Cover Reveal: The Only One by Magan Vernon #NASW13

THE ONLY ONE by Magan Vernon

Companion novel to The Only Exception

New Adult Contemporary

Release: Fall 2013
Cover designed by Regina Wamba at Mae I Design

Honor student, manager at the campus coffee shop, owner of an impressive sweater collection – Melanie Wilder has it all together. Then John “John Boy” Walden strolls into her life wearing nothing more than an impish grin and all-too-revealing loin cloth.

Soon, make-out sessions replace homework, lust triumphs over work. And to further crumble her perfect world, an unexpected phone call threatens to take away everything she’s worked for.

Now, as Melanie struggles to pick up the pieces, she realizes that John may be the only one to put her life back together…unless he shatters it first.

Goodreads Link:

 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17925554-the-only-one


EXCERPT:

I looked around the basement, sipping whatever concoction some guy poured out of a cooler. He called it a ‘magic potion’ and I hoped that didn’t mean he rufied it. I don’t know how Monica talked me into this.

A horde of girls clad in nothing more than lingerie pushed past me as if I were nothing more than another one of the paddles on the paneled wall. I tried to pull back but then I came face to chest with a set of abs and felt all of the magic potion cascade down my cardigan.

I gasped once the cold liquid soaked through both my layers and hit my skin.

“Too bad, that was such a nice sweater…” A deep voice said.

I looked up, all the way past the chiseled six pack and to a pair of cool blue eyes. “Maybe you should just take it off up in my room and I can help you dry off.” He leaned in, his full lips right on my ear. “Or make you wetter.”

My breath caught in my throat, rendering me speechless. Luckily my best friend Monica jumped between us, pushing the guy back so I got a full view of him and realized he was only wearing a loin cloth and a large smile.

"Down John Boy." She scowled at him and then turned to me, almost knocking her beret off. "What the hell happened to you?"

"I-I-I spilled my drink."

Monica's eyes narrowed as she looked down at the red liquid soaking through my gray sweater. She whipped her head around to the loin cloth clad guy. "Was this your fault? Are you trying to get my friend naked?"

He held up his hands, a cockeyed grin on his face. "Purely an accident, Lib."

Ah, now I knew where I’d seen him before. He had come into the coffee shop we worked at a few times. I don’t think he even glanced in my direction more than to hand me his student ID to pay, but was always calling Monica ‘Lib.’ I’m guessing because she was an extreme liberal.

Monica's boyfriend, the governor's son Trey Chapman, pushed through the crowd. When I usually saw him he was polished in dress pants and a dress shirt, but his Halloween costume was nothing more than a pair of American flag boxers, a dress shirt, and some gray hairspray. He looked ridiculous. I still don't know how Monica talked him into the Clinton and Lewinsky couples costumes.

"Hey, I’ve been looking for you." He slipped his arm around Monica's waist. "What's going on here?"

"Your big brother here spilled a drink on Melanie to try and get her naked."

"Hey!" John yelled.

"It wasn't his fault," I piped in. "It’s crowded here and he just ran into me. It’s fine."

"Fine?" Monica raised her eyebrows. "That Hermione costume you've been wearing since middle school is covered in ever clear and Kool aid. That’s not fine."

"I haven't worn this since middle school!" Okay, truth was, it was my go-to costume. I bought it for the first movie's midnight showing and wore it for every movie opening and Halloween since.

"Whatever." Monica turned her head to Trey and tugged on his shirt. "You can just wear Trey's shirt."

About this Author:

Magan Vernon is a Young Adult and New Adult writer who lives with her family in the insurance capital of the world. When not writing she spends her time fighting over fake boyfriends via social media.

Author Links:

www.maganvernon.com
https://twitter.com/MaganVernon
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Magan-Vernon/215620155165079
http://pinterest.com/authormagan/boards/

Cover Reveal organized by InkSlinger PR

Magan Vernon is also a Featured Author of the New Adult Sleepover Weekend

#NASW13 Cover Reveal: Shelf Life by Stephanie Lawton (Giveaway)

SHELF LIFE by Stephanie Lawton

New Adult Contemporary

Expected publication: December 2013

It’s impossible to focus on college biology when your family believes doomsday is imminent and the government is out to get you.

All Pete Wilson’s ever wanted is to become a veterinarian, but those dreams are going up in flames. Commuting to an urban college and helping his parents with their apocalyptic prepper crap is more than he can handle.

Worse, Pete’s asshole neighbor is stirring up trouble, his family’s stockpile has been destroyed and farm animals are turning up dead.

Lindsey Linger is the tomboy sister of his best friend. Now a sexy spitfire, she and Pete are liable to set the barn ablaze as their romance finally heats up. But she’s hiding a terrible secret, and rural life isn’t all bonfires and hayloft romps. That becomes clear one icy winter night when the survival of everyone Pete loves hangs in the balance.

Can Pete be the hero they need, or will this be the end of the world as he knows it?

Goodreads Link:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17605381-shelf-life 

About this Author:

After collecting a couple English degrees in the Midwest and learning more about agriculture and farming than she ever wanted to know, Stephanie Lawton suddenly awoke in the deepest reaches of the Deep South. Culture shock inspired her to write about Mobile, Alabama, her adopted city, and all the ways Southern culture, history and attitudes seduce the unsuspecting.

A lover of all things gothic, she can often be spotted photographing old cemeteries, historic buildings and, ironically, the beautiful beaches of the Gulf Coast. She also has a tendency to psychoanalyze people, which comes in handy when creating character profiles.

Author Links:

http://stephanielawton.com/
https://www.facebook.com/StephanieLawtonWriter
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5601445.Stephanie_Lawton
https://twitter.com/Steph_Lawton

GIVEAWAY:

VISIT www.GoodChoiceReading.com for a chance to win a SHELF LIFE T-SHIRT!

#NASW13 Spotlight: Eversea by Natasha Boyd (Teaser 18+)

Eversea (Eversea #1) 
by Natasha Boyd 
Published June 4th 2013

An orphaned, small-town, southern girl, held hostage by responsibility and self-doubt.

A Hollywood A-list mega-star, on the run from his latest scandal and with everything to lose.

A chance encounter that leads to an unlikely arrangement and epic love affair that will change them both forever.

When his co-star and real-life girlfriend is caught cheating on him with her married and much older director, A-list hottie, Jack Eversea, finds himself in sleepy Butler Cove, South Carolina. Jack hopes the sultry southern heat in this tiny coastal Lowcountry town will hide him not only from the tabloids and his cheating girlfriend, but his increasingly vapid life and the people who run it. He doesn’t count on meeting Keri Ann Butler.

Keri Ann has relied on herself so long, dealing with her family’s death and the responsibilities of keeping up her family's historic mansion, that boys and certainly the meager offering of eligible boys in Butler Cove, have never figured into her equation. But fate has other plans. Suddenly face to face with the man who played the movie role of her favorite fictional character, Jack has Keri Ann yearning for everything she has previously avoided ... and Jack must decide whether this funny, sassy girl is worth changing his life for, before his mistakes catch up to him.

TEASER (18+):

Jack’s lips were warm and soft next to the rough skin of his chin, and I drew closer to him like a magnet, needing to press my body, my skin, against his. But there were two layers of fabric between us, and I became aware of the cool press of his wet t-shirt.

“You need to take this off,” I managed. My voice sounded raspy to my own ears as I made to lift the fabric.

He let go of me and reached behind his neck. Gathering a handful of shirt, he peeled it forward over his head.

My breath left me as I came face to chest with his perfectly sculpted body. The firelight played across his skin and his flexed abdominal muscles as he leaned back on his haunches slightly to lay the shirt out by the fire.

Without thinking, I brought the flat of my hand up to the center of his chest below his collarbone. His skin was cool to the touch and smooth.

He stilled where he was, leaning slightly away from me on his knees and brought his eyes to mine.

I very slowly ran my palm down over the ridges and planes of his chest, pausing for a moment when I noticed the hard beat of his heart. His eyes got darker and broodier as my hand continued it’s slow journey downward. His breathing changed, as did my own in response. My eyes dropped to follow my hand as it reached the belt buckle of his black jeans.

“You should take these off, too.” My words came out as a whisper.

#NASW13 Spotlight: The Only Exception by Magan Vernon (Teasers)

The Only Exception 
by Magan Vernon 
Published April 9th 2013

Fiercely liberal Monica Remy prefers to blend in. Despite her tattoos, piercings, and outspoken personality, she transferred to Central to escape—before she finds out that her next door neighbor is the uber conservative governor's son, Trey Chapman.

No matter how hard she tries to avoid Trey, he still finds a way to get under her skin. Monica can’t stand his crisp white shirts or his staunch views on women. But she can’t help counting every freckle on his face and wondering what it would feel like to have him stop talking politics and kiss her.

A class debate project forces the unlikely pair to work together, and the political lines are blurred in late-night make out sessions. But despite their fiery chemistry, Trey’s politics threatens to smother their relationship for good.

TEASERS:

Magan Vernon

Young Adult and New Adult Author

www.maganvernon.com
 

Facebook, Twitter, GoodReads, Pinterest

#NASW13 Spotlight: By A Thread by R.L Griffin (Excerpt)

By A Thread (By A Thread #1) 
by R.L. Griffin 
Published March 15th 2013

Stella's future was set, and it was a bright one. She was engaged to a man she adored, and was headed to law school in the fall. Tragically, her perfectly planned future ends just as it was beginning.

With no ties to family or friends, Stella finds herself alone in a new city, spiraling out of control. Her typical day comes to a close with her passed out on the floor; sometimes clothed.

Luckily, her new roommate, essentially a stranger, is dead set on getting Stella past her grief and back to functioning within society. Putting one foot in front of the other, she climbs up from the bottom of a bottle. Even with all her progress, Stella walks through life unfeeling, numb. Defiant, she sends out warning signals for the world to keep away. But, is that what she really wants?

With the steadfast help of a few tight knit friends, she gradually begins to feel again. She starts to savor the flavor of food again; lets herself notice how the handsome bartender glances at her. Still, after allowing herself a fling, she wonders if she will ever be able to let go of her shattered past, fully enjoy the present, or get over what she thought would be her perfect future and with the man who destroyed her heart.

EXCERPT:

It had been a few weeks before classes started, her freshman year of college. She was enjoying a rare two-day break from softball practice. She and some teammates had gotten to the pool early that day and she had been dozing off for several hours, when she heard male voices. She looked up and saw him. He took her breath away without even trying. Mentally, she ran through a checklist of her appearance; not a great bikini, but she had shaved everywhere. She was wearing an older seersucker bikini, but it gave her boobs a nice lift.

Stella closed her eyes again, pretending to sleep. Listening to their conversation for a while, she realized that they were on the baseball team. She sat up, squeezed some sunscreen out of the bottle, stood up, and applied it seductively. Her black hair hung loose down past the string of her bikini top, so she wrapped it around in a messy bun. She rubbed more sunscreen on her back, awkwardly arching her back to reach the middle. Cassie, the first baseman on her softball team, giggled at the provocative show Stella was putting on for the boys. Stella winked at her.

The girls hadn’t brought any beer to the pool, but they had plenty of vodka. Stella drank down the rest of her drink and made herself another. She applied lip balm, slowly. The entire process took about five minutes, but the conversation between the guys stopped. As Stella lay back down on her stomach, she reached up and untied the back string of her bikini. Smiling, she turned her head to face Cassie. Cassie mouthed, “You’re bad...” Stella nodded and then closed her eyes.

She felt a shadow across her back a few minutes later. Stella didn’t open her eyes, but said, “Why is someone blocking my sun? I’m trying to rid myself of my farmer’s tan.”

Cassie snorted, “That’s not going to happen, Stella.” All the softball players had horrible tan lines. Stella’s arms looked like leather, but her stomach and chest were white as porcelain, as were her feet. It was heinous. The players’ legs looked like they were wearing white shorts all the time.

“I don’t know, I think it’s kinda sexy. Like I know what you look like naked,” Stella heard in a slow, sexy southern drawl. Her eyes popped open and she found herself staring at the guy with the drawl. One of the best-looking guys she’d ever seen in person. His hair was cut short and looked sandy blond in the sun. He had blue eyes and an actual six-pack. Stella had never seen a guy with a six-pack in person before, and it made her want to touch him. She laughed, noticing that he had the same farmer’s tan that she and the softball players sported.

Stella cocked her head to the side and just looked at him.

“What?” Six-pack asked.

“I’m just following suit and picturing you naked.” She said, then closed her eyes.

“Me too.” Cassie said with a giggle.

“Now I am too,” one of his friends piped up loudly. “Damn it. Someone help me get that image out of my mind.”

Six-pack leaned down to whisper into her ear, “I think you missed a spot.” His fingers grazed the small of her back, just above her bikini bottoms, and her body tensed instantaneously at the spark she felt. Sexual chemistry crackled between them.

Stella used her sweetest voice, “Oh, really?  Could you get it for me?”

“Damn right I can.” He leaned over to grab the lotion, but she got to it first.

“Oh, I was talking to Cassie.” She threw the bottle to Cassie. “Thanks, though.”

Cassie snorted again, “It looks fine to me.” Cassie yelled to the other guys, “Ya’ll got any beer over there you can share?”

“Of course,” one of the guys replied. Cassie got up, sauntered over to the baseball players, grabbed a beer out of their cooler, and sat down with them.

“Ya’ll play ball?”

Stella overheard the conversation and was interested. These were all baseball players and seemed to be pretty cool. Six-Pack’s name was Jamie, he was a sophomore. He was a pitcher. Confidence exuded from him and he seemed to be pretty smart and funny. Those were three mandatory traits for Stella before she would even look at a guy. She never fell for the type of guy who looked good, but annoyed the shit out of her as soon as he opened his mouth.

“Stella, you want a beer?” Cassie called.

“Sure.” Stella turned just as Cassie threw the beer at her. She had two options, she could sit up and catch it, showing everyone her boobs, or the beer was going to hit her... somewhere.

“Fuck,” she called out as she rolled over to dodge the beer coming at her face. She fell off the chair, but managed to keep her hands covering her nipples. For a moment everyone was quiet. Then all of the occupants of the pool erupted in laughter. Stella turned forty shades of red and tried to figure out how to get up gracefully. Realizing there was no way to cover her nipples, get up, and grab her bikini top with only two hands, she gave up. Stella stood up, grabbed her bikini top, and with her chin raised walked to the bathroom, showing everyone all she had.

Several hours later everyone was good and drunk, playing truth or dare, and it was Stella’s turn. She picked dare.

“Kiss me,” Jamie said, leaning back in a lounge chair with a smug smile on his face.

Stella got up from where she was sitting and leaned over him. She whispered in his ear, lips grazing his lobe, “You may regret this dare.” Stella kissed his neck, which made him tip his head back. She slowly kissed his top lip. He groaned, and she went for the kill parting his lips with hers. All of a sudden his arms wrapped around her, pulling her on top of him in the chair. She forgot where she was, and that they had an audience until she heard someone clear their throat.

Stella ripped her lips away from Jamie’s and took a long breath. She put her fingers to her mouth, and looked into Jamie’s eyes. Holy fuck, she thought. There’s no going back from that.

Jamie’s arms still wrapped around her, he whispered, “I think you may be right.” Stella thought for a minute he had read her thoughts. Then he said, “Best regret ever.”

Stella smiled. She pulled herself out of his arms, separating their bodies. Suddenly she felt too drunk, too high on the feeling she got from kissing this guy she just met, and too naked. She walked over to where her bag was and checked her phone. She felt arms wrap around her again.

“You need to come with me. NOW.” His lips whispered in her ear.

“And why’s that?” Stella shivered and turned around so that she could look in his eyes.

“You’re pretty much naked and I need to be the only one looking at you.” He reached up and rubbed his thumb down her jaw line. “I need to kiss you, more.”

If she hadn’t been drunk, she wouldn’t have gone home with him. But she was drunk, and she followed him home. Immediately.

#NASW13 Spotlight: Juliana Haygert, Author of Destiny Gift and Breaking the Reins

ABOUT JULIANA HAYGERT:

While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting—but equally gratifying—life of a wife, mother, and author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in Connecticut and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.

New Adult author and contributor at NA Alley blog.

Links: Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | NA Alley

ABOUT DESTINY GIFT:

 The Everlast Trilogy #1

New Adult Paranormal Romance

Release date: April 1st, 2013

Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Kobo | Smashwords | 

Apple | Createspace | Goodreads | Pinterest Board

Thirty years in the future, a sinister New York City exists in permanent darkness.

A student at the secured NYU, nineteen-year-old Nadine has visions of Victor Gianni, an imaginary guy she has real feelings for. Afraid of being truly insane, she explains the visions away as simple daydreams, but she can no longer deny them when she bumps into Victor in real life. But this Victor doesn’t know her, and turns her away. After the encounter, Nadine’s visions change to those of eerie fates, gods she’s never heard of, demons with sharp claws they are not too timid to use … and instructions.

To discover if she’s losing her mind, Nadine follows the vague directions—with the real, rude and reluctant Victor—leading to a man who knows it all: Nadine can restore an ancient creed by unveiling the clues on her visions, and bring sunlight and peace to the world again. But that’s only if the demons and the other evil forces behind the darkness don’t stop her first.

EXCERPT:

         I heard a heavy sigh and turned toward it. It was Victor. He was leaving the elevator down the hall and coming toward his grandma’s room. He had seen me and didn’t seem happy about it.
        He wore faded jeans, a T-shirt, and a thin jacket. Too casual. I shook my head. The fact that my dream Victor and this real Victor were exactly the same physically, while their clothing styles and posture were the opposite of each other still boggled my mind.
        He came to a stop before me. “You again.” There was disdain in his tone. I cringed.
        “How are you?” I managed to ask and immediately felt silly. I had planted myself here in this hallway for over an hour waiting for him, and when he finally arrived, I didn’t know what to say. Though I really did want to know how he was. The last time I had seen him in the flesh, he’d been jerking on the floor of the hospital’s garage, in pain. “What was that … ah … before …?” I trailed off, hoping he would understand what I was referring to.
        He shrugged, his sea-green eyes still staring at me with suspicion. “I don’t know. By the way, how do you know my name?”
        I twirled a lock of my hair around my index finger as I considered my answer. I wanted to answer him. I wanted to be honest, but he would never believe me.
       As if my answer would pop out of the walls, I scanned the hallway.
       At the end of the corridor, a nurse left a room and entered another.
      “The nurse,” I almost shouted, hoping he wouldn’t notice my sudden lie. I avoided his inquisitive eyes. “I heard a nurse calling you earlier that day.”
       His deadpan expression hid his thoughts and didn’t let me know if he was buying it or not.
      “What did you do to me last night?” he asked, crossing his arms. God, I hated how his voice and his posture were so guarded and mistrustful. I wasn’t used to it.
      “What do you mean?”
      “When you touched me, the shock and the pain went away. How did you do that?”
      “I don’t know.” This time I wasn’t lying. I really didn’t know. He frowned, clearly still suspicious. “Seriously, I have no idea.”
       His shoulders stiffened. “What are you doing here? What do you want?”
       My eyes widened as I retreated a few steps, trying to avoid his toxic tone.
       Yes, he looked like my Victor—the same voice, the same hair, the same face, the same mouth that had offered me smiles that had rendered me breathless many, many times. I wanted to touch him, to embrace him, to tell him everything was going to be okay. Maybe if I touched him, he would remember me and he would want to touch me too.
        I came closer to him, looking deeply into those wary green eyes, my fingers itching to stroke his skin, to feel it smoldering under my caress. But I didn’t. He was like my Victor, but he wasn’t my Victor. The Victor from my visions would never speak to me like this. He would never snap at me. No, no. My Victor loved my company, loved to hear me sing, loved to embrace me and inhale my scent.
        “I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice croaking under the heavy pressure inside my chest.
        Then, I walked away.

ABOUT BREAKING THE REINS:

New Adult Contemporary Romance

Release date: August, 2013

Goodreads | Pinterest Board

Horses, mansions, tea parties, and lies are twenty-year-old Hannah Taylor’s life. To others, her family and her relationship with Eric is perfect. But she knows the truth. She lives it.

After a fire takes her grandma's life and kills her horse, Hannah's immaculate life spirals out of control. Her father disapproves of her decision to run her grandma’s ranch instead of focusing solely on learning the family business; Animal Control brings her Argus, a mistreated horse that she can't turn away even though she's not ready for another horse; and her boyfriend, Eric Bennett, a world famous polo player, becomes possessive and authoritarian. Despite her best efforts to disguise it, Hannah grows wary of him.

Then, Leonardo Fernandes struts onto the polo scene. A cocky rookie with a messy life of his own, he’s drawn to Hannah and isn’t afraid of showing it, even when Eric makes it clear she is his and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep it that way. Hannah suffers for Eric’s jealousy. The abuse only gets worse when Leo steals the title of best polo player in the world from Eric.

But the title isn’t enough for Leo. He wants Hannah too, and she can’t deny her attraction to him either. Somehow, she must find a way to break free from abusive Eric before he breaks every bone in her body.

Cover Reveal: Tension by R.L. Griffin #NASW13

 TENSION by R.L. Griffin

By A Thread #2

New Adult Contemporary

Release Date: August 1, 2013

The Stella who emerges from the rubble of the bombing in Montana is a woman full of conflict. She knows she should be grateful that she lived when others didn't, but after waking in the hospital as a celebrity, complete with a new moniker, she's bitter and distrustful, questioning everything in her life. She's unsure of her friends, her new boyfriend, and her job. In addition, a face from the past reappears and threatens to take the one good thing in her life.

Stella attempts to deal with the new scrutiny of her life with her usual sense of humor, but she's filled with a new emotion that she tries desperately to hide: HATE. Her recovery is hastened by her determination to find the man who turned her into a walking scar. She's going to kill him; she needs to kill him.

Stella isn't alone. She has her close friends and her dog, Cooper. Will their support be enough to help Stella accomplish her plan, or will this endeavor be her undoing?

Goodreads Link:

 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17840262-tension

Book ONE in the series

About this Author:

I live in the Atlanta area and I'm surrounded by awesome dudes: my husband, son and two dogs. I went to law school at American University, Washington College of Law, but only after I fell in love with D.C. I worked in the Senate during the impeachment trial and wanted to stay. After law school I worked for a bit in the area, then moved to Atlanta.

If you ask anyone who knows me they know I love reading and read all sorts of books. Any free time I have I'm either reading, writing or drinking with friends.

Author Links:

Website † Facebook † Twitter † GoodReads

Cover Reveal: Indelible by Bethany Lopez #NASW13

INDELIBLE by Bethany Lopez

New Adult Contemporary 

Expected release date: July 9, 2013

Cover Designed by: B Design

Cover reveal organized by: AToMR Tours

After a year of partying, Sam decides to buckle down and focus on college. Things are going great until a one-night stand leaves her pregnant and alone. Raising a child while going to school isn’t easy, but Sam is determined to be strong for her daughter. She doesn’t have time for guys or relationships, and takes great care to protect her child and her heart.

Judd doesn’t fit the mold of a college ballplayer. His long hair and tattoos may fit the life he’s created for himself, but baseball is the one thing he takes seriously. When he meets Sam, he’s immediately drawn to her curves and refusal to put up with his crap. When Judd learns the truth, can he handle the responsibility that comes with loving a single mother?

Sam yearns for the fire that Judd fuels in her, but her child’s needs have to come first. Can two people at different stages in their life find a way to make a life together?

Goodreads Link:

 http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17855632-indelible

About this Author:

Bethany Lopez began self-publishing in June 2011. Since then she has published various YA and NA books. She is a lover of romance, family, and friends, and enjoys incorporating those things in what she writes. When she isn't reading or writing, she loves spending time with her husband and children, traveling whenever possible.

Author Links:

www.bethanylopez.blogspot.com

https://twitter.com/BethanyLopez2

http://on.fb.me/LypEaO

http://pinterest.com/bethanylopez2/

http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/bethany-lopez.html

Cover Reveal Hosted by:

Bethany Lopez is also a Featured Author in the

New Adult Sleepover Weekend

This is Forever by S.A. Price – Teaser and Giveaway! #NASW13

Ok so todays's teaser is an excerpt (unedited) from the actual book THIS IS FOREVER.

Excited? Read on..

Lola sailed through the lobby of Night, her usual NY home away from home and made it to the elevator to her suite in seconds. How she managed to get through the fans that were milling about was anyone’s guess, but she was grateful for the ability as she was in no mood to play the “Sexy lead singer”. Sometimes she just needed to herself, and after the insane dinner with Toro and Stanton at Max Brenner’s, where they consumed more chocolate then should ever be possible, all she wanted was a hot cup of tea, her comfy pajamas and her book. Maybe a bubble bath in the amazing tub her suite had.

Yes she thought, yes that’s exactly what was in order. She was feeling like a slug, the sugar shock taking over. Some time to relax was exactly what she needed, to reconnect, and re-center now that she felt more like her old self. .

Decided she slipped through the doors of the elevator as it opened on her floor and stopped dead. .

“I’m pretty sure you need a key card to get to this level,” she said as she walked forward, her eyes on Winter, who was leaning against the door of her suite, head down, hoodie unzipped, messenger bag slung over his shoulder, and hands in his pockets. Yes he looked unassuming, which was probably his intent, but she knew him just by the way he was leaning. Winter Tulane did relaxed like he wrote the book on it. .

She waited for him to answer her, taking in his entire being. His jeans were dirty washed, fitted but only in the right places, where things were supposed to fit snugly. Old school puma’s in baby blue, bullet belt, the exact one she bought for him once upon a time. His t-shirt was non-descript, and in the light looked burned out in places, but then again it was the style. .

He pulled a hand out of his jeans pocket, fingering a key card, spinning it thought his fingers. .

Lola stopped walking forward. “How? And how the fuck did you get up here without anyone stopping you?” .

“How did you?” he asked and looked up. .

Eyes the color of maple syrup fixed on her, and she stifled a shiver. Any time the boy’s eyes were on her she felt raw, exposed, like he was seeing to her soul. The intensity of his gaze wasn’t any different now, but it was more refined, if that was even possible. He smiled, the left side of his mouth lilting just a soft inch higher than the right. It was the lopsided grin that got her forever ago in the park, and it seemed it still worked. .

“I have my ways,” she asked and motioned to the card. “And that?” .

Winter’s eyes left her and fixated on the card he was still twirling. “Abby at the front desk. She’s a fan. I bartered. Two VIP passes for a key to the penthouse.” .

Lola raised a manicured brow. “One of your girls?” she asked, trying and succeeding in keeping the venom out of her voice. .

Winter shook his head. “Tosh’s from our first tour out this way. Like I would hit up someone I nailed to get up here to see you.” .

“Please… let’s not get all mushy.” .

“Mushy?” he asked and slipped the card back into his pocket. “And that means?” .

She ignored his question. “Why are you here? Wasn’t my behavior enough of a hint at Sally’s?” .

Winter chuckled. “You think it’s that easy to stop this…” he motioned between the two of them, “You got another thing coming.” .

“There isn’t anything between us Winter. Not anymore.” .

“Bullshit. But that’s Ok; I’m going to prove it to you.” .

“Oh please. Is this were you tell me every girl since me was me and you need me back?” .

Winter pushed off the wall and stalked towards her. “Fuck no. To be you would mean I would have to respect them, and that’s kinda hard to do when they gladly participate in any depraved thing I can think of. So no, I’m not going to pull that line of bullshit on you. I used them to forget you, or replace you, neither of which worked.” .

“Oh yeah?” she said with fake bravado. He was closer now, and she could smell the delicious scent that was uniquely winter, all warm sunshine and spice, and her knees were getting weak. .

Yes, she was going to let him seduce her now that she could and not have the repercussions, but his audacity, his fucking ego, would have to be put in check. All the girls after her and before now really fed his self importance, but it was his self worth she wanted to touch. She knew he wasn’t lying when he told her he had no respect for them, if he did the stories she had heard about Winter from the road would never have happened. Of course, the girls were really responsible for letting it happen. What guy wasn’t going to conduct his own personal letters to penthouse if he had scores of willing women? .

And the women were willing to be his freaky play things. The stories….

Though if half of them were true she was way out of his sexual league, because nothing she had experienced could compare. Fuck half, if ten of the stories were true she was in some deep shit. .

But she wasn’t going to let him know that. Stories of her own exploits were greatly exaggerated, so his could be as well, but something told her….

“Yeah.” He stood in front of her, and bit his bottom lip. “You look amazing.” He whispered and leaned in and planted a kiss on her cheek. .

Why was it he could get her to melt with the smallest of offerings? He moved back and looked her over slowly. .

“So you just thought you would pop over and… and what, exactly?” .

He stepped back another two steps and grinned. “Honestly? I missed you.” .

Naughty sexy Winter. How would YOU like a Merch Pack from the books? Message me at: blueflamesabove@yahoo.com with your snail mail addy and we will send you some awesome goodies including pins, bookmarks, trading cards, and maybe even a keychain!

 

Next Month... another sexy as hell Teaser Photo and a Video! 

Cover Reveal: Broken Dreams by Dawn Pendleton (Giveaway) #NASW13

BROKEN DREAMS by Dawn Pendleton

Broken #2

New Adult Contemporary

Release August 1st, 2013

Rainey Daniels has been keeping a secret since she left her hometown, three years ago. The death of a friend’s father, though, has her questioning whether or not running away from her past is what’s best for her future. Add sexy Chris Baker in the mix and she’s even more unsure. After all, life is short.  

Baker is an all-around good guy with a great sense of humor struggling to keep his new bar afloat. And he always thought Rainey was hot, even when she carried a few extra pounds in high school. Hell, he thinks she’s too skinny now. He knows she’s hiding something, too, but when he pushes the issue, she pushes him away. He tries not to care; she only wants a summer fling, right? But when her life is threatened, he realizes he may just be in love with her… and then he learns her secret.

Can they find love together before it’s too late?

Goodreads Link:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18003554-broken-dreams

For a limited time only, BROKEN PROMISES will be $.99!!

About this Author:

 
Dawn Pendleton is a New Adult & Young Adult author living in Maine with her husband and pup.

Right now, she's working on two manuscripts simultaneously. It's a difficult task for her, but one she's certain will pay off in the end. 

Author Links:

http://www.dawnpendleton.com/ 

http://www.dawnpendleton.com/blog.html 

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7009829.Dawn_Pendleton

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDawnPendleton

https://twitter.com/DawnWritesNA

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