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THE DEVIL DON’T SLEEP – Blog Tour

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THE DEVIL DON’T SLEEP

by Janine Infante Bosco
A Satan Knights Novel
Publication Date: June 28, 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Erotic, MC, Romantic Suspense, Standalone
Cover Designer: JB’s Cover Obsession Design
Model: Joe Adams
Talent Agent: PTS – Pathways Talent Services
Photographer: FuriousFotog

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SYNOPSIS

Sometimes we must let go of what was, appreciate what remains and fearlessly embrace what comes next.

Sebastian “Bas”

Born to a family of outlaws, I was destined to ride with the Satan’s Knights MC. With mayhem and havoc in my blood and chaos living deep in my soul, I learned the Devil don’t sleep. You never hear him creeping and he often comes disguised as everything you ever wanted.

I was just teenager when she first showed, masquerading as the girl of my dreams. A whiskey shootin’ spitfire who knocked me on my ass and helped me turn the town upside down. The girl who stole my heart with her smile and never gave it back. The same bitch who ruined me and turned my blood to ice.

It’s been six years since I turned my back on Mac, my family and my club. I’ve pushed her to the back of my head, wrote everyone off and damned the Kentucky charter to hell. But, where God built a church, the Devil built a chapel.
Now, her life is on the line and it’s clear I’m still a sucker for her gorgeous chaos because I’m the one riding to her rescue.

Mackenzie “Mac”

I often dreamed of what it would be like to stare into Bas’ blue eyes again. To hear his raspy voice whisper his love for me and feel his strong arms around me. After all, it’s always been in his embrace that I felt the safest.
In my dreams, he abolishes my sins and forgives me for breaking both our hearts.
But this is no dream.
I’m running from a nightmare and the one running with me, looks at me with enough anger to burn the world to ash.
Once upon a time, we were in love.
Once upon a time, it was us against the world.
Once upon a time, he didn’t look at me and see the Devil.
If only he knew the truth.
If only he knew the Devil was a broken angel with tattered wings.
An angel who sacrificed her heart and soul for him.

***NOTE: Contains explicit sexual situations, violence, offensive language, and mature topics. Not recommended for people under the age of 18***

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Excerpt – The Devil Don’t Sleep © Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved by Janine Infante Bosco.

Nothing will scare the shit out of a man more than waking up and feeling a pair of eyes drilling a hole in the side of his head. Especially, when you’ve been trying your hardest to sleep with one eye open because there’s a mark out for your girl and her kid.

Bolting up, I rub the sleep from my eyes and stare back at Ryder.

“Buddy, what are you doing?”

Crossing his little arms against his chest, he glances next to me at his sleeping mother. Thank fucking Christ she’s covered. The last thing I need to explain is why his mother is naked in the bed with me, his uncle.

How’s that for a family tree?

“Why are you in my mom’s bed?”

Dragging the sheet up to my waist with one hand, I reach behind me and cup the back of my neck with the other.

“Well, that’s actually a funny story…”

It’s not funny at all.

Not even a little bit.

But telling Ryder his mother and I fucked like rabbits after she rubbed her pussy all over me and woke me up, really isn’t an option.

“How about I tell you over breakfast?” I suggest.

“Pancakes?”

I have no fucking idea how to make pancakes.

“How’s about a bowl of cereal?”

“Okay,” he says, uncrossing his arms. He doesn’t move and suddenly, I’m intimidated by the little boy wearing SpongeBob pajamas and a scowl on his face. When did that happen?

The day you decided you wanted to be enough of a man to make him a better one.

“All right then,” I say offering him a smile as I look towards the door. “Why don’t you get a head start?”

I’ll buy you a puppy…hell, I’ll buy you the whole damn litter if you just let me grab my shorts, kid.

Debating, he glances at his mom again.

“Should we wake mommy?”

“Fuck, no…eh, I mean….” my words trail as I swipe a hand over my face. “Let’s let her sleep.”

“Okay, we can surprise her with breakfast in bed.”

Yeah, sure, if you want to get a peep show.

“Sounds like a plan.”

He takes another minute before he finally exits the room. I wait until I hear his footsteps on the stairs before, I lose the sheet and dig a pair of sweats out of one of my six bags of clothes. As luck would have it the day I decide to move my shit in here, Ryder catches me in bed with his mom the next morning. I’m not sure how I’m going to explain this one. Mac and I haven’t talked about telling Ryder about us and we’ve been cautious around him. I’m not sure why. I’m not going anywhere, and neither are they.

Making my way to the door, I pause and look back at Mac.

A man can get used to that.

He can die happy.

“Uncle Bas!”

Pulling the door closed behind me, I head downstairs and enter the kitchen to find Ryder trying to clean spilled milk off the floor.

“What happened?”

“I’m sorry!”

Lifting his head, he meets my eyes and I can tell he’s struggling to hold back tears. That fucking does something to me. It breaks my heart is what it does.

“It was an accident,” he cries. He tears his eyes away from me and I watch his hands fumble as he pulls the paper towels off the roll.

“Ryder,” I rasp, crouching down beside him. Gently, I take the towels from his hand and place a finger under his chin, forcing his eyes back to mine. “It’s okay.”

“You’re not mad?”

“No,” I say hoarsely. “It’s just spilled milk, Ryder,” I add as I wipe his tears with my thumbs.

“My dad would’ve been mad.”

Biting the inside of my cheek, I control the anger simmering in my veins.

“I’m not him, Ryder,” I say with conviction.  “You never have to be afraid of me.” His blue eyes search mine and I pray he’s inherited his mother’s knack for reading me because they’re saying all the things I don’t know how to.

I love you.

I’ll jump off a cliff for you.

Run through fire for you.

I’ll kill for you.

Bleed and die for you.

Swallowing, I smooth down his hair and lean forward, kissing the top of his head.

“Let’s get this cleaned up and get started on making you and your mom breakfast.”

“We don’t have that much milk,” he says.

How fucking hard can it be to make pancakes?

“I thought you wanted pancakes,” I reply with a wink. His eyes light up and the smile he gives me is worth every bit of heartache that brought him into this world. I get it now. I understand what Mac meant when she said he was too precious to be labeled anything less than a blessing.

“Uncle Bas, I know you said I don’t have to be afraid of you but…”

“You don’t,” I assure him. “I would never hurt you. Never.”

“Does that mean you won’t hurt my mom either?”

Jesus.

It might not be my place, but I don’t give a fuck. It’s time Ryder, and I had a talk.

Man to little man.

Rising to my feet, I hold out my hand for him.

“C ’mere,” I tell him.

He places his little hand in mine and I pull him to his feet before leading him to the kitchen table. Sitting across from one another, we stare at each other.  I’m not sure if he’s looking at me with curiosity or if he’s sizing me up trying to decide if I’m the guy good enough for his mom.

“Why don’t you tell me what you’re thinking,” I suggest. “And remember, anything you ask me won’t make me angry.”

“Okay,” he says. “I don’t want anyone to hurt my mom. She smiles a lot and I like it.”

“She has a great smile,” I agree.

He nods.

“The best,” he whispers. Then as if a light bulb has gone off in his head, he looks at me with wide eyes. “If I promise not to be afraid will you promise not to take her smile away?”

“Ryder, I want you to pay close attention to what I’m going to tell you, can you do that for me?” I ask him as I lean over the table and level my eyes to his.

“I’ll try my hardest.”

“Fair enough,” I say, taking a deep breath. “Ain’t no one in this world going to take your mom’s smile away ever again nor will anyone hurt either of you. As long as I’m alive, you and your mom will always be safe and if I have a say in the matter, the both of you will keep sharing your smiles with me.”

“Does that mean you love her?”

“I’ve loved your mom for a really long time. What it means is I finally get a chance to prove to her and to you just how much I love you both.”

I let my words sink in for a minute before continuing.

“When a man loves a woman, he isn’t afraid of expressing it and his actions sometimes speak louder than his words. One day you’re going to be a man and you’re going to find a girl who knocks you off your feet. You won’t see her coming, you’ll ask yourself why she chose you and you’ll pray you never lose her. It’ll be the most exciting time of your life and the scariest too. You might make mistakes, but they’ll never be intentional because you’re going to think back to this conversation and remember how you wanted me to treat your mom.”

“I want you to be nice to her,” he whispers.

“I want you to be humble and kind,” I counter.

“Take her nice places,” he continues.

“Always hold the door for her,” I say.

“Tell her it’s going to be okay when she’s sad,” he adds.

“Do your best to never make her sad,” I counter.

“Make her smile,” he whispers.

“Cherish every smile she gives you,” I reply.

“Love her,” he pleads.

“Love her,” I agree.

A beat of silences passes between us before I hold out my hand.

“A man’s handshake is his word. It’s his promise,” I explain, tipping my chin to my hand, urging him to take it. Lifting his hand, he slides it into mine and he gives it a firm shake, sealing our promise to one another.

For him to grow up and be a good man.

For me to set the example by loving his mother.

#BringTheBas

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MEET AND GREET

Come meet Author, Janine Infante Bosco and model, Joe Adams at the “Tempted & Tantalizing Author Event” in Staten Island, New York this October!

For further information visit: https://TNTNYC18.weebly.com/tickets.html

#JanineInfanteBosco #JoeAdams

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ABOUT JANINE INFANTE BOSCO

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Janine Infante Bosco lives in New York City, she has always loved reading and writing. When she was thirteen, she began to write her own stories and her passion for writing took off as the years went on. At eighteen, she even wrote a full screenplay with dreams of one day becoming a member of the Screen Actors Guild.

Janine writes emotionally charged novels with an emphasis on family bonds, strong willed female characters, and alpha male men who will do anything for the women they love. She loves to interact with fans and fellow avid romance readers like herself.

She is proud of her success as an author and the friendships she’s made in the book community but her greatest accomplishment to date would be her two sons Joseph and Paul.

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CAPTIVATED – COVER REVEAL

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CAPTIVATED

by Bethany-Kris
Publication Date: July 9, 2018
Genres: Adult, Romantic Suspense, Organized Crime. Erotic Romance, Standalone

COVER CREDITS

Cover designed by London Miller
Cover photo by Michael Stokes
Cover model: Antoni Bialy

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#PREORDER NOW!

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SYNOPSIS

A shadow meets the light …

When someone needs to disappear, the Chicago mob calls on Joe Rossi. A man who can move without a sound, and kill without a word, they don’t call him the Shadow for nothing.

This time, it’s a New York crime family in need of his skills, but it takes one glimpse of her to make him agree to the job.

Liliana Marcello is every inch a principessa della mafia. Her life has taught her to be wary of strangers, yet her ballet career contradicts everything by putting her on display.

It’s a man with a dark smile and a constantly changing demeanor that makes her feel safe again, but it’s the unknown that holds her back.

It takes one look …
One dance …
One word …
One smile to captivate a man.

And one second to kill a woman because of it, too.

Not all monsters hide in the shadows.
How are you supposed to see them coming?

CAPTIVATED teaser

EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT

“Drink?”

Liliana made a face. “You know, I probably shouldn’t.”

“Ah, dancer.”

She shrugged. “Everything needs to be exactly as they want it.”

“As long as one of the things they want isn’t for you to starve yourself, or work yourself dead then … whatever makes you happy, Tesoro.”

“Some girls do.”

“Hmm?”

“Starve themselves down to nothing but sticks in the hopes of being noticed, or whatever the case may be. Their brains and mind get so sick from it all that they don’t even realize how much they need help. It’s sad, really. Scary. Once, I might have been one of those girls, too. Not so much anymore.”

Joe glanced down at the glass of whiskey he had poured, and twirled it a bit making the ice inside click against crystal. “Can’t say that’s a bad thing, though.”

“No, growth is … good.”

“It can be.”

Joe kept his gaze on the whiskey, and Liliana suddenly decided to be a little bold. They weren’t outside where anyone could see, or where her sister was right there to watch and make her feel nervous. There was no stumbling over her words, or feeling skittish.

Really, Joe didn’t make her anything but comfortable.

And a little hot sometimes.

Crossing the distance between them, Liliana came to stand right in front of Joe. It was only then that he finally glanced up from the glass in his hands to give her one of his slow, easy grins. The kind that made her stomach do that weird clenching thing—like butterflies for big girls.

“Hey,” she whispered.

Joe tipped his head to the side a bit. “Hey.”

“Thanks for helping me today.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“Lucky you were there to help me, really.”

Joe quirked a brow high. “Yeah, lucky.”

Before Liliana could over think her next move, and while she was still feeling that bit of boldness in her heart, she stood on her tiptoes, and kissed Joe. It was a fast kiss—nothing too spectacular, and certainly not lingering. Just a sweet press of her lips against his, and then she was pulling away again.

As fast as it had happened, it was over.

Then, she waited.

For him, that was.

Joe’s gaze darted to hers, and she swore she saw a flash of heat behind his eyes. Without ever looking away from her, he set that glass of whiskey to the wet bar, grabbed her waist with a firm grip, and brought her even closer. She didn’t even get the chance to take a breath before he kissed her.

His kiss was not like hers.

Deeper, harder, and hungrier. A teasing stroke of his tongue against the seam of her lips, demanding she open up to him, and let him in. She couldn’t even help herself but to part her lips, and taste him.

Joe pulled her closer still until her chest was molded against his, and she found it hard to take in a decent breath. And only then did he pull away. His hand came up to cup her cheek, and his thumb stroked her cheekbone with a soft touch.

“I mean, if you’re going to kiss me,” he murmured as he pulled away, “then at least really kiss me, Liliana.”

She laughed breathlessly. “I wanted to see …”

“What?”

“I don’t know.”

“Did you see whatever it was?” he asked.

Liliana grinned widely. “I did.”

“And?”

“Would you like to go out with me sometime, Joe?”

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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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CAPTIVATED – BLURB REVEAL

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CAPTIVATED

by Bethany-Kris
Publication Date: July 2018
Genres: Adult, Romantic Suspense, Organized Crime. Erotic Romance, Standalone

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#PREORDER NOW!

CAPTIVATED

SYNOPSIS REVEAL

A shadow meets the light …

When someone needs to disappear, the Chicago mob calls on Joe Rossi. A man who can move without a sound, and kill without a word, they don’t call him the Shadow for nothing.

This time, it’s a New York crime family in need of his skills, but it takes one glimpse of her to make him agree to the job.

Liliana Marcello is every inch a principessa della mafia. Her life has taught her to be wary of strangers, yet her ballet career contradicts everything by putting her on display.

It’s a man with a dark smile and a constantly changing demeanor that makes her feel safe again, but it’s the unknown that holds her back.

It takes one look …
One dance …
One word …
One smile to captivate a man.

And one second to kill a woman because of it, too.

Not all monsters hide in the shadows.
How are you supposed to see them coming?

CAPTIVATED teaser 1

EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT

Shoving the phone back in her pocket, she headed out of the bathroom, and damn near crashed into what felt like a fucking brick wall the second she left the room.

Liliana couldn’t have caught herself from falling even if she tried. For all her balance, strength, and grace … none of it helped very much when she ran headfirst into something as unexpected as—

“Careful there,” came a dark, rich voice.

Like a bass rumbled with his words.

Like a melody colored up his chuckles.

A strong arm had caught her easily—just one, it seemed he didn’t need two—and righted Liliana to her feet probably before she even realized what had happened. Pushing her wild waves of dark blonde hair back out of her face, she blinked.

And came face to face with him.

The mysterious man from earlier in the driveway.

He was not quite the same as he had been earlier, though. Getting a closer—really up close and personal, considering how she was balancing herself by putting her palms to his chest, and was close enough to feel his warm mint-scented breath wash over her face—look at him was bad for her insides.

Bad, because he was gorgeous. More so than she realized. Bad, because her stomach clenched, and her palms felt sweaty already. For a second, she tried to make her voice work, but nothing came.

The dark lines of the man’s face were shadowed by the hall, but it only added to the appeal of his square-cut jaw, strong cheekbones, and inviting grin. He was taller than her five foot eleven by at least six inches or more. She had to wonder if he played football, or rugby, because under her fingertips, his chiseled-from-stone muscles jumped from her touch.

Jesus.

“You okay?” he asked.

Liliana nodded quickly. “Yeah, sure.”

“It’s Liliana, right?”

She blinked.

He grinned deeper.

Right?” he pressed.

“Liliana, yeah, but if you call me Lily, I’ll probably gut you.”

Might as well get that right out in the open and over with. She expected a bit of surprise in the man’s eyes at her warning, but he actually tipped his head back and laughed. And sweet Christ, that laugh of his was dangerous.

The sound made her breath catch.

The sight made her heart race.

“Good to know,” he said.

Laughter echoed from down the hall—her cousin, sister, and friends voices followed right after. Conversation about the movie they wanted to pick, or something like that. It didn’t really matter.

“Ah, that’s what I was trying to find,” the guy said.

Liliana’s brow dipped. “Pardon?”

“I heard noise, but this place is so big that I couldn’t find out what it was or where it was coming from. I think I got lost.”

She pressed her lips together to keep from smiling. “Well, the mansion is pretty big.”

Liliana had a good mind to ask him what exactly he was doing at her grandparents’ mansion, and why she had caught sight of her father and uncles waiting for him and the other man before she left with the girls. She didn’t ask any of that because if the guy was in any way connected to her father and uncles’ business in the mafia, he probably wouldn’t tell her anyway.

Besides, sometimes it was better not to know.

That’s what life as a Marcello principessa had taught Liliana. It was also pretty quick to teach her that even men who weren’t connected to the life were their own particular brand of dangerous when it came right down to it.

“I bet your friends are wondering where you are,” he said.

It was only then that Liliana realized how close and alone the two were in the dark hallway. Sure, someone might hear her shout if she needed to, but none of that had even factored in to her usual cautiousness.

In fact, the last thing she felt in that moment was unsafe.

“They probably are,” she agreed.

“Would you do me a favor first?”

“Shoot.”

He cocked a brow, and shrugged one large shoulder like it wasn’t a big deal before he said, “Give me directions to the downstairs—I don’t want to miss supper later. I hear that’s rude, and I’m going to be around for a while. I would hate to make a bad first impression and all.”

Liliana laughed, but not for the reason he probably thought. The last thing he did was make a bad first impression.

Far from it.

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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 GoodreadsPinterestMailing ListAmazon Author Page

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CLAIMED BY THE KING – REVEAL

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CLAIMED BY THE KING

by Lorelei Moone
Shifters of Black Isle, #1
Publication Date: July 20, 2018
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Shifters, Novella, Standalone

CLAIMED BY THE KING cover

SYNOPSIS

Abandoned by her people, a young woman was being sent to her doom.

Kelly was going to be a prisoner; a slave. At least that’s what she thought as she waited for the mysterious giants that lived on the Black Isles to claim her. A human sacrifice, once every eight years. That’s what it took to keep mankind safe from these savages.

The human would ensure the survival of his bloodline. Whether he liked it or not.

Broc’s reign as King of the Black Isles had lasted seven years already. That was a long time to go without a queen and therefore, an heir. He knew what he had to do; to claim the human offering and make her his own.

When they met, it changed everything. A glimmer of hope, even of love, in unexpected places. But life on the Black Isles was far from simple. And there were powerful secrets, yet to be uncovered, that could change everything yet again.

Claimed by the King is the first in Lorelei Moone’s brand new fantasy romance series, Shifters of Black Isle. Shifters, magic and relatable characters; set in a mysterious, distant land, where anything seems possible, and yet all its inhabitants hold dear could be destroyed in an instant.

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EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT- CLAIMED BY THE KING

Chapter 1

Once in every eight springs, a girl will be put forth by one of the coastal regions. A peace offering, a condition of the truce between the Giant Warriors of Black Isle and the men of the mainland.

  1. No one shall remain with the offering when the time comes.
  2. None shall attempt to lay eyes on or follow the giants.
  3. No girl shall ever come home, or her village shall feel the giants’ wrath.

By this ritual we are bound, so long as our truce may last.

My life is over.

Kelly sat down with her head in hear hands, making sure she could no longer see the eerily dancing shadows created by the candle on the kitchen table.

They never did waste much time between the lottery and the banishing.

Perhaps that’s for the best, Kelly thought. If I had a lot of time to think about this, perhaps I’d be less likely to cooperate.

Of course, she still wasn’t willing to accept her fate, no, she had other plans.

After dusk, she would be left on the shores of the Northern Sea, tied up to the strong wooden post erected solely for this purpose, until the giants claimed her.

Perhaps they wouldn’t like her. Perhaps they’d leave her behind, demanding a prettier, daintier candidate? Kelly could only hope as much. Or perhaps her ties would be loose enough to wriggle free, allowing her to run before the giants even arrived.

Ever since her mother passed when she was only eight years old, she hadn’t felt this alone in the world. Her father had betrayed her. He was meant to keep her safe, those were her mother’s last words. Keep Kelly and Ferris from harm, swear it to me.

Instead, what has happened under the watchful eye of their father? She’d been chosen in the lottery.

It’s an honor, he had said. Your sacrifice ensures the safety of our people for the next eight summers.

Kelly was to be made into a prisoner and slave, never to be seen again by her people, all of whom were just pleased none of their own daughters were chosen. She’d never got along with most of the villagers, most of whom took great pleasure in pointing out that her mother’s death was God’s punishment or other such nonsense. Kelly wasn’t lady-like enough apparently. As a child she’d played with the boys out in the field rather than stayed at home and helped with the housework. If that was sinful enough to warrant her own mother’s death, then she wanted nothing to do with such a God, or the feeble-minded people who believed in him. Of course she could have never said that aloud or they would have branded her a witch and punished her. So she had kept these thoughts to herself all these years.

And yet, she was chosen to protect those same people. Oh, the irony. She would love to see their faces when they realized that there’d be hell to pay for her upcoming escape. All those years playing with the boys would pay off. Now that she had reached a full eighteen years of age, Kelly wasn’t half as weak as most girls she’d grown up with.

A horn blew in the distance, signaling that her wait was over.

It was time.

Her father opened the kitchen door, his weather beaten face tense – the only indication so far that he even cared what happened to her. An honor. What a joke.

He’d get over the loss of his first born daughter soon enough, at least he still had a son to focus on.

Ferris would miss her the most. Three years younger than she was, he’d always looked up to his big sister with admiration rather than the disdain others had shown her. She had been there for him more like a mother than a sibling, making sure there was food to eat, clothes to wear, even toys to play with.

Their father had never realized that he had been suffering the most after their mother had passed. While father had stuck to his same old routine; heading off to the tavern after nightfall, as though nothing had ever changed, she had been there for Ferris.

Yes, Ferris would come looking for her as soon as he realized what had happened.

Father had conveniently sent him off on some merchant ship as a deckhand only weeks before the lottery. As if he’d known what would happen…

“Kelly. Our fate lies in your hands.” Her father waved her forward with an outstretched arm.

She hesitated for a moment, but took a deep breath and finally got up.

“Yes, father.”

Mother, I wish you were here. Kelly swallowed hard.

“Come in,” Father called out.

A group of villagers made their way inside the cramped little kitchen. They surrounded Kelly, who had already assumed the position expected of her: her arms were crossed behind her back, ready to be tied. They wouldn’t take any chances, because in the heat of panic, many an offering had attempted to flee in the past.

Oh, Mother. Why did you have to leave me to this fate?

Kelly’s eyes stung uncomfortably, though she tried not to let it show. A cold gust of wind from outside dried her tears.

As soon as the rough ropes were tightened painfully around her wrists, it was time to head towards the shore. A long procession had already formed outside Kelly’s modest family home, which in this dimmed light looked like nothing more but a dilapidated shack.

Of the sun, already vanished behind the mountain ranges towards the west, remained nothing but a reddish glow.

Fittingly gloomy, Kelly thought.

A few wisps of clouds did nothing to conceal the full moon shining down on Kelly’s march towards her doom.

Towards the front of the procession two drummers would set the pace for everyone. Some of the villagers carried torches, deep shadows cast over their solemn faces, making it seem like they were wearing masks. These were not the features of the ordinary folk of West Hythe. Tonight, everything had changed. More change was yet to come.

Kelly lowered her head as she stepped forward, positioning herself between the butcher and the tanner, two of the strongest, most impressive men of her village. Their function was ceremonial as well as practical during this ritual: supposedly they’d ensure she was delivered to the right people, and not snatched by anyone on the way to the beach. Actually, it was more likely they were there to prevent her from bolting out of fear.

The drums started to roll, before settling into a comfortable marching pace and the procession started to move. Kelly resisted for a split second, before being hauled forward by the butcher on her right.

Fine. I’m going.

The march was short, Kelly’s house was one of the few outside the village limits nearer the shoreline, and yet in her perception it seemed to last forever. With each step, her legs felt heavier.

But soon enough, the outlines of the misty Black Isles came into view in the distance, illuminated only by moonlight. The crisp cold sea shimmered in the light, like diamonds. Not that Kelly had ever seen a real diamond before, but she’d heard it said they were even shinier than fresh ice.

A glimmer of curiosity overcame her. That’s where she was headed; if she was to believe the stories. What secrets did those dark rocks out in the Northern Sea hide? Nothing good, for sure.

The villagers surrounding her had initially seemed calm and reserved, but now on the rocky beach, their faces had become tenser, more nervous. Typical, Kelly thought, I’m the one being served up to the barbaric giants, and they’re the ones who are scared.

The butcher’s large, calloused hands seemed to be trembling slightly as he attached the rope from Kelly’s wrist to the huge iron ring on the half-eroded sacrificial post. He didn’t even meet Kelly’s gaze, which despite the incoming darkness were burning with anger and betrayal. Her earlier tears had long faded in the harsh wind. All that remained was a growing urge to fight.

She’d find a way to escape. She had to.

“Sorry, lass. May God be with ya,” he whispered, before joining the procession again, ready to retreat back to the village.

Kelly pressed her lips together. God had nothing to do with what was happening here. She watched scornfully as everyone backed away.

It was one of the rules of the ritual. No one shall remain with the offering. None shall lay eyes on the giants when they collect their prize.

Those rules were now etched into Kelly’s mind, so often had she heard the stories. Every eight years, one of the coastal villages will put forth an offering. As prescribed, none of the girls had been seen since they were left at this exact spot.

This had been going on for as long as anyone in the village – even the elders- could remember.

All those lives ruined by such an archaic and stupid ritual!

There hadn’t even been any sighting, any evidence that giants still roamed the Black Isles. None, except that the sacrificial post was always found empty the morning after an offering. Anyone could have taken those girls. Who knew what had become of them.

Kelly glared at the retreating villagers, last of whom her father, who looked back once, but then hurried on home, or more likely, towards the tavern.

Bloody cowards, the lot of them.

How convenient to have a rule that nobody was allowed to stay and watch. Who knew who these giants actually were? Whether they even existed.

The last torch flickered away over the dune surrounding the beach, and the sound of the drum faded into the distance. The ritual was over, life could go on as normal until eight years from now when another girl was to be chosen from a neighboring village.

But for Kelly, the night was far from over.

A dense fog had rolled in from the Northern Sea, covering the beach like a damp blanket. Kelly blinked a few times, but was unable to see a thing. How long had she been here for? Minutes, hours? It was impossible to tell, although dawn still seemed impossibly far away.

Mother, don’t leave me here.

Kelly’s eyelids grew too heavy to remain open.

My darling, rest. You’ll need it, a familiar voice seemed to say.

Mother! Was she dreaming already?

The regular crashing of waves had already hypnotized her. One could only be upset for so long, until it took a toll. Kelly tried her best to lift the heavy blanket of exhaustion; to stay alert. But it was hopeless. It would take a lot more than some fog to scare her awake.

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ABOUT LORELEI MOONE

Lorelei Moone is an author of paranormal / fantasy romance based in London. A lover of all things sweet, and caffeinated, when she’s not writing about sexy bear shifters and their strong-willed curvaceous love interests, Lorelei can be found baking cookies or cakes for her family.

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IN FLAMES – Reveal

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IN FLAMES

by Jessica Jayne
Publication Date: July 23, 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Standalone

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SYNOPSIS

Gracelyn Riley married a firefighter and knew that came with risks. But she never imagined herself widowed in her early thirties with two children to care for on her own. Even though her marriage to Chad Riley had its difficulties, dealing with the last year without him has not been easy. Her brother-in-law, Matt, has been the rock that has kept her from collapsing or imploding.

As a fireman, Matt Riley had been at the scene when his brother, Chad, was killed. For the last year, Matt has suffered from survivor’s guilt and drank himself into oblivion. His sister-in-law, Gracelyn, supported him, lending him a shoulder to cry on. Her friendship has pulled him through time and time again until he finally sobered.

With the year anniversary of Chad’s death upon them, Gracelyn and Matt turn to each for support and comfort. What they didn’t expect was to realize that their feelings for each other go beyond the solid friendship they share. Can they overcome the guilt and the scrutiny of their family and friends to find love together?

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EXCERPT

The epiphany that had smacked Gracelyn on the forehead last night while sipping her wine and listening to Coldplay was what had brought her to the station this morning. Matt couldn’t just ignore her. They’d been through too much and had known each other for too long. He didn’t get to play decision-maker on this because how they handled the situation affected her, too. They were adults. It was about damn time they acted like grownups.

She inhaled a deep breath of crisp autumn air as she approached the entrance to the station house. Even though she’d convinced herself that this needed to be done, it didn’t make coming here any easier.

She heard the laughter of the guys from inside, and she smiled. This firehouse had its fill of shenanigans. The team had struggled greatly with the loss of Chad, so it was nice to hear the joviality behind the door. She used to stop in regularly during Chad’s shifts, but since his death, she’d only swung by a couple of times to drop things off. The building held many memories, too many. Facing them and the guys who had been like brothers to her husband had seemed like too much. Until now.

She knocked on the door, then twisted the handle and stuck her head around the corner. The smell of sausage, eggs, onions, and peppers assaulted her. Someone was cooking a hearty breakfast for the crew.

Four men stood in the kitchen. All eyes turned in her direction.

Matt leaned against the far countertop, holding a cup of coffee, his smile fading at the sight of her. He pursed his lips and tensed his jaw when his gaze met hers. Her skin tingled from his penetrating stare.

“Gracelyn,” Drew Anderson said with a smile. His voice broke the silence she’d dropped on the group.

Drew stood at the gas stove, flipping what appeared to be sausage patties. He’d been with the department for over ten years and had been one of Chad’s closest buddies. They’d played softball together and cards on some nights. As diehard Cleveland Browns fans, they’d commiserated every football season. He’d been a big part of Gracelyn’s and Matt’s support system after Chad’s death. For several months afterwards, he and his wife, Stacey, cooked meals and stopped by the house to visit, despite how hard Chad’s passing had been on Drew, as well.

“Come on in.” Drew waved her in with the spatula.

She stepped through the door and into the lounge area in front of the kitchen. On one side, a long, wooden table stretched with chairs haphazardly pushed in under it. Paper plates, napkins, and silverware sat in piles atop the table, waiting for the breakfast sizzling in the pans.

“Hey, Drew. Tim.” She nodded her head in Tim O’Leary’s direction before closing the door behind her.

“What brings you here on a Monday morning?” Tim asked. The toaster popped, and Tim plucked out two pieces of toast and set them on a plate.

“I need to see Matt.” She’d chosen her words carefully. If she’d said “wanted” instead of “needed” she feared Matt would find a way around it. Despite their current situation, he would never deny her what she needed.

“Lucky bastard,” the unfamiliar blond guy said. He must have been one of the new recruits or candidates, as they were often called. He was young, probably in his mid-twenties, with shaggy blond hair, blue eyes, and the hard body of someone who worked out daily. He’d fit in quite well with the crew at the Mason Ridge Fire Department.

“That’s his sister-in-law, you asshat.” Tim slapped the guy on the head. “Gracelyn, this is our new candidate, Kevin Thompson. He’s training with us. Maybe he’ll even get to stay if we can housebreak him and teach him some manners.”

Drew chuckled. Matt’s tense face even cracked with a smile at Tim’s comment. When an emergency broke, these men were serious and organized. However, during their downtime, horseplay and hazing ran rampant. Giving the candidates a hard time was a favorite pastime of the veterans. Appeared to be Kevin’s turn at the roasting spit.

“Hi, Kevin.” She walked over to him and held out her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“The pleasure is all mine.” He grasped her outstretched hand and brought it to his lips, pressing a slight kiss to her fingers. “All mine.” He winked at her. His gaze roamed over her slowly while he kept her hand in his. A flush washed over her at being so intimately perused in front of the men that had considered her husband their brother. “It’s good to know you’re single.”

“Let her go,” Matt barked, setting his cup down hard on the counter. All eyes turned to him. He flexed his hands at his sides. A flush crept from his neck to his cheeks. He glared at the back of Kevin’s head before meeting Gracelyn’s gaze. Something flashed behind his eyes. Jealousy? Whatever it was, she’d never seen the emotion on his face in the past.

Kevin dropped Gracelyn’s hand. Then Tim popped him on the side of the head again. Everyone but Matt puffed out a laugh.

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ABOUT JESSICA JAYNE

Jessica is a born and raised small town Ohio girl, who moved to the Sunshine State after graduating from college. She graduated from college with a bachelor’s degree in English. What college major could possibly be better than one that makes you read novels and write about them! Now she is thrilled to be able to share all the stories floating around in her head!

Jessica loves to travel and travel often! She’s a huge sports fan, especially college football and the Ohio State Buckeyes! She’s a wine-making (and wine-tasting) aficionado. She loves all music. And nothing is better than sunset at the beach!

In the journey of life, she also married a wonderful man and had three beautiful (and sometimes crazy) children. Life is always an adventure.

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