{Blog Tour w/ #GIVEAWAY} The Darkest Frost by Tanya Holmes

Title: The Darkest Frost, Vol 1 of a 2-part serial (TDF, #1)

Author: Tanya Holmes

Genre: A Gothic paranormal romance with a twist.

Cliffhanger: **YES** This is a two-part serial

Volume 1 Page Count: 358

Release Date: June 22, 2015

 

Blurb

When the ghost of her best friend begs for her help, psychic detective Denieve Knight goes undercover as a live-in domestic to catch a killer. She sets her sights on the most likely suspect: her friend’s mysterious employer, Doctor Braeden Frost. Dubbed "Dr. Death" by the press, the notorious hematologist is linked to nineteen other suspicious fatalities—all are former patients. The brooding recluse is a man of many secrets, the darkest of which may be lurking beneath the leather gloves he never removes.  

Purchase The Darkest Frost Today!

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Excerpt

Frost set the book aside with casual grace, then prowled toward me, his gloved hands clasped at his back. The quiet thud of his footsteps matched the pensive rhythm of the ticking clock, amping my fear. Despite his cool demeanor, I was sure the man had his temper on a short tether. That’s why I didn’t look above his neck for fear of seeing that anger twisting his face, or worse, blazing in his eyes. Silky chest hair peeked from beneath his T-shirt. And he seemed dark and dangerous in those faded jeans. The soft denim hugged his muscular thighs while loosely cupping the masculine bulge between them, the bulge my body was all too familiar with. Down low, my sex clenched in remembrance as he made his approach. “Now that you mention it,” he mused in the gentlest of tones, “needles are a tad frightening.” He dipped his head, forcing me to look at him. “Tongue depressors are even worse, but you should be especially wary of thermometers. One can never be quite sure where they’ve been.” “Really, Dr. Frost. Ever since….” My gaze followed him until he disappeared behind me. “Go on,” came the soft voice at my back. I swallowed. “E-ever since I was a child I’ve been afraid of thermometers—I mean needles!” Frost reappeared on my right side. One of his brows rose a fraction. “You know, if you’re going to lie to my face, at least do it better. On second thought, just leave. I have no patience for nonsense today.” “But I’m not lying.” Yeah, I was. He slammed to a stop in front of me, his expression a complexity of shadows. “You must believe I’m a fool.” “I don’t.” “Yes, you do.” “No, really, I.…” “Enough. How about some brutal honesty?” Now his tone was menacing and sharp. “You think I couldn’t read your face? That I wouldn’t recognize mistrust and contempt? Or fear? Especially in someone I’ve—” He inhaled sharply through his nose and looked away. “Someone like you,” he finished, returning his gaze to mine.

The Darkest Frost, Volume 1 Playlist

1) That’s Enough For Me by Paul Williams

2) A Mariage D’amour Richard Clayderman

3) Gymnopédies by Satie

4) Mozart Fantasy in D minor

5) Dream On by Aerosmith

6) Patience by Guns N Roses

7) Con te Partiro by Andrea Bocelli

 

About the Author

Amazon Bestselling Author Tanya Holmes is a Golden Leaf double-finalist, a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart finalist, a recipient of the Maggie Award, the MICA Award, as well as Overall Winner of the Sandy Haddad Award and a two-time finalist and one-time winner of The Emily (Best of the Best). She's happily married with children and loves reading, writing and a good cup of coffee---but not necessarily in that order. She has two novels coming out in 2015: The Darkest Frost, a two-part Gothic paranormal serial romance with a twist, and in 2016, Temptation's Edge, a contemporary romance.

 

Connect with Tanya

About Me page | Amazon author page | Tsu | Twitter | Homepage

Goodreads author page | The Darkest Frost Facebook page

 

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{Cover Reveal w/ #GIVEAWAY} Finding Me (His #3) by Mariah Dietz

Title: Finding Me (His, #3)

Author: Mariah Dietz

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: June 1, 2015

Synopsis

I came here to escape. Leave the debris and avoid the inevitable truths.

Things are better. 

Worse. 

Different.

I’m finding me, but in the process I fear I’m forgetting those I have left, and the ones who have left me. Maybe I’m losing who I was.

Can I forget my past and move forward?

Can I forget him?

Excerpt

My eyes fly open and my mind feels alert. Normally nightmares wake me up like this, but this time, nothing is haunting me. 

I look around the dark living room, feeling my heart race, and then realize what woke me up. A loud train of curses followed by a whine and a scratching at the door makes my heart squeeze. I sit up slightly, my eyes and ears desperately seeking the night for the confirmation that I’m not dreaming. A scraping against the lock sends my heart rate to unhealthy levels as my eyes widen and my muscles tense. When I hear the key turn, I drop back to the couch, squeezing my eyes shut and trying to bury my face in my pillow, behind a wall of my hair as I try to make my breathing sound normal.

I can tell when the door is opened by the click of Zeus’s nails against the hardwood floors growing closer to me. His voice is hushed as he calls out to Zeus, making my entire body pulse with familiarity and nerves. Zeus’s heavy breathing grows until he places his front paws on the couch in front of me and begins bathing me in heavy kisses. There’s no way to try and pretend I’m sleeping through this. I’ll drown first. Plus my need to see him is outweighing my fears. 

I sit up and wipe a hand down my face while searching the dark living room for him as Zeus pushes closer to me, whimpering with anticipation and what can only be described as unleashed excitement. 

Then he appears in front of the coffee table. It’s too dark to make out much of him, but every fiber of my being feels some sort of response, verifying that it’s him. Elation and fear, mixed with rage and jealousy, are topped with curiosity and pain. It’s a confounding and stifling overabundance of emotions that has my eyes staring wide at him, soaking up every last detail that I can manage in the dim light while Zeus works to climb higher on the couch, hovering over me.

Max stares back at me and although it’s too dark to see the blueness of his eyes, I can see the fierceness in them. He looks pissed. No relief, no happiness like Zeus, just anger.

“Zeus,” he calls again in a tone I’ve rarely heard.

“It’s alright. He can stay.” Thankfully my voice barely comes out above a whisper because my emotions are shooting through me like vinegar when it meets baking soda—unsteady.

He stares at me, and like a geyser, unspoken words flood my mind. “Hey, Max.”

He must be just as shocked as I am that I was able to speak those words because as soon as his name leaves my lips, he turns and ascends the stairs without responding. His bedroom door slams and then silence rings in my ears. 

I catch a movement out of the corner of my eye and turn to see Landon in the hallway, running a hand over his jaw, wearing only a pair of gym shorts. His head turns from the stairs to me, and then he silently walks to the couch.

“He’s …”

“It’s okay,” I say when the rest of his words don’t seem to find their way out. “This is his house too.” 

“He’s not mad at you.” 

I turn to look at him in obvious disbelief. Anyone would have been able to see that Max was mad at me. His reaction wasn’t shocking exactly. Max lost one of his best friends, just like I had. There have been days that I have felt really angry over the whole situation too. Angry that I didn’t know how to communicate my feelings, and angry about the way he dealt with my insecurities. I still struggle with being angry over removing myself and moving to Delaware because I thought it would be the right decision for me.

Kitty and I have discussed my tendency to run from awkward situations; she’s the one who provided me with the new term “remove myself from.” It sounds a lot better than fleeing, but I had fled, and I know it. I can give a hundred reasons why for each time too, rationalizing each situation until I’m nearly positive it was the right decision—but I can never make it to one hundred percent. That small bubble of resistance and doubt always prevents me from being able to allow the memories to finally be discarded, and then it begins spreading, eating the conviction one doubt at a time.

About The Author

Mariah Dietz lives in Eastern Washington with her husband and two sons that are the axis of her crazy and wonderful world. 

Mariah grew up in a tiny town outside of Portland, Oregon where she spent the majority of her time immersed in the pages of books that she both read and created.

She has a love for all things that include her sons, good coffee, books, travel, and dark chocolate. She also has a deep passion for the stories she writes, and hopes readers enjoy the journeys she takes them on, as much as she loves creating them.

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{Cover Reveal w/ #GIVEAWAY} Adrenaline by Sunniva Dee

Title: Adrenaline

Author: Sunniva Dee

Genre: New Adult

Release Date: April 30, 2015

Cover Design: CT Cover Creations

Synopsis

CAMERON

Life’s the shit! 

Chicks squeal over how wild and yummy I am, play their silly games trying to tie me down. But I’m free as a bird, doing what makes life life: kicking extreme-sport-ass!

I base jump, snowboard, bungee jump. I do anything for the rush. 

Then, Ingela blows into town for college—a cool Swedish blast of trouble. Foulmouthed and runway-gorgeous, the girl seeps in like poison and melts the freaking brain. 

  To Ingela I am what chicks were to me: pastime, leisure, entertainment, pleasure. She’s killing me, and I’m digging it. There’s a new rush in town! Yeah, I hunt down my highs, and now the chase is on. I’ll catch her soon enough, just, what’s the deal with her ex? 

BO 

  With Ingela, sex is a dance. A slow tango where skin flows over skin. It is slick readiness, a quiet welcome. It’s smooth, warm, right, and all wrong.

On and off. On and off. Again, she’s wrecked with grief. It’s a reminder of how I destroy her, how crushed relationships shouldn’t be revived. 

  We’ve done this for years, now, but clearly we’re in for more.

Excerpt

CAMERON

The chase is over. Right here, right now, this is it. Even if it only lasts thirty seconds, the rush of what I’m about to do floods me and makes me feel. It’s so intense, every muscle in my body goes rigid with anticipation. The air is sharp and early-morning raw. I stare out from my post on an overhang off Firam Peak. Let my eyes judge the steep drop into the ravine on the backside of the mountain. Jagged granite walls form unpredictable patterns that crash to the bottom the way I will soon, and a light dusting of snow contrasts starkly with the somber stone. I shake my arms. Not to relieve the tension but to make sure I’m nimble and ready. I didn’t invite my friends Dan and Marek along today. I’d be better off with someone else around, of course, but nothing compares to the thrill I experience as I step forward alone. I’m on the edge, now, in every sense of the word. I draw in a breath of icy oxygen. Crack my fingers inside my gloves and adjust the strap on my helmet. I’m ready. It’s so easy to plunge off the cliff. All I do is heave up on my toes and extend my arms. A light bend at the knees and I’m off, flying. Ah, yes. I fly.

 

About The Author

Originally from Norway, I moved to the United States twelve years ago. I hold a Master’s degree in languages and taught Spanish at college level before settling in at the Savannah College of Art and Design as an adviser. 

  I write New Adult fiction, sometimes with a paranormal twist—like in “Shattering Halos,” published by The Wild Rose Press in February 24th 2014 and in “Stargazer,” estimated release date, November 2014. The first book I’m self-publishing is the New Adult Contemporary novel “Pandora Wild Child,” which will make me a proud indie author in October 28th 2014! 

  I specialize in impulsive heroines, bad-boys, and good-boys running amok. Then, there’s the intense love, physical and emotional attraction beyond reason—sensory overload for the reader as well as for the characters. Like in real life, I hope you’re unable to predict what comes next in my stories. 

  Yes, so I write what I love to read, and depending on the reader, you’ll find my books to be a fast-paced emotional rollercoaster—or disturbing because the struggles of love aren’t your thing. Here’s to hoping you have the same reading vice as me!

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{Blog Tour w/ #GIVEAWAY} The Gilded Cuff (Surrender Series 1) by Lauren Smith

Title: The Gilded Cuff

Author: Lauren Smith

Series: Surrender Series Book 1

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb

Every passion has its price . . . 

  Journalist Sophie Ryder has been following Emery Lockwood’s story since she was a little girl. There has always been something in his haunted eyes that she couldn’t resist and now, when she’s certain he holds the key to solving a string of kidnappings, she’ll do anything to speak to him. Even if it means venturing deep into the seductive world of the Gilded Cuff, a luxurious BDSM club on Long Island’s Gold Coast and Emery’s personal playground.

From the moment Sophie enters his shadowy, sensual domain, Emery Lockwood knows this tantalizing new little sub was meant to belong to him. However, Sophie wants more from Emery than just pleasure . . . she wants his past. And that is something he isn’t willing to give—no matter who is asking. But every moment he spends with Sophie, Emery feels his control slipping and he knows it’s only a matter of time before he surrenders to her heart, body, and soul.  

 

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Excerpt

“What would you do for me in return?” His eyes promised he meant something sexual. Something that might shatter her lonely world into pieces and leave her craving him for the rest of her life. 

  “D-do for you?” Sophie stuttered. That was becoming an irritating habit she needed to fix. The man had the ability to tie her in knots when he got her thinking of other things besides her job. 

  “I’m a dom, darling. Your needs should involve me, and your thoughts should be about what I need and want. If I am nice and give you what you need, you must give me something in return. And no… I’m not talking about money or anything so trivial as that. My story, as you call it, is worth something beyond money. I will need something just as important from you in return.”

She hesitated. What could she give him? She had nothing to offer. Nothing but…herself. She could give herself to him. A scolding voice in her head warned her that it would be a devil’s bargain. But she silenced the voice. Damn the consequences; her body wanted him. Never had she crossed a line before, never had she wanted to. She was tired of being the good girl, tired of playing it safe. The hint of danger and the thrill of dark passion in Emery’s eyes was an escape, one she needed more than her next breath.

“I’ll give you anything. Name it and it’s yours. I came here knowing what to expect.” She threw a glance around the room, eyes touching briefly on the spanking bench before settling back on him.

He chuckled and brushed the pad of one thumb over her lips. “That’s a dangerous offer.” His hand dropped to her neck, his fingers curling around her throat, the touch a warning, but he didn’t hurt her.

“What if I demand you strip completely and I tie you to a St. Andrews cross and fuck you senseless? Or if I require you to walk through the main room and accept any intimate touch another dom wishes to give you? Would you agree to that? There are a thousand things I could ask of you that would not just push your limits but break them. You were spooked at the sight of one little bench, and that tells me everything I need to know. You may have studied domination and submission, but you haven’t lived it. The importance of this particular lifestyle is that one must always be safe, sane and consensual. Your offer shows no consideration for any of those, and half the doms outside would do things you might not consent to. You have natural submissive tendencies. It’s clear from the way you responded to my commands, but we aren’t in a vanilla sex world, Sophie. While this life demands trust, it is a dark world, full of fire, passion, loss of control. Are you truly ready for that?” The bite to his tone made her arousal sharp; her womb clenched in eagerness, even as she felt a cold sweat dew on her body as trepidation set in. 

  Sophie breathed deeply. He’d warned her, hadn’t just accepted her blanket offer. Trust. Even as scary as what he’d mentioned sounded, she also longed for a taste of that forbidden passion. She was hungry for it. But she needed to trust him in return.  

About the Author

Amazon best-selling author Lauren Smith is an attorney by day, author by night, who pens adventurous and edgy romance stories by the light of her smart phone flashlight app. She’s a native Oklahoman who lives with her three pets—a feisty chinchilla, sophisticated cat and dapper little schnauzer. She's won multiple awards in several romance subgenres including being an Amazon.com Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter-Finalist and a Semi-Finalist for the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Award.

Connect with Lauren

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{Release Blitz w/ #GIVEAWAY} Intoxicate (Book 4 in the Explosive Series) by Tessa Teevan

Intoxicate, Book # 4 in the Explosive Series

Can be read as a standalone

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Day: January 29, 2015

 

Blurb

Marry me.

Two words Kalli Montgomery never expected to say out loud to Xavier Cruz, even though she's been in love with the sexy, single father for as long as she can remember. Unfortunately, she hasn't just been friend-zoned for the past ten years. No, even worse, he's treated her like a little sister, no matter how hard she tried to prove she could be so much more. When she agrees to spend the summer as the caregiver for his daughter, Lily, she knows it's her last chance to finally make him take notice.

As unexpected circumstances threaten to disrupt his home life, Xavier's desperate to keep his family together. He'll do whatever it takes, even if it means marrying a woman he doesn't love. For Xavier and Lily, Kalli will do just about anything, even at the risk of getting her heart broken in the process.

Little does she know, sometimes love isn't quite as unrequited as one may think. Xavier sees her-he always has. And the vow he made all those years ago never to go there with his best friend's little sister is wavering, and it's wavering fast. When they come up with a plan that leads to wedding bells, it's a no brainer.

This marriage of convenience has one rule: absolutely no falling in love.

Easier said than done. Throw together a girl who believes rules are meant to be broken, and a man whose whole career revolves around following orders and you get a recipe for disaster. What could possibly go wrong?  

Purchase the Book!

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Playlist

 

Excerpt

Shooting a glare at him, I throw my hands up in exasperation. “Are you telling me that this whole anticipation thing is one-sided? Is it that easy for you to resist? I really need to step up my game.”

Xavier’s eyes fall to my lips for a quick moment before he looks back up at me. I see the desire in his expression, and without him even saying a word, I know he wants this, too. So why is he making me wait?

“You have no idea how much I want to kiss you right now. How many times I’ve thought of doing just that. Every time you were curled up against me on the couch, I wanted to kiss you. Every morning when you showed up, I wanted to kiss you. Every time you said goodnight to Lily and then slipped out my door? I wanted to kiss you before you left. It’s not a new development. The first time I ever saw you, Kalli, I wanted to kiss you. And I’ve wanted to ever since.” 

  His admission floors me. He’s told me before that he “saw” me, but I had no clue it was from the very beginning. I’m not really sure how to process it. In fact, he beats me to the punch.

“So now you know. This will be just as hard for me, but it will be so damn worth it. Because when you’ve wanted something for as long as I’ve wanted you? It’ll be the best feeling in the world when I finally get it.”

“Our first kiss will be that epic?”

“A first kiss to rival them all,” he quips, grinning at me. He holds his arms out wide. “Now, we’ll start with a hug and work our way up.”

“I feel like I’m sixteen again,” I tell him as I wrap my arms around his waist.

His hands come down to my back and he gives me a big squeeze, my head pressing against his firm chest. I love this feeling of being in his arms, him holding me close. There’s nowhere on the planet I’d rather be than right here with him. As much as I want him, I know he’s right. I don’t care when it comes. Because when it does, our first kiss will be unforgettable. 

  His chest rumbles as he chuckles. He squeezes me tight one last time before letting me go. “And it’s only just the beginning,” he tells me. “Have a good night, crazy girl.”

Ignite (Explosive #1) | Incinerate (Explosive #2) | Inflame (Explosive #3)

Author Bio

I'm a twenty something book junkie who is also obsessed with sports. Bengals, Buckeyes, Reds are my teams! I work for the government during the day, hang out with Air National Guard on the weekends, and have been married to my own book boyfriend for over seven years. We currently live right outside of Dayton, OH with our two cats. 

  If I’m not writing or looking through tons of photos of hot men, all in the name of research, then you can probably find me curled up with my Kindle, ignoring the rest of the world. I love my sports almost as much as I love my books. My other obsessions include red wine, hot men, country music, and all things Grace Potter.

 

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{Cover Reveal w/ #GIVEAWAY} Broken Until You (Until You #2) by J.R. Grant

 

Title: Broken Until You (Until You #2)

Author: J.R. Grant

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: March 19. 2015

Synopsis

Secrets... Lies... Destruction...

You can't shatter a heart if it's already broken.

She's beautiful and smart, but behind every forced smile, Blue Hamilton died a little more inside. After suffering years of abuse by the one she loved, Blue packed her bags and left town, vowing to never return.

Three years later, everything started falling into place when Blue's world is suddenly flipped upside down, leaving her one of two options- either she sells her soul to the devil, or runs into the arms of the forbidden, praying to make it out alive.

His striking personality and toned, muscular body may have gotten him anything he wanted, but Stone Walker has never been able to let his walls down and live, until Blue walks through the door.

Promising to keep her safe from the destruction of her past, Stone does everything in his power to live up to his word, no matter the cost.

Lies are exposed, secrets are revealed, and when the truth finally comes to surface, two innocent lives are forced through a whirlwind of suffering and pain.

What happens when Blue finds out the truth behind Stone's corrupted past? Can she forgive him and move on once the damage is done? Or will she walk away for good, refusing to look back?

Follow this compelling journey of love, loss and survival. If everyone makes it out alive, it will be a miracle.

Excerpt

The picture of life is black and white, plain and simple. People were either happy or sad, angry or laughing, loved or hated. There wasn’t an in-between. 

  Some might have thought I lived a decent life. I put on a pleasurable front; laughing a lot, smiling often. Trying my damnedest to make everyone happy. I forced myself into the world, yearning for companionship, seeking immeasurable love.

I’d fix myself up, striving for acceptance, determined to have a good time. However life behind the tainted walls of my destructive shadow was a complete different story.

No one knew the real me.

The true Blue Hamilton.

I was a broken shell in the big blue sea just floating by.

Tormented.

Wrecked. 

  Anguished.

My heart had been shattered into a million pieces. Untraceable. My soul was damaged beyond repair. Undefinable. And the very thing others called life had been utterly wrecked.

Fear ate at me like a starved monster, pulling me apart piece by piece. It sucked the life out of me, draining every ounce of hope imaginable. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to turn. No one understood my sufferings and pain. Had someone stood by my side through all the turmoil and destruction, things might have turned out differently. I highly doubted it, though. Because if I knew anything about myself; I was destined to suffer. It was inevitable. 

  I just wanted be loved, to feel loved, but I guess that was too much to ask for. 

  I didn’t seek a distasteful pity party, or want others feel sorry for me. That’s why I kept my past to myself. The last thing I needed was to be judged off things I’d been through, things that wrecked me completely.

Only God knew the ways I’d suffered, the ways I’d lost, and even He became questionable at times. Did I believe there was an eternity? A Heaven and hell? Of course. I knew there had to be something more than what I had been living, something worth fighting for. I just couldn’t figure out exactly what. Faithfully I prayed my steps would be ordered by the Lord. I asked God to direct me, to guide me and help me, but something always got in the way every time I saw a little ounce of light.

I gave everything I had, everything in me to show those close to me that I cared. But just like everyone else in this crooked world, I had to learn the hard way; you can’t make someone love you, no matter what you do.

After reflecting on all I had been forced through, and how the situations dragged me down, somewhere along the line I gave up. I wasn’t sure if it really mattered, anyway. People like me didn’t deserve happiness. If anything, we woke every morning and walked the thin, dotted line, praying to make it through the day.

That was all I strived for…. 

  Survival.

About The Author

JR Grant is an avid reader, fictional writer and bestselling author of Shattered Promises and Lost Until You. When she's not tending to one of her kids sporting events, or plotting her next story, you can catch her on the beach with her kindle in hand, soaking up the sun. For more information or to contact the author, visit one of her social media sites below.

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Lost Until You (Until You #1)

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{Release Blitz w/ #GIVEAWAY} Between Everything and Us by Rebecca Paula

Title: Between Everything And Us

Author: Rebecca Paula

Genre: New Adult

Release Date: January 20, 2015

Cover Design: Maggie Hall

Synopsis

Matisse Evans is determined to make her sophomore year of college successful after failing out of a prestigious art school and spending a horribly boring gap year at home. Despite her focus, time isn't on her side as she struggles to hold down three jobs so she can afford her first apartment while juggling course work. In the chaos of it all, Beau Grady moves in and shakes up her world. A college dropout and tattooed bad boy, the rumors about Beau mean one thing for Matisse—trouble. Paralyzed by the fear that she's missing out on life, Matisse discovers plans may unravel, but what rises in their wake can be worth the uncertainty. 

  After spending the summer couch surfing, Beau Grady moves into an empty room at his ex-girlfriend’s Portland bungalow, skipping his senior year of college to spend his days working at a Vietnamese food cart instead. Once a star hockey player and gifted student, he’s put his life on hold after receiving a life-altering diagnosis, complacent to live in the moment. Hiding behind false rumors and bad habits, Beau falls for Matisse, letting her believe the worst until their relationship blooms into something they both can’t ignore. Falling for her means having to face a future he’d rather forget, but loving her just might be worth it.

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Excerpt

“I didn’t mean what I said the other night.” Mati spins around and tosses my T-shirt at my face. “And I guess I’m sorry for that.” 

  She glances over my shoulder, biting her bottom lip as I snap the folded T-shirt against my shoulder. I laugh in spite myself. I’m a fucking wreck, but something about me intimidates her. I can’t figure her out.

I stretch, pain radiating throughout my body as I do. I slip the shirt over my head and pull my shit together.

“It’s whatever,” I say with a shrug. I try to play it off, grabbing the ratchet from her hand. Truth is, she was right, even if I didn’t want to hear it.

Mati pads over to the tool bench I built with Noah. She pushes herself up to sit on it and places the giant sombrero from our party last weekend on her head. It swallows her up. It’s not that Mati is small—she’s tall and willowy—it’s just that I’ve always liked everything opposite before now. And I hate that it takes her wearing a stupid costume prop for me to figure that out.

“I feel like I need a margarita with this on.” Mati straightens it, adjusting the strings underneath her chin. “Maybe a piñata, too.”

“Straight tequila would be preferable.”

She swings her legs back and forth, humming along to the Black Keys. It’s a good thing she’s a painter; singing isn’t a strength of hers. But it’s cute and I hate myself for thinking so.

“How are classes?” I don’t really care about the answer. I just want to hear her talk. 

  “Oh, they’re fine, I think.”

“You don’t know?”

She stops swinging her feet. “Why do you care?”

“Making conversation, Mati.” I walk around to the bench. “Since we’re talking to each other again.”

A smile spreads across her lips, those red lips that I want to kiss.

“Why are you upset?” she asks quietly.

I swat my hand out and tip the sombrero over her eyes. “I’m fine.” It’s easier to lie when I don’t have to look her in the face.

She straightens the hat. “Classes so far are a lot like my classes freshman year two years ago.”

I skip the obvious question. Too many details and this impossible distance I’m trying to keep between us is going to be obliterated. “How’s that?” 

  “Do you remember? It’s been so long since you went to class.”

Her teasing washes away the panic seizing me again. “I wasn’t always a dropout. I remember fine.”

“Then you remember they’re pointless.” Her voice grows sad. “What was your major, Beau?”

I help her remove the massive sombrero instead of answering. I need exactly eight credits before I can graduate and start my masters for the accelerated program. I know my major—had a plan, even, had a purpose—but it’s not something I want to get into right now. It’s a far stretch ever imagining I could be a counselor responsible for guiding troubled teens on a hike when I can’t hold a damn wrench.

She taps her index finger over the tip of my nose. “Always Mr. Mysterious.”

I wonder if Mati has been drinking tequila because this isn’t like her. Usually her contempt toward me is blatant, not that I mind this Mati. This is who I was hoping the real Mati would be like if she ever paused for a minute from bowling over everything in her path. And that freaks me the fuck out—that today she’s quiet.

“Forestry sciences. I wanted to be a wilderness education counselor.” I move the hat off to the side and help her down, my hand curling over her hip. “What’s your major again? Being a pain in my ass?” 

  She rests her hand against my shoulder, not stepping away. “Charming as ever, too,” she whispers.

I tell my hand to let go, but I only hold on tighter because she sways closer and bumps against me, lost studying my face. I want to stay here, feel this, watch her watching me forever. “What would you do if I kissed you right now?”

Her eyes widen and shift focus to my mouth. They trace my lips until I have to fight back a groan. Mati gives the perfect fuck-me eyes.

“It doesn’t matter—” She pauses, her fingers pressing hard into my shoulder. “—because we both know you won’t.” 

  I slide my hand to the small of her back. My palm fits against the gentle curve there. “Mati?” 

  “I don’t have time for this.” Her words tumble out in an awkward rush. “I don’t want complications.” 

  My other hand slips up to rest against her stomach, cinching the fabric of her shirt in my fist. She slams her eyes shut at my touch, her breath escaping in staccato beats, mirroring my own.

The garage smells like damp earth and oil, but I swear we’re standing out in the dark, lost in the woods under the endless cover of stars.

Even though she’s right, even though I am a complication, I can’t shake the feeling in my gut that we’d be a good one. “You’re wrong,” I whisper. Her eyes pop open. “You’re exactly the type of girl who wants complications.” I rest my forehead against hers, her sweet coffee breath washing over my mouth. “And you have no clue what I want.” 

  

About The Author

Rebecca writes smart and gritty New Adult romances, as well as historical romances, featuring flawed characters struggling to find their place in the world. She's a lover of rainy days, an unabashed anglophile, and a devote Earl Gray tea drinker. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband and their very spoiled cat, Bella. A wanderlust connoisseur, Rebecca can be caught daydreaming about her next travel adventure when not writing.

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