Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Unraveled by Jen Frederick

~ Synopsis ~

Twenty-five-year-old Sgt. Gray Phillips is at a crossroads in his life: stay in the Marine Corps or get out and learn to be a civilian? He’s got forty-five days of leave to make up his mind but the people in his life aren’t making the decision any easier. His dad wants him to get out; his grandfather wants him to stay in. And his growing feelings for Sam Anderson are wreaking havoc with his heart…and his mind. He believes relationships get ruined when a Marine goes on deployment. So now he’s got an even harder decision to make: take a chance on Sam or leave love behind and give his all to the Marines.



Twenty-two year old Samantha Anderson lost her husband to an IED in Afghanistan just two months after their vows. Two years later, Sam is full of regrets—that she didn’t move with her husband to Alaska; that she allowed her friends to drift away; that she hasn’t taken many chances in life. Now, she’s met Gray and taking a risk on this Marine could be her one opportunity to feel alive and in love again. But how can she risk her heart on another military man who could share the same tragic fate as her husband?


~ Review ~
4.5 Stars by Heather


I really enjoyed this book.  I loved the characters and really want to read the first two books now.  It was hard not to fall in love with all of the characters!


Samantha has been dealt a shitty hand in life, but she has never given up.  She may have given up on life, but she has always been there for her dead husbands family.  She is the glue that keeps them together.  She hates it because it feels like she is the only one trying to live.  She can't keep doing this or it will break her.  The instant she sees Gray she knows something has changed.  She hasn't looked or felt anything for a man in two years.  But her body is drawn to him.  She is scared and doesn't want to move on from Will yet.  Can she give her heart away again?  Or will she always be know as widow?



Gray will never forget the heartache his ex caused him when he was deployed.  He swear off ever letting a woman get close to him.  He was up for sex, but nothing more.  That was all fine until he met Sam.  He tried to think of it as temporary, but he secretly wanted more.  Can he overcome his trust issues?  Or does his issues ruin the best thing that has happened to him and cost him the only girl he has ever loved?



This book is a must read.  Noah and Bo's book are one and two and I would recommend them also. I haven't read them yet, but I have a feeling they are going to be just as great as this book.  Bo's I think will be funny.  I can't wait to find time to read them!!!


~ Excerpt ~ 

THIS WAS ONLY TEMPORARY, I reminded myself, as Samantha so sweetly kissed me back. I'm only here for a short time I reminded myself but as I felt her tongue stroke the side of my tongue, as she nipped her teeth against my lip, I wanted to just drown in the sensation. Her scent filled my head and the air around us shrank until all I knew was her small body sitting so close to mine. I moved my hand from her shoulder to cup her neck and angled her face for deeper penetration. I licked every inch inside of her mouth until the taste of her was all that I knew on my tongue.
And all that time I stared in to her green eyes and not once did she look like she was anywhere but right here with me. I saw my reflection there. Her heartbeat was made wild by my kisses.
And temporary was the farthest thing from my mind.



~ Buy Links ~



Amazon: http://amzn.to/1lp6zJD
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1kl4Gd9
iBooks: http://bit.ly/1edREhE
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/1bdZ0yN



~ Jen Frederick Q&A ~



1. What made you want to become an author?

Seeing others have success self publishing made me think that it was something I should try. I sat down in September of 2012 and started writing. I had lots of words by the end of the year but no real book. My friend, Jessica Clare, challenged me to finish the book and I did so in February 2013.



2. What is your favorite book you wrote?

My favorite is whichever I've just finished!



3. What authors inspired you to write?

Tammara Webber's Easy was an inspiration.  



4.  What are your favorite scenes to write?

It depends on my mood. Sometimes I love writing the love scenes and other times I adore writing banter. Dialogue is probably my favorite thing to write.



5.  What do you do to put yourself in the mood to write?

I only have limited time each day to write so I write even if I'm not in the mood. Sometimes I have to turn off the internet. Sometimes I play music. Other times the words just flow like magic.



6.  Do you listen to music while writing?

Usually I play instrumentals only. The words of the song can often distract me from writing.



7.  Do you have a special place you write?

I write in my home office most of the time unless it's cold then I write in a chair down by the fireplace.



8.  Do you like writing in female or male POV more?

Male. Totally.  



9.   Do you ever cry while writing a book?

I haven't yet.



10.  Do you base characters off real people?

No. I try to create a character from the bottom up and make them wholly unique. Plus, if I did base my characters off real people, I'd be concerned that I'd hurt individuals in my real life who might feel betrayed or unhappy with how they are portrayed so I try to make my characters as fictional as possible.



11.  Can you tell me about any upcoming books?

I've just finished writing Last Breath with Jessica Clare. This is a New Adult dark contemporary romantic suspense series. Currently I'm working on a couple of projects. Finn's book is the fourth Woodlands novel which will be published in the fall/winter of 2014. Another project is a contemporary duology featuring a bicycle courier in New York City and a wealthy man bent on revenge. I'd love to publish those in the summer of 2014 but it depends a great deal on how much I get done during my writing time each day.




~ Author Biography ~



Bestselling author Jen Frederick lives with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog. She's been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at jensfrederick@gmail.com.



~ Social Networking Links ~



Website: http://jenfrederick.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6995972.Jen_Frederick
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJenFrederick
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JensFred

~ Giveaway ~

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MDdjMjM2M2Y2MGZmNDQwNmZmZjJiNGE3OTlhY2ZhOjM=/



Monday, March 10, 2014

Release Day Blitz and Giveaway: Hit the Wall by Rochelle Paige

Hit The Wall Blitz Banner  
Title: Hit the Wall (Blythe College #2) 
Author: Rochelle Paige
Genre: New Adult Romance
Release Date: March 10, 2014

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~ Synopsis ~

Jackson thought he knew what love was and feels like he missed his chance at happiness. He realizes he wasted his chances by chasing after one-night stands instead of going after what he really wanted. Kaylie knows what loss feels like and doesn't want to take a chance on love. She puts up walls to keep her heart protected from experiencing that kind of pain again. What happens when a guy who refuses to lose out again meets a girl who resists him as much as she can? Will Jackson be able to hit the wall Kaylie has put up and knock it down?  


~ Buy the Book ~

amazon_goodreads_smashwords

Push the Envelope (Blythe College #1) 
Push_the_Envelope_ebook_barnesnoble_kobo
 



1014038_575959795832356_1051704837_n~ About the Author ~
I absolutely adore reading - always have and always will. My friends growing up used to tease me when I would trail after them, trying to read and walk at the same time. If I have downtime, odds are you will find me reading or writing. I am the mother of two wonderful sons who have inspired me to chase my dream of being an author. I want them to learn from me that you can live your dream as long as you are willing to work for it. When I told my mom that my new year's resolution was to self-publish a book in 2013, she pretty much told me "About time!"




~ Social Media Links ~

 
~ Giveaway ~

Release Day Blitz and Giveaway: Black Box by Cassia Leo

Happy Release Day to Cassia Leo! We're excited to share her latest release, Black Box!!!


Title: Black Box
Author: Cassia Leo
Release Date: March 10th 2014



~ Synopsis ~

♥ Three fateful encounters....

♥ Two heart-breaking tragedies....
♥ One last chance to get it right.

From New York Times best selling author Cassia Leo, comes an epic love story about rewriting destiny. 



Over the course of five years, Mikki and Crush cross paths on three separate occasions. Their first encounter changes Mikki's life forever, but their second meeting leaves them both buried beneath the emotional wreckage of a violent attack. Mikki is left with more questions and grief than she can handle, while Crush is forced to forget the girl who saved his life.



Now nineteen years old, Mikki Gladstone has decided she's tired of the mind-numbing meds. She books a flight to Los Angeles to end her life far away from her loving, though often distant, family.



Twenty-one-year-old Crush has always channeled his blackest thoughts into his music, but he's never had great aspirations. He decides to fly to Los Angeles to record a demo of the only song he's never performed in public; a song he wrote for a girl he doesn't even know: Black Box. He has no expectations of fame and he's never felt like his life had any purpose... until he meets Mikki in Terminal B.



When Mikki and Crush cross paths for the third time in Terminal B, neither has any idea who the other person is; until they slowly piece together their history and realize that fate has more in store for them than just another love story.



~ Buy Links ~



~ Author Bio ~

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cassia Leo grew up in California and has lived in three different countries. She loves to travel and her dream is to one day score a record deal based on her awesome shower singing skills. She is the author of the Shattered Hearts series (Relentless, Pieces of You, Bring Me Home, Abandon) and the Luke and Chase series.






~ Social Media Links ~






~ Giveaway ~


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Forgiving Lies and Deceiving Lies by Molly McAdams

~ Synopsis ~

A matter of secrets...
Undercover cop Logan "Kash" Ryan can't afford a distraction like his new neighbor Rachel Masters, even if she's the most beautiful woman he's ever seen. To catch a serial killer, he needs to stay focused, yet all he can think about is the feisty, long-legged coed whose guarded nature intrigues him

A matter of lies...
Deceived and hurt before, Rachel would rather be a single, crazy cat lady than trust another guy, especially a gorgeous, tattooed bad boy with a Harley, like Kash. But when his liquid-steel eyes meet hers, it takes all of Rachel's will-power to stop herself from exploring his hot body with her own.

A matter of love...
As much as they try to keep it platonic, the friction between them sparks an irresistible heat that soon consumes them. Can Kash keep Rachel's heart and her life safe even as he risks his own? Will she be able to forgive his lies ... or will she run when she discovers the dangerous truth?


~ Review ~
5 Stars

Wow!!  Another great book by Molly McAdams.  This book held me captive.  I was struggling to do anything besides read this book.  I had to know what was going to happen between Rachel, Cash, Candace and Blake.

Rachel doesn't have anyone, but Candace her best friend and Candace's family.  She still struggles with the loss of her parents, but tries everyday to heal a little more.  She is pressured into going out with Blake. Candace wants her cousin Blake and Rachel to be happy so she forces Rachel to go out with him.  Rachel isn't interested in dating a manwhore. She just wants to finish school and move on with her life. Then Kash tries to take off her car door and she knows instantly that he is someone special.  She fights the attraction and tries to keep the relationship "friends" only, but each day gets harder.  Will she let Kash in?  Will she lose everything she has ever wanted?

Kash is undercover searching for a killer.  They have no idea what this guy looks like, but have clues leading to his whereabouts.  Kash knows not to get involved with someone while on a case, but there is something special about Rachel.  She is his sour patch kid.  She tries to hide behind her bitch shield, but he sees behind it and knows she is hurting.  He doesn't want to get involved, but he can't let he hurt alone.  Can he solve the case without screwing up?  Will he end up losing Rachel through it all?

This book was so different from Taking Chances, but I LOVED it!!!  I instantly hated Candace and Blake.  I wanted to jump into the beat and just shake the shit out of Candace and tell her to open her eyes and she what was in front of her.  To finally care about someone else instead of just herself.  I love Mason and I want more of him!!! Now Kash that man is a keeper.  I want him for myself.  He is so protective.  He would lay his life on the line to protect those he loves. I cannot wait to find out what happens in book two!! 







~ Synopsis ~

The irresistible, blazing-hot sequel to New York Times bestselling author Molly McAdams's Forgiving Lies.

Rachel is supposed to be planning her wedding to Kash, the love of her life. After the crazy year they've had, she's ready to settle down and live a completely normal life. Well, as normal as it can be. But there's something else waiting—something threatening to tear them apart.

Kash is ready for it all with Rach. Especially if all includes having a football team of babies with his future wife. With his line of work, he knows how short life can be, and doesn't want to waste another minute of theirs. But now his past as an undercover narcotics agent has come back to haunt him ... and it's the girl he loves who's caught in the middle.

Trent Cruz's orders are clear: take the girl. But there's something about this girl that has him changing the rules and playing a dangerous game to keep her safe. When his time as Rachel's protector runs out, he will turn his back on the only life he's known, and risk everything, if it means getting her out alive.




~ Review ~
5 Fan-F**king-Tastic Stars

OMFG!!!  This book has to be the best book I have read in a long time. I can't remember the last book I read where I felt I was living the story.  I felt all the emotions going through Rachel.  I felt her pain, sorrow, love, confusion.

This book pretty much started where Forgiving Lies ended.  We actually got a few chapters leading up to the epilogue of Forgiving Lies.
Rachel not only has to deal with the fact she was kidnapped and brutalized by a lifelong friend.  She is healing and moving on with her and Kash's life.  She never expected Kash's life to come and haunt her.  When she gets kidnapped she doesn't understand why and no one will tell her.  She ends up forming a bond with the man that kidnapped her.  Will that bond effect Kash and her relationship?  Will she be released or rescued?

Kash is struggling to deal with Rachel being kidnapped and not being able to work the case.  He is losing his mind and that is dangerous because he is willing to do things he should never do.  Without his best friend and partner Mason, he would have ended up dead or behind bars.  Will he get Rachel back unharmed? Or will she come back to him broken and a shell of herself?

This book was an amazing conclusion to this series.  I loved everything about this book and Rachel and Kash's journey back to each other.  It was hard and crushed my heart in several places, but man Rachel is one strong lady.
I don't know that I like Candace in this book.  She doesn't play that big of a role like she did in Deceiving Lies.  I still don't think she is deserving of Rachel's trust.  I am really hoping that Mason gets a book. 





~ About Molly McAdams ~

Molly McAdams grew up in California but now lives in the oh-so-amazing state of Texas with her husband and furry daughter. Her hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, traveling and long walks on the beach, which roughly translates to being a homebody with her hubby and dishing out movie quotes. When she's not at work, she can be found hiding out in her bedroom surrounded by her laptop, cell, Kindle and fighting over the TV remote. She has a weakness for crude-humored movies, fried pickles and loves curling up in a fluffy comforter during a thunderstorm...or under one in a bathtub if there are tornados. That way she can pretend they aren't really happening.


~ Connect with Molly ~

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MollyMcAdams
Twitter: @mollysmcadams https://twitter.com/MollySMcAdams
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6436698.Molly_McAdams
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Molly-McAdams/e/B00D7JVZ2S/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Website: http://www.mollysmcadams.com/


~ Giveaway ~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Ridge by Adriane Leigh

~ Synopsis ~

Sometimes doing the wrong thing feels so right...
I'm a player. I'm an asshole. I'm someone you should stay away from.
I have demons.
I've made mistakes.
And the biggest can't be taken back.
I've gone to hell and back in twenty-nine years and I'm only now coming to terms with moving forward, righting my wrongs, and making amends. Except not everyone deserves forgiveness. Sometimes the damage done is beyond repair.
Everyday is exactly the same. I focus on the pain, in the quest to feel and forget, but I remember everything. When I close my eyes the darkness encroaches and some days it feels like the things that kill me are the things that make me feel alive.











~ Our Review ~
4 Stars by Guest Reviewer Cybill



This was a rough start for me, Ridge has a very twisted, dark side. I had to open my mind to what people like and need, then the book started getting better.

Ridge has had a rough life. He is a recovering drug addict and had been in Juvenile Detention as a kid. He stole Mia from his brother, he needs his brother. In order to make things right in the universe and rectify the situation with his brother he must get rid of Mia. But letting Mia go is like cutting off a body part.

He tries everything to get over Mia, he smokes and drinks, works out, sleeps with countless women and nothing is working. He finds Amy, maybe she will be his redemption. Ridge is a complete douche to Amy. He is so twisted and dark, that she could never be what he needs.

Ridge's past and Mia's past collides. There is healing and discovery. There is twistedly hot dark sex. Stick with it, the ending is wonderful.


~ Teasers ~





~ About the Author ~


Adriane Leigh was born and raised in a snowbank in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and now lives amongst the sand dunes of the Lake Michigan lakeshore.
She graduated with a Literature degree but never particularly enjoyed reading Shakespeare or Chaucer.
Adriane is married to a tall, dark and handsome guy, plays mama to two sweet baby girls, and is a voracious reader and knitter.




~ Social Media Links ~


Facebook –
https://www.facebook.com/LaceSeries


Goodreads –
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6857137.Adriane_Leigh


Twitter –
https://twitter.com/AdrianeLeigh


Pinterest –
http://www.pinterest.com/LeighAdriane/




~ WILD (Wild #1) ~



















~ Coming Soon ~

SLADE (Wild #3)

Behind every beautiful thing, there is some kind of pain...
Always overlooked. Always just there. That's what Dillon was to me.
Until one night.
In one night she flipped my world on its axis and there's no going back. But she has secrets, and secrets fester like an open wound. They color the past and forecast the future, but I'm determined to open her up; free her from her memories so she can live in the light and have the life she deserves.
It's just too bad that she wants nothing to do with me. But I'm nothing if not persistent and I'm not a man that gives up without a fight. I've had a taste and there's no walking away.
I just have to convince her that I'm not what she fears, I'm what she wants. 
Slade, like Wild and Ridge, is a standalone. 
Reading Wild and Ridge first will provide some back story, but is not required to read Slade.



~ Giveaway ~
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Toxic by Rachel Van Dyken

~ SYNOPSIS ~

Everyone has a secret...

Gabe Hyde is on borrowed time. He's been hiding his identity for over four years-hidden from the world that used to adore him--obsess over him--driven to the edge of insanity by one poor choice.
But that one choice, altered the course of his life forever.
Pretending isn't all it's cracked up to be, especially when pretending means hiding your real self from the people that care about you the most. But if anyone ever discovered the truth it wouldn't just be his life at risk--but hers.

Saylor doesn't hate men.
Just Gabe.
Only Gabe.
He's a reckless, happy-go-lucky, silver spoon fed pain in her ass. Everything about him makes her more and more confused. Unfortunately they both donate time at the same Group Home. If she wasn't afraid of flunking, she'd be long gone. She hates that she's attracted to him almost as much as he hates that he's attracted to her--and she can tell, especially since their first encounter ended up making her knees so weak she couldn't form coherent sentences for weeks afterwards. But the closer she gets to him, the more confused she becomes. He isn't who he says he is, and he's hiding something big.

What happen when two worlds collide? Two worlds that never should have met in the first place? Some secrets are too big to be hidden forever--the only question? Will his destroy everyone he loves? Or finally bring about the redemption he's been craving for the past four years?

Everyone has a secret...What's yours?



~ Series Buy Links ~

RUIN:  http://amzn.to/1hDbySr
TOXIC:  http://amzn.to/OQNDFr
FEARLESS:  http://amzn.to/1kJtivZ


~ Review ~
5 Stars 

I have been dying waiting for this book.  Gabe intrigued me in Ruin and I wanted to know his story.  This book DID NOT disappoint.

Saylor is trying her hardest to focus on school to make life for her family easier.  She doesn't need to complication of a relationship.  That is until she runs into the sex tattooed musical guy.  She knows he is bad news and tries to stay away, but they always find away to show up where the other is.  She knows Gabe is hiding something.  Will she run from his demons?  Or will she be there to help him pick up the pieces?

Gabe is drowning.  Finally after four years he is crumbling.  After his promise to Wes to change he had no outlet to temporarily forget.  He turns to the one thing he never thought he would again.  He started playing music. This is where he collides with Saylor for the first time.  After that he can't stop thinking about her.  He wants her, but knows he doesn't own his heart to give to her.  He tries to push her away and make her hate him, but sometimes that backfires.  Will he allow Saylor to help him faces his demons?  Will he get his Happily Ever After?

This book was an emotional roller coaster ride.  It was an ugly cry, but so worth every tear shed.  Rachel Van Dyken made up for every tear she caused me to shed!!  Rachel had another Slam Dunk with this book.  Each of her books gets better and better!!  Cannot wait to read more from her!!



~ Excerpt ~


Life has two stages. Birth and death. That’s it. What you do in between the two? Well, that’s up to you, isn’t it? —Wes M

Saylor

Behind me, Gabe ceased all motion. The only way I knew he was still there was from the heat that seeped into my back from where his body touched me. More warmth rolled off his hands where they seemed fused to mine. Any minute now, I expected him to pull away, to slip into mask number one or mask number two. Instead, he flipped my hands over, gripping them with his fingers and exhaled, long and slow. Seconds went by, but they may as well have been years. Each time he let out a breath, my heart skipped a beat of longing, needing more of his touch — more of something. My back tingled as the hard planes of his stomach pressed against me. I was in a Gabe cocoon.
And I loved it.
Until the music started.
With slight pressure, Gabe moved my hands to the piano, slowly, effortlessly placing them on each key.
He was playing through me, using my body as an instrument to convey the story of his life. Each time he pressed down on one of my fingertips or guided me to another area of the piano, I felt the sadness of the song clench deeper. The notes became floating tendrils of pain, each one of them slowly invading my body and taking hold until it hurt to breathe.
He moved faster and faster, my hands couldn’t keep up. I pulled back as he continued the song, in such a rush it was like he was yelling but doing it with music. Unable to convey it in any other way.
With a final burst of movement, he lifted his hands off the piano and smashed them against the keys, causing a chaos of notes to burst forth.
Gabe’s breathing was uneven, ragged as he leaned heavily against me, his chin resting on my head, and he whispered brokenly, “I can’t.”
“You were doing so good.”
“It’s like getting into a car with suicidal tendencies. You keep going faster and faster, needing the adrenaline to keep you alive until suddenly you turn the wheel and everything goes black. The notes, they go higher and higher, and right when I feel like I can change the outcome — I panic. Some things…” He sighed and pulled away. “Some things are better left in chaos.”
“Are you sure about that? Are you sure about perfection?” I folded my hands in my lap, but didn’t turn around.
“Sure.” He moved from behind me and sat on the bench. “If life was perfect, how in the hell would we ever learn to depend on someone other than ourselves? If anything, that’s what life’s taught me. The need to be perfect is stemmed in the very belief that it’s actually something we can achieve. Self-actualization — doesn’t exist.”
I licked my lips and looked down at the keys. “Does that mean we don’t try then?”
“No.” Gabe tickled a few of the ivory keys in front of him, the music note tattoos on his fingertips looking darker against the white of the piano. “It just means when you reach the end of your rope, you shouldn’t regret a damn thing, but applaud yourself for trying to do the impossible.”
I felt like he was using double meanings. The philosophical Gabe was a bit terrifying because he made me feel more insecure than the jackass Gabe. But the guy sitting next to me right now? I was beginning to understand, he wasn’t just one person. He was every person, everything, whatever he needed to be, he was.
Like a chameleon.
And suddenly the ending to the story made sense.
Ten different notes all clamoring at once.
Chaos.
Gabe was Chaos.
“So.” He sniffed and cleared his throat. “Now that I’ve totally ruined the moment by talking in my serious voice and scaring the shit out of you — why don’t we work on one of your performance pieces?”
“Okay.” I placed my hands on the piano again, careful to angle my wrists at the perfect degree and keep my eyes on the music ahead. Sometimes I wondered if my posture was better than my playing.
“What the hell are you doing?” he asked in calm voice.
I turned and gave him a firm nod[L1] . “I’m getting ready.”
“To go to battle?”
“What?” I relaxed my hands a bit. “No.” I straightened. “This is the right posture, it’s—”
“If you say perfect, I’m going to kill myself.”
“Someone should have majored in drama.”
He burst out laughing. “Oh, honey, you have no idea.”
“So?” I lifted my wrists again and looked ahead.
“Fine.” He smirked. “Play just like that.”
“Okay.” I started one of my harder pieces, Piano Sonata 14. It felt exactly the same. The movement wasn’t as fast as some of the others, but the timing for it had to be perfect.
“Close your eyes,” Gabe instructed.
“But—”
He swatted my wrists. “No arguing with your piano master.”
“Fine.”
“Say ‘yes, master’.”
I smiled tightly, my eyes focusing on the music in front of me. I started slowly playing. “Not in this lifetime.”
“Bet I could make you say it.” His voice had an arrogant lift to it, which made me all the more irritated. Master? Um, no.
“Eyes.” He growled again.
With a resigned sigh, I closed my eyes. “Better?”
“Immensely,” he said smoothly.
Darkness enveloped my world. All I had were the notes at my fingertips. All I had was the music — that and Gabe.
He wasn’t saying anything.
Which killed me.
It also made me want to open my eyes, but I knew he’d probably just tell me to close them again, so I kept playing.
And then, with a teasing touch, his fingers grazed my chin, slowly tilting it down toward the piano while his other hand went to my upper back then slowly moved down until it was in the middle, with a gentle push, he urged my body closer to the keys.
Eyes closed, posture completely off, I leaned over the piano. Everything felt wrong as I continued playing.
“Slower,” he said softly.
With a sigh, I started playing slower. His hands moved to my hips. And stayed there. Other than jumping a foot, I was still able to concentrate.
“The music,” he whispered, “It’s not just your story — it’s your lover.”
“Okay,” I squeaked. Heat washed over me as the word lover bounced around in my brain. I knew it, but I’d never experienced it. How was I supposed to use something I didn’t know how to use? And how embarrassing was it that I was stuck in that tiny room having never been… stuck in a tiny room with any guy? Lover. I’d take him. If I got a choice. It would be him. But people like Gabe, beautiful people who had music in their soul, who knew how to speak without words… they weren’t for girls like me.
“Each stroke…” His hands pressed against my hips making me gasp. “You need to feel it not just on your fingertips — but everywhere.”
Holy. Crap.
“Feel it here,” he squeezed and then ran his hands lightly up my sides, then resting right underneath my breasts, he pressed again. “And here.”
My breathing picked up speed, as did my music.
“Slow down,” he commanded in that same irritating patient tone. “Where is this story taking me? Where are you taking your lover?”
“Huh?” I breathed.
“Use your hands to tell me the story — use your body to propel the story forward, what happens next… Tell the story, Saylor. Make me feel it without even touching you.”
“But — that’s impossible.”
“You can feel a kiss without touching someone’s lips.”
“I’m confused.”
“Concentrate.” Gabe’s voice was firm. “I want to kiss you.”
“What?” He was lucky I didn’t actually collapse against the piano this time.
“In the story.” He chuckled. “I want to kiss you in this story, so kiss me.”
“You want me to get up and kiss you?” Mind you, I was still trying to play a difficult piece as he was asking me this, which basically meant I must have had talent, because my body was on fire.
“Without our mouths meeting.”
“Through the music.” I clarified in a doubtful voice.
I could hear the smile in his tone as he answered. “Yes, through the music, show me what the kiss would feel like. I want to taste it.”
“But how?”
He laughed softly. “I’m touching them.”
“What?”
“My lips,” he countered. “They’re soft, open, wet…”
I squirmed on the piano bench, squeezing my eyes shut. “What else?”
“As I part my lips… I wonder what your tongue tastes like, what type of pressure you’d use as you pressed your velvety smooth mouth against mine. I imagine exploring your mouth not just because I want to — but because I can’t help it. I’m lost. And your kiss is my salvation… so, Saylor, will you save me?”
My fingers glided effortlessly over the piano as I imagined his mouth — the way he smiled, the way he took his lower lip hostage when he was deep in thought. The dark look he got in his eyes when there was something he wanted. Our kiss would be epic.
The music picked up speed as I leaned over the piano, pounding each note with the rhythm of my footsteps as I approached him.
His hands would reach for my hips as he pulled me closer. My hands hovered over the keys making my hesitation known.
And then I pressed softly against the ivory, leaning forward as if I was leaning into Gabe with my body pressed against his. My breasts brushed the keys. I moved closer to the piano and then slowed the music.
His eyes would close.
His lips would part.
And we’d meet in the middle — because both of us wanted the same thing. Both of us wanted to taste, to explore, to feel.
I slowed my left hand as my right hand moved quicker across the keys, to show the anticipation.
And then, our mouths would touch.
I pounded the keys with my left hand, making it the loudest part of the piece which wasn’t normally how it was done.
Our tongues would tangle.
I pounded the piano harder.
His fingers would dig into my arms as he lifted me into the air.
I pulled back from the piano, stopping the music, and then gently started the rhythmic cadence again.
Our kiss was the perfect joining of music.
He was the left hand, I was the right.
Separate they sounded like silly scales.
Together — they were beautiful.
When I stopped the piece, I was sweating.
“Open your eyes,” Gabe whispered.
He was breathing so heavily it looked like he’d just run a marathon. With a smile he tucked my fallen hair behind my ear and tilted my chin toward him.
“That…” He leaned in. “…is how you perform. Like every kiss is both your first and last — like you’re saying both hello and goodbye — like you’ve just been born… like you’ve just died.”




~ Authors Bio ~

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 and their snoring Boxer, Sir Winston Churchill. She loves to hear from readers!













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