Tag Archives: contemporary romance

Delicious Satisfaction cover reveal and giveaway!

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DELICIOUS SATISFACTION

The Delicious Desires Series

By Sabrina Sol

 

As LA’s hottest up-and-coming chef, Alexa Montoya is known for her ruby red lipstick, award-winning arroz con pollo and a penchant for falling for the wrong kind of men. And when a confrontation with a loser ex-boyfriend lands her in some legal trouble, she’s forced to call her long-time friend, Dante Perez, to bail her out. Only this time, Dante seems different, somehow. More gorgeous, more sexy, more…mouthwateringly irresistible. Suddenly she’s tempted to give the lawyer much more than a simple thank you…

 

Dante is tired of seeing Alexa with guys who only know how to steal her money and break her heart. He’s watched–and waited for–her long enough. Helping with her legal situation will finally give him a chance to win her over for good. His plan?  He’ll seduce her into finally believing that there’s something deliciously right between them…

 

Despite their chemistry, Alexa can’t trust that Dante won’t leave. But Dante knows how to win a case. And he’ll do whatever it takes to convince Alexa that she’ll always leave him hungry for more.

TEASER:

“I’m trying to be less impulsive,” she confessed.

He narrowed his eyes. “What does that mean?”

“It means I’m trying very hard not to let my emotions get the best of me, especially when it comes to guys. Jumping into bed with you for a quickie isn’t a good idea right now.”

His expression darkened. “Oh, my sweet Alexa. I’m not looking for a one time hookup. I’ve waited too damned long for you. One time won’t nearly be enough.”

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can find out more about Sabrina Sol at: www.SabrinaSol.com

Seduced by the Daredevil – Jorja Lovett

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Thanks for hosting me today, and sharing in the release day madness! Seduced by the Daredevil goes on sale from 4th September and is a bit of a departure from my usual style. It started life as a medical romance, but there are definitely moments of rom com in there, as you can see from the excerpt…

Blurb

Sparks fly when ‘Miss Stuffy Knickers’ Andrea Bolan meets her match in daredevil Matt King. There’s nothing quite like a passionate kiss to motivate a girl to jump off a building in the name of charity. With her inhibitions left far behind she begins to see the benefits of no-strings fun and sets her sights on her sexy abseiling instructor, but things don’t go exactly to plan. 

Adrenaline junkie Matt fights his demons by living his life on the edge and an uptight dietitian definitely isn’t his usual type. But, when they’re thrown together at work there’s no denying the chemistry. Lust is easy for him to deal with, but he doesn’t do commitment.

A sizzling affair catches them both by surprise but if they’re not careful their pasts might just cost them any chance of future happiness.

Excerpt

Matt was eternally grateful he had bought the apartment close by, overlooking the River Lagan. He had enough trouble keeping his hands off Andrea for the duration of the five-minute journey. Small talk with a driver in no obvious hurry was the last thing he wanted, with seduction on his mind. He held it together until they pulled up outside the apartment block.

“Cheers, mate.” He threw a few notes through the window and pulled a giggling Andrea from the passenger seat.

Lust fuelled their journey and they half-ran to the entrance of the exclusive new complex. The few steps leading to his front door were taken in such a frenzied rush to reach their destination that Andrea stumbled on those impossibly high heels.

“Are you okay?” On autopilot, he knelt down to her crumpled position on the step and carefully removed her shoe to check for any swelling.

“I’m fine.” She giggled again and held up the broken heel of her shoe.

“Thank goodness that’s the only casualty,” he said, and swept her, and the broken stiletto, up into his arms to carry her the rest of the way. With one hand fiddling with the lock and the other cradling Andrea close to him, who said men couldn’t multitask?

Once inside, he set her back onto her feet and closed the door shut with the force of his body pinning hers against it. He wanted her naked, and that damn sweater which had teased him all day needed to go. Andrea didn’t resist when he lifted it to reveal the bounty beneath, but tugged at his T-shirt in response until pressing his naked skin to hers became as necessary as breathing. He impatiently hiked her top higher to strip her completely of it.

“Hold on a sec.” Andrea’s muffled voice came from the tangle of blue wool wedged around her head. He yanked until her head popped free, leaving that once-silky hair a veritable bird’s nest.

“That’s better,” she said. “Now you.”

He broke contact to get rid of the barrier, and those few seconds let him drink in the sight of her. In a white bra and jeans, hair mussed, and lips swollen from his tending, she was a far cry from the priss-miss he’d first encountered.

Man, what a turn-on.

The rapid rise and fall of her chest mesmerized him, but restrictive cotton denied him the full effect of her voluptuous cleavage. Eager to free her from all conservative binds, his fingers sought to unhook the fastening of her bra. A well-rehearsed tug and flick failed to open the catch, and he distracted her with a passionate kiss while he worked on it. First with one hand, then with two, he pushed and pulled to no avail.

Finally, he had to admit defeat. “I can’t get this bloody thing open, Andie.”

Resisting the urge to rip it off, Matt waited while she reached to undo it herself. She whipped her underwear off to release her pert breasts into view, and slung it in his direction. The bra catapulted directly into his face, the tail end popping him in the eye. Instinctively he clutched his eye and stifled a verbal wince.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Through a watery haze, he saw her hand fly to her mouth in horror.

“Don’t worry, Andie. It’s not your fault.” He tried to blink back the watery sting to ease her guilt, but full apology mode had already kicked in.

“That was a stupid thing to do. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

His one good eye saw her bend to retrieve the makeshift weapon. She stood up and accidentally head-butted him between the legs, his groin suffering the next hit. His tongue nearly didn’t make it either, he bit it so hard to stop from crying out. The crippling agony doubled him in two and he fought to breathe through it. When, oh when, had his tried and tested methods of seduction turned into a comedy of errors?

“Why don’t we take this somewhere safer? Like the bedroom?” he asked in shallow bursts amid ragged breaths.

Andrea placed a self-conscious arm across her chest and limped to his bedroom, one foot shoeless and the other wobbling on a stiletto. He followed when the ache down below receded enough to allow movement.

 

Buy Links: All Romance, Amazon, Bookstrand, Evernight Publishing

Author Links: Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Website

Swagger released today!

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Swagger released today and for a limited time it’s 99 cent!!!  I loved writing this story for NaNoWriMo last year and to finally see all that hard work in a book?  It’s complete euphoria for me.Swagger

Nine years, two lives, one love.
We all have dreams. Mine were filled with college and the boy I loved, Cruz Montoya. But all that went up with smoke when he got sent to Juvenile Hall, my sister killed herself, and Dad up and left. My mother, and I use that terminology loosely, became a monster transferring her pains and disappointment. I became trapped.
Honorably discharged, I’m back in Arlington Heights, the small town that only remembers the black sheep persona of my youth. I could list a dozen reasons for my return, but the only one that matters is Roxanne Waters. I should probably leave her be. I’m not much of a catch with PTSD and the childhood memories rattling around in my brain. Yet, I can’t walk away. There’s a darkness that surrounds the death of her sister, a secret that’s slowly killing her. I’m going to find out everything. This is the moment of truth to see if we can make it or if I’m nine years too late.

You can pick Swagger up here:

http://smarturl.it/SwaggerAmazon

The Facebook event is from 6-9 pm PST tonight soSwaggerfbevent if you want to stop by for the fun and the giveaways…Invite your friends!  Here’s the link!http://smarturl.it/SwaggerFacebookevent

A little Q&A about The Bond by Shyla Colt and Nikki Prince

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I’m so very excited to announce that the collaboration between myself and Shyla Colt is out and now available.  This book was so fun to write.  I had such a great partner in Shyla.  Shyla and I wanted to do something fun so we interviewed each other and asked three questions each, take a look!

Nikki:  What is your inspiration when you’re writing?

Shyla:   I’m inspired by my characters. Their struggles, triumphs, joys, and pains become my own. Sometimes it’s therapeutic, and I find myself unearthing skeletons, and bringing them to the light. It’s my ultimate goal that every piece I write is better than the one before, and can benefit the reader. Wither it be a break from their reality, kinship, or a deep connection.
Nikki: The book The Bond, how easy was it to write?

Shyla:  I think it was easier to write with a friend. You’re bouncing concepts of one another, having a good time, and getting instant, honest feedback.
Nikki:   What do you do in your downtime if you have it?

Shyla:  Sleep? * laughs. Read, watch movies, and craft.

Now on to my questions from Shyla!

Shyla:  The main characters are Puma’s. What made you pick that particular animal?

Nikki:  If I remember correctly we both wanted to do something different instead of the normal shifters that most people do as in the werewolves. So then we thought long and hard what would be a great cat to have for the story and Rafe and Sanura both fit Puma for us. This was such a wonderful story to write and to do it with such a great friend and fantastic author was an honor.

Shyla:  What book are you reading now?

Nikki:  I actually just finished reading a short story called Haley’s Man by Sara Daniel. Not currently reading anything, busy writing away and working the day job.

Shyla:  What paranormal creatures would you like to write about in the future?

Nikki:  I want to write dragon shifters, avian shifters of some sort…really everything is wide open. I love the paranormal realm. Everything at this point is wide open and I like that. I love that there is so much out there to write and dream about.

So now we want to share our story with you.  Check out our blurb, our sexy cover art and an excerpt!

the-bond1m 

Sanura Bast is willing to risk everything to keep her Pride of Pumas safe from Logan’s scheme to sell their land off to the highest bidder, including masquerading as his fiancée. After almost a year playing a role that disgusts her, she gets the intangible proof she’s been looking for. Desperate to end the charade, she turns to her ally, Rafael.
Banished for losing his control with a human, Rafael’s been looking for a way back to his Pride and to Sanura ever since. The woman set his blood on fire before she was old enough to accept what he wanted from her. Together they plot to stop Logan before he becomes chief, and now she has the proof they need to save her Pride. With that goal in sight, Rafael is ready to take what’s always been his and claim Sanura as his own.

Excerpt:

Sanura studied herself in the mirror, immediately recognizing the hunger that lurked in the dilated depths of her hazel eyes. She freed her hair from its elastic prison, pleased by the golden highlights brought out in the auburn tresses that fell to her shoulders. A lady wanted to look good for her gentleman, no matter what the circumstances. Blood filled her face. Desire stirred once more at the thought of an able-bodied male. There was no use denying she’d reached the pinnacle of her cycle.

The circumstances that had brought her to this point were daunting, but the meeting she’d set up for the evening would hopefully end all that.  It angered her that the archaic tradition of the Pride choosing mates was still in place. If she hadn’t been engaged they would’ve forced her to bond with him. There was a big difference between mating and bonding, sort of like comparing fucking to marriage.

If only she could solve all of this by riding out her cycle, literally if she had anything to say about it, and go back to her Pride a single woman once more in control of her destiny. A soft groan escaped parted lips as her need increased. The intense arousal moved through her body, as if to mock her train of thought.

Bracing her weight against the sink, she gripped the edge of the counter as she fought to tamp down an orgasm. She’d waited as late as she could to get to the hotel, because she was afraid of being trailed. Now the fire that burned inside her needed to be extinguished. Her nipples peaked beneath the comfy black track suit, and her panties grew damp from the abundance of cream she produced. A small moan escaped, and she willed him to arrive and soon.

This was what the Pride’s shaman had warned her about. Unlike the other females in her Pride, her breeding cycle was very unique. As the daughter of their Chief, she was the only alpha female in her Pride. When her cycle came Sanura had to mate with an alpha male to end her heat. This was fine, until the Pride had decided it was time for her to bond and determine the next in line for Chief. Bonding for her people was different from most. For them it was a choice, not a biological response. The sharing of souls was a deeply spiritual experience she refused to have soiled by Pride politics. Her father would be upset. But he loved her. Eventually he’d get over the fact that she’d thwarted his plans to choose her path for her. Especially, when he found out about all of Logan’s lies.

Another wave of desire threatened to buckle her knees, shattering her thought process. I can’t even be out in public like this. Thank God, she was in her room right now. Sanura attempted to redirect her thoughts and failed, biting back a scream as her body shuddered and the wave began to build once more.

Her gaze was drawn to the bed where a night of passion would provide her with freedom she craved. No one else seemed to understand her urgency. Her sensitive nipples rubbed against the fabric of her bra. She gasped, and she sprang into action. Kicking off the black sneakers and socks, she slipped out of the track pants and white tank top, leaving the pieces where they fell. She had to come, even if it was by her own hand. The door opened with a soft click, and her breathing quickened. He was here, moving toward the bathroom by the sound of it. Fuck! There’s no time to get dressed again.

His scent ensnared her, musk and forest pines blended, throwing her heat into overdrive as it tickled her nostrils. Her gaze was drawn to the doorway like a magnet, and she watched him approach, his broad body shrouded in shadows. Anticipation ran rampant. He was about six two with long silky black hair, copper-toned skin, and eyes that mirrored a dark abyss. Rafael looked like his Native American ancestors. An unusual blend of Latin and Native American the man turned heads wherever he went. As he entered the bathroom he held up his hand to show her a red blindfold.

“What’s that for?” she whispered.

“For you, of course. I can see that you almost started the party without me.”

“No, you need to go back into the room. Let me dress so we can talk.”

“We’re not going anywhere until I claim you as I should’ve a long time ago.”

He moved forward, and she could see the intent in his eyes, the blindfold still dangling from his fingers.

“Rafael­­.”

“No, no excuses. I’m going to show you what it’s been like to wait.”

Pleased she offered him her back, turning away from the mirror. He pressed his body against her. The feel of cloth covering her eyes was so sensual it made her shudder. The red cloth stole away her vision, and her heart thudded in her chest. Her ears twitched, and her nostrils flared as her other senses heightened.

His body was firm and tight beneath his layer of clothing. The bulge in his pants nudged her back, making her wonder if he’d planned this all along. His teeth grazed her neck, and all thoughts fled. A low mewl of pleasure released from her throat. She reveled in the relief from the burning heat that swamped her body.

Buylinks:

Evernight Publishing: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Bond-ebook/dp/B00DRHM36M/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_2

Amazon:

US: http://www.amazon.com/The-Bond-ebook/dp/B00DRHM36M/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_t_1_11T4

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Bond-ebook/dp/B00DRHM36M/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_2

Shyla’s Author Bio

Told once ‘You have to be an author, then you’re craziness becomes eccentrics’, Shyla Colt has always been in love with the written word and possessed a desire to write. Named after Super Girl in the comics, she often mistakes her mortality for super hero status. So, she holds many hats, Mother, Marine Wife, and writer are her top three. Writing allows her to explore new venues, face her demons, and touch others. A huge practitioner of paying it forward, and putting in what you want to get out, she hopes to inspire, enlighten, move, and entertain you with her work. Mixing humor, drama, and strong women, often with a paranormal element, she continues to soldier ahead in the writing field. One of her favorite things is talking to fans. If you’d like to learn more or just drop a line, please check her out at www.shylacolt.com.

Where you can find her

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/authorshyla.colt?fref=ts

Blog: www.shylacoltsstraightshot.wordpress.com

Website: www.shylacolt.com

Twitter: @Shylacolt

Nikki Prince is a mother of two, who’s always had a dream to be a published author in the romance genre. Her passion lies in raising her children as readers, gaming, cooking, reading and her writing. Her mother can now breathe easy about the child who used to get in trouble because she was hiding books everywhere and reading when it wasn’t appropriate.

Nikki’s a multi-published author with several epublishing houses. She loves to write Interracial romances in all genres, but wants to let everyone know to not box her in, because there is always room for growth.

Nikki’s also a member of Romance Writers of America National chapter (http://www.rwa.org) and OCC/RWA local chapter (http://www.occrwa.org) and is a member of the board as Co-Programs Director.  She is also a member of the online chapter Passionate Ink RWA.

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

Twitter: @Authornprince

Release Me by Iyana Jenna

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Thank you very much, Nikki, for having me today to talk about my Romance on the Go book, Release Me. It came out on June 28 from Evernight Publishing.

Before I go on with the book, I’d like to talk a bit about how to handle negative criticism. To me negative criticism is just the same with the positive one. I will listen and pay attention to both of them because they are all important. For negative criticism, I will read carefully what those critics tell me and do something about it. If it’s something that I need to improve, I will gladly do it. But if it has nothing to do with my writing or my genre, then I’ll just forget it and move on. There are some things I learn from the writing business. One is that you can never please everyone. There are always people who are not satisfied with what you write or just not into it. Yet there is a silver lining with this condition. Not everybody will hate your book. Even if someone says your book is terrible and isn’t worth your money, there are always others who happen to like what you write. Because, yeah, people do like different kinds of books.

 

Blurb:

Taking a break from dealing with his father’s clients on legal matters, Nicholas Haynes went out to the sea on his yacht—only to find a man floating in the water. The man was still alive, much to Nicholas’s relief.

Gregory Phillips was a private investigator and his last job almost turned him into fish food if not for Nicholas. Little did he know that the main suspect in his case was one of Nicholas’ father’s clients. When Nicholas insisted on taking care of Gregory after the incident that almost killed him, can he trust Nicholas enough with his life?

 

Excerpt:

Stanley Haynes threw the newspaper, and it landed with a slap on Nicholas’s plate. The headlines blared at Nicholas as though his father had shouted at him.

Heir to US Banking Chain Wedded?

“You ever plan to tell us about this, Nicholas?”

Nicholas glanced briefly at his mother sitting across from him, but she kept stirring the cooling coffee in her cup. Nicholas could see a smile flicker in her eyes. He shrugged.

“Come on, Dad. You know it was impossible for me to talk about it before everything was done.”

“Are you saying you don’t trust me, or your mom—” Stanley threw a glance at his wife, and his eyes widened. “You knew about this?”

She threw her hands up.

“God, no, honey. I wouldn’t lie to you.”

“All right, all right.” Stanley took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. “Is it that Phillips guy?”

“Of course. Who else?” Nicholas grinned.

His mother went back to stirring her coffee. Her voice was calm when she asked, “When was it, Nicholas? How come both of us didn’t know anything about it?”

“A moment after Greg was released from the hospital.”

“Wow. That fast?”

Nicholas chuckled. “Yeah. Now you can’t accuse me of being a playboy anymore.”

“That’s good, dear.” His mother took his hand, and Nicholas squeezed hers gently. “So those journalists—they just found out the other day?”

“They’ve just seen this ring, that’s all.” Nicholas lifted his left hand and eyed the simple platinum band around his ring finger. Gregory had exactly the same kind of ring around his finger.

****

A month earlier

It was the lulling sounds of the waves and the gentle breeze above the vast, boundless ocean that Nicholas loved most. He could spend days, even weeks, drifting seemingly without any course and purpose on his boat, all by himself. After months dealing with his father’s clients about legal matters, he was always desperate for some time alone. Sometimes he just couldn’t understand why he had to work twice as hard as the other employees in his father’s bank when he was his only son. However, most of the time, he just couldn’t see it any other way. His father was not the type to want to spoil his family. Everyone had to earn what life had given to them. Nobody was allowed to simply ask and receive.

Today, though, he ended up not alone.

BUY LINK:

Evernight PublishingAmazonAll Romance E-booksBookstrand

A little about me:

Hi!

I’m Iyana Jenna and you can call me Iyana. I like writing, romance, and man love so as you can see on this site, you’re mostly going to find m/m stories whether they are for adults or young adults. They are not going to be too heavy on explicit sex, though, as many say that my stories are considered sweet romance.​

When I don’t write, I teach English to children, teens, and adults. I also work in the curriculum and materials department in an institution. Among my responsibilities are writing books and tests.

And a GIVEAWAY!

One commenter will get a copy of my e-book by the end of July. So please read and comment! ^__^

Find Iyana here:

Blog: http://iyana-jenna.livejournal.com/
Website: http://iyanajenna.wix.com/author-iyana-jenna
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/iyanajenna
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6996391.Iyana_Jenna
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iyanajenna

Twitter: https://twitter.com/IyanaJenna

 

Been Loving You Too Long by Seraphina Donovan

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Ophelia Broulliard’s life has always been linked to the wealthy and powerful DuChamps family. The granddaughter of the family’s housekeeper, she’s worshipped Vincent DuChamps from afar–the ever unattainable prince in her fairy tale dreams. Little does she know that Vincent harbors his own secret feelings for her, but other darker secrets that he sees as an insurmountable obstacle to ever being the man she deserves, have prompted him to avoid her altogether.

When Thomas, the family patriarch dies, his will bears some unpleasant surprises for them both. Thomas wants nothing more than for Vincent and his siblings to be happy, and in his final act as the only father figure they’ve ever had, engineers a series of contingencies in his will that require them each to face their demons. Only too aware of what Vincent really feels for Ophelia, Thomas creates a situation that will force Vincent to confront his feelings.

Unless, Vincent and Ophelia marry, Vincent and his siblings will lose everything, including the family business.

Forced into such close proximity, denying their attraction for one another becomes impossible. But even as they grow closer, other threats to the future of DuChamps Hotels and all that Vincent holds dear threaten to destroy their burgeoning relationship. Ophelia has played it safe her whole life. Taking a risk on Vincent is a frightening prospect. Will it be worth it, or will his secrets break both their hearts?

EXCERPT

The girlhood crush had never quite vanished, but this almost painful need was too much to bear. She could smell his cologne, the scent light and subtle, but wholly masculine. It made her want to rub against him like a cat, just so she could smell his scent on her.

While he stared down at her hand, applying the small bandage, she stared at his face, noting the dark shadows beneath his eyes. They told the truth of how difficult it was for him. It wasn’t just that he and Thomas were family. Thomas had been his mentor, his friend, and the only father he’d ever known. Vincent respected and admired him, but more than that, he needed him.

“You look tired, Vincent.”

He quirked an eyebrow, his expression sardonic. “So I hear.”

It had slipped out, an admission that she shouldn’t have made. Acknowledging to anyone how frequently Vincent crossed her mind or how often she studied his face was dangerous.

When he looked up at her, their gazes locked and Ophelia’s breath simply froze. Her lungs seized and she could do nothing but stare into his coal-black eyes and pray that everything she felt for him wasn’t written all over her face.

It was only when he drew her hand up and placed it against his chest, directly over his racing heart that she realized he’d even still been holding it. The firmness of muscle and the springy mat of chest hair beneath the cotton of his shirt was too much temptation to resist. She caressed that muscle lightly and watched as his eyes blazed with lust.

His expression changed to something she could only describe as carnal, predatory even. He stepped closer to her, backing her against the island.

She let out a sigh, savoring the sensation of his closeness, of the heat from his body scorching her.

His mouth was only inches from her and the anticipation of waiting for the kiss that seemed so inevitable was agonizing. “Tell me to stop,” he demanded.

“You shouldn’t,” she whispered, unable to find her voice.

“I shouldn’t stop or I shouldn’t kiss you, Ophelia? Which is it?”

She knew the right answer, the answer she ought to give. Instead, she sank against him, savoring the heat, the hard planes of his body against hers. Her eyes closed softly as she raised her lips to his.

The heat between them sparked, flared, then raged out of control. She might have initiated that first tentative touch of their lips, but he quickly seized the reins.

His lips were firm as they settled over hers, demanding. When his teeth scraped her bottom lip, nipping roughly and then soothing with his tongue, she couldn’t hold back the low moan. Each gentle tug and pull as he sucked at her lips, the sensual glide of his tongue against hers as he swept it into her mouth was overwhelmingly intense.

It was as if he’d peered inside her and knew what she wanted even before he she did. Heat suffused her, spreading throughout her body. He tasted of bourbon and the spice that was simply him. Sliding her hands up and over the breadth of his shoulders, she clasped her hands behind his neck, bringing them even closer.

His hands moved over her back, down to her hips, pressing against her.

Release Date 6-11-13, only at Amazon. Priced at 2.99. Next book in the series will be out in August!

Buy Link:

http://www.amazon.com/Loving-Romance-DuChamps-Dynasty-ebook/dp/B00DBN9F9A/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371748304&sr=1-1&keywords=been+loving+you+too+long

Bio:

Seraphina Donavan is a hopeless romantic with a wicked & oh-so-dirty mind! Those things, combined with her love of writing, prompted her to take the leap and transform those fantasies into written words on a page. As a curvy girl herself, Seraphina has made it a point to celebrate those women with delicious curves with her work through writing and the hot men who love them.
She currently has 11 published books & is working on many more..
Living in Central Kentucky, Seraphina spends her time rescuing stray animals, working for a non-profit agency and dreaming of becoming a best-selling author. She lives in a home that has more character than working parts and enjoys spending time with her fur babies. Feel free to contact her with any questions or thoughts on your mind.. She loves connecting with her readers & hearing from anyone!

Contact Seraphina at:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Seraphina-Donavan/211121168972963

Twitter:  @MissSeraphinaD

In Flames by Jessica Jayne

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Gracelyn Riley married a firefighter. She knew that came with risks. But she never imagined herself widowed in her early thirties with two children to care for on her own.

As a fireman, Matt Riley was at the scene when his brother, Chad, was killed. He suffered greatly from survivor’s guilt and depression after the accident.

The last year has been difficult for both Gracelyn and Matt. They’ve relied on each other to get through the tough times. With the anniversary of Chad’s death upon them, Gracelyn and Matt once again turn to each other for comfort and support. They find it in each other’s arms (and bed). Will their desire for each other consume them? Can they overcome the guilt and scrutiny to find love again…together?

 

“He wasn’t the perfect husband,” Gracelyn said. “I learned about the women. I was so angry with him. So angry. He risked our marriage and our family for a few hot fucks. One of the hardest things I ever did was tell him to leave our home… that I needed to separate from him so I could sort it out on my own. And then, a week later he is gone… for good. I felt so guilty. I loved him. I really did. And he was a great father. I miss him.” Tears started to flow down her face.

“I miss him too,” Matt said. He gave her hand a squeeze. “Gracey, I know you loved him. He knew you loved him. I know he made mistakes in your relationship, but he did love you… a lot… even if he didn’t always show it properly. And he was going to work his ass off to save your marriage.” Matt wiped her tears away with the back of his hand.

“This is just so hard, Matty. Raising Jenna and Josh on my own. It’s a big responsibility when both parents are around, but on my own… I feel like I am screwing everything up,” she cried. “Shit around the house that he would normally take care of sometimes falls by the way side because I forget about it… like the trash. And then I see it sitting there and get mad that he isn’t here to take the trash out or mow the lawn or help the kids with their math homework. He was always better with math than I was. Not to mention, I feel so damn alone.” She looked up at him. Her blue eyes sparkled through her tears.

“You know you can always count on me,” Matt said. He put his arms around her and cradled her. “I’ll help with Jenna and Josh as much as I can. And you know Mom and Pop will always be here to help too. And when I don’t have Brian on the weekend, I can be here to do whatever you need…like I have been.”

“I can’t ask you to do more than you already do,” she said. “You already do so much… too much. You attend the kids’ events and games. You help take care of the yard… fix the little things around the house… make sure my car is always up and running. You need to have a life. You can’t spend your free time taking care of your brother’s widow all the time.”

“Gracey, you are more than just Chad’s widow. You’re family. And you have always been a friend. You’ve been a tremendous support for me. I wouldn’t have made it through this last year without you. I will do whatever I can to help you. You know that. We’ve helped each other through this last year and I’m not abandoning you now. I’ll always be here for you.”

“I just don’t want to be alone anymore,” she cried into his shoulder. Her hands gripped his t-shirt desperately. Matt held her tight. Tears welled in his own eyes. The past year had been difficult for everyone, especially Gracelyn. But she’d always stayed strong…whether for the kids, for everyone else or for herself.

They had shared tears together over the last year, but he had only witnessed her completely break down twice. First, when she found out about the accident. Matt wouldn’t let anyone else break the news to her. He had been at the scene when the accident happened. Several firefighters had to restrain him to keep him from rushing back into the collapsing building to get to his brother. The fire chief wanted to tell Gracelyn about Chad’s death, but Matt refused that as an option. He and Gracelyn were close and he did not want her to find out from anyone other than him, so he rode with the chief to her house. She knew the minute she opened the front door and saw him standing in his turnout pants, t-shirt and suspenders with his face all smudged black from the smoke and his own tears. She collapsed in his arms when he confirmed it. And then when they buried Chad, Gracelyn broke down for the last time… at least in front of anyone else. Maybe she sobbed every night in the shower or lying in bed by herself. But he had not seen it. The sight of her in his arms now… it just broke his heart.

Gracelyn lifted her head and looked at him through her tears. Matt gently touched her face with the back of his hand, in an attempt to wipe away her tears and soothe her. Leaning into him, she pressed her lips to his. At first, Matt didn’t comprehend what was happening. Her lips were soft against his, yet she kissed him so confidently. Her fresh strawberry scent enveloped him… so sweet… so intoxicating. She smelled like summer despite it being the end of September.

Matt’s mind told him to stop the kiss. Stop it before it went any farther. But her tongue slid against the seam of his lips and his head jumbled with a mix of thoughts—none of which were coherent.

Buylinks:

 

About the Author:

I am a born and raised small town Ohio girl, who moved to the Sunshine State after graduating from college. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English because I could not imagine doing anything else but reading and writing. It is such a pleasure to be able to share all the stories in my head!
In the journey of life, I also became a wife and a mother of three children. So, life is always an adventure. But the love of writing has never died.
My favorites: I love to read and write… obviously! But I also enjoy all sports, especially college football and the Ohio State Buckeyes! Go Steelers! Go Rays! I LOVE to travel… LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to travel. And I love sharing my love to travel with my children. I love to drink Teavana teas! I love a good glass of wine, especially if it comes from a bottle made by the FOOLS wine club… yep, I’m a member of that! J I love hanging out with my family and my friends! Big fan of music, but love nothing better than putting on my jean shorts, tank top, cowboy boots and hat and watching Tim McGraw belt it out! I’m a sucker for a cowboy hat! J

Favorite quote: “If nothing ever changed, there would be no butterflies.”

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