Showing posts with label Excerpt. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Going All the Way by Cynthia Cooke!

Going All The Way by Cynthia Cooke

Genre: Contemporary, Romance

Release Date: February 8th, 2016

After a failed marriage and quitting her high-pressure job, Carrie Steinhem is ready for uncomplicated fun. Love? Not what she’s looking for. She’d rather crash a wedding with her friends and find a hot hookup. The bride’s father is onto her, though. But just as her night out veers toward public embarrassment, a sizzling stranger sweeps in and claims Carrie as his date.

Potential hookup? Check. If she doesn’t get cold feet first.

Ryan Burton is on the fast track to a promotion…assuming he can avoid distractions and nail this new account. Except the woman he rescued at a friend’s wedding ends up not only being his new neighbor—she’s his client’s ex-wife. And his client has every intention of winning her back.

Carrie and Ryan would love to leave complicated alone, but when two people share a duplex and irresistible chemistry, temptation—and love—is right around the corner…

Purchase

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Entangled

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Excerpt

“Yes, I know. I blew it. The truth is, I can’t stop thinking about you and the time we had together, as little time as it was. I want to try again. I know it sounds crazy, and I told myself when I was chasing you out here that I wasn’t going to do this. I wasn’t going to ask you out again, and yet here I am doing exactly that.”

Finally the truth. “But you’re still leaving soon.”

“Yes. But what I’m going to do next is up in the air. I haven’t quite decided, and I’m feeling off-balance. Out of my element.”

She smirked. “Yes, I’m aware of that.”

“Hey now,” he protested.

“And you think I can help you with that?”

“No, I have to figure out what it is I want on my own, but I can’t do that until I fix things with you.”

“Why’s that?”

He hesitated, his blue gaze meeting hers and connecting. “Because I can’t think about anything else but you.”

His words were a sucker punch to the gut. She wanted to believe him so badly. To trust what he was saying was true. But she was so afraid if she let him in, if she gave him all she had, if she started to believe they could have something together, he’d eventually turn his back on her and let her down. Again. She resumed running. Slowly, if for no other reason than to put some distance between them. He was getting to her: the sincerity in his eyes, the truth in his tone. She couldn’t say for sure whether he was being honest, but she could say that she knew how he was feeling, because she was feeling it too.

“I was looking forward to taking my buddy Riley here to the beach that day,” she said, dipping that first toe into proverbial waters.

“We would have had a great time.”

“So I might be open to giving it a try. As long as this isn’t about sex.” She looked at him. “That’s not what this is about, is it? Are you just hoping to get back into my pants?"

"I would never..." he said, his hand on his chest. And she couldn't help laughing.

"Yes, you would."

"Okay, I would,” he admitted. “But no, that's not why I'm here. Though I really do like watching you run in those pants."

"Funny!”

She’d missed him. She'd missed this, right here—their ease with each other. And the way he could make her laugh. God, she missed laughing.

"All right,” she agreed. “Tomorrow. Same time, same place. But you're going to have to keep up. And if you can..."

“Yes?” he asked hopefully.

“Then maybe after we win the Costas account we can take Riley to the beach.” And with that she took off, leaving him in the dust.

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About the Author

Cynthia Cooke is an award-winning author who has published several books with Harlequin/Silhouette, Steeple Hill, and Entangled Publishing. She has a deep affection for romance, thrillers and all things that go bump in the night. So if you choose to delve into one of her stories, don’t forget to turn on the lights. Cynthia’s books aren’t sweet and they aren’t for the faint of heart.
Embrace the Seduction and prepare to get naughty and have a little fun!

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

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Giveaway

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Monday, April 7, 2014

Book Highlight: LOVE'S PARADOX by Laura Kreitzer & $50 GC Giveaway!

Paperback, 1st, 288 pages

Expected publication: May 5th 2014 by Revolution Publishing, Inc.

Stalked by her abusive ex-fiancé, Rae Zachery retaliates by singing karaoke and spilling all their dirty secrets to the entire bar. When her ex attempts to silence her brazen performance, sexy, leather-clad Parker comes to her rescue and soundly punches her ex in the face. As valiant as that may be, Rae finds Parker’s violent assistance unsettling, yet she can’t help but be drawn to him and his tragic past.

Fighting her attraction for Parker is a battle Rae can’t win, and soon their night of sharing secrets morphs into an undeniable bond. But fate won’t so easily relinquish her grip on their happily-ever-after. Instead of blissfully skipping into obscurity, Rae and Parker are subjected to her ex-fiancé’s vicious proclivities. Who knew love could hurt so good?

"Ah, screw this. I don’t wait for him to make the first move; I kiss him."

You can read the first 5 chapters of LOVE'S PARADOX {{{ HERE }}}

Or request a copy on Netgalley -- Currently available under READ NOW.

For a limited time only you can pre-order LOVE'S PARADOX for $2.99 on Barnes and Noble & iTunes!

iBooks

Barnes & Noble

On May 5th LOVE'S PARADOX will be back at regular price. Get your copy today!

Join the Facebook Release Party!

https://www.facebook.com/events/770397436311246/

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Make sure to check back daily for extra entries!

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Laura Kreitzer is a best-selling fantasy and science fiction author who hails from western Kentucky. Her full-time 9-5 job used to be working in a lab devoted to water dye-tracing investigations at Western Kentucky University, though her passion was always writing. After seven years of dedicating her life to the environment, she made the tough decision to leave the university to pursue her writing career. Now Laura has two series and eight novels published, with several more in the works.

Website † Facebook † Twitter † GoodReads

Friday, February 14, 2014

Review & Giveaway: Cover to Covers by Alexandrea Weis {Blog Tour}

Title: Cover to Covers

Author: Alexandrea Weis

Release Date: February 1, 2014

Genre: New Adult Romance

A man driven by his desires.

Tyler Moore is considered cold, ruthless, and determined to get everything he wants. CEO of a flourishing oil company, he thrives on order and never gives up control to anyone.

The woman from his past.

Monique Delome has left her unhappy past behind to pursue her dream of becoming a writer. Love is something she believes is better suited to the pages of her novels and not meant for real life.

Whether in the boardroom or the bedroom, Tyler Moore is always in charge. But when Monique Delome walks back into his life, everything changes. A successful romance author, all the sexy leading men Monique writes about strangely remind everyone of Tyler. Intrigued, Tyler sets out to seduce the one woman he could never forget. Soon Tyler gets more than he bargained for, and his grip on his well-ordered life is turned upside down.

Tyler Moore is about to find out what happens when a romantic tale jumps from the pages and comes to life between the sheets.

Monique is a big time romance author. Tyler is a big oil and gas tycoon, and Moe is the one that got away. The only woman Tyler has ever felt anything for, even being married twice, she's never been far from his thoughts. Luck, and a book convention brings them together again.

First, I should probably say that this is the first time I've ever read a romance where the characters are so much older than myself. Tyler just turned 50 and Monique is in her early 40's. I'm not complaining at all, it was just different for me. I hear that women reach their sexual prime in their 40's, but Tyler doesn't seem to have any issue keeping up, he sure has some stamina for a man his age. But seriously, I don't know much about men that age, so what do I know?

I liked the story line here. Tyler and Monique knew each other years ago, they dated for a little while, but things just didn't work out. She had to move back home, and he had a business to run, so he stayed. These two are kind of difficult characters. They're both strong headed and strong willed, but Tyler wants what he wants, and he's never been the type of man to not get what he wants. That is until he gets in too deep and freaks out. Then, they are back to what Moe's issues with getting involved with Tyler again were in the first place. These two have good chemistry though, when they are trying. One thing I didn't really understand, and this may seem kind of silly to point out, was Tyler always trying to hide his smirk. Why? He's cocky, he knows it and so does everyone else, I see no reason for him to hide it. I know it's silly for me to point that little tiny detail out, but I felt like it was contrasting with what his personality actually was.

All in all I did enjoy the book. It was different than what I'm used to, but not in a bad way. I like a change. I'm not the type of reader to get into the same ole story, I need different to really enjoy a book. Cover to Covers did have the general romance formula, but Tyler and Monique were what made the difference.

“If I can be of any further assistance, Mr. Moore,” a peppy blonde with too much black eyeliner said to the man in the impeccably tailored, dark blue Hugo Boss suit. “Please, let me know. I have your suite key.” She pushed the white key-card over the surface of the front desk. “Your usual order of Veuve Clicquot and strawberries will be waiting in your room,” she added with a welcoming smile.

The self-assured gentleman removed his dark Porsche sunglasses and let his deep-set dark brown eyes linger over the young woman’s attractive face. “Afraid I won’t be needing that this time, Missy,” he murmured, getting a glimpse at her nametag.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Mr. Moore. I was informed you are always to have a bottle of Veuve Clicquot waiting in your room whenever you stay with us.”

Wandering over Missy’s stout figure, his eyes fixated on the way her blue blazer clung to her ample bosom. “I usually do when I’m staying here for a relaxing weekend. This time, however, is all business.” He placed his sunglasses in his jacket pocket.

Missy leaned forward, revealing her cleavage as her blue eyes meandered up and down his body. “I am very sorry to hear that, Mr. Moore.”

The flirtatious pout that puckered her red lips made Tyler Moore wipe his hand across his chin, attempting to hide his cocky grin. At six-foot-one, with black, wavy hair outlining his chiseled cheekbones and determined, square jaw, he was used to getting such suggestive looks from the opposite sex. But he knew that looks could only get you so far with a woman.

“How sorry are you?”

Missy’s eyes popped with interest. “I…I’m not sure what you mean, Mr. Moore.”

“How sorry are you that I won’t be having any fun this weekend, Missy?”

She fingered the lapel on her blue blazer adjacent to her right breast. “I would hate to think your stay here would only be about business, Mr. Moore. If there was anything I could do to change that….”

He felt a kick of satisfaction as he gazed into her hopeful eyes. “Perhaps you might come up with a few suggestions of other ways I could spend my weekend in your wonderful hotel? We could go over them later…at the bar, after you get off work.”

The pale blush blossoming on her cheeks was so becoming that Tyler almost began to believe their playful repartee had been worth the effort.

“I’ll think about it, Mr. Moore.”

“You do that, Missy. When you have an answer, you know where to find me.” He motioned to his overnight bag and black suitcase by the desk. “Be a sweetheart, and have the porter take my bags to my room. I have to meet a client in the bar before I go up to my suite.”

The flush on Missy’s cheeks was positively radiant. “Yes, Mr. Moore. Right away.”

Tyler turned from the polished reception desk, unable to hide his smug grin. No matter where he went, the lust in a woman’s eyes never got old. The entire episode with the desk clerk had only reinforced his belief that it was his confidence, and not his looks, that always got a woman to give him what he wanted. He had learned long ago that his handsome face could only take him so far in life, and had made a concerted effort to take control of any situation. It was a philosophy he had incorporated into every arena of his life.

“I’ll have to check back in with sweet little Missy. See how she looks without the blazer.” He strutted across the lobby toward the arched entrance of the Rattlesnake Bar.

A warm glow of honey, onyx, and a contemporary Western-theme greeted him as he stepped into the cool bar. Perched on the brown leather barstools, an array of women sipped on a myriad of colorful alcoholic concoctions while trying to chase away the sweltering afternoon heat. Tyler noted how more than one set of eyes turned his way as he strolled up to the bar. He checked his confidence at the door and pushed all thoughts of possible late night hookups from his mind.

His flourishing oil and gas business was always more important than women. Besides, women were nothing more than a distraction at this point in his life. Having just passed the milestone of his fiftieth birthday, Tyler pondered that perhaps it was time for him to stop pursuing such meaningless liaisons and settle down with a tolerable woman who could cater to all of his needs.

“Two divorces are plenty,” he reasoned as he arrived at the onyx marble and teak-topped bar. Lightly stroking the smooth surface of the marble, he remembered many of the encounters he had experienced in that very bar. Snapshots of blurred faces and forgettable names skipped across his mind. Some of the women had been exciting, a few horrific, but none had been…memorable.

You know who was memorable, don’t you, Ty? His inner voice taunted. She was the one you let slip through your fingers.

Tyler snickered at his self-remonstrations. He hated to admit his inner demon was right, but it was. She had happened so long ago, but he found it funny how advancing age only seemed to make the memories of youth more poignant. It was as if growing older brought into focus the emotions that the impetuosity of youth seemed to blur.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19547372-cover-to-covers

Alexandrea Weis is an advanced practice registered nurse who was born and raised in New Orleans. Her first novel, To My Senses, introduced readers to the world of Nicci Beauvoir and garnered numerous awards and rave reviews. Her popular second Nicci Beauvoir novel, Recovery, won the Gold Medal for best romantic suspense from The Reader’s Favorite Book Awards 2011, and was named best Romantic Suspense novel by the Spring 2011 NABE Pinnacle Book Awards. Her fourth novel, Broken Wings, won best Contemporary Romance by the NABE Pinnacle Book Awards in 2012, was a Silver Medal winner in the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards for Romance, as well as a finalist in the Reader’s Favorite Book Awards for Contemporary Romance for 2012. Her last novel, Acadian Waltz received honorable mention at the Readers’ Favorite Book Awards for Best Contemporary Romance and was a Best Southern Fiction Finalist. A permitted wildlife rehabber with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, Weis rescues orphaned and injured wildlife. She lives with her husband and pets in New Orleans.

Website: http://www.alexandreaweis.com/index.html

Blogspot: http://alexandreaweiscom.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alexandrea-Weis/289566081083949

Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexandreaweis

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1211671.Alexandrea_Weis