Nerd Girl

Title: Nerd Girl
Author: Sue Lee
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Tour Organized by: Indie Sage, LLC
Purchase Links:
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Synopsis:

Everyone knows that office romances can be risky, but how much are you willing to sacrifice for love?

Julia Hayes is beautiful, successful, sometimes nerdy, and perpetually single. She lives in Seattle and just landed her dream job at one of the most iconic technology companies in the world.

When Julia embarks on a new career opportunity, a serendipitous event literally throws her in the path of Ryan McGraw, the hot and charming VP. As the attraction grows between them, it’s not long before Julia realizes that things are more complicated than they appear.

Nerd Girl is a heartwarming love story about a woman at the crossroads between true love and her career. It’s about deciding what’s most important in life and taking chances to get it. But most of all, it’s about not letting your mind prevent you from following your heart.

About the Author:

I live in Seattle, in my favorite neighborhood, Queen Anne, with my husband and twin seven year old daughters.

After more than a decade of running the corporate rat race, I left Microsoft and finally found time to pursue my dream of doing something truly inspiring. I wrote Nerd Girl. I’m a voracious reader and thought it would be a fun adventure to merge my unique history and knowledge of Microsoft with a heartfelt love story.

Apart from reading, writing, and spending time with my family, I enjoy strong coffee, weekend getaways in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, running, Husky football, and cooking gourmet meals.

Contact:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SueLeeAuthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/SueHLee
Website: http://sueleeauthor.blogspot.com/

Giveaway:

Prizes: 2 Print Copies (US ONLY) and 3 Ebook Copies of Nerd Girl by Sue Lee.

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Excerpt 1: I chose this excerpt because it demonstrates Julia’s OCD and classic Type A personality. She is successful in her career, but unlucky in love. According to Julia, if she could manage her love life like a corporate project, things would be so much easier for her.

I couldn’t seem to get anything right relationship-wise. Like everything in my life, I wanted to put love and relationships into a predictable project plan. I’d feel so much more in control if I could do that, but love and work are two very different things, and relationships didn’t behave how I intended.

I always saw myself becoming that woman in her mid-to-late thirties with two kids and a career she loved, sharing everything with the man of her dreams. We would go on vacations twice a year, and, if we could afford it, we would send our kids to private school. I would become a soccer mom and consider quitting my job and starting my own consulting company. Eventually, I’d have enough people on staff that I would be able to dictate my own schedule and still have time to volunteer for the school auction.

For the vision to become a reality, I needed to have my first child no later than thirty-five. That annoying biological clock really started ticking loudly this year. Soon I’ll be saying goodbye to my twenties and the idea of turning thirty with no man or even any potential prospects was freaking me out. It would take nine months to carry a baby. Even before that, everyone knew it took six to twelve months to allow your body’s hormones to regulate after getting off the pill so you could get pregnant. Of course, you also wanted a year, minimum, to be just you and your husband as newlyweds before adding the stress of a new baby. Now this assumed you had someone, preferably your husband, to get pregnant with. This meant that I would need to get married before I was thirty-three. If a wedding were going to be everything I dreamed it would be, it required at least a one year engagement. And, if fate should have it and I found the right man, the average dating period prior to engagement was usually a couple of years. That meant if I had any hope of keeping to my schedule, I needed to meet someone before I turned thirty and that someone needed to be “the one.”

It was all so exhausting to think about.

Authors that inspire me:

My favorite authors are Emily Giffin, Tracy Garvis Graves, and Diana Gabaldon.

Emily Giffin wrote Something Borrowed, Something Blue, Love the One You’re With, and a few notable others. I love her books because she does such a great job with character development. Her heroines are usually intelligent and strong career women, but they’re also vulnerable, fun, and very likable. Each of her books center on a personal moral dilemma that is very relatable. For example, would you ever cheat with your best friend’s fiancé and under what circumstances would that actually be ok? Or what would you do when you’ve found the love of your life, but then that “one” that got away comes back? I love that Ms. Giffin can develop her characters well enough that as the reader, you can actually relate and understand the heroine’s choices. When I started writing Nerd Girl, I knew that was the level of character development I wanted with Julia and Ryan.

I love Tracy Garvis Graves writing because her books have such “real” characters. I love how she can just take every day regular people and turn it into a really great story through their experiences. I especially loved her book, Covet, and considered it one of my top ten reads of 2013. I think the reason that Covet resonated so well with me is because it was a story rooted in reality. Claire, the heroine, could easily have been me or any of one of my friends. The story was very organic and relatable. I’ve noticed a trend in contemporary romance novels, where the characters are completely off the top -- billionaires, rock stars, and alpha males. Each would literally carry a woman over his shoulder before seducing her. Don’t get me wrong because I love these off the top characters and stories too. However, I also appreciate a story that feels so real and genuine and where the hero is just a “nice guy”. Remember him? Many readers have told me that Nerd Girl felt very real - everything from the characters, to the dialogue, to the situations experienced in the book. That is the best compliment ever.

Lastly Diana Gabaldon is just an amazing story teller. She is the queen of the historical fiction romance genre. The Outlander series has such rich characters. Jamie is my dream man. He is an old fashioned gentleman, courageous and strong, beautiful and sensitive, intelligent, respectful and dominating all in one. The actress playing her in the upcoming Starz series described Claire as a “bad ass” and I couldn’t agree more. Claire is smarty, witty, feisty, classically beautiful and wild, strong and brave. When I read Diana Gabaldon’s stories, I’m completely transported into another world and relish ever delicious word.

Donna McDonald - Highlight

Donna McDonald

After 35 years of doing everything for a living except writing books, I finally published my first romance novel in March of 2011. Sixteen novels later, I am living my own "happily ever after" life as an author. I love writing romance. It is the best job I have ever had.

Thank you for visiting this page and for reading my books. Let me know what you think. I love to hear from readers and will try my best to answer back. You are the reason I write.

Check out Donna's Audio Books at Audible

http://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/Dating-a-Cougar-Audiobook/B00DW7YKUY/ref=a_search_c4_1_2_srTtl?qid=1390566225&sr=1-2

After several decades of looking for true love and never finding it, aging model and lingerie designer, Alexa Ranger, has finally given up the search. A couple of years ago, she got tired of the game completely and just stopped dating. Now friends and family keep her mostly content, so it's shocking at 50 years old to find herself suddenly wanting a sex life again. It's even more shocking to be attracted to a much younger man this time. She definitely thinks Casey Carter is sexy, but not handling her own age well, Alexa just can't get passed their 12 year age difference to even consider a fling. Not that it matters anyway, anything resembling a normal dating relationship is totally out of the question because Casey is related to and living with her daughter's boyfriend.

The very last thing Alexa needs is yet another talk-show-worthy drama in her already complicated life, no matter how amazing Casey's kisses make her feel. For a couple of years, 38 year old medically retired Marine Casey Carter, believed his military injury had made him impotent. Having lost his wife to cancer, he hadn't exactly been worried about the problem. Most days walking with a cane was enough challenge for him. But now that he was ready to move on with his life, he had become more worried when none of the females his cousin brought around held any interest for him. So the last woman in the world he expected to start his engine revving again was the mother of his cousin's girlfriend.

Even at 50, Alexa is drop-dead gorgeous, and his libido certainly keeps reminding him she is the first woman he has wanted in a long, long time. Ironically, the more Casey gets to know and like Alexa, he finds out desiring the older woman is the easiest part. Jaded and cynical about love, Alexa is a difficult woman to convince of anything, but her kisses are all the proof he needs that they belong together. The former Marine decides his next mission is figuring out how to fit himself into her life.

©2011 Donna McDonald (P)2013 Donna McDonald

http://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/Dating-Dr-Notorious-Audiobook/B00H3LMYE4/ref=a_search_c4_1_4_srTtl?qid=1390566225&sr=1-4#publisher-summary

Being the best in her field doesn't seem to help famously successful sex therapist, Dr. Regina Logan, who manages to fix everyone’s love life but her own. Men won't date her. Her brutal honesty about physical matters intimidates most males. It also doesn’t help her love life that the press publishes every dating move she makes. Though she knows her negative publicity is the biggest problem, Regina thinks its still ironic for a 47 year old woman to be so knowledgeable about pleasing a man when there’s no lover in her life to benefit.

Since most men have a tendency to run away before making it as far as her bed, it is definitely no surprise to Regina when "nice guy" Ben Kaiser rejects her after discovering her identity. But it still hurts. Ben’s kisses promise fulfillment of every fantasy she’s ever had, but no matter how great he is, Regina would be the first to admit there’s no room in her crazy public life for someone as nice as Ben.

©2011 Donna McDonald (P)2013 Donna McDonald

http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Next-Song-I-Sing-Audiobook/B00CQAEPXK/ref=a_pd_Romanc_c4_1_4_i#publisher-summary

Book One of the Next Time Around Series

Freshly divorced at 40 yrs old, Chloe Zanders has few illusions left about her ability to make her dreams come true. She is never going to be thin, never going to be a famous singer, and never going to be sexy enough to keep a man like her handsome ex-football player husband from cheating. While the first two dreams might continue to flicker hopefully inside her, Chloe now accepts the last one had been doomed from the start.

All her ex ever did in their marriage was find fault with her. After learning about the latest twenty-something in his life, divorcing Aaron is just a relief because it means Chloe can finally stop trying to save a relationship so obviously not worth saving. With her friends encouraging her to move on, Chloe secretly vows to herself that next time around, she is going to look for a man who will love her just as she is.

Hoping distance will help, Chloe gladly returns to Laguna Nigel in sunny California, happy to be living closer to her college roommates slash best-friends-in-the-world. Celebrating her return with a long weekend at the 5-star rated Blue Skies Hotel and Spa seems like just the thing Chloe needs to jump start her "do over" life. How much she ends up instantly liking the hotel's sexy, 45 yr owner/manager, Jasper Wade, is a surprise though.

So is the way Jasper's unrestrained kisses send lust and renewed hope singing through Chloe. What she feels for Jasper is disturbingly too much too soon, and God knows she can't compete with his super model ex-wife. But how can Chloe turn away from a man who keeps insisting she's his every fantasy come true?

©2012 Donna McDonald (P)2013 Donna McDonald

Being captain of his own rescue ship is the life Liam Synar has always dreamed of living. Being master of a hereditary demon is not. Coveting Malachi's power, his exiled evil brother hunts him, wanting to capture the demon that Liam's life mate now unknowingly hosts. Putting Malachi inside Ania two years ago had been an act to save her when she almost died saving his. If only the demon hadn't killed again.

This is Book 2 of the FORCED TO SERVE series and approximately 105,000 words.

If she’d had a choice, Ania Looren would have chosen death over becoming a demon host. But compelled to save her life, her mate, Captain Liam Synar made the decision for her. Now her spirit grieves for what she has become because evil lives inside her again. Ania fears the great harm she can cause using the demon’s power. Unfortunately, Liam’s reluctant embrace of being the demon's master, along with his refusal to discuss Malachi with her, once again leaves Ania facing her destiny alone.

JM Madden - Highlight

J.M. Madden

USA Today Best-selling author JM Madden is terminally addicted to romances, thanks to finding her aunt's stash of 'Harlequin Presents' years ago during a sleepover, J.M. Madden loves any and all good love stories. Most particularly her own. She has two beautiful children and a husband who always keeps her on her toes.

J.M. was a Deputy Sheriff in Ohio for nine years, until hubby moved the clan to Kentucky. When not chasing the family around, she's at the computer, reading and writing, trying to perfect her craft. She occasionally takes breaks to feed her animal horde, and is trying to control her office-supply addiction, but both tasks are uphill battles. Happily, she is writing full-time now. She always has several projects in the works and loves to hear from readers.

Embattled Hearts (Military Romantic Suspense) (Lost And Found Series)

John Palmer hasn’t felt like a real man since he was injured during combat in Iraq. Though not content with his new life, he is mostly adapting, just like the other vets at the Lost ‘N’ Found Investigative Service. When Shannon Murphy is hired on as the new office manager, life suddenly gets a lot more interesting. Before long, John finds himself wondering if he could ever be the kind of man Shannon needs.
Shannon Murphy wasn’t really looking for love when she hired on at LNF, but finds herself hopelessly attracted to the sex-on-wheels former Marine, John Palmer. The man is grumpy and nearly impossible to work with, but his brand of masculinity appeals to her on a basic level. Soon Shannon is wondering just what it would take for John to want her the way she wants him.
When an old enemy tries to settle a vendetta against Shannon, John insists on protecting her. He moves into her house, fanning the spark of attraction into a blaze. But the danger continues to escalate. Will the connection that they’ve found survive when they’re thrust into a fight for their lives?

Robyn Peterman Author Spotlight

Robyn Peterman

Robyn Peterman writes because the people inside her head won't leave her alone until she gives them life on paper. Her addictions include laughing really hard with friends, shoes (the expensive kind), Target, Coke with extra ice in a styrofoam cup, bejeweled reading glasses, her kids, her super-hot hubby and collecting stray animals. A former professional actress with Broadway, film and T.V. credits, she now lives in the south with her family and too many animals to count.

Writing gives her peace and makes her whole, plus having a job where she can work in her underpants really appeals to her. You can check out Robyn's website at robynpeterman.com and also follow her on Twitter and Facebook. She loves to hear from her fans.

Fashionably Dead (Hot Damned Series)
Vampyres don’t exist. They absolutely do not exist.

At least I didn’t think they did ‘til I tried to quit smoking and ended up Undead. Who in the hell did I screw over in a former life that my getting healthy equates with dead?

Now I’m a Vampyre. Yes, we exist whether we want to or not. However, I have to admit, the perks aren’t bad. My girls no longer jiggle, my ass is higher than a kite and the latest Prada keeps finding its way to my wardrobe. On the downside, I’m stuck with an obscenely profane Guardian Angel who looks like Oprah and a Fairy Fighting Coach who’s teaching me to annihilate like the Terminator.

To complicate matters, my libido has increased to Vampyric proportions and my attraction to a hotter than Satan’s underpants killer rogue Vampyre is not only dangerous . . . it’s possibly deadly. For real dead. Permanent death isn’t on my agenda. Avoiding him is my only option. Of course, since he thinks I’m his, it’s easier said than done. Like THAT’S not enough to deal with, all the other Vampyres think I’m some sort of Chosen One.

Holy Hell, if I’m in charge of saving an entire race of blood suckers, the Undead are in for one hell of a ride.

How Hard Can It Be (Handcuffs and Happily Ever Afters)

What happens when an accountant decides to grab life by the horns and try something new? Apparently a pirate named Dave, a lot of pastel fleece, and blackmail--just to start with. . .

Visualize and succeed, Oprah said. I was sure as hell trying, even if my campaign to score a job as the local weather girl had ended in a restraining order. Okay, TV was not my strength. But a lack of talent has never stopped me before. Which is why I've embarked on a writing career. I mean, how hard can it be to come up with a sexy romance?

Leave it to me to wind up in a group of porno writing grannies who discuss sex toys and apple cobbler in the same breath. Also leave it to me to leak an outlandish plot idea to a bestselling author with the morals of a rabid squirrel. And only I could get arrested for a jewelry heist I didn't commit--by a hunky cop whose handcuffs just might tempt me to sign up for a life of crime. Maybe I've found my calling after all. . .

Kallypso Masters

 USA Today bestselling author Kallypso Masters writes emotional, realistic Romance novels with dominant men and the women who bring them to their knees. She also has brought many readers to their knees--having them experience the stories right along with her characters in the Rescue Me series. Kally knows that Happily Ever After takes maintenance, so her couples don't solve all their problems and disappear at "the end" of their Romance, but will continue to work on real problems in their relationships in later books in the series. Kally also loves showing how there is never anyone so wounded that he or she can't find true love. Readers often write to tell her how the books have changed their lives or their perceptions of what matters in life.

Kally has begun publishing her books in Spanish editions. The first two--Sargentos Marines and El Ángel de Nadie were published in Summer 2013 and the third will be there in November. Additional titles will be uploaded as soon as the translations and beta reads are completed. To ensure the highest quality of translation, it is a word-by-word manual task that can take months with the longer books, but Kally has hired the best in the business, in her opinion, and plans to keep her busy for many months to come as she catches up on the series.
Kally's four e-book titles also are available in three trade paperbacks (the first two books combined into one volume). Also in summer 2013, Kally published second-edition paperbacks to coincide with the re-branding of her covers for the series. All of the digital versions are being updated, as well. There will be minor changes/corrections made to the text of each, but most of the changes were made to the front and back pages, not the story itself. They have a July 2013 date on the copyright page. If you want to update your versions (when they're available), please contact Amazon customer service via Live Chat, e-mail, or phone and they will take care of getting it onto your Kindle. Kally will attempt to get Amazon to send automatic notifications, but this often takes them months to do, if ever, so why wait.
The Rescue Me series should be read in order because they're written like one ongoing saga with installments (albeit LONG installments). The reading order to date:
MASTERS AT ARMS, FREE (approx. 145 pages in the paperback--major turning points in the lives of Adam, Karla, Marc, Angelina, Damian, Savannah)
NOBODY'S ANGEL, $3.99 (approx. 300 pages in the paperback version--primarily about Marc, Angelina, Luke, Adam, Karla)
NOBODY'S HERO $4.99 (approx. 339 pages in paperback--primarily about Adam, Karla, Damian, Savannah/Savi)
NOBODY'S PERFECT $4.99 (approx. 441 pages in paperback--primarily about Damian, Savannah/Savi, Marc, Angelina, Adam)
SOMEBODY'S ANGEL $4.99 (approx. 588 pages in paperback--continuation of Marc and Angelina's romance, with character development scenes in the heads of Adam, Karla, Damian, Savannah, Luke, and Cassie, too!
Sometime in 2014: Luke & Cassie's romance, NOBODY'S DREAM.
Kally has been writing full-time since May 2011, having quit her "day job" the month before to pursue a full-time writing career (her long-time dream). Masters at Arms was her debut novel (published in August 2011), followed by Nobody's Angel, Nobody's Hero; and Nobody's Perfect.
Kally lives in rural Kentucky and has been married for 30 years to the man who provided her own Happily Ever After. They have two adult children, one adorable grandson, and a rescued dog and cat.
Kally enjoys meeting readers at national romance-novel conventions, book signings, and informal gatherings (restaurants, airports, bookstores, wherever!), as well as in online groups (including Facebook's "The Rescue Me Series Open Discussion" secret group--to join, send a friend request to "Karla Montague" on Facebook; Kally also visits the Fetlife "Rescue Me! Series Discussion Group" regularly). Watch for her live online chats, as well. She hopes to meet you in her future travels! If you meet her face to face, be sure to ask for her new Kally's friend button (an awesome incentive ONLY for people she has met face-to-face; sorry, but no exceptions. She'll keep making more buttons as long as she keeps meeting new people)!
For more information about Kally (books, causes, links) please feel free to browse her Web site at kallypsomasters.com and be sure to sign up for her newsletter there. Or contact Kally directly at kallypsomasters@gmail.com. She loves to hear from readers and will answer as soon as she's able.

Somebody's Angel (#5 in a Military Romance / BDSM Romance series) (Rescue Me) [

When Marc d’Alessio first rescued the curvaceous and spirited Italian Angelina Giardano at the Masters at Arms Club, he never expected her to turn his safe, controlled life upside down and pull at his long-broken heartstrings. Months later, the intense fire of their attraction still rages, but something holds him back from committing to her completely. Worse, secrets and memories from his past join forces to further complicate his relationships with family, friends, and his beautiful angel.

Angelina cannot give all of herself to someone who hides himself from her. She loves Marc, the BDSM world he brought her into, and the way their bodies respond to one another, but she needs more. Though she destroyed the wolf mask he once wore, only he can remove the mask he dons daily to hide his emotions. In a desperate attempt to break through his defenses and reclaim her connection to the man she loves, she attempts a full frontal assault that sends him into a fast retreat, leaving her nobody’s angel once again.

Marc finds that running to the mountains no longer gives him solace but instead leaves him empty and alone. Angelina is the one woman worth the risk of opening his heart. Will he risk everything to become the man she deserves and the man he wants to be?

Masters at Arms & Nobody's Angel: Combined Volume with Books #1 and #2 (Rescue Me) (Volume 1)

MASTERS AT ARMS begins the journey of three men, each on a quest for honor, acceptance, and to ease his unspoken pain. Their paths cross at one of the darkest points in their lives. As they try to come to terms with the aftermath--forging an unbreakable bond--will they ever truly become masters of their own fates? Or would fate become masters of them?

NOBODY'S ANGEL Marc d’Alessio might own a BDSM club with his fellow military veterans, Adam and Damian, but he keeps all women at a distance. When Marc rescues Angelina Giardano from a disastrous first BDSM experience at his club, however, an uncharacteristic attraction leaves him torn between his safe, but lonely world, and a possible future with his angel.

Angelina leaves BDSM behind only to have her dreams plagued by her Italian angel in a wolf mask. When she meets Marc at a bar in her hometown, she can’t shake the feeling she knows him, but has no idea why he reminds her of her angel. Marc’s search-and-rescue partner, widower Luke Denton, believes Angelina is the angel his wife promised to send him, convincing Marc she’s meant for Luke. While trying to protect Angelina from her abusive ex, though, Marc once again finds her at the Masters at Arms Club where she turns his safe, controlled world upside down.

The books in the Rescue Me series are not stand-alone stories. Should be read in order.

Nobody's Hero (#3 in a Military Romance / BDSM Romance series) (Rescue Me)

NOBODY'S HERO is the continuing romantic journey of Adam and Karla, which began in MASTERS AT ARMS and continued in NOBODY'S ANGEL.

Retired Marine Master Sergeant Adam Montague has battled through four combat zones, but now finds himself running from Karla Paxton, who has declared war on his heart. With a significant age difference, he feels he should be her guardian and protector, not her lover. But Karla's knack for turning up in his bed at inopportune times is killing his resolve to do the right thing. Karla isn't a young girl anymore—something his body reminds him of every chance it gets.

Their age difference is only part of the problem. Fifty-year-old Adam has been a guardian and protector for lost and vulnerable souls most of his life, but a secret he has run from for more than three decades has kept him emotionally unable to admit he can love anyone. Will she be able to break through the defenses around his heart and help him put the ghosts from his past to rest? In her all-out war to get Adam to surrender his heart, will the strong-willed Goth singer offer herself as his submissive—and at what cost to herself?

The books in the Rescue Me series are not stand-alone stories. Should be read in order.

CONTENT WARNING: This story might cause triggers while reading. Please read the Author's Notes at the beginning of the book before purchasing.

Nobody's Perfect (#4 in a Military Romance / BDSM Romance series) (Rescue Me)

NOBODY'S PERFECT is the continuing story of Savannah Gentry (now Savi Baker) and Damian Orlando from MASTERS AT ARMS (Rescue Me #1) and NOBODY'S HERO (Rescue Me #3).

Savannah/Savi escaped eleven years of abuse at the hands of her father and finally made a safe life for herself and her daughter. But when her father once again threatens her peace of mind—and her daughter’s safety—Savi runs to Damian Orlando for protection. Eight years earlier, Savannah shared one perfect day with Damian that changed both their young lives and resulted in a secret she no longer can hide. But being with Damian reawakens repressed memories and feelings she wants to keep hidden—buried. After witnessing a scene with Damian on Savi's first night at his private club, she begins to wonder if he could help her regain control of her life and reclaim her sexuality and identity.

Damian, a wounded warrior, has had his own dragons to fight in life, but has never forgotten Savannah. He will lay down his life to protect her and her daughter, but doesn’t believe he can offer more than that. She deserves a whole man, something he can never be after a firefight in Iraq. Damian has turned to SM to regain control of his life and emotions and fulfills the role of Service Top to “bottoms” at the club. However, he could never deliver those services to Savi, who needs someone gentle and loving, not the man he has become.

Will two wounded people find love and healing in each other’s arms?

The books in the Rescue Me series are not stand-alone stories. Should be read in order.

CONTENT WARNING: This story might cause triggers while reading. Please read the Author's Notes at the beginning of the book before purchasing.

Solease M Barner

Solease lives in a quiet area. She is a wife, and mother to a daughter. Solease loves to spend time with her family. She's been called the social butterfly by many friends. She's a huge movie buff, and loves to read books. She writes poetry on a daily basis, as a way to release stress. Solease is the author of "Secrets of the Ghosts - The Sleeper", "Secrets of the Ghosts - AWAKENS", and "The Draglen Brothers Series - DRAKEN".  The third book in the "The Draglen Brothers Series - LAYERN" is set to be released February 2014.

The Draglen Brothers - DRAKEN (BK 1)

Cess Lamil is determined to get her college degree with honors and start her career. Her plans change quickly, when the new neighbors moves in down the street. Draken, the controlling and obnoxious neighbor, is all she can think about.
Despite her initial dislike, Cess feels strangely drawn to the mysterious, handsome Draken, but she soon learns that Draken has dark secrets.
Draken Draglen is in town to get the family business in order. He lives by one rule: only sleep with women of his own kind. When Cess walks down the street to introduce herself, Draken fears he is going to break his rule. He is determined to stay away from her, fearing his dark secret may be revealed, but his need for Cess is too strong. Draken makes a decision that could change not only his life, but that of his family as well.

Excerpt

"Hello, Cess," Draken says, moving closer to me. I can't move. He looks so sexy walking towards me. Everything south is wet. I feel like a fool. I can't keep my eyes off him as he approaches me. He stands a foot away, just looking at me, gliding his purple eyes over my body. My breasts instantly harden when we make eye contact. We stare at each other without speaking.
"I was invited," I say, finding my voice.
"Oh, well I like entertainment also, Cess, besides, remember, you owe me something," Draken says, coming closer. I feel the need to kiss him, like in my dream. I want him.
"I, I, umm, don't owe you," I say, feeling really hot now. I should go.
"You owe me, Cess, and I want a dance. I hear from my brothers you can dance. Now I want a private viewing of your... skills," he says, not stopping the eye contact.
"Draken, I'm sorry for coming to your home, I will leave now," I say, trying to get past him, but instantly I feel his hands on my waist, holding me in place.
"You will dance with my brothers, and not dance with me? Why? I'm not as handsome as they are?" he asks, looking into my eyes, searching. I see the other brothers are not leaving this time. It's as if they are waiting for the answer to a question, more than just a dance.
"I thought you didn't want me at your house, now you want a dance?" I say, frowning a little.
"You have such bravery about you, Cess. Yes, I want you to dance for me, and then I will dance for you; if you don't like it, then you may leave," Draken says, with a small smile. Yikes, I could climax with that look he just gave me. Please don't let me go back on my promise.
"So, what's it going to be?" Showken says. I turn and see all eyes are on me. What are they waiting for?
"Fine, I'll do one dance," I say. Draken turns me around to face me, placing a very slow, tender kiss on my lips. Shit! I'm in freaking trouble.

THE DRAGLEN BROTHERS - SHOWKEN (BOOK 2)

Marilyn Carrington has been hurt by everyone who has ever claimed to love her. Now, she only trusts herself and her .45 caliber pistol. When the sexiest man she has ever seen walks into the bar where she works, she stays clear of him, ignoring his advances, but when he takes the hint and leaves her alone, she finds herself missing him. Marilyn finds she doesn't care about the danger she senses around him; she wants to know the feeling of love again. Marilyn's only problem now is whether Showken is really ready for her.

Showken Draglen is known for being a playboy. Loving his freedom, he has never committed to a woman, and doesn't ever plan to. But when he sees Marilyn, he will do whatever it takes to have her. Unused to rejection, he becomes even more determined to win her. But deep down Showken knows that when she finds out what he truly is, she will run, leaving him with the only option he knows, using his power.

Excerpt

"Uhh, no. It's just me," I say, really not wanting to talk about myself. "Do you have brothers or sisters?" I ask, giving him the same question to see how he likes the hot seat.
"Yes, there are ten of us altogether, nine boys and one girl," Showken says, with a smirk. I wonder what that is about.
"Wow, your mother must really like kids. I couldn't imagine having that many kids," I say, taking out the butter and brown sugar for the sweet potatoes. I can't wait to eat.
"Well, we have big families, and it's kind of a tradition. Anything under seven is unheard of. How many kids do you want?"
I look up at him as if he's confessed a murder.
"I will never have kids, ever," I say, turning away from him and feeling tears building up in my eyes. I feel him standing behind me and I can't move or speak. I turn and he pulls me into his arms, and the tears are pouring down. I'm a product of bad blood; I won't take the risk of bringing a child into this world, knowing where it comes from. I wipe my tears and turn to finish dinner. We don't speak again until I'm pulling the cupcakes out of the fridge.
"Showken, do you want a cupcake or two," I say, as he has eaten everything already. After I fixed my plate and told him to eat as much as he wanted, he finished the other three stuffed chicken breasts and all of the potatoes. I couldn't get upset, because he ate in silence and seemed to enjoy every bite.
"Yes, I'll have one," he says, moving to the sofa in front of the television. I see Bruiser is stuffed as he lies on his side, watching. I walk over and hand him a double chocolate cupcake; he sets it down on the table in front of him. I glance over and look at his chest, again. He has the best body ever.
"Showken, you don't like chocolate?" I ask peeling down my cupcake paper. I take a bite, and see him watching me, licking his lips.
"Yes, I love chocolate, but I'll wait to eat mine. You enjoy," he says, and his eyes roam my body. I can't eat with him watching me like this. I take one more bite, and set it down. I stand and his hand touches my knee, oh, my body is way too responsive to him. I look up and he is  smiling.
"Wait, I want to eat my dessert now." He gives a wicked smile, and I think my eyes will come out of my head. I've never had a guy so smooth. "Don't I get to eat my dessert, Marilyn?" he asks, but I'm not sure why he's asking. I know he's speaking of something else. I'm 27 years old and I know when I see a horny man

Lori Sjoberg

Lori Sjoberg is the award winning author of GRAVE INTENTIONS. She lives in Florida with her husband and four-legged fur baby.
Growing up the youngest of three girls, Lori never had control of the remote. (Not that she's bitter about that. Really. Okay, maybe a little, but it's not like she's scarred for life or anything.) That meant a steady diet of science fiction and fantasy. Star Trek, Star Wars, Twilight Zone, Outer Limits - you name it, she watched it. It fed her imagination, and that came in handy when the hormones kicked in and she needed a creative excuse for being out past curfew.
After completing her first novel, she joined the Romance Writers of America and Central Florida Romance Writers. Now she exercises the analytical half of her brain at her day job, and the creative half writing sensual paranormal romance. Grim reapers are her specialty, but she loves to write about all creatures of the night.

Grave Destinations (The Grave Series) [

By Lori Sjoberg

She’s sexy-fierce, resourceful—and will do anything to protect victims as innocent as she once was. But this kick-ass reaper never bargained on meeting her not-quite-human match…or putting their very souls on the line.

A luxury Caribbean cruise is Ruby Dawson’s idea of hell even under the best circumstances. Too many bad memories bubble up—especially of the wrenching injustice that made her a reaper. It doesn’t help that Jack Deverell is making this routine soul-collecting job twice as difficult with his devilish good looks and not-so-innocent questions. Now, as several unscheduled, unexplainable deaths throw passengers and crew into a panic, Jack becomes the prime suspect. The only way Ruby can save him is to challenge the decades-old curse threatening his soul. And as a malevolent unstoppable force turns their immortality into a fatal weakness, Ruby and Jack must risk their fragile humanity to save Fate’s delicate balance and their own unexpected destiny…

Amazon Link:  http://www.amazon.com/Grave-Destinations-Lori-Sjoberg-ebook/dp/B00EF51IZC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1389616670&sr=1-1&keywords=lori+sjoberg

Alethea's Redemption by Ruth Cardello

Ruth Cardello 

New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author!

Breaching the Billionaire: Alethea's Redemption (Book 6 of the Legacy Collection)

Release Date: 13.01.2014

My Review:  

We all have our favorite type of books and our favorite authors.  Ruth Cardello is a favorite of mine to be sure.  Her strong and confident male characters and the female leads who have a strength of their own, make her books easy to read, and the strong sense of humor she injects into her books make them equally fun.

Breaching the Billionaire: Alethea's Redemption (Book 6 of the Legacy Collection) is no exception to that rule.  This is hands down my favorite of all of the books in the Legacy collection.

Marc is the ultimate Alpha male who wants to protect his woman.  Alethea is a strong willed and self confident who will do anything for the people she loves and is determined to test him at every turn.

Synopsis

Alethea is at a crossroad. For as long as she could remember, it was her and her best friend, Lil, against the world. Now that Lil has met Prince "I have my own helicopter" Charming and reconnected with her family, Alethea is on the outside looking in, justifying who she's always been to people who have never understood her. When she uncovers a looming threat to Lil's family, she's determined to save them, even after they tell her not to get involved and assign their best man to stop her.

Marc Stone has been watching Alethea ever since she waltzed through his security system and right into his late night fantasies. As a decorated Marine, he's seen war, but nothing could prepare him for this wild redhead. Strong. Beautiful. Flawed, and fiercely protective. Hard to love, and impossible to deny.

If she'll stop fighting him long enough, he'll show her just how perfect they are for each other. That is, if she doesn't get them both killed first.

Excerpts

Tame Excerpt:

There wasn’t a day that went by that Marc wasn’t grateful for the faith Dominic had shown him, and his loyalty had never wavered. He’d found his confidence again and enjoyed a lifestyle most envied. Money bred money. Although he wasn’t in the same financial league as his boss, he was wealthy beyond what he’d ever expected. He would have said that nothing was more important than his job.

Until now.

With a sigh, Marc looked back at Alethea. He should have squeezed out every bit of information he could while she was vulnerable. It would have been easy enough to manipulate her and she likely wouldn’t have even remembered it the next day.

But he couldn’t.

Not even for Dominic.

Beneath her tough talk and confident smile, Alethea was hurting, and he couldn’t ignore that any more than he could have left his men behind on the battlefield. In the past, they may have been adversaries, but they were more alike than different when it came to what he considered most important.

He wanted her.

Needed her.

Would find a way to have her.

He’d dated many women—even come close to loving a couple of them before things fell apart for one reason or another. But none had ever gotten under his skin the way Alethea had. None sent his blood pounding at the mere thought of touching her.

But it was more than that.

He respected her.

Wanted to hold her to him and comfort her.

Or shake some sense into her.

The temptation to crawl into bed beside her, hold her in his arms, and kiss away the pain he’d seen in her eyes was strong, but, however much he wanted to protect her, it was his job to outsmart her. He hoped to God she had nothing to do with the trouble at Corisi Enterprises.

Tomorrow. He’d figure out what to do tomorrow. For now, all he could do was watch over her.

A few hours later, she stirred in her sleep and moaned. Her eyes flew open and she asked into the darkness, “Marc?”

He fought and won against the urge to go to her. Instead he answered quietly, “Yes?”

“What are you still doing here?” she asked, sounding surprised and confused.

“Making sure you’re okay.”

She laid her head back on her pillow and closed her eyes, falling back asleep even as she spoke, “I told you I don’t need you.”

I know, he thought. But you’re wrong.

Spicier Excerpt:

She couldn’t take any more. She shifted until she broke their connection, then continued to squirm until he released her enough so that her feet were firmly back on the floor. “Don’t. Don’t pretend this is anything but what it is. This isn’t a date. You’re being paid to keep me out of the way and that—” she waved her hand in the air beside her—“that was just the result of two people being thrown together in a stressful situation.”

He studied her face, then broke out in his cocky smile. “Your job must be more exciting than mine, because this is not the norm for me.”

She shoved him back a step. “You’re not funny.”

He closed the distance between them and was suddenly serious. “Well, now you’ve hurt my feelings. Looks like I’ll have to do my best to impress you with my other qualities.”

The evidence of the quality he was referring to nudged her sex, hard and ready, as he swept down and plundered her mouth with another deep kiss. A part of her clung to the knowledge that none of this was real, but the rest of her felt it was too good to pass up. These memories would have to sustain her, because she would never put herself in this situation again.

He stopped, raised his head with a funny expression on his face, and asked, “What are you thinking about?”

She tried to pull his mouth back down to hers and said, “It doesn’t matter.”

“Tell me,” he demanded.

“No.”

Alethea wasn’t sure what reaction she expected to her refusal, but she didn’t expect him to pick her up, swing her over his shoulder, and carry her to his bedroom. He tossed her down on his bed.

Oh, no, he didn’t.

Oh, yes, he did.

This isn’t one of my fantasies. This is real.

Still naked, she was on her knees and scrambling past him, but he caught her, flipped her onto her back and, before she knew what he was doing, he’d secured both of her hands above her head with handcuffs.

Lying beside her, he said, “I know what you’re thinking—what man has handcuffs under his bed, right? They were a gag gift from a buddy of mine. I figured I should keep them here in case I had to ride out the apocalypse. In case things got boring.” He smiled down at her as if he couldn’t see the fury in her eyes. “Not that you’re boring. Trust me, you’re the opposite of boring, but you need to learn to trust people.”

Pulling against the cuffs angrily, Alethea snarled, “And you think this will do that? All it’s going to do is be my defense for why I strangled you the second I was set free. ‘Your honor, look at the bruises on my wrists. He had it coming.’”

Marc ran a hand up one of her arms to just below where the metal met her wrist. “You won’t have a single mark on you if you don’t fight it.”

She tried unsuccessfully to whip her arm away from his touch but was impeded by the restraint. “You might as well tell me not to breathe. I’m going to free myself and when I do, you will regret this.”

“I see the problem.”

“Thank God. You’re coming to your senses. Get the keys now and maybe, just maybe, I’ll forget this ever happened.”

Propped up on one elbow, Marc looked down at her as if she were a puzzle he was solving. “You can’t turn it off, can you? Everything is a fight to you.”

“Do these handcuffs come with earplugs? Because there are laws against torturing people with your psychobabble.”

Instead of rising to her taunt, he laughed. “I’m beginning to get you. Really get you. You’re scared right now, aren’t you? That’s why you’re on the attack.”

I’m not afraid of anything, but I’ll go along with this if it has the potential to provide a window of opportunity. “You don’t think that locking someone in a bunker, then tying her to a bed, is cause for concern?”

“I would never hurt you, Alethea. Do you believe that?”

She looked away. “Then let me go.”

He turned her face back to his and those beautiful blue eyes seemed to see her soul. “Just this once, let yourself be in a situation where you’re not in control.”

She shook her head.

He leaned down and whispered in her ear. “What’s the worst thing that could happen? You find you enjoy it?”

She glared at him.

When she didn’t say anything, he said, “If you really want me to take off the cuffs, I will. All you have to do is say it.” He ran a lazy finger over her collarbone and down the side of one breast. “Or you can trust me to take care of you. That’s what the cuffs are about. Trust. Yes, they leave you vulnerable, but everything that matters in life leaves you vulnerable. And sometimes you win by not fighting.”

His words washed over her, filling her with a warmth she couldn’t deny.

All I have to do is tell him to remove the cuffs and this is over.

No man controls me, not even for the sake of sexual experimentation.

I don’t do restraints.

So why am I not demanding my freedom?

He didn’t gloat as she would have expected a man to. Instead, he quietly waited for her decision.

An unexpected tear came to her eye and in a thick voice she said, “If you hurt me, I’ll kill you. Literally. Slowly. In the most painful way I can think of.”

Real shock showed on his face and he touched her cheek with a gentle hand. “Hey, it’s okay to be scared. Trusting anyone is always scary.”

He leaned down, took one of her breasts between his teeth, and pulled ever so gently on her nipple, sending a rush of heat straight through her. There was no denying how his touch affected her. She gasped with pleasure when he ran a hand down her stomach and cupped her sex possessively.

Tempting her.

Teasing her.

Waiting for her to say the words she didn’t want to say: “I hate you right now.”

He raised his head. “I can’t tell if that means, ‘Yes, keep going,’ or ‘No, get the hell off me, you pervert.’”

She rubbed her pelvis against him and moaned. To hell with being in control. Just this once, she wanted to be taken.

Author Bio

NY Times and USA TODAY Bestselling Author of the Legacy Collection and the Texan Nights Series

Ruth Cardello lives on a small farm in Northern Rhode Island with her husband, three kids, three dogs, two horses, and some assorted chickens. If there is a happier place on Earth, she hasn't found it.

If you'd like to email her directly, you may contact her at Minouri@aol.com

Connect with Ruth

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

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Ruth-Cardello/e/B005HZXDKW/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1385113657&sr=1-2-ent

Website: http://www.ruthcardello.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4820876.Ruth_Cardello?from_search=true

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RuthieCardello

Other books in this series

Book 1: Maid for the Billionaire (Legacy Collection)

Dominic Corisi knew instantly that Abigail Dartley was just the distraction he was looking for, especially since having her took a bit more persuading than he was used to. So when business forces him to fly to China, he decides to take her with him, but on his terms. No promises. No complications. Just sex.

Abby has always been the responsible one. She doesn't believe in taking risks; especially when it comes to men - until she meets Dominic. He's both infuriating and intoxicating, a heady combination. Their trip to China revives a long forgotten side of Abby, but also reveals a threat to bring down Dominic's company. With no time to explain her actions, Abby must either influence the outcome of his latest venture and save his company or accept her role as his mistress and leave his fate to chance. Does she love him enough to risk losing him for good?

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Maid-Billionaire-Book-Legacy-Collection-ebook/dp/B004XJ4NI4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1389451383&sr=8-2&keywords=ruth+cardello+kindle+books

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Maid-Billionaire-Book-Legacy-Collection-ebook/dp/B004XJ4NI4/ref=sr_1_7?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1389451362&sr=1-7&keywords=ruth+cardello

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/maid-for-the-billionaire-ruth-cardello/1100737499?ean=2940032938170

Book 2: For Love or Legacy (Legacy Collection)

Nicole Corisi will lose her inheritance if she doesn't find a way around the terms of her father's will, but she will have to partner up with her estranged brother's rival to do it. As pretense becomes painfully real, Nicole will have to choose between Stephan and the family he is driven to destroy.

Stephan Andrade has been planning his revenge ever since Dominic Corisi unscrupulously took over his father's company. With Corisi Enterprises gambling its reputation on the success of a new software network for China, Stephan finally has his chance to take back his legacy. Dominic's younger sister, Nicole, asks Stephan for his help and provides him with an opportunity to exact his revenge on a personal level.

It all goes smoothly until he falls in love.

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/For-Love-Legacy-Book-Collection-ebook/dp/B005IB03NA/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/For-Love-Legacy-Book-Collection-ebook/dp/B005IB03NA/ref=pd_sim_kinc_1

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/for-love-or-legacy-ruth-cardello/1105028038?ean=2940013033979

Book 3: Bedding The Billionaire (Legacy Collection)

Lil Dartley's life is upside down. Her previously steadfast and predictable sister is marrying an influential billionaire and needs help planning the wedding of the century in less than a month. Years of middle class rebellion have not prepared Lil for handling diplomats or paparazzi.

Jake Walton knows a train wreck when he sees one. Lil was trouble from the first day he met her, but since her sister is marrying his best friend, he has no choice but to help her or this wedding will be in the news for all the wrong reasons. Teaching Lil how to fit into high society would be a whole lot easier if she didn't drive him insane both in and out of the bedroom.

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Bedding-Billionaire-Book-Legacy-Collection-ebook/dp/B008GI61YC/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bedding-Billionaire-Book-Legacy-Collection-ebook/dp/B008GI61YC/ref=pd_sim_kinc_1

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bedding-the-billionaire-ruth-cardello/1111922306?ean=2940014652599

Book 4: Saving The Sheikh (Legacy Collection)

Rachid bin Amir al Hantan is fighting for the sovereignty of his small country. He needs to find some powerful allies - and fast. Attending the wedding of Dominic Corisi is as much about reconnecting with old friends as it is about celebrating nuptials. The last thing he needs right now is the distraction of a woman.

Zhang Yajun is a self-made billionaire who can’t believe she accepted her friend’s dare to kiss Sheikh Rachid before the end of the wedding.

When impulsive words lead to even more impulsive actions, these two will discover that sometimes the last thing you were looking for is the one thing that can save you.

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Saving-Sheikh-Book-Legacy-Collection-ebook/dp/B00A6IEN04/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Saving-Sheikh-Book-Legacy-Collection-ebook/dp/B00A6IEN04/ref=pd_sim_kinc_1

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/saving-the-sheikh-ruth-cardello/1113786284?ean=2940148734741

Book 5: Rise Of The Billionaire (Legacy Collection)

Dreaming of Alethea gave Jeremy Kater the strength to survive a difficult childhood. Now that he has influential friends who owe him some big favors, he’s determined to become the kind of man Alethea would be interested in: rich and dangerous. Jeisa Borreto was hired to help Jeremy morph into that man. It’s a job she would enjoy, if it weren’t tearing her heart to pieces.

How can she help him change once she’s realized she’s fallen in love with the man he’s always been?

Hint: Sleeping with him doesn't help.

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Rise-Billionaire-Book-Legacy-Collection-ebook/dp/B00CW0PD8A/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rise-Billionaire-Book-Legacy-Collection-ebook/dp/B00CW0PD8A/ref=pd_sim_kinc_2

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rise-of-the-billionaire-ruth-cardello/1115374552?ean=2940148784760

Super fun book by Author Ruth Cardello.

From New Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Ruth Cardello, comes Book One of the Texan Nights Series, Gentling the Cowboy.

Tony Carlton knows trouble when he sees it—especially when it comes in the form of a gorgeous, innocent and very naked blond stranger dancing in his shower. When circumstances force his uninvited guest to spend the night, Tony decides that there are some home invasions he could get used to.

Sarah Dery is a frustrated writer who takes her twenty-fifth birthday as a wake-up call. She sets off for Texas thinking that a summer on a working ranch will finally inspire her. When one wrong turn leads her into the arms of a hot, broody cowboy, she’ll discover her spicy inner voice.