Blog Tour + Excerpt & Giveaway: Unwanted Stars by Melissa Brown

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Welcome to today’s stop on the Unwanted Stars blog tour, where we have a fantastic excerpt and giveaway to share!

Unwanted Stars by Melissa Brown

Unwanted Stars by Melissa Brown
Series: Love of My Life #4
Release Date: February 3rd 2014
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It’s funny how the tiniest of things can change your life… an invitation, a simple kiss goodnight, a matchbook…

Auden Kelly is in need of a change.

She’s trading in her nine-to-five sales job for the adventure of a lifetime: a one year contract with a European tour company.

For one full year, Auden will get paid to see the world. What could be better? Her brother gives her a journal, instructing her to document all of her adventures as she travels from country to country. And that’s exactly what she does.

When a mysterious stranger enters her life, however, everything changes: her expectations, her priorities and her view of the world. And nothing for Auden will ever be the same.

Note: Although these books are part of a series, they do not need to be read in order

Buy Links:
Amazon • Barnes & Noble

excerpt

I was distracted from my daydreaming by the most intense eyes I’ve ever seen. The were blue, the brightest blue. Although one of them had a patch of brown next to the pupil. Tan skin, blue eyes, dark brown hair. And a stare that made me uncomfortable.

I’d noticed him before. The first day of the tour, in fact. He reminded me of Henry Cavill. Broad shoulders, tight ass, bulging muscular arms and a gorgeous face. When he smiled, he had a boyish look about him, but when his lips were pressed tight, like when he was listening to Anabelle describe the sights, he looked like an alpha male. A hot, dangerous alpha male. I’d purposely avoided him because I didn’t want to give Anabelle any ammunition towards getting me fired. And now that I knew Tom had blabbed, I felt even more determined to keep my attraction in tact. I’d purposely stayed away. I hadn’t even heard his voice yet. Was he American? Canadian? British?

But, now he was staring and I couldn’t avoid him any longer.

“Auden, right?” he asked, offering me a fresh blueberry from a ziploc bag. I narrowed my eyes at him and his choice of snack. Here we were, in Amsterdam. He could buy a brownie laced with pot or a million different kinds of sweets. But, he was munching on blueberries.

“Thanks,” I said, grabbing a couple berries from the bag and popping them into my mouth. They were juicy and sweet. Almost intoxicating.

Stop it, Auden.

“Have you worked here long? I’ve never seen you before.” It was then that I really heard his accent. British. Delicious.

“I’m new. But, why would you have seen me before?” I tilted my head in confusion.

“My mates and I like to take trips every few months. Blow off steam.” He said, popping another berry into his mouth. His lips were a gorgeous shade of peach. “And Jordan’s the best.”

“I see.” I said, pressing my lips together, not knowing what else to say. It wasn’t often that a man could get me tongue tied. But, it was happening. All I could focus on was the dimple on his right cheek when he smiled. And how his left eye had a small patch of brown within the blue.

“Unique name.”

“Huh?” He snapped me out of my daze. “Uh, yeah. I guess.”

“Don’t hear it very often.” He said.

It was then that I realized I didn’t know his. And it was my job to know it. How was I going to get out of this one?

“Campbell,” he said,“Campbell Hutchins.”

“Like the soup?” I said. As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew they were unprofessional. But, he simply laughed.

“Wow, never heard that before.” He said, running his fingers through his silky brown hair, “My friends call me Hutch.”

“Seriously?” I asked, taken aback.

“What do you mean?” He looked confused.

“As in Starsky & Hutch?” I pressed.

“You are way too young to know that reference.” He said, shaking his head from side to side.

“They made a movie reboot when I was in high school. Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson…remember?”

“Right.” He said with a lopsided grin. He had such a boyish charm to his smile, it was unnerving.

“Besides, you don’t seem old enough to know the original show either. That was the seventies.” I narrowed my eyes at him. He could be in his early thirties, but there was no way he was old enough to have watched that show when it was on the air.

“Saw it in reruns.” He said with a shrug.

“Nice to meet you, Starsky.” I said with a smirk. He shook his head at me and extended his hand like the English gentleman that he was. I tried my best not to feel the electrical current coursing through every nerve in my body. This was a brand new sensation. Which is saying a lot considering my boy-crazy history. This was unique and terrifying and wonderfully exciting. “Sorry, I mean Hutch of course. So, Campbell…where’d your parents think of that one?”

“Do you always interrogate tour members about their names?” he asked with a chuckle. My cheeks turned pink when I realized I usually didn’t give a crap about people’s names or the origin of said names. But, he was different. It was like I needed to know anything I could learn about this handsome stranger.

“Just answer the question,” I said, flirting with a tilt of my head and arms crossed across my chest.

For a second, everything stopped as Campbell looked down at my feet. He smirked as his eyes climbed up my calf and to my thighs. They lingered there for just a second before continuing up to my torso, my chest and finally my face. When our eyes met, he grinned and I suddenly felt as naked as the day I was born.

“Tradition.” He answered. When I looked confused (because obviously I’d forgotten the question since he’d studied every inch of my body as if he wanted to devour me). “I’m named after my great grandfather. He was kind of a hero in my town.”

“Where are you from?”

“Jersey.”

What?

“Um, no. Try again.”

“What do you mean?” he asked with a chuckle.

“I’m from the states, pal. I know when someone’s from Joi-zee and when they’re not. And you clearly are not. Where are you really from?”

He threw his beautiful head back in laughter, that dimple once again making a grand entrance on his cheek. Something twitched in my belly—desire, I think. Until I realized he was laughing at me.

“And you call yourself a tour guide? The island of Jersey…one of the Channel Islands…” His voice trailed off as he leaned his forehead in my direction. If he could read my mind, this is what it would say:

I.

Am.

A.

Dumbass.

You know those moments when you really just want to crawl in a hole and forget your poor excuse for a life? Yeah, this was one of those moments. I could never get that moment back. I could never convince this gorgeous man that I was not only aware of the Channel Islands, but had probably been to one or two of them as a child. I just wanted to slink back to the tour bus and hide behind the seats. So not like me. I didn’t let men get under my skin. Hell, I got under their skin. Who was this guy?

“Uh–Of course,” I said, stumbling on my words. “I was just kidding.”

Just then, I was saved by another member of the tour. A mousy brain haired American girl named Becca.

“Excuse me, Auden. Anabelle needs you.”

Thank God.

“I’d better, um…go,” I said.

“Until we meet again,” he said with a chuckle.

Not if I can help it. The next three weeks would be agony if I had to dodge that gorgeous man every time our bus made a stop. Lord, beer me strength.

Love of My Life Reading Order

Bouquet Toss (Book One)

Bouquet Toss by Melissa Brown

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Ever since Daphne Harper graduated from college, all of her friends have fallen in love, become engaged and walked down the aisle. Be it a blessing or a curse, Daphne (a hopeless romantic and perpetual single girl) catches the bouquet at every single wedding she attends.

Daphne’s love life is a mess. Her first love, Mayson, haunts her heart and keeps her from pursuing happiness with any man who comes along. As she struggles to move on from the one who got away, Daphne wonders if she will ever break her curse and find her happily ever after.

Champagne Toast  (Book Two)

Champagne Toast by Melissa Brown

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Kate Armour and Evan Maxwell fell hard and fast for each other while attending college. Their once passionate and loving relationship ended when old scars eventually tore them apart. Two years after their breakup, they’re each struggling to piece together what went wrong in an attempt to move forward.

Kate, a no-nonsense bartender, must face her past while attempting to focus on her future.

Evan is stifled by his bitter heart, which threatens each and every relationship he attempts after walking away from Kate.

Will life offer them a second chance at love or are old patterns simply too hard to break?

Picturing Perfect  (Book Three)

Picturing Perfect by Melissa Brown

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Hadley Foster has been through a lot in her twenty-two years: the death of her beloved father, her mother’s descent into mental illness, and the loss of her soulmate, Jason Kelly, from whom she walked away years ago.

Despite all this, Hadley has remained hopeful and optimistic about life. She has been with upstanding investment banker Tucker for six years, and the future looks bright—until a trip to Europe with her best friend brings a series of events no one could have foreseen. Suddenly the brilliant future she has envisioned for herself seems to shatter before her eyes. She is faced with a stark choice: move on again, or pick up the pieces.

Back home, nerdy but handsome Jason Kelly is now a successful writer who could have anything—and anyone—he wants. But deep down, he still misses his beloved “Haddie” and dreams of winning her back.

When destiny leads their paths to cross once more, Hadley and Jason must confront not only their painful past, but what the future may hold for them both.

about the author

Melissa BrownI have always been fascinated with books—-ever since I was a little girl sitting in front of my record player, following along with my huge 12×12 storybooks.

I love books—everything about them. I love reading them, being surrounded by them in bookstores and libraries, and most recently, writing some of my own.

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Blog Tour + Deleted Scene & Giveaway: A Little Too Hot by Lisa Desrochers

A Little Too Hot Blog Tour

Welcome to today’s stop on the A Little Too Hot blog tour! I’m so excited to share a deleted scene from ALTH! And don’t forget to enter the HUGE giveaway Lisa Desrochers has going on!

ALTH is my favorite of the series so far–I highly recommend it! If you haven’t read this series, you really should give it a try. These books will keep you hooked onto the stories, and the characters are so great and relatable. You can my review for A Little Too Hot here.

A Little Too Hot by Lisa Desrochers

A Little Too Hot by Lisa Desrochers
Series: A Little Too Far #3 (full reading order below)
Release Date: January 21, 2014
Publisher: William Morrow Impulse
New Adult Contemporary Romance
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From USA Today bestselling author Lisa Desrochers comes the third book in her sizzling new adult series.

If you play with fire …

Tossed out of college and cut off by her parents, Samantha West is in pretty dire straits. So when her rocker best friend hooks her up with a job dancing at a gentlemen’s club, who is she to turn it down? Plus, there are rules to dancing at Benny’s: No touching, keep your clothes on at all times, and never get closer than three feet. Unfortunately for Sam, her first private client makes her want to break every single one of them.

Harrison Yates is scorching hot, but he’s got a past that involves being left at the altar not too long ago. Sam is determined to make him forget about his ex, but when she makes her move, it flings her life into a spiral of chaos she never saw coming. Because Harrison Yates isn’t who he seems to be. And his secret will probably get her killed.

“Every page is deliciously breathtaking, wickedly sexy and sensational. A LITTLE TOO HOT is wonderfully unique and a LOT HOT! I am a HUGE Lisa Desrochers fan.”

— KATY EVANS, New York Times bestselling author of REAL

“Lisa is brilliant at creating sizzling sexual tension and impossible circumstances that make the reader hold their breath all the way to happy ever after. Sam and Harrison are more than A Little Too Hot, they are scorching!”

— JAY CROWNOVER, New York Times bestselling author of RULE

“Lisa Desrochers’ best yet! A LITTLE TOO HOT is hotter than hot with all the emotional punch to back it up!”

— SOPHIE JORDAN, New York Times bestselling author

Buy Links:
Amazon • Barnes & Noble • iBooks

Deleted Scene

Deleted scene set up: In an early draft, Jonathan’s apartment mate, Kevin (who is also the drummer in his band), played a bigger role. Here is his first appearance before he got the editorial ax.

It’s noon when I wake up on Jonathan’s sofa to Dr. Who number nine saying, “Excuse me, do you mind not farting while I’m saving the world?”

I rake my eyes open and find the TV on. When I turn my head, Kevin’s standing at the foot of the sofa, glaring down at me, his black fauxhawk mushed over to the side. “Jonathan says you’re paying rent.”

I push the blanket Jonathan gave me when we got home last night to the side and sit up. Last I remember, he and Ginger were in his room, fighting. She was here waiting for him when we got home at sometime after three, and she was super pissed. Can’t say I blame her. They were screaming so loud when I finally turned off the light and went to…sofa, I can’t believe I actually fell asleep. But as I listen past Dr. Who, it becomes glaringly apparent Ginger didn’t make good on her threat to rip Jonathan’s dick off, because he’s quite clearly using it at the moment. Ginger grunts with every stroke, just like a tennis player. It’s a little hard to miss.

“Yeah. How much?”

“Nine hundred.”

My jaw drops. “Are you shitting me? Nine hundred to sleep on your sofa?”

“If you think you can get a better deal somewhere else, by all means…” he says, with a wave of his hand at the door.

Asshole. “But Jonathan says he’s paying nine hundred.”

He shrugs.

“So if I pay nine hundred and Jonathan pays nine hundred, what are you paying?”

“Like I said,” he says with another wave at the door, “knock yourself out.”

I rub my eyes and try to think. “What does the nine hundred cover?”

“Just the rent,” he answers with a sneer, like I’m some kind of idiot.

“Do you need it all right now?”

“Yes.”

Jonathan’s door clicks open, and when I look up, I wish I hadn’t, because the only thing he’s wearing is his extensive ink, and the condom he’s in the process of peeling off as he crosses to the bathroom.

And I’m suddenly feeling like I’ve made a huge mistake.

I’m supposed to pay nine hundred a month to live with a guy who hates me, and a guy who I’ve already seen naked more times than his mother ever did?

Ginger stumbles out of the room behind him in one of his band T-shirts. “Hey, Red,” she says with a wave at me as she staggers past the sofa to the kitchen. “One of you douchebags better have made coffee.”

At just the mention, I feel my morning withdrawal headache pulse to life behind my eyes. “I didn’t, but I’ll love you forever if you bring me a cup.”

Jonathan comes out of the bathroom in a pair of jeans that he probably left on the bathroom floor last night. He drops onto the sofa next to me and his hand finds my thigh and squeezes. “Morning, Red. You give anymore thought to my proposal.”

I roll my eyes as Ginger comes out of the kitchen and hands me a mug. “She’s smarter than me, dickwad. She’s not going to sleep with you again.” She pushes Jonathan aside and wedges her butt between us as I gulp half my cup. “If you guys are going to be hanging out,” she says, pressing her shoulder into mine. “Can you do me a favor and remind him to keep his dick in his pants?”

“I’ll do my best, but I can’t promise anything,” I tell her, breathing in the steam from my mug so no caffeine escapes.

“My dick was in my pants all night,” Jonathan protests from her other side. “Until you took it out.”

I don’t mention the blond, because, technically, I don’t think he’s lying.

“Not to break up the love fest,” Kevin says, “but if Ginger’s going to be staying here, she needs to pay rent too.”

Ginger glares flames at him and he pales a little and stalks up the hall to his room.

“I gotta get ready for work,” she says, pushing up from the sofa. She takes her coffee and disappears behind Jonathan’s door.

Reading Order: A Little Too Far series

A Little Too Far by Lisa Desrochers A Little Too Much by Lisa Desrochers A Little Too Hot by Lisa Desrochers

#1 ~ A Little Too Far: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ A Little Too Much: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ A Little Too Hot: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

about the author

Lisa DesrochersLISA DESROCHERS is the USA Today bestselling author of the A Little Too Far series, courtesy of HarperCollins, and the young adult Personal Demons trilogy from Macmillan. She lives in Northern California with her husband, two very busy daughters, and Shini the tarantula. Find her online at www.lisadwrites.com, on Twitter at @LisaDez, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LisaDesrochersAuthor.

AUTHOR LINKS: 
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A LITTLE TOO HOT blurb pack: REAL, MINE, and REMY signed by Katy Evans; RULE, JET, and ROME signed by Jay Crownover; and FOREPLAY signed by Sophie Jordan plus signed swag.

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Blog Tour + Excerpt & Giveaway: Fully Automatic by Jade C. Jamison

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Fully Automatic by Jade C. Jamison

Title: Fully Automatic
Series: Bullet #4 (full reading order below)
Release: January 30, 2014
Author: Jade C. Jamison
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You might think you know Brad’s story, but think again. There’s so much more to his story than what Valerie told. See Brad before Valerie came into his life and, when he was playing back burner to Ethan, see what Brad was up to when no one else in the band was looking.

Valerie might have thought she and Brad were inevitable and maybe, in the back of his mind, Brad might have felt that way too, but he didn’t just sit around waiting for her. See the secret side of Brad that you had no idea existed. What kept the driving force behind Fully Automatic focused even while his heart was breaking?

Buy Links:
Amazon • Amazon CA • Amazon UK • Barnes & Noble • Smashwords

excerpt

That was when it was time to make his move.  He let the confident feeling surge through his veins, and he stepped closer to her, close enough to touch her.  “That’s not the main reason why I came back here, though.”  He waited a few seconds to let his words register with her and then he said, “We have a little unfinished business.”

She seemed so innocent in that moment.  “We do?”

Yes, innocent maybe, but not unwilling.  He leaned over and took her face in his hands, lifting her lips to his.  He kissed her, as gently as he could allow himself to, but, goddamn, it was difficult.  He’d been imagining this moment for months now, and he wanted her badly.  Way too badly.  Fuck.  He should have jerked off in the shower, because controlling himself was going to be harder than usual.  Would losing his load have helped?  He didn’t know, but he had to stop thinking about that right now.

It was hard, though, because she tasted so sweet, and her response was just as he’d imagined.  She parted her lips and took him in.  Yeah, she was willing and eager, and all that did was fuel his fire.  She was feeling it too, that weird attraction between them igniting into something bigger than he’d expected, something he knew he’d be lucky to control.  Still…he kept his breathing (and his cock) under control for the meantime and ended the kiss.  Oh, fuck.  And she placed her hands on his pecs as though to steady herself.  It took her a few seconds to open her eyes, as though she’d been transported.  When he had her full attention, he said, “Unfinished, right?”

She gave him a tiny smile, sweet and naïve, and seemed to give the tiniest of nods.  Well, she wasn’t pushing him away.  In fact, she seemed breathless and expectant.  He wasn’t going to disappoint her, so he kissed her again, and he would have sworn it was magic.  Okay, so he never would have said something like that to one of his friends.  Ethan would have called him a pussy if he’d even known Brad had been thinking something like that.  But it was, though—it was more than just a kiss.  It felt like they deepened their connection in that moment, like he could see inside her soul and, yes, she was pure and light and everything he could ever want.

He knew her response was a sign to move forward, so he wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her close.  Fuckin’ A.  She smelled so goddamn good and felt so right up next to him.  She moved her hands onto his neck and then slid them up into his hair, driving him insane.  Jesus…he wanted to fuck her right there, but he knew a girl like Val would need finesse.  And he wanted to give that to her.  He wanted her to know she wasn’t just a cheap lay for him.  Still, he wanted to move the proceedings forward, so he slid his hands down to her ass, using it as an excuse to press her harder into his body.

And her fingers in his hair.  Shit.  She was driving him fucking crazy.

Her breathing got deeper, so he knew he was on the right track.  He couldn’t hold it back anymore and just let the blood flow straight to his cock…like he’d be able to stop it anyway.  He moved his lips to her neck and not only did she let out a sigh, he could have sworn he heard a moan.  Fuck, yeah.  He didn’t know that a girl had ever done that before they’d actually engaged in the real deal.  He moved a hand up underneath her shirt, feeling the bare skin above her jeans, and he heard her breathing quicken again.

It was then, though, that she took a hand out of his hair and placed it firmly on his chest.  No.  Fuck, no.  If he was reading her right, she was putting on the brakes.

“Brad…please stop.”

He opened his eyes and looked in hers.  “Stop?”

“Yeah.”

Why was she changing her mind?  Was that really what she wanted?  He had to try one more time.  He kissed her again.  Yeah, there were those sparks.  Could she deny them?  “Stop that?”

She blinked.  “Yes.”

“You don’t seem so sure…”  He pressed his forehead on hers and bore into her eyes with his.  He wanted to understand.  “What’s wrong?”

She moved both hands to his chest.  She wasn’t pressing against him as if to push him away, but they seemed to ground her.  “I…It’s not you, Brad.  Oh, God, it’s not you.  I swear.  I want you bad.”

That’s what he’d thought.  “So why not?  If you’re worried about birth control…”  He wasn’t going to be irresponsible.  She had to know that.

She hesitated.  “No.  I’m…um…  I’m a…”

“Virgin?”  He knew it even before she nodded her head.  “Oh.”  He nodded too as if to process the information.  “Oh.  Yeah.  Uh…your first time should be…special, right?  At least, for girls.  I didn’t give much of a shit.”  He didn’t know how to do that for her, not right now, anyway.  He was nearly out of his mind with desire, and she was pulling the plug.  He needed a bathtub of ice water to jump in.  She giggled and, in spite of his feelings of desperation, he found it endearing.  But then it dawned on him.  Fuck.  He had to know.  As much as it was gonna hurt, he needed to know.  Her eyes all but said it, but he needed to confirm it.  “That’s not it, though.  It’s Ethan, isn’t it?  You still care about him.”  She didn’t say a word.  She didn’t need to.  It was written all over her face…

Fully Automatic Teaser Pic

Reading Order: Bullet series

Bullet by Jade C. Jamison Rock Bottom by Jade C. Jamison Feverish by Jade C. Jamison Fully Automatic by Jade C. Jamison

#1 ~ Bullet: EbookPaperbackGoodreads
#2 ~ Rock Bottom: EbookPaperbackGoodreads
#3 ~ Feverish: EbookPaperbackGoodreads
#4 ~ Fully Automatic: EbookPaperbackGoodreads

about the author

Jade C. JamisonJade C. Jamison was born and raised in Colorado, moved from one city/town to the next, and she’s decided she likes it so much she wants to stay…although travel is not out of the question.  She lives in a big town in Colorado (not unlike Winchester!) with her husband and four children.  She is working on becoming a crazy cat lady.  Okay, so maybe not.

Still want more?  Jade has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Theater, a master’s degree in English, and a master of fine arts in Creative Writing.  Obviously, she loves school and the student loan folks love her.  She works in human services by day, teaches English and creative writing at night, and—in between playing soccer mom and community leader—writes like a friend.  Someday soon, she’ll narrow it down to just writing, but let’s get all those kids off to college first.

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Blog Tour + Character Interview & Giveaway: All the Pretty Poses by M. Leighton

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Welcome to today’s stop on the All the Pretty Poses blog tour! We have an interview with Reese Spencer, the hero in All the Pretty Poses, and a fantastic giveaway for you all to enter!

All the Pretty Poses by M. Leighton

Title: All the Pretty Poses
Author: M. Leighton
Series: Pretty #2 (full reading order below)
Release Date: January 24th 2014
Age Group: NA/Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tour organized by: WordSmith Publicity & AToMR Tours
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He never wanted to be a hero…until she needed him to be.

Strength…

It took Kennedy Moore years to put her life back together after Reese Spencer shattered it.  But she did.  Now, years later, strong and independent, she is in pursuit of a single dream—to dance with the Altman American Dance Theater.  Unfortunately, Kennedy is learning that a girl from nowhere with no money and no contacts might never be able to reach her goal.

That is, until Reese reappears, offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that Kennedy just can’t refuse.  In exchange for working on his yacht for a few short weeks, he’ll get her an audition with the famous dance troupe.  All Kennedy has to do is keep her head down, work hard and resist Reese.  That sounds easy enough, right?

Weakness…

Reese doesn’t want to make it easy for Kennedy.  Seeing her again has started a fire in his blood—an unwelcome one.  It took him years to forget about her before, so this time he has a plan.  It’s simple:  Get Kennedy on his yacht, seduce her, get her out of his system, move on with his life.  That sounds easy enough, right?

But the one thing Reese didn’t plan for was Kennedy herself—a girl so strong yet so broken, she makes him want to rescue her, to take care of her.  To save her.  Even if he has to save her from himself.

Buy Links:
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Character Interview: Reese Spencer from All the Pretty Poses

Relationships are new territory for you. What do you like the most about being in a relationship?

I feel closer to Kennedy than I do anyone else in my life.  Than I ever have.  I think I got a taste of that one summer fourteen years ago, but I didn’t realize how important it was, how much I needed it.  But now, now that I’ve had it, I can’t ever imagine my life without her in it.

I start my day with her. We talk about how we slept, what we dreamed of, what kind of plans we have for the day.  It sounds simple enough, but when you don’t have someone to share those small things with, life is just…empty.

I end my day with her, too.  We talk about our worries and our hopes, we make plans for the next day or the weekend. Or the next ten years.  Sometimes we sit on the couch, in the quiet, only our hands touching, and I feel more relaxed and happy than I’ve ever felt in my life.  She brings peace to my soul.

Kennedy…what are your first thoughts when I say her name?

Love.  Grace.  Forgiveness.  Mine.

How did you feel after the first time you saw Kennedy dance in your club?

*hisses through teeth*  Turned on, of course, but even now I can remember being just…furious that other men were watching her.  Even then, I think I felt like she was mine and I never wanted her to be anybody else’s.  I’ll share anything I have, all that I own, but not Kennedy. Never her.  She’s the person that matters most to me, the one I’m most afraid of losing.

What is one thing you would do differently if you could?

I would never have left all those years ago. I would’ve found a way to take Kennedy away and keep her safe and happy every day of those fourteen years. They were wasted.  I hate to even think back on my time away from her.

What are you the most afraid of?

Losing her. Always of losing her.  When I have nightmares, that’s what they’re about. It’s the only thing that truly scares me.

If you could have one wish come true, what would it be?

That I could take away all the hurt she suffered for the first half of her life.  I mean, I’ll make damn sure the rest of her life is better than she could ever have imagined, but there’s nothing I can do about the past.  If I could change one thing, have one wish, that’s what I’d wish for.  To take away all her pain.

What is something about you we might be surprised to know?

I had insomnia until the first time that I stayed the night with Kennedy in the stateroom beside mine.  Since then, except for the restless nights I spent while we were apart, I haven’t suffered from it once. Not once.

What do you love the most about Kennedy?

That she loves me.  I could name off enough things that I love about her to fill a book, but that’s the first that comes to mind.  I would give up everything I have, everything I am before I would ever risk doing something to make her stop loving me.  I couldn’t live with that, I couldn’t live without her love.  I think it would destroy something integral to life inside me.  It’s what I want most out of every day—to love her and be loved by her–and she gives it to me.  Like a gift.

Reading Order: Pretty series

All The Pretty Lies by M. Leighton All the Pretty Poses by M. Leighton All Things Pretty by M. Leighton

#1 ~ All the Pretty Lies: EbookPaperbackGoodreads
#2 ~ All the Pretty Poses: EbookPaperbackGoodreads
#3 ~ All Things Pretty: Goodreads (Sept. 30, 2014)

about the author

M. LeightonNew York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, M. Leighton, is a native of Ohio. She relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: literary fiction. Having written over a dozen novels, these days Michelle enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you’ll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren’t roaming in that direction, she’ll be riding wild horses, skiing the slopes of Aspen or scuba diving with a hot rock star, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.

About Michelle:  I love coffee and chocolate, even more so when they are combined.  I’m convinced that one day they could be the basis for world peace.  I also love the color red and am seriously considering dying my hair.

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Blog Tour + Excerpt & Giveaway: Keep Me by Faith Andrews

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Welcome to today’s stop on the Keep Me blog tour! We have a fantastic excerpt and giveaways for you all!

Keep Me by Faith Andrews

Title: Keep Me
Author: Faith Andrews
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Release Day: January 28th 2014
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Sexy, tatted up, underwear model Marcus Grayson is every girl’s dream—or more likely worst nightmare. He’s a player, a self-proclaimed bachelor for life, and he’s got no problem living up to his man-whore status. But when his older sister’s friend comes back from the past, he may just have the chance to turn some of his adolescent fantasies into reality.

Tessa Bradley is a self-sufficient, take-no-bull, single mother—well, now she is. Finally rid of her abusive, alcoholic ex, she’s making a new life for herself and catching up with old friends; the ones she was forced to break ties with because of her controlling husband. When she runs into Marcus, her friend Riley’s once-adorable turned smoking-hot little brother, she has no idea how he’s about to rock her world.

You wanted me then, now you can have me. Just promise you’ll Keep Me…

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excerpt

I rocked Luca to sleep while listening to the peaceful sounds of Marcus and my old guitar downstairs. Holding my son close to my chest I silently sobbed, wishing my life could have been different—good, like right now. Instead, I was all screwed up, jaded and broken, with no foreseeable way to fix it.

Nights like this reminded me how I’d wanted things to be, how they should be. They reminded me how unfair life could be, too. Why did Luca’s father have to be such a hateful bastard? Why did I allow him to ruin my idea of a happily ever after? And why, for the life of me, did I feel like I was losing control again? Forget that Marcus and I shouldn’t be. . .dabbling. . .the way we were. We were having fun, maybe even more. I loved the idea of dating someone, especially someone I knew wouldn’t hurt me, but Zack had left me incapable of trust. I gave it all to him, even when I didn’t trust myself to do so, and it was the stupidest, most dangerous, mistake ever. Thankfully an angel came out of it, but that was all I had to show for years of taking Zack’s shit and never saying anything about it. That and the tears that just couldn’t stop themselves from flowing right now.

When the tiny mouth around Luca’s thumb slackened and his hand fell from his face, I knew he was out for the count. I stood carefully so as not to wake him while transitioning him to his crib. After closing the door behind me, I went into the bathroom to compose myself.

“He is nothing like Zack, Tessa. He’s a friend. It’s okay to relax and have a good time.” Great! Now I talk to myself! But my little pep talk was just what I needed to rid my mind of ugly memories and hurtful pasts. There was nothing wrong with enjoying the company of an old friend and allowing him to make me feel good. I wiped the tears from my face, reapplied a little bronzer for color, swished some mouthwash around, and followed the intoxicating music that was the elixir to my wounds.

“Hey, what’s that?” I asked as I hopped off the last step, got rid of my melancholy mood, and made my way toward him. Was there anything sexier than a hot, tattooed, muscle-bulging man playing a guitar?

“Ever heard the Lumineers?”

“Yes, but not this one.”

“Reminds me of you. It’s called Classy Girls.

As he sang with a raspy, soft voice about a man trying to pick up a ‘classy’ girl in a bar, the little reserve I had left started to melt away. I take it back. . .there is something sexier than a hot, tattooed, muscle-bulging man playing a guitar. And that would be a hot, tattooed, muscle-bulging man playing a guitar while singing an adorable song that reminds him of me!

I listened and felt my cheeks warm, then gave in to the huge smile making its way across my face as the pace of the song picked up and he really got into it. His arms flexed, his fingers danced across the strings, and his eyes focused on me when he sang, “something drew me closer to her lips.” The rest of the lyrics passed by with no significance until Marcus strummed the final note and I realized that the guy in the song never actually got to kiss the so-called classy girl.

I applauded and asked, “And why does that remind you of me?”

He laid the guitar on the couch beside him and relaxed against the back cushions. “Because he wants her so bad, but they just don’t fit.”

His words were a surprise. Did Marcus want me ‘so bad?’ And although I knew why, was it so obvious that we were the worst possible match for each other?

With nothing to say in response, I leaned over him and lifted the guitar. When I played a familiar chord, I basked in the sensation of how good those forgotten strings felt underneath the skin of my fingertips. The first song that came to mind was a new one by Phillip Phillips. I fell in love with his music during his stint on American Idol and downloaded his album to iTunes as soon as it was released. Not only did it prove to be right up my alley, but the track I was about to play made me hopeful that I’d feel this way about someone…one day. I didn’t want to admit that Marcus made me hopeful, but this was the first step in allowing myself to trust him.

I gave in to the urge to take the leap and just started to play. I fumbled with the difficulty of the chords and I hadn’t sung in front of anyone in. . .forever, but just like the words of the song, Marcus made it so easy. I poured my heart out through shaky vocals and rusty strumming, never looking up at him to register how he felt. When I was almost done, I felt a pang of regret for speaking these words to him, even if they weren’t my own, but it was too late for that, wasn’t it?

With the last chord, I kept my eyes closed, afraid to face him.

He pulled at the guitar and I released my grip. His touch was strong yet gentle at my cheek. When I opened my eyes Marcus looked at me with emotion that I imagined was foreign to him. This was so different from lust or desire. “Tessa, that was. . .you’re so. . .do you know what you’re doing to me?”

I desperately wanted to know, but I was also too scared to hear the words. Go figure! I could sing him a song about falling hard, but I couldn’t admit that that’s what was happening.

Before I had the chance to be embarrassed or to even think, his lips were on mine, taking control of my brain and the rest of my body.

I gave in to the parts of me that wanted this, ignoring the parts that were telling me it was wrong, or too soon, or just plain stupid. I remembered the word I used earlier to describe what we were doing to Marcus—fun. If I just kept convincing myself that that’s all it was, no one would get hurt. Right?

about the author

Faith AndrewsFaith Andrews lives in New York where she is happily married to her high school sweetheart. They have two beautiful daughters and a furry Yorkie son, Rocco. If she isn’t listening to Mumford and Sons or busy being a Dance Mom, her nose is in a book or her laptop. She’s a sucker for a happily ever after and believes her characters are out there living one somewhere . . .

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–one ebook copy of Keep Me

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–3 signed paperbacks of Keep Me, 5 Bookmark sets of Keep Me and Man of My Dreams and 5 ebooks of Keep Me

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