RELEASE BLITZ for "Whiskey Darling (The Girl Power Collection)" by April Moran

Whiskey Darling

(Girl Power Collection)

by April Moran

Published: March 30, 2020

~Allie Darling

My new boss doesn’t like me, but that doesn't stop me from fantasizing about him. That's all it can ever be, though. Fantasies.

Flynn Alexander hired me because I have a talent, a very special talent I’ve worked hard to perfect. He says it’s a trick, useful but still a trick. He plans to exploit it.

In the business of whiskey, a world where men have ruled for centuries, I’m making my mark. I’ll prove I belong here. I’ll earn their respect and my place.

All I have to do is ignore my thirst for Flynn Alexander.

~Flynn Alexander

Devil’s Gold Distilleries has a new employee. And I can’t stop thinking about her.

She’s smart. Clever enough not to get involved with her boss. Strong enough to resist the attraction we both feel. And so beautiful I forget my own rules.

But like a tumbler of rare whiskey that must be savored, one sip of Allie Darling won’t satisfy me.
I want all of her. The burn. The sweet. The fire.

Will we give in to temptation or keep our distance?

All is fair in love and whiskey, and one more taste might be enough to shatter us both. 

About the Author:

April has been writing stories since she was in elementary school. 
She still has her old notebooks, filled with stories and poems - if you are up for a giggle 
she might let you read a few. Her style has sharpened over the years 
but the belief in the power of romance has never changed.

Living on the Emerald Coast of Florida, April has been married for 30 years to her high school sweetheart. They have one grown, married daughter they are insanely proud of. April is tolerated by a sassy Quarter Horse and suffers from a severe rock-n-roll addiction. When taking a break from writing, she and her husband attend concerts and plan trips to Disneyworld and Nashville.

Following The Taming Series, April intends to dip a toe into the contemporary romance pool. A few steamy chapters are already hiding on her laptop.

________

The “Girl Power Romance Collection” is a celebration of feminism in an unprecedented manner and will serve as an inspiration for millions of readers across the globe.

Over the years, men that have made landmark achievements in different facets of life have often been celebrated with very little stories about bad ass women that have excelled in their respective positions. While there are some works that highlight the fantastic achievements of women in powerful positions, there is no particular project exclusively dedicated to celebrating the “girl power.”

The compilation contains short stories with the theme of Girl Power in whichever way the author defines it for herself and her readers. The 33 romance stories are narrated in a diverse yet entertaining and inspiring way and will be released in regular intervals throughout 2020.

BOOK BLITZ for "Trash Queen (The Girl Power Romance Collection)" by S. Cole

Trash Queen

(The Girl Power Romance Collection)

by S. Cole

Published: March 19, 2020

Is my life trash?

I mean, I guess you could say that. I’ve been in garbage relationships time and time again. Something is missing in my life and the situation most definitely does not smell like roses. To top it off, I haul sanitation day in and day out. I’m what you’d call a garbage woman, but I think it’s nicer to say I’m a waste management professional, sanitation engineer, or my all time favorite: Trash Queen.

Though my job technically stinks, it led me to the most gorgeous specimen 

I had ever seen in my life.

Khiry Lexington was a mystery. He was a smooth talker with a genuine smile and what appeared to be a heart of gold. So, why was he single? 

What was he doing in Sunray Sunny, California?

And then there’s Dean White. The sexy date I snagged on Solo No Mo. I thought he was going to be just a rebound, but he may be a real one.

After spending the last seven years looking for something I thought was lost forever, I finally was given hope again that the relationship I craved wasn’t hidden in the dumps.

They say another man’s trash is another man’s treasure...

I don’t know who they are, but I hope they’re right.

About the Author:

S. Cole, otherwise known as Shay, is kind of a hot mess. A fun hot mess, but a mess nonetheless. She gets shit done, but... ya get the point. Shay is a daughter, sister, friend, and great worker! She’s really awesome at all of those things, but she probably writes best. She has written stories for as long as she can remember. Like, at least since she was seven years old. That’s when she wrote her first book. Shay loved conjuring up stories so much, she continued writing them into her twenties. But now, she can drink while she’s doing it, so it’s even better! Maybe that’s why the characters that reside in her little black heart finally bothered her enough that she had to actually share them with readers. #winemademedoit

Shay grew up in a home where she was taught to embrace her inner nerd and creativity... and her short stature. At 5’1, Shay is that short girl who writes about the deranged and devious. For some reason, she strayed from her usual love of crime fiction to write something funny. She once told her friend ‘I write dark shit, but when I’m in a dark place, I’ve got to write light’.

You can stalk S. Cole by following her on Instagram @shay_all_day_ and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authorscole or visiting her website & blog, www.shayallday.com

You can follow her on Twitter @shay_all_day_ but you won’t get much stalking done there because, even after 3 years, she still sucks at Twitter.

You can contact S. Cole through her email authorscole@gmail.com.

____________________

The “Girl Power Collection” is a celebration of feminism in an unprecedented manner and will serve as an inspiration for millions of readers across the globe.

Over the years, men that have made landmark achievements in different facets of life have often been celebrated with very little stories about bad ass women that have excelled in their respective positions. While there are some works that highlight the fantastic achievements of women in powerful positions, there is no particular project exclusively dedicated to 

celebrating the “girl power.”

The compilation contains short stories with the theme of Girl Power in whichever way the author defines it for herself and her readers. The 33 romance stories are narrated in a diverse yet entertaining and inspiring way and will be released in regular intervals throughout 2020.

BOOK REVIEW for "Beefcakes" by Katana Collins

Things are about to get sticky...

Beefcakes, 

the all-new romantic comedy 

from Katana Collins, 

is now available 

exclusively in Kindle Unlimited!

I might as well permanently add the label "Ex" to my name. 
I'm an Ex-Mr. Universe. Ex-Mr. Olympus. An Ex-Hollywood Stuntman. 
But no one from my small hometown cares anything about that. 
They only care that I'm the ex-boyfriend to the beloved Mayor's daughter, Elaina Dyker.

And now, ten years later, I'm back, helping my siblings run my mother's bakery 
while she takes on chemo. What should have been a routine cupcake delivery 
turns into utter chaos when the bachelorette party thinks I'm a stripper. 
And what's worse? Elaina is the maid of honor.

But the meme about us sure went viral fast. 
My small hometown has become positively infested with tipsy bridesmaids 
looking for my erotic cupcakes.

Now Hollywood's knocking again—and this time they want me and my ex, 
Mr. Beefcake and Ms. Prude, to star in a reality show.

It could solve all my problems—except her.

~ BOOK REVIEW for Beefcakes ~

***(3) out of 5 Stars

This was another book (of several lately) that I thought was okay but not great.  

Neil returns home to his small town after a decade away, and almost immediately runs into his ex-girlfriend Elaina.  They are basically at each other's throats from the get-go and pretty much do everything they can to harm the other.  Even though he expresses some concern for her (primarily in his own thoughts), Neil acts the most rude, in my opinion.  Add to that the fact that he was the one who left her (with no goodbye) in the first place, and never really does adequately appoligze for that.  And it just made him look like a big huge jerk.  Especially later on when he gets mad at Elaina for not telling him something that she tried to share with him, but for which he shut her down.  Not to mention that pretty much the exact same situation happened to him, but that never comes in to play.  This all made it very hard for me to properly relate to his character, and I was even less able to sympathize with him.

I also just didn't feel much of a connection between these two main characters in general.  And the whole vibe of the book was a little off to me.  And while it was billed as a romantic comedy, I just didn't find it all that funny.  Apparently, it just wasn't my style.  Second-chance romances aren't generally my favorite anyway, so there's that.  I thought the general story concept was an intriguing one though, which is what got me interested in the first place.  And some of the peripheral characters were quite fun (Liam and Chloe, for example); although others were just horrible (like Elliott and Gretchen, among others).  I found the near end unnecessarily emotional and angst-filled.  But at least it did have a happy ending.  

I received a free eBook copy of this title from Social Butterfly PR as part of the release day blitz, 
and have willingly provided and honest review.

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2NJWR7w

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/Beefakeskc

Add BEEFCAKES to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2T8PhX4

Excerpt:

I arched my brow at her. “I bragged about knowing you so well…but man. I did not see this almond croissant massacre coming. What do you have against almonds? Or was it the amount of butter that offended you? Because as a fitness expert, let me tell you butter isn’t the enemy. Sugar is the enemy.”

She laughed. “I, uh…I might have some anger management issues.”

I took the bag from her and peeked in. There were knuckle marks against the outside of the croissant. Literal knuckle marks. I barked a laugh. “Elaina Dyker. Did you punch the croissant?”

She laughed, pressing her lips together as though this would hide the fact that I saw her adorable little giggle. She brought her thumb and forefinger up beside her temple. “Maybe a little.”“Did you even try a bite?”

She shook her head no. “I like my routine. I like my daily lunch of yogurt and almonds.”

I made a face. Because she had to be exaggerating. Sure…she liked them. But having that same thing every day? Even chocolate cake every day would get tedious. “You can like yogurt and almonds but still indulge every now and then, you know.” I reached in and pinched off a piece of the smashed croissant, holding it out toward her lips. “C’mon. Live a little. I promise you, it is actually healthy, if that’s your concern.” Not that she needed to be concerned about that. “Almond flour. Gluten free. Grain free. Only two net carbs. The only sugar is the honey in the honey roasted almonds and the natural sugar in dates.” Her eyes grew wide at that and I knew I had hooked her.

She reached out her hand to take the piece of croissant from me, but I pulled back. “Nuh-uh,” I teased. “We can’t have your fingers getting sticky. Might ruin that fancy suit you’re wearing.”

She rolled her eyes, but parted her wet lips, her tongue peeking out just enough for me to place the croissant on top of. She moaned as soon as it hit her mouth, and her eyes fell closed as she slowly chewed and swallowed. “That’s…that’s healthy?”

I nodded. “See? I’m not just a pile of muscles. I’ve got some talent, too.”

Her head fell to the side. “I never said you weren’t talented. I just wish you wouldn’t show off quite so much of your other assets.”

I grinned. “I thought you liked my assets?”

“I do,” she answered absentmindedly, then immediately shook her head, realizing what she’d said. “I mean, I did.”

About Katana

As an author and a story-teller, it is the lifeblood to which my ideas take flight. And I believe in giving credit where credit is due. Occasionally someone (ie – my husband) will try to secretly switch out my beloved regular coffee for decaf. I always know the difference. ALWAYS (I’m looking at you, SEAN).

I am incapable of achieving the perfect ponytail. I’m dyslexic. I can never wear white without spilling on myself. And I’ve never read Pride and Prejudice (gasp!).

When I was younger and stole my mother’s Harlequins to read beneath the covers with a flashlight (seriously, did we ALL do this? I think we did.), I wanted to read about the tough as nails heroine. The perfectly imperfect girl with quirks and attitude and sass. And the anti-heroes who were anything but “Prince Charming.” Forget the knight on a white horse… give me the bad boy on a motorcycle.

So, now, I write those romance novels I craved to see on the shelves all those years ago—the sassy heroines. The badass heroes. I spend my days in the throes of my imagination, and am loving every minute of it. I can travel anywhere and become anyone I want to be. One day, I’m a mechanic in Boston and the next, I’m a vampire stripping in Las Vegas.

Since penning my first novel back in 2012, I’m now an international author with 15 published books, in a wide range of contemporary romance genres–(Paranormal, New Adult, Small town, Erotic Suspense… you name it!).

After living for a decade in Brooklyn, NY, I took the plunge and moved to beautiful (although kinda chilly) Portland, Maine. I now live full time in ‘Vacationland’ with a kind of mean cat, a mellow chihuahua, and a very NOT mellow lab-pittie mix. Oh, yeah… there’s a husband who draws comics somewhere in that mix, too. I can usually be found in a coffee shop with my nose in my laptop wearing fabulous (albeit sometimes impractical) shoes.

I love connecting with readers and fellow sassy storytellers, so feel free to drop me an email at katana.collins@gmail.com or connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@katanacollins). You can find a list of my available books over on my Bookshelf or if you’ve already read a book, it would make my day if you wrote a review!

Threats, complaints, and criticisms should go to comments@fbi.gov.

Connect with Katana

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2R1qnq2

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2Ft8RFB

Amazon: https://amzn.to/35wm37j

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2sMSMbj

Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2tCCD8b

YouTube: http://bit.ly/2T0o1dl

Join her reader group, Kat’s Kittens: http://bit.ly/2QvrP4P

Stay up to date with Katana by joining her mailing list: http://bit.ly/2QQe0wM

Website: http://www.katanacollins.com

BOOK REVIEW for "Gladiator's Captive" by Mary Auclair

Gladiator's Captive

by Mary Auclair

Published: March 23, 2020

Publisher: Stormy Night Publications

First he took me captive. Then he took me as his mate.

Since I saw him fight in the arena, I have dreamed of him at night. Dreams I blush just to think about. But never did I imagine him carrying me off as his prisoner, spanking me into shameful submission, and then claiming my virgin body so roughly I screamed with every savage climax.

Rager is no ordinary gladiator. He is a Muharib Warrior, a fearsome, terrifying beast, and when my father tried to have him killed he broke free of his chains and took me captive. I thought I would be nothing more than a hostage, a bargaining chip to secure his escape, but I was wrong.

He has decided to keep me. He has decided I am his mate.

Publisher's Note: Gladiator's Captive includes sexual scenes and spankings. If such material offends you, please don't buy this book.

~ BOOK REVIEW for Gladiator's Captive ~

***(3) out of 5 Stars!

Things aren't exactly as they seem for Rager and Serena as this tale begins.  And neither of them is entirely what the other expected either.  They start off as enemies, or at least he feels like she is his enemy.  But the more he gets to know Serena and her situation, the more Rager realizes that they are instead in much the same situation.  And so they become wary allies.  

It doesn't take long, however, until the attraction between them grows, and eventually Rager realizes that Serena is his mate.  She's also a rash, stubborn, emotional woman, who just barrels into situations without much forethought or planning.  Although Rager does enjoy punishing and trying to tame her, it still exacerbates some already difficult situations for them.  Especially in regards to him trying to keep her safe.  

There are several scenes throughout the story of sexy times between these two.  And for the most part they are hot, although most are a bit over the top for me, in particular the first.

Things don't exactly settle down for them at any point.  The intrigue surrounding their escape from her father really just grows and expands, right up until the ultimate resolution.

There are a handful of other intriguing characters who make significant appearances in the book.  I do hope that we are treated to their stories later as well.

I received a free eBook copy of this title from the author as part of her Advance Review Team,

and have willingly provided an honest review.

Amazon / Goodreads

About the Author

Mary grew up in the quiet peace of a small rural village in the heart of Quebec, Canada.

She spent her childhood chasing butterflies and catching frogs, playing in the mud and generally being as unladylike as she could. Her love of science led her to complete a mechanical engineering degree at the Ecole Polytechnique of Montreal, where she met the love of her life.
​
Years later, as she enjoyed the role of full time mom to her two wonderful children, she decided to pursue her dream of becoming a writer.
​
She now write as much as her busy schedule allows to bring to life her inner world, filled with exotic planets, mysterious creatures and off course, hot, alpha heroes and the women who melt their hearts.

When she's not writing, she can be found in the garden, walking her dogs or playing with fire in her kitchen as a part time hit-or-miss chef. 

You can find Mary online at: https://maryauclair.com.

Visit THIS LINK on Facebook, 

then Like, Share and Comment

and you'll be entered to win 

a $25 Amazon gift card!

(Contest ends 4/8/2020.)

BLOG TOUR for "Five First Dates" by Erin McCarthy

Five First Dates, 

an all-new HOT and hilarious 

brother’s best friend romantic comedy 

from New York Times bestselling 

author Erin McCarthy, 

is available now!

Every perfect rom-com has a twist that leads the heroine to her happily ever after.

Me? Somehow, in any room full of prince charmings, I always manage to find the one frog.

So this time, I’ve found my own twist. Four of my friends will each set me up. Four first dates. Four chances at my own happily-ever-after.

My brother’s best friend even offered to watch my baby while I’m out finding true love.

Only Maddox has sure grown up since I saw him last. The guy next door now looks more like the guy on a magazine cover. He’s inked and sexy. Muscular. Utterly irresistible. And... big.

Surely having a brother’s-friend-with-benefits won’t hurt my search for Mr. Right.

Especially if he’s my fifth first date...

Download your copy today for or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3dezRIJ

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/5firstdates

Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/3bfM6Ts

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/334Q3HQ

Excerpt:

I woke up with a start, sitting up in panic. There was drool in the corner of my mouth. Why was I in bed? Where was my son?

I stumbled out of bed, heart racing.

I remembered almost immediately that Maddox had arrived and had told me to take a power nap. Right. Geez. I slowed down in the hallway, putting my hand onto my chest to take a deep breath and calm down. Sully was fine. He was with Maddox.

But when I went into the living room, they weren’t there. I realized the bathroom door was closed and the shower was running. Hold on. If Maddox was in the shower, where was Sully? Was he lying on my bathroom floor, which I had to admit, hadn’t been cleaned recently? The thought of my child rolling around on that cold, damp germ-riddled floor had me opening the bathroom door to rescue him.

Sully wasn’t on the floor. He wasn’t anywhere to be found.

My panic kicked into high gear again, and without hesitating, I ripped back the shower curtain to demand Maddox explain where the hell my child was. The words died on my tongue. Because Sully was in the shower with Maddox, looking pink and chubby and delighted, hand out in front of him to catch the water as he rested comfortably on Maddox’s hip.

Maddox’s naked hip.

Maddox, who didn’t look pink and chubby and delighted.

Maddox, who looked like a hard, sexy-as-hell, bad boy.

His head was under the water, body turned toward me so Sullivan was out of the direct line of the stream. Which meant I could see every single full-frontal inch of Maddox. He was hard. Everywhere. Muscles on muscles, decorated with tattoos over a good fifty percent of his incredible body. Incredible and firm body.

I tried not to look at everything. I really tried. But my gaze seemed to have a life of its own and took a peek at his lower body.

My mouth went dry. My cheeks hot.

That was a big cock.

Inches from me.

“Hey, is everything okay?” he asked, pulling me out of my dumbfounded stupor.

I yanked my gaze back to his face, mortified.

“You didn’t sleep very long,” he said when I just stared at him. He didn’t look even remotely uncomfortable with the fact that he was standing under a stream of hot water totally naked in front of me.

Finally, I pried my tongue off of the roof of my mouth. “I’m sorry, oh my God. I didn’t mean to…” I gestured to his body. “I just woke up and I didn’t know where Sully was and I freaked out. I’m not used to having help…” I trailed off, pressing my lips shut.

Maddox just gave me a grin. “Not a problem. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I should have told you I wanted a shower.”

Sully reached for me, bless his little heart. He saved me from further embarrassment.

“Grab a towel before you take him,” Maddox said. “He’s slippery.” He looked down at Sully and bounced him on his hip a little. “Aren’t you, little man?”

Now that my eyes were studiously focused above the waist, and I’d dragged my sex-deprived mind out of the gutter, I was amazed at how at ease Maddox was with my son. He’d been made to hold a baby, and as I reached for a towel, I felt a yearning for a father for Sully for the first time ever.

This was all really confusing, dangerous, and potentially disastrous.

I needed sleep and sex, clearly.

Towel in hand I got as close as was necessary to take Sully safely without touching any of Maddox’s naked body. My cheeks were hot. “Maybe I can take a shower after you,” I said. “I think I’m on day three without one.”

“You could hop in now,” he said. “There’s room.”

Maddox said it like it was totally normal. Like he wasn’t naked in front of a woman who’d never seen him naked before. Like he had seen menaked before, which he most definitely hadn’t. Like we were a couple with a baby and not old friends, if you could even really say that. It wasn’t like I knewMaddox. We’d never talked about anything real. He’d just always been around our house with Steven.

This new dynamic was bizarre for me.

“Why are you teasing me?” I asked, genuinely curious. And again, no filter. “It was always the other way around. I teased you because I was older.”

His eyebrows shot up as I took Sully from him and wrapped him fully in the towel. “Am I teasing you? Is that what I’m doing?”

“Well. Yes. Aren’t you?”

He put his head under the water and ran his hand over it. A few water drops arched out and landed on my arm. So much wet skin. Everywhere, just skin and wet. Lord, I was losing it.

“I was flirting, not teasing. There is a difference.”

That befuddled me. “Why?”

“Because you’re an attractive woman and I’m a normal guy who likes to flirt with women. Or maybe I’m just being friendly.”

I backed up, needing space. The room was warm and humid and I was having a very difficult time not looking where I shouldn’t look. “This arrangement isn’t going to work if you do that. Say suggestive things all the time.”

“Why? It’s not a big deal.” Maddox stared at me with those dark eyes. Intently. “Is it?”

What the hell was he really asking me? I had no idea.

I was flustered and I took another step backward. “Maddy. Stop. You’re barely out of high school and I’m a mother. You’re going to be my nanny. We have to be professional. Maybe that’s not the right word, but you know what I mean. Friends who are helping each other. Platonic friends. Not flirty. You’re like a little brother to me.”

The look he gave me was smoldering. His nostrils flared. His shoulders tensed. He paused with the bottle of shampoo in his hand. “Sure,” he said, his casual voice completely at odds with the intensity of his expression. “Whatever you want, Savannah. I promise not to flirt with you.”

Then he grabbed the curtain and pulled it shut, blocking him from my view.

Good. Great. Perfect. Glad we had established boundaries. That was the way it needed to be.

I had no business behaving in any other way than as a big sister to Maddox.

So why did I feel so disappointed?

Because I didn’t look at him and see a kid brother anymore. I hadn’t known him in years and he was different now. It was terrifying.

I took my son out of the bathroom and to my bedroom to get him diapered and dressed.

Maybe it was time to start dating again. Over a year without a date or sex was clearly too long.

I was an eternal optimist. I believed in a happily ever after. I could watch romantic comedies for seventy-two hours straight. I loved love.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t very good at it personally.

My friends all told me I was too quick to overlook red flags and to give people second chances. The first was probably accurate. The second I stood by. Everyone deserves a second chance. But my bullshit meter was definitely broken.

Sully’s father had looked great on paper. A contracts lawyer. Apartment in SoHo. Wealthy parents who had given him a private school education in Manhattan. He’d said he was interested in a relationship. In leaving behind his playboy twenties and settling down into something “real” since he had turned thirty.

Apparently, an unplanned pregnancy had been too real.

I had expected him to be shocked and not entirely thrilled with the news. I had not expected him to be livid. When I had told him I was having the baby, he’d punched a hole in the wall, terrifying me. He’d said terrible things, accused me of entrapment.

No happily ever after.

Just me getting the hell out of there and vowing to stay the hell away from Adam. It was probably the first time I would not have given someone a second chance. Not that he’d wanted one, but my concern had shifted from my own personal feelings to concern for my unborn baby.

The maternal instinct was strong. Like the force.

I wanted no part of a father being around if he resented it.

Laying Sully on my bed, I rubbed his soft skin with the towel and felt my heart swell with love for him. He was perfection even if his sperm donor had been, well, not so great.

I hated to think of him as a dick. Even if he was one.

Moving quickly before Sully objected, I got a diaper on him and a clean onesie. Then little khakis and a blue sweater. The fact that they made khakis for six-month-old babies gave me a happiness I couldn’t even express. Could anything on the planet be cuter?

I picked him up and gave him a belly kiss. “You look like a little man,” I cooed to him.

“He looks like a Best Buy employee,” Maddox said from the doorway. His expression was amused.

I frowned. Maddox was standing there in his towel. “What do you think he should wear, a skull and crossbones? He’s six months old.”

“That or maybe a puppy T-shirt or something. What you have on him now is what my grandfather wears to church.”

Offended, I wanted to exit my bedroom, but he was blocking the door. “You have a lot of opinions for someone who isn’t a parent. I’m the fashion expert, remember? I can handle dressing a baby. My baby.”

He held his hands up, nearly giving me a heart attack when his towel slipped. He grabbed it before it dropped to the floor. “Sorry. I was just teasing. I would never judge you on how you parent. I just thought since we’re friends, we can be cool with each other.”

That flustered me. I had really thought this was going to be a lot easier. More comfortable. But Maddox was confusing me. “I guess that’s fair,” I said, because I didn’t know what else to say. “I did used to tease you a lot when you were a kid, like I said before.”

He was leaning on the doorframe, showing no signs of moving or getting dressed or even putting the towel back in place. He was just holding it in front of his junk, but his hips were exposed.

“No, you didn’t. Not really.” His voice was soft. “I took a lot of crap from other kids for being the poor kid with the hot, young mom, but you weren’t like that. You were nice to me, Savannah, and I appreciated it. More than you know.”

My shoulders relaxed. I felt a warmth for him that was more familiar territory. Maddox had been a quiet kid, Steven his primary friend. I had felt sorry for him because he’d lived over a restaurant in downtown Stroudsburg while the rest of us in our school lived in suburban houses. His mother had been a waitress, very young, a MILF before the term had existed. Guys had always been catcalling her and flirting with her and she’d been sassy, flipping them off and hurtling wisecracks back.

She’d called Maddox “Weirdo” all the time. It had seemed to be an affectionate nickname, but not one I would have enjoyed.

“How is your mom?” I asked. “And your brother and sisters?”

He finally wrapped the towel around himself fully, tucking the edge. “She’s good. She’s freaking out about turning thirty-nine, but otherwise she’s great.”

Holy cow, his mother was only thirteen years older than me? That would have made her fifteen when he was born. Having been raising Sully on my own for six months at my age, I had a whole new respect for his mother.

“The kids are all mostly normal, mostly not assholes.” There was warmth and pride in his voice. “Mike is great, too. I never thought I wanted a stepfather but he’s an alright guy. He’s the one who got me interested in ink. And motorcycles.”

His stepfather owned an auto body shop back home and he’d seemed successful, moving Maddox and his mother into a colonial before they started producing children one after the other. They were a coolfamily, with artistic children, and yes, skull and crossbones on their clothes. In comparison, my family had been very traditional. My mother was a teacher, my father an accountant. There was a lot of khaki and beige in our house. I was comfortable with beige. I wanted a colonial in neutral paint colors someday.

I glanced at Maddox’s chest. I couldn’t help it. It was right in front of me. “I’ll make some dinner while you get dressed and you can tell me all about your ink.”

“Sounds like a plan. Here, give me the baby so you can do your thing in the kitchen.” He reached out for Sully.

When he did, the knot on the towel gave way a second time and it pooled at his ankles. He didn’t react at all to being fully naked.

He just took my son, saying, “I didn’t mean to mock your threads, little man. It’s not your fault your mom digs khakis.”

He turned and walked down the hallway, ignoring the towel, and giving me a mouthwatering view of a very tight ass.

Note to self: Maddox was comfortable being naked.

I scooped up the abandoned towel and debated whether that was the world’s greatest news or the worst.

About Erin

USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Erin McCarthy sold her first book in 2002 and has since written over seventy-five novels and novellas in the romance and mystery genres. Erin has a special weakness for high-heeled boots, martinis, and Frank Sinatra. She lives with her renovation-addicted husband (he built her a bar, so it’s all good!) and their blended family of kids and rescue dogs.

Connect with Erin

Facebook: http://bit.ly/39K0yDk

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Website: https://erinmccarthy.net

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BLOG TOUR for "Beefcakes" by Katana Collins

Things are about to get sticky...

Beefcakes, 

an all-new amazing and unforgettable romantic comedy 

from Katana Collins, 

is available now!

I might as well permanently add the label "Ex" to my name. 
I'm an Ex-Mr. Universe. Ex-Mr. Olympus. An Ex-Hollywood Stuntman. 
But no one from my small hometown cares anything about that. 
They only care that I'm the ex-boyfriend to the beloved Mayor's daughter, Elaina Dyker.

And now, ten years later, I'm back, helping my siblings run my mother's bakery while she takes on chemo. What should have been a routine cupcake delivery turns into utter chaos when the bachelorette party thinks I'm a stripper. And what's worse? Elaina is the maid of honor.

But the meme about us sure went viral fast. My small hometown has become positively infested with tipsy bridesmaids looking for my erotic cupcakes.

Now Hollywood's knocking again—and this time they want me and my ex, 
Mr. Beefcake and Ms. Prude, to star in a reality show.

It could solve all my problems—except her.

~ BOOK REVIEW for Beefcakes ~

Coming Soon!

Download your copy today!

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Excerpt:

I arched my brow at her. “I bragged about knowing you so well…but man. I did not see this almond croissant massacre coming. What do you have against almonds? Or was it the amount of butter that offended you? Because as a fitness expert, let me tell you butter isn’t the enemy. Sugar is the enemy.”

She laughed. “I, uh…I might have some anger management issues.”

I took the bag from her and peeked in. There were knuckle marks against the outside of the croissant. Literal knuckle marks. I barked a laugh. “Elaina Dyker. Did you punch the croissant?”

She laughed, pressing her lips together as though this would hide the fact that I saw her adorable little giggle. She brought her thumb and forefinger up beside her temple. “Maybe a little.”

“Did you even try a bite?”

She shook her head no. “I like my routine. I like my daily lunch of yogurt and almonds.”

I made a face. Because she had to be exaggerating. Sure…she liked them. But having that same thing every day? Even chocolate cake every day would get tedious. “You can like yogurt and almonds but still indulge every now and then, you know.” I reached in and pinched off a piece of the smashed croissant, holding it out toward her lips. “C’mon. Live a little. I promise you, it is actually healthy, if that’s your concern.” Not that she needed to be concerned about that. “Almond flour. Gluten free. Grain free. Only two net carbs. The only sugar is the honey in the honey roasted almonds and the natural sugar in dates.” Her eyes grew wide at that and I knew I had hooked her.

She reached out her hand to take the piece of croissant from me, but I pulled back. “Nuh-uh,” I teased. “We can’t have your fingers getting sticky. Might ruin that fancy suit you’re wearing.”

She rolled her eyes, but parted her wet lips, her tongue peeking out just enough for me to place the croissant on top of. She moaned as soon as it hit her mouth, and her eyes fell closed as she slowly chewed and swallowed. “That’s…that’s healthy?”

I nodded. “See? I’m not just a pile of muscles. I’ve got some talent, too.”

Her head fell to the side. “I never said you weren’t talented. I just wish you wouldn’t show off quite so much of your other assets.”

I grinned. “I thought you liked my assets?”

“I do,” she answered absentmindedly, then immediately shook her head, realizing what she’d said. “I mean, I did.”

About Katana

As an author and a story-teller, it is the lifeblood to which my ideas take flight. And I believe in giving credit where credit is due. Occasionally someone (ie – my husband) will try to secretly switch out my beloved regular coffee for decaf. I always know the difference. 

ALWAYS (I’m looking at you, SEAN).

I am incapable of achieving the perfect ponytail. I’m dyslexic. I can never wear white without spilling on myself. And I’ve never read Pride and Prejudice (gasp!).

When I was younger and stole my mother’s Harlequins to read beneath the covers with a flashlight (seriously, did we ALL do this? I think we did.), I wanted to read about the tough as nails heroine. The perfectly imperfect girl with quirks and attitude and sass. And the anti-heroes who were anything but “Prince Charming.” Forget the knight on a white horse… give me the bad boy on a motorcycle.

So, now, I write those romance novels I craved to see on the shelves all those years ago—the sassy heroines. The badass heroes. I spend my days in the throes of my imagination, and am loving every minute of it. I can travel anywhere and become anyone I want to be. One day, I’m a mechanic in Boston and the next, I’m a vampire stripping in Las Vegas.

Since penning my first novel back in 2012, I’m now an international author with 15 published books, in a wide range of contemporary romance genres–(Paranormal, New Adult, Small town, Erotic Suspense… you name it!).

After living for a decade in Brooklyn, NY, I took the plunge and moved to beautiful (although kinda chilly) Portland, Maine. I now live full time in ‘Vacationland’ with a kind of mean cat, a mellow chihuahua, and a very NOT mellow lab-pittie mix. Oh, yeah… there’s a husband who draws comics somewhere in that mix, too. I can usually be found in a coffee shop with my nose in my laptop wearing fabulous (albeit sometimes impractical) shoes.

I love connecting with readers and fellow sassy storytellers, so feel free to drop me an email at katana.collins@gmail.com or connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@katanacollins). You can find a list of my available books over on my Bookshelf or if you’ve already read a book, it would make my day if you wrote a review!

Threats, complaints, and criticisms should go to comments@fbi.gov.

Connect with Katana

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Website: http://www.katanacollins.com