Thursday, June 30, 2016

IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN!! AVAILABLE NEXT WEEK.

 

 

Always My Girl (The Shaughnessy Brothers, #3)

 

 

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ALWAYS MY GIRL (THE SHAUGHNESSY BROTHERS) BY SAMANTHA CHASE

 

 

 

Release Date:  July 5, 2016

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

 

 

Book #3 in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Samantha Chase's dazzling new series.


The Shaughnessy Brother you've been waiting for!

 

Sometimes the love that's closest to you is the hardest to see.

 

Quinn Shaughnessy's two older brothers have found their true loves ... but Quinn's not about to join that parade. Nope, as he tells his best friend Anna, there's a lot more to life than getting tied down to one person. He's positive tomboy Anna will be on his side - except she's inexplicably developing other interests - even dating! Suddenly Quinn is seeing Anna in a very different light.

 

Quinn has been Anna's buddy since they were both five years old. She can tell him anything - except the one big secret she's been hiding for years - that she's fallen in love with him. Now Anna is determined to make a life for herself that doesn't include pining for Quinn. Falling in love with your best friend? Easy. Telling them how you really feel? Impossible.

 

 

 

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REVIEW:  ALWAYS MY GIRL (THE SHAUGHNESSY BROTHERS) BY SAMANTHA CHASE

 

Always My Girl (The Shaughnessy Brothers, #3)Always My Girl by Samantha Chase

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


With Love Walks In having been a tearjerker, Always My Girl has lightened things up with Quinn and Anna's story. Sometimes less is more. Samantha Chase came back swinging with this hilarious take on romance. Quinn does not do well with change, so when his best friend turns the tables on him and goes from girl next door to woman of his dreams anything can happen. Always My Girl is a fun friends to lovers novel that proves the versatility of Ms. Chase. She can do it all.




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The Family Man

 

 

THE FAMILY MAN BY KELLY EADON

 

 

 

 

Release Date:  July 5, 2016

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

 

TEMPTATION NEVER TASTED SO SWEET...

When life hands lemons to Beth Beverley, she makes mouthwatering lemon squares. Mostly because they're coveted by the sexy single dad who owns Belmont's most popular coffee shop. But that's where her crush on Griffin has to end. Her sweet treats are selling like crazy cakes in his shop, and she doesn't mix business with pleasure. Too bad his sinful smile has her flirting with the idea of forever.

Griffin Hall definitely needs to keep his eyes--and his hands--off Beth. Since he's traded in late-night gigs and partying for bedtime stories with his little girl in his arms, he doesn't have time for anything else. So why does Beth's big heart and easy way with his daughter make him finally feel alive again? But there's a little secret Beth doesn't know, something he can't bear to tell her . . .

 

 

 

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REVIEW: THE FAMILY MAN BY KELLY EADON

 

The Family ManThe Family Man by Kelly Eadon

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


ARC Review: The Family Man By Kelly Eadon

The beautiful artwork on the cover attracted my attention. The book description drew me in and Kelly Eadon's story captured my heart. There is something refreshingly sweet about a man like Griffin. Sacrificing in every way imaginable in order for his little girl to have the love and security that she needs and deserves. He's one of the good ones. What's ironic is that he does not see how much of a good father he actually is. It takes the hands of fate, small town living and the love of a good woman to open his eyes. Beth has a big heart, a love of baking and an attraction to one of her most profitable clients. The problem is the baggage that they both carry is heavier than either realizes. It will take a precocious child, a fiery attraction and a whole lot of faith to convince her to take a chance. I received an ARC of The Family Man for an honest review. The adorable romance, charming town and heartwarming themes are an addictive combination.



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DREAMING UP A DARE (KINDLE WORLDS:  DARE TO LOVE) BY CATHERINE GAYLE 

 

 

 

Release Date:  July 6, 2016

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

 

Hockey star Jackson Maddox and gymnast Pepper Winters have been best friends since childhood…

 

Just friends.

 

When Jackson needs a date to a prestigious party, he calls upon his petite and dazzling BFF to be his arm candy for the night. Nothing could be better than walking into a room with Pepper on his arm. Jackson won’t ever admit how he really feels about her, because they’re…

 

Just friends.

 

With her gymnastics career over, Pepper welcomes a chance to let her freak flag fly—especially with Jackson by her side. Pepper can’t confess she’s loved him since childhood. He’s her best friend, and there’s no reason to jeopardize what they’ve got. But they’re still…

 

Just friends.

 

But when a seemingly harmless game of Truth or Dare gets a little too close and entirely too personal, can Jackson dream up a dare that could give them both what they really want?

 

 

 

BUY LINKS

 

Amazon

 

 

 

REVIEW:  DREAMING UP A DARE (KINDLE WORLDS:  DARE TO LOVE) BY CATHERINE GAYLE 

 

Dreaming Up a DareDreaming Up a Dare by Catherine Gayle

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


ARC Review: Dreaming Up A Dare (Kindle Worlds: Dare To Love) by Catherine Gayle

Catherine Gayle picked a plot line that romance fans are familiar with and gave it her own author makeover. Pepper and Jackson's progression into more than friends is enlightening, sensual and sensitive. Ms. Gayle took me right over that cliff with this adorable couple. The way Jackson looked after Pepper was a romantic fantasy come to life and who knew innocent Pepper had a kinky side. What I liked most is that despite the sexy game of Truth or Dare, time and distance and career achievements and or disappointments, this duo always look out for each other. Dreaming up A Dare checked all the right boxes for me.



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Original post: ishacoleman7.booklikes.com/post/1429102/it-s-the-final-countdown-available-next-week

FOR THE LOVER IN YOU. NEW HISTORICAL ROMANCE RELEASES, AVAILABLE 7/5.

 

 

 

The Duke of Daring (The Untouchables Book 2)

 

 

 

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THE DUKE OF DARING (THE UNTOUCHABLES) BY DARCY BURKE

 

 

 

Release Date:  July 5, 2016

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

 

Miss Lucinda Parnell is out of money, a dismal failure at the Marriage Mart, and she’d just as soon leave Society far behind. Desperate to earn funds to retire with her grandmother to the country, Lucy disguises herself as a man to gamble in London’s hells. But the Earl of Dartford, an Untouchable she never imagined speaking to let alone spending time with, is onto her in a trice. When he insists on joining her, Lucy fears her desire to remain an independent woman is destined to go up on flames.

As a boy, Andrew Wentworth, Earl of Dartford lost his family to illness, leaving him a hollow shell. Obsessed with conquering one adventure after another to fill the bitter holes inside of him, Andrew has set his sights on parachuting. Nothing will stop him from trying to achieve his goal—not the hazard of death and certainly not a woman who’s gotten far too close. Love is the one risk he doesn’t have the heart to dare.

 

 

 

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REVIEW:  THE DUKE OF DARING (THE UNTOUCHABLES) BY DARCY BURKE

 

 

The Duke of Daring (The Untouchables Book 2)The Duke of Daring by Darcy Burke

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Another fabulous read from the ever creative mind of Darcy Burke. I received an ARC of The Duke of Daring in exchange for an honest review. Emotion guided Lucinda. Ms. Burke broke the mold for strong female heroines with Lucinda. Heart was the driving force behind every move she made. Despite numerous disappointments and loads of weighty responsibilities she never just let life happen to her. Sure she experienced hard knocks but she picked herself up and made the best of the circumstances. Her sense of adventure landed her in sticky situations but it also showed how dedicated she was to her family and how far she was willing to go to succeed in taking care of the people she loved.

Andrew was the opposite. Heartache drove him to take risks. Death, loneliness and despair had beaten this man down to the point where he had no heart left. These two total opposites may not have much in common but did have lessons to teach each other. The Duke of Daring is a story of healing, strength and emotional self discovery that culminates into a romance filled with deep meaning and well crafted imagination.



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The Virgin and the Viscount (The Bachelor Lords of London, #2)

 

 

THE VIRGIN AND THE VISCOUNT (BACHELOR LORDS OF LONDON) BY CHARIS MICHAELS

 

 

 

Release Date:  July 5, 2016

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

 

The Virgin

Lady Elisabeth Hamilton-Baythes has a painful secret. At fifteen, she was abducted by highwaymen and sold to a brothel. But two days later, she was rescued by a young lord, a man she’s never forgotten. Now, she’s devoted herself to save other innocents from a similar fate.

The Viscount

Bryson Courtland, Viscount Rainsleigh, never breaks the rules. Well, once, but that was a long time ago. He’s finally escaped his unhappy past to become one of the wealthiest noblemen in Britain. The last thing he needs to complete his ideal life? A perfectly proper wife.

The Unraveling

When Bryson and Elisabeth meet, he sees only a flawless candidate for his future wife. But a distant memory calls to him every time he’s with her. Elisabeth knows she’s not the wife Bryson needs, and he is the only person who has the power to reveal her secret. But neither can resist the devastating pull of attraction, and as the truth comes to light, they must discover that an improper love is the truest of all.

 

 

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Avon

 

 

REVIEW:  THE VIRGIN AND THE VISCOUNT (BACHELOR LORDS OF LONDON) BY CHARIS MICHAELS

 

The Virgin and the Viscount (The Bachelor Lords of London, #2)The Virgin and the Viscount by Charis Michaels

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. Charis Michaels uses an act of bravery and kindness to tell the story of A union written in the stars. The Virgin and The Viscount is the first story that I have read by Ms. Michaels. It tells the story of Lady Elisabeth. As a child Elisabeth was kidnapped, sold and surprisingly rescued in an act that has haunted and shaped her into a furious warrior. She uses her station to protect the innocent from experiences like her own. Her ministrations bring her to the attention of Bryson Courtland, a Viscount searching for a woman who will make him the perfect wife. Bryson and Elisabeth have a connection that neither understand and an attraction that grows stronger with each passing day. Is that love strong enough to survive a surprising secret? I received an ARC of The Virgin and the Viscount in exchange for an honest review. The main reason I fell so hard for this novel is because for all the hardship each endured alone, as a couple they came full circle and ended up right where they were meant to be. SHE HAD ME AT HELLO!



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A License to Wed: Rebellious Brides

 

 

LICENSE TO WED (REBELLIOUS BRIDES) BY DIANA QUINCY

 

 

Release Date:  July 5, 2016

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

 

Perfect for readers of Madeline Hunter, Lisa Kleypas, and Sabrina Jeffries, the Rebellious Brides series continues with a sizzling tale of forbidden love between a socialite and a scholar—who might just be an infamous spy.
 
Lady Elinor Dunsmore made the mistake of falling for her older brother’s best friend, who vanished after a night of unbridled passion. Six years and a lifetime later, their eyes meet across a Paris salon. Her friends and family believe she’s dead, but Elle is very much alive. She’s now associated with a ruthless general, who wants her to seduce the man who broke her heart in order to learn his deepest secrets. Is Will a mild-mannered scholar—or the notorious agent they call The Razor?


The bastard son of an earl and an actress, Will Naismith always knew he was an unsuitable match for Elle Dunsmore, no matter how powerfully he ached for her. And yet he almost allowed his desires to spoil her glittering future. After the agony caused by Elle’s supposed death, Will has devoted himself to the Crown, but his entire life has been leading up to this unexpected reunion. As much as he still wants her, though, he must not succumb to lust once again. For his mission is delicate—and Elle is delectably dangerous.

 

 

 

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REVIEW:  LICENSE TO WED (REBELLIOUS BRIDES) BY DIANA QUINCY

 

A License to Wed: Rebellious BridesA License to Wed: Rebellious Brides by Diana Quincy

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Diana Quincy knows how to write a story. Will and Elle's reunion is darkly sensual. A dance of temptation lends these lovers into dangerous territory. License to Wed packs on the intrigue but delivers lots of seduction. I received an ARC of License to Wed in exchange for an honest review. I've found with Ms. Quincy one taste is never enough.



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IF THE EARL ONLY KNEW (THE DARING MARRIAGES) BY AMANDA FORESTER

 

 

 

 

Release Date:  July 5, 2016

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

 

The chase is on in award-winning author Amanda Forester's brand-new Regency romance series!

A sizzling scandal just waiting to happen…


Orphaned at a young age, Lady Katherine Ashton and her brother have spent most of their lives on the high seas, seeking to restore their family fortune through somewhat dubious means. After that kind of adventure, Kate knows she won't ever be accepted as a proper society lady.

To the annoyingly clever, temptingly handsome, and altogether troublesome Earl of Wynbrook, society ladies are a dead bore. Kate, on the other hand, is scandalous, alluring, and altogether fascinating. And Kate can't decide which she relishes more, the thrill of chasing fearsome pirates, or having Wynbrook chase after her...

 

 

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Books-A-Million    Chapters

 

 

 

REVIEW:  IF THE EARL ONLY KNEW (THE DARING MARRIAGES) BY AMANDA FORESTER

 

If the Earl Only Knew (Daring Marriages, #1)If the Earl Only Knew by Amanda Forester

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Kate was a departure from your average, lady of means, coquettish character that leads most historical romance. She had a past that was provocative and a spirit that could not be tamed. I love these type of leading women because they are more than a pretty face. More depth is hiding behind the exterior. If the Earl Only Knew blended adventurous spirit with action packed storylines and seductive plot twists and intriguing mystery. Was sad to see it end.



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Once Upon a Moonlit Night (Maiden Lane, #10.5)

 

 

ONCE UPON A MOONLIT NIGHT (MAIDEN LANE) BY ELIZABETH HOYT

 

 

 

 

Release Date:  July 5, 2016

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

 

From New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Hoyt comes a delightful Maiden Lane novella that begins once upon a moonlit night—and ends wickedly, wonderfully ever after...

Hippolyta Royle is running for her life. Pursued by hounds on a cold rainy night, the heiress flags down a passing carriage and throws herself at the mercy of the coach's occupant. Whoever this handsome traveler may be, he is her only hope to escape a terrible fate. But should he agree to escort her to safety, he's in for much more than he bargained for.

At first Matthew Mortimer doesn't believe Hippolyta's story, that she's a fabulously wealthy heiress who's been kidnapped. He assumes she's a beggar, an actress, or worse. But once his new travel companion washes the mud from her surprisingly lovely face, and they share a breathtaking kiss, there is no turning back.

 

 

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REVIEWONCE UPON A MOONLIT NIGHT (MAIDEN LANE) BY ELIZABETH HOYT

 

Once Upon a Moonlit Night (Maiden Lane, #10.5)Once Upon a Moonlit Night by Elizabeth Hoyt

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Nothing is as it seems in this story and that leaves many unanswered questions. Once Upon a Moonlight Night is Hippolyta (what a mouthful) and Matthew's adventurous, mysterious and all out confusing romance. Ms. Hoyt does a fabulous job of drawing her readers into this chaotic union but the story move so fast I found it hard to keep up. The benefit of approaching a read like this one is that it kept me alert and I always discovered something new. I received an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review, though not a favorite, Once Upon a Moonlight Night is as wicked as it is puzzling but is full of surprising twists.




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Original post: ishacoleman7.booklikes.com/post/1429090/for-the-lover-in-you-new-historical-romance-releases-available-7-5

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT, FROM LAUREN HAWKEYE AND CATHRYN FOX

Lauren Hawkeye and Cathryn Fox have a surprise for you ... they're working on a book together! Get all the details about WOOD below!

IMG_1244 (1)

About WOOD, releasing October 18th

It was a bad idea.
I followed my hot professor on a research trip to a mountainous island in the middle of freaking nowhere because of a stupid schoolgirl crush and because hey, it was something to do. When hot prof turns out to be not so hot for me, my search for a quiet place sends me to a hidden cave in the woods. Little did I know that a storm on the lake would fling me into a dangerous and different world. One where raw, tough warriors threatened my life, and a sexually tense, axe-wielding woodsman from my wildest fantasies would toss me over his shoulder—barbarian style.
I had no idea where I was or how to get home, but hey, why the hurry? Filthy talking McLumberpants was hot, severe, dirty as all hell, and while we were completely different people, we had one thing in common. Complete lust for one another—that got completely out of control.
But when lightning hits again, opening a path to home, I had to wonder... where, exactly, was that?
Preorder WOOD now, available October 18th:
Sign up for Lauren and Cathryn's newsletters to find out when WOOD is up for preorder on Amazon!

About Lauren Hawkeye

Lauren Hawkeye/ Lauren Jameson never imagined that she’d wind up telling stories for a living… though when she looks back, it’s easy to see that she’s the only one who is surprised. Always “the kid who read all the time”, Lauren made up stories about her favorite characters once she’d finished a book… and once spent an entire year narrating her own life internally. No, really. But where she was just plain odd before publication, now she can at least claim to have an artistic temperament.

Lauren lives in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada with her husband, toddler, pit bull and idiot cat, though they do not live in an igloo, nor do they drive a dogsled. In her nonexistent spare time Lauren can be found knitting (her husband claims that her snobby yarn collection is exorbitant), reading anything she can get her hands on, or sweating her way through spin class. She loves to hear from her readers!

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Reader Group

About Cathryn Fox

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cathryn Fox is a wife, mom, sister, daughter, and friend. She loves dogs, sunny weather, anything chocolate (she never says no to a brownie) pizza and red wine. Cathryn has two teenagers who keep her busy and a husband who is convinced he can turn her into a mixed martial arts fan. When not writing, Cathryn can be found laughing over lunch with friends, hanging out with her kids, or watching a big action flick with her husband.

Website | Facebook | Twitter





Wednesday, June 29, 2016

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE: ONE DANGEROUS DESIRE (ACCIDENTAL HEIRS) BY CHRISTY CARLYLE

 

 

 

One Dangerous Desire (Accidental Heirs, #3)

 

 

 

READ AND REVIEW

 

 

ONE DANGEROUS DESIRE (ACCIDENTAL HEIRS) BY CHRISTY CARLYLE

 

 

 

Release Date:  April 19, 2016

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

 

In a bet between two old flames . . .

Rex Leighton dominates the boardroom by day and prowls the ballroom at night. Searching for the perfect bride to usher him into the aristocracy, he abandoned the idea of love the last time he saw the delicious May Sedgwick. But when he’s roped into a bet, where the prize is the means to fund his greatest ambition and the stakes are a marriage he’s already planning for, Rex is willing to go all in. There’s just one problem—he’s competing against the only woman he’s ever loved.

Only love can take it all

May Sedgwick could be the belle of the season . . . if she cared. She is more interested in the art studio than the marriage market and her craving to pursue her passion far outweighs her wish for a titled husband. Winning this bet will finally allow May to follow her true artistic desires. Rex losing is just a side benefit, as are his breathtaking kisses that she just can’t resist.

When May is forced to choose between the dream she never knew she wanted and the man she’s never been able to forget, Rex must convince her desire is worth a bit of danger.

 

 

BUY LINKS

 

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REVIEW:  ONE DANGEROUS DESIRE (ACCIDENTAL HEIRS) BY CHRISTY CARLYLE

 

One Dangerous Desire (Accidental Heirs, #3)One Dangerous Desire by Christy Carlyle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


One Dangerous Desire, in my opinion could be described as the anti love story.  Christy Carlyle has written characters that are arrogant and ambitious but are also confused and afraid. A contradiction? Yes. That is what makes a good author. Someone who is not afraid to push the envelope and create something that is uniquely theirs.  One Dangerous Desire is about sacrifice and discovering what is really important. Playful, provocative and intriguing romance.

Copyright of Night Owl Reviews



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Original post: ishacoleman7.booklikes.com/post/1426992/currently-available-one-dangerous-desire-accidental-heirs-by-christy-carlyle

EXCERPT REVEAL: THE MATCHMAKER'S REPLACEMENT (WINGMAN INC.) BY RACHEL VAN DYKEN







The Matchmaker's Replacement Banner


THE MATCHMAKER’S REPLACEMENT
Wingman Inc. Book 2
By Rachel Van Dyken
Publisher: Skyscape
Publication Date: July 26, 2016



VanDyken-TheMatchmakersReplacement-CV-FL-vC6-RGB



Wingman rule number two: never reveal how much you want them.

Lex hates Gabi. Gabi hates Lex. But, hey, at least the hate is mutual, right? All Lex has to do is survive the next few weeks training Gabi in all the ways of Wingmen Inc. and then he can be done with her. But now that they have to work together, the sexual tension and fighting is off the charts. He isn’t sure if he wants to strangle her or throw her against the nearest sturdy table and have his way with her.

But Gabi has a secret, something she’s keeping from not just her best friend but her nemesis too. Lines are blurred as Lex becomes less the villain she’s always painted him to be…and starts turning into something more. Gabi has always hated the way she’s been just a little bit attracted to him—no computer-science major should have that nice of a body or look that good in glasses—but “Lex Luthor” is an evil womanizer. He’s dangerous. Gabi should stay far, far away.

Then again, she’s always wanted a little danger.

Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon CA / Amazon AU




 EXCERPT


I hated him.

HATED him.

Hate, hate, hate. I chanted the words to myself that very next morning as I stomped toward his ridiculously expensive house, next to the ridiculously nice lake, with his ridiculously loud red Mercedes parked out front. Jackass.

I’d be doing society a favor if I set it on fire.

Seriously.

The thing was probably filled with so much bodily fluid and disease that if he got in a car accident he’d infect the entire freeway and start a citywide epidemic.

I shuddered.

I compartmentalized Lex into two boxes.

The first box was Childhood Lex, the friend who used to hang out with Ian and me before he moved across town, never to be seen again. He used to ride with me to school, and when I was sick he gave me my own box of Kleenex—never mind that he stole it from his teacher’s desk. The point is, Childhood Lex was a keeper.

Box number two?

Asshole Lex, also known as the version I was walking toward. The Lex I met when I was eighteen, who momentarily stunned me speechless with his godlike beauty, had been a figment of my overactive, sad, hormone-riddled imagination.

On the outside? The perfect man.

With a brooding and sultry smile.

Biceps the size of my head.

Who gave me the distinct feeling that if I ran my hands over his buzzed hair I’d orgasm before he even touched me.

Whatever. I was over it. So over it.

A lot of people had stupid crushes when they were eighteen, right?

Now all I saw when I looked into his stormy blue eyes was syph or the clap, and that was being generous. The dude was a walking STD and seriously tried every nerve I had. He was an ass. Plain and simple, no sugar coating. He was the type of guy who’d tell a chick that she looked fat in a dress or who refused to share the communal breadbasket. See! He couldn’t even adhere to typical manners during mealtime! Just thinking about him had me tied up in knots.

Last year, when I went shopping and stupidly invited Ian along—which of course meant Lex had to come—I was told in no uncertain terms that if I would just stop drinking chocolate milk in the morning I’d be able to fit into a smaller size.

He’d smiled.

His dimples had deepened.

He’d even crossed his arms as if to say, Look, I did you a favor, pat me on the back.

Instead I had kicked him in the balls and tried to give him a black eye, clocking Ian in the face.

My point? Lex. Was. The. Devil.

I made a point of only hanging out with Lex when absolutely necessary, and even then I almost always had Ian as a buffer. But now that he was playing love nest with my ex-roomie, Blake? Well, I was on my own.

Lex opened the door after my third aggressive knock. Black sweatpants hung low on his hips, a vintage Mariners shirt fell open around his neck, and he was wearing black-framed glasses that made his eyes more appealing than should be legal.

“Sunshine,” he said, his smirk deepening as he crossed his burly arms over his chest.

“Dickhead.” I smiled sweetly. “New glasses? They look thicker than last time.”

“Better to see you with.” He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing into tiny slits. “There they are.” He reached for one of my boobs.

I slapped his hand away so hard my palm stung.

“Probably not the best way to treat your new male clients.” He shook his hand and turned towards the living room leaving the door wide open. Manners were completely lost on him.

Gritting my teeth, I slammed the door behind me and took off my shoes because I knew if I didn’t he’d give me hell.

He was a freak like that.

For as much ass as he got, it was shocking how much Lysol he used around the house. His clothes were never wrinkled; everything was pristine.

Even his breath.

Damn him.

He drank coffee like a Starbucks employee but never had coffee breath.

It was almost painful, staring him in the face, knowing that everything on the outside appeared perfect—but didn’t match the inside at all, not even close!

Beauty like Lex’s was dangerous and wickedly tempting, like something out of a paranormal romance novel. Sometimes, at night, when I dreamed of Lex getting hit by a car, I imagined him as a vampire roaming the streets in his favorite black sweats, shirtless, shimmering under the streetlights, just waiting for whores to line up so he could take a few bites.

A pencil flew by my head.

“Yo.” Lex’s eyebrows shot up. “We have a lot of work to do if we’re going to get you ready for the next two clients. Daydream about chicks on your own time.”

“I’m not a lesbian.”

He bit on his bottom lip, sinking back in his chair as his eyes slowly roamed from my mismatched socks all the way up to my head. “Okay, whatever you say, Gabs.”

I will not commit homicide. I will not commit homicide. “You know,” I said as I tossed my purse onto the table, “it’s offensive that you assume all lesbians dress like crap.” So what? I was wearing a ratty white T-shirt and ripped jeans, and I was pretty sure I still had mascara on from the night before. It was my Lex repellant. He hated sloppiness.

“Offensive.” He nodded. “Also true . . .” He used the spare pencil from behind his ear to slide my purse over to the farthest side of the table. “It wouldn’t kill you to wear something other than jeans and T-shirts, Gabs.” He sighed. “Say it with me: dresssss—”

I grabbed the pencil from his hand, broke it into two pieces, and handed them back to him. “I wear dresses, just not for you. Dresses are your kryptonite, especially short black ones. I refuse to be a part of your ‘shower time.’”

He snorted. “You wish.”

“Yes. Every night when I go to sleep I pray for Lex to dream of me while he jerks off because yet another girl refused to follow his instructions in bed : ‘Damn it, use the manual!’” I said, using my best imitation of Lex’s voice. I’d only heard him shout instructions to a girl once, and it had scarred me for life. What the hell are you doing? Do I look like I’m satisfied? There’s a diagram! Ugh.

Lex rolled his eyes. “Very funny, and the manual is there for a reason. Do you even know how many chicks get confused when I call out sexual positions? It’s like, get there faster, you know?”

My feelings were torn between fascination and disgust. “So,” I changed the subject. “Let’s train, because I have about ten years worth of Organic Chem homework.”

Lex sighed and held out his hand.

“No.” I crossed my arms. “I don’t need help.”

Okay, I needed help, desperately needed help, and Lex wasn’t just passably smart but a certified genius, at least when he applied himself. I refused to ask him to go over my homework just because Organic Chem was, to me, like reading a foreign language.

He cleared his throat.

I didn’t move.

Finally, he stood, slowly walked over to the end of the table, and fished the chem book from my oversized purse. “What chapter?”

“Lex—”

“If I’m teaching you Organic Chem, at least say Professor Lex.”

“Listen very closely, Lex.” I went over and jerked my book out of his hands. “I didn’t need your help last year when I almost failed biology, and I sure as hell don’t need your help now. Let’s just get this training done so I can go home and suffer in silence, alright?”

“Fine.” He dropped my book against the table and then, without warning, grabbed me by my shoulders and pushed me against the counter that bordered the kitchen. My butt hit the cupboard . “Up until now we’ve been helping people find their perfect match. Basically acting like a wingman so that the idiots of this world see the girl who’s been standing in front of them all along .”

Why was he standing so close? Did we have to be touching? I told my body not to respond to his proximity, but Lex was magnetic, even if every part of him was evil. My brain was having trouble functioning while his large palms were pressed into the tops of my shoulders.

“Okay.” I swallowed. “And now that you’re allowing guys to become clients of Wingmen Inc., I basically do the same thing. Give them confidence, help them capture the one girl who’s always seen them as the friend—or worse, who they’ve been invisible to.”

“What’s that like, I wonder?” Lex still didn’t release me. “Being invisible . . . Maybe next time a dude ignores you, take notes.”

And another insult.

“Lex.” I huffed out a breath. “Just get on with it.”

“Right.” His eyes momentarily locked on mine before he rubbed the bridge of his nose where his glasses were perched. It was not sexy. It wasn’t. Really. That. Sexy. “So whenever we take on a new client, we give them a list of questions, meet them in a public place, and then use the power of human emotions like jealousy and curiosity to get the other person interested. That’s where you come in. If another girl sees our client as desirable, he becomes desirable.”

“That easy?”

“Sort of.” Lex leaned forward. “But you can’t suck.”

“Suck?”

“At anything.” His lips hovered near my mouth. He was starting to freak me out. I wanted to run away, but I was pinned.

“Lex, if you kiss me I will bite your tongue off. I swear.”

“If I was actually kissing you”—Lex released one of my shoulders and placed a finger against my mouth—“you’d know it. This, my frumpy friend, is training.”

His lips descended.

They pressed against mine, then pulled back. “Yeah.” He shook his head. “Gabs, you’re going to need to open your mouth a bit more. Guys are stupid. They always assume that more tongue means better kissing, when the opposite is true, but you still need to have your lips parted, not locked down like Fort Knox.”

“What’s happening?” I tried to push away from him.

Lex rolled his eyes. “Gabs, believe me, this is all business. You can even keep your hand on my junk the whole time.”

“What!” I roared.

“So you know without a doubt that nothing about you turns me on.” He grinned menacingly. “Seriously, I don’t mind.”

“I do!”

“Hey!” He chuckled. “I was just trying to help.”

“Grabbing your penis is not the answer, Lex!”

“Weird, because it so often is.”

“I hate today.”

“Is it the rain?” He frowned.

“It’s not—”

“It is.”

“Stop that!” I shoved him. “Hurry up and grade my kissing skills so I can go home and study.”

“Kissing, hand holding, hugging, cuddling, laughing, winking—just a few things you need to master.” He was firing off so many horrible, body-numbing words.

“Just hurry up,” I grumbled in a defeated voice as I tried to block out the fact that he was a good-looking ass who offended me with every single breath he took.

“Ah . . .” Lex held up his hand. “One never hurries a kiss.”

“What about a passionate kiss?”

“A passionate kiss isn’t hurried, it’s frenzied. Damn, don’t you know anything?”

Heat swamped my cheeks.

“How many guys have you kissed, Gabs?”

“Plenty!” Five. I’d kissed five.

“You blush down your neck when you lie.” Lex cupped my chin and then brought his lips down against mine again. “Part.”

Sighing against his mouth, I relaxed my lips while his slid across.

He pulled back, wearing a frown of irritation. “A bit more, Gabs. Guys want access.”

I kept my eyes open.

So did he.

I didn’t want him assuming I was into it, which was probably his exact line of thinking. Only keeping my eyes open was an entirely raw experience, watching him watch me while I felt him.

I shivered.

“Cold?” That stupid smirk was back.

“Frigid.” I glared, putting myself down before he had a chance to.

“You read my mind.” He nodded seriously. “Now stop being a bitch, and let me teach you how to kiss.”

“I know how to kiss!” I don’t know what came over me—maybe it was the need to prove myself, or possibly it was just stress over the entire situation. Needing to stay in school and hating that he was the answer, I wrapped my arms around his neck and jumped, my hips colliding with his as I mauled his mouth with as much passion as I could conjure up, this time closing my eyes and putting everything I had into it.

With a growl, Lex pushed me back against the countertop. As my butt collided with the edge, his tongue plunged into my mouth and his hands dug into my hair, pulling it free from its ponytail while he changed positions his lips demanding a punishing kiss from a different angle as his he gave my hair a harder tug back.

I grasped at his T-shirt, pulling him closer and nearly falling backward into the sink.

And then, just when I was in danger of losing myself to the kiss that would probably be the best kiss of my life, I bit down on his bottom lip.

That move didn’t work out the way I’d planned, not at all. In my head it was smart. I’d piss him off, get him to pull back and leave me alone.

It did nothing of the sort.

Nothing of the sort at] all.

With a hiss he pulled back, fire blazing in his eyes. For a split second that seemed to go on for an eternity, he hovered and I waited, both of us on the edge of something. He wet his lips, I mimicked the movement, and then, like a snake, he struck. His mouth fused to mine in a punishing kiss, one that bruised my mouth while imprinting its essence on my soul.









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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!

Want to be kept up to date on new releases? Text MAFIA to 66866!

You can connect with her on Facebook www.facebook.com/rachelvandyken  or join her fan group Rachel's New Rockin Readers. Her website is www.rachelvandykenauthor.com .