Friday, November 30, 2018

Review & Excerpt Tour for GAME ALL NIGHT by Lauren Helms

What started as a game between friends turns out to be so much more in GAME ALL NIGHT, the next installment in the Gamer Boy series by Lauren Helms. Ruby Jacobs finds Link Witt opinionated, frustrating, charming as hell, and they’ll only ever be friends, but Link is ready to play this game for real, with no “game over” in sight. Fans of RS Grey and Penny Reid will enjoy this nerdy and flirty friends-to-lovers romance.

Title: Game All Night
Author: Lauren Helms
Release Date: November 26, 2018
Publisher: Self-published
Series: Gamer Boy #3
Genres: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

A game between friends... 
RUBY
Just friends.
That's all we are,
All we ever were.
But when I finally let myself go,
Let myself really feel,
The only thing I want is him.
Despite how opinionated, frustrating, and charming he is,
We're only friends.
He's my player number two.
But lately, we're powering up,
Trying for more,
And playing this game just might destroy us for good.

LINK
She deserves better,
Better than the game-less douche who gets to have her. 
She's strong, feisty, and so damn smart.
Too smart--if you ask me.
And now, I'm amped up for more,
Ready to play this game,
With no "game over" in sight. 

** This book can be read and understood as a standalone but does contain minor spoilers for the first two books in the series. **
Buy Now: Amazon
FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

GAME ALL NIGHT Excerpt
Copyright © 2018 Lauren Helms

“You ready to meet my people?” I ask.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” he shrugs.
Yay, he seems really into this. Wonderful.
I grab his hand and lead him to the back room. When we enter, I notice that the table I just vacated is deep in conversation. As we walk to the table, I can’t shake the feeling of being watched. But no one at the table even notices us yet. As we approach, I hear them talking about the publishing house courting Dex about a book deal.
“Hey guys.” I get their attention. Morgan and Gia have big smiles on their faces. Dex and Simon on the other hand are assessing the newcomer.
“This is Mason,” I go around the table and introduce him. Before I’m done with introductions, Bernie pops in between the guys and introduces herself too.
“So, you’re the sports guy,” Dex says, assessing.
Mason laughs it off, “I am. You’re one of the video gamers, I take it?”
“Sure am.” Dex still doesn’t ease his slightly scrutinizing demeanor. They make small talk for a bit. The girls trying to lead the conversation away from the tension the guys are throwing out. Don’t get me wrong, I’m flattered. I suspect this is exactly how my own brother would act right now. But while they are just meeting him, Mason and I aren’t new. I’ve been dating him for a while. It’s not like I don’t know him.
Simon excuses himself to get some refills for the table and as soon as they return, Link appears at the table. He doesn’t sit though, he stands. I could swear he’s puffing out his chest.
“I’m Link. You are?” he shoves his hand out for a shake.
Mason slowly takes a drink before making eye contact with him, making Link wait as he lowers his cup to the table, and grasp his hand.
“Mason. Ruby’s boyfriend.”
Link brings his other hand around and slaps Mason’s back, “Ah. Well it’s great to finally meet ya, Mace. I’ve heard almost nothing about you!” They drop each other’s hand at the same time I hear someone beside me snort.
“It’s Mason,” he corrects.
Link just blows him off, pulls over a stool and starts talking his ear off. I mean, I guess this could have gone worse. Amber, who I didn’t notice before, sits next to Link looking bored out of her mind. Dex and Morgan excused themselves to go chat with their parents. And it seems like the rest of the table are enjoying talking to Mason.
“So, do you plan on working for ESPN or SportsCenter some day? Like, is your gig with WTSL just a stepping stone or are happy where you are?” Bernie asks. She’s adept at keeping the conversation going. She’s also got mad interviewing skills.
Mason snaps out a laugh, he looks a bit annoyed with the line of questioning. Which baffles me since he usually loves talking about himself.
“Well, I have what you call a career. A real job. So yes, I have long-term goals,” he replies.
“Excuse me?” Link and Simon say in unison.
“Well, correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t you just play video games all day?” he asks.
“Among other things, yes. But I get paid probably three times more doing what I do than you could even imagine. It’s a real fucking job,” Link bites out and damn, he sounds pissed. I’ve never heard him so angry before.
He laughs. Mason actually has the audacity to laugh right in their faces.
I gulp. I’m afraid to look at anyone but Mason right now. It’s clear that our nice, “getting to know the new boyfriend time” is over.
“Right,” he drags out the word. “Well, I guess we will just have to agree to disagree then.”
Link growls and I risk a glance his way. But, I’m not prepared for what I see. He’s not staring down Mason with fire coming out of his ears, ready to attack. No. My throat catches at the sight before me.
I’m absolutely embarrassed. You know when you’re a kid and you do something bad, and instead of your parents saying they are upset with you, they tell you they are disappointed? It makes it so much worse. That’s how I feel right now.
He’s looking at me with disappointment in his eyes. He holds my attention and I start to say something, to try and fix where this conversation just went. But I stop. He gives a quick jerk of his head. He clears his throat and pushes off of the stool.
“Well, I think that’s our cue to leave. See ya around, Mace.” Link looks to his left to where Amber is collecting her phone and purse. Somehow she still manages to look bored. He motions a quick goodbye to the entire table, avoiding my gaze entirely. Then he walks away.
You could cut the tension with a knife when Simon stands and turns on his heel. He stalks towards the table where Morgan and Dex are sitting. Gia shoots me a pleading look as she follows him. Bernie sits stock-still, worry sketched on her face.
I start to speak, but Mason beats me to it.
“Well, that went well. They all seem alright, but I’m not sure I like the cocky asshole.”
Don’t Forget About Those Other Hot Gamers! Read now for FREE on Kindle Unlimited.

Level Me Up (Morgan & Dex) - Gamer Boy #1
ON SALE FOR A LIMITED TIME! Only $.99!!!

One More Round (Gia & Simon) - Gamer Boy #2

Enter to win a signed set of all three Gamer Boy books!
(Includes Level Me Up, One More Round, and Game All Night)



About Lauren Helms:

Lauren Helms has forever been an avid reader from the beginning. After starting a book review website, that catapulted her fully into the book world, she knew that something was missing. Lauren decided to take the plunge and write her first novel. While working for a video game strategy guide publisher, she decided to mix what she knew best--video games and romance. She decided to take the plunge and joined NaNoWrimo and a month later, she had her first draft. 
Follow Lauren:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub | Instagram



Thursday, November 29, 2018

Have you discovered THE THALANIAN DYNASTY series by NYT Bestselling Author Katee Robert?
In THEIRS EVER AFTER Theo, Galen, and Meg's journey continues as they navigate the new realities of their relationship. Fans of Laura Kaye’s THEIR’S TO TAKE or Sierra Simone’s AMERICAN QUEEN will devour this cinderella-esque ménage.


Start reading the series for FREE! Download THEIRS FOR THE NIGHT, the novella that introduces you to Theo, Galen, and Meg for FREE at:

Add THEIRS EVER AFTER, FOREVER THEIRS, and THEIRS FOR THE NIGHT to your TBR pile on Goodreads then keep reading to get a sneak peek excerpt and your chance enter the giveaway to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card!


Title: Theirs Ever After
Author: Katee Robert
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Thriller/Menage
Release Date: December 3, 2018
Publisher: Indie
Series: The Thalanian Dynasty
Page Count: 62K
Format: Digital
ASIN: B07H3CX9JR

Synopsis:

Sometimes happily ever after isn’t all it’s cracked up to be…

Theo Fitzcharles thought he’d put the worst behind him when he became King of Thalania and named his two lovers, Meg Sanders and Galen Mikos, as his Consorts. Unfortunately, the realities of running a country have worn on all of them, individually and as a triad. Theo has every intention of making things right, but first he has to deal with an old enemy who’s closer than anyone could have dreamed.

Meg Sanders never wanted to be a princess. Now that she’s one of two Consorts to the King of Thalania, she knows why—it’s work. Every time she turns around, she’s misstepping and struggling not to screw up the careful political maneuvering required for her new position. But her struggles with the new position are the least of her worries she’s attacked in the palace.

Theo, Galen, and Meg must race to identify her attacker and neutralize them before they can make another attempt to hurt her. There’s plenty of people who want Meg out of the palace—and at least one isn’t picky about whether she’s breathing or not when she goes.

Available at:

Enter to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card!



Theirs Ever After Excerpt
Copyright © 2018 Katee Robert

Theo opened his eyes to see his best friend, his lover, his Consort, standing over him. Galen looked as tired and worn out as Theo felt, though where Theo had lost weight, Galen had gained muscle. No telling where he found the time to work out, but the evidence was in the way his T-shirt stretched tight across his shoulders and chest and the clear definition in his legs. He couldn’t even appreciate the new changes for fear of what they indicated. Are we going to war, Galen?
Some days it certainly felt like it.
He finished up his set slowly, drawing in the burning of his muscles as he strained against the weight of the bench press. In this moment, he was perfectly present. It wouldn’t last. It never lasted. But he had right now, and it would have to be able to shore him up for the coming conversation.
Theo wiped his face with his towel and stood. “Okay, I’m done. What’s wrong?”
“Would you like a list?”
Fuck, something was wrong. Theo glanced at the door to the gym, instinctively looking for the audience they had for most of their waking hours. The door remained closed, which didn’t mean no one was listening, but it lessened the likelihood. Even with the cameras blinking in the corners of the room, they were as close to alone as they were likely to get. “Galen, talk to me.”
“Not tonight. Not like this.” Galen started for the door. “Meg had a hard day, Theo. We all did.” Subtle comment, less subtle bite. If he concentrated, Theo could almost see things unraveling around him. He’d known life wouldn’t be simple once he retook the throne, but the freedom of exile had gone to his head and he’d forgotten just how easy it could be to drown in this world.
It sure as hell seemed like all three of them were a few short breaths from doing exactly that.
Drowning.
And he didn’t know how to fix it.
This wasn’t the time or place to get into it. Darkness had fallen while Theo was preoccupied, and most of the palace staff had gone home. It didn’t leave the halls empty—they were never empty—but there were fewer people to bow and murmur greetings as he and Galen stalked toward their private suite. Theo managed to nod in response, but he schooled his expression to discourage actual conversation. In his current mood, he couldn’t guarantee what he’d say if someone tried to stop him now.
They slammed into their suite and Theo grabbed Galen’s arm before he had a chance to leave the sitting room. “What’s going on?”
“No. Fuck that. You don’t get to play the concerned partner now.” Galen shot a look toward the main rooms and lowered his voice. “You got what you wanted, Theo. You got your cake and you’re eating it, too. The first King of Thalania in history to name two Consorts. Congratu-fucking-lations.”
Theo rocked back on his heels. This conversation had been a long time in coming, and even knowing it bore down on him with all the subtly of a runaway train, he still wasn’t prepared. “You knew—”
“No. I don’t need to hear that I went into this with eyes wide open. I know I fucking did.” Galen dragged a hand over his face. “Meg has three months before school starts up again. She’s fucking miserable, Theo. She puts on a brave face for you, but underneath she’s messed up.”
And what about you?
Theo didn’t voice the words lodged in his throat. He’d learned a long time ago not to ask questions he might not want answers to, and this numbered among them. He didn’t point out that he’d given both Galen and Meg a chance to leave six months ago, and he sure as hell didn’t point out that they could leave now if they were so inclined. He might be an ass sometimes, but not about this.
Not when they’d already sacrificed so much.
He couldn’t fix this. Not yet. Things would calm down once he got the Families in line and brought his siblings around. Camilla was happy to see him, of course. Even with their father’s death, his baby sister had been kept from the worst of the political bullshit. At sixteen, she was just starting to dip her toes into the water, and he’d do whatever it took to ensure she remained safe while she figured out her own path.
Their brother was another story altogether. For just under a year, Edward had thought he’d be king. Having that taken away, rightfully or no, created a divide between them that Theo didn’t know how to fix. Especially when Edward announced his intentions to attend Oxford for university, and left within weeks of Theo’s coronation. There were a handful of nobles who’d jump at the chance to use that separation for their own ambitions, and he needed to fix it before things got worse.
But not tonight.
Tonight, he had to fix this.
Theo snagged the back of Galen’s neck. His friend resisted for a second, but then he exhaled harshly and let Theo pull him closer until their foreheads pressed together. Tell me what you need. Theo closed his eyes. Galen didn’t have to tell him. He knew what Galen needed—what they all needed. “Where is she?”
“Tub.”
Good. She’d be nice and relaxed. He tightened his grip on Galen’s neck. “The food?”
“An hour.”
Good boy. Sex wouldn’t solve any of the undercurrents in the long term, but it would help release the tension that had been growing with every passing day. Trapping the two people he loved was never part of the plan, but Theo couldn’t shake the feeling that was exactly what he’d done. He released Galen and stepped back. “Strip.”
Theo turned and walked deeper into the room without bothering to make sure Galen obeyed, knowing it would piss his friend off, and knowing that anger was exactly what he needed to purge the festering feeling beneath. At least for tonight. Tomorrow, they would talk and further clear the air. Open communication was the only way this would work, and they hadn’t spent enough time alone together to get to the heart of things in the last couple weeks.
His fault. He knew that well enough.
He’d fix it. He’d find a way to fix all of it.
Theo pulled off his shirt and tossed it over the back of the desk chair. He kicked off his shoes and then walked into the bathroom. Steam fogged the mirrors and Meg had turned off all the lights, leaving only the trio of thick candles lit on the half wall between the tub and the sinks. It gave the room a dark, intimate feeling that he approved of. He stalked to the edge of the tub and took a seat near her head. She had her eyes closed and the water licked at her breasts as if determined to offer him teasing glimpses.
“Thought you weren’t working late tonight.”
“I wasn’t planning on it. Things didn’t go well with Lord Huxley, and I didn’t want to come back here with that frustration riding so close to the surface. I needed some time to cool off.” He smoothed a hand over her hair, tangling his fingers in the dark strands. She looked good. The decadent meals the staff insisted on putting together had filled out her curves, and he couldn’t count her ribs the way he’d been able to when they first met. Theo kept stroking her hair and used his free hand to urge her onto her stomach. The new position freed him up to work at the knots of tension lining her shoulders and upper back. Tension that was his fault. “Let me take care of you tonight, princess.” Galen walked naked into the bathroom and leaned against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest. Theo met his gaze steadily. “Let me take care of both of you.”


Other books in The Thalanian Dynasty series

Forever Theirs

In FOREVER THEIRS an exiled prince, his bodyguard and the woman they can’t seem to leave alone, must return home to clear his mother’s name and reclaim his crown.

Download at: 



Theirs for the Night
THEIRS FOR THE NIGHT is a novella. Theo, Galen, and Meg's story continues in the novel FOREVER THEIRS.
Download at:


About Katee Robert
New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert learned to tell her stories at her grandpa’s knee. Her 2015 title, The Marriage Contract, was a RITA finalist, and RT Book Reviews named it 'a compulsively readable book with just the right amount of suspense and tension."  When not writing sexy contemporary and romantic suspense, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her children, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse. 

Connect with Katee at: Website | Facebook | Twitter| GoodReads | Instagram | BookBub

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Review & Excerpt Tour for THIS HAPPENED TO JESSICA by Michele Pariza Wacek!



From bestselling author, Michele Pariza Wacek comes the next book in her Secrets of Redemption series, THIS HAPPENED TO JESSICA. Becca would like nothing better than to put the past behind her, instead she races against time to uncover the truth about what happened to Jessica before another sixteen-year-old girl is doomed to the same fate. Fans of Nora Roberts’ paranormal suspense novels, THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN by Paula Hawkins and classic Stephen King will devour this psychological thriller with an eerie twist of romantic suspense.

Title: This Happened to Jessica
Author: Michele Pariza Wacek
Release Date: November 27, 2018
Publisher: Love-Based Publishing
Series: Secrets of Redemption #2
Genre: Psychological thriller/mystery/romantic suspense
Synopsis:
Becca would like nothing better than to put the past behind her and focus on making Redemption her home. But what do you do when the past refuses to stay buried?
Becca still can't remember the night sixteen-year-old Jessica disappeared from a party, never to be seen again. Which is bad enough (especially since she was supposedly the last person to see Jessica alive), but it's not the worst …
Strange events are making Becca think there's a link between what happened to Jessica fifteen years ago and the darkness happening now.
With help from her friends and her teenage crush, Daniel, Becca races against time to uncover the truth about Jessica before another sixteen-year-old girl is doomed to the same fate as Jessica.
Add to Goodreads http://bit.ly/2PvX5Oc
Buy Now: Amazon

THIS HAPPENED TO JESSICA Excerpt
Copyright © 2018 Michele Pariza Wacek

Celia was looking around the table with a bewildered expression on her face. "I don't understand. Why does it matter if Jessica is related to Brittany?"
"Because Brittany looks like Jessica," Mia said.
Everyone fell silent. A woman next to us burst into hysterical, high-pitched laughter. Another table over, a group of college-aged guys started chanting as one of their friends, wearing a Wisconsin Badger cap, guzzled a pitcher of beer. Glasses clanked as they were plunked onto tables.
"Not this again," Celia breathed out, picking up her Cosmo and draining it.
"What do you mean, ‘not this again?’" Mia asked, her voice quiet, but with a dangerous edge.
Barry put a hand on Celia's arm. "Nothing. She means nothing." He glared at his wife. Celia kept her mouth shut, but her sour expression spoke volumes.
"Barry, let her talk," Mia said. "What do you mean, 'not this again?'"
"You know what I mean," Celia said. "It's been fifteen years. It's time to let it go."
"Let it go?" Mia said, her voice sounding even more quiet and dangerous. "Let it go? Our friend disappeared! And we don't know what happened to her!"
"First off, I'm sure Jessica left on her own. Her stuff was gone ..."
"But, it wasn't the right ..." Mia tried to interrupt, but Celia kept going. "And even if something did happen, she's gone. Gone!" Celia leaned forward. "I know this is difficult for you to hear, but you're not going to heal unless you, all of you …" here she looked around the table, "… accept it. She's gone. She's been gone for fifteen years. She's not coming back. And no amount of rehashing or talking about it is going to change that."
"She was our friend," Mia said. "Don't you get that? How heartless can you be?"
"I know she was your friend and I know this is painful to hear. No, Barry, stop it. Let me talk. This isn't healthy. It's not healthy to live in the past and that's precisely what everyone here is doing. Someone has to speak the truth and I guess that has to be me. I didn't know Jessica, but I very much doubt she would want all of you still obsessing over what happened to her fifteen years later. Besides, this has all gotten worse since she," she nodded toward me, "came back. We don't need to keep living in the past. Jessica is gone."
"I agree," Rich said, his deep voice cutting across the table. His voice was quiet, but there was something about it that caused everyone to pay attention. Maybe it was because he so seldom talked that when he finally did, it was really noticed. "If we're not going to be honest about what happened that night, then it makes no sense to keep talking about it."
"What aren't we being honest about?" Mia asked.
Rich stared at me, his dark eyes glittering. "If we're honest, we know exactly who to blame for that night."
Did he mean me? I stared at Rich, dumbfounded. "What do you mean?"
His gaze didn't flinch. "You know exactly what I mean."
You were the last person to see Jessica alive. Daniel had told me that. And Daphne. But, he couldn't possibly mean I had anything to do with Jessica's disappearance. Could he?

Start at the beginning of Becca’s story with IT BEGAN WITH A LIE!
The first in her brand-new Secrets of Redemption series, bestselling author, Michele Pariza Wacek brings you IT BEGAN WITH A LIE. Becca was hoping for a fresh start for her troubled family, but instead, she is thrust into a mysterious past she barely remembers, one that threatens not only her sanity but her life. Fans of Nora Roberts’ paranormal suspense novels, GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn and classic Stephen King will devour this psychological thriller with an eerie twist of romantic suspense.
Goodreads http://bit.ly/2zzkGtN 

Enter to win signed copies of IT BEGAN WITH A LIE & THIS HAPPENED TO JESSICA. Three will win a digital copy of IT BEGAN WITH A LIE!


About Michele PW:
Michele Pariza Wacek (also known as Michele PW) taught herself to read at three years old because she so badly wanted to write fiction. As an adult, she became a professional copywriter (copywriters write promotional materials for businesses, nothing to do with protecting intellectual property or putting a copyright on something) and eventually founded a copywriting and marketing company. She grew up in Madison, Wisconsin and currently lives with her husband and dogs in the mountains of Arizona. You can reach her at MicheleParizaWacek.com. She’s published two novels, “The Stolen Twin” and “Mirror Image,” both psychological thrillers/mystery/suspense books.

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Monday, November 19, 2018

You don’t want to miss the next thrilling installment of Colleen Myers’ fan favorite #fantasyromance series, Solum, with DISTANT MEMORY!


Title: Distant Memory
Author: Colleen Myers
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy Romance
Series: Solum
Release Date: November 13, 2018
Format: Digital eBook
ISBN: TBD

Synopsis:

19 year old Elizabeth Camden survived it all, the experiments, the escape, the retaliation. But it never ends does it?


Available at:  Amazon

Add Distant Memory  to your GOODREADS TBR pile!

About Colleen:

Colleen S. Myers was raised in a large catholic family in the outskirts of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she grew up on Harlequin teen romances and stories from her mother’s days as a paramedic. She went on to attend Allegheny College majoring in Biology and English.

After college, Colleen spent a year in service in the Americorp giving back to the community at a local Pittsburgh Women Infants and Children Clinic (WICC) before attending Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine on a military scholarship.
Upon completing medical school, Colleen attended residency at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland and was on base in Washington, DC during 9/11. She earned three meritorious service awards from the military. After serving seven years of active duty, she promptly landed a position at the VA to provide fellow veterans with optimum medical care. Still an avid fan of romances into adulthood, her love of the genre inspired her to hone her craft as a writer, focusing on contemporary romance and science fiction. Her background in medicine and the military provides an inspiring layer of creative realism to her stories and characters.
Her first book, Must Remember, the first book in the Solum series, is published by Champagne Press. The sequel, Can’t Forget, coming in June 2016, is the recipient of the 2015 RWA New England Readers Award.
Colleen currently resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her husband and son, and spends her spare time writing. She is also working on a new contemporary romance.
Connect with Colleen: Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Goodreads | Pinterest | Instagram

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The Road to Murder by Camilla Trinchieri My rating: 5 of 5 stars Nico Doyle returns in the fourth book in the Tuscan Mystery series, The ...