Giveaway – I Was A Stripper Librarian by Kristy Cooper @librarydefend @XpressoTours

I Was a Stripper Librarian
Kristy Cooper
Publication date: July 30th 2021
Genres: Adult, Memoir

No one at the library she worked at knew about Kristy Cooper’s other job.

On the surface, it seem that being a librarian and a stripper are polar opposite jobs, but in practice Kristy found that they were not nearly as different as most people would think. Strip club customers and library patrons both produce wild stories, and you have to be good at working with people in both professions (whether your clothes are off or not).

In this first-hand account, Kristy describes her decision to get into stripping to make her student loan debt more manageable, overcome her introversion to learn how to hustle customers, learn about sex worker advocacy, and finally transition into full-time library work. For years Kristy hid her stripping history to fit into the mold of a respectable librarian, but as time went on she realized this wasn’t something she should feel ashamed about. Telling these kinds of stories helps destigmatize sex work, which makes it safer for current sex workers.

Librarianship is changing, especially as the profession begins to evaluate itself through a greater anti-oppression lens. Librarians can learn a lot about class struggle and privacy advocacy from sex workers.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

I got involved with a former stripper before I ever became one myself.

Lillian had gorgeous long red hair, tattoos, and wore glasses. She was working as a barista at a coffee shop in my college town, Champaign, IL. I was twenty-three and finishing off a year of fucking around partying before moving to Ann Arbor to pursue a Master of Science in Information at the University of Michigan.

One day, I went into her coffee shop and, as I often did when ordering things, I became annoyingly indecisive about what I wanted. “I want a green tea, or wait, maybe a chai… I think I’m hungry… I’m sorry I’m wasting your time.”

Lillian just looked at me coyly. “Don’t worry about it. I don’t have anywhere else to be.” I smiled and felt more at ease as she winked.

I finally picked a chai and enjoyed the feeling as her gaze lingered on mine while she handed it to me. Then another customer popped up behind me, and I realized I had to move along, but I knew I wanted to see her again.

Later, I found out from mutual friends that she was newly single and, like me, was hitting the bars like a fiend. We formally met when our friend groups started coalescing at all the local watering holes. After our drinking group finally reached critical mass, we declared ourselves a girl gang, named ourselves Pussy Control, after the Prince song, and convinced ourselves that we were a serious force to be reckoned with. Most guys quickly learned not to mess with us, because we would cackle at them or mock their ridiculous attempts to approach us. We were not the toughest or most organized gang ever, but we did at least manage to decrease the number of random guys hitting on us.

Maybe Lillian’s risqué past was part of what drew me to her. I don’t know. I had never thought there was anything wrong with stripping, but like most people, it was something I didn’t think I would ever do. At the same time though, I was intrigued with her previous job and wondered what it was like to do something considered so socially deviant and potentially stigmatizing. I had actually done sex work before, but it was working as a dominatrix one summer in Chicago. That kind of work had its own stigma, but there was no audience, I didn’t have to get naked, and I also didn’t have to be nice.

Lillian would tell me about the stage and the pole tricks that would leave calluses on her hands. There were her quirky customers, like the man that just wanted her to sit still like a doll on his lap while he spoke to her. She explained how different customers liked different looks for their strippers and how she avoided working at clubs that only featured what she considered Barbie look-alikes. Lillian described living in Baltimore and how she would walk around half-naked all night, make good money, and then go home to her apartment. It sounded so normal, like being a waitress who happened to forget to put the rest of her clothes on.

Author Bio:

Kristy Cooper is a librarian single mom in Michigan. In her spare time, she fights politicians for libraries and will eventually get around to finishing writing her YA series.

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Giveaway – Absolution: Redux by Louis Corsair @XpressoTours

Absolution: Redux
Louis Corsair
(Elohim Trilogy, #1)
Publication date: September 15th 2020
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

At the end of the original Absolution, the Executor traveled back in Time and altered Reality. But by doing so, he set in motion a plan to end his existence and collapse Creation. Because of his actions, there is Absolution: REDUX…

In 1947, a gangster murders private investigator Raymond Adams. In 2011, he’s brought back to life for 24 hours to solve the supernatural murder of a Hollywood Adult film star.

When the son of a Pit Lord is murdered in Hollywood, the celestial beings in charge of the Realms ask Raymond Adams to figure who did it and find the victim’s missing soul. Without memories of his life, he accepts the case to gain eternal peace. But the job is daunting:

24 hours to nab a killer…
24 hours to find a missing soul…
24 hours to unravel the victim’s exotic private life…
24 hours to stop a plot to send the universe into chaos…

With only the help of a possessed cop and a medium, Adams must trek through a Hollywood underground filled with pornography, prostitutes, and sadists, along with supernatural monsters. But can he solve the case when his own haunting memories keep surfacing, telling him exactly what kind of man he was in life?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo


EXCERPT

Victor was in tears now. His hand steadied and fired a shot into Lady Chris’ abdomen.

“Baby…” said Lady Chris and held his stomach. Tina screamed and screamed. But Chris still held out his hand, stopping the car with the darkened windows. “You idiot! They’ll kill you if I’m not here!”

“Why, Chris?” said Victor and sobbed a little. “They loved you…” He shot Chris in the shoulder.

Lady Chris collapsed and Tina dove back into their car; he drove off, tires screeching. The silver car accelerated towards us. But the car with Victor’s people slammed into its rear, sending it into a spin. The machine gun barrels came out again. I pulled out my gun and went to Jenn.

“Meet me at 12!” I said to her.

She stared at me, but then got in her car and drove away. The machine guns went off, pummeling Victor’s crew. Someone in the other car must have still been alive because they popped off a volley of bullets into the car with the darkened windows. There were screams and the machine guns went off again.

Victor hovered over Lady Chris with the gun pointed at the fallen man’s head.

“Why?” said Victor. “Why!”

“They left me alone with Painter and Marr…” said Lady Chris and in a rage added, “I’m not strong enough to take on them both, okay? I’m sorry! I had to look out for me. For us!”

“You should have been stronger,” said Victor.

Lady Chris spat out blood and began to sob. “Do you think they’ll forgive me?” he said and Victor shot him in the head.

“We have to go!” I said to Victor.

Victor didn’t listen and stood there, transfixed by the body as the car with the darkened windows sped towards us, the machine gun barrels still out. I grabbed Victor’s collar and dragged him out of the lot. It was hell trying to cross the street with so much traffic. But we did it slowly.

Out in the open, I hoped those crazy birds would just drive away. But when we were in the middle of Santa Monica Boulevard, they did the opposite.

They plowed into Victor, tossing him aside like a doll; I had been tossed along with him, but he got the worst of it. The idiot hadn’t bothered to move, like he wanted the thing to hit him.

I got up and dragged Victor to the sidewalk. The silver car stirred up traffic by driving on the wrong side of the street and then circling around.

It aimed towards me. I got in a shooter’s stance and pointed the pistol at the silver car. Its tires spun in place and drew smoke as it accelerated forward. Other cars crashed into one another trying to dodge it, some successfully, some not.

I squeezed the trigger. The shot went through its windshield, leaving a nice hole there.

The Thunderbolt bullet hadn’t slowed it down.

But I didn’t move.

The night sky opened up and a long finger of lightning shot down, targeting the bullet in the silver car. Natural lightning would just roll off the vehicle because of the metal frame, but this was Divine lightning with one purpose: To destroy. There was a glorious explosion as lightning struck the silver car, shattering its darkened windows, flipping it over.

Author Bio:

Louis Corsair is an eight-year veteran of the United States Army. Currently living in Los Angeles, California, he spends his time reading books, going on walks, writing, and enjoying the occasional visit to the beach–while trying to earn an honest buck. As a Los Angeles writer, he feels the weight of famous Los Angeles novelists, like Raymond Chandler, John Fante, Nina Revoyr, among others.

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Giveaway – To Hold A Rancher’s Hand by Kadi James

To Hold A Rancher’s Hand
Kadi James
Publication date: July 27th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Rafe is a volunteer fireman who is sworn to protect his ranch and town. Gail has just lost everything to the devastating fire that destroyed her home. Will these two be able to heal their scars and find new love and happiness?

After the trauma of war, rancher Rafe comes home to help his community as a volunteer fireman while trying to find balance in civilian life. He must carry the mantle of his family, who have been Guardians of Coyote Valley for generations. Now its up to Gabe to protect the town from the fires that ravage the national forests around Coyote Valley. But as he gives his all to the community, he often forgets to take care of his own heart.

Loner Gail has just lost everything to the devastating fire that destroyed her home. When the handsome rancher who saved her offers to let her stay at his place, it seems like the perfect solution. Until she remembers she doesn’t really like living with people. It’s why she was living up on top of the mountain in the first place.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

“You’ve been back a couple years.” Javier sipped his coffee as he gazed pensively at his former ward. “I think you’ve got a better handle on it than you let on. But it’s alright. I’d rather you take it at your pace and maybe think about settling down.”

“Settle down?” Rafe couldn’t stifle his laughter. “With what? All I ever see are the sheep and dogs.”

“Well, you’re always pent up in this house.” Javier motioned to encompass the kitchen and the rest of Rafe’s home.

“I spend fifteen hours a day working out on the ranch.” Rafe chided, sliding his breakfast onto the plate. “I’d hardly call that pent up in the house. You know I’ve never had much luck with women.”

“It’s only because you don’t actually ask any of them out,” Javier said with a chuckle.

“I just haven’t met a woman who, well, a woman who made sense to me.” Gabriel took a big bite of his toast and egg.

“Maybe you need to rethink how you make sense to other people.” Javier stood up to wash out his coffee mug. “Maybe it’s the way you’re looking at it.”

“I’ve never even had a girlfriend,” Rafe said. “That is as awkward as they come.”

“Well, it’s hard to have a girlfriend when you’re in the military. But I was married when I was 21. You know you need a support system to get you through some of these things in life that you’re going to face.” Javier placed his cup in the drying rack.

“I can’t imagine facing worse than I have.” Rafe took another bite.

“I pray you don’t,” Javier said. “But whatever you face, a wife sure helps with that. Martha is the only reason I was able to make it through when your parents died. Here I was all of a sudden responsible for a whole ranch and a small, grieving child.”

“Well, I don’t have a child to take care of.” Rafe shrugged as he finished his breakfast.

“No. You’re going to have a hundred children to take care of as soon as these ewes start lambing.” Javier laughed and drained his coffee.

Rafe was just rinsing his plate when a loud static sound filled the air. A dispatcher’s voice called out over the radio. “Report of a half-acre in the grass, moderate rate of spread. Coyote Valley vegetation fire…Cow Mountain Road near mile post 12.38. Command 8. Tactical 2. First at scene will establish roadway IC. Stand by for check back on command 8.”

Gabriel and Javier exchanged a look. “That’s on North Ridge.” Gabriel left his plate in the sink and headed to the entry hall to grab his gear.

“All volunteers report to base,” the dispatcher continued. “Fire house 13 we have a report of a blaze starting up on Cow Mountain we need all hands to the fire department please including the volunteers we need as much help as we possibly can get. There’s a fire on Cow Mountain heading south.”

Javier squinted out the window and the trees swaying in the wind. “There are a few houses up on North Ridge. It’ll get to those first.”

“People living up there, still?” Rafe hoisted his web gear onto his shoulder and slung his boots and helmet up in his other hand.

“Yeah, I think there are about five houses up there,” Javier said, pulling out his phone and preparing a group text. “I’ll get the guys together.”

“I’ll head to the houses. It’s probably near where the fire started.” Rafe nodded to Javier who pulled the door open for him. “It’s not like there was a lightning storm going on.”

“You get what you need to get done,” Javier said. “I’ll send the boys up the mountain as soon as I can.”

“We’re going to need all the hands we can get,” Rafe threw his gear in the back of the truck and tipped his hat to Javier. “If the wind is blowing south, the fire will be headed straight to us.”

Author Bio:

Kadi James was raised on a ranch in Northern California riding horses, writing stories, and waiting for true love to happen. Her passion for storytelling took her around the world to experience global cultures, history, and mythology, always looking for the similarities rather than the differences. After years overseas, country roads brought her back home again and she returned to California, her family, and the ranch where she grew up. Today she writes Sweet Ranch Romance that touches reader’s hearts by reminding them of the simple things that really matter in life; family, kindness, and always…love.

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Giveaway – All I’ve Wanted All I’ve Needed by A E Valdez @aevaldez_author @Xpressotours

All I’ve Wanted All I’ve Needed
A.E. Valdez
Publication date: July 23rd 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Harlow Shaw feels naïve for believing in happily ever afters but she craves a love that lights her up.

She thought she had it all with her boyfriend. Until his promising baseball career overshadows their relationship and he asks her a life changing question. It causes her to wonder if what they have is all she ever truly wanted.

Harlow is yearning for more than the curated life she is living.

A trip to Bali, a move to Seattle, and a “burned” cup of coffee lead her to a friendship she didn’t know she needed and a love so deep she can feel it in her bones.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

Harlow

I should’ve known something was up when a race red Ferrari pulled up to my house. Hendrix has always been flashy, from his material items to his personality. He commands the spaces he occupies. Hendrix is a man used to going after, and getting, anything and anyone he wants.

Except me. I’m the girl to tell him, “No.”

My response stuns him, and he asks, “It’s a no then?”

Slowly, he rises from the kneeling position he adopted mere seconds ago to ask me this life changing question.

“You deserve better than me,” I say as tears sting my eyes. I’m aware people are staring now. I thought we were in for an intimate night, sitting at a candle-lit table scattered with rose petals, tucked away at the back of the restaurant. But there’s nothing intimate about prying eyes focused on us, watching me refuse my boyfriend’s proposal.

He sits back down in his seat and reaches across the table for my hand. “You’re my beginning and end, Harlow. All I want is you.”

I can’t bring myself to meet his gaze. Staring into his honey brown eyes will only make this harder.

He watches me in silence, probably trying to figure out why I would say no to his proposal. We’ve been together for two years and things were going great. We’re often the couple people describe as “relationship goals.” But despite seeming picture perfect, I can’t shake the feeling that this isn’t lasting love.

“Don’t you ever feel like we’re just settling, Hendrix? As though we’re together because we’re comfortable, not because we’re in love with one another?” My eyes still haven’t met his. I didn’t want to have to sift through this with him tonight. I hadn’t expected him to propose to me. I for damn sure didn’t expect him to do it in a public place.

Still not letting go of my hand, he asks, “Are you saying you’re no longer in love with me?”


Author Bio:

A.E. Valdez discovered her passion for writing when she was given a journal by her 5th grade teacher and has been creating poetry, works of fiction, and gaming narratives ever since. As a child, she wanted to read more stories with people that looked like her.

She loves all things romance, from heartbreak to happily ever afters. She pours her own heart and soul into the stories she brings to life. Causing readers to fall in, and sometimes out, of love alongside her characters.

Amanda currently resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their two sons. Most days you can find her sipping on an iced latte while she writes or enjoying time with her family.

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Giveaway – A Dangerous Man by Raven Stone #RavenStone @XpressoTours

A Dangerous Man
Raven Stone
(Kingdom of Blood and Forest, #2)
Publication date: July 20th 2021
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

I was supposed to kill him.

But that night, he sent me to a different kind of heaven. The screaming, shaking, full of pleasure kind. Twice.

Now he’s all I can think about. When I finally find him again, I’m determined to get under him, and get over him.

But John Degarr isn’t like my other men, with his large, sexy body and his warm grey eyes. He’s also an incredibly efficient killer. The person scary people turn to when they’re scared.

And he’s a vampire.

This man is dangerous, but not for the reasons he scares everyone else.

When he touches me, when he holds me, I want things I’ve never wanted before. I say and do stupid, clingy things.

I want more of him.

But he wants the one thing I give no one.

Because that one thing can destroy me.

A Dangerous Man is a paranormal romance with MF love, a bit of MM love, and chocolate mousse references. This book includes a woman who isn’t shy about her needs, a bisexual vampire who won’t ever have to choose, and the werewolf son he adores. This is the second book in the Kingdom of Blood and Forest series, but it can be read as a standalone.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

So I’d never killed anyone, and it hadn’t been part of the deal. The mark had chosen me. I was stuck. Time to make lemonade out of lemons, and get the fuck out of here.

I led him up to the hotel room, and took a deep breath.

I can do this.

I glanced over my shoulder.

“This is my room,” I said breathlessly. “Well, mine and Lara’s, but she won’t be back for a while.” I added a little giggle at the end.

That was good, right?

I made the mistake of looking at him, and the smile slipped right off my face.

God, the way he was looking at me.

His dark grey eyes were completely focused on me, as if the hallway, the world around us, didn’t exist. He stared at me like I was some sort of combination of chocolate and wine, and he’d been denied both for a long damn time. That gaze spoke of things; of taking his time, of consuming me slowly, of making me feel him everywhere, from my head to my toes.

A frisson rippled over me.

His thumb rubbed my hand. “Open the door.”

For a second I forgot to breathe, and then my other hand was on the doorknob, turning it and letting us inside. He followed me in, closing the door behind him with his foot.

He grabbed me by the waist and pulled me to him. Then he wrapped his fingers around my chin, and lifted my face to his.

Oh, shit.

Then he was kissing me. Kissing me like he would consume me from the inside out. Heat poured through me, pooled in my belly, and then burned lower. He brushed my nipple with his thumb, and I gasped as heat struck my core.

Fuck.

They hadn’t said anything about him knowing how to kiss. About me wanting him. But they wouldn’t, would they? He was supposed to go for the blonde.

I growled.

Fuck the blonde. This mark was mine.

He laughed softly. “Have I got your attention now?”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

His hand trailed down my side. “I got the feeling there was something going on between you and your friend. A bet, perhaps? See who’s first to get a vampire up to the room?”

I blinked.

Close the fuck enough.

I let a shy smile come over my face. “You got us. It was a bet.”

“And you weren’t expecting to win?”

I shook my head.

“Why?” His hand cupped my face, sending sparks down me. “You’re beautiful, and so much more interesting than she is.”

He thought I was interesting?

“Because –” I bit my lip, stopping myself from telling him that he was supposed to like blondes.

God, what was wrong with me? I never slipped like this. It must have been the alcohol, or the heat.

“– because we both know I’m not.” I took a step back, slipping away from his touch. “Don’t we, John?”

Too late, I realized my tone had changed with that last part. He gave me a sharp glance, telling me he’d caught my fuckup. He’d seen that hint of my true self. But it wasn’t my fault. We’d gone off-script, and in those situations I always tended to sound more like me.

“Drop the act.” He pierced me with his gaze. “I don’t want to see the girl you pretend to be around your friend.”

“Then who do you want to see?” I asked. My voice was breathy; so much closer to the person I was pretending to be that it was a relief.

It sounded like I wanted him. Which was the goal, right? To get him in bed and stake him?

Except I was turned on by him. The arousal spreading through me felt like a low-grade fever. It was fucking with my head.

“You,” he replied. He reached out and skated his fingers down my neck, making me shiver. “The girl who just growled at me.”

Fuck.

Author Bio:

Raven Stone is a paranormal romance author. She writes about bisexual, poly vampires and the men and women who love them. She enjoys M/M romances, poly romance, paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and dark chocolate.

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The Do Over by Melissa Mackinnon @M_MacKinnon @XpressoTours

The Do-Over
Melissa MacKinnon
Published by: Entangled Bliss
Publication date: July 12th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

After years in the grueling California dating scene, Maggie Kelley has finally agreed to marry her Mr. Right Now. But there’s just one teensy problem…the county clerk lets her know that she’s technically still married to her Vegas fling: the best three days she ever had…and can’t actually remember. The moment she sees her very hot husband after eight years, with his works-well-with-his-hands attitude, she’s sure their wedding night must have been explosive.

The absolute last person Finnegan Garrity expected at his door is Maggie—his ultimate “one who got away.” Yet here she is in his small-town boat shop, looking just as adorable as ever…and wanting a divorce. Yeah, he has no intention of letting that happen. Now he’s got one week to convince Maggie that they’re still perfect for each other.

But he’s going to need more than just a do-over: he’s going to need a miracle.

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Author Bio:

Melissa spent her childhood exploring the coast of down east Maine without parental supervision and immersing herself in any book she could get her scrappy little hands on. Although she pursued a career in theater, the written word is her true calling. She leads a full life with her husband and six children traveling the country to wherever the Army sends them in her very large twelve passenger van, in what she lovingly deems “organized chaos”. She finds time to write in her “spare time”, somewhere in between soccer practices and nap time with coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. She loves creating unforgettable romance, and enjoys writing and reading everything from sexy, sword-toting heroes to spit-out-your-coffee funny romantic comedies… as long as she doesn’t get the book wet. She leaves that up to the characters.

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Giveaway – The Pediatrician’s Twin Bombshell by Juliette Hyland @juliettehyland @XpressoTours

The Pediatrician’s Twin Bombshell
Juliette Hyland
Published by: Harlequin Medical Romance
Publication date: May 25th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

The wrong time…
…to meet Mr. Right?

Why is pediatrician Tessa all work and no play? Well, she’s far too used to people not believing in her. Still, Tessa can’t resist one—incredible!—night in nurse Gabe’s arms…and the chance to feel wanted. But it’s not just Tessa who is battling her past. Widower Gabe has his own scars to heal. So when Tessa discovers she’s pregnant, he’s determined to look after her! But is Tess ready to trust Gabe?

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EXCERPT

“The snow is not that bad.” Gabe didn’t directly answer her question, but the response was safer.

At least he thought it was, until Tessa playfully shivered and drew a millimeter closer to him. Her full lips were tinged with red wine, and the urge to dip his head to hers made it hard to breathe. Gabe lifted his glass, never taking his eyes from Tessa. “What is it with Texans and hating snow?”

“It’s cold.” Tessa held up a finger as she continued to tick off her reasons. “It’s slushy. It makes driving difficult. It’s cold.”

“You already said that one.”

“It bears repeating!”

Tessa’s hand tapped his knee, and Gabe pinched his wineglass to keep from laying his hand over hers. What was wrong with him? He yearned to make her laugh, to see the hint of a dimple when her lips tipped up. To pull her close.

A small voice in the back of his brain wondered if he should take his leave—chalk the evening up to nostalgia and move on. But it was easy to ignore when Tessa smiled.

He leaned closer. “What Texans don’t understand is that snowy weather just means you have to cuddle closer.” The flirtation escaped his lips. Gabe watched an emotion he wanted to believe was desire flash in Tessa’s eyes.

“I guess that could be true.” Her tongue ran along the edge of her lip as she closed a bit more of the distance between them. “But the heat can be—” her gaze darted behind him before she pulled back “—sensual, too.”

“True… Gabe’s tongue refused to form any more words as he stared at the woman across from him. This wasn’t catching up, and discussing Maine’s snow versus Texas’s heat shouldn’t make him want to kiss her. Shouldn’t make him want to run his hand along her waist…shouldn’t make him want so many things.

“I missed you when you left the theater. After we…” Her cheeks bloomed as she tilted her wineglass back. “You were my first kiss.”

The words were so soft that Gabe wondered if Tessa had meant to say them out loud. “You were mine, too. I even went to the Trinity versus Bell football game senior year, hoping you’d be there. I wanted to apologize for vanishing. To explain that the job I got paid better and started immediately. To ask for your number.” Gabe grinned. “If only every teen had had a cell then.”

“If only…” Tessa took another sip of her wine, then set it on the table.

“If only…” Gabe repeated, setting his wineglass next to hers. Without the glass in his fingers, his palms itched to reach out to Tessa.

Author Bio:

Juliette Hyland believes in caffeine, hot drinks and happily ever afters! She lives in Ohio, USA, with her prince charming, who has patiently listened to many rants regarding characters failing to follow the outline. When not working on fun and flirty happily ever afters, Juliette can be found spending time with her beautiful daughters, giant dogs or sewing uneven stitches with her sewing machine.

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Giveaway – Dark Creation by Kelsey Ketch @kelseyketch @kelseyketch

 



Book Tour! 
Dark Creation (A Dark Reflections Short Story #2)
By
Kelsey Ketch
Release Date: April 30th, 2021
New Adult Dark Fantasy Short Story



Summary from Goodreads:

Long before Charissa began her murderous rampage through history, she was a young woman living in ancient Alexandria.

Oppressed by society and cursed by the color of her hair, Charissa had hardly seen the world beyond the four walls of her home. So, when her husband leaves for extended military duty, she takes the opportunity to tour the city her brother once loved. Little does she know the Fates have other plans in store for her when she runs into an exotic woman in the Rhakotis District. The encounter will change her life forever.






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About the Author:

Kelsey Ketch is a young-adult/new-adult author, who works as a Wildlife Biologist in the state of North Carolina. During her free time, she can often be found working on her latest work in progress. She also enjoys history, mythology, traveling, and reading.

For more information, please visit her site at kelseyketch.com.





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Giveaway – The Protector by Abigail Owen @AOwenBooks @XpressoTours

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The Protector
Abigail Owen
(Fire’s Edge #4)
Published by: Entangled: Amara
Publication date: December 7th 2020
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

The cousin of the High King, Lyndi Chandali has lived with the constant threat of being pawned off as a political prize. A rare, female-born dragon like Lyndi can’t truly mate—not in the way it counts. Which is why she’s kept her distance from a certain sinfully delicious Beta. Instead, she’s built a life for herself giving orphaned dragons in the Americas a home.

As Beta of his team of enforcers, Levi Rowtag is a fighter first, last, and always. His job is to protect—his team, the shifters in his territory, and the stubborn woman hell-bent on fighting with him at every turn. He knows from the moment they first meet what she’ll never accept—they are destined to be mated.

But with the kings at war, the enemy is now coming for Lyndi. Worse, he’s coming for her orphans, too. He’ll have no choice but to defy his king and go rogue if he has any hope of protecting them all…and finally claiming his mate.

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EXCERPT:

Levi grunted as his dragon surged again. Still needing distance, he stumbled inside the cavern he’d just drilled a hole into, seeking calm in the cooler interior out of sight of the others.

After several minutes, he spotted the group through the entrance, all shifted and now moving inside where he waited. The newcomer, Drake, walked in front, blocking Levi’s view of the female causing him so much trouble.

Then Drake, his face seeming to be formed in a permanent scowl, red eyes glowing with flame, moved to the side, and Levi’s dick went as hard as a steel broadsword as his gaze zeroed in on her.

Silky black hair, lithe body, and the face of an angel. Her wide smile, highlighted by a deep dimple that gave her beauty an adorable edge, hit him at the same time as her spring scent. Levi agreed with his dragon on the spot.

Mine.

Lyndi turned her head away from Deep, who had escorted her inside with her hand linked through his arm, and stilled at the sight of him. No doubt his eyes were golden flames. The skin over his cheekbones tightened. Hell, everything tightened. He opened his mouth to welcome her, but her smile suddenly disappeared and she shot him a glare so full of spitting fury, he stepped back.

“Just because I am female-born doesn’t mean you need to treat me like a leper and fly away,” she snarled at him.

Levi froze, a riot of conflicting thoughts keeping him from correcting her. He knew he’d just fucked up, and his dragon was riding him hard to tell her she was wrong. That some misplaced sense of male dragon superiority wasn’t why he’d run.

It was exactly the opposite, actually.

Lyndi walked away while he stood there, still stunned, and he watched her go.

There was no easy answer here, and the lead weight in his chest told him so. Given who she was related to and what she was, not to mention her clear aversion to him already, he had no damn clue how fix any of this, or if he should even try.


Author Bio:

Award-winning paranormal romance author, Abigail Owen, grew up consuming books and exploring the world through her writing. She attempted to find a practical career related to her favorite pastime by earning a degree in English Rhetoric (Technical Writing). However, she swiftly discovered that writing without imagination is not nearly as fun as writing with it.

No matter the genre, she loves to write witty, feisty heroines, sexy heroes who deserve them, and a cast of lovable characters to surround them (and maybe get their own stories). She currently resides in Austin, Texas, with her own personal hero, her husband, and their two children, who are growing up way too fast.

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Hidden in the Capitol by B Ivy Woods @Bretagey @XpressoTours

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Hidden in the Capitol
B. Ivy Woods
(In The Capitol, #3)
Publication date: November 20th 2020
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

Sometimes things are better left alone.

Eve Jackson stumbles upon a secret that was never meant to see the light of day. She’s a journalist and it’s her job to find the story. But when she becomes the story, it’s time to get out of dodge. With the help of Kane Slade, the man who is the opposite of everything she thinks she wants, she bolts out of town.⠀

Kane doesn’t think twice about rescuing Eve. He happens to be in the right place at the right time. He also believes they could rekindle the chemistry they had during a one night stand several years ago. Most days he can be found running a foundation that supports veterans, but has always been secretive about his side gigs. After things get heated in Washington DC, he invites Eve to stay with him in his hometown, Capitol, Virginia. What starts out as a small vacation quickly turns dangerous.⠀

Nothing stays hidden in the Capitol for long.

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Author Bio:

B. Ivy Woods has been writing for as long as she can remember. After getting her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Environmental Policy and a Master’s in Energy Policy and Law and working in the environmental field for several years, she decided to become a stay-at-home mom. That is when thoughts of a writing career really took off. Although she competed in NaNoWriMo multiple times, 2019 was the first year that she won. This win inspired her to make writing a career. Her debut novel will be self-published in 2020.

Although she is originally from New York City, she currently lives in the DMV (Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia) with her husband, daughter, dog, and cat.

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  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
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  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
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