Rule #3: (Most importantly, and above all) Do not fall for Mr. Popular…
Liam ‘Mr. Popular’ Carter will always be the closest thing to the “walking plague” in my eyes. His cockiness seeps through his every move, and no matter how many state championships he wins with the basketball team, he will forever be a “loss” to me.
Because he’s my older brother’s best friend, I’m forced to tolerate him, and he’s forced to tolerate me. In fact, unless my brother is around, we happily ignore each other every chance we get.
It wasn’t always this way, though…
Several summers ago, we both attended the same summer camp. A place we returned to year after year. We became friends–close friends, but right when I thought he could possibly turn into my everything, he made it clear that what we had was nothing.
Now that’s he’s a senior, and I only have to deal with him for one more year, I’ve vowed to keep repeating the same set of rules to myself. Especially since he seems so hell-bent on wanting to talk to me for some reason, and especially since he seems to be staring at me every time we’re in the same room together…
Rule #4: Always follow rules #1-3…
Rule #5: (OMG what the hell are you doing?) Do not KISS Mr. Popular…
Nicole London is a hopeless dreamer, author of Resentment and the co-founder of The Indie Tea, an inspirational blog for indie romance authors. When she’s not at Starbucks chatting books with her best friend, she can be found plotting her next travel adventure with her husband.
Fifth Book in the New York Times Bestselling Series.
“We’d won. We’d cut through the lies and treachery and promised an alliance that would free us both. But even as we won, we lost. We didn’t see what was coming. We didn’t know we had to plan a resurrection.”
Nila Weaver fell in love. She gifted her entire soul to a man she believed was worthy. And in the process, she destroyed herself. Three debts paid, the fourth only days away. The Debt Inheritance has almost claimed another victim.
Jethro Hawk fell in love. He let down his walls to a woman he believed was his cure. For a moment, he was free. But then he paid the ultimate price.
There is no more love. Only war. Hope is dead. Now, there is only death all around them.
Thankfully we find out the Jethro and Kes got out of the compound to a hospital to be treated. Although Jethro heals and eventually “escapes” from the hospital. Jaz and Flaw are partners and got Jethro and Kes out of the room to the dungeon and kept alive until they could get Vaughn to help get them to the hospital. Vaughn’s eye have seen the torment first hand of what poor Nila has had to endure. Because of Vaughn’s help, he and Jaz have lets say maybe they will connect….?
Bonnie is warped. She gloats that she has trained Jaz to be the perfect matriarch once Bonnie no longer is. The Debt Inheritance paperwork is changed to put Daniel and Jaz in control of Nila and the remainder of the debt payments. Daniel deserves to be forked instead of Nila and Jethro can trip him. What a douche bag! He deserves to be fed to the pigs while he is alive….just as Cut and Bonnie do. Hmmmmm maybe drugged with that paralyzing drug that Nila was drugged with while the pigs eat them.
Poor Kes, he just has to survive and come out of his coma. The good has to trump the bad. When to hate characters, that’s good writing.
What’s creepy in the series is the destruction of the well being of another human being because of retaliation. Unfortunately, you know there are people out there that may not do some of these deeds, they will destroy other human beings.
I have found myself to continue reading the next book in the series to find out what happens with Jethro and Nila. With the end of book, Daniel tells Nila that they are going on a trip to and she won’t be coming back. Jaz can’t save her. Jethro is working with allies to save Nile but doesn’t know about them leaving.
Damn….I just gotta find out what happens…On to the Final Debt!
Pepper Winters is a multiple New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestseller.
After chasing her dreams to become a full-time writer, Pepper has earned recognition with awards for best Dark Romance, best BDSM Series, and best Hero. She’s an multiple #1 iBooks bestseller, along with #1 in Erotic Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, and Erotica Thriller. She’s also honoured to wear the IndieReader Badge for being a Top 10 Indie Bestseller.
Pepper is a Hybrid Author of both Traditional and Self-published work. Her Pure Corruption Series was released by Grand Central, Hachette.
Her books have garnered foreign interest and are currently being translated into numerous languages, including already released titles in Italian and Turkish. Audio Books for her entire back-list will be available in 2016.
Her books include:
Monsters in the Dark Trilogy
Indebted Series
Destroyed
Unseen Messages
Pure Corruption Duology
Dollar Series
Find her on FB: Pepper Winters Books
Twitter: @pepperwinters
Instagram:@pepperwinters
Website: www.pepperwinters.com
For New Release Alerts & Free Deleted Scenes etc sign up to her Newsletter: http://bit.ly/29SnUZm
That magic number that will get us to agree to do anything, be anything.
Don’t sit on your gold-plated high horse and say you don’t because you do. Everyone does. Each of us has something we covet enough that we’d sell ourselves to have it.
What’s my tipping point, you ask? Apparently a cool quarter mil will do the trick.
What does one do for 250 large, you wonder? Anything the infamous, gorgeous playboy of Seattle wants. For the next four months I’ll be Shaw Mercer’s arm candy, his beck and call girl, his faux girlfriend. I’ll be his to command, mold, push and pull in any direction he sees fit.
I’ll fight falling into bed with him. I’ll fight falling in love with him even harder. I’ll fail at both. And when my past and present collide in the most unexpected of ways, I’ll learn that while one man’s love for me has never died, the only man’s love I really want will never be mine.
I received this book from the author for an honest review.
Ok first up. My warning to you…if you don’t smoke you might want to buy a pack because you will need a cigarette a few times during the book scenes!! Yeah it’s that HAWT!! Ok so the Surgeon General is not going to like that but eh oh well.
If this is a first-time book from this author, I am sure you will be hooked completely and devour her library like I did when I found her. If this is not your 1st rodeo with her, then YES This book is just as amazing as you expect from her.
Shaw….I won’t even being to discuss Noah because I don’t think I can handle those two in the same review…he is a player who enjoys his life. His family and job are his priority. Period. Ladies are lovely and a lot of fun either 1 on 1 or 2 on 1 but that is it…fun!
Willow is truly broken and hiding. She has hiding behind her mask and giant walls to protect herself from getting hurt. The people she loves the most always end up leaving her. If you guard your heart you don’t get hurt. Period.
Shaw and Willow meet but its fleeting and they are both still thinking about the other and wondering. Fast forward to a few days later, Shaw needs help and Noah comes to his rescue. Noah’s plan forces the two to be face to face with each other and the chemistry explodes in every scene following!!!
The more time they spend together, the more they are both falling and freaking out over THAT ledge. You know the ledge I am talking about!!!! Just as we are finally thinking THIS IS IT…there will be a HEA, PLOT TWIST and holy hell did I not see it coming.
Shaw is not a fan of this new emotion called jealousy. Willow is torn by her heart and the final page of the book left me saying “WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” I can’t believe I have to wait because I need my Shaw and Willow together. I know what is going to happen and my heart is hurting for what is going to play out for our couple. The question is : will Willow trust in her man or will she run from him too!!??? GUUUUURL, don’t run because I will be there to wipe his tears!!!
As long as Noah and I have known one another and as close as we are, he’s far from an open book. He holds some of life’s secrets so close to the vest, he’ll likely take them to his grave. So how he knows Ms. Randi Deveraux of La Dolce Vita is still a mystery he won’t divulge.
When he told me his plan and showed me the picture of the woman who’d play my love interest for the next several months, I was immediately drawn to the her, but it took me a few seconds to realize why.
It was her.
My spicy little Goldilocks.
The one I haven’t heard from.
The one I haven’t been able to get out of my fucking head for the past eight days.
The one my cock involuntarily gets hard for in the dark of night.
The glossy-colored print I stared at for long minutes was a complete contradiction to the fiery woman I’d met.
On paper her exterior was flawless. Not one sculpted eyebrow out of place. Striking blue eyes rimmed with the right amount of shadow, liner, and mascara that made them alluring but not slutty. Pouty lips painted a deep shade of maroon, lined impeccably so the stain didn’t seep, then glossed enough in the middle to draw your attention to their fullness. Hair curled into loose ribbons that fell over her shoulders and down her slim back.
But while the outside was practiced perfection, the inside screamed dead. Not damaged, not broken or bruised, but lifeless. This beautiful creature went through the motions. She moved through life without living. I don’t know how I saw it, or why, but I know it wasn’t a product of my overactive imagination. This woman’s pain was rooted deep but she put on an award-winning façade that told the outside world otherwise.
I saw the same thing when I stared into her fierce eyes under the cover of my sunglasses days ago, but I also saw something else. Smoking embers buried under piles of ash. God help me, but for some reason I want to be the man who stokes those smoldering cinders until they spark into a burning inferno, bringing her roaring back to life.
Standing before her now, I’ve no doubt I’m the igniter, the single match needed to wake her from the living dead.
“Summer, is it?” I close the door behind me and move to the couch, gesturing for her to sit.
She doesn’t. She just blinks rapidly like she’s seeing a ghost. That makes me smile for some reason.
I know the name she’s using is fake. I hate it. Not the name, per se, but the fact that I don’t know her real one. I told Ms. Deveraux my circumstances and my concern around using a fake name. The press will eventually find out and it’s best if we’re up front in the beginning rather than if they dig, thinking we’re hiding something. That would be disastrous. She agreed but told me the decision was up to Summer. If she agreed to my terms, I could plead my case. If not, then her anonymity was still protected.
“You don’t look like a Summer,” I say casually as I take a seat and cross my legs.
Although in a way she does. She’s hot and sultry and I’ve no doubt she’s nice and moist in the place I’m dying to drive my cock. Jesus, she is absolutely mouthwatering. And she has the sexiest fucking voice I have ever heard. It’s no wonder I can’t stop thinking about her.
She crosses her arms and cocks a hip in irritation. “Is that so? What do I look like then?”
Mine.
Why that disturbing word pops into my head, I haven’t a clue. She is yours temporarily, though. If she agrees.
“How is your neck by the way?”
That seems to catch her off guard because her cocky bravado falters. “Uh…fine. It’s fine.” She unconsciously reaches up to palm it. My fingers itch, wishing they were on her skin instead. I still remember the electricity that ran down my arm when I touched her before. It set my cock on fire and it hasn’t stopped burning since. “You’re lucky, you know. I could be wearing a neck brace right now and be lawyered up.”
“And you’d still be just as beautiful.” I ignore the lawyer comment. I know it’s just a dig. When she blushes and looks away, my grin gets wider and I allow myself a few seconds to absorb her, head to toe. I find myself zeroing in on that tiny diamond stud in her nose, now catching the light. I first noticed it when she pounded on the window of my Rover calling me names. I generally find them childish, yet on her, I find myself incredibly turned on by it.
“Why don’t you take a seat?” On my lap would be preferable.
Defiant eyes snap back to mine. “Hit and run anyone else lately?”
“Hit and run?” I chuckle. “I didn’t hit and run you. I took accountability.”
“Yeah. After I dumped car parts into your lap, it was pretty hard to deny it any longer.”
Hell. This woman is full of restrained passion. She just needs someone to help her unleash it in a very controlled manner.
“Why haven’t you called about your car? Change your mind on whose fault it was?” I’m goading her, but Hot. Damn. The sparks firing from her are overly addictive.
“Oh, it was your fault, all right,” she snaps. “And I’ve been…busy.”
“Yes, I can imagine you have a very full schedule.” I sound more sarcastic than I intend, but the thought of her with other men makes me feel exactly the way I felt when I thought of Noah with her.
Her lips thin. She’s madder than a hornet. I’m harder than a two by four.
“Why are you here, Drive By?”
Drive By? I laugh at her feisty spirit. God, I want to kiss her. Feel her tongue sparring eagerly with mine. See if she tastes of rage and raw energy.
“I was under the impression you were agreeable to meeting with me.”
When Noah set this up, I insisted on three things.
One: it take place in Ms. Deveraux’s private home with her alone. There’s no way in hell I will be caught on film coming and going from her “business.”
Two: I meet with Ms. Deveraux in advance and work through the contractual details to my satisfaction. Let’s just say I now feel comfortable we have a mutual interest in keeping this arrangement buried deep.
And three: I be allowed to personally meet with “Summer” before she signs the contract. Surprisingly, that was the toughest piece to negotiate. Seems Ms. Deveraux is very protective of her, or maybe she’s that way with all of her employees.
Everything I have done to secure her has deviated from Ms. Deveraux’s normal course of business, but this situation is far from normal. It’s reckless at worst. Precarious at best.
“How did you find me?”
Sheer, dumb luck.
“I’m very resourceful.”
Her forehead creases. “This is a mistake.”
She turns to leave and I panic. True blistering panic sears through me at the thought she’s about to walk through that door and I may never see her again. I don’t know her real name. I don’t know how to contact her and if this meeting goes south, I know I won’t get anything further about her from Randi Deveraux. If she walks out on me now, I highly doubt she’ll give me the time of day when she finally does call Dane about her car.
I don’t know why I care that I spend the next few months with her and only her so damn much. I just do.
“Wait,” I plead.
She stops but doesn’t turn. I have no idea what possesses me, but I close the distance between us until I’m a whisper away. Our body heat plays off each other, growing hotter by the second.
“You haven’t even listened to my proposal,” I say against her ear.
Her breath kicks up. Good. She’s not unaffected by me, and that will play into my hand nicely.
“You can get someone else,” she replies softly, without conviction.
Drawing her long hair off her shoulder, I let my finger feather across her bare flesh. It’s soft and silky. She shivers. I suppress a moan. Fuck, I want her so much. It makes no sense.
“I don’t want anyone else,” I tell her truthfully, keeping my voice low.
“Why?” she breathes.
I don’t know why. I have no idea what it is about her that draws me in. I wish I did. I need to stop it. I should end this right now—look at a dozen other pictures and pick a woman whose very presence doesn’t twist me into knots and make me have thoughts I’ve never had before. Thoughts that make me uncomfortable. It’s unnerving.
But, fuck me. I can’t. There is just something different about this woman and I won’t rest until I find out what it is.
“Have a seat. Just hear me out. Please,” I tack on sincerely.
She stands motionless and I wonder what her next move will be. My hands curl into fists as I restrain myself from throwing her over my shoulder and hauling her to my house. I think she could benefit greatly from a hard hand and a red ass. I have a feeling she might even enjoy it.
When she floats effortlessly to one of the velvet-covered chairs, I release a veiled breath. Picking up the contract from the edge of Ms. Deveraux’s desk, I make myself comfortable across from her and place the paperwork on the table separating us. Her eyes drop to it but she makes no move to pick it up.
“So what’s your proposal, Mr. Knowles?”
“Mr. Knowles?”
“That’s your name, right? Dane Knowles. Wildemer & Company?”
Amused, I rest my elbows on my knees and grin at her. “No. Dane is my assistant. I told you to call him and he’d take care of the damage to your death box.”
“Death box?” She sounds offended.
“Do you know what the safety rating is on that little tin can you drive?” When she opens her mouth to respond, I talk over her. “Five point seven out of ten. You’re basically driving around in your own steel coffin.”
I expect a hot retort or for her to leave in a huff. What I don’t expect is a genuine, breathtaking smile that lights up her face like summer and makes my cock knock uncomfortably on my zipper in a futile attempt to reach her. My God, she’s trying to kill me already.
“Are you a walking Kelly Blue Book of safety ratings, Mr.…?”
“I have a vast array of useless Trivial Pursuit knowledge up here,” I retort with a smirk, finger pointing to my temple. I’ll never admit that I looked it up after our little accident. She could be seriously hurt in that ridiculous miniature box on wheels that somehow passes for a fucking car. Hell, had I hit her any harder, she would be in the hospital. “And I’m Shaw. Shaw Mercer.”
“Shaw Mercer,” she repeats slowly like she’s tasting my name for the first time. Savoring every consonant and every vowel. Fuck. I sit back and cross one leg over the other to hide my rock-hard erection.
“Any relation to Preston Mercer?”
I nod, impressed that she tied me back to my father instead of referring to me as one of Seattle’s most eligible bachelors. She’s intelligent and up on politics. I like that. Immensely. If you ask three-fourths of the residents of Seattle, they wouldn’t be able to tell you how many branches of government there are, something that’s taught in middle school, let alone who the mayor of Seattle is.
“So why is the mayor’s son…here?”
Her eyes are locked on mine, waiting on an answer.
When she swallows I follow the delicate line of her neck down to the swell of her breasts that peek out from the light pink strapless flowing dress she’s wearing like a fucking Greek goddess. One flick of my finger and I could find out the color of her areolas and the size of her nipples before I draw one into my mouth for a sample. My mouth waters at the thought.
The conversation that Ms. Deveraux and I had earlier about expectations sits hard in the pit of my stomach. On one hand, I was relieved to get confirmation she doesn’t sell herself, only her “time,” but now that I’m sitting here in front of her, I won’t rest until she lets me explore every square inch of not only her perfect body, but her complex mind. I want to know her like no one else has.
When our gazes connect again I’m sure mine is full of unmistakable heat. Hers definitely is.
She clears her throat and straightens her back. “I think you have the wrong idea about what it is I do.”
“I don’t,” I state plainly.
“I don’t sleep with my clients, Mr. Mercer.”
Oh, but you will. We both know our ingredients are explosive.
“Women would pay to have sex with me, not the other way around.”
She huffs a laugh as a wry look crosses her face. “Then what is it you need if not a good fuck?”
I chuckle and when I lean forward she straightens her spine. I love that even the simplest of movements I make in her direction affect her, just like she does to me. “Is that what I’ll be missing with you? A good fuck?” I won’t be missing a damn thing. She will be mine in every conceivable way. I know it and so does she.
“Not just good. Life altering,” she banters smoothly.
Now it’s my turn to smile slowly. What I wouldn’t give to throw her up against the wall and show her just what a life-altering fuck really is. For what seems like forever we stare at each other in some sort of weird silent challenge where we’re waiting to see what move the other will make.
Shaking myself out of her spell, I pick up the papers and hand them to her.
“What’s this?”
“Your employment contract.”
“All the paperwork is handled through Randi.”
“I want a little extra insurance.”
She quickly flips through the five-page document before lifting her eyes. “Nondisclosure agreement? This is sounding very fifty shades-ish. And just so you know, if I find any mention of hard limits or safe words, that’s a deal breaker.”
I can’t help but laugh loudly.
“I’m not kidding,” she says, her voice stern.
“Trust me, Goldilocks, if I could have gotten that past your warrior she-devil, I would have.”
Her eyes narrow, but I see a little twitch at the corner of her mouth so I forge ahead, making a mental note to invest in handcuffs and a flogger. Or six.
“The duration is for approximately the next four months. Ten hours a week, maybe more, maybe less, depending on my schedule. You may be required to travel and you will be available at all times when I need you, day or night. You will attend social events, fundraisers, business dinners, and family functions. You will be photographed and it’s only fair to warn you, you will likely be hounded by the press but I’ll try to shield you as much as possible.”
She regards me quietly. I wish I could tell what’s spinning around in that pretty little head of hers. A corner of my mouth tips when she says, “Reelection is just around the corner.”
Not a question and I don’t answer, but score another point for her.
For not the first time I wonder if this little plan of Noah’s will backfire, taking us all down in a curl of hot flames. She figured out what I was doing within two minutes. Lianna would be a far safer, more believable choice. But there’s also an undeniable, powerfully charged connection between us that will be hard for people to refute.
“And what is my role, specifically?”
Deciding I don’t care if this entire thing blows up in my face because that means I won’t get what I want—which is her—I stand and step around the table, holding out my hand.
When she tentatively sets hers in mine, I help her up and wrap one arm around her waist.
Pulling her close, I relish in the hitch of her breath. Cupping her cheek, I savor the baby-fine skin under the pad of my thumb. I take a deep breath, drinking in her delicately floral scent. She’s intoxicating and my head is already spinning.
“What are you doing?” she whispers, her small hands going to my chest.
Dipping my head, I trail my nose along her jaw, stopping so my lips brush her ear. “Making sure we have chemistry.”
She mutters a curse under her breath I know I’m not meant to hear before stuttering, “Wh…why?”
Fuck, if she only knew the dirty things running through my head right now.
“Because, my wide-eyed little pretty, you’re going to play my new love interest. My girlfriend. My serious girlfriend.” I emphasize the word so she understands what she’s getting herself into. I won’t pay her to be in my bed but that doesn’t mean she won’t end up there anyway.
“I…I haven’t agreed to anything yet.” Her breathlessness is testing me and she’s only about half an inch away from finding out exactly how much.
Walking into this meeting, I had already agreed to what I thought was a generous offer with her boss, madam, keeper, whatever she’s called. But after the last fifteen minutes, I’ve decided I will pay whatever it takes to have her. To own her. I think I would give away my own soul.
Framing her face with both hands now, I lean in until my mouth is a hairsbreadth from hers. Her eyes fall to my lips. I feel her wariness, but I also feel her hunger. She parts her lips and I watch with a deep ache in my groin as her tongue darts out to moisten them in anticipation of my kiss.
I restrain from slamming my mouth to hers, taking what I want. What she wants me to take, regardless of how she’s trying to refute me.
“But you will. Everyone has a price, Summer. What’s yours?”
About the Author:
As a USA Today Bestselling author, I write stories that are deeply emotional with flawed characters, because humans ARE flawed and if we read about perfect characters living in their perfect world, first of all, snoozer, but secondly, we never experience the gratification of redemption.
Outside of writing, I’m just a regular ol’ Midwest girl who likes Game of Thrones and am obsessed with Modern Family and The Goldbergs. I run, I eat, I run, I eat. It’s a vicous cycle. I love carbs, but there’s love-hate relationship with my ass and thighs. Mostly hate. I like a good cocktail (oh hell…who am I kidding? I love any cocktail). I’m a huge creature of habit, but I’ll tell you I’m flexible. I read every single day and if I don’t get a chance…watch the hell out. My iPad and me: BFFs. I’m direct and I make no apologies for it. I swear too much. I love alternative music and in my next life I want to be a bad-ass female rocker. I hate, hate, hate spiders, telemarketers, liver, acne, winter and loose hairs that fall down my shirt (don’t ask, it’s a thing).
USA Today Bestselling Author Amanda Mariel dreams of days gone by when life moved at a slower pace. She enjoys taking pen to paper and exploring historical time periods through her imagination and the written word. When she is not writing she can be found reading, crocheting, traveling, practicing her photography skills, or spending time with her family.
When and Why did you start to write?
I have always had an active imagination and enjoyed writing, but I did not get serious about being a published writer until a few years ago. I was taking a creative writing class as part of my Master degree and really loved what I wrote for my final project. As it turned out, so did my professor. It was the nudge I needed to pursue writing as a career.
What authors do you always read or suggest to others?
Lisa Kleypas, Myra Platt, Julie Johnstone, Johanna Lindsey, Christina McKnight, Suzan Tisdale… There are so many fabulous authors out there!
What is the most surprising thing you have found out with the writing process?
It will sound silly, but here goes! I am always surprised at how many new ideas pop into my head. When I first started I thought I would run out of ideas. The opposite has happened-I have so many fresh ideas that I doubt I will ever be able to write them all.
What are you working on now?
Enticed by Lady Elianna. It is Regency novella for the Regency Ever After box set releasing March 7, 2017 and the third book in my Fabled Love series. It will launch in the box set for three months and then be sold individually thereafter. Enticed by Lady Elianna is a Cinderella inspired story.
When writing are you a pantser or plotter?
I am a hybrid 🙂 All of my Ladies and Scoundrels books were pantserd-is that even a word? I think not! LOL. My Fabled Love books and Lady Archer’s Creed series have all been plotted. My other books have been written with a mixture of both styles of plotting.
Several of my books are available at B&N, Kobo, and iBooks, as well as, audible. You can find them by visiting my web site www.amandamariel.com and clicking your retailer of choice.
OMG….Jethro and Nila….Nila and Jethro. The draw to each other is WOW! Book 3 ended with Nila being able to leave the Hawk compound with her brother. He had poured salt on wounds through social media. Book 4 begins with Nila going back to Jethro. She couldn’t function without him. Jethro realigned himself with his asshole father, Cut, with use of pills that made him into an unfeeling zombie and regaining Cut’s trust as the first born. Jethro shuts Kes and Jaz out of his life in order to continue staying in line with what Cut wants. Nila couldn’t live without Jethro. Jethro comes to collect Nila….the debts are not paid yet….. eeeekkkkk! Jethro’s ice walls crack and with the payment of the third debt, Jethro worked with Kes to help Nila survive and keep her safe from Daniel, the spook brother, and Cut.
Finally, Jethro pours his heart out to Nila and gets her to feel what he feels and is totally honest with her….so pure and free. Of course, what we didn’t know is that behind Jethro’s back, the matriarch Bonnie, Cut and Daniel, had other plans and uncovered Jethro and Kes’ cover up plan. How in the hell Jethro and Nila will survive? The cliffhanger is Cut shoots Kes and Jethro….and Nila gets handed over to Daniel, now the prodigal son that will complete the debt payments including the final debt…. Nila shuts downs. Her life will be hell reincarnated. She altered destiny and that isn’t acceptable to Cut. Poor Jaz….watching her brothers get shot. Although you know there are more twists to come, you just don’t know how Pepper will write it. Cut, Bonnie, and Daniel are the devils reincarnate. You can’t wait until they fail. You just know they have to. Good just has to win, right? Jethro and Nila’s story just can’t be done!!! How Jethro, Kes and Jaz could possible be highly sensitive people raised in that household ….. I have no clue.
One good thing….I can jump into book 5 and not have to wait for it to be released! Woohoo!!!
Pepper Winters is a multiple New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestseller.
After chasing her dreams to become a full-time writer, Pepper has earned recognition with awards for best Dark Romance, best BDSM Series, and best Hero. She’s an multiple #1 iBooks bestseller, along with #1 in Erotic Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, and Erotica Thriller. She’s also honoured to wear the IndieReader Badge for being a Top 10 Indie Bestseller.
Pepper is a Hybrid Author of both Traditional and Self-published work. Her Pure Corruption Series was released by Grand Central, Hachette.
Her books have garnered foreign interest and are currently being translated into numerous languages, including already released titles in Italian and Turkish. Audio Books for her entire back-list will be available in 2016.
Her books include:
Monsters in the Dark Trilogy
Indebted Series
Destroyed
Unseen Messages
Pure Corruption Duology
Dollar Series
Find her on FB: Pepper Winters Books
Twitter: @pepperwinters
Instagram:@pepperwinters
Website: www.pepperwinters.com
For New Release Alerts & Free Deleted Scenes etc sign up to her Newsletter: http://bit.ly/29SnUZm
Hi! I’m Pauline Allan and I love to write about boys kissing boys. I live in Indiana, but my heart dwells in the heart of the South. I visit New Orleans a couple times a year to recharge my creative battery and eat some amazing food! I volunteer at the Pride Community Center in Spencer, Indiana where we champion diversity and all things fabulous. I love to meet and talk to readers and other writers and have a wicked, um…demented, sense of humor. I’m a special care nursery newborn nurse and you can always find me locked in my office listening to music and clicking away on the keyboard.
When and Why did you start to write?
I started writing at nine years old when I created a newspaper to feature the comings and goings of my family. I started writing short stories in junior high school and focused on the thriller/horror genre. College brought new experiences and in my sophomore year I wrote a full length ménage fantasy romance. In a spiral bound notebook! By hand! Then hung up my writing brain for a bit. I came back full force in 2012 with a book that was contracted with Loose Id. I’ve always used writing as therapy. My brain is a little crazy and if I don’t write…I can’t breathe.
What authors do you always read or suggest to others?
Edgar Allan Poe. He’s the master of romance. I know! That’s not right. He’s a horror writer. Yeah, I know, but his prose and poetry sing of lost loves and hearts steeped in sappy love affairs. I would also recommend Megan Hart, Lissa Matthews, Cara Bristol, Eli Easton, JA Rock, Charlotte Featherstone, Lisa Kleypas, Anyta Sunday, Charlotte Stein, and Mina Carter.
What is the most surprising thing you have found out with the writing process?
If you put yourself out there they will come. The readers are so overwhelmingly supportive!
What are you working on now?
The third book in The Tattered Social Club Series. Safeword is a MM BDSM book focused on Seth and Jordan. I’ve also started the first book in the Stars Collide Series. Broken Pieces is a MM Romance New Adult.
When writing are you a pantser or plotter?
I’m a plantser. So, I do both. I have a rough outline and the story changes as I write.
The grandson of an unconventional marquis and son of a notorious woman, Elijah Watson, Marquis of Ridgefeld, has spent most of his life outside of London. His atypical upbringing has left him longing for roots and a traditional family life, and he’s determined to live his life above reproach. When he meets Miss Samantha Pengarden, he believes he’s found the woman he wants to marry—except she has other far more sensual ideas for him.
Known throughout the ton as the illegitimate rebellious daughter of London’s disreputable Craven House Madame, Samantha has never had to face the world without her shy twin by her side—until now. Her sister’s marriage and the return of her blackguard father leaves her alone and adrift. When Elijah agrees to escort her to the town’s most infamous establishments, she thinks she’s finally found a man with a taste for scandal and a knowledge of matters of the flesh.
But she never counted on Elijah being so honorable. When Samantha is listed as the mistress of the Marquis of Ridgefeld in White’s betting book, her reputation is in ruins—and only Elijah can save her. Can two total opposites come together for a love certain to last a lifetime?
I received this book from the author for an honest review.
I must admit I was a huge fan of Jude and Simon’s book. So when I saw Jude’s sister, Sam, was next I couldn’t wait to see her settle down. She was the wilder of the two twins that is for sure.
When we meet Samantha, she is lost and lonely. Her sister and confidant is getting married and her slimly father decided to come into her life after abandoning her mother and them. Sam is a mess when she meets Elijah. She decides to use him as a distraction to her life and misery. Little does she know that Eli understand everything she is talking about because he too has lived through it.
When people get in the way of the couple, Eli is forced to leave but is still thinking about Sam. She is furious because yet again someone has let her down. When Eli returns to society, Sam is bound and determined to make him pay for hurting her.
As Sam pushes Eli further and further, he openly agrees because he is so in love with her he can’t not follow her through any scheme she as planned. When Eli makes a discover about Sam of the scandalous variety he goes a bit alpha in protecting her…who doesn’t like a hot alpha right!!??
The couple have a lot to overcome with Sam mainly afraid to admit her real feelings for Eli. Her heart is so guarded a few times I wanted to hit her over the head with a lady’s fan to get her to SEE Eli for the amazing and understand guy he was. The couple must overcome Sam’s new “reputation” and that of her mother Madam Sasha to try and see if a match is possible.
Follow the tour and #enter to #win one of 5 paperback copies of The Thief Steals Her Earl (Craven House Book One)
Christina McKnight is a book lover turned writer. From a young age, her mother encouraged her to tell her own stories. She’s been writing ever since.
Christina enjoys a quiet life in Northern California with her family, her wine, and lots of coffee. Oh, and her books…don’t forget her books! Most days she can be found writing, reading, or traveling the great state of California.
“I tried to play a game. I tried to wield deceit as perfectly as the Hawks. But when I thought I was winning, I wasn’t. Jethro isn’t what he seems—he’s the master of duplicity. However, I refuse to let him annihilate me further.”
Nila Weaver has grown from naïve seamstress to full-blown fighter. Every humdrum object is her arsenal, and sex…sex is her greatest weapon of all.
She’s paid the First Debt. She’ll probably pay more.
But she has no intention of letting the Hawks win.
Jethro Hawk has found more than a worthy adversary in Nila—he’s found the woman who could destroy him. There’s a fine line between hatred and love, and an even finer path between fear and respect.
The fate of his house rests on his shoulders, but no matter how much ice lives inside his heart, Nila flames too bright to be extinguished.
Son of a bitch! Hot, Hot Hot!!!! Jethro, my man, shove that hot poker up Cut’s ass! You finally know for sure that Jethro is Kite and Nila loves Jethro. Nila also gets to meet Jethro’s sister, Jasmine. Jasmine has tried to help Jethro keep the ice walls in tact until he reaches his 30th birthday. Jethro is struggling. The sex is hot and Jethro finds it difficult to keep the ice walls up when Nila is around.
I would have never through that the development of Jethro and Nila would survive a third book. It does and it is not over yet. The only way Jethro can try to keep the walls up is to stay away from Nila. Nila has tasted the Jethro sex machine and can’t get enough, feeling lost and empty when he is not around.
After staying away, Cut takes matters in his own hands. He sees that Jethro is weakening. Cut pushes Jethro to extract the second debt repayment……a dunking stool. Nila is told by Kes to not fight and let her mind wander to survive. They will not let her die. The second debt extraction brings a Hawk audience to make sure Jethro extracts as history dictates. He does…except, Nila gives up as her lungs fill with water…..Jethro brings her back to life and takes her to the hot pool in the cavern to warm her. Even though Nila’s body was abused through the debt repayment, it didn’t stop the body desires of both. During that time, Jethro promises to tell Nila everything and allow her to really see him…not the him he has to pretend to be.
The Hawks dealings has all sorts of law enforcement and policital people in their pockets allowing them to continue with their diamond business.
Somehow.….someone.….wasn’t following the rules. A warrant was served on the Hawks for Nila’s release. Book 3 ends with Nila leaving the Hawk complex….leaving Jethro behind….and the words of the family matriarch, Bonnie, telling Nila one life for another. What does the future hold for Jethro now that Nila was released….she is still wearing the diamond collar and the JKH tallies…..
Gotta get into book 4 now. I just have to find out what the hell is going to happen next!!!!
Pepper Winters is a multiple New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestseller.
After chasing her dreams to become a full-time writer, Pepper has earned recognition with awards for best Dark Romance, best BDSM Series, and best Hero. She’s an multiple #1 iBooks bestseller, along with #1 in Erotic Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, and Erotica Thriller. She’s also honoured to wear the IndieReader Badge for being a Top 10 Indie Bestseller.
Pepper is a Hybrid Author of both Traditional and Self-published work. Her Pure Corruption Series was released by Grand Central, Hachette.
Her books have garnered foreign interest and are currently being translated into numerous languages, including already released titles in Italian and Turkish. Audio Books for her entire back-list will be available in 2016.
Her books include:
Monsters in the Dark Trilogy
Indebted Series
Destroyed
Unseen Messages
Pure Corruption Duology
Dollar Series
Find her on FB: Pepper Winters Books
Twitter: @pepperwinters
Instagram:@pepperwinters
Website: www.pepperwinters.com
For New Release Alerts & Free Deleted Scenes etc sign up to her Newsletter: http://bit.ly/29SnUZm
**Mature Content Warning** Recommended for ages 17+ due to language and sexual content.
After the sudden death of his wife two years ago, Darren Griffin has finally found peace. He has a good life, good job, two daughters he’d do anything for, and a beautiful home on the beach.
Greer Monroe is grieving the loss of her father. It’s the final rung on the broken ladder that’s become her life—crappy job, no friends, and a cheating ex-boyfriend. At the insistence of her aunt, Greer decides to spend some time at her family’s beach house.
When the glee-filled sound of children’s laughter dances through the breeze, Greer finds herself smiling again. The neighbor girls are carefree, depicting a life Greer has only dreamed about. Husband, children, happiness—a family. And their father, Darren, he’s everything a woman could ever want.
But it is, of course, only a dream.
She can’t stay at Carolina Beach, no matter how much she adores Darren and his daughters. She has responsibilities at home, a mother who needs her. Where there’s love, there’s heartbreak, and she can’t go through that again. And she sure as hell won’t do that to those little girls.
But Darren isn’t letting her go that easily. It’s been so long since he’s felt this way for anyone. Greer is his missing piece, a piece he never thought he’d find.
Saying goodbye is hard, but sometimes starting over is even harder.
Only when they dare to dream again, will they ever dare to love.
So I have had the privileged to meet this amazing author and I have only read one book when she first published. Being a blogger it’s tough to start reading books one they are in the middle of a series so I have let a lot of her books go. When I saw she started a new series, I jumped. But seriously CA, hit me over the head girl for letting you slip so many books past me….
So our girl Greer….worst day EVER!! Her father dies unexpectant and she goes to seek comfort from her boyfriend to find him with one of his many ex conquests. After a few weeks of just walking numbly through life, her mom and aunt tell her to go. Go far far away to the family vacation home to regroup and re-center her life. Figure out what she wants/needs from life. The first day in her new reality she sees her dream…..a loving man with his 2 daughters. She can remember her life with her father and then remembers the hurt that she thought she might have that with her ex.
Darren sees the stranger and is curious about her as are his daughters. They want to know about the pretty princess that lives behind their house. The couple play some stalkery type stuff trying to learn about the other when Darren just kinda calls her out on it and they go out on a date.
Once the couple begin to date, the chemistry and connection is clear as day. They are both drawn to each other and his daughters love love love Greer as she is as much in love with them. As the book goes on, they know there is a time limit and theybegin to wonder what the other is feeling and what will happen WHEN her time ends at the beach house.
I liked the story and I loved the girls. I loved the girls talking to Greer’s ex on the phone. That scene cracked me up. I know some people will think this is an insta-love story and in a way it might be but they both have been through the same situation that their quick bond is legit to me at least. Also can I say Greer and Darren’s family scenes….HILARIOUS!!!!!
So yeah Smiley, I won’t be letting your books pass me by anymore!!
A little about me. Let’s see where to start.
I love HEA stories, as long as they come packing a little heat. I need some excitement, some angst, and moments that make me fan my face are always good too. I am an Illinois girl, born and raised. Simple and true, it honestly doesn’t take much to make me happy. I love the little things; they truly mean the most. I may have a slight addiction to my new Keurig—oh my, that thing is a godsend. And so fast too. I have two children who truly are my very best friends, and their faces never fail to put a smile on my face. I have been married to my husband for sixteen years, and even though at times I want to beat him with a stick, I would never change the years we have had. We have learned and fallen, only to pick each other up, dust off the ache, and help each other make it right.
I am one of those authors that adore my fans. I love to hear from you. After all, it is because of each one of you that I continue to write. I look forward to your feedback.
Be sure to follow me to stay up-to-date on all my upcoming releases.
“You say I’ll never own you. If I win—you willingly give me that right. You sign not only the debt agreement, but another—one that makes me your master until your last breath is taken. You do that, and I’ll give you this.”
Nila Weaver’s family is indebted. Stolen, taken, and bound not by monsters but by an agreement written over six hundred years ago, she has no way out.
She belongs to Jethro as much as she denies it.
Jethro Hawk’s patience is running out. His inheritance gift tests, challenges, and surprises him—and not in good ways. He hasn’t leashed her but he thinks he might’ve found a way to bind her forever.
Book two jumps right into the first debt. Jethro’s ice walls, cracks and he didn’t quite perform the first debt repayment as history dictated. However, he completed the payment. What the hell….damn those Hawks are freaking crazy. Someone needs to just bury them. Nila survived the first repayment and the connection between Nila and Jethro continues to deepen.
Jethro has his own demons that he is trying to deal with and finds receiving pain would help him refreeze the cracked ice walls. Although Nila is Jethro’s possession, she is the freedom to wander the Hawk estate….is privy to business conversations. Hell, it’s not like she is going anywhere….after all the only way to lose the diamond collar is by her death…which will be at the hands of Jethro for the final debt repayment.
Nila continues to grow up and become a strong woman….even though she is failing for her capture. Jethro struggles to perform as dictated by history and his father is watching every so closely. Hot freakin’ damn the two of these characters…..sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!
How the Hawks have extracted debt repayment in all the years past is just freaking spooky. Pepper definitely writes for you to hate Jethro’s father, Cut.
Book 2 continues to keep you turning pages!
Pepper Winters is a multiple New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestseller.
After chasing her dreams to become a full-time writer, Pepper has earned recognition with awards for best Dark Romance, best BDSM Series, and best Hero. She’s an multiple #1 iBooks bestseller, along with #1 in Erotic Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, and Erotica Thriller. She’s also honoured to wear the IndieReader Badge for being a Top 10 Indie Bestseller.
Pepper is a Hybrid Author of both Traditional and Self-published work. Her Pure Corruption Series was released by Grand Central, Hachette.
Her books have garnered foreign interest and are currently being translated into numerous languages, including already released titles in Italian and Turkish. Audio Books for her entire back-list will be available in 2016.
Her books include:
Monsters in the Dark Trilogy
Indebted Series
Destroyed
Unseen Messages
Pure Corruption Duology
Dollar Series
Find her on FB: Pepper Winters Books
Twitter: @pepperwinters
Instagram:@pepperwinters
Website: www.pepperwinters.com
For New Release Alerts & Free Deleted Scenes etc sign up to her Newsletter: http://bit.ly/29SnUZm
We are THE TWINSIES… We love to read…We love to promote the authors we read… and we love to stir up TROUBLE… It's who we are and what we do
