April 10, 2014

Release Blitz: Dare to Desire by Carly Phillips

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Title: Dare to Desire (Dare to Love #2)
Author: Carly Phillips
Release Date: April 10, 2014
Genre: Contemporary Romance


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Quarterback Alex Dare, had it all -- an all-star football career with the Tampa Breakers and his choice of willing women -- until a severe injury forces him into early retirement. When he is offered a ground-breaking position with a rival team, he’s intrigued, but there’s a catch. He’ll be working alongside the same woman he hasn’t been able to get out of his head for too long.

Social worker Madison Evans grew up in foster homes and knows first hand what it means to have-not. She isn't impressed by Alex Dare’s wealth or charm. Not since she fell hard for him once before, only to discover she was just one of his too-easy conquests. This time around Madison refuses to succumb to Alex so easily.

But Alex wants Madison. And if there is one thing Alex does well, it’s to get what he wants. The playboy athlete must prove he’s got game in more places than on the field. He means to prove that he’s a changed man but no sooner does he begin to break through Madison’s defenses when a new opportunity comes knocking and threatens her new-found trust. Can he make Madison take a risk and dare to love?

Excerpt

Without replying, Ian opened the door. They stepped into the room, and Alex laid eyes on the one woman he hadn’t been expecting to see. The same woman who’d haunted his dreams and sidetracked him from many of his nightmares.

Madison faced him head on. Her shoulders drawn back, golden-blonde hair pulled away from her face, she didn’t back down from his stare. She wore a pair of black slacks that hugged her curves and a white silky-looking top that clung to her generous breasts. And those unusually blue eyes frosted over at the sight of him.

“Alex, I believe you know Madison Evans.”

Blindsided — and his half brother knew it — Alex strode up to her. He inhaled her familiar fruity scent, which only served as a reminder of the hot times he’d spent breathing her in as his cock moved inside her body. Her effect on him was potent, and even the most common expressions failed him.

“Alex,” she said, her cool tone bringing his head out of the desire-filled fog he’d found himself in.

“Hey, Angel,” he said, using the endearment he’d started calling her during their brief time together. Another sign he’d had it bad, whether he’d wanted to admit it or not.

Her head whipped up, her eyes narrowing and settling on Ian. “This won’t work.” She turned to go.

Alex still had excellent reflexes, and he grabbed her arm before she could stride past him.

She glared.

He didn’t look away, determined to win this battle of wills. This potential job, which had interested him on an intellectual and emotional level initially, suddenly felt even more important, and she was the reason.

“We need to talk,” he insisted.

“I have nothing to say.”

“Ian’s proposition said otherwise.”

Madison looked over his shoulder in search of Ian and frowned. “Well, the traitor is gone. No big surprise there.”

Smart man, Alex thought. “If I let you go, will you stay long enough to discuss this position Ian and Riley want me to take?”

She let out a frustrated puff of air.

He took that as a yes and released her.

“Us working together is not a good idea, and somewhere in that thick head of yours, you know that.”

“Because we slept together? More than a couple of times?”

She set her jaw. “That was a mistake.”

Ouch. That hurt, he thought, and filed away the why to deal with later. “I want to know more about this training program and what my role in it would be.”

“Why? You can’t possibly be interested.”

“It sounds more like you don’t want me to be interested.”

She rolled her shoulders back even farther, stiffening her posture. “You’re right. I don’t. This is a serious project that could help a lot of people and have far-reaching positive repercussions for years to come. I need a partner willing to go all in. And let’s face it, I’ve seen your staying power. It’s nonexistent.”

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Dare to Desire (Dare to Love #2)
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Dare to Love (Dare to Love #1)
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About the Author

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New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carly Phillips N.Y. Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carly Phillips has written over 40 sexy contemporary romance novels that today's readers identify with and enjoy. After a successful 15 year career with various New York publishing houses, Carly is making the leap to Indie author, with the goal of giving her readers more books at a faster pace at a better price. Her Serendipity books will still finish up in January/February 2014 via Berkley as planned. Carly lives in Purchase, NY with her family, two nearly adult daughters and two crazy dogs who star on her Facebook Fan Page and website. She's a writer, a knitter of sorts, a wife, and a mom. In addition, she's a Twitter and Internet junkie and is always around to interact with her readers. You can find all information about Carly at her website and other social media sites ...

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Pasadena Teen Book Fest Promo & Guest Post by Bridge to Books

at 4/10/2014 12:00:00 AM 1 comments

Today we have a guest post from Bridge to Books, answers to some Frequently Asked Questions, as well as a couple of giveaways and the renaming contest!

Event date: Saturday, April 26, 2014 from 12pm-4pm


Venue: Pasadena Public Library, 285 E Walnut St, Pasadena, CA 91101

Free event - Tickets at Eventbrite (SOLD OUT! Wait List is open)


More information - Grab a Badge

Presented by Pasadena Public Library and Bridge to Books


Tue March 25 - Read Now Sleep Later - Spotlight on Catherine Linka
Mon March 31 - The Windy Pages - Spotlight on Gretchen McNeil
Mon March 31 - The Windy Pages - Spotlight on Holly Goldberg Sloan
Wed April 2 - FangirlFeeels - Spotlight on Jesse Andrews
Fri April 4 - What a Nerd Girl Says - Spotlight on Andrew Smith
Mon April 7 - What a Nerd Girl Says - Spotlight on Margaret Stohl
Tue April 8 - Adventures of a Book Junkie - Spotlight on Amy Tintera
Thu April 10 - The Consummate Reader - Bridge to Books Guest Post
Fri April 11 - iFandoms Collide - Spotlight on Rachel Searles
Mon April 14 - Nite Lite Book Reviews - Spotlight on Sarah Skilton
Tue April 15 - Nite Lite Book Reviews - Spotlight on Allen Zadoff
Wed April 16 - The Reader's Antidote - Spotlight on Elizabeth Ross
Fri April 18 - A Bookish Escape - Spotlight on Ann Redisch Stampler
Mon April 21 - iFandoms Collide - Spotlight on Carol Tanzman
Tue April 22 - The Book Twins - Spotlight on Carrie Arcos
Thu April 24 - Birth of a New Witch - Spotlight on Katherine Ewell

Guest Post

Bridge to Books members Alyson Beecher, Alethea Allarey, and Thuy Lam answer some questions and share their excitement about the Pasadena Teen Book Festival:

Why are you excited about the Pasadena Teen Book Festival?

Alyson: I hear about all these amazing Teen Book Festivals in other areas and I am excited that we get to experience our own version of it. I look forward to the day when Pasadena's is as well know as Austin or Decatur. 

Alethea: Our librarian friend Jane Gov and I have been talking about putting on our own book festival for years! Now it's finally happening, and I hope we can do it for years to come.

Thuy: It's a bunch of great teen authors speaking and signing in a beautiful historic library that isn't too far from where I live. What's not to be excited about?


While the festival is unable to provide food to attendees this first year, what would your ideal brown bag lunch be?


Alyson: I am fine with a sandwich, chips and fruit. I go more for the authors presenting than any food that is provided.

Alethea: I think I will be too stressed out running the event to eat! But I'm bringing emergency rations in the form of a sandwich, granola bar, and apple juice.

Thuy: Since we probably can't get too fancy with a bag lunch I'll go with some sort of tasty sandwich, chips, a cookie (gotta have cookies) and a beverage of some sort.

We have some amazing author guests this year! But if we bring in a whole new set of authors next year, who would be in your Top 5 or Top 10?


Alyson: My top 5 changes about every 6 months depending on what I am reading. Since I get to meet so many wonderful folks out here, I selected people that I do not normally get to see. With that said, I would love to have Patrick Ness, Holly Black, Laurie Halse Anderson, Markus Zusak, Sherman Alexie, Lisa McMann, Neal Shusterman, Jo Knowles, AS King, and Stephen Chbosky. Wow, I managed to come up with 10. Phew!

Alethea: Maria V. Snyder is always at the top of my list, but I'd love to see some debut authors and people we don't see here very often. Mary McCoy, Ava Dellaria, Brandi Colbert, Jessica Love, and Livia Blackburne. Lish McBride, Sally Green, Susann Cokal... And I totally gotta convince Mary Pearson to come up because her new novel Kiss of Deception is ah-mazing!

Thuy: Marissa Meyer, Robin LaFevers, Maggie Stiefvater, Richelle Mead, Rainbow Rowell, David Levithan, Leigh Bardugo, Neal Shusterman, Tamora Pierce, Laini Taylor.

If you could pick a fictional/fantastical place to hold the festival next year, where would it be and why?


Alyson: Hmm...when I think of fantastical, I think about some great hall in a huge castle with dragons flying around outside and Elves and Dwarves as guests. Or maybe even Hogwarts, I bet there would be some great rooms to use there for different panels.

Alethea: Hogwarts, most definitely! Because Westeros is waaaay too dangerous.

Thuy: Can I say Hogwarts? Or at least Harry Potter World once it opens in Universal City.


What is your favorite thing about young adult OR middle grade books right now?


Alyson: For the past couple of years, both middle grade and young adult books have been offering some amazing stories for readers to explore and savor. I can find something to read in any genre. And I can find books that will make me laugh or cry or keep me on the edge of my seat. There are characters to embrace and celebrate.

Alethea: I love how changeable both YA and middle grade books are... I think all of the meaningful LGBTQ stories I've read have been in these groups of books, and I am hopeful that racial diversity won't be far behind. I think the audience has a tendency to embrace rather than exclude new things, and that bodes really well for storytellers.

Thuy: I love that there are so many different YA and middle grade books right now. I really feel like there is something for everyone, whether you love high fantasy, contemporary or something in between. There's a lot of stuff to choose from right now and it's just exciting to see what's coming up next. 

FAQs

Q: How do I get a free tote?

A: The first 150 attendees to arrive at the registration desk will get a free Pasadena Teen Book Festival tote bag! You may arrive as early as 11:30 am to pick up your tote and shop at the Vroman's book sale table.

Q: Do I have to buy a book at the Festival to get my books signed?

A: No purchase is necessary. You may bring books from home. Please remember that purchasing from our on-site vendor will help support the event and raise the chances of it happening again next year!

Q: What if I want to see an author on a panel but I need to be at the signing area at the same time?


A: Go ahead and get your book signed -- we will be Livestreaming the panels and the video will be available to watch online after the event, so you can see what you may have missed!

Q: Will there be food at the Festival?

A: Unfortunately we are unable to offer refreshments to the entire audience at the Festival, but you are absolutely welcome to bring your own lunch/snacks to consume during the event. Food will be allowed in certain areas like the auditorium, the story room, and the signing patio. Just be sure to keep the library clean.

Q: Where should we park?

A: While we do have some parking at the library lot and on the street, there are about 150 additional spaces at the University of Phoenix (enter on Garfield Ave just past the library lot). You can check out the map here.

Alternate parking areas

330 E Union St (corner of Euclid) $4 all day, 2 blocks from venue
135 N Los Robles Ave (enter on E Union St) $5 all day, 3 blocks from venue

Giveaways

#1: ARC of A Girl Called Fearless
Winner may request personalization/autograph
Open to US residents only - ends 4/25/2014
Enter with Rafflecopter #1
#2: Choose from 1 of the books featured at the Pasadena Teen Book Festival
Winner may request personalization/autograph
Open to US residents only - ends 4/25/2014
Enter with Rafflecopter #2
#3: $50 Gift Card to Vroman's Bookstore
Open to attendees of the Pasadena Book Festival only! - ends 4/21/2014

To enter, suggest a new, unique/clever/fun name for the Pasadena Teen Book Festival. Examples of other cool names for teen book fests include (already taken, unfortunately) Teen Author Carnival, YALLFest, and YABFest. What should we call our event from now on? Email your top 3 best name suggestions to info@pasadenateenbookfest.com OR fill out this form! A panel of judges will choose the best name from all of the submissions. The winner will be announced at the Festival!

April 8, 2014

Book Blast: Fallen Angel by Tracie Podger

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Title: Fallen Angel, Part I

Author: Tracie Podger

Genre: Contemporary Romance 18+

Publication Date: December 2013

Event Organized By: Literati Author Services, Inc.


On the first day of her holiday to Washington, DC, Brooke Stiles meets Robert Stone.

Dark eyed, damaged and dangerous - Stone has never had a normal relationship for fear of his past being exposed. Not knowing how to respect nor love, he struggles with his feelings for a woman who makes him question everything that he is.

Brooke falls in love with him and as their relationship grows she learns who he really is. Her future is set. She is to heal her man and mend his broken soul. But can she do the one thing that he asks?

This is a story of an ordinary woman who falls in love with an extraordinary man and has to discover whether she is strong enough to forgive him his past.


Purchase Links


About the Author


Tracie Podger currently lives in Kent, UK with her husband and a rather obnoxious cat called George. She is a Padi Scuba Diving Instructor who has a passion for writing. Tracie has been so fortunate to have dived some of the wonderful oceans of the world where she can indulge in another hobby, underwater photography. She likes getting up close and personal with sharks.

Connect with the Author: 

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April 7, 2014

Release Blitz: Finding Serenity by Eden Butler

at 4/07/2014 12:31:00 AM 0 comments

Title: Finding Serenity
Series: Seeking Serenity #2
Author: Eden Butler
Genre: NA / Contemporary Romance
Release Date: April 7, 2014


Synopsis

Mollie Malone's mom skipped out on her. Her biker dad, always loose and easy with the law, still was able to make her feel loved, and to keep her safe. But thirteen years ago, when his luck finally ran out and he landed in prison, Mollie found herself a new family - a group of friends in the sleepy little college town of Cavanagh, Tennessee, where now they all attend the local university. These girls know about the rotten roots of her family tree but accept her anyway, and the bond between them is so strong and supportive that Mollie is finally able to see past graduation to a future that is bright and secure.

But sometimes the past doesn't stay buried.

Suddenly, inexplicably, there's a shadow behind every step Mollie takes. Someone is lurking in that shadow, threatening not only Mollie, but also the new family she has claimed for herself.

And it isn’t just the past that has Mollie’s life in upheaval. Hunky former Marine Vaughn Winchester - who Mollie really would like to get to know much better - thinks Mollie is just a kid; he's made it clear she wouldn't ever be able to understand the demons haunting him. But if that's what he believes, then why does he keep sticking his nose in her business? And if he thinks she’s such a kid, why does he keep trying to kiss her?

Vaughn’s mind games are frustrating, especially since Mollie knows enough about secrets to be convinced that there's something he isn’t telling her, something he's so far been able to keep hidden. But when that secret is revealed, Mollie is forced into a situation that tests her loyalty and threatens even her closest friendships - just when the shadow of her past returns, and she's going to need them the most.



Excerpt

“You were screaming. Having a nightmare.” The tight hold on her hands loosens and some of Mollie’s fear flees. He only stares as though he can’t process how he’d slipped from whatever terror had consumed him, to staring down at Mollie’s frightened face. When he doesn’t move, doesn’t seem to calm, Mollie pulls her hand free from his grasp and touches his face. 

Her fingers smooth down Vaughn’s high cheek, and he closes his eyes, a soft moan vibrating in his throat. And then, he crashes on top of her, his mouth coming to meet hers as though her lips had called them.


She thinks of resisting, of pushing him off of her; she is still annoyed, still hurt by his non-disclosures. But when his soft lips move against hers, when he slips his tongue in her mouth, not asking, not suggesting, but taking, all thoughts of resistance flee Mollie’s mind. It has been too long since anyone has touched her and the smell and taste of Vaughn’s body, of the peppermint flavor of his breath from his toothpaste, feels too good to her, is too intoxicating.


Mollie has wanted Vaughn since that first day at the Dash. She recalls feeling possessive, sure that somehow this strawberry blonde stranger was meant solely for her. And now, finally, she is getting what she wants; what reason tells her really didn’t belong to her.


He moves his hips, a brief gesture that has Mollie sliding her hands down his back, loving the feel of his skin against her fingers. It is what she’d wanted, just hours before and she does not think about what she is doing, about how this would change whatever was happening between them. There is only Vaughn’s skin under her hands; only his tongue wrestling against hers and the solid outline of his erection pushing into her, against the precariously thin fabric of his boxers.
*Purchase books 1 & 1.5 of the Seeking Serenity series*



Chasing Serenity #1





Behind the Pitch #1.5

 


*About Eden*


Eden Butler is an editor and writer of New Adult Romance and SciFi and Fantasy novels and the nine-times great-granddaughter of an honest-to-God English pirate. This could explain her affinity for rule breaking and rum. Her debut novel, a New Adult, Contemporary (no cliffie) Romance, “Chasing Serenity” will launch October 2013. 

When she’s not writing or wondering about her possibly Jack Sparrowesque ancestor, thinking up impossible plots, Eden edits, reads and spends way too much time watching rugby, Doctor Who and New Orleans Saints football.

*Connect with Eden*


*Giveaway*
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April 4, 2014

Blog Tour Promo Post: Half Light by Frances Fyfield

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Genre: Crime/Thriller

Publisher: Witness Impulse, an imprint of HarperCollins

Publication Date: April 1, 2014

Event Organized By: Literati Author Services, Inc.

~ Synopsis ~

Elisabeth is a picture restorer. This gives her the solitude and independence she needs—living and working alone in her flat. Despite her skills and reliability, Elisabeth undercharges for her work—valuing the worth of the paintings rather more than she values herself. Her ambitions are modest: beauty to look upon, unintrusive friendships, and complete privacy. But when a mysterious and obviously wealthy man commissions her to restore his fabulous collection, an uncharacteristic combination of curiosity and financial need prompts her to accept his offer. Elisabeth soon realizes her error, as the past and the present combine to make privacy her nemesis. As she becomes a hostage to her patron, her lover and her friend realize they know nothing about her, or where she might be.

~Purchase Links~


~Excerpt~

Running up the hill to the station, late for the afternoon train, late for life, she had seen an old man with a stick walking ahead and had stopped to avoid him.  He had been identical to a stranger putting flowers on a grave in the cemetery, and both times the sight filled her with fear and fury, made her wilt, wounded with memory.  After that, she had sat too long by the graveside, distracted by the monuments of chipped angels and worn sandstone, the new stones of vibrant white, the flowers and shrubs, new or faded.  She was not mourning: she was assuaging a constant sense of guilt and loss, aware that it was not quite the same sensation.  Flowers took a long time to die when left in the air.  It was t he only place for miles where she could see colors.

Her father had dictated this letter, she was sure of it; his vitriol was infectious.  She could feel the pink paper crumpled in her pocket, the reminder of the address they never ever put on letters since they moved and the thousand and one recriminations which would have followed if ever she had dared to knock on their door.  Father would have come towards her leaning on his stick and, never after all these years meeting her eyes, mumbling accusations until her willpower fell away with her coat.  She had satisfied the insatiable appetite of guilt by taking flowers to her mother’s grave.  Standing there in front of a new, crude white and gold headstone which reminded her of a bathroom fitting, she could feel similar waves of disapproval rising like heat, drowning her own anguish in their blind lake of understanding.

It was the grey, utilitarian mess of the landscape above all, but she no longer knew if this judgment was the selective nature of her own eyes which made it seem so dead.  The bus from the graveyard into town took her past some rare fields of glowing yellow stubble, blinding in the light, but she could not take unmitigated pleasure in that.  She could look at a field in a state of beauty and know it would change with the same unreliability of people, but a painting of the same thing could make her shout for joy. 

After art, nature.  Never the other way round.  Green fields and wide skies were better in oil paint, more easily controlled, invoked no loneliness.  Which could not be said for the station, unmanned after the truculent man selling tickets left at four.  A dearth of trains to take her into lovely, filthy, metropolitan anonymity. Empty feelings and empty stations, no sense of belonging.  If you do not belong when you are a child, you will never belong.

He never touched me, father, only you. I have tried, mother, father, sister, brother, to gain some sort of acceptance, but you haunt me, even in solitude, with all your bitter hopelessness. 

~ About the Author ~


I grew up in rural Derbyshire, but my adult life has been spent mostly in London, with long intervals in Norfolk and Deal, all inspiring places. I was educated mostly in convent schools; then studied English and went on to qualify as a solicitor, working for what is now the Crown Prosecution Service, thus learning a bit about murder at second hand. Years later, writing became the real vocation, although the law and its ramifications still haunt me and inform many of my novels.

I’m a novelist, short story writer for magazines and radio, sometime Radio 4 contributor, (Front Row, Quote Unquote, Night Waves,) and presenter of Tales from the Stave. When I’m not working (which is as often as possible), I can be found in the nearest junk/charity shop or auction, looking for the kind of paintings which enhance my life. Otherwise, with a bit of luck, I’m relaxing by the sea with a bottle of wine and a friend or two.

~Connect with the Author~

~Giveaway~

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April 2, 2014

Release Blitz: Weak Without Him by Lyra Parish

at 4/02/2014 12:00:00 AM 0 comments
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Synopsis

"Love is an emotion that will destroy you if you let it. It can ruin your life or create a new one. Jealousy isn't much different."

Jennifer Downs treads in dangerous waters.
Finnley Felton is unaware.
With the help of Lady Luck, they will make it through.
Or will they?

Texas is nothing compared to Vegas but among the bright lights and busy streets, Jennifer discovers who she is. Her life has changed, and for better or worse, she continues to live like tomorrow will never come.

Sabotage. Hatred. Betrayal.

Although love is beautiful and kind, it comes with consequences.

Jennifer finds herself fighting. Fighting for her rights, for love, for Finnley, and for her life.

Hearts may be broken.
Lives will change.
But the ultimate question remains: can love win all?

Buy the Book

Weak Without Him (Weakness #2)


Weak For Him (Weakness #1)

Weak for Him Cover


About the Author

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Words make the world go round. I love to write, travel, and sing really loud at the top of my lungs in the shower. Sweet love stories (along with the dirty ones) make me gush. I am firm believer that a person can never have too many cats or cups of coffee, and that the F word is necessary.

Forget the beach! Give me a gel pen, a stack of blank paper, and beautiful mountains!


Giveaway


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March 27, 2014

Blog Tour Promo Post: Book One: The Girl (The Sanctum) by Madhuri Blaylock

at 3/27/2014 12:00:00 AM 0 comments


The Sanctum, an all-powerful governing body founded by ten families, entrusted to maintain the peace amongst Magicals and ensure the ignorance of humans, has been corrupted by greed and savagery for generations, but is all Wyatt Clayworth has ever known.

Dev, the hybrid demon prophesied to bring an end to The Sanctum and destroy the world for Magicals and humans alike, is not what Wyatt expected to find when sent out on his latest mission. Believed to be hunting a killing machine, Wyatt finds little more than a broken girl with haunted eyes and a bit of a death wish. Drawn to one another for reasons they cannot begin to explain to themselves, much less anyone else, Wyatt is determined to protect Dev and help her realize her mission to avenge the deaths of her family at the hands of The Sanctum.

Set against the backdrop of New York City, THE GIRL is described as "outstanding, original, complex, deep and intoxicating", a "well written, unique...fast-paced read" that begins as one girl's simple quest for revenge and evolves into a complicated tale of trust, friendship, honor and love.


Available for purchase at 

   

Excerpt

Without making a sound, Wyatt quickly found the exact place he was seeking. Ducking under some low-hanging tree branches, he ventured into the dark, partially-hidden lair only to be met with a less-than-welcoming blade at his throat. Dev had moved slightly from the hiding place Wyatt left her and although the lower half of her body remained immobile, her arms were functioning just fine, as evidenced by the blade drawing a thin trickle of blood from Wyatt’s neck. One wrong move and she would certainly kill him.

Wyatt slowly brought his hands up to Dev’s, wrapped his fingers around hers and painstakingly maneuvered the blade away from his neck. Only then did he dare make eye contact with her.

“You didn’t really think I was just going to leave you here, did you?” Wyatt asked as he moved to retrieve his blade from Dev.

She wasn’t quite ready to give it up and slashed at Wyatt’s outstretched hand, managing to nick his wrist.

“Crap!” Wyatt sat back on his heels, holding his wrist, and laughed, “fair enough. I deserved that. I should have told you I was coming back, but I couldn’t risk Ryker overhearing or suspecting anything. Trust me, if he thought I was coming back for you he would have spent all night watching me like a hawk. So I left you and walked away and it worked. Now get over it and give me back my blade.”

Despite the laughter in his voice, Wyatt wasn’t playing. He wanted his blade. Her name was Odara and she had been handed down the Clayworth line since the witnessing of The Code of Ten. She was sharper than any Raven blade and fit his hand like a glove. Many had fought and died at his hand thanks to Odara. She was his protector and he wanted her back where she belonged, safely strapped to his hip.

"Kill me," Dev offered the blade at a price.

Wyatt stood up tall and glared down at Dev, clenching his jaw in irritation.

"Kill me," Dev challenged him again, taunting him with her smug stare and grim request.
With blinding speed, Wyatt landed on Dev, knocking her to the ground. Before she even realized what was happening, he locked down her arms and liberated his blade from her grasp. Wyatt hovered above Dev, inches from her face, momentarily tempted to slice her throat and end all of this drama. She couldn’t move a muscle.

"You are in no position to bargain with me," Wyatt angrily whispered, never taking his eyes off of hers. "I am faster and stronger than you. So don’t even think about toying with me like that again.”

Wyatt pushed himself off of her, replaced Odara at his hip and grinned mischievously. “For the record, my blade isn’t worth your life. I just want it back. And I asked nicely the first time.”

Dev remained in her prone position, staring up at Wyatt, uncertain of her next move. She didn’t have the strength necessary to pull herself into a seated position and she definitely was not going to ask for help.

“What?” Wyatt stared down at Dev, knowing she needed help to get up but determined to make her ask for it.

Even in the darkness, Dev could see Wyatt’s eyes sparkling with amusement. He was thoroughly enjoying this little moment between the two of them. His pleasure made her wish she had slit his throat when she had the chance. Rather than requesting his assistance, Dev focused every ounce of her energy on rolling over onto her stomach. If she could do that, she could easily pull herself into a sitting position, Wyatt be damned. 

She closed her eyes and focused every fiber of her being on the task at hand but nothing happened. Her body failed to react. It didn't even twitch. The body that had so beautifully saved her from certain death at the hands of those Sanctum fools just hours earlier now couldn't even roll over. She shook with frustration, wanting to scream to the heavens in rage, knowing such action was futile and beneath her. So she took a calming breath, opened her eyes and glared at Wyatt.

"Ahhhh, you're back. I was starting to miss your charming scowl," Wyatt bent low and absentmindedly pushed some of Dev’s hair out of her eyes, “was getting worried there for a second."
Dev grabbed his hand in her vice-like grip. She hated him and his snarky comments.

"I realize you don’t like me," Wyatt pulled his hand out of her grasp and gently placed his arms around Dev, helping her to sit, unable to look at her lying helplessly on the ground for another second, "but I'm all you've got so by all means, continue simmering in your hatred for me but do so with the understanding that I'm on your side.

"All this stabbing and cutting nonsense has got to end. If you want to hurt me, just imagine it, okay? Pretend. Don't actually do it. I heal quickly but it still hurts like hell."

"Now we've got to get out of here fast," Wyatt checked his watch, alarmed at how much time had passed since he jumped out of his window, "and you still can’t walk, which means I’m going to have to pick you up again. Whether you’re okay with it or not.”

He leaned back on his heels and waited, for some reason hoping Dev would respond, all the while knowing she would not. Dev listened with keen interest to every word coming out of Wyatt’s mouth. She most certainly didn’t like him, but she had to respect his determination. He fully intended to get her out of this park and to somewhere safe and against her better judgment, a tiny part of her was relieved. It was the same, small part of her that was fiercely drawn to him, like a sickness almost. And it was the part of her she most wanted to destroy.
Dev hardened her resolve, focused on her intense hatred for all things Sanctum and shut down.

For an instant, Wyatt thought he saw a spark in Dev’s eyes and just as quickly, it was gone. At that moment, for reasons unknown to himself, Wyatt resigned himself to a one-sided relationship with her, one completely based upon his will to help her. He stood up and reached for her, praying she didn’t have a blade hidden somewhere, knowing that if she did, this time she would definitely kill him. To his surprise, Dev wrapped her arms around his neck and allowed Wyatt to scoop her up and into his arms, but he thought nothing more of it, knowing full well she was merely using him to further her agenda.

And that was all right.

About the Author

Madhuri Blaylock is a lawyer by day, writer and avid shoe and dress buyer at all other times. She lives in Jersey City, but her heart remains firmly planted in Brooklyn via Snellville, Georgia. Her husband, Henry, is also a lawyer, and only a lawyer because he actually likes being a lawyer (go figure), probably always wanted to be a lawyer and is really, really good at all things lawyerly. He's also pretty hot.

She’s got a big kid, Miss Sydney, and a little kid, the one and only Dash. They're awesome and fierce and supremely cool and able to make her laugh at the strangest things. She would love to add a dog, some chickens, a goat and a burro to this crew. Everyone needs a burro.

Some of her favorites, in no particular order: ice cream, Kill Bill, four-inch heels, Matt Damon, tattoos, Laini Taylor, scotch on the rocks, The Sanctum trilogy, Martha's Vineyard, "The Girl" aka her Mini, Rihanna, Doc Martens, tulips, Coach and Tami, photo booths and dancing like a fool.

One day she plans to grow up. Right now, she’s enjoying the adventure.


You can find Madhuri here

         


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