Book Tour, Giveaway: Country Love by Chelsea Dorsette

Country Love

Author: Chelsea Dorsette
Publisher: Limitless publishing, Hawaii
Cover: Limitless publishing, Hawaii
Publication: April 17, 2014
Pages: 115
Genre: Adult/Romance

Amazon | B&N | Kobo


SYNOPSIS

**Mature Content Warning** Recommended for 

ages 17+ due to language and sexual content.

Standing over six feet tall with tight black jeans and his signature black cowboy hat, he draws attention every time he sets foot on stage...

CJ Tanner is the sexy lead singer of an up and coming country band.

While doing a radio station interview at Nashville, Tennessee’s top rated country music station WSIX, CJ meets Paden Thomas.

During the course of the interview the sexual tension between them is palpable…

When CJ invites Paden to come watch his band play at Nashville’s popular downtown club called Cat’s Cradle their relationship starts heating up.

It doesn’t take long before a mysterious series of unexplainable and dangerous events start happening, leaving Paden suspicious that someone is trying to keep them apart.

Feeling that their safety is in jeopardy, Paden has no other choice than to break up with CJ…

Yet again, another unexpected turn of events puts Paden in harms way with potentially devastating consequences.

Will CJ show up in time to rescue her? Or will these events take a toll on their relationship?


AUTHOR BIO

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Blog| Goodreads

CHELSEA DORSETTE was born in Boston, Massachusetts and now calls Raleigh, North Carolina home. Her writing career began in the radio broadcasting industry as a commercial copywriter. Some years later she penned a handful of children’s short stories. A few years back, she spent three years learning the craft of writing country music lyrics with the help from some great Nashville song writers. Chelsea’s current love is writing erotica romance. She currently has three novellas available on all major E-bookstores with two more in the works to be published.

Chelseadorsette@aol.com

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would write erotica romance! It literally happened right out of the blue. As I think back, it may have all started a couple of years back after reading “50 Shades of Grey” by E.L. James. Reading her book shocked me at first. But as I progressed through her stories I must have become intrigued because the next thing I knew, I was exploring other erotic stories. After reading more than a handful of books by other erotica writers, I found myself getting a bit weary of them because the storylines seemed very similar. I was craving for more but couldn’t find what I was searching for.

One day I was out walking my dog and a storyline hit me! I was playing it through my head and couldn’t wait to get back home so I could sit down at the computer and write it all down. The next thing I knew, my very first short story UNEXPECTED STRANGER was born. With encouragement from some friends who read it, I decided to tackle a second story. The next thing I knew, I had written a book of ten short stories and I was being offered a publishing contract!

Now with five published books under my belt all with wonderful reviews, I look forward to sitting down to write almost every day. I am very fortunate to be well traveled, so I can place my characters in wonderful places like San Francisco, Nashville and Hong Kong to name a few. I am currently working on my sixth book that takes place in beautiful Breckenridge, Colorado, where I’ve also had the pleasure of visiting.

In many erotica stories that I’ve read, the authors have the female character professionally and financially subservient to the male character. In my stories, the women are on equal footing with the men. They are strong, professional and intelligent women who are every bit as comfortable taking the lead sexually as the men. In my opinion, this makes for hotter scenarios!

GIVEAWAY!

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Book Tour, Giveaway: Lennon's Hope by Chris Myers

Title: Lennon’s Hope (Lennon’s Girls #3) 

Author: Chris Myers 

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance 17+ 

Publication Date: July 1st, 2014 Publisher: BookOnTheEdge 

Event organized by: Literati Author Services, Inc. 

  

~ Synopsis ~

Sometimes in love, you lose all control… At age ten, Rain fell hard for the sweet boy caring for his little sister. At age eighteen, she runs into Lennon, now an experienced player and no longer the innocent boy she once loved. At age nineteen, she has to put all her plans on hold to have his baby, and under a cloud of deception, she faces tragedy and heartbreak. At age ten, Lennon proposed to Rain in front of the whole school. At age eighteen, he thought he was over her until he sees her at a party, no longer a little girl but all grown-up and sexy as hell. At age nineteen, he loses everything he ever cared about. ***WARNING: This book is New Adult Contemporary Romance and contains sexual content.

Add to Goodreads

 

Purchase links for previous books in the series

Lennon’s Rain (Lennon’s Girl #1) Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Lennon’s Jinx (Lennon’s Girl #2) Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 Lennon's Hope and Lennon's Jinx  are .99 cents for the length of the tour.  

 

~ About the Author ~

Chris Myers spends most of her free time writing and dreaming up new characters who fight each other for page time. She is an award-winning author of five published novels: LENNON'S JINX and LENNON'S RAIN, first two in a New Adult romance trilogy, and DAT E WIT H T HE DEAD and DEAD AND MISSING, first two in a YA paranormal mystery series, and a dark thriller. Chris's work has appeared in the NewsMag and has earned several awards including first place Paul Gillette, Colorado Gold finalist, and semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. She has taught writing workshops for PPW and Delve Writing and was an adjunct professor at CSU.

Connect with the Author: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Goodreads

 

Giveaway

$50 Gift Card and Lennon’s Rain and Lennon’s Jinx signed. (2) $25 Amazon Gift Card

Entry-Form

Book Tour and Review: SEALs Going Hot Series

SEALs Going Hot Series

by 

Cerise Deland

Samantha Cayto

Desiree Holt and

Brenna Zinn

Tour by N K Author Services

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

"Then he would speak, breaking the spell he cast, and his bass voice would envelop you from the pits of Hades.  no other man spoke that low.  That soft.  he seemed to murmur, like white noise in your mind and soul."

" 'Nice to meet you,' April told him a voice that danced over his skin like angel whispers."

My Review:

Not being in the BDSM "lifestyle" or ever having a family member that served in the military, I learned considerable jargon and terminology reading this collection.  I now know what a "pain slut" is.  Don't wanna be one but I now I  know ;)  Having never thought about it before, I can now see how a military background and BDSM could go hand in hand, both require control, discipline, and focus.  Not traits that I seem to have in abundance... I don't like pain, don't like being told what to do.  Each story contained a heaping helping of hot sex scenes.  My favorite story of the four was Burning for Nero - as it was a sweet and sensual love story without the need for blindfolds or safewords.  

Empress DJ

Fletcher "Mustang" Call is a dedicated SEAL and a committed Dom. The one thing he isn't is relationship material. A tragedy in his past killed his desire for more than a good time on leave and a little D/s play. Until April Coe walked into his life, a woman unlike any he’s known. Problem is, she’s as vanilla as they come.

April was warned about Mustang, a man as wild and free as his call sign, so she doesn’t expect him to stick around for long. That’s okay, she'll enjoy the great sex while she can. At least, she thought it was great. When she senses her sexy bronco is holding back, she has to decide whether to ride the mustang a little harder or set him free.

For SEAL Fletcher “Mustang” Call a past tragedy defined the present. Until April Coe walked into his life.  Warned about Mustang, a man as wild and free as his call sign, she knows he won’t stick around for long. Then life takes a tricky twist for both of them.

On leave due to an injury, Navy SEAL Tony Nero heads home for a little R&R and some Fourth of July fun. When his buddy’s widow Cass Phillips picks him up at the air station, Tony figures he’s in for a sexually frustrating few days. He’s had the hots for the blonde siren for years, but his best friend won her heart first. Even though Ray’s been gone more than a year, Tony bets Cass isn’t interested in any man. Not him. And especially not another SEAL.

Cass has a bone to pick with longtime friend, Tony. After her husband died, he was the closest thing her little boy had to a father figure. His visits stopped abruptly and her son doesn't understand why. Neither does she. She's also unable to quench her growing need for the tough and tender man. She's already loved and lost one SEAL, but that doesn't stop her from burning for Nero.

SEAL sniper, Dane, is known as Eagle Eye for his deadly aim. He’s also good at hiding his identity as a gay Dom.  Childhood trauma has led him to live and play deep in the closet. Then a bullet to his thigh lands him on leave and in the incredible hands of a hot ensign assigned to get him back in the field.

Will Chadwick is happy to finally be living as an openly gay man in the Navy. And as a physical therapist, he’s used to coaxing bad asses like Dane into doing their PT. Harder for him is resisting the temptation that Dane presents. He’s a patient and hiding his sexuality. A prudent man would keep his distance.

But Dane doesn’t know how to quit, and seducing Will has become a mission.  The budding sub in Will can’t resist the Dom’s commands. If he could only make Dane see that being a man doesn’t mean hiding his true self.

As a Navy SEAL, Michael “Midas” Baudine trains countless hours to prepare for combat. But a man can’t train for luck, so preserving his “Midas touch” good fortune is something he takes seriously, and he'll go to extreme measures to get his team on-board with his pre-mission, luck-assuring routines. He accepts a challenge from his team—get the sexy but uptight teacher, who blocks his advances at every turn, to the rock concert a week from today, and they’ll comply.

With a crazy rock star dad and top supermodel mom, Angie Summers was once a wild child but, wanting more out of life, has done her best to live under the radar of fame. She’s even assumed a secret identity and found a job teaching at Naval Station Rota, Spain. Her attempt at a “normal” life is quickly turned on its ear when a hot-as-hell Navy SEAL sweet talks her into a date she’ll never forget and may eventually regret.

While spending time with the muscle-bound sailor unleashes Angie’s need to let the wild child out to play, which could threaten her anonymity, Midas finds himself on the precipice of breaking the first rule of luck—never fall for a woman.

Desiree Holt

Desiree Holt has lived a life of excitement that brings the color to her writing. She spent several years in the music business representing every kind of artist from country singer to heavy metal rock bands. For several years she also ran her own public relations agency handling any client that interested her. She is twice a finalist for an EPIC E-Book Award, a nominee for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, winner of the first 5 Heart Sweetheart of the Year Award at The Romance Studio, and is published by four different houses. Romance Junkies said of her work: "Desiree Holt is the most amazing erotica author of our time and each story is more fulfilling then the last."  When she's not writing she's traveling Texas and, in season, obsessively watching football.  You can find her at www.desireeholt.com and www.desireeholttellsall.com

Cerise Deland

An author praised for her eloquence, endearing characters and accuracy of detail, Cerise DeLand writes ravishing contemporary and historical erotic romances that warm the heart.

And when she isn't writing? She is obsessive about reading, really fine cooking, damn good wine and exciting travel to deliciously decadent locales! Want to come along? Read her novels. She'll take you there!

Samantha Cayto

Samantha Cayto is a Boston-area native who practices as a business lawyer by day while writing erotic romance at night—the steamier the better. She likes to push the envelope when it comes to writing about passion and is delighted other women agree that guy-on-guy sex is the hottest ever.

She lives a typical suburban life with her husband, three kids and three dogs. Her children don’t understand why they can’t read what she writes, but her husband is always willing to lend her a hand—and anything else—when she needs to choreograph a scene.

Sam is also a practicing Domme when time allows and loves to visit dungeons and strip clubs when on the road. Please visit her at samanthacayto.com, friend her on facebook and follow her on twitter @samanthacayto.

Brenna Zinn

I remember reading about Texas in an Illinois grade school and thinking I probably would never see the great state where real cowboys ride their horses to work every day and everyone wears western hats and boots. Then again, I never dreamed I would elope in Gibraltar with a Navy man who hailed from the Lone Star state. But here I am, smack dab in the middle of Texas, still married to the same wonderful man and boasting not only the greatest daughter on the planet, but three dogs that are as big as long horns.

In between grade school and now, my journey through life has taken me all over the United States, as well as many places throughout the world. Using my travel experience as a guide and peppering in interesting characters I’ve met along the way, I love nothing better than weaving tales of romance and leaving readers yearning for adventures of their own.

Book Tour: Shannon's Gift by Nate Bennett

 

Title: Shannon’s Gift: A Story of Love, Loss, and Recovery 

Author: Nate Bennett 

Genre: Grieving, loss, love story 

Publish Date: June 1, 2014 

Publisher: Booklogix 

Event organized by: Literati Author Services, Inc.  

    

~ Book Synopsis ~

  In this raw, emotional memoir, Nate Bennett shares the blog he maintained to work through his grief over the sudden loss of his wife Shannon. He is surprised and comforted to discover a vast virtual community of support. His blog posts—alternately poignant and of dry wit—eventually attracted tens of thousands of hits and a following from readers who hadn’t known the couple. This unique book gives the reader a window into the starkness of a widower’s grieving experience in real time. What comes through in virtually every post is his love for Shannon as he weaves in vignettes from their life together, chronicling their love story and his efforts to recover. And in the end, with the support of his virtual community and the strength he was able to draw from remembering Shannon’s wishes for him, he finds love again.  

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     Purchase Links

 Amazon | Booklogix | iTunes | Barnes and Noble

   

What is Mitochondrial Disease?

 Tell us about Shannon’s illness. 

Shannon suffered from mitochondrial disease – or mito as it is known to the victims, friends, and family of those afflicted. A mito patient’s mitochondria are not effective at “producing the power” that cells need to function and that organs need to thrive. It is relatively rare; something like 1 in 3,000 are affected by it.  Its cause is not well understood, there is no truly effective treatment, and there is no cure.  On the other hand, mito is critical to understand because the cellular function that mito patients lose is though to play a role is an entire constellation of conditions, including ALS, autism, and Parkinson’s.

Shannon was diagnosed in her early twenties, around the time that we were married.  Her primary concern was whether or not she would pass it on to any children.  At the time, she was advised that the greater risk was to her health in carrying a child to term.  She was undeterred; we married and had two very healthy boys.

During her 20s and 30s, mito was really on our radar. That approach made sense because there wasn’t a treatment that was anything beyond a hope and a prayer – and because the best doctors could tell her was that she either would either (a) experience a slow descent caused by the unavoidable and untreatable cumulative effects of mito or (b) die of some other natural cause before mito had a chance to hurt her. She did try things that were thought to help, such as co-enzyme Q10 and L-carnatine, but all she could tell they were doing was creating unpleasant side-effects.  Mito was out of sight and out of mind.

In her 40s, the signs of mito’s impact began to appear. Her vision – never great – got worse.  Ocular myopathy, droopy eyelids, etc.  She had problems with digestion. She started to have problems chewing and swallowing. She hardly ever complained.  What she was was afraid of what she saw coming – an active mind trapped in a body that couldn’t function.

She was spared that future by her death.  After she and I dropped our youngest at College, she finally underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery as an outpatient.  The doctor came to tell me about the success of the procedure and sent me to get the car. Unfortunately, all the years that all of her systems were not being properly “fed” with energy caught up to her. Though she had awoken fine from the procedure, recovery was too much for her and she collapsed while I was driving around to pick her up.  She died 11 days later and the blog started.   

About the Author

 

In the fall of 2011, Nate lost his wife of 26 years in a shocking turn of events. She’d just had an outpatient procedure on her shoulder and the doctor sent Nate to get the car to bring her home. In the next few minutes, things went terribly wrong. Shannon collapsed, never to recover. After more than a week in a critical care unit in pursuit of a cure, Nate honored Shannon’s wishes and had her life support discontinued and she died shortly later. 

Nate’s book, Shannon’s Gift, is the result of the blog Nate kept during Shannon’s hospitalization and after her death. Initially, the purpose of the blog was to keep friends and family informed of Shannon’s condition. Quickly, though, the blog became Nate’s catharsis and a way to stay connected to a web of supporters. After the sudden loss of his wife, Nate was surprised and comforted to discover a vast virtual community of support. His blog posts – alternately expressing poignancy and dry wit – eventually attracted tens of thousands of readers and a following from people around the world that didn’t even know Nate or his wife. 

The unique book gives the reader a window into the starkness of a widower’s grief in real time and a look at how social media has changed grieving in today’s world. In the end, with the support of his virtual community and the strength he was able to draw from remembering Shannon’s wishes for him, he finds love again. While Nate is new to the personal memoir genre, he is co-author of two management books, "Riding Shotgun: The Role of the COO" and “Your Career Game: How Game Theory Can Help You Achieve Your Professional Goals.” Both are books published by Stanford University Press. Additionally, his research has been published in respected scholarly journals such as the Academy of Management Review, the Academy of Management Journal, Psychological Bulletin, and the Journal of Applied Psychology. He has also published in many widely read resources for managers including the Harvard Business Review, Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek.com and Forbes.com. Nate Bennett is a professor of the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University in the summer of 2012. From 1999 to 2012, he was on the faculty of the business school at Georgia Tech, where he most recently held the position of the Catherine W. and Edwin A. Wahlen Professor of Management. From 1999 until 2010, he served as associate dean and then as senior associate dean. Prior to Georgia Tech, he served on the faculty at Louisiana State University. While at LSU, he served at times as the management department’s Ph.D. program coordinator, department chair, MBA program director, and associate dean. Nate holds a BA in sociology, as well as a MA in Social Research from Tulane University. He earned his Ph.D. in Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He resides in Atlanta, GA.   
    

Author’s Social Media

   

Website | Facebook | Twitter

 

Book Tour and Giveaway: Mad as Helen by Susan McBride

Title: Mad as Helen (Road River Mystery)

Author: Susan McBride

Genre: Mystery, Crime, Thriller

Publish Date: July 29, 2014

Publisher: Witness Impulse an imprint of HarperCollins

Synopsis

In the second River Road Mystery from USA Today bestselling author Susan McBride, Helen Evans must find a killer before her granddaughter is arrested for murder!

When tiny River Bend, Illinois, is hit by a string of burglaries even Sheriff Frank Biddle can't solve, the clients of LaVyrle's Cut 'n' Curl can hardly talk of anything but. There are no signs of forced entry and no fingerprints, and valuables are missing from secret hiding places, as if the thief knew what he wanted and just where to look.

Helen Evans wonders what the world has come to if even their once-quiet town isn't safe anymore. Then Grace Simpson, a big-city psychotherapist who had opened up shop in River Bend, is found dead on her bedroom floor, and Helen's granddaughter is caught with the murder weapon in hand.

Sure of the girl's innocence, Helen embarks on a little investigation of her own and turns up plenty of folks who aren't grieving a bit now that Grace is dead …

Goodreads

 

Purchase Links

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iTunes |HarperCollins

About The Author:

 

 Susan McBride is the USA TODAY bestselling author of Blue Blood, the first of the Debutante Dropout Mysteries. T he award-winning series also includes T he Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, T he Lone Star Lonely Hearts Club, Night of the Living Deb, and Too Pretty to Die. She’s also the author of T he Truth about Love & Lightning, Little Black Dress, and The Cougar Club, all Target Recommended Reads. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with her husband and daughter. Visit Susan’s web site at www.SusanMcBride.com for more info.  

Connect With the Author

Website | Facebook Author Site | Facebook Personal Site

   

Entry-Form

 

Book Tour and Review: Three Books by Pam McKenna

My Rating:

My Review:

Oh my, what salacious tales!  My favorite and the tamest of the three was Photo Play, although each story was well written with humorous observations, vivid descriptions, sex scenes that would have even the driest old prune clenching, and dominant themes from mild to medium in the extreme.  I personally do not enjoy scenes of cruelty or humiliation, so need to skip a few pages of Binding Agreement that were a starting to annoy me.  All ended with the desired and positive result for all involved, which always make this old cougar feel content.  

Empress DJ

  

Binding Agreement

Pam McKenna

Genre: Erotic Romance

Publisher: BookTrope Publishing

Book Description: 

A chance encounter on a moonlit beach draws sensible, cautious Kay Denehy into a night of anonymous passion and surrender with a ruthlessly dominant stranger. As John Randall introduces her to the exotic thrills of bondage and discipline, she discovers who she really is under the prim schoolteacher exterior—a sexual submissive who needs the strict and ardent guidance of a take-no-prisoners Dom like him.

John carries more than his share of emotional baggage, the result of a tragedy for which he feels responsible. Though he cares for Kay, he refuses to pursue a relationship, certain he could only bring her pain. He pushes her away even as his unconscious dream self turns her into a sex slave to be punished and enjoyed ménage-style by two other zealous and demanding Doms.

For the first time in her life, Kay knows what she needs, and who she needs, to be sexually and emotionally fulfilled. She knows, too, the path John must take to escape his dark places—if only he’ll trust her to lead the way.


Favorite Quotes:

"Kay bit back a sob.  Her frustration was a living thing.  It had tiny, sharp teeth that nipped at her pride. "

"The vibrator was new.  Before John, she'd never considered owning a sex toy of any kind.  Now, she bought batteries at the warehouse club for the volume discount."  

Photo Play

Pam McKenna

Genre: Erotic Romance

Publisher: BookTrope Publishing

Book Description: 

Shy Darla Carmody decides to jump-start her flaccid love life by presenting her fiancé with sexy photos of herself.

She doesn’t bargain on the photographer, Kon Drummond, being a hunky Dom determined to personally demonstrate what she’s been missing.

The photo session turns into a BDSM marathon as Kon introduces Darla to the erotic pleasures of bondage, spanking, and complete sexual submission—all under the unforgiving lens of his camera. Never has Darla imagined herself on the receiving end of such treatment, or guessed the ecstasy it would bring her.

Kon has been burned by three expensive divorces and refuses to acknowledge his emotional connection to Darla. He taught her to embrace a part of herself she never knew existed. Will he let her return the favor?

Favorite Quotes:

"Green and mustard yellow paint had been splashed around the doorframe.  Deliberately, it would seem.  It looked like the Jolly Green Giant had upchucked a batch of bad peas."

"She let go of all her trepidations, her inhibitions, and let herself simply feel for the first time in her life."

   

Faking It

Pam McKenna

Genre: Erotic Romance

Publisher: BookTrope Publishing

Book Description:

Britt Munro faces seven days of sexual servitude at a swanky Hamptons beach house, being shared by the hottest two men she’s ever met.

It’s either that or prison after she tries to sell millionaire art collector Garrett Harvey a fake nineteenth-century masterpiece she painted herself.

Garrett’s art-expert buddy Jack turns her punishment into a ménage à trois—his reward for spotting the forgery. Garrett and Jack are both inventive, energetic lovers, but only one touches her heart.

Only one makes her yearn for something real, even after she discovers she’s not the only one keeping secrets. Once the week is up, she’ll never see him again.

Months later, her past returns with a vengeance, testing both her courage and the depth of her ex-lover’s feelings.

Favorite Quotes:

"Garrett's possessiveness tugged at a primitive place deep within Britt, a politically incorrect place that wanted a man to want her, to stake his claim on her."

About the Author: 

Pam McKenna has been an avid storyteller since she was old enough to put pencil to paper. Her number-one passion is the written word, though if you read her novellas, you might conclude that her true passions lie elsewhere. And you’d be right. Pam loves erotic romance and has never been shy about pulling out the stops and treating her readers to five-alarm fantasies. Pam McKenna is the pen name of a best-selling romance author.

https://www.facebook.com/pammckenna

https://twitter.com/McKennaErotica

http://www.pammckenna.com/

Blog Tour, Series Review, and Giveaway: Fly LIke You have Never Been Grounded (Summer Lake Series) by S.J. McCoy

Synopsis 

Laura Benson has her life together, thank you very much. Her jewelry store in San Francisco is doing wonderfully. Her design skills will soon have her traveling to London, designing a new line that should build her reputation world wide.

She's on top, which is where she likes to be - especially when it comes to men. Since giving her fiance his ring back a year ago, Laura has kept her relationships light, and short. Sexy pilot Smoke Hamilton might be hot, but she doesn't need a Mr Right, just Mr Right Now. She doesn't need a man holding her down.

From the moment he first saw her, Smoke knew Laura was his kind of sexy. What he hadn't banked on was her being his kind of smart, with a sassy mouth too. He usually prefers his women 'nice and easy', but Laura is a challenge. Smoke has always been a sucker for a challenge, he just can't leave them alone til he's conquered them.

Conquering Laura is a risk, she's Jack's cousin, Jack is not only his friend, but his employer too. Still she's a risk he has to take. As a pilot, his career comes first, and always gives him the option to fly away. He'll never let a woman tie him down again.

The chemistry between them definitely has the sparks flying, but will the scars of the past only lead them to crash and burn?

Excerpt

“Laura,” said Holly, “This is Smoke, Phoenix Chief Pilot and an old friend of Jack and Pete's. Smoke, this is Laura Benson, Jack's cousin.”

She held out her hand, he shook it as her gaze met his. Hot damn! She was gorgeous. Her bright blue eyes sparkled with fun and laughter as she smiled at him. Her long slender fingers, wrapped around his, made him want her long arms wrapped around his neck—and her long slender legs wrapped around him too, for that matter!

He was vaguely aware that the girls were getting on the waiting golf cart. He should let go of Laura's hand, but all he could do was keep staring at her beautiful face. She wasn't letting go of his hand either. He heard Holly saying “Go, go, go.” The spell was broken as Laura turned away from him.

The golf cart pulled away with three giggling women on it.

“Sorry, sweetie, no room.” Missy waved happily at them.

Smoke grinned as Laura turned back to him and rolled her eyes. “No-one could ever accuse that bunch of being subtle, sorry!”

He laughed. “Subtle no, perceptive, definitely. And I for one am grateful.” More than just grateful. He couldn't believe his luck. She was smiling at him. Damn, she was beautiful!

“Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm grateful too. I'm just not quite sure what to do with it.”

“Well, the way I see it, we could miss an opportunity because we're both taken by surprise, or we can think on our feet and make the most of the few moments we have.”

A touch of color appeared on her cheeks as she looked up at the plane and then back at him. Damn, she had a dirty mind! She looked surprised, but definitely interested. But no, he'd want more than a few moments in the back of the plane with this woman. He'd want a whole night in a big bed.

He pursed his lips and gave her a knowing smile. “When I say we can use these moments wisely, I mean you can give me your number, so I can call you and we can see where this goes.”

She laughed, looking a little embarrassed. “Of course you do.” She reached into her purse and took a business card from her wallet. As he tried to take it from her, she held on to the corner, not letting go. He met her gaze. “You only get it if you really want it, Captain. Don't take it if you don't.”

He flicked his wrist and pulled the card from her grasp. He held it up with a smile. “I really want it, Laura.” He was gratified to see the little pink stains on her cheeks deepen when he added. “And I will take it.”

She put her hands on her hips and smiled, the sexiest smile he'd ever seen. “I want it too, Smoke.” His throat went dry again when she asked, “So, are you going to give it to me?”

He was glad that the black slacks of his pilot's uniform were loose fitting, otherwise she'd see how much he'd like to give it to her!

She threw her head back and laughed. “Get your mind out of the gutter and give me your number, Smoke!”

He laughed with her as he took his wallet from his back pocket and handed her his card. “I will call you, but I need to warn you, my schedule is a little crazy. I don't know when I'll be able to get back here, but it will be as soon as I can.”

She nodded. “That's okay. My life is a little hectic too. I'm sure we'll get around to it.”

Smoke intended to make damned sure they did. “Do you ever get up to Summer Lake?” he asked.

“I'll be going back and forth until Jack and Emma get married, since I'm one of the bridesmaids. Will you be going to the wedding?”

Smoke nodded. “I will.” The golf cart was approaching. Her friends would be waiting. He took her hand again. She smiled. “I'm so glad to meet you, Laura.”

She gave his hand a squeeze. “You too, Smoke.” She climbed onto the golf cart. “I'll see you at the wedding if not before,” she called as she rode away.

Smoke stared after her.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

“Summer Lake is like this magical realm.  Once you come here you are assigned your very own hot man, and you get to live here and have a wonderful little life.”

My Review

I read all four books to complete this review – 1,121 pages.  It was a slow start, and I almost gave it up nearly a quarter of the way into the first book, as it seemed so tame and chaste.  I told my mother I thought I may have stumbled on a book for her and her Sunday School ladies book club.  Really glad I didn’t send her the links as it finally started to heat up half way through book one, and the temperature and story line was much more to my liking.  Each book focuses on a different couple finding love from the same basic core group of friends.  Despite the rocky start, I enjoyed all four books and wonder who the next targeted couple will be.  The story lines are easy to follow and deliciously steamy, yet honestly, this is definitely fantasy romance as no mature person would put up with the nonsense these woman and men give each other as they are getting over their various “relationship” issues.   It does sound like an ideal place to live, I’d like to give it a try to find my own assigned rich, well endowed, sexually talented, handsome “hot man.” 

Empress DJ

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AMAZON

Check out the Summer Lake Series Now

Each Summer Lake Romance can be read as a stand alone book – no cliff hangers here! Each book contains one couple's story. However, they are best read in order to get full enjoyment of the underlying story and friendships. 

Book 1: Love Like You've Never Been Hurt     Emma and Jack 

Book 2: Work Like You Don't Need the Money     Pete and Holly 

Book 3: Dance Like Nobody's Watching     Missy and Dan

Synopsis 

This book is intended for adult readers 18+ 

The Summer Lake contemporary romance series follows a group of friends from a small lakeside town in the California hills. They have kept in touch over the years and now, in their early thirties, their lives are drawing them back to Summer Lake and to each other.

Love Like You've Never Been Hurt

Emma Douglas came to Summer Lake as an orphan twenty three years ago. After losing her parents so young and later suffering a disastrous marriage, she believes that love only ever leads to pain and loss.

When she meets Jack Benson, the business partner of her childhood friend Pete, she sees everything she used to long for in a man; tall, dark, and drop dead gorgeous! Despite their undeniable attraction, Emma is too scared to risk her heart, especially on a man so much like her ex - sexy, smart, funny, successful and no doubt the same kind of cheat!

When events lead them both to Summer Lake for the summer, will Jack be able to persuade her that he's nothing like her ex in all the ways that really matter? That the love she used to dream of isn't a little girl's fantasy, but a reality they can share if she can get past her fear and learn to trust?

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AMAZON/B&N/KOBO/ITUNES

Holly Hayes is a realist, if nothing else. She's going to be Maid of Honor at her best friend, Emma's wedding in Summer Lake. Pete Hemming, self made millionaire, powerful CEO, all around good guy, is going to be the Best Man. If they're going to be able to get through their official duties, there's one thing they'll need to deal with first. Sex! 

He may be out of her league socially and financially, but one thing is clear. He wants her. She wants him. What's the harm in one night of passion? It's inevitable they're going to end up naked together. So it's best to get it out of the way early, right? So they can get on with organizing the wedding. 

Pete Hemming is a man with a plan. He's lived his life by the plan, built his business by it. The plan doesn't allow for a woman in his life, only in his bed. Trouble is, once he gets Holly into his bed, he can't get her out of his mind. But he can't let her into his life, can he? 

The Summer Lake series follows a group of friends from a small lakeside town in the California hills. They have kept in touch over the years and now, in their early thirties, their lives are drawing them back to Summer Lake and to each other. 

This book is intended for adult readers 18+ 

Buy Now

AMAZON/B&N/KOBO/ITUNES

Missy Malone has had a great summer, watching her friends meet wonderful guys and fall in love. She even has a wonderful guy in her own life. Trouble is, he's only in her life to mentor her son, Scot. She just has to stop daydreaming that he could be as good for her as he is for Scot. What would he ever see in her anyway? She's a broke single mom who talks too much, while he's a quiet, shy, tech genius. And besides...he has a girlfriend! 

On paper, Dan Benson has a great life in San Jose. His software development company, his penthouse apartment, his car, and his girlfriend are all supposed to make him feel happy and successful. None of them do. Until he started visiting Summer Lake, he'd always been more comfortable around computers than people. These days he's comfortable hanging out with his brother, Jack, and his friends. He feels successful when he's helping Scot. Most of all, he's happier than he's ever been, when he can spend time with Missy. 

Will the attraction between them be enough to overcome the differences and obstacles that stand in their way? 

The Summer Lake series follows a group of friends from a small lakeside town in the California hills. They have kept in touch over the years and now, in their early thirties, their lives are drawing them back to Summer Lake and to each other. 

This book is intended for adult readers 18+ 

Buy Now

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About the Author

Hi, I'm SJ. A coffee addict, lover of chocolate and drinker of good red wines. I'm a lost soul and a hopeless romantic. Reading and writing are necessary parts of who I am. Though perhaps not as necessary as coffee! I can drink coffee without writing, but I can't write without coffee.

I grew up loving romance novels, my first boyfriends were book boyfriends, but life intervened, as it tends to do, and I wandered down the paths of non fiction for many years. My life changed completely a couple of years ago and I returned to Romance to find my escape.

I write 'Sweet N Steamy' stories because to me there is enough angst and darkness in real life. My favorite romances are happy escapes with a focus on fun, friendships and happily-ever-afters, just like the ones I write.

These days I live in beautiful Montana, the last best place. If I'm not reading or writing you'll find me just down the road in the park - Yellowstone. I have deer, eagles and the occasional bear for company, and I like it that way :0)

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