Blog Tour & Giveaway ~ Escape the Doubt ~ Andera Michelle

After the unexpected death of her Dad and the haunting manner in which he died Riley Shaw built invisible walls around her heart. Barriers she created to protect her from splintering into broken pieces that couldn’t be repaired. She was unable to move forward from her past letting the guilt of her parent’s mistakes dictate her own choices.

Dean Warren was safe. Being with him was innocent and peaceful because she didn’t truly love him. His words held her captive in a false sense of security. His eyes were deceptive and his promises of never pushing her beyond what she was willing to give were broken leaving Riley Shaw in a state of regret and doubt.

Joshua Parker had the power to take what was left of Riley’s splintered pieces and ruin her completely or make her whole again. He was her best friend, her next-door neighbor - everything she wanted and settled on never having. Loving him was as easy as breathing air. The fear of losing him forever was more real to her than the feelings she couldn’t escape.

When faced with the very thing she feared the most and in the arms she thought were safe Riley finds herself questioning every decision she has made over the past two years. When she finally escapes the doubt in her head and accepts the truth in her heart is it too late?

Is taking a chance with your heart worth the escape or was it better to have never loved at all? Can forgiveness really set you free?

*Warning: This is a mature young adult novel. Recommended for readers 17+ due to underage drinking, sexual content and adult language.

*This is book one in a series however can be read as a standalone.

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At school Dean approached me sitting on the bench.

“You look so sad, Riley.” He said.

I shrugged, “well, I am.” I replied truthfully.

He sighed. Probably thinking vainly that it was all about him, his ego getting a boost

from my evident pain.

“We have been friends for a long time, Riley. Even before we became more. We

were friends. Ya know? I miss you.” He told me as he sat down and grabbed my hand.

I inwardly cringed and recoiled away from him. However, outwardly—I did nothing.

“I know,” I said.

I didn’t miss him. I didn’t need him. In fact, I resented him. So why was it that I

rested my head on his shoulder? I’m asking myself that same thing as I stand in my

shower. Replaying that thought and the image I saw on Josh’s face when he walked by—

looking at us—as though something was there between us. There wasn’t.

I miss you, Josh.

I decide after my shower to toil without respite. I wrap myself in a towel and walk

across the hall to my bedroom. I have my head cast down, flipping through the playlist on

my iPod settling on, Wish you were here by Incubus. I kick the door closed with my foot

and walk into my closet.

“We need to talk,” a voice says from my bed. I jump, dropping my iPod on the floor

and nearly losing my towel as well. I step out of my closet, stand in the middle of my

room, and narrow my eyes at my best friend. Ex-best friend? Preslee’s baby daddy? Ugh!

“Damn it, Josh. You scared the crap out of me. What are you doing here?” He drags

his eyes lazily up and down my body before narrowing them on my face.

“I just told you. We need to talk. You won’t answer your fucking phone, or return

my calls, or talk to me at school. So, here I am,” he says dryly.

“Um, if you haven’t noticed I’m kind of naked here. I uh, can you like shut your eyes

so I can put my clothes on? Then we can talk?” I ask him feigning exasperated, when

actually I’m feeling flushed and nervous as hell. I’ve missed him, his nearness, his voice,

and those eyes.

The way he is looking at me. It’s so intense; I can’t help but feel affected.

He stands, and walks towards me. For every step he takes, I take one away, until my

back is pressed to my shut bedroom door. He is standing so close to me, I can feel his

breath whisper along my cheek. He puts his hands on opposite sides of my head of the

door, caging me in. He is looking down at me with such heat in his eyes that I don’t know

what to make of any of this.

“I noticed,” is all he says on a growl.

He trails his fingers along my cheek, down my throat, to my collarbone, where he

pauses, and looks up into my shocked eyes.

“Your pulse is racing, Riley. Am I making you uncomfortable?” He asks, in a voice

that is almost foreign.

I shake my head back and forth, “no, yes, no. I’m confused.” I sigh, and look down.

He tilts my chin up with his index finger. I keep my eyes cast downward, not wanting to

look into his eyes. If I look into those hazel eyes, I am afraid of what I will see. Of what it

will do to me.

“I see that, Riley. Look at me.” His voice is soft, but demanding. I don’t want to look

at him, but I can’t get my body to listen to my brain. I feel possessed. I meet his eyes just

as a tear rolls down my cheek, and then another and another. Damn it. I am so weak. I

can’t do this.

He watches my tears fall, and drags the pad of his thumb under my eyes to wipe

them away. I can’t stop them from falling.

He seems just as lost as me in this moment, looking back and forth at each of my

eyes. Studying me. Breaking me. “I’m sorry, baby.” He rests his forehead on mine, his

dirty blonde hair tickling my eyes.

I begin to shake uncontrollably. “I… I… I can’t do this, Josh. You need to leave,

please. Please, leave me alone.” I stutter as I tremble.

“I can’t. I can’t leave you alone.” His eyes flick to my mouth, and very slowly he

places his left hand on the door and raises his right hand to my face. He slowly pads his

thumb along my bottom lip that is quivering now.

I can’t help but shut my eyes and let my head fall back to the door. I feel dizzy. My

breaths are coming shallowly, and my heartbeat feels like a marching band has taken up

residence inside my chest. Thumping so loudly, that I know he has to hear it. I’m losing

control. I want him to stop, to never stop. What is wrong with me?

He lowers his head to my shoulder, his breath so hot on my neck. “Riley?” He moves

his hand away from my lips and is now tickling his fingers up and down my arm, leaving

a tingling sensation and goose bumps in there path.

“Hmm?” I didn’t know what to say anymore.

He slowly lifts his head, dragging his nose along my cheek until our lips are almost

touching. His mouth is only a breath apart from my own. I see a million emotions shadow

his eyes as he looks down at my face. His breath is minty and tantalizing me. He presses

his chest into my own, causing me to gasp. I look into his eyes, locking into a silent

debate of will. He wraps his hand around the nape of my neck, his other hand cups my

cheek, and I am certain he is about to kiss me. I don’t have the strength, or desire to stop

him.

If I lean in, we would kiss. One last taste would put me in my coffin. Be my poison.

I’m addicted to his poison, though. I want it on my tongue, inside my mouth. Kiss me.

He doesn’t kiss me, though. He steps back, and stares at me for the longest time.

“I’m sorry. I can’t think straight with you like that. I’ll shut my eyes so you can put

clothes on, and then we need to talk.” He says, gesturing to my towel wrapped body, and

turns his back to me. It’s not up for question. We are going to talk.

I dress quickly in white shorts and a teal camisole. My mind is reeling of airing all of

this with him. What was he going to say? How would I respond in hearing it? What

should I say?

I walk over to my bed where he is sitting with his elbows rested on his knees, his

head in the palms of his hands. I place my hand on his shoulder, and he looks up at me

with wary eyes. I place my body in between his legs looking down at him.

His eyes are indecisive and full of worry. I rub my index finger along his brow line

to smooth it. “Do you remember when things used to be so easy between us? When we

used to laugh together? When you would climb through that window just to annoy me?” I

ask looking at the glass that holds so many good memories.

Tears are brimming his eyes, “I remember every fucking minute ever spent with you,

Riley.”

He interlaces our fingers, watching mesmerized as he does. I look at our intertwined

hands and back to his face. I bite my lip nervously. His eyes look to my lips and then

back to my eyes.

“Are you getting back together with Dean?” He asks abruptly.

My mouth falls open in shock. What’s he smoking? For real? Seriously! Like, I

would ever do that. Doesn’t he realize any of this?

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Andrea Michelle was born and raised in Louisiana. She spent years in Tennessee and in Texas and made it full circle back to the boot she loves so much and is currently living in Baton Rouge. She is a mother to three beautiful daughters and married her best friend at the young age of nineteen. She is a new self published author with a debut novel in the mature young adult contemporary romance category. She is a dreamer, a true Gemini at heart and has a fascination with love stories. She finds inspirations in all things (friends beware) and loves poetry and music. Her writing journey began as a young teen where she used to escape into a world of fiction and poetry just to cope with emotions she didn't understand. She wasn't an avid reader until her adult years and then her addiction to the one clicker became an obsession that cannot be tamed. She is not genre specific as a reader and she will not be genre specific as a writer. "I am not writing to tap into a niche but writing whatever my heart feels is the story to tell. Each WIP I create will have it's own voice. Some may thrive and some may not." When Andrea isn't writing you will find her reading, listening to music or spending time with her precious family. She is excited yet nervous to share her passion with you but looks forward to the journey ahead. She loves to hear from her readers and is eager to make new friends. Links below so you can friend, like, follow and support her.

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Release Day Blitz ~ Finding Me ~ S.K. Hartley

The lines are blurred between what is real and what isn't, the darkness that was once a place I feared was now a place of safety. If I stayed in the darkness, the hellish reality of what was truly happening no longer seemed real.

But I was about to be pulled out from under the consuming blanket of dark shadows, and plunged into the murky depths of my past. I was about to be shown my demons and all it's evil sides, all of it's pain and grief. I could only hope I survive it.

What happens when the world you once knew crumbles and falls at your feet? Who will find me? Who will save me from my demons?

My dark prince or my white knight...

And will I find myself in the process.

 

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And I'm dying. I'm fucking dying, She has been put into a position where she is having to beg. Time and time again she is forced to beg, just so she can damn well live. All she wants, all she craves is just to be normal. She just wants her past to be just that, the past. Hearing her voice awakens everything inside me, but hearing her panic and pain awakens every protective fiber in my body. "Logan! Logan, answer me." Tate's panicked voice pulls me out of my mindless pissing contest. But my muscles are throbbing with familiar adrenaline. I need to get to her. "What?!" I spit. My own desperation is taking over. I can't hear anything but my own heartbeat which has now lodged itself in my throat. "Logan, what the hell is going on?!" Tate yells. His faced is laced with concern as he moves out from the seat of the truck. I don't think I can speak, I open my mouth but nothing comes out. I am completely speechless. I don't know what to do. So, I thrust the phone into Tate's hands, watching as he puts it to his ear and listens. Seconds pass as I watch Tate's face morph from concern to sheer panic, matching my own.

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S.K. Hartley is a mother, wife and a writer. Based in the not so sunny North West of England you can find her either glued to her computer desk, in the public library (Yes, they do still exist!) or floating around her favourite authors books signings.

S.K. Hartley has an unhealthy obsession with coffee, chocolate and retro computer games and a healthy obsession of stalking indie authors.

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Blog Tour & Giveway ~ Starfire ~ Mimi Strong

Peaches Monroe works at a bookstore in small town Washington. She's also a plus-size lingerie model, and the former girlfriend of Dalton Deangelo. He's the sexy, smoldering actor who plays TV's hottest vampire.

Now Dalton is back in town, hiding out from his past and a ton of bad publicity.

He can't keep his hands off Peaches, even though she's dating someone else.

Peaches knows that being friendly with Dalton always ends up in complete disaster, but he does have an interesting proposal for her--a wedding proposal. He says a fake wedding will save his career, and he needs her.

As much as she'd love to run into the arms of the incredibly hot, deliciously sexy actor, she's also afraid. He keeps hinting that he loves her, but he won't say the words.

Even if he did profess his love, can you ever really trust an actor?

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The music changed to an Abba song, and a few people skating the circuit cheered. Adrian considered this busy for the rink? We weren’t alone, but the place wasn’t exactly crowded, either. A dozen little kids were racing around as fast as their parents would let them, and another forty people were skating around at a more leisurely pace. A good portion were white-haired seniors, with big smiles on their faces.

Adrian and I started skating, both of us a little rough at first, but getting into the flow. Soon we were skating along smoothly, holding hands like most of the other couples, and Adrian got cocky enough to drop my hand and skate ahead to do a spin for me. He actually pulled it off, causing me to say, “Not bad, Mr. Storm.”

He came back to my side, put his arm across my shoulder, and used his free hand to tilt my chin toward him. He kissed me as we skated past the speakers. I kept my eyes open for balance, but he closed his, getting that dopey, sweet look guys get when they can’t believe they’re kissing someone.

The lights dimmed, the music changed to a romantic folk rock song, and the small kids filed off the rink. Adrian kept kissing me, and our skating speed slowed and slowed.

I noticed a very grown-up feeling I was having between my legs. Miss Kitty was purring.

We came to a standstill near the gate we’d come in through. My purse was checked into a storage cubby back at the skate rental counter, but our shoes and leftover pasta boxes were sitting up in the bleachers.

I pulled away from Adrian’s succulent lips and glanced up toward our pile of stuff, halfway up the bleachers and barely visible. “We could take a break and finish our dinner,” I said.

He reached up and touched my ear. I’d forgotten I was wearing earrings. My earlobe pinched as he fiddled around with the earring, probably looking for the backing and not realizing they were clip-ons. The first one fell off into his hand, and he’d barely touched the other one when it did the same.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“We’re recreating lost teen experiences, aren’t we? Let’s go up into the dark bleachers for some good, old-fashioned necking.”

“Necking! You sound so old-timey.”

He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and ran his fingers down my neck, then along my throat to my collarbone.

He murmured, “Your heart’s beating fast.”

“From all the rollerskating,” I lied.

“Nobody’s looking. Quick, let’s get on up there.”

I pushed open the hip-height wooden door, freshly painted but dented from decades of hockey games. In the winter, rollerskating switched to iceskating and hockey games, and the arena would be packed every Saturday night with hockey fans and parents.

We climbed up, stepping sideways so we didn’t murder ourselves on our roller skates. We grabbed our things and proceeded up higher and higher, until we were in darkness. I could barely see Adrian’s face, but I found his lips easily.

We kissed, sitting next to each other on the flat wooden bleacher step. I took his lower lip in my mouth and felt carefully with my tongue for the tiny scar from his lip ring.

He pressed his tongue hungrily into my mouth as one hand came across and landed on my bare knee.

He moved his lips away from mine, and over to my ear. He took my earlobe in my mouth and gently sucked it, the way he had my thumb. My skin prickled all over, and I felt myself begin to glow with sweat.

Moving down my neck, he licked and sucked and gently bit my skin until I was moaning. I could hear the crackle of his saliva as he sucked my neck, let go, and held it again with gentle pressure.

At the same time, his hand moved slowly up my leg—trepidatiously, like the hand of a young guy trying to get to third base for the first time.

I whispered, “Adrian, are you trying to get to third base?”

He pulled his hot mouth away from my neck, the saliva evaporating and cooling my neck suddenly. To accentuate this, he blew air gently on my neck. I shuddered with pleasure at the sensation.

In the shadows, I saw him lick his lips, then say, “It would be a crime for me to skip second base.” His gaze was directly on my peaches, looking luscious and heaving from my rapid breathing.

“May I?” he asked, holding out both hands, inches from my sweater puppies.

 

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Bestselling author Mimi Strong thinks life is too short to be anything but outrageous.

She's the author of 3 USA Today Bestsellers, STARDUST, FOR YOU, and BORROWED BILLIONAIRE, as well as STARLIGHT, HER TEDDY BEAR, BILLIONAIRE NOVELIST, KISSING COACH, and PRETTY GIRLS.

Mimi lives on the west coast with her green-eyed husband and two ginger cats. She loves her beautiful readers and sends you all big hugs in the form of awesome books full of sex, humor, and heart.

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Blog Tour & Giveaway ~ Spurs & Stilletos ~ Ashley Johnson

 

Hope Trahan has everything she wants and everyone she needs…except her sister and someone who really is deserving of her. Who knew two separate events would turn everything completely upside down? When her best friend drags her down to the rodeo to help clear her head the last thing she expects is to meet a sexy, sweet talking cowboy. That’s not what she came for but fate had other things in mind.

Wesley Tyler owns two national titles and is riding his way to the next. The day he meets Hope, he knows there’s no going back. He soon learns Hope carries ghosts with her she can’t quite shake. She holds things she wishes she could let go of. Wesley just may hold the key to helping her overcome it all. Can he win her over and help mend her broken walls or will her past hold her down?

 

 

 

 

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I’m a bundle of nerves as I step out into the night air. It’s hard to not see him. He’s leaning against his truck. His back is to me and I almost don’t think he knows I am coming until he turns around to face me. My heart drops in my chest as I look into his eyes. We say nothing for a minute. We’re taking this time to rememorize each other, this time without the loud music and bright lights of the club. His hand reaches up and brushes against my cheek. I shudder trying to control myself. I missed his touch so much. I close my eyes praying this isn’t some dream but I open them and he’s here with his hand still on my cheek. “I miss you Hope.” He whispers. I won’t cry. I’m telling myself that. I’ll kick my own ass if I cry. I won’t be weak. “I miss you too,” I whisper almost inaudibly. We go back to not speaking. I can’t believe I’m standing outside in front of him. In front of the man who completely melts my heart. “Can you forgive me?” He leans in closing his mouth over mine and takes charge blowing my mind. I kiss him fiercely. “I can’t think of you being anyone else’s but mine Hope.” He says between kisses.

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My name is Ashley Johnson and I live in Lake Charles, La with my fiance and our daughter. I graduated high school in 2003 and graduated college in 2008 with an associates degree in Criminal Justice. Now I just love to read and write and I hope ya'll enjoy it.

 

 

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Book Blitz & Giveaway ~ Fogiven ~ Rebecca Brooke

Title: Forgiven (Forgiven #1)

Series: Forgiven

Author: Rebecca Brooke

Released: August 10th 2013

~Synopsis~

What happens when one moment changes the course of your entire life? Do you sit back and accept it, or fight to live the life you choose? Caleb Jacobs has a past that has haunted him for two years. Knowing he can never forgive himself for the events that led to his departure, Caleb chooses to live a quiet life—concentrating on school, sports, and shots. But when he is paired with Angie for a history project he realizes that no matter how much you try to hide from your past, one way or another it will find you. Angelina Powers knows what she wants from life. Growing up with only an alcoholic father for company, Angie learned early on in life that you can only count on yourself. But that doesn’t stop her wishing for her white knight. She’s confident, happy and focused…until she meets Caleb. So how will she feel when her potential white knight turns out to be more of a black shadow?

~Excerpt~

I saw the uncomfortable look on his face—at least he had the decency to feel embarrassed about his behavior. He leaned forward on his elbows, resting his chin in his palms. “Look.” His loud exhale made it seem like he was about to impart something profound, but something that he really didn’t want to share. “I don’t mean to be an ass. There are just things about me people don’t know.” He closed his eyes and I could see his breath become shallow as his chest moved up and down rapidly. “There are…things. Things that have happened. You remind me of someone, and it took me by surprise.” His eyes raised to meet mine. “I am sorry though. You didn’t deserve that,” he said sadly.

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~Meet the Author~

Rebecca Brooke grew up in the shore towns of South Jersey. She loves to hit the beach, but always with her kindle on hand. She is married to the most wonderful man, who puts up with all of her craziness. Together they have two beautiful children who keep her on her toes. When she isn’t writing or reading (which is very rarely) she loves to bake and watch episodes of Shameless and True Blood.

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