ETBB Designs

We are beyond excited about this cover reveal for Lauren Blakely’s NIGHTS WITH HIM. Check out the cover, add NIGHTS WITH HIM to your TBR, then check out the special message from Lauren!! And that’s not all-We have the cover for the free prequel novella, ONE NIGHT WITH HER, too! That’s right! Two amazing covers to share with you today.

Cover design by Sarah Hansen at Okay Creations

Releases November 11th!

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Releases October 21st!

Message from Lauren:

The Seductive Nights erotic romance series continues with a new
installment starring a new couple later this fall! While the first
four books in the series followed Julia and Clay, the next two will be
about Michelle and Jack, and can be read without having read the
earlier books. (Though, why wouldn’t you want to read about Clay and
Julia?!)

I can’t wait to introduce readers to Jack Sullivan. He’s sexy, broody,
witty, smart, and a little bit damaged and he’s also my favorite kind
of hero – the kind who wears a suit! Jack Sullivan is a sex toy mogul
and is the CEO of a high-end line of pleasure products – he’ll bring
all that experience to the bedroom as he sweeps Michelle Milo off her
feet – expect many steamy encounters between these two! Michelle needs
some good loving after all – readers know her already as Clay’s friend
from Night After Night who loved him unrequitedly from afar. Now it’s
finally her turn in the romance arena, and Jack will make sure she
gets it good!!

To give readers a chance to get to know this newest dirty-talking
alpha hero of mine, I will be releasing a free prequel novella called
ONE NIGHT WITH HER on October 21 about the night they meet and the
mind-blowing encounter they have in a New York City hotel. The novel
itself will release on Nov. 11. NIGHTS WITH HIM is available to
preorder on iBooks, with an Amazon preorder to go up about three weeks
before the novel’s release.

About NIGHTS WITH HIM:

A sensual, sexy, standalone romance novel in the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Seductive Nights Series by Lauren Blakely…

Jack Sullivan is a Sex Toy Mogul.

An extremely eligible bachelor in New York, he’s the full package,right down to his full package. Hell, this man could be the model forone of the toys his company, Joy Delivered, peddles. Instead, he’s thepowerful and successful CEO and he’s got commitment issues a mile-longafter the tragic way his relationship with his fiancée ended.

He’s looking for a way to erase the pain and that arrives in the formof Michelle Milo. From her pencil skirts to her high heels, she’s hisperfect fantasy, especially since she has no idea who he is the nightthey meet at a hotel bar. He doesn’t have a clue either that she’s thebrilliant psychologist his sister has arranged for him to see to helphim get over his past. She’s simply the stunning woman he takes to bedthat night and delivers many Os of joy too.

His touch helps her forget that other man.

When he shows up at her office door the next day, there’s no way inhell she’s going to treat him after they’ve slept together. Jack isn’twilling to let go of the first woman he’s felt anything for in yearsso he proposes a deal – share her nights with him for thirty days. Atthe end of one month of exquisite pleasure, they walk away, havinghelped each other move on from their haunted pasts.

But soon, all those nights threaten to turn into days as the linesbetween lust and matters of the heart start to blur. Can two people soterribly afraid of love truly fall head over heels?

**NIGHTS WITH HIM is a standalone full-length novel in the bestselling SEDUCTIVE NIGHTS series following the love affair of a new couple.**

About Lauren Blakely:

Lauren Blakely writes sexy contemporary romance novels with heat, heart, and humor, and her books have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks bestseller lists. Like the heroine in FAR TOO TEMPTING, she thinks life should be filled with family, laughter, and the kind of love that love songs promise. Lauren lives in California with her husband, children, and dogs. Her novels include Caught Up In Us, Pretending He’s Mine, Playing With Her Heart, and Trophy Husband. She also writes for young adults under the name Daisy Whitney.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | NIGHTS WITH HIM Goodreads | Lauren Blakely Goodreads

Blurb:

Delve deeper into the journey …

Siobhan remains in the clutches of Monique, trapped in her French chateau; her body drawn into a world of sensual and sexual awakening. Torn from Blake’s arms, will she ever see him again?

Jarryd, sworn to protect Siobhan for the Elder Blake, continues to feel overwhelming emotions that he thought were long dead. The passion and desire, his love for her, he knows is futile. A happily ever after with her would be the signing of his own death warrant.

Will Monique’s plans for Siobhan reach fruition as the Elders’ party draws closer, gathering them together once a century? Will hell on earth reign supreme? Or will Blake, one of the most powerful and charismatic Elders, be able to hold his restraint until the perfect time to rescue his love?

So im not usually a fan of Vampire stories and to be honest I tend to steer clear BUT the synopsis on this one had me intrigued and as it is part two of the series I sort of forced myself into reading book one first and HOLY MOLEY have my eyes been opened!  I may now be calling myself a vampire story fan!  If book one was steamy with a capital ‘S’ then book two didn’t disappoint! At all!

We find the heroine, Si (Siobhan) still in the clutches of her captors and embroiled deep in the vampire world.  Her turmoil over the two (pretty hot and totally different) Vampire men in her life along with the amazingly captivating storyline made for a gripping read.

I was flooded with so many emotions and also the whole vampire world that is created totally drew me in!  I honestly cannot say how much I actually got lost in it!  The story develops and WOW does it keep you gripped from the start and I found that this book had me drawn right form the beginning (I struggled a little bit with the beginning of book one and not sure if that was just that I felt it took time to really get going or that I am pretty new to the vampire world!).

Si has a total “innocence” about her and the things she experiences affect her far more in many ways but this to me added to her charm.  And Blake and Jarryd are just two totally hot male Vampires! PHEWEEEE – Nuff said!

There are any more characters thrown into the mix and I liked how they all had a big part to play on the whole plot.  Some surprise characters thrown in there too!

I badly want to say more but fear if I get started i’ll end up writing a pile of spoilers but urge you to READ this series and even if, like me you’ve never experienced Vampires before you will definitely not regret it!  I’m now off to dive right into book 3….! 🙂

FIVE SUPER SIZZLING stars from me!

About Helen:

Journey of Innocence, a set of three books, Innocence Lost, Innocence Reclaimed and Innocence Reborn.

It’s basically a love story, the corny saying “love can conquer all.” You are taken on a journey with twists in it. There are characters to fall in love with, to hate, and everything in between.

Vampires that have fangs, and do bite, but not necessarily on the neck… Plenty of hot steamy sex that will tease your senses and leave you craving more…

A little about me!

I grew up in my family’s home in the County of Hampshire, England. My childhood dreams were filled with the desire to become a dancer. An only child, but I was never alone, my years were spent entertained with my vivid imagination. I met and married my husband not long after leaving school and soon after our son was born. My family is made complete with my two cats that are spoiled rotten, which results in them often thinking they rule the home.

My life consisted of home life and a few jobs in the retail industry and my vivid imagination refused to stay quiet. So combined with my love of erotica and all things vampire I decided to try my hand at writing and has never looked back.

You can find me in all sorts of places, including FB, Twitter and my blog.

Buy Links:

AMAZON.CO.UK

INNOCENCE LOST

INNOCENCE RECLAIMED

INNOCENCE REBORN

AMAZON.COM

 INNOCENCE LOST

INNOCENCE RECLAIMED

INNOCENCE REBORN

BARNES AND NOBLE

 INNOCENCE LOST

INNOCENCE RECLAIMED

SMASHWORDS

 INNOCENCE LOST

INNOCENCE RECLAIMED

Giveaway

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Book Title: Taming Ryder (Souls of the Knight, #2)
Author: Nicola Haken
Genre: M/M Romance
Release Date: September 2014
Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

You met Ryder Richardson in Being Sawyer Knight. Now, this is his story.

I’ve done it. I’ve stuck a whopping two fingers up at my parents, I’ve made a name for myself as one of the world’s biggest porn stars and I’ve finally found a family I belong in.

Life is amazing. I get paid to do all my favourite things. Fuck. Party. Travel the world. What’s not to love?

And then he comes along. Mason George – Back Door Studio’s newest exclusive model and the guy who has the potential to either fuck it all up, or take me on the best ride of my life.

~ Ryder

I’m desperate. I’ve got nothing and nobody left. Entering the daunting world of adult entertainment is less of a dream and more of a necessity. Signing as Back Door Studio’s latest model has the ability to either ruin or make me, but I made a vow at my first audition never to let myself regret it.

I continue to question myself each day, but no amount of what’s, why’s or what ifs will change where I am or where I’m heading. Am I strong enough to do this? To embrace it? To enjoy it? I have no idea.

The only thing I’m certain of, is that if anyone can teach me who I’m supposed to be, it’s Ryder Richardson.

~ Mason

“Because the most exciting things in life always happen via the back door”

“Perfect! You’re getting into the spirit faster than I thought you would.”

“Why’d you say that?”

“I just get the feeling this isn’t your first choice sometimes. The porn I mean.”

Mason’s eyebrows furrowed, his eyes narrowing as he contemplated my words.

“Maybe it’s not. But I chose this, and as with every other job I’ve ever had I will give it my everything. To say I’m doing this because I’ve no other choice, like I’m being forced into it or only doing it because I’m desperate is disrespectful to both the industry and to me.”

“Hey, that’s not what I meant,” I said genuinely, worried I’d offended him.

“Oh I know you didn’t. I just wanted to put it out there, that’s all. I don’t know many people, but of those I do I know they’ll judge me for this when they find out. Too many people assume going into this industry means we’re either damaged, desperate or fucking whores who deserve to be seen as nothing more than a walking fuck hole.”

“Well fuck ‘em. Anyone who doesn’t see you for who you are isn’t worth knowing. We’re all in it for different reasons, and those reasons are no one else’s goddamn business. It’s just a job. A fucking great job, but still a job nonetheless.”

“You really think it’s a great job?”

“Sure I do! I love sex, and I get to fuck hot guys for a living. Who wouldn’t love that?”

“But it’s different, no? I know I’ve only done one scene, but it’s a whole different ballgame than when you’re intimate with someone.”

“I don’t do intimacy, so I wouldn’t know.”

“So, you’ve never had a relationship?”

“No. Not something I’m looking for.”

“You don’t think it’d work? Being in porn?”

“It’s got nothing to do with the porn. A few of the guys are in relationships. Gio’s been with his guy almost a year and they’re still going strong. It’s just not something I want, regardless of the career I’ve chosen.”

“You must get lonely though. We all do. Don’t you hope to find someone you can just… I don’t know, share things with one day? Be there for you?”

“No,” I said curtly, hoping my tone would be enough to stop him probing further.

Author of the New Adult/Contemporary novels Missing Pieces, Saving Amy and the Take My Hand series, and m/m erotic romance Souls of the Knight series.

I live in Rochdale, England with my wonderful family and when I’m not playing with my imaginary friends I can usually be found looking after my four adorable (sometimes!) children (six if you include the dogs, seven if you include the hubby!) or stalking gay porn stars!

All in all I’m just an ordinary mum with an addiction to reading about hot book guys, writing about hot book guys, tattoos and Pepsi Max! Oh, and if my kids ever ask… I moonlight as the Pink Power Ranger 😉

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Book Title: Now is Our Time
Author: Jo Kessel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: September 2014
Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

A story of second chance love set between London and San Diego.

Thirteen years ago Jonah Kennedy was one of America’s top tennis players, whose six-foot-three bad-boy California looks won him hordes of female admirers.

Thirteen years ago Claire Jackson, a fiery, aspiring artist from London, was the woman who stole his heart.

But the two held a secret which tore them apart and sent Claire running back to England.

They tried to move on. Claire married, had a child and became a successful TV personality. Jonah married, had a child and settled for life on the road.

Thirteen years later and both divorced, their paths cross again. Their attraction is even deeper – they feel destined to be together. Claire’s jealous ex, however, has other plans.

Can Claire and Jonah hold on to their second chance at love or will their past secret haunt them for ever? After all, thirteen is only lucky for some….

It was 9 p.m. and the soft light was slowly starting to fade. Claire’s shoulders shivered as the temperature dropped and she slipped on the crop black cardigan she’d brought with. There was an empty bench outside the wrought-iron gates which guarded Kensington Palace, the same gates which mourners had flocked to, to decorate with flowers and wreaths and messages of condolence after Princess Diana had died. As they sat down Jonah still didn’t free her hand. They stared straight ahead at the gates for a few seconds and then Jonah broke the silence, turning to her.

“I tried contacting you after you left you know,” he said quietly. “I never wanted you to go.”

Tears began welling in Claire’s eyes and one dared to tumble over the edge and dribble towards her nose. Jonah wiped it away with the pad of his thumb. She nodded, but didn’t dare to speak. After she’d left, she’d changed her phone number, her e-mail address and even her home address. She’d not wanted to be found. She’d thought she was doing the right thing for everybody.

“What was your wife like?” Claire whispered.

She cursed herself for letting that question pop out her mouth. She didn’t want to know that he’d shacked up with some tall, leggy supermodel. Lord knows, there’d been enough of them around, clamouring to take him off her.

“She was a mistake,” he said, tracing his finger down from Claire’s wet eye and along her cheek towards the back of her neck. It was a gesture so sensitive and tender that she felt her head tilt towards his hand and her eyes close. She’d never in her wildest dreams imagined being with Jonah, ever again. This was almost too much, too soon, too hard to take in. Her life had felt dull for years and, to an extent, she’d been responsible for letting that happen. She hadn’t believed she’d deserved better. Not after what she did. And now, from nowhere it had sped into fast forward.

“But she gave you Martha,” Claire reminded him.

“Yes, and for that I am truly grateful.”

Jonah leaned forward and cupped his other hand around Claire’s face. It was safer to close her eyes and not to try to read his expression, or guess his thoughts.

“Open your eyes,” he commanded.

With difficulty she obeyed and found herself staring into his deep, grey pools. What she thought she could read in them unsettled her. It felt like nothing had changed in the intervening years, even though she knew so much had. A lump caught at the back of her throat and she could feel her lower lip trembling. Part of her wanted to run away, scared of being exposed to what was sure to be emotional turmoil. But another part of her was frozen to the spot. He had her face clasped in both his hands and once again she found her eyelids closing as he caressed her cheeks.

“I have to admit something,” he said.

She nodded, eyes still tightly sealed. Here it comes, she thought. He’d given her the good stuff and was now about to deliver bad news, to tell her he was in a new relationship or something. She didn’t want to see him as he said it.

“You know I think you’re beautiful,” he continued. “But, I have to admit, I prefer you without make-up.”

Her eyes snapped open as she giggled.

“I don’t normally wear make-up. This was put on me this morning for some silly screen test Georgia put me up to.”

He raised a questioning eyebrow.

“It was nothing,” she brushed it off.

She wanted to close her eyes again, but his gaze held her magnetically. She wasn’t sure if her thirty-seven year old heart could keep up the cracking pace it was now thumping at and she knew she must look ridiculous. Her lower lip was quivering uncontrollably and her porcelain make-up was no doubt now a streaky mess. Idiot, why hadn’t she removed it before coming? She couldn’t stop herself from looking down at his mouth, his luscious, thick, sensual lips. No-one’s lips had ever matched up to his, either before or after. It was as if he could read her mind.

“I’m going to kiss you,” he said.

She clamped her eyes back shut and nodded.

“I can’t watch,” she whispered.

She waited for so long that she considered telling him to hurry up, but then she felt his teeth gently take her lower lip in its grip, as if trying to stop the tremor. When she’d calmed down, he released it, pulled away for a second and she could feel the smile on his lips as he crushed his mouth deliciously into hers.

Jo qualified as a lawyer before moving into journalism, working for the BBC and reporting and presenting for ITV on holiday, consumer and current affairs programs. She writes for several national UK newspapers including the Daily Mail, the Telegraph, the Guardian and the Express and was the anonymous author of the Independent’s hit column: Diary of a Primary School Mum. Now is our Time is her third novel.

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Book Title: The Viking Wants Forever
Author: Koko Brown
Genre: Multicultural, fantasy, time travel
Release Date: September 2014
Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

A Love Frozen In Time…

Reese Johnson yearns for a life other than the world of drudgery she’s settled for as the manager of Gotham City Comics. What’s that they say? Be careful what you wish for? Well that’s a motto Reese should have tattooed across her forehead. Because Loki, the Norse god of mischief, has just the remedy for the boring life of this woman who denounces his existence.

His recipe for disaster?

Take a 30 year-old woman and send her back in time as a pawn for revenge. Couple her with Eirik Sigurdsson, a Viking Warlord, too arrogant and baggage-laden to be of any use for anything, but battle and bed. Mix thoroughly, folding in a heavy dose of pride, a tyrannical king, and a sympathetic goddess. Bake at high until a white-hot love is unleashed and then forever frozen in time.

Reese paced back and forth in front of the fireplace in mounting anxiety. She’d been holed up in Eirik’s private bedchambers long enough. Long enough to rifle through his things in search of the black tourmaline and even to grow concerned for Eirik’s safety.

Flinging herself down on the bear rug in front of the fireplace, she tore at her cornrows in anger. Once she set her hair free, she then tackled the tightly wound curls with a whalebone comb, until her hair floated around her shoulders like a soft cloud.

“Blessed Valhalla…”

Reese couldn’t help the smile that came to her lips. Despite the less than stellar circumstances in which she had been dumped, she was secretly delighted he’d fought to keep her. Therefore, with each step that brought him closer, her heart rose another inch, threatening to cut off her breathing with its wild palpitations. She gasped when he reached down and pulled her up against him.

“I-I thought you weren’t coming back. I was going crazy with worry. What took you so long? You aren’t hurt are you?”

“I needed to cool off before I came back to you.” He paused to lean forward and nip at her bottom lip. “If I had not, I would have come back here and rutted in you like a wild animal. Would you have liked that?” he asked, spanking her backside.

Reese bit her lip. The idea of him doing just that excited her. Reaching up, she grabbed both of the white-blond braids hanging on either side of his face and wound them around her fingers. With a gentle tug, she pulled his head down until their lips were level. She stuck out her tongue and traced his bottom lip. When he groaned in pleasure, she pulled back to look at him.

“Does that answer your question?” she purred.

Koko Brown is an USA TODAY Bestselling author and romance junkie who once read over 200 Zebra romance Club novels the summer before her senior year in high school.

Her writing career began at the tender age of nine when she self-published and distributed a newspaper for her fellow classmates. Unfortunately, her grade-school principal Mr. Clark didn’t appreciate the competition and put her out of business after one best-selling issue.

Undaunted, Koko continued to write and read everything she could get her hands on. She honed her writing skills as a staff writer on her college’s newspaper, writing obituaries for the local newspaper, and even teaching American Literature.

One day, while daydreaming in bed, she came up with the idea for her first erotic manuscript. Taking a hiatus from teaching, she had enough time on her hands to flesh out the story in two short weeks. A month later, she cleaned it up and sent it to Ellora’s Cave . By January, she received a revision letter from one of their editors and by March she signed a contract for her vampire erotic novel Charmed.

Koko calls the east coast of Florida home. Even though she’s a multipublished author of interracial erotic romance, she has a life. She loves to travel (three continents, 20+ countries and 38 states so far), shop in thrift stores, ride motorcycles, and volunteering.

NEWSLETTER

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Dustin Parker had life and love in his grasp until the moment she disappeared without a good-bye. He has watched his sisters struggle, fall in love, and find a happily ever after. He thought it was his turn, but fate had other plans. Leaving the family again, this time to attend school across the country, he will play soccer, and try to keep her off his mind. All of a sudden in walks someone to occupy his bed but not his heart. Why is he promising her forever?

Teryn Hall has suffered years of abuse, held a prisoner in her home by the one man who should have nurtured and loved her. Her scars run deep, and when her pain bubbles to the surface she can’t control the memories and the anguish. She thought she was doing the right thing when she walked away. She thought he would wait for her. Didn’t he promise her forever? Right when she thinks things are back on track, the news of Dustin moving on could derail her.

Can love really survive anything?

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PLAYLIST

Fixing Me Chase Coy
Those I’ve Loved Eric Church
I Will Blake Shelton
Never Say Never The Fray
Slipped Away Avril Lavigne
A Little Bit Stronger Sara Evans
Let Me Love You Ne-Yo
I Believe Christina Perri
Let Her Go Passenger
Witness Daughtry
Invisible Hunter Hayes
What I Really Meant To Say Cyndi Thomson
Happy Leona Lewis
Give Me Back My Hometown Eric Church
Promise Broken Gary Allan
Life Ain’t Always Beautiful Gary Allan
With Hope Steven Curtis Chapman
Ready, Set, Roll Chase Rice
Brave Sara Bareilles
Stay With Me Sam Smith
Love Never Fails Brandon Heath
Play It Again Luke Bryan
Power of A Song Randy Houser
Helluva Life Frankie Ballard

READING ORDER:
Not Enough

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1l5zoWC
B&N: http://bit.ly/1nWgSjf

Not Leaving

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1nLQVZF
B&N: http://bit.ly/1mGznIg

Not Hiding

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1rrRaHr
B&N: http://amzn.to/WGpl4R

Leigh Ann Lunsford is stay at home mom turned author. She writes Romance/New Adult and loves her happily ever after in all books and movies. She lives with her husband, son, and four dogs in Fleming Island, Florida. When she isn’t writing or reading you can find her stuck in front of really bad reality shows or watching Sons of Anarchy. Leigh Ann has a filthy mouth and a huge amount of sarcasm that knows no end. She hopes to give the voices in her head an outlet with many more novels to come.

Leigh Ann’s Links:

FACEBOOK / AMAZON / TWITTER / GOODREADS

Book Title: After Days
Author: Scott Medbury
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Release Date: May 30, 2014
Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

15 year old Isaac Race has already lost everyone close to him. He is about to lose a lot more. We all are. A mystery outbreak sweeps North America, it is chilling in both its speed and deadliness. The odd thing is though, it is only fatal to adults. Too late it becomes clear to authorities that the virus is man-made, a biological weapon, and that the United States is at war…a war it has already lost. As his country is invaded and occupied by the Chinese army, Isaac must lead a ragtag group of survivors across three states in the depths of winter, avoiding not only the invaders, but also other dangers unleashed in a world suddenly deprived of adults and authority, to a safe haven that may not even exist.

Scott Medbury is a father of four from the beautiful Blue Mountains of Sydney Australia. He started writing as a boy after his Grandmother gave him an adventure book for Christmas but for various reasons didn’t actually publish anything until 2012 when he began publishing adult short stories under a pseudonym. Since that time he has sold over 60,000 short stories, collections and books in 13 countries. After Days, his first novel is the next stop in the journey that began so long ago with the gift from his Grandmother.

CLICK TO READ THE CHAPTERS 1 TO 3

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Book Title: An Unexpected Encounter
Author: Robin Shaw
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: August 8, 2014
Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

Entrepreneur Zachary Wilkins doesn’t see himself as a brother to his younger cousins, like they have considered him to be. He feels indebted to his aunt and uncle for adopting him and officially making him a member of their family. When he encounters Shaina Hayes, he wants her just as much as she wants him. Seeing her, for a second time, at his cousin, Aaron’s wedding, stirs emotions in him that he can’t shake and further fuels his desire for her.

Shaina Hayes has had two rules since moving into Bloomfield Township, Ohio; work hard and keep to herself. One night, however, she goes out to celebrate her new job. A tall, handsome man catches her eye and the attraction between them unravels into an explosive night of passion. A night that she relives in her mind and vows to herself to never repeat again.

I am Robin Shaw, a hopeless romantic who loves to read and write about romance. Life is filled with enough unhappy endings, so I enjoy penning tales with a HFN or HEA.

Eyes scanning the interior of the bar, Shaina couldn’t find a corner or a table she could occupy. As she pivoted around, she saw a very handsome man with facial hair that looked like it’d taken a week or two to grow in. As the older waitress picked up all of the bottles and empty baskets, the man told her something and slipped what looked like a stack of bills into the tiny pocket of her apron. The waitress looked stunned and he gave her a smile that made the women look like she was going to melt.

Five minutes later, the man Shaina had her eyes on hadn’t moved from the table. Was he waiting for someone? His girlfriend? Based on the man’s manners and seemingly agreeable demeanor, Shaina could easily picture him having the company of a woman tonight. Or a man.

Looking directing at her target, Shaina marched over to him. The man’s eyes settled on her before she stood across from him. He had a beautiful shade of azure eyes. Usually, she didn’t feel like she needed to take a cold shower when she saw a good-looking man. Not even a drop dead gorgeous one. Perhaps it was because his eyes seemed familiar to her, as odd as that sounded. It became apparent that he was here by himself. She wouldn’t leave him sitting at a table in a bar by himself for more than five minutes if she was out with him tonight.

“Is this seat taken?” Shaina’s tone was blasé. He shook his head “no” and she sinuously slid down on the hard wooden chair. “What can I get you to drink?” she asked.

He flashed a grin that conjured up an image in her mind of his head disappearing between her legs, the texture of his stubble on her hot core. How could this man be so devastatingly seductive without having spoken? He held up his finger and the waitress was at their table immediately.

“Get this lady here anything she wants. I’ll have a Stout and salty soft pretzels.”

The waitress jerked her eyes to Shaina, a barely perceptible grin on her face. The power that this man held in his deep voice was at odds with his laid-back appearance. She’d noted that he was wearing sandals.

“A Stout for me too,” Shaina replied.

They were alone a split second later.

“I am Shaina.” She dipped her head a little, the same boldness floating in her tone was reflected in her hazel eyes.

“I am Zachary.”

“Zachary, for a couple of minutes it looked like you were here with someone.”

His lips curved into a smile. “You were watching me?”

Shaina nodded.

“Would you not have asked to get me a drink if someone else was with me?”

“If I thought you were with a random person like me who was talking to you, then I would’ve came over here regardless.” She slightly lifted her shoulders. “I wanted to know if you’re as handsome as you looked four feet away up close.”

Shaina couldn’t tell what Zachary was thinking. He studied her as the waitress brought their food and drinks to the table. He knew that he was more than just pleasant to look at. Zachary told the waitress “thank you” and he resumed his appraisal of Shaina. As Shaina swigged her ice-cold Stout, she felt warm all over; her body flushed.

“You’re easy on the eyes, as you well know.” He lifted his glass of Stout to his lips and she peered at the slow movements along the column of his lean neck and the breadth of his shoulders. Heat began to build between her legs. “I’ve seen you in town but never here.”

“I haven’t been in Joey’s in a while but I’ve passed by you once or twice that I can remember. I think you were clean shaven, though and bundled up.”

Zachary bobbed his head and Shaina bit into the salted pretzel. “You had to be all covered up yourself. I favor you in what you have on—exposing just enough of your skin.” He raked his gaze over her face and down to her cleavage. “I like what you’ve put to the imagination.”

A flash of desire swept over Shaina and her mouth went dry. She reached to take another sip of the beer when she heard him ask, “Why’d you end your hiatus from here tonight?”

Shaina’s cheeks lifted into a slow, wistful smile. “I have a new job.”

Zachary’s eyebrows furrowed. “There’s something more to it. Kind of like you’d go back to the position you previously had if you could.”

Shaina didn’t think she’d given any hint that her new position was bittersweet for her. “Sort of, but my boss knew that I wanted the job I now have when I’d applied. What do you do for a living?” She gulped her drink down and ate some more of her salty pretzel.

“I work with relatives of mine.”

“We don’t have to discuss our professions. That’s not why we’re doing this little dance around what my purpose in conversing with you is,” Shaina said as her expression changed, the ferocity of her gaze betrayed that she wouldn’t continue to pursue him under any circumstance.

“Are you married?”

“No,” Zachary said, “and I am not dating other women at the moment.”

Shaina turned the knob on her tiny purse, tore a sheet of paper from her note pad and took a pen. She wrote something down and then slid the small piece of paper over to him. With an indecipherable expression, Zachary glanced at it and then peered at her once more, his eyes more penetrating and intense than hers had been when she’d asked about his marital status.

“You wouldn’t even need to drive to my apartment. I live six blocks down from this place. The building after Lou’s diner,” Shaina told him, not sounding the least bit discouraged. He gave her an “I know my way around Bloomfield Township” look as she surged to her feet, and grabbed another salty pretzel, chewing on it as she strutted away from him.

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Book Title: Happiness in Jersey
Author: Jacinta Howard
Genre: Romance
Release Date: August 29, 2014
Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

The only thing in Jersey Kinkaid’s world that she has time for are keeping her grades up so that she doesn’t lose her scholarship to South Texas University, playing the bass in her band, The Prototype, and satisfying her coffee addiction. Oh, and the occasional random hook-up she indulges in to pass the time.

Love? Eh, not so much. Save that crap for a Katherine Heigl or Natalie Portman movie.

Jersey’s seen enough in life (courtesy of her Pops) to realize that undying romance is nothing more than a myth used to sell books and movie tickets. As she knows too well, the only thing inevitable in life is death— love is definitely not promised.

That’s why when Jersey meets Isaiah “Zay” Broussard with his soulful gray eyes, quick wit and easy charm, she’s determined to remain aloof. She doesn’t have time to get sidetracked by fleeting fantasies, even if she does feel an unexplainable connection to Zay she’s never experienced before.

But when his interest in her only seems to intensify, despite her attempts to brush him off, she gets to see a side of him and herself she didn’t expect…

I’d never seen any of the Harry Potter movies or read one Harry Potter book and sometimes that made me feel a little weird, like I missed out on a vital part of my childhood or something.

There was this girl that I sometimes used to hang out with back in middle school, Chloe, who used to keep at least one of the books with her at all times, like the bible. She always complained that her mom thought it was sorcery and believed that her love for the books would somehow cause her to grow up and eventually become a weirdo magician like David Blaine—either that or one of those tarot card readers that are always at arts festivals. I didn’t exactly agree with her mom because she was a super religious and condemned everything outside of the Fourth Street Baptist New Beacon of the Everlasting Tabernacle of Life Church as unholy, but I sort of get where she was coming from. Chloe thought the meaning of life was in the Harry Potter series.

I leaned against the counter at work, bored stiff, watching one of the neighborhood high school kids engrossed in one of the Harry Potter books. I think the kid’s name was Jeremy but I couldn’t be sure because my memory was crap. I just knew the kid is a little strange. What fourteen year-old is purposely awake at eight-thirty every Saturday morning, sitting in a coffee shop reading Harry Potter? You’d think it had just been released the way this kid’s eyes were getting bigger and bigger with each sentence he read. How he managed to not know the ending was beyond me. Even I knew how the thing ended. Clearly he wasn’t a Wikipedia user.

I frowned because then again, little weird ass, non-Wikipedia-using Jeremy will probably end up being the next Mark Zuckerberg or something since in this world, that’s kind of how shit happens.

I sighed and picked at my now purple nail polish as I flipped through my Macro notes while I still had some downtime. It was Saturday so in a couple of hours when the campus kids finally woke up from their hangover slumbers I’d have the overwhelming joy of pouring coffee for them. In the year that I’d been working at Aroma, I’d found that there’s nothing more stimulating than serving college kids who ideally should have better things to do with their Saturdays than sip lattes and discuss meaningless pop culture happenings disguised as socio-political awareness (“What is it with Kanye West and his outbursts? I actually think he’s making a statement about post-Obama race relations and corporate dominance.”). College kids believe themselves to be very deep.

“Kitten.”

I jerked my head up, my eyes colliding directly with gray pupils. Dammit. How he managed to sneak up on me every time was beyond me.

“Must you always sneak up on me?” I asked aloud, furrowing my brow, although it was difficult because he was so damn handsome, it was nearly impossible to frown and look at him at the same time. He had on another white form-fitting v-neck with a pair of worn black jeans today.

He grinned disarmingly and shook his head.

“If you call walking up to a counter in a relatively busy coffee shop that’s located around the corner from a popular campus in broad daylight ‘sneaking up on you’ then yes, I guess I must.”

I rolled my eyes.

“I feel like you really are stalking me now,” I said when he just stood there, looking at me.

“I’m actually waiting for you to take my order.”

I stared at him for a second longer then grabbed a mug and poured him a cup of plain coffee.

“You remembered,” he said, sounding a combination of happy and impressed.

I rolled my eyes again. “Yes, that was so very difficult.”

“You said you had a bad memory yesterday… or wait, did you forget?”

He laughed like he’d actually said something funny.

“Aw, come on, Kitten,” he joked in his raspy baritone, his smirk back in place. “That was a little funny.”

He studied me as he leaned his hip against the counter, making himself totally at home.

“I think your button is lying,” he said after a few seconds of silence.

“Huh?”

“Your button,” he said again in his slow drawl, nodding toward my right breast. “It’s lying.”

I glanced down at the button that said “COFFEE MAKES ME HAPPY” and rolled my eyes again, unable to stop myself from grinning.

“So, how’d you learn to play the bass?” he asked casually, interest lighting his smoky eyes.

I shrugged, caught a little off-guard by his sudden change of subject. “I just… could play.”

“So, you taught yourself?” he asked. Again, he looked impressed. I found myself kind of liking his impressed look.

“Yeah. I was having a bad day, found my Pop’s bass in the closet and started messing around with it. I sucked at first, obviously. But it didn’t take too long for me to get the hang of it.”

He nodded and smiled. I was happy to see his impressed look again so quickly. He glanced over his shoulder at the table we’d sat at the day before.

“I feel kind of weird talking to you with a counter between us.”

I shrugged again. “You know it’s against company policy for me to fraternize with customers while I’m on the clock.”

He leaned forward a little, his eyes on mine. “But I’m really enjoying fraternizing with you.” His eyes skipped down my face to my breasts, causing heat to spread everywhere his eyes touched. “Besides, you’re already breaking company policy with all the eye rolling you’ve done this morning.” He nodded toward my HAPPY button. “Eye rolling is pretty much the exact opposite of ‘happy’.”

I stared at him blankly.

“Please?” he said, tilting his head a little when I didn’t move, flashing the half-dimple in his right cheek. Damn he was cute.

“Okay,” I huffed dramatically. I grabbed my own coffee, nodding for him to lead the way.

Jacinta Howard is a writer and avid music lover who resides in the Atlanta area with her daughter and husband. Currently the entertainment editor at Upscale Magazine, she finds her happy place deep in the pages of a great novel, on the beach listening to good music and hanging with her family.

We are absolutely in love with this cover for Monica Murphy’s HER DESTINY! HER DESTINY is the sequel to Monica Murphy’s HIS REVERIE. Be sure to add this one to your TBR pile, folks!

Add HER DESTINY on Goodreads

About HER DESTINY:

I knew from the moment I first saw him he was the one. The only boy I could ever want.
The only boy I could ever love.

They say he’s bad for me.

But I know he’s not.

Until the day he rejects me.

And breaks my heart.

Everything changes in the blink of an eye. My entire life as I’ve known it is…gone. Secrets are revealed. Promises once made are irrevocably broken. There’s no way my family can get back to what we once were.

So when Nicholas Fairfield walks back into my life like he never left it, I’m furious. Thrilled. Irritated. Excited.

Despite my confusion, I want to be with him. I love him. But danger lurks where we least expect it. Someone will do whatever it takes to tear us apart. All I know is: I won’t let them.

Don’t forget to read HIS REVERIE while you wait…

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About HIS REVERIE:

I knew from the moment I first saw her she was the one. The only girl I could ever want.

The only girl I could ever love.

She is light.

I am darkness.

She is innocent.

I’ve done too much.

She is good.

I am bad.

She is my every dream.

I should be her every nightmare.

We come from different worlds. She’s…perfect. And I’m…

Not.

Somehow she wants me anyway. So we’ll grasp at what we can. We’re going to make this summer count. She’s my secret. And I’m hers.

The problem with secrets is they never last for long. And when others discover we’re together, they’ll do whatever it takes to keep us apart. All I know is: I won’t let them.

Because Reverie Hale? She’s mine.

About Monica Murphy:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Monica Murphy is a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite. A wife and mother of three, she writes New Adult and contemporary romance for Bantam and Avon. She is the author of One Week Girlfriend and Second Chance Boyfriend.

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