew, he leapt at me, knocking me back into the wall. One of his hands came to grip my throat while his body pinned me in place. Fear like I had never known overwhelmed me, sending my heartbeat drumming wildly in my ears. It was so loud it felt like a cannon blast going off around me. “Please,” I murmured.

David glared at me as his thumb pressed harder into my throat. “They’re really falling down on their job at the academy.”

“E-Excuse m-me?” I stammered.

With a smirk, he replied, “Don’t they train you ATF bitches to hide your fear a little better? I mean, you’re practically pissing your pants right now, not to mention your heart is beating ninety to nothing.”

I shook my head slowly back and forth as I tried processing his words. “ATF? I don’t understand.”

He rolled his eyes. “A white-bred piece of ass comes waltzing into my clubhouse wanting to talk to me alone. It doesn’t take a fucking genius to realize you’re a Fed.”

A Fed? It took me a moment to process what he meant. Holy shit, he thought I worked for the government as an agent of some sort. Quickly, I replied, “No, I’m not.”

A voice came from him. “Deacon, man, you’re gonna get your ass jacked up even further for this.”

Glancing over his shoulder, Deacon said to the young, blond haired man, “Stay out of this, Bishop.”

Bishop held up his hands. “Fine. It’s your fucking funeral.”

David’s hand slid down my throat to the buttons on my dress. Glancing over his shoulder at the others, he questioned, “What do you bet she’s wired up under her tits?”

When his hands started to rip open my dress, I couldn’t hold back my scream. “No, stop! I’m not who you think I am. I swear!” I protested.

“Then just who the hell are you?” he demanded.

Before I could answer, a tiny voice came from behind us. “Miss Alex?”

The sound of Willow’s voice caused David to release his hold on my dress, but his body still kept me pinned to the wall. At that same moment, Rev entered the clubhouse. When he saw me, his eyes bulged, and he broke into a run to reach us. Grabbing David’s shoulders, he slung him away from me. “For fuck’s sake, Deacon, what the hell are you doing?”

“I’m giving this undercover ATF bitch what she deserves,” Deacon spat, taking a step back toward me.

“Christ, she’s not ATF,” Rev countered.

“Oh, then who the hell is she?”

“She’s my teacher…and my friend,” Willow answered in a small voice.

Vicious Cycle (Vicious Cycle #1)
Adult Contemporary Erotic Romance
Expected Publication: 2 June 2015 by NAL Trade

New York Times bestselling author Katie Ashley revs up the danger and sexual tension in her brand-new Vicious Cycle romance series.

Deacon Malloy’s life is dedicated to the Hells Raiders motorcycle club. Tough, hard, and fast with his fists, he serves the group as sergeant at arms. But his devil-may-care approach to life is thrown for a loop when the five-year-old daughter he never knew existed lands on the club steps.

Alexandra Evans is devoted to all her students—but there’s always been something about Willow Malloy that tugs at her heart. There’s an aura of sadness about her, a girl in need of all the love Alexandra can give. When Willow stops coming to school, Alexandra’s search leads to a clubhouse full of bikers…and a father hell-bent on keeping his daughter always within sight.

The moment Deacon sees Alexandra, he has to have her in his bed—and he’s never met a woman yet who couldn’t be persuaded. No matter how attracted she is to Deacon, Alexandra refuses to be just another conquest. But it’s Deacon himself who could be seduced—into a brighter future for himself, his daughter, and the woman he’s falling for against all odds.

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Vicious Cycle Book Blast Arranged By Literati Author Services.

Blog Tour - Book Teaser: New Life Series by Samantha Jacobey

About the Author:

Samantha Jacobey is a middle aged woman who earned a BS in Business Management and has worked in half a dozen fields. With a relentless zest for life, she enjoys action and adventure, as well as all the love and romance it has to offer. Creating stories in her mind for many years, she has put some of them into print for the world to share, and hopes you will enjoy reading them as much as she did creating them. What drives her most is the love of a good story and is confident you will enjoy her latest creation.

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WARNING: This series is intended for readers 18+ and contains scenes that may cause distress to some readers: Domestic Abuse, Kidnapping, Rape and Substance Abuse are described in detail.


New Life Series

Captive (Published: 15 March 2014 by Lavish Publishing, LLC)

Bound (Published: 15 March 2014 by Lavish Publishing, LLC)

Entwined (Published: 24 March 2014 by Lavish Publishing, LLC)

Exposed (Published: 21 June 2014 by Lavish Publishing, LLC)

Indelible (Published: 18 September 2014 by Lavish Publishing, LLC)

Intrepid (Published: 18 November 2014 by Lavish Publishing, LLC)

Avenged (Published: 20 January 2015 by Lavish Publishing, LLC)

Adult Contemporary Dark Erotic Suspense

The New Life Series chronicles the life of a young woman who is raised by a group of men who work as freelance mercenaries in the dark world of drug trafficking and murder for hire. They acquired the young woman at a very young age, as she has no memory of life before them.

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New Life Series Blog Tour Arranged by Wicked Reads.

Release Day Blast: Gown Girl (Lost In Lace #1) by Kat Cazanav

About the Author:

Kat Cazanav graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles with a degree in film. She went on to work in television before moving to Seattle where she now lives with her husband and two crazy dogs.

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Gown Girl (Lost In Lace #1)
New Adult Contemporary Romance
Published: 26 May 2015

Life has a few harsh surprises for Maddy Gill. When a fire sweeps through her Seattle apartment and destroys the little she has left, she finds herself living out of her car. But not the kind of gal to feel sorry for herself, she scrambles to get back on her feet. As a reporter for a local newspaper, she seizes the opportunity to interview the elusive wedding couture designer, Sophia Nicoletta. When she unintentionally tries on Sophia’s most expensive creation, the zipper just won’t budge. Trapped in the clutches of a million dollar gown and with the risk of losing her job, she has no where to turn until sexy charismatic sculptor Atticus Wolfe arrives to pay the delinquent tab on his ex-fiancées wedding gown. Now Maddy realizes she’s a hostage in the same dress. With no immediate solution to the problem, she’s forced to go home with the brooding young artist.

As one of the hottest new sculptors on the art scene, Atticus Wolfe can have any woman he wants, just not Maddy Gill. Certainly not like this. No way, no how. With nothing in common other than a faulty zipper, his futile attempts to undress her and set her free only fuel a heated attraction. When a hot kiss and unforgettable night forces him to re-examine his feelings for her, Atticus finds himself wondering if losing the gown means losing the girl he’s been waiting for all his life.

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Gown Girl Release Day Blitz Arranged by Literati Author Services.

Book Blast: Come Undone (The Cityscape #1) by Jessica Hawkins

About the Author:

Jessica Hawkins grew up between the purple mountains and under the endless sun of Palm Springs, California. She studied international business at Arizona State University and has also lived in Costa Rica and New York City. Some of her favorite things include traveling, her dog Kimo, Scrabble, driving aimlessly and creating Top Five lists. She is the helpless victim of an overactive imagination that finds inspiration in music and tranquility in writing. Currently she resides wherever her head lands, which lately is the unexpected (but warm) keyboard of her trusty MacBook.

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Why write about a controversial topic like adultery?

Adultery is a tough sell, especially in romance. I think it scares people—and I find it utterly fascinating. Cheating is one of the worst crimes a person can commit. It’s a betrayal. So I had to know – why does it happen? In love, nothing is black and white. Adulterers are branded with a scarlet “A,” but things aren’t always what they seem. I wanted to show another side to it & for it to be real, not something with sugar on top.

Would you say you gravitate toward more forbidden topics?

Absolutely. There’s an innate draw to the things we can’t have, and often in real life, we’re able to restrain ourselves. That’s why it’s fun to live it through the characters. Cityscape is about an extramarital affair, and my other books are about office romance and a stranger’s sexy but oh-so-wrong proposal.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Everywhere, but mostly from other artists. I love music, film, books. Anything that moves me will generally stay with me in a big way. For this series it was Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, or the film score for American Beauty. I try to keep Spotify playlists and Pinterest boards to share with readers.

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Excerpt from Come Undone:

I tossed the apple rind I’d been holding into the trash across the room, sinking a perfect shot. My fists shot in the air. “Three-pointer.”

He grinned. “You watch basketball?”

“Bill does. You?”

“I’m a Bears fan myself.”

“Football? I could see that.”

“Oh?”

“Sure. I can picture you as a quarterback, working the field. A trail of cheerleaders in your wake.” I bit my lip as I smiled. “Did you play in high school?”

“Yes, though I would’ve preferred to focus on the swim team.”

“Quarterback? Linebacker?” I paused, running my hand along the edge of Lucy’s desk. “Tight end?”

“QB.”

I nodded. “I should've guessed. I had a crush on our high school quarterback.” I cocked my head. My eyes wandered down. “He looked a little like you but not as tall.”

His hand twitched, and he crossed his arms. “What are you doing?”

I shrugged one shoulder, staring him down. “What?”

“You’re flirting with me, even though you asked me to back off. Just like on the roof the other day.”

I blinked at him in the silence that followed, waiting.

“Olivia, I’ll put on a show in front of your friends, at your work, whenever we’re in public. But I’m growing tired of pretending when we’re alone. Don’t tempt me,” he warned.

Want to read more? Check out all of Chapter One HERE.



Come Undone (The Cityscape #1)
Adult Contemporary Erotic Romance
Published: 1 January 2013

The Cityscape Series tells a compelling story of a forbidden love affair between a married woman and the man who could possibly be her soulmate. Come Undone is book one in the completed trilogy.

Olivia Germaine has already found love. Devoted wife, loyal friend, determined career woman–she’s created the life she always envisioned. But when Olivia locks eyes with a handsome stranger across a crowded room, he peers a little too closely and sees emotions she thought she’d buried long ago.

David Dylan, alleged playboy and eternal bachelor, challenges Olivia to confront the life she’s built and to make decisions that could either lead to happiness... or regret.

Will Olivia be able to draw the line between lust and love? And can David respect that line?

Excerpt Reveal: Beyond the Cut (Sinner's Tribe Motorcycle Club #2) by Sarah Castille

About the Author:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, Sarah Castille, writes contemporary erotic romance and romantic suspense featuring blazingly hot alpha heroes and the women who tame them. A recovering lawyer and caffeine addict, she worked and traveled abroad before trading her briefcase and stilettos for a handful of magic beans and a home near the Canadian Rockies.

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NOTE: The following excerpt contains adult material and is meant for readers 18 years and olser.



Excerpt from Beyond the Cut:

“I’m not injured everywhere.” The deep rumble of his voice made her skin tingle.

“Seriously?” Dawn swallowed hard as her hands followed the shirt up his torso, her fingers brushing over heated skin and hard muscle. God, he was magnificent, all taut pecs and rippling abs. Even the bruises couldn’t mar the perfection of his body. “How can you be thinking of sex at a time like this?”

His voice dropped, husky and low. “’Cause you’re standin’ between my legs wearing a tiny pair of shorts that only cover the top of your ass cheeks, and a damn tight top that doesn’t hide what you’re thinking.” He leaned forward in the chair, so close she could feel his breath on her skin. “And nothing underneath.”

Dawn’s breath hitched and her blood heated, thundered through her veins. Until this moment, focused on Cade’s injuries, her attire had been totally irrelevant. “How do you know I have nothing underneath?”

Cade traced lazy circles up the sensitive skin of her inner thigh, pausing at edge of her cotton PJ shorts. Dawn stilled as her brain clouded with desire. It was always this way with Cade: A chemistry so potent she was surprised they didn’t combust.

“Let’s see.” He slid his finger inside her shorts and stroked along the sensitive crease at the top of her thigh, sending a zing of electricity straight to her core.

“Hmmm. Can’t tell. Spread for me, baby. Let me in.”

Her face flushed. God, the things he said did all the wrong things to the right parts of her body. “Cade . . . this isn’t the time. You’re hurt. Let me look after you.”

He grabbed her hips, pulling her so close she could feel his heat through her clothes. Dawn breathed in his scent of blood and grass, mixed with heady aroma of leather and manly musk, and a delicious shiver ran up her spine.

“You are taking care of me,” he said. “Man gets in a fight. Hurts all over. He wants to feel good. He wants something to make him forget the pain. And you—all soft and sexy and smellin’ like flowers—will do the trick.”

“I thought you came here for help.” Dawn made a token effort at resistance and raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t realize it was a booty call.”

“You got the nicest booty I ever seen.” Cade slid a hand down her hip, and then gave her ass a squeeze. Before she could move away, his finger was inside her shorts, stroking over the bare skin of her folds. She gasped as moisture flooded her sex, and her nipples tightened beneath her thin cotton tank. Had she really thought things would be different from every other time they’d been together?

“Naughty girl,” he whispered. “You go to bed without your panties and someone might take advantage.”

Beyond the Cut (Sinner's Tribe Motorcycle Club #2)
Adult Contemporary Erotic Romance
Expected Publication: 2 June 2015 by St. Martin's Paperbacks

SHE’S HOLDING ON TIGHT.
As a teen, Dawn ran from a life on the streets straight into the arms of Jimmy “Mad Dog” Sanchez, a biker who promised to be her knight in shining armor. But his love was just another cage. Years later, Dawn’s former life still has its hooks in her and she’ll do whatever it takes to break free. When Cade “Ryder” O’Connor, a member of a rival club, makes her an offer, Dawn finds herself in a different, hotter kind of trouble with one irresistible Sinner…

WILL HE GIVE HER THE RIDE OF HER LIFE?
Cade is an outlaw biker with allegiance to one thing and one thing only: The Sinner’s Tribe Motorcycle Club. But when it comes to the stunningly sexy, fiercely independent Dawn Delgado, Cade finds himself…hungrier for more. Trouble is on Dawn’s heels and he wants to be the answer to her prayers, whether she wants him to be or not. What can’t be denied is the red-hot attraction between them. However, as they fall deeper, the danger rises and Cade may have to sacrifice it all…

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Check out the rest of the Sinner's Tribe Motorcycle Club Series on Goodreads HERE.

As a special gift, readers who have pre-ordered Beyond the Cut (Sinner's Tribe Motorcycle Club #2), will receive an exclusive Pre-Order Bonus Scene that was cut from the final version of the book. The Pre-Order Bonus Scene is open internationally, through any vendor. All you have to do is fill out the form HERE between now and Midnight June 1, 2015 EST with the required information and you will receive the bonus scene after June 2nd.

Support the release of Beyond the Cut by joining the Thunderclap campaign HERE.

Beyond the Cut Excerpt Reveal Arranged By Barclay Publicity.

Release Day Blitz: The Magnolia Affair by T.A. Foster

About the Author:

T.A. Foster grew up catching rays and waves along the North Carolina Outer Banks and now resides in the state with her husband, three children and canine kiddo.

She has an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a graduate degree in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University. When she’s not chasing her two-legged and four-legged children or trying to escape for date night, you can find her reading, writing, or planning her next beach trip.

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The Magnolia Affair
Adult Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Expected Publication: 21 May 2015

Audrey Kingston has the perfect life she always wanted. An adoring husband, a beautiful house, book club nights with friends. It was idyllic. It was serene. Until Paxton Tanner, candidate for state senator, moved in next door.

Seduced by his undeniable charm, Audrey’s life becomes unrecognizable as she gives in to her impulses.

The affair becomes deadly, and she gets tossed into a political scandal that leads all the way to the governor’s office.

When love becomes lethal, there’s only one way out.

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The Magnolia Affair Release Day Blitz Arranged By InkSlinger PR.

Blog Tour - Book Excerpt: Once Upon a SEAL (Lucky Thirteen #5) by Suzan Butler

About the Author:

Suzan Butler writes adult contemporary romance and has a penchant for Dr. Pepper, ice hockey, and world domination. She lives in Texas under a not-so-secret identity with two monsters, writing naughty books and planning the next step in her evil plans into the twilight hours of the night because that's when it's quiet in the house. She loves to hear from readers.

Suzan also has a monthly newsletter she shares with her alter ego, New York Times and USA Today bestseller, S.M. Butler, who writes new adult romantic suspense and military romance. In the newsletter, you'll find information about new releases, updates on future books, contests, giveaways, get first peek at new covers, and find out where she'll be visiting through books signings and conventions throughout the year.

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Check out Suzan’s recent post about summer reads on Fresh Fiction HERE!


Excerpt from One Upon A SEAL:

Tommy’s Grocery was the only grocery store in Sugar Falls. We had a lot of older folks that lived out in the country, so I frequently ran out deliveries for them. But as I surveyed the contents of the delivery I had now, making sure I had them all, this wasn’t for one of the older couples, and I hadn’t recognized the name on the order either. Sebastian? It sounded like a younger guy.

Why couldn’t a younger guy come get his own groceries?

And it wasn’t a particularly large order either. Lots of fruits, vegetables, a package of razors. So I imagined he was a clean-shaven health nut. Not that I cared either way. I got paid no matter what. And honestly, even though it was hot outside, I still liked getting the fresh air and not being stuck in the store all day.

The house wasn’t a rundown piece of crap like I expected, which was further evidence that it wasn’t an older man. The house was cute, gorgeous and had colorful flowers lining the front porch. Pretty walking stones framed the sides of the circular driveway. The grass was slightly overgrown, but mostly, the yard was well- landscaped. Someone spent hours on it regularly. This was not the work of a landscaper. This house was cared for with love, by someone who liked working with his hands.

Which only made me more curious of the owner.

I got out of my truck and grabbed the three bags from the passenger side. The heat beat down on me as I walked up. I rapped sharply on the door and waited. It was solid oak, with two rectangular window panes spanning half the height of the door. The decorative glass obscured a clear view of the inside, but I could see a vague shape of a man coming toward the entrance to the house.

But the door didn’t open. A gruff voice barked, “Who is it?”

“Maddie Benson. I have your delivery from Tommy’s.” As if for emphasis, I lifted one arm so he could see the shape of the bag through the decorative window.

“Just a sec.” His form moved away. A minute or two passed as I waited for him to return. He came back, and the chain rattled as he unlocked it. I started forward when the door cracked open, but he didn’t let it open. “Leave it on the mat.”

Slowly, I set the bags down. “Okay. Um... It’s twenty-five sixty.” I squinted my eyes to look through the glass, as if that would make it easier to see him.

His hand snaked around the door, holding a twenty and a ten. The hand was large, fitting the massive shape I could make out on the other side of the door. “Keep the change.”

I took the bills from him. “Thanks, um...” I glanced at the ticket in my hand, skimming over it quickly. “Mr. McIntyre.” I stopped. McIntyre? “You’re related to Jenny?”

The door slammed shut in answer.

I glared at the shut door. Wasn’t that just nice. Was this how he treated everyone or was I just special? I almost wanted to knock and tell him what an asshole he was, but instead, I turned and headed back to my truck.


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Coming May 19th is the fifth novel in the Lucky Thirteen series, ONCE UPON A SEAL from New York Times and USA Today best-selling author, Suzan Butler! Read how a small town girl starts to change her perceptions after conversations with a reclusive former Navy SEAL.


Once Upon A SEAL (Lucky Thirteen #5)
Adult Contemporary Military Romance
Published: 19 May 2015 by CrushStar Multimedia LLC - Soaring Phoenix

Maddie Benson has spent her entire life in Sugar Falls and has never ventured—nor wanted to venture—beyond her small town’s safe borders. But when her delivery job takes her to the doorstep of one very reclusive, former Navy SEAL, Sebastian McIntyre, her small town perceptions are challenged with every conversation they have. It’s not long before she’s losing herself—and her heart—to the mysterious man behind the door.

Bastian’s scars are deeper than the surface. They’re embedded into his soul, and he’s content to keep them buried. But the second Maddie ends up on his doorstep with her sparkling smile and her sunshine hair, his quiet new life shatters and she just might be able to excise the demons he’s tried hard to keep tucked away—if he lets her in.

When Bastian’s old life comes haunting them, he knows he should let her go. But the light she shines on his soul keeps the darkness within him at bay. Letting her go may take more strength than he has, and keeping her close could get her killed.

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Release Day Blitz: The Rearranged Life by Annika Sharma

About the Author:

Annika Sharma was born in New Delhi and brought up in the United States, where she moved with her parents as a baby. A proud alum, she graduated from Penn State University with dual degrees in Biobehavioral Health and Neuro-Psychology, and minors in Biology and Human Development and Family Studies. She received her Master's degree in Early Childhood Special Education before pursuing her dreams of becoming a writer, landing her agent Stacey Donaghy of Donaghy Literary Group while daylighting as a preschool teacher. The Rearranged Life, her first novel, was written in the month before graduate school.

Annika, a Gryffindor and Scorpio, spends much of her time dreaming of adventure, working on her next book, going on Starbucks runs with family and friends, shopping online and watching superhero movies.

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Excerpt from The Rearranged Life:

“I can’t believe how beautiful this place is!” I exclaim later, for what feels like the hundredth time. The lavish décor doesn’t cease to take my breath away. Reds, oranges, and yellows project onto the ballroom walls, reflected off the glimmering sequined tablecloths. A giant four-tiered wedding cake sits on a table in the middle of the dance floor, complete with an Indian bride and groom as cake toppers.

“Looks like everything the Nanduris have to do with is beautiful,” he says smoothly. He’s flirting with me! James’ face flashes through my mind for only a second before it’s replaced again with Nishanth’s.

We must beam at each other like we’re in our own world. When I glance away, my eyes settle on Indrani, Anisha, and Sophia, whose friendship is already cemented over pop stars and their latest antics. My parents, three tables away, immerse themselves in conversation with Nishanth’s parents, and when Amma and I make eye contact, her gaze shifts between Nishanth and I with a decided glint.

“Do you think you would want a love marriage or do you think you’d go the Nakul route and get a semi-arranged one?”

“You mean we have a choice?” I ask, playfully.

“I guess that means you’ve been fed the arranged marriage stuff your whole life, too.” Nishanth chuckles. “But let’s say it was completely up to you.”

“I’m not sure yet, to be honest. They are both wonderful in their own ways. How about you?”

“Me neither.” He shrugs. “I was hoping you had a better answer.”

“I wish! I think it’s kind of complicated for kids like us.”

“I completely agree.” He throws his hands up in surrender. “We have to be as Indian as the people in India and as American as the Americans. We can’t win.”

His dimples create valleys in his cheeks, and I would tell jokes all day to keep them there.

Being asked the same question twice in a few hours makes me consider my answer more seriously. Anisha’s sleepy pronouncement replays in my mind. You always did follow the rules. Anisha and Nishanth may have asked me what I want out of curiosity, but having a choice was never part of the bargain.

In the western world, arranged marriages are seen as ghastly or inhumane. In India, it’s the norm. In ancient days, women and men were married as business transactions. Betrothals during infanthood occurred to further interfamilial ties. Nowadays, the process has changed to something called semi-arranged. Basically, it’s the idea that the parents set you up on a blind date. For progressive families like mine, that means if your date tanks (like the time Mohini’s suitor stared at her cleavage all night), you can say it’s silly to continue onward, and the next match is brought up. There are so many factors to be considered in these pairings, it’s almost easier to allow parents to choose a potential mate and then test out whether the chemistry works. It is how Mohini and Nakul met. They dated for a full year after being set up.

“Isn’t that weird? Having your parents choose someone for you?” I’d asked Mohini over a holiday reunion.

“No.” She had smiled. “It’s easy. You don’t have to worry about someone being wrong for the family because that part is taken care of. Then it’s just you two, figuring out your compatibility.”

“But compatibility and love are two different things, aren’t they?”

“One can always grow into the other. You’ll see when your time comes, Nithya.” She spoke with the wisdom of a guru.

I told myself it was because Mohini spent her younger years in India, but after seeing the wedding today, the two families interacting like they’ve been related the whole time, I wonder if she’s onto something.

My parents still laugh about their first encounter. My dad and twelve of his closest relatives came from my dad’s city of Hyderabad to my mom’s birthplace in Vijayawada. They all crowded into her living room and interrogated her about her interests and how well she could cook.

“Amma!” I had exclaimed when she first told me the story. “That is the most unromantic thing ever. How could you have said yes to a match like that?”

“Oh, it was typical back then! I impressed them enough, and they all approved unanimously. I knew what I was doing!” she replied with a wave of her hand and a confident jut of her chin.

My dad tells another story. After the Guantanamo Bay interrogation Amma endured, Nanna asked her to go on a walk, thinking they could take the pressure off and talk on their own. My mom had shyly acquiesced. Halfway through their walk, just as they were beginning to break the ice, my dad happened to glance behind him. About fifty feet away, skulking behind them, was Amma’s younger brother.

“That’s terrible!” I had cried.

“It was the way things were,” Nanna had shrugged. “A woman’s virtue was paramount, and they needed to be sure I wasn’t taking advantage of her... though I did think I was a nice boy, and they overreacted.” He had been amused by my outraged expression.

Years have passed, but some things don’t change. My family and I haven’t had many conversations about marriage because I’m only twenty-one. We don’t need to. My parents had a semi- arranged marriage and so did all the other married people in their generation. My grandparents imply it when they discuss the search for marriage matches. The message is clear when my mom complains that I need to learn how to cook Indian meals so I can blend in with my husband’s family. As my cousins start to marry, the tradition continues. The conversations will inevitably start once I graduate. I don’t look forward to it. Perhaps it is because I have been raised in the United States. I still tear up when I watch western couples reciting their vows, or when I hear about a friend whose significant other has gone down on one knee. Love marriages are beautiful in their own way. Regardless of how I want to find a husband, however, I do know my family will always come first. I guess my future is sealed.

The DJ announces that we’re ready to begin and introduces the parents and finally the happy couple themselves. The crowd is raucous. Mohini and Nakul sway to their first dance, a slow Indian love song I’ve never heard before, likely from my mother’s age. Indian weddings tend to be productions–carefully choreographed events where the hosts put on a show and the guests serve as a willing audience. Mohini’s and Nakul’s gazes haven’t shifted from each other’s faces since they started dancing. Perhaps the idea of falling in love, dating, and making your own decisions is overplayed. Maybe love grows. Maybe it isn’t something that exists from first look or first kiss. Maybe, just maybe, the end justifies the means.

Dance performances follow the couple’s first dance: siblings, cousins, and friends have choreographed performances to entertain the crowd. When the music takes up again after dinner, Indrani, Anisha, Sophia, Nishanth, and I are the first on the floor. We all dance, scream the lyrics in each other’s faces, and cheer on the dancers around us. We laugh as drunken guests slip on the wooden floor and act gangster when the rap songs come on, as if we have any idea what it’s like to grow up in the ghetto. Our bodies pour sweat, but we don’t stop. We take shameless selfies of ourselves with my camera. Under the lights, our skin is dewy, our smiles are brilliant, and our photos look full of fun and hope.

My parents, at a nearby table, surround themselves with family members and Nishanth’s parents. They are the center of attention, completely comfortable. My dad cracks a joke, and everyone around him bursts out in loud hysterics. Tears stream down my mother’s cheeks from her belly-busting giggles. We’ll pull out these pictures a month from now, and us five kids will look like we’ve known each other our entire lives, and our parents, who have, will look complete. James, school, and all the miles of detours my mind has taken lately have vanished.

In this moment, I don’t care how any of this plays out in my future. I just want this. A big Indian wedding with colors, people I love, and tradition. It’s all I need.

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The Rearranged Life
New Adult Contemporary Romance
Published: 15 May 2015 by Curiosity Quills Press

Nithya, a vivacious, intelligent and driven college senior has always known what she has wanted: a successful career in medicine and the love of her family. She's even come to terms with the idea of an arranged marriage, a tradition her conservative Indian family has held up for thousands of years.

When a night of partying puts her on a collision course with danger, Nithya's entire life changes.

Enter James St. Clair, the smart, challenging and heartbreakingly handsome American.

As Nithya and James fall in love, she questions the future she and her parents have always planned. Now, Nithya has a choice to make: become a doctor and a good Indian bride, or step away from her family and centuries of culture to forge her own path.

The decision she comes to takes her on a journey that transforms how she sees her future, her relationships with loved ones, and how she learns to put herself back together when even her best-laid plans fall apart.

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The Rearranged Life Release Day Blitz Arranged By InkSlinger PR.

Teaser Blitz: Flirting With Scandal (Capital Confessions #1) by Chanel Cleeton

About the Author:

Originally a Florida girl, CHANEL CLEETON moved to London where she received a bachelor’s degree from Richmond, The American International University in London and a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Chanel fell in love with London and planned to stay there forever, until fate intervened on a Caribbean cruise and a fighter pilot with smooth dance moves swept her off her feet. Now, a happily ever after later, Chanel is living her next adventure.

Law school made Chanel realize she’d rather spend her days writing sexy stories than in a courtroom, and she hasn’t looked back since. An avid reader and hopeless romantic, she’s happiest curled up with a book. She has a weakness for handbags, her three pups, and her husband. 


Chanel writes contemporary romances. She is published by Harlequin HQN, Penguin/InterMix, and Penguin/Berkley and is the author of the International School, Capital Confessions, and Wild Aces series.

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Flirting With Scandal (Capital Confessions #1)
Adult Contemporary Romance
Expected Publication: 19 May 2015 by Penguin/InterMix

The author of I See London sets her sights on Washington, D. C., with a sexy new series about three sisters, the secrets they keep, and a powerful blog with a knack for exposing scandals...

Jackie Gardner knows all about dirty little secrets. The illegitimate daughter of one of the most influential senators in Washington, D.C., she grew up surrounded by the scandals and shadows of politics. Now that she's landed an internship with a powerful political consulting firm, she's determined to launch her career and take this city by storm.

William Andrew Clayton was born for politics. He knows the drill: work hard, play discreetly, and at all costs, avoid scandal. At twenty-six, his campaign for the Virginia State Senate is the first step to cementing his future. It's time for him to settle down, to find the perfect political spouse. He needs a Jackie Kennedy, not a Marilyn...

When Jackie meets Will in the bar of the Hay-Adams Hotel, sparks fly. But the last thing Will needs is to be caught in a compromising position, and an affair with a political candidate could cost Jackie her career. When what began as one steamy night, becomes a passion neither one of them can walk way from, they must decide if what they have is really love, or just another dirty little secret...

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Praise for Flirting With Scandal:

Flirting with Scandal by Chanel Cleeton has it all. A sexy hero, strong heroine, delicious romance, sizzling tension, and plenty of breathtaking scandal. I loved this book!
-New York Times bestselling author Monica Murphy

Scorching hot and wicked smart, Flirting with Scandal had me hooked from page one! Sizzling with sexual tension and political intrigue, Cleeton weaves a story that is as complex as it is sexy. Thank God this is a series because I need more!!
-New York Times bestselling author Rachel Harris

Sexy, intelligent, and intriguing. Chanel Cleeton makes politics scandal-icious.
-USA Today bestselling author Tiffany King

Chanel Cleeton knocked it out of the park with Flirting with Scandal. The banter was refreshing, the political storyline captivating, and the sexual tension was through the roof. Smart, emotional, romantic, and sizzling hot--this book is fantastic!
-Christina Lee, author of the Between Breaths series

Chanel Cleeton delivers again! Featuring a strong heroine, a steamy romance, and juicy dose of political scandal, Flirting with Scandal is completely engrossing. Clear your calendars--you won't be able to put this one down!
-Brenda St. John Brown, author of Swimming to Tokyo

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Book Review: Taming Cross (Love Inc. #2) by Ella James

About the Author:

Ella James is a USA Today bestselling author who writes teen and adult romance. She is happily married to a man who knows how to wield a red pen, and together they are raising a feisty two-year-old who will probably grow up believing everyone's parents go to war over the placement of a comma.

Ella's books have been listed on numerous Amazon bestseller lists, including the Movers & Shakers list and the Amazon Top 100; two were listed among Amazon's Top 100 Young Adult Ebooks of 2012.

Ella is represented by Rebecca Friedman of the Hill Nadell Literary Agency.

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My Thoughts

Taming Cross was a much deeper story than I thought it was going to be. I expected the focal point to be about the development of Cross and Merri's relationship, but instead it was more about Cross himself and the lengths he was willing to go to in order to right a wrong and rescue a woman he didn't even know personally. I ended up enjoying the story more than I expected and this twist gave the plot more intensity and engaged me as a reader.

Merri's part of the story was just as intriguing as Cross' search for redemption. She has skeletons of her own and was trying to make right things she regretted from the past. I loved how strong Merri's character was, even when she didn't believe it about herself. She overcame a lot (and granted, it could have been worse), to get to the place she was in when she met Cross. She was willing to sacrifice herself to protect others, just as Cross was willing to go to any lengths to help her out.

I also really liked the fact that this wasn't a story of instalove. There was, of course, immediate attraction between Merri and Cross, but their actual physical relationship was slowly developed and based on building trust. This is based partly on their circumstances, but it was nice to see that the author didn't have them in bed together right from the beginning. Their relationship evolves from two people being forced to build trust in each other in order to survive and make it to safety.

I haven't read the first book in the Love Inc Series, Selling Scarlett, so I didn't have the full background on the characters when I started Taming Cross. But, Ella James does a great job of incorporating the main facts from Selling Scarlett into Taming Cross, so that readers can understand the gist of what happened, without it being the dreaded info dump. I had no problem reading Taming Cross as a stand alone, however I am now very interested in reading Selling Scarlett, so that I can get the full story and find out more about the rest of the characters mentioned.


Taming Cross (Love Inc. #2)
New Adult Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Published: 19 August 2013 by Barkley's Books

For twenty-three years, Cross Carlson was a playboy. You know the type. Tall, dark, and wealthy. Blue-eyed. Charming. He seemed to have it all so easy. But Cross was harboring a terrible secret - one that helped ruin the life of an innocent girl and almost ended his own.

Finally out of the hospital, Cross is flailing, scarred in both body and mind and stifled by the weight of the secret he still keeps. The only way to absolution lies in a Mexican convent, and going there could cost him everything.

If there's anyone who knows what it's like to screw up big time, it's Meredith Kinsey. Just a few years ago, Merri was an ordinary girl with a job at her college newspaper and white picket fence kind of dreams. Now she's holed up in a Mexican convent, hiding from a drug lord who thinks he owns her.

What happens when the only way out of hell is with the son of the man who put you there? They say love conquers all, but does it really?

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Check out the rest of the Love Inc. Series on Goodreads HERE.

Taming Cross Review Copy Provided By Mark My Words Book Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Tour - Book Review and Excerpt: Adored (Masters and Mercenaries #8.5) by Lexi Blake (@InkSlingerPR @authorlexiblake)

About the Author:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband and three kids. She began writing at a young age concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance that she found success. Lexi believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome or foursome may seem.

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My Thoughts

The Masters and Mercenaries series by Lexi Blake is one of my favorite and I was excited to be able to participate in this review tour. Although Adored is only a novella, it read like a complete story, and because the characters had been introduced in previous books, I neither felt that I was missing out on part of the story line or that the story itself was rushed.

I really liked Mitch's character in Adored. In fact, I felt that I empathized more with him than with Laurel, the heroine. While I did feel that he didn't give Laurel enough credit for being a different woman from his exes, and, in the beginning, he wasn't even willing to try to have a "real" relationship with Laurel, I could completely understand, from his past experiences, why he was so gun shy. This flaw in his character was one of the reasons I kept reading Adored - I wanted to see what would happen with Mitch and Laurel. Obviously, I knew there would most likely be a HEA, but I was rooting for the two to be able to overcome their insecurities without too much struggle.

My one complaint about Adored is that there was so much going on in the story, considering it was a novella. I don't want to give out any spoilers, but there were two subplots besides the relationship aspect and I was concerned the ending would be too rushed, or that the the subplots would become confusing and not end satisfactorily. However, in the end, this didn't happen and I thought Lexi Blake did a good job of tying up all the loose ends and giving her characters a happy ending.

Excerpt from Adored:

"I won’t stop this time. I won’t play the gentleman again,” he whispered before his mouth descended on hers.

Thank god. Six months. They’d passed and every night she dreamed about what they could have had if he hadn’t played the damn gentleman that night in Hawaii. They’d wasted six months. Six months when she could have felt him against her, when she could have had the heat of his body to warm her own. They could have been sleeping together, sharing a life beyond the confines of this office.

His lips found hers and he was ravenous. He slanted over her mouth again and again, dominating and taking what he wanted. His tongue surged in and she could feel that slow slide in her womb.

Just like that she was wet and ready. Her body felt malleable, as though it knew this man was the one who could mold her and bring her to fruition. Every inch of her body felt primed. Her nipples rasped against the fabric of her bra, her breasts heavy and wanting. Her clothes were suddenly too tight and she wanted nothing more than to throw them off. She didn’t need clothes around him.

A sudden vision of what it would be like now that Mitch was finally claiming her stamped itself in her brain. She could hear him commanding her to be naked when they were alone. She would curl up at his feet as they relaxed. It would be the two of them and they wouldn’t have to argue. They would be together.

His hands found her backside, squeezing. A low groan ground out of his mouth as he explored her. She could feel herself softening, offering herself up for his slow exploration. This was the man who would finally teach her what all the fuss was about.

Mitch pushed her to be better than she was, to think more clearly about points of law and to challenge herself to greater heights. She’d always known it would be the same in the bedroom. She’d had lovers before, but sex had been something to do, a way to show affection. Sex with Mitch was a force of freaking nature.

He pressed her against the door. His mouth was a marauder, plunging in and taking what he wanted. His hands gripped her hips and suddenly she felt her feet leave the ground. Mitch had a good half a foot on her, but it didn’t seem to matter. He simply lifted her to where he wanted her to be.


Adored (Masters and Mercenaries #8.5)
Adult Contemporary Erotic BDSM Romance
Published: 12 May 2015 by Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated

A man who gave up on love
Mitch Bradford is an intimidating man. In his professional life, he has a reputation for demolishing his opponents in the courtroom. At the exclusive BDSM club Sanctum, he prefers disciplining pretty submissives with no strings attached. In his line of work, there’s no time for a healthy relationship. After a few failed attempts, he knows he’s not good for any woman—especially not his best friend’s sister.

A woman who always gets what she wants
Laurel Daley knows what she wants, and her sights are set on Mitch. He’s smart and sexy, and it doesn’t matter that he’s a few years older and has a couple of bitter ex-wives. Watching him in action at work and at play, she knows he just needs a little polish to make some woman the perfect lover. She intends to be that woman, but first she has to show him how good it could be.

A killer lurking in the shadows
When an unexpected turn of events throws the two together, Mitch and Laurel are confronted with the perfect opportunity to explore their mutual desire. Night after night of being close breaks down Mitch’s defenses. The more he sees of Laurel, the more he knows he wants her. Unfortunately, someone else has their eyes on Laurel and they have murder in mind.

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Adored Review and Excerpt Blog Tour Arranged By InkSlinger PR.

Blog Tour - Book Review: Game of Love by Ara Grigorian (@InkSlingerPR)

About the Author:

Armenian by heritage, born in Iran, lived in Barcelona, and escaped New York until he found his home in Los Angeles, Ara’s first eleven years were both busy and confusing. The fruit salad of languages would slow down his genetically encoded need to tell stories. Until then, an alter ego would be required…

He received an engineering degree from California State University Northridge and earned his MBA from the University of Southern California. Today, he is a technology executive in the entertainment industry. True to the Hollywood life, Ara wrote for a children’s television pilot that could have made him rich (but didn’t) and nearly sold a video game to a major publisher (who closed shop days later).

But something was amiss until his wife read him the riot act. “Will you stop talking about wanting to be a writer and just do it?” So with her support (and mandate), and their two boys serving as his muse, he wrote stories.

Fascinated by the human species, Ara writes about choices, relationships, and second chances. Always a sucker for a hopeful ending, he writes contemporary romance stories. He is an alumnus of both the Santa Barbara Writers Conference and Southern California Writers’ Conference (where he also serves as a workshop leader). Ara is an active member of the Romance Writers of America and its Los Angeles chapter.

Ara is represented by Stacey Donaghy.

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My Thoughts

I really liked Game of Love because it was interesting and engaging. I was actually surprised by how much I liked it. I'm not big into tennis, but I signed up for a review copy because the story itself seemed interesting and I was intrigued enough to want to read it. Although it's a typical opposites attract tale, author Ara Grigorian kept the plot fresh and had well developed characters.

Despite not really having an interest in tennis itself, I enjoyed the athletic aspect of the story. Gemma is a driven woman, choosing to focus on tennis, to the exclusion of other pursuits. I thought this was admirable and I appreciated what she was giving up in order to succeed. However, it was nice to see her be able to relax around Andre and be herself, without all the pressure to be the best.

Ara Grigorian did a great job of portraying what it is like to be a celebrity and all that comes along with it. The average person might think it's cool to be well known and have people always wanting to meet you and get your autograph (among other things), but it reality it is very intrusive on a celebrity's personal life and it's hard to live like that - always looking over your shoulder and having to censor every little thing you do or say because it might show up on the internet the next day.

Game of Love combines sports and romance in a entertaining novel that I recommend to anyone who likes a good love story full of passion.



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Game of Love
New Adult Contemporary Sports Romance
Published: 4 May 2015 by Curiosity Quill Press

Game of Love is set in the high-stakes world of professional tennis where fortune and fame can be decided by a single point.

Gemma Lennon has spent nearly all of her 21 years focused on one thing: Winning a Grand Slam. After a disastrous and very public scandal and subsequent loss at the Australian Open, Gemma is now laser-focused on winning the French Open. Nothing and no one will derail her shot at winning - until a heated chance encounter with brilliant and sexy Andre Reyes threatens to throw her off her game.

Breaking her own rules, Gemma begins a whirlwind romance with Andre who shows her that love and a life off the court might be the real prize. With him, she learns to trust and love… at precisely the worst time in her career. The pressure from her home country, fans, and even the Prime Minister to be the first British woman to win in nearly four decades weighs heavily.

As Wimbledon begins, fabricated and sensationalized news about them spreads, fueling the paparazzi, and hurting her performance. Now, she must reconsider everything, because in the high-stakes game of love, anyone can be the enemy within… even lovers and even friends.

In the Game of Love, winner takes all.

Goodreads

Game of Love Blog Tour Arranged by InkSlinger PR.