This blog is for those 18 and older.

Friday, August 27, 2021

A Sneak Peek of BOUND BY EDEN by Lexi Post

Releasing September 15th!

A sneak peek just for you:

Chapter One

By the Crius, what had they done?

Takoda rubbed the sleep from his eyes with his free hand, the other pinned beneath the woman sleeping next to him. He stared at her. She was not his chosen one, not the woman he thought he would spend the rest of his life with. His chest tightened.

No, instead he’d visited a Pleasure Dome to bury his sorrow in the willing body of a meekwee. Looking over her, he found Awan, his arm and one leg thrown over her.

He tried to remember last night, but his brain was cloudy from the Tolban ale and whatever the woman had given them. Some drink from Earth that he blamed for the pain in his head.

“Awan.” He kept his voice to a whisper, not wanting to wake the woman up. That he couldn’t remember her name proved how much her drink had affected him. He always remembered a woman’s name.

Awan didn’t respond, his breathing continued in that blissful state of sleep.

An uneasy feeling about their night to escape their heartbreak caused Takoda’s gut to tense. Everyone knew it was poor judgement for two men to enjoy one woman in the Pleasure Domes. It could be done, but only if the men were well in control to avoid bonding. Unfortunately, he had grave concerns about his control throughout the night. He had to know what Awan remembered.

Slowly, he pulled his arm out and slid from the bed. He only hoped she slept as soundly as Awan. He leaned over the bed, but quickly stood straight again, his head feeling as if a feroon sat upon it. He whispered again. “Awan. Awan, wake.”

The brother of his heart didn’t move. As much as Takoda wanted to slip out and pretend he hadn’t been there, it wouldn’t avoid the ramifications of what they might have done. He had to know.

Did they bond with a woman they’d just met?

Walking around to the other side of the bed, he could see why they’d both been happy to spend the night with the red-haired beauty. Her body was full and curvy and her legs long. A woman a man could embrace without fear of hurting her. Her face, even in sleep was exquisite with high cheekbones, a slender nose, and full lips that even now stirred his desire.  But she wasn’t Xavia - the woman they were supposed to have bonded with.

  His stomach rolled, the not-knowing making him sick. It was either that or the Earth drink she called teekeela. Carefully, he lifted Awan’s arm off their bedmate and tugged. His blonde-haired friend rolled his head toward him and his eyes opened slightly. “What?”

Takoda crouched down, careful to keep his head perpendicular to the floor. “Shh, we need to leave. Now.” He gestured toward their companion. “While she sleeps.”

Awan frowned and jerked his hand away to rub his temple. Lifting his leg from the woman, he sat up on the edge of the bed, holding his hand over his eyes, despite the muted light coming in from the high windows of the domed bedroom. “I need a healer.”

“So do I. Come.” He locked onto Awan’s arm and pulled him to a standing position.

Awan tilted.

Tugging his friend toward him, Takoda almost lost his own balance and let go, the pain in his head intensifying. By the Crius, what had been in that bottle? He glanced back toward the bed, concerned that she might be in pain as well. Should they bring a healer back or were Earth women immune to teekeela?

The sound of Awan bumping into the archway that connected the bedroom to the meekwee’s living quarters had him quickly moving out of the room. She must have been familiar with the properties of the drink. They could come back later and see how she fared…once he knew what happened last night.

It took all of his concentration between the pounding in his head and an unusual lack of balance to maneuver them both out of the Pleasure Dome and into the thoroughfare still empty in the predawn hour. He was thankful both for the quiet and the gray start to the day that portended rain. Thankful too that there were no cold drops hitting his still warm bare body. He focused on simply putting one foot in front of the other in a semi straight line.

“Which way?” Awan’s voice seemed as loud as the screech of a gokokhoko flying down for the kill. From the way he grabbed his head, he thought so too.

Takoda kept his voice to a whisper. “East.” He pointed toward the lightening sky. They had wandered out of their hatchoc last night, their pain over losing both their beloved and the brother of their heart too much to bear. They’d walked and talked until one of the new patrols had spotted them in the pink light of the Bendis moon.

Once the patrol determined neither of them were Kindred of Eden, Awan had pulled him into the Pleasure Dome, presumably because he’d threatened to levitate the patrol higher than the top of the dome and drop them to the ground. He remembered that much.

“She felt so good.” Awan’s whispered words held a sense of awe.

“Do you remember what happened?”

Awan’s grin turned to a cringe when he started to nod. “I remember how good it was to be inside her. And she smelled of sweet fruit. So beautiful.”

At the mention of the sweet fruit scent, the vision of the meekwee in the throes of her ecstasy flashed through his mind, spiking the pain in his head while at the same time causing his body to react.

Awan must have noticed. “I see you remember, too.”

He sighed. “Just a little. What I can’t remember is if we bonded with her.”

“Bonded?” Awan halted. “Why would we bond with her? We just met her.”

Since it had taken him a moment to react to Awan’s sudden stop, he turned back to face him. “I know that, but I don’t remember if we were careful last night. You remember being inside her. I can’t remember if I was, too.”

If they had both reached fulfillment with her one right after the other, they could be bonded. While it chilled him to think that had occurred, his body continued to react to the idea in a positive way. Walking the pathways with an erection was not considered normal for adult Edenists.

If he could just remember! But the harder he tried, the more pain filled his head.

“So what if we did? It just means we no longer need to look for a beloved.” Awan smiled crookedly, the teekeela obviously still coursing through his body. “We must have liked her enough to enjoy her, so why not bond with her?” He lifted both hands, palms up. “I would not mind returning to her dome and continuing our evening.” He turned around, lost his balance and abruptly sat on the packed dirt of the pathway.

Takoda’s head started to pound like a rockslide but he couldn’t calm himself. “Why?” He stepped in front of Awan. “Why? I’ll tell you why. Because we love Xavia!” His voice rose of its own accord and he grabbed at his head.

Awan’s face paled before he leaned over and vomited.

At the sight, Takoda closed his eyes trying to calm his own stomach. Don’t think about Awan being sick. Think of something pleasant. Something calming. His brain filled with the vision of a woman’s neck and his nostrils filled with the scent of sweet fruit. The pounding in his head eased and his stomach began to settle.

“Help me up.”

At the sound of Awan’s defeated voice, Takoda opened his eyes. The brother of his heart sat with shoulders slumped looking up at him, all the heartache they had tried to drown out in the past night stark upon his face.

“Here.” He held his hand out.

Awan grasped his forearm and pulled himself up, but he continued to hold on until his equilibrium returned. His amber eyes appeared unusually bright in the muted light. “Thank you.”

Takoda didn’t dare nod. Instead, he let go and ignored the obvious pain in his friend’s gaze. “Let’s go home.” He began to walk again, slowly.

Awan fell into step beside him, but didn’t say a word.

They continued on in silence as they made their way east toward their lonely home. What had been a warm and inviting place with the four of them now held no appeal. Their filoz was broken and their beloved bonded to another. Xavia.

They finally came to their hatchoc and took the path to the left. As they made the turn, Awan halted again.

Takoda stopped to look at him. “What is it?”

Awan pointed ahead. “Bendis.” The word came out on an awed breath.

He moved his gaze from Awan to find the giant pink moon slowly sinking below the horizon, its proximity making it appear as big as Eden itself. He was rarely awake so early and never in a position to see such an awe-inspiring sight.

“It’s a sign.” Awan’s voice remained reverent.

A sign? “What kind of sign?”

Awan kept his gaze on the quickly sinking orb. “It’s meant to be.”

Takoda ground his teeth in exasperation. Clearly, Awan had not yet emptied enough of the contents of his stomach. “Everything is meant to be. Bendis does not make it so.”

“No.” Awan finally looked at him. “But it’s a sign that what occurred in the dark of night beneath its light was meant to be. We must wait and see.”

Now his gut was back to feeling as if it were burning from the inside out. “What do you see?” He fisted his hands as Awan closed his eyes for a moment then opened them.

“I see four scenarios where we bonded, seven in which we didn’t with two in which we each had a different woman.”

No sooner were the words spoken than images of all eleven possibilities filled his head as Awan sent them to him. Another woman? He found the odd images in his mind and frowned. He’d forgotten her. Then again, he’d forgotten most of last night. Still, the odds were in their favor that they hadn’t bonded. Awan would know which was correct. He always knew when he was involved. Takoda opened his mouth to voice his thought, but found Awan watching Bendis.

Takoda moved his gaze to catch the final sliver of the moon dipping below the horizon. A bright purple flash almost blinded him before the moon was no more. Something about that odd light had him fisting his hands again. If the odds were in their favor that they didn’t bond, then why did he feel like his life was about to change…drastically?

BUY LINKS:

Amazon  Barnes & Noble  | AppleBooks  | Kobo  | Amazon UK |  Amazon AUAmazon CA 

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

Saturday Chores

              Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well and staying safe!
           So, yesterday being Saturday, I performed my Saturday chores, which means, I spent the day cleaning…in my younger days, I used to be able to clean the entire house in a morning, but I’ve slowly come to accept that I can no longer do that and it takes me twice as long to do the same amount of work, but that’s what getting older will do.
Why do I do this every Saturday? Several reasons really.
There really isn’t time during the week, not with working full time then coming home to make dinner and trying to write, although the kitchen is cleaned every night and the dishes are done.
When I was a kid, this is what I did. No cartoons, no going outside to play until the house was cleaned (Mom and I did it together until I was old enough to do it myself). Old habits die hard. Sometimes, they don’t die at all.
More importantly, I hate a dirty house. Clutter makes me anxious. Things not in their proper place can drive me crazy (and this happens a lot when you live with your DH and two dogs, who seem to shed constantly…the dogs, not the DH). And of course, let’s not forget about the dust. I live in Phoenix so yeah, there’s a lot of dust (seriously, it doesn’t matter how often you dust...it always seems to be there). And since I will not pay someone to do something I’m perfectly capable of doing, I do it myself.
There are advantages to cleaning. I’m sure you’re asking what they are. I will tell you. A clean house (I like Mr. Clean, the Febreze scent…smells so wonderful). I can actually say that it soothes me to see things organized and shiny.
What’s the other, much more important reason? It helps with my writing. Yes, you read that correctly. I get the greatest ideas while I’m washing the dishes or polishing the furniture. Doing physical things like that (which really doesn’t require much thought) allows my brain to freely roam. And believe me, my brain takes advantage of that.
Case in point…while I was on my hands and knees scrubbing the floor yesterday, I came up with a great escape from the corner I’d written myself into the day before. My only problem? Hanging on the thought long enough for me to get up off the floor, dry my hands, and grab a pen and paper, which I was able to do (though, I’m not going to share what it looked like for me to get up off the floor…suffice it to say, even the dogs laughed!)
Hmmm, I think I’ll go do the dishes before I tackle my next chapter!
Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread kindness wherever you go!

Marie


Sunday, August 22, 2021

New Release - RUN, RIVER, RUN by C.F. Francis

 


Run, River, Run

The James Gang, Book 4

by

C.F. Francis



"An enthralling tale mixed with tragedy, treachery, and triumph, "Run, River, Run" delivers goosebumps of both the suspenseful and sensuous kind!" - InD'tale Magazine, July, 2021



Blurb - 

He’s trained to protect; she’s trained to survive.

River Chandler can’t let anyone get close to her. People close to her die. That includes the very appealing Kevin Slawter who is making her reconsider that oath.

As an adolescent, River Chandler escaped the serial killers who slaughtered her family. Her testimony put them in prison for the rest of their lives. With the memory of her family never far from her thoughts, she's built a solitary, but successful life - until terror once again targets her.

Seeking peace from the visions of the wounded he's cared for, Special Forces medic, Kevin Slawter is visiting friends on Sanibel. While spending some time on the water, he is helpless when he sees a woman attacked on the beach. His shouts chase the assailant away, but she refuses further assistance.

Determine to discover who is behind these acts, Kevin has to convince River to let him into her life. For a woman who has lost everyone she loves, she's determined to keep her distance.


Buy Links -

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3fq4Lzz

Nook: https://bit.ly/3f3fuRP

Apple: https://apple.co/3opPfYC

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3otgX6E

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3fwnjyb


Author Bio - 

C. F. Francis is a native Floridian. Born in Tampa and raised on the “gold coast”, she now calls Southwest Florida her home. Her romantic suspense novels take place primarily on Sanibel Island but as she loves to explore, other parts of the state occasionally serve a backdrop for her stories.

 Francis began writing in 2015 and published her first book, Sanctuary Island, in 2016. Lovers Key followed in 2017 (placing 2nd in a national competition for romantic suspense), Explosive Touch (2019) and Run, River, Run (2021). 

Her background includes tourism, legislative, law and healthcare.  She has a special relationship with several members of the military including Green Berets and Army Intelligence.  They volunteer their knowledge to keep her novels honest.

 

Author Contact -

Amazon Page

Facebook Author Page

Website

Goodreads

Bookbub

Friday, August 20, 2021

Veronica Reviews ~ HIGHLAND GLADIATOR by Kathryn LeVeque


 


Highland Gladiator 


(Scots & Swords #1)


by


Kathryn Le Veque






★★★★


4-Stars


Historical Romance








“In this life or in the next, I’ll always be true tae ye…”


“I love ye…until the end of all things, I’ll love ye and only ye…”


Lor Careston is a humble smithy living with his grandfather.  Despite his size, fighting has never been his first choice.  Always preferring to work out disagreements with his brain rather than his brawn, Lor is content with his life in the quiet Highland village where he and his grandfather live and work.  But when his village is raided and burned to the ground leaving death and destruction of both his grandfather and his home, Lor remembers a tale told to him about the Ludus Caledonia, an elite training compound where worthy men may sign on years of service to become highly trained warriors.  With vengeance in his heart, Lor leaves all behind to be taught to fight in order to gain his retribution…never dreaming that the path he has set to travel will lead him in an entirely different direction…


Isabail Keith, the daughter of the Chieftain of Clan Keith, has given up on finding love.  What man would want a warrior for a wife?  That is until her path crosses once again with Lor Careston…with Lor she is accepted for being both fierce and beautiful.  Lor doesn’t judge her for her choice in being trained for battle, and willingly asks for her guidance.  Over time, Lor and Isabail find a love that will last a lifetime and beyond…

Oh, dear reader, I did so enjoy the first installment to Kathryn Le Veque’s Scots & Swords series!  If you are a fan of her medieval romances, be prepared for the same epic adventure and swoon worthy hero!  Looking forward to the next in the series and highly recommend!


Sharing what I love,



Veronica






AMAZON BUY LINK





**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **




Wednesday, August 18, 2021

These Tangled Vines by Julianne MacLean

 Starting with an early morning call in Florida, Fiona finds herself making plans to be in Tuscany, Italy for the funeral of her biological father, Anton.  Prior to his death, Fiona, her late mother, and Anton are the only ones who know about his relation.


Fiona flies to Italy where a pile of secrets are stacked for her to discover.  This includes the exclusive vineyard that two half-siblings want for their own without Fiona's intrusion. 

Fiona is awestruck at the beauty of the land, yet she must tread lightly around her new family.  Curious about her mother's past with Anton, she seeks help in finding out the story.

In a slow and meandering path, she follows clues to the love her mother shared with the man who thinks and has taken the position of her father her whole life and her biological father.  

The story is full of love and the sacrifices done for it.  Fiona relives her mother's tale filled with a mix of tragedy and passion.  With a new perspective on what happiness and fulfillment contain, Fiona restructures her own outcome.

Happy reading,

Dawn

Sunday, August 15, 2021

Series Starter ~ FALLING FOR MY FLING by Dakota Davies

 


Falling for My Fling

Falling Hard

By

Dakota Davies



If you like the sweet heat of Lauren Blakely and the deep feels of Corrine Michaels, you will love Dakota Davies’ sexy new family saga.




Blurb ~

A small-town bad boy hiding a secret. A city girl with a brave goal. The pact that will ruin them both.

 

I vow this summer I’ll be different. I’ll be that daring girl that has a summer fling without a care in the world. I’ll find some hot, outdoorsy guy who can show me what I’ve been missing. And when summer ends, I’ll blow him a kiss and walk into my big, bright future with my heart intact. 

 

Enter dirty-talking raft guide Caleb Morgan, a perfect target for my lust. But one (incredible) night becomes two, then four...and pretty soon I’m falling. Hard.

 

Can I save myself before it’s too late?

 



Buy Links ~

Opt in for a free book: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/oh45dzixap

 

Amazon Universal: https://geni.us/falling-hard-prequel

 

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08WN263VT

 

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/falling-for-my-fling-dakota-davies/1138834354

 

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/falling-for-my-fling

 

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1553817671




Author Bio ~


USA Today Bestselling author Dakota Davies writes hot romance stories featuring hardworking, broken heroes and the feisty women who break down their barriers. She is the author of the emotionally driven Entwined Hearts trilogy and the suspenseful Wild Hearts series set in the wilds of Alaska. 

 

By day, she’s a swim team mom, book addict, and nature lover, but inside the mind of the person packing her kid’s lunches and going for a run with the dog is an alter ego brimming with passionate love stories. When not writing, Dakota takes adventures in the mountains, speed reads anything by Lauren Blakely, and bakes gluten-free bread. 

 

Sign up for Dakota’s newsletter for a free book plus receive news on releases, giveaways, and exclusive reader bonuses!


Contact Links ~


Website: https://dakotadaviesromance.com/

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authordakotadavies

 

Private FB (where I love to spoil my readers):  https://business.facebook.com/groups/dakotasdarkroom/

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dakotadaviesromance/

 

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/dakotadaviesromance/boards/

 

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/dakota-davies

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dakota-Davies/e/B07S8F3GJ9