Showing posts with label the graphics shed. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the graphics shed. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Release Blitz: Forever in Ink by Jude Ouvrard

Title: Forever in Ink
Author: Jude Ouvrard
Series: Ink #4
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: June 20, 2018
Editor: RE Hargrave
Summary:
Kyle Layne has it all figured out. The perfect life, including a future with his dream woman, is in his grasp. Each day filling with more happiness than the one before, he couldn’t ask for a better existence.

But fate has other plans.

Like lightning from the heavens, Kyle’s dream turns into a nightmare in the blink of an eye. Lost, and filled with pain and anger, his once perfect life now resembles a broken mirror—shattered.

With the help of his best friend Levi, he finds a ray of hope in the depths of darkness. Kyle’s fragile shell is transformed into a work of art, freeing his mind and soul for a chance at a new future while memorializing his sacred past forever in ink. Kyle’s dream has died, but life starts making sense again after his tattooing career takes off and strong friendships help rebuild his sanity… until a one-night stand flips his world upside down, that is.

Can Kyle risk his battered heart in Destiny’s untrustworthy hands? After so much loss, does he dare to dream again?


There was a girl watching me from the other end of the bar. I didn’t know if she was playing games, but her flirting was obvious from miles away. Not that my taste could be trusted, but she was hot. Her dark hair and dark skin had something exotic. Of course, after this much vodka, almost any girl in the place could’ve led me on.

I nodded, hoping she didn’t want to talk—because I wasn’t having any of that—and she smiled. These days it all came down to sex. Why talk when I had no intention of seeing them again? No feelings whatsoever, no strings attached… just raw sex. Plain and simple. 

“’Ello,” she said.

“Hey,” I answered before drinking my vodka like water. 

“Wanna get out of here?” Her thick accent had me smiling.

“Of course.”

As quick as that we were outside. I followed her to her place, which was a studio of some sort. It was small, very small. She closed and locked the door behind me, and then started throwing her clothes on the floor. 

Wow! Hell, she isn’t wasting time.

Her long dark hair hid her breasts as her eyes dared me to come forward. To claim her. There was something about the colors of her eyes which took me by complete surprise, though. One seemed brownish-green, while the other was just green. What the hell?

“Come on, hot stuff. Are we going to get started, or what?”

“Alright, alright.” 

Once I’d taken my clothes off, she pushed me down on the mattress. “Look. I had a shite flight, and I’m exhausted. Let’s get rolling.”

This was the first time I’d been with a girl who came off colder than me. It felt different, and somehow made me unsure. She was sure of what she wanted, though.

My back pressed into her cold, black sheets while she crawled on top of me, taking charge as if I were a toy. She was chewing me up, not leaving me time to process anything or enjoy this. Karma, I guess, for all the times I’d played this same old game with women—flirt with them, fuck them, and then leave them without a goodbye. This time, though, the girl had a plan of her own, and not having anything better to do, I gave myself to her. 

Several drinks past tipsy and more than turned on, I decided enough, that it was time to take back the power in her bed. After all, I’d had a rough day, too. Hell, I’d had rough days ever since… yeah, ever since I lost my soul. 

Fueled by my pain, yet again, I gave her everything in me. All the roughness and lust. Turned out we had some kind of chemistry. Her dark tresses were all over the damn bed. She was a black fucking panther, a wild animal. 

Why am I analyzing her so damn much anyway? I never care about who… I promised I would never care again. 

Writhing and moving together, the sexual tension between us kept rising. My toes curled while my fingers gripped her hair and I worked to keep this going until I couldn’t anymore. Her once perfect bed had turned into a mess of sweat, tangled sheets, and exhausted bodies.

Who am I kidding? 

This woman was something else.

Using my arm and legs, I held her in place against my chest after we’d both climaxed, until she got out of bed without saying anything. 

“Who are you?” I asked, my voice laced with sarcasm. The girls I’d met were never so emotionally detached.

“Tiff. You?”

“I’m K.”

“Well, K. I’m going for a shower. It’s been real, thanks.”

Is she really kicking me out? 

“Can you lock the door on your way out?”

Shit, she is.

What Others Are Saying:
As an editor, sometimes working through a manuscript becomes technical, and you don't necessarily get "sucked in." With Forever in Ink, I found myself having to stop reading to go back and edit. And, yes, I cursed Ms. Ouvrard a couple of times for making my heart race... in both good and bad ways. Kyle's story is as heartbreaking as it is uplifting. Everyone deserves a second chance. #EditorApproved ~ RE Hargrave



Author Bio:
"Drama, true love, tattoos...and everything in between!"

Jude Ouvrard is an author who writes from the heart, and reads with passion and devotion. Jude enjoys stories of drama, true love, tattoos, and everything in between. While writing is her therapy, reading is her solace. Life doesn't get better than books and chocolate, and maybe a little bit of shopping.

A romance lover, Jude writes about love, pain, heartbreak and matters that will challenge your heart. A book can tell an unexpected story, no matter which directions it takes. Jude embraces words that have haunted her for years.

Jude is a working mom who dedicates her time to a law firm and writing books. She has an energetic five-year old superhero son, and a supportive boyfriend of thirteen years. Her family is her rock; she could not survive without them. Born a country girl, she transformed into a city woman who now lives in Montreal, Canada. Although French is her first language, Jude decided to write in English because she liked the challenge.


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Forever in Ink #4

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Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Cover Reveal: Forever in Ink by Jude Ouvrard

Title: Forever in Ink
Author: Jude Ouvrard
Series: Ink #4
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Expected Release Date: June 20, 2018
Editor: RE Hargrave
Summary:
Kyle Layne has it all figured out. The perfect life, including a future with his dream woman, is in his grasp. Each day filling with more happiness than the one before, he couldn’t ask for a better existence.

But fate has other plans.

Like lightning from the heavens, Kyle’s dream turns into a nightmare in the blink of an eye. Lost, and filled with pain and anger, his once perfect life now resembles a broken mirror—shattered.

With the help of his best friend Levi, he finds a ray of hope in the depths of darkness. Kyle’s fragile shell is transformed into a work of art, freeing his mind and soul for a chance at a new future while memorializing his sacred past forever in ink. Kyle’s dream has died, but life starts making sense again after his tattooing career takes off and strong friendships help rebuild his sanity… until a one-night stand flips his world upside down, that is.

Can Kyle risk his battered heart in Destiny’s untrustworthy hands? After so much loss, does he dare to dream again?


Pulling me back a few steps, she tugged me closer to her, so our fronts were touching. “I don’t want you to worry, K. A perfect life doesn’t mean diamonds and designer clothes. It means having a roof over our head, being surrounded by love, and having our health. Things we already have.”

We had such a different vision of what we both wanted. Cassidy did deserve diamonds, plenty of them. One every Christmas, one every Valentine’s Day. She was right, though; we already had everything to have a good life, and I should consider myself lucky. What with all the broken families around town, the poor and hungry, even the unhappy, rich businessmen living in their offices.

I had everything, I didn’t need more.

What Others Are Saying:
As an editor, sometimes working through a manuscript becomes technical, and you don't necessarily get "sucked in." With Forever in Ink, I found myself having to stop reading to go back and edit. And, yes, I cursed Ms. Ouvrard a couple of times for making my heart race... in both good and bad ways. Kyle's story is as heartbreaking as it is uplifting. Everyone deserves a second chance. #EditorApproved ~ RE Hargrave



Author Bio:
"Drama, true love, tattoos...and everything in between!"

Jude Ouvrard is an author who writes from the heart, and reads with passion and devotion. Jude enjoys stories of drama, true love, tattoos, and everything in between. While writing is her therapy, reading is her solace. Life doesn't get better than books and chocolate, and maybe a little bit of shopping.

A romance lover, Jude writes about love, pain, heartbreak and matters that will challenge your heart. A book can tell an unexpected story, no matter which directions it takes. Jude embraces words that have haunted her for years.

Jude is a working mom who dedicates her time to a law firm and writing books. She has an energetic five-year old superhero son, and a supportive boyfriend of thirteen years. Her family is her rock; she could not survive without them. Born a country girl, she transformed into a city woman who now lives in Montreal, Canada. Although French is her first language, Jude decided to write in English because she liked the challenge.


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Forever in Ink #4
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Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Promo Tour: Ribbons & Os by RE Hargrave

Title: Ribbons & Os
Author: RE Hargrave
Genre: Erotic Romance, BDSM
Release Date: December 27, 2017
Cover Design: The Graphics Shed
Summary:
Carina Anderson has had a craptastic year. From losing her parents in separate freak accidents to finding her boyfriend and BFF engaged in kinky sex games, her general enthusiasm for life has evaporated. It’s not a surprise that by the time Christmas rolls around, she’s ready to lock her doors and hermit the season away—until a chance encounter forces her outlook to change. With her newfound attitude, Carina takes a wild leap and lands herself in a world she never dreamed of. A world she’ll soon find she can’t get enough of.

Dr. Elijah Davies has been counting down the days until he can return to England—and the creature comforts of his playroom. Now used to the hustle and bustle of London, he’s only come back to Hooksett as a favor to his eccentric uncle. But when an adorable and oh-so-sexy elf crosses his path, Elijah decides his visit to the small New Hampshire town might not end up being so boring after all.

Never underestimate the magic of the season… or the power of attraction.


As my eyes scanned over the huddles of bodies, I noticed a lone man in the far corner. He sat so that his back was against the wall, his long, worn jean-covered legs stretched out in front of him. Donned in a threadbare, long-sleeved black shirt and what looked to be a handmade scarf wrapped around his neck, I couldn’t see his face as he concentrated on a tattered book in his hands. I was still watching him, willing him to look up at me in fact, when Deborah returned. 

Just as I turned to give her my attention, he lifted his head, then smirked while he blatantly ran his eyes up and down my body. My breath caught in my throat at his feral intrusion. Something in the way he stared me down made me feel like I was on the menu, and I shuddered, my panties dampening. His eyes crinkled when he laughed.

“Carina, this here is Stan and Billy, if you’ll show them where your car is, they’ll bring everything in,” Deborah said, capturing my attention.

“Yeah, sure,” I mumbled, my eyes cutting back to the corner where the man was still staring at me. My outfit suddenly felt a tad silly and childish.

I led Stan and Billy out to my car and unlocked the doors so they could load up baskets. While they headed back inside with their first armfuls, I went to the trunk to retrieve the bags of cocoa. 

“May I—” 

I’d been leaning into the trunk, stretching to reach the bag which had shifted to the back, when the deep voice startled me, causing me to lose my footing and fall forward into the trunk. Horrified that my ass was on display as my legs flailed behind me, there was nothing I could do. A loud, rich laugh reverberated around me, caressing me and making it hard to think straight. 

“Oh, dear, let me give you a hand,” he said, and hands closed on my hips, but not before they ran faintly over my ass. His British accent and wandering hands left a searing heat where they’d touched me… fuck me. 

Would it be wrong to take one of the strays home with me? I wondered for half a second.

With his help, I managed to get my feet back on the ground and remove myself from the trunk victorious, cocoa bag in hand. I uprighted myself with a pleased smile on my face and shifted to thank my would-be attacker and savior in one. It was the man from the corner. 

And he was grinning at me again.

My chest and cheeks heated up as embarrassment washed over me knowing it had been him to witness my flailing about. “Thank you,” I whispered.

“You’re blinking?” he stated, an air of confusion in his tone. Huh?

I glanced down to see what he was talking about and realized that in my stumble I must’ve bumped the on-button for my bra. The exposed shoulder strap was indeed flashing, along with all the trim work on the bra, which was now quite visible through my white sweater.

“Shit!” I cursed under my breath then stuck my hand down my top to locate the switch, withdrawing my hand and looking up once the lights were dimmed again. “Yeah, uh, that wasn’t supposed to happen.” I giggled, feeling sheepish. In the sunlight, I could see that his hair was strawberry blond, and it sparkled with meandering snowflakes. His eyes were a dark green that matched my leggings. 

He licked his lips as he leaned into me, his hand grasping my elbow then sliding down my forearm to catch the bag in my hand left a fiery trail in its wake. The man pressed his mouth to my ear and I felt his warm breath as he purred into my ear, “It’s very festive. I like it… it’d be a great treat to see all of the light show, love.”

Leaving me speechless, my cheek warmed where he kissed it before walking away with the cocoa.

Author Bio:
Domestic engineer. Author. Burgeoning editor. And quite possibly certifiable. Believing every story can shine bright with a bit of tenacious tough love, R.E. Hargrave is thorough and to the point. An international bestselling author, she takes storytelling and manuscript polishing seriously, working with her authors and on her own creations to ensure they come to life, crawling from the pages and into the reader’s souls.

Hargrave lives on the outskirts of Dallas, TX and is married to her high school sweetheart; together they are raising three children. A native 'mutt,' she has lived in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Alabama, Texas, and California. She is fond of setting her stories—which range from the sweet to the paranormal, to the erotic and horrific—on location in South Carolina and Texas.


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Sunday, January 28, 2018

Sunday's Safe Word Shelf: His Personal Assistant by LJ Harris


Title: His Personal Assistant
Author: LJ Harris
Series: Men of New York #1
Genre: M/M Romance
Release Date: January 26, 2018
Editor: RE Hargrave
Cover Design: The Graphics Shed
Summary:
At the tender age of twenty-one, Kade Hutchins is at a crossroads, having endured enough hardship to last a thousand lifetimes. With money tight and career at a standstill, he's running out of time and options. The day he applies for a job that isn't exactly in his field of expertise and meets his new boss, Mr. Preston, is the day his fate is changed irrecoverably.

Luke Preston is the kind of man others envy. Rich, successful and unattached, his no-nonsense, ‘take no prisoners attitude’ has made him one of the highest profile litigators in Manhattan. He’s also a man with secrets. Secrets he wants kept under wraps since tragedy rocked his privileged existence to the core. When Kade, a man some fifteen years his junior steps foot inside his office, Luke wonders if his heart will survive.


When life threw Kade Hutchins endless curveballs he found himself with not many choices so when his best friend found a job opportunity he had to go for the interview.  What he found was a man who may not be the nicest but was willing to give him a chance so he took it.  Luke Preston had everything to the outsider's eye but he had his own demons inside.  When Kade comes in for the job of personal assistant, neither man had any idea how their lives were about to change.  Will they be open to what's before them?

Who doesn't love a good rich man/poor man trope?  Okay some might not love it but I do, there's a bit of Cinderella feeling to it, not in the way that one saves the other but opening yourself to what's beyond your four walls and finding happiness there.  Now having said that, His Personal Assistant is not your typical fairy tale.  Oh no, it is definitely not a fairy tale but there is most certainly happiness out there if Kade and Luke let themselves find it.

Now about the characters.  Kade is an absolute doll.  He's not perfect, he has his flaws but his heart is so big that you just want to wrap him in bubblewrap and keep him safe.  Luke on the other hand, well he's not a bad guy by any means, especially after you learn some of his history but I did spend a good share of the book wanting to smack him upside the head to make him see what was really in front of him.  Together they really are perfect together because they offset the other, they make each other think(even if Luke is a little slow to do so).

His Personal Assistant is a wonderful love story with characters that make you scream, cry, and laugh all at the same time occasionally.  For me, this story by LJ Harris warmed my heart even as I wanted to throttle Luke and cuddle Kade.  I highly recommend this lovely story and I can't wait to see where the author takes this new series, will we see characters from Personal resurface or will it be a whole new cast with New York being the only returning character?  Either way, I look forward to reading the next installment.

RATING: 


Brushing an errant piece of fluff off my shoulder, I straightened the hem of my shirt and took a deep breath. Not that it did much good. By the time the elevator doors opened on the tenth floor, my nerves were beyond frazzled. With less than a minute to spare, I stepped inside the plush, modern offices.

A striking woman sitting behind a large reception desk greeted me, looking most business-like. What didn’t make sense was the way she seemed ready to pounce the second she saw me. I was surprised she didn’t fall flat on her face, considering she wore a pencil-thin black skirt and high-heeled shoes and was on her feet and running toward me like a crazy person.

“Thank God you’re here!”

“Um, what?” I took a wary step backward. She was kinda scary.

“Please tell me you’re Kade Hutchins.”

“Oh. Yes, I am.”

She held out her hand and when I took it in mine, I was impressed by her firm, assured grip. “You have no idea how relieved I am to see you.”

“Uh, thanks?” The warm smile she gave in response made her round, hazel eyes sparkle. Her hospitable attitude made me feel at ease in an instant, and I couldn’t help but grin back.

“The name’s Kimberly O'Connell. I’m the paralegal around here.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Ms. O’Connell.”

“Oh, please, I insist you call me Kimberly.”

“Okay.”

Releasing her hold on me, she pointed a manicured finger at the closed office door located behind the desk. “Come on, Kade. Let’s get you in to see His Highness.” Covering her mouth, she giggled.

“Who?” I stopped myself from joining in, but it wasn’t easy. She had an infectious laugh.

“Luke Preston. The ass you spoke to on the phone.”

“Oh.” I didn’t know whether it was appropriate to agree with her or not, but decided it would be best to err on the side of caution.

“Sorry about him, by the way.” Kimberly knocked, before lowering her voice to a faint whisper, and adding, “I had no idea he was going to answer the phone when I went to make his coffee. He usually lets the machine pick up, but I didn’t think to switch it on since I was only going to be gone a few minutes.”

The moment I let out a nervous chuckle, the door to Luke Preston’s office flew open.

Tall and broad-shouldered, the strong jaw, high cheekbones, and dark brown hair slicked back so not a lock was out of place, coupled with the way his body filled out that navy suit, made Luke Preston look more like a model than a lawyer. My guess was that he was in his mid-thirties, but holy shit, did he wear it well. Startling emerald eyes fringed by long, dark lashes stared at me with such intensity that, for a split second, I forgot to breathe. His sharp features were softened by flawless, pale skin and full lips so plush, I wondered what they would feel like pressed against my own. In that briefest of moments, I knew I was in trouble as my head began waging a war with my heart so fierce, I didn’t know whether to pull him in for a kiss or run for my life.

All I could do was wait for him to say something… anything to break the tension.

Author Bio:
L.J. HARRIS is a mother, wife, an introvert and author. Her family is her life, her soul, and the very reason she gets out of bed every day. Coming a close second is her writing.

She discovered a passion for putting pen to paper in her later years, jotting down poems in birthday cards for family members.

It was then a spark was lit, and ever since, she hasn’t been unable to switch off the urge to share her stories.

L.J. Harris discovered that as much as experiencing pain, loss and betrayal can be devastating, capturing the feelings of anguish and loss that some of her characters have had to endure without firsthand knowledge would have proved difficult.

L.J. has been previously published and has shared several online stories and looks forward to continuing to share her work.


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Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Release Day Blitz: The Deck of Cards Killer by Lisa Bilbrey

Title: The Deck of Cards Killer
Author: Lisa Bilbrey
Series: Zoe Mack #1
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Release Date: November 1, 2016
Cover Design: The Graphics Shed
Summary:
With a trail of murdered women leading up the west coast, Zoe Mack gets an unexpected invitation to work with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Zoe’s arrival to the FBI is less than ideal, however, and she struggles to find her place on the team. Her new partner isn’t helping. Jeremiah Johnson makes it clear that he doesn’t want or need someone like her — someone with a past tied to their suspect.

She has personal knowledge about their killer, and accepts this chance to get her feet inside the door, even if that means working with her ex-partner Elijah Stone. A brutal attack tore them apart, their friendship still strained by pain and anger.

Zoe vows to close their case and end the reign of terror that has haunted her, even if that means she loses herself along the way.


Zoe snarled. “I swear to God, if you’re lying to me . . .”

“We’re not,” Chase insisted. “You’re acting like a goddamn lunatic.”

Zoe released them and took a step backward, aware of the fact that people had stopped to stare at her. Her legs felt heavy and her arms trembled.

“I’m sorry. I . . .” But unable continue, she turned and rushed into the building, bypassing the elevator and taking the stairs. However, she had barely made it up one flight when someone grabbed her arm and spun her around.

Jeremiah.

For a long moment, he didn’t say anything, just stood there and stared at her. His eyes were dark, foreboding, and filled with need and desire. As he took a step toward her, causing her to fall against the wall behind her, his hands came up to cup her face.

“I . . .” He murmured, his lips parting as he leaned closer to her. “Tell me to stop.”

Though she knew she should, the words died out in her throat.

Jeremiah closed the gap between them, his lips touching against hers. Zoe grabbed the front of his shirt, intending to push him away, but found herself pulling him closer, needing him closer. Their mouths danced against each other’s, their tongues sliding between their lips, and their hands gripping and tugging, lust taking control.

However, the sound of a door opening brought Zoe back to reality and she shoved Jeremiah away, her hands releasing the front of his shirt. Before he could say anything, she turned and bolted up the stairs, leaving him behind. What the hell had she been thinking?

Author Bio:
Obsessive, compulsive, slightly crazed, but enough about her personality. First and foremost, Lisa Bilbrey is a mom to three and a wife to one. She loves to write, and spends the majority of everyday writing. It's who she is, and what she's meant to be doing. Words are her life, the air she breathes, and the nutrients of her soul.

Finding a love in the written word, Lisa Bilbrey started writing as a way to express herself and let her voice be heard. From the first word she wrote, she'd found her heart and soul.Always willing to learn, she's spends much of her time trying to improve as a storyteller.


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