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The Magnolia Murders (Sawyer and Royce: Matrimony and Mayhem, Book 1) by Aimee Nicole Walker: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

March 2, 2022 by Denise

Everything old is new again in love and murder.

Work together, live together, and play together is the name of the game for Royce Locke and Sawyer Key. But one of those things changes when Chief Mendoza taps Sawyer to lead the newly formed cold case unit. His first task: solve the Magnolia Murders that spanned three decades and suddenly stopped in 2000.

Chaos ensues when a fourth Magnolia Queen contender is murdered during a preliminary round. With the pageant’s one hundredth anniversary looming, the pressure is on to produce results. Royce and Sawyer, along with their new partners, have to team up to solve the Magnolia Murders—old and new.

As the investigation continues, a surprise visitor and an unexpected phone call force the men to face painful things from their pasts. The future Royce and Sawyer dream of is within their grasp, but first, they’ll need to uproot the seeds of discontent they’ve buried deep.

The Magnolia Murders is the first book in the Matrimony and Mayhem trilogy, the second story arc for Royce Locke and Sawyer Key. ** New readers should start with the Zero Hour trilogy before reading Matrimony and Mayhem. ** The Magnolia Murders is a continuation of Royce and Sawyer’s happily ever after as they move into the next phase of their lives—professionally and personally. Though some storylines span the trilogy, this book does not end in a cliffhanger. Heat, humor, heart, and homicide abound. You have been warned. 18+

The Magnolia Murders

Sawyer and Royce: Matrimony and Mayhem, Book 1

By Aimee Nicole Walker

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

Tara’s right brow arched, and her mouth quirked into a smirk. “You think I’m some player, huh?”

Royce offered an easy smile before returning his attention to the traffic light. “No, I don’t, but you have a lady-killer reputation. I think still waters run deep, and there’s a lot I don’t know about you.”

Tara chuckled. “It really kept our unit on their toes, yeah? They were hiding their wives from both of us.”

Royce laughed too. “Have you met Ashcroft’s wife yet?”

“Nope,” Tara replied. “You?”

“Yeah. He introduced us once I came out,” Royce said.

The memory of kissing Sawyer in front of their unit at Joe’s still heated his blood and made him smile. They’d been there to celebrate Royce’s promotion to sergeant, and he hadn’t liked the way Diego Fuentes, who’d been a patrolman at the time, kept flirting with his man. The kiss had started out as a chest-thumping gesture but had become so much more.

Sawyer hadn’t pressured Royce to come out, but he’d existed in the shadows long enough, always living vicariously through others. Sawyer made Royce want more out of life than just existing, so that press of lips in a crowded bar had been his phoenix rising. And for three years, what they’d had together was enough. Royce had known Sawyer was ready for matrimony and babies, but he hadn’t pushed. Not even when invitations to weddings and baby showers for their friends arrived in the mail. Sawyer just patiently waited until Royce was ready.

And like the ginormous turkeys Evangeline roasted for Thanksgiving, Royce’s internal thermometer had popped, yet he continued baking in his fears of inadequacy. If he weren’t careful, he’d end up like the husk of a turkey on National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, the only Christmas movie worth watching besides Die Hard and Lethal Weapon.

Ever since she was a little girl, Aimee Nicole Walker entertained herself with stories that popped into her head. Now she gets paid to tell those stories to other people. She wears many titles—wife, mom, and animal lover are just a few of them. Her absolute favorite title is champion of the happily ever after. Love inspires everything she does, music keeps her sane, and coffee is the magic elixir that fuels her day.

I’d love to hear from you.

You can reach me at:
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/aimee-nicole-walker
Twitter – https://twitter.com/AimeeNWalker
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/aimeenicole.walker
Instagram – http://instagram.com/aimeenicolewalker
Blog – AimeeNicoleWalker.blogspot.com

Want to be the first to know about my book releases and have access to extra content? You can sign up for my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/dlhPYj

My favorite place to hang out and chat with my readers is my Facebook group. Would you like to be a member of Aimee’s Dye Hards? We’d love to have you! Click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AimeesDyeHards/

Connect with Aimee:
https://linktr.ee/AimeeNicoleWalker
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Honeymoon Ever After by Ariella Zoelle: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

February 28, 2022 by Denise

Rory’s never been attracted to a man before, but Kieran changes everything from the first moment they meet. Will he be able to embrace his unexpected feelings for the Hollywood celebrity?

Rory Kinsella

My new life plan is going great:

Dump my awful fiancée who was in love with her best friend and not me? Done.
Celebrate my newfound freedom and happiness by going on a solo “me-moon” honeymoon? Great, that should be awesome.
Fall in love with a famous Hollywood action hero when I’m straight? Wait, what?!

Besides being absurdly handsome and incredibly charismatic, Kieran looks at me with his magnetic and captivating green eyes in a magical way that makes me feel like I’m the only person in the world that matters. But is that really enough to make me forget that I’m normally attracted to women?

Apparently, the answer is “Yes!” However, it’s not only his gorgeous good-looks that sway me into switching teams. No, what really makes him tempting is something much deeper than that. How can an academic nerd like me resist someone as sweet as a man who wears TARDIS pajamas and wants to shower me with all the love my ex-fiancée never gave me?

Kieran Aiello

My hide out from the paparazzi “vacation” plans:

Go to Sweden to escape from a scandal? Easy, I can do that.
Stay in my hotel room without leaving for any reason per my manager’s orders? Yeah, that’s not happening.
Find a hot Swede to hook up with in a sauna? Definitely doable.

But things take a surprising turn when I accidentally run into Rory instead, a cute grad student who actually sees the real me that most people don’t believe is hidden under all my Hollywood muscles. He wasn’t part of my original plans, but what could be more tempting than that?

I always thought the insta-love romances I portrayed in my movies were a little hokey, but Rory turns me into a true believer. The chemistry between us is undeniable, but I want more than just a physical relationship with him. If he’s willing to take a chance by opening his heart to me, then why should I settle for anything less than a true romantic ending of a lifetime of love together?

Honeymoon Ever After is the fifth and final book in the Suite Dreams series and part of the Sunnyside universe. This novel features a bi awakening, insta love, celebrity/regular guy, age gap, forced proximity, gay romance. If you love cute sweetness, sexy fun, and no angst stories that will make you laugh and swoon, you’ll enjoy this satisfying HEA without cliffhangers. Each book can be read as a standalone or as part of the series in order.

Honeymoon Ever After (Suite Dreams, Book 5)

By Ariella Zoelle

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

Chapter 3: Rory Kinsella

“Can we please talk about something else now before I combust into flames from how hard I’m blushing?” I asked.

Kieran laughed heartily. “Fair enough. Why don’t you tell me about what you’re hoping to do once you graduate with your PhD? That seems like a nice, safe, unsexy topic of conversation.”

It was a relief to move into the safety of academia. “My degree guarantees I’ll be teaching at university, since it’s not good for much else. But I’d love to make my own graphic novel series someday when I’m not up to my eyeballs in research for my dissertation.”

“That’s an amazing idea!” His genuine enthusiasm caught me off guard.

“Jude and I have talked about collaborating before. I can illustrate, but I’m not the best storyteller. But he’s an incredible writer, plus we work well together. I think we could make something awesome if we ever find the time to do it.”

“I’m in full support of this idea. You guys need to make that happen for real.”

I tilted my head as I studied him with curiosity. “Why? For all you know, I could be a shitty artist and he could be a terrible writer.”

“No, you’re too remarkable to be anything less than stellar. Not to mention you’re probably a perfectionist who will only accept absolute perfection.” He stated it with so much confidence that it stunned me.

“I think calling me remarkable is a bit of a stretch. I’m pretty ordinary, especially compared to people like Jude or my brothers.” They all were far more spectacular than I could ever aspire to be.

“With all due respect, I strongly disagree. There’s nothing ordinary about you.”

“That’s sweet, but once you’ve known me for more than twenty-four hours, I suspect you’ll have a very different opinion.”

“You’re right. I’ll probably think you’re even more amazing than I first gave you credit for.” He looked at me with such an earnest belief that it astounded me. “Clearly, we need to work on your self-esteem.”

“It’s easy to be confident when you’re you.” I gestured at all of his incredibleness. “But I’m me.”

My breathing hitched when he reached out and cupped my face in his hands to look deep into my eyes. “There is nobody better at being you than you are. Your kindness, your passion, and your empathy make you stand out from everyone else I have ever encountered. You can see the real me that most people don’t believe exists under these muscles. That counts for a lot in my book when the Hollywood veneer blinds everyone. But you don’t care about any of that.”

The warmth in his green eyes as he tried to convey his sincerity got me all twisted up inside, as his touch filled me with nervous butterflies. I wasn’t sure what to say to such sincere praise, but the knock on the door and someone calling out “Room service” spared me. Kieran tenderly caressed my cheekbones with his thumbs before he got up to get the food.

I drew in a shuddering breath as my heart hammered in my chest like a hummingbird’s wings on fast-forward. The experience had been too intense to process. I tried to remember how to act normal while Kieran had the bellhop put our lunches on the small table off to the side. I waited until they left to go over and join him.

Kieran handed me a bottle of chilled cider and held his up in toast once we sat down. “Here’s to exciting new friendships.”

“I’ll drink to that. Cheers.” I clinked my bottle against his before we both took a sip.

Ariella Zoelle adores steamy, funny, swoony romances where couples are allowed to just be happy. She writes low angst stories full of heat, humor, and heart. But sometimes she’s in the mood for something with a bit more angst and drama. If you are too, check out her A.F. Zoelle books.

For real time updates on her writing progress, please join her Facebook group for exclusive teasers or follow her on Twitter or Instagram. You can also sign up for her newsletter to gain access to bonus chapters, previews of upcoming books, exclusive visual guides, and more.

Connect with Ariella:

Website: https://www.ariellazoelle.com/

Newsletter: https://www.ariellazoelle.com/newsletter

Amazon Author Profile: https://amzn.to/3zzxJWg

A.F. Zoelle’s Books: https://amzn.to/3BAgypg

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/amazingafzoelle/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/extraafzoelle

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AriellaZoelle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ariellazoelle/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/ariellazoelle

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ariella-zoelle

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Heart2Heart Anthology: Volume 5: Blog Tour Stop with Exclusive Excerpt

February 17, 2022 by Denise

Heart2Heart Anthology: Volume 5

Out Now

With Stories By AM Arthur, Daryl Banner, Tal Bauer, SE Harmon, Riley Hart, Kate Hawthorne, Lucy Lennox, EM Lindsey, Louisa Masters, Mia Monroe, Jodi Payne, Spencer Spears, K Webster, Neve Wilder, Alice Winters

Once upon a time, a bunch of authors wondered… what would happen if Heart2Heart, the dating and community app responsible for bringing together couples from all over the world, encouraged people to do something they’d never done before?

#NeverHaveIEver is trending on H2H, and fourteen authors who’ve never before appeared in a Heart2Heart anthology (and one who’s never left) have come together to show how funny, hot, and heartwarming it can be when H2H app users challenge themselves to do something outside of their comfort zones–from singing in public, to skinny dipping, to getting their first real kiss–while they manage to fall in love along the way.

As always, all proceeds from this anthology will benefit LGBTQ+ charities to ensure that love in all its incarnations will be celebrated and protected every single day of the year!

And don’t forget: this volume of the anthology will only be available for 90 days, after which time it will never be offered again!

Amazon

Goodreads

Exclusive Excerpt from:

Never Have I Ever…Gone Skinny Dipping, by Riley Hart

I ordered, then sat down and waited. How did one man ask another man to go skinny-dipping with him? Oh, yeah. A date. I should start with a date, and holy hell, what made me think I could ask Ronan Winters on a date?

“My favorite customer is back,” he said, breaking through my internal freak-out.

I looked up at him. Ronan’s arms were crossed. God, he had sexy arms. It looked like he spent his time doing manual labor instead of hitting the gym.

I took my glasses off and chewed the end.

“Are you flirting with me, Freckles?” he asked with a grin. “Because that is so damn cute. I love the glasses thing.”

He loved it…which basically meant he would want to do some naked swimming with me.

“Willyougoonadatewithme?”

“Huh?”

Huh was right. I had no idea what I’d just said, only I did, and I shouldn’t have said it there, in the middle of his shift, but…he wasn’t wearing his Extra Shot shirt.

“Never mind.” This was stupid. What in the hell had made me think Ronan Winters would want to go on a dinner/skinny-dipping date with me?

“Yes,” Ronan said.

“Excuse me?” I put my glasses back on.

“Yes, I’d love to go on a date with you. Isn’t that what you asked?”

“You would?” I wouldn’t want to go on a date with me if I were him.

He chuckled. “Yeah, I would. In fact, I’m free right now if you’re not busy plotting world domination on your laptop. I’m convinced that’s what you’re doing, by the way.”

“But today is your workday. I’m not stalking you, I swear. I just…come here enough that I’ve learned your schedule.”

“It changed this week.”

“Are you sure?”

“That I’m not currently working? Yes.”

“No, that you want to go on a date with me.”

“Yes, I absolutely want to go on a date with you.”

“I absolutely want to go on a date with you too,” I replied. “Clearly, since I asked.”

All Proceeds Go To Charity

About the Heart2Heart Anthology Series:

Since 2018, and across four volumes, the Heart2Heart anthology has donated more than $100,000 USD to LGBTQ+ charities around the world. From large organizations such as Rainbow Railroad and the Trevor Project, to community programs like Kind Space and One-n-Ten, we’re honored to support their work.

A true passion project, Heart2Heart wouldn’t be possible without the incredible efforts and generosity of our support teams:

Cover design by Kelley Fox at Sleepy Fox Studios
Beta reading, editing, and proofreading by the team at LesCourt Author Services and other incredible volunteers
Promotion by Gay Romance Reviews
The readers who never fail to bring their creativity when offering suggestions to inspire the authors.

And of course, the author’s time and efforts and the organisational overlord of the project; Leslie Copeland.

As with previous editions of the anthology, we’re honored to be donating our net profits to three deserving charities.

More information on the Charities chosen for Volume 5:

PFLAG Canada

‍🌈 Pflag Canada is a national charitable organization, founded by parents who wished to help themselves and their family members understand and accept their LGBTQ2S children.

The “coming-out” process can be a critical time for families. When the adjustment period is particularly long or painful, relationships can become permanently damaged, resulting in a lifetime of emotional scars. People cannot always rise above the challenge of accepting themselves or their family members, and the results can be devastating, even fatal.

https://pflagcanada.ca/

CHEW Project

‍🌈 The CHEW Project’s vision is to provide frontline support, opportunities for health and wellness, and to help find hope for 2SLGBTQ+ youth and emerging adults facing barriers related to:

Mental health
Oppression
Poverty
Homelessness
Substance use
Sexual health
Sexual exploitation/sex work
And others

https://chewprojectyeg.org/

Pride Centre of Edmonton

‍🌈 The Pride Centre of Edmonton provides a non-judgmental, welcoming space where people of all attractions, identities, and expressions can be themselves, find support, meet new people, and be part of a caring community. The Centre offers resources, education, volunteer opportunities, counselling, and sensitive and expert information and referrals for those seeking help. The Centre also organizes programs to help improve the social, mental, and physical health of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

http://pridecentreofedmonton.ca/

These are all great Charities and we need to take care of our youth and the next generation. Love is Love. Be safe and kind. No one should have to suffer for who they are or who they love!!

Connect with the Authors:

AM Arthur
FB: https://www.facebook.com/A.M.Arthur.M.A

Daryl Banner
IG: @darylbanner – FB: https://www.facebook.com/darylbanner

Tal Bauer
IG: @talbauerwrites – FB: https://www.facebook.com/tal.bauer.7

SE Harmon
FB: https://www.facebook.com/sylvia.harmon.94

Riley Hart
IG: @rileyhartwrites – FB: https://www.facebook.com/riley.hart.1238

Kate Hawthorne
IG: @kate.hawthorne – FB: https://www.facebook.com/authorkatehawthorne

Lucy Lennox
IG: @lucylennoxmm – FB: https://www.facebook.com/lucy.lennox.37

EM Lindsey
IG: @emlindseyauthor – FB: https://www.facebook.com/elaine.lindsey.5602

Louisa Masters
IG: @authorlouisam – FB: https://www.facebook.com/louisa.masters.31

Mia Monroe
IG: @miapensromance – FB: https://www.facebook.com/mia.monroe.359126

Jodi Payne
IG: @jodipayne1800 – FB: https://www.facebook.com/payne.jodi

Spencer Spears
IG: @spencerspearswrites – FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011781943689

K Webster
IG: @authorkwebster – FB: https://www.facebook.com/authorkwebster

Neve Wilder
IG: @nevewilder – FB: https://www.facebook.com/nevewilderwrites

Alice Winters
IG: @alicewintersauthor – FB: https://www.facebook.com/alice.winters.31105

Suspiciously Sweet by Samantha SoRelle: Exclusive Excerpt and Release Day Review

February 8, 2022 by Denise

Trevor Hill has a secret.

By day he’s a mild-mannered journalist, but by night he’s the hottest—and most hated—food critic in town. When he walks into Nana O’Neill’s Bakery looking for his next scathing review, the last thing he expects is someone like Owen behind the counter. The scowling man looks more like a bouncer than a baker, but after one bite, Trevor is in love—with Owen’s baking at least.

Owen O’Neill has secrets of his own.

Scarred, tattooed Owen would rather be in the kitchen whipping up pastries than dealing with actual people. But with the business failing, he can’t bring himself to kick out any repeat customers, even ones as annoying, dismissive, sarcastic, funny, and gorgeous as Trevor.

All Owen wants is to be left to run his little bakery in peace—a task made more difficult not only by Trevor’s distracting presence, but also by the legions of fans that show up following a review by a famous yet secretive critic…

A 35,000 word novella, Suspiciously Sweet is as light and fluffy as a genoise sponge, but served hot and filled with plenty of spice!

Amazon

Just inside the front door, a man in an expensive coat was eyeballing the bakery with interest, his eyes flicking from the long wooden counter to the glass display case to the small tables along the front window with their chairs still stacked on top. He was unwinding a scarf from his neck with quick, fluid movements and turned sharply at the sound of Owen’s voice.

Owen just had time to notice dark hair and a darker smile before he caught the guy’s eyes and oh.

Oh, damn.

He couldn’t make out what color they were at this distance—that’s what he got for living fast without dying young—but the man’s eyes glittered with humor and intelligence, like he was the only cat in a world full of mice, and he enjoyed toying with his prey before eating them alive. He looked like he was smart, he was a dick, and he knew it.

He was gorgeous.

Alarm sirens immediately went off in Owen’s mind. No matter what he might wish, hot, well-dressed men had no business anywhere near him. Besides, maybe it was the long legs encased in perfectly tailored pants, or the hint of gold at his wrist where his watch peeked out from a perfectly pressed shirtsleeve, but there was something about this guy that he instinctively didn’t trust.

He frowned at the stranger. “You’re not Yvonne.”

The man quirked an eyebrow at him. The sirens blared louder.

“And you don’t look like a ‘Nana O’Neill’, but I’m not one to assume,” he said, turning toward the front window where the words “Nana’s O’Neill’s Bakery” could be read in reverse on the glass. Everything about him was neat and precise, from the way he moved to the clothes he wore to the crisp staccato of his voice. The only exception was his hair. It might have started the day as neat as the rest of him, but Owen was delighted by the way the wind had tousled it around the man’s head with wild abandon, revealing just a hint of gray at the temples.

Late thirties, Owen figured. Maybe a little older if he’d had as cushy a life as his clothes suggested. About the same age as Owen himself, but Owen knew for a fact he showed every single one of his years. Lifting heavy sacks of flour seven days a week kept him in good shape, but every time he forgot to shave for a few days he noticed a little more silver in his stubble than he remembered.

Feeling suddenly shabby in his stained shirt and apron, he raised a hand instinctively to stroke his chin, nearly upsetting the tray of tarts and undoing all his hard work. It hadn’t been that long since he’d shaved, had it? What was today anyway? Wednesday? Or was it Thursday? They all ran together.

He set the tray on the counter.

“Nana O’Neill’s been dead for years. Now what do you— Fuck.” Owen swore as the timer for the croissants went off. Without thinking, he pointed a finger still caked in flour and tart filling at the man. “Stay.”
He turned to go into the back, then paused. “And don’t steal any goddamn tarts.”

Heart pounding, Owen scowled at himself as he walked back into the kitchen. Smooth, O’Neill. Real smooth

What a cute little read.

First, we have Owen, who inherited his grandmother’s bakery after she passed away while he was in prison. He’s brash and broody with a mouth like a sailor, but he’s sweet once you get to the heart of him. I had a hard time believing he was once considered a bad guy because despite his gruff and defensive attitude, he didn’t seem like a guy who would do the wrong things and land himself in prison off and on. Maybe I just have a soft spot for him or maybe he’d been a different person in that past life, I dunno… I adored him as the grumpy bakery owner though and I’m happy Trevor appreciated him too.

Trevor is a secret food critic with a well-known voice of the cities eateries. He’d been surprised by a foul-mouthed even fouler tempered bakery owner while checking out the place to write his column.
Intrigued by the surly owner, he had a little fun with him at the expense of Owen and had fun going back in to try new things while secretly being super impressed with not only the man and his one worker/friend, Yvonne.

It was easy to see that these two had chemistry, even if they did try to hide it behind sarcasm and subtle digs. Once Trevor tells the city how amazing this little hidden hole in the wall is, business is booming for Owen, which means he needs help of all kinds that Trevor is more than willing to give him.

Of course, he has a secret though because he can’t tell Owen that he’s the foodie that keeps writing all these wonderful business improving things about Owen’s bakery, or that he lusts after the tattooed and ill-tempered man. Luckily, secrets don’t stay secret for long and though Owen seems to have a low opinion of himself, he puts himself out there for Trevor and is not disappointed.

I enjoyed the quick read wouldn’t mind reading more about these two in the future. They’re cute!

4 pieces of eye candy

Samantha SoRelle grew up all over the world and finally settled in Southern California when she soaked up too much sunshine and got too lazy to move.

When she’s not writing, she’s doing everything possible to keep from writing. This has led to some unusual pastimes including, but not limited to: perfecting fake blood recipes, designing her own cross-stitch patterns, and wrapping presents for tigers .

She also enjoys collecting paintings of tall ships and has lost count of the number of succulents she owns.

Charlie Sunshine by Lily Morton: Audiobook Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, and Giveaway

February 7, 2022 by Denise

Sometimes love is a lot closer to home than you think.

Charlie Burroughs can’t keep a man. All he wants is a good relationship like the ones he sees his friends having, but none of the men he picks ever work out. Despite him trying to be the perfect boyfriend, the men are either threatened by his looks or his epilepsy or a combination of the two. It’s lucky that he has his best friend Misha to turn to. The two of them are closer than peas in a pod and fiercely loyal to each other. He can’t imagine his life without Misha in it.

Misha Lebedinsky is the complete opposite of his best friend. Being the support system for his mum and twin sisters leaves Misha with neither the time nor the inclination for a relationship. Quick and frequent hook-ups are his favourite means of communication and any other pesky emotional needs he has are met by Charlie, who he’s devoted to. He lives a life of happy compartmentalization with no intention of ever changing.

All of this changes when the two best friends move in together.

Being in close proximity means that they suddenly start to see each other in a very different light. But Charlie struggles when his drive to be the perfect partner clashes with the fact that he’s in love with a man who knows every little thing about him. And even if he can get past that, can a relationship ever work with a man who’d need a dictionary to tell him what love means?

From bestselling author Lily Morton comes a love story about a sunny librarian who has relationship written all over him and a banker who doesn’t even have it in his blurb. This is the second book in the Close Proximity series, but it can be read as a standalone.

Amazon – Ebook – Kindle Unlimited

Audible – Audiobook

Goodreads

I lean more heavily against the counter, enjoying the peace that usually descends at this time of the morning. The first rush is over, and now the library has an air of quiet bustle. We’ll pick up again as it gets closer to lunch and people come in to use the computers. I can feel tiredness tugging at my body, but I refuse to give in and straighten up instead.

“Why didn’t you take the first break?” Bethany asks chidingly.

“Why would I do that?” I pull the stack of books towards me that the little sex pest left behind and grab the Tipp-Ex from the drawer.

“Charlie.” Something in her voice makes me look up. “You look knackered,” she says quietly.

“I’m fine,” I say automatically. “Just a few late nights.”

“Oh really? You would need to have lived the life of Mel Gibson to earn the massive circles under those pretty eyes.” I smile but don’t answer, and she sighs. “You’re on break next,” she says firmly. “And you’re going to stay up there. I’m sure you’ve got stuff to do in your office. Like sleep on the sofa or pass out on the floor.”

A deep voice comes from the side of us. “That sounds like my day. You didn’t tell me that you’d gone into banking, Charlie.”

I look up and can’t stop the wide grin creeping over my face at the sight of my best and oldest friend. “You’re one letter off.”

He laughs. The happy and unrestrained sound doesn’t fit his appearance. He’s clad in a black pinstriped suit that cost more than I earn in a month. With his tanned face, dark wavy hair, and big white grin, he looks expensive and entirely out of place in here.

He jumps as an old lady pokes him in the back. “You waiting or just taking up space?” she asks querulously.

I bite my lip to hide a smile. “He’s taking up space, Mrs Bishop,” I say in a loud voice as her hearing aid squeals.

“What’s wrong with his face?” she immediately asks in her overloud voice.

“We haven’t got enough time to list that.” I smile at her and gesture at her pile of books. “Those all coming back?”

“They are.” She leans close. “And I have to say there was a name and telephone number in the back of one of the books.”

“Oh, yes?” I say warily.

She nods. “I had such a lovely chat with the bloke.” She pauses. “Although he kept asking to see my zits. I’m not sure what all that was about.” She sniffs disapprovingly. “I’m a little too mature for acne.”
I manage to repress the huge laugh, but Bethany isn’t so lucky, and I nudge her to send her over to log a customer onto a computer.

Lily writes contemporary romance novels, and specialises in hot love stories with a good dose of humour.

Lily lives in sunny England with her husband and two children, all of whom claim that they haven’t had a proper conversation with her since she bought her first Kindle.

She has spent her life with her head full of daydreams and decided one day to just sit down and start writing about them. In the process she discovered that she actually loved writing, because how else could she get to spend her time with hot, funny men!

She loves chocolate and Baileys and the best of all creations – chocolate Baileys! Her lifetime’s ambition is to have a bath in peace without being shouted by one of her family.

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Bona Fide Fake (Experimental Love Book 2) by Rebecca Raine: RB, Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

January 31, 2022 by Denise

My new fake boyfriend may not like me, but he needs me. There are worse foundations for a relationship.

Ned

Toni Fairweather is a liar and a fake. I suspected it the day we met, but when he lies to his friends about being my boyfriend, I know for sure. I’ll play along with his deception, but Toni will owe me – big time.

I have my own reasons for needing a boyfriend. Someone who can handle me. Someone who can keep me in line. Toni is demanding enough to fulfil every requirement.

I don’t need to like the man… to obey him.

Toni

I never meant to fake a relationship with the lead singer of a local rock band. But the fib popped out over lunch with my best friend, and now I’m expected to present my new boyfriend at his engagement party next month.

The good news? I’m not the only one in need of a date.

Being boyfriends for a month shouldn’t be hard, but I do have one condition: this won’t be some fake boyfriends deal. I want a real relationship, and Ned’s going to give it to me.

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“Hey there, Ned.”

My head snaps to the right. Toni is halfway down the hall, lounging back against his open doorway. His arms are crossed, one leg bent. The smirk dangling upon his lips isn’t wide enough to reveal his dimples, only his satisfaction at my arrival. “Come on in,” he drawls before moving out of view.

I stand frozen in the corridor, my panting breath loud in the empty hallway. I shouldn’t be doing this, coming to him this way. At a prearranged time, with a predetermined agenda, all to solidify an exchange of time and favours. This is more than a simple hook-up. It’s a transaction.

The thought turns my stomach with its familiarity, but the rest of me is tied in so many lust-addled knots I barely notice the sour taste in the back of my mouth. This isn’t like before, I remind myself. Toni and I are equal partners here. If there’s exploitation to be had, it will come from both sides.

My feet move, eating up the distance between us. He waits for me beside the open door, one hand still on the knob. I don’t make eye contact as I pass him by, coming to a halt in the middle of the living room.

His apartment is tiny, an odd collection of shoe boxes bound together by walls, but it’s spotlessly clean. The small kitchen looks over a combined dining and living area. An open door on the left reveals the corner of a large bed. Another door on the opposite side is closed. And locked. With a key. Who installs locks with keyholes inside their own home?

Behind me, the front door closes with a soft click. I don’t turn around. If I face him, surely all the longing of my greedy soul will show right there in my eyes. He’ll realise how badly I want this, and the balance will shift. Knowledge truly is power, and I have no idea what a man like Toni would do with me if he had it.

Rebecca is a long-time lover of all things romance. Whether it’s a book, movie, or real life, she will always have more fun if there’s a love interest thrown into the mix. She lives in Queensland, Australia with her very own hero husband, two quirky kids and one big, black dog. Other than reading and writing books, her favourite things include loud music, enjoying a glass of wine on the patio, organising everything in existence, and spending too much time on the Internet.

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