When Emily Wayborn
goes home to visit her mom while on hiatus from her hit TV show, she receives a
voicemail from her former best friend, Amber. Though the two were once
notorious party girls, they haven't spoken in years. Although the message might
sound benign to anyone else, Amber uses a safe word that Emily recognizes, a
word they always used to get out of sticky situations during their wild days.
And what's more chilling than the voicemail: it turns out that Amber has gone
missing.
Determined to track down her friend, Emily follows a chain of clues that lead
her to the enigmatic billionaire Reeve Sallis, a hotelier known for his shady
dealings and play boy reputation. Now, in order to find Amber, Emily must
seduce Reeve to learn his secrets and discover the whereabouts of her friend.
But as she finds herself more entangled with him, she finds she's drawn to
Reeve for more than just his connection to Amber, despite her growing fear that
he may be the enemy. When she's forced to choose where her loyalty lies, how
will she decide between saving Amber and saving her heart?
Laurelin Paige is
the NY Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Fixed Trilogy. She's a
sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there's kissing, much to the
embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn't seem to complain,
however. When she isn't reading or writing sexy stories, she's probably
singing, watching Mad Men and the Walking Dead, or dreaming of Adam Levine.
When
the band begins to play, I can’t help but smile. I feel at home.
This beach is my other home, now if only I could dance. As couples begin
to shag on the dance floor, I can’t help but look at Brett’s reaction.
He’s taking it all in and watching their footsteps. I begin to
giggle. “What?” he asks. I stand and take him by the hand. “I
have no clue how to do this.”
“It’s
easy. Just remember, one-two-three rock back. I’ll help you, no
worries.” I wink. After a few songs, he becomes a natural and, we
are laughing, smiling, and dancing like we have been dance partners for
years. When the song ends, they slow things down and Brett never lets go
of my hands. Instead, he pulls me close to him as we sway back and forth
and my lips meet his.
He
takes me from the dance floor and leads me to the marshwalk. We walk hand
in hand from Wicked Tuna to Sisters Marina while looking at all of the fishing
boats and yachts. On our way back, we walk a little slower and stop to
watch the tide flow into the marsh. Brett wraps his arms around me and I
can’t help but look into the clear Carolina night sky and pray this is real.
Anytime I am in the mood for some sweet southern charm I know exactly where I can turn. Casey has a way of wrapping you up in the comfort of home and allowing you to get lost between the pages. I absolutely loved this book! A quick and heartfelt read about choices, consequences and second chances. Sometimes you just have to ride the waves until they crash and see where you land.
Loved the sass and free spirit of Marleigh. Quickly grounded after spring break, Marleigh finds herself on unfamiliar ground forced to put her own feelings aside for the better of another.
GC.....well he had me swooning from the moment he arrived on the pier. Hot, athletic and a southern yankee too! All that charm will have the ladies beating down his door, but there is only one girl that he wants even if he can't have her.
When Marleigh and GC's paths cross again, they find that the sparks are still there but can retracing the night you first met lead you on a path to your future or just remind you of all that has been lost?
A story full of "real" life, Casey will have you on the edge of your seat as you turn the pages and ride the waves of GC and Marleigh's story. Grab your copy today and see what the tides have in store for this couple.
~ Rating ~
~ About the Author ~
Casey Peeler grew up and still lives in
North Carolina with her husband and daughter. Her first passion is teaching
students with special needs. Over the years, she found her way to relax was in
a good book.
After reading Their Eyes Were Watching God by
Zora Neal Hurston her senior year of high school and multiple Nicholas Sparks’
novels, she found a hidden love and appreciation for reading.
Casey is an avid reader, blogger (Hardcover Therapy), and author.
Her perfect day consists of water, sand between her toes, a cold beverage, and
a great book!
Teagan Harper is barely ten years old when she finds herself
orphaned and sent away to live at Raven’s Peak, a Gothic estate on the seaside
cliffs of Maine. Soon, though, her heartache and loneliness are tempered by a
blossoming friendship with the only other child living at Raven’s Peak: Kane
Doyle, only two years older than Teagan and abandoned by his mother. Over the
years, the pair grows inseparable. First they’re pranksters and confidants, but
eventually their feelings change, and best friends turn into soul mates. On the
cusp of Teagan’s departure for a university in Boston, they share a glimpse
into their happily-ever-after and make promises of forever.
But
Teagan and Kane’s engagement and dreams of the future are shattered when Teagan
returns home to find Kane gone from Raven’s Peak—and living with someone new.
Devastated and heartbroken, Teagan cuts ties with her beloved adoptive home and
tries to move on with her life. But years later, when the shocking truth behind
Kane’s betrayal comes to light, Teagan must decide whether to embrace her new
life and let go of her past once and for all, or fight for her dream life with
the only man she’s ever wanted.
Lark O'Bannion learned early that life isn't really like a fairy tale. Parents
don't always love their children unconditionally, damsels, or even terrified
and lonely little girls, are usually left to deal with their distress alone,
Prince Charming rarely, if ever, comes riding to the rescue, and
happily-ever-afters are a lovely concept but, in reality, are few and far
between. When Sebastian Ross rolls into her life on his Harley, with his dark
beauty and inked skin, Lark is willing to admit that maybe she doesn't know as
much as she thinks she does.
Sebastian
Ross wants nothing more than to get out from under the control of his parents
and their desire to force him into a mold. Changing schools in his senior year
isn't an act of rebellion but his attempt to take control of his life by
following his own path. One look into Lark O'Bannion's emerald-green eyes,
though, and control is taken out of Bastian's hands and he will discover that
the only path he wants to follow is the one that leads to her.
~ About the Author ~
L.A. Fiore is the author of several books including: Beautifully Damaged,
Beautifully Forgotten and Always and Forever. She's also the social secretary
for her two children, a tamer of ill-mannered cats, the companion to one
awesome dog and married to her best friend. She likes her wine red, her shrimp
chilled and her social gatherings small and intimate.
Tanner and I abided by the rules. We
stayed on our designated sides of the relationship circle.
Ignoring swarming butterflies.
Brushing off skipped heartbeats.
Settling on lingering stares.
Here’s the secret … a hand extended over that invisible line once,
exponentially changing the equation. I was convinced we could make our
relationship work until Tanner broke the trust he embedded in me from the age
of seven.
One deceit of mega proportions and the relationship we built for
that short month vanished. I swore never to speak to him again and it’s worked.
Until now—two years later, when my brother’s wedding places me face-to-face
with the best man—Tanner McCain.
Leaving one equation to be solved. Can love surface twice?
“Piper.”
He hesitates before joining me on the cement stoop.
I
question why he even searched me out even though it’s been his MO lately, popping
up wherever I am.
He
places his arm across my shoulders and pulls me into him, which only brings a
ripple of warmth to the pit of my stomach. “Come here.”
My
head burrows into his strong chest, and his hand soothingly roams up and down
my back. I sink into him. With the comfort of his arm, the tension in my
shoulders from placing fifth in my swim meet slowly releases.
Refusing
to let him make my mind race with his confusing affection, I sit up. Swiping
the tears from my eyes, I honestly confess, “Tanner, it was my last shot.”
He
begins to shake his head, but I stop him, “No, I have to realize it. My dream
of swimming in the Olympics is over.” I rise to my feet, and the heaviness in
my chest sinks back into place now that I’m out of his embrace.
He
follows me over to the oak tree. Coming up behind me, his hot breath tickles my
neck. My pulse races into overdrive, reminding me of how badly I want him.
Why does he keep leading me on?
He
continues to toe the line between friendship and more, but he never actually
steps over it. Each time his hand brushes mine or his eyes search me out, my
heart stops beating for a moment as I hope this is it—until he crushes the
fluttering butterflies and steps away.
I
close my eyes from the view of Michigan University’s football stadium because I
need to calm my insides. “Why are you here?”
He
should be with my twin brother, preparing for their own meet.
“You
should be in warm-ups.”
His
hands land on my shoulders, and he leans down. At our connection, a tingle spreads
through my body.
“I saw
you leaving the pool house.” His voice cracks.
I hear
his deep intake of breath.
“That’s
not what I’m asking, Tanner.”
When I
turn around, I almost collapse when I come face-to-face with this gorgeous guy.
He’s absolutely one hundred percent the perfect male.
My perfect male.
His
brown hair is tucked away in his MU hat that’s flipped backward. His lips and
cheeks are rosy from the early spring chill in the air. With only a sweatshirt
and track pants on, he’s the epitome of a college student. His good looks
remind me of the unbearable yearning that pulls me toward him.
His
eyes are so transparent that I can see the torment of his inner turmoil from
our situation, meaning nothing has changed for him. He’s as conflicted as ever
because I’m his best friend’s sister.
“I
don’t know.” His voice is soft, caressed with the sweetness he’s shown me the
last few months.
My
stomach drops at his words. I want to grab his face with my hands and beg him
to admit that the small seed of attraction has grown over the years and we can
no longer dodge around it.
Instead,
I stand there, with my hands at my sides, silently pining for the day he
acknowledges our desire for one another.
“Then,
that’s a problem.” My heart thumps as I sidestep him and weave through the sporadic
clumps of snow that have yet to melt from the harsh winter.
Michelle moved around the Midwest
most of her life, transferring from school to school before settling down in
the outskirts of Chicago ten years ago, where she now resides with her husband
and two kids. She developed a love of reading at a young age, which
helped lay the foundation for her passion to write. With the
encouragement of her family, she finally sat down and wrote one of the many
stories that have been floating around in her head. When she isn’t reading or
writing, she can be found playing with her kids, talking to her mom on the
phone, or hanging out with her family and friends. But after chasing
around twin preschoolers all day, she always cherishes her relaxation time
after putting the kids to bed.
Eli Sabatino, determined to make a name for himself amid Seaside,
New Jersey’s nightlife, has laid out the perfect plan for success. But that
plan didn’t include Layla, the hopeful bartender who walked in for an
interview. He knows, as an employee, this blonde bombshell is off-limits but he
can’t fight the undeniable force of attraction that pulls him toward her.
Layla
Del Duca has the weight of the world on her shoulders. With a full course load,
a boyfriend, a sister to take care of, and an alcoholic mother, she needs to
regain control of her life. Her job at Fierce is priority number one. But a
complication she didn’t expect looms behind the eyes of Eli, her handsome new
boss.
Emotions
collide full force and they can no longer turn a blind eye to what their hearts
are telling them.
But,
can their passion survive when Eli can no longer promise the one thing Layla
asks of him? Will everything change? Will he stay?
The barista hands me my
coffee. I stuff the receipt in my pocket walking out but stopping short when I
get a better look at the dad and his daughter.
It’s Eli.
Eli and his daughter.
Eli. Has. A. Kid.
I duck back into the coffee
shop trying to figure out a way to get around him without being seen. I take a
seat at an empty table that gives me a little view of Eli. My heart is beating
so fast and I’m shaking. Holy shit, I can’t believe he has a kid. How did he
not tell me this? Did I miss the pictures of her in his office? How come she’s
never come in for a visit before opening?
All of these questions are
swirling around in my head when I see a tall, beautiful brunette walk out of
Victoria’s Secret and right over to where Eli is with his daughter. I stop
breathing and my vision blurs as she places a hand on Eli’s shoulder and leans
in to kiss the little girl’s cheek.
A chair slides across the
tile floor startling me. I grab my coffee, stand up and look around trying to
figure out which way is the fastest to get outside, to get away from this train
wreck. I realize there are no exits nearby, only a bathroom so that’s where I
head.
I take a sip of my coffee
and toss the rest in the trash…not even drinking that will help ward off the
headache now.
Stepping out of the coffee
shop I keep my head down until I turn the corner where I’m safe, only I’m not.
Oomph. Firm hands grasping
my upper arms keep me steady. My cheek rests against a hard toned chest. The
aroma of a crisp sea breeze with a hint of woodsy essence invades my senses and
makes my world tilt.
My heart rate picks up a
beat and I try to quickly recover by taking a few steps back. “I’m sorry.” I
say before looking up.
The guy chuckles and it’s
like a bucket of cold water that washes over me. I know that sound and it’s the
last person I wanted to run into right now. It’s the person I was running from.
“What are you doing?” He
asks.
I roll my eyes while
adjusting the strap on my purse. “Shopping, what else do you do at a mall, Eli?”
“By yourself?”
I huff annoyed that he
would think I can’t shop by myself. “Yeah.”
“Where’s Brian?” When his
name rolls off his tongue I cringe.
“Where’s your girlfriend?”Yeah, jerk, I saw her and your
daughter.
Eli smirks and I want to
punch him in the face. “I don’t have one.”
“Then who’s that?” I say
nodding towards the pretty girl with her daughter who looks to be about
Fallon’s age.
“Jealous?”
I glare, getting more and
more pissed off that he’s not claiming them. “Nope.”
“Then why does it matter
who that is?”
“It doesn’t.”
He smiles a cocky smile.
“I’ll tell you on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
He takes a small step
towards me and leans down to whisper in my ear. “Go out to dinner with me again
tonight.”
I push on his hard stomach.
“No.”
Eli laughs. “Why not? It’s
just friends having dinner.”
“Because.” I can’t think of
a reason to say no but I know that I should.
Eli takes a step closer and
I take a step back. “There has to be a reason, Layla.” He takes another step
towards me and my back hits the wall. He’s got me cornered and his girlfriend
and daughter are right there. This is so fucked up. “Are you afraid of what
might happen?”
I swallow hard. “No.”
He brings his mouth right
to my ear and whispers, “Are you afraid of me or what will happen when you’re
with me?”
A shiver racks my body as
his warm breath hits my ear. He’s so cocky but in a sexy sort of way.
Eli kisses the lobe of my
ear. “Which is it, Layla?”
I can’t speak. I can barely
hold myself up against the wall. He bites down on my ear and I whimper.
Breathing is optional at this point.
Why is he doing this? He
just kissed my fucking ear, in the mall, in broad daylight, and I’m like a deer
caught in headlights right now.
“I’ll pick you up at seven.
Wear something nice.”
And then he’s gone leaving
me speechless and utterly breathless.
What the hell just happened?
~ About the Author ~
USA TODAY bestselling author Megan Smith is a New Jersey native
managing purchasing for an award-winning business IT and software development
firm - and by night creating the memorable characters her fans have grown to
adore. Smith's The Love Series introduces readers to MacKenzie Cahill - a
hopeful young woman who experiences adversity, challenges and the bittersweet
triumph of true, authentic love.
Smith is a wife and mother,
who makes time for her family, professional life and the creation of the
Cahill's world. Fans of The Love Series - Trying Not To Love You, Easy To Love
You, Hard To Love You - are captivated by relationships, special bonds and
family ties pervasive in Smith's emotional, energized and engaging work. Smith
is also the author of the 2014 releases, Let Me Love You - continuations of The
Love Series, Finding Us (Finding Series) and a few top secret projects.
I was a hopeless romantic,
enjoying my life as I finished out my senior year of high school. My life was
that of a typical student, nothing exciting happening to me until the day I met
him.
Bryant was everything I
wanted, but never knew was possible. The problem was, he didn't feel the same
way. Or at least that’s how it appeared.
But our chemistry was
undeniable, unavoidable and soon consumed us both. We fell hard and fast, and
we crashed even harder leaving a wake of destruction behind us after a tragedy
rocked our relationship.
Leaving behind Tampa and
Bryant was the hardest thing I ever did, but I had to, for my survival. But one
day, when my life hangs in the balance, Bryant is the only one who could save
me, and all I could do was think about every moment I regretted not spending it
with him.
After getting
Rose to the barn, I stormed off, needing to get away and think it all through;
obviously, I wasn't separating from her. I hiked up to the clearing in the
woods and twirled the jewelry box that held a diamond ring in my hand, thinking
how much better it would be with a few paychecks under my belt. She wouldn't
leave once I proposed and she saw how good this job was, although, I knew Rose
could hold a grudge like no other, but she wouldn't be able to ignore how good
this was all for our family.
I looked to my phone
and realized an hour had passed by, but she hadn't called me. No reception --
go figure. I walked toward the road again, and my phone beeped with a text from
Rose, oh yeah she's still pissed, I decided to call a friend from paramedic school
to come get me to grab a few beers and has it out. My phone rang relentlessly
from Leslie, Grant, and Jordan. I assumed that they were calling to lecture me
about smothering her dreams. When it rang again I pushed the power button to
shut my phone off and silence the annoyance.
....Seriously? Leave it
to him to swoop in and be the hero of the day, Mr. Amazing. I'm sure he was
filling her ear with how this was exactly what he'd meant, and that he still
loved her. With a smug grin, I answered the phone and told him off, hanging up before
he could get a word out. I was intoxicated for sure. I decided it wasn't the
best time to call rose to press my point about being a grown mature person in
my current condition, so I headed to my apartment to sleep it off.
....I knocked on the
door, figuring her mom would be safe and would understand, since she'd given me
a very stern lecture about supporting my family and getting my priorities in
check...
Mrs. Barnes's answered
the door, shaking and crying.
"What? What's
wrong?" I asked in a panic, knowing it was Rose.
She just kept
blubbering and wouldn't answer me, so I reached out and grabbed her arms.
I gave her a shake and
yelled, "What. Is. Wrong.!?"
Her eyes cleared out
from a haze, and she finally answered me.....
Megan C. Smith was born and raised in beautiful Tampa, Florida
where she spent her days falling in love with fictional characters from a very
young age.
After marrying her best friend she moved to North Carolina to
support her husband's career as a U.S. Marine. During her time in North
Carolina Megan was blessed with 3 beautiful children who have kept her
constantly busy chasing after them and enjoying the daily routine of
motherhood.
Megan and her family
relocated to St. Petersburg, Florida in 2013 where she has been pursuing and
achieving her lifelong dream of publishing novels by solo-writing and
co-writing with best friend, K.S. Smith. When Megan isn't busy on a keyboard
she continues to submerge herself in some of her favorite books while
appreciating a glass of wine and her favorite, salted pretzel Milanos.
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