Title: Shattered Stars
Author: Shari J. Ryan
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: April 4, 2019
Blurb
âYou will lose your memory.â
Thatâs what a doctor told me at just twenty-nine years old.
My headaches and exhaustion werenât from overexertion like I thought.
It was more. A lot more.
Despite my unimaginable challenges,
I found love at a time I needed it most.
Layne, a rising star and popular frontman,
was unknowingly singing life into my soul through his allusive lyrics.
I lived and breathed for the mesmeric sound of his voice.
Kismet led us to a kind of love anyone would die for.
However, Layne shouldnât be stuck loving me after I begin to forget him.
We will once again be strangers, separated by a crowd.
I can no longer promise him a future like the one he vowed to me.
Layne is determined to help me get better.
Iâm determined to make him see past my illness.
The outcome ⦠to be determined.
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AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Excerpt
Copyright 2019 - Shari J. Ryan
âHey! What did you think?â Layne, the frontman, jogs over to us and gives Lexi a hug.
âYou guys are insanely amazing,â Lexi responds. âLike, blew us away.â
âOh yeah?â Layne asks, glancing over at me. Lexi is speaking on behalf of both of us, which gives me a free pass to avoid conversation and just take in the scene, but I feel I need to praise them too.
âYou were seriously incredible. I can see why you won that battle.â I just made it sound like they were fighting a war by singing music, but if thatâs the worst thing that comes out of my mouth tonight, we should all be so lucky.
âThat means a lot, thank you,â Layne says, staring at me as if I look fascinating. Sometimes I feel like my past is tattooed on my forehead and everyone I meet already knows what path Iâve walked along.
Layne shakes his head to the side, shuffling the hair away from his eye. Itâs weird that I want to touch his hair. Itâs even weirder that heâs been talking to me and I havenât heard a word he has said. âYou okay?â When I refocus on his face, his lip is curled to the side, the side where he has the lip ring.
âIâm so sorry, I think my ears are still ringing a bit. What did you just say?â I ask him, trying to hide the fact that I was too busy gazing at him with imaginary hearts in my eyes.
âI asked how long you and Lexi have been friends?â He combs his fingers through the sides of his hair, pushing the strands away from his face and his piercing emerald eyes. With dark brows and lashes, thereâs an immediate pull to his alluring stare. Heâs stunning and fascinating. He also asked me a question for the second time.
âOh, um, we have been friends since we were babies actually. Our moms are friends, so we kind of grew up like sisters.â
âThatâs awesome,â he says, glancing over at Lexi, who is biting down on her bottom lip, while staring into Johnnyâs eyes. How is it, some of us have the natural born instinct to flirt, while the rest of us have knees that threaten to collapse the moment anyone looks in our direction? Itâs not fair. I have no game. Not that I need a game because there isnât a game I could possibly win with my life trailing behind me like a ball and chain. I love Aly, but I could have given her a different kind of love five to ten years from now too. âDamn, I think Lexi has a thing for Johnny.â
âShe does,â I tell Layne, ratting her out like an awful friend. I slap my hand over my mouth, âCrap, donât repeat that, and I hope that doesnât bother you ... like, I mean, if you have a thing for Lexi.â My foot can leave my mouth now.
Layneâs eyes narrow against his smile, his smile that reveals two perfectly located dimples by the corners of his lips. As the face of this band, he gives the fans a good reason to sit and watch them, but with the music I heard tonight, all the guys could be hideous and no one would care. It only helps that heâs gorgeous and heâs probably turned many local women into rock fans. âI donât think I have to inform Johnny that Lexi has a thing for him. It seems like heâs gotten the hint,â Layne says. I glance over my shoulder again and yup, Johnny got the hint. Their lips are locked and if steam could release from hot bodies, the smoke alarms would be going off. âAnd Iâm okay with it because Lexi and I arenât into each other like that.â
âHuh, did they already know each other?â I ask Layne. I thought I would know who Lexi has been spending her time with, but Iâve been a little preoccupied.
Layne shakes his head, looking past me, toward them. âNope, I donât think theyâve officially met before tonight.â
âWell, I guess when you have no fears, you do what the moment tells you do, right?â I say.
Once again, Layne seems fascinated by the simple little remark Iâve made, and I canât understand what it is that is so enlightening about my nervous chatter. âItâs funny you say that about fears. I wrote this song about fears, and you totally just hit the nail on the head.â
I know the song. I know it very well. It spoke to me two years ago when I heard it the first time, and it spoke to me again tonight when I heard it. âI think Iâve heard it,â I tell him, trying to sound casual about my love for his music. In fact, the song weâre both talking about is the song that drew me in as a âDivi-O Groupie.â
âYou had heard of it before tonight? We havenât performed here in a couple years.â
âYeah, I remember it,â I tell him, biting down on the tip of my thumb.
Layne seems frozen within his star-lit smile and unblinking stare. âItâs my favorite of all our songs, but we were following trends and, you know how it goes. Oddly enough, weâve been talking to a record label about that song, but I am talking too much and shouldnât have said that to you, so pretend I stopped talking like thirty seconds ago.â He laughs and covers his hand over his face, showing off pen scribbles across his fingers, weaving in and out of the several rings I saw flashing around while he was running back and forth across the stage with the microphone, pouring his heart out of his lungs.
âYour secret is safe with me,â I tell him. âNow we each have something to forget.â
âThank you,â he says, tugging at a loose curl beside my ear.
I hold my breathe when his hand comes near me, but itâs gone just as fast, hanging back down by his side.
Breathe.
âI think you got a little pen on your fingers there,â I point out, looking for a way to change the subject away from our spewed secrets. Seriously though ... a record label? Thatâs insane.
âYeah, Iâm a sloppy artist,â he says, admiring his smudged artwork. âI have these three or four lines of a couple songs that always seem to slip my mind so I write them on my hand, but then I end up sweating them off during the show. I think the actual method of writing the words down helps me remember though, so it became a habit.â
Okay so heâs not just drawing on his hand for the sake of looking badass, which is sweet. My heart is already flopping around in my chest like a fish out of water, but I have to toss it back because I canât take part in this type of lifestyle. Of course, I canât exactly go anywhere now either since Lexi is still playing tongue tag with the drummer.
Author Bio
Shari J. Ryan is an International Bestselling Author of heartbreakers and mind-benders. Shari was once told she tends to exaggerate often and sometimes talks too much, which would make a great foundation for fictional books. Four years later, Shari has written eleven novels that often leave readers either in tears from laughing, or crying.
With her loud Boston girl attitude, Shari isn't shy about her love for writing or the publishing industry. Along with writing several International bestsellers, Shari has split her time between writing and her longstanding passion for graphic design. In 2014, she started an indie-publishing resource company, MadHat Books, to help fellow authors with their book cover designs, as well as assistance in the self-publishing process. While Shari may not find many hours to sleep, she still manages to make time for her family. She is a devoted wife to a great guy, and a mother to two little boys who remind her daily why she was put on this earth.
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Title: Skirt Steak
Series: Grade-A Beefcakes #5
Author: Vanessa Vale
Genre: Erotic Romance
Release Date: April 4, 2019
Blurb
Julia Duke has watched her brothers fall in love, and itâs her turn. But after a rude ex complained she was terrible between the sheets, her confidence is shot. If she canât please one man, how can she satisfy two? Sheâs not looking for love, but one Friday night â love finds her.
Bennett and Cash take one look at the fiery redhead and can't resist seducing her into their arms. Nothing will stop them from making her theirs. Not the a-hole ex boyfriend, and not a scandalous past that may change the way she looks at one of them forever.
Now that Julia knows what it's like to be loved by some Grade-A Beefcake, she's willing to do whatever it takes to keep her men, no matter who she has to fight to get her happily-ever-after: the rumor-mill, the law, her crazy ex, or herself.
Remember: With a Vanessa Vale book, one cowboy is never enough. In this smokin' hot series, each heroine gets an extra helping (or two) of Grade-A Beefcake.
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Author Bio
Vanessa Vale is the USA Today Bestselling author of over 30 books, sexy romance novels, including her popular Bridgewater historical romance series and hot contemporary romances featuring unapologetic bad boys who donât just fall in love, they fall hard. When sheâs not writing, Vanessa savors the insanity of raising two boys, is figuring out how many meals she can make with a pressure cooker, and teaches a pretty mean karate class. While sheâs not as skilled at social media as her kids, she loves to interact with readers.
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Title: Rough Code
Series: Rough Edges #2
Author: Kim Congram
Genre: Standalone Romantic Suspense
Release Date: March 14, 2019
Blurb
Evie Franklin doesnât know the meaning of home. On the run since her teens, Evieâs whole life is built around a quick exit. After a violent attack leaves her vulnerable, Evieâs forced to rely on the only man who makes her wish she could stay.
Lucien Falco knew Evie was hiding something. The talented, beautiful hacker was a puzzle Luc wanted to solve. Raised in a loving, close knit family, heâs always known whatâs heâs been looking for. But no woman has ever come close.
Until now.
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Excerpt
Luc
The Present
âYou have a minute?â Paxton asked, leaning against my office door. I sat back, opening my arms in a welcoming gesture.
âOnly if youâre bringing me donuts.â
He entered, shutting the door. He sat, tossing a folder on my desk.
âWe have a situation.â He nodded at the folder.
Photos of mutilated dolls and letters with threats in thick black ink.
I sobered, frowning. âWho is the client?â
âItâs not a client. They were sent to Evie.â
âWhat the fuck?â I re-examined the letters. âWhatâs our plan?â
âMailroom reported it. Theyâve been coming for the last week.â
âShit. These are ââ I tossed the photos on the desk. âShe know?â
âNo.â
âFuck.â I leaned back, pinching the bridge of my nose. âSawyerâs been digging up her past. Thereâs nothing. Literally nothing.â
Pax crossed his arms, pegging me with a glare. âAnd why is one of my analysts doing that without my permission?â
âIâm her next of kin. Not an actual fucking family member. You ever hear about her past? No. She deflects. All the fucking time. She pushes you away. She keeps people at armâs length, sheââ
âNo, itâs because youâre into her.â
âFuck off.â
âYou fuck off, douchebag.â Pax leaned forward. âYouâre into her. Iâve been distracted, but Iâm not blind. Donât bullshit a bullshitter. If you try to tell me youâre not into her, then youâre a fucking idiot and Iâll take you outside.â
âWell, fuck.â I offered a wry smile. âCanât pull one over you.â
âYou idiot.â He tossed a pen at me. I caught it, spinning it with one hand.
âWhat are we doing about this?â I tapped the photos.
âWe need to find the threat.â
âStalker?â
âMaybe.â Pax reached for one of the photos. âThis is disturbing.â He held it up. The dolls genitals were melted, its mouth covered by duct tape.
âItâs personal. And angry. Thereâs a lot of rage in this picture. Thatâs dangerous.â
âShe needs protection.â
âSheâs leaving. Got her official resignation letter today.â The words tasted like sawdust. âLondon.â
âWhatâs the new job?â
âSome start-up.â
âYou didnât do the referee check?â
I frowned. âNo. I assumed you did.â
Pax leaned forward, tapping a hand against his knee. âDo you know the name of the company?â
I shook my head. âLet me call Sawyer.â I hit the digits on my handset, leaving it on loudspeaker.
âYel-low?â Sawyer answered.
âSawyer, Iâm here with Pax. Which start-up is Evie working for in London.â
Sawyer paused. âI⦠I donât think sheâs said.â
I exchanged a look with Pax. âCan you find out? Quietly?â
âGive me five.â
We waited, hearing his keys as he typed, muttering to himself.
âUmm, this is unexpected.â He murmured down the phoneline.
âWhat is?â I prompted.
âShe doesnât have a passport. Or any flights booked. There are no visa applications either.â
âSheâs meant to be leaving at the end of the month.â
âDude. She may be leaving us, but there is no evidence that sheâs leaving the country.â
âThanks.â I hung up, looking over at Pax. âSheâs hiding.â
Pax nodded. âThis.â He tapped a picture on the table. âAnd her leaving? Too coincidental.â
âFuck.â I ran a hand through my hair. âJust⦠fuck.â
âYouâre gonna need to get the full story.â
âIf sheâs been planning this, I highly doubt sheâs going to do anything but run.â
âWay I see it, you have two options. One, you tell her and she runs. Or two, you tell her and she stays. Either way, you need to tell her. Learn from my mistakes. Donât keep her in the dark.â
âYou dick.â I threw the pen back at him. He caught it mid-air, sending me a shit-eating grin.
âAm I wrong?â
I rubbed a hand over my mouth, frowning. âFine. But Iâll handle it.â
âAnd if she runs?â
âWeâll find her.â
Pax grinned. âFinally. You have your balls back.â
âFucker.â
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Author Bio
Book Lover. Puppy Mumma. Tea-Swilling Author.
Kim is an introvert who loves writing about fierce women and the men who love them. Her favourite kind of story is the one where Red Riding Hood rescues herself. Kim writes political thrillers, romance and everything in between. She's been an event coordinator, bar manager, shop assistant and an intern too many times to count. These days, she works part-time while writing the kind of stories she loves to read. Kim is a transplant to Canberra where she lives with her husband and their sausage dog in their house full of books.
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Title: The Truth About Heartbreak
Author: B. Celeste
Genre: Forbidden Romance
Cover Design: Letitia Hasser, RBA Designs
Release Date: June 3, 2019
Blurb
I fell in love with him when I was thirteen years old.
He was older, mysterious, and unattainable. The guy I could never touch.
Then one night changed everything for us. But there was one huge problem.
He belonged to her.
Excerpt
PROLOGUE
River / Present / 23
The velvet caress of silk sheets against my bare skin leaves me hyperaware of what Iâve done. Early morning sunlight slips through the cracked blinds and kisses my exposed back, coating the room in soft pinks and yellows.
Steady, rhythmic breathing sounds from behind me. In, out. In, out. Itâs a melody that makes my muscles lock, too afraid to reacquaint my eyes with every dip and curve of chiseled muscle displayed inches away.
His natural musky scent wraps around me, overwhelming my senses until my heart thumps wildly in my chest. It doesnât take away the memories of lingering touches, gentle kisses, and an overpowering sense of belonging. And less than twelve hours ago, I belonged to Everett Tucker in ways I never thought possible in the ten years of knowing him.
His touches scorched me.
His kisses burned me.
And his bodyâ¦
The mattress dips with the shift of his weight. I hold my breath, waiting to see if heâs awake. When his soft snores echo in the half-empty room, I release the breath and white knuckle the sheets against my breasts. Carefully, I sit up and squeeze my eyes closed like itâll soften the blow of reality.
I wait for the pounding headache or quake of unavoidable nausea to punish me, but my conscience reminds me of what I already know. I wasnât drunk last night. What Iâve done canât be blamed on alcohol.
My hand drags across my bare neck until my heart thunders in pure panic over my missing possession. I swallow my anxiety when I catch the silver chain resting on the night stand and remember the very moment he took it off me.
Nothing but skin. Thatâs what he said he wanted between us. Iâve only taken this necklace off to shower and sleep. It goes everywhere with me, the silver paint palette and brush charms sweeping over my heartbeat as a reminder that he cares. But in the moment I had him as more than a wish, a hope, a dream, he didnât want it lingering.
Nothing but skin.
My fingertips touch the newest charm, a cracked heart, and I suck in a short breath when the contact shocks me. Clenching the sheets tighter to me, I turn slightly to peek through my peripheral and see a tussle of dirty blond hair against my starch white pillow case.
Look, my conscience taunts. Look at him.
Slivers of tan skin make their way into my sight as I shift, my gaze drifting up the mountain of hard muscles that form his toned biceps as they wrap around a pillow. Worrying my bottom lip, my heart summersaults in my chest when the curve of his square jaw comes into view. The sharp line of it is coated with early morning shadow that heâll shave despite preferring a thin layer of stubble.
He looks peaceful when heâs sleeping; the hard edge he normally radiates eased to a laxed slumber. From this angle, I can see the faded white scar that stretches from the bottom of his left ear along the curve of his throat, landing just above his pulse. You wouldnât know itâs there unless you know the story, and he doesnât tell just anybody.
But Iâm not just anybody.
Especially not now.
My throat tightens from the emotions lodging in the back of it as I scope out his sculpted body. He works hard for every muscle, spends countless hours in the gym or training at the fire department, and it shows. The man sleeping beside me has been a figment of my imagination that Iâve conjured thousands of times, but his body is a masterpiece I never could have perfected unless I saw it in person.
I absorb the memory of his body spread on my mattress, bare to me. Every vulnerability laying in a mess of sheets, open to pull apart and dissect and regret when the sun fully rises.
Less than twelve hours ago I belonged to the minty eyed boy Iâve loved since I was thirteen. But Everett Tucker isnât mine to love.
He stirs when I rise from bed.
âEverett,â I whisper brokenly, my heart shattering inside my chest. I can feel the pieces splintering apart as I choke out my final words. âWe made a mistake.â
Author Bio
B. Celeste is the alter ego of Barbara C. Doyle.
Her obsession with forbidden romance enabled her to pave a path into a new world of love, sex, sin, and angst.
Her debut novel is The Truth about Heartbreak.
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Title: Watch Me Unravel
Series: Blue is the Color #2
Author: Julia Wolf
Genre: Standalone Rock Star Romance
Cover Design: Amy Queau Photo: Lindee Robinson
Release Date: April 11, 2019
Blurb
David Wiesel lives for making music, partying, and women. He has a wicked sense of humor and a body made for sinning. He's the kind of guy every mama warns her daughter about.
Sylvia Price lives for her daughter, theater, and teaching. She's living the responsible life and left her wild ways in the past. She's the kind of woman every mama wants her son to marry. Not that she's looking for that.
One drunken night when they were teenagers inextricably bound them for life. Fifteen years later, an accident brings them back together and there is no denying the heat that scorched them when they were young is still there, sparking between them.
While David is more than willing to stoke those flames, Sylvia is afraid this time, the fire will burn her right to the ground.
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Author Bio
Julia Wolf is a lover of all things romance. From steamy, to sweet, to funny, to so dirty youâll be blushing for days, she loves it all.
Formerly a hair stylist, she spent years collecting stories her clients couldnât wait to spill. And now that sheâs writing full time, sheâs putting those stories to use, although all identifying characteristics have been changed to protect the not-so-innocent!
Julia lives in Maryland with her three crazy, beautiful kids and her patient husband who sheâs slowly converting to a romance reader, one book at a time.
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