Blog Tour + Review + #Giveaway & Anniversary: WitchWar by Emma Mills @EmmaMwriter

WitchWar

By Emma Mills

WitchBlood #5

Final book of the WitchBlood Series

Blurb

In the final book of the Witchblood series we find Jess and her friends ten years on, about to battle with enemies on all sides, as the supernatural world crashes into the human domain.

With everybody’s lives on the line Jess will need to work out who she can trust before a deadly witch hunt threatens to uncover them all. Death and love will once again consume her life, but only one side can win.

*If you haven’t tried the WitchBlood Series the first book, ‘WitchBlood’ is free to download.

Goodreads ~ Amazon US ~ Amazon UK

My Review

I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.

WitchWar is the fifth and final book in the WitchBlood Series. We thought that WitchHunt was going to be the last book but then Emma gave us great surprise when she said that she was writing another book. I guess Jess, Daniel, Brittany, Eva and the rest of the characters said no we’re not through yet. We still have more to say. Yeah, will I am hoping that Jess is not through yet and still has more to tell us. And maybe just maybe she will nag Emma until she tells us more of her story. *Sigh* A girl can hope can’t she?

Jess and Britany are back with more fun and adventure for us if that is what you would like to call getting into a few fights fun and adventure. Jess and Brittany have taken her ten years into the future. Jess is still with Daniel and is just as much in love with him as ever if not more. But she hasn’t seen a lot of him lately he has been spending a lot of time away from home on business. Eva and Daniel have been doing a little work for Sabastian and the council in London. Jess and Brittany are beginning to put two and two together and are coming to the conclusion that something is going that they are not being told about.

But they are eventually pulled into it without exactly knowing it. While Daniel is in London trying stop a war. Jess and Brittany take a visit to the States to help out Jess’ cousin who are witches. But they don’t get to hang around long when they are drug back home with their investigation. When they return home they find themselves in a world of trouble and a few fights. During one of these fights or battles they lose someone whom they love very much. With this person or vampire gone they don’t have a clue what is going to happen to them now. What are they going to do? Will their world ever be the same again? How will they ever survive without this one person who has always held them all together?

Jess is the same person ten years later as she was before only she has grown up a lot and is taking care of her own life and fighting her own battles now. Jess and Brittany takes us on quite a few turns in Witchwar and down some scary paths too. But somehow they always seem to come out on top. I am really going to miss Jess, Daniel, Brittany, Sabastian, Eva, Luke and all of the other characters in the WitchBlood Series. I have enjoyed taking this journey with them and hope to go on more journeys with them in the future. Yeah I know this is the last book. *Crying now* excuse me while I wipe a few tears from my eyes. Sorry about that.

Emma it has been a very great journey indeed. But I hope this is not the end. Emma has become one of my favorite authors as well and I can’t wait to read more of her work in the future. I know that anything she writes will be brilliant no matter what it is. Reading the WitchBlood Series has been fantastic and I recommend it to anyone who loves to read and who just loves a great story. Until next time Emma, thanks for the wonderful stories. You are an amazing author!

I would like to say that I am happy to have one of my favorite authors, Emma Mills here with me today at The Avid Reader to not only help me to celebrate the 4th Anniversary of my blog but my wonderful husband and I have been married for 9 wonderful years today. My Mom and Dad are also celebrating their 53rd Anniversary today as well. I am very grateful to Emma for allowing me to review the 5th and final book of the WitchBlood Series on this special day. Thank you Emma.

About the Author

Emma Mills is a stay-at-home mum. She shares her home with her husband, two children, a dog, 3 cats, a house rabbit and a tankful of fish. Once her youngest child started school she began to write.

WitchBlood was published in January 2012, swiftly followed by WitchCraft and WitchLove. Emma published what she had intended to be the finale of the series, WitchHunt, a week after moving her family south to Somerset, in November 2013. A prequel to the series, WitchFire, followed in 2014.

However , after fans began asking for more, a plan began to develop. The Witchblood Series didn’t feel finished, so WitchWar was born. Emma says now that she has written WitchWar, she feels that the series is complete. WitchWar is set ten years after WitchHunt. It has everything you want from a supernatural final book: fear, heartbreak and resolution.

Find Me Here

Website ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Facebook

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Book Tour + #Giveaway: Ariel Rising by AJ and CS Sparber @AJ_Sparber @JaidisShaw

Title:   Ariel Rising

Author:  AJ and CS Sparber

Published:  October 30th, 2015

Publisher:  Mind’s Eye Press

Genre:  YA Paranormal

Recommended Age:  14+

Synopsis:

My dreams were simple. College, a career, and let’s see what happens from there. But things don’t always go according to plan.

My name is Ari Worthington and I’ve had a very eventful week. A life-changing week. The kind of week that would make the average person whimper.

It started when my ex-boyfriend Luke accosted me in the woods.

How badly was I injured? Not a scratch. And Luke? Not so lucky. Nope, I whupped him good. It surprised the heck out of me. And it probably surprised him, too—once he woke up.

And then I met Davin. Handsome, witty, amazing Davin. Perfect in every way, unless you think being an alien, from a planet called Olympus, might be a liability.

“Seriously? Your planet is named after a Greek mountain?” I ask him.

“Actually, it’s the other way around,” he tells me. “The mountain was named after us. We’ve been visiting Earth for a very, very long time. As a matter of fact, we are responsible for human evolution.”

So, ancient aliens are real? Yeah. But there’s more. Davin’s an angel, which I could have handled, would have handled, if only he hadn’t told me I was one, too.

“But we don’t have wings,” I say.

“Real angels don’t need wings,” he counters.

“Ah, that explains everything,” I reply.

So, you think this is just another angel story? Well, it’s not. It’s got humor, romance, adventure, science, tragedy, and… did I say romance? It’ll make you think, and laugh, and cry.

Davin and I, you see, are part of a larger plan. A noble plan. A plan to save the sons and daughters of man, or what’s left of them, after the war. A big war.

Okay, enough of my rambling. Davin and I need to get back to training. And you’ve got some reading to do, yeah?

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Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!

Excerpt from Ariel Rising by CS and AJ Sparber:

Davin and I walk to my house in silence. In my mind, I keep seeing our kiss, the expression on his face when he pulled away, how humiliated I felt.

“Well, thank you for seeing me home safely,” I say softly.

“Ari, can we talk?”

“I guess.” I nod toward the swing chair on the front porch. “Let’s sit. I’m really tired.”

I sit down and turn sideways, pulling my knees up to my chin. Davin sits down next to me, keeping as much distance between us as he can. “I hurt you,” he says.

“What makes you say that?”

“I have a well-developed sense of perception.” He manages a thin smile.

“I had no right to kiss you like that, Davin. It was inappropriate. I mean, we’ve only known each other for two days. I don’t know what came over me. One minute I was looking into your eyes and the next thing I knew, I was kissing you…”

“And I kissed you back,” he finishes.

“Obviously. But the way you reacted…it was hurtful.”

“I didn’t mean…”

“It’s not your fault. I was the aggressor.”

“And I was an accessory to the crime.”

“Crime?”

“Perhaps that was a bad choice of words. The fact is, I could not let myself be distracted. We were in a vulnerable position and we were physically drained from the healing.”

His eyes look sad. Conflicted. Can this impossibly old Warrior simply be socially awkward?

 “There are more tactful ways to end an ill-timed kiss.”

“Ari,” he says softly, “In times of extreme stress, emotions cannot always be trusted.”

“Balderdash. So, you think I was looking for comfort? A quick kiss, a calming fix?” I practically spit the words out. He thinks I’m weak!

Davin shakes his head slowly. “That’s not what I think at all…” A smile slowly forms on his lips. “Balderdash? I like that word.”

I roll my eyes. “Tell me what you really think, Davin. I’m dying to know. Do you think I’m an emotional wreck?” I’m building up a head of steam. “Why did you kiss me back?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Bull! That’s a copout.”

“Ari…”

“If you want to help me…if you really want to keep me safe, you have to be honest with me. I kissed you because I like you, Davin. I’m attracted to you. Perhaps it’s a reaction to stress, but I need to deal with it, not run from it.” My tone softens as I continue. “I think you like me, too. In fact, I’m pretty damn sure of it.”

The look on his face tells me all I need to know, and I smile inside.

He sighs deeply and nods. “The truth is, I seem to be drawn to you like a moth to moonlight and I’m not sure I understand why. But if I am to keep you safe, I cannot afford to be distracted. Not now. Not yet. Not here.”

I don’t know how to respond, so I stare at him, like an idiot.

About the Author:

When it comes to being a husband and wife (or wife and husband) writing team, there are advantages, or benefits. Chief among them is that you get to practice the love scenes. He writes, she steers, and…well, it’s fun. He is a software designer and she is a doctor of education. AJ and CS Sparber live in the lovely town of Hudson, Ohio, with their son Ryan, their daughter Melanie, and an Aussie shepherd named Hunter.

Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Website

Giveaway Details:

There is a tour wide giveaway. Prizes include the following:

• 10 signed, print copies of Ariel Rising

Giveaway is open to US and Canada shipping destinations.

Ends January  24^th  2016 at 11:59 PM (ET)

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Book Blitz + #Giveaway: The Stone Legacy Series by Theresa DaLayne @TheresaDaLayne @XpressoReads @XpressoTours #XpressoBookTours

The Stone Legacy Series Blitz by Theresa DaLayne

Read it for FREE with Amazon PRIME!

GIVEAWAY!

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Book 1, Mayan Blood

Their empires have fallen, but their mythology lives on…

Zanya Coreandero is a seventeen-year-old orphan with only a single friend and no hope for a normal life. Diagnosed with anxiety and night terrors, no one believes her cuts and bruises are a result of an evil entity, and not a brutal case of self-harm. With the only home she’s ever known being the isolated institution—where breakfast is a handful of medications, the psychiatry sessions are mandatory, and her every move is watched—the only relief is her red-haired roommate named Tara, who’s more like a little sister than her best friend. 

Free will is strong, but destiny is stronger… 

When Zanya is kidnapped, she meets a group of gifted Mayan descendants, each with a unique ability. Gone from a nameless castaway to the only hope of mankind, Zanya is forced to make a grueling decision: bond with an enchanted stone and save humanity from rising underworld forces, or watch helplessly as Earth falls victim to a familiar dark deity from her dreams. This time, he’s playing for keeps. 

A wicked secret hides behind a handsome face… 

When Arwan, a dark-eyed timebender, takes interest in Zanya's mission, it's unclear if his intention is to help, or if he's on a hell-bent mission for revenge. Wary of falling for another guy with major secrets and a tainted past, Zanya fights to keep her distance. If only her heart gave her a choice.

READ EXCERPT ON AMAZON

Book 2, Interlude

Tara may have spent years in an asylum, but that doesn’t make her crazy–just fearless.

Dropped in Moscow with a the group of enchanted Mayan descendants, seventeen-year-old Tara is forced to wait on the sideline while her best friend—the Stone Guardian— battles to reclaim a friend’s soul trapped in the underworld. 

  It sucks being ordinary when everyone else is superhuman… 

  A mortal girl with a tainted past, Tara is left to deal with an overwhelming sense of inadequacy. Her boyfriend, Peter, is a healer. Her best friend is The Guardian, and everyone else is a powerhouse of awesome strengths. Meanwhile, she struggles to leave her childhood of abuse in the past, and while Peter picks her up every time she falls, it becomes clear he deserves better. 

  When they opened Pandora’s Box, hell came pouring out… 

  When she’s given a chance to aid in the group’s mission, Tara is eager to pull her own weight, even if it means uncovering buried memories of being held prisoner by the underworld general. Now haunted with flashbacks of torture, Tara wanders from the safety of Peter’s arms into a city of depravity and corruption. And amidst all this evil is a young man with an agenda of his own, who leads her down a road that will either prove she is a hero at heart, or drag her into a world she’s always feared. He wants revenge, she wants redemption. And in an underground ring of missing girls and bloody sacrifices, only the fearless can survive…

Book 3, Lights of Aurora

After living her entire life in an orphan asylum, Zanya fears she may actually be losing her mind.

Following the discovery of her ancient Maya bloodlines, eighteen-year-old Zanya Coreandero is faced with a daunting responsibility. She must protect the relic stone while Sarian, the underworld general, ceaselessly drives her to the brink of insanity. 

  With the approach of an ancient bonding ceremony, Zanya struggles to control her abilities—and her desires… 

 As the winter solstice approaches, it brings an onslaught of unexpected side effects. While Zanya struggles to seize control over her supercharged powers, she must also face an overwhelming suspicion that her boyfriend, Arwan, is hiding a secret so dark it could destroy them both. And with her powers finally taking root, the struggle to pace their relationship takes on a life of its own. 

  Just when she thought life couldn’t get more complicated… 

 With the arrival of a surprise houseguest, Zanya’s deepest fears about Arwan are confirmed. And when middleworld deities intercede, the group of gifted Maya descendants are confronted with hardships they never saw coming—including an enemy more deadly than they have ever faced. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. And when that woman has no soul and a taste for revenge, they will need the powers of every surviving ancestor simply to stay alive.

ENTIRE FIVE-BOOK SERIES COMPLETE IN APRIL 2016!

WATCH THE BOOK TEASER HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A long-time enthusiast of things that go bump in the night, Theresa began her writing career as a journalism intern—possibly the least creative writing field out there. After her first semester at a local newspaper, she washed her hands of press releases and feature articles to delve into the whimsical world of fiction.

 

Since then, Theresa has been married, had three terrific kids, moved to central Ohio, and has been repeatedly guilt-tripped into adopting a menagerie of animals that are now members of the family. But don’t be fooled by her domesticated appearance. Her greatest love is travel. Having traveled to over a dozen countries—not to mention an extended seven-year stay in Kodiak, Alaska—she is anything but settled down. Wherever life brings her, Theresa will continue to weave tales of adventure and love with the hope her stories will bring joy and inspiration to her readers.

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Book Blitz + #Giveaway: Magnate (Acquisition #2) by Celia Aaron @AaronErotica @XpressoReads @XpressoTours #XpressoBookTours

Magnate 
Celia Aaron
(Acquisition #2)
Publication date: January 19th 2016
Genres: Erotica, Romance

Lucius Vinemont has spirited me away to a world of sugar cane and sun. There is nothing he cannot give me on his lavish Cuban plantation. Each gift seduces me, each touch seals my fate. There is no more talk of depraved competitions or his older brother – the one who’d stolen me, claimed me, and made me feel things I never should have. Even as Lucius works to make me forget Sinclair, my thoughts stray back to him, to the dark blue eyes that haunt my sweetest dreams and bitterest nightmares. Just like every dream, this one must end. Christmas will soon be here, and with it, the second trial of the Acquisition.

Sequel to:

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

“Off.” He growled and gripped one side, yanking the shirt apart, buttons bouncing off the hardwood floors as he pulled the shirt roughly down my arms and tossed it.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” His body was hot, alive, and hard at my back. I couldn’t stay here. Not with him. Not in this bed like we were lovers, like we were two people who could seek solace from each other. We weren’t. We never could be those people. “Stop!”

He caged me, my struggles nothing to him even in his weakened state. “You aren’t leaving this bed. Get used to it. Don’t fucking try anything.”

I stopped fighting. There was no point. I would just have to wait until he fell asleep.

“You’re mine, Stella.” He tightened his grip with each word. “I don’t care where you run, who you choose, what you say, or what you fucking do. You, all of you, belongs to me.”

“I’m not a thing you can own,” I hissed.

He laughed, the sound low and full of heat. “You can hop countries like a skipping stone for all I care. I’ll find you, and you’ll wind up right where you are now.”

Author Bio:
Celia Aaron is the self-publishing pseudonym of a published romance and erotica author. She loves to write stories with hot heroes and heroines that are twisty and often dark. Thanks for reading. 

Sign up for my newsletter at aaronerotica.com to get information on new releases. (I would never spam you or sell your info, just send you book news and goodies sometimes). 

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Cover Reveal + #Giveaway: Hard World Tour Series By V.F. Mason @Author_VFMason @StarAnge13

Title: Annabella's Oblivion

Series: Hard World Tour #1

By: V.F. Mason

Publication Date: February 3, 2016

Cover Designer: Mayhem Cover Creations

Sometimes love is our only salvation...

Annabella

My brother and I shared the unbreakable bond that held us through thick and thin.

Nick helped me to achieve my dreams and meet my best friends.

Our shared talents with girls allowed us to create one of the best rock bands of our generation.

We had it all.

Fame, money, freedom.

The future held nothing but endless possibilities for us, and I couldn't be happier.

Until the person I loved most, my brother, was gone.

And nothing was ever the same.

The Oblivion consumed me, and I never wanted to come back.

But then Nate Jackson decided to save me, and I was powerless to stop him from bulldozing into my life and make me live again.

Annabella’s Oblivion

Copyright2016 V.F. Mason

All rights reserved

Prologue

Annabella When you lose someone you love, you want to scream as you fall to your knees, begging for anything to release the pain. People say, once you let it all out, you’re finally able to accept the fact that the person you love is gone and you can proceed with the funeral and the grieving. They say time heals everything and makes us remember those we lost only with smiles and good memories, and all the bad things fade away. Well, you know what? It’s all fucking bullshit. Time doesn’t heal shit; it just makes you deal with the painful reality that they’re never coming back. There is no scream. The minute you get the news, all you hear is a deep buzzing sound in your ears and everything around you is just quiet, as if you were in a vacuum. Funerals and seeing the body? Makes you loathe it even more and get angry at all those people who think they know better, who give you that pitiful stare and tell you someday everything will be all right. They promise to be there for you and always offer their support. That was a fucking lie, too. No one’s here with me right now. I lie in bed all alone and the pain doesn’t go away. That, I guess, is the whole point to being in rehab. “Bella, you are fucking using, and you want me to let you go on with it?” “Take her to a center. She is a fucking druggie.” “Have you thought for a second how Nick would react to this?” I hear all those voices in my head every time I try to relax. There is no getting away from them, or from those people who think they understand. They think they’re allowed to judge. Well, they fucking aren’t. They don’t know what it’s like to be me and deal with the pain when you have to smile for the press or perform on stage. No, they fucking don’t, and I hate them for judging me. Drugs, they were my friends. For just a moment, they allowed me to see him, to imagine and talk to him. I was able to laugh and experience a slight joy because he was here every time I took another dose. They took it away from me and thought I would deal with the grief. How can I ever deal with it? The person I loved most, the one who always believed in me, who was there for me when I wanted to explore my talent and go big, who saved me from the blows of our father, he’s gone. He is never coming back. He can never hug me and tell me it’s going to be okay, because nothing can be okay for me anymore. I want him here with me, but at the same time, I know he would have been disappointed in me. He would never take drugs or approve of me doing something so bad either. He hated them because they destroyed our parents, and he helped kids like us make a different choice. There is one vivid memory of him and me, when I was five and he was ten, and we walked around the park with just our sweaters and coats as protection against the biting wind, even though our coats were old and didn’t do much to keep us warm. I had wanted to see the park and he showed me. My teeth chattered from the cold, so he removed his coat with the intention of placing it on me. “No, Nick! It’s freezing!” He held me close as I tried to get away, because as cold as I was, I didn’t want him to suffer. And if he became sick, there was no medicine to heal him. Our parents spent what little money they had on the alcohol and didn’t give a thought to their kids. Nick ignored my arguments and placed his jacket on me. “It’s okay. I feel better knowing you are protected.” It made me cry, but he just smiled and hugged me. He was my hero. There wasn’t a time in my life when he didn’t put me and my needs first. He’d attended every one of my concerts and even arranged my music deal. He will always be my hero. But he’s gone. He is gone forever. How can I live in a world where he no longer exists? How is it possible to breathe in a world where my big brother, the only family I’ve ever had, doesn’t exist? He is gone, and sometimes, I wish like hell I could have gone with him, that it would have been me who’d died in that car accident all those months ago. It should have been me who laid on the table, my body cold and lifeless. They say atonement comes one way or another, or the guilt eventually vanishes. That’s fucking bullshit, too. I’m a coward; I don’t want to live with the guilt. I want to live in my small fantasy-reality, where he’s alive. I know I’m probably as good as done with the band. There is no way the girls and Jeremy will let me stay after all this; plus, how can they ever trust me? They shouldn’t, because as much as I love what I do—what we do—if I had the choice again between them and that life, and drugs and my brother, I would choose Nick in a heartbeat. My name is Annabella Katherine Hastings. I’m the lead singer of one of the most famous girl rock bands in the world, a fan favorite of many—supposedly with the voice of an angel—and I’ve recently become a druggie. Welcome to my world.

Title: Jane's Surrender

Series: Hard World Tour #2

By: V.F. Mason

Publication Date: February 3, 2016

Cover Designer: Mayhem Cover Creations

Sometimes love is our greatest fear...

Jane

I never really believed that love could heal until my parents adopted me. They showered me with love and attention, and through them I met my three best friends.

Our mutual talents allowed us to create a band that became one of the most popular rock bands in our generations.

We had everything, yet my heart longed for one thing.

Love.

I dreamed about the Knight in shining armor who would come and sweep me off my feet.

One day, I finally met him.

Only to be crushed when he fell in love with my best friend.

I gave up on love, deciding that happily ever after wasn't for everyone.

Until Drake came into my life and made my head spin.

Drake

I always knew that I’d recognize the girl who is supposed to be mine from the first moment of meeting her.

Jane came into my life spontaneously, and we spend one amazing night filled with passion, laughter, and fun.

On the next day, she was gone.

My girl wanted nothing to do with me.

However, I was there to show her that no matter what a man never gives up on the woman he wants and some things are worth fighting for.

Jane’s Surrender

Copyright2016 V.F. Mason

All rights reserved

Chapter 1

The night that changed everything

Las Vegas, Nevada

March, 2013

Jane, 21 years old “Come on, Jane. Live a little!” Ariel shouted in my ear and gave me yet another shot of tequila, and I just rolled my eyes. The girl was crazy, but she probably didn't give a shit. That made me smile, especially when I thought about all the things she did in life. I shook my head and moved the shot to the side. I didn’t feeling like drinking, and maybe I just wasn’t in the mood. We were in a crowded Las Vegas nightclub, where the music was so loud you had to shout to be heard, and the booze was flowing. This club was one of the most exclusive places in the city. We paid a lot of money to get into the VIP lounge, and even I had to admit the design was fabulous. The lounge’s golds and reds were mesmerizing as they glittered vividly from the colorful club light. A big chandelier with crystals sparkled, emphasizing its beauty. On the huge dance floor with fog and lights, people danced and brushed against each other, drunk and out of control. The DJ above, wearing headphones, his eyes closed, moved his arms to the beat of the song. He appeared to be unaware he was in the crowded room. The bar was filled with eager, slightly tipsy people who wore designer clothes. Comfortable couches were scattered around the space. The friendly staff consisted of long-legged sexy waitresses in short black uniforms, black stockings, and high heels. The bartenders were seriously hot guys with cocky smiles and flirty winks. They wore leather pants and tight shirts, which gave the women customers a good look at their amazing chests, and probably contributed to very good tips from the horny ladies. The club had some of the best dancers in the world. A few cages hovering above the floor were filled with graceful, hot women who alluringly danced to the songs and did wonders with the ropes. I found it hard not to be jealous of their flexibility. The club, Resisting Me, opened a few months back, and quickly became a hit. No one knew much about the owners, but a rumor hinted at twin brothers who liked to get their kinks behind closed doors. We’d been dying to go for ages, so I had no clue why I felt out of sorts. Sam, Bella, and Megan danced wildly. Their arms waved above their heads while they shook their asses to the music. Several guys moved in closer, but my friends didn't pay any attention to them. They were too into girls’ night to mess with the guys, and besides, they promised Nick to behave. Nick was Bella’s brother, or rather the brother of the whole band, and long-time boyfriend of Megan. He was crazy about his girl, and it took us some time and bribes to convince him to let her go unwind a little with us. I was glad she was enjoying herself. However, that meant no sex for the girls. Well, at least not in the club. I knew the girls would find a way to sneak some guys into the hotel rooms. None of them wanted anything serious, but they loved to unwind sometimes, and who could blame them? I would have done it too, if only I could. Ariel sighed in frustration, pinned her hair in a knot on top of her head, and moved closer. She took a sip of her drink and then pointed a finger at me. “You aren’t having fun at all. This is our night out, and for the first time since we became famous, we don’t have to hide. It took us ages to convince everyone to let us go out, and here you are making me mad.” Her finger jabbed into my arm. Vicious creature. Nonetheless, her words were filled with truth. We became famous three years ago. The minute the world heard our group, Hard World, we became an overnight sensation. Millions of likes on YouTube, platinum albums, tours, multi-million dollar contracts, everything a successful rock band wanted, which also included wild wrap parties, exclusive hotels, and vacations. We enjoyed luxury life at its best. That, however, had two sides, because it meant we had to be extremely careful what we did and where we did it. We couldn't exactly go to regular places and have fun all the time. Especially because Jeremy, our manager, had a hissy fit about it. He hated all those parties. By the way, he was usually clenching his fists, drinking himself into oblivion, and giving the stink eye to all of Sam’s bed partners; you didn't have to be a genius to figure out why. “How am I making you mad?” I asked. Her beautiful emerald eyes held disbelief. She just shook her head and threw back another shot. Ariel was a thing of beauty, an hourglass body with curves that made men turn their heads, long, red curly hair, which shined like fire on a bright sunny day, and those eyes of hers. No wonder men all over the world went crazy for our little mermaid. “Because you’re grumpy and refuse to drink or dance,” she pouted. “I’m not. I’m just a bit tired; that’s all.” It was a flat out lie, and she probably knew it, but after a long hard stare, she let it go. It was for the best too. I wasn't about to share everything, because there was no point in doing it. Although the four of us were the closest friends possible, we sort of had two camps inside the group. Sam and Bella shared a special bond, while Ariel and I shared another. That’s why we were always attuned to each other’s mood swings and everything else. “Fine. Are you gonna go then?” “Yep. I need some good sleep.” I leaned closer and kissed her on her soft cheek. “I’ll buy your favorite cookies.” “Carbs for more curves? No, thanks,” she snorted, gulping one more shot and flashing me a picture of her in workout clothes on her Instagram page. “After all, I have a fitness blog going on for curvy women. I can’t eat them.” “Chocolate chip cookies, babe.” She narrowed her eyes, raised her chin slightly, and looked at me suspiciously. “How many?” Ah, I knew it would be easy to bribe her. I moved closer to her, and whispered in her ear, “Five.” She glanced around, nodded, and we shook hands. “It’s a deal. But keep it quiet. The walls have ears.” I swear if people heard what my friends and I talked about, they would think we needed to be locked up. “Pinky swear.” She rolled her eyes, and said, “Just go.” Then she blew me a kiss. “Yeah, just don’t be mad,” I replied. Her attention was already on the hot-looking guy on the dance floor, who was making his way toward her. She flashed him a cocky smile and licked her red, lipstick-covered lips. Looked like she had found her prey for the night. I made my way through sweaty bodies, people who were kissing, and several drunks who wanted to play grab ass, but were quickly shut down by the security guys who removed them. Near the exit, the wall was made of several small mirrors, which created some kind of weird art composition. It was hard not to notice myself in the reflection, not that there was much to look at. There wasn't a lot to admire about me. I was skinny, but my firm ass was often noticed. My dull brown eyes were framed by black hair cut in a bob. I wore biker-chick clothes, because I loved bikes. My body sported several tattoos. I was plain, just like my name implied. Every damn magazine in the world made it their mission to point out how funny and out of place I was among all the beauties in my band. It hurt the first time, and—who was I kidding?—it still did, but I had to accept it. I wasn't about to show weakness to anyone, especially the paparazzi. Finally, outside, I breathed the fresh spring air and loved the way the breeze calmed and cooled my body. Las Vegas was beautiful in its own way: all those lights, casinos, and interesting buildings. Everywhere, people had fun, and it was a good change from our busy New York life. People smiled, waved, and took pictures. Some of them were seriously drunk, but still laughed their asses off. The tourists were dressed in colorful Hawaiian shirts, and the locals in suits or jeans. What made the majority of the people in this city different was the excitement that shone in their eyes and the aura of adventure around them. My attention was on my surroundings, so the push from behind that made me fall forward came out of nowhere. My heart racing, I was just about to land on the hard concrete when strong, masculine hands caught me from the front and held me tight, saving me from a painful fall. “Sorry, hun, didn’t see you there.” I looked back at a young guy who wasn’t older than mid-twenties as he gave me an apologetic smile. The bump was an accident, not anything to get angry about. It could have been a lot worse had it not been for the guy who caught me. I gave him a reassuring smile and opened my mouth to speak, but I wasn't given the chance as the chest under my palms vibrated from the stranger’s raspy voice. “Maybe next time, you’ll pay better attention to where you’re going.” His voice was deep, husky, and masculine, and surprisingly, it sent shivers down my spine all the way to my toes. The guy who accidently pushed me paled, mumbled something under his breath, and quickly took off running. Curious, my eyes moved up, and my breathing stopped for a second. He was tall; his wide shoulders blocked my view behind him, almost as though I was standing in front of a wall. He was rather bulky, his arms muscled, evident by the way his black shirt stretched over them. My hands moved of their own accord over his brick-hard chest. Instantly, my palms tingled; I moved them away quickly and stepped back. Somehow, the move was like losing my anchor. What the hell was that? I finally looked at his face. He had the deepest, most beautiful sapphire eyes I’d ever seen. Those glorious eyes were surrounded by long lashes and set into his perfect, handsome face. His shaggy blond hair fell to just below his ears but didn't reach his shoulders. His kind smile brought attention to his full lips. He gazed down at me with an expression in his eyes I didn’t understand, because no one had ever looked at me that way. I’d never met a man like him, and I didn't understand my body’s reaction to him. I had visions of his naked skin against mine, two bodies entwined in bed, making love for hours. I found it hard to breathe. “Thank you,” I whispered. I couldn't keep my eyes off him. He gave me a half smile and moved forward. I fought the need to step back, because it seemed like he was a predator and I was his prey. His whole attention was focused on me, his eyes narrowed. “Don’t move back from me, sweetheart,” he growled. “I don’t know you. Don’t call me that.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me back on his chest, resurrecting that electrifying feeling of his presence. His body was as hot as summer in Texas, and his tanned skin made me want to run my fingers over it. “What do you want me to call you then?” he whispered against my lips, which were a hair’s breadth away. “I...I don’t know,” I gasped. What was this? What was I doing? He was a stranger on the street, and I was in his arms feeling like he was the only one who could give me oxygen. Before any of this could make sense to me, he lowered his head and covered my lips with his. It was like the world stopped. And I was left alone with him in it. He slowly nipped my lips then licked and sucked on the lower one, which made me moan, a perfect opening for him to deepen the kiss. This was our first kiss. All I knew about kisses was that they were gentle and tender. The few guys I let kiss me were shy, and they didn’t really make my toes curl, but their kisses were nice. They weren't passionate, because I simply didn't inspire those feelings in men. Those kisses seemed dull and uninteresting compared to the one from the stranger. His kiss was deep, passionate, hard, and painful. It seemed as though he wanted to devour my mouth and leave his imprint on me, like he was marking me for everyone to see and punishing me at the same time, but for what, I didn’t know. He guided his tongue into my mouth, making me shiver and shyly answer his kiss, which earned me another growl. Following his lead allowed me to learn those kind of kisses, and I never wanted them to stop. My whole body was on fire, and for the first time in my life, I felt heat between my thighs, and my nipples got hard from the contact with another person. When my lungs burned from lack of air, he released my lips. We were both breathing heavily, and our eyes were still locked on each other. “Beautiful.” The word was like cold water washing over me, and I was suddenly aware of everything happening around me. His compliment wasn't the truth, and it broke the spell. I hated that he had kissed me, but it was hard not to want more. For one damn minute, I believed in magic again. But the real world and memories forced me back from my fantasy world to land on my ass. Hard. “I need to go.” I had to get out of there, from him and a situation I didn't understand, which confused me. Everything was blurry, and I just wanted to run away. That wasn't right. That wasn't me. I’d never reacted to men like I did him; I just never liked guys, period. Except Jeremy, but thinking about him made my heart ache, so I didn’t. I’d already met the man of my dreams and knew he loved someone else, so I had to live with that. I wasn’t looking for love. I was done.

V.F.Mason always loved reading books and had quite a few fights with her momma over the genre she liked (romance, duh!) She studied filmmaking and thought that would feed her desire for stories, but that didn't happen. Finally, when she was tired of all those voices in her head, she sat down and wrote a book. It was a huge decision to make and she thanks her friends and family for supporting her in it. When she is not writing, she can be found with her friends doing all sorts of crazy things or reading recent romance books that were written by her favorite authors.

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