Falling Ashes (Cover Reveal)

Published February 29, 2016 by bookbesties

Book: Falling Ashes (Ashes to Ashes #2)
Author: Annie Anderson
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 21st March


Synopsis


Mena Constantine is pissed off.

Finally freed from her fifty-year imprisonment by a maniacal leader, she is desperately trying to recover and get her life back. Problem is, the life she had is long gone. Struggling under the weight of her memories and healing from the wounds of her captivity, she can’t seem to catch a break. Every waking moment, death seems like a relief she would welcome.
Asher Crane is a dead man.
As a Guardian to the King, his only purpose in life is to keep the King alive. And he’s failing. Miserably. With the King ill, the Queen dying, and zero plans for a successor, he’s pretty much screwed. Because if the King dies, the law says Asher dies, too.
As these two wounded souls collide in a series of bloody and unfortunate events, they will clutch to the last shreds of life before death beats down their door.
Pre Order Link
Author Bio

Annie Anderson is a military wife and United States Air Force veteran. Originally from Dallas, Texas, she is a southern girl at heart, but has lived all over the US and abroad. As soon as the military stops moving her family around, she’ll settle on a state, but for now she enjoys being a nomad with her husband, two daughters, and old man of a dog.

Social Links
Other Books In the Series

Scattered Ashes (Ashes to Ashes #1)

NOW ON SALE – 99c

Synopsis

Aurelia Constantine is having a rough century. 
Plagued by visions of murder, death and destruction, she has resigned herself to the nightmare her life has become. When an enemy from her past comes to her rescue, she must let go of old wounds and heal the breach so she may survive the evil poisoning her mind.
Rhys Stevens is guilty.
Murder. Betrayal. Treason. Take your pick; he’s guilty of them all. On the path of redemption, he must beg for forgiveness from the one person he fought to save – the woman he has always loved.Thrown together in the trenches of war, they must work as a team to stop a monstrous puppet master from pulling their strings.

Ashes, ashes. We all fall down.
Get ready to burn.

Giveaway


a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Craving by Helen Hardt Cover Reveal

Published February 26, 2016 by bookbesties

Craving (Steel Brothers Saga #1)
by Helen Hardt(Release Date 3rd May 2016)Genre: Contemporary RomanceGoodreads

Synopsis:
After being left at the altar, Jade Roberts seeks solace at her best friend’s ranch on the Colorado western slope. Her humiliation still ripe, she doesn’t expect to be attracted to her friend’s reticent brother, but when the gorgeous cowboy kisses her, all bets are off.
Talon Steel is broken. Having never fully healed from a horrific childhood trauma, he simply exists, taking from women what is offered and giving nothing in return…until Jade Roberts catapults into his life. She is beautiful, sweet, and giving, and his desire for her becomes a craving he fears he’ll never be able to satisfy.
Passion sizzles between the two lovers…but long-buried secrets haunt them both and may eventually tear them apart.
Meet The Author
Helen Hardt’s passion for the written word began with the books her mother read to her at bedtime. She wrote her first story at age six and hasn’t stopped since. In addition to being an award winning author of contemporary and historical romance and erotica, she’s a mother, a black belt in Taekwondo, a grammar geek, an appreciator of fine red wine, and a lover of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. She writes from her home in Colorado where she lives with her family. Helen loves to hear from readers.

 

Parallel by LJ Stock(Promo Post)

Published February 24, 2016 by bookbesties

Book: Parallel (Mortisalian Saga Book 1)
Author: L.J. Stock
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Romance

Release Date: 14th March
Synopsis
Cassandra Collier was only seventeen when her parents dumped her in a psychiatric ward. Seven years later, she still has no hope of leaving. Nothing’s changed. She still hears sounds that can’t possibly be real – sounds of war and brutal deaths that she can’t turn off. At least, not since his voice was silenced in her mind.
After a threat to her life becomes very real, Cassandra is torn from the only world she’s ever known and thrust into the very reality and truth that have been hidden from her since she was born, including the prophecy that is her birthright.
Unsure whether she has the strength to be the woman she needs to be, and more than aware that her decision controls the fate of a world that doesn’t know she exists, Cassandra has to choose between the love of a man who barely registers her existence and loyalty to a father she barely knows.

Author Bio


From a young age L.J. Stock was led by her imagination. From the moment she could read she fell into worlds where trees could talk and little girls could move things with their minds.

In no hurry to grow up, she found stories all around her, in the forests of Plym Bridge, the moss covered hills of Dartmoor, then, as she grew older, the wide spread city of Houston, where she currently resides and works. A constant daydreamer, she hopes that one day, her passion can become something more than just a hobby for her.

Still led by her imagination, the worlds have slowly grown from childish adventures to urban fantasies and romances. With inspirational authors such as Enid Blyton, Roald Dahl, Judy Blume, John Grisham and Stephen King guiding her through her life so far, L.J. Stock has finally decided that it is time for her to go for gold and try land herself on someone else’s future list of favorites.

Putting words on paper is as essential as breathing to her, but on the rare occasions that she isn’t writing, she can be found with a video game remote in hand or curled up on the couch with her pup and a good book. Music is also such an important part of her life, it’s a wonder there isn’t a background soundtrack playing wherever she goes.

A good girl to most, a bad girl to a few, L.J. believes that every genre should be attempted and is more than likely to have tried to release three hundred series’ ranging from vampires and werewolves, to dystopian and even classic romance, before she reaches even middle age. At least, that’s the plan for now.

Social Links


Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

LIVE NOW!!! Soulless by T.M. Frazier

Published February 23, 2016 by bookbesties

soulless book tour.jpg

soulless now available.jpg

Bear & Thia’s epic is FINALLY HERE!

SOULLESS IS LIVE!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1U0xEAg

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1NKiPfZ

iBooks: http://apple.co/1XgzApZ

Nook: http://bit.ly/1T4mmMK

soulless teaser 2.jpg

PROLOGUE

 I was mad at the world, at the whiskey for not being strong enough, at the drugs for not lasting long enough, at the fucking whores I banged for not getting me off when it was my fault my dick was fucking useless after a bucket of fucking blow. I went so far as to be pissed at random people on the street for laughing or smiling when I felt like I’d never be able to smile or laugh again.

How dare they?

How fucking dare they be move on with their lives like my friend hadn’t just died.

I was on the verge of losing what little sanity I had left when I rode out of Logan’s Beach and set off to find a place, or places, where I could numb myself against the feelings that followed me from town to town, cheap motel to cheap motel, girl to girl, high to fucking high.

Then, this pink haired girl from the past came barreling into my life and it was like for the first time, I’d found a purpose. A real genuine purpose and not just some shit Chop spewed out as orders that I and every other member of the Beach Bastards took as bible, but a true reason to live again.

To WANT to live again.

Someone to live for.

Ti was my chance at some sort of real happiness when Lord fucking knows I had no idea what that really was before her. The only glimpses of real genuine happiness I’d ever had came courtesy of Preppy, King, and of course Grace. Like when King tattooed us for the first time and we loved them, even though they were crooked and downright fucking awful. Like when Grace made me my very first birthday cake. Like the time King Prep and I sat at the top of the water tower and thought the world was ours to take.

Because at that time, it was.

Then there was Ti and my new happiness became the first time I saw her smile. The first time I kissed her. The first time I tasted her pussy by the fire. The first time she let me inside of her, shamelessly pushing through her virginity in a frantic need to make her mine.

Because that’s what she was.

That’s what she would always be.

And I will kill every motherfucker who dares to try and take her from me.

Mine.

soulless

About the Author:

t.m. frazier

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

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

GIVEAWAY

Signed Set of Lawless & Soulless

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Overtime by TS McKinney(Promo Post)

Published February 22, 2016 by bookbesties
Book: Overtime
Author: T.S. McKinney
Genre: Erotic Romance, M/M, athlete/sport
Synopsis


Jagger Jameson could be the poster child for a nasty childhood campaign but he refused to allow it to dictate his future. At an early age, he learned to shut down all of his emotions and focus solely on survival. As it turned out, survival came in the form of a basketball scholarship with the University of Kentucky Wildcats. As the rest of the team around him focuses on having a good time and building friendships, Jagger worries only about using his talent to help him escape the life that was dealt to him. Everything is going smoothly until somebody from his past makes a reappearance, and with just the mention of a name, Jagger finds himself struggling to maintain his cool facade.
Colton Montgomery’s wealth allowed him the opportunity to have just about anything in the world he could desire…except the only thing he’d ever really wanted – Jagger Jameson. When the opportunity to try and tame a Wildcat comes his way, Colton welcomes the challenge.


Author Bio
TS McKinney lives in East Tennessee with her high school sweetheart/husband and all the countless dogs she picks up from deserted country roads.  Her professional career has been in business but her heart has always belonged to the fantasy world found in books.  Creating wicked worlds where one can meet the perfect hero – and then do anything to him that you want – has been a hobby that has brought her plenty of hours of fun and naughty entertainment.  When not working, reading, or writing, she loves to spend time with her family and forcing them (because they don’t really have a choice) to allow her redecorate their houses…and listen to her naughty…sometimes sadistic stories.
Social Links
Buy Links

Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Legend by Katy Evans (Review Post)

Published February 17, 2016 by bookbesties

legend katy

Buy it on Amazon!!!

Can love really conquer all?—Book Six in Katy Evans’s breakout New York Times bestselling series that began with REAL.

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

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

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

Okay, it’s no secret that I go HARD for Remy, the man/book that started it all. I have always been #TeamRemy and always will be….or so I thought. Upon hearing about Legend I was stuck on a hard NO that I wouldn’t read this because, well….someone is actually challenging Remy? MY Remy?! How dare they right?

giphy.gif

But, despite my feelings I was still going to support my favorite author because, hello, she’s KATY freaking Evans and I love her! It wasn’t until I saw the first teaser that hooked me and had me thinking, okay I’ll give this a try, I mean I would eventually get more of Remy this way. The more and more I saw the teasers I became super excited.  I was still apprehensive though, because I didn’t want to pick sides. I knew that the way Katy write’s I’d love this ‘New guy’ too.

He grabs my hips and pulls me close. “Kiss me for Luck, Reese.” I watch his lips speak- nearly growl- the words, his beautiful, perfect bow lips that some asshole can crack open tomorrow.”

SUUUUch a dilemma!!!

I got two things out of the first three chapters: one, Katy Evens writes sweaty boxer men so freaking WELL! Two: Maverick has a huge chip on his shoulder and right off he’s out for blood, Remy’s blood and then there is sweet innocent Reese. Who is all sorts of wholesome but doesn’t want to be.  And three: I was in danger of loving someone other than Remy!! Their romance was a slow burn as all of Katy’s book are which I love and you really got the sense of who they were. Their budding romance almost makes you forget we don’t really know who Maverick is, until we actually do know and while it should have been obvious, it totally wasn’t!

Again, I was torn!

I had nothing to worry about, Katy bought it with this book. Not to be too spoilery but I didn’t have to choose AND Maverick and Reese could be the Brooke and Remy of the new. They couldn’t be the farthest from alike, but that underlining pull, that need to be together no matter what is ever present. And the intensity of the story along with the romance was so raw and gritty and REAL (I couldn’t resist). I’ve read the book twice now and I still say the same thing I said after the first time; Damn.

#TeamRemy AND TeamMaverick!

star pink

WICKEDLY POWERFUL(REVIEW POST)

Published February 10, 2016 by bookbesties

25772559

Known as the wicked witch of Russian fairy tales, Baba Yaga is not one woman, but rather a title carried by a chosen few. They keep the balance of nature and guard the borders of our world, but don’t make the mistake of crossing one of them…

The only thing more fiery than Bella Young’s red hair is her temper. She knows that a Baba Yaga’s power without strict control can leave the people she cares about burned, so to protect her heart—and everyone around her—the only company she keeps is her dragon-turned-Norwegian-Forest-cat, Koshka.

But when Bella is tasked with discovering who’s setting magical fires throughout Wyoming’s Black Hills, she finds herself working closely with former hotshots firefighter Sam Corbett—and falling hard for his quiet strength and charm.

Sam may bear the scars of his past, but Bella can see beyond them and would do anything to help him heal. Only before she can rescue her Prince Charming, she’ll have to overcome the mysterious foe setting the forest fires—a truly wicked witch who wields as much power and even more anger than Bella…

I have had the privilege and the pleasure of reading Wickedly Powerful by Deborah Blake.  I just gotta say that I can most assuredly declare that I love this book.  I will try not to include any spoilers without proper notification, but there are a few points of the book I would like to exclaim over.

First being, there is a reason that the pets of a work of fiction are a highly popular commodity.  If you still do not understand why, please read and pay particular attention to every scene involving Koshka.  I love all the Chudo Yudos and his snarky protectiveness is nothing that is not expected, but when it comes around it’s not a “oh yeah, well that what he is supposed to do, I knew that would happen”.  He makes it his own, I mean tuna, I love it!

I really enjoy the acceptable amount of depth Blake puts into her characters.  You do not get bored with overly extended details of how John Smith learned to tie his shoe at age 6 which was late because he was focused on trying to ride his bike so he could learn when and where to apply elemental physics because his parents were employed with NASA and they only allowed him to have a grain free diet that came in handy when he grew up to try out for the Coast Guard, which he failed because he wasn’t good at tying knots.  See, boring, right?  Sam’s history is well defined and it carries you through the forest of the story without him being boring and you rooting for Bella to throw him off his watch tower.  I feel for Sam’s past, my husband was a fire fighter and before he left this profession permanently our future plans were all tainted with what ifs and possibilities.  I teared up with Sam and I am happy for what he has worked for and through.

I will stop here with my ruminations because I will start to detail my favorite parts of the book (and there are a lot!) so I give it 5 stars and am eagerly awaiting the next step in the series; especially after the sneak preview that I was able to view!

star pink

BOOKESTIES-HEATHER

Legend by Katy Evans Release day!!!

Published February 9, 2016 by bookbesties

legend release blitz

LEGEND IT'S LIVE

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

AVAILABLE NOW

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1TFo2L4

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1JYmeal

Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/1TFpRrb

iBooks: http://apple.co/1Uxz4Sz

Nook: http://bit.ly/1PdMnGl

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1HDokuT

BAM: http://bit.ly/1e4QlmA

IndieBound: http://bit.ly/1DkKdgP

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1Jn0sMa

Google Play: http://bit.ly/1HyXaYg

legend katy

Blurb

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

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

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

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

LEGEND 1.png

At Tate’s corner, outside the ropes, his coach whistles. “You two get some headgear on. Stat.”

Tate’s lips curl rebelliously, and he looks at me with challenge in his eyes.

I smile back, a feral curl of my lips.

We tap gloves.

No headgear.

I jab. He swings his arm, blocks the hit, leaps back, and I jab again, blocked again.

We space apart and jump in place, shaking our shoulders, loosening up. I pull my gloves back up, narrow my eyes, and he asks, “You think you’re the shit because you’re fast and strong? I got news for you. I’m faster, I’m stronger, and I’m disciplined. Your coach isn’t doing you any favors.”

“He’s in my corner, and that’s enough for me.”

He swings, I duck fast and come up behind him. He straightens and faces me again. “If you settle for that, then you should settle for second place.”

“What the fuck. You want me to win?”

“I want a good fight. I like keeping things real. Reminds me I’m a man. Mortal.”

“I want to be a legend. Legends never die. Even if they die alone.”

He swings again, and I duck, come up, and jab three times.

He blocks repeatedly, then hooks with his right; I deflect. He grins and jabs again. I block, then I duck before he puts me up against the ropes, and I head back to center. He follows.

“To be a legend you need to fall seven times, get up eight,” he says.

I remember a final a few years ago when my father kicked Tate to a pulp. “Or not fall at all.”

He backs up his arm and then smacks the smirk right off me. “Before you stop falling, you need to embrace the fact that you’re going to hit the ground.”

I clean the blood from my mouth, glowering.

We take positions again, and he watches me as if waiting for my next move as we start dancing around, jumping, waiting for the other to strike.

“Do you want the headgear now?”

I lunge and start hitting, and he blocks, deflects, blocks. “Fuck you,” I grit out.

“Getting angry doesn’t help. You control the anger, not let it control you.”

I want to prove him wrong; I loop out my arm and aim for his head.

He ducks and hooks, his knuckles cracking into my jaw. I spurt blood and bounce against the ropes.

I shake my head, wipe the blood away, grit my teeth and straighten, narrowing my eyes. “My turn,” I growl, and I swing. My fist connects: a kidney punch.

He blocks my next hit, frowning in thought. “You’re cocky for someone who just lost yesterday.”

He jabs.

I dive my upper body to the side, evading. “You got to play it to become it.”

“I’m the champion, not you.”

“You won’t live forever, champ.”

He jabs three times, then leaps back, flexes his arm and looks at it.

“Muscle memory. You hit enough times, you fight on instinct; part of your brain works on your assault, the other is focused on the other’s assault. Let your muscle memory work for you and consciously stay focused on your opponent’s eyes.”

I laugh mockingly. “I don’t need your pointers.”

“Go back home to daddy, then.”

“When I’m finished with you.” I punch him, then raise my left hook and connect hard enough to stun him.

He raises his head, shakes it to clear it, and wipes blood from his nose. I catch my breath, satisfied I got some blood. At least I won’t be the only one with an ice pack tonight.

He sees the blood on his arm and looks at me, impressed.

“TIME!” his coach yells out from the corner. “You two won’t have shit for the fight if you keep up this nonsense.”

Tate grins at him, then turns back and glowers at me. “You get enough?”

“Barely warming up here.” I squint the blood out of one eye and raise my gloves. “Come get it, Riptide,” I growl.

legend teaser 2.png

Real (Book One) The Real Series

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1CHl6sS

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1w35g8N

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1zT7J31

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1tHrTct

Mine  (Book Two) The Real Series

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1I2nbzy

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1tHrdns

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1zmq1cT

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1yhymBF

Remy  (Book Three) The Real Series

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1vOn8T2

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1w35lcN

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1ynVnBv

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1vlqhom

Rogue  (Book Four) The Real Series

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1vOnjh8

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1FOFfJy

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1wvpqI6

iTunes: http://bit.ly/12xnylU

Ripped  (Book Five) The Real Series

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1Bfzsi

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1yia714

Barnes & Noble:  http://bit.ly/11X9CAG

iBooks:  http://bit.ly/1ynQ9FV

About the Author:

katy evans

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

Website: www.katyevans.net

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorkatyevans

Email: authorkatyevans@gmail.com

 

Sophie’s Voice Release Day and Blog Tour

Published February 9, 2016 by bookbesties
Book: Sophie’s Voice
Author: Helen Hardt
Genre: Victorian era, erotic, historical
Release Date – 9th February 2016
Blog Tour 9th -12th February
Synopsis

Lady Sophie MacIntyre has the voice of an angel, but due to her timid nature, no one ever hears it. After losing a bet to her conniving sister, Sophie auditions for the new musicale at the Regal Theatre run by handsome actor Zachary Newland. Though distracted by Zach’s elegant masculinity and her own nerves, she sings well and earns a role in the production.
Zach is a confirmed bachelor, and his taste in women leans toward the glamorous and uninhibited…until he meets the demure Sophie. Her delicate soprano and understated beauty captivate him. She responds to his inappropriate kiss, but quickly dismisses the heat between them. She’s a lady of the peerage, after all, and not one to associate with a rake like him.
Zach, however, is not so easily dissuaded. He gets what he wants, and he intends to help Sophie find her true voice…in more ways than one.
Buy Links
Books-A-Million: http://bit.ly/1Ms1gW6


Excerpt
Zach rushed out of the theatre and into the lobby. No sign of Lady Sophie. Looking out the door, he spied her getting into a hansom cab. The cabbie had taken her hand and was helping her into the coach.
He pushed the heavy glass door open and ran forward. “My lady, wait!”
Lady Sophie turned around, her face flushing a lovely raspberry color. She arched her eyebrows.
“If I may have a moment?” he said.
“I’m sorry. I am getting ready to leave for the Brighton estate, as you can see.”
“Yes, yes.” He turned to the cabbie. “You may go on. I’ll arrange for Lady Sophie’s transport in a few moments.”
“Yes, sir.” The cabbie tipped his hat.
“Mr. Newland”—Sophie cleared her throat gently—“what is this about? This is highly irregular, not to mention improper.”
“Yes, my lady, and I offer you my apologies. However, I could not let you leave without telling you how thoroughly I enjoyed your audition. I would like to offer you a leading role in the new musicale.”
“How are you able to offer me anything? You haven’t heard the other auditions yet.”
“I am familiar with all of the other actors and actresses who will be auditioning today. I know their voices. None of them can come close to you, my lady.”
Sophie fidgeted with her reticule. “I’m afraid, Mr. Newland, that I will be unable to accept a role in the production.”
What? Not able to accept? Did this woman have any idea of the talent she possessed?
Her pink lips trembled ever so slightly, and her cheeks deepened from raspberry to aubergine. Zach gulped, his pulse quickening. Had anyone kissed those lips? How they beckoned him. Sophie was of average height, coming up to his chest. He again eyed her dazzling blond hair swept up tight with only a few wispy curls free. How might it look flowing freely over her milky-white shoulders? Over her pert breasts?
“If you would be so kind, Mr. Newland…”
Zach stood, mouth agape. She had said something after his name, but he had heard no words. Only that voice, that voice from an angel, swirled around his head. He could not get enough of it. Still those rosy lips trembled, calling to him.

He couldn’t help himself. He gripped her shoulders, lowered his head, and pressed his lips to hers.

Author Bio

Helen Hardt’s passion for the written word began with the books her mother read to her at bedtime. She wrote her first story at age six and hasn’t stopped since. In addition to being an award winning author of contemporary and historical romance and erotica, she’s a mother, a black belt in Taekwondo, a grammar geek, an appreciator of fine red wine, and a lover of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. She writes from her home in Colorado where she lives with her family. Helen loves to hear from readers.
 Social Links

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 


All This Time by Mel Henry(Release day Blitz)

Published February 5, 2016 by bookbesties
Book: All This Time
Author: Mel Henry
Genre: Contemporary Romance, General Romance
Synopsis


Amicable could easily define Carly Cooper, so it’s only fitting that it should describe her divorce from detective Trey Foster, too. Between two career-driven people, marriage can be hard enough, but combined with fertility issues and constant loss, it just became too much for them to bear.
While sorting out her feelings about her broken marriage and seemingly broken body, she decides to move in with her lifelong best friend, Alejandro Cruz. Alex has been with Carly through all her triumphs as well as her low points, including the break-up with her first love, Josh McCarthy, whom Alex is still friends with.
Carly just wants to get to a point where she can get closure from all her relationships so she can succeed at one – just one that she can keep forever. Determined to help her do that, Alex invites Josh to their house for a “besties” get together weekend. Good food, good wine, and good conversation.
Fortunately for the three of them, closure is exactly what they all get, and for the first time in their lives, they can move forward. After all, Josh has really exciting news that he wants to share with his best friends: South Station Boyz are reuniting. With a new album, new videos, and even a new tour on the horizon, they invite Carly and Alejandro to join them and the Trainwreckz, the tongue-in-cheek nickname for their fans, on this crazy journey.
While trying to prove her closure to herself and others, she becomes quite enthralled with handsome group member (and band mate of Josh), Dave Butler. He returns the interest and sparks fly. Then, one unplanned, reckless night (something that goes against Carly’s very own DNA) in Miami derails all her hard work, possibly throwing everything into the wind.  As she tries to sort it out, she also battles to not lose the people she loves. Can what she’s done while under one drunken indulgence ruin everything she’s worked so hard to fix after all this time?
Author Bio


Mel Henry has been an avid reader since stealing her first Harlequin from her mom’s nightstand in second grade. Because some words were too big for her seven-year-old vocabulary, she took to writing her own stories (much to the relief of her teacher) and has been doing so ever since.
After having held various jobs in her life that brought her no satisfaction and only a piddly income, she decided to publish her first book. She figured being a starving artist instead of just starving sounded much more interesting. Being able to do it in her pajamas and no make-up are just perks to the job.

Living in Iowa with her husband and a couple of teenaged kids, Mel’s an avid cook (sometimes by choice), traveler (always by choice), and a hardcore warrior against chronic Lyme disease (definitely not by choice). She loves concerts, thunderstorms, and good coffee. She loathes conspiracy theories, egotistical people, and sushi.

She is currently collaborating with three other authors on a project, and has the foundation in place for her next series. In the meantime, you can find her current works on Amazon and other online booksellers.


Social Links

 

 

 


Buy Links
All This Time (#3) (Everywhere for a LIMITED TIME, then Amazon only)
Amazon:
    ebook

 

    paperback

 


Barnes & Noble:

 

 

iBooks:

    ebook

 

Kobo:

    ebook
CreateSpace:

    paperback

 

Distance and Time (#1)  (EXCLUSIVE to Amazon)


 

 

 



Better in Time (#2) (EXCLUSIVE to Amazon)


Excerpt

            I skimmed over the document in front of me and sighed. It read just as I wanted it to—my attorney had made sure of that. This didn’t make me feel any better, of course, but at least there hadn’t been an argument. My pen poised over the line above my name, I briefly considered what it meant once I signed.
            My marriage to Trey Foster was over.
            The last five years would be just another page in my history book. There were no children involved. My defunct body had guaranteed it, despite several attempts. Trey and I were relatively diplomatic about our separation. We split everything equally and overall, we were walking away unscathed. We had come to the decision to get divorced as easily as we’d come to the decision to get married in the first place. We approached it with logic and reason, each of us having our own views on why we thought our marriage failed, another miscarriage—earlier this year—being the final straw for us both. We’d mutually decided to end things before it got ugly. Hell, Trey and I hadn’t really fought the whole time we were married. It was only natural that we end it civilly, too.
            I scrawled my name on the line and took a deep breath. The documents stated that I would return to my maiden name once it was filed, so I took pause as I looked at my name signed as “Carlene Foster” for the last time. My heart felt heavy and I took a deep, shaky breath as it all sank in. I slowly slid the paper across the table and looked up at my soon-to-be-ex-husband. I offered a half-smile/half-frown—one of those “I shouldn’t smile, but I don’t want you to think I hate you” kind of expressions. We’d both become good at those over the last year or so. He returned the gesture as he picked up the pen and signed his own name. He looked over at me sadly then handed the paper to his attorney, who picked it up and went into the hallway to make duplicates before the clerk took it to the courthouse to be signed by the judge. My lawyer followed him out of the room, leaving Trey and me alone. The second hand ticked on the clock above the door.
            “We tried,” I said, breaking the silence.
            “We did.” He nodded in agreement, his lips flattening in a slight scowl.
            “I’m glad we can stay friends.”
            “Me, too,” he agreed.
            More silence. I picked at a snag on my skirt and stared at a smudge on the, otherwise shiny, board room table.
            “I’m sor—” he began.
            I held up my hand and shook my head. “No regrets, Trey. Remember? No regrets, no woulda-coulda-shouldas, no apologies. We agreed.”
            Trey and I had talked about our pending divorce for a couple of months and worked out all of the details ahead of time instead of paying our attorneys to create fights where none existed.
“I think it’s over, Trey,” I said softly as I picked at my dinner with my fork.
He looked up at me from over his wine glass, swallowing a mouthful of Riesling. He set the glass down and wiped his mouth. “It?”
“Us. This marriage. You and me. It’s over.”
He laid his napkin next to his plate and crossed his ankle over his knee, leaning back in his chair. He rested his chin on his fist and looked at me. Our eyes locked for what seemed like several minutes and he finally inhaled and nodded.
“I think you’re right.”
“I mean, it isn’t that I don’t love you. I do,” I started to argue.
“As I do you,” he agreed. “But you’re right, this just isn’t working.”
I nodded solemnly. “Do you think counseling would help?” I offered, though knowing in my heart it wouldn’t. Counseling wouldn’t bring back our lost babies. Or the tension brought to our bedroom with every miscarriage. You couldn’t relight a fire under cold embers. No amount of counseling could fix that.
He shrugged, “We could, but I don’t know that it would help.”
“It’s not like we haven’t tried. I mean, we have,” I reasoned.
“We’ve definitely tried.” And we really had. We took a trip to Hawaii in February for our anniversary. After the last miscarriage, in April, Trey made arrangements with a co-worker to borrow his cabin on Lake Michigan for a weekend. We went to New York for a week in June for his mother’s sixtieth birthday. We tried to scale back our work days and we purposely took weekends off with the intentions of spending them together.
All of it was futile, though. When you’re married to a cop, there is no such thing as time off. His cell phone rang non-stop and his hours were always long. If it wasn’t a case occupying his time, it was training or recertifying.
And I wasn’t blameless in the matter, either. My phone was constantly pinging with new emails from work, too. Photographic editors weren’t always as busy as I was, but when your boss was the female version of Hugh Hefner, you didn’t get to ignore emails. Besides, I loved my job with Beguile. We were two workaholics and I didn’t see that changing for either one of us any time soon.
“Maybe if we gave it a little more ti—”
            “Babygirl, we’ve been living like roommates for months,” he said. “How long do we really wanna pretend it’s gonna work? Let’s face it, there’s just nothing left anymore.”
            I’d spent so much time worrying about how hard he’d fight me on this that I wasn’t really prepared for his acquiescence. Tears I’d spent months shedding in solitude, rushed to my eyes; my face grew hot. I hoped for at least some small argument—something that told me I was wrong—that he did still believe in us and we just needed to work on it some more. His immediate agreement indicated otherwise, and that stung worse than admitting out loud that we had problems.
Ever the peacemaker, he stood and took my hand, pulling me to my feet. He wrapped his arms around me and rubbed my back as I let the tears spill.
                        We decided that he would keep our loft on Superior. It was only six blocks from his work and since I worked by the lake, it would make more sense for me to find a new place closer to the office. We’d bought our condo in 2007, when we relocated to Chicago from New York, and we both worked so much that it was mostly just a place to sleep and change clothes between meetings and travel. Trey insisted I stay as long as I needed to, in order to find a decent place. He felt there was no reason to stop being nice just because our marriage failed. I agreed but moved into the guest bedroom that night.
Our attorneys returned and handed us a copy of our divorce papers explaining they’d send us each a notarized copy of the finalized decree sometime in the coming week after the judge signed it.
            That was it.


            We shook our lawyers’ hands and turned, walking out of the meeting room together.


Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway