Tag Archives: Standalone

CHRIS by Bethany-Kris Release Blitz

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CHRIS

by Bethany-Kris
Guzzi Legacy, #3
Publication Date: September 2, 2019
Genres: Adult, STANDALONE, Romantic Suspense, Organized Crime. Erotic Romance

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SYNOPSIS

A made man versus the cartel …

The job was simple—a contract from a powerful crime family to retrieve Valeria Lòpez. A woman believed to have been forcibly taken by one of the major cartels in Mexico. Easy enough, right?

Christopher Guzzi thought so, but the details made it difficult. He didn’t expect to trick his way into the path of the cartel leader only to develop feelings for the woman he was meant to recover. That leader’s wife. Every step he takes is risky, and one wrong move could leave them both dead. Too bad that’s not enough to keep him away from Valeria as he tries to find a way to free her.

Hope is a dangerous thing.
Love is even worse.

Here, everybody plays dirty.
No one can be trusted.
So, how do they get out alive?

*

Note: Chris is book 3 in The Guzzi Legacy. It is a standalone novel.

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EXCLUSIVE RELEASE EXCERPT

A sharp Boss from behind them had Jorge turning before he approached the table to pull out a chair for himself, likely leaving her to fend for herself.

“What?” Jorge asked the man who kept a safe distance.

The section they were dining in had no other patrons.

A private area?

What strings had Chris pulled?

“Your father is on the phone.”

Jorge grunted and waved a hand. “I will call him back.”

“He’s adamant that—”

Fine.” Jorge gave Chris a nod, saying, “I will be a few minutes. I’m sure you can entertain yourself without me.” He eyed the platters on the table, adding, “Begin eating without me, hmm? We eat, and then we do business.”

“Right,” Chris agreed. “No worries.”

Jorge pivoted on his heel, unbothered with leaving Valeria there to fend for herself. She was stunned, however, when Chris was quick to come around to her side of the table, and the first thing he did was grab a chair to pull out.

For her.

This close, she smelled the distinct aroma of his cologne. It fit his personality, she thought. Understated, but with distinct notes. Complex. Like him.

Valeria ignored the heat in her gut, never mind the way her heart raced when his hand came to rest on her waist when his dark tenor urged her to, “Sit.”

Lord.

Definitely a problem.

One she didn’t expect to have.

She held onto the clutch in her hands tighter as she took the seat he offered, but didn’t breathe any easier when his hand left her side. In fact, she wished for it to come back. “Thank you.”

“Never thank a man for being a gentleman,” he said, rounding the table to take his own seat, “because then they seem to think every kind act deserves a reward, hmm? It’s better not to teach men that behaving means getting something in return.”

Valeria stared across the table, unsure of what to say. Chris stared back, a sensual smile curving his lips. Finally, her brain worked.

“Why did you ask him to bring me here tonight?”

Chris shrugged. “Because I find you fascinating, and he’s slightly more interesting when you’re near. Also, it might keep him in line.”

“Good luck with that. Jorge is … uncontainable.”

To say the least.

“Well, he has to behave a little, if he wants my father’s business. I thought I should remind him of that before I arrive at the ranch. And you, well, you can enjoy the meal. I paid a lot for this evening, but if you smile even once, it’ll be worth it.”

Valeria did just that.

Smile.

Chris winked back.

Damn.

CHRIS teaser  3

ABOUT BETHANY-KRIS

Bethany-Kris is a Canadian author, lover of much, and mother to four young sons, one cat, and two dogs. A small town in Eastern Canada where she was born and raised is where she has always called home. With her boys under her feet, snuggling cat, barking dogs, and a hubby calling over his shoulder, she is nearly always writing something … when she can find the time.

To keep up-to-date with new releases from Bethany-Kris, sign up to her New Release Newsletter here: https://eepurl.com/bf9lzD

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Everlasting Connections by Meghana Sarathy – Tour

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EVERLASTING CONNECTIONS

by Meghana Sarathy
Publication Date: July 28, 2019
Genres: Adult, Second Chance, Contemporary, Romance, Standalone

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SYNOPSIS

Brandon:
Sabrina was my childhood friend. My first crush. My first mistake was leaving her behind. I had crushed her heart, unaware of the feelings she harbored for me. And twenty years is a long time to hold onto that grief. Now I’m back in Seattle and like fate has it, we meet again.

She might not have been my first kiss or love but I want her to be my soul-mate. My life partner.I might never be able to get over my first love, but I want Sabrina to complete me and be my new beginning.

I wish to be her knight in shining armor, saving her from the shackles of a broken marriage. A real father for her daughter, Clara.

But I have fucked up too many times in the past. She won’t trust me with her heart again. I can come close to being her friend but nothing more….

When have I ever given up, though? I try not to play unfair this time, but with Linden guiding me with his twisted antics (He stole my first love – My Gem from me or maybe it was me who first tried to snatch her from him – either way Gem is his now and he’s just returning the favor), I might actually make Sabrina fall for me.

As Brandon, I can just be her best friend, but as ‘Scott’ (Her anonymous on-line friend), I will gain her trust and woo her. No matter whom she chooses, she will end up with me and I will be everything she wants and asks for.

Twisted Connections is a Spin-Off of Love Connection Series. Every book in Twisted Connections can be read as a standalone. (It’s NOT necessary to read Love Connection Series before reading this book)

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EXCERPT

Standing right in front of me, he grins and throws his arms around me, taking me in for a hug. I expect to flinch by his touch, but I don’t. I’m as still as a statue. His closeness comforts me in ways I can’t even express, but I don’t want it to. After ditching me all those years ago, he doesn’t get to come back and expect things to fall right back into place. I won’t ever let that happen. He doesn’t deserve that chance and I don’t deserve another heartbreak.

“I missed you, Rina. I really did,” He tells against my hair.

For one whole second, I let my emotions slip, and smile against his chest. But the very next second when I’m about to push him back, he beats me to it. 

“Your hair color sucks.” I gasp and shove him hard.

He retreats, still grinning from ear to ear.

“You can’t be serious,” I exclaim.

“I am,” he tells very seriously, a frown lining his face. “Strawberry blonde, really? You were a brunette, Rina. No wonder I couldn’t recognize you.”

“Stop making excuses.” He throws me a challenging stare, waiting for my answer. “My husband wanted me to try this color and he loved it.” I absentmindedly run my hands along my hair. Though it’s a very nice color, I always liked my natural color. But after getting used to this, I didn’t feel like changing at all.

He doesn’t flinch at the mention of my husband, but he continues to regard me with a scowl. “I’m not sorry to say this but your husband is definitely blind.”

“Beauty lies in beholders’ eye, Brandon. Just because you don’t like it, doesn’t make him blind,” I rebuke.

He pinches the bridge of his nose, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “It’s not about beauty. He’s blind to not see that this is not what you want. He was blind to not have seen how much you liked your natural hair.”

How can he be so ignorant and yet so right? He saw right through me in a single minute whereas even after many years of living together with James, he couldn’t understand such a simple thing.

“Ex-husband,” I admit in a small voice.

His lips upturn and a bright smile adorns his face.

“So, is your current husband blind too?” he asks with a frown.

“I don’t have one,” I snap, and his face actually glows now.

“Then it’s high time you fix an appointment with the parlor,” he orders.

I bite back a witty response and just walk past him. Talking to him more will either infuriate me or make me like him more and I don’t want to feel either of the two emotions.

EVERLASTING CONNECTIONS teaser 2

ABOUT MEGHANA SARATHY

Meghana Sarathy is from Bangalore, India. She is an avid reader and also a writer. She writes Adult and New Adult romance, as well as dark and psychological thrillers. She especially loves reading and writing love triangles, taboo romance, and angst filled stories that are quite complex and unconventional. Her books tend to involve protagonists who are flawed, far from perfect, and as real as they can get. Her all-time favorite characters are her very own characters- Jennifer, Brandon and Linden. She tends to fall hard for boys who are either cocky, bossy or good flirts and total charmers.

She spends most of her free time reading, writing or watching anime. Depending on her mood, she tends to write two to three books at a time. She is a crazy fan of Dragonball Z and can be seen watching the episodes in repeat. Vegeta is her all-time favorite anime character.

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SIDE CHICK NATION by Aya de Leon – Blog Tour

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SIDE CHICK NATION

by Aya de León
A Justice Hustlers Novel
Publication Date: June 25, 2019
Genres: Adult, Romantic Suspense, Urban Fiction, Feminist Crime, Standalone

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AVAILABLE NOW!

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SYNOPSIS

A Justice Hustlers Novel

She’s beautiful, unpredictable–and on the run from dangerous men. But this
ex-side chick is ready to risk everything to help others in trouble . . .

Fed up with her married Miami boyfriend, savvy Dulce has no problem stealing his
drug-dealer stash and fleeing to her family in the Caribbean. But when she gets bored in rural Santo Domingo, she escapes on a sugar daddy adventure to Puerto Rico. Her new life is one endless party, until she’s caught in Hurricane Maria–and witnesses the brutal collision of colonization and climate change, as well as the international vultures who plunder the tragedy for a financial killing, making shady use of relief funds to devastate the island even more. Broke, traumatized, and stranded, Dulce’s only chance to get back to New York may be a sexy, crusading journalist who’s been pursuing her. But is she hustling him or falling for him?

Meanwhile, New York-based mastermind thief Marisol already has her hands full fleecing a ruthless CEO who’s stealing her family’s land in Puerto Rico, while trying to get her relatives out alive after the hurricane. An extra member in her crew could be game-changing, but she’s wary of Dulce’s unpredictability and reputation for drama. Still, Dulce’s determination to get justice draws Marisol in, along with her formidable Lower East Side Women’s Health Clinic’s heist squad. But their race-against-the-clock plan is soon complicated by powerful men who turn deadly when ex-side chicks step out of the shadows and demand to call the shots . . .

Praise for Aya de Leon and her novels

“Staking out space for women of color in the heist-fiction genre, Aya de Leon’s smart, sly writing is a knockout.”
–Andi Zeisler, Bitch magazine

“This well-written and enjoyable installment in de Leon’s unique, feminist, urban crime-fiction series . . . infuses satisfying power in both plot and character.”
Booklist on The Boss, STARRED review

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SIDE CHICK NATION

EXCERPT

Several months earlier . . . 

Dulce Garcia crept toward the back door of the nightclub’s VIP room on the balls of her stiletto sandals, trying not to wake her boyfriend. He lay, splayed back on the leather couch, in a post-orgasmic half-doze. She spat into an empty beer bottle, and tiptoed to the room’s back door. She tried to push it open with her free hand, but it was too heavy. She needed two hands for this. 

She stuck the knot of money down into her cleavage, and pushed with both palms flat. The large metal door creaked against rusty hinges. In the humid Miami climate, cheap metal springs like these always rusted. This back door, required by the Florida fire code as a secondary exit, was rarely used. She tried to close it quietly behind her, but the metal was too heavy, and it tipped her forward in the six-inch gold heels. 

The slam of metal on metal woke her boyfriend. As she crept away down the dank, concrete hallway, she heard him call to her. His voice was usually loud, but it sounded faint through the thick slab of steel: “Dulce? Where’d you go, mami?” She tiptoed down the hallway to the outer door that would lead to the back alley.

But the steel could not contain the roar of rage when he realized his money was missing. She had felt a second bulge in his pants when she unzipped his jeans. As she went down on him, she had slipped the wad of bills out of his front pocket, and palmed it after he finished. 

Through the metal, she could hear the slam of the VIP room’s other door. He had assumed she’d headed back into the club. She grinned as she pulled the handle for the alley exit, expecting to cut around the corner and hail a cab for a quick getaway. Uber was out of the question. It was his credit card on the account. 

But the alley door was locked. She pulled with all her strength, but it wouldn’t budge. Either locked or rusted shut. She looked around frantically, afraid she would be trapped. She couldn’t retrace her steps through the VIP room—in case he came back looking for her. She ran now, not even trying to be quiet. As she sprinted toward the other end of the hallway, there was a second door that led through a storage room. Either way, she’d need to find her way out through the club. The club where her Dominican drug dealer boyfriend would be assembling his crew of boys to find her, the side chick turned “fucking bitch” who’d stolen his take for the night.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

MUSIC PLAYLIST FOR SIDE CHICK NATION

BOOKS IN THE JUSTICE HUSTLERS SERIES

SIDE CHICK NATION

ABOUT AYA DE LEON

Aya de León teaches creative writing in UC Berkeley’s African American Studies Department. Her award-winning Justice Hustlers series has received acclaim in the Washington Post, Jacobin Magazine, and The Establishment. Her work has also appeared in Ebony, Essence, Guernica, Plougshares, The Root, VICE, and on Def Poetry. She is an alumna of Cave Canem and VONA.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Bookbub | Amazon Author Page

Dawn Michelle Hardy
Publicist | Literary Agent | Book Consultant
IG @TheLiteraryLobbyist

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DIRTY POOL – Blitz

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DIRTY POOL

by Bethany-Kris
Publication Date: May 6, 2019
Genres: Adult, Romantic Suspense, Organized Crime. Erotic Romance, Standalone

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AVAILABLE NOW!

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SYNOPSIS

To get what he wants, he’ll have to play a game of dirty pool.

Michel Marcello never wanted to be a mafioso like every other man in his family—he wanted to be more. That doesn’t mean he’s unfamiliar with the life, or that he can’t hold his own against other made men.

They forgot where he came from …

His chance encounter with the fiery and beautiful daughter of Detroit’s most notorious Irish mob boss stokes flames beyond the ones that ignite between Michel and Gabbie Casey. Rivals shouldn’t mix, but these opposites have never been more attracted, either.

The lines between family loyalty, their duties, and responsibility begin to blur.

Love ruins all.

But these two aren’t the only ones playing this game, and it just became far more dangerous to get out alive.

*

Dirty Pool is a standalone romantic suspense.

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DIRTY POOL teaser 2

EXCLUSIVE RELEASE EXCERPT

“Here, duckies!”

Michel’s dark chuckles came close to her ear as his nose grazed the back of her neck. Gabbie had all she could do not to shiver from the feeling of his lips pressing to her skin with featherlight kisses.

“I don’t think they recognize being called duckies,” he murmured.

“Shut up.”

“I’m just saying they don’t speak human, Gabbie.”

She didn’t mind his teasing.

Much.

“Says the man who had a small bag of birdseed in his car because bread is bad for the ducks.”

His hands landed on her waist, and she loved the way his fingers dug into her sides. He squeezed, a silent warning for her to stop the teasing. She heard it loud and clear, not that it made much of a difference. If he could dish it, then the man would learn to take it.

That was Gabbie’s way.

“I told you, I jog here.”

“Yes, with birdseed for the duckies, apparently.”

“Because they quack at me when I pass, and I feel bad for them.”

“Mmhmm. Of course, you do.”

Michel let out a laugh. “You’re impossible.”

Gabbie winked at him over her shoulder as she pulled out a handful of birdseed. Michel wasn’t wrong—bread was terrible for ducks. It got stuck to the roof of their mouths, and if it did get in their bellies, it would swell up to make them think they were full when they weren’t. It was harder for them to digest, too.

She adored he had birdseed in his car to toss to the ducks when he jogged at the park. He wasn’t all bad, despite what people in her family liked to say about the Italians. How could someone be bad if they remembered to feed the ducks when they went jogging?

It was sweet, really.

“You must be getting hungry,” he said.

“A little.”

“You want to go—”

“Not yet.”

She was enjoying this.

The park, peaceful at almost midnight, was dark and quiet. There wasn’t a soul around, and the small pond was rarely ever this empty when she came to see it in the daytime.

“I like that you chose here for a date,” she said.

Michel rested his chin on her shoulder, and wrapped an arm tightly around her middle. “Oh, why is that?”

“Most guys would pick a club, or something. Dinner, and a show. The usual. I like this better. It’s just us, and we can talk.”

“I would have taken you for all that other shit, too, but it’s late.”

It was.

Most restaurants were closed, although she was sure they could find a hole-in-the-wall diner to eat at, if they really wanted to. Not that any of the food would be the kind of stuff she was supposed to eat. Michel probably knew that, too, and took it into consideration without telling her he was doing it.

She appreciated it.

Gabbie grinned. “All of that for a date, too?”

“Yeah, probably not. I wanted to be alone with you … can’t exactly do that when there’s other people around, can I?”

DIRTY POOL teaser 3

ABOUT BETHANY-KRIS

Bethany-Kris is a Canadian author, lover of much, and mother to four young sons, one cat, and two dogs. A small town in Eastern Canada where she was born and raised is where she has always called home. With her boys under her feet, snuggling cat, barking dogs, and a hubby calling over his shoulder, she is nearly always writing something … when she can find the time.

To keep up-to-date with new releases from Bethany-Kris, sign up to her New Release Newsletter here: https://eepurl.com/bf9lzD

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Dirty Pool – Cover Reveal

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DIRTY POOL

by Bethany-Kris
Publication Date: May 6, 2019
Genres: Adult, Romantic Suspense, Organized Crime. Erotic Romance, Standalone

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Cover Reveal Credits: London Miller

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April 29th Release:
May 6th Release:
DIRTY POOL teaser 1

SYNOPSIS

To get what he wants, he’ll have to play a game of dirty pool.

Michel Marcello never wanted to be a mafioso like every other man in his family—he wanted to be more. That doesn’t mean he’s unfamiliar with the life, or that he can’t hold his own against other made men.

They forgot where he came from …

His chance encounter with the fiery and beautiful daughter of Detroit’s most notorious Irish mob boss stokes flames beyond the ones that ignite between Michel and Gabbie Casey. Rivals shouldn’t mix, but these opposites have never been more attracted, either.

The lines between family loyalty, their duties, and responsibility begin to blur.

Love ruins all.

But these two aren’t the only ones playing this game, and it just became far more dangerous to get out alive.

*

Dirty Pool is a standalone romantic suspense.

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DIRTY POOL teaser 2

EXCLUSIVE REVEAL EXCERPT

“What good would it do me to tell you to stay away from the lad, hmm?” her father demanded sharply. “I think I have said more than enough over the last several months since you’ve run around with the prick that it’s clear I don’t approve. But whatever it is, you’re determined to see it through, so I might as well let you get it out of your system now before reality comes to wake you up.”

“What does that even mean?”

Charles scrubbed a hand down his face. “You’ll learn in time. As I intend.”

“I—”

“And as for that Italian fecker,” her father continued, “he needs to pick a side, Gabbie. If he wants to entertain the Italians in the daytime, and then shift with my daughter in the shadows when no one is looking, then the man can’t be trusted, can he? A lad like that … his mind is too sharp, lass. They had to know what he was doing, and then he can decide what he really wants to do. I know where he comes from, and you have to watch him like it, too. I need him to know that I am aware of his choices, and he has others to consider now.”

“Are you giving him the ultimatum, then? Them, or us?”

Charles arched a brow. “It isn’t that complicated, sweetheart. You don’t have to understand when all I want you to do is follow along.”

Wasn’t it that complicated?

She thought so.

“Follow along with what?”

Charles waved a hand at her, and she knew what that meant without him telling her. A dismissal. He was done with their discussion, and she was quite aware how that worked with her father. Once he was done, he was finished. No amount of her prodding or pressing would get more from him.

“I have men to deal with,” he told her. “And you haven’t checked your sugars since this afternoon. Go do that now.”

“My sugars are fine!”

Do it.”

She wasn’t a child.

She still felt like it sometimes.

Charles gestured at the group of lads that had attended the meeting, too, and were now waiting in the hallway just beyond Gabbie. Without waiting for her to really move out of their way, they pressed past her in the tight quarters, not even bothering to excuse themselves or pass her a second glance.

She wasn’t important.

Dismissed.

“Da—”

“Go, but not too far because I expect to speak with you again later,” her father ordered one last time. Then, to the men in the office, he added, “They never intended to settle, lads. That much is clear. We won’t act … yet. We’ll wait and see what they do first, aye, and then we’ll make the hard choices.”

Charles shut the door in Gabbie’s face, essentially leaving her alone in the hallway. It was amazing to her how she could feel so many things all at once. Anger warred with her disbelief and astonishment. Panic swelled in her heart, swirling with anxiety and sadness.

Did it really have to be like this?

What did that mean for her?

For Michel?

For them?

She didn’t know, and she didn’t like it.

DIRTY POOL teaser 3

ABOUT BETHANY-KRIS

Bethany-Kris is a Canadian author, lover of much, and mother to four young sons, one cat, and two dogs. A small town in Eastern Canada where she was born and raised is where she has always called home. With her boys under her feet, snuggling cat, barking dogs, and a hubby calling over his shoulder, she is nearly always writing something … when she can find the time.

To keep up-to-date with new releases from Bethany-Kris, sign up to her New Release Newsletter here: https://eepurl.com/bf9lzD

WebsiteBlogTwitterFacebook GoodreadsPinterestInstagramMailing ListBookbubAmazon Author Page

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