Release Day Blitz for Best Fake Day

Release Day Blitz

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Best Fake Day

by

Tracey Rogers

Contemporary Romance

Available from Beachwalk Press

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Blurb

Faking it never felt so good.
Wedding photographer and romance lover, Izzy Latham, dreams of finding her own happily-ever-after. When her former teenage crush arrives at her doorstep, looking sexier than ever, and asks to marry her, it should be her dream come true, right? Wrong. It turns out he doesn't want to actually marry her—he only wants to pretend to marry her.

Marriage hater Jack Carter will do anything to close his latest business deal, including finding a wife. The only person who can help him is his childhood friend, Izzy. Except Izzy isn't a little girl anymore. She's definitely all woman, and there's an attraction between them that's hard to ignore.

Jack has to convince Izzy to fake it, but the problem is that she hates to lie. However, she can't deny her feelings for him either. So when Jack makes her an offer she can't refuse, she reluctantly agrees to help him out.

Faking it is the easy part. But what happens when fake starts to feel so real?
Content Warning: contains sensual sex and occasional strong language

Excerpt

"Let me work off the money," Izzy said.

She felt Jack's gaze rake over her body, watched the clench of his jaw. "And how are you planning to work it off, Isabel?" he almost growled. "Is that what all of this is about?" he asked as his hand made an indicating sweep over her body. "Dress to impress so you can pay me in kind?"

"Oh God, no," she spluttered. "This is me showing you I'm not the weak, naïve girl I used to be and I won't be pushed around!"

The hard glint in his eyes softened slightly. "You were never weak. Naïve…" He trailed off. "So how exactly were you planning to pay me back?"

"Working here for you for free until I pay you back. I could collect glasses, work the bar, or clean."
"And you have experience in any of those roles?"

"No. But I could learn."

"But what about the house repairs?"

She shrugged. "I could do that during the daytime and work here at night. Then when I'm earning again from my day job I'll pay you back."

"And what exactly is your day job?"

"I'm a photographer. I could even do that here. Take photographs of the patrons and sell them for you."

"You work freelance?”

"I have my own business." She hesitated before elaborating. "As a wedding photographer," she said quickly, hoping he wouldn't snag the teasing opportunity.

Too late. The corner of his mouth quirked until it bloomed until a grin. "A wedding photographer. How appropriate. I knew playing dress-up with your mother's veil and having teddy bears as your guests would have an influence on you one day."

"You mean like wanting to have a traditional wedding where the groom doesn't have to bribe the bride? Yeah, my childhood messed me up real bad," she said with sarcasm.

"You're not working here, Izzy. And this conversation is over."

"No, it's not. I'm giving you a solution to paying off what I owe. I'll work off the amount Ellie paid for our debts and the rest you get from her. So when do I start?"

"You are not working here."

"Why?"

"Do you really want to have some guy groping you as you serve drinks? Or a group of guys? I run a tight ship and look out for my staff, but sometimes it happens."

"I can look after myself. I have been groped before, you know. I can deal with it."

He slid his chair closer, bending his legs so hers surrounded him without touching, but close, very close. He looked up at her under dark lashes. "So if some guy puts a hand on your leg you wouldn’t mind?"

She shook her head.

"And if that hand strayed beneath your dress?" he asked as his hand reached out to graze the sensitive skin of her inner thigh, making her shudder.

She shook her head slowly, earning a dark look. Of course she would mind. But this was Jack.

He stood abruptly, stepping into the v of her thighs. "And if a guy tried to kiss you?"

"I have been kissed before, remember?" she said, inwardly cringing at how breathless she sounded.

"I remember being a boy kissing you as a girl. If I were to kiss you now I wouldn’t be holding back and I wouldn’t be kissing you as a boy—I’d be kissing you as a man."

"Then do it," she demanded.

Author bio

A devourer of books from an early age, I spent much of my childhood stepping into wardrobes, searching for that magical snowy world where conversing with animals would be expected. When I wasn't searching for those worlds, I wrote about them instead. My first step into the world of romance was when I stole sneak peeks into my nana's books. I'm still in that world and refuse to leave.


I live in Staffordshire, UK, with my husband and three wonderful children. An avid reader and writer of romance, I strongly believe that words make the world go around.

You can find her on her Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Email.

Buy Links

AmazonUK  | Amazon.com | Nook | Beachwalk Press

Outcast by Kiru Taye

Book Release Blitz

Outcast

Sacred Amulet, part one

Kiru Taye

Tags: Paranormal / Fantasy / Romance

Add to Goodreads

Read the full chapter one

Book Link

Out November 1, 2013

Available from Amazon

FREE Kindle Download from November 2 to 6

Available for $0.99 / £0.77 afterwards until 30 November 2013.

Blurb

Ugo’ji is an outcast, an untouchable. She lives on the fringe of society as the lowest of the low, a living sacrifice to the gods. The only person she interacts with is her aged grandmother Nne who nurtures her powerful gift of healing. Until the day she meets Ebube a strange warrior to their lands. He  ignites a yearning within her she's unable to ignore.

Ebube is drawn to the young maiden with the emerald green eyes who possesses the body of a goddess and the healing touch of an angel. But he is forbidden from mating with a human and the consequence is the wrath of the gods.

Moreover he is on a mission. If he fails, the gates of hell will be opened and the earth plunged into darkness. He cannot stay and she cannot go with him.

Excerpt

Help me...Do whatever it takes...Keep the gates of Alammuo sealed.

Darkness tugged at him and threatened to pull him into its murky depths. With a jerk, Ebube sat up on his pallet. The creaking wood and thumping of his heart echoed in his acutely responsive ears.

Danger seeped from the nightmare he couldn’t remember into the air, leaden and oppressive. His breath heaved as he choked, his throat clogged with the fetid stench of death.

On reflex, he extended his right arm, grabbing the scabbard he always kept within reach, the pitch shadow no hindrance for his sharp eyesight. As a leopard-shifter, his vision was excellent, night and day. He didn't need to look at his hands to see the extended claws. Sharp tips dug into his palm. He ignored the sting and his awkward grip on the carved wooden hilt of the single edge sword.

His beast came to the fore, clawing to take over, an instinctive response to potential threats. Muscles tensed, Ebube fought the shift. Sweat streaked down his body in rivulets. He swiped his face with his left palm, stopping the liquid from dripping into his eyes.

Sweeping his gaze across the large, airy chamber of his sparsely-decorated home, he sought the source of danger setting off his internal alarm.

Apart from the raised bamboo sleeping platform covered in padded deer hide and the wooden trunk that stored his personal belongings, the only other items were his tools of warfare – his spears, shields, machetes and scabbards. They hung on the single-rung mantel against the burnt-umber rock wall, gleaming with polish and sharpness, ready for use.  Undisturbed.

A tingle ran up his spinal column, the way it always did when he sensed something out of place. Something terribly wrong. He swung his legs around. Cool unglazed stone flooring met his bare feet. The muscles on his back tensed, primed for action. Slowly, he stood to his full height and walked through the room.

His home consisted of two chambers, one for sleeping and the other for entertaining guests. Though as a guardian, a special warrior of the gods, he could live as luxuriously as the gods did, they had agreed communally to live as simply as humans of the era so as not to draw attention to themselves as supernatural beings.

Nothing was out of place in his rooms, no stray, malevolent being in the vicinity. Yet the tingling in his bones didn't dissipate. When he found nothing inside, he grabbed the wooden knob, opened the door and walked onto the corridor linking his residence to the rest of his family's. Their homes were hewn out of Amauwa rocks, a hill range in the middle of the rain forest.

He stopped in front of the last house, the tension on his shoulders increasing. Nothing lurked inside it, living or inanimate. Yet the memory of the previous occupant flooded his mind, hitting him low in the abdomen, spreading pain through his body. Gritting his teeth, he shook his head and turned his back to the building and its unwelcome memories.

About Kiru

A lover of books, as a teenager Kiru Taye used to read novels under the blanket during lights-outs in boarding school. These days, with a young family to take care of, she's still sacrificing sleep for the pleasures of a good book.

During the day though, she transforms her wildly vivid imagination into sensual, atmospheric romance stories with passionate characters.

When she’s not writing or reading, she'd hanging out with family and friends or travelling. Born in Nigeria, she currently lives in the UK with husband and children.

You reach her via her blog, Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or Pinterest

Follow her blog for latest news and giveaways: http://kirutayewrites.blogspot.com

Read book excerpts and free short stories on her website: http://www.kirutaye.com

Contest

Kiru is giving away 2x $5 Amazon gift cards or paypal cash and 5x ebooks of the follow-up story Sacrifice. Complete the rafflecopter to enter the prize draw.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Under the Alpha's Protection Promo and Review

Love Bites and Silk Blog Tour Organisers have given me the privilege to promote and review "Under the Alpha's Protection" written by Doris O'Connor.

Blurb:

Nikita Ashton and Raoul Saint Germain have been friends for five years, so when Nikita is attacked, there is only one place she can run to—straight into Raoul's arms.

Raoul is the Alpha of his pack and he is furious that the woman he loves has been harmed on his territory. Were it not for the fact that Nikita does not believe in anything even remotely paranormal, his wolf would have claimed her aeons ago.

Nikita is in need of tender, loving care, not his baser needs that are threatening to overtake him.

However, when Nikita admits that she knows about his being in the lifestyle, the Dom in him cannot resist the challenge to make her his submissive.

Blissfully happy in their new Dom/sub relationship, everything changes when Nikita is kidnapped. Can Raoul get to her in time to save her life?

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

Excerpt:

"We will have to have a conversation about this warped self-image of yours soon, but now is not the time or the place. You're a beautiful woman, Nikita, and anyone saying otherwise will have me to answer to. Now drop the robe and stop stalling, before I have to drag you to the hospital to get these properly checked over."

Nikita tensed at the mention of the hospital, and he chuckled.

"I'm not going to any damn hospital. You can't make me." She glared at him over her shoulder, and he quirked an eyebrow at her in that irritatingly superior way of his that always turned her insides aflutter. She dropped her gaze to his throat instead and immediately wished she hadn't. This close she could see him swallow, the movement of his Adam's apple strangely erotic, and her fingers itched to trace the veins down to the thatch of dark hair she could just about see in the V of his polo shirt. A shirt that clung to his muscular frame and only served to outline the bulging biceps, as he raised an arm to brush his dark hair out of his eyes. He was in need of a haircut, his hair longer than she had ever seen it, the perfect length to grab hold and…

Nikita bit her lip and shut her eyes for a second at the wayward direction her thoughts were taking.

"You know I hate hospitals. I don't ever want to go back there."

Hospitals meant death and grief, and she had sworn on her mother's death bed that she would never set foot in that place again, if she could help it. Unbidden, the tears fell as they always did when she thought of her mum, her grief still as fresh and raw as it had been two years ago.

Raoul made a rough sound in the back of his throat, and then his hands were cupping her face, his thumbs wiping away her tears.

"I'm sorry, squirt. That was thoughtless of me," he said.

She forced her eyes open, and the quiet compassion she saw in his azure gaze made her cry harder.

"No, I'm sorry. It's been two years. You'd think I wouldn't go into meltdown mode every time the hospital is even mentioned. Whoever said time is a great healer is a blasted liar, and I'm such a goddamn watering pot. Dammit, I'm sorry. That's the second time today I got you all wet."

Raoul laughed—a deep belly rumble that trembled through her until she had no choice but to smile back at him. He always managed to do that to her. One of the many reasons why she loved him.

Her heart clenched painfully, as the truth dawned on her. She did love him, and sometime over the last five years, that love had blossomed and deepened, until she couldn't imagine her life without him in it. Nikita wanted more, so much more, but he was her friend and only saw her as the little squirt he always pulled out of one scrap after the other.

"Don't you worry about me, squirt. Now drop that robe and hold still while I see to these."

Nikita did so, and a tense silence fell between them, only interspersed by their combined breathing. She winced a few times, as his nimble fingers smeared the ointment over her wounds, and he murmured his husky apologies. His hot breath skittered across her slick flesh, and Nikita swallowed her groan.

"What's in that stuff?" she finally asked to break the tension and to distract herself from the tingles of awareness his touch created.

"Oh, this and that. It's an old family recipe. It aids the healing process and staves off infection. Works better than any of that new fandangled mumbo jumbo as my grandfather would have said."

She heard the wistful note in his voice and turned slightly to see his expression. The action exposed her breasts, and she made a hasty grab for the robe to pull it up over her front. Again, Raoul's hands on her tightened and then released. He hastily wrenched his eyes up to her face and sat back on his haunches, before straightening up. She hadn't realized that he had been kneeling on the floor behind her, and the thought of this big strong man on his knees for her made her feel quite light-headed.

Raoul wiped his hands on the hand towel and then screwed the lid back on the old-fashioned jam jar that held the family ointment.

"We'll have to reapply that several times more overnight, for maximum effect, so I'm afraid you're stuck here with me for the foreseeable future."

"I don't want to impose on you, if—"

"Don't be an idiot." He cut off her protest with a wave of his large hand. "If you think for one minute that I would let you walk out of here, after what almost happened to you tonight, then you're insane. You're staying right here with me. You can take the bed, and I'll sleep on the couch."

"You can't sleep on the couch." The thought of his six foot five frame sandwiched on this couch was ridiculous. "You're far too big. I'll take the couch. I can't turf you out of your own bed."

"And you can't sleep on the couch. Your back needs tender care. It's not up for discussion. You're on my bed."

He crossed his arms and clenched his jaw, but Nikita was in no mood to back down from this. She could be just as stubborn if she had to be.

"Fine, then you'll sleep in there with me. I'm sure a man with your reputation has a nice big bed, and I won't take up much room at all." Her voice wavered slightly as his face grew murderous, but she plowed on regardless. "So that's sorted then."

"This is far from sorted." Raoul was growling again, and Nikita thanked the universe she was still seated, as she very much doubted her legs would have been able to carry her right now. He bent, putting his hands either side of her on the back of the couch, until she had to lean backwards to escape him.

"What reputation, squirt?"

Author Bio:

Glutton for punishment would be a good description for Doris... at least that's what she hears on an almost daily basis when people find out that she has a brood of nine children, ranging from adult to toddler and lives happily in a far too small house, cluttered with children, pets, dust bunnies, and one very understanding and supportive husband. Domestic goddess she is not.

There is always something better to do after all, like working on the latest manuscript and trying not to scare the locals even more than usual by talking out loud to the voices in her head. Her characters tend to be pretty insistent to get their stories told, and you will find Doris burning the midnight oil on a regular basis. Only time to get any peace and quiet and besides, sleep is for wimps.

She likes to spin sensual, sassy, and sexy tales involving alpha heroes to die for, and heroines who give as good as they get. From contemporary to paranormal, BDSM to F/F, and Ménage, haunting love stories are guaranteed.

I just have to comment. Mother to nine kids. Wow! You are marvellous, Doris!

Stalking Links:

Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Evernight Publishing

Review of Under the Alpha's Protection:

I was given this book to read in exchange for an honest review.

Nikita has just been accosted by strange creatures in the night. For a woman who doesn’t believe in paranormal, she is rather shaken. Her instincts take her to her friend, Raoul’s home. He’s furious to see her so hurt and nurses and comforts her. Raoul is a shape-shifter werewolf. He’s very alpha and very sexy and has loved Nikita for so long. She’s loved him, too, but both are afraid to admit feelings to their friend. Raoul is afraid Nikita will push him away if she discovers who he really is.

Sparks begin to fly as he shields her in his home. They succumb to their love for one another. Raoul isn’t only a shape-shifter but also a dom. When Nikita submits to his charms, she also submits very smoothly to his role as dom and her as sub.

Nikita isn’t out of danger yet. A rogue hybrid werewolf-vampire is after her and wants to destroy her. When he eventually finds her, Raoul has the hardest fight of his life on his hands. Can he save her from the worst possible destiny yet? In saving her, will he lose her love as she discovers who he is?

Wow! All I can say is I was blown away by this book. I’ve read erotic romance before but to be honest, have never gone the paranormal route. My fascination with vampire movies stirred my interest in this book plus my curiosity about the BDSM part as that’s rather new to me, too. The author has converted me to a new genre.

I so enjoyed the action in the book. She had me on my toes. Her ability to make us feel the suffering of one of her characters is phenomenal. The sex was hot, fascinating, and heart-touching.

This is a short, impactful read with tight prose and dialogue and strong visualisation and sense of emotion.

I have to admit I didn’t like all the swearing in the dialogue and thought there was too much to be necessary but that minor problem did not put me off the book.

A beautiful romance filled with suspense, action and intrigue and interspersed with amazing sex scenes. A book hard to put down.

My Very First Erotic Romance

I used to write inspirational romance. It never took off. I put a couple of my romances on Amazon kindle. What fun to self-publish my own books. One day, after much prodding from my hubby, I wrote an inspirational erotic romance. It was rough and I was floundering in a genre I was totally unfamiliar with. I had only read a few erotic romances written by some writer friends. I was nervous of the "laying everything out there" aspect of the genre. My upbringing wriggled with discomfort but I enjoyed the passion of the genre.

So, I put my first erotic romance on Amazon. It sold. Not with fireworks, but it sold better than my other books which I thought were more well-planned and had been edited by critique partners. My little erotic romance had never been edited by anyone. Then I wrote a contemporary erotic romance. I sent it in to Decadent Publishing. They gave me a contract!!

After I set up my new pseudonym for my erotic romance, At Second Glance, I decided to take my older books off Amazon. I began to read through my novella. It was very rough. There were many old writing habits that I'd learned to ditch while working with editors. I decided to put it back on after an edit and with a new cover. The story is the same but it's been neatened up. I'm hoping for more steady sales to trickle in and that people will enjoy my little book. It definitely pushes the boundaries. I've done research. I think there are only a handful of Christian erotic writers. This book does not fit into the mould at all. If you're keen on reading it, click here: Silk, Gingham and Lace. I think I enjoy breaking the boundaries in life - doing things that not many other people would do. Gives me a bit of an adrenalin rush!

What? Will that Really Work?

I'm actually a very shy person. I blush easily. I hate being the centre of attention in a crowd of people. I despise being watched. My wedding day was agony. If I could have it over again, I would have a small wedding just with family and close friends on the beach, my hair blowing in the wind and not having to look perfect, barefoot in a summer dress, and wild flowers for a bouquet. No fancy speeches, toasts, or dances in front of crowds of onlookers but a lavish meal at home afterwards with lots of good food and fun with those I love.

I don't know why I said all of that.

Because I'm going to share something that may make me blush. The last few years, okay most of my life, I've been fascinated with sex. I think about 98% of the population over 13 is! I love reading about sexual positions, ways to enhance your sex life, all that jazz.

There's one thing I've discovered though. The things you read, just don't always work in real life. Or they don't always work for you. Like this series I've been watching about sexuality for woman suggests that the man kiss her back to start off the foreplay - it's an erogenous zone. Well, I was all keen to try this.

Problem is, I'd forgotten something really vital about my body. I have an intense ticklish spot in the centre of my back and when that is kissed, I giggle like a schoolgirl. Did not work!

So, reading those sex tips and positions are marvellous, but to be honest, not all of them work in real life. Sex isn't this perfect little fantasy that happens automatically and effortlessly every time. Yeah, many times it's like ice-cream sundae with pecans on top, but sometimes, it's hard work.

Image courtesy of rakratchada torsap of www.freedigitalphotos.net

I like reading erotic romance from time to time but I do cringe when the writer makes everything seem so perfect and wonderful. The couple are into each other continuously, they never have any inkling of sexual differences. Their moves flow from branding heat to scorching fire in perfect, unhindered succession. As much as it's quite inspiring to read and a wonderful fantasy, I always feel like they're from a different planet to me.

So, my dream is to write erotic romance but with a touch of realism. I've gained some wonderful ideas for enhancing my sex life by reading erotic romance. I so hope some of my readers can get the same along the journey, too.

Sugar and Spice and All Things Nice

That's what girls are made of. Women love romance. The romance genre is one of the most popular amongst women. The fairer sex wants to know they're loved, not just that the man they have wants their body. But strangely enough, the two are very closely intertwined. If her man isn't crazy about her body, she feels insecure and hollow inside. She needs that sexual fulfillment to make her life an adventure and to bond her with her mate.



Image courtesy of Keerati at www.freedigitalphotos.net

 I have a sweet tooth and love eating baked goods. Being on a health kick the last year or so hasn't made it easy but there are a few good recipes that can combine the two. There is one confectionary I miss terribly - a gorgeous soft, sprinkled with sugar, donut. Even better if it oozes jam. Mmmh, that dough just melts in your mouth and the sweet cruncy sugar with cinnamon, too, makes the perfect combination.

Sugar and spice go well together. Think ginger cookies, cinnamon buns (or called chelsea buns where I live,) Christmas cookies, and aniseed rusks. As sugar and spice make a potent mix so do love and sex. I just couldn't resist writing my first proper erotic romance although it took me years to pluck up the courage. The idea for my first novel has been brewing in my head and heart for months and I'm so glad I got it down.

I'm a sentimental romantic so I just can't leave the heart-wrenching love bits out of my writing. Sex on it's own is just an act but mixed with emotion, is so much more special.

So hello and welcome to my first blog post. I hope there will be many more moments we can share together talking about love and relationships and maybe a few yummy recipes sprinkled in between.