Category Archives: book launch

THE BACHELOR AUCTION Release Day Blitz

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ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: The Bachelor Auction
Author: Rachel Van Dyken
Series: The Bachelors of Arizona #1
On Sale: October 4, 2016
Publisher: Forever
Formats: eBook
Price: $4.99 USD (eBook)
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Cinderella never had to deal with this crap.

Jane isn’t entirely sure that Cinderella got such a raw deal. Sure, she had a rough start, but didn’t she eventually land a prince and a happily-ever-after? Meanwhile, Jane is busy waiting on her demanding, entitled sisters, running her cleaning business, and . . . yep, not a prince in sight. Until a party and a broken shoe incident leave Jane wondering if princes—or at least, a certain deliciously hunky billionaire—maybe do exist.

Except Brock Wellington isn’t anyone’s dream guy. Hell, a prince would never agree to be auctioned off in marriage to the highest bidder. Or act like an arrogant jerk—even if it was just a façade. Now, as Brock is waiting for the auction chopping block, he figures it’s karmic retribution that he’s tempted by a sexy, sassy woman he can’t have. But while they can’t have a fairy-tale ending, maybe they can indulge in a little bit of fantasy . . .

THE BACHELORS OF ARIZONA

The Bachelor Auction #1

Series Page on Goodreads

BUY THE BOOK HERE

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“Jane.” It was a whisper, it was a question, and then his mouth was on hers—harsh, forceful, but so inviting she whimpered at the contact and leaned into him, begging him with her body to take what she couldn’t voice aloud.

It was a bad idea.

He was a bad idea.

Taken.

Ready to be married off.

But here, in this moment, he was hers.

So she kissed him back with as much passion as she possessed, her hands digging into the front of his shirt while his teeth nipped at her bottom lip.

His hands slid beneath her shirt, unhooking her bra with ease as he nudged her thighs apart.

“You feel so soft,” he murmured against her mouth. “Perfect.” Another plundering kiss, his tongue flicking hers before his lips slid down her neck. “So damn good.”

With a moan, she pressed as close as she could against him, nearly riding his leg in an effort to get more of him.

“That’s it,” he encouraged while she clawed at him.

“Brock!” Bentley’s voice pierced the air. “Did you need help?”

Brock froze above her, his face filled with irritation. “Open that door, Bentley, and I’m selling every car you own and replacing it with a Honda!”

Silence.

“You don’t mean it.” The knob turned.

Jane’s eyes widened in alarm as Brock quickly moved away from her and tossed the blanket…over her head. Right, like that was going to look normal. She pulled the blanket off her face and tried in vain to fix her bra while frantically pulling her hair back into a ponytail.

Bentley entered, took one look at both of them and smiled. “Clearly this room was dirtier than we thought?” He tilted his head at Jane. “Or maybe not dirty enough?”

“Out!” Brock barked.

“But—”

“Go!”

“Fine,” Bentley grumbled. “I’m leaving. I just thought you should know that Grandfather called and wanted to know how the maid was working out. I told him that you’ve been helping her since she sprained her ankle. He was concerned about her finishing the job.”

“What did you say?” Brock grabbed Bentley by the shirt and gave a little shake.

Bentley held up his hands. “Chill. I told him that she would make a full recovery, that she refused to sue, and that you were taking care of the situation. Because that’s all you’re doing, right Brock? Taking care of the situation…” He peered around Brock at Jane.

Feeling suddenly more naked than she actually was, she covered herself up with the blanket.

What had she been thinking?

It was beyond unprofessional.

Tears burned the backs of her eyes.

“Thanks, Bent.” Brock sighed, running his hands through his already mussed hair.

Bentley saluted him then added quietly. “For the record, any girl that can get Boring Brock to bend the rules is a keeper.”

Brock bit back a curse as Bentley shut the door.

“Boring Brock?” Jane asked.

“It’s about as bad as it sounds.”

“Well, I’m Plain Jane, so…I understand.”

He turned. “You’ve never been plain a day in your life.”

“I think you’ve already learned that you don’t need to give me pretty compliments to get me to kiss you.”

“You have seven freckles. You press your lips together to keep yourself from saying things you shouldn’t. You hum when you clean, and though I’m not sure what the tune is, it’s familiar. When you eat, you watch people rather than your own food, and I’m just going to come out and say it: you eat like an animal, the most erotic thing I’ve ever seen.”

Jane covered her face with her hands. “It was flattering until you said that last part.”

Brock laughed. “Seeing a woman dig into her food like she hasn’t eaten in weeks? It’s one of the most erotic visions I’ve ever had.”

Emotion flashed across his face as he made his way over to her and kissed her again, pulling away with her name on his lips. “Jane, I want you.”

“Thought I was just the help.” The walls around her heart started to slip; she felt it in the way her body rose against him. He’d noticed things about her nobody ever had, he was helping her, and he was beautiful. Was it so wrong to want this? For herself? Once in her life?

“You’re more than that, and you know it.” His eyes locked on to hers as his deep voice washed over her.

“You’re getting auctioned off in two weeks and you know it.”

He paused, his expression going completely ice cold before he looked away and then back at her. “And if I wasn’t? What then?”

“Then…” She bit down on her bottom lip. “I’d ask you to kiss me again.”

Excerpted from THE BACHELOR AUCTION by Rachel Van Dyken. Copyright © 2016 by Rachel Van Dyken. Used with permission of Grand Central Publishing. All rights reserved.

 

 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she’s not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor. She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!

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Release Day Launch – Love Me Crazy

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Today we have the release day launch for Love Me Crazy by Camden Leigh. We are so excited to share this fantastic new contemporary romance with you! Be sure to check it out and grab your copy today!

 

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About Love Me Crazy:

 

“We’re broken in the most screwed-up perfect way. It was inevitable we’d end up together.”

 

Cassidy Beck is focused on one thing, and one thing only: planning the Southern wedding of the century in Lucas Hill, South Carolina. Fresh from a tragic breakup, Cassidy’s not in the mood for any distractions. But when antebellum hottie Quinn Covington arrives in all his sexy, tattooed glory, he might prove to be the biggest distraction of them all.

 

MIA ever since his father’s death, Quinn doesn’t plan to stay any longer than it takes to start his dad’s vintage truck. But the sight of Cassidy trying to fend off his family’s pet turkey sends him for a loop. Red-haired and fierce, she’s just as broken as he is. But even though Cassidy’s past makes her the only one able to understand Quinn’s own scars, they also make her wary. After all, how can she trust him with her heart when everyone else she’s ever given it to has thrown it away?

 

Sexy, heart-wrenching, and full of Southern charm, this new contemporary romance from Camden Leigh shows just what happens when two people who are perfectly broken end up piecing each other back together.

 

Get your copy today!

Publisher | Amazon/Kindle | iBook | Nook | Kobo | Google Play

 

About Camden Leigh:

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Camden Leigh is a sucker for first kisses, first hook-ups and anything that adds the unforgettable first sparks of love–humor, seduction, hot-n-sexy bods, angsty determination…what have you! Her stories expose the real dirt, grime and grit that befalls a seemingly perfect relationship, the heartache as a result, and the growth, perseverance and strength it takes to make flaws work for her characters. She wants her characters to experience love that wraps arounds their hearts, turns them into sizzling flames and results in a grand finale of fireworks.

 

When Camden isn’t writing, she’s either crafting, flicking through images of gorgeous paper, saturated palettes or…um, lip-lickin’ washboard abs. When feeling guilty, she attempts to keep up with her energetic kiddos by beach combing, kayaking, golfing (can it really be called golfing if a seven-year-old beats you?) or being that crazy person at a concert. Her addictions: chocolate covered raspberries, real southern sweet tea (not the fake stuff with the sugar crystals hanging out in the bottom of the cup), her pups and pretty paper she’ll never use.

 

Connect with Camden:

twitter: https://twitter.com/Camden_Leigh

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/camden_leigh/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/camden_leigh/

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Camden-Leigh-912698852155676/?pnref=story

goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/camdenleigh

 

Giveaway Details:

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Follow along during the blog tour….

Blog Tour Schedule:

September 28th

Captain Reads A Lot Excerpt

Aly’s Miscellany Excerpt

AC Book Blog Excerpt

Reese’s Reviews Excerpt

Barbara’s Book Reviews Excerpt

September 29th

The Silver Dagger Scriptorium Excerpt

Roxy’s Reviews Excerpt

Ashley Book Blog Review

September 30th

Reading Tigress Excerpt

Two Girls with Books Review

Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents Excerpt

SBB Reviews Review

Spunky N Sassy Excerpt

Kitty’s Book Spot! Excerpt

October 1st

More Books Than Livros Review

Kick Back & Review Excerpt

Those Crazy Book Chicks Excerpt

October 2nd

Bad boys and Bedtime stories book previews Review

Literary Dust Excerpt

October 3rd

Socially Awkward Book Nerd Excerpt

V’s Reads Review

Book Junkiez Excerpt

An Aussie Girls WILD Book Addiction! Dreamcast

October 4th

Alpha Book Club Review

Book Fancy Review

Cruising Susan Book Reviews Review

October 5th

My Slanted Bookish Ramblings Review

Evermore Books Excerpt

Crazii Bitches Book Blog Review

October 6th

Lucky 13 Review

EskieMama Reads Excerpt

Rock Out With Sweet Reads Excerpt

October 7th

KatyaRath Review

Ramblings From This Chick Review

The Book Sirens Review

October 8th

The Book Tree Excerpt

Romance Book Nerd Excerpt

The Power of Three Readers Review

October 9th

Fictional rendezvous book blog Excerpt

Southern Yankee Book Reviews Review

Dog-Eared Daydreams Review

October 10th

Princess Reads Review

Seraphim Book Reviews Guest Post

Novel Addiction Review

October 11th

G & T’s Indie Café Excerpt

Books 2 Blog Review

Teatime and Books Excerpt

One girl lost in romance books Review

Southern Vixens Book Obsessions Review

 

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Tinsel, Sand & Snow: A Christmas Collection -Kat & Stone Bastion

Tinsel, Sand & Snow: A Christmas Collection by Kat & Stone Bastion is available today!

Be sure to treat yourself to Christmas early this year. And it’s a perfect eReader-stuffer for all your romance-loving friends.

PLUS visit Kat & Stone Bastion’s Facebook page today for a $25 Amazon Gift Card giveaway. Further details below…

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Available Now…
Amazon US * B&N * iBooks * Kobo

Tinsel, Sand & Snow on Goodreads

For the first time, Kat & Stone Bastion share Christmas romances from three different genres in one special collection. All have been loved as standalones by new readers of their books. The Bastions hope you enjoy the stories together in Tinsel, Sand & Snow.

Tinsel, Sand & Snow: A Christmas Collection includes…

~ Three Christmases ~ 4.9 star contemporary romance
~ The Espionage Effect ~ 4.5 star action & adventure romance
~ Bound by Wish and Mistletoe ~ 4.6 star Scottish historical romance
…PLUS a bonus scene for Three Christmases:
An Island Kind of Christmas
…PLUS a bonus scene for Bound by Wish and Mistletoe:
An Angel Turned Santa Claus

*** PLEASE NOTE ***
Scorching (explicit) sex scenes.
Fire extinguisher highly recommended.

Due to mature themes and adult language, this box set is for those 18 and older.


Praise for the Books in Tinsel, Sand & Snow…

On THREE CHRISTMASES:

Three Christmases couldn’t have been more perfect…The No Weddings Series is one of the best I have read that follows one couple.”
~ Lives and Breathes Book Blog

“Full of happiness, friendship, love and hot sexiness, Three Christmases is yet another gem from The Bastion’s that is so very perfect for this holiday season!”
~ Under the Covers Book Blog

On THE ESPIONAGE EFFECT:

“Amazing! James Bond spy games fun with a splash of erotic romance. It’s twisty and turny and kept me on the edge from cover to the end.”
~ Jezabell Girl & Friends

On BOUND BY WISH AND MISTLETOE:

“I LOVED it! Bound by Wish and Mistletoe is, to my mind, a perfect entry in the historical/paranormal fiction genre and has quite a bit to offer.”
~ Fab Fantasy Fiction

“Move over, Julia Quinn and Sabrina Jeffries! Kat Bastion is an absolutely gifted author and deserves to be recognized for her talent.”
~ LovesHistorical Book Reviews


TINSEL, SAND & SNOW Release Day
$25 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

Be sure to visit Kat & Stone on their Facebook page today to enter:
Kat & Stone Bastion’s Facebook


Have You Joined Their Email Notification List?
Keep informed of new releases by signing up:
Kat & Stone Bastion’s Email Subscription

One lucky subscriber wins an eBook of their choice from the backlist AND a $10 Amazon or B&N Gift Card with each announcement.


About Kat & Stone Bastion:

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Kat Bastion won several awards for her bestselling debut novel Forged in Dreams and Magick.

Kat and Stone Bastion’s bestselling first novel No Weddings and the No Weddings series were named Best of 2014 by multiple romance review blogs.

When not defining love and redemption through scribed words, they enjoy spending their time mountain biking and hiking in the beautiful Sonoran Desert of Arizona.

Stay in touch with them on their social media pages…
Blog * Facebook * Kat’s Twitter * Stone’s Twitter * Website

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Gone From Me Release Day Launch

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Gone From Me Synopsis:GoneFromMe72web

Their life was a fairy tale—until it all came tumbling down.
Hearts of the South, Book 10
Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent Amy Bennett isn’t sure when her own Prince Charming went AWOL from their marriage, but she’s certain of one thing. She wants him back. She and Rob had it all: law-enforcement careers they loved and each other. Yet somehow he’s wound up sleeping on the couch and emotionally beyond her reach.
Rob is trying to put the pieces back together, but battling his own demons while starting over in a small-town sheriff’s department is pushing him—and his marriage—to the breaking point.
His very first missing person’s case threatens to end anything but happily ever after for the families involved. Then a young man goes missing too, and the pressure has Rob reaching for the nearest lifeline. The one that’s dangling by the barest of threads—his wife.
And though Amy’s grip is strong, her love may not be enough to keep Rob from slipping away.
Product Warnings
Contains a husband who’s holding too much in, and a wife who’ll do anything to get him to let go, even meet him halfway on their last piece of common ground—in bed. Also: cop bonding between cops who talk like cops.
Buy Links:
Amazon    |  Barnes & Noble  |Kobo  | Google Play  | Samhain Publishing  | iBooks/iTunes

 

Exclusive Excerpt:

Tall grass, dried from the blazing summer days, crunched under their duty shoes. Heat hung over the dirt road, and not even the pools of shade cast by tall water oaks offered relief. The red clay, already rutted and dusty after the recent rains, baked under the early-afternoon sun, and a black snake sunned himself beside the ditch.
Zeke’s forlorn truck sat next to the turnoff to the sprawling fields. On one side of the dirt track, green corn stalks, tassels golden and silky, reached toward the blue cloudless sky. On the other, neat rows of peppers and squash, heavy with ripe produce, ran up to the far woods. Cicadas buzzed in a quivering rise and fall of distant sound. The police radio beeped and squawked, a garbled transmission between Chris and dispatch, a license-plate check. Around the abandoned Ford, a bubble of silence pulsed. The window was down, a cell phone and wallet on the dash. The keys, on a John Deere fob, dangled from the ignition. Empty fertilizer jugs littered the bed. A tidy stack of bushel baskets waited next to the vehicle.
Around the truck, the grass was beaten down, trodden low by farm vehicles, tractors and booted feet. Rob leaned down to better see inside the truck, but didn’t touch anything. “When was the last time you heard from him?”
“Yesterday at lunch.” Worry roughened Dale Jenkins’s voice. “His mama tried to call him last night and there was no answer, but that’s not real unusual. She called Britt this morning when he still didn’t answer, and he never came home last night.”
“Why didn’t Brittany call us?” Rob straightened and pulled out his notebook to begin jotting.
“She said it’s not unusual for him not to come home some nights.”
Really. That was new. Rob scratched down a note, but kept his face impassive. “Have you talked to any of his friends today? Other relatives he’s in contact with?”
“His grandma hasn’t heard from him. My wife’s been calling his friends, and none of them have seen or heard from him.”
Rob cast a look at the cell phone on the dash. “Did you touch anything in the truck?”
“No. When I got here and saw his stuff like that, I walked the field and through the woods down to the stream, just seeing if I could find him.” Dale wiped a hand across his tense jaw. “I been friends with Tick Calvert a long time, and my wife likes that Dateline show. I knew better than to touch anything when I didn’t find him.”
“Okay.” Rob stared at the truck, then down the turnoff and into the woods. Turning, he nodded at Troy Lee. “Will you get Parker out here with the dog? And bring me the evidence kit from the trunk.”
With his phone, he snapped a series of photos of the scene and the truck’s interior.
“Chris is on his way.” Troy Lee stopped beside him and set down the multiple-compartment box that housed the evidence kit. Rob removed two pair of latex gloves and snapped them on, one pair over the other. Rather than open the door, he reached through the open window and retrieved the cell phone. The home screen glowed to life to reveal myriad missed calls from his parents and Mike Smithwick, plus various texts from Brittany and a couple of friends. Rob swiped his thumb across the screen and the keyboard popped up for a passcode entry.
He glanced sideways at Jenkins. “Do you know his passcode?”
“Four-one-two-zero.” Jenkins cleared his throat. “It’s part of Emma’s birthday.”
Rob navigated to check for the last outgoing texts and calls, both of which dated to late the previous morning. A phone call to his mother around eleven, then a text to Brittany at twelve.
Rob placed the phone in an evidence bag, labeled and sealed it. He squinted across the field, quiet and deserted under the midday sun. “Mr. Jenkins, other than the situation with Brittany this week, has Zeke had other difficulties you know of? Has he been in any trouble or talked to you about any problems he’s had lately?”
“No.” Jenkins pushed up the bill of his battered cap with one finger and scrubbed a hand over his forehead. “He’s always been a real good boy. We weren’t happy about Britt being pregnant with them so young and not married and all, but since they got married, he works hard to take care of her and Emma.”
The grass surrounding the produce field showed no evidence of recent foot traffic. Maybe he’d never even made it into the field. “You said you talked to his friends. Is it possible he’s with one of them?”
“No.” Jenkins shook his head. “He might ignore Britt and he might ignore me, but that boy would never ignore his mama.”

Linda Winfree Bio:headshot -- Linda Winfree
How does an English teacher end up plotting murders? She uses her experiences as a cop’s wife to become a writer of romantic suspense! Linda Winfree lives in a quintessential small Georgia town with her husband and grand-dog Poe. By day, she teaches English/Language Arts and is an all-round education nerd; by night she pens sultry books full of murder and mayhem.

To learn more about Linda and her books, visit www.lindawinfreewrites.com, follow her on Twitter @lwinfreewrites, or connect with her on Facebook at https://facebook.com/lindawinfreewrites. You can also contact Linda via email at lindawinfreewrites@gmail.com.

Links:
Website | Facebook | Twitter |  Email

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TRACING THE LINE BOOK LAUNCH AND GIVEAWAY

 

headerA new steamy romance novel from Ally Bishop…

What if the man of your dreams is involved in a world you despise?

Get it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Smashwords, and more!

About Tracing the Line

They say love doesn’t hurt. But it’s a lie. I promise you, love someone long enough, and they’ll destroy your soul.

I’ve spent my life taking care of everyone else: my family, my ex-husband, my friends. Deep down, I know I should focus on myself, but how can I when I’ve got one sister about to implode while the other battles her own guilt?

The minute I met Kai Isaac, I should’ve run in the opposite direction. His business isn’t one I want any part of, and I’ve got way too much drama in my life already. But his kiss…those eyes…the raging inferno he creates when he touches me…I can’t stay away.

Life’s reeling out of control, and he’s my only refuge from the storm. My sister Lux says trusting someone means not knowing everything about them and being okay with it…but what if not knowing the truth ruins everything?

Heat rating: Super sexy, with very light kink 😉

Tracing the Line is the third book in the Without a Trace series, but may be read as a stand-alone story.

Add Tracing the Line to your TBR list on Goodreads:

Tracing the Line

Note from the author

Thank you so much for checking out my book, Tracing the Line! This is book 3 in the Without a Trace series (but can be read as a stand-alone story!), and tells the tale of Kai and Zi, Lux’s sister—it comes right after Inside the Lines. If you read and Lux and Fin’s story, you’ll recall a little of Zi’s story…and this time, you get a front row seat to the heat. Keep an eye out as book 4 in the Without a Series will be out this year!

Special sneak peek:

Ch. 1: Zi thinks she’s here to spend the day with Lux and watch a filming of a short indie film. But Lux has other ideas…and they don’t involve Zi just watching…

It’s definitely a film set. There’s a screen against one wall around which cameras, poles with lights, and several people cluster. The rest of the room lies in shadow, in which Lux and I are standing.

“Answer my—”

“Lux! How are you?” A tall, thin guy pulls Lux into a hug.

She embraces him back with a huge smile. “Ger! Awesome to see you.” When she pulls back, she introduces us. “Ger is the director on this film. Ger, this is my sister Zi, and she’s here to fill in for Fiona.”

He holds out a hand, his expression weary but cheerful. “Ah, our last victim. I mean, participant.” He smiles warmly as we shake, and I’m wildly conscious of how cold my fingers are against his very warm ones. “We weren’t sure if we had one more to go—the other party canceled, too.”

“You don’t need Zi?” Lux asks.

“No, no, we can use her. I’ll get Kai to stand-in. Let me sound the alarm to get ready.”

“Ready for—” My question dies on my lips as he turns away, bellowing at his people to get “set up.” I turn to my sister, drawing myself up to my full five-feet-eleven-inches so I can glare down at her. “What am I getting ready for here?”

My tone brooks no excuses, and she lifts a shoulder with a heavy exhale. “They’re making a promotional film for a movie series their doing. It’s silly, fun, whimsical, sweet—”

“And what am I doing here then?”

“You’re one of the cast.”

If the idea of being filmed wasn’t terrifying enough… “Doing what, exactly?”

Lux nibbles her full bottom lip. “Making out with someone.”

“What?” My voice drops an octave.

“It’ll be fun, Zizi Baby. It’s a series of strangers connecting, kissing a bit, showing who we are at our most intimate.” Lux seems to rethink her words. “Hm, okay, maybe that does sounds a little scary.”

“No, absolutely not.” I spin towards the door. “Not going to happen.” But there’s several people behind us now, doing God only knows what, so it’s not like I can run out into the hallway. I feel a heavy hand on my shoulder, and Ger is back, a big smile on his lean face. “Zi, right? We’re going to get you into hair and makeup briefly—just a few minutes—and then we’ll be ready.”

I glare at my sister. “Are you going to explain this to him, or am I?”

Lux takes Ger’s arm. “We’ll be right over.”

Ger laughs and nods. “No problem. Kai’s in a meeting so we’ve got a few minutes.”

Lux doesn’t even give me a second to yell at her. “Look, I know this is weird, and I know this wasn’t what you expected. But you’ve been single for two years now. Not a single date…text…anything.” She grips my arms, staring into my eyes. “You need to have some fun. Let loose a little. This is safe; these are nice folks, they’re doing cool things, and you get to make out with someone for a few minutes without any repercussions. Maybe you’ll rediscover your sex drive.”

“I have a perfectly fine sex drive, thank you very much.” But I can’t deny her words. I’ve worked so much and so hard, and if I’m honest, it’s been easier than even contemplating dating again. She knows why I haven’t stepped toe on the field again, and she’s probably right: if I’m not thrown into the pool, I might never swim again. But that doesn’t mean I’m letting her off the hook. “Why didn’t you just tell me what this was all about?”

“Because you’d never have come. And you need this, Zi. You need something. God, you’re younger than me, yet you act like you’re older.”

I stick my tongue out at her. “Easy for you to say, Ms. Hottie-with-a-Scottie.”

She grins, any mention of her love Fin MacKenzie turning her cheeks pink with delight. “Very true. And we need to find you your hottie, okay? But first, we have to get you in fighting condition. Today might be a good ice breaker.”

I widen my eyes and blow out a breath. “I’m not sure making out with a stranger is going to fix anything.”

“Maybe not.” She steers me towards a door on the other side of the room. “But it can’t hurt.”


Here I am, makeup-ed and my hair spritzed and coiffed—the stylist insisted my long locks should be down in soft curls and used a surprisingly small amount of makeup—and I’m standing on “my mark,” an “X” of black tape on the floor.

“Just do what comes naturally,” Ger says, patting my shoulder. “We’re looking for honest reactions.”

“Don’t I need another party for this?” I ask, my acidic tone a result of my nerves.

Ger chuckles. “You do. He’s on his way.”

I’m just hoping he’s not a stunt double for a hunchback. Lux stands off-camera, chatting with a “grip,” or at least, I think that’s what the woman’s called. A gaffer? I can barely remember my own name at this point.

In order to make me feel more comfortable, Ger introduced me to several of the people standing around in casual wear, some manning cameras and mics, others with clipboards. There’s not that many people—maybe eight, total, but it seems like a lot in this small space.

“Sorry that took so long,” echoes a deep voice behind Ger.

“No worries, Kai. Zi, this is our executive producer, Kai Isaac.”

I’m not a short woman, but Kai makes me feel tiny. If the man didn’t play basketball, coaches somewhere must’ve drowned in sorrow. His dark hair, wavy, in a rumpled, not-quite-styled look begs to be touched. Like the rest of the crew, he wears jeans and a t-shirt, and he moves with an elegance that belies his casual air. But I’m captured by his gaze. Smoky green and muted amber, with flecks of gold around the center, and when those eyes meet mine, there’s a softness that steals my breath.

“Good to meet you,” he says with a smile.

His hand feels huge around mine as we shake, and I struggle to find my tongue. “Y-you as well.”

“Now that we’re all here, we can get started.” Ger steps back, leaving Kai and me facing each other. “Remember: we want this to be honest, so try to relax. We’re going to roll tape, and you’re going to get started when you’re ready. And…action.”

Suddenly, the room seems too small and too big at the same time. Kai looks down at me, his full lips curved with a small grin. “Are you okay?”

“We’re not supposed to talk or something first?” I lick my lips, my mouth dry, and I’m wildly aware that I didn’t chew gum after eating breakfast. God, is my breath bad?

“Not really. The goal is to show what happens when strangers lose themselves in another person.”

I’m pretty sure I’m already lost. I trail my hand through my hair, nerves fluttering. How am I still upright? He steps closer, reaches for my hands. His touch is gentle, and he draws my palms up to his shoulders. “Pretend we’re in a club, and I’ve gotten up the nerve to ask the most beautiful woman in the room for a dance. You don’t know me, but there’s something between us.” He grins, both charming and teasing. His broad shoulders are hard beneath my fingers, and as his hands rest lightly on my waist, it’s impossible not to melt against him, to feel his long, muscled body against mine.

“I don’t know how to dance,” I whisper, then want to kick myself. With my hormones firing like loose cannons, anything’s liable to come out of my mouth.

“I’ll teach you.” With aching slowness, he lowers his mouth to mine. His lips are soft, curious, and as we explore each other, he tightens his hold around me, his fingers slipping into my hair. He deepens the kiss, his tongue sliding against mine, and he tastes of cinnamon with a hint of coffee. I can barely take a breath as I dissolve against him. His palm grazes my hip, seeking purchase as he presses me closer, and I can feel the hard length of him against my lower stomach. Some part of me is relieved: I’m not the only one getting turned on. A small voice in the back of my mind reminds me that I’m making out with a total stranger, but that doesn’t seem to make much impact. Or maybe, that’s the point?

Minutes—hell, it could be hours—pass, and we break away, both breathing heavily. I catch a faint whiff of something mildly spicy—aftershave?—mixed with him, and I want more. He holds my face close, his gaze seeking. Satisfied, his lips brush against mine. An invitation, and one I’m more than happy to oblige. This time, I guide our pace, mouths hungry and wanting, my hands exploring the hard planes of his back and shoulders. He answers easily but doesn’t push. Instead, I take us deeper, dropping my hand to his ass and pulling him against me. His mouth trails to my neck, searing my skin with kisses and small nips. It’s all I can do not to moan. His fingers slide beneath my tank, over the bare skin of my lower back, as his lips blaze a path over my shoulder and collarbone. My knees weaken, and I hold onto him as every nerve ending sparks with pleasure.

I’m ready to explode when he gently pulls back, drawing his hands up to my shoulders. “I’d love to enjoy you even more, but I’m not sure if you’d want that on camera,” he says softly.

Once she’s had a taste, can Zi resist Kai’s heat? Get your copy of Tracing the Line to find out!

The Cast of Tracing the Line

Zi

Kai

Young man relaxing

Blue

redhead girl with hair on wind

Ella

Ella

Noah

Lux

Lux

The Playlist
This was a challenging one to find music for…only because there are so many songs that inspired me while writing this book!

About Ally Bishop

When you do something effortlessly and people commend you continuously, you have found your gift.

That’s what I tell people all the time. And it’s true.ally

I get story. I always have. I started writing when I was 8 on a Smith Corona (the electronic kind — I’m not THAT old). I wrote stories in every spiral notebook I had. Eventually, I graduated to a Mac (yes, I’m one of THOSE people). I imagined new worlds, emotional conflicts, and HEAs while I waited at stoplights or wandered the grocery store. But here’s the thing: I didn’t just dream it up and write it down — I critiqued what I read. I knew when ideas were good, and when they stunk. I ran writing groups, judged creative contests, and eventually got two graduate degrees in writing. That’s right: I love it that much.

So here I am, years later, writing kickass heroines and devastating good guys, along with some mystery and vampires thrown in (I promise: THEY’RE COMING). And what’s really cool? I do what I love. Wanna write a success story for your life: I promise you, that’s it. Do what you love. And hopefully, you can make a living at it too. That’s the golden ticket, Charlie.

And chocolate doesn’t hurt, either…

The serious stuff:

I have an M.A. in creative writing, as well as an M.F.A. in creative writing with a focus in publishing. I produce two podcasts, host one, and am a freelance editor and publicist over at Upgrade Your Story. In my free time (what is that, exactly?), I read, workout, game, and converse. I’m a high introvert despite my extroverted behaviors, so you’ll find me behind my computer most days. I’m married to the wild and brilliant Billy Crash, have two dogs who are filing to change their species designation to “human,” and can often be found wandering Manhattan in search of the perfect writing spot.

You can find me at Twitter at @upgradestory & @allyabishop, Facebook, Pinterest, and my website.

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Giveaway

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