Author E.D. Parr talks about character, Owen, from #gayromance recent release, Shower You With Love @parr_books @evernightpub Read a sizzling #teaser #MMromance

Owen’s waited for Chris many years … someone who can see him, see his world—the world his spirit inhabits. Destiny leads Chris to discover Owen. He’s the one able to free Owen’s spirit and set in motion the life magic that will lead Chris to Matthew. Who is Matthew really?

The similarities in the character Matthew and Owen are sprinkled throughout the last half of this love story purposely because Matthew has an uncanny connection to Owen, in fact for those who believe in soulmates, Owen might well be Matthew. You decide.

E.D. Parr

Chris Everhart attends his best friend’s weeklong wedding festivities. He meets handsome, enigmatic, Owen, and in a haze of attraction ignores the strangeness surrounding Owen. Convinced he’s falling in love, Chris spends every moment he can with Owen, until on the final day of his best friend’s celebrations he discovers a heartbreaking and shocking truth. He and Owen can never be together.

Traumatized, lonely, Chris can’t settle into another relationship, and then, after two years of wishing he could feel the way he felt for Owen with another man, fate intervenes. He meets gorgeous, gentle Matthew.

Spooked, Chris is about to run from Matthew who reminds him so much of Owen, but Matthew asks Chris to dance with him.

In Matthew’s arms, Chris can’t ignore the feeling of belonging that rushes over him.

Will he take the risk to love again, or continue to yearn for a ghost?

Read a hot teaser

The pretty song playing was thankfully slow. Matthew took Chris into his arms.

Instantly, comfort blanketed Chris. He held Matthew and closed his eyes. It only took seconds before he rested his forehead on Matthew’s. The melody flowed over him. The vague fragrance from Matthew’s cologne, soft, and like summer sea breezes filled his head. He relaxed in the intimacy of being hip to hip with the gorgeous man.

Matthew’s murmur teased gently on his lips. “This is perfect. Thank you.”

Soothed by the physical contact with a man after long months of not dating and keeping his head down with work, Chris let the pleasure guide him. He soaked up the feel of Matthew’s strong shoulders under his palms. He closed his eyes to bask in the sheer masculinity radiating from Matthew. The lure of brushing his lips on Matthew’s in a gentle exploratory kiss tugged at him. Surprised by this reaction after he’d been willing to leave the bar, Chris drew his face a little away from Matthew’s.

Matthew looked into his eyes. “I’m desperate to kiss you.”

Chris’s stomach tightened. He tensed with the sexual need that rippled through his body. He kissed Matthew and lingered against his mouth, merging his lips with Matthew’s in one kiss after another as a delicious feeling of desire and belonging coated him.

Matthew returned the kisses, and murmuring soft sounds, he swept his hand down from Chris’s back to his ass.

Passion rose in Chris, his cock thickened, and he pressed his lower body onto Matthew’s.

The gorgeous man in his arms smiled onto his lips. “I want you. I know you want me. Come home with me.”

Chris burned with longing. He couldn’t resist. “My car’s on the side street. I’ll drive us.”

Copyright E. D. Parr 2020, Evernight Publishing

BUY the BOOK

https://www.evernightpublishing.com/shower-you-with-love-by-e-d-parr/

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Shower-You-Love-D-Parr-ebook/dp/B083D8Z8PX

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shower-You-Love-D-Parr-ebook/dp/B083D8Z8PX

https://www.amazon.ca/Shower-You-Love-D-Parr-ebook/dp/B083D8Z8PX

Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/997913

Siren Bookstrand https://www.bookstrand.com/book/shower-you-with-love-mm

KOBO https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/shower-you-with-love

NOOK https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shower-you-with-love-e-d-parr/1135881488?ean=2940163429974

Find E. D. Parr

Evernight Publishing http://www.evernightpublishing.com/e-d-parr/

Twitter https://twitter.com/parr_books

Amazon page https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01MUNJ3I8\

Blog https://parrx.blogspot.com

Facebook @parrbooks https://www.facebook.com/parrbooks/

Author H K Carlton talks about her #historicalromance set in 1307 in Scotland The hard part was, how to present my hero in a way that would still endear him to readers because he is hell bent on revenge. Read a #teaser @AuthorHKCarlton

The Medieval Bad Boy is Back

The Devil Take You, is set in 1307, during the Scottish Wars of Independence.

Braelynn Galbraith wants peace for her beloved Scotland, marriage to her childhood sweetheart, and a house full of children. In that order. But evil incarnate, in the form of Gard Marschand, turns her life inside out and destroys all hope of a decent marriage.

Known in the Highlands as the legendary devil, Gard Marschand raids his way across Scotland and England amassing power and property in his malevolent wake. He will stop at nothing in his pursuit to regain what is lost— even conceal his true identity and associate with his enemies. His determination is all-consuming until he and his men lay siege to Ross-shire holding and one feisty Scottish lass obliterates his single-minded purpose.

Can Gard abandon his deep-seated need for revenge for a love that just might save his rotten soul? Or will he succumb to the demons that hound him and surrender to the devil within?

I believe your stay in purgatory has only just begun…

Hear from H K Carlton 

Thank you so much for having me back to your blog. I'm so excited to once again share Gard and Braelynn's story with readers. After a brief hiatus, The Devil Take You, has found a new home.

I love a good historical romance, don't you?

Before I started writing; historicals were my go-to reads. I read every Julie Garwood, Judith McNaught, Kinley MacGregor, and Jude Deveraux book I could get my hands on—long before e-readers. And then I discovered the phenomenal Karen Marie Moning!

So, when I decided I was going to try my hand at writing I thought I was going write strictly historical romance. The experts say write what you know. 

And well, there's also that other saying about best laid plans... LOL

It was both interesting and hard work, getting back into this story and revisiting these characters. What hadn't changed was how much I love them. And not only Gard and Braelynn, but also the secondary characters who helped bring this story to life. It also reminded me, how much I enjoyed doing the research for the historical component, and the precarious political climate of the time as well.

I wanted to create something a bit different. So I started with a villain and I made him the center of the story. He is severely flawed and cruel, driven by anger and hell bent on revenge.

Then the hard part was, how to present him in a way that would still endear him to readers.

That was the fun part of writing this book. It was challenging right from the beginning and I knew that I had to create the right woman with a combination of strength, resilience, and an overabundance of, if not understanding, at the very least acceptance, for a man who had no remorse for any of his wrongdoings and with no inclination or desire to change. Braelynn Galbraith began as the woman in the wrong place at the wrong time, and she eventually evolved into a character that could stand toe-to-toe with the devil and hold her own.

I hope readers will enjoy Gard and Braelynn's story, as much as I did writing it.

Read an excerpt

Brae kept her back to Gard, too ashamed to face him.

He grabbed her by the arms with enough force to bruise her flesh, and he spun her around. He paused momentarily, his gaze darting about her tear-stained cheeks.

“You will not do that again!” he roared.

“I dinna e’en ken wha’ I did!” she retorted.

Gard bared his teeth and flung her away.

Losing her balance, she hit the wet pallet.

With as much dignity as she could muster, she stood, then brushed herself off.

Anger like she had never experienced burned in her belly. 

Brae did not consider her actions, she ran at him with this newfound fury. She hurled herself at his chest. When he reached to steady her, she raised her hand, then struck him with all her might. The blow landed on his chin.

He reared in shock.

“I willna do it again. Because ya willna touch me again! Do ya hear me? Dinna touch me!” she screamed, standing toe-to-toe with him. She would not concede. Even if he retaliated, he would have to look her in the face to do it, and she would not cower. She slapped indiscriminately. “Dinna e’er come ta me like tha’ again! Not unless ya be man enough ta finish it!”

His black eyes gleamed with fury as she struck him again and again.

“I canna take it anamore! Ya willna treat me this way! I willna have it!” Tears fell in earnest as she continued to scream like a madwoman. “I have done nuthin’ ta ya, Gard, ta deserve your rough treatment, day after day.” She punched his shoulder. “If I dinna seem like Braelynn Galbraith anamore, ya be a’righ’. ‘Tis all your fault. Ya drag me further and further inta your murky world o’ wretchedness, evra damned nigh’ ‘tis the same.”

She slammed her palms into his abdomen so hard that he took a step backward before bracing his legs apart to accept more of her attack.

She fisted her hands and pummeled him. “Ya canna stand me durin’ the ligh’ o’ day, but ya come ta me in sleep. Your unconscious desires me.” She continued to assault his person, uncaring if he would retaliate. “Ya turn ta me. Ya put us both in a state o’ bein’ tha’ I didna e’en ken existed.” She hammered at him. “And then ya leave me! And ya seek oot someone else ta expend your want.” She clenched her teeth at the pain it caused her, then she released her pent-up angst with her fists. “How do ya think tha’ makes me feel? Oh aye! I ken! Ya dinna care. Ya do wha’ ya wish. Ya are the great and powerful Gard Marschand and ya treat people abysmally and ya beat children and ya seize things tha’ arna yours. Ya kidnap women from their homes and ya ruin their lives, but as long as ya are content bein’ miserable, all is a’righ’ wit’ the warped and twisted world ya have created, built on anger and revenge!”

Crying openly, she punched him. “Ya willna do it ta me anamore. Do ya hear me? No more will ya turn me inside oot. Ya willna touch me again, Gard, fore if ya do I will turn your own dirk on ya. See if I dinna!”

* * * *

Her fists slowed.

Gard was incensed by Brae’s audacity, but he was also oddly pleased, if not extremely stimulated by the assault. Grown men did not stand up to him like she just had.

He took a moment to harness his anger. “‘Twas always the plan,” he explained, “if you have forgotten, for you to be able to defend yourself against me. And now that you truly hate me, you may just be able to bring yourself to do it.”

“God kens ’twould be a lot less agonizin’ for me if I did!” She stomped her foot, then planted her hands in the middle of his chest and heaved with all her might. While he recovered his balance, she made for the exit, and ran for her life.

Copyright © 2019 H.K. Carlton

I hope you enjoyed the extract!

If you'd like to sample another snippet, head on over to my blog Pick a Genre Already for another sneak peek

Add it to your Goodreads TBR List

Purchase Links:

Amazon

eXtasy Books

Now available @ Apple, B&N and Smashwords 

Coming to other vendors soon

Also available in Print

About H K Carlton

H K Carlton is a multi-genre Canadian author of romance, with over thirty titles in publication. From naughty to nice, historical to contemporary, time travel to space travel, and everything in between.

Variety is creativity’s playground—It’s where you’ll find me

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Can the arrogant chef forgive and forget, or will his pride leave him out in the cold? Re-released #eroticromance from @AuthorHKCarlton Read a #romance #teaser

Thank you for inviting me to your blog today. I’m doubly excited to share not only the re-launch of, If You Can’t Handle the Heat, but this re-release is also my first self-publishing venture.

This story was previously published with the title If You Can't Stand the Heat. Though there is a little bit of added content, the story remains relatively the same.

In this erotic story, two very different professionals are brought together as celebrity judges on a reality-based cooking show. Sesto Théodore—the celeb chef that the show is built around—meets walking cliché, Syn Fully, erotic novelist. Though there is an immediate conflict in personalities, there is also an instant sizzling attraction. A classic clash and burn.

If You Can't Handle the Heat

by
H K Carlton

Blurb:

An unlikely couple is brought together as celebrity judges on a new reality-based cooking show.

Sesto Théodore, is an arrogant yet well respected American-Italian chef, with several five-star restaurants.

Once bitten, twice shy, Syn Fully, is a jaded author of erotica, rocketing her way up all the best sellers lists.

From the moment Syn and Sesto meet, their personalities clash, yet behind the scenes sparks fly. Getting together would be a recipe for disaster, but hot sex with no-strings couldn’t hurt. At least not until real feelings get involved.

But just when Syn considers opening her damaged heart to the cocky chef, video of rather personal content is leaked online. Sesto immediately jumps to conclusions and accuses Syn of the privacy breach.

Can the arrogant chef forgive and forget, or will his pride leave him out in the cold?

Somebody’s about to get burned…

Possible Triggers: Please note one scene contains borderline bdsm and dubious consent/forcible confinement. Also in this story intimate video is obtained without the knowledge or consent of the participants involved, and later distributed online

Author’s Note: This erotic story has been previously published with the title, If You Can’t Stand the Heat. Though there is a little bit of added content, the story remains relatively the same. It has been re-edited and re-formatted for re-release, and has a sizzling new cover thanks to Studioenp

Buy Link:

Universal Link

Excerpt:

Sesto took the opportunity to turn his wrath on Syn. “May I speak to you out in the hall, please!” he demanded, shooting to his feet.

“Of course,” she responded, haughtily, as though she hadn’t just been giving him the initial stages of a hand job under the table.

Sesto allowed Syn to take the lead. He was momentarily captivated by her long shapely legs, as she stalked across the space, confident and oh-so fuckin’ sexy in those red stilettos. Sesto pulled level with her and couldn’t resist the urge to place his hand to the small of her back, left bare by the severe cut of her dress. If he wasn’t mistaken, she’d trembled at the contact. Or was it his hand that quivered?

In the corridor, Syn rounded on him, at the same moment he blurted, “What the fuck do you think…”

The words died on his tongue, as she once again stroked his shaft through his trousers. Her gaze settled on his mouth. Her breathing was shallow.

“Where’s your dressing room?” she asked, backing him up.

Sesto grabbed her other wrist and dragged her into the green room, before slamming the door behind them.

He yanked her hand, above her head and forced it against the door. He half-expected her to fight. What he wasn’t prepared for was the brazen little smile that hooked her sinful lips, as she raised her arm to join the other. With both hands stretched above her head Syn arched toward him, thrusting her beautiful tits, right in his face.

“What the fuck are you doing?” he asked again. “We don’t even know each other.”

“I know. Isn’t it wicked, how our bodies want to though.”

He groaned, shifting uncomfortably foot to foot, yet he couldn’t focus on anything but her lovely breasts.

“Go ahead, Théo, set them free,” she tempted, her voice barely above a whisper.

© H K Carlton

Buy Link:

Universal Link

About the Author:

H K Carlton is a multi-genre Canadian author of romance, with over thirty titles in publication. From naughty to nice, historical to contemporary, time travel to space travel, and everything in between.

Variety is creativity’s playground—It’s where you’ll find me

Join me for the ride:

Blogs:

Pick a Genre Already

Breaking Genre

Pick a Genre

Outrageous Girls (contributor)

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Out now #gayromance Snowflake Wine a delicious #MMromance with an edge of fantasy @elodieparkes

From Elodie

The story is contemporary gay romance with an edge of fantasy, especially written as a sweet but sexy Christmas treat.

Jamie Snow and Nathan Bloom, my characters are as usual, dear to me.

Jamie has battled all his life with his strange, fantastic gift. His is the character that brings the element of fantasy to the story. The inspiration behind the creation of this character came, weirdly enough, in the summer, when I visited a ruined abbey. In the grounds were flowering shrubs that I’d never encountered before. From a distance, the flowers looked like frost, and as I drew close, into my mind came the idea of Jamie, a sprite who loves cold, ice, frost, and to comfort himself in the warm weather, he decorated the shrubs with frost flowers.

Nathan Bloom is the perfect partner for Jamie—gorgeous, calm, loving and open. He’s looking for love. He’s onto Jamie’s gifts long before he lets Jamie know it. This is a love story—romantic, sexy, hopeful.

Blurb

Hunky Nathan Bloom works late for the company putting up the town Christmas lights and decorations.

Gorgeous, enigmatic, Jamie Snow works late forecasting the weather from his desk in the meteorology office.

Nathan sighs over the prospect of a holiday season with no one to love.

Jamie wonders if he’ll ever find a man to love who will accept his mysterious origins and talents.

One cold night, as Nathan finishes hoisting the wreath lights up the building where Jamie works, they meet.

The brilliant festive lights aren’t the only things to sparkle as the two men connect on a deep level.

Be delighted by a delicious, contemporary, gay romance with an edge of fantasy this season.

Sometimes being different is awesome.

Read a teaser:

Jamie Snow sat alongside Nathan. He glanced across at the man who stirred his frosty heart. He’s so attractive. Jamie hadn’t loved in a long time. He felt more than ready for it—longed for it on lonely nights. He wasn’t about to give up on the chance that this man might want a lover, that he was gay wasn’t in question. No straight guy looked the way he had at another man.

“My name’s Jamie, Jamie Snow.” He softened his voice as he spoke. The man beside him inspired tenderness and he felt a little prick of guilt. Using the weather to flirt with him had been inspired but maybe a little naughty.

Nathan drove the truck into a wide car lot that Jamie hadn’t known existed behind the furniture store on the end of the main street. “Here we are. The store allows us to leave the bigger rigs here every year. Jamie Snow—that’s an interesting name for a meteorologist—mine’s Nathan Bloom.”

Jamie’s smile infused his tone. “Yes. People tease me sometimes at work, they’ll know we’ve forecast it and as I walk by they’ll say, ‘here comes the snow,’ but I don’t mind. I like this name.”

“You’ve had others?” Nathan asked with a laugh.

Jamie didn’t want to reply. He waited. I won’t be lying to this lovely guy if I don’t answer.

Nathan turned off the truck engine and twisted to talk to Jamie. “It’s a cool name. Where do you live?”

It appeared he’d forgotten his question.

Happiness trickled into Jamie’s soul that the attractive man beside him liked his name, and used the word, cool. Eagerly, Jamie told Nathan his address on the outskirts of the town.

Nathan grinned, his eyes reflecting Jamie’s emotion. “I know it well. I live a couple of streets south from there.”

Copyright Elodie Parkes, 2018, Encompass Ink

BUY the BOOK

http://mybook.to/SnowflakeWine 

On launch special price. All Amazon sites.

About Elodie

I’m a writer who is in love with happy endings, currently based in southern UK. I write for Evernight Publishing, Siren, Hot Ink Press, Encompass Ink, and eXtasy Books.

I love music, art, flowers, trees, the ocean. I work with antiques by day and words by night. Like a vampire, darkness is my friend, that’s when the silence is only broken by an occasional hoot of owls in the woodlands opposite my home, and I write.

Find Elodie online:

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Saving Ben is the first step in a deadly game #SciFi #eroticromance new release @YesItsNicolaC

A perfect society hiding a terrible secret. An innocent man condemned to cyborg slavery. A brilliant woman determined to set him free. Freelance tech Evie Contreras belongs to the Employee class of the Pacifica Protectorate, the “perfect society” that rose from the ruins of the West Coast. But Evie knows about Pacifica’s festering core and the secrets that keep it in power. And when she discovers that Pacifica has turned her fiancé Ben into a cyborg slave, she will risk everything to rescue him. Saving Ben is the first step in a deadly game between Pacifica and a shadowy resistance group known as Rubicon. In return for Rubicon’s help, Evie must retrieve a hidden artificial intelligence that may hold the key to protecting Earth from a deadly new disaster. Assuming the protectorate doesn’t find Evie first... Excerpt available here.

• Science Fiction, Erotic Romance, MF
• Word Count: 80,000
• Heat Level 4
• Published By: Belaurient Press

---

Where to Buy

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords | iTunes | Print

---

Excerpt

“Let me see you, Ben.”
Without a word he loosened the knot in the towel and let it fall.
He reminded her of a da Vinci nude she’d once seen, every muscle developed without unnecessary bulk and giving the impression of restrained power. His chest was the same from her memories at the pool, beautifully shaped pads of pectoral muscle and shoulders ending in curved deltoids that she wanted to grip. The same light scattering of blond chest hair narrowed to a trail that led down over trim abs to his navel and beyond.
His legs were those of a runner, lean muscle and tendon rising in powerful mounds at the backs of his calves, along the length of his thighs. The hair covering them was sparser, only slightly darker than the hair on his chest, and curled against his indoor-pale skin.
Taking a deep breath, she looked at his groin. The hair darkened here, turning sandy brown and curling in a springy nest around a well-shaped cock, neatly circumcised. It had thickened a little, judging from the way it stood out from his body, but wasn’t anywhere near full erection yet.
He laughed softly. “You should see your face. You look like all your birthdays and Christmases came at once.”
“I think they just did.” There were no scars, no signs that any part of his body was artificial. “You’re perfect.”
He glanced down at himself. “I think you may be a little biased, but thank you.” His pupils expanded, compressing all the light blue into a thin ring around each black pool. “Besides, you’re the one who’s perfect.”
He came to her and knelt, gently urging her knees apart so that he could move closer. Her heart raced as he loosened the belt on her robe, letting it fall to each side. The terrycloth gaped open, putting her on display the same way he’d done for her.
He didn’t say anything for a minute as he drank her in. The nervousness she’d felt earlier was gone, banished by the naked worship in his eyes. “You’re everything I ever wanted.” His voice was husky. “You’re so beautiful, baby.”
She fought back the sudden urge to cry from sheer relief. “Kiss me. Please.”
He did, his chest pressing against her breasts as he slid the robe down her arms, his mouth devouring hers. She surrendered to the delicious sensation, every brush and teasing press lighting up her nerve endings like wildfire. When his tongue trailed along the soft inner flesh of her lips she opened them, welcoming him in. Between her thighs an echoing heat began to build.
It was the night in the front seat of the GoCar all over again, but this time they didn’t have to stop. And it was much better than the evening in the park hotel because now he knew who she was, who he was.
His tongue danced around hers before breaking away to lick at the roof of her mouth. A shocking pulse of pure sensation ran through her body and she moaned into his mouth.
She broke away for a necessary breath and heard him chuckle. “Okay, so I like that,” she muttered, amused by his smugness.
“Good. I like making you moan, baby. Plan on doing a lot of it, to be honest.”

---

About Nicola Cameron

Nicola Cameron is a married woman of a certain age who really likes writing about science fiction, fantasy, and sex. When not writing about those things, she likes to make Stuff™. And she may be rather fond of absinthe.
While possessing a healthy interest in sex since puberty, it wasn’t until 2012 that she decided to write about it. The skills picked up during her SF writing career transferred quite nicely to speculative romance. Her To Be Written work queue currently stands at around nineteen books, and her mojito-sodden Muse swans in from Bali every so often to add to the list, cackling to herself all the while.
Nicola plans to continue writing until she drops dead over her keyboard or makes enough money to buy a private island and hire Rory McCann as her personal trainer/masseur, whichever comes first.

http://www.nicolacameronwrites.com 

http://www.nicolacameronwrites.com/blog

https://www.facebook.com/nicola.cameron

http://www.facebook.com/nicolacameronwrites

https://twitter.com/YesItsNicolaC

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6623791.Nicola_Cameron

From eleven awesome authors a #boxset of #PNR to make you tingle new release special

Sometimes magic goes as planned. Sometimes, you get Wayward Magic.
Dive into eleven lush novellas full of magic and mystery that break the mold of traditional fantasy and romance with exciting, daring, and original stories.
From sinfully sexy, to devastatingly romantic, to charmingly sweet, this paranormal romance collection will capture your heart and keep you on the edge of your seat to see what happens next.

Available on Amazon

When serendipity and fate collide, what else could you get but unexpected romance and Wayward Magic?

Blood & Silver by K.N. Lee

Storm Shift by Calinda B

Darkness There by Margo Bond Collins

Valan Escort by Scarlett Dawn

Cupid's Heart by Nicole Garia









The Grim Reaper's Fake Fiance by Danielle Annett

Cooling by Morgan Jane Mitchell









Winter's Embrace by Angelica Dawson

Wicked Gifts by S.E. Babin









New Treaty by Xyla Turner
Peril in Paint Apple by Blaire Edens








Grab your copy of this paranormal romance set for only 99 cents for a limited time!

On the blog @kitcatjms with new #SciFi romance Rory and the Alien Groom from @ChangelingPress

AMAZON / B&N / iTUNES / KOBO / CHANGELING PRESS

Humiliation burns through Zwyk as he comes to the realization his bride has left him standing alone at the altar. When something seems too good to be true, it usually is. He should have known someone as vivacious as his bride-to-be would never settle for a paper pushing, XBox playing geek like him. While his heart isn’t exactly broken, his pride is wounded, and his confidence has taken a hit.
Rory hates that she had to tell Zwyk her sister has run away instead of marrying him. Well, she hates the pain her sister caused. She can’t exactly say she’s sorry the wedding is off. Maybe now she can make Zwyk see what’s been right under his nose this entire time -- her.

ABOUT THE STORY

We've all read jilted groom or jilted bride stories before. Usually the maid of honor, a bridesmaid, best friend, or best friend's sister ends up making it all better and they ride off into the sunset. So what makes this story different from any of those? Besides the purple aliens...
Zwyk has always wanted one thing. To have his own family. A mate, children. Maybe a family pet. And he thinks he's well on his way to achieving his dreams when he proposes to Brittany, only to be left stranded at the altar without so much as a goodbye. He decides love is too painful and gives up on his dream, determined to keep his heart from ever breaking. Enter Rory...
She's spunky, quirky, and just what Zwyk needs. He's always felt like he had to hide who he is when he's with a woman. None of them have ever been impressed with his paper-pushing job, nor his love of Xbox. But Rory isn't like the others. She's a hardcore gamer with a degree in finance, every bit as geeky as he is, and she may be just the cure that Zwyk needs. And Rory is determined to get what she wants...

EXCERPT

His poor game system was hidden away in the hall closet, banished there by Brittany along with two boxes of his games. He hauled everything out and started hooking it back up, petting the console and whispering words of contrition to it for his poor treatment the past few months. When it booted right up, he took that to mean he was forgiven for his transgression. Looking in the boxes of games was akin to opening presents on Christmas -- a human tradition he’d embraced wholeheartedly -- and he had trouble deciding what to play first.
There wasn’t a better way to dive back into things than to play Gears of War 4. His Xbox Live membership had lapsed and his account had been deleted, so he’d have to enjoy one-player mode for now. Hell, he didn’t even know if his gaming buddies were still around, assuming he could find them online after he made a new account. He’d just up and vanished on them three months ago. It was an asshole move, but Brittany had grabbed him by the balls. Well, figuratively, because she’d never gotten close enough to actually touch his balls. They’d kissed, but she’d always shied away when he tried to take things further, saying she wanted to wait for their wedding night. Now he had to wonder how much of that was bullshit. Had she detested him so much that she couldn’t stand to be touched by him?
The game had just finished loading when there was a knock at his front door. Zwyk set his controller aside and went to answer, almost dreading who might be on the other side. If word had already spread about his failed wedding, any number of his friends could be on the other side with an “I told you so” ready on their lips, or worse, a pitying look in their eyes. He almost didn’t answer, but something made him pull open the door.
His eyebrows rose when he saw who stood on the other side.
“Rory?”
She grinned and held up two pizza boxes while she pushed her glasses further up her nose. “I thought you might need sustenance after your trying day. It’s your favorite. Sausage and onion.”
His stomach rumbled and he stepped back to let her in. It wasn’t the first time she’d been to his house, but it was the first time they’d been alone. Was she feeling sorry for him? He’d have thought she’d be with her parents, trying to figure out where Brittany went. But then Rory had always seemed to follow her own rhythm. What was that Earth saying? Marching to the beat of her own drum?
He shut the door and followed her into the living room, where she set the boxes on the coffee table. He grinned a little, thinking about Brittany’s head exploding if she saw such a travesty. It gave him the sudden urge to leave rings and scuff marks on the pristine surface. Juvenile perhaps, but refreshing. It was like he’d been freed from a prison sentence, and if that wasn’t a sobering thought, he didn’t know what was.
“Whatever you just thought, stop thinking it,” Rory said as she opened the first box. “I figure we can just eat out of the box, but we probably should grab some drinks before I kick your ass on the Xbox.”
He blinked at her. Did she just say…
“Drinks?” she prompted then shook her head. “Never mind, I’ll get them.”
He watched, bemused, as she helped herself to his kitchen. She returned a moment later with a disgusted look on her face and two soda cans in her hands.
“Please tell me this is another Brittany travesty and you don’t actually drink diet.”
He coughed to cover his laugh, but he couldn’t deny that she amused him. “I’ll go to the store later and pick up some regular soda.”
“You should get grape too. It’s my favorite.”
He scratched his neck and wondered if that meant she planned to hang out for a while. Zwyk wasn’t quite sure what to make of Rory, but he was just going to go with it for the time being. He couldn’t really think of anything else to do. Retaking his seat on the couch, he grabbed a slice of pizza and took a huge bite before downing half the can she’d placed in front of him. The intro to the game blared from the TV speakers and Rory wiggled her fingers at him, snatching the controller from his hand.
“You eat. I’m going to play.” She grinned at him before turning her focus to the game on the screen.
Zwyk devoured almost an entire pizza by himself as he alternated between watching the comical expressions on Rory’s face and her annihilation of everything in her path on the screen. Her skill was rather impressive and her maniacal laugh as she took out the opposing force was amusing. Who knew such a pint-sized female could be so bloodthirsty?
“All right, killer. It’s my turn,” he said holding out his hand for the controller. “You’re pretty good, but it’s time to show you how the pros do it.”

AUTHOR LINKS

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Award-winning author Jessica Coulter Smith has been in love with the written word since she was a child. Her first stories may have been written in crayon, but now she's a multi-published author of over seventy-five novellas and novels. Romance is an integral part of her world and spills over from her professional life into her personal one. When she went out on that first date with her husband, she never expected to hear the words "marry me" pop out of his mouth -- and judging by the shocked look on his face, he hadn't meant to say them either. But, being the hopeless romantic that she is, Jessica said yes and they've been married since 2000.

@SamyahLeighton has a #coverreveal for #eroticromance 'Condemned'

CONDEMNED Pt 1

Redemption Series, book 3
by Samyah Leighton

Genre: Erotic Romance

It’s said the truth shall set you free…but does it really?

Only hours after marrying Skylar, Jackson is placed under arrest and is being extradited back to Massachusetts to face the charges against him. His arrest goes viral and the internet gets flooded with rumors and theories about who his victim could be.

With DNA evidence on her side ambitious prosecutor, Adrianne Washington, is offering no deals and is ready to proceed to trial. However, her rush to judgment may have less to do with facts and more to do with a personal vendetta.

Unforeseen problems lurk around every corner and the newly married couple find themselves being tested in ways they never imagined. With the world falling apart around them, Jackson and Skylar are determined to keep their family together. Yet will all their efforts be in vain? Is the damaged that’s been done to their lives beyond repair? Does the truth really set you free or are there some secrets that should stay buried?

“Place your hands on the counter, spread your legs, and don’t move,” says the detective on my left. He goes about patting me down. I don’t know what he expects to find; they already did this to me before we got on the plane.

“Stand up,” Detective Simon says.

I almost laugh at the coincidence of his name and my situation.

Simon says take off your shoes and pull out the laces.

Simon says take off your belt and bowtie.

Simon says take off your watch, wedding band, and hand over your wallet.

Glaring at him, I comply. I do everything he demands. I get the sense he likes this part of his job—brandishing the power lent to him by the state over the people.

“Go with Detective Raleigh and he’ll get you processed,” says Simon.

I look him up and down before following Raleigh a little way away to a corner of the station. Here sits a table with a computer, scanner, and a camera. We stand in front of the computer as he enters my information. When he’s done, he places my right hand on the scanner and it captures my print. We do the same with my other hand. Next, I stand against the wall in front of the height chart and that’s when everything becomes surreal.

I can’t believe I’ve actually been arrested. My freedom, which up until now I’ve considered a God-given right, has been demoted to a privilege and now lies in the hands of people who don’t know the first thing about me. Raleigh takes a frontal shot of me then tells me to turn to my right. I take in a sharp breath as I turn and an unnerving nausea settles in the pit of my stomach.

Author Bio: Samyah Leighton is a wife and mother of four. She's always had a passion for writing and storytelling. She loves to read. Romance and erotica are her favorite genres. Samyah loves all kinds of animals and movies and music. She loves to cook and bake and window shop. She finds beauty in all types of love. For the most part Samyah enjoys the simple things in life.

DECEIVED

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A lie tore them apart… A truth will bring them back together.

Fifteen years ago Jackson Delaney met Skylar Deveraux. It was love at first sight. He adored her. He trusted her. And she betrayed him. Breaking things off, he left her behind and never expected to see her again.

Heartbroken and angry, Jackson forced himself to move on with his life but not before swearing off committed relationships forever. Love had made a fool of him once, he swore never to let it happen again. After graduating from college he got drafted into the NFL.

With the help of time Jackson was able to put the past behind him. Now at thirty-six-years-old he believes he’s living his dream. He’s rich, famous and a celebrated NFL quarterback who can have anyone woman he sets his sights on. His life is perfect until the death of his brother and sister-in-law unearths some devastating secrets from the past that forces him to question everything he thought he knew about his life.

All of the people who were supposed to love him are involved in some duplicitous schemes to conceal the truth from him and Skylar is at the center of the biggest scheme of them all. Now he must find Skylar to get the truth from her.

How will he handling seeing her again after all this time? Will the extreme passion they once shared still burn hot between them? And if so, can he ever forgive her deceptions and be able to reclaim the only woman he has ever loved?

REVEALED

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Skylar's ex-husband Chris has discovered her secrets and is using them against her to get what he wants. And what he wants is her. Believing she’s the only woman for him, Chris is desperate to prove to Skylar that he’s the only man for her. He wants his wife back at all cost and he’s willing to do anything to keep her. Even blackmailing her into another marriage.

Skylar is desperate to protect Jackson and Sutton from the truth coming out so she agreed to return to L.A. with Chris. However, she’s struggling with her decision to leave her family behind and is hell bent on getting back to them. She tries her best to stay on Chris’ good side until she can find some leverage to free herself but when Chris sets the date for their wedding it kicks Skylar's quest for freedom into overdrive.

Jackson and Sutton are confused and hurt by Skylar's unexpected departure. Sutton is very suspicious and has doubts about the nature of her mother’s sudden absence but not Jackson. He believes Skylar willingly left them and he’s furious. Skylar's abandonment devastates Jackson and pushes him into the arms of an unlikely companion.

Will Skylar find a way back to her family before Chris get what he wants? Or will there be a wedding in Skylar's immediate future?

Samyah Leighton is a loving wife and mother of four. She's always had a passion for writing and storytelling. She loves to read. Romance and erotica are her favorites genre. Samyah loves all kinds of animals and movies and music. She loves to cook and bake and window shop. She finds beauty in all types of love. For the most part Samyah enjoys the simple things in life.

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