Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Book Review and Giveaway for Center of Gravity by KK Allen


CENTER OF GRAVITY
by KK ALLEN

"If I could rewrite the rules, I'd do it for you."

Lex
I came to L.A. with dreams bigger than me.

To learn from the best choreographers in the business and secure a professional dance gig working for Hollywood’s elite.

Everything was going according to plan—until I was literally shoved into the arms of the one man who could make or break my career.

Come to find out, it wasn’t my career I had to worry about.

It was my heart.

Theo
Everything about Alexandra “Lex” Quinn screamed amateur, save for the way she moved across the dance floor.

She was athleticism and grace, precision and passion, and she had a stage presence I couldn’t tear my eyes from.

I wanted her...on my team, in my bed.

There was only one problem...

I couldn’t have both.


REVIEW: 4.5 STARS (in my eyes)
"He was my preacher, and I was his loyal disciple, two seconds away from worship."

OMGosh, I am smiling!! TWO reasons: I finally read my first book by KK Allen AND I fell in love with Theo and Lex. I seriously have the cheesy grins. I am still smiling after finishing it and getting my thoughts together!! There is so much to discuss, but I can only discuss so much....what a conundrum, right??

I want to start out by saying that I loved KK's flow and her pacing in this book. It was never stagnant and I always felt like I was moving forward with the story. For a new to me author and a new voice to 'hear', I loved it! I have a huge love affair with dance shows (SYTYCD and WoD) and I watch them every season. I know that helped me connect with this book because not only was I able to watch from the outside looking in at all that goes on, but I also got to see some behind the scenes action that I'm not sure I ever really think about, but it's a very true reality. It was like watching a mental movie; I could picture it all and it flowed so well.

And then I fell down the rabbit hole. In some of the chapters, to enhance the scene, KK added in links to amazing choreographed dances and I would watch one video, and then another, and then another....see where I'm going with this?? It's not really a problem, but if you're trying to get through the book, the rabbit hole is deeeep. HA!!

This book offered me real life situations that I loved working through. The jealousy of being in a group vying for the same position. The forbidden side of falling in love with the one you're not supposed to fall in love with. The connections you can make with your coworkers that you are around all day, every day. I just loved what this one had to offer! It's so discussable....but it would all be a spoiler here. It was upbeat and lively, and the action kept me turning the pages. That sounds cheesy, doesn't it? HAHA! I feel like this book was a fast paced, sweet read, but it had some grit to it. The fact that this was a forbidden love did not go unnoticed, and that added some necessary tension to the storyline. It's also what drew me in initially....

"The only person holding you back from your dream is you."

KK Allen built a world around this dance group that allowed me to fall in love with each character, individually and together. Theo was rough around the edges, but seeing him work through his feelings and figuring out his weakness named Lex that stirred up every emotion in him - I loved watching him struggle to come to terms with it. Lex was this very innocent and young, almost naive, young lady that had an air of confidence that she needed to harness. Her strength on the dance floor was amazing, and I don't think she really believed in it either, so I definitely liked seeing her character grow. I adored her, so very much! Talk about an exercise in trust and growth....nailed it! These two had to learn to not only trust themselves, but each other. I liked how she told that side of their story. Cautious, but curious. Excited but apprehensive. Soooo good.

I have to tell you this: believe it or not, the minute we met Shane, I thought of Yanis Marshall and loved 'seeing' him in that place. HAHA! I just loved him too! (I would love his story...and Amie's too!!)

I will admit that angry vengeance and added drama is a little off-putting in a book for me, but that is just a personal preference. It's usually a downfall, as well as over the top family that are just rude, as that generally pulls me out of a book - but thankfully it didn't take away from this one for me. While I wouldn't necessarily say some serious issues weren't 'glossed over' - because overall, they were - slightly, I will say that I like that they weren't the focus of the book and we didn't dwell on them, lending me a lighter feeling for the overall storyline. Every nuance, every action, played a part in the end story, but that hindsight was crystal clear by the time we got through it. It was the road to get there that was slightly bumpy and I was most definitely along for that ride. The could we/should we aspect had me giddy. I realize I love the forbidden side of things, but the way it all played into the drama and all the pain, that was really well written. The buildup and the growth in this story lent an air of angst, but I don't think it was true, heart-heavy angst. But, man! It was good. So so good.

Not only did I fall in love with her characters and storyline, I fell in love with her writing and voice. I am so excited to read more by her! I absolutely loved this one.....seriously, still smiling.

"For the record, if I could rewrite the rules, I'd do it for you."
~BEE

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~MEET KK ALLEN~

K.K. Allen is an award-winning Contemporary Romance author, University of Washington Alumni, and Seattle Seahawk fan!!

K.K.'s debut romance novel, Up in the Treehouse, was named the Best New Adult Book of the Year by RT Book Reviews, an honor beyond belief! Named the Queen of Angst by her readers, K.K. promises to take your emotions on an epic ride every single time with very real, coming of age romance stories.

At age twelve, K.K. picked up a pen and wrote her first novel, a YA rock star romance that will never see the light of day :) She continued filling notebooks until she was finally ready to share her work with the world.

K.K. currently lives in central Florida with her son, works full time as a Digital Producer by day, and writes every other waking hour.

~CONNECT WITH KK~

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Monday, September 24, 2018

Excerpt Reveal for Medicine Man by Saffron A. Kent


 EXCERPT

“I… Can I go now?” I whisper.

He bends toward me. Not like he did yesterday when he was all shaken up and furious. This leaning is slow and filled with a different kind of intensity.

“No.”

I swallow, looking into his eyes, which have moved down to my lips. Has he ever looked at my mouth before? I can’t remember. He’s always been so professional and distant that just one look of his seems exaggerated, almost too much to handle.

“W-why not?”

“Because I’m curious about something.”

I lick my lower lip. I swear it’s not meant to be provocative. It’s just that his stare is making them tingle and dry out. I didn’t know that a body part could be shy until this man focused on it like this.

“About what?”

Again, I’m expecting one thing but something entirely different happens. Instead of answering with his words, he touches me. Of his own volition.

His hands wrap around my neck, his fingers spanning the entire length of my throat, tilting my face up. My eyes are wide; I can feel it. I can feel them popping out. I can feel my heart popping out too, bursting with too many beats.

He’s touching me.

Touching. The litmus test of attraction.

“I’m curious about,” he whispers, his breath wafting over my nose, drugging my senses. “Why the fuck do I want to kiss you?”

“What?”

My hands reach up and hold his wrists. I feel like my world just went unsteady and I can’t stand up straight without his help.

Did he just… Did he say he wants to kiss me?

There’s a slight frown on his forehead, as if he’s genuinely perplexed. As if I’m a riddle and so is his desire to kiss me.

“It doesn’t make sense.” His gray, almost black, gaze flicks back and forth. “You’re my patient. You’re my responsibility. I’m supposed to fix you, not think about your lips. I’m not supposed to think about your mouth or the taste of your tongue. If you really taste like you smell.”

“How… How do I smell?”

His chuckle is short and harsh as he moves his hand and grabs my face. “Like lemons. Like you’ve been sucking on lemon wedges all day long with that pink mouth of yours.”

I feel the heat of his hand on my flesh. He’s burning up, slowly boiling over. “I-I… It’s the lime jello,” I reply, as if that’s the most important thing in the world right now. Explaining the source of my smell and possibly my taste too.

“You’re not my type,” he growls, pushing his forehead against mine.

“I’m sorry?”

“You’re young. You’re reckless. Inexperienced. You believe in happy endings, don’t you? Fairy tales and fucking magic.”

His breaths are wild, frustrated. Like believing in good things is a bad habit. Believing in something bigger than you is silly.

I frown, pressing harder against his forehead. “Of course I do. If someone like me doesn’t believe in magic, then there’s no hope for anyone else. There’s no hope for me. And it’s not a bad thing, you know. It’s not a bad thing to believe in something. In fact, it shows that you’re brave and –”

His mouth pulls into a humorless smile. “And you don’t know when to shut the fuck up.”

“Hey –”

“Willow.”

He flattens my cheeks with his hands, asserting all his stupid authority over me. Too bad it only makes me hornier and I have to clench my thighs against the shivers running through my lower body.

“What?” I somehow manage to squeak.

“Shut the fuck up.”

I gasp; how dare he?

But it gets swallowed up by his mouth.



MEDICINE MAN
by SAFFRON A KENT

Willow Taylor lives in a castle with large walls and iron fences. But this is no ordinary castle. It's called Heartstone Psychiatric Hospital and it houses forty other patients. It has nurses with mean faces and techs with permanent frowns.

It has a man, as well. A man who is cold and distant. Whose voice drips with authority. And whose piercing gray eyes hide secrets, and maybe linger on her face a second too long.

Willow isn't supposed to look deep into those eyes. She isn't supposed to try to read his tightly-leashed emotions. Neither is she supposed to touch herself at night, imagining his powerful voice and that cold but beautiful face.

No, Willow Taylor shouldn't be attracted to Simon Blackwood at all.

Because she's a patient and he's her doctor. Her psychiatrist.

The medicine man






~MEET SAFFRON A KENT~
Writer of bad romances. Coffee Addict. White Russian Drinker. Imaginary Ballet Dancer and poetess. Aspiring Lana Del Ray of the book world.

I'm a big believer in love (obviously). I believe in happily ever after, the butterflies and the tingling. But I also believe in edgy, rough and gutsy kind of love. I believe in pushing the boundaries, darker (sometimes morally ambiguous) emotions and imperfections.

The kind of love I write about is flawed just like my characters. And I hope by the end of it, you'll come to root for them just as much as me. Because love, no matter where it comes from, is always pure and beautiful. 

If you ever get a hankering to talk about books or love, you can find me here:

Her book group: Saffron's Purple Hearts
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Book Review and Givewaway for Guilty as Sin by Meghan March


GUILTY AS SIN
by MEGHAN MARCH

Guilty until proven innocent.

That’s the way the world works, right?

I’m tired of being convicted without evidence, all because my last name is Gable.

The Riscoffs might own this town, but I’m done following their rules.

If only I could forget just how easily Lincoln Riscoff can drag me under his spell.



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REVIEW: 3+ STARS
"No woman has ever affected me like Whitney Gable. Not before. Not since."

After the bomb that was dropped on us at the end of Richer Than Sin, I was ready to go when this book came around. I was so excited to finally get some answers and some more action thrown at me. Excited was an understatement!! So, while I wasn't entirely disappointed with this book, I wasn't exactly blown away either. It wasn't bad, it just was a lot slower than the first with little to no information until the very end of the book.

I wish I could just ask what happened? I mean, there was the drive and the desire to fix this amazing love that had no end in sight, and I really did feel Lincoln striving for that. Their love was one that, despite the obstacles presented to them, was determined to charge forward. But Whitney turned weak and Lincoln kind of got soft on me for a bit. I just....I don't understand. This book stalled. It just felt like filler instead of forward progression. It was if there wasn't enough information presented in this book to necessitate a whole 'nother book. I almost wonder if this trilogy would have read better as a duet because of the amount of extra added to this one just wasn't necessary. There was a BOMB at the end, but it just didn't have the oomph that the first book did. Maybe it was me hoping for more, and I set my expectations too high.

I do know this time around I got tired of switching back and forth between the past and the present as much as we did, and that took away from the buildup of the actual storyline in present tense. The idea of back and forth is to give us some backstory while growing the current one, but it has to be done in such a way that it doesn't pull you out of the intensity as it grows in the current. I was completely committed to the intensity of Lincoln and Whitney's love, but each time we started to get somewhere in present tense, she would jump to past and that aggravated me a lot this time. Their love, the headiness and the sexiness of their love was pure and absolutely intoxicating, so I definitely wanted to continue on with their love story. I crave a heavy and sure love that has me pining for more. Whitney and Lincoln have that love. It's undeniable and it burns hot!

I do know that for some reason this time, Whitney felt a little more whiney to me and the self talk came across as very cheesy. She was also much more self conscious about everything. Everything. That was kind of grating for me since we originally had this broken but very headstrong woman in the first book that was so determined to move on. I don't understand why she reverted back to this meek woman that needs constant reassurance, because those mental discussions she was having were just not necessary. It felt like it was dragging some of the story down, and that's not normal for me to feel with Meghan's books. What others may have seen as growth for Whitney read as fluff for me and I hate admitting that. It lacked a lot of substance the go around. So much so that this book ultimately felt more like a filler book than an addition to a great love story that I started to see grow in the first one.

"Leave it to me to fall for the woman I could never buy."

Alas, here's where I struggle: there is a little bit of Whitney in all of us, and I know Meghan makes sure all her characters are relatable in some way. Her females generally have a talent that is undiscovered or under-appreciated and she allows for that growth. I love that. They have real insecurities that we can connect to and understand as our own. I appreciate that. As with her male characters, they are usually very determined and stubborn men that have a lot of money at their disposal to throw around and get what they want, including the love that they cannot deny in any capacity. Nothing stands in the way of their one true love, no matter the cost. I looove that fantasy. I'm certain that I struggled so much with this addition to their story because the characters felt like they stalled in this book. Meghan's such a good character writer, and I love her characters, so when this one showed a different side than what we started out with, it kind of threw me for a loop....like I was backpedaling a bit.

I don't want this to be a review that sounds completely negative, because it really isn't. After being all excited in my review of Richer Than Sin, I felt like I was in love with some new characters. Lincoln and Whitney have a love that transcends all adversaries, and it's clear that we are going to see them overcome some serious ish, so this is a series I definitely want to see through. I want the butterflies that Lincoln gives me. I want the realizations and the smiles that Whitney gives me. I love watching them grow and discover each other...watching them realize that the love for the other is truly the real deal, but also realizing the small (and big) actions of the other is the truth of the depth of their love, and how far they're willing to go to fight for them as well. I like their love. I really do.

Again, please don't think I'm saying it's a bad book, but it's definitely not at the pace and caliber of the first book. Richer Than Sin felt action packed, but this one was quite slow compared to it, so maybe that's why I was having a harder time with it. We got a hefty dose of sweet with a side of cheesy, with the action lacking until around 95%. I am invested in their story, so I will happily see it to the end. I am looking forward to the conclusion and to find out about that bomb dropped at the end of this book. Not that my feelings are hurt about what happened...haha! I have my own guesses as to how some things are going to come to light in Reveling In Sin, so now let's see if I'm correct or if Meghan changes things up again and throws another twist at me! I have high hopes for an unprecedented ending for Whitney and Lincoln's epic love story.

"Everything you want is on the other side of fear."
~BEE

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~MEET MEGHAN MARCH~
A New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty novels, Meghan March has been known to wear camo face paint and tromp around in woods wearing mud- covered boots, all while sporting a perfect manicure. She’s also impulsive, easily entertained, and absolutely unapologetic about the fact that she loves to read and write smut. Her past lives include slinging auto parts, selling lingerie, making custom jewelry, and practicing corporate law. Writing books about dirty talking alpha males and the strong, sassy women who bring them to their knees is by far the most fabulous job she’s ever had.

She loves hearing from her readers at meghanmarchbooks@gmail.com

Sign up for Meghan's newsletter and receive exclusive content that she saves for her subscribers: HERE.

~CONNECT WITH MEGHAN~

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Thursday, September 20, 2018

Book Review and Giveaway for The Good Samaritan by RC Boldt


THE GOOD SAMARITAN
by RC BOLDT

The biggest story of her life is the one he wants to hide.

I’m homeless by choice.

I have no intention of returning to my former life after what I’ve done.

This—living among the filth and discarded remnants of others—is what I deserve.

As atonement for my sins, I give back; I help those who cannot help themselves. But it’s always under the guise of anonymity.

Newspaper headlines throughout the city are clamoring to discover my identity. Including the beautiful woman who manages to see through my “armor.”

She has the capability to put my entire life at risk.



REVIEW: 4.5 STARS
"How a stranger's touch can elicit comfort is puzzling to me."

Ahhh, yes!! This book hit the spot! I love when I can read a book, have no idea what's going on, but be completely stuck and can't pull myself away because the story is sooo intriguing. And that's what this one was for me. I have read most of RC's books (all besides her Teach Me series), and each one has something different to offer. It was the same with this one! OMGosh...I just really enjoyed this one. This is completely spoiler-free, including primary/secondary character info and I think you need to go into this book with as little info as possible. It made the revelations that much more meaningful. I smiled when things started to be put into place.

I think one of my favorite parts about this book was that there was an air of mystery surrounding "HIM" and what was going on with him, but the book moved. It flowed. It kept going, and little by little, it revealed some answers just in time to keep me holding on. In the beginning, I was almost a little nervous because I thought it was going to be otherworldly at first. Not that I am against that, it was just that I was a little confused. I didn't understand how he could move in the manner he was, but once I got farther in and got some more 'intel', I was able to continue on with the knowledge as to why/how things were happening - HUGE GRIN TOO!! But to say I was confused, that's definitely an understatement, so don't stop and just keep going! I'm just glad the story was as active as it was because that's what kept me pinned to it. I read this one fairly quickly (shocker!!) and didn't want to put it down. I *really* liked it, a lot. I smiled through most of the book and even leaked a little from my eyeballs a tad....which, I don't think RC has ever made me tear up. This one got me right in the gut for a moment. Once I found out "HIS" backstory, it was pretty sad....not gonna lie, but once it was made real and I had to really deal with it, that's when it became pretty harsh for me. I loved the way she wrote that part out because the uncovering of the truth about everything was eye opening and just made the reality of his situation that much more tenebrous. So very sad. 

All in all, the feel good nature of this book was the kind that kept my mind busy, my heart beating and my smiles aplenty. It was definitely a story shrouded in mystery, but the discovery was very rewarding so as not to be too heavy or woeful. The social impact, the learning capacity of this book, is actually a pretty important one and the way she told it made me see that it was content rich and fluff less - which I appreciated very much. It was almost as if the romance was an added bonus because the secrecy was so prominent in this story, but not overwhelming so we got to fall in love naturally and quite easily. I just really liked how this one unfolded!! SO good!

And no worries....for as heavy as it was, we still got some of RC's signature giggle-worthy moments at just the right times.

"Everyone has secrets. It's the ones we hold close and keep hidden that are the most dangerous."
~BEE

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~MEET RC BOLDT~
RC Boldt is the wife of Mr. Boldt, a retired Navy Chief, mother of Little Miss Boldt, and former teacher of many students. She currently lives on the southeastern coast of North Carolina, enjoys long walks on the beach, running, reading, people watching, and singing karaoke. If you're in the mood for some killer homemade mojitos, can't recall the lyrics to a particular 80's song, or just need to hang around a nonconformist who will do almost anything for a laugh, she's your girl.

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Monday, September 17, 2018

Book Review and Giveaway for No Tomorrow by Carian Cole



NO TOMORROW
by CARIAN COLE

The people we love are thieves.
They steal our hearts. They steal our breath.
They steal our sanity.
And we let them.
Over and over and over again.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

They say you never forget your first time.
Mine was with a homeless musician who effed my brains out under a bridge.

He was my first love. And fourteen years later, I still can’t get him out of my head.

He broke all my rules.
He also broke my heart.

I watched him climb to stardom, cheering him on from afar.
But I was never a fan; just a girl in love.

Like a tornado, he spiraled, leaving a path of destruction in his wake.

But love conquers all, right? It has to. Because here I stand, ravaged and ruined, needing it to be true.

You can’t go back, but I want to. Back to the bridge. Back to when he sang only for me. Before he was famous. Before he shattered my heart.

I thought I knew everything about him.
But I could not have been more wrong.

He promised me every tomorrow. And here I am, waiting.
And hoping.
Again.


REVIEW: 3 STARS
"My heart doesn't beat without yours."

I am going to apologize in advance because I am writing this fresh from reading it, and I am a tad bit sad, maybe a little frustrated, and quite possibly irritated, but this is just a very opinionated....opinion. I need to admit that I put this book down so many times that it took me three days just to get to 38%, and then another two to talk myself into finishing it. And I did. <sigh> I guess I am just disappointed. Here's the thing; the story itself was ok, it was good, and that's why I wanted to see it through, but the execution was a little off-putting for me. The heroine was my least favorite part about this book, but the hero (issues and all) was what kept me pushing on. I knew there was going to be some revelations; some answers for everything going on. I knew he had a heart of gold and was completely messed up, but I liked him a lot.

The book was slow in some spots and it picked up in others, but I struggled a lot with the droning on by the heroine throughout the entire book. I feel like she was...annoying. I know that's awful to say, but I just couldn't handle her. I didn't like her and couldn't connect with her for most of the story, from her ridiculous decisions to her complete lack of common sense. The ramblings of her inner monologues took this book above and beyond boring a few times, but it was her constant questioning of EVERYTHING that was probably the most frustrating. She just didn't seem like she had her head on straight half the time. She would be smart and look something up about his 'condition' and then be dumb enough to 'give him' something while feeling she just doesn't 'know' if it's ok or not. I just couldn't with her. So she made the book drag a lot for me. I will admit the book moved along in other spots, but her monologues and questions/actions were very draining for me, and it lent a few too many eye-roll moments as well. I mean, she is arguing with a DOCTOR on what HE knows. She was obnoxious and irritating in so many instances that it just gave me a sour taste in my mouth....and I really hate admitting that.

The hero, I feel like his undying love and devotion to her was sincere. I am almost 98% positive I kept reading just to see how he did and how everything worked out in his favor. It wasn't a bad read, not by any means, but it wasn't amazing or great or tear-inducing for me either.  I did have a problem with some of his 'actions', but the span of time this covers was a good representation of how long things can take and how jacked up they can be. However, when he was with her, their love was beautiful. It was sigh worthy in some parts as well. Awkward a few times? Maybe, but when they were high on love...they were what love stories are made of. When they were together, and life was going good, their intimacy leapt off the pages. I smiled during those times and I looked forward to their love.

"Everything we want is bad for us in some way..."

This whole book was a long ride in a very toxic relationship, so it wasn't easy and it's good to see that someone attempted to tackle it. However, it was also grating because as heavy as it was/should have been, it was a very light and fluffy book when you actually got through it - at least, I felt that way. I didn't feel any real heaviness or any emotions from this. And for the level of intensity that this one should have rated, I didn't feel any depth or angst to it at all. I mean, I read it...but I didn't feel anything. I will say that I have first hand experience with some of the issues tackled, so I had a pretty good understanding about what was happening. I could follow along rather easily, from giving repeated chances to the anger about the inability to control the situation. Was this a bad book? Noo! No, it wasn't. It just wasn't amazing. It didn't do for me what I was hoping it would do. I will read this author again, because she can clearly tell a story, but I just hope her heroines aren't all this ditzy or helpless....and maybe that was the big let down for me. I'll definitely find out.

Anything. Anytime. Anywhere.
~BEE

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~MEET CARIAN COLE~

I have a passion for the bad boys, those covered in tattoos, sexy smirks, ripped jeans, fast cars, motorcycles and of course, the sweet girls that try to tame them and win their hearts.
My first novel in the best-selling Ashes & Embers series, Storm, published in September of 2014. I have many books and sequels slated for this series. My new spin-off series, Devils Wolves, launched in 2016 with the best-selling novel, Torn. There are several books planned for this series as well.
Born and raised a Jersey girl, I now reside in beautiful New Hampshire with my husband and our multitude of furry pets and spend most of my time writing, reading, and vacuuming.


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Friday, September 14, 2018

Excerpt for Perversion by TM Frazier



EXCERPT

Emma Jean

When I was younger, I fell in love with magic. I learned every card trick there was from library books and unmasking magic TV specials. I used to put on shows for Gabby that included escaping from complicated knots and trick handcuffs. But what’s magic besides a sleight of hand?

It’s a lie.

And lying is what I’m damn good at.

My ability to spin a tall tale or two lead to stealing wallets and conning people into taking stray pets for the thrill of it. Now, I’m using it to earn for Marco. The thrill is there, but it’s muted, hindered, lost under his pile of mounting threats.

The inside of the casino smells like stale cigarettes, spilled beer, and burnt coffee. We’re not supposed to be in here. It’s Bedlam territory. But that’s also why it’s perfect. 

It isn’t like anyone would recognize us here.

We’ve made friends with a few of the cocktail waitresses by giving them a small cut, and they don’t ask questions or ring any alarms when they see us working. I’ve also been straightening my hair over the last few years since my crazy curls stand out like a reflector on a dark highway. I’ve dyed it a few shades darker than my normal honey blonde to help blend in.

Tonight is starting off well. Gabby and I are working a con we’ve run a few times before.

Gabby walks away, her long dark hair swooshing behind her. She gives me a nod as she passes me by on the slot machine I’m pretending to play. She’s just faked losing an expensive engagement ring at another slot machine. I watched out of the corner of my eye as she frantically looked around for it, then loudly announced a thousand-dollar reward would be waiting at the casino cage for whoever returned it.

She is flawless. She should be an actress. And in another life, she would be.

But we don’t live in another life.

We live in Lacking and belong to Los Muertos.

Our lives are not our own.

A few people casually look around the area, then return to their machines when they don’t find the ring Gabby was ranting about. They won’t either. Because it’s not there.

Yet.

It's go time.

I strut over to the area Gabby just left and put a dollar in the machine. While the wheels spin, I pretend to pick up the dime store ring I already have in my hand. By the time the machine dings to tell me I’ve lost my dollar, I’m turning the ring over, inspecting it like I don’t have half a dozen more just like it in my drawer back at the apartment.

“Would you look at that?” I mutter to myself loud enough so others around me can hear.

A man in an Adidas jumpsuit with a potbelly taps me on the shoulder. “I’ll take that. I saw the woman who dropped it. I’ll go return it to her.”

Liar. You just want the reward.

“That’s so nice of you,” I say. I hold it out, about to drop it into his hand when I pull it back. “I bet there’s a reward for something this valuable.” I start to walk around the man.

“I’ll take it up to management. Maybe, they know…”

“Here,” the man says, holding up a hundred-dollar bill. “Take this. I’ll take it to her. I just…you know, as I said, I want to make sure it gets back to the right person.”

You’re not even a good liar.

Sometimes, it’s just too freaking easy. And this scam wasn’t even an Emma Jean and Gabby original. We saw it a long time ago in a movie starring Jennifer Love Hewitt.

Doesn’t anyone else watch movies?

I shrug and pass him the ring. Plucking the bill from his hand, I tuck it into my bra.

“Thanks,” I say before quickly making my way toward the large glass front doors. It’s Thursday. Marco’s money is due in two days, and we’re short this week.

Really short.

I walk slowly and wave goodbye to the valets with a smile on my face. “Any luck, tonight?” One asks me.

“I think so,” I answer with a smile. Once I’m down the sidewalk and out of view, I scramble to the side of the casino where I kick off my heels and change from the sequined dress I’d stolen from a dry-cleaner into a pair of cut-off shorts and my yellow Keds.

Now, all I have to do is wait for Gabby.

I don’t have to wait long.

“Run!” Gabby yells, darting from the doors of the casino with two large men wearing tight black security t-shirts close behind. Running from security is terrifying enough, knowing that we’re running from members of the Bedlam Brotherhood kicks it up a notch.

I grab my backpack and sling it across my shoulders. I move as fast as I can until I’m running right alongside her. We race through the gates, cross the street, narrowly avoiding being hit by two cars. We duck into a hole in a fence and run through one backyard after the other.

“One of those cunt waitresses must have tipped them off!” Gabby says, through shallow breaths. She’s barefoot in a black mini-dress hiked up to her ass to give her long legs room to run. Her long thick hair is wrapped around her face, sticking to her mouth.

We hit the sixth backyard. Without another word, we separate behind a clothesline.

We’ve mapped out this escape plan a thousand times, but this is the first time we’ve ever had to use it.

When I make it into the central part of town, to the Los Muertos/Bedlam border, I can no longer hear the shouts of the security guards. I lost them.

Hopefully, Gabby did, too.

I use a tower of stacked-up wooden pallets on the sidewalk like a ladder to scale a concrete wall, then drop down into the alley.

I grow more panic-stricken the longer I wait for Gabby. I bite the inside of my lip, pacing back and forth along the high wall. The Bedlam Brotherhood runs the security at the casino. If they catch her and find out who she is? Or worse? Who her brother is?

They'll... I shake the thought from my mind. She’ll be fine.

She HAS to be fine.

Please be okay, Gabby. Please.

I’m trying to catch my breath and pull myself together when I hear a clink echo through the alley as if someone dropped some spare change, followed by the sound of something heavy dropping to the asphalt.

“Gabby?” I ask into the darkness. Thinking it’s her, relief washes over me like rain on a barren desert.

My only answer is the flickering of a fluorescent light mounted high on the roof’s edge of the adjoining building. And the hiss of what sounds like a cat behind a dumpster.

I walk over and peer around it. “Gabby? Are you hurt? Say something!” I whisper-shout.

Someone moves from within the shadow. “Get out here, Gabby. We’ve got to go before Mar…”

The light flickers again, for just a second. That second is all I need to see that the someone slowly stalking toward me is not Gabby.

It’s a man…twice my size.

“Who are you?” I ask, shuffling backward as the man cloaked in a black leather hood emerges from the shadows. The front of his jacket is open. Underneath, he's shirtless, covered in a sheen of sweat, and more tattoos than visible skin all the way up the front of his throat. His muscled chest and abs flex with each step he takes. The hood shadows most of his face, but when the lights flicker again, yellow eyes glow from within.

And they’re locked on me.

My ‘save your ass’ mode kicks in.

The man is blocking the only exit. My only other chance of escape is to scale the same wall I used to drop into the alley.

I keep moving backward as he approaches until my back hits the wall. I look left and right for something to use to climb on.

There’s nothing but emptiness.

My stomach sinks, but surrender is not an option.

I swallow hard as the alarm bells scream in my head for me to run. Somewhere.

Anywhere.

There’s nowhere to go!

My legs tremble. Fear crawls like a million spiders along the backs of my legs. I push myself further against the wall as if I can squish the feeling away, but it’s useless.

Fear consumes me. Swallows me whole.

He continues toward me. As he gets closer, I realize it’s not just sweat glistening on his skin. There’s something else splattered across the tattoos on his chest and on his stubbled jaw.

It almost looks like wet paint.

My breathing stops when he’s close enough that I can make out the tattoo on the front of his throat.

A bleeding black rose.

The symbol of the Bedlam Brotherhood.


I’ve heard stories about Grim. The man in the hood. The executioner for Bedlam.

They were all terrifying, but not nearly as terrifying as the reality of coming face to face with the man himself.

“We didn’t do anything,” I blurt. “I mean, we did, but it wasn’t a big deal. I’ll…I’ll give the money back. Just tell your men not to hurt my friend. It was all my idea. Let her go, and you can take me.”

“Who the fuck are you?” he asks. His voice is so thick and deep I feel it more than hear it. Shivers erupt all over my body.

He raises his arm, revealing a long curved blade.

For the first time in my life, I can’t seem to be able to hide my fear with my wit or sarcasm. My throat tightens. I can’t swallow, never mind speak. I’ve lost my words completely, along with my nerve.

The man’s blade drips red onto the pavement from the serrated tip.

Every fear response I didn’t even know I had runs rampant. I’m holding my breath.

My muscles tense as if running was still an option. The hairs on my arms and the back of my neck prickle my skin as they stand on end. I raise up to my tip-toes and push back, trying to make myself disappear into the wall.

I glance from the knife back to his chest, then back again. The splatters across his skin?

It’s not fucking paint.

Before I can process what the hell is happening, he switches from slow-stalking mode into hyper-speed, pinning my wrists above my head. His hard, bloodied chest pushes against me, smearing blood across my white tank top, forcing the back of my head to connect roughly with the wall.

“I’ll only ask you this one more time. Who the fuck are you?” His low guttural growl rattles my bones.

His unblinking, angry, golden eyes lock onto mine. Without the fluorescent light, they’re more golden brown than a glowing yellow. As much as I want to, I can’t look away. He could be the last person I ever see.

The thought is just the spike of adrenaline I need.

“Let me go,” I say, finally finding my words. I try and jerk my wrists from his grip with no luck. I’m trapped. My fear and anger rise to the surface, but I shove it back down.

Fear won’t get me out of this situation, so it will have to wait for its damned turn.

He digs his rough fingers into my skin. “Answer me. Who the fuck are you?”

The bite of pain only makes me angrier. I throw his question back at him. “Who the fuck are you?”

He glances down at my rapidly rising and falling chest before pinning me with his stare. The corner of his mouth tugs up in a half-smirk.

“So much confidence for someone who's trembling,” he says with an amused glint shining in his demonic eyes.

I shrug. “Maybe, I’m just not a fan of enclosed spaces,” I say through gritted teeth.

“You didn’t answer me,” he says.

“Why do you have blood all over you?” I answer him with yet another question. “You know, if you were committing some kind of crime back there, you should be more careful. I recommend a bleach bath and death by fire for your clothes the first chance you get. If it’s self-harm, I’m sure there’s a helpline you can call.”

He cocks his head to the side. His nostrils flare. His face is only inches away. I can feel the heat from his body against mine. His cool breath flutters against my neck.

I’ve never been this close to a man before. My trembling grows. My inner thighs shake sending a rippling wave of something very unfamiliar coursing through the center my body. I try and press my legs together to stop it from happening again, but when he uses his knee to wedge my legs apart, caging me in even further, it only grows, uncoiling from within like a slinky being pulled apart at the ends.

I swallow hard as the stubble of his jaw presses against my neck.

“Name,” he demands, his voice raspier than before.

I shut my eyes tight for a beat, trying to gain composure, control, something that will help me as I try and reason my way out of this. “Listen, I didn’t see anything,” I blurt.

“That is if you did anything. I’m not going to call the police if that’s what you're worried about. I wouldn’t anyway, even if I saw something, which I didn’t.”

His brows knit together in a harsh line. “Why?”

His question confuses me.

“Why what?”

“Why wouldn’t you tell the police?”

Because Marco owns them.

“Let’s just say that I haven’t exactly been a model citizen myself tonight. Let’s face it. If the police around here weren’t being paid not to do their jobs, half this town would be locked up.” I take a deep, shaky breath. “Especially people like us.”

He stills. There’s no more talking. Only heavy breathing and a battle of wills. He releases one of my hands. I think he’s reaching for his knife. My blood turns cold. I can feel my face pale as my heart starts beating as faster and faster as if it wants to get in as many as possible before the end.

I’m surprised when he doesn’t go for his knife. Instead, his hand travels slowly down my chest into my cleavage.

“No, don’t!” I say, but it’s too late, he’s already yanked on my locket.

“Please just give it back, and let me go,” I plead. Feeling like it’s my real heart he's torn from my chest. “It’s the only thing in this world that means anything to me. Besides my best friend, it’s all I have.”

I hate the desperation in my voice, but it’s the truth.

He’s silent for a moment. He raises his arms. I flinch, raising my arms over my face defensively. But when nothing happens, I lower them, just in time to see him push back his hood, revealing his face.

“Why?” I ask, closing my eyes knowing full well that the only time a criminal reveals himself to a witness is right before they take them out.

“Look at me,” he demands, holding my face in his hand.

“No!” I say, shutting my eyes tighter.

“Look at me!” he bellows. He’s on me again. This time, he holds my head in his large rough hands. “Open your fucking eyes so you can see me.”

With no other choice than to get my head squished like a turtle under a car tire, I do as he demands. Opening my eyes, I blink through the haze, and when it clears, I’m met with tousled, medium-length, light brown hair, slicked back on the top, shorn close to head on the sides. His nose is slightly crooked like it’s been broken a few times before.

The stubble on his square, defined jaw is a few days over needing a shave. A jagged scar runs through his chin like an angry white lightning bolt.

He’s the most fucking beautifully terrifying man I’ve ever seen.

He’s searching my eyes for something, but I don’t know what.

“Why?” I ask in a whisper.

His hands release mine, but he doesn’t step back. He leans in closer, speaking against my cheek in a rumble of a whisper. The strange feeling from earlier comes back as a zap of electricity bouncing around my insides looking for somewhere to ground.

I’m breathing heavy. Our lips are so close, almost touching. He slides one hand off my face, snaking it around my neck, pulling me closer. He starts to answer in a rumble of a whisper, causing goosebumps to rise on my already prickled skin. “Because I want you to see the face of the man who’s just—”

“Where the fuck are you?” calls Gabby from the other side of the wall. “I lost them!”

The moment, whatever it is, is now broken. The man releases me so suddenly I brace myself against the wall to keep from falling. I turn my head toward her voice.

“Gabby!” I shout back.

My heart is beating out of control. Out of habit, I raise my hand to my chest, seeking familiar comfort.

I look up. The man in the hood is gone.

And so is my locket.


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USA Today bestselling author of the King Series, T.M. Frazier, brings you an all-new trilogy with a sexy anti-hero you're going to love to hate, and a ballsy heroine with more up her sleeve than just tricks.

Love is supposed to be a fairy tale.
Ours is a death wish.

I'm the executioner for the Bedlam Brotherhood.
She's a con artist working for my greatest enemy.

I use her.
She manipulates me.

We find ourselves on opposite sides of a bloody war.

My heart and head tell me I have to stay away.
My lust for her doesn't give a sh*t.

Nothings fair in love and gang war.


~MEET TM FRAZIER~
T.M. (Tracey Marie) Frazier never dreamed that a single person would ever read a word she wrote when she published her first book. Now, she is a five-time USA Today bestselling author and her books have been translated into numerous languages and published all around the world.

T.M. enjoys writing what she calls sexy‘wrongside of the tracks romance’ with morally corrupt anti-heroes and ballsy heroines.

Her books have been described as raw, dark and gritty. Basically, what that means, is while some authors are great at describing a flower as it blooms, T.M. is better at describing it in the final stages of decay.

She loves meeting her readers, but if you see her at an event please don’t pinch her because she's not ready to wake up from this amazing dream.

~CONNECT WITH TRACEY~

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