Book Spotlight: A Shattered Lens by Layton Green

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Damages by RJ Van Cleave Book Spotlight

Damages by RJ Van Cleave

The MacLanes – Book 2

Justin & Mary

Damages is the second book in the MacLane Family series. It is the story of Justin and Mary, and can be a standalone. Due to ‘adult content,’ this book is best suited for readers 18 years of age and older.

Justin MacLane had it all, except for good luck when it came to women. He had money, good looks, and a great, down to earth personality. He was the youngest MacLane executive at Anderson-MacLane industries, but his connections and wealth were more impressive than his work ethic. Justin was just too nice and too giving, and women used him only to get ahead. That made Justin realize that he’d rather be alone, than be a stepping stone for the next Hollywood sensation.

Mary Andrews had a hellish childhood, and only had bad luck when it came to men. The physical and sexual abuse she suffered as a child, eventually led Mary to the biggest mistake of her life – Carson Matthews. After years of living with an abusive husband, she finally got out. Getting out, however, was the easy part. That made Mary realize she would rather be lonely, than ever trust her heart, or her body, to another man.

When Justin crosses paths with Mary, it takes only one look from her to know she is different from the others. Her razor sharp tongue and conservative dress protects her from the world, and Justin realizes Mary isn’t going down without a fight. Mary is totally and utterly unimpressed with Justin, his fat bank account, or his flashy Porsche. When his gentle manner stirs up feelings that she’s never felt before, Mary realizes she’s facing the biggest fight of her life. Sometimes, risking it all on the right person can help you finally heal the damages inflicted by others…

Goodreads

Book 1 – Demons

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Smashwords

R.J. Van Cleave was born and raised in a small town just east of San Diego, California, where she still resides today. From the time R.J. was a small child, she wanted to be a doctor or have babies. In the 6th grade, one very special teacher, and a nun to boot, ignited a love for science in her that is still there today. Then in high school, one phenomenal English teacher introduced her to American and British literature, and her love for books and writing took off. High school was also when she met, and fell in love with, the young man who would later become her husband.

R.J. graduated from the University of San Diego in 1994, with her Bachelor of Arts in Biology, and a minor in English Literature. When she was told not to put off having children, she opted not to go onto medical school. Instead, she got a job in the biotech industry as a virologist working on feline vaccines, and finally married her high school sweetheart. They welcomed their first daughter in 1998, and in 1999, R.J. decided to become a stay at home mom. The arrival of fraternal twin girls surprised them in 2006. Obviously, the doctors were wrong about the ‘not putting off having kids’ thing.

2011 was the turning point in R.J.’s life. Her mom, and mentor, died suddenly from un-diagnosed lymphoma, and that rocked her world. She inherited her elderly father and her mother’s two dogs, and life changed dramatically. In June of 2013, R.J. decided to finally follow the advice her mother had given her years ago – to write down the stories of the characters that had taken up residence in her head. A three-part series and at least ten more books in the works were the result.

R.J. enjoys watching TV shows such as Castle, Big Bang Theory, CSI, Rizzoli & Isles, Mike & Molly, and pretty much and other police/crime/comedy that she can record on her DVR. Not one for coffee, she’s addicted to English and Irish breakfast tea (which she drinks ‘British style’ just like her mom), and Tazo Chai tea lattes (homemade is good, but the Starbucks baristas make them SO much better). She would love to hear from her readers, so please, drop her a line, and introduce yourself.

R.J. can be contacted by e-mail at rjvancleave@gmail.com,
or find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/RJVanCleave

Dorianna by Catherine Stine Book Spotlight and Interview

Internet followers, beauty, power. It all sounded good.

Until it transformed into a terrifying reality Dorianna couldn’t stop.

When her father is jailed, her mother ships Dorianna to her aunt’s house. Dorianna yearns to build a new identity, but the popular Lacey bullies her—mostly for getting attention from her ex, Ander.

Ander takes Dorianna to Coney Island where Wilson, a videographer, creates a stunning compilation of her. She dreams of being an online sensation, tired of being plain and lonely, and vows she’d give anything to go viral. Wilson claims he’s the Prince of Darkness and offers her the beauty and fame she’s dreamed of—warning her that a pledge has its downsides.  Dorianna has no idea of how dire those consequences might be.

Interview

Where did you find inspiration for your story?

I love psychological horror, not the bloody, violent kind, but the creeping dread type. Two of my favorite novels are A Picture of Dorian Gray by Wilde and Dr. Faustus by Marlow. Dorian is really just a later version of Faust. In fact there have been many twists on this trope but all have had a male lead player. I wanted to write a version with a young woman. I wondered what a truly contemporary version would contain, and where else a female player might go with the trope. All of these twists are about our shadow sides—how we handle temptation and dark urges when no one’s watching. It’s also about the irony that what people are secretly attracted to can often be the same things they publicly condemn! It’s about our deep terrors as well, the ones involving the so-called sins of the day: promiscuous sex, arrogance, urges to follow our “bad angels” into nefarious activities.

Dorianna is about the dark side of the Internet and our cravings for more followers, more Likes and more popularity, which is a truly modern obsession. Where would it lead her to, if she had dark powers, yet lost all control of them?

Is there a particular vampire story or movie or both that is a favorite?

I’m more into witches right now than vamps. In fact, I’m working on a witch novel, set in 1932 in a New Jersey beach town called Beach Witch. Dorianna is set in Coney Island, Beach Witch in Asbury Park. Apparently, I’m really drawn to skeezy beach and boardwalk scenes. LOL. As far as witch stories go, when I was little I adored The Witch of Blackbird Pond. As an adult, I recently read The Winter Witch by Paula Brackston. Good stuff.

If you could cast your characters, who would be the leads?

Maybe Amanda Seyfried as Dorianna. She’s got the long, blonde hair and slightly spooky eyes, set rather far apart, yet she’s quite beautiful.

For Ander, Dorianna’s love interest, I’d cast Cody Linley, since he’s wholesome, athletic, yet can have a sort of dishonest look (Ander’s in love with two girls, and doesn’t play exactly fair)

For Wilson, maybe Chad Michael Murray because Wilson is a Prince of Darkness, and Chad has that brooding, dark magnetism.

When writing where do you draw inspiration from?

I like complicated characters, struggling with internal as well as external issues. I also like sexy, charming individuals who sometimes use that ability to get what they think they need (and then get their comeuppance). Always I work hard to evoke a true and raw heart and an emotional core. I love magic too! I get inspiration from anything containing these elements: from reality, TV, films, and books—always good books.

Any writing quirks you care to share?

I rarely write in the morning. My best writing time is between 3 and 7:30 pm. I need quiet, and so I don’t listen to music when I write. Yet, I belong to a writing space and the sound of other people typing doesn’t bother me at all. In fact, it spurs me on.

Desert bound by Elizabeth Hunter Spotlight and Giveaway

Book: Desert Bound

Author: Elizabeth Hunter

Release Date: October 14, 2014

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Summary

Can you turn the clock back on your first love? Would you even want to try?

Alex McCann and Teodora “Ted” Vasquez left Cambio Springs together. Ted came back. Alex didn’t.

Now, years later, the future alpha of the McCann wolves has returned with plans to bring new life to the dying desert community. Plans that could change everything for the isolated enclave of shapeshifters in the California desert. Some love the plan. Others hate it.

As the town’s doctor and one of the strongest daughters in the cat clan, Ted has her own concerns about exposing her community to outsiders. The two former lovers are at each other’s throats. And everyone is watching to see what happens.

But when murder once again strikes Cambio Springs, can they overcome their past to help the community they both call home? And can the love they shared once burn again when so many stand against it?

Goodreads Link

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22913793-desert-bound

Buy Links

Amazon: http://bit.ly/AmazonDesertBound

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/BNDesertBound

iBooks: http://bit.ly/AppleDesertBound

Smashwords: http://bit.ly/SmashwordsDesertBound

 

Author Biography

Elizabeth Hunter is a contemporary fantasy, paranormal romance, and contemporary romance writer. She is a graduate of the University of Houston Honors College and a former English teacher. She once substitute taught a kindergarten class, but decided that middle school was far less frightening. Thankfully, people now pay her to write books and eighth-graders everywhere rejoice.

 

She currently lives in Central California with her son, two dogs, many plants, and a sadly dwindling fish tank. She is the author of the Elemental Mysteries and Elemental World series, the Cambio Springs series, the Irin Chronicles, and other works of fiction.

 

Social Networking Links

 

Website: http://elizabethhunterwrites.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5251202.Elizabeth_Hunter

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

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/E__Hunter

Book: Desert Bound
Author: Elizabeth Hunter
Release Date: October 14, 2014
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Summary

Can you turn the clock back on your first love? Would you even want to try?

Alex McCann and Teodora “Ted” Vasquez left Cambio Springs together. Ted came back. Alex didn’t.

Now, years later, the future alpha of the McCann wolves has returned with plans to bring new life to the dying desert community. Plans that could change everything for the isolated enclave of shapeshifters in the California desert. Some love the plan. Others hate it.

As the town’s doctor and one of the strongest daughters in the cat clan, Ted has her own concerns about exposing her community to outsiders. The two former lovers are at each other’s throats. And everyone is watching to see what happens.

But when murder once again strikes Cambio Springs, can they overcome their past to help the community they both call home? And can the love they shared once burn again when so many stand against it?

Goodreads Link

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22913793-desert-bound

Buy Links

Amazon: http://bit.ly/AmazonDesertBound
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/BNDesertBound
iBooks: http://bit.ly/AppleDesertBound
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/SmashwordsDesertBound

Author Biography

Elizabeth Hunter is a contemporary fantasy, paranormal romance, and contemporary romance writer. She is a graduate of the University of Houston Honors College and a former English teacher. She once substitute taught a kindergarten class, but decided that middle school was far less frightening. Thankfully, people now pay her to write books and eighth-graders everywhere rejoice.

She currently lives in Central California with her son, two dogs, many plants, and a sadly dwindling fish tank. She is the author of the Elemental Mysteries and Elemental World series, the Cambio Springs series, the Irin Chronicles, and other works of fiction.

Social Networking Links

Website: http://elizabethhunterwrites.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5251202.Elizabeth_Hunter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethHunterWrites
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/E__Hunter

Freak of Nature by Julia Crane Book Spotlight

Freak of Nature

Book 1 – IFICS series

Donate Body to Science. Check.
When seventeen-year-old Kaitlyn checked the box, she never suspected she’d have her life–and her body–stolen from her. She awakens one day in a secret laboratory to discover that her body is now half-robot and is forced to hide her own secret: that she still has human emotions and a human mind. If the scientists who made her find out, they’ll erase what remains of who she was.

Kaitlyn finds an unlikely ally in Lucas, a handsome, brilliant scientist who can’t get over the guilt he feels knowing she was once a vibrant, beautiful young woman. He never expected a science project to affect him the way she does. As he tries to help her rediscover her past, he finds himself falling for the brave girl struggling to find her place and acceptance between the human and computer worlds.

Add to Goodreads

Purchase

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About Julia Crane

Julia crane is the author of the Keegan’s Chronicles, IFICS. She has a bachelors degree in criminal justice. Julia has believed in magical creatures since the day her grandmother first told her an Irish tale. Growing up her mother greatly encouraged reading and using your imagination.

Website / Facebook / Twitter

Supercar Crusaders by Jordana Mia Lezamy Synopsis Release and Giveaway

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giveaway

Supercar Crusaders

Griffin League #1
by Jordana Mia Lezamy
Publication Date: November 2014
Genres: Contemporary, Erotica, New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:

It was the day of a special occasion in my life, when my entire future was rewritten and set on a new course.

Or was this always part of destiny that I believed you cannot run from?

My Destiny. Now Ours. Together. Exclusively.

As I watched him at the show I never planned on attending – I was certain of one thing about his velocity:

ONLY GOD is capable of catching him.

The moment we met, there was no looking back on a past life down a darkened and lonely road any longer.

Before him I had never dated anyone. Before him I lead a normal good-girl life.

With him my plus size curves and unique facial features are loved and adored beyond a passionate and lustful extent.

Beside him I became queen to the messiah of a supercar racing universe I defied heaven for.

As fate would have it, regrets collected like old friends ready to relive both our darkest moments.

It’s always darkest before the dawn… but to see the sunrise at the end of the finish line, there are SEVEN words of a pledge barricading the way, that as long as they have air in their lungs is never allowed to be shattered,

Oath
Griffin
Blood
Supersonic
Racers
Life
League

The ultimate sacrifice must be made by him alone.
Which will he choose? Which will he let go of? Which means more?

This is our journey.
This is where our saga of fast cars begin.

Contemporary, Erotica, New Adult, Romance : Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

About the Author

I’m 27 years old – will be 28 on November 12th. I’m fascinated by fast specialized super cars and am a plus size girl myself.

I’m addicted to ice-cream. This will be made clear in my book as to why. I read a lot. Mostly dark reads. – No my novel is not dark. My characters love each other way too much for that. I’m not your typical girl- I read comic books, have seen all the movies too and play playstation games when I’m not reading or writing or going out with family or friends.

My leading lady was inspired by my role model – who is a plus size supermodel that I’m currently trying to do the photoshoot for the second book cover.

Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads

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Unexpectedly Mated by Milly Taiden Book Spotlight and Giveaway

Tags

giveaway, shifters

Unexpectedly Mated

After years of lusting over Jake Wolfe, Nicole finally got a taste of the dirty-talking bad boy. During the scenting ceremony, he showed her how explosive things can be between them. But Nicole doesn’t do love. She doesn’t even know what love is. So how can she know if a relationship with Jake would be the right path to take?

Jake Wolfe wants Nic more than his next breath. She’s curvy, mouthy and so hot his blood boils just thinking of her. But Nic’s been keeping him at a distance. And Jake is tired of her games. One fateful trip to Sin City and all bets are off.

After a fun night of drinking, Nic wakes up married to Jake and with a second shifter wanting her for himself. She’ll have to finally face the feelings she has or shut them out forever. Their newly formed bond will either allow her to open her heart to love or leave Jake without a mate to call his own.

 

Check out the Book Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pERr5maRePc

 

Add to your GR TBR

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22727285-unexpectedly-mated?from_search=true

 

Excerpt

Property of Latin Goddess Press

© Milly Taiden

Jake was another story. According to Ellie he didn’t even have a cell phone on contract because he didn’t like commitment. That spoke volumes of him. It didn’t stop the fact that Nic had developed some feelings for Jake. Feelings she didn’t like to think about most of the time. Emotions were dangerous. She wasn’t familiar with them much and preferred to keep them as far away as possible.

“Nic…”

Hearing Jake say her name made her squeal. Before she could catch her breath, his hands were on her hips, pulling her back into him. Air caught in her throat. He gripped her waist. Held her captive. The hard bar of his cock pressed at her butt, the thin spandex from her yoga gear no match for his hardness.

“Jake…” What? Her throat went dry. She didn’t know what to say, only that she really liked how good he felt holding her. How wet it made her to feel him pressing on her ass.

“God, Nic,” he growled softly. “I love how fucking good you smell. You’re hot for me. Aren’t you, sweetheart?”

Review

Nicole has been crushing hard on Jake Wolfe since the day they met. While Jake has been teasing her about her initial reaction to him since, the day he made a move on Nicole left her running away from him. Jake had marked Nicole at her insistence and they mate, but Nicole seems to be in denial and believes Jake to be a womanizer and just wanting a temporary hook up. Nicole couldn’t be more wrong and when she runs off to Vegas with a group of friends, Jake follows. What happens next has Nicole married and acquiring another admirer who is planning to mate her with or without her consent.

Extremely entertaining. Nicole was raised in a family that was only out for themselves and is insecure about anyone truly caring for her. This was a lot of fun and gives you a glimpse into other characters and possible plot lines for future books. Always a pleasure to read one of Milly Taiden’s books, guaranteed entertainment.

Author Bio

 

Hi! I’m Milly Taiden (AKA April Angel). I love to write sexy stories. They’re usually either paranormal or contemporary with a large dose of heat. My paranormal stories can be anything from wolf-shifters (my favorites) to witches, demons and anything in between. My contemporaries are usually anything from soldiers to corporate romances.

I was born the prettiest part of the Caribbean known as the Dominican Republic. Currently, I live in New York City with my hubby, the bossy kiddo and our little dog “Needy Speedy”. Don’t ask.

When I’m not working some really long hours at the day job, or hanging out in the awful life-sucking invention known as Facebook, messaging my bestie in the UK or shopping with my sis Julie, then I can be found watching scary movies. But when I’m not doing that, I’m usually writing because the voices won’t shut up.

I am addicted to shoe shopping, chocolate (but who isn’t, right?) and Dunkin’ Donuts coffee.

Come on over and visit me! I love to meet new readers!

I hope you enjoyed this book. If you did, please consider writing a review.

Like my books? Want to stay on top of all things Milly? Sign up for my newsletter at

 

http://mad.ly/signups/87477/join.

 

There’s a monthly $50 GC Giveaway to all the emails signed up to get the latest news on my releases.

 

Find out more about Milly Taiden here:

 

Email: millytaiden@gmail.com

Website: http://www.millytaiden.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/millytaidenpage

Facebook Friend Page: http://www.facebook.com/milly.taiden

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/millytaiden

Red & Wolfe by Ella James Spotlight

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Ella James

~*~AUTHOR BIO~*~

Ella James is a Colorado author who writes teen and adult romance. She is happily married to a man who knows how to wield a red pen, and together they are raising a feisty two-year-old who will probably grow up believing everyone’s parents go to war over the placement of a comma.

 

Ella’s books have been listed on numerous Amazon bestseller lists, including the Movers & Shakers list and the Amazon Top 100; two were listed among Amazon’s Top 100 Young Adult Ebooks of 2012.

 

To find out more about Ella’s projects and get dates on upcoming releases, find her on Facebook atfacebook.com/ellajamesauthorpage and follow her blog, www.ellajamesbooks.com. Questions or comments? Tweet her at author_ellaj or e-mail her at ella_f_james@ymail.com.

 

~*~BOOK LIST~*~

The Stained series

The Love Inc. series

The Here series

Before You Go

Red & Wolfe

 

~*~SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS~*~

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1530940.Ella_James?from_search=true

https://twitter.com/author_ellaj

http://www.amazon.com/Ella-James/e/B005OED2DE/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1402683289&sr=1-1

http://www.ellajamesbooks.com/

 

 

The Alpha’s Heart by R.E. Butler Series Spotlight and Review

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Wilde Creek

The Wilde Creek series was created in an attempt to write a darker, more intense werewolf series.  The Wilde Creek Pack is archaic in their beliefs that humans and wolves should not interact, but the alpha’s sister throws a wrench into their lives and changes things forever.  Follow the members of the pack as they navigate this new world, find their mates, and make Wilde Creek their home.

The Alpha’s Heart

Wilde Creek, #2 

Publication date:  April 10, 2014

Print Length: 130 pages

Available April 10th:

 

Amazon  Amazon UK  Barnes & Noble  iTunes  Smashwords

Alpha wolf Acksel wakes up one morning in the bed of the one human who was kind to him in school. Now, ten years later, Brynn Mara is snuggled up at his side, smelling like passion and sweet dreams. Even though Acksel has declared that his pack members can mate with humans from now on, he knows that any woman he takes as his mate will have a target on her back. Especially if she’s a fragile human. Deciding it’s better to cut things off than string her along when there’s no hope for a relationship, he leaves without a word and ignores her.

But it doesn’t matter if Acksel acknowledges her or not, because their night of passion has left a permanent reminder of what happens when one drunk wolf forgets protection. Angry, banished wolves from his pack discover Brynn’s secret and decide to use her against Acksel. His worst fears have come true, and the only woman who ever touched his heart is now suffering because of his mistake.

This book contains one ticked off, emotionally damaged alpha, the human woman who can tame him, and a sweet little surprise that no one expected.

Excerpt from  R.E. Butler’s Alpha’s Heart:

 

Staring into the bottom of his empty glass, he knew he was totally sloshed and that was probably where his ‘wishing for things he couldn’t ever have’ attitude was coming from.  He’d be better off going home and sleeping off the booze and then getting ready for the full moon.  Too drunk to drive, he started to walk home, but caught the scent of something that made everything in his body go tight and hot.  He found the source of the scent.

A woman.

His woman.

Mine.

Review

With a pack that is running under the older rules and guidelines, Alpha wolf Acksel almost lost his sister. Making changes so that any wolf who wants to mate a human has that opportunity is his biggest priority with trying to win her trust back.  However for Acksel he doesn’t see how the same rules could possibly apply to him.  He knows who his wolf wants as a mate, the beautiful but human Brynn, but he knows if he acts on his desire it puts her in danger.

The second in the Wilde Creek series.  I liked this one, you can feel how torn Acksel is and in a not so clear moment Acksel acts on his instinct, only to hurt the woman who should be his mate.   The story also introduces what could possibly be the next book which I am very excited about.

Mate of Her Heart 

Wilde Creek, #1

Publication Date:  December 9, 2013

Print Length: 76 pages

Available for $1.99 at:

 

Amazon  B&N  iTunes  Smashwords

Werewolf Eveny Moore is coming into her first heat at the age of twenty-five. Bucking tradition, she chooses to go through her first heat alone instead of choosing an unmated male from her pack. There is only one male that she wants in her bed and her life: her best friend, Luke Elrich. But Luke is human and doesn’t understand the consequences of her heat-cycle, so she hides out in a safehouse, planning to ride out the cycle alone and then ask Luke to be her mate.

Luke has loved Eveny forever, but something is going on between them. He’s afraid he’s losing her forever, until she promises to talk to him after her heat-cycle is over. He overhears her brother, the pack alpha, ask another wolf to go to Eveny and take her through the heat-cycle. What her brother doesn’t know is that the male plans to invite some of his friends along. And Eveny is alone in a remote cabin, unprotected. Luke will do anything to keep her safe, even if it means going up against four wolves.

This story contains a meddling brother, a human fighting a pack of male wolves for the only woman he’s ever loved, a female who thought she had a good plan, and bone-melting, skin-tingling hot sex between a male and a female who have loved each other forever.

A Midwesterner by birth, R.E. spent much of her childhood rewriting her favorite books to include herself as the main character. Later, she graduated on to writing her own books after “retiring” from her day job as a secretary to become a stay-at-home mom.

When not playing with her kids, wrestling her dogs out the door, or cooking dinner for her family, you’ll find her typing furiously and growling obscenities to the characters on the screen.

Her best-selling series The Wolf’s Mate, Wiccan-Were-Bear, The Necklace Chronicles, Hyena Heat, Wilde Creek, and Ashland Pride are available now.

Connect with R.E.:

 

Website  Facebook  Twitter  Goodreads

Rockin The Heart by Gracen Miller Spotlight Tour

BLURB:

If music nourishes the soul…

Loved by millions, but shunned by blood, Heath “Fang” Fangor has led his band, Hot Wired, to the top while others have fallen by the wayside. He devoted his life to music, and from that devotion harvested a new family—his band mates and fans.

A man can desire nothing else…or can he?

Living in the shadow of her brother’s fame sucks! Sam Collins is desperate to have what she wants—a simple and uncomplicated life. She’s no stranger to scandals and how they work. Now that she’s inadvertently dragged Fang into the center of her latest gossip, could the scandal she created in her quest for freedom have gone too far?

Amid stardom the heart stages a new melody…

Fang has more fame and fortune than he will ever need, but none of that matters if he can’t have the woman of his dreams. Years have been wasted waiting for the right moment to approach the woman his heart desires above all others. There’s just one major problem…she’s his best friend’s sister. To have her, he will have to risk it all.

One that might be responsible for Rockin the Heart!

EXCERPT:

Chapter One

Heath was a rock star god. The tight lines fanning outward from his silver eyes classified him as a pissed off rock star god.
“Wanna tell me what you did this time to get the platinum treatment?” He indicated the jail cell, while ramming his fingers through his shaggy, jet-black hair.
Preferring to shrink into the shadows and avoid a confrontation with him, Sam took a deep breath and rose from the bench. She stepped away from the metal seat to draw closer to the bars dividing them.
She’d expected her brother, Jason—Jase—to ride to her rescue. Like always. Her foundation. Predictable. Dependable. Rattled by her sibling’s abandonment, she ogled the skull on Heath’s shirt, mortification overwhelming her.
If Heath was Jase’s replacement, then he’d been serious when he said ‘don’t call me the next time you’re arrested.’ She’d assumed he yelled that in anger. She was surprised he’d bothered to offer aid at all.
Gut hollow at her brother’s desertion, she cleared the ache out of her throat and asked, “Can’t you just bail me out and we’ll forget this ever happened?”
Knowing he wouldn’t go for that suggestion, Sam swallowed hard and shuffled her feet. Disappointing Jase was one thing, but letting Heath down was an entirely different matter. She’d crushed on the man since her tenth birthday when he’d given her a heart-shaped jewelry box. Didn’t matter he’d been too old for her at a mature fourteen. That infatuation hadn’t waned with age either, but only grown stronger. Not that he showed her a stitch of interest. To him, she was nothing more complicated than a kid sister.
His digits curled around one of the bars. The tattoo lettering on his left knuckles fit his current disposition—ired. On the other hand the letters H-O-T-W graced his knuckles. If read together, they spelled out the name of his band: Hot Wired.
“Not this time, Samantha.”
She cringed. The only time he broke out her full name was when he was upset or disappointed with her.
“You been drinking?”
“You know I haven’t.” Just shy of twenty-one, in her world getting liquor wasn’t an issue. Neither was alcohol her preferred drug of choice.
“Drugs?”
She rolled her eyes, the question too stupid to warrant a response.
“This type of publicity is bad news for the band.” She’d heard that one before. None of her recklessness damaged Hot Wired’s career. Not that she sought to hinder their mega stardom. She wasn’t that selfish, she just struggled with controlling her impulses on occasion.
Therapy failed to help. Yelling spawned further rebellion.
Living under the umbrella of the band’s fame grew tiresome. Her life should be her own, to live however she pleased. Weary of the media hounding her, she craved going back to a time when nobody knew her name. A normal life like when she’d been a kid.
She’d grown up on daydreams of the band making it to the big times. They won the lottery of recording deals, while Sam discovered stardom came at a high price. Along with that knowledge came the freebie of all lessons…fantasies were often better than reality. The last time she’d visited the mall without a trail of vipers eager to report her purchases she’d been fifteen.
Sheesh!
Was it too much to ask to have a date the world didn’t scrutinize? Even the loss of her virginity made headline news. That act should’ve come with the expectation of privacy. Thanks to the tabloids, Jase almost burst a blood vessel over that exploitation.
Once she’d picked her nose in public on purpose because a rag-reporter stalked her. Scratched her butt on another occasion. Gave them something to write. Those were the photographs and articles that gave her incentive to laugh.
“The only reason they’re not pressing charges is because of Jase.”
“Thanks for the reminder.” Along with it came the reminder that her brother sent Heath instead of coming himself.
Despite the news-hounds, she got out of a lot of shit thanks to her brother’s identity. This incident would be all over the rags and Internet before morning.
‘Hot Wired’s drummer’s sister is at it again!’ They’d go on to paint her wild and immoral comportment.
Have at it you fucks. Can’t hurt me any more than you already have, but what about the band?
Distance from Hot Wired would aid all of them. She’d get her peace of mind back, and they’d be devoid of the rebel-rouser in their group.
She’d mentioned changing her last name and moving back to their Southern roots in the small Alabama town where she’d been born. Jase had gone bat-shit crazy at the suggestion and went on and on about how their parents would be rolling over in their grave at her abandoning the family name.
The name-change idea had been discarded. Swept under the rug like a dust bunny never to be spoken of again.
Torn between two worlds, Sam was suffocating. Living with someone she couldn’t have in a world where she didn’t belong.
She sank back down onto the bench and lay down on the uncomfortable metal, staring at the ceiling. “Go away, Heath. I’m not in the mood for a lecture.”
A sigh came from him, followed by a long pause. She anticipated he’d argue, but she focused on the water spot marring the tiled ceiling and prepared herself to fight back.
The sound of his retreating boots hitting concrete echoed in the room. His exit surprised her, but relieved her too. Faced with his disappointment, she vowed again she’d terminate her criminal behavior.
She settled the backside of her wrist against her forehead. She made that promise to herself often and botched the good intentions each time.
After a moment, a new set of footsteps approached the cell. Even with her eyes closed she determined the intruder wasn’t Heath. In a room full of guests, she could identify his gait. Heath’s solid steps and long stride made for a unique swagger that bespoke his self-confidence. Celebrated his rocker status. Watching him walk compared to admiring art. Ogling his ass as he strode away…eye-gasms.
This individual’s fast-paced walk reminded her of the peppered rounds of gunfire. She waited for the person to speak. The clink of metal striking metal and locks disengaging snagged her attention. She turned her head. The thirty-something deputy swung the cell-door open. “You’re free to go, Ms. Collins.”
Sam rolled off the bench and grinned at the officer as she sidled past him. She’d bragged as they booked her that they wouldn’t hold her long and the charges wouldn’t stick.
In the lobby, Heath waited for her with his hands shoved in his jeans pocket. His shaggy-butchered hair shadowed his eyes, doing a good job of hiding his expression, but the hard line of his jaw indicated he’d married his irritation. Lectures were sure to come.
Looking at him, no one would guess he rocked the panties off chicks worldwide. With his long-sleeved, pull-over black shirt, sporting a white skull, his snug well-worn jeans and scuffed boots, he appeared as average as any hard American worker.
That’s what I need to warm my cold bed. Average. Not my brother’s best friend and rock star god.
There was nothing average about Heath Fangor—Fang to his band mates and the world. Neither would he seduce her. Not even as a one-time gig. The man and his fucked up principals…or maybe they were her fucked up principals because she couldn’t say for sure if she’d enter into a one-night-stand with him if he begged for one. She wanted more, and a one-nighter would be difficult to live with.
“Thanks for the bail out, Fang.” She breezed past him with all intention of snubbing him, but he caught her arm. He held on tight, giving her a warning glare when she tried to jerk free.
“Don’t be ungrateful, brat.” He towed her toward the elevator.
“Thanks for the autograph, Fang!” She glanced back at the deputy who’d released her from the cell. He waved a piece of paper at them, grinning ear-to-ear.
Heath shoved her into the lift. The moment the doors shut, he slammed his palms down on either side of her head. Sam sucked in a breath, her eyes frozen on his sexy-ass mouth. The bottom lip was slightly puffier than the top, nice and pink, and wet. He’d probably licked them, which explained the sheen. She had naughty fantasies with them as the star of the show navigating her body. The damage she suspected they could accomplish created a slippery situation in her panties.
A slight tilt of his lips before he said, “Eyes on mine.”
She refocused and locked onto his silver gaze. The accusations she saw there struck her like a blow to the gut. Looking away would be easier, but Heath had a way of holding her to a higher level with just a penetrating stare. His expectations were tall, and she despised him for having such grand aspirations for her.
“What’s gotten into you? Base diving—”
“That was fun. You should try it.”
“—bar brawls, knifing chicks in Miami—”
“Hey! I was found innocent of that allegation!”
Elevating his eyebrows, he called her statement a lie without uttering a word.
“—and now you’re adding grand theft auto to your long list of offenses.”

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BIO:

Gracen is a hopeless daydreamer masquerading as a “normal” person in southern society. When not writing, she’s a full-time basketball/football/guitar mom for her two sons and a devoted wife to her real-life hero-husband. She has an unusual relationship with her muse, Dom, but credits all her creative success to his brilliant mind. She’s addicted to writing, paranormal romance novels and movies, Alabama football and coffee…addictions are not necessarily in order of priority. She’s convinced coffee is nectar from the gods and when blending coffee and writing together it generates the perfect creative merger. Many of her creative worlds are spawned from coffee highs and Dom’s aggressive demands. To learn more about Gracen or to leave her a comment, visit her website at http://www.gracen-miller.com.

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