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He teed up Aeron’s number and texted: Just a head’s up. I’ve got my girl. She’s well thanks to me. Hades would have let her get jacked. You’re welcome.

Aeron’s response came in minutes: H told me you saved her. For that, you do have my thanks. But you’re going to have internal body bling if you don’t return her to me ASAP.

Galen: Give me a minute to find the fucks I give…

Galen: Still searching…

Galen: Sorry. Can’t find a single one.

Aeron: I love her, and I want what’s best for her, even if I must pay for her happiness w/ my life. Can you say the same?

Galen responded with a gif he’d made for situations like this. In it, he made a lewd hand gesture while the words “Look what I gave your mother last night” flashed in the center.

Then he typed: Listen, Dr. Usuc Atfilosofee. I didn’t see you braving H’s wards to help L escape that bloodthirsty army. (Drop mic.) (Pick mic back up.) She’s safe, ok. And I CAN say the same. I DID protect her with my life. So be a good daddy and let your daughter spread my wings. Over and out, mo-fo.

He returned the cell phone to the nightstand.

Legion gave a violent shake of her head and released another choking sound. “No. Please, no.”

He could imagine what images plagued her nightmares.

Uncaring about the flare of pain, he leaped off the bed to crouch in front of her chair. He lightly caressed her jaw, then lifted her hand to his face, holding her palm against his cheek. “I’m here, sugar.” His raw throat turned the words to smoke.

A few months ago, Galen had made a deal with Hades. Every time Galen completed a task for the underworld’s top dog, he earned a reward. All he’d wanted? The demons who’d hurt Legion. He’d tortured and killed every one of the bastards but Lucifer.

“No. Please, no. Don’t!” Eyes rolling behind her lids, Legion panted and groaned. Every few seconds, her fingers twitched, as if she tried to deflect a blow. “No!”

He ground his teeth. One day, one day soon, this beauty would rest in the comfort and security of his arms. Fear would lose its hold on her, and contentment would become her constant companion. I’ll make sure of it.

“I won’t let anything happen to you,” he vowed. “Not now, not ever.”

She melted into the chair, a soft sigh leaving her. Pride suffused him. For once, he’d comforted rather than frightened her.

Gena Showalter’s THE DARKEST CAPTIVE – Review & Excerpt Tour Schedule:

December 5th

Booknerd1107 – Review & Excerpt

Diane’s Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Kaidans Seduction – Review & Excerpt

NallaReads – Review & Excerpt

Read more sleep less – Review& Excerpt

Under the Covers Book Blog – Review

December 6th

Bout-a-Book blog – Review

Busy Bumble Bee Book Reviews – Review

Dirty Girl Romance – Review

Milky Way of Books – Review

Rantings of a Reading Addict – Review & Excerpt

That Transylvanian Chick Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

December 7th

Binding Addiction – Review & Excerpt

Ilovebooksandstuffblog – Review & Excerpt

Kick Back & Review – Review & Excerpt

Reading in Pajamas – Review & Excerpt

The Romance Rebels – Review & Excerpt

December 8th

Canadian Book Addict – Review & Excerpt

Dreamer’s Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Family, Books and Food – Excerpt

Lo’s Lo-Down on Books – Excerpt

Nerdy Chic – Review & Excerpt

Sip read love – Review

December 9th

3 Degrees of Fiction – Review

NC 2 DC – Review & Excerpt

I Smell Sheep – Review & Excerpt

Mythical Books – Excerpt

The Book Branch – Excerpt

December 10th

A Book Nerd, a Bookseller and a Bibliophile – Review & Excerpt

Angela’s Opinion – Review & Excerpt

Declarations of a Fangirl – Review & Excerpt

Nerdy Dirty & Flirty – Review & Excerpt

PNR Book Lover Reviews – Review

Rainy Thursdays – Review & Excerpt

December 11th

Cinta Garcia de la Rosa – Excerpt

Echoing Books – Excerpt

Feel the Book – Excerpt

Ginreads – Review & Excerpt

Romancing the Readers – Review

Smut Book Junkie Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt

December 12th

Book Lovers Hangout – Review & Excerpt

Cupcakesandbookshelves – Excerpt

Little Shop of Readers – Review & Excerpt

Ms. Me28 – Review & Excerpt

Reading Between the Wines Book Club – Excerpt

Ruby’s Books – Review & Excerpt

Shirley Cuypers – Review

December 13th

All Things Dark & Dirty – Review & Excerpt

Avephoenix Naughty Readings – Excerpt

Book Addict – Excerpt

PBC – Excerpt

Reese’s Reviews – Review & Excerpt

Somewhere Lost in Books – Review & Excerpt

December 14th

Beneath The Covers – Review & Excerpt

Book Nook Nuts – Review & Excerpt

Clare & Lou’s Mad About Books – Review & Excerpt

My Book Filled Life –Review & Excerpt

Reads All the Books – Review & Excerpt

Shahla’s World – Review

The Reading Cafe – Review & Excerpt

About Gena Showalter:

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the spellbinding Lords of the Underworld series, two young adult series–Everlife and the White Rabbit Chronicles–and the highly addictive Original Heartbreakers series. In addition to being a National Reader’s Choice and two time RITA nominee, her romance novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazine, she’s been mentioned in Orange is the New Black–if you ask her about it, she’ll talk for hours–and her books have been translated in multiple languages. She’s hard at work on her next novel, a tale featuring an alpha male with a dark side and the strong woman who brings him to his knees. You can learn more about Gena, her menagerie of rescue dogs, and all her upcoming books at genashowalter.com

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Dear Legion,

First, thanks tons for going into hiding outside the mortal world. I got to hunt you down big, bad wolf style—my favorite kind of hunting. Even better, you shacked up in an ancient realm without Wi-Fi. Now I get to communicate with you via robo-pigeons. Yay for me. BTW, the birds are “priceless,” and weren’t built to help me “score” with my “adult-boyhood crush” blah, blah, blah, so please don’t destroy the mechanical flock in a fit of pique.

Decorating hack: repurpose the robo-pigeons as knickknacks to create a steampunk vibe. Not so I can watch you through the eye-cams. (Wink.)

Second, it’s sometimes impossible to judge someone’s tone in a letter. Since I’m anti-misunderstandings, I’d like to clear things up right from the start. TONE: dry as a desert mixed with a dash of frothing-at-the-mouth rage.

Clear as crystal? Or mud?

Third, I refuse to call you “Honey,” the name your friends are using. Babycakes, I’m not your friend, I’m your potential obsession. And, to be brutally honest about the matter, I’d rather call you Sugar Tits McGyna while having my wings ripped from my back (again) than refer to you as “Honey.” A name you like only because you hate the girl you used to be. News flash: I like the old Legion. (Leggie. Legs. <– I’m trying out new nicknames for you. Did we just find a winner?) The old you gifted me with your virginity in a bar bathroom five minutes after meeting me. Or was it four? I always forget. What’s not to like about that?

Sure, you only slept with me so you could savagely murder me after I got you off, thereby protecting Aeron, the man you truly desired. And yeah, okay, I probably deserve a couple dozen more murder attempts because I later abducted your pregnant friend in an unethical-ish power play. But every couple has their issues, right?

I’m willing to attend a counseling sesh with you. Can you say the same? Please?

FYI, my crew is on stand-by, ready to kidnap abduct borrow a world-renowned shrink at a moment’s notice. All I need from you is a yes.

Lastly, I know you’ve been to hell and back—literally. I know you were hurt and abused in the worst ways. TONE: soft as a damn feather. I’m sorry for everything you’ve endured. If you really want to hurt the ones who hurt you, embrace happiness. Don’t let the past ruin your future.

Please, give me a chance to get to know the new you. A chance to help you heal, if I can. I think about you constantly, dream about you every night, and crave you every second of every day.

Yours forever,

About Gena Showalter:

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the spellbinding Lords of the Underworld series, two young adult series–Everlife and the White Rabbit Chronicles–and the highly addictive Original Heartbreakers series. In addition to being a National Reader’s Choice and two time RITA nominee, her romance novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazine, she’s been mentioned in Orange is the New Black–if you ask her about it, she’ll talk for hours–and her books have been translated in multiple languages. She’s hard at work on her next novel, a tale featuring an alpha male with a dark side and the strong woman who brings him to his knees. You can learn more about Gena, her menagerie of rescue dogs, and all her upcoming books at genashowalter.com  

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kylie Scott comes a new story in her Stage Dive series…

When the girl of your dreams is kind of a nightmare.

As head of security to Stage Dive, one of the biggest rock bands in the world, Sam Knowles has plenty of experience dealing with trouble. But spoilt brat Martha Nicholson just might be the worst thing he’s ever encountered. The beautiful troublemaker claims to have reformed, but Sam knows better than to think with what’s in his pants. Unfortunately, it’s not so easy to make his heart fall into line.

Martha’s had her sights on the seriously built bodyguard for years. Quiet and conservative, he’s not even remotely her type. So why the hell can’t she get him out of her mind? There’s more to her than the Louboutin wearing party-girl of previous years, however. Maybe it’s time to let him in on that fact and deal with this thing between them.

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

“I don’t believe this,” I bitched. “My Valentino boots are actually sticking to the floor. That’s how gross this place is.”

Lizzy just smiled. “Told you to dress casual.”

“I am.”

The smile widened.

“Jeans and a tee is casual.”

“A tee? It’s velvet, Martha.” She held a bottle of beer up to her lips, taking a sip. “I said we were going to a dive bar. You have only yourself to blame for the fashion faux pas.”

“But velvet is in!”

“Would you two quit talking? I’m trying to listen,” said my brother, Ben. The big hairy idiot was slouched back in his chair, bopping his head in time to the music.

Lizzy shuffled closer all conspiratorial-like. “I know why you’re all dressed up.”

I said nothing. There was nothing to be said.

Next her gaze went to the man standing at the end of the bar across from us. No, no, I would not turn my head. I would not fall prey to her bullshit. After all, I’d managed to successfully avoid him for the forty-eight or so hours since my not so triumphant surprise return to the West Coast. Even with us both being in the same house. A very big sprawling house, but still.

On the other hand, it should probably be mentioned that he looked awfully good tonight in jeans and a white T-shirt with a leather jacket. Samuel Rhodes, otherwise known as Sam. Not a pretty man with his harsh features and bull-like neck, but something about him appealed to me. As always, his head was shaved and his body was built and my idiot fingers itched to explore.

Okay. So I guess at some point I must have turned my head. And shit, he caught me looking.

The corner of his lips rose just a little, just enough to mess with me, before he returned to doing his job by casually surveying the packed room. My heart did not speed up due to anything done by him. Clearly, I hadn’t totally caught my breath from when we’d walked in half an hour ago or something. That was all. Interesting to note, he did none of the checking me out typical of a heterosexual male who might have been into me. In fact, he didn’t really give me any signals at all. Ever.

Kylie is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. She was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year, 2013 & 2014, by the Australian Romance Writer’s Association and her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She is a long time fan of romance, rock music, and B-grade horror films. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet. You can learn more about Kylie from http://www.kylie-scott.com/

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About the 1001 Dark Nights Bundle Authors:

Alexandra Ivy is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. From Alexandra: “I’m not exactly sure when I fell in love with books. Probably on my mother’s knee listening to her read Dr. Seuss to me. I do remember that I was barely old enough to cross the street by myself when I discovered the delights of the local library.

Could anything be more wonderful than spending summer days surrounded by stacks of Nancy Drew mysteries? Over the years I fell in love with Victoria Holt, Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, and J.R.R. Tolkien just to name a few. I read poetry, essays, biographies, and plays. In fact, I read anything I could get my hands on.

Years later (no, I’m not admitting how many) I’m still an avid reader, and my tastes are still as varied as they were in my youth, which I suppose helps to explain why I enjoy writing regency historicals under the name of Deborah Raleigh, as well as my contemporary paranormals as Alexandra Ivy. For now that is enough to keep me busy, but who knows what the future might hold!

I do have a few other loves in my life besides reading and writing, the most important being my unbelievably patient husband, David, and my two sons, Chance and Alexander. Without their constant support and belief in me, I never could have been able to follow my dreams. They are truly my heroes.

Laura Wright is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. From Laura: “Unlike many of my peers in the writing world, I wasn’t a writer or a reader until I left high school. During my youth I was into theater, song and dance, commercials and boys. I loved romance surely, but I had never read a romance novel until my late teens. With that said, I remember the day I did like it was a moment ago – my aunt gave me the Jude Deveraux novel, Knight in Shining Armor and I couldn’t put it down until the very last word. Then I went straight to the library and got another – then another until I’d read everything she’d ever written. After that, it was McNaught, Howard, Schone, Kleypas, and the Silhouette line, Desire. I instantly loved those emotional, sexy reads, so much so that I began to carve out ideas for my own stories, themes that were unique to me and moved me. In 1997 I enrolled in UCLA extension writing classes, met my mentor and critique partners and since have never stopped writing. I was committed then and I still am now; the need to tell my own romantic stories a full on obsession. My first manuscript was rejected, and though the second one was as well the editor who’d rejected it wanted to see something else from me. I had something (note to authors; always keep working, even after you’ve sent in a proposal) and sent it right away. The day I got the call telling me Desire wanted to buy Cinderella and the Playboy was the best day of my life. That is until I married my husband, and had my two beautiful children. But I must say, writing is much like motherhood – tough, grueling, surprising, delicious and for me, a dream come true.”

Donna Grant is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over forty-five novels. Her most popular series is the breathtaking Dark King (aka Dragon King) series featuring dragons, immortal Highlanders, and the Fae.

In addition to her novels, Donna has written over forty short stories, novellas, and novelettes for digital-first and print release. She has been dubbed as giving the “paranormal genre a burst of fresh air” by the San Francisco Book Review. Her work has been hailed as having “deft plotting and expert characterization” by Publisher’s Weekly and “sizzling” by RT Book Reviews.

She has been recognized with awards from both bookseller and reader contests including the National Reader’s Choice Award, Booksellers Best Award, as well as the coveted K.I.S.S. Award from RT Book Reviews.

Donna travels often for various speaking engagements, conferences, and book signings. She is also a frequent workshop presenter at national conferences such as RT Book Lovers Convention and Thrillerfest, as well as local chapters.

Born and raised in Texas, she also has ties across the border in Louisiana. Growing up with two such vibrant cultures, her Cajun side of the family taught her the “spicy” side of life while her Texas roots gave her two-steppin’ and bareback riding. She is never far from her faithful 80 pound dog, Sisko, or her three cats. She can often be found at the movies or bookstore with her children. Or buying makeup. And shoes.

Lorelei James is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of contemporary erotic western romances set in the modern day Wild West and also contemporary erotic romances. Lorelei’s books have been nominated for and won the Romantic Times Reviewer’s choice Award, as well as the CAPA Award. Lorelei lives in western South Dakota with her family…and a whole closet full of cow girl boots.

From Lorelei: “Why do I have a particular fondness for all things western? Well, I’m a fourth generation South Dakotan, living in the Black Hills, which is chock-full of interesting characters, including cowboys, Indians, ranchers, and bikers. The geographical diversity of the surrounding area showcases mountains, plains, and badlands. Living in and writing about rural settings gives me a unique perspective, especially since I’m not writing historical westerns. Through my fictional world, I can show the ideals and the cowboy way of life are still very much alive.”

About Lauren Blakely:

A #1 New York Times Bestselling author, and #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s hot, sweet and sexy. She lives in California with her family and has plotted entire novels while walking her dogs. With fourteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than 100 times, and she’s sold more than 2.5 million books. In August she’ll release UNBREAK MY HEART, an emotional second chance romance. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter! http://laurenblakely.com/newsletter

About T. Gephart:

 T Gephart is an indie author from Melbourne, Australia.

T’s approach to life has been somewhat unconventional. Rather than going to University, she jumped on a plane to Los Angeles, USA in search of adventure. While this first trip left her somewhat underwhelmed and largely depleted of funds it fueled her appetite for travel and life experience.

With a rather eclectic resume, which reads more like the fiction she writes than an actual employment history, T struggled to find her niche in the world.

While on a subsequent trip the United States in 1999, T met and married her husband. Their whirlwind courtship and interesting impromptu convenience store wedding set the tone for their life together, which is anything but ordinary. They have lived in Louisiana, Guam and Australia and have travelled extensively throughout the US. T has two beautiful young children and one four legged child, Woodley the wonder dog.

An avid reader, T became increasingly frustrated by the lack of strong female characters in the books she was reading. She wanted to read about a woman she could identify with, someone strong, independent and confident who didn’t lack femininity. Out of this need, she decided to pen her first book, A Twist of Fate. She enjoyed the process so much that when it was over she couldn’t let it go.

T loves to travel, laugh and surround herself with colourful characters. This inevitably spills into her writing and makes for an interesting journey – she is well and truly enjoying the ride!

Based on her life experiences, T has plenty of material for her books and has a wealth of ideas to keep you all enthralled.

I couldn’t figure out what’d happened.

One minute I’d been having one of the most exciting sexual experiences of my life. The next my ribs were being crushed as Rome slammed into me. Then I was on my feet, trying to catch my breath, as people shouted all around us. The music had stopped. Thankfully, Rome’s big body formed a barrier between me and the rest of the room, because everyone else in the place had lost their minds.

For an instant, I thought maybe I’d be safe behind him. Then some guy in a cowboy hat launched toward us, fists flying. I don’t know what I expected, maybe that Rome would start punching him—you know, like they always do in movies—but instead he ducked, then started dragging me toward the bar. More shouting. I saw a man lift a chair and slam it down against another guy’s back from behind. The poor bastard went down hard, so hard that his head literally bounced on the floor. He couldn’t even get his hands up in time to break the fall.

This definitely wasn’t a movie.

I needed to get the hell out of here. Now.

Rome didn’t need to drag me any more—adrenaline had set in and sexy times were forgotten. My instincts said to run, and I wasn’t going to argue. Running wasn’t really possible, though, what with people and bottles and tables flying all around us.

It felt like it took an hour just to get across the room, although it was probably just a few seconds. Nothing touched me. Every other step, he was pushing me to the side, standing over me, or slamming into someone to get them out of the way until we reached an opening at the far end of the bar. He shoved me down behind it, toward a group of women huddling under the safety of the ledge.

“Stay here and keep your head down!” he said, catching my eyes to make sure I heard him. “I’ll be back soon.”

With that, he left to wade back into the crowd.

Joanna Wylde’s ROME’S CHANCE – Review& Excerpt Tour Schedule:

April 25th

Alphas Do It Better Book Blog – Review

Books A-Brewin’ – Excerpt

Books, Coffee & Passion – Excerpt

FMR Book Grind – Review

Read more sleep less – Review

Reviews by Tammy And Kim (Rachel and Jay) – Review & Excerpt

Smut Book Junkie Reviews – Review & Excerpt

April 26th

Always a happy ever after – Review

An Asian Chick & Her Cat Walk into a Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

blushing babes are up all night – Review

Bookgasms Book Blog – Review

Nadine’s Obsessed with Books – Review & Excerpt

Real Tasty Pages – Review

Rita Reviews – Review & Excerpt

April 27th

Blog of Books – Review

Books & Beauty Are My Bag – Review & Excerpt

Feel the Book – Excerpt

Obsessive Reading Disorder – Review

Read-Love-Blog – Excerpt

Sweet and Spicy Reads – Review & Excerpt

The Staircase Reader – Review

Travels N Reads – Review & Excerpt

April 28th

Book Babes Unite – Review & Excerpt

Brittany’s Book BLog – Excerpt

Foxylutely – Review

Random Book Muses – Review

Shayna Renee’s Spicy Reads – Review

The Bashful Bookwhore – Review & Excerpt

Vera is Reading – Excerpt

April 29th

A crazy vermonters book reviews – Review

Bobo’s Book Bank – Review

iScream Books Blog – Review & Excerpt

Live Read and Breathe – Review & Excerpt

Lynn’s Romance Enthusiasm – Review & Excerpt

Nerdy Dirty & Flirty – Review

The bookworms obsession – Review

April 30th

abibliophobia anonymous book reviews – Review

Book Reader Chronicles – Review & Excerpt

CJR The Brit – Review

Reading Between the Wines Book Club – Excerpt

three chicks and their books – Review & Excerpt

Wicked Reads – Review & Excerpt

Zili in the Sky –Review

May 1st

A British Bookworm’s Blog – Review

Angie and Jessica’s Dreamy Reads – Review & Excerpt

Belle.Shelf – Review & Excerpt

Cocktails and Books – Review & Excerpt

Dirty Girl Romance – Review

Reading in Pajamas – Review & Excerpt

Reese’s Reviews – Review & Excerpt

May 2nd

A Hopeless Romantic’s Booklandia – Review & Excerpt

Bingeworthy Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Book TwinsReviews – Review

Crazii Bitches Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Jax’s Book Magic – Excerpt

Oh My Growing TBR – Review & Excerpt

Somewhere Lost in Books – Review & Excerpt

May 3rd

bad boys and bedtime stories book blog – Review

Book Lovers Hangout – Review & Excerpt

MI Bookshelf – Review

Sexy Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt

Spoons, Hooks, and Books – Review & Excerpt

The Escapist Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

The Reading Cafe – Review & Excerpt

May 4th

2OCC Reviews – Review

a small girl, her man and her books – Review

I’m A Sweet & Sassy Bookwhore – Review & Excerpt

Les ChroniquesAléatoires – Review & Excerpt

Nice Ladies, Naughty Books – Review

Sunny Buzzy Books – Review

Wicked Babes Blog Reviews – Review & Excerpt

Wrapped Up In Reading – Review & Excerpt

About Joanna Wylde:

Joanna Wylde started her writing career in journalism, working in two daily newspapers as both a reporter and editor. Her career has included many different jobs, from managing a homeless shelter to running her own freelance writing business, where she took on projects ranging from fundraising to ghostwriting for academics. During 2012 she got her first Kindle reader as a gift and discovered the indie writing revolution taking place online. Not long afterward she started cutting back her client list to work on Reaper’s Property, her breakout book. It was published in January 2013, marking the beginning of a new career writing fiction.

Joanna lives in the mountains of northern Idaho with her family.

“Randi?” I froze, because I knew that voice.

Rome McGuire.

The sound was rough and sexy, with just a hint of a growl. Deeper than it’d been eight years ago, when I’d thrown caution to the wind and hopped on the back of his motorcycle for one glorious night.

Back then, I’d still been a shy little thing, terrified that some hot biker might actually want to talk to me, let alone take me out. When I caught him watching me at the party, I remembered studying the floor, his shirt collar, even the beer in my plastic cup, because I hadn’t known what to do with myself around such raw male glory. Apparently some things never change, because when I turned to face him, I found myself staring at the floor again.

This was a mistake, because his feet were down there. And the battered, black leather boots he wore led to jeans-covered legs. Legs topped by thick, muscular thighs.

Stop it. You’re acting like a giant dork! My brain hissed.

Oblivious and mesmerized, my gaze rose to the faded denim around his fly, and it was all over. My eyes started tracing the folds of the Okanogan Fire and Rescue T-shirt covering his still-muscular chest, although the Reapers Motorcycle Club vest he wore was a change. Back then, he’d been hanging around the Nighthawk Raiders MC. That whole club had disappeared for reasons I’d never fully understood, and the Reapers had taken over the town shortly afterward. Apparently Rome was one of them now.

Interesting…

I’d always wondered what’d happened to Rome after I’d left. We’d never said goodbye. That summer, the wildfires had swept through so fast that my family had to evacuate with the clothes on our backs. We hadn’t bothered to come back and sift through the ashes.

I’d kept in touch with my old boss, Tinker, of course.

I’d even considered asking her about Rome, but in some ways those fires were the best thing that ever happened to me. Starting over meant starting college in Missoula, and then a whole new life.

Wasn’t like Rome and I could’ve ever been anything real, anyway. Guys like him weren’t for girls like me.

My gaze reached his neck, which bristled with thick, black stubble that was more than a little out of control—this was different from when I’d known him before. Not that he’d ever been baby-faced, but he’d definitely matured. Now there were a few wrinkles around those dark blue eyes, although the dimple was still there. So was the crooked smile that’d spontaneously combusted my panties.

Correction.

A crooked smile that was currently combusting my panties. Who knew that a supermarket could be such dangerous territory?

“Been a long time,” he said. I shrugged, unsure what to say. I mean, yeah, we’d gone out on a date. He’d kissed me and wow… Not that we’d gotten much past second base, but he’d scored a home run in the lower deck of my ballpark, if you know what I mean. But he was one of those guys—you know, the kind of guys who hit lots of home runs with lots of girls.

“Yeah, well…” My words trailed off.

About Joanna Wylde:

Joanna Wylde started her writing career in journalism, working in two daily newspapers as both a reporter and editor. Her career has included many different jobs, from managing a homeless shelter to running her own freelance writing business, where she took on projects ranging from fundraising to ghostwriting for academics. During 2012 she got her first Kindle reader as a gift and discovered the indie writing revolution taking place online. Not long afterward she started cutting back her client list to work on Reaper’s Property, her breakout book. It was published in January 2013, marking the beginning of a new career writing fiction.

Joanna lives in the mountains of northern Idaho with her family.

Download the Free Kindle App

“What do I do?” Emma asked.

“We,” Caine said as an urgent, demanding possessiveness dug its claws into his soul. Dug them in, deep.

And it was, without question, something he’d never felt before in his whole life. When you felt as unworthy as he did, you rarely believed that you deserved to possess anything at all. But now, in the face of her vulnerability, Caine dared to hope that he might deserve…what? Not her, exactly, because after being viewed as no more than a possession by the couple that ran his group home, the idea of possessing another person made his stomach roll. But maybe the chance to get to know her, at the very least. And maybe even the chance to give her the things he’d always wanted but never been able to have.

Jesus, even daring to hope for such things made him feel like the bottom might fall right out from underneath of him. And when that happened, he’d just fall and fall and fall…

But if she was going to be brave, he sure the fuck would, too. “We’ll figure this out, Emma. Do you hear me? You’re not in this alone.” His voice sounded like it’d been scoured with sandpaper.

She peered up at him, and her bottom lip trembled a little more. “Promise?”

“Jesus, come here,” he rasped, hauling her in against his chest. He held her tight with one arm and stroked her hair back with the other. And Christ, she felt so good there. So warm and soft against all his cold hardness. So right. These thoughts were so foreign to him he hardly knew what to do with them, but that didn’t make them any less true. He had to swallow around a knot of emotion before he could go on, but when he finally did, his voice was rock solid again. “I give you my word, Emma.”

He made one more promise, too, but this one he kept to himself. Once, he’d failed to protect someone he should’ve. Worse than that, her death had been his fault.

Caine vowed to himself—he wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

This time, he’d rather die first.

About Laura Kaye:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty books in contemporary and erotic romance and romantic suspense, including the Raven Riders, Hard Ink, and Raven Riders series. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. Laura also writes historical fiction as the NYT bestselling author, Laura Kamoie. She lives in Maryland with her husband and two daughters, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

An old-style flip phone.

A burner.

We’d joked about it, Snap and me. He’d called me Scully. He had a burner too, so there’d be no caller ID when he phoned me. So I’d called him Mulder.

I was going to call him.

Not because I was working for Chaos anymore. I wasn’t. That officially ended on that cement. Definitely not because I was protecting Bounty. I’d tell the police. Absolutely, I’d tell the police my boyfriend’s motorcycle club beat the snot out of me. It didn’t matter that I broke the code, and knew it. It didn’t matter that I’d betrayed my man, and done it deliberately.

I was trying to save him. Save his brothers. Save his club. Save everyone.

I closed my eyes tight, my thumb moving over the phone from memory, knowing the way on its own, I called him so often. That was why I was calling him now rather than 911. I knew how to get to him. To Snapper. And the effort would be less. I could dial the digits to get him up on speed dial in my sleep, so I could do it lying on a cement floor, beat to hell and practically unable to move.

I couldn’t lift the phone to my ear so I just shoved it across the floor closer to my face, listening to it ring.

“Rosie?” Snap answered.

I closed my eyes tighter as understanding hit me with a blow almost as brutal as every strike I’d just taken.

God.

I hadn’t done it to save Beck. To save his brothers, his club…everybody.

At first, I’d done it to make Beck into Shy.

And then I’d done it to make him be Snapper.

And last, I’d done it to make his club Chaos.

“Rosie?” Snap’s Eddie Vedder baritone got sharper.

Oh no.

No.

The black was creeping in again.

“Sss…” was all I could get out.

“Rosalie,” he bit out, curt, alert, alarmed.

“Hurt,” I whispered.

And then, again, I blacked out.

Kristen Ashley’s ROUGH RIDE – Review & Excerpt Tour Schedule:

February 14th

Agents of Romance – Review & Excerpt

Bambi Unbridled – Review & Excerpt

Crystal’s Book World – Review & Excerpt

I’m A Sweet And Sassy Book Whore – Review & Excerpt

Jezabell Girl and Friends – Review & Excerpt

Marieke’s Books – Review & Excerpt

Reviews by Tammy And Kim (Rachel and Jay) – Review & Excerpt

Sweet Addiction Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

The Reading Cafe – Review & Excerpt

February 15th

All romance reviews – Review & Excerpt

Blushing babes are up all night – Review & Excerpt

Edgy Reviews – Review

Garden of REden – Review

iScream Books Blog – Review & Excerpt

Nice Ladies, Naughty Books – Review

Read more sleep less – Review & Excerpt

Three chicks and their books – Review & Excerpt

Under The Covers Book Lovers – Review & Excerpt

February 16th

Bookgasms Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Escaping Into Books – Review

Melinda Barrera – Review & Excerpt

Night Session Reader – Review & Excerpt

Queenzany – Review & Excerpt

Red Cheeks Reads – Review

The Fairest of All Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt

We Like It Big book Blog – Review

February 17th

After Dark Book Lovers – Review

Book Twins Reviews – Review & Excerpt

KDRBCK – Review & Excerpt

Live Read and Breathe – Review & Excerpt

Mustreadbooksordie – Review

Nose Stuck in a Book – Review & Excerpt

Random Book Muses – Review

February 18th

Alii’s Book Jungle – Review & Excerpt

Brittany’s Book Blog – Excerpt

KinkyGirlsBookObsessions – Review

Love Between the Sheets – Review & Excerpt

Reading Between the Wines Book Club – Excerpt

Red Hot + Blue Reads – Review & Excerpt

The bookworms obsession – Review

Two Book Pushers – Review & Excerpt

February 19th

Book Reader Chronicles – Review & Excerpt

Lit. 4 Ladies – Review & Excerpt

Oh My Growing TBR – Review & Excerpt

Read-Love-Blog – Excerpt

Sizzling Pages Romance Reviews – Review & Excerpt

The Book Hammock – Review & Excerpt

Wicked Reads – Review & Excerpt

February 20th

Always Books – Review & Excerpt

BFD Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Crazii Bitches Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Disheveled Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Reads All the Books – Review & Excerpt

Relentless Romance – Review & Excerpt

Vanilla & Spice Books – Review & Excerpt

February 21st

Collector of book boyfriends – Review

Feel the Book – Excerpt

Jax’s Book Magic – Excerpt

Krista’s Dust Jacket – Review

Love Notes Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

The Hopeless Romantics Book blog – Review

The Romance Reviews – Review

February 22nd

All Things Dark & Dirty – Excerpt

Books chocolate and lipgloss – Review & Excerpt

Desert Divas Book Addiction – Review & Excerpt

Literary Misfit – Review & Excerpt

TBR Book Blog – Excerpt

The Book Enthusiast – Review & Excerpt

The Dirty Book Girls – Review

February 23rd

Angie and Jessica’s Dreamy Reads – Review & Excerpt

Books to Breathe – Review & Excerpt

Fictional Rendezvous Book Blog – Excerpt

OMGReads – Review & Excerpt

Smut Book Junkie Book Reviews – Excerpt

TDC Book Reviews – Excerpt

The Book Junkie – Review & Excerpt

About Kristen Ashley:

Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA and nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorize and she hadn’t taken her first breath!). Her mother said they took Kristen away, put her Mom back in her room, her mother looked out the window, and Gary was on fire (Dr. King had been assassinated four days before). Kristen’s Mom remembered thinking it was the end of the world. Quite the dramatic beginning.

Nothing’s changed.

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana and has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus, she’s blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her family was (is) loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. They all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing, it keeps getting better.

WEBSITE * FACEBOOK * TWITTER * NEWSLETTER * GOODREADS * PINTEREST * INSTAGRAM

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

My dad had been a biker. He was a nomad when it came to that kind of thing (or, really, any kind of thing). He accepted being tied down by his woman and his daughter only, not anything else. Not a job. Not a mortgage. Not a membership to a club. He hung with a lot of them, including Chaos (in fact, Hammer, sadly now deceased, but one of the founding members of Chaos, had been my father’s best friend).

But he’d never hung with Bounty.

“Don’t like the feel of them,” I’d heard him mutter years ago. “If you’re an outlaw, own the outlaw. If you’re not, own that. You can’t wanna be a Gypsy Joker. You either are or you aren’t. They wanna be. But they aren’t. That shit just ain’t right and it could get dangerous.”

He’d been right.

It got dangerous.

I should have known.

I should have followed my dad.

Mom and me had done it all our lives, job to job, house to house, city to city.

Why I stopped…

Damn.

I knew why I’d stopped.

I’d wanted Shy; Shy, who reminded me of Dad.

And when I couldn’t have him, I’d gone looking.

I’d wanted what my mom had.

I’d wanted that sweetness. That love.

That devotion.

I’d wanted the stability that just seeped down deep into your bones from all that no matter the job changing, the scenery changing, the amount of times you boxed up a house.

Stability had nothing to do with income and locale.

Stability was all in the heart.

About Kristen Ashley:

Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA and nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorize and she hadn’t taken her first breath!). Her mother said they took Kristen away, put her Mom back in her room, her mother looked out the window, and Gary was on fire (Dr. King had been assassinated four days before). Kristen’s Mom remembered thinking it was the end of the world. Quite the dramatic beginning.

Nothing’s changed.

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana and has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus, she’s blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her family was (is) loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. They all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing, it keeps getting better.

WEBSITE * FACEBOOK * TWITTER * NEWSLETTER * GOODREADS * PINTEREST * INSTAGRAM

Hugh Johnson knew within a second of entering his bungalow that somebody else was inside. First, his hound dog didn’t bother to meet him at the door. Second, a vaguely familiar scent of wild bluebells wafted in the air.

He tossed his keys near the bowl sitting on an entryway table his mama had insisted he own and kept walking down the hallway, striding into his comfortable living room with its floor-to-ceiling windows that showcased trees and a bubbling brook outside. There he stopped cold. “Ellie,” he murmured, his normally relaxed body going on full alert as he took in the small woman lounging on his worn couch with the dog’s head in her lap.

She smiled pretty pink lips, her blue eyes sparkling behind wire-rimmed glasses as she stroked the dog’s head. “Your door was unlocked.”

Heisenberg groaned happily beneath her palm, keeping his eyes closed in pure bliss.

Hugh had the oddest desire to change places with the dog. “Not much crime out here in eastern Kentucky,” he murmured, studying the woman he hadn’t seen in…what? Ten years? “You’re all grown up, Eleanor.”

“I should hope so.” Even though she was wearing a black pencil skirt and fancy silk shirt, she’d kicked her shoes off and had her legs, her long and bare legs, on the hunting and fishing magazines scattered across his coffee table. She’d shoved a tattered and well-read Steve Berry thriller to the side.

Her ankles were crossed, and her toenails were painted with purple sparkles. Her blonde hair reached her shoulders in the wild mass he remembered. “You’re looking…good,” she murmured, a slight pink filling her cheeks.

He’d always liked how easily she blushed. Then he glanced down at his ripped jeans and threadbare Metallica T-shirt. “I’m on vacation.”

“It’s over,” she said softly, her gaze sobering.

About Rebecca Zanetti:

New York Times and USA Today Bestseller Rebecca Zanetti is the author of over twenty-five dark paranormals, romantic suspense, and contemporary romances. She lives in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with her own Alpha hero, two kids, a couple of dogs, a crazy cat…and a huge extended family. She believes strongly in luck, karma, and working her butt off…and she thinks one of the best things about being an author, unlike the lawyer she used to be, is that she can let the crazy out.