I wasn't supposed to look at her that way. I'd practically grown up beside her. You shouldn't ignite inside when you stare at your stepsister.
Now she's caught the eye of someone else.
Someone more sinister than me.
The problem is—he's dangerous.
But is there more to him than even we are aware of?
Sharing our secret with our family should be easy. But just when we think the dust has settled, trouble comes searching, far more ferocious than before.
When all seems lost, I stand firm and fight.
Because a world without her in it, is a world I will burn to the ground
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Novah and Bayou have fought their attraction for years since they are step-siblings and were raised together. When Novah’s work puts her in danger, Bayou steps up to be the one to look out for her and protect her. But being together so much really challenges both of them to hide their true feelings. The other challenge is how will Hurricane and Nash react, the other brothers. There is an interesting relationship between these two but it does start slow and really took a while to really grab my attention. The last third of the book is action packed and full of surprises which packed the passion and suspense to give this couple the intense journey they deserved.
Meet K E Osborn
With a flair for all things creative, USA Today Bestselling Author K E Osborn, is drawn to the written word. Exciting worlds and characters flow through her veins, coming to life on the page as she laughs, cries, and becomes enveloped in the storyline right along with you. She's entirely at home when writing sassy heroines and alpha males that rise from the ashes of their pasts.
K E Osborn comforts herself with tea and Netflix, after all, who doesn't love a good binge?
Promises We Meant to Keep by Monica Murphy is now live!
Spencer Donato.
My brother’s best friend.
My dirty little secret.
We fell for each other at Lancaster Prep. Sneaking around. Not wanting anyone to find out. He was my first love, my protector, my knight in shining armor. We were made for each other, and I truly believed he was my forever.
But then I did the unthinkable, and betrayed him in the worst possible way. I thought I lost him for good…
Until I saw him at my brother’s wedding. Now he’s older. Crueler. Unbearably handsome. We’re drawn to each other still, but will Spencer be there for me when I need him the most? Or did I ruin us forever?
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Go Sylvie and Spencer! Sylvie is a tough character to like but we had glimpses about her intense and crazy childhood with her mother, Sylvia, from her siblings’ stories. Getting to dive in and learn all the details was mind blowing. The one amazing thing in her life has been her friendship with Spencer. These two are soul mates but Sylvie keeps sabotaging their relationship as she strives to live to her mother’s expectations. After being forced into marriage with a man her father’s age, she is finally ready to break free and find her own path away from her mother and hopefully, get a chance to repair her relationship with Spencer. Spencer struggles with loving Sylvie and being willing to give her another chance but he is the one person that truly sees Sylvie and knows what an amazing person she rarely shows the rest of the world. He knows she is his other half; can they find a way to build a life together? I loved this journey and devoured every page.
Meet Monica
Monica Murphy is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling romance author. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and have sold over two million copies worldwide. Both a traditionally published and independently published author, she writes young adult, new adult and contemporary romance. She's also known as USA Today bestselling author Karen Erickson.
A native Californian, she lives on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere with her husband, two kids, one dog, and four cats. When she's not writing, she's an assistant coach for her daughter's high school cheer team, which is a two season sport. Meaning, she's at practice with a bunch of teenage girls all the time. Or she's at a football game. Or a basketball game. Maybe someday, she'll even write about this experience.
I enjoyed this best friend’s brother and fake marriage romance. Kane impressed me with his willingness to help someone in need. When his sister’s best friend needs a safe place to escape to, she sends Emmersyn to Kane. What Kane doesn’t expect is that Emmersyn needs a husband to protect herself from a crazy ex-fiancé and to secure her trust fund. He was married once and carries guilt for that falling apart so he never plans to marry again. Well, unless it’s a fake marriage. Emmersyn is shocked when she finds out that her fiance has been cheating on her. She’s had a crush on Kane for years but living with him and truly getting to know allows her to appreciate what a great man he is. Will she be able to keep her feelings out of their plan? I love how this relationship evolved as they tackled Emmersyn’s issues while Kane faced his fears about love and relationships.
Meet Stacey
Stacey Lynn likes her coffee with a dash of sugar, her heroes with a side of bossy, and her wine a deep shade of red.
The author of over thirty romance novels, many of which have been best-selling titles on Amazon, AppleBooks, and Barnes & Noble, she loves being able to turn her vivid imagination into a career that brings entertainment and joy to her readers. Focused on sports romance and emotional, small-town romance, she also loves stretching herself in different genres.
Born in Texas and raised in the Midwest, she now makes her home in North Carolina and loves all things Southern. Together with her ultimate tall, dark, and handsome hero, she has four children. Her life is a chaotic mess that fights with her Type-A, list-making, neurotically organized preferences and she wouldn't have it any other way.
I’m not your girl next door.
They call me loud, blunt, and too gorgeous for my own good.
A woman who can’t be tamed.
Until Archer.
The problem? He’s my brother’s best friend. My new roommate. And off-limits.
Until we spend a wild night between the sheets.
But secretly dating isn’t easy.
Our pasts collide with the present.
And the only man who can save me is the one I shouldn’t want.
Only Mine is a roommates to lovers, small town romance and is a repackaged boxed set from the Archer & Everleigh duet in the Lawton Ridge duet series. There's no cliffhanger and ends in an HEA.
Brooke Cumberland and Lyra Parish are a duo of romance authors who teamed up under the USA Today pseudonym, Kennedy Fox. They share a love of Hallmark movies, overpriced coffee, and making TikToks. When they aren’t bonding over romantic comedies, they like to brainstorm new book ideas. One day in 2016, they decided to collaborate under a pseudonym and have some fun creating new characters that’ll make you blush and your heart melt. Happily ever afters guaranteed!
An exciting second chance romance in the Masters and Mercenaries: Reloaded Series from New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake is out now!
A grandmaster of lies and deception
Drake Radcliffe has spent half his life in the shadows. Recruited by the CIA when he was barely out of high school, Drake doesn’t know how to have a normal life. While most people his age were playing sports or video games, he was playing spy games with the world’s most dangerous adversaries. It has been a life filled with thrills and adrenaline, but it’s also been lonely. All that might change when a mistake from Drake’s past rears its ugly head and he’s forced to face the only woman he ever loved—the one he’d vowed to stay away from.
A beacon of love and compassion
Taylor Cline committed the cardinal sin in her world—she fell for another operative. Drake was everything she wanted in a man, until he broke her heart. She had one unforgettable night with him and then he never looked back. Her future threatened and family in ruins, she shut down and moved on, hoping to never see him again. Just as she is beginning to put it all behind her, a critical assignment puts her under his authority and right back in his arms.
A deadly mission that brings them together
From the wilds of Wyoming to the glittering cities of Europe, Drake and Taylor must race against time to uncover the truth and expose an evil organization. The stakes couldn’t be higher. If they fail, the world could crumble. If they succeed, they could finally have everything their hearts desire.
Drake’s attention was completely focused on her. “I think I want to be honest and upfront with you. I’m attracted to you, Taylor, and I think you feel the same.”
She felt a jolt of heat power through her. “Even if I was, I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Can I ask why?”
She didn’t sense any threat from him. With any man who hit on her, she had to assess the potential of him taking rejection poorly. She didn’t think Drake was one of those guys. The last couple of days had made her comfortable with him. “I don’t think it’s smart to get involved with someone I work with.”
“You don’t work with me. From what you’ve said, you won’t be with the Agency for much longer.”
“Yes, and you will be,” she pointed out.
A thoughtful expression came over his face. “That’s kind of what makes it workable in my mind. I can’t tell anyone what I do. That makes for difficult relationships. You already know, and it won’t surprise you that I don’t talk about my work. You won’t get upset if I have to be gone for a couple of weeks without notice. I have a hard time making connections to people, but it was easy with you. Even if you’re not interested in me in a physical way, I hope we can be…friends.” He said the word like it didn’t quite make sense to him. Like it was a foreign word on his tongue.
There was no way for her to deny the electricity between them. She wasn’t sure she even wanted to. That inner voice kept getting stronger.
What would be the harm in seeing if it could work? You might get an orgasm or two out of it. He’s not saying he’s going to walk at the end. He’s actually saying he wants to see you outside this cabin. Why not try?
She was a careful woman. She’d learned that lesson from watching her father throw himself into deadly situations again and again.
But what was she risking? He was right. It was hard for her to connect. She’d had a couple of boyfriends over the years, and she had to hold back so much of herself to even have a chance at making the relationship work. She couldn’t talk about what her father did, couldn’t mention her own work. Wouldn’t it be refreshing to have no secrets between them?
“Did I make you uncomfortable?” Drake asked. “Because we can pretend like I didn’t say anything. This snow is going to stop soon, and I should be out of here in a couple of days.”
She reached for his hand. “You didn’t make me uncomfortable. I’m glad you were honest with me. The last couple of days have been…nice.”
A slow smile spread across his face, and he threaded his fingers through hers. “Nice? Awful sexual tension is nice to you?”
“I wouldn’t say awful. Anticipation can be fun.” It was good to know she hadn’t been the only one who felt the heat between them.
“Are you saying yes?” Drake asked.
Did she want to let him walk out of here and never know what it felt like to be in his arms? They’d been thrown together for a reason. It couldn’t be some random thing that they’d met again. She would hate herself if she didn’t give it a shot.
In a couple of months she would be out of this life and might be able to find some kind of normalcy. Maybe it was time to take a chance.
“Yes,” she said.
“Then come here and let me kiss you and tell you how the night’s going to go,” he said in a commanding tone.
Her whole body responded. She moved, standing and twisting so she sat on his lap. “How is my night going to go, Drake?”
One big hand cupped the nape of her neck while his other arm wound around her waist. “Let’s find out.”
Who can you really trust when you are a spy? So many exciting twists and turns for Drake and Taylor that kept me on the edge of my Kindle needing to know more. For Drake, he never expected his sister to become the enemy and now he has to hunt her down to stop all the craziness that she likes to cause. Taylor is after revenge following her father’s death which leads her to Drake’s sister. These two have to find a way to trust each other again so that they both can get what they want. And just maybe they will realize that love is possible for spies. So hard to say anymore without giving anything away. I loved the chemistry and connection that brought these two together. I also enjoy getting to spend time with other members of McKay-Taggert. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.
About Lexi Blake
New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband and three kids. Since starting her publishing journey in 2010, she’s sold over three million copies of her books. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance novels that she found success. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings.
Pre-Order now as it will be exclusive to Kindle Unlimited on release day!
Meet Layla Hagen
Welcome! My name is Layla Hagen and I am a Contemporary Romance author.
I fell in love with books when I was nine years old, and my love affair with stories continues even now, many years later. I write romantic stories and can't wait to share them with the world. And I drink coffee. Lots of it :-D
How do you get over a woman you never should have been, ahem, under in the first place?
Gotta Be Bayou
An all-new grumpy-sunshine, small town romance from New York Times bestselling author Erin Nicholas is now available!
Just when FBI special agent Spencer Landry had decided to forget about investigative journalist Maxine-Max-Keller and their one hot night together, there's a threat made against her and Spencer's protective instincts get all riled up. Again.
So now they're shacking up on the Louisiana bayou and pretending to be in love so he can keep Max safe until the guy is apprehended.
Considering their chemistry and that he can not stop thinking about the gorgeous-and-doesn't-know-it, smart-mouthed, bold-and-yet-vulnerable redhead, this could be a fun few days, right?
Nope. She's all wrong for him.
And she hasn't forgotten he can be kind of a jerk.
Sure, the naked-times are great, but he told her exactly what he wants— a bubbly, sweet school teacher who bakes him brownies and loves to cuddle—and Max ain't it.
Max not only doesn't bake, no one has ever called her sweet. And cuddling? Shudder.
Plus his bossiness is super annoying for someone who's been taking care of herself all her life. But now they're stuck together and dammit, besides being hot and very good with his mouth, Spencer is pretty irresistible with baby goats, little kids, and attempts at baking. And don't forget alpha-protective. All of which makes her stomach feel very swoop-y. No wonder her clothes keep falling off.
But this is a temporary situation and they're only faking it. So falling for the guy is a terrible idea.
Well, her feet were on him anyway. Actually, her legs from the knees down.
She’d started just propped against the opposite end of the couch, with her crossword puzzle book open on the arm. She’d mostly focused on the puzzle, but he’d noticed her smiling and even laughing a couple of times at the TV.
Eventually, she’d propped her head on her hand and just watched. Then her eyes started drifting shut. Then her head was on the arm of the couch.
But when she wanted to get comfortable, she got comfortable.
She’d scooted down to rest her head on the couch cushion and stretched out. Including putting her feet in Spencer’s lap.
He’d had to catch her heels in his hands to keep her from kicking him in the balls.
And then he’d just held her feet, rubbing his thumbs along the arches of her feet, and absorbing the sound of her contented sigh and loving the way she cuddled deeper into the couch.
He’d wanted her to feel safe and be comfortable and relaxed.
Mission accomplished.
The woman was sound asleep.
At 8:30 p.m.
The episode ended and Spencer realized he didn’t remember a thing from what he’d watched. He’d been paying attention to Max.
Of course he’d started with the way her soft cotton shorts molded to the curve of her hips and ass. The way the matching tank hugged her waist and breasts. There was no way he could have ignored that. He was drawn to this woman and the part that didn’t confuse him was his attraction to her body.
Now, having those sweet curves within touching distance again and barely covered, absolutely drew his attention. But with her asleep, and him unable to really do anything, he also had the chance to simply study her up close.
Her eyelashes were pale and had a reddish hue. Of course they did. She was a redhead. But he’d never thought about the color of a woman’s eyelashes before. Now he was fascinated. Did she wear mascara? He was going to have to pay attention to see the next time she was awake.
She stirred, shifting, moving her feet against his hands and he stroked a hand up one calf. It wasn’t perfectly smooth. There was just a slight prickle, but he didn’t mind at all. In fact, he wanted to feel that against his thighs and hips as she wrapped her legs around him. It was real and he wanted to feel her legs in every stage from freshly shaved to haven’t-had-a-chance-for-days.
Wow, she was truly asleep. He should make her go to bed.
“Max?” he asked softly.
She didn’t even wiggle.
“Max?” he asked a little louder, squeezing her foot gently.
She just breathed in deeply, then out.
He should just carry her into bed. He could just scoop her up and take her into the bedroom.
Spencer shifted her legs so he could stand. Then he leaned over. She was on her side, so he pushed gently against her shoulder, rolling her to her back. She went with a sigh, one hand moving to rest on her chest. Perfect. Spencer slid an arm under her knees and one behind her back.
And everything was great until he started to lift.
She came awake suddenly. She kicked her legs, flailed her arms, and her head lifted instinctively to look around. Her forehead hit Spencer in the chin. Hard.
His head snapped back and his teeth clamped down on his tongue.
“Fuck!” he swore in surprised pain.
“Ahhh!” she yelled.
She was still kicking and waving her arms and he unceremoniously dropped her one foot back onto the couch cushions.
“Max! It’s me!”
She kicked out, her shin connecting with his thigh.
That fucking hurt too.
“Max!” He pinned her arms down against the couch. “Max! It’s Spencer!”
Her eyes were wide and not fully focused.
She just yelled again. “Ahhhhh!”
Dammit. The cottage next door was going to think they needed to call the cops.
Which was Zander.
Spencer did not want Zander showing up here, grinning and smirking and writing up a report about how Spencer had tried to sweetly carry Max to bed and she’d thought he was attacking her.
“Maxine!” he said sharply, putting a leg across hers to keep her from kicking and, against his better judgement, placing a hand over her mouth. “Stop it. It’s me.”
Her eyes flew to his as he put his face directly in front of hers.
“It’s Spencer.”
She suddenly went still. Her gaze focused and she stopped moving and he felt her pull in a long breath.
He waited another few seconds, making sure that she realized who was holding her down.
Slowly he removed his hand. “Okay?” he asked.
She drew in another long breath and blew it out. She nodded. “Yeah.”
“Holy shit, Max.”
“What happened?”
“You were sleeping like the dead, so I decided to carry you into the bedroom. And you turned into the Tasmanian devil.”
“Well, I'm not used to people picking me up in the middle of the night.”
That made him chuckle. “It's not even 9 p.m.”
“Well… still.”
He liked that she was at a loss for words. That was unusual.
Slowly, he became aware of the fact that he was pinning her to the couch. With almost his entire body.
In spite of the fact that she’d been fighting off an intruder in her imagination and he’d been fearing for his manhood, his eyes, nose, and jaw, it didn't take long for his body to register that this felt really nice.
The couch was big enough for the two of them to lie together. He wasn't entirely on top of her, but almost half of him was pinning more than half of her to the cushions.
“I, um… didn’t mean to squash you. Self-preservation instinct.”
She smiled. “You're not squashing me.” Her voice was soft and a little breathless.
Their gazes locked. “I did this, honestly, to keep you from hurting me or yourself. But mostly me.”
She wet her lips and nodded. “I believe you.”
“So, I could probably get up now. You seem a lot more calm.”
“Funny, I don't exactly feel calm.”
His heart kicked against his rib cage. A moment ago she’d been ready to claw his eyes out. The moment before that she’d been so deeply asleep that she hadn't realized he was even there. But now, her gaze was hot and she was breathing fast, and she was definitely not wearing a bra with this pajama set.
Spencer’s entire body responded. “You fell asleep really fast. And very deep,” he said, his voice husky.
“I often fall asleep on the couch. Never that deeply, though. I guess I felt really safe with you.”
Damn, he liked that. He felt the corner of his mouth curl. “Until I tried to pick you up.”
“Sorry. Instinct.”
“Honestly the cop part of me is very glad that your instinct is to fight hard when someone does something unexpected.”
“Good.” She gave a little nod. “I guess that means you just need to be sure I'm expecting anything you do.”
He nodded slowly and his gaze dropped to her mouth. “Good idea. For instance, if I was going to kiss you, I should make sure that you knew that.”
I love escaping to the Bayou. Gotta be Bayou is a fabulous beginning to this new series. Spencer and Max seem like an unusual pairing but as this couple gets to know each other while hiding out in Autre, they get to uncover the things that make them a perfect fit. Spencer seems like an uptight agent but he has reasons for the routines and expectations he has. Max surprised me as we got to learn about her childhood. Each of them carries some deep baggage that surprised me. Both of them are passionate about making sure bad people are caught and it weighs on them in different ways. There are some hilarious moments along the way as they figure out how to embrace love and a relationship. Truly wonderfully complex yet fun and quirky characters that delivered a great tale for me to devour.
About Erin Nicholas
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erin Nicholas has been writing romances almost as long as she’s been reading them. To date, she’s written over thirty sexy, contemporary novels that have been described as “toe-curling,” “enchanting,” “steamy,” and “fun.” She adores reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines, and happily ever afters.
Erin lives in the Midwest, where she enjoys spending time with her husband (who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books), her kids (who will never read the sex scenes in her books), and her family and friends (who claim to be “shocked” by the sex scenes in her books).
I've had my heart crushed more times than I can count. Swearing off men was the best thing I ever did. The second best—taking a job waitressing at The Firken bar off campus.
My grumpy boss is nice to everyone... except me.
Which shouldn't bother me, but it does.
Darren is handsome, mysterious—and even more unavailable than I am.
I've gotten over my ghosts, but he's still chasing his.
I thought after years of working in close proximity maybe, just maybe, we would finally cross that line. But almost kisses don't count, not even off the clock.
I wish he wasn't so closed off, so he could see what I see.
He may be a broken player... but his damaged heart is definitely worth saving.
Darren
Falling in love again is not an option. Keep my distance... that's the rule.
Running The Firken and working as a personal trainer is all I have room for in my life.
Night after night I watch Blossom turn down guys. And every damn time I'm relieved.
She's smart, beautiful, and something about her makes me want to protect her. Even if that means from me.
After years of fighting my feelings we became friends, until I ruined things by pushing her away and into the arms of another man.
I need to pull it together or risk losing the best thing that's happened to me since my life came crashing down.
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Blossom and Darren took me on an emotional and hopeful journey. For Blossom, she had to grow up fast and take care of her younger sister when her parent’s let her down. She is incredibly strong and is working to rebuild her life as she enrolls in college. She is recovering from a bad relationship so she doubts her decision making which has her focusing on school and work as she rebuilds her confidence. Her sister Rebel, gets her a job at where she had worked and loved her boss, Darren. But when Blossom meets Darren, he’s not as friendly to her. Darren has been hiding from life, just going through the motions by working all the time to run from the guilt he carries. He has a huge heart and there isn’t anything he won’t do to help someone in need. When he first meets Blossom, he isn’t prepared for his heart to have an immediate connection to her. He doesn’t believe he is worthy of another relationship in his life after losing his first love. The slow burn to this romance is beautiful as we peel back the layers for both Blossom and Darren to truly understand and appreciate all the challenges they have faced. This really allowed them to find ways to be there for each other as they worked to heal and realize love is possible. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.
Meet R.C. Stephens
R.C. Stephens is a top 100 Amazon bestselling author. She writes contemporary romance novels ranging from hot hockey players to romantic suspense.
When she isn't in her writing cave she is raising three lovely children with her adoring husband.
Her books are filled with humor, heartbreak, emotion and true love.
Born and raised in Toronto, she loves the winter, but Spring and Fall are her favorite seasons.
