Trying to escape a horrific past, Shyla has immersed herself in life as a tough cop in the bustle of LA. When the case of a lifetime takes her back to her hometown of Redding, she is thrown into a world of organized crime, deceit, and bitter reminders of her childhood.
As Shyla’s path crosses that of Brennan, a troubled sidekick to the ringleader she’s intent on taking down, she discovers he has a past even darker than hers and she is forced to re-evaluate everything she believes about herself, her job, and what she knows about right and wrong.
Can she face the demons of her upbringing and learn to trust again? Her life will depend on it.
About the Author:
Michelle Bellon lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their four children. She loves to travel with her family. She is desperately confused as to why she lives where it rains all the time because she lives for sunny days and blue skies. She drinks coffee until she’s manic and loves to dance.
She married Pablo Bellon in her early twenties and relished her time as a stay-at-home mom for many years before she decided to go to college. She graduated with her nursing degree in 2005. Then when she and her husband decided to have their fourth child she took leave of her medical career to be with the baby. It was during this time that she began writing her first book.
Six months later, she sat back and stared in complete disbelief at the final page of a young adult novel and said, “I think I just wrote a book.” What next? So she set to doing the research on what it took to publish a novel. That’s when she discovered that writing the book was the easy part. Publishing and marketing that book was another beast altogether. She also discovered that her book was somewhat of a mess. It needed a lot of work!
So she immersed herself in the business. She found a writers critique group. She read everything she could on the craft of writing. She went to conferences and listened to the wisdom of authors and editors. She researched on the internet until her eyes felt like they were bleeding. But most of all, she wrote. And wrote. And wrote. Until she began to feel like she might, just might, have a chance at making a name for herself in this tough industry.
In four years she wrote seven books. Three have been published. Four are currently contracted to be published with Pandamoon Publishing. In the summer of 2012, she won the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award for her YA, Embracing You, Embracing Me. Later that same year she won a silver medal award from Wise Bear Media literary contest for her YA, as well as a silver for Rogue Alliance, the first edition.
As a multi-genre author, she writes suspense, romance, women’s fiction, literary fiction, YA, and her latest is crime suspense with paranormal elements.
Excerpt:
“Where did you say you were from?” Shyla asked.
“I didn’t,” Brennan quipped.
Her head was tipped up and she squinted into the morning sun as she walked alongside him, keeping up with his brisk pace.
“Yeah, that’s right. You avoid the question every time. I wonder why that is?”
He stopped and faced her. “I wonder why you have so many damn questions.”
Shyla suddenly moved toward him, uncomfortably close. Brennan could breathe her in. He became intoxicated with the scent of female, and sweat. Two opposing urges fought within him—the urge to take a step back, and the urge to step in and close the distance. He resisted both and stood firm.
He looked into her face. Her chin tilted up as she searched his eyes. It took him off guard, when she reached up and touched his cheek.
“You haven’t shaved. It’s nice. I like it.”
He could feel the softness of her palm, even through his stubble. She was toying with him. Why, he wasn’t sure. But she was doing a damn fine job of it. Gently he put his hand over hers. They stood and locked gazes. Then, he wrapped his grip around her wrist and gave it a firm squeeze.
“I’m not someone to play your little games with, Shyla.” The warning was strong in his tone.
Her expression was wide-eyed and innocent as she took a step back.
“Well it’s a good thing I’m not playing games then, isn’t it?
If you love fantasy, the paranormal, romance and twisty-turny stories featuring two young women in the fight of their lives then we have the book for you! Pick up Jessie Lane’s THE BURNING STAR, available now, and we have a special little teaser from the book to whet your appetite! Learn more below and be sure to enter the author’s amazing giveaway while you’re at it!
*This book is a re-release and revision from the original book. Please be aware that some things have been added, deleted or changed.* Kay’s journey of a lifetime started in the woods outside of Asheville, North Carolina. It was there that the 17 year old met a beautiful man along with a monster. The chance encounter led her to an unbelievable world that shouldn’t exist; a place where myths and fairy tales were real, and in some cases, deadly. Kay knew she would have to brave this new world if she hoped to find a cure for her terminal cancer. With a strange yet beautiful cast of characters that she would meet along the way, Kay uncovered truths that would change her life forever. However, before it was all over, it would become clear that Kay wasn’t the only one with problems. Yet another 17 year old young woman was fighting for her freedom and her life.Kira had lived in a magical world that Kay had only dreamt of. Despite this, her life had not been filled with many good things. As a matter of fact, she considered her empty, emotional solitude the only positive aspect of her life. She fought daily battles to escape abuse and torture. Trained to be an expert assassin, she was charged with kidnapping Kay and delivering her to Kira’s master, Lord Donovan. As the two young women set forth in their journeys, their paths would cross in unimaginable ways. The only question that would remain was who would come out alive and whole in the end? WARNING: This is a upper ya/young adult/new adult fictional story that includes some explicit language, graphic violence, and mild sexual situations. Recommended for ages sixteen and up.
Crystal and Melissa often live half their lives with their heads in the clouds dreaming of alpha military hunks, werewolves and kick ass heroines crazy enough to chase after creatures that they unquestionably should know better than to chase. Their first YA novel, The Burning Star, was released in May 2012. Big Bad Bite is their second novel, but their first adult paranormal romance. They are now working on their next two novels, Walk On The Striped Side and Secret Maneuvers. With these projects underway, they are looking forward to showing the rest of the world their crazy stories, heroes and heroines that often plague their minds until written, and hope you will join them on their journey!
Jagger Kennedy never went looking for fame, he just fell into it. After scoring a major modeling contract, his clean-cut good looks and charm catapulted his career. But when his actress girlfriend breaks his heart, he moves to L.A. to try his hand at acting. He’s not looking for love—he just needs to make a change.
Aerie Daniels is a woman in control … until she meets Jagger. Her surprising connection with him leaves her dazed and it’s unlike anything she’s ever felt. But just when she lets her walls fall, she makes a startling discovery about Jagger that breaks her fragile heart into a million pieces.
To keep from losing the woman who’s changing his world, Jagger is willing to give up anything—including his career. But even that might not be enough to regain Aerie’s shattered trust…
I loved Dazed! Kim Karr delivered another amazing love story! I’m a huge fan of The Connection series and was so excited to read Jagger and Aerie’s story. Jagger is River’s cousin so I knew going in he had to be hot. Plus he graces the Dazed cover with all his hotness. If I wasn’t familiar with this series I’d buy it based on the cover alone. Without giving away any spoilers, I loved how Jagger and Aerie met and how they interacted with each other. Jagger is the perfect man for Aerie. Just a beautiful love story. Dazed is a novella in the series, but it can be read as a standalone. It is a complete story. I recommend the entire series though. Connected, the first book in the series, was originally recommended to me by a reader on our Facebook page last year and I am so grateful she did because this is a series I’ll read over and over. It’s a series the reader carries with them long after they’ve closed the book. I love them and can’t wait for the next book in the series!
*Review copy provided by Berkley/NAL in exchange for an honest review.
Giveaway for 5 signed sets of Connected and Torn paperbacks (open internationally). a Rafflecopter giveaway
There’s something deliciously perverse about staring through the clear glass. All of my senses engage as I wait in line—the fragrance that fills the air as the fire crackles beneath the foil wrapped treats wafts under my nose, the beauty in each and every small package as they line the shelves with tiny dots and colored sprinkles mesmerizes me, the sound made as the silver sheet is peeled back to reveal the magnificence it holds captivates me, and the anticipation of the taste makes my mouth water. Ummm… just thinking of the first bite into the moist brown exterior with its bittersweet Belgian chocolate complimenting the flavor of the Madagascar bourbon vanilla that oozes from its inside has me trembling. The black and white cupcake—it’s simply perfection.
Amidst the skyscrapers in Los Angeles’ South Park neighborhood, Sprinkles is a gem tucked away for those of us who seek out a small piece of heaven. I don’t come here often, but when I do it’s for that one special treat. The menu describes it as, “Yin and Yang.” An ancient proverb that says, “Complementary opposites, such as light and dark, day and night, and masculine and feminine, seemingly may exist as contrary forces, but are actually interconnected.” Simply put, it says one gives rise to the other and it’s true— opposites attract. Without the vanilla inside, one could not possibly crave the chocolate outside—looking at the two parts united has me drooling.
“You know what they say about staring through the glass,” a deep husky voice says from behind me.
His words tingle my skin and my gaze snaps up. “Excuse me?” I stop short, in a daze, not even sure what he just said I was so lost in my thoughts.
He chuckles. “You know what they say about staring through the glass,” he repeats.
My eyes blink and come into focus on the upward tilt of his full lips. Then my eyes move to his smooth pale skin flecked with a light stubble, his nose seemingly sculpted even with a slight imperfection in its slope, large eyes with the most unusual gray color swirling from within, and chocolate brown colored hair framing his face in pieces—I’m not sure if he has just rolled out of bed or if product molds it just so. Either way, he is utterly beautiful.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Just be careful so you don’t fall in like Alice.” He smiles, displaying his bright white teeth.
“Again, I’m sorry but I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I notice his eyes sweep over me and my heart starts pounding.
“Through the Looking Glass,” he responds in a dangerously husky voice.
This time when he speaks I catch an accent, ever so slight but extremely sexy.
It reminds me of how Robert De Nero talks, just not as loud or fast. I continue to stare, unable to respond. I notice that his physique is long and lean. He’s dressed in worn jeans that fit him perfectly. His orange laced hiking boots scream I don’t conform. A pair of tortoiseshell sunglasses hang from the V of his gray sweater, which clings to his body perfectly. And an outdoor vest tops the outfit. It throws me off. It makes him look more like an Abercrombie model than a James Dean type. It’s a navy blue down and quilted one with a silver zipper. I don’t know why, but something about his outfit, about this man, captivates me.
“Number 98,” calls the girl from behind the counter.
He steps closer. His warm breath whispers across my neck. “Through the Looking Glass is the sequel to Alice in Wonderland. When Alice gets too close to the glass, she falls in and starts on a crazy journey,” he tells me as his arm waves in the air with a green ticket on display. Stepping closer, his gaze cuts from mine to the glass case as he hands his number to the clerk whose wearing a cute brown apron with the word Sprinkles scripted across it.
“Can I have a dozen of the black and white cupcakes?” he asks.
Suddenly alarmed, my eyes dart to the case as I watch the single remaining row of beautifully crafted cupcakes diminish until there are none left. My irritation flares as I glance at my number—97.
The beautiful stranger hands the clerk his credit card and waits to sign the slip.
“I was number 97, my number was before yours,” I say as he’s handed the bag that holds his treasure.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Here let me get the sales clerk’s attention so you don’t have to take another number,” he says.
I want to stomp my feet. I want to scream. I don’t want her attention. I don’t want another number. I want the cupcakes that he stole from me.
“Miss,” he calls draping his perfectly fit body over the case. She looks his way and with a charming grin he says, “Can you help this lovely lady? She missed her number being called.”
“Of course, I’m so sorry. How can I help you?” the girl asks averting her eyes from the man who looks like he should be on the cover of GQ magazine, over to me.
He smiles at me with a face that belongs on a billboard. “Don’t fall in.”
I swear he’s goading me. But then he tips his chin and a sexy, smoldering grin passes over his lips and I’m not so sure anymore. He turns to look at me one more time before he exits, and excitement flushes over my face. I nod a slight cursory acknowledgement, then he disappears and disappointment washes over me—he’s gone. Crap. The cupcakes are also gone. Double crap. And now I’m left wondering if he saw me staring at that flavor? Did he distract me on purpose so he could purchase them first? Urrr…I’m so angry right now I consider walking out, but when the clerk asks me what I’d like I settle for the Vanilla Milk Chocolate cakes—they are the mirror reflection of the black and whites, with vanilla cake and chocolate frosting, but they are not nearly as good.
INFORMATION ABOUT BOOK #2:
Title: TORN (Connections #2)
TORN SYNOPSIS:
Rock star River Wilde brought Dahlia London back from the brink of hopelessness with his unwavering love and devotion. But their entwined history is about to test the strength of that love…
Dahlia was certain she had found true love and met her ‘Once in a Lifetime’ when she reconnected with River. But Dahlia’s world comes crashing down when someone from her past resurfaces, and all of River’s carefully hidden secrets are exposed.
River wants to show Dahlia that life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass—it’s about dancing in the rain! But how many times can one broken heart be mended? Will River and Dahlia be able to face the turmoil together or will they be torn apart?
** TORN ** (available now – follow up to Connected)
INFORMATION ABOUT BOOK #1:
Title: Connected (Connections #1)
CONNECTED SYNOPSIS:
What if a ‘Once in a Lifetime’ could happen twice?
Suffering from a past full of tragedy, Dahlia London’s soul has been left completely shattered. Happily ever after is a far cry from reality in her world. But, when she is reconnected with her past, the bonds that form are irrefutable.
When River Wilde, lead singer of The Wilde Ones, comes back into Dahlia’s life, the intensity that fires their relationship combined with underlying feelings that have never died lead her to believe she has met her soulmate.
Struggling with confusion as old connections fade and new ones begin, Dahlia’s grief begins to lift–but guilt remains. River wants to be the one to mend all that is torn within her.
But with a past that is never really gone, can their future survive?
** CONNECTED ** (available now – first book of the series)
If you like your heroes hot, the sex hotter, and a swoon-worthy romance to swoop in and save your happily ever after, Brazen has the story for you. Sinfully sexy soldiers. Alpha cops who demand control. Sweet guys with a naughty side in the bedroom. At Brazen, they’ve got the hero destined to melt your… heart. Visit the Entangled website, the Brazen Blog, follow them on Twitter, Like their Facebook page, and follow them on Pinterest.
Introducing Brazen’s March 31st releases:
Friends with benefits was never the plan…
Melanie Jacobs’s chances for having a family are shrinking with every passing day. Her only comfort is her best friend, sexy cowboy Colton Freeze, but when a heated argument between them turns into an even hotter kiss, the boundaries of their friendship are blurred. But will their new friends-with-sexy-benefits arrangement destroy everything they once shared?
FIRE INSIDE: A Chaos Novel by Kristen Ashley
Reviewed by: Reading In Pajamas/ Cori
Publication Date: June 4, 2013
Paperback Release: March 25, 2014
Rated: 5 Stars
Lanie Heron isn’t looking for love-no surprise, considering her last serious relationship nearly got her killed. So when Lanie propositions Hop Kincaid, all she wants is one wild night with the hot-as-hell biker who patrols with the Chaos Motorcycle Club . . .
For Hop, Lanie has always been untouchable. She’s too polished and too classy for his taste. But when she gives Hop the once-over with her bedroom eyes and offers him a night in paradise, he can’t say no. And he doesn’t regret it when he finds that Lanie is the best thing that’s ever happened to him-in or out of bed. Now the trick will be to convince her of that.
I loved Fire Inside! Kristen Ashley is one of my favorite authors. She always gives the readers hot, alpha men and lots of romance and she delivered with this book. This book is the second book in the Chaos Series and takes place after Motorcycle Man, which is the last book in the Dream Man Series. Lanie is Tyra’s best friend who is married to Tack, the leader of the club, and Hop is part of the Chaos Motorcycle Club. I recommend reading Motorcycle Man before this book to understand Lanie’s story. After losing her fiancé and almost dying herself, she is not looking for a relationship, but is attracted to Hop and decides to proposition him for a night of hot sex. They have an intense attraction and passion when they come together and after that one night, Hop decides he wants to keep her. He just has to convince her she belongs with him. Hop was not what I expected and really surprised me in this book. I loved him! This book was a little different then Kristen Ashley’s usual writing style, but I still loved it. Fire Inside was a hot, sexy, explosive romance that kept me captivated from start to finish. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait for the next one.
Go to our facebook page and comment on the giveaway post for a chance to win a paperback copy of Fire Inside.
Facebook Giveaway Link: http://fb.me/6zSspLF0e
Excerpt from FIRE INSIDE by Kristen Ashley:
Hop came out of the bathroom to see Lanie on her feet on the other side of the bed, panties on, hands twisted behind her back putting her bra on. Again.
He didn’t say a word. He prowled to her, reached out an arm the second he was close, yanked her to him and fell to his back in the bed, taking her down with him.
“Hop—” she started, pushing her weight against his arms, but he slid her off him then wasted no time rolling over her and pinning her to his bed.
“Sleep,” he ordered when he caught her eyes in the weak dawn. “After rest, I’ll get coffee, we’ll juice up, then round four.”
She blinked and breathed, “Four?”
“Got lots more I want to do to you,” he informed her and watched her eyes go soft, sexier, then her teeth came out to graze her lush lower lip, also fucking sexy, and her arms slid around him.
But she asked, “What about Tack and Ty-Ty?”
“I’ll make sure the coast is clear,” he told her.
“But they’ll see my car,” she told him.
“I’ll move it,” he offered.
Her hand slid up his back, around his shoulder, and then to his neck where her thumb moved to stroke him.
Her touch was light but, fuck, it felt good. He’d never had a woman touch him in an unconscious way like that, just a touch, a stroke, giving something that meant nothing at the same time doing it without thinking about it meant everything.
Shit.
Complicated.
“This is just supposed to be one night,” she reminded him quietly, but he saw it in her eyes. She didn’t even try to hide it. She’d bitten off more than she could chew.
He had too and he was nowhere near done eating.
She was cute. She was sweet. She was hot. She was better than he expected and he’d expected her to be pretty fucking good. All that wrapped in a package that gorgeous?
Yeah.
He was nowhere near done eating.
“Change of plans. A night and a morning and, maybe, an afternoon and, possibly, another night,” he amended, and her eyes got softer as her hand slid up to cup his jaw.
“I have to work,” she told him.
“Call off,” he told her.
“I can’t. I own the joint.” She explained something he knew, that she ran her own advertising agency. “And things are a bit crazy.”
Things were always crazy for Lanie. The woman lived crazy. She thrived on it. If there wasn’t crazy, she stirred it up because she couldn’t breathe without it.
“Babe,” he pressed his body into hers, “told you, got more I want to do to you.”
Kristen Ashley grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana, and has lived in Denver, Colorado, and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.
Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multigenerational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland, and Kristen grew up listening to the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon, and Whitesnake. Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music and love was a good way to grow up. And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.
Title – Three Rivers Author – Chloe Barlow Genre – Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense Release Date – March 25th 2014
Blog Tour Dates – March 24th-April 4th
Synopsis
“A heartbreaking tale of letting go and learning to love again. A jaw-dropping debut novel you have to read.” – Helena Newbury, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author.
How do you start over when you gave everything to one life, one plan, and lost it all?
Althea refuses to allow herself to love again. Imprisoned in grief at twenty-four after her husband’s sudden death, she’s convinced her heart died along with him. She spends her days honoring his memory by clinging to the legal career he helped her to build and to the remaining pieces linking them together.
Griffen’s been running from his past. Despite success as an author and investigative journalist, he’s been traveling through life on autopilot. For a decade, he’s chosen perilous adventures and meaningless sex over the danger of any attachments. When he finally returns home to Pittsburgh, he’s slammed by the awakened memories and regret he’s spent years trying to escape.
A chance encounter brings them together. Their instant desire for each other – and the bond they discover between them – shocks them both. Despite her best efforts, Althea can’t resist Griffen’s charm or his intriguing proposition – if she agrees to a no-strings affair with him for the two weeks he’s in town, he swears he’ll walk away when their time is up. Assured she can test the waters of a new life while keeping her vow never to betray her husband’s memory by opening her heart to another, Althea throws herself into the escape Griffen provides her.
Their perfect plans go awry when the intensity of their connection overwhelms them. Will they risk it all on the chance of something great together…or will the power of their secrets and guilt tear them apart?
Three Rivers SOUNDTRACK
River — Joni Mitchell
La Vie En Rose — Madeleine Peyroux
All I Want — Kodaline
Little Talks — Of Monsters and Men
Ol’ Man River — Ray Charles
Change The Sheets — Kathleen Edwards
SexyBack — Justin Timberlake
Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) — Katy Perry
Blurred Lines — Robin Thicke
Let Go — Frou Frou
Sex On Fire — Kings Of Leon
Fallen (Live) — Sarah McLachlan
Sail Away — David Gray
People Gonna Talk — James Hunter
Love Is Blindness — Jack White
Into Dust — Mazzy Star
Live Like a Warrior — Matisyahu
Over the Love — Florence + The Machine
Things Will Change — Treetop Flyers
Many Rivers to Cross — Jimmy Cliff
Try — P!nk
Agape — Bear’s Den
Stronger — Kanye West
Althea — Grateful Dead
No One’s Gonna Love You — Band of Horses
Safe and Sound — Capital Cities
Reservoir — Hem
Excerpts
Excerpt #1
Griffen stroked her cheek and Althea thought how truly sorry she was to have woken him, especially because what she didn’t tell him was that tonight it wasn’t her deceased husband Jack’s face in her nightmare that turned to dust and disappeared. It was Griffen’s.
“Althea…” Griffen whispered.
“Shh. No,” she said softly as she reached up and caressed his face gently in return. “Will you just…will you please make love to me, Griffen?”
“Anytime, gorgeous.”
But it won’t be anytime anymore, Althea thought. He will turn to dust and I will be all alone. Again.
And she knew it had to be that way, because this emptiness in her heart was the penance she would always have to pay for failing Jack.
Griffen led her to the bed and they made love. It was the most tender and gentle experience of their time together. Griffen touched her everywhere, stroked her hair, kissed her face and soothed away each tear. He ran his lips down her chest and she gasped as he sucked her nipple into his mouth reverently. He somehow managed to put on a condom despite touching every part of her constantly and slid gently inside of her. She was grateful because she didn’t want any lead-in this time. She just needed him inside her, while her hands were full of his hair and his warm, giving flesh. She moaned and lifted his head from her breast to look at him.
“Baby,” he said, kissing her eyelids and finally claiming her mouth. She wrapped her legs around his, even curling her feet around his calves, desperately trying to make every inch of her body touch his.
She was so preoccupied with how full and complete she felt that her climax surprised her. This had not been about an orgasm, it was about closeness and human contact. Running off the demons of loss and fear, if only for a moment.
But Griffen didn’t know how to leave her unsatisfied. He couldn’t touch her without making her body go off like a sparkler in the backyard on the fourth of July, and even now, with his gentle lovemaking, it was no different. He groaned in her ear and came right along with her, spurring more spasms and electric shocks through her body.
“Oh Griffen, yes, Griffen,” she responded.
He leaned up and looked into her eyes, brushing her hair back from her face. His face looked so tormented.
“Oh Althea,” he said sadly over and over again, almost like a prayer, until he rolled over and held her until she finally fell into a blessedly dreamless sleep.
Excerpt #2
Althea leaned back and forced a smile and laugh as she looked around. Her brazen pretense was tossing kerosene on Griffen’s fiery emotions.
With each nervous dart of her eyes, Griffen’s heart pounded with more anger. He leaned closer and whispered hotly in her ear, “Is that better? Am I making you uncomfortable? God forbid someone thinks you aren’t a perfect widow pining away alone after all these years. That you’re still living an adult life,” he growled. “Maybe I should ignore your rules and touch you anyway. I know you like it when I do.”
“Stop it, please.” She breathed slowly, calming herself. “We can touch. Just not here.”
“Fine. I get it.” Griffen couldn’t stop how angry he felt.
The irony wasn’t lost on him. Most women he’d been with begged him to be serious with them and tell the world they were together. That had never appealed to him, until now. Yet here was this beautiful, desirable woman that he wanted to express affection to and she couldn’t bear to let anyone know they were together. He hadn’t even realized how furious it made him until he found his heart was racing and he was feeling hot with anger.
Althea must’ve sensed it because she leaned over and whispered, “No. You don’t get it, and you shouldn’t have to. This is my thing. My issue.” She looked around to see if anyone was staring at them and looked into his eyes. “I do want to touch you. I want you to touch me.” She swallowed and lowered her voice even more. “Very much.”
“Fine,” he gritted out. When he looked down at her, with her eyes turned up so full of concern while her lips parted and she panted just a little from the desire that coursed through them every time they were near each other, his heart pounded for a different reason. “I need to touch you, too…everywhere.”
“Yes, please,” she whispered.
Author Bio
Chloe is a contemporary romance novelist and practicing attorney living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her husband and their sweet puppy. She is a native Washingtonian that graduated Duke University with a degree in English and Chinese language. She met her husband at Duke and he brought her to Pittsburgh over a decade ago, which she has loved ever since and made her adopted hometown. She also attended the University of Pittsburgh Law School where she continued to be a book-loving nerd.
Chloe has always loved writing and although she does do it professionally as a lawyer, she cherishes the opportunity to craft her fictional novels and share them with the world.
When Chloe isn’t writing, she spends her time exploring Pittsburgh with her husband and friends. She also enjoys yoga, jogging, and all Pittsburgh sports, as well as her Duke Blue Devils. She is an avid reader and wrote her debut novel Three Rivers in her spare time. She continues her tireless legal style of research in her fiction work as well. For example, in an effort to bring authenticity to Three River’s treatment of grief and loss, she consulted with a psychologist and grief counselor during its preparation.
Love fantasy? The paranormal? Romance? How about a twisty-turny story featuring two young women in the fight of their lives? Yes?! Then we have the book for you! Pick up Jessie Lane’s THE BURNING STAR, available today! Learn more about the book below and be sure to enter the author’s amazing giveaway while you’re at it!
*This book is a re-release and revision from the original book. Please be aware that some things have been added, deleted or changed.* Kay’s journey of a lifetime started in the woods outside of Asheville, North Carolina. It was there that the 17 year old met a beautiful man along with a monster. The chance encounter led her to an unbelievable world that shouldn’t exist; a place where myths and fairy tales were real, and in some cases, deadly. Kay knew she would have to brave this new world if she hoped to find a cure for her terminal cancer. With a strange yet beautiful cast of characters that she would meet along the way, Kay uncovered truths that would change her life forever. However, before it was all over, it would become clear that Kay wasn’t the only one with problems. Yet another 17 year old young woman was fighting for her freedom and her life. Kira had lived in a magical world that Kay had only dreamt of. Despite this, her life had not been filled with many good things. As a matter of fact, she considered her empty, emotional solitude the only positive aspect of her life. She fought daily battles to escape abuse and torture.Trained to be an expert assassin, she was charged with kidnapping Kay and delivering her to Kira’s master, Lord Donovan. As the two young women set forth in their journeys, their paths would cross in unimaginable ways. The only question that would remain was who would come out alive and whole in the end? WARNING: This is a upper ya/young adult/new adult fictional story that includes some explicit language, graphic violence, and mild sexual situations. Recommended for ages sixteen and up.
THE BURNING STAR will be released at 99 cents, but that’s only for a limited time! Then it’ll go back to its regular $3.99!
I stood there frozen, knowing that I would probably die because of this wretched creature, when all of a sudden I saw the quick movement of an arm bringing down the point of the knife, slicing towards the large creature’s skull. The animal’s enraged screams ripped through the woods surrounding us.
My brain tried to analyze what was happening before me as I stood still as a statue and watched as the monster started to crumble away like something that had been burnt from the inside out and then fell apart.
This can’t be real.
I looked up from the ashes into the face of an angel.
He’s not an angel; he’s just a guy. Right?
He was staring at me as if he had just seen me sprout a second head. I was staring back at him like he was somehow related to those alien birds outside my window. My mouth flapped open to scream again, but before a sound could escape, the world faded to black, and I fainted.
At least I didn’t scream again.
When I opened my eyes, two ethereal blue eyes were staring back at me. My head was throbbing like a bass drum in a marching band, and it felt like my head might split in two from the pounding headache.
“Are you okay?” he asked me, his voice strong but sweet.
Before I could stop my mouth from saying anything ridiculous, I replied, “Are you an angel? Did I finally die and go to Heaven?”
He bellowed a laugh while I blushed a shade that was more than likely lobster red. I smacked myself in the forehead and tried to hide my face behind my hand. What a brilliant way to make a first impression on an extremely hot guy. That’s when it hit me.
The past few moments of events flooded my brain again and I started to panic.
“Wait a minute! What was that thing and how in the world did it just, just—”
“The dog? I had to cut it with my knife to scare it away. It wasn’t a mortal wound though. He took off through the woods to escape. Sorry if you’re one of those animal lovers, but I was afraid it might kill one of us.”
I shook my head to try to clear it. “No, no, no, no. That was no dog. Well, it was at first, but then it became something else. It was black and huge and had those red eyes…”
Before I finished my sentence, I looked up at him to see complete shock and amazement on his face. I had never seen anyone look so bewildered.
“Don’t look at me like that! I know what I saw! Now what was that thing and what happened to it? It didn’t run off; I saw you kill it. And I would point to the body to prove it, but it, well, it fell apart or something.”
In a split second, the shock had disappeared from his handsome face, replaced by something more masked and calculating. “I’m sorry, but you’re quite mistaken. I didn’t kill it. I only wounded it. And it was a dog. Are you sure you didn’t hit your head or something? I’m afraid you might be having some kind of hallucination.” Somehow, when he said it, it didn’t seem as scary or grotesque as it did when I played what I saw back in my head.
Crystal and Melissa often live half their lives with their heads in the clouds dreaming of alpha military hunks, werewolves and kick ass heroines crazy enough to chase after creatures that they unquestionably should know better than to chase. Their first YA novel, The Burning Star, was released in May 2012. Big Bad Bite is their second novel, but their first adult paranormal romance. They are now working on their next two novels, Walk On The Striped Side and Secret Maneuvers. With these projects underway, they are looking forward to showing the rest of the world their crazy stories, heroes and heroines that often plague their minds until written, and hope you will join them on their journey! WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE | GOODREADS
Release Day Blitz Giveaway: (USA Only Giveaway due to shipping!)
1 Signed Paperback of The Burning Star by Jessie Lane
3 Signed Paperbacks: Anew, Awry & Avow from Chelsea Fine
2 Signed Paperbacks: Madly & Wolfhardt (in one book), For the Love of a Vampire & SWAG (t-shirt, bracelet & bookmarks) From M. Leighton
Theirs to Cherish (A Wicked Lovers Novel) by Shayla Black
Publication Date: March 4, 2014
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Cori
Rated: 4 Stars
THEIRS TO CHERISH is the eighth contemporary erotic romance in USA Today bestselling author Shayla Black’s Wicked Lovers series.
The perfect place for a woman on the run to disappear…
Accused of a horrific murder she didn’t commit, former heiress Callie Ward has been a fugitive since she was sixteen—until she found the perfect hideout, Club Dominion. The only problem is she’s fallen for the club’s master, Mitchell Thorpe, who keeps her at arm’s length. Little does she know that his reasons for not getting involved have everything to do with his wounded heart…and his consuming desire for her.
To live out her wildest fantasies…
Enter Sean Kirkpatrick, a Dom who’s recently come to Dominion and taken a pointed interest in Callie. Hoping to make Thorpe jealous, she submits to Sean one shuddering sigh at a time. It isn’t long before she realizes she’s falling for him too. But the tender lover who’s seducing her body and slowly earning her trust isn’t who he claims…
And to fall in love.
When emotions collide and truths are exposed, Sean is willing to risk all to keep Callie from slipping through his fingers. But he’s not the only man looking to stake a claim. Now Callie is torn between Sean and Thorpe, and though she’s unsure whom she can trust, she’ll have to surrender her body and soul to both—if she wants to elude a killer…
Theirs to Cherish is a scorching hot new addition to Shayla Black’s Wicked Lovers series. Each book can be read as a stand alone so you do not need to read them in order to enjoy the books. Theirs to Cherish opens up with a scene in Club Dominion and things heat up and continue to burn up the pages through out the book. There is also a lot of action, mystery, danger and emotion in this book to make it a great story. The struggle to protect Callie brings the two men Callie is in love with together. I thought it was a beautiful love story. Sometimes erotica romances leave out the love story, but Theirs to Cherish had everything I look for in a great erotica romance. I recommend this book and look forward to the next release in the Wicked Lovers series.
*ARC provided by Berkley in exchange for an honest review.
Go to our Facebook page and comment on the giveaway post to enter to win a paperback copy of Theirs to Cherish (A Wicked Lovers Novel) by Shayla Black. Winner will be announced by 5PM Central on Wednesday, March 5ᵗʰ. Please make sure to check Facebook to see if you won around 5PM on Wednesday. Facebook does not allow me to contact the winners so you will need to look for the post announcing the winner and then contact me with your info if you win. Link to Facebook Post:http://fb.me/32EdgAJaL
Shayla Black is the USA Today bestselling author of over 30 sizzling contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances. She lives in Texas with her husband, munchkin, and one very spoiled cat. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading and listening to an eclectic blend of music.
✦Wicked Lovers Series By Shayla Black ~ Reading Order✦
Series Links ➢ Amazon http://georiot.co/4VY | B&N http://bit.ly/1ddnNE4 | Kobo http://bit.ly/1mYzS34
✦Wicked Ties
✦Decadent
✦Delicious
✦Surrender to Me
✦Belong to Me
✦Wicked To Love – A Wicked Lovers Novella
✦Mine to Hold
✦Ours to Love
✦Theirs to Cherish
Some Like It Wild (A Wild Ones Novel) by M. Leighton
Publication Date: March 4, 2014
Reviewed by: Reading In Pajamas/ Dawn
Rated: 4 Stars
How far will a good girl go for the bad boy she loves?
Laney Holt is a preacher’s daughter. A good girl. Her only goal was to get married, have babies, and live happily ever after, just like her parents. Only that didn’t happen. The two people closest to her betrayed her, and Laney’s dreams came crashing down. Now she’s left with an empty space she doesn’t know how to fill. Until she meets Jake Theopolis, a daredevil with a death wish who has heartbreaker written all over him.
Jake has no interest in thinking beyond the here and now. All he wants out of life is the next rush, the next “feel-good” thing to keep his mind off the pain of his past. His latest rush? Showing Laney there’s more to life than being a good girl—and that going bad can be so much fun. Her only concern now is how she can ever hope to satisfy the wild side of a boy like Jake. She’s looking forward to trying. And so is Jake.
If you love The Wild Ones, you’ll be just as wild for M. Leighton’s Bad Boys series which includes Down to You, Up to Me, and Everything for Us.
This is Laney and Jakes story and I absolutely loved it! Laney’s first kiss was from sexy Jake four years ago before she left town for college. Jake was the wild child in the area who drank, dated, and partied. All of the things Laney never did. She was the preacher’s perfect daughter. At least until she caught her fiancé cheating on her with her best friend. Laney returned to town to help settle Jake’s family estate. Jake never forgot about beautiful Laney and when she shows up he knows he will stop at nothing to have her. The attraction was obvious right away. The passion between these two nearly shorted out my kindle. Hot! Hot! Hot! Laney’s parents wanted her back with her fiancé without knowing the whole story. Jake didn’t think he was good enough to give Laney the life she deserved, but Laney knew no one would ever be able to measure up to Jake. Would their passion be enough? Grab a copy if you’re looking for a steamy romance. This book is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone.
*ARC provided by Berkley/ NAL in exchange for an honest review.
Go to our Facebook page and comment on the giveaway post to enter to win a paperback copy of Some Like It Wild by M. Leighton. Winner will be announced by 5PM Central today. Please make sure to check Facebook to see if you won around 5PM. Facebook does not allow me to contact the winners so you will need to look for the post announcing the winner and then contact me with your info if you win.
Link to Facebook Post: http://t.co/nwfTMOJN5J
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, M. Leighton, is a native of Ohio. She relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: literary fiction. Having written over a dozen novels, these days Michelle enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you’ll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren’t roaming in that direction, she’ll be riding wild horses, skiing the slopes of Aspen or scuba diving with a hot rock star, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.
Hard As You Can: A Hard Ink Novel by Laura Kaye
Publication Date: February 25, 2014
Reviewed by: Reading In Pajamas/ Cori
Rated: 4.5 Stars
Five dishonored soldiers.
Former Special Forces.
One last mission.
These are the men of Hard Ink.
Ever since hard-bodied, drop-dead-charming Shane McCallan strolled into the dance club where Crystal Dean works, he’s shown a knack for getting beneath her defenses. For her little sister’s sake, Crystal can’t get too close. Until her job and Shane’s mission intersect, and he reveals talents that go deeper than she could have guessed.
Shane would never turn his back on a friend in need, especially a former Special Forces teammate running a dangerous, off-the-books operation. Nor can he walk away from Crystal. The gorgeous waitress is hiding secrets she doesn’t want him to uncover. Too bad. He’s exactly the man she needs to protect her sister, her life, and her heart. All he has to do is convince her that when something feels this good, you hold on as hard as you can–and never let go.
I loved Hard As You Can! This is the second book in The Hard Ink Series and I recommend reading them in order, but they can each be read a s a stand alone. This is an action packed romance full of danger, emotion and passion. The series is fast paced and filled with everything I look for in a great story that captures and holds my attention from start to finish. I love this team of sexy former special forces! Shane is my favorite hero in the series so far, but I look forward to the next book and reading what Laura Kaye has in store for us next. I highly recommend this romantic suspense series.
*ARC provided by HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review.
Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.
It’s release day! And I’m so excited to share Hard As You Can, the second book in the Hard Ink series, with all of you here today! Hard As You Can follows the surviving members of a disgraced Army Special Forces team as they fight to regain their stolen honor, and finds their investigation crossing paths with a waitress willing to do whatever it takes to stay alive and protect her younger sister. For Shane McCallan, saving Crystal Dean is a mission he refuses to turn down.
Today, I’ve got a scene filled with lots of sexual tension and emotion to share with you, one that I absolutely adored writing! I hope you enjoy this look into the growing attraction between Shane and Crystal from Hard As You Can:
“I didn’t mean to criticize you, Crystal. I just cannot abide violence against women. Period. Especially not someone I know.” A long pause. “And definitely not someone I like.” After everything that had happened to her, the words were a balm for her psyche.
Footsteps came up behind her, slowly, cautiously, like she was a wild animal who would bolt in an instant. And she supposed there was some truth to that analogy.
Torn between returning to the danger she knew or staying with the one she didn’t, Crystal debated. Her heart told her Shane might well be the most dangerous man she’d ever met because he made her want, wish, maybe even dream.
Not at all sure it was a good idea, Crystal slowly turned.
Shane was right in front of her. A rock in the middle of a raging sea, a refuge she might claim if she had the strength and the will and the nerve to fight for it. To believe she deserved it. She hugged herself.
“Hey,” he said, cupping her face in his big hands. His fingers slid behind her neck and gently massaged.
She shook her head and glanced toward the treetops in an effort to pinch off the sting building behind her eyes. Why did she have to meet him now? She’d had a plan, and all she’d needed to do was follow it for a few more months. “You don’t even know me.”
“No. Not everything. But I know more than a little. And that much I like enough to want to know more.” His fingers rubbed her neck, gently, soothingly.
And his words, well, his words were perfect. Maybe even too much so. Too good to be true, she thought. “I already told you I’d share what I’d learned. You don’t have to play me.”
His eyes narrowed, and he frowned. “You listen hard and you listen good, sweetness,” he said, the words firm but the tone urgent, almost desperate, and laced with his southern accent. “I’m not perfect, and God knows I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life. But I would never play with a woman’s emotions to get information out of her. That kind of manipulation doesn’t hold with me. Ever.”
Sweetness. She’d heard everything he’d said. The passion with which he’d said it. The sincerity that burned from his gaze as the words had poured from his lips. But it was the term of endearment that reached into her chest and gripped her heart. For a long moment, they stood there, bodies touching, faces inches apart, his hands holding her in that firm-but-gentle way he had.
Thunder rumbled again, closer this time, and her heart was a drum beat double-timing
inside her chest. If his hands didn’t feel it racing, he’d have to hear it, because the sound was a loud rush rush in her ears. Beneath the sports bra and tank, her nipples went hard. If his gaze dropped, she knew he’d see, but she couldn’t bring herself to feel self-conscious about it. Not when he was looking at her like he wanted to devour her.
His gaze dropped to her lips.
She shuddered, everything inside her but the smallest voice of reason crying out for him to do it. Just once.
“Tell me not to,” he said, his voice a raw scrape.
So that’s Shane and Crystal for you! Did you have a favorite line? Thanks for reading!
~Laura
“Edgy, sexy, and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!”
~J.R. Ward on Hard As It Gets
HARD AS YOU CAN is your second book in the “Hard Ink” series (after USA Today bestseller, HARD AS IT GETS). What can readers look forward to?
Readers can look forward to tons of sexy alpha male goodness, awesome bromance between the Hard Ink men, more antics from the Hard Ink puppy, and another great love story between Shane and Crystal. But readers should also be ready for a book that is darker, more intense, and more emotional. This book pushed me to emotional places that were tough as a writer, and might be tough for readers, too. But I think that just makes the payoff at the end so much sweeter!
Describe Shane and Crystal. What are their best traits? What are their weaknesses?
Shane and Crystal are such an amazing couple to me. They’re each exactly what the other needs. Shane’s best traits are his protectiveness, his fundamental kindness, and his soul-deep loyalty (his southern accent and humor are also right up there!). His biggest weakness for sure is a tragedy from the past for which he blames himself—and it’s something that continues to motivate him in Hard As You Can. Crystal’s best traits are her courage, protectiveness, and selflessness—she’s willing to do anything to keep her younger sister safe. Her biggest weakness is also that selflessness, because the sacrifices she’s required to make are getting bigger and bigger and bigger.
If you could describe your book in a 140 character tweet, what would it be?
When a woman in trouble assists an ex-soldier’s covert mission to regain his team’s stolen honor, he finds a new mission to save her, too
What are you most excited about with this second book release?
I’m really excited to take readers deeper into these awesome characters and into the mystery behind the Hard Ink team’s ambush and discharge!
What books are you reading right now?
I’m almost done with Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander (yes, I’m very late to the party but OMG JAMIE FRASER!!!). And I’ve recently devoured and loved Juliana Stone’s Offsides and Shelly Thacker’s time-travel historical romance, Forever His.
What can fans of your “Hard Ink” series look forward to next?
There will be two more Hard Ink books in 2014!
Hard to Hold on To – August 2014
Hard to Come By – November 2014
Reading in Pajamas 
