#review – Wicked Bond by Sawyer Bennett

Wicked Bond (The Wicked Horse, #5)

synopsis

Bridger Payne is an enigma that no one can figure out. Wise beyond his years, eerily intuitive and sexy as hell, every woman in The Silo wants him.
None can have him.
Not the real man, anyway.
He might wield the lash for you if you ask prettily, but he’ll get no gratification from it. He’ll definitely make you scream, but he won’t think twice about you when he walks away.
Bridger carries the darkest of secrets He’s filled with too much pain.
He’s utterly untouchable.
Until she came along.

**Warning: this book has sex in it. Lots of sex. Dirty sex. The Wicked Horse Series is a bit different than what Sawyer Bennett normally writes. While you’ll still enjoy fabulous characters, a suspenseful story, some witty banter and an epic romance, there’s just… a lot of sex. You’ve been warned.

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angies review

I received this book from Netgalley.

Sweet Baby Jesus have I been waiting for this book…sorry but after 3person encounter scene in book one I was SOLD!!  I needed his book and dang if Sawyer didn’t make us wait and want for him.  He has been a mystery.  I have waited to see who his heart would fall for and man was it worth the wait. *Sigh*

Bridger owns the salon and seems aloof and shut down emotionally but we have seen, in the afore mentioned scene, how he is caring and concerned.  He didn’t want to hurt his friend or take for granted the situation.  He really is a good guy but he is just guarded because of what happened to him as a child.

Now our girl….I am really not wanting to tell who because its kinda a secret…I mean Sawyer didn’t tell in the blurb so I am going to call her Miss M.  She has a not so understanding family and they pretty much cut her off after some normal teenage type stuff.  She is left with no other choice and decided to be a side old lady to a not so great guy.  When situation arise, our girl runs.  Bridger is there to help her even though he doesn’t know her.  The two are such kindred spirits.  Both are broken and both are wanting to be loved unconditionally.

For real though…the chemistry of this book….top notch. I was buzzing right along with the characters.  I was dying for them both to jump in and take a risk for love!!

about the author

Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released more than 30 books and has been featured on both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists on multiple occasions.

A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

Sawyer likes her Bloody Mary’s strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active toddler, as well as full-time servant to two adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or a combination of the two.

 

#review – Stronger With Him by JA Hensley

Stronger With Him

synopsis

After breaking up with her abusive boyfriend, graduate student Rebecca Maio wants a man who is the complete opposite of her ex. When she meets her sexy new neighbor, Becca finds herself irresistibly drawn to the powerful and compassionate man.

Agent Colin Schaefer’s in town for an investigation and needs to stay focused on his job, but he can’t ignore the beautiful girl next door. For the first time in his life, the elusive man wants more with a woman, but he can’t shake the feeling that Rebecca also needs his protection.

Is their love strong enough to survive the secrets they’re both bound to uncover? Or will her past and his job tear them apart?

This novel is intended for readers 18+ due to explicit and hot sex scenes and adult situations. If you love these kinds of things, then please, read on!

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angies review

I received this book from the author.

I have seen this author’s books on FB but never got the chance to read them. When she offered me the chance, I jumped on it.  I had no clue what to expect or even what the series was about so I went into this with a blind eye.  Man was I shocked and surprised at the theme/story line but boy did I enjoy it.

Our girl Becca is over with her boyfriend Ron.  He became abusive and that was all she wrote for her.   Becca and her friends go out to celebrate her new found singledom.  Becca is kinda stunned that guys are giving her attention..her besties sure but her??  WHY??  One day she runs into her hottie new apartment neighbor and is stunned he kinda hit on her….What is in the water she is thinking??

Colin is Becca’s new neighbor with a little secret.  He is sent there to watch her and her boyfriend Ron.  It seems Ron is a mega DB drug dealer and trafficker.  Colin and Becca have crazy chemistry which freaks them both out.  Colin cant get involved with a suspects girlfriend even if they are broken up.  Becca cant fathom Colin the hottie wanting HER.

When Ron cant let go of the fact that Becca is over him he kinda goes CrayCray but dont worry super boyfriend-to-be-Colin is there to save the day.  But Ron will not go quietly into the night.  He and his “organization”  step up to take Becca since she will be his forever.  Can Colin and her besties find her before anything bad happens???

I liked the story.  I liked the characters and think there is a lot of build up for the next book/books.   I am really looking forward to Colin’s brother.  I really hope he gets a book because he was cracking me up!!

 

about the author

J.A. Hensley’s debut novel, Wedding Dreams, was named an Amazon Erotica Best Seller. She loves smut of all kinds and is a reader first. J.A. is constantly working on a new project, whether it’s writing or working in her craft room. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and daughter, and spends her days teaching college students about social work and human sexuality.

#WOTR #Review – Claiming His Need (Feral Breed Motorcycle Club #2) by Ellis Leigh

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synopsis

He waited four hundred years for her…
She only ever wanted to find her mate…
Their time has come.

Gates is a legend among his fellow wolf shifters. For more than four centuries, he’s lived without a mate, something nearly unheard of in his breed. He’s spent that time mastering the art of the kill, becoming a lethal weapon for the Feral Breed Motorcycle Club, and earning a reputation as the Gatekeeper.

Kaija Wariksen grew up as the Valkoisus pack princess. The Alpha’s only daughter and a powerful Omega shewolf, Kaija’s beauty and place within the pack hierarchy makes her the focus of desire for many of the unmated males, especially one she’s desperate to stay away from. She’d rather wait for her fated mate than be just another bed warmer for a man with more attitude than brains.

But when a territory dispute turns into a kidnapping, Gates and his Feral Breed brothers are called to assist the Valkoisus pack in a rescue operation. Gates soon discovers there’s more in store for him than a fight. He finds his mate in the Alpha’s daughter, a woman targeted by a mystery sect kidnapping Omega shifters. To keep the Valkoisus pack safe, the Feral Breed must put Kaija in danger, risking the only thing Gates has ever needed, and igniting a rage that could destroy the entire wolf shifter population.

Full-length novel – adult content featuring a rough-and-tumble wolf shifter, a brave BBW, and some naughty time spent outdoors.

 

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Melinda's Review

This series is getting better as I go. Gates has waited four hundred years to find his mate and has all but given up.  Now he finds himself following a leader he is not too pleased with. Gates and the Feral Breed is called upon to help with a territory dispute which turns into a kidnapping retrieval. As Gates and the guys are getting the females back Gates realizes one of them is his mate. Kaija is the omega and is wanted by a rogue collector. Only he has to get past her family, her mate the gatekeeper and his brothers.

The sexual tension between Gates and Kaija was scorching. There was action, suspense and romance. The customs were an interesting concept. Now that Gates and Kaija found each other will their bond be enough to keep them together? Does Gates stay with Kaija, does Kaija leave with Gates or will they continue on their separate paths.  I cannot get enough of this series I need to know more of the Feral Breed.

about the author

Ellis Leigh

A storyteller from the time she could talk, USA Today bestselling author Ellis grew up among family legends of hauntings, psychics, and love spanning decades. Those stories didn’t always have the happiest of endings, so they inspired her to write about real life, real love, and the difficulties therein. From farmers to werewolves, store clerks to witches—if there’s love to be found, she’ll write about it. Ellis lives in the Chicago area with her husband, daughters, and two tiny fish that take up way too much of her time.

Keep up with all releases via the Ellis Leigh newsletter. Subscribe at http://eepurl.com/XnTkb

#promo – Entrapment by Aleatha Romig

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BK4 Entrapment E-Book Cover“The snare is setleaving, friendships, lives, and futures dangling in the balance”

ENTRAPMENT continues the epic new romantic suspense series INFIDELITY, featuring Lennox “Nox” Demetri, Alexandria “Charli” Collins, the Montagues, and the Demetris.

The thrills, heat, and suspense continue to add up…

One chance meeting

plus…

One sexy, possessive alpha and one spunky, determined heroine

plus…

One week of uncontainable, unbridled passion

plus…

One impulsive decision

times…

Two declarations of love

divided by…

The sum of intertwining pasts, lies, and broken rules

equals…

ENTRAPMENT

“Infidelity – it isn’t what you think”

Don’t miss this latest novel in the Infidelity series from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Aleatha Romig. The classic twists, turns, deceptions, and devotions will have readers on the edge of their seats, discovering answers that continue to pose questions. Be ready to swoon one minute and scream the next.

Have you been Aleatha’d?

ENTRAPMENT is the fourth of five full-length novels in the INFIDELITY series: Betrayal, Cunning, Deception, Entrapment, and Fidelity.

*This series does not advocate nor does it condone cheating.

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clock struck midnight

ENTRAPMENT---I'M-HERE

 

 

 

BETRAYAL 1One week. No future. No past. No more.

Alexandria Collins has one week to live carefree—no ghosts of her past or pressures of her future haunting her. Reinventing herself as “Charli,” she is knocked off her feet by a sexy, mysterious man who brings her pleasure like she never imagined. With her heart at stake, she forgets that decisions made in the dark of night reappear in the bright light of day.

 

“Some of my tastes are unique. They aren’t for everyone. I understand that.”

 

Lennox “Nox” Demetri is wealthy, confident, and decisive—he knows what he wants. From the first time he sees Charli at an exclusive resort, he knows he wants her. Although he is usually the one to make the rules, together they agree on one:

 

One week. No more.

 

When betrayal comes from those closest to Alexandria, she must decide how far she is willing to go to survive. Choices are not always easy, especially when they involve the heart, body, and soul. After all, Infidelity is a business, and some rules are meant to be broken.

 

“Is it really cheating if you’re doing it to yourself?”

 

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Aleatha Romig comes a sexy, new dominant hero who knows what he wants, and a strong-willed heroine who has plans of her own. With classic Aleatha Romig twists, turns, deceptions, and devotions, this new epic dark romance will have readers swooning one minute and screaming the next. Have you been Aleatha’d?

 

BETRAYAL is a full-length novel and the first of five in the INFIDELITY series.

 

Amazon | Amazon UK | B&N | iBooks |Kobo

 

 

 

CUNNING 1“He owns you. Whatever he tells you to do you do”.

 

One year. No future. A past that won’t go away.

Lennox “Nox” Demetri broke his own rule by making a deal. It may not have been directly with the devil, but that doesn’t mean Satan himself isn’t watching. Was it fate that brought Charli into his life and his bed? What will happen when rules are broken and secrets are revealed?

“New rules…my rules.”

Alex “Charli” Collins found pleasure with Nox like she’d never known. That was before she knew his last name. Now that Infidelity is involved and the rules have changed, what will result when real life and fantasy collide?

Is it really cheating if you’re doing it to yourself?

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Aleatha Romig comes a sexy, new dominant hero who knows what he wants and a strong-willed heroine who has plans of her own. With classic Aleatha Romig twists, turns, deceptions, and devotions, the depth of this new, epic dark romance reaches new levels and will have readers swooning one minute and screaming the next.

Have you been Aleatha’d?

CUNNING is a full-length novel, 360 pages, and the second of five books in the INFIDELITY series.

Infidelity – it isn’t what you think.

 

iBooks | Amazon | B & N | Kobo

 

 

BK3 Deception E-Book Cover (2)DECEPTION, book THREE of FIVE in Aleatha Romig’s INFIDELITY series.

“Infidelity – it isn’t what you think”

It all began in Del Mar, a chance meeting with a single rule–one week only.

Or did it?

 

Lennox ‘Nox’ Demetri and Alexandria ‘Charli’ Collins had every intention of following it but rules are made to be broken. In CUNNING they are reunited with Nox setting down new rules for the game and Charli having no choice but to follow them.

Now, once again, the game has changed. Nox and Charli’s hot sensual encounter has grown into something more but it is threatened with secrets and regrets. Is it their love and intense sexual chemistry that’s pushing them together or something darker, a puppetmaster behind the scenes pulling the strings on their love affair?

Shadowy villains lurk around each corner and everyone is suspect as Nox’s and Charli’s pasts collide with the present and threaten to compel them back to their predestined fates.

Can deals brokered in the past be negated by something as pure as love and as steamy as the attraction shared by Nox and Charli? Or was it all a deception—starting with that very first meeting?

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Aleatha Romig comes a sexy, new dominant hero who knows what he wants and a strong-willed heroine who has plans of her own. With classic Aleatha Romig twists and turns, the depth of this epic romantic suspense continues to reach new levels as past and present intertwine. The Infidelity series will have readers swooning one minute and screaming the next.

Have you been Aleatha’d?

 

DECEPTION is a full-length novel, over 300 pages, and the third of five books in the INFIDELITY series – It isn’t what you think!

(This series is not about nor does it advocate or condone cheating)

 

Amazon US | Amazon UK | iBooks

 

aleatharomig1Aleatha Romig is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis. Aleatha has raised three children with her high school sweetheart and husband of nearly thirty years. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she’s not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time with her family and friends. Her other pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams!

Aleatha released her first novel, CONSEQUENCES, in August of 2011. CONSEQUENCES became a bestselling series with five novels and two companions released from 2011 through 2015. The compelling and epic story of Anthony and Claire Rawlings has graced more than half a million e-readers. Aleatha released the first of her series TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE, INSIDIOUS, in the fall of 2014. These standalone thrillers continue Aleatha’s twisted style with an increase in heat. In the fall of 2015, Aleatha will move head first into the world of dark romance with the release of BETRAYAL, the first of her five novel INFIDELITY series.

Aleatha is a “Published Author’s Network” member of the Romance Writers of America and represented by Danielle Egan-Miller of Browne & Miller Literary Associates.

NEWSLETTER | WEBSITE | FACEBOOK| AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE | GOODREADS | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | PINTEREST

 

#WOTR #Review – Claiming His Fate (Feral Breed Motorcycle Club #1) by Ellis Leigh

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synopsis

A shifter battling his wolf instincts…
A woman living a life of obligation and lies…
A moment of fate interrupted by danger.

Rebel Lynch has spent two hundred years searching for balance between his human side and his inner wolf. As a den President of The Feral Breed Motorcycle Club, a lack of control over the beast within isn’t just a pain in the tail, it’s a death sentence. One served by his club brothers: the judges, jury, and executioners of the wolf-shifting community.

At Amnesia Gentlemen’s Club, customers and staff check their real-world identities at the door. Charlotte, one of the club’s best waitresses, ditched her legit career in corporate IT because she needs the kind of income those pesky IRS folks can’t track. When the smart-mouthed bombshell pulls a gig serving a private party, she expects nothing more than a few extra tips. That is until dirty-talking Rebel Lynch strolls into the room looking like sin incarnate, flashing motorcycle club colors, and blasting Charlotte’s expectations about work, life, and love straight to hell.

One glance at Charlotte and Rebel knows she’s his fated mate. But a wolf shifter is attacking women at the club, threatening Charlotte’s life, and putting the entire shifter community at risk of exposure. Rebel and his Feral Breed MC brothers must find the crazed shifter before he strikes again. If Rebel can’t uncover the new monster in their midst—and learn to rein in the protective instincts of a fully mated Alpha—his future with Charlotte will be dead on arrival.

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Melinda's Review

A friend was at a book signing and I was scrolling through the authors attending list and saw this author I could not pass up reading it. I mean it had two of my go too’s in it MC and Shifters. I mean how can you go wrong and no I was not wrong. Ellis Leigh did a wonderful job meshing these two together.

Rebel is den President of The Feral Breed Motorcycle Club and is on a mission to find a rouge shifter who is killing humans. This leads them to Amnesia Gentlemen’s Club where he meets Charlotte. Although Charlotte has a degree she is a waitress at the club to provide for herself and her brother but the night Rebel comes in she is forced from waitress status to “private dancer” status. This is when all hell breaks loose in every way for poor unsuspecting Charlotte and her world is turned UPSIDE down.

The twist and turns in this was great. There was insta-love but I liked that Charlotte did not just ride off into the sunset on the back of Rebel’s bike. She had responsibilities and had to stay where she was had to be shown she was loved, needed, and wanted. To know Rebel was the President of an MC and has responsibilities too and had to go where he was needed.  To see how these two were going to make it work or walk away from each other was gut wrenching. I am invested in this series now I need to know if they all get HEA or not. Good start to a series.

about the author

Ellis Leigh

A storyteller from the time she could talk, USA Today bestselling author Ellis grew up among family legends of hauntings, psychics, and love spanning decades. Those stories didn’t always have the happiest of endings, so they inspired her to write about real life, real love, and the difficulties therein. From farmers to werewolves, store clerks to witches—if there’s love to be found, she’ll write about it. Ellis lives in the Chicago area with her husband, daughters, and two tiny fish that take up way too much of her time.

Keep up with all releases via the Ellis Leigh newsletter. Subscribe at http://eepurl.com/XnTkb

#Promo – An Indecent Longing by Stephanie Julian

 

 

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An Indecent Longing Blurb

 

Forbidden passion…

Dorrie Haverstick is the one woman Ian Keller wants with a burning passion…and can’t have. Her connection to the man responsible for his father’s death makes her poison. That doesn’t make him want her any less.

Dorrie’s life is filled with secrets. Her beloved father runs the Russian crime family in Philadelphia but keeps her existence a secret. To acknowledge her would put her in constant danger and destroy her reputation as a physician. But his money funds her medical practice and she’s the on-call doctor for his men.

Uncontrollable desires…

Decorated vet Ben Shaw knows his cousin Ian’s transition from the shadowy world of black ops into regular life has been difficult. But when he sees Ian’s interest in Dorrie, he sees Ian’s salvation in her eyes. There’s only one problem: Ben falls hard for the quiet, driven Dorrie.

Does Ben take Dorrie for himself? Or does he step back and wait for Ian to make his move? Either way, someone’s on the outside. Unless they can agree on one indecent solution..

 

An Indecent Longing Buylinks

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Indecent-Longing-Stephanie-Julian-ebook/dp/B01JVGMNDK

Barnes & Nobles

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/an-indecent-longing-stephanie-julian/1124279992

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https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/an-indecent-longing

iBooks

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/an-indecent-longing/id1130693075

Google

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Stephanie_Julian_An_Indecent_Longing?id=QR7kDAAAQBAJ

 

IndecentSale_Ad

For a limited time, AN INDECENT PROPOSITION, Book 1 in the Indecent series, is on sale for 99 cents.

One woman. Two men. One night. Half-a-million dollars…

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Indecent-Proposition-Stephanie-Julian-ebook/dp/B00HLW4XL2

Barnes & Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/an-indecent-proposition-stephanie-julian/1117913447?ean=2940149035342

Kobo

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/an-indecent-proposition-3

iBooks

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/an-indecent-proposition/id790275973?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Google

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Stephanie_Julian_An_Indecent_Proposition?id=14PXAgAAQBAJ

Stephanie Julian Bio

Stephanie Julian is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of sophisticated, sultry romance. She writes many different series, including Salon Games, Indecent and Lucani Lovers.

She loves hard rock and Broadway, runs very slowly, married a Springsteen fanatic and is the mother of two hairy beasts she calls sons.

InD’Tale Magazine EXCLUSIVE Articles – An Escape From Reality by S.L. Carpenter

Portrait of a smiling student against bookshelf looking for a book at the library.

Everyone has their favorite place to escape to—their hideaway from reality.For some, it’s the beach, others the mountains, and for many of us it’s just somewhere quiet, where we can get away from everyday stress.After I started writing and doing graphic art, I discovered a lot of people find their bliss in a bookstore. Their getaway is within the pages of a story and they are always searching for that perfect book. It should be one that takes them to a different reality—away from the kids, laundry, dishes, messy floors, cat hair everywhere, and all the other dreamy things that fill a domestic goddess’s days.You may ask why a bookstore should be a getaway, and it’s a good question.

Read the entire article in the September 2016 issue of InD’Tale magazine. Here

Somewhere to Begin – Mika Jolie

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Title: Somewhere To Begin

Author: Mika Jolie

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: September 20, 2016

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Synopsis

There are wounds that never show on the body.

For twenty-nine years, Colbie Bennington does as expected with an eternal smile stained on her lips. The biggest chances she’s ever taken can be counted on one hand, three fingers to be exact—her battered red chucks, painting her toenails a vibrant blue, and her wedding dress. Always the dutiful daughter and a Stepford fiancée, she has never acted on impulse, never been in love.

She’s never lived.

On her wedding day, Colbie ends a toxic relationship, drops the fake smile, and says, “I can’t do this anymore.”

Navy SEAL Zander Serrano returns home broken and burdened with a volcano of remorse. Too trapped in a mental war to be at peace and too damaged to be at war, he shuts the world out. The last thing he expects is to feel, especially for a runaway bride with her own baggage.

Two empty hearts marred in different spots find themselves drawn to one another. Each with their own scars. Some, the world can see. Others, unseen to the naked eye.

They say two broken people should not be together. But for Colbie and Zander, their attraction is undeniable, unexpected.

Can two souls with fractured parts be the best cure for each other’s wounds?

Starting over is never easy, but sometimes in life, everyone needs somewhere to begin.

Pre order your copy today!

somewhere-front

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Prologue

“Somewhere there’s a war.”

~ Mika Jolie

Afghanistan, six months ago . . .

Zander’s body hit hard against the concrete. Bones cracked. Muscles snapped.

Another massive blast shook the building, blowing everything up in its path. Walls screamed. Lights flickered. Tables jumped. Chunks of the ceiling caved in. A cacophony of sounds hit his ears like a tidal wave—the crunching of metal, the tinkling of glass shattering as the explosion blasted its way out of the complex, the sound of a shrill and deafening alarm warning of danger.

“Evacuate. STAT. Bomb. Bomb.” The raucous blaring of the overhead radio jarred through his head.

Black dust hung in the air, burning Zander’s throat and invading his lungs. They were ambushed by enemy fire, facing a barrage of bullets from all directions. Every cell in his body reeled at the immediate assault.

Too close. Much too close.

Human instinct told him to counterattack. Ignoring the initial urge, he waited and gathered his wits. Years as a Navy SEAL taught him never to invest in the first option that crossed his mind.

SEALs held back to see what else showed up.

He spotted a shadow darting around the corner of an adobe wall, assault rifle in hand. Zander drew his semi-automatic pistol. With only a split second to decide, he squeezed the trigger and watched the body collapse.

A deathly silence loomed.

Choking on the lack of oxygen, he released a breath, rolled onto his chest, and scanned the room. Blood dripped from his forehead into his eyes, blurring his vision but not enough to obliterate the horror staring at him. His friends lay like rag dolls in the position of death—lifeless and dismembered, flesh and brains erupted in liquid halos, a plethora of shattered bones—arms outstretched, burning flesh, cracked skulls, brains blown out.

Death tinged the air.

He coughed and swiped his mouth. Through cracked lips, he spat a glob of blood mixed with saliva onto the floor, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Squinting, he inspected the room through the swirling dust for Ben.

A few feet away, his best friend, wet with gore, slouched against a wall. His face was twisted in a grimace, his skin pale and clammy as molten-red fluid pumped from his stomach.

“Help me.”

The desperate plea sent chills down Zander’s back. Nausea rolled in his stomach. He closed his eyes for a moment and swallowed hard, pushing back the vomit from his parched mouth. “I’ll get us out. Don’t move,” he cautioned when Ben motioned at the wound on his thigh. They were brothers—not cut from the same cloth, but they’d shed blood together. “I promise—” His words cut short by another deafening explosion.

In the chaos, he analyzed the environment and assessed the risks. Two doors. Four windows. Enemies to the right and left. They were ambushed—a well-organized attack—leaving his band of brothers dead or critically injured. The chance of surviving was nil, but he’d die trying.

Zander flicked his mind to autopilot mode—survival instinct—willing himself out of his surroundings. Becoming invisible was a powerful mental skill he’d mastered over the years when shit got real. He was trained to control the situation, to never react on emotion and to judge every move with logic.

Bullets continued to plow through the room like metallic hail, chipping the pavement around him. Some passed so near to his face he could feel the air being cut in front of him. He snatched one of the fired rounds from the ground and rolled it between his soil-covered fingers. So light, so cold, a trinket designed to take the only thing that really mattered, life.

He shook hands with death, acknowledged it, and whisked it away like a bunch of fruit flies caught in a heavy gust of wind.

Time to kill or be killed.

Relaxing his grip, the bullet slipped through his fingers. The empty casing hit the concrete, making a hollow clinking sound. Zander planted his hands on the floor and pushed himself up. A stifling sensation, as if shaving with a flamethrower, shot through his body.

His legs wobbled.

Gravity yanked him down.

Winded, he dragged himself to a sitting position. Back pressed against the wall, he peered at his legs. Below his knee, blood turned his khakis a deep Tuscan red.

Fuck.

Quickly, he stripped off his jacket, tied it around his thigh, and scanned the area. Not a sound could be heard, either close at hand or in the far off distance. Even his own breath seemed to die as soon as it left his mouth. It was an eerie sort of tranquility as if the world was encased in a cocoon or a bubble, and there was no way out. So instead of being soothed, his senses heightened.

He spotted an M4 carbine inches away. Stretching his arm, he grasped the handle and hauled it toward him. Gun in hand, he belly crawled along the floor, scraping his fingernails across the puddle of his own blood. Sweat and sanguine fluid poured in warm rivulets down his face. He went from body to body, patting down the corpses of James, Pete, and Scott for identification.

Something. Anything to commemorate their existence.

Nothing.

Because SEALs often worked behind enemy lines, a dog tag or something that could give away their identity was considered a huge unnecessary risk. He knew it, but he’d hoped. Pushing back the thought he’d have to identify every one of them later—if he survived—Zander wormed his way from one side of the room to the other and sat next to Ben.

His elbows burned from the effort. None of that mattered. “Put your arms around my shoulder.”

Ben glanced at him. His blue eyes dazed, his skin pale as a ghost.

Shit. Not Ben, too.

Zander rose to his feet, his teeth cutting on his bottom lip. The injury down his thigh protested, and he staggered a little. Ignoring the fire blazing through him, he dragged Ben’s weight down the hall. Tiny lead pellets traveled at twice the speed of sound through what remained of his left leg, the pain intensifying with each dragging step, jarring and brutal. He winced as the pain burned without mercy, penetrating to the cells that should have been protected by smooth skin but most likely lay open and raw.

He was a soldier.

A SEAL.

He trained for war, stood for justice, and fought to win.

With all the strength he could muster, he pushed his weight up against the doorway, dragging his left leg along with him. After leaning Ben’s body against the wall, he palmed the door open and picked out the details of his target. A group of insurgents stood in a circle, plotting. They thought they’d won.

Every movement became robotic, more machine than man. The rush of combat spiked his psyche with crazy excitement and hyperalertness. Curling his finger around the trigger, he aimed and squeezed. A hail of bullets jingled in rapid succession, pushing through the air with elegance, striking bodies with extreme precision.

Flesh tore. Arteries split. Indistinguishable faces marked with red splatter extinguished without a wisp of silvery smoke.

For a moment, silence loomed. Time stood still and yet it raced. Sand shifted under his combat boots. Suddenly he heard the sound of blades in the sky. With a deadly whoosh, the helicopter launched its missiles. A storm of dust came stinging, numbing the air with an acrid smell of death.

Exhausted, he leaned against the doorway, drowsiness coiling insidiously within him. An uncomfortable premonition—a feeling in the pit of his stomach as if he was looking death right in the eye—swept over him.

Another earsplitting sound rumbled in the distance. Clouds of fire belched upward. Weightless, he collided with the ground, drenched in his own blood. He sucked in a breath as every muscle throbbed in pain. The faces of his parents, his sister, his brothers, and home dangled in front of him as the gate of hell opened. Eyelids fluttered shut. One last memory of roughing it in a football game with his band of brothers crossed his mind.

A smile curved his lips.

And then everything faded into an abyss.

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About Mika Jolie

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Mika Jolie is the bestselling author of the Martha’s Way series. She lives in New Jersey with her Happy Chaos—her husband and their energizer bunnies. A sports fanatic and a wine aficionado, she’s determined to balance it all and still write about life experiences and matters of the heart. Let’s face it, people are complicated and love can be messy. When she’s not weaving life and romance into evocative tales, you can find her on a hiking adventure, apple picking, or whatever her three men can conjure up.

She loves to hear from readers. Connect with Mika on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and Amazon.

For latest news on her current works-in-progress, interviews with fellow authors, or just to see what she’s up to, check out her website: http://www.mikajolie.com or sign up for her newsletter http://mikajolie.us8.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=031e437e36c82d666bd5f3d46&id=af83626053 where you can hear her latest news and enjoy giveaways.

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#review – The Bear Who Loved Me by Kathy Lyons Launch Day Blitz

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HE BEAR WHO LOVED ME by Kathy Lyons (September 13, 2016; Forever Yours eBook; $1.99; Grizzlies Gone Wild Book 1)

The first in a wild shifter series from USA TODAY bestselling author Kathy Lyons.

synopsis

WHEN AN ALPHA MEETS HIS MATCH . . .

Between singlehandedly running her bakery and raising her teenaged nephew, Becca Weitz thought she had a decent grip on “normal.” Then her nephew vanishes, and life as she’s known it changes forever. Local legends are true: bear shifters exist . . . and her nephew is part of their clan. As is Carl Carman, the sexy, larger-than-life man who has sworn to find her nephew-and the other young shifters who’ve gone missing.

As the leader of his clan, Carl is surrounded by enemies. He’s learned the hard way that keeping a firm leash on his inner beast is key to survival, though his feelings for Becca test his legendary control. Then danger stalks too close, and Carl realizes he must unleash the raging, primal force within to protect everything he holds dear. But can Becca trust his grizzly side with her life-and her heart?

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angies review

I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

This is my first book from this author but I gotta tell ya, it won’t be my last.  When I saw this book I jumped because I love shifter stories.  I also loved that the shifters were bears…..welll grizzlies to be more specific.  It seems most are a cat shifters so I was excited to read the book.

This book is about Theo who has been adopted by his aunt Becca.  They don’t know until Theo goes missing that he is part shifter.  When Theo is kidnaped, his alpha/Maximus/Mr. Max/Carl comes to talk to Becca about what makes him so special.  Carl has been watching Theo his entire life for signs to see if he will be a shifter or stay human plus he has also watched Becca longingly from the side.

When Carl shows up and essentially kidnaps *Snickers* Becca to his den.  He needs her to be on board with the new life her son will be living plus he is having some not normal feelings for the brave and feisty human woman.

I loved Theo’s kidnapping story because it kept the action of the story flowing.  I really enjoyed Carl and Becca trying to understand each other.  She wants to understand these 2 parts of the man…1 human and 1 bear.  He is so frustrated because she challenges his bear at every turn.  However, he loves that challenge and wouldn’t have his mate any other way.

I am really looking forward to Mark’s book.  I liked his attitude and the way he hit on Becca just to get a reaction outta Carl…lol   But the story I am dying for is Alan’s.  I really do hope he finds love and maybe even the woman he has feelings for???

about the author

Kathy Lyons is the wild, adventurous half of USA TODAY bestselling author Jade Lee. A lover of all things fantastical, Kathy spent much of her childhood in Narnia, Middle Earth, Amber, and Earthsea, just to name a few.  There is nothing she adores more than turning an ordinary day into something magical, which is what happens all the time in her books. Winner of several industry awards including the Prism-Best of the Best, Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice, and Fresh Fiction’s Steamiest Read, Kathy has published over fifty romance novels, and she’s just getting started. Check out her latest news at KathyLyons.com.

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#Review Love Restored (The Gallagher Brothers Book 1) by Carrie Ann Ryan

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synopsis
In the first of a Montgomery Ink spin-off series from NYT Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan, a broken man uncovers the truth of what it means to take a second chance with the most unexpected woman…

Graham Gallagher has seen it all. And when tragedy struck, lost it all. He’s been the backbone of his brothers, the one they all rely on in their lives and business. And when it comes to falling in love and creating a life, he knows what it’s like to have it all and watch it crumble. He’s done with looking for another person to warm his bed, but apparently he didn’t learn his lesson because the new piercer at Montgomery Ink tempts him like no other.

Blake Brennen may have been born a trust fund baby, but she’s created a whole new life for herself in the world of ink, piercings, and freedom. Only the ties she’d thought she’d cut long ago aren’t as severed as she’d believed. When she finds Graham constantly in her path, she knows from first glance that he’s the wrong kind of guy for her. Except that Blake excels at making the wrong choice and Graham might be the ultimate temptation for the bad girl she’d thought long buried.

kristis review

I received a copy for a honest review

I have been waiting on pins and needles since Ryan announced she was doing a spin off of the Montgomery Ink series, and since she introduced us to the Bearded, Inked, Pierced, Brooding, and panty melting hotness that is Graham in Ink Enduring I’ve been waiting breathless with anticipation for that day to get here. Well wait no more!!!
Graham is the workhorse of the Gallagher Brothers Reconstruction Company, he is the head foreman of the business.
Blake is a heiress who is the executor of the estate that owns the house that the Gallagher Brothers will be working on. She also isn’t what she seems as Graham finds out.
When Graham and Blake meet, it’s at a anniversary of sorts for him and not a good anniversary either and he is a a** to her, as she reminds him of his ex.
But, as I’ve said Blake is not what she appears. Yes when the first met Blake looked like a heiress, what she really is though is the newest member of the Montgomery Ink family as she is the piercer and tattooist that Maya just hired and she has a big secret.
Fate has a way of pushing people together even if they don’t want to be pushed, and fate wants these two together. Chance meetings at hockey games and the grocery store make these two realize that the reason they are so snarky to each other is the attraction that they’re trying hard to resist.
Real life, that’s what makes Ryan so good at what she does, she pulls from real life. The experiences that these characters go through, both past and present, could have happened to anybody and that’s what makes you hurt when they hurt, cry when they cry, and love when they love.
There is sooo much you need to know, but I’m not telling!!! Just know this, even if you’ve never read the series that this is spun from, you will love this book and will not be lost. You will be sucked into their world and want more, whether that’s waiting for the the next Gallagher or diving into the Montgomery Ink series, first one’s free BTW, it’s a addiction that there is no cure for.

excerpt

Chapter One
Graham Gallagher had never craved a cigarette as much as he did right then. It didn’t matter that he’d quit smoking over fifteen years ago cold turkey and hadn’t picked one up since then. He just wanted a damn smoke.

Scratch that.

He wanted a fucking cigarette, a beer, and a willing woman underneath him as he fucked her until they were both spent.

And not necessarily in that order.

Not that he’d get any of that anytime soon. Between this new job, the old one they hadn’t fully completed yet, and the rest of the crap in his life, he wasn’t sure he’d even have time for a beer.

And considering it had been a long six months since he’d had a woman, he was pretty sure he wouldn’t be getting laid anytime soon. He and his right hand had a perfectly nice relationship for now, and when things got downright dangerous, he got to know his left.

Jesus, he needed coffee or something if he was thinking about how his left hand would be something different in his life.

He pulled his dark hair out of the rubber band and grimaced as he caught some tangles when he ran a hand through it. He wasn’t sure he’d brushed it that morning; instead, he’d just thrown it up in a tie at the back of his head as soon as he’d gotten out of the shower. At least I showered, he thought. Considering he’d slept for shit the night before, a shower after sweat-slick dreams had been the only recourse. He quickly ran his hand through his hair a few more times, getting out most of the rat’s nest, and then pulled it back again before the owner of their new project showed up and called him a heathen.

Graham sighed, sliding his hand over his beard to straighten it out. Since it had grown past his chin and almost touched his chest if he lowered his head just right, he already looked the part of a criminal to some. Add in the ink covering his body, and the piercings only those in his bed could see, and he didn’t fit the ideal image of a businessman that the caliber of people who wanted to work with their business expected.

Not that he was only a business owner. He and two of his brothers owned, operated, and sweated for Gallagher Brothers Restoration. They cleaned up and restored old homes and buildings that were either already historical landmarks or well on their way to becoming them. It wasn’t the easiest work in the world in Colorado since it was a relatively new state compared to those out east. To put it more simply, the buildings weren’t as old in Denver as they were where the first colonies had settled, like Delaware, Pennsylvania, or the Carolinas. But in the past decade, he, Owen, and Murphy had never lacked for work. Their other brother Jake worked with them at times as well, though he had his own life with this artwork and never seemed to want to butt in.

Graham always tried to change that, always tried to make sure everyone was included.

He sighed. One of the perks of being the oldest brother was apparently an ulcer, since he worried over his family so freaking much. And now he was standing in the middle of a monstrosity of a mansion and not in the mood to deal with the legalities and politics that came with this particular job.

Hence why he needed the cigarette, beer, and willing woman.

“Let me guess, you woke up, showered, and put on the cleanest jeans you own, but didn’t bother to make a cup of coffee. I mean, why would you, when you figure I’ll bring you some.”

Graham turned at the sound Owen’s voice and shrugged. “You always bring me coffee. Why should I make any? Especially when I was running late anyway.” He took the aforementioned coffee with the “G” written on the side, and took a sip, his body relaxing at the first taste of the brown elixir of life.
At that thought, he took another drink, this one a bit bigger. If he was thinking in terms of elixirs like Murphy, perhaps he needed more caffeine than he realized.

“You wouldn’t run late if you actually set your alarm for a reasonable hour, instead of right before you need to be out the door. It’s amazing what happens to your day when you actually set a schedule and keep it.” Owen set down the last cup, this one with a large “M” on the side for Murphy, and took a drink out of his own cup, the big “O” written in Owen’s perfect block lettering.

Seriously, if his brother weren’t so good with his hands when it came to restoring buildings and didn’t take care of all the paperwork that gave Graham headaches, he’d hate the guy. Plus, Owen talked to the other contractors and people who owned the land they worked on. Since Graham didn’t particularly like talking to people in general, he was damn happy Owen dealt with it.

While Graham had pulled on the cleanest and brightest T-shirt he owned over jeans, Owen had on a button-down shirt over pressed jeans. Yeah, he had a slight beard, but he’d trimmed it down that morning, and even had some sort of mousse or gel in his hair. As Graham had never once used the stuff, he wasn’t sure which one it was. He also had a feeling if Owen hadn’t planned on actually getting dirty at the start of the job, he’d have worn slacks instead of jeans, and probably even a tie along with it.

Graham never did understand his brother and his need to look presentable at all times.

But that’s what made Owen, Owen and Graham…Graham.

“I didn’t sleep well,” he mumbled. “It’s also the first day on a new job I don’t want in the first place, so yeah, I’m a little off. Once I get a hammer in my hands, I’ll get over it.”

Owen studied Graham’s eyes and cursed under his breath. “Shit, I didn’t think about what month it was.” He paused as if trying to think of something to say to make it all better. Nothing was going to make it that way so his brother would do better to stop trying.

Graham held out a hand and shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll get over it. I always do,” he lied.

He never got over it; never let it leave his mind. But he worked through it, buried it when he needed to, and found a way to live when not living had almost seemed like a better choice.

Hell, he needed more coffee than this if his brain were going to head in that direction. “When’s Murphy getting here?” he asked, trying to change the subject smoothly. From the look in Owen’s eyes, he hadn’t been smooth enough.

Thankfully, Owen went with it and didn’t push. That’s what he loved about his brothers; they didn’t press unless he needed it. And even then, they did their best not to be annoying about it. He knew he was the same way when it came to their demons, and that’s what made them Gallaghers.

They’d gone through hell on their own and had come together when the only other option had been giving up.

And for a Gallagher, there was no such thing. A Gallagher did not give up.

“Murphy said he’d be here a few minutes ago, so probably in ten minutes,” Owen said with a grin.

“I heard that, asshole,” Murphy said as he strolled in. Their younger brother had brushed his hair at least, but other than that, he looked like a slightly smaller version of Graham. He’d also let his hair down so it lightly brushed his shoulders, and since he’d shaved his beard fully a month or so ago, it hadn’t come back all the way yet.

 

If Jake had been there with his scruffy beard and messy hair, the four of them would have probably looked like they needed to be locked up somewhere—up to no good and with no responsibilities. But looks weren’t everything, and even though they were inked, pierced, and not the cleanest cut, they were well on their way to making Gallagher Brothers Restoration into something more than the small yet profitable business it was.

Owen flipped Murphy off and handed him his coffee. “I know you heard it. I said it loudly enough for you to. It’s amazing what happens when you’re observant and hear a truck park.”

For that remark, Graham flipped Owen off, as well. He looked between his brothers and the old mansion that hadn’t been cared for in far too long. It needed a complete overhaul so it would be safe for anyone who wanted to live there in the future, as well as keep in line with the century it had been built so it could remain on the list for historical landmark status.

It was going to be a bitch to work with, and if it had been any other house with any other backstory and politics attached to it, Graham would have been first in line to work on it.

Now, though, he wanted nothing to do with it.

“We’re not taking the job,” Graham said with a growl.

It was an old argument. One he hadn’t won yet. Because they hadn’t signed the final papers, they could still back out and take a job that wouldn’t make his brain hurt and his hands twitch. The heiress and final land owner of the property would be there soon to go over the final details, and because of the way the place had been caught up in litigation with one thing or another, they hadn’t met her yet.

He wasn’t in the mood to deal with a spoiled princess who couldn’t be bothered to care about the place she’d grown up in.

“We’re taking the job,” Owen said, this time without his normal patience.

As usual, Murphy stood back and let Graham and Owen fight it out. Graham wasn’t sure what side Murphy was on, but he had a feeling it wasn’t his.

Damn it.

“We’re not taking the job,” Graham repeated.

“We’re taking the job,” Owen said right back.

“No, we aren’t.”

“We need this,” Owen said, frustration lining his voice. “This is our big break. We can make Gallagher Brothers a name in the business. We’ll be along the lines of Montgomery, Inc.. A legacy in our field, where we won’t have to worry about finding jobs because they’ll find us. We’ll be safe. Secure.”

“Not with this job, Owen. I’m the oldest Gallagher. The boss. What I say goes.”
Murphy and Owen shared a look, and Graham sighed, knowing he’d lost before he’d taken his first sip of coffee.

They were taking the damn job.

“Fine,” he growled. “Whatever.” He drained the rest of his cup and tossed it in the trash bag Owen held out. Seriously, the man thought of everything.

“Want to take a look around before she shows up?” Murphy said with a small smile. “I mean, if we have to take the job, we might as well see what we’re working with.”

“We already did,” Graham said. “And you’ve been poring over the plans for months, Mr. Architect.”

Murphy was the company’s lead architect, though all three of them worked on plans. Owen was their manager, the one that kept them organized and sane. While Graham was the foreman, the one in charge of the day-to-day building and bossing around the rest of their crew to make sure they knew what they were doing. When Jake joined them on projects, he did the classical restorations and woodworking that none of the rest of them had the talent or skills for. It worked for the four of them, even if sometimes working with his brothers day in and day out was a little much. They kept him steady, though, and that had to mean something. Especially this month.

Murphy shrugged. “Yeah, but it’s a little different when we’re about to sign the papers. Come on. It’ll be fresher for us so we can jump right in.”

“He’s right, you know. We should at least do a walk through before she shows up, in case there are any issues we didn’t address in the initial documentation.”

Graham blew out a breath but followed his brothers as they began their way through the sprawling mansion that had seen far better days.

“Like you’d let anything escape your attention before this,” he said to Owen with a small smile.

Owen rolled his eyes. “I can’t help being perfect, you know. It’s a curse as well as a gift.”

Graham punched his brother in the arm, putting a little heat behind it to make sure Owen kept on his toes. Graham might be nearing forty, but he wasn’t about to grow up fully anytime soon. Plus, Owen and Murphy were closer to thirty than he was, and he needed to make sure his baby brothers knew who was actually the boss in this company and family.

Owen reached out to punch him back, and Graham ducked, running into Murphy, who pushed him into Owen’s shoulder. Graham laughed then, a deep chuckle that surprised him. He hadn’t thought he’d laugh this month, and damn if he didn’t respect his brothers that much more for keeping him in the now, rather than always in the past.

As they neared the other entrance, he let out an oath. If anything, the cracking paint and wallpaper, as well as the molding beams, looked even worse than before. If they hadn’t already done a full sweep of the place to make sure it was safe to even stand under the damn roof, he wouldn’t even be inside. This was going to be one hell of a job, and if he’d been in any other mood, and if it had been any other place without the strings that came with it, he might have been more excited about the prospects of being part of the restoration.

The place had good bones, he had to give it that, but that was about it. And, normally, while good bones were the reason he did this job and loved it—at least, usually—sometimes, he wanted to kick someone for letting a place get to this. Yeah, he’d be out of a job in that case, but to see something that had once been so grand and intricate end up the way this place was, hurt.

Buildings needed care, and most of the time, people sucked and didn’t do it.

“You’d think with a family with this kind of money, they’d take care of their shit a little better,” Graham grumbled.

“Good to know what kind of attitude you’ll have on the job,” a sultry voice said from behind him.

Owen mumbled a curse while Murphy’s eyes widened. Graham tightened his jaw. Great. The little heiress was finally here, and now he had to deal with whatever shit she’d brought with her.

He turned on his heel, rolling his shoulders back as he did. The shock to his system at the first look of her was a jolt.

Shit, were heiresses supposed to look that good in a business skirt?

Of course, they are, he thought to himself. They spent all their money on their clothes and whatever they needed to look the way they did, rather than taking care of the important things in their possession like the home they’d once lived in. God forbid this woman get her hands dirty to clean up the mess that the people residing here had left.

Her long brown hair had streaks of lighter colors in it, like blonde and chestnut, though she’d pulled it back in a tight bun at the base of her neck so he couldn’t see how long it was.

Her eyes were large, but not too big for her face, and had this honey brown hue to them that looked as if they might change color in different lighting. Her cheekbones were prominent, but not in the malnourished way that the one chick who’d hit on him at the last site had had. She wore a light brown business jacket with silver buttons over a cream shirt and a very tight skirt that matched the jacket.

If he weren’t already in a pisser of a mood, he might have wanted to see how far that skirt would slide up her legs as he fucked her. Especially with those tall heels she wore that had the little straps at the ankles to keep them in place.

And that was a train of thought he needed to end right now. He didn’t know this woman, and while his groin might have one idea, his brain needed to focus on the fact that someone had neglected this house for years. Yeah, it might not exactly be her fault, but she was here, and he needed someone to blame.

It made him an asshole, but frankly, he didn’t have enough coffee in his system to not be one. And add in the fact that this month was one he’d rather not think about…

She was lucky he didn’t walk right out and say “fuck it” to the whole project.

Owen cleared his throat next to him, and Graham held back a groan. That was why he didn’t have the option of leaving, and why he probably shouldn’t be a dick when it came to this woman.

But something about her rubbed him the wrong way, and apparently, he couldn’t keep his mouth shut.

“If you don’t like my attitude, you can walk, princess.” Owen and Murphy each groaned under their breath. Hell, why was he acting like he was a toddler who’d stubbed his toe? He needed to get a freaking grip.

The woman narrowed her eyes before looking toward Owen. “You’re the one dressed for this, so I take it you’re in charge?” She pointedly didn’t look at Graham, and he couldn’t blame her, even though it annoyed him.
Owen moved forward, pushing Graham out of the way as he did so, and held out his hand. “Owen Gallagher. I’m the Construction Manager listed on record, and have been the one speaking with who I presume is your estate lawyer. These are my brothers, Murphy and Graham. They own the company with me, though in the future, you’ll only have to talk with me.” He laid on that Gallagher charm that had skipped Graham completely today.

“Blake Brennen.” She took Owen’s hand in a quick shake and then let go. She nodded at Murphy before turning to Graham. “If you have a problem working here, then leave. I’m only here because I’m listed on the estate as the executor, and because the will demands this restoration. I’m out of options. I really don’t care if you have a problem with me, but I will have a problem if you make mistakes on the job because of it.”

Graham’s brows rose, an inkling of respect and curiosity about the woman in front of him sliding through his defenses. The fact that she didn’t seem to want to be here any more than he did intrigued him.

“We’re here because this place needs help,” Owen said smoothly. At her snort, Graham’s lips quirked. “It’s true, and you can see it. I don’t know the full history of the place other than what’s in the documents I have, but I do know it has heart.”

Blake’s eyes hardened. “It might have had it once, but it doesn’t now.”

Interesting.

Owen cleared his throat, but it was Graham who spoke next. “The place went to shit, but we’ll fix it.” He paused, letting her gaze rake over him. He couldn’t help but like that part, even if on first sight he didn’t like her. “That’s what we do. We’re Gallaghers.”

She tilted her head, and as he studied her, he thought he saw something in her gaze that called to him. But he had to be wrong. Because he’d already told himself he didn’t like her. She was just like Candice. Too good for him, and too good for anything in his life.

Been there. Married that. He was out.

“I don’t know the Gallaghers, sorry,” she said finally. “If I had my say, I’d have the Montgomerys on this project, but apparently, they gave it to you.”

That wasn’t exactly the case, considering this was what the Gallaghers did, and the Montgomerys knew that. The fact that Jake was marrying a Montgomery was only part of the equation, but he didn’t know what all this Blake knew.

“Anyway,” Blake said suddenly, her chin raised. “Do you have everything I need to sign? Once that’s done, I’m out of your hair. In fact, I honestly don’t think I’ll be back. Good riddance to his place.

Hell, there she went, being all interesting again.

Owen moved forward and slid some papers out of his messenger bag. “I got it right here. Let’s go to my truck, if that’s okay with you. That way, we can go over everything.” He looked over his shoulder at Graham, narrowed his eyes, and took Blake gently by the elbow as they walked out of the building.

When Blake cautiously moved away from Owen’s touch, Graham did his best to not be happy that his brother wasn’t touching her. Hell, his dick needed to get in gear because he did not want that woman. He didn’t need her in her pressed suits with her fancy money and all the drama that came with it.

She’d said she wouldn’t be back, and he couldn’t help being grateful for that. He didn’t want to deal with whatever was going on in her life, or the fact that his dick couldn’t help but stand at attention when she was near.
As soon as Owen and Blake were out of earshot, Murphy, who had been suspiciously quiet up until now, punched Graham in the shoulder. Hard.

“What the fuck, man?” Graham bit out as he rubbed his shoulder. His little brother might have been scrawny as hell growing up because of the poison in his veins and body, but he sure as hell packed a mean punch now.

“I should be asking you the same question,” Murphy spat. “I have never seen you act that way around a woman before, and I’ll be damned if you do it again. I mean, seriously, Graham, what the hell is wrong with you? Mom would smack the back of your head or kick your ass for doing something like that. Blake hadn’t even spoken a word, and you were already treating her like something on the bottom of your shoe.”

Graham felt heat rise on his neck, and he shrugged, shame filling him though he did his best to push it away.

“She just rubbed me the wrong way.”

“So?” Murphy asked. “Just because you don’t like her for reasons only God and your dickish brain knows, doesn’t mean you can talk to a woman like that. Hell, you especially shouldn’t talk like that to someone we technically work for.”

“Technically, we work for the estate,” Graham mumbled.

“Now who’s acting like the little brother,” Murphy sneered. “Get your head out of your ass and apologize to her when you see her next. Because you know what? Not only is Owen right in the fact that this job means something, but you’re better than this.”

Graham sighed and ran his hand over his face. He needed that cigarette, beer, and woman again. Only when he thought of the woman, she saw Blake, and he held back a growl.

“She reminded me of someone, and I took it out on her.” He grunted. “I’ll apologize.”

“Damn straight you will,” Owen said as he stormed back in. “She’s gone, by the way. So maybe call her and leave a message to say how much of an asshole you are. Because there’s no way she’s coming back here, though I don’t know if that’s all because of you. And who the hell does she remind you of?” As soon as he said it, he closed his eyes and cursed.

Graham sighed. “Yeah. Her.” They all knew whom he was talking about.

“Jesus, this month is going to suck,” Murphy whispered under his breath.

Murphy wasn’t wrong. And yeah, Graham was an asshole. Because no matter whom Blake was, she wasn’t his ex-wife, and he needed to get that through his head. What made matters worse—he hadn’t minded the fact that Candice was a trust fund baby when they were married.

It was only when their world had crashed down around him that it had become an issue.

An issue he would do anything to forget.
But nightmares never faded, and Graham knew that better than anyone.

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about the author

carrie ann

Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, and Gallagher Brothers series, which have sold over 2.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over fifty novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not writing about bearded tattooed men or alpha wolves that need to find their mates, she’s reading as much as she can and exploring the world of baking and gourmet cooking.

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