Literary Misfit: June 2017

Friday, June 30, 2017

Cover Reveal: Ruck Me by Rebecca Norinnne

Title: Ruck Me

Series: Dublin Rugby #2

Author: Rebecca Norinne

Genre: Contemporary Sports Romance

Release Date: August 9, 2017

Blurb

She’s a free spirit; he’s a no nonsense kind of guy. When these opposites attract ... oh baby! It's game on!

I’ve called Aoife O’Shaughnessy a number of things, but dumb was never one of them. Through all the insane things she’s done—all the trouble she’s gotten into—I never once thought she was actually stupid. Until now. Because I just heard her plan to lose her virginity to the vilest human being I’ve ever met.

My first thought? How the f*ck is Aoife still a virgin? The second? Over my dead body.

So I volunteered for the job instead.

It might be the stupidest thing I’ve ever done, but once the words were out of my mouth, I couldn’t take them back. Now, I can’t stop wondering what it will be like to kiss the pink-haired sprite I’ve known my whole life, to hear her moan my name when she comes.

And I know she’s wondering about me too.

What started off as a bit of fun has spiraled out of control and now I’m in deep. I never meant to fall in love with Aoife … it was never supposed to go this far. And what happens next, just might break both of us.

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Author Bio

USA TODAY bestselling author Rebecca Norinne writes contemporary romance featuring smart and sexy heroines and the men who adore them. When not writing, Rebecca is watching rugby, drinking craft beer, or traveling the globe in search of inspiration for her next story. Her favorite foods are popcorn, sushi, and French fries and she’s never met a Kelly Clarkson song she didn’t like. For more information, visit http://www.rebeccanorinne.com.

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Thursday, June 29, 2017

Release Blast: King of Clubs by Sandra Owens

Passions—and tempers—flare as one star-crossed couple gets a second chance at love.

KING OF CLUBS

Aces & Eights #2

Sandra Owens

Releasing June 27, 2017

Montlake Romance

In the second novel in acclaimed author Sandra Owens’s Aces & Eights series, passions—and tempers—flare as one star-crossed couple gets a second chance at love.

Covert FBI agent Court Gentry loves his brothers, his job, and his Harley-Davidson. Once he loved a girl, too, but when she broke his heart, he put his emotions on lockdown…until she crosses his path again.

On vacation six years ago, free-spirited Lauren Montgomery fell hard for Court Gentry. She returned home happier than ever, only to descend into a spiral of abuse by her ex-husband, Stephan. When Stephan threatened to kill any man who touched her, Lauren cut Court from her life—but not from her heart.

When Lauren and Court reunite after her friend marries his brother, Court guards himself against the person who made him feel such intense passion and pain. Except the undeniable spark between them is impossible to contain and heating up fast. Six years ago, it was love. Now, it’s just lust. Keeping it merely physical is a foolproof plan…right?

When Stephan is released from prison, Lauren can’t outrun her past anymore, and Court vows to protect her. But with Lauren in imminent danger, Court must question his heart and risk his life to save the woman he never stopped loving.

Excerpt

Court had wanted to let her know he was here, but Madison said if he did, Lauren would just kick him out. According to Madison, Lauren intended to go straight to bed. He tilted his head, listening to the sounds coming from her bedroom. She was moving around, opening and closing drawers. She definitely hadn’t gone straight to bed. What was she up to?

Suspicious, he waited. An hour later, the floorboards in the hallway creaked. A dark-clothed person walked into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, took out two bottles of water, and stuffed them into the backpack she carried, and then headed for the door.

Lauren. Lauren. Lauren. “Going somewhere my little midnight ghost?”

She yelped, the backpack falling to the floor with a heavy thud.

“Easy, G.G.” He pushed off the sofa.

“Court?” She pressed her forehead against the door. “Why are you here?”

“Guarding you. Going to be kind of hard to do if you’re not here, don’t you think?” He picked up the backpack. “Where you headed?”

“None of your business.” She slipped around him, backed up to the kitchen light switch, and turned it on. “You can leave now.”

“Don’t think so.” He frowned at the sight of a gun barrel in the partially unzipped bag. He pulled it out and held up the Glock 26, also known as a Baby Glock, preferred by women because of its smaller size. “You planning on shooting someone?”

“Again, none of your business.”

He shouldn’t like that fire in those golden brown eyes so much. “I’m making it my business. Do you even know how to shoot this?” When her gaze shifted away, he had his answer. Christ, she was clueless. About everything. How to use the weapon she’d been careless enough to let him find, how to disappear, and she probably didn’t know how to fight off an attack.

What to do about that? As he saw it, he had two choices. Either let her go and hope she somehow managed to safely disappear or make her his project. He wasn’t stupid enough to tell her that last part since he doubted there was a woman in the world who’d appreciate being any man’s project.

“Are you that afraid of him?” he asked even though he was sure of the answer.

“Feeling like a broken record here because again, none of your business. I’d like you to leave now.”

She crossed her arms over her chest, probably to show him she meant business. It wasn’t working since she’d managed to push up her breasts so that the material of her T-shirt stretched against them, leaving her nipples outlined.

He’d had those beautiful breasts in his mouth, had explored every inch of her body, had known all her sighs of pleasure. He’d once thought she loved him. Until she’d told him in a phone call it was over, not even having the courtesy to tell him to his face.

Nor had she given him a reason. Just, “Don’t call me again or try to see me.” That had happened only days after she’d told him she loved him. He’d learned the hard way women couldn’t be trusted, the first lesson on that coming from his mother. The one time he’d forgotten that lesson had been with Lauren. But never again.

“What are you looking at?” She lifted one arm, snapping her fingers. “My eyes are up here.”

Irritated with himself and her, he kept his gaze on her breasts to prove… What? That he was an ass? “So they are,” he said, lifting his eyes to hers. “Here’s the deal.”

“There is no deal, Court. You have no say so over my life. I’ll ask you one more time to leave.”

“Or you’ll what? Call the cops?”

“Yeah, that’s exactly what I’ll do.”

He chuckled, amused that she had no clue she was threatening to call the police on an FBI agent. “Let’s sit, and I’ll tell you the deal.” Ignoring the little growl deep in her throat, he settled on the sofa. “Come on, G.G. Just hear me out.”

“Stop calling me that.”

“Why? You used to like it.” She’d been his Gorgeous Girl for six days. It must have been the sun and beer and salty air that had tricked him into mistaking lust for love. He had to admit the woman had a lot to do with that, too. All six years had done to her was turn her from a cute college girl with a love of life into a beautiful woman afraid of her own shadow. He could appreciate the physical change in her, but he didn’t like the fear her ex-husband had put in her eyes.

And when did she have that husband? Before he met her or after? Or even during? No, he couldn’t believe that she would have given herself to him so freely, showing no sign of guilt during their time together if she’d had a husband waiting in the wings. He wanted answers and he planned to get them.

“Lauren, please. Sit and hear me out.” Her cat jumped onto the sofa, climbed onto his lap, and peered up at him with curious blue eyes. “See, even… Hemingway, is it?” At her nod, he said, “Even Hemingway wants to hear what I have to say.”

Like a wary crab, she inched sideways to the nearest chair. “You have five minutes.”

Little did she know. He had as long as he wanted because she wasn’t going anywhere. She might not like it, but it was for her own good. As an officer of the law, he couldn’t stand by and watch her get herself hurt. From all the signs she’d unknowingly given him, she fully expected bad trouble was headed her way.

“I have an offer for you.”

A best-selling, award winning author, Sandra Owens lives in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Her family and friends often question her sanity, but have ceased being surprised by what she might get up to next. She’s jumped out of a plane, flown in an aerobatic plane while the pilot performed death-defying stunts, has flown Air Combat (two fighter planes dogfighting, pretending to shoot at each other with laser guns), and rode a Harley motorcycle for years. She regrets nothing.

A member of Romance Writers of America's Honor Roll, Sandra is a 2013 Golden Heart® Finalist for her contemporary romance, CRAZY FOR HER. In addition to her contemporary romantic suspense novels, she writes Regency stories.

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Release Blitz: Black by K.L. Grayson

Title: BLACK (A Bloodlines Novel)

Author: K.L. Grayson

Release Date: June 29, 2017
TBR Link: Goodreads

Purchase Links

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2s8xyOt

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2u1C7LZ

All other Amazon: http://mybook.to/BLK

Synopsis

Family.

Everyone has one.

Some are close.

Some are dysfunctional.

Some are simply gone.

Nine-year-old Shae Black entered the Witness Protection Program after the murder of her father, mob boss Luca DiMarco. New name. New identity. And a ready-made family that had no idea who she really was.

Fourteen years later, a letter from a ghost thrusts Shae back into the life she was forced to leave behind. As secrets unravel, revealing unexpected truths, Shae sees an opportunity to avenge her father’s death by destroying patriarch Sal Ambrosi, the man responsible for her father’s murder. Getting to the heart of the family will be difficult, but nothing and no one is going to stop her—not even the heirs to the Ambrosi family empire.

She’s prepared for the two brothers, Dante and Rex, to put up a fight, but she isn’t at all prepared for the danger they will bring to her life and her heart.

One will love her.

One will hate her.

One will vow to protect her.

One will vow to kill her.

All in the name of family.

Excerpt

“So, Shae, tell me a little about yourself.”

“Really? You want to talk?”

I chuckle. “You sound surprised.”

“Because I am.”

“What’s wrong with getting to know the woman I’m about to fuck?”

“Are there things about me you’re dying to know?”

You have no fucking idea. “As a matter of fact, there are.”

She studies me for a moment and tips her glass, finishing off what’s left of her wine. She sets it on the counter, strides across the kitchen, and opens the curtains, revealing a breathtaking view of the Chicago skyline.

With her back to me, she takes a deep breath and when she exhales she says, “Let’s have it.”

In one gulp, I finish off my wine and set the glass next to hers. I slowly walk across the room, enjoying the view in front of me as I do.

And I’m not talking about the skyline. The dips and valleys of Chicago’s cityscape may be impressive, but they have nothing on Shae’s soft curves.

Her skirt is a little rumpled, her blouse untucked, and her long, dark hair falls in waves around her shoulders. Her body draws mine like a magnet, and when I step into her, pressing my chest against her back, she doesn’t move. There is no gasp of surprise, no stiffening spine, she’s just here in this moment with me.

“Let’s start with your favorite color.”

“Purple.” Her voice is shaky, and when I run my finger down the back of her neck, she tilts her head, allowing room for my lips to graze the silky smooth skin.

“Favorite food.”

“Italian.”

“Great choice.” I kiss a path along her shoulder. A shiver runs through her, and I smile against her skin. “Favorite sport.”

“Baseball.”

“Mine too. Favorite team?”

“C-Cardinals.” I nip at her soft skin, and Shae sucks in a breath. “What was that for?”

“I’m a Cubs fan.”

“That’s okay; I forgive you.”

I nip her again, run my tongue along the side of her neck, and blow lightly. Goosebumps race across the creamy skin.

“You’re so responsive, Shae. I can’t wait to see what else I can get your body to do.”

She takes a shuddery breath, and I can tell by the flutter of her pulse against my lips that my words excite her.

“What did Erin mean when she said you hadn’t been with a man in quite some time?” She doesn’t immediately respond, so I turn her in my arms.

Her cheeks turn the prettiest shade of pink as she looks at the floor. “You caught that, huh?”

“It’s pretty much all I’ve been thinking about.”

She looks up. “Really? Why?”

Fuck if I know. Maybe because I like you and the thought of other men touching you makes me want to strangle someone. But telling her that now probably isn’t the smartest idea, so I just shrug.

“Don’t know. Just curious is all.” Shae still doesn’t answer, and I can feel the air around us growing thick. “How many men have you been with?”

Her eyes grow as wide as saucers. “I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”

“It’s not. But I want it to be.”

Glancing down, she fiddles with the hem of her blouse. “Not many.”

“How many is not many?”

She tries to look away, but I don’t let her, so she opts to fold her arms over her chest. A universal defense mechanism. She thinks she’s shielding herself, but all she’s doing is fluffing her tits, putting all of that smooth, silky skin on full display. “I’m not a virgin, if that’s what you’re wondering.”

“I never questioned whether you’re a virgin.”

“Good, because I’m not,” she says firmly, and then her voice trails off. “I’m just not that experienced.”

“How inexperienced?”

Finally frustrated, she throws her arms out to the side. “Why does it matter?”

Running my hand up the back of her head, I thread my fingers through the silky strands of her hair. Something I’ve wanted to do since the moment I laid eyes on her. Gripping it tight, I tug and her head dips back. She looks up at me, her eyes smoldering, and I wonder what else she’d let me do.

“Because I want to fuck you, and I’m not a gentle man, Shae.”

Sucking her bottom lip between her teeth, she bites gently as I wait for her to respond. Something…anything would be good. Then she looks at my mouth, and what happens next isn’t at all what I’m expecting.

“We should probably kiss first.” She smiles coyly, and I do the only thing I can do.

I kiss her.

Purchase Links

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2s8xyOt

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2u1C7LZ

All other Amazon: http://mybook.to/BLK

*****

REVIEW

I've been a fan of KL Grayson's work since the beginning and I have to say one thing she proves time and time again with each new book, she can take on just about anything and turn it into an amazing story. When she said she was tackling a mafia story, I was all in, curious with how she would mold it, and I have to say - she did a fabulous job.

Black is an thrill ride of a story, taking you on such a ride with each page, that it will leave you questioning everything and guessing at answers you haven't even though of the questions for yet. The characters will grab your interest, and make you fall for them within the first few pages. I'm not going to dive deep into details because this is a book that is meant to be gone in to with little knowledge. This book is full of twists and turns, some you might guess at, but others that are unexpected.

Shae is a fantastic character and her chemistry with Rex is off the charts. Their interactions simply build on the story, pulling you further in. The book hits on so many things, emotions, vengeance, family loyalty, love, and combines it all in an unexpected way.

Kudos to K.L. Grayson for another winning book, one that is unlike her others and yet clearly displays her writing capabilities.

About the Author

K.L. Grayson resides in a small town outside of St. Louis, MO. She is entertained daily by her extraordinary husband, who will forever inspire every good quality she writes in a man. Her entire life rests in the palms of six dirty little hands, and when the day is over and those pint-sized cherubs have been washed and tucked into bed, you can find her typing away furiously on her computer. She has a love for alpha-males, brownies, reading, tattoos, sunglasses, and happy endings…and not particularly in that order.

Follow K.L. Grayson

Giveaway

$20 Giftcard & Signed Paperback of BLACK!

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Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Release Blast: Beware the Ranger by Debra Holt

Will they be able to lay the past to rest and rekindle their love from the ashes?

BEWARE THE RANGER

In the Long Arms of the Lawman #1

Debra Holt

Releasing June 28, 2017

Tule Publishing

Twelve years ago, Kaitlyn Russell had a dream: living happily ever after with Clay Morgan. Except her grandmother had bigger plans for her beloved granddaughter and they didn’t include life in the small town of McKenna Springs as the wife of a young, poor deputy. Kaitlyn’s heart was broken when Clay and her grandmother convinced her to pursue her second love, Broadway stardom.

Texas Ranger Clay Morgan is a widower with a young son to raise. A dozen years before, he had to make the most difficult decision of his life when he agreed to let go of the only woman he’d ever loved so that she could pursue her dreams.

Now, fate and an old woman’s guilty conscience conspire to bring Clay and Kaitlyn back together once more. Will they be able to lay the past to rest and rekindle their love from the ashes?

Born and raised in the Lone Star state of Texas, Debra Holt grew up among horses, cowboys, wide open spaces, and real Texas Rangers. Pride in her state and ancestry knows no bounds and it is these heroes and heroines she loves to write about the most. She also draws upon a variety of life experiences including working with abused children, caring for baby animals at a major zoo, and planning high-end weddings (ah, romance!).

Debra's real pride and joys, however, are her son, an aspiring film actor, and a daughter with aspirations to join the Federal Bureau of Investigation. (more story ideas!) When she isn't busy writing about tall Texans and feisty heroines, she can be found cheering on her Texas Tech Red Raiders, or heading off on another cruise adventure. She read her first romance...Janet Dailey's Fiesta San Antonio, over thirty years ago and became hooked on the genre. Writing contemporary western romances, is both her passion and dream come true, and she hopes her books will bring smiles...and sighs... to all who believe in happily-ever-after's.

Debra invites you to visit her website. She loves to hear from other aspiring authors or readers via her email.

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Release Blitz: The Weight of Life by Whitney Barbetti

Mila

“Don’t let go.” Those were my first words to him, as I hung over the side of a London bridge. The words I would soon say again, in a moment that didn’t involve bridges, but something much more fragile: my heart.

He held onto me for three weeks, in a time when I needed to be held. Needed to connect to someone who understood how loss tunneled unrepentantly through the fabric of your soul.

Although he said he'd stay, we both knew he wouldn't. I had already survived one loss—I didn't know if I'd survive another.

Ames

She spun into my life like a tornado of smiles and chatter and everything else I'd long avoided, with a persistence that I admired, albeit begrudgingly. She broke down each neat wall I’d constructed without even trying. Her presence alone caused me to remember what it felt like to smile, to look forward to what the day would bring.

But it was only supposed to last three weeks.

“Don’t let go,” she’d pleaded.

I’d promised her I wouldn’t—but I would. I didn't have a choice.

Amazon US

REVIEW

The Weight of Life was quite an emotional journey for not just the characters, but me. One of the things I love about Whitney's writing is that there are so many layers to the story and the character within its pages. There's a depth not always explored by other authors, but one that often makes a story stand out more.

Mired in grief and weighed down by loss, Mila finds herself in London and unexpected drawn to a stranger. In a time and a place where she expected nothing, Mila finds herself opening up to more.

Ames is a man tortured by his own past, a man struggling daily with his own grief. And then out of nowhere he finds himself forming a connection with Mila, a woman who shares in his pain and has her own.

The Weight of Life isn't merely a love story, it's so much more, it's a second chance at life (and love), it's a story of moving past grief, of letting someone in even when it hurts, even when it's scary. The journey Ames and Mila take together through the pages of this book will draw you in and hold your attention, throwing emotions at you, hitting you in all the right places, and leaving you rooting for these characters.

If you give them a chance, you'll fall in love with Mila and Ames and all their flaws, you'll find yourself digging deeper into their story and be left in awe at how it all comes together.