ETBB Designs

British hotelier Ian Gregson had it all – wealth, good looks, power, and a share in his family’s worldwide, multi-billion dollar luxury hotel chain. His very name was synonymous with sophistication and elegance, and any woman he wanted could be his with just a look. But the only woman he truly desired was strictly forbidden to him for too many reasons to count.

Tessa Lockwood was young, beautiful, and lonely, despite the fact that she was a married woman. Her life had not been an easy one, and the extravagant world she caught glimpses of as an employee of the Gregson Hotel Group was far beyond anything she could ever dream of. She could no more imagine herself ensconced in that sort of luxurious lifestyle than she could attracting the attention of her handsome, debonair boss.

Ian and Tessa secretly long for each other from afar, never daring to reveal their forbidden attraction to the other, until circumstances bring them together in a very unexpected way. And from that point on, nothing will stand in Ian’s way to finally make her his.

AUTHOR’S NOTE – despite what you might be thinking at this point, there is NO cheating in this story – just an incredibly romantic hero who will make you swoon with the way in which he sweeps the heroine off her feet!

Tessa walked inside the enormous room slowly as he flicked on a lamp somewhere. Ian’s master suite was easily larger than her entire apartment, kitchen and bath included, and every bit as lavish as the rest of the house. She imagined the view from the bank of windows set against the far end of the room would be breathtaking, and she could envision herself curling up on the wide, padded window seat sipping tea and watching the sun rise.  The furniture in here was all dark, polished woods and clean, simple lines, large pieces that nonetheless didn’t dwarf the room. Like the rest of the house, there was nothing the least bit fussy or overdone, and it was very obvious that this was a man’s room.

Tessa’s gaze fell to the imposing four poster bed, easily the largest of its kind she’d ever seen. It was covered in a thick duvet of a pale mocha shade, both luxurious and simple at the same time. She couldn’t resist running her hand over it lightly, the fabric soft and almost velvety to the touch.

“Do you like it, Tessa?”

She whirled to face Ian, who was standing just behind her. He’d removed his suit jacket and tie as she’d been inspecting the room, and her breath caught at the splendid sight of his white shirt stretching across the broad expanse of his chest and shoulders.

Aware that he was waiting for her reply, she nodded and then glanced away abruptly. “It’s wonderful, Ian. This is – way beyond anything I could have ever imagined. I’ve never seen so much – well, I suppose splendor is a good word for it.”

Tessa shivered in reaction as he came up behind her, pressing his body against hers and lightly running his fingertips up and down her bare arms.

“I’ve wanted you here in my house – my room – my bed for so long now, darling,” he murmured in her ear, his lips caressing the side of her throat. At the same time, his arms circled her waist, one hand splayed over her belly as he pulled her in closer. “I never imagined it would actually happen, though. Seeing you here now like this – tell me I’m not dreaming again, Tessa.”

The pleading tone of his voice startled her, for he sounded almost desperate. She was quick to reassure him.

“You aren’t dreaming. I’m really here. But I’m the one who feels like she’s in some fantastic dream world,” she confessed.

His tongue began to trace erotic little patterns around her ear before he gently nibbled on the lobe. “If you aren’t ready for this, I promise I’ll understand. I won’t ever pressure you, Tessa. So tell me – should I drive you home or will you stay here with me?”

Tessa closed her eyes as her head fell back onto his shoulder, one of his hands now stroking her hip and then up the side of her rib cage. “What – what happens if I stay?”

Ian’s voice grew huskier, and was filled with so much raw passion that she felt she might swoon. “Then I do what I’ve dreamed about doing since the first time I met you – undress you slowly, lay you out on my bed, and then taste and touch every inch of this beautiful body.” His hand slid up her abdomen to cup her breast, his thumb brushing masterfully over her erect nipple. “After that I’ll slide inside of you, all the way in, and stay there for a long time. Hours, maybe days. After all, I’ve got two years of unfulfilled fantasies to satisfy.”

“Ah, that’s so good,” she whispered roughly, as his hand squeezed her breast, his fingers plucking the nipple through the fabric of her dress. “Please, Ian.”

“Tell me first, Tessa,” he demanded. “Will you stay – or should I take you home?”

Tessa cried out as one of his hands slid down to cup her sex. “Oh, God! S-stay! I want to stay here with you.”

It has been a very long time since I’ve been as engrossed in a book as I have in this one! And now I have finished I am feeling pretty bereft! I have loved spending a few evenings this last week in the company of Ian and Tessa and their absolutely beautiful love story.

In this book we have an immensely good looking hotelier, Ian, who to be honest seems as though he has been married to his job for the best part of his life. In walks the shy and retiring but beautiful Tessa and literally turns is life upside down.

It has been a refreshing change to read a book about a male lead character who is just genuinely amazing and not tainted in any way. Ian is just a genuine, hardworking and fiercely loyal gentleman and as a book boyfriend he is just about perfect! Oh and he’s pretty experienced tin eh bedroom department too!

We also meet Tessa and out of the pair she has had an appalling start in life but still somehow managed to come through the other side intact and is such a sweet kind hearted person whom you root for from the beginning. She really wouldn’t hurt a fly and it actually broke my heart she you discover the true reality of her marriage and how she ended up with her husband!

This is just a beautiful journey of discovery for Tessa and one of the most romantic and simply heartwarming books I have read in a long time. I love the multiple voices in which Janet writes this story and the different perspectives fill out the story nicely. It is also a stand alone and although there is some reference to things that happen in an earlier book, it isn’t necessary to have read that to enjoy this truly stunning story. And can I just say that Ian will make even the coldest of hearts melt – his words and emotions at times are absolutely heart stopping! And I forgot to mention it’s pretty hot too!

The lack of angst and of anything remotely complicated in the storyline was so refreshing and I must admit that as I am writing this review I feel slightly sad that my time with Ian and Tessa is over. I have to admit that this is the first book of Janet’s that I have read and I am heading straight to one click the first book in this series just because I want more!

Loved, loved, loved the book – what more can I say! Stunning!

Five perfect romance stars from me!

Janet is a lifelong resident of the San Francisco Bay Area, and currently resides on the northern California coast with her husband Steve and Golden Retriever Max. She worked for more than two decades in the financial services industry before turning her focus to producing running events. She is a former long-distance runner, current avid yoga practitioner, is addicted to Pinterest, likes to travel and read. She has been writing for more than three decades, with her first e-book Serendipity published in December 2013. Splendor is book two of six in the Inevitable series, each book a standalone with no cliffhangers.

COPIA | iTUNES

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June 16

Naughty and smutty book blog |Books are Love

June 17

StarAngels’ Reviews | Battery Operated Book Blog | Emthebookbabe’s Book blog

June 18

Deal Sharing Aunt | Summer’s Book Blog | spreading the word with Denise&Donna

June 19

Crystal’s Many Reviewers | Roberta’s Dreamworld

June 20

Foxylutely Book Reviews |Ramblings of a Book Lunatic | Books A to Z

The Beats in Rift
Ker Dukey
Release day ~ June 13th

Blurb:

I was invisible, until they saw me.

When circumstance forced me and the Jacob twins
to spend two weeks of the summer together,
the bond we formed would impact us all,
altering our lives.
Fate, entwining us forever.
They became my best friends, my family, my first love.
With their love came their father’s hate!
Love is powerful but also painful and destructive
when it’s torn between three people.
When my mother’s reputation and their father’s vile actions
damage that love, that friendship, it changes the dynamics of our trio setting me on a path of love, loss and impossible decisions.

Jared the beautiful rogue, who pushed her limits,
opened her eyes and owned her heart.
Their love was powerful, everlasting… until he abandoned her.
Justin, loyal and true, picked her up when she was left fragmented.
He made a place for himself in her heart and would fight to keep it.
When both twins come in and out of Meadows life, leaving damage and hurt in their wake will she ever choose one or the other, or leave them both without the beats in their heart?

My review:

***** Five angsty and heartbreaking stars!

This is a heartbreaking tale of one woman and two very different men who look alike.  At first after reading the blurb I was expecting a very twisted sort of love triangle going on and if I am being host I’m not a massive fan of them.  However, this book surprised me and I can honestly say its been one of the most engaging reads I’ve had in a while.

We meet Meadow who we quickly realise has only two stable and supportive presences in her life, twin brothers Justin and Jared.  They too have their issues and you sense that their own lives aren’t perfect either but for years they forge on the three of them against the world.

It is evident that both boys feel something for Meadow and what follows is the sometimes tragic, sad and most heart wrenching story of Meadow’s life and how both boys are present with her at various times over the course of a few years.

You can tell that each of them in their own way loves her and just how various series of events mould how Meadow’s life path flows.  Yes, she does have a relationship with both twins but loosely the first half of the book sets the scene as to how she ends up with one twin and tries to forge a life for herself and he second half of the book continues with the second twin making his presence known (I won’t name then as I think this will spoil the story so I urge you to buy and read to find out!)

Meadow never really had a fighting chance to be happy owing to the interference of the boys father and ultimately her life path is paved by his actions in the background and never truly through her own choices.  I was eager to read on though to find out whether she finally makes a choice as to her own feelings and breaks free from the mouth and actions of their father.

I loved the dual perspective of the storytelling and the love triangle of sorts never felt frustrating or annoying as I had expected.  Meadow was a solid character and throughout out I had empathy for her and Justin and Jared were very well represented as being very different characters and honestly I never felt like they were twins, nor did I ever get the impression that she felt one was replacing the other.

The plot was engaging and had a couple of small twists at the end which left me satisfied and also the ending was the right one for me!

I would highly recommend this!

Buying links:

Amazon UK 
Amazon US 

Author bio:

I have always had a passion for storytelling, whether it be through lyrics or bed time stories with my sisters. I wanted to be an actress growing up so I could live many roles but I learned early on that my mind was too active, I would want to change the script. I would watch films and think of ways they could of improved the story if they took another direction.

My mum would always have a book in her hand when I was young and passed on her love for reading, inspiring me to venture into writing my own. I tend to have a darker edge to my writing. Not all love stories are made from light, some are created in darkness but are just as powerful and worth telling too.

When I’m not lost in the world of characters I love spending time with my family. I’m a mum and that comes first in my life, but when I do get down time, I love attending music concerts with my younger sister, who shares my reading soul, we are two peas in a pod.

Author links:

Goodreads link for The Beats In Rift

Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Email here at: kerdukey@gmail.com

Other works by Ker Dukey

THE BROKEN

THE BROKEN PARTS OF US

MY SOUL KEEPER

Book Title: Melting in to you (Due South Book 2)
Author: Tracey Alvarez
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: June 16, 2014
Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

Big, sexy men who don’t relate well to kids need not apply…

Kezia Murphy plays her widow card well. When you don’t trust people not to let you down, it’s easier to not get involved—and getting involved with a man who makes her skin sizzle just by looking at him would be una pazzia—crazy! Four years ago while Kezia’s daughter, Zoe, battled leukaemia, a tragic accident stole her husband’s life. Starting over in the little town of Oban where she’s adopted into the close knit community on Stewart Island, Kezia and her daughter are all the family the other needs. Except Zoe yearns for more.

New Zealand’s worst candidate for instant fatherhood…

Ben doesn’t do gooey emotional stuff. He doesn’t do cosy home and family. And he sure isn’t the big teddy-bear Kezia Murphy, the woman he secretly fantasises about, thinks he is. So when Jade, his surprise eight-year-old daughter arrives on his doorstep, he’s a D-minus student struggling to pass a crash-course in parenting.

They’ll either melt or raze their lives to the ground…

When the sparks of attraction between Kezia and Ben fan into an inferno, Ben doesn’t know how much longer the layers of resistance around his heart can resist melting into the gooey mess he fears. The more he fights it the harder it is to make the choice that will destroy the family he now longs to claim.

Tracey Alvarez lives in the Coolest Little Capital in the World (a.k.a Wellington, New Zealand) where she’s yet to be buried under her to-be-read book pile by Wellington’s infamous wind—her Kindle’s a lifesaver! Married to a wonderfully supportive IT guy, she has two teens who would love to be surgically linked to their electronic devices.

Fuelled by copious amounts of coffee, she’s the author of contemporary romantic fiction set predominantly in New Zealand. Small-towns, close communities, and families are a big part of the heart-warming stories she writes. Oh, and hot, down-to-earth heroes—Kiwi men, in other words.

When she’s not writing, thinking about writing, or procrastinating about writing, Tracey can be found reading sexy books of all romance genres, nibbling on smuggled chocolate bars, or bribing her kids to take over the housework.

Kezia swayed toward him, his gravity too strong to resist. His fingers still stroked her knuckles, distracting her from the close bulk of his body.

“How do you see me now?” she asked.

If his legs weren’t in her way, she would’ve kicked herself for the breathy, flirty words falling from her mouth. Her toes curled inside her slippers. She wasn’t a flirt—well, she hadn’t been a flirt for many, many years. Had assumed she’d forgotten how in the midst of rebuilding her and Zoe’s lives.

“As a woman. A beautiful woman.” His low voice twined around her, as rich and luxurious as the most expensive silk.

“You shouldn’t. You have to stop.” She tugged her hand from the sweet torture of his fingers and pushed against his chest. His broad, muscled, warm-to-the-touch chest.

Big mistake.

Fine lines around his eyes crinkled. “What I’ve seen can’t be unseen.”

Kezia’s gaze dropped to his lips, outlined with the dark growth of five o’clock shadow. Soft and rough and oh-so-bad for her. “Ben—”

He dipped his head, and like a flicked switch, her eyelids slipped down and her lips parted. If her mind had forgotten those exquisite moments before a kiss, her body hadn’t. Breathless anticipation squeezed low in her belly at Ben’s salty, smoky scent. His soft breath feathered her skin. One large, calloused hand covered her fingers, which clutched fistfuls of his tee shirt.

“Easy.” He followed the word with the pressure of his lips to hers, the impact of his touch like a zap of static electricity.

Her eyes popped open, a shiver skating down her spine. Ben stared, his eyes narrowed, lashes masking his expression. Had he felt the spark of intense connection too? Or was it the overactive imagination of a woman who hadn’t had sex in almost half a decade? Sexually frustrated widow over-reacts to a simple kiss. Like a newspaper headline running through her mind. Mortifying.

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Hardline

Erica has given Blake her trust and her love, determined that they will conquer any challenges together. But when he demands more and tests the boundaries of her commitment, she is forced to face the dark desires he’s kept hidden.

As their bonds grow tighter, their enemies close in. With Erica’s start-up in danger, Blake’s frustration grows as he tries to protect her from those who would ruin her only to get to him. Can their relationship survive when Blake’s enemies cross the line and threaten more than her livelihood?

Despite Blake Landon’s controlling ways, the young and wealthy hacker finally won the trust of the woman he loves. Internet entrepreneur Erica Hathaway broke down the walls that kept her from opening her heart and her business to Blake.

Ready to start this new chapter in her life, Erica is determined not to let anything come between them, even if that means giving Blake back some of the control he craves in and out of the bedroom.

But when demons from her past threaten their future, Erica makes a decision that could change their lives forever.

Determined to overcome a difficult past, Erica Hathaway learns early on to make it on her own. Days after her college graduation, she finds herself face to face with a panel of investors who will make or break her fledgling startup. The only thing she didn’t prepare for was going weak in the knees over an arrogant and gorgeous investor who seems determined to derail her presentation.

Billionaire and rumored hacker Blake Landon has already made his fortune in software, and he’s used to getting what he wants. Captivated by Erica’s drive and unassuming beauty, he’s wanted nothing more than to possess her since she stepped into his boardroom. Determined to win her over, he breaks down her defenses and fights for her trust, even if it means sacrificing a level of control he’s grown accustomed to.

But when Blake uncovers a dark secret from Erica’s past, he threatens not just her trust, but the life she’s fought so hard to create.

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Four days….

RELEASES Friday 20th June 2014

Book Title: Gorgeous Rotten Scoundrel
Author: Nina G. Jones
Genre: Erotic Romance (Humor)
Release Date: June 15, 2014
Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

He was a pig, a jerk, selfish, callous, crude, tactless, prone to outbursts and gorgeous. The kind of gorgeous where you didn’t even attempt to hide the fact that you were staring. I knew the type: His entire life he has coasted on his good looks, artificial charm, and sex appeal. Everyone wanted to be on him or be him. I had been hurt by jerks like him before. He was like those guys but far worse.

I was the unfortunate sucker to be offered a gig I desperately needed as his live-in chef for a Summer in the Hamptons. But I wasn’t like the other girls, the models and socialites who came through the revolving door of his bedroom. I would bite the bullet, take the gig, deal with his sexist comments, his expectation that I would fawn over him, and have no problem letting the door hit my ass on the way out when I was done.

But then something unexpected happened that changed everything and I realized that there maybe more to him than the labels I had affixed to his character. Maybe. But if he really wanted me, it wasn’t going to be easy, not like everything else in his life. He was going to have to work, I was going to make him miserable. He was going to hate wanting me just as much as I hated myself for wanting him back.

Heath Hillabrand: International Supermodel. Womanizer.

Gorgeous Rotten Scoundrel.

Nina G. Jones was born and raised in Bronx, NY and currently resides in Milwaukee, WI with her husband and two crazy Boxers.

She is the author of the Strapped series, and is currently working on an Erotic Romance, Gorgeous Rotten Scoundrel, slated to be released in Spring 2014.

Nina lives a pretty wholesome life, but is fascinated with the dark side of things and has the mouth of a sailor. She loves watching true crime TV shows and it creeps her husband out to no end. Nina has a degree in Psychology and uses her characters as a vehicle to explore the human psyche.

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SYNOPSIS

Welcome to the Point

There’s a difference between a bad boy and a boy who’s bad . . . meet Shane Baxter.

Sexy, dark, and dangerous, Bax isn’t just from the wrong side of the tracks, he is the wrong side of the tracks. A criminal, a thug, and a brawler, he’s the master of bad choices, until one such choice landed him in prison for five years. Now Bax is out and looking for answers, and he doesn’t care what he has to do or who he has to hurt to get them. But there’s a new player in the game, and she’s much too innocent, much too soft…and standing directly in his way.

Dovie Pryce knows all about living a hard life and the tough choices that come with it. She’s always tried to be good, tried to help others, and tried not to let the darkness pull her down. But the streets are fighting back, things have gone from bad to worse, and the only person who can help her is the scariest, sexiest, most complicated ex-con The Point has ever produced.

Bax terrifies her, but it doesn’t take Dovie long to realize that some boys are just better when they’re bad.

EXCERPT

“It was fend for yourself or starve around my house when I was little. I learned to make do.”
She swiveled around in the chair so we were facing each other. “Is that why you started stealing? That’s how you fended for yourself?”
I put the empty plate on the coffee table and gave her a stony look. She was always trying to make me into something better than I really was.
“No. People had stuff that I wanted, so I took it from them. Cars, TVs, credit cards . . . I wasn’t stealing to make do, I was stealing because I wanted stuff that I was never going to work for.”
She made a face at me and turned back to the computer. “That’s not entirely true.”
I gathered up my plate and her now- empty one. I needed a smoke and to get laid, and not particularly in that order.
“What do you know about it?”
She lifted a shoulder and let it fall. “I know you love that car and you didn’t steal it. I know that you wanted to do something nice for your mom, so you used your talents, as felonious at they might be, to get her this house. It wasn’t all about taking stuff just because you wanted it.”
I wasn’t used to anyone else being able to pick my true motivations out from the smoke screen I usually threw up. I couldn’t say I liked it very much.
“I’m gonna step outside for a minute.” She waved me off and I grumbled at her under my breath. Spending time with this girl was more headache than it was worth, even if I could still taste her all across my tongue and feel her like she was embedded under my admittedly thick skin.
I let the smoke of a cigarette fill and escape out of my lungs and tried to get a handle on my rampant thoughts. There was just too much going on. Everything with Race, Titus popping back up on my radar, this girl twining her way into the very fabric of who I was. I wasn’t sure I could handle any of it with barely a month of freedom under my belt. I wasn’t the kind of man who was big on self- discovery and personal growth, only right now it didn’t seem like fate wanted to give me the option of burying my head in the sand.

MEET THE AUTHOR

I’m supposed to share interesting details about myself so that my readers get to know me so here we go in no particular order: I’m an natural redhead even though I haven’t seen my real hair color in years, I’m a big fan of tattoos and have a half sleeve on either arm and various other pieces all over the place, I’ve been in the bar industry since I was in college and it has always offered interesting insight into how men and women interact with each other, I have 3 dogs that are all crazy, I live in Colorado and love the snow, I love music and in all reality wish I could be a rock star not a writer or a bartender but I have zero talent so there is that.
I love to write, love to read and all I’m interested in is a good story with interesting characters that make the reader feel something.
Thanks for taking the time to check my stuff out….

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MY 5* REVIEW

Isabel got my attention for Troy’s story with Living in Sin and I have been eagerly awaiting the release of Unforgivable Sin for what feels like forever! We finally get to hear about Troy and Emilie and the hint of attraction that we saw in Living in Sin.

I love Troy and can appreciate to some extent why he has followed the life path he has. And Emilie has fallen hard but boy does she not realise the baggage that comes with life with Troy. I anticipated that Troy was pretty well unmovable in his pursuit of his career as an escort. Couple this with his inability to commit to a relations hip and you have a recipe for total love disaster!

However, the path of true love for Emilie and Troy doesn’t run smoothly and for reasons I didn’t actually expect! This book should come with a health warning – it has sizzling romance, angst and a whole bucketload of bat-s*** crazy thrown in for good measure! There were seriously times in this book that my panties were dripping and not from the hot sex either! Isabel has captured the outpouring of love and devotion in some scenes perfectly (and without dialogue too I might add) and my tummy still has butterflies from reading them! I almost felt like I shouldn’t keep reading because they almost felt too intimate! Amazing writing!

I loved the curveballs that Isabel threw in their story and again the dual perspective was a definite winner for me! And again this is a complete story in itself but leaves the door open for the next tale in the escorts series – Marcs story!! Roll on release day please – he has totally captured my attention AGAIN! I CANNOT WAIT for more!

 

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Book Title: Shooting Star
Author: Arianne Richmonde
Genre: New Adult Romance
Release Date: July 7, 2014
Hosted by:Book Enthusiast Promotions

Meet two dysfunctional products of Hollywood.

Star Davis and Jake Wild: they’ve met their match.

19-year-old, Oscar winning Star Davis is an A-list movie star. Hell-raisingly beautiful, she tosses men aside like used Kleenex. She commands 20 million per movie—or at least did until drugs, alcohol, wild partying, and a police arrest sent her kicking and screaming into rehab.

Now she’s out, squeaky clean, and determined to win the role she was born to play: the lead in Skye’s The Limit—ready to re-conquer Hollywood.

26-year-old British director Jake Wild lives up to his name: he’s the wildest player in town. He’s also Hollywood royalty. From a family dynasty of powerful directors and producers, Jake’s home is a movie set. With reams of hot starlets at his beck and call, Jake can get any woman he wants. But with his new movie, Skye’s The Limit in pre-production, he’s decided it’s time to get serious and change his philandering ways.

Star is “liability on legs” and Jake doesn’t want her near his precious movie. But Star has wily ways of getting what she wants. And apart from the role of Skye, what she wants is Jake right where he belongs:

Under her thumb.

Lights, camera, action . . .

But the action is not what Jake expected.

New Adult Contemporary romance 17+

THE FIRST THING EVERYBODY wanted to know about me (apart from who I was dating) was how the hell did a nineteen-year-old get (a) so rich and (b) so screwed-up? I asked myself the same thing, daily. When I glanced at myself in a passing mirror I’d say, Hey Star, what happened? And when? When exactly was it that things got so . . . so chaotic? And what, girl, are you going to do about it? I often wondered how I’d been so lucky, but I also took it all for granted. The way movie stars generally do when they feel fame is their birthright.

Still, I was no fool, every day I counted my lucky stars and knew that at any given click of God’s big fat thumb and index finger, all this could be taken away from me.

Not that I was some religious God freak. I had never even gone to church. But when the chips were down I found myself making deals with God. And after I’d hit an all-time low at rehab, I promised God—the last night I was there, in fact—that I’d be a good girl if he could just procure that part for me. The role I’d had my eye on.

The role I was born to play: Skye in Skye’s The Limit.

Most people think that actors are super-confident. But no. We’re all terrified. Terrified that we’ll be out of a job. That the last big success was a fluke—that we’ll be discovered as phonies. And that someone more beautiful, more talented or more something-or-other will topple us from our pedestals. The truth is, we are fakes. All of us. That’s the nature of our job. We lie. We trick people into believing we are someone else. When we cry, sometimes it’s real and other times an act. And nobody can tell the difference. We’re so good at what we do that we even fool ourselves.

Especially ourselves.

We glimmer on the red carpet. We are glorious. Victorious—but we’re also walking time bombs. Waiting to detonate. Waiting for our secret to be revealed. The big secret being that we’re no better than anybody else.

We get zits. We look like shit before Hair and Make-up gets their hands on us. People dump us. Hey, even Marilyn Monroe was treated like crap by various men.

Even goddam, luminescent, Marilyn freakin’ Monroe.

And although I wasn’t aware of it then, I was as vulnerable as Marilyn when I walked out of that clinic and stepped—in my Choos—into a velvet-carpeted limo, purring like a welcoming pussycat, waiting to take me away from the ugly world of imperfection, back to my cocoon of beautiful chaos, that shone so brilliantly on the outside—like a floating bubble that mirrored a cerulean-blue sky and the sun which glittered its golden rays—blinding all my fans.

That wonderful, hopeful afternoon I knew I was back.

Back to conquer Hollywood.

Arianne Richmonde is the USA TODAY bestselling author of The Pearl Series: Shades of Pearl, Shadows of Pearl, Shimmers of Pearl, Pearl, and Belle Pearl. Also the USA TODAY Bestseller, Stolen Grace, a suspense novel. When she isn’t writing you can find her hanging out with her husband and family of furry animals in the French countryside. Arianne loves hearing from readers and is thrilled to bring you her latest three-part novella series, Shooting Star, Falling Star, and Shining Star which will be released at 20 day intervals throughout the summer – perfect for the beach!

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