February 9, 2016

Spotlight, Review & Giveaway: By Break of Day (The Night Stalkers Series) by M.L. Buchman

By Break of Day (The Night Stalkers) by M.L. Buchman

Publication Date: February 2, 2016

Genre: Romantic Suspense

NAME: Kara Moretti
RANK: Captain of the Army’s stealthiest remote piloted aircraft (Don’t call it a drone)
MISSION: To be the eyes of the team

NAME: Justin “The Cowboy” Roberts
RANK: Captain of the Army’s most powerful helicopter
MISSION: To redeem the past, at any cost

They Put Life, Limb, and Heart on the Line

Two new captains join The Night Stalkers with two different strategies in life, love, and combat. When Brooklyn-raised Kara joins the crew, she knows one thing as an absolute truth: to stay safe, keep everything and everyone at a distance. Born in Texas, Justin knows only one honorable way to make up for losing his first crew to a suicide bomber: he flies with all his heart. When Kara and Justin collide on a top secret mission deep in the Israeli desert, then the battle truly begins.

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Donna 4 stars

This is another exciting edition to the elite military series of the Night Stalkers. The beginning got a little bogged down in military jargon and acronyms but I urge you to read through it because the story is exciting and romantic. Normally I roll my eyes at the southern accent jokes but nothing made me roll my eyes at Justin, a sexy strong Texan. He sure met his match in Yankee Kara and her Italian New York family, I would have loved more time with them but a taste was very much appreciated. I love the team and the camaraderie, their dangerous missions that keep you on the edge of your seat and of course the smoking hot romance. Buchman is on my must read list.

*Review copy provided by Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review.

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This February, M. L. Buchman raises the stakes—and the heat—in By Break of Day, the latest in his acclaimed Night Stalkers series. To celebrate Buchman joins us on the blog to share an excerpt and answer a quick Q&A!

Do you intend to write your characters with certain personalities or do things “just happen?”

It’s a mixture. In the early stages of brainstorming a book, I’ll poke around at ideas for a new character until one steps forward that seems as if they’d be fun to write. Sometimes I suspect that I might have written them before, but my subconscious must weed that out because I’ve been proven wrong every time when I get to the writing. From there, it is a voyage of discovery.

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Excerpt

Captain Justin Roberts flies a massive Chinook twin-rotor helicopter. Captain Kara Moretti flies a drone and is trying out to be the Air Mission Commander during a training exercise.

Captain Justin Roberts gave the collective control between his knees a little nudge forward. Fifteen tons of helicopter carrying a platoon of U.S. Rangers and their gear eased forward as smooth as a baby’s behind.
Every single time he flew his big MH-47G “Golf” Chinook helicopter, it was a surprise—a surprise of how much fun it was. Like they were meant for each other since long before they met.
SOAR only flew three primary types of helos, all deeply modified to the 160th’s specification. The Little Bird, the Black Hawk, and the Chinook Golf. His girl was the monster of the outfit. Calamity Jane was definitely a Texas-sized lady: big, powerful, and dangerous.
“I feel the need for a song.”
“Oh God, spare us.” Danny Corvo spoke up from the copilot seat. From there he was Justin’s second set of eyes and the master of the helo’s general health and well-being.
“Oh, give me a home,” Carmen cut in from her position at the starboard gun close behind Justin’s seat.
Carmen Parker was hot shit with an M134 minigun that could unload four thousand rounds-a-minute of hell on anyone who messed with her. She was also king, er, queen of the bird—the absolute last word on maintenance and loading.
“Where the Chinook helos roam.” Talbot George was always off-key at the side gun behind Danny’s copilot position, but he sang with heart, even if with a distinctly British accent.
“And the flights are at night every day,” the three of them sang together in splendidly awful harmony.
Danny groaned as if in the throes of death-by-torture agony.
As usual, Raymond Hines kept his own counsel at the rear ramp gunner’s post. The Chinook was the size of a school bus inside. Tonight, in the cargo area between the cockpit and Ray’s rear post, thirty U.S. Rangers and their three ATVs were counting on SOAR to sling them into position. The big rotors fore and aft let her lift her own weight in cargo; even in high-hot conditions the Chinook outperformed most everything around.
By the third chorus their harmonies were better, so Justin hit the transmit switch for the last of it. It got the answering transmission he was hoping for.
“Justin, honey?”
“Here for you, sweetheart.” Kara Moretti just slayed him. From the first briefing where she’d moseyed in all dark and Italian and perfect, his head had been turned hard enough that he kept checking his neck for whiplash. Then when she opened her mouth and poured out thick Brooklyn… Two months later and he still didn’t know what to do with that, not a bit of it. It was all… wrong, yet it was so right. Her voice should be some sweet bella signora, like the one he’d spent a week with while stationed at Camp Darby outside of Pisa on the Italian coast a couple years back.
Instead Kara was—
“You do that to me again and you’re gonna be singing soprano the rest of your life. We clear, Cowboy?”
—a hundred percent, New York. “Y’all wouldn’t do that to me now, would ya?” He laid it on thick.
“Castrate the bull calf? In a heartbeat. And I ain’t your sweetheart.”
“I’ll hold him down while you trim ’em,” Lola Maloney called in from the DAP Hawk.
He was about to say something about how it made the meat taste more luscious and tender—which was why they castrated most bull calves—but he couldn’t figure out how to phrase it without it sounding crude and perhaps tempting her to start looking for some neutering shears when Trisha cut in.
“Roger that! We’ll pin him, you chop and cauterize. Use a really hot iron.”
Claudia Jean Gibson at the controls of the Maven II didn’t speak much, but he could feel her out there agreeing with them.
Justin winced in imagined pain, as he was sure every man on the comm circuit did. He figured maybe it would be better if he kept his mouth shut. Once the women of the 5D got on a roll, wasn’t no man on God’s green earth who was safe.

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Kindle: http://amzn.to/1OITdVW
Amazon PBK: http://amzn.to/1OIT70L
Apple: http://apple.co/1Ou1SYu
BAM: http://bit.ly/1PuR0cP
B&N: http://bit.ly/1SQT44c
Chapters: http://bit.ly/1nmfEWq
Indiebound: http://bit.ly/1TYIlDm
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1nmfK0r

Amazon Series Link: http://amzn.to/1NKexoG

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NIGHTSTALKERS BOOK BUNDLE

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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M. L. Buchman has over 35 novels and an ever-expanding flock of short stories in print. His military romantic suspense books have been named Barnes & Noble and NPR “Top 5 of the year,” Booklist “Top 10 of the Year,” and RT “Top 10 Romantic Suspense of the Year.” In addition to romantic suspense, he also writes contemporaries, thrillers, and fantasy and science fiction.

In among his career as a corporate project manager he has: rebuilt and single-handed a fifty-foot sailboat, both flown and jumped out of airplanes, designed and built two houses, and bicycled solo around the world.

He is now a full-time writer, living on the Oregon Coast with his beloved wife. He is constantly amazed at what you can do with a degree in Geophysics. You may keep up with his writing at http://www.mlbuchman.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | YouTube

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December 21, 2015

Release Blitz: Q&A, Excerpt & Giveaways: Wild Cowboy Ways (Lucky Penny Ranch) by Carolyn Brown

What would readers be surprised to find out about you?
That I have 15 grandchildren, 12 of whom are girls (I get to shop for prom dresses and wedding dresses for many years to come) and my 11th great grandchild is due in January. We are descendents of Noah and we take that business of going forth and multiplying very seriously.

Tell us about your writing process. Do you start with an idea or a character? Do you know what’s going to happen from the beginning or do you figure it out as you write?
I start with two characters who are most usually in the midst of a family/families who become secondary characters. I know what is going to happen at the beginning and sometimes the characters let me think that I know what is going to happen from that point to the end. But not very often. The more I peel back the layers of the character’s personalities, the more varied the path from beginning to end becomes.

Who gave you the one piece of writing advice that sticks with you to this day?
And editor told me once that everything in your book has to be credible, therefore I make sure I know exactly if they had fly swats in 1919 and how much a small rectangular bale of hay weighs. And a very good author friend, Sharon Sala, told me to never put all your eggs in one basket. Two fantastic bits of writing advice.

Is there one thing you have to have when writing?
A comfortable chair which my cat, Chester Fat Boy, also loves and tries to steal every single time I get up for a cup of tea or coffee.

How did you choose the names of your characters?
I research what names were popular the year they were born. For instance, there wouldn’t have been a Kayla in a historical book. I have one site that is great for cowboy names that were popular in the past years. My daughter lives in a rural area where cowboys are the absolute norm so if I really get stuck, then I call her. A couple of her recent goodies was Oat Chapman and Raysh. I really like Raysh and may use it in a future book.

How has music played a role in your life and in your writing?
I have been accused of pimping country music and to that I told them thank you. It was a good Saturday night in my world as a child when Mama could bring in The Grand Ole Opry on her little red radio. I cut my teeth on Hank Williams and Patsy Cline. Mr. B plays and sings country music when the family is all together and we two-step down the hallway. Music is a big part of my life so it becomes a part of my characters’ lives as well. I do have to admit to visiting Frankie’s, an old speaky easy type bar, in Wild Cowboy Ways and while I was writing that scene I listened to Etta James. I sure did enjoy her bluesy sound that day.

When was the moment that you knew you had to be a writer?
First grade. The teacher taught us that those letters we’d learned could make words and words could make stories. I was so intrigued that I wanted to do that very thing.

What can you tell us about your couple, that we won’t find in the book?
I’m not sure there’s anything that they don’t discover about each other during the course of the book.

Do you have any favorite book boyfriends of your own?
Oh, yes, ma’am. I love Rhett Butler (Gone With the Wind) with all his dash and adventurous nature. And Orrin Sackett (Louis L’Amour’s Sackett series) but then when I see Orrin I think Tom Selleck who played Orrin in the movie. And who doesn’t like Tom Selleck! Then there’s Raylan Givens (from Elmore Leonard’s Fire in the Hole) who is the character in Justified.

What are five books on your night stand/bookshelf?
On my bookshelf are all of Sue Grafton’s books, A-W and I’ve asked for the next one for my Christmas present, a well worn edition of Gone with The Wind, Exodus by Leon Uris, everything that LaVryle Spencer wrote and Maverick of Copper Creek by R. C. Ryan.

What’s your favorite quote or scene from your book?
His hands grazed her cheeks as he pulled her damp hair back to run the brush through it. Then he leaned forward and kissed her softly on the side of her neck.
“We were going to talk,” she whispered.
“We are talkin’, darlin’. We’ll use words when necessary,” he said, softly.

If your couple’s relationship had a theme song, what would it be?
“Small Town Southern Man,” by Alan Jackson. It played a little part in the story one evening when Blake was out trying to be that wild cowboy who had a reputation and Allie was at home wondering if he’d ever be a man who’d live up to the lyrics in that song.

Tell us about the cover process. Is this what you had in mind?
I squealed so loud when I saw this cover that the folks in southern Oklahoma probably thought it was the fire siren was going off. It was exactly how I pictured Blake so yes, I loved, loved it.
If your book was being made into a movie, who would you include in your dream cast?
Josh Turner with his deep southern drawl and good looks would play Blake (if you could talk the music industry into letting me play the part). And Rachel Bilson is Allie. Shirley Maclaine could be Irene. I would dance a jig on the rooftop if this series was made into a movie.

Where do you find inspiration for you writing? Do you use real people/places as a foundation?
I often use real places but only nuances of people. I might like the way a cowboy swaggers into the Dairy Queen or the way a cowgirl has a swing to her walk. Or maybe a cowboy’s smile will take my eye or the way he tips his hat to the ladies.

Do you have any hobbies or activities that you enjoy outside of writing?
I used to do needlepoint and I was a seamstress at one time and I did oil paintings. But these days my love is writing and telling stories. When I need a break I go outside and visit with my cats who protect my back yard from vicious varmints like crickets, blue jays and spiders. In addition to that, Mr. B and I love road trips. We travel to all the places I mention in my books so that I “get it right”.

Would the 10 year-old version of yourself kick your butt or praise you for what you’ve accomplished in life?
Probably praise me for what I have accomplished. I came from very poor people who had a lot of love but very little material things. The idea of coming this far was nothing but a pipe dream when I was ten years old.

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Wild Cowboy Ways (Lucky Penny Ranch) by Carolyn Brown

Publication Date: December 22, 2015

SOMETIMES ALL LOVE NEEDS IS A LITTLE LUCK

Allie Logan isn’t the type to land a hot hunk of cowboy. Truth is, she’s given up on dating since shedding her no-good ex. But the new owner of the most ramshackle ranch in Texas might just change her mind about that. He’s six-foot-plus of tall, dark, and charming-the kind of guy who could make a girl throw caution to the wind . . . or the kind of guy who could break her heart.

Blake Dawson hopes he can make Lucky Penny Ranch finally live up to its name, but the property needs a ton of work. Allie and her carpentry skills are his best shot at getting things in order. Besides the fact that her brown eyes and dangerous curves have him roped and tied. Now Blake only needs to convince her that a wild cowboy can be tamed by love-and she’s just the one to do it . . .

GOODREADS LINK

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Irene face went blank as she looked around the room. “Why did you bring me over here to this place? I told you to stay away from here. It don’t bring nothing but heartache and yet here you are, flirting with this cowboy. It’s a good thing I saw you sneaking out of the house and came to get you. I’ll have to watch you closer or else you’ll ruin your life like your mama almost did.”
“You want a cup of hot chocolate or coffee?” Blake asked.
Allie shook her head. “What’s this about Mama ruining her life?”
Irene popped up out of the rocking chair and pointed her finger at Allie. “I don’t want to talk about that Alora Raine Logan. I told Katy that she’d have to get over it and she did so we’re not discussing it no more. Let’s go home and I swear to God, if I catch you over here one more time, you’re going to be in big trouble.”
“Let me help you with your coat,” Allie said.
“I’m a grown woman. I don’t need any help,” Irene protested.
Allie stood aside and let her grandmother get the heavy coat up on her shoulders, then watched as Irene slammed the screen door and stomped out to the van. “Thanks for calling. We thought she was asleep in her room. She crawled out a window. Guess I’ll have to put locks on them so she can’t get out.”
“She must’ve loved Walter a lot,” he said.
“I don’t even know who Walter is. He might be a boyfriend she had in the fourth grade and she’s got him mixed up with someone who lived over here at some time in her life. Who knows what triggers what these days.” Allie sighed.
Shooter whined, yipped and then opened his eyes wide. He jumped up and raced across the floor like he’d been poked with a red-hot brand. Blake barely had time to sling open the7 screen door before the yellow blur sped past him and Allie. Then, as if in slow motion Allie was tumbling forward, grasping at nothing more than air to break her fall.
Blake quickly wrapped his big arms around her and pulled her to his chest. Her heart pounded against his as he tightened his arms around her and her arms snaked up around his neck.
“I am so sorry.” She gasped but she didn’t push away from him.
“It’s all right. I’ve got you,” he whispered. “Sorry about Shooter. I’ve never seen him act like that and I’ve had him since the day he was born.”
Her arms fell to her sides and her face turned scarlet. “I had visions of a broken arm and not being able to work.”
Blake didn’t know that women blushed in today’s world, especially those who were tough enough to put a roof on a house and run a construction business.
Without thinking of anything other than comforting her, Blake kissed her on the forehead. “So did I, and all I could think was that the roof wasn’t nearly finished.”
She stiffened and took a step back. “I should be going. Thanks for not letting me fall.”
In seconds she was outside and Blake wondered what in the hell just happened. It was a simple kiss, nothing passionate or demanding, and yet there was no denying that fear in her eyes. Was it just him or was she afraid of all men? And why?

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Kindle $4.99 http://amzn.to/1Jmmqjl
Amazon Paperback $7.99 http://amzn.to/22iJQBR
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iTunes: http://apple.co/1IAigtj
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Kobo: http://bit.ly/1XPRX9w
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There are TWO giveaways featured below. Be sure to enter both of them.

5 Copies of WILD COWBOY WAYS

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Sign up for Carolyn Brown’s Newsletter and enter to win a pearl & diamond necklace

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New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author and RITA® Finalist, Carolyn Brown, has published more than sixty books.

Brown presently writes both women’s fiction and cowboy romance. She has also written historical single title, historical series, contemporary single title and contemporary series. She lives in southern Oklahoma with her husband, a former English teacher, who is not allowed to read her books until they are published. They have three children and enough grandchildren to keep them young.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Goodreads

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December 15, 2015

BLOG TOUR: Q&A, Review & Giveaway: My Kind of Wonderful (Cedar Ridge) by Jill Shalvis

1. Finish this sentence: My heroine will never…
Stop loving Hud Kincaid. She will however at times want to hit him over the head with the closest blunt object…

2. Finish this sentence: My hero will always…
Always always always be utterly baffled by the way the female brain works. Good thing Bailey is extra patient with him.

3. What scene from MY KIND OF WONDERFUL was the most fun to write?
Well, there were many, but the one that sticks out right now has got to be Hud’s reaction when Bailey tells him she wants a one-night stand and although her first choice is him, she is willing to make a list if he isn’t interested.

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My Kind of Wonderful (Cedar Ridge) by Jill Shalvis

Publication Date: December 22, 2015

Bailey Moore has an agenda: skiing in the Rockies, exploring castles in Europe, ballroom dancing in Argentina. Now that she has a second lease on life, she’s determined not to miss a thing. What she doesn’t realize is that item #1 comes with a six-foot-one ski god hot enough to melt a polar ice cap. She doesn’t want to miss out on him either, but Hudson Kincaid isn’t the type of guy to love and let go. And as gorgeous as Cedar Ridge is, she’s not planning to stick around.

As head of ski patrol at his family’s resort, Hud thinks he’s seen it all. But never has he run into someone like Bailey. She might look delicate, but her attitude is all firecracker. And her infectious joy touches something deep within him that he’s been missing far too long. Now he’ll just have to convince Bailey to take a chance on her biggest adventure yet . . . something rare and all kinds of wonderful.

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*Graphic from Jill Shalvis’s Facebook Page.

I enjoyed this crisp light romance. The characters are fresh and fun so that I was smiling from the start. I just love how the siblings interacted, even when they got serious; it made me feel like I was a part of it all or at least made me wish I were. Bailey was open and optimistic on a lot of things but guarded on others so she in effect, illustrated how we all think from time to time. And Hud, well he was all kinds of closed off alpha with a guarded molten center so it was enjoyable to watch how they came together with the aid of all those around them. All in all it was a fun sexy romance that still has me smiling.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kindle | Amazon PBK | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

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*Graphic from Jill Shalvis’s Facebook Page.

10 Copies of MY KIND OF WONDERFUL

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

Social Networking Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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December 14, 2015

12 DAYS OF STILETTO: The Sex, Love & Stiletto Boxed Set by Lauren Layne

The Sex, Love & Stiletto Crew are always looking for an excuse to get together and the holidays are the perfect time for these four couples to eat, drink and be merry! Each Stiletto Heroine is sharing a Fun and Delicious Holiday Cocktail to try, so follow along on the tour to collect each recipe!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/maple-butter-kiss-recipe.html

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The Sex, Love and Stiletto Boxed Set: After the Kiss, Love the One You’re With, Just One Night, & The Trouble with Love By Lauren Layne

Publication Date: November 24, 2015

Hailed by Ruthie Knox as “fun, sexy, and sharp as a spike heel,” the Sex, Love & Stiletto series from USA Today bestselling author Lauren Layne introduces the glamorous columnists of Stiletto magazine and the ridiculously hot men who love them. Now all four novels—After the Kiss, Love the One You’re With, Just One Night, and The Trouble with Love—are together in one eBook bundle.

AFTER THE KISS – Book One
“After the Kiss is a knock-your-stilettos-off, total page-turning treat that had me fan-girling up within the first chapter.”—USA Today bestselling author Mira Lyn Kelly

Julie Greene loves flings: first dates, first kisses, that first sexy romp between the sheets. But when Julie has to write an article about the magical shift between dating and “I do,” she’ll need a man brave enough to reform a total commitment-phobe. Normally, that man would be Mitchell Forbes, a devastatingly handsome workaholic who stays in relationships far too long. But Mitchell is looking to cut loose for once, and Julie’s exactly the type of no-strings fling he’s looking for. In other words, he’s the polar opposite of what she needs—and exactly what she wants.

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LOVE THE ONE YOU’RE WITH – Book Two
“Spunky, flirty, and full of sass, Love the One You’re With is everything a romance should be! Lauren Layne has a winner.”—New York Times bestselling author Christie Craig

After her fiancé turns out to be the kind of rotten, cheating liar she always warns her readers about, Grace Brighton swears off relationships for six months. She makes an exception for a joint article on dating with a gorgeous counterpart from the men’s magazine Oxford—and tries to tell herself she’s not instantly smitten. Jake Malone only agreed to this fluffy assignment because his playboy reputation makes his new editor nervous. But after just one date with snooty, sumptuous, sensational Grace, Jake starts taking this assignment a whole lot more seriously.

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JUST ONE NIGHT – Book Three
“Sexy, sassy, and surprisingly sweet, Just One Night is a total page-turner!”—New York Times bestselling author Donna Alward

As Stiletto’s resident “sexpert,” Riley McKenna writes articles that are the magazine’s most read. But when Riley is forced to confront a long-hidden secret—that her own sexual experience is limited to one awkward college encounter—she calls in the favor of a lifetime. Sam Compton knows two things about his best friend’s little sister: She’s the woman for him, and she’s completely off-limits. Sam shouldn’t even consider Riley’s proposition. But after a one-night stand in the name of research, they learn firsthand that, with each other, there’s no such thing as just one night.

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THE TROUBLE WITH LOVE – Book Four
“The Trouble with Love is a heartwarming read I devoured in one sitting and haven’t been able to stop smiling over since.”—New York Times bestselling author Violet Duke

Five years ago, Emma Sinclair was a blushing bride-to-be. Now she’s the ice queen of the Manhattan dating scene—and her latest article forces her to face the devilishly sexy guy who ditched her at the altar. After giving up everything for a pro soccer career, Alex Cassidy is hanging up his cleats and taking a shot at journalism . . . in the same city as his former fiancée. But Emma isn’t the innocent girl he remembers. She’s chic, sophisticated, and assertive—and she wants absolutely nothing to do with him. The trouble is, Alex has never wanted her more.

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Link to Follow Tour

Goodreads Link

Goodreads Series Link

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After the Kiss, http://laurenlayne.com/after-the-kiss

Love the One You’re With, http://laurenlayne.com/love-the-one-youre-with

Just One Night, http://laurenlayne.com/just-one-night

The Trouble with Love, http://laurenlayne.com/the-trouble-with-love

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Kindle http://amzn.to/1I3V8TX
B&N http://bit.ly/1SWUrwe
Kobo http://bit.ly/1m0SPGI
iBooks http://apple.co/1NPhtF3

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$25 Gift Card to Victoria’s Secret, Blown Glass Stiletto-Tini Ornament, and Winners Choice Rollerball Perfume (Black Opium, Juicy Couture or Acqua di Gioia)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Lauren Layne is a USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance. Prior to becoming an author, Lauren worked in e-commerce and web-marketing. In 2011, she and her husband moved from Seattle to New York City, where Lauren decided to pursue a full-time writing career. It took six months to get her first book deal (despite ardent assurances to her husband that it would only take three). Since then, Lauren’s gone on to publish ten books, including the bestselling Stiletto series, with several more on the way in 2015.

Lauren currently lives in Chicago with her husband and spoiled Pomeranian. When not writing, you’ll find her at happy hour, running at a doggedly slow pace, or trying to straighten her naturally curly hair.

Social Media Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Posted in Author Blog Tours, Author Guest Post, Author Spotlight, Features, Blitz, Blasts, Giveaways
Tagged 12 DAYS OF STILETTO by Lauren Layne, Lauren Layne, Loveswept
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December 2, 2015

Spotlight, Guest Post & Review: Company of Wolves (SWAT) by Paige Tyler

This December, Paige Tyler releases the third in her action-packed SWAT series, IN THE COMPANY OF WOLVES. To celebrate the release of IN THE COMPANY OF WOLVES, Paige Tyler stopped by to tell us about one of her favorite fun loving heroes in pop culture and to share an excerpt showcasing her own hero’s fun loving side!

Paige Tyler: Everyone loves reading about alpha males, right? But of course, you can’t have a single dimensional character that’s just hardcore alpha all the time. It comes off as flat or just plain irritating. Most of the time you want to let your alpha have a lighter side, just to keep things interesting. One of my favorite fun loving heroes from popular culture is Peter Quill!

Chris Pratt gives heart, soul, humor, and muscle to everyone’s favorite Guardian of the Galaxy character. He handles the physical action sequences with ease while still looking like he might be getting through this stuff on pure luck. He’s willing to laugh at himself (remember that scene of him dancing at the end of the movie?) while risking his life. Like all alphas, he has that one particular something about him that draws other people to him and gets them to risk their lives for him. He also can’t help but attract the women at the same time, though he never comes off as a player (or an alpha-hole as I like to call them).

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Company of Wolves (SWAT) by Paige Tyler

Publication Date: December 1, 2015

Genre: Paranormal Romance

There’s a new gang of criminals in town who are organized and ruthless in the extreme. When Eric Becker, along with the rest of the Dallas SWAT team, ends up in the middle of a shootout, he immediately senses werewolves-a lot of them. Turns out, the new bad guys are a pack of wolf shifters.

In a spray of gunfire, Becker comes face-to-face with the most gorgeous woman he’s ever seen. Becker does the logical thing. He hides her and leaves the scene with the rest of his team.

Jayna Winston has no idea why that SWAT guy helped her, but she’s glad he did. Ever since she and her pack mates got mixed up with those Eastern European mobsters, everything had pretty much fallen apart.

So what’s a street-savvy thief like Jayna going to do with a hot alpha-male wolf who’s a police officer?

GOODREADS LINK

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I enjoyed reading how Jayna and Becker meet and all the trouble that caused. The action started right away and didn’t let up through the whole book, which played well with the camaraderie and closeness of the packs. With the danger and trouble surrounding them, Jayna and Becker developed a rather sweet romance that just flowed believably into their hot relationship. I’ve not read this series and had no trouble figuring things out, the first thing I figured out is that I need to get the first few books in the series and ready myself for the next.

*Review copy provided NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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One of the Albanians shouted something from the front of the store in his own language, following it up with an order to the omegas to stop wasting time and get the damn safe open. Becker ground his teeth. He should have simply kidnapped Jayna and her entire pack. Then he could have just walked into the loft and shot every one of these idiots—twice.
“Watch them,” he told Jayna, motioning to the security guard and two women. Turning, he left the break room and jogged down the hallway toward the back of the building.
“Get them back on the safe!” the Albanian driver shouted at him from the front room.
Oh yeah, sure. Stop two morons from raping a woman and get them back on task. What the hell was he—a daycare worker for omega werewolves?
Shit. If this was how criminals behaved, it was no wonder he and his SWAT teammates took so many of them down. They were too stupid to live. Then again, maybe this was how Gage felt some days. The SWAT pack could occasionally be a little stupid too. Becker’s current predicament was a shining example of that.
The omega standing guard in the hallway outside the manager’s office glared at him. “We got this. Go back and babysit the old folks.”
What a complete ass, Becker thought as he walked up and punched the guy in the face. The werewolf flew backward and bounced off the wall, bleeding like crazy from a broken nose as he fell to the floor in a dazed heap. He was still moving around though, reminding Becker that it was as hard to knock out an omega as it was to knock out an alpha. He’d have to remember that.
Becker strode into the office to find the store manager on the floor beside her desk, the other omega—the one who liked to play with his platinum medallion—leaning over her menacingly. He’d torn her blouse and was telling her all the horrible things he planned to do to her if she didn’t open the safe. The idiot was so intent on threatening her that he didn’t realize Becker was there until he yanked the guy to his feet and spun him around, then smashed the back of his head into the nearest hard object he could find—the safe panel. Becker pounded his head into the safe a few times before letting him fall to the floor. The asshole was definitely out cold.
Becker turned and looked at the shop manager. She cringed away from him, terror in her eyes as she tried to hold the tatters of her blouse together. He really wished he could pull up his ski mask. Seeing him like this definitely wasn’t helping.
Do you have an alarm button in this room?” he asked in his softest, least intimidating voice.
The woman stared at him for a moment like he was insane, then motioned under the desk with a shaking hand.
“Would you mind pushing it for me?” he asked.
Now she looked really confused. But she slowly reached under the desk and poked around until a loud alarm started ringing.
“Thanks.” Becker bent down to take the platinum medallion out of the omega’s vest and slip it into his pocket. “By the way, that diamond merchant you bought from in New York sold you out to a really bad guy. You probably don’t want to buy from him anymore.” Turning, he jogged out of the room and down the hallway to the front of the store. “Time to leave. Moron hit the alarm.”
Jayna was heading his way in a flash, the two Albanians right behind her.
“What about the safe?” the driver asked.
Becker shook his head. “It’s a no-go. Our guy smashed the keypad.”
The Albanians muttered something in their native language and shook their heads, as if they’d seen this coming. They stepped over the omega who was still rolling around in a daze on the floor in the hallway and raced out the back door. In the distance, sirens echoed in the air. About damn time. Becker motioned Jayna out.
“What about him?” she asked, jerking her head at the werewolf still trying to get to his knees.
Becker nudged the omega with his boot, pushing him back down. The guy looked like he really didn’t want to bother getting up this time.
“What about him?” Becker said, holding the door open for her.

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Kindle: http://amzn.to/1lqEQdp
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Amazon Series Link: http://amzn.to/1PuOZmi

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Paige is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy romantic suspense and paranormal romance. She graduated from The University of West Florida with a degree in education in 2000, but decided to pursue a full-time career as a writer in 2004. Since then, she’s written over fifty books in several genres, including paranormal, contemporary, western, sci-fi and erotica. She loves writing about strong, sexy, alpha males and the feisty, independent women who fall for them. From verbal foreplay to sexual heat, her stories of romance, adventure, suspense, passion and true love will leave you breathlessly panting for more.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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November 20, 2015

Sampler Tour, Review & Giveaway: Target Engaged (Delta Force Series) by M.L. Buchman

This December starts off with a bang as M.L. Buchman releases TARGET ENGAGED, the first in his brand new (and action-packed) Delta Force series! To celebrate his new release, Sourcebooks Casablanca is sharing the first six chapters of Target Engaged for FREE! Click here to download the first six chapters and check out a special note from M.L. Buchman below.

A Note from M.L. Buchman

Dear Reader,

Welcome to my newest series: the first women of Delta Force. I can’t begin to tell you how much fun this was to write.

Most of us know little more about Delta Force than the Chuck Norris movies (which leave a lot to be desired) or perhaps we only know the name. In researching my Night Stalkers series, I kept running into these guys. They are the elite of Special Operations Forces. They are at a level of SEAL Team 6, and most would argue they were even beyond that. They are the ghost and shadow warriors who helped take down drug lord Pablo Escobar, capture Noriega, were undoubtedly behind the locating of Saddam Hussein, and are the main reason that Al-Qaeda abruptly stopped being a topic in the Iraq War when over three thousand of their leaders were swept off the board.

Yet the Pentagon states that they don’t exist. Fascinating.

And while they often work with undercover female operatives, no woman has yet managed to kick in the front door on one of the most arduous selection programs in the military.

I decided to change that.

Carla Anderson stepped forward to take the challenge. She is a not a woman out to prove she can match any man, she’s out to prove that she can beat them at their own game.

And that was the first thing that I loved about writing this series.

In the Night Stalkers, the women were strong, excellent, and determined.

To be a Delta Force woman, Carla had to add enough attitude and drive to plow through all obstacles which just made her so much fun. Nothing was off the table when it came to her attitude or her actions.

And that was the second thing I came to love about this series launcher, Target Engaged. Being Delta Force, they really do operate outside so many bounds. They are sent to do the tasks that no one else can. To that I added the additional challenge that Robert Ludlum gave to Jason Bourne (though I’m quoting the movie): “I don’t send you to kill. I send you to be invisible. I send you because you don’t exist.” I’m pretty convinced that this is part of Delta’s mission.

It is occasionally said by retired Delta Force operators (as the on-duty ones never speak): “If we’d been sent in to take down bin Laden, you still wouldn’t know how it was done.” To bring that to life gave me a permission as a writer to run my characters into hard and strange places and be just a little gonzo doing it.

But writing is a give and take, and I can’t begin to tell you how much the characters I created shaped my telling of this story. I like to think that they had as much fun as I did bringing this story to life.

I hope that you enjoy the reading even half as much as I enjoyed the writing!

M.L. Buchman (the Oregon Coast, November 2015)

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Get to know the Carla, and the entire Delta Force team by reading the first SIX chapters of TARGET ENGAGED for free! Just click here to download them! To get you started, we’ve included the first few pages below:

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Target Engaged (Delta Force, 1) by M.L. Buchman

Publication Date: December 1, 2015

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Book 1 in M.L. Buchman’s thrilling NEW Delta Force series

Delta Force: The most dangerous elite counter-terrorism force on the planet
• The deadliest shooters •
• The most out-of-the-box thinkers in any military •
• Will die to get the mission done •

Sergeant Kyle Reeves: The premier soldier of the new recruits
Sergeant Carla Anderson: The first woman of Delta Force

If the training doesn’t kill them, their passion may—but Kyle Reeves and Carla Anderson blast right in. Show no fear. Have no fear. Then they get the call. The most powerful drug-smuggling ring in Venezuela needs a takedown, and Delta’s newest team leaps into the deep jungle to deliver. Giving their all? Not a problem. Giving their hearts? That takes a new level of courage.

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If this book is any indication of how the new series will be then I am more than ready to keep reading. I loved how it followed the group through selection and training to show how they all melded together. Kyle is strong, smart and of course sexy; with an easiness that I loved. Carla was strong and driven yet she had a normalness about her that I really liked. She never tipped into witch territory and for that I am thankful. The author did a good job keeping the technical stuff at a level where you believed where you were but it didn’t overshadow the story. And what a story. The dangerous ops and the sexy romance kept me frantically reading. This is romantic adrenaline junkie’s kind of book. I can’t wait for the next one to see which member’s turn is next and what trouble they’ll find themselves in.

*Review copy provided by Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review.

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FIREHAWKS SERIES INFORMATION

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M.L. BUCHMAN BOOK BUNDLE

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November 19, 2015

Spotlight, Guest Post & Giveaway: Daniel’s True Desire by Grace Burrowes

The Joys of True Gentlemanliness… by Grace Burrowes

About twenty books ago, I lamented (whined) to one of my brothers that coming up with ways to challenge a romance hero into facing his worst fears and risking all to win the heroine’s heart was taxing my imagination. My brother, without a heartbeat’s pause said, “Make him choose between the competing demands of honor.”

THAT was great advice. Make the hero choose between the woman who needs him, and the military unit depending on him. Make him choose between avenging injustices from his past, or respecting the wishes of the pacifist woman he loves. Make him decide whether to be publicly vindicated or privately forgiving… Delightful stuff, for an author!

And yet, to travel along these brilliant character arcs, our hero must have one characteristic: He must have a well-developed sense of honor. To me, that means this fellow must be honest and kind. He can be poor, grouchy, lacking in charm, without prospects, unlucky in love—Daniel Banks is nodding his head—but ideally, he will still be a true gentleman at heart.

The true gentleman, alas for him, can be tormented from page one by the author and by the story, but from the start, the true gentleman will play by the rules of decency.

Rules are tough. The true gentleman will never misrepresent himself, which means Daniel Banks must inform Lady Kirsten that a) he’s married, and b) he won’t disrespect his vows. Too bad for Daniel, this honesty only raises him in the lady’s esteem, when he’s trying to emphasize his unsuitability.

The true gentleman will lend a hand—or an ear—to those in need. When Daniel Banks realizes that Lady Kirsten has been overlooked by her entire family, and is as lonely as an earl’s daughter can be, the least he can do is listen when she explains the misery in her past. Again, his respect for, and understanding of her increases, but what else could a gentleman have done?

The true gentleman is kind. He does not ignore the suffering of others, even if that means, he’s left with a bigger helping of suffering on his own plate. When Lady Kirsten needs a champion to fight her battles with an overbearing brother, Daniel steps up, though it might cost him his position. Once again, Daniel’s decency only gets him in hotter water, because now Kirsten’s brother is also viewing the impecunious, reserved, sometimes grouchy, vicar with renewed respect.

This business of being a true gentleman is darned hard, and darned heroic. What Daniel has to learn, though, is that true gentlemanliness begins at home. When he’s honest with himself, and shows himself the compassion we all deserve, all the inconvenient rules, tough choices, and honorable standards turn out to have been his second-best friends.

Lady Kirsten is, of course, his very best friend, being a true lady. But that’s another story…

Excerpt from Daniel’s True Desire

Daniel Banks is the new vicar in Haddondale, temporarily a guest of Lady Kirsten’s family. They’ve dragooned him into tutoring some of the local boys, and Kirsten is managing the staff who’ll turn the dower house into a place of learning. What Daniel doesn’t know is how a married man, even one estranged from his unworthy spouse, can resist the allure of friendship with Lady Kirsten…

“I dread crossing the garden,” Lady Kirsten said. “Susannah has taken up reading old issues of La Belle Assembleé, Della is memorizing DeBrett’s, and the countess talks only of fashion. Nobody does anything.”

“Most would envy them their idleness,” Daniel said, though he did not. The earl gave a good account of himself, tending to significant acreage and mercantile interests, but the women were bored.

One of the women was mortally bored, though never boring.

“I want to take the vicarage in hand,” Lady Kirsten said, marching from the pantry. “I doubt I’ll have time before we leave for Town the week after next. Lemon and beeswax won’t cure rising damp any way.”

Nothing cured rising damp save for replacing every scrap of affected wood. “You’re leaving soon, then?”

The prospect of distance from Lady Kirsten should have been a relief. She was unconventional, discontent, and unpredictable. Worse yet, she was patient with small boys, had a strong streak of domestic competence, and could not dissemble even to appease appearances.

Most troublesome of all, Daniel liked her. A lot.

“I smell fresh bread.” Lady Kirsten’s pace increased, then she halted to twist a sachet from behind a curtain. “Nicholas told George that in addition to Digby and the Blumenthal brats, you’re to take on both of Squire Webber’s sons. He aspires to send them to public school, but they lack a foundation.”

And years of dedicated tutors had been unable to remedy that lack? “I think you had better join me for lunch,” Daniel said resuming their progress toward a hot meal.

“I believe I shall. I adore a hearty beef stew with bread and butter on a cold, rainy day. Cook uses Mama’s recipe, and I’m partial to it.”

Peasant fare, for an earl’s daughter. Daniel liked her entirely too well.

A scullery maid set places for them at a wooden table heavy enough to double as a threshing floor, while Lady Kirsten served up bowls of steaming stew and Daniel sliced the bread. Daniel held the lady’s chair, and then, without even a nod in the direction of further small talk, took shameless advantage of his companion.

“I want to know every detail you can share about my scholars, Lady Kirsten. They’re shaping up to be a pack of ne’er-do-wells, scamps and scapegraces. One wonders if the parish isn’t attempting to run me off rather than welcome me.”

She snapped her serviette across her lap. “They’re out and out rotters, every one save for Digby, but George says he’s showing dubious potential. Don’t steal all the butter.”

Daniel passed her ladyship the plate of butter, small golden molds in the shape of roses.

“Your butter, and Lord-we-thank-Thee-for-this-food, amen. Now tell me about these scoundrels.”

Lady Kirsten sat back, her smile indulgent. “I’ve known them since they were babies, Mr. Banks. They’re full of energy and mischief, and there’s not a Latin scholar among them. They are truly, truly awful.”

She loved these rotten boys, and—greatest possible inconvenience—Daniel regarded this her most attractive quality of all.

***

Daniel’s True Desire by Grace Burrowes

Release Date: November 3, 2015

Genre: Historical Romance

An honorable life

Daniel Banks is a man of the cloth whose vocation is the last comfort he has left-and even his churchman’s collar is beginning to feel like a noose. At the urging of family, Daniel attempts to start his life over as vicar in the sleepy Kentish town of Haddondale, family seat to the earls of Bellefonte.

Challenged by passion

Lady Kirsten Haddonfield has resigned herself to a life of spinsterhood. Then the handsome new village vicar, Reverend Daniel Banks, becomes a guest of the Haddonfield family while the vicarage is being renovated, and Kirsten finds herself rethinking her position. Lady Kirsten does not know that Daniel’s past is about to cast a shadow on love’s future.

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GOODREADS LINK

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Grace Burrowes’ TRUE GENTLEMEN series – including an ARC of WILL’S TRUE WISH

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New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Grace Burrowes’ bestsellers include The Heir, The Soldier, Lady Maggie’s Secret Scandal, Lady Sophie’s Christmas Wish and Lady Eve’s Indiscretion. Her Regency romances have received extensive praise, including starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist. Grace is branching out into short stories and Scotland-set Victorian romance with Sourcebooks. She is a practicing family law attorney and lives in rural Maryland.

Social Media Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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November 9, 2015

Blog Tour, Q&A & Giveaway: UNTAMED (Thoughtful) by S.C. Stephens

1. Which of the D-Bags do you think you’re most like?
I would definitely be Matt—sitting in the back and letting everyone else take the spotlight because I really don’t like being the center of attention. I’m not nearly as organized as he is though. Or as anal.

2. What is your secret to staying in love with a series over several books, and what makes you keep coming back to the Thoughtless series in particular?
I think I fall more and more in love with them with each book, so the more I write about the characters, the more I want to write! But I also want to do them justice, so I’ll be waiting until I have the perfect story for each character before I even think about doing more.

3. If you could trade places with anyone for just one day, who would you want to be?
That’s a hard one! I’m really not sure who I would want to be for a day. Hmmm…it might be fun to be Bob Iger for a day. As the CEO of Disney, he can probably ride all the rides without waiting in line, and that would be seriously amazing!

4. Finish this sentence: Griffin will always…
be arrogant and inappropriate. And I love him all the more for it.

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UNTAMED (Thoughtful Book 5) by S.C. Stephens

Publication Date: November 3, 2015

The spotlight doesn’t only shine. Sometimes, it burns.

Being the bad-boy bassist for the world’s hottest band has earned Griffin Hancock some perks: a big house, a fast car, and most importantly his incredible wife Anna. The one thing it hasn’t brought him is the spotlight. Anna tells him to be patient, that his talent will win out. But Griffin is through waiting for permission to shine.

Without warning, Griffin makes a shocking decision and takes the gamble of a lifetime. Suddenly he’s caught up in a new level of lights, cameras, and chaos—one that pushes his relationship with Anna to its limits. Anna has always found his unpredictable behavior sexy, but lately he’s seen an ache in her eyes, and it has his soul in knots. Just as the recognition Griffin seeks is finally within reach, the thing he loves most in life could be slipping through his fingers…

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Graphic from S.C. Stephens page

“What was all that about? And what did you mean at the end there? You are a part of this band, Griffin. You always have been, and you always will be.”
Pushing him back a step, I snapped, “It’s a little late for the pep talk, bro. If you think I’m so valuable, you could have stood up for me in there.” I lifted my arms for emphasis. “It gave me the warm and fuzzies how you let him walk all over me.”
Kellan sighed. “It’s complicated, Griff. Matt’s a genius on guitar…he’s…it’s his instrument, the one he’s born to play. But us saying that isn’t an insult to you. You’re amazing on bass, gifted even. It’s just…we each have our part, you know? And we have to do them the best we can.” He put a hand on my shoulder. “For the sake of the band, I’m asking you to let this go and just…forget about lead. Please?”
I could only stare at him. I felt numb inside. Was this what giving up your dream felt like? For as long as I could remember, I’d wanted all eyes on me—I’d wanted to be the center of attention. Matt had never wanted that. But he was given the instrument that shone while I was given the one that everyone forgot about. My part was designed to blend, designed to go unnoticed. It was everything I wasn’t, and I was sick of being stuck with it. I wanted more, but they wouldn’t give me more.
Without answering him, I turned and walked away, toward the house. What could I say to that anyway? Matt had just permanently rejected my chances at ever being lead guitar. Forgetting was the only thing left that I could do. Forget, or stew, and right now, I wanted to stew.
When I got back to the living room, Jenny and Rachel were there working. “Need something, Griffin?” Jenny asked, her pale eyes practically sparkling with happiness.
Ignoring both her good mood and her question, I called out for Anna. “She’s upstairs with Kiera,” Rachel quietly replied.
Harrumphing some sort of thank-you, I began plodding my way to the stairs. Fucking stairs. I stomped up them, cursing my bandmates with each step. I imagined that the carpet treads under my feet were their squishy faces. I felt a little better by the time I reached the top. “Yo, Anna! Where are you?”
Both Anna and Kiera instantly appeared in a bedroom door frame. Simultaneously, they both put fingers to their lips. “Shhhhhhh,” they both scolded.
I was tired of being reprimanded today, so I didn’t lower my voice any. “Wake up Gibson. We’re leaving.”
Anna instantly edged around Kiera to step into the hallway. “What’s wrong?” she asked me, while Kiera stepped out of the room behind her. The two sisters were pretty similar, but Anna definitely had a lot more curves than her slimmer and straighter sister. Generally I appreciated those curves, but at the moment, I just wanted to shove them into the car and get out of here.
“There’s no point being here right now, so we’re leaving. Actually, there’s no point in ever coming back here, so we’re leaving.” I opened the door closest to me, hoping I’d find my sleeping daughter behind it. Nope. Empty.
I moved to try another door, but Anna stepped in front of me. “Let’s go outside, get some fresh air.”
Dramatically tossing my hands in the air, I gave up. “Fine.” What did it matter, since nothing was working for me today anyway?
I headed back to those goddamn stairs while Anna told Kiera she’d be right back. Not waiting for my very pregnant wife, I sped down the steps and out the door. The fresh air on my face helped calm me down a little, but I was still riled up. I paced the front porch while I waited for Anna. Those sanctimonious assholes.
“Griff?” A soft touch on my shoulder spooked me, and I jumped. Turning, I saw Anna behind me, her green eyes worried. “What’s going on?” She indicated the front step, and I grudgingly sat down.
Once I was seated, my mood dropped. I’d started the day so positively, knowing without a shadow of a doubt that this tour was going to be the one. But not anymore. It was going to be the same old crap. Dropping my head, I slumped over. Anna sat beside me, and her fingers lightly caressed my back in a soothing pattern. It helped my residual anger, but not my rising disappointment.
“One song. I asked for one fucking song…and they wouldn’t even give that to me…” I studied my fingers in my lap while my dreams dissolved in my hands. “Matt just told me that he’s not ever going to give me a chance to play lead, and the rest of the guys agreed with him. I’m done…forever stuck on bass…forever in the shadows. I just wanted one song, one moment in the spotlight.” With a sigh, I looked up at her. “Four minutes? Is that so much?”
Anna’s eyes were heavy with sympathy. Reaching up, she threaded her fingers through my hair. “No…that’s not much at all.”
I nodded and dropped my vision to my lap again. “Yeah, I didn’t think so either. But they can’t even give that to me.” The anger resurfaced, wrapping disappointment around it like a blanket. “Between me and you, babe, sometimes…I really don’t like those guys.”
Anna kissed the back of my neck and wrapped an arm around my shoulder in sympathy. “I’m sorry, Griffin.”
Closing my eyes, I let her comfort wash over me. At least there was one person on earth who gave a shit about me.

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Graphic from S.C. Stephens page.

Kindle: http://amzn.to/1Wr3POz
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Amazon Series Link: http://amzn.to/1PjOCuf

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THOUGHTLESS SERIES BY S.C. STEPHENS
Amazon Series Link: http://amzn.to/1PjOCuf
THOUGHTLESS
EFFORTLESS
RECKLESS
THOUGHTFUL (Standalone)
UNTAMED (Standalone)

Signed set of the Thoughtless series

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~*~*~*

Graphic from S.C. Stephens page

S.C. Stephens is a #1 bestselling author who spends her every free moment creating stories that are packed with emotion and heavy on romance. In addition to writing, she enjoys spending lazy afternoons in the sun reading, listening to music, watching movies, and spending time with her friends and family. She and her two children reside in the Pacific Northwest.

Social Media Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

November 6, 2015

Blog Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway: I Need a Hero: Men in Uniform by Codi Gary

Who’s Who? A Look at the Stars of the Men in Uniform Series

When starting a new series, there are the characters you had plans for before you even started writing and the ones that surprise you. When I had turned in my series proposal, I had two characters that were fused into my brain that worked at the Alpha Dogs Training Program; Dean Sparks and Tyler Best. Both of these characters got their last names from Taylor Swift songs (hush!) and I was stoked to develop them.

But first, I needed to introduce you to my new world. Enter Oliver Martinez, a tough MP whose dad was in the military stationed in Texas. When he met Oliver’s mother, he fell in love and when they married, he took her last name. Oliver is the oldest with twin sisters, and grew up bilingual. Although he got in trouble in his youth, he grew into a mature, caring man. However, he can be a little tactless at times, which irritates our heroine.

Which brings me to his love interest, Evelyn Reynolds, who is also the oldest with a spoiled younger brother. While Oliver’s dad was discharged from the military and became a cop, Eve’s father is a general who runs the base Oliver is stationed at. Moving around a lot as a kid and dealing with her overbearing father, Eve learned how to be independent and doesn’t take crap from anyone. She also doesn’t want to live the life of a military wife and has avoided getting involved with a military man…until now.

And our main supporting cast; Dean Sparks, who I mentioned above, is the director of Alpha Dogs and Oliver’s friend. Stoic and serious, Dean is the rock that everyone leans on. The oldest of six siblings and half Jewish, he grew up in New York before joining the army at eighteen. A year ago, he became the only survivor of his team, and is waiting on his psychiatrist to clear him.

Tyler best is a wise cracking, woman loving Marine who was shot along with his military dog while on his second tour. His dog didn’t make it and it has eaten Tyler up. He was assigned to Alpha Dogs because of his animal training and behavior back ground, and is slowly overcoming his loss.

Megan Brice is one of Eve’s best friends. They lived on base together, since Megan’s family was army too, and later, she enlisted. Medically discharged, she is trying to adjust to being a civilian, and speaks her mind. Whatever comes to mind.

General Reynolds is a hard ass man used to getting his own way…except with his children.

And last but not least, Beast. Beast is at best guess a mastiff mix with short reddish brown fur and a short wrinkly face with large jowls and lots of drool. He was dropped off at the shelter by his previous owners and was at the shelter so long he was set to be euthanized. Although he is a funny, sweet dog, it is discovered that he suffers from separation anxiety, which can lead to some funny and heart wrenching situations.

I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek into my new cast of characters and hope you enjoy Oliver and Eve’s love story.

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I Need a Hero: Men in Uniform 0.5 by Codi Gary

Publication Date: October 20, 2015

Sergeant Oliver Martinez joined the military to serve his country—not plan parties. But after a run-in with his commanding officer, Oliver is suddenly responsible for the Alpha Dogs Training Program’s upcoming charity event. Worse, he’s got to work with the bossiest, sexiest woman he’s ever met—who just happens to be the general’s daughter.

When it comes to military men, Evelyn Reynolds is not interested. And with the opportunity to launch her new PR firm at the charity event, she doesn’t have time for some sexy, arrogant jerk with a hero complex. Evelyn is determined to keep things professional—if only she can ignore how Oliver’s muscles fill out a t-shirt and the infuriating way he makes her heart pound.

But when tempers flare and a scorching kiss turns into so much more, Oliver and Evelyn will have to decide if this attraction is forever…or just for now.

Link to Follow Tour

Goodreads Link

Goodreads Series Link

Oliver Martinez sat stiffly in the wobbly office chair, the room stifling despite the hum of the air conditioner above his head. He wasn’t usually the nervous type, being that military police didn’t allow time for panic, but facing off against General Reynolds, the man who pretty much held his career in the palm of his hand . . .
Well, he figured he had a right to sweat with the way the older man was staring him down.
“What do you have to say for yourself, Sergeant?” General Reynolds asked.
A thousand excuses ran through his mind, but none of them would appease the general, Oliver knew that. He hadn’t become an MP to be liked; even his family knew he wasn’t a people person. He was hardworking, sharp as a tack, and a mean son of a bitch when you got on his bad side—qualities that made him an excellent MP. And military police was exactly where Oliver belonged. He got to bust heads and keep order; it was structured, and there were rules. He was the good guy.
But this time, he had stepped in a big old pile of shit trying to play the hero.
“I did what I thought was right, sir,” Oliver said.
“You instigated a confrontation with a civilian that turned into an all-out bar brawl,” General Reynolds said. Although his tone and outward expression seemed calm, Oliver hadn’t missed the eye twitch on the left side of the general’s face. The man was beyond furious, and nothing Oliver did or said was going to make things better for him.
Why had he decided to go out with the guys on Friday? His buddies from group therapy, Dean Sparks and Tyler Best, had convinced him that he needed to get out and blow off some steam. He hadn’t expected to take down some rowdy kid or have the cops called on them. The civilian police had been cool, though, once he explained the situation, and as they hauled the kid off for drunk and disorderly, he’d thought that was the end of it.
Until he’d shown up for work this morning only to have Tate tell him he wasn’t on rotation and that the general wanted to see him. Oliver hadn’t had any idea what the meeting was about, but he’d never expected to get his ass chewed over something that wasn’t even his fault.
“It wasn’t a brawl, sir. I contained and subdued him too fast for that.”
Oliver regretted his words the moment they left his mouth. They sounded arrogant, and that wasn’t going to score him any points.
Especially since the civilian in question was the general’s son.
Despite knowing this, Oliver tried again to explain his side. “I just mean, and with all due respect, sir, that the civilian was drunk and harassing several women, and when I politely asked him to leave them alone, he threw the first punch.”
General Reynolds’s salt and pepper mustache twitched, and Oliver wondered for half a second if the general was messing with him and if he was secretly amused that his son had been taught a lesson in respect.
“I don’t care if he threw a hundred punches. You should not have engaged. You did not have to break his nose or sprain his wrist while you were restraining him.”
Okay, so he wasn’t amused. But no matter how angry the general might be, Oliver wasn’t going to apologize for roughing up the little punk. The kid had thrown a sucker punch that had lit fire to Oliver’s jaw, and it was still sore. And if the kid hadn’t fought him so damn hard, he wouldn’t have gotten hurt in the first place.
Would he have handled things differently if he’d known who the kid’s dad was? Maybe. But there was nothing Oliver could do about it now except take whatever punishment was meted out to him.
“It seems to me you could use a little time out of the field to learn how to channel your aggression . . . in other ways,” General Reynolds said.
Now the general was smiling, and unease swept over Oliver.
“Have you heard of the Alpha Dog Training Program?” General Reynolds asked.
“Yeah, I know a few of the guys running things,” Oliver said.
And neither Best nor Sparks had been happy about it at first. The Alpha Dog Training Program was the brainchild of some PR expert hoping to create a good public image for the military by training shelter dogs for specialty jobs like military, fire, police, search and rescue, and therapy. And if the animals-getting-a-second-chance angle didn’t just make you weepy, the dogs were being trained by troubled kids under the supervision of MPs.
It was meant as an alternative punishment for nonviolent juvenile offenders. Instead of being locked up in a detention center with months of community service tacked on top, they were sent to Alpha Dog. They shoveled shit, fed and cared for the dogs, and learned how to teach them basic obedience. The place was set up with barracks for up to twenty-five kids at a time. The goal was to give them a skill and refocus their energies. The program even helped them with job placement at several Sacramento veterinary hospitals and rescue organizations. It was a better deal than most kids in the system got.
“Well, I’m glad you’re familiar with it, because you’re going to help organize and promote their upcoming charity event,” General Reynolds said.
Oliver choked in surprise. “I don’t know anything about fundraising!”
The general’s eyes narrowed and glittered. “Well, this will give you a chance to develop a new skill.”
Oliver just sat there, weighing his options. If he pitched a fit and accused the general of abusing his power because Oliver had hurt his son’s delicate feelings, he’d be committing career suicide.
“How long will I be out of the field, sir?” he asked.
“Until I think you’re ready,” General Reynolds said.
Oliver nodded grimly. The only option open to him was to bite the bullet and do the job.
“You’ll report to the Alpha Dog Training Program today. The event coordinator will be there at eleven to give you instructions on what you’ll be doing. I do hope you take this time to learn some discipline, Sergeant Martinez.”
Fuck you.
Taking a deep breath, Oliver stood up and saluted the general. As soon as he barked, “Dismissed,” Oliver was out the door, wishing he was headed home to beat the hell out of his punching bag. This whole morning had sucked donkey nuts, and the last thing Oliver wanted to do was be around a bunch of teenagers or his friends.
Not that Best and Sparks weren’t good people, but he knew that the minute they found out about his little time-out, they were going to laugh it up.
Especially Best.

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An obsessive bookworm, CODI GARY likes to write sexy small-town contemporary romances with humor, grand gestures, and blush-worthy moments. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading her favorite authors, squealing over her must-watch shows, and playing with her children. She lives in Idaho with her family.

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September 22, 2015

Blog Tour, Excerpt & Guest Post: RESCUED BY THE RANGER by Dixie Lee Brown

RESCUED BY THE RANGER by Dixie Lee Brown

Publication Date: September 8, 2015

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Protecting those in trouble is what Army Ranger Garrett Harding does best. But after helping a feisty redhead toss a couple of losers from her Idaho bar, the woman is anything but grateful for his assistance—in fact, she seems to know him. Worse, she almost certainly hates him.

The only thing Rachel Maguire wants is to send this smart-mouthed, muscled military man packing. She knows Garrett has his own reasons for staying, so when he offers Rachel a deal—two days to prove his worth or he leaves—she reluctantly agrees. Despite wanting to loathe him, Rachel finds herself drawn to his quiet confidence…and the way he fills out a t-shirt.

But when Rachel receives a phone call from the past, everything changes. The stalker who destroyed her life ten years ago is closing in once more. Refusing to put anyone else in harm’s way, Rachel hits the road hoping to lure danger away from those she loves. But Garrett won’t leave this sexy spitfire to face her stalker alone. He’ll do anything to protect her. Even if it means risking his life—and his heart.

What a thrill to stop by today and introduce one of my characters from my newly released romantic suspense novel. It’s my pleasure to present the:

Rescued by the Ranger
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Name: Rachel Maguire

Age: 28

Height: 5’6”

Build: Athletic

Eyes: Green with specks of gold

Hair: Naturally curly, shoulder length red hair with bangs slanting across her
forehead.

Dress: Casual mostly, jeans, short skirts, tank tops

Hometown: Plainview, TX

Current Residence: Cougar Ridge Hunting Lodge and Resort outside Grizzly Gulch, ID

Family: Alcoholic and promiscuous mother she hasn’t seen in years.

Occupation: Works at the hunting lodge doing various tasks; during the summer months she runs the Cougar Ridge Watering Hole, the resort’s bar.

Weakness: She has adopted the residents of the lodge and surrounding area as her “family”, but the closer she gets to them, the more she knows it’s too risky to continue hiding from her past in their midst.

Strength: Brave, loyal, and a self-trained marksman, she’d do anything to keep her “family” from being hurt.

Closest Friends: 1.) Jonathan Reyes, another lodge employee with obvious secrets of his own. They have an unspoken agreement to respect each other’s privacy.

2.) Sally Duncan lives in a nearby town. She knows the secrets that haunt Rachel. Thus Sally is the only one Rachel can turn to when she needs help.

Struggles With: Unforgiveness—when a sexy stranger shows up at her bar and
helps her toss out a couple of trouble-makers, Rachel is instantly attracted to him…until she learns who he is—the man she hates with a passion due to the heartache she believes he caused one of her friends. Forgiveness is not an option.

Best Quality: Protective of her friends.

Quote: “The dog can stay…but no Harding will ever be welcome here.”

A faint whine from the shotgun seat jerked Garrett’s attention back to the narrow road hugging the side of a steep mountain in the middle-of-fucking-nowhere, Idaho. Gravel crunched beneath the tires as he came close to the drop-off on his right, and he immediately guided the Jeep closer to the white line down the middle of the chipped and broken asphalt. Clearly, either he was lost, or naming this strip of pavement a state highway was someone’s idea of a joke. Whatever the case, this wouldn’t be the best place to lose his focus. It was a damn-good thing Cowboy was watching out for him, as usual.

Garrett scratched beneath the chin of the German shepherd in the seat beside him, and the dog gave another worried whimper. With no words at his disposal, Cowboy still managed to convey his opinion about the last-minute road trip they’d embarked on late last night, and at this point, Garrett was tempted to agree with him.

“Relax, boy.” Garrett cocked his head toward the navigation system resting on the dash. “Matilda thinks we’re almost there, and she hasn’t gotten us lost in a long time.”

That earned him another whine and a hopeful thump of the dog’s tail. Cowboy’s tongue lolled from the side of his open mouth as he stuck his head out of the window and resumed his panting.

Maybe Garrett should have listened to his little brother Luke. Cowboy might have been better off staying with his father at the senator’s residence in Sacramento. But Garrett had balked when Luke brought it up. The dog belonged with him. Constant companions for the past two years—watching each other’s backs, eating together, sleeping together, flushing out Sunni militants together—Cowboy was the closest thing to a guardian angel Garrett would ever see.

When they’d both been injured in a firefight outside the Iraqi city of Fallujah, Cowboy had not only led them out of the ambush, but also stood guard over him and the other surviving member of their unit until help had arrived in the early hours of the morning. At the field hospital, Garrett had insisted the dog receive the best treatment available and, a couple of weeks later, had pulled out all the stops to secure the necessary approval to bring him home.

He knew what it was like to have someone you love suddenly and permanently disappear. And it wasn’t happening to Cowboy. Not if Garrett could help it. He hadn’t left the dog behind in Iraq, and he wasn’t going to leave him now.

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DIXIE LEE BROWN lives and writes in Central Oregon, inspired by what she believes is the most gorgeous scenery anywhere. She resides with two dogs and a cat, who make sure she never takes herself too seriously. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, movies, and trips to the beach.

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By Break of Day (The Night Stalkers) by M.L. Buchman

This February, M. L. Buchman raises the stakes—and the heat—in By Break of Day, the latest in his acclaimed Night Stalkers series. To celebrate Buchman joins us on the blog to share an excerpt and answer a quick Q&A!

NIGHTSTALKERS BOOK BUNDLE

Wild Cowboy Ways (Lucky Penny Ranch) by Carolyn Brown

Publication Date: December 22, 2015

5 Copies of WILD COWBOY WAYS

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Sign up for Carolyn Brown’s Newsletter and enter to win a pearl & diamond necklace

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My Kind of Wonderful (Cedar Ridge) by Jill Shalvis

10 Copies of MY KIND OF WONDERFUL

The Sex, Love & Stiletto Crew are always looking for an excuse to get together and the holidays are the perfect time for these four couples to eat, drink and be merry! Each Stiletto Heroine is sharing a Fun and Delicious Holiday Cocktail to try, so follow along on the tour to collect each recipe!

The Sex, Love and Stiletto Boxed Set: After the Kiss, Love the One You’re With, Just One Night, & The Trouble with Love By Lauren Layne

$25 Gift Card to Victoria’s Secret, Blown Glass Stiletto-Tini Ornament, and Winners Choice Rollerball Perfume (Black Opium, Juicy Couture or Acqua di Gioia)

Company of Wolves (SWAT) by Paige Tyler

Publication Date: December 1, 2015

Genre: Paranormal Romance

A Note from M.L. Buchman

Get to know the Carla, and the entire Delta Force team by reading the first SIX chapters of TARGET ENGAGED for free! Just click here to download them! To get you started, we’ve included the first few pages below:

Target Engaged (Delta Force, 1) by M.L. Buchman

Publication Date: December 1, 2015

Genre: Romantic Suspense

M.L. BUCHMAN BOOK BUNDLE

The Joys of True Gentlemanliness… by Grace Burrowes

Daniel’s True Desire by Grace Burrowes

Release Date: November 3, 2015

Genre: Historical Romance

Grace Burrowes’ TRUE GENTLEMEN series – including an ARC of WILL’S TRUE WISH

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UNTAMED (Thoughtful Book 5) by S.C. Stephens

Publication Date: November 3, 2015

Signed set of the Thoughtless series

Who’s Who? A Look at the Stars of the Men in Uniform Series

I Need a Hero: Men in Uniform 0.5 by Codi Gary

Publication Date: October 20, 2015

Three Digital Download Copies of I NEED A HERO

RESCUED BY THE RANGER by Dixie Lee Brown

Rescued by the Ranger Heroine Profile

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Rescued by the Ranger
Heroine Profile