Becoming Alpha by Aileen Erin

Book Description:
Tessa McCaide has a unique talent for getting into trouble. Then again, it isn’t easy for a girl with visions to ignore what she sees. Luckily Tessa and her family are leaving California and moving halfway across the country, giving her the perfect opportunity to leave her reputation as “Freaky Tessa” behind. 

But Tessa doesn’t realize that kissing the wrong guy in her new Texas town could land her in far more trouble than she ever imagined. Like being forced to attend St. Ailbe’s Academy, a secret boarding school for werewolves. 

Even if the wrong guy did accidentally turn her into one of “them” and doom her to attending the weirdest high school ever, Tessa can’t help her growing attraction to the mysterious Dastien Laurent.

When vampires attack St. Alibe’s and her visions pinpoint an enemy in their midst, Tessa realizes that boy drama and her newfound canine tendencies might just be the least of her problems.

My Thoughts:
I got caught up in this story on the first page!  Tessa has never been normal.  In fact, she avoids people and especially touching people in any way she can just to seem somewhat normal.  Partly because of that, her family has decided to move to Texas.  Her brother dares her to use her powers to figure out why their dad took the Texas job and something unexpected happens.  Then when they actually arrive, strange things start happening quickly.  She may get her first kiss, but that isn't the only thing Dastien does to her!Ok, I'm going to start with saying how awesome I thought Tessa's relationship with her brother was.  The two of them couldn't have been closer and I loved it!  Dastien was such a great guy, with one serious error in judgment.  I understood Tessa's confusion and issues, the author did a great job of writing that part and her confusion was realistic because she had no clue what she landed in the middle of!  That being said, I really could have throttled her a few times over some of the stupid things she did.  I liked that she was attracted to Dastien but still had issues because of what happened, that made it better than just instantly falling back into his arms.  I will absolutely read the next in this series to see what happens to the awesome characters!
4/5 on this one.  I loved the story but at times I really just wanted to smack Tessa!

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book (via netgalley).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

**Adult Language**

Angelbound by Christina Bauer

Book Description:
Eighteen year old Myla Lewis is a girl who loves two things: kicking ass and kicking ass. She’s not your every day quasi-demon, half-demon and half-human, girl. For the past five years, Myla has lived for the days she gets to fight in Purgatory’s arena. When souls want a trial by combat for their right to enter heaven or hell, they go up against her, and she hasn’t lost a battle yet.

But as she starts her senior year at Purgatory High, the arena fights aren’t enough to keep her spirits up anymore. When the demons start to act weird, even for demons, and the King of the Demons, Armageddon, shows up at Myla’s school, she knows that things are changing and it’s not looking good for the quasi-demons. Myla starts to question everything, and doesn’t like the answers she finds. What happened seventeen years ago that turned the quasi-demons into slave labor? Why was her mom always so sad? And why won’t anyone tell her who her father is? Things heat up when Myla meets Lincoln, the High Prince of the Thrax, a super sexy half-human and half-angel demon hunter. But what’s a quasi-demon girl to do when she falls for a demon hunter? It’s a good thing that Myla’s not afraid of breaking a few rules. With a love worth fighting for, Myla’s going to shake up Purgatory.

My Thoughts:
Loved this book.  Myla is an arena fighter.  Her mother will tell her nothing about what happened in the past or who her father is. Living in Purgatory isn't a happy place but her demon half does love the fights to the death in the arena. When the Thrax show up and she meets the High Prince, Lincoln, things start getting interesting.  The demons start acting up and life as Myla knows it will never be the same again!
I loved Myla from the start.  She is just a sassy, self-assured, kick butt chick who knows what she wants.  I wasn't sure I would ever like her mom because of how clingy she was, but I did like understanding the story behind it all.  Lincoln was hot, even when he was being a jerk.  Her best friend could go from sweetheart to scary in 0 seconds flat!  The peril of her world was terrifying to Myla and yet she loved to cause 'trouble'. The author wove wonderful characters through a story that will just suck you in and not let you go!
5/5 for me.  I completely enjoyed this story!

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book (via netgalley).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

**Adult Language**

Burning Desire by Donna Grant

Book Description:

The Dark Kings have fought for centuries to preserve their dragon magic. But can one warrior resist the greatest temptation of all. . .?

A DESIRE THIS POWERFUL

In his quest to destroy the Dark Fae—his nemesis—the Dragon King known as Kiril goes to Ireland as a spy. When a gorgeous, mysterious woman tries to seduce him, Kiril instantly sees through her glamour to the Dark Fae beneath. Shara isn’t just any Dark; she’s from one of the most powerful bloodlines—and despite the dangers, Kiril can’t stay away from her. He’s enthralled by her smile, enslaved by the undeniable passion…

IS A WAR WORTH FIGTING FOR

Shara has one chance to make things right with her family—and to prove her worth. It seemed like such an easy mission…until she actually meets Kiril. His charm, his sexual magnetism is too much for her to ignore. Shara knows that falling into Kiril’s arms can bring her nothing but trouble. Yet she discovers an inner strength she didn’t know she had…and an attraction that knows no bounds. But is her desire for Kiril worth the risk of eternal doom for them both?

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book!  Kiril is determined to find where the dark fae have taken his friend.  He isn't surprised that they are watching his every move, he is after all on their turf.  He isn't even surprised when they send a dark fae to seduce him.  What he is surprised at is that he is absolutely attracted to Shara.  She isn't like any dark he has ever been around and he wants to know more about her.  She may seduce him, but his charms aren't lost on her.
Absolutely loved Kiril!  He is the strong, sexy dragon that is just yummy.  He and his brothers are bound together and it is great how they worry after each other and would do anything for the other.  Shara doesn't have that bond with anyone.  Her family is supposed to be everything to her but they have never understood her or treated her well.  I like how she schemes even in the middle of a scheme so she doesn't have to hurt the one she loves.  I want to read the next in this series to see how the rest of the story unfolds!
4/5 for me.  I really enjoyed the story and can't wait to see what is next for the dragon kings.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Married One Night by Amber Leigh Williams

Book Description:
What happened in Vegas…followed her home! 

Olivia Lewis is not the marrying type. So when a wild weekend in Vegas leaves her with a surprise husband, she's happy to sign anything to erase her mistake—even if that mistake is handsome, charming and comes with an English accent. Fortunately, her groom has other plans. 

Bestselling author Gerald Leighton knows he can make his new bride fall in love with him—he just needs time. In exchange for a quickie divorce, Olivia grudgingly gives him a few weeks to attempt to woo her. And whether Olivia likes it or not, Gerald plans on using every second to win her heart!

My Thoughts:
This book was entertaining.  Olivia doesn't remember much from her time in Vegas, but waking up with a hot Englishman isn't a bad thing.  She makes a hasty exit and goes home to run her bar, hoping to put it all behind her.  Gerald hasn't felt like himself in a long time, until the night with Olivia.  After he figures out that they were married, he could just give her a quick divorce but he wants to know if that feeling was just a one time thing.  He sets out to win her over and maybe her family will give him the answers he needs to unlock her heart.Gerald was great!  I love the little sayings and phrases throughout the book and how they don't quite mesh with our culture and phrases.  Olivia has too much in her past to think about ever giving her heart away again.  Her family is awesome.  I love how they interact and that nothing is too much for them to talk about.  They love each other completely and take care of what needs taken care of.  The romance is good and I honestly just liked the story!Absolutely a 4/5.  I really enjoyed the whole story. Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book (via PUYB).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

A Promise to Protect by Patricia Bradley

Book Description:

In a steamy small town riddled with broken promises, one woman's secret could change everything.

Acting Sheriff Ben Logan hasn't heard from Leigh Somerall in a very long time, but it doesn't mean he can get her--or their whirlwind romance of ten years ago--out of his head. When she calls out of the blue, it is with a strange request to protect her brother, Tony. But all too soon, Ben is charged with a different task--protecting Leigh from the people after her brother. With Leigh doing everything in her power to avoid Ben, it's no easy task. And the secret she is keeping just may change their lives forever.

My Thoughts:
I enjoyed this one.  Ben is the Sheriff in town since his father's incapacitation.  When his college sweetheart calls and asks him to help her brother, he didn't know the brother's dying request would be for Ben to take care of Leigh.  Leigh is devastated by her brother's death but also by the thought of Ben being around her and her son.  With the killer determined to find what he is looking for, some secrets from the past can't stay hidden.I really liked Ben.  He has issues from the past that he still blames himself for.  He loves his family, God and Leigh.  Leigh can't let what happened in the past keep her from doing what is best for her son.  His safety is most important to Leigh.  I really liked the secondary characters in the story.  Leigh's son, Ben's father,and the deputy all added depth to the story that made me enjoy it all the more.
This was a 4/5 for me.  I really enjoyed the whole story but the ending left me feeling a bit wrong. Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Destined for Doon by Carey Corp & Lorie Langdon

Book Description

In this sequel to Doon, Mackenna Reid realizes she made a horrible mistake - choosing to follow her dreams of Broadway instead of staying in the enchanted land of Doon. To make everything worse, she's received her Calling - proof she and Duncan are each other's one true love - and it's pure torment, especially when visions of the very alluring Scottish prince appear right before she goes on stage. So when Duncan tells her an ancient curse threatens to overtake Doon and the new queen needs her to return, Kenna doesn't have to think twice. With darkness closing in on all sides, Kenna and Vee must battle a world of nightmares in order to protect the kingdom. But it will take the ultimate test of courage for Kenna to salvage her happily ever after.

My Thoughts:
After reading Doon, I was excited to see the second in the series.  At the end of Doon, Mackenna and Vee chose their 'happily ever after', only to find that they may not have known exactly what they were thinking.  Mackenna has left Doon when her calling is there and Vee needs her help.  She also has left, probably, the love of her life and he is the one who goes to find her and bring her home....to Vee.  Vee has to come to terms with people not wanting her in power because she is an outsider.  AND there is something terrible going on in Doon.
I still had questions when Doon ended and was glad that the second book FINALLY came out!  The authors write alternating between Mackenna and Vee and you can see why the two of them are best friends.  I love that when Duncan came for her and Vee needed her, Mackenna went without question.  I enjoyed the story, most parts I can't talk about without spoilers, but I think if you like fantasy you will enjoy this book.
A 4/5 for me, this book flowed well and I loved the continuation of the story of Doon.  

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book (via Booklook).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Hot Rebel by Lynn Raye Harris

Book Description:
A rebel on the run…

Victoria Royal is a traitor. Or so the U.S. government believes. Victoria was once a promising sniper in the Army, but now she’s gone rogue—worse, she’s just landed in the middle of a Hostile Operations Team mission in the desert and blasted it all to hell. 

Nick “Brandy” Brandon doesn’t expect to run into Victoria when he’s bugging out from a mission gone wrong. It’s been more than three years since she disappeared from the sniper course they were in together, and he’s finally stopped thinking about her killer curves and smart mouth. 

But now she’s back—and she’s far more dangerous than Nick ever believed possible… Is she really a traitor? Or is there something more at stake? He has to decide fast—because time’s running out and too many lives hang in the balance…

My Thoughts:
This was definitely a hot read!  Nick is a sniper.  That is his position with his team and he excels at it.  When someone ruins his mission, he is mad and wants revenge.  What he doesn't expect is to run into Victoria in the middle of the desert.  Victoria is a sniper too, but not for the Military.  She works for whoever it takes to get what she wants.  Nick thinks she is a traitor but the more he gets to know about her the more he thinks his assumption may be wrong.  The zing of attraction between them doesn't make his thought process any smoother, but it is certainly entertaining getting under her...skin. 
I really liked Nick.  The thoughts I got of him from Victoria made me wonder if I would but then we see the past and get perspective.  He was a competitive guy who wanted to win and she was his competition.  The attraction between them is intense and I wasn't expecting a couple of the twists thrown into the story.  That being said I completely enjoyed the whole book.  Victoria is made of strong stuff and will do anything for family.  Nick is the same way but he has a team to watch his back.  Both are great and I really liked the glimpses I got of Nick's team!
This was a 4/5 for me.  I intend to go back and read the earlier books in this series!

Thank you to the author for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Thunder by Bonnie S. Calhoun

Book Description:
In post-apocalyptic America, Selah Chavez is crouched in long grass on a shore littered with the rusted metal remnants of a once-great city. It is the day before her eighteenth Born Remembrance, and she is hunting, though many people refuse to eat animal flesh, tainted by radiation during the Time of Sorrows. What Selah's really after are Landers, mysterious people from a land across the big water who survive the delirium-inducing passage in small boats that occasionally crash against the shoreline. She knows she should leave the capture to the men, but Landers bring a good price from the Company and are especially prized if they keep the markings they arrive with.
Everything falls to pieces when the Lander Selah catches is stolen by her brothers--and Selah wakes up the next morning to find the Lander's distinctive mark has suddenly appeared on her own flesh. Once the hunter, Selah is now one of the hunted, and she knows only one person who can help her--Bohdi Locke, the Lander her brothers hope to sell.
With evocative descriptions of a strange new world that combines elements of scientific advances, political intrigue, and wilderness survival, Bonnie S. Calhoun weaves a captivating tale of a world more like our own than we may want to admit.

My Thoughts:
This was an interesting book.   Selah wants to hunt with her step father and brothers.  They hunt people who was ashore with certain markings on them that are worth a lot of money.  She has been raised to believe these people are bad and that they can be rehabilitated.  Everything she has been taught is questioned when one of these 'Landers' protect her and yet her brothers take him away.  Then everything changes for her when she wakes up with a mark and is told to run and take letters to explain what is going on.
I honestly wasn't sure what to expect with this book.  It's summary intrigued me but I wondered where exactly it would go and I have to say that I enjoyed it.  Selah's world is completely turned up-side-down when the things she has been raised to believe show to be not the truth.  Not to mention that Bohdi, the Lander that helps her, is the one she must turn to for help.  I wasn't really surprised by who the 'bad guy' was or what the Landers seem to really be....the author did a good job with the story line.  I look forward to having my questions answered in future books and seeing where everything goes from here.
This is a 4/5.  I will absolutely read the next in the series. Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Twisted by Elisabeth Naughton

Book Description:

NICK – Leader of the half-breeds, the last true hero, and the son of one psychotic Titan. He’s spent his life fighting a dark pull toward the gods he doesn’t understand. But as his powers grow stronger and his destiny is revealed, no one knows whether he will choose to fight for the side of good or succumb to the sinister lure of evil…even him.

My Thoughts:
This book definitely lived up to it's name.  Nick is a slave.  A prisoner down below and they are determined to break him, no matter what that entails.  Cynna is in charge of his torture, in a way, but has issues of her own to deal with.  Nick's powers are too sought after to ignore and his lineage is unlike anyone else's.  Once he is free, he has to choose if he lets the darkness that pulls at him consume him or fights against it.
I felt so bad for Nick at several different places in this book, but most especially where the soul mates were concerned.  I wasn't sure about Cynna's angle at the start but it showed itself as the story moved along.  I have to say that honestly the story line wasn't there for me.  I think mostly because I had issues with Cynna torturing Nick then becoming his lover.  That and their connection wasn't there for me other than as a way for him to handle his power and her to assuage her guilt.  I think mostly the story was there to get to the sex scenes, at least in my opinion.
This was a 2/5 for me.  There was just more that I didn't care for than I did.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book (via netgalley).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

The Lawman Returns by Lynette Eason

Book Description

DANGEROUS HOMECOMING

Deputy Clay Starke has come home to Wrangler's Corner for one reason only: to solve his brother's murder. Denied the official resources that will help him unravel the case, Clay is forced to rely on his wits—and on the help of beautiful social worker Sabrina Mayfield. But Sabrina's willingness to assist him soon draws her into the troubles of Clay's past. Now both Clay and Sabrina have targets on their backs, and Clay is at risk of losing not only his heart, but also his life. Will finding his brother's killer cost him the woman he has come to love?

Wrangler's Corner: Family comes first

My Thoughts:
Completely enjoyed this one!  Sabrina has to help the child that calls her for help, but she doesn't realize exactly what trouble she is running straight into.  Clay has come home and taken over his brother's place in the police department.  The main reason he is home is to solve his brother's murder and Sabrina is more than ready to help him.  Now, Clay is more determined than ever to find his brother's murderer, but with Sabrina in a killer's crosshairs, their trouble may be more than they imagined possible.
I really liked Clay.  He had to deal with his brother's murder, family grief, secrets, and many other problems.  With all of that, he was still his own man and determined to do what is right.  Sabrina had a past that wasn't really her problem but the small town aspect made it her problem.  I really liked how invested she was in the kids she helped.  It wasn't a take them and drop them off, but instead get involved in their lives.  Plenty of suspense, good romance and they story was great.
This was a 5/5 for me.  I really enjoyed all the aspects of this book.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book (via netgalley).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

#CoverReveal: Rumble Young Man Rumble by Dante Zuniga-West #Hosted @Crossroadreview

Rumble Young Man Rumble is a modern coming of age story. I wrote it because as a young man I did not identify with any of the iconic coming of age stories people gave me. I don’t think any of my peers did either. It’s 2014, hand your average American 20 year old a copy of Catcher in the Rye and see if they get past the first couple pages… they won’t. It’s sad, because Catcher is a great book, but it just doesn’t speak to the experience of growing up now. There aren’t too many books that do. When I taught high school English, it became glaringly apparent that my students were suffering from a similar lack of literature they could identify with. When I taught undergrads in college, I found the same thing to be true. In America, we no longer come of age in our teenage years: we come of age in our mid twenties with far more access and danger around us. I wrote Rumble Young Man Rumble to renew the dialogue of the genre.

I wrote it to reach out to the young men and women who, unfortunately, look at books like they are things that belong on a dusty library shelf.

On a more personal note, I wanted Rumble to be a story about love, loss, and prizefighting, all things I find to be infinitely fascinating and quite similar to each other.

Who do you think would be most affected by or touched by this work?

It is my hope that this book finds its way into the hands of sensitive and angry young men who are learning to become adults. I think that they would be the most touched by this story. I also think people who’ve never given ring fighting a second thought but had the courage to pick up this book will be incredibly surprised at the complexity and emotion portrayed in this story with regard to fighting. It is a book that, if you can look past some of the raw grit, can transcend age and gender variables.

Deceived by Irene Hannon

Book Description:
For three years, Kate Marshall has been grieving the loss of her husband and their four-year-old son in a boating accident. But when she spots a familiar-looking child on an escalator in the mall, she is convinced it is the son she thought was dead. With police skeptical of her story, she turns to private investigator Connor Sullivan. The former Secret Service agent is dubious but agrees to investigate. Digging into the case he discovers that the incident may have been no accident at all. But if Kate's son is alive, someone is intent on keeping him hidden--and may be willing to go to lethal lengths to protect a sinister secret. 
As Irene Hannon's many fans have come to expect, "Deceived "is filled with complex characters, unexpected twists, and a riveting plot line that accelerates to an explosive finish.

My Thoughts:
This one was a bit tough, but good!  Kate had thought she'd put the loss of her husband and son in the past and moved on with her life.  She would never say she was 'over' them, but she did move and get a new job and try to focus on the future...that is until an incident at the mall makes her question what she thought was reality.  Certain she'd seen her son, she reaches out to PI Connor Sullivan.  He isn't certain what Kate experienced but is willing to look into it, just to ease a grieving mother's mind (even if he is attracted to her).  Neither of them expect what they will discover in this investigation. I liked Kate.  She was a strong woman who had been through a lot.  She loved her husband deeply and her son as only a mother can.  Working through the pain of losing both of them cost her dearly but she did it.  Connor was a great 'knight in shining armor' or PI, whatever!  He treated her with respect and I thought their mutual attraction was well written and executed.  I also enjoyed going back and seeing what was going on with the characters we'd already met and see how their lives are growing and changing.   
Plenty of questions and suspense make this a 5/5 for me.  I really enjoyed the story, but as a mother it makes me want to grab my babies and hide them away!

Thank you to Revell for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Stolen Dreams by Christine Amsden

Book Description:
Edward Scot and Victor Blackwood have despised one another for nearly a quarter of a century, but now their simmering hatred is about to erupt.

When Cassie Scot returns home from her sojourn in Pennsylvania, she finds that her family has taken a hostage. Desperate to end the fighting before someone dies, Cassie seeks help from local seer Abigail Hastings, Evan Blackwood's grandmother. But Abigail has seen her own death, and when it comes at the hand of Cassie's father, Victor Blackwood kills Edward Scot.

But things may not be precisely as they appear.

Evan persuades Cassie to help him learn the truth, teaming them up once again in their darkest hour. New revelations about Evan and his family make it difficult for Cassie to cling to a shield of anger, but can Evan and Cassie stop a feud that has taken on a life of its own? Conclusion to the Cassie Scot series.

My Thoughts:
I was absolutely looking forward to this book.  It is the last in the Cassie Scot series.  I can't tell a lot about this book without giving away some spoilers.  The Blackwood and the Scot families have been feuding and it is coming to a head.  There are tears, fights, and a lot of issues to be worked through before the truth can come through.
I have really enjoyed Cassie throughout this series.  She is a strong character and that really shined in this book.  The author did a good job of answering the big questions and working through issues with the characters.  She also left it where there could be some 'spin off' books. :) Evan really came through in this book like I'd so wanted him to.  There were a couple things that I thought were abrupt but overall the story was great.  Once I started this book, I just couldn't put it down.
This was a 5/5 for me.  Great ending to an awesome series.  I recommend reading them in order though so you get the full effect of the characters!

Thank you to the author for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Sheerluck Holmes and The Case of the Missing Friend by Karen Poth

Book Description:

A Lesson on the Golden Rule

In the newest addition to the VeggieTales I Can Read series, Sheerluck Holmes and the Case of the Missing Friend, our Veggie friend Sniffy’s feelings are hurt, and he disappears from the Pizza Place. His friends are worried and ask Sheerluck and Dr. Watson for help finding him. Will they find Sniffy before the hounds of Baker Street do? And will Sniffy ever forgive his friends for treating him poorly?

My Thoughts:
This was a cute little book.  Sniffy has gone missing and there are many suspects, but who hurt his feelings?  Sheerluck and Bobby must discover that and find Sniffy before the dogs.  Sniffy is alone and sad at how his friends treated him.
I read this with my 6 year old son who loves Veggie Tales.  He really enjoyed reading it and learning the new words through the book.  It was nice that it did give him some new, challenging words and that I knew it would have a good message.  He really wasn't that impressed with the story itself but there was a good message to it.
It was a 3/5 for us.  My son had fun with reading it, but wasn't engrossed in the story, just trying to learn the new words.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book (via BookLook).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Married One Night Book Blitz!!!!

We're happy to be hosting Amber Leigh Williams and her MARRIED ONE NIGHT Book Blitz today!  Be sure to enter the $25 Amazon Gift Card giveaway below.  Giveaway ends 12 a.m. October 2!

Title: Married One Night
Author: Amber Leigh Williams
Publisher: Harlequin Superromance
Pages: 384
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: Paperback/Kindle

Purchase at AMAZON

What happened in Vegas...followed her home! 

Olivia Lewis is not the marrying type. So when a wild weekend in Vegas leaves her with a surprise husband, she's happy to sign anything to erase her mistake—even if that mistake is handsome, charming and comes with an English accent. Fortunately, her groom has other plans. 

Bestselling author Gerald Leighton knows he can make his new bride fall in love with him—he just needs time. In exchange for a quickie divorce, Olivia grudgingly gives him a few weeks to attempt to woo her. And whether Olivia likes it or not, Gerald plans on using every second to win her heart!

Book Excerpt:

Before Olivia could shoulder her way through the door, it opened quickly. She felt herself pitch over, tripping over the edge of the bedsheet. Cursing, she fell against the lean, chiseled chest of the man on the other side of the bathroom doorjamb.

She heard his surprised whoosh just before his arms snagged her under the shoulders and curled around her to keep her from falling at his feet. Her cheek pressed tight against his sternum. He was so warm. The deep timbre of a chuckle trebled beneath the ear pressed to his chest and words, rough around the edges, came floating from his mouth. “Ah, she wakes.”

When she tried to pull herself back, he held her fast to him for a moment longer to make sure she had her footing. With a murmured, “Easy there, love,” he released her and she stepped away, seeking his face.

He was smiling. The soft expression was tense around the edges, probably from what she could guess was a good deal of pounding happening on the inside of his head, too. She drew in a breath. His eyes were a brilliant shade of green. Dimples, or laugh lines, dug in around his mouth and the corners of his eyes. A man who smiled often and laughed well, Olivia surmised. His hair was blond and wet from a shower she assumed, judging by the steam behind him. He’d combed the hair back from his forehead, leaving his high brow bare.

A towel hung loosely around his waist. She blinked. She was staring. But the longer she stared, the more she could remember from last night, and the giddy spontaneity and blistering heat of all that had transpired made her forget for a moment how miserable she felt.

And, bless him, he didn’t seem to mind the staring. He was doing a good bit of his own. The smile on his lips deepened into a full-fledged grin, eyes softening further as he took her in. “Well. Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes.”

She found a smile curving at the corner of her mouth. He was British. His words were enunciated with the high-class sounds of English breeding and good humor. His voice was like fine-aged wine. Or whiskey.

Whiskey, she decided. It had a good, old-fashioned burn to it.

Lifting her hands to the sheet knotted just under her collarbone, she made sure it was in place before dragging a hand back through her long, curly, bedraggled tresses. “Erm...good morning?” Olivia said, unsure of herself. Usually, she knew how to navigate the awkward, morning-after interlude. But this stranger’s clean-cut, unexpected appeal threw her for a loop.

He beamed and held out a hand, skimming far and above the awkwardness of the situation with good-natured ease. “Gerald Leighton. It’s lovely to meet you...again.”</ span>

About the Author:

Amber Leigh Williams lives on the Gulf Coast. A southern girl at heart, she loves beach days, the smell of real books, relaxing at her family’s lakehouse, and spending time with her husband, Jacob, and their sweet, blue-eyed boy. When she’s not running after her young son and three, large dogs, she can usually be found reading a good romance or cooking up a new dish in her kitchen. She is represented by Joyce Holland of the D4EO Literary Agency.

Her latest book is the contemporary romance, Married One Night.

For More Information

• Visit Amber Leigh Williams’ website.
• Connect with Amber on Facebook and Twitter.
• Visit Amber’s blog.
• More books by Amber Williams.
• Contact Amber.

 

Giveaway:

Amber is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter.
• This giveaway begins 12 a.m. October 1 and ends 12 a.m. October 2.
• Winner will be contacted via email on Friday, October 3.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway