March 31, 2014

The Shadow Prince Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

 

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for The Shadow Prince by Bree Despain! Today I have my review of the book along with a signed copy giveaway!


The Shadow Prince (Into the Dark #1)
Author: Bree Despain
Genre: YA Fantasy/Mythology
Release Date: March 11, 2014
Publisher: Egmont USA

Description:
Haden Lord, the disgraced prince of the Underrealm, has been sent to the mortal world to entice a girl into returning with him to the land of the dead. Posing as a student at Olympus Hills High—a haven for children of the rich and famous—Haden must single out the one girl rumored to be able to restore immortality to his race.

Daphne Raines has dreams much bigger than her tiny southern Utah town, so when her rock star dad suddenly reappears, offering her full tuition to Olympus Hills High’s prestigious music program, she sees an opportunity to catch the break she needs to make it as a singer. But upon moving into her estranged father’s mansion in California, and attending her glamorous new school, Daphne soon realizes she isn’t the only student in Olympus who doesn’t quite belong.

Haden and Daphne—destined for each other—know nothing of the true stakes their fated courtship entails. As war between the gods brews, the teenagers’ lives collide. But Daphne won’t be wooed easily and when it seems their prophesied link could happen, Haden realizes something he never intended—he’s fallen in love. Now to save themselves, Haden and Daphne must rewrite their destinies. But as their destinies change, so do the fates of both their worlds.
  

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18077928-the-shadow-prince
The Shadow Prince is the first book in a spectacular new young adult fantasy series that follows our two main characters - Haden Lord and Daphne Raines. Of course, nothing and no one are what they seem in the book - Haden is an Underlord Prince sent to find Daphne and bring her back to the Underworld with him. Daphne is an incredibly talented musician and singer - due to her destiny as the Cypher, which she has no idea about. Daphne gets swept away by her incredibly neglectful rock star father to a new town that has an incredibly prestigious music program - everything that Daphne always dreamt of. Now that Haden has walked through the Gate into the Overrealm, his destiny - along with Daphne's - is about to be set into motion and neither of them can do anything to stop it. They both learn a ton along the way, including one of the most important lessons of all - their fate is in their own hands.

I absolutely loved this book! There was so much going on the entire time that it felt like a fast-paced action novel, only there was a ton of other elements mixed in to create a riveting story that I literally couldn't put down. As the genre description mentions, there's a lot of mythology going on throughout the book. I loved each bit of it and it only made me want to learn more. The author weaves in so many different myths that it felt like the gods were truly alive. It honestly sparked a huge interest in mythology for me - I definitely think I'll be reading into more of it after this. The characters were well written, each with their own strengths and flaws. Daphne is a wonderful leading lady for the story - she's smart, driven, talented, kind, and a very devoted and loving daughter and friend. She makes a great opposite to Haden's character, which is part of the reason I think they work so well together. Haden is your typical tough on the outside, but squishy on the inside guy. He's incredibly hot (of course) and he has the typical issues that most "bad boys" do - he's a bit of a jerk who thinks he's better than everyone. (Okay, so he actually was considered above most of the people in the Underworld, but still - no need to be a jerk about it.) Haden is half human, which everyone in the Underworld, including himself, has always seen as a weakness. As it turns out, it's this very side of him that might just save Daphne and the rest of the world. I liked digging into Haden's character - it was like ripping away layers until you finally saw the truth of who he really was - and then you just loved him all the more for it.

The plot was full of action, adventure, and romance (of course). I loved watching Haden and Daphne interact and to see their relationship grow and change throughout the story. As I mentioned, the book was stuffed full of mythology - from the characters to settings and myths - and I loved every bit of it. I found the way the author mixed all the various myths together to create this intricate story was amazing. It kept me eagerly reading so I could learn more and see what was going to happen next. There's some elements of suspense and mystery thrown in for good measure, which only adds to the appeal - in my opinion. Overall, I honestly can't say enough good things about this book to convey how much I loved it. It far outpassed most other books in the same genre and left me dying for more. (How much longer until the next book releases?!) I very highly recommend this to fans of YA fantasy fiction along with those who enjoy mythology along with a wide range of other genres, including those looking for an original and refreshing take on mythology. 

Bree rediscovered her childhood love for creating stories when she took a semester off college to write and direct plays for at-risk, inner-city teens from Philadelphia and New York. She currently lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband, two young sons, and her beloved TiVo. The Dark Divine is Bree's debut novel. (Taken from Goodreads)

Author Links:
http://www.breedespain.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/readbree
http://twitter.com/breedespain
http://pinterest.com/breedespain
http://breedespain.tumblr.com/
Giveaway: The awesome people at Egmont are allowing me to give away a SIGNED copy of The Shadow Prince to (1) lucky reader! (US Only)



 

Under Nameless Stars Blog Tour: Interview + Giveaway


Welcome to my stop on the Under Nameless Stars blog tour hosted by Strange Chemistry! Today I have an interview with the author to share with you and don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of the post!


Under Nameless Stars (Zenn Scarlett #2)
Author: Christian Schoon
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Release Date: April 1, 2014
Publisher: Strange Chemistry

Description:

Zenn Scarlett’s novice year of exoveterinarian training on Mars isn’t quite going to plan…

After barely surviving a plot to destroy her school and its menagerie of alien patients, could things at the Ciscan cloister get any worse? Yes. Yes they could: Zenn’s absent father Warra Scarlett has suddenly ceased all communication with her. Desperate to learn what’s become of him, Zenn stows away aboard the Helen of Troy, a starliner powered by one of the immense, dimension-jumping beasts known as Indra.

With her is Liam Tucker, a towner boy who is either very fond of her, very dangerous to her, or both. On the verge of learning the truth about her dad, Zenn’s quest suddenly catapults her and Liam thousands of light years beyond known space, and into the dark heart of a monstrous conspiracy. Braving a gauntlet of lethal environments and unearthly life forms, her courage and exovet skills will now be tested as never before.

With the fate of entire worlds hanging in the balance, Zenn is racing headlong into trouble… again.
 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18209547-under-nameless-stars?ac=1
Hi and a big authory thanks to Steph for hosting this stop on the blog-tour-a-palooza for Under Nameless Stars. Zenn and I appreciate! 

1. What inspired you to write the Zenn Scarlett series?

The main push for writing Zenn’s adventures as an exoveterinarian learning to care for alien life forms boils down to my own deep, some would say obsessive, interest in and affection for animals. Combine this with a profoundly geeked-out-since-grade-school relationship with all things science fictional and Bob, as they say, is your uncle. (Anybody out there know the origin of this phrase? Please leave your wisdom in comments. Thank you.) 

2. What special research did you have to do for the books?

A lot of the tech/exobiologic/astro/med detail in the books was flotsam drifting around in my head where, when I wasn’t writing, it generally cluttered things up and posed a hazard to navigation. This isn’t because I’m particularly bright or have a photographic memory or anything. It’s just ‘cause I read lots of books on these topics and retained the odd bits that appealed to my neurons’ magpie sensibilities. Plus, I posed as a reporter for a med school newspaper while working my way through college for a few semesters. And since I find all things relating to the workings of human and non-human bodies gobsmackingly interesting, I soaked up even more might-come-in-useful-later stuff that way. When I hit plot points that needed more finesse than I could easily retrieve from the wet-data-banks, I either made things up out of whole cloth and tried to put a credible gloss on the passage, or I did what all writers do and typed “wiki” in front of the applicable search term.

3. Are any of the characters based off of yourself or people you know?

I’ve fostered and/or helped rehab a variety of domestic and wild animals here on our farm or at the animal shelters my wife and I volunteer at. A partial list of these critters would include horses, burros, donkeys, black bears, mountain lions, Burmese pythons, alligators, caiman, rattlesnakes, cobras, copperheads, iguanas, emus, pigs, dogs, cats, raccoons, possums, ferrets... I could go on. So, I’ve spent a fair amount of time getting my hands pleasantly dirty with a bunch of totally awesome veterinarians. It’s safe to say that Zenn is an amalgam of these amazing professionals, especially our personal vet. This woman does things like anesthetize a full-grown cougar about to escape from its carrier, or plunge her hands into a pile of leaves to grab a venomous water moccasin. You know, superhero stuff. I think Zenn gets a lot of her fearless devotion to healing huge, dangerous alien animals from our Dr. Jenni.

4. What can we expect in the upcoming books?

Well, I’m the kind of author who’s reluctant to talk too much about forthcoming projects ‘cause I’m weirdly superstitious about having my ideas lose their mojo if they’re prematurely exposed to the open air. I can say Zenn might well be headed for the Kiran planetary nature preserves where the native races build their palaces and villages on the backs of 1,500-foot-wide air-borne Kiran Sunkillers.

5. Was there a specific person or experience that made you want to become a writer?

My mom and my older sister were both English teachers. Nuff said?

6. What's up next for you?

I’m fleshing out a pitch/series bible for an animated steampunk TV adventure show, and there’s a monster-packed new book that’s gnashing its fangs and attempting to chew its way out of my frontal cortex and onto the page. So, Zenn’s next outing is currently fighting these two projects and trying to smother a few others in their cribs to see who gets to be a Real Life Thing next. I guess we’ll see who wins.

Anyway, that’s my story so far. Thanks again for having me here on the blog. And I encourage all your Dreamers to enter the Strange Chemistry contest. I mean hey, free books – and the Name A Star deal is pretty fun. Cheers!

 Thanks so much for stopping by and chatting with us today Christian!

16. The compartment on a starliner where an Indra lives is called a:

a. Depot
b. Warren
c. Stoneboat
d. Ready room



You can find the answer to almost all of the giveaway questions in this excerpt:

Read an Extract:







 

Book Blitz + Giveaway: All My Restless Life to Live by Dee DeTarsio

 


All My Restless Life to Live
Author: Dee DeTarsio
Genre: Adult Romance 
Release Date: April 29, 2013

Description:
Award-winning author Dee DeTarsio combines life’s darker side with humor and tenderness in a wonderfully charming look at love and the afterlife.

Life is a soap opera, especially for Elle Miller, who is a TV producer. (Ellen dropped the “n” in her name in hopes of finding a better ending for herself.) When her laptop crashes, she borrows her dead dad’s computer and gets way more than she bargained for.

As Elle tries to save her career with a storyline featuring a trip through Atlantis, she takes a trip to the Emmys, and finds herself in the middle of a romance between a real doctor and a hunk who just plays one on TV. Friends, family, and clues from “the other side” all help Elle figure out the difference between living the good life . . .  and living a good life. 
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17861309-all-my-restless-life-to-live?ac=1
Tell us about All my Restless Life to Live:

I always wanted to be a soap opera writer. Even though an 8th grade career aptitude test indicated I would make an excellent farmer’s wife. Of course, I also wanted to marry one of my junior high crushes, Jim Flower . . . which would have made me Dee Flower! (I need to write that book someday.)

What do you find most challenging about the writing life?

Distraction . . .

Where do writing ideas come from?

I grew up in Ennui, Ohio, and only wish I had started taking notes earlier—some of the funniest people I know are from the Midwest. I think it is constant fear of tornadoes or being trapped in a snowstorm that forges a delightful melancholy of the absurd. Plus, I come from a long line of teasers where NOTHING is sacred. Teasing is some complex form of hazing required to be a member of my family. And yes, when I was a teenager, my whole family totally made fun of me and my Scoliosis back brace (a la Joan Cusack, Sixteen Candles).

Are you a TV junkie?

I don’t watch much TV at all—only when I’m in the kitchen, family room, living room, bedroom, or on the treadmill. It’s not like there’s a TV in the bathroom or anything.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

When I’m not writing, I’d like to say I’m busy speaking (and cooking) fluent Italian, teaching yoga, and volunteering for the Peace Corps, but none of that would be true.

Read any good books recently?

I’m a Virgo, (*shakes head sadly* at the other eleven inferior signs) and I run a tight ship on my kindle. I can only manage up to five books at a time on there, despite temptations, I’m talking to you, buy-now-with-1-click button.

Side note: I am currently reading Dangerous Women, a brilliant cross-genre anthology, in hard back, borrowed from my nephew (meaning no Cheetos allowed). http://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Women-George-R-R-Martin/dp/076533206X
Dee DeTarsio is a graduate of The Ohio State University and lives in southern California with her family. She did not teach herself to read at an early age or write stories by the time she was in kindergarten. She was still wetting the bed and playing in the can cupboard.

Author Links:

Buy Links:
Giveaway: (1) ebook copy of All My Restless Life to Live - Open INT!


Book Blitz + Giveaway: London Bound by Nana Malone

 


London Bound (Chase Brothers #1)
Author: Nana Malone
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Release Date: April 1, 2014

Description:
It wasn’t exactly like spunky, photography student, Abbie Nartey ran away from her life…except, that she left under the cover of darkness and put three thousand miles between her and her ex-boyfriend’s betrayal. She went to London searching for her dream. She never expected to find love, or herself.

Heir to his family’s tech fortune, sexy, Alexi Chase, is looking for freedom—from his family and from his past. What he’s not looking for is love. With secrets like his, he can’t afford to let anyone get too close. But a chance rescue has him wondering if the price of keeping secrets is too high.

Will Alexi risk losing love to keep his past hidden? Will Abbie trust herself enough to love again? Or will their pasts keep then from accepting true love?

This book contains mature themes and is intended for audiences 18+
 
 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20877789-london-bound?ac=1
Satiny heat slid across Lex's body from chest to feet. He inhaled Abbie’s ginger and pumpkin shampoo. She smelled so good. She felt even better, warm and soft tucked into his side. Cranking an eye open, he took in his surroundings. Everything in the room was white. From the curtain hangings to the duvet to the wicker rocking chair in the corner. On the bureau were dozens of photos. And on the far wall, he recognized some of the photos he'd taken with Abbie.

Her deep, even breaths told him she was still out. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d actually slept with someone. The few times he’d tried always ended up with a disastrous nightmare.

But with Abbie, he’d actually been able to escape his nightmares. More like he passed out after exhausting himself. He hadn’t slept for more than two hours at a time in over a month. But with Abbie, all he’d dreamed about was her. Guilt pricked at his subconscious.

He had to deal with the Gemma situation. She’d encouraged him to go after Abbie at the party, still he had an obligation. But it was way past time for him to start living his life. Gemma would have to understand. And staying away from Abbie wasn’t going to happen. It was almost as if she’d dragged him into her gravitational orbit with her wit, strength, and beautiful smile.

He picked up one of her slim braids and inspected the woven strands of black and lighter brown pieces as they shimmered in the soft morning light. She shifted in his arms, grinding her hips into his crotch, forcing a hiss from him as his semi-hard dick sprang to attention.

As if they were heat seeking missiles, her hips scooted back into his, and he gnashed his teeth together, praying for control. She was so hot, so undeniably sexy without even trying.

What the hell had he gotten himself into? He wanted her more than he’d ever wanted anybody in his life. But if he wasn’t careful, he’d lose her. He had too many balls to juggle. The safest thing for him to do was to leave her alone. But he knew he couldn’t give her up. He wanted a thousand moments like this. Mostly because he was a selfish wanker.

She wiggled again. Lex continued to hold her and ignored the sweet agony.

Fascinated by the contrast of his tanned hand and her smooth, gleaming, dark skin, he stared as his thumb drew lazy patterns on her shoulder. He could ignore it, just for the pleasure of holding her.

Ah, who the hell was he kidding? He was moments away from waking her when she wiggled again. He wanted her. Again. But he'd had her three times in the middle of the night.

His hand rested on her hip and reflexively contracted when she scooted her ass further into his groin. He groaned. “Jesus, Abbie, I'm only so much of a gentleman. You do that again, and I'm not going to be responsible for what happens.”

She giggled, and the sound was low and earthy, like she should do nothing but laugh all the time. “If you want to pretend later that I took advantage of you in your weakened and food-deprived state, then that's okay.”

He grinned. “The authorities will eventually find me in here naked, half starved, tied to the bed, and horny, very horny.”

She turned in his arms. “Now we're talking.”
USA Today Best Seller and iTunes Breakout Books author, Nana Malone's love of all things romance and adventure started with a tattered romantic suspense she borrowed from her cousin.

It was a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana, and Nana was a precocious thirteen. She's been in love with kick butt heroines ever since. With her overactive imagination, and channeling her inner Buffy, it was only a matter a time before she started creating her own characters.

While she waits for her chance at a job as a ninja assassin, in the meantime Nana works out her drama, passion and sass with fictional characters every bit as sassy and kick butt as she thinks she is.

Nana also writes sizzling erotic novellas as Q. Malone: http://www.amazon.com/author/qmalone

Author Links:
Buy Links:
Giveaway: (1) ebook copy of London Bound - Open INT!










 

Brazen Release Blast + Giveaway


If you like your heroes hot, the sex hotter, and a swoon-worthy romance to swoop in and save your happily ever after, Brazen has the story for you. Sinfully sexy soldiers. Alpha cops who demand control. Sweet guys with a naughty side in the bedroom. At Brazen, they've got the hero destined to melt your... heart. Visit the Entangled website, the Brazen Blog, follow them on Twitter, Like their Facebook page, and follow them on Pinterest.

Introducing Brazen's March 31st Releases:


RA_300
Rising Assets (Maverick Montana #3)
Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Release Date: March 31, 2014

Friends with benefits was never the plan...

Melanie Jacobs’s chances for having a family are shrinking with every passing day. Her only comfort is her best friend, sexy cowboy Colton Freeze, but when a heated argument between them turns into an even hotter kiss, the boundaries of their friendship are blurred. But will their new friends-with-sexy-benefits arrangement destroy everything they once shared?

Find out more! 

Special $0.99 Introductory Price!


 

Also, don't miss these three great novellas from our prior Halloween Anthology, now available individually for the first time!

PWT_300 SMR_1600
Possession is nine-tenths of the law. And she belongs to him. 


He's not who she thinks, and he has seduction plans of his own...


When a battle of wills becomes a game of lust, one wrong move could be fatal. 


Find out more! Find out more! Find out more!

Cover Reveal + Giveaway: MY SOON-TO-BE SEX LIFE by Judith Tewes





My Soon-to-Be Sex Life
Author: Judith Tewes
Expected Release Date: June 24, 2014
Publisher: Bloomsbury Spark

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21462279-my-soon-to-be-sex-life?ac=1
  
Description:

Charlie is down to her absolute. Total. Last. Resort.

Despite a thoroughly comprehensive list of potential cherry poppers, er…suitors, and careful plotting, Charlie is three weeks into her devirginization campaign, still untouched, and getting desperate. In the movie of her life, this aspiring screenwriter is giving herself a PG, for please, get some.

Her project goes into freeze frame when her mom checks herself into rehab and packs Charlie off to live with her estranged, or just plain strange, grandfather, Monty. How is she supposed to get a date when she has to go pick up his Depends?

Enter Eric, a hot rehab grad on the road to redemption, and the only one who can make Charlie rethink her strategy. The more she gets to know him, the more convinced she becomes that is the one, and not just another to add to the list of people who will abandon her.

In this hilarious and heartbreaking story of one girl’s detoured road to womanhood, Charlie’s list develops a life of its own – right when she realizes there’s so much more to lose.
  
Multi-published, award-winning author, screenwriter, and playwright, Judith Tewes resides in small town Alberta, where she: writes, sings, plays bass guitar in an all-woman band, walks her three crazy labs, and suspects she's living the life of a superhero's alias. A commercial writer writing under several pen names, Judith’s work includes: paranormal, steampunk, and contemporary young adult fiction, as well as thriller, horror, and dramatic comedies for the stage and screen. 

Social Media Links: 
WEBSITE: http://judithteweswrites.blogspot.com
FACEBOOK (personal an/or Author page): Personal: https://www.facebook.com/judithteweswrites
Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/JudithTewesAuthor 
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/JudithTewes
TUMBLR: http://judithteweswrites.tumblr.com/
PINTEREST: http://www.pinterest.com/judithtewes31/
GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/23456732-judith-tewes
Hurry and enter now - the giveaway is only for 48 hours!!




  What do you think of the cover? Leave a comment!

 

Cover Reveal + Giveaway: The Art of Keeping Faith by Anna Bloom





 The Art of Keeping Faith (Uni Files #2)
Author: Anna Bloom
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Expected Release Date: April 2, 2014
Cover Design by Shirer Burkett

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20321806-the-art-of-keeping-faith?ac=1

Description:

Lilah and Ben. They are meant to be a thing.

Well they were. The best thing ever. That was until Lilah decided to teach herself a lesson, and let go of Ben as she learnt The Art of Letting Go.

Now it’s a new academic year, and Lilah has it all to play for and it all too lose as she battles scary lecturers, evil PR girls and her own inability to make the right decision at the right time.

Life has moved on for Lilah and her friends, and life off campus is more complicated than any of them would have guessed.  As the reality of being second year students sets in and the study starts to build up, cracks begin to appear in the very fabric of their friendships. There is a chance that none of them are going to complete Year Two in one piece.

Facing down her worst enemy: herself. Lilah has to try and change her own past mistakes when she realises that the only way she is going to get the future she wants is if she manages to learn The Art of Keeping Faith in herself.

The Art of Keeping Faith is the second year in The Uni File Series and continues Lilah McCannon’s diary as she searches for love, tries to find and earn trust, and ultimately discovers who she is really meant to be.

Sometimes the only way to meet your future is to face your past.
Anna Bloom is a contemporary romance writer who writes about life as it happens. Combining a busy schedule of looking after two small children whilst working in a local school and completing The Uni Files series. Anna’s main aim in life is to create the perfect book which makes a reader laugh and cry at the same time, hopefully causing a convulsive (impossible to ignore) donkey noise. It’s a work in progress!  Anna also spends a lot of time imagining kissing hot guys – all in the name of her art.

Author Links:
Buy Book #1: Amazon 




What do you think of the cover? Leave a comment!
 







 

March 30, 2014

Cover + Excerpt Reveal: Entice by Rachel Van Dyken

 


 

Entice (Eagle Elite #3)
Author: Rachel Van Dyken
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Expected Release Date: May 13, 2014

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18465431-entice?ac=1
  
Description:

From #1 New York Times Bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken comes the third book in the bestselling Eagle Elite Series...

“As burns this saint, so burns my soul. I enter alive, and I will have to get out dead.”

Chase Winter let the love of his life slip through his fingers and into the hands of his best friend and mafia boss of the Abandanato family. Now that he's been given a second chance to right a wrong--he refuses to let his own selfishness stand in the way. The only problem? He's not fully in possession of his heart, so when Mil De Lange, the girl who's innocence he stole, and heir to the worst of the worst mafia families in the US, asks him for a favor. He actually says yes, not realizing that that one yes has the power to destroy them all.

Mil's been in love with Chase as long as she can remember, but as the years went by, the love turned to hate, and now that he's agreed to help her, she's wondering if she made a fatal error. Because Chase isn't a teenager anymore. He's a hot blooded male, bent on owning every part of her body and soul, and willing to kill anyone in his path who dares stand in the way.
It's time for secrets to finally be revealed...but make no mistake, it's going to take a lot of bloodshed for those truths to be discovered.

You've never read a New Adult Mafia story like this before...loyalties will be tested, lovers reunited, and friendships obliterated. Welcome to the Family. Blood in--No out.
 
Nixon

I checked the time on my cell and leaned against the wall. The desert heat was not in any way helping my already-tense mood and irritated disposition. A guy walked by, flicking his cigarette into the dirt. Note to self: you know you're tense as hell when you’re halfway tempted to grab said cigarette and suck the nicotine dry from the remains.

And I didn’t even smoke.

Shhhit.

My head hurt, my muscles were sore, and Trace was pissed. I closed my eyes and leaned back against the building.

“Hey there.” A flirty voice interrupted my self-inflicted torture session. I opened one eye, then two. A blond-haired girl in six-inch heels and something I can only assume at one point use to be a shirt, hanging over her shoulder, walked into my personal space. Her shirt-dress thing barely met her thighs.

“Yes?” I kept my sunglasses on. If I took them off and glared, she’d probably run screaming down the street, and I wasn’t into scaring females… at least not in that way. I knew I looked downright pissed as hell.

“Just thought you looked lonely.” She lifted her shoulder and offered a teasing smile. Did that really work on other guys?

“You thought wrong,” I said simply. “I’m holding the wall up — like Samson.”

“Samson?” She looked around as if waiting for another man to appear.

“From the Bible,” I clarified.

“The what?”

“Gotta love Vegas,” I muttered under my breath. “Look, I don’t want any.”

“Any what?” She ran a manicured nail down my chest, biting down on her lip at the same time. I could only imagine her point was to get me to stare at her lips, but all I felt was irritation. Damn Chase and Mil. I just wanted to go to bed, but I needed to talk with him before tomorrow.

“Sex.” My voice clipped. “I. Don’t. Want. Any.”

“But—” She twirled a piece of blond- hair in her fingers.

“I’m gay.”

“Right.” She snorted.

“I’m into men.”

“Oh really?” She closed the distance between us. Just as I was ready to seriously put my hands on her and push, I felt an arm wrap around my shoulder.

“Hey there, hot stuff.” Tex said in a low voice as his hand grabbed my ass, cupping it with a little too much enthusiasm. “You ready?”

I ground my teeth together and forced a smile. “Yup.”

“Oh…” The girl stepped back. “Um, sorry, you guys, uh, enjoy your night.” She pushed past Tex so fast I was afraid she was going to teeter off her heels and get hit by a taxi.

“Tex.” I seethed.

“Hmm?” He took off his sunglasses and tilted his head as the girl hurried away.

“You can take your hand off my ass now.”

“Why? Afraid you like it too much?”

I pushed against him.

“Just embrace your feelings!” He shouted, earning the attention of a family walking by with their two little kids.

I grabbed him by the front of his shirt and threw him few feet away from me, trying my damnedest not to smile.

“Admit it. You keep me around for comic relief.” Tex nodded with a smirk.

“I admit nothing.” I lost the war against smiling and started laughing. “But I do keep your ass away from Campisi, so remember that next time you start yelling about me being your lover.”

“True.” Tex grinned. “Oh, and P.S., don’t knock it till you try it.”

“P.S.,” I repeated in the same voice. “Still pissed at you for screwing over my sister.”

“Yeah well.” Tex sobered. “It’s for the best.”

“Breaking her heart and bringing in whores is what’s best for her?”

Tex lifted his hands into the air. “Look, I didn’t say my methods were sound or that they were intelligent, just let us deal with it, okay? We’re big kids.”

“Kids.” I snorted. “That about sums it up.”

A town car pulled up next to the curb. Chase got out and then held out his hand to Mil. My eyes narrowed; she looked different. Happier.

Her mom had just died, and she'd survived a bombing.

And she was smiling like the Taliban had just declared world peace.

Chase gripped her so tight that I saw the white of his knuckles.

I tilted my head, still watching them when Tex said. “Dude, you get laid?”

“Tex,” I snapped. “Go get something for their luggage.”

“But—”

“Go.”

Tex flipped me off, but ended up jogging over to the main entrance while I inspected both 
Mil and Chase. “I’m not saying this to be an ass—”

“Here we go.” Mil crossed her arms.

Chase waited.

I licked my lips and tried to appear indifferent. “But if you guys start screwing each other now, I may have to shoot one or both of you. It’s not the time to play house, got it?”

“Play house,” Chase repeated in a deadpan voice as he dipped his free hand into his back pocket, most likely clenching a pair of brass knuckles. “I know it’s your honeymoon,” I continued. “But this [P1] little scenario you’ve got going on with the whole hot and cold is going to have to wait until everyone’s safe. So Chase, keep it in your pants for once in your life, and Mil, stop trying to seduce the poor kid, alright? It’s like dangling a damn fry in front of a seagull.”

“Who’s a fry?” Tex asked, pulling the luggage cart with him.

“Mil.”

“Are we eating dinner or something? Because I have to admit,” Tex leaned against the cart, 

“I’m freaking starving.” He eyed Chase and Mil. “Then again, I’m sure you both are too. All those extracurricular really take it out of ya.”

Chase took off his sunglasses, his face twisting in irritation and annoyance, no smile. Nothing. 

He was pissed.

“Chase,” I said slowly. “You know I’m right. You’re the best I have. I need your focus to be on The Family. Your family. Then you can screw all you want, okay?”

Mil looked like she wanted to punch me in the face. Chase took a step forward, but she stopped him.

“Good talk.” I exhaled. “Chase, I’ll see you down in the bar in a half-hour, okay? We have business to discuss. Mil, you can go find the girls. They’re having dinner out by the pool.”

Nobody moved.

After a few seconds of tense silence where I was pretty sure Chase was trying to convince himself not to strangle me to death, Tex cleared his throat and pointed to the luggage. “You guys need help, then?”

“Yeah,” Chase croaked. “Thanks.”

We loaded them up and sent them on their way.

“Tell me,” Tex asked once we were walking back toward the bar. “Is your only goal to see how far you can push Chase before he kills you in your sleep?”
Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor. She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband and their snoring Boxer, Sir Winston Churchill. She loves to hear from readers! You can follow her writing journey at www.rachelvandykenauthor.com 

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




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