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Friday 26 February 2016

Five Coffees by Cathy Jackson



FIVE COFFEES BY CATHY JACKSON

Tavora Kar is a young woman who has known love and loss. Seeking isolation and solitude as a balm against the pain, she spends her days poring over dusty tomes of the town's history as a means to fill her time and the emptiness in her heart.

Luke R’Phael is a popular actor who loves his family and his craft with equal passion. Given a week to get some “local flavor” for his next role, he finds it in the most unlikely of places and person.

How long does it take to change a life? Five minutes, five hours, five coffees?

Luke’s charm, compassion, and passion reignite a fire in Tavora’s heart, burning away the sorrow and fear that had once left her empty. 

Does she dare love again?

REVIEW:

Another Great Book written by Cathy Jackson. Five Coffees is a Beautiful story of finding your true partner or perfect match at wrong time. 

Luke and Tavora are two different people who fate brings them together. Tavora's heart is sealed shut and guarded as she has lost her husband. Love is the last thing she expects in her life but Luke shows her how to love again and let go of the Pain.

I Can't wait to read more of this series. Cathy Jackson Author always writes beautiful love stories. I Loved it <3

Friday 19 February 2016

Review: 9 Letters by Blake Austin



9 Letters by Blake Austin

My Review:

ARC Provided by the Author in exchange of Honest Review for My Blog.

Blake Austin has done a Marvelous Job with Nine Letters. His Debut Novel is full of love, redemption, loss and finding love once again in life.

Luke Cawley has lost the love of his life and find it difficult to live without life without her. His life is surrounded by grief, heartache then suddenly letters from his dead wife arrive in his doorstep and makes him move on with his life.


I Loved Luke's Journey in finding his happiness and love back and the Chemistry between Luke and Rae is amazing. I Would Recommend everyone to pick up this book. I Can't wait to read more of Blake's Work in the Future <3

Tuesday 16 February 2016

REVIEW OF LEGEND BY KATY EVANS


LEGEND BY KATY EVANS

REVIEW:

I LOVE this Series Hard. I Love each and every characters and their beautiful love stories. I was left speechless while reading this book.

Katy Evans has Once again shown her writing Magic. I Just Couldn't put this book Down. It was So So Good.

Guys you all need to Experience and get lost in this book. It's one of the Best Book of this Year. I Would Recommend it to everyone <3

BLOG TOUR & REVIEW OF SOME SORT OF HAPPY BY MELANIE HARLOW


SOME SORT OF LOVE — by Melanie Harlow

(A Happy Crazy Love Novel)  

Synopsis: 

On the surface, I have it all—a career I adore, a loving family, the Nixon metabolism but 

not the Nixon ears, and a salary that supports my lavish taste in designer shoes, fine 

wine, and lacy lingerie…but I have no one to share it with.

Until the day I run into him—my one night stand from college with the cocky smile, let’s-

get-out-of-here eyes, and dirty, dirty mouth. 

Levi Brooks is six feet four inches of hot bearded fantasy. A sexy single dad with broad 

shoulders, strong hands, and a fantastically big…heart. (I mean, it’s massive. And 

generous. And it pumps so hard… um. Sorry. Lost my place.)

But he lives for his son, and he's keeping me at a distance because he thinks I deserve 

someone better—a man who can give me more time, more attention, more of himself. 

He doesn’t believe he could ever be enough.

But he's wrong.

He’s everything.

Some Sort of Love

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1KFTnrU 

Amazon UK: http://bit.ly/SomeSortofLoveUK 

iBooks: http://bit.ly/SomeSortofLoveiBooks 

Also by Melanie Harlow

Some Sort of Happy

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1lTxtuO 

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1Vsyk1r 

Some Sort of Crazy 

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1KFU5VS 

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1PTqJF6 

Enter the Some Sort of Love Rafflecopter! 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ee2f7e864/? 


Please join Melanie Harlow and help the children of Flint, MI!

The kids in Flint, MI need safe water now, and they need resources for the future--the 

effects of lead exposure are serious and long-term. You can help by donating to 

flintkids.org between now and Feb. 19th--I'll match your donations up to $5,000! Here's 

how you give:

1) Go to flintkids.org

2) Click on the purple box that says Donate Now!

3) Give what you can

4) In the field that asks how you learned about the fund, please put Harlow. This allows 

the organization to track book world donations so I can match them!

THANK YOU!!! #WaterForFlint #BookWorldLove

About Melanie Harlow: 

Melanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty 

bits left in. When she's not writing or reading, she gets her kicks from TV series like 

VEEP, Game of Thrones, House of Cards, and Homeland. She occasionally runs three 

miles, but only so she can have more gin and steak.

Melanie is the author of the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series, the FRENCHED series, and 

the sexy historical SPEAK EASY duet, set in the 1920s. She lifts her glass to romance 

readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband, 

two daughters, and pet rabbit.

Connect with Melanie:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMelanieHarlow/?fref=ts

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1NPkYKs

Twitter: @MelanieHarlow2

Website: http://www.melanieharlow.com

REVIEW:

Some Sort of Love is a sweet, sexy and funny romance by Melanie Harlow. I Really Enjoyed reading it. 

It's easily one of my best read of this year. I Love whatever Melanie Harlow writes. Her Books are full of emotions as well as beautiful moment with a lot of humor.

If You haven't Picked up this Series, you need to do it now. They all are Incredible and Stay with you for a Long Time <3

RELEASE BLITZ, GIVEAWAY & REVIEW OF WHEREVER IT LEADS BY ADRIANA LOCKE

WHEREVER IT LEADS by ADRIANA LOCKE


RELEASE BLITZ

Title: Wherever It Leads

Author: Adriana Locke

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: February 15, 2016

BLURB

Smooth. Sexy. Irresistible.

Those qualities equal only one thing.

Big. Freaking. Trouble.

Brynne Calloway knows that anything that seems too good to be true usually is. Fenton Abbott and his

cashmere voice, Adonis body, and a magnetism like no other clearly falls into that category. But what’s life

without a little risk?

It was supposed to be a rebound, an uncomplicated escape from reality. But nothing ever goes as planned.

Fenton turns out to be so much more … in ways Brynne never sees coming.

GOODREADS LINK:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28280218-wherever-it-leads

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon links will be emailed as soon as available

iBooks:  http://apple.co/1PKDYZw

EXCERPTS 

Excerpt 1

The plane begins its ascent, the engines roaring to life. Fenton whips out a file from his briefcase and

gives it a once-over. Again, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do and it's killing me.

I pull my Kindle out of my bag and try to become invested in a second-chance romance about a rock

star, but it's nearly impossible sitting next to him. Each time I become engrossed in the words, he moves and

my senses are assaulted by his proximity. The third time this happens, I search the ebook for 'cock' and start

reading a sex scene. I need some form of undoing and if that has to be done via fictional character, so be it.

The heroine is taking the hero into her mouth when a low rumble radiates beside me. Startled, I look

up and see Fenton smirking.

"What?" I push the power button on my e-reader and place it on my lap. I realize the jet has leveled off

and it's quiet in the cabin. "What are you looking at me like that for?"

"Just wondering what you're reading."

"Why?"

"Because," he says, his eyes darkening, "your entire posture changed. Your lips parted, your breathing

became labored. I'm intrigued."

"I don't think you'd be interested in this."

"Trust me—if it gets that kind of reaction out of you, I'm definitely interested."

Dragging in a lungful of air, I remember Presley's pep talk and decide I have nothing to lose.

I switch on the tablet and find the page. "She drew his cock into her mouth, stroking his shaft as she

licked a pool of semen from the tip." I glance over my shoulder and his eyes are wide. I wink. "A growl escaped

his throat as she stroked his velvety length, running her tongue—"

"Enough." He snatches the Kindle from my grasp and places it on his briefcase. "Fucking hell, Brynne.

Do you want fucked right here?"

Excerpt 2

I pull out a cute emerald green dress. I brought a bright yellow bikini that would look really cute under

it. Tossing my things around in the suitcase, I come up empty handed. Staring at my luggage, I realize I don't

see any of the five bikinis I brought.

Dashing into the closet, I look on the rack where I hung the red one up from yesterday.

Gone.

"That fucker."

"Who?"

I spin around to see Fenton leaning against the doorframe. His blue tie is loose, his jacket missing, his

hair a mussed-up, yummy mess.

"The thief," I say, hands on my hips, trying to hide my desire to wrap my legs around his waist and kiss

the hell out of him.

"We have a thief?" He watches me with complete sincerity, like he has no clue what I'm talking about.

"We do. And he seems to have a penchant for my bikinis."

"Huh."

"Yeah," I say, traipsing over to him. "And nobody likes a thief."

"You know what else nobody likes?" He shoves off the frame and wraps his hands around my waist,

lacing his fingers together in the dip at the small of my back. "Girls that can't listen."

"I’ve never been a good listener,” I sigh dramatically. “I just make things happen ... like when my bikinis

get stolen, I just call the concierge and have them bring me another one up.  Something skimpy and very, very

He smacks my ass, making me yelp.

“And I charged it to your room since you stole my others. Thief."

“Did you really have them bring you another one?” he chuckles, a sinful smirk on his face. He’s trying to

figure out how to handle me, yet still get his way.

“No,” I give in, as his lips find the crook of my neck. “But I hadn’t ruled it out.”

"You're going to make me crazy, you know that?"

He brushes his lips to mine and, in a split second, has me forgetting all about the bikinis. I’m focused

solely on getting him out of his suit.

Excerpt 3

The blankets rip away and Presley jumps off the side. "You need to be more instinctive. Fenton is not

going to give you swoon regret."

"Swoon regret? Seriously?"

"It happens," she sighs. "I swooned over this rocker guy once. Hot and sexy and a voice—not cashmere,

but more like whiskey—and in the morning, I regretted my swoon. He wasn't that cute in the daylight and he

had a smoker's cough, two things I didn't see in the strobe lights of the bar.”

Laughing, I climb out of bed, too. "Want to watch a movie?"

"Let's order Italian and watch Netflix."

"I’m not really hungry. Just get me some breadsticks."

“Is that some Freudian slip?” Presley laughs.

“Probably,” I say, shaking my head and realizing I might be a little more affected than I even realize.

AUTHOR BIO

USA Today Bestselling author Adriana Locke lives and breathes books. After years of slightly obsessive

relationships with the flawed bad boys created by other authors, Adriana has created her own.

She resides in the Midwest with her husband, sons, and two dogs. She spends a large amount of time playing

with her kids, drinking coffee, and cooking. You can find her outside if the weather's nice and there's always a piece of candy in her pocket.

AUTHOR LINKS

Website:  http://www.adrianalocke.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/authoradrianalocke

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/AuthorALocke

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8379774.Adriana_Locke

Instagram:  https://instagram.com/authoradrianalocke

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/authoradrianalo/

Spotify:  http://www.spotify.com/adrianalocke

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Adriana-Locke/e/B00NPBY8FE

Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/booksbyadrianalocke

Goodreads Group:  https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/159694-all-locked-up

GIVEAWAY:

There is a giveaway for a signed paperback of Wherever It Leads (US only) and 2 x $5 Amazon gift cards (3

winners)

Rafflecopter Embed Code:

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Direct Link:

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REVIEW:

Adriana Locke never cease to amaze me. Anything She Writes is nothing but great. Same is with Wherever It Leads. I Loved the Story. The Book Grabbed me from Page One to the Last. The Story is Full of Romance, Suspense and different from any book i have read.

Fenton Abbott Stole My Heart. He is Sexy, Hot, Caring and knows how to Please Women. Did I say the Romance was Hot and Sizzling.

Grab this Now and Meet Bryanne and Fenton <3

Thursday 11 February 2016

EXCERPT REVEAL: SOULLESS BY T.M. FRAZIER


soulless excerpt reveal.jpg


Excerpt #1
"I'll deal with you when we get back to the house," Bear snapped, his words loaded with so many different meanings I trembled with both fear and anticipation.
"You're going to deal with me?" I asked. "How are you going to deal with me?" My attitude and confidence faded with each word until the last was merely a whisper.
"Yes, DEAL with you," Bear warned, suddenly pausing to take in my appearance. Slowly, from top to bottom, like he’d only just realized I was standing there. His eyelids hung heavy over his sapphire blues as he licked my body with his eyes, drinking me in like he was thirsty.     
No, not thirsty.
Hungry.
When he licked his lips I could have sworn he was about to eat me alive.  I tingled all over.  The awareness of him in such close proximity after so long washed over me.  Angry or not, my body didn’t care.  I didn’t care.  I wanted to reach out and touch his face, reassure him that he had no reason to be angry, but part of me liked that I could draw that kind of reaction from him.  He came alive when he was pissed, and something inside me loved that he became this primal possessive beast out to remind me who it was I belonged to.   
Bear clenched his jaw and the muscles in his neck tensed and strained. He looked as if he were ready to either kill or fuck.  All I knew was that, one way or another, I was about to Be devoured.  
I pressed my thighs together, trying to manage the pulsing between my legs, but the contact only ignited it further. Bear chuckled and glanced down to where my ankles were crossed. He closed the gap between us in two short strides, taking me off guard. I stumbled backward, tripping over a lose rock in the road. he reached out and roughly grabbed my arm before I could fall, pulling me flush into his hard chest. His warm skin radiated through my thin dress. I bit my lip, suppressing a moan. My legs grew weaker and weaker as he lowered his head, inching closer and closer, until I was sure his lips were going to meet mine, when without warning he released my arm and spun away. "Get in the fucking truck, Ti," he called back to me.  
I stood there, unable to move, and trying to catch my breath while he headed over to King’s truck like that moment never passed between us. When he noticed I wasn’t behind him he growled and stalked back over to me. He grabbed me by the waist, his fingers digging into my skin.  He lifted me up, my short dress bunching up over my butt cheeks and slung me over his shoulder like I was a rolled up rug.
Wack.
He slapped my ass with his open palm. Hard. The bite of the smack stung where I was sure he’d left his mark. He tossed me into the truck with a caveman grunt and slammed the door behind me.
I was confused as all hell.  
I was so angry.
I was also elated.
I was in lust so hard that I was in physical pain.
I was really fucking angry.
I was head over heels in love.
Motherfucker.


soulless pre-order.jpg

Bear & Thia’s epic finale releases on February 23rd!

PRE-ORDER SOULLESS NOW!





SOULLESS TEASER 1.jpg

Haven’t read this series yet?
Lawless
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1HQU3im
Paperback Amazon: http://amzn.to/1YsctJZ




About the Author:
t.m. frazier.jpg
T.M. Frazier is a USA TODAY bestselling author. She resides in sunny Southwest Florida with her husband and young daughter. When she's not writing she loves talking to her readers, country music, reading, and traveling. Her debut novel, The Dark Light of Day was published in September of 2013 and when she started writing it she intended for it to be a light beachy romance. Well...it has a beach in it!

Stalk Her: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, and Goodreads.

EXCERPT REVEAL- 9 Letters by Blake Austin


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Excerpt

As soon as the word left my mouth, Rae’s face opened up and she was smiling over at me and it was like I was falling in towards her. When she was happy, I got vertigo. All those happy brain chemicals just took over and I was lost in bliss.
“Get out of my rescue, Luke Cawley,” she said.
“Will do,” I replied, scooping up King’s leash and opening the door again. But before we stepped out, Rae’s voice came after me.
"Hey Luke, you want to hook up sometime?" she asked. I turned around, probably looked startled. Sometimes I'm smooth, sometimes I'm not. "I mean, I could help you with King. At the dog park or something. You get a dog tired enough, he won’t rip up the house.”
She smiled. Clearly this was a professional courtesy she was extending, right? But I still couldn’t help feeling like it might do me and King both some good to see Rae again.
“I uh, lost your number,” I said. Sounded a lot nicer than ‘I threw it away while I was cleaning my house.’ I took out my phone. “I’ll just put it into my phone this time. Rae, right? What's your last name?" I made a new contact.
"Goode," she said.
I'd remember that. I didn't have the best memory, but I remember what's important. I decided I couldn't let it be a sign, though. It was just a last name. Totally wasn't a sign. I'm too grown up to believe in things like that.
        I tapped in her number, texted her so she had mine, then I reached down, pet King on the head once more, and left the shelter with my dog in tow, feeling pretty good after all was said and done.
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Meet Luke Crawley in Blake Austin's debut novel of loss, redemption, and ever-enduring love releasing on February 24th!

Add to your TBR at: http://bit.ly/1ONI0Qf
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Blurb

Luke Cawley is a broken man. After his wife's tragic death, he lost everything that mattered in the world. Now, his life is filled with hard days, harder nights, and a steady stream of alcohol and the wrong kind of women. Nothing helps.

Until the letters arrive on Luke's doorstep.

Nine envelopes. Nine messages. Nine chances to find his way back.

Rae Goode is looking for the real thing. After fighting her way out of a string of bad relationships, she's ready for something different--something true.
She meets Luke while piecing her life together, and right away she can tell that he's different. Drawn together by fate and the desire to heal, Rae and Luke discover new ways to mend their broken hearts--one letter at a time.

Discover Blake Austin's debut novel of loss, redemption, and ever-enduring love.


For updates: Follow Blake Austin on Facebook here:  http://on.fb.me/1ZUj6sR


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RELEASE BLITZ OF LEGEND BY KATY EVANS


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LEGEND IT'S LIVE.jpg

Meet Maverick “The Avenger” Cage in Legend, the newest stand alone in the REAL series releasing February 9th!

AVAILABLE NOW
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1HDokuT
Google Play: http://bit.ly/1HyXaYg


legend katy.jpg
Blurb
Maverick “the Avenger” Cage wants to rise to the top and become a legend in the ring. Though he keeps his identity well guarded, he's known on the fighting circuit as the new kid with a chip on his shoulder and a tattoo on his back that marks him as trouble. He's got a personal score to settle with the Underground's one and only Remington "Riptide" Tate.

As Mav trains, he meets a young girl—the only other new person in the town--and sparks fly. When things get heated between them, he finds out she's none other than Reese Dumas, the cousin of Remington Tate’s wife. A girl who's supposed to root against him and a girl he's supposed to stay away from.

But Maverick fights for the woman in his heart, and the monsters in his blood. The world’s eyes are on them and the victor will go down in history as the ultimate fighting champion; the ultimate LEGEND.

* LEGEND is the 6th and final installment of the REAL series, but it can also be read as standalone or after the three Remington and Brooke books (Real/Mine/Remy.)

LEGEND 3.png

EXCERPT #1

It’s midweek already, and I’m halfway through my workout when I get a text from Brooke:
Hey! Huge line at the Underground registration, might pick up lunch on our way back home. Don’t wait for us - lunch home w/Diane
Me: Got it ☺ Will take Racer to park and meet you home ltr
I set my phone aside and scan the gym again. Some otherworldly impulse has me walking past the weights section. I cross the treadmills, bicycles, toward the mats at the end and the boxing bags. I scan the area where Maverick always works out. There are several guys at the bags now. None of them are as big, or mysterious. Or hot.
He’s gone.
Disappointment washes over me. I wait a bit, checking the time. Five minutes to leave for Racer.
Reese, you’re acting stupid.
“You’re looking for your friend? The one you come in with?”
“I . . . ah . . . yeah.”
“He hasn’t come in.”
“Right. Thanks.”
I head to pick up Racer from day care, meet Pete there with the stroller and our snacks, then sit Racer inside and push him to the park. There’s this spot I like under the shadow of a tree. I head there. “How was day care, Racer?”
“Okay.”
He’s scanning the park for dogs, I know.
“This is nice, isn’t it?”
I pull out his fruit bears and open them. He dives in.
“Racer, I ran extra hard today and I’m suddenly hungry. If I tell you an extra story tonight, would you give me one of your fruit bears?”
“Two stowies,” he negotiates.
“Okay, two stories, for two bears?” I shoot back.
He hesitates, then nods and lets me pull out two bears, examining my hand thoroughly. I let him open my palm.
“See? Two?”
He grins a dimpled grin that I could eat up, and then continues eating.
I shove them in my mouth and start to set up my blanket and stop in my tracks when I spot the figure doing pull-ups on the tree.
His T-shirt is riding upward due to the lifted position of his arms, and I can see the concrete-like squares of his abs perfectly.
His extraordinary eyes blaze and glow when he spots me a few feet away, not far from the tree. He drops himself to the ground, lithe as a cat and surprisingly quiet, and as he stretches to his feet from the crouched position he landed in, his eyes are direct and interested and warm. No, not warm. More.
There’s a flip in my stomach when his lips curl a little. He ambles over and I have the oddest sensation that he was waiting for me. But . . . was he?
“Maverick.”
“Mavewick!” Racer repeats, and puts out his fist.
He bumps fists with Racer. “Dude. Cool cap.”
He taps Racer’s Yankees baseball cap. Then his eyes lift to meet mine.
My stomach feels unsettled, but it’s not from hunger, more like from nerves or something like . . . anticipation.
“Didn’t see you at the gym today,” I say.
He shakes his head. “I talked to Oz.”
“You did?”
He gives me this quiet, perfect smile and simply nods.
“That’s great.”
“Yeah.”
We smile for the most delicious few seconds.
“So you’re fighting during the inaugural?” I ask excitedly.
He pulls out a page from his back jeans pocket. “That’s me.”
I take and scan the page. It indicates his accepting the Underground terms and rules of engagement, states his coach’s name, and then his name. A dangerous little chill runs down my spine when I read:
Maverick “the Avenger” Cage
And Maverick “the Avenger” Cage is watching me read this paper, studying my reaction.
My palms are sweaty all of a sudden. “Well . . . wow.”
My stomach is quaking upon seeing his name, I don’t know why. Maverick Cage. His name is a conundrum. Maverick means “rebel,” and cage . . . But it looks like this maverick is coming out of his cage.
He tucks the page back into his jeans. “I had to tell someone.”
“And you came to tell me?” If I sound bewildered, it’s because I am.
He stares into me, a liquid look coming to his eyes. “It wouldn’t be happening if it weren’t for you.”
“That’s totally not true.”
He glances down at the stroller. “I wouldn’t forgive myself if I didn’t tell my buddy here.” He fist-bumps Racer again and Racer giggles at the attention.
“Mom and Dad are busy, so I get to keep him for an extra while,” I tell Maverick.
He stares at me. He has a very stubborn, arrogant face, but when he smiles, pleasure softens his granitelike features. And he’s smiling right now. Dear me. “So he’s not yours,” he says.
“God, no. I wish!”
I can’t think straight when he looks at me. I feel naked. As if he knows that I’ve missed him. As if he knows that just looking at him makes me feel odd. Odd and oddly sensual inside. Responding to him.
I open my blanket and bend over to smooth it on the ground. Then I realize my butt is sticking out, the Himalayas of butts out there for him to see. In tight exercise gear. Fuck.
He kneels on his haunches at the edges of the blanket and opens his hand. “Share the blanket with me?”
His knuckles are still scarred. I can’t decide why I keep looking at them. I get a gut squeeze of empathy every time I see the bruises. His hands are huge. He plants them on the blanket, then shifts to lean back on his arms, stretching out his legs before him. Other couples are nearby on blankets. It feels intimate when I set my stuff down, and I feel myself go hot when I sense him watching me settle down next to it.
He spreads out just a little more and squints up at the tree, then looks at me in silence.
I search the picnic bag. “Want some . . . kid food? Or I’ve got . . .” I pull out my emergency Snickers bar, which I’m proud not to have touched yet, and I hand it over. “Plus one water and a drinking cup with a lid.”
I pass the drinking cup to Racer and hand Maverick the water. He takes it. “I’m good.” He opens the water bottle and hands it to me.
I shake my head. I’m not hungry, really. Or thirsty. My stomach feels full of butterflies again and it makes no sense, since I don’t even know him.
He shifts up higher on his arms, the flex of his torsal muscles visible through the cotton of his shirt.
“I almost thought you’d arrived to the gym and got yourself kicked out,” I try.
“Not yet. There’s still tomorrow.” He smirks.
And there’s a tinge of merriment in his eyes.
“Wee, and the ducks?”
I jerk my attention back to Racer and my pending business with him. “Right. I promised we’d feed the ducks today.” I quickly pack our stuff and then push the stroller toward the lake. He walks beside me.
I feel him watching me as I stop at the dispenser to fill up a cup of duck food.
“Mavewick, get me out,” Racer commands.
Maverick sweeps him up and sets him on his feet.
“Don’t go in the water, Racer, just stay on the edge, and don’t let them bite your finger. Do it like this. . . .” I show him how to cup his hand. “Or throw it in the water and watch them pick at it.”
He nods and starts throwing all over, sending the ducks after the nibbles.
I sit on the ground, the scent of damp grass surrounding us as Maverick sits beside me.
“Hey, I want to do something for you.”
“What?”
I can’t remember how to breathe.
I give him a moment to explain, but he’s not helping me out, only smiling. His face is open, friendly, his smile captivating. But his eyes are guarded, careful. I try to keep my voice indifferent.
“You mean for the gym?” I ask, a puzzled frown on my face.
He nods. “For that. And Oz.”
“Oh.” I shake my head, laughing softly. “It’s nothing, really.”
When he looks at me, he looks curious, and unsatisfied somehow. But a genuinely appreciative smile touches his eyes. “Trust me. It’s not nothing. It’s something, and I appreciate it.”
His open gratitude makes me so warm. He makes me feel impulsive.
“I’m in a healthy-living boot camp this summer. You’re meeting the new Reese,” I hear myself blurt out.
Wow. Did I just spew it out like that?
I’m so desperate for him to share bits of himself that I’m just totally baring myself to him without his even asking. Thank god he takes it in stride with an attractive little dance in his eyes.
“What was the old one like?” he asks easily.
I shrug and shake my head, not really wanting to get into that.
When he does nothing to fill the silence that settles between us, it leaves me with nothing to do but look up at him. I lift my lashes, and he’s staring at me with a look of total intrigue in his eyes. Wisps of hair tease my face, and I push them away, feeling really restless under that stare.
“Help me kick my own ass, and we’ll call it even,” I suddenly suggest.
He shakes his head with playful stubbornness. “We’re not even. I still owe you.” His eyes grow thoughtful, and he reaches into his pocket and extracts something. “Open your palm.”
He looks so intense that I open my palm and watch him drop something in it. “What’s this?”
“My IOU.”
I stare at the penny in my palm, then look up at him in confusion.
His voice sounds a little more harsh and textured all of a sudden. “I don’t have a lot right now, but I got this.”
“For a rainy day?” I ask.
“For any day.”

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EXCERPT #2
At Tate’s corner, outside the ropes, his coach whistles. “You two get some headgear on. Stat.”
Tate’s lips curl rebelliously, and he looks at me with challenge in his eyes.
I smile back, a feral curl of my lips.
We tap gloves.
No headgear.
I jab. He swings his arm, blocks the hit, leaps back, and I jab again, blocked again.
We space apart and jump in place, shaking our shoulders, loosening up. I pull my gloves back up, narrow my eyes, and he asks, “You think you’re the shit because you’re fast and strong? I got news for you. I’m faster, I’m stronger, and I’m disciplined. Your coach isn’t doing you any favors.”
“He’s in my corner, and that’s enough for me.”
He swings, I duck fast and come up behind him. He straightens and faces me again. “If you settle for that, then you should settle for second place.”
“What the fuck. You want me to win?”
“I want a good fight. I like keeping things real. Reminds me I’m a man. Mortal.”
“I want to be a legend. Legends never die. Even if they die alone.”
He swings again, and I duck, come up, and jab three times.
He blocks repeatedly, then hooks with his right; I deflect. He grins and jabs again. I block, then I duck before he puts me up against the ropes, and I head back to center. He follows.
“To be a legend you need to fall seven times, get up eight,” he says.
I remember a final a few years ago when my father kicked Tate to a pulp. “Or not fall at all.”
He backs up his arm and then smacks the smirk right off me. “Before you stop falling, you need to embrace the fact that you’re going to hit the ground.”
I clean the blood from my mouth, glowering.
We take positions again, and he watches me as if waiting for my next move as we start dancing around, jumping, waiting for the other to strike.
“Do you want the headgear now?”
I lunge and start hitting, and he blocks, deflects, blocks. “Fuck you,” I grit out.
“Getting angry doesn’t help. You control the anger, not let it control you.”
I want to prove him wrong; I loop out my arm and aim for his head.
He ducks and hooks, his knuckles cracking into my jaw. I spurt blood and bounce against the ropes.
I shake my head, wipe the blood away, grit my teeth and straighten, narrowing my eyes. “My turn,” I growl, and I swing. My fist connects: a kidney punch.
He blocks my next hit, frowning in thought. “You’re cocky for someone who just lost yesterday.”
He jabs.
I dive my upper body to the side, evading. “You got to play it to become it.”
“I’m the champion, not you.”
“You won’t live forever, champ.”
He jabs three times, then leaps back, flexes his arm and looks at it.
“Muscle memory. You hit enough times, you fight on instinct; part of your brain works on your assault, the other is focused on the other’s assault. Let your muscle memory work for you and consciously stay focused on your opponent’s eyes.”
I laugh mockingly. “I don’t need your pointers.”
“Go back home to daddy, then.”
“When I’m finished with you.” I punch him, then raise my left hook and connect hard enough to stun him.
He raises his head, shakes it to clear it, and wipes blood from his nose. I catch my breath, satisfied I got some blood. At least I won’t be the only one with an ice pack tonight.
He sees the blood on his arm and looks at me, impressed.
“TIME!” his coach yells out from the corner. “You two won’t have shit for the fight if you keep up this nonsense.”
Tate grins at him, then turns back and glowers at me. “You get enough?”
“Barely warming up here.” I squint the blood out of one eye and raise my gloves. “Come get it, Riptide,” I growl.
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Real (Book One) The Real Series
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1zT7J31

Mine  (Book Two) The Real Series
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1zmq1cT

Remy  (Book Three) The Real Series
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1ynVnBv

Rogue  (Book Four) The Real Series
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1wvpqI6

Ripped  (Book Five) The Real Series
Barnes & Noble:  http://bit.ly/11X9CAG


About the Author:
katy evans.jpg
Hey! I’m Katy Evans and I love family, books, life, and love. I’m married with two children and three dogs and spend my time baking, walking, writing, reading, and taking care of my family. Thank you for spending your time with me and picking up my story. I hope you had an amazing time with it, like I did. If you’d like to know more about books in progress, look me up on the Internet, I’d love to hear from you!


Email: authorkatyevans@gmail.com

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