Excerpt Reveal: Just Friends by Monica Murphy

Just Friends by Monica Murphy

Release Date: September 13^th, 2016 

Genre: New Adult Romance

Synopsis:

It’s the end of summer. Just before I start senior year with my two best friends in the whole world. Dustin and Emily are everything to me. We’ve been inseparable since middle school, and when we’re together, nothing can go wrong. 

But things aren’t always what they seem. Em’s turned into a drunken mess who parties too much. Dustin and I have hooked up a few times―and now he’s ready to take our relationship to the next level. Yet I’m not sure I want things to change. I’m scared if I take it any further with Dustin, our friendship will be ruined forever. Then there’s Ryan. The new guy. He’s hot. He flirts way too much. And Em has totally set her sights on him. 

So when my best friend betrays me in the worst possible way, guess who’s there to help me pick up the pieces of my broken heart? Ryan. But he’s so confusing. Annoying. Sweet. Sexy. I want to trust him, yet he makes it so hard. What I really want is for everything to go back to the way it was before. 

Before I found out that best friends make the worst kind of enemies.

Add to Goodreads

 

Excerpt:

“Liv! Finally you’re here.” She curls her arm around my shoulders and forces me to face Ryan, who’s still sitting on the edge of the bed with his legs spread in that way boys sit, wearing only swim trunks again. Does the guy ever wear actual clothes? “We’ve been waiting for you. Tell Ryan hello.”  

“Hello,” I say in a monotone, incredibly uncomfortable from interrupting what was surely a private hookup moment. He smiles and rises to his feet, smoothing a hand over his rumpled hair, his biceps bulging with the movement. Hair Em was probably responsible for rumpling. “Hey, Livvy.” 

Tingles race over my skin and I force myself to ignore the signs. The signs that I might be attracted to this boy who just had his tongue in my best friend’s mouth. I don’t even know him. It’s purely a physical thing, as in every single thing that makes him up physically, I find attractive. 

And I shouldn’t. He doesn’t belong to me. He belongs to Em. I should be thinking about Dustin. 

Not Ryan. 

“I’m so glad you’re finally here.” Em turns toward me, and envelopes me in a warm hug, her mouth on my neck as she starts to speak again. “I’ve missed you.” 

I hug her back, my gaze meeting Ryan’s as I say, “I’ve missed you too.” 

He sends me a playful, rolling eyes look that I ignore. 

Em kisses my neck and pulls away, her blue eyes bright, her cheeks flushed. She’s wearing a white lacy cover up over a black string bikini and her chin-length, gold-streaked bob is tucked behind her ears. She’s effortlessly gorgeous, all rosy from kissing a cute boy for who knows how long. “Now that you’re here the party can start.” 

I laugh and shake my head. “Looks like it’s already been going for the last few days.” 

Em rolls her eyes and lets go of me, heading for her dresser. “I was just biding my time until you showed up.” 

“So I bring the party?” I tease, meeting Ryan’s gaze once more. 

“You definitely bring something,” he tells me before pulling me into a tight hug. My chest presses against his, my arms going around his waist for the briefest moment before I release him and back far away. 

He makes me nervous. 

“Aw, I love that you guys are already hugging!” Em cries as she watches us. 

Guilt swamps me but Ryan just smiles. “I’ll leave you girls alone.” He looks at me. “See you at the pool.” 

And then he’s gone. 

The air seems to cool the moment he’s left the room and I go to stand next to Em, watching as she digs through the top drawer of her dresser. It’s an elaborate piece of furniture, cream-colored with an endless number of drawers, every one of them stuffed full of clothes. The one she’s digging through now is over flowing with lacy scraps of fabric. There are panties in every style and color, boy shorts and thongs and bikinis, some of it standard, most of it sexy. 

Her underwear drawer is like Em in a nutshell. 

“So how’s your summer been? Besides the partying and hanging out with the popular crowd? Have you done anything else?” I’m trying to make conversation but she’s hardly paying attention to me. 

“It’s been so boring without you here,” she says, her head practically buried in that drawer. 

I think she’s saying that to make me feel better. Not that she needs to. I’m a big girl. She’s allowed to have fun when I’m not around. 

“What are you looking for?” I ask.


“A black lacy thong I bought last week.” She lifts her head and smiles at me. “I want to wear it tonight.”
 “But aren’t we going swimming?” 
Em blows out a frustrated breath. “Yeah, but I don’t want to forget. I want to wear it for...” Her voice drifts and she purses her lips. 

“Ryan?” 

She sighs and slams the drawer shut, turning to look at me. “Well, yeah. But it’s no big deal. We’re just friends.” 

I raise a brow. “Is that what you call it? Because I hate to break it to you, but you were kissing him just a few minutes ago, and he had his hand on your boob.” 

“So crude.” She nudges my shoulder with hers. “Voyeur.” 

“Just stating facts. Facts I saw with my own eyes.” I pause, but she doesn’t say anything. “I don’t get why you can’t say that you like him and he likes you. What’s the big deal?” 

“Because he refuses to make this a big deal so I can’t, okay? He told me straight up that we’re going to be just friends and that’s it.” 

  

Pre-Order Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2bHAn2k
iBooks: http://apple.co/2aeSduM 
B&N: http://bit.ly/2bIDYNr 
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2bNGXUX 
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2bIEISO 
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2bhsEbM 
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2byYFg7

About the Author:

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance. 

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she's not writing, she's reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She's a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

Connect with Monica:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MonicaMurphyauthor Twitter: https://twitter.com/MsMonicaMurphy 
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2c9ViiI 
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2bRP5bR 
Website: http://monicamurphyauthor.com 
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/IW5U0y

Blog Tour: The One Real Thing (Hart's Boardwalk #1) by Samantha Young

The One Real Thing
Hart's Boardwalk, #1
by Samantha Young

Release Date:
September 6th, 2016

Add to Goodreads

Publisher:
Berkley

Source:
Publisher

eARC received in exchange of honest review

BT Hosted by:
Berkley

Synopsis:

A Bookish Escape is so excited because it’s finally here… a brand new book from New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young! THE ONE REAL THING sets the scene for the Hart’s Boardwalk series and will leave you wishing that this seaside town (and its residents!) were real. Read on for a glimpse at what’s in store for you when you pick up your own copy of THE ONE REAL THING today!

Welcome to Hartwell, a quiet seaside escape where uncovering old secrets could lead one woman to discover the meaning of a love that lasts… 

While Doctor Jessica Huntington engages with the inmates at the women’s correctional facility where she works, she’s always careful to avoid emotional attachments in her personal life. Loss and betrayal taught her that lesson long ago. But when she comes across a set of old love letters in the prison’s library and visits the picturesque town of Hartwell to deliver them to their intended recipient, she finds herself unable to resist the town’s charm—and her attraction to the sexy owner of a local bar proves equally hard to deny. 

Since his divorce from his unfaithful ex-wife, Cooper Lawson has focused on what really matters: his family and the boardwalk pub they’ve owned for generations. But the first time Jessica steps into his bar, Cooper is beyond tempted to risk his heart on her. 

Yet as their attraction grows hotter and Jessica remains stubbornly closed off, he begins to realize it will take more than just passion to convince her there’s only one real thing in life worth fighting for…

Purchase Links:

Amazon | B&N | BAM | iBooks | Kobo

Excerpt:

“You’re not walking back to the inn alone at night, Doc. We’ve been over that.” He grinned as she flushed at the reminder of their make-out session on the beach. 

She huffed. “I’m perfectly capable of doing so.” 

“Not arguing about it.” 

“What happened to the enlightened gentleman who let me pay for dinner the other day?” 

“Splitting the cost of a date is different from seeing to your safety.” 

“Date?” Bailey’s ears perked up. 

“Fine, you can walk me home,” Jessica said abruptly, cutting off Bailey’s curiosity. “’Bye, all!” She hurried out of the house. 

Cooper was met by four amused stares. He smiled back at them and Bailey looked ready to burst with delight. She thought they were a tag team. 

They weren’t. 

Cooper still wanted the doc to make up her own mind. 

Didn’t mean teasing her wasn’t fun as hell. 

He hurried to catch up with her outside. “Hold your horses, Doc.” 

She turned to wait for him. The sadness he caught on her face kicked the amusement right out of him. 

They walked together toward the inn in silence until Cooper couldn’t take it anymore. It needed to be talked about. “You happy back in Wilmington, Doc?” 

He felt her tense beside him. She suddenly threw her hands up in seeming frustration. “I don’t know, okay? I don’t know. But I do know that my life is back in Wilmington, Cooper. My job is there. And I’m good at my job. Those women need someone like me. I made a commitment to my job that I can’t just break.” 

“And what about you?” he argued. “What about what you need?” 

Her only answer was this pained expression he didn’t quite understand. 

It was full of so much hurt he decided to drop it. 

Silence fell between them, but the usual camaraderie he enjoyed so much between them was gone. 

As the moments passed, he was aware of everything about her. The heat of her body close to his, the quick rise and fall of her chest that told him she was just as affected by his closeness, the little tremble in her full bottom lip he didn’t think she was even aware of. 

The previous night, he’d dreamed about her. 

She was in his bar like the day they’d met. No one else around but them. 

He’d fucked her on top of one of the tables. 

Fast. Furious. 
So hot. 

Cooper had woken up only to jump into the shower. He’d closed his eyes and remembered the dream as he took care of himself. 

It was empty, so fucking empty, in comparison to what reality could be. 

His dick tightened in his jeans thinking about it, his gaze shooting to Jessica’s mouth. It was time to remind her what was possible between them. 

Cooper grabbed her wrist and pushed her up against the side of Dahlia’s gift shop. The alley between it and George’s place was dark and silent except for their heavy breathing. He pinned her in, his hands braced on the wall at either side of her head. 

Jessica stared up at him with those big, dark eyes. “Coop—” 

He cut off her coming question with his mouth just like last time. 

She tasted of the mint ice cream they’d had for dessert and something else. Something all Jess. 

She whimpered against his kiss a second before he felt her tongue touch his and that was it. 

He was lost. 

His kiss turned hungry as a feeling of desperation came over him and he pressed his body down the length of hers. The lush feel of her mouth mingled with the weight of her breasts pressed to him was enough on its own to fire him up, but when she wrapped her arms around his neck and tightened her fingers in his hair to draw him closer, he was done for. 

He gripped her ass in his hand, urging her closer, his dick straining against her belly. His hand slid down to the back of her thigh and he hiked one of her legs up against his hip so he could be where he needed to be, fitting snugly between her thighs. 

Fuck, he wished she were wearing a skirt. 

“Cooper.” She breathed out his name, breaking the kiss. Her head fell back and her eyes fluttered with the sensation of him rubbing against her, mimicking sex. Her cheeks were flushed as she moaned and dug her hands into his shoulders to hold on. She flexed her hips against his and he felt his nerve endings catch fire. 

He needed to be inside her. 

The soft skin of her throat called to him and, as she gyrated against him, he tasted her, pressing kisses down her neck and across her collarbones. He moved his other hand down her back as his mouth reached the rise of her breasts. He brushed his thumb over the thin shirt and bra that hid them from him and groaned as her nipple visibly pebbled through the material. 

If they didn’t stop soon he was going to take her right there. 

“Fuck.” He pulled away from her abruptly and she stumbled back against the wall, looking as dazed as he felt. 

All he’d wanted was a taste of her. 

Now he knew for certain that just a taste would never be enough with this woman. “Tell me,” he said, a little breathless, “tell me you’ve got this back in Wilmington, Doc.” 

He watched the muscle in her jaw twitch as she clenched her teeth. 

She couldn’t tell him. 

He knew that. Because what they had between them didn’t come around very often. 

“Doc?” he persisted, and he learned in that moment that Jessica Huntington was not only smart and sassy but stubborn as hell. 

“I can’t do this”—she gestured between them—“not with you.” 

And she walked away. 

Gutting him. 

He was just asking her to think about making room in her life for him. The fact that she wouldn’t even contemplate it for a second, when his blood was on fire with need for her and his mind was on her most hours of the day, was like a gaping wound. 

Strangely, the pain fired his determination. Jessica Huntington was lying to herself. Cooper didn’t know why, but he was going to find out. 

By then the doc would be in his bed. 

Right where they both knew she belonged.

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author:

Samantha Young is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the On Dublin Street series, including Moonlight on Nightingale Way, Echoes of Scotland Street, and Fall from India Place, as well as the standalone novel Hero. She resides in Scotland.

Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter | Website

#TeaserTuesday: Just Friends by Monica Murphy

Hosted By: Books and a Beat

Add to Goodreads Here

Preorder On:

AmazonUS | AmazonCA | AmazonAU | Barnes and Noble | ibooks

Release Day Blitz & Review : Too Wild To Tame (Romancing the Clarksons, #2) by Tessa Bailey

Too Wild To Tame
Romancing the Clarksons, #2
by Tessa Bailey

Release Date:
September 6th, 2016

Add to Goodreads

Publisher:
Forever/
GCP

Release Day Blitz Hosted by:
Forever

Source:
Publisher via NetGalley

eARC received in exchange of honest review

Synopsis:

Sometimes you just can't resist playing with fire . . . 

By day, Aaron Clarkson suits up, shakes hands, and acts the perfect gentleman. But at night, behind bedroom doors, the tie comes off and the real Aaron comes out to play. Mixing business with pleasure got him fired, so Aaron knows that if he wants to work for the country's most powerful senator, he'll have to keep his eye on the prize. That's easier said than done when he meets the senator's daughter, who's wild, gorgeous, and 100 percent trouble. 

Grace Pendleton is the black sheep of her conservative family. Yet while Aaron's presence reminds her of a past she'd rather forget, something in his eyes keeps drawing her in. Maybe it's the way his voice turns her molten. Or maybe it's because deep down inside, the ultra-smooth, polished Aaron Clarkson might be more than even Grace can handle . . . 

Purchase Links:

Amazon | B&N | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo

Romancing the Clarksons Series on Goodreads:

My Review of Too Hot To Handle HERE

Excerpt:

The security guard at the rear entrance came into view, his familiar hawk eyes zeroing in on Grace. Then Aaron. Exasperation moved over the guard’s features before he hid it by adjusting his earpiece. Activity swarmed on the front side of the building, the media, the shouted questions, the general scrape and hum of movement audible, even where they walked along the backside of the school. 

Knowing once they were inside, she wouldn’t see Aaron again, Grace smiled up at him, noticing he didn’t look quite as confident as he had a moment before. “It was nice meeting you,” she whispered. “Thanks for not ratting me out.” 

“I…” He smoothed a hand down the front of his ruby-colored tie. “I won’t see you…around again?” 

Grace’s hands itched with the urge to burrow into her hair, latch on to the braids she’d completed this morning while waiting for Aaron to show. “Probably not. Why would you?” 

Why was he frowning at her? She couldn’t ask him why, since they were within earshot of the guard and the walk had ended way too soon. With a final memorization of his furrowed brow, she transferred her focus. “Hey, Marcus.” 

“Grace.” Marcus dipped his chin at Aaron. “Who’s this?” 

Her neck grew stiff. “This is my handler for today. He’s new.” 

Marcus split a look between her and Aaron, before consulting his clipboard. “No one ran a change in staff by me.” 

Grace could feel Aaron’s sharp scrutiny and ignored it, attempting to breeze past Marcus with a casual smile. “I understand. I’ll just go grab my dad, so he can clear it up—” 

“No. That’s okay.” As predicted, a harried Marcus blocked her path. “Your father is busy. Just…” He gave Aaron another once-over, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper between men, as if Grace couldn’t hear every word. “You know the approved areas? Be sure to keep her within them.” 

“Yes.” She was impressed when Aaron gave a brisk nod. “Will do.” 

Aaron took her elbow and moved them into the back hallway, past the kitchen, where the local Boy Scouts were rushing to mix pancakes and pour them on the oversized, industrial griddle. Once they turned a corner and Marcus was no longer in view, Grace reluctantly tugged her elbow out of Aaron’s grip, rubbing the spot to keep the warmth alive awhile longer. “This is where we part ways.” 

Aaron’s way too handsome face was the picture of bafflement. “Who are you, hippie?” The low, intense vibration of his voice made her shiver. “Why do you need a handler?” 

She reached back and curled her fingers around the metal staircase handle. The one she knew was there—and where it led—thanks to last night’s expedition. Her intent was to slip away without answering, but after ignoring so many compulsions that morning already, she couldn’t deny the final one. 

With a thready apology, Grace shot forward and up, locking her mouth with Aaron’s, memorizing the way his stiffness melted in one big deluge. The way he gave a rough exhale through his nose. That gruff sound that drummed from his throat, a split second before his lips opened, tongue teasing in to taste hers. Just some. The most perfect, slick greeting. The two of them hung there, mouths open, lips wet and fitted together, breath racing, kitchen clamoring behind them. 

Two ends of a silk rope pulled taut beneath her belly button, a tempting lick of his tongue clenching muscles she’d never acquainted herself with, nor could she point them out on a diagram. Whoa Nelly. And with her heart slamming against her ribs like a wrecking ball, Grace cut out that snippet of time—so shimmering and unmarred—tucked it into her pocket, and stole down the staircase, wondering how long the memory of Aaron’s kiss would stay with her. Praying the answer was forever.  

Mikki's Review:

The gaz tank is full, the snacks are ready and the Clarksons are ready to steal some hearts in Tessa Bailey's second book in her fun, passionate and addictive series Romancing the Clarksons. Pack your bags bookworms! This is one road trip you do not want to miss! I totally fell in love with the Clarkson family in Too Hot To Handle and I could not wait to reunite with them. The last time I was with them, they left me at the corner of Book Hangover and Happy Heart.

Playing with fire will get you burned. Aaron Clarkson knows this too well. He embarks on a journey with his siblings to fulfill his mother's dying wish. The only thing Aaron wants is to work for the country's most powerful senator. He's good at what he does and nothing or nobody will come in the way of getting what he wants. Or so he thinks. Grace Pendleton feels like she is alone in the world. Her family is distant and she is left on her own fighting her personal demons. The one person who listens and makes her feel like she belongs is Aaron Clarkson. He's a welcomed presence in her world and she's not ready to let him go. Playing with fire has never been so tempting.

There is no doubt in my mind that Tessa Bailey holds the key to my happy place in Book Town. Every single time I read one of her books, I feel like I am living the story as well. Her characters are like family to me. I laugh and cry with them. My heart is happy when they are living joyful moments and my heart breaks when they go through difficult ones. What I love the most about this series is the bond between Rita, Peggy, Aaron and Belmont. With each story that is added, the bond they they share grows stronger. In this book, Aaron and Belmont share some pretty special brotherly moments together. Their relationship was pretty much nonexistent before this road trip. Gah!!! My heart was bursting with happiness to see them finally put the past behind and move forward in the same direction.

Grace and Aaron's chemistry was out of this world intense! The last thing Aaron was expecting from this road trip was to find the woman that would bring him to his knees and make him feel alive. Even if Tessa Bailey's characters fall in love pretty quickly, you believe every single minute of it. These love stories are filled with special moments that will make your heart melt and steamy scenes that will leave you hot and bothered. Grace and Aaron both had their own personal struggles. Together, they found a way to help each other heal the scars from the past. Each moment that they created together counted and the more time they spent together, the more these moments became unforgettable. I loved how Peggy, Sage and Belmont helped Aaron. They were there t listen to him when he thought nobody would be there to listen. They are amazing characters and I love them dearly. I can't wait for the next stop on this road trip. My girl Peggy is going after her man! Woohoo!!

Rating:

I give, Too Wild To Tame, by Tessa Bailey, 5 passionate, tantalizing, fascinating, all we get are moments stars!

Teasers:

About the Author:

Tessa Bailey is originally from Carlsbad, California. The day after high school graduation, she packed her yearbook, ripped jeans, and laptop, and drove cross-country to New York City in under four days. Her most valuable life experiences were learned thereafter while waitressing at K-Dees, a Manhattan pub owned by her uncle. Inside those four walls, she met her husband, best friend, and discovered the magic of classic rock, managing to put herself through Kingsborough Community College and the English program at Pace University at the same time. Several stunted attempts to enter the work force as a journalist followed, but romance writing continued to demand her attention. 

She now lives in Long Island, New York with her husband and daughter. Although she is severely sleep-deprived, she is incredibly happy to be living her dream of writing about people falling in love.

Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter | Website

About FOREVER:

Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter | Website

Cover Reveal : Pretty Stolen Dolls by Ker Dukey & K. Webster

Pretty Stolen Dolls
by Ker Dukey & K.Webster

Release Date:
September 26th, 2016

Add to Goodreads

Genres:
Adult
Dark
Romantic
Suspense

Synopsis:

This is a Dark title with Adult themes.

From Bestselling Authors Ker Dukey & K Webster comes, Pretty Stolen Dolls.

Benny loves his pretty little dolls. 
As long as they do exactly as they’re told. 
He keeps them perfect by brushing their hair and gives them pretty dresses to wear. 
He likes to toy with them late at night. 
One so timid but the other likes to fight. 
When his favorite doll runs away… 
despite the other doll promising to stay, 
his heart becomes broken and he can’t help but cry. 
He wants her back home or his pretty little doll must die. 

Have you ever had to make a decision that haunts you every single day for the rest of your life…the life you stole back? 
I have. 
I ran for my survival, rocks and twigs cutting into the soles of my feet, my lungs burning and screaming for rest, every muscle tensed and fighting along with me for existence. 
I left her. 
I ran, ran, ran—from Benny and his lone, pretty little doll—until I couldn’t remember where to find them again. 
I’m sorry.

Pre-Order Links:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

Teaser:

About the Authors:

International Bestselling Author Ker Dukey 

I have always had a passion for storytelling, whether it be through lyrics or bed time stories with my sisters. I wanted to be an actress growing up so I could live many roles but I learned early on that my mind was too active… I would want to change the script.I would watch films and think of ways they could have improved the story if they took another direction so i thought it best that I tell my own. 

My mum would always have a book in her hand when I was young and passed on her love for reading, inspiring me to venture into writing my own. I tend to have a darker edge to my writing. Not all love stories are made from light, some are created in darkness but are just as powerful and worth telling. 

When I’m not lost in the world of characters I love spending time with my family. I’m a mum and that comes first in my life but when I do get down time I love attending music concerts or reading events with my younger sister. You can find me on Facebook where I love interacting with my readers. 

Amazon Author Page | DarKER Souls FB Group | Facebook   Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter | Newsletter | Website 

International Bestselling Author K. Webster 

K Webster is the author of dozens of romance books in many different genres including contemporary romance, historical romance, paranormal romance, and erotic romance. When not spending time with her husband of twelve years and two adorable children, she's active on social media connecting with her readers. 

Her other passions besides writing include reading and graphic design. K can always be found in front of her computer chasing her next idea and taking action. She looks forward to the day when she will see one of her titles on the big screen. 

Amazon Author Page | Facebook |  Goodreads | Instagram  Crazy for K FB Readers Group | Newsletter | Twitter | Website
  

Cover Reveal Hosted by:

https://justanotherbookbitch.com

https://justanother