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Spotlight, Exclusive Excerpt & Giveaway: Hard Chrome by @byVanessaNorth
HARD CHROME
Series: American Heavy Metal #1
Author: Vanessa North
Hard Chrome deals with subjects some readers may find difficult, including domestic violence, animal cruelty, drug use, and teen pregnancy.
He's tough. But she's tougher.
Tanner Ellis left American Heavy Metal in her rearview mirror. She didn't see the beauty behind the grease stains and the polished chrome until it was too late. Now she's back, determined to save her father's legacy—and bring the South's premier classic-car shop into the new century. Nothing is going to stop her—especially not the sexy tech who refuses to follow her lead.
American Heavy Metal is the only home Duke Wilson's ever known, and no high-heeled, sharp-tongued princess is going to take it away. He tolerates Tanner's advice, and it's fun to push her buttons, but she doesn't belong in the shop—never has, never will. The sooner she realizes that, the sooner he can find his new normal.
When Tanner falters, revealing the pain beneath her bravado, Duke comforts her the only way he knows how. And when violence from his past threatens their future, she'll be there for him, offering him the one thing he's always wanted—a shot at a real family. He just has to convince himself to take it.
This book is approximately 49,000 words
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you're looking for with an HEA/HFN. It's a promise!
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EXLUSIVE EXCERPT
"Take this off?" I pull at his shirt, and he obliges, baring all that warm skin and muscle. I take a shuddering breath, free to look at last. I run my hands over his hard chest, fingertips tangling in the hair, and it sends a fresh wave of want through me.
"Tan…" He groans. "You feel so good. Do I get to see you too?"
I nod and yank my sweater up over my head. Before I can even throw it over my shoulder, his huge hands are on me, stroking my waist and teasing upward.
"You're so beautiful, princess." He smiles up at me, his face all soft and full of wonder. "I want to make you feel as good as you look."
And with that, he rolls us over, driving his pelvis into mine and kissing me breathless. He breaks away to cup one breast in his hand, holding me like a prized piece of art. I squirm under his gaze, raw and needy.
His lips close over the nipple, oh so slowly, and my breath catches as he draws on it, sending heat flooding my groin. Unable to keep still, I twist under him, tears spilling out of the corners of my eyes already. "Duke, please."
He rises over me, smiling. "Let's get naked."
He doesn't have to ask me twice. I reach for his zipper, and he lets me open it up and pull out his cock. Our earlier encounter had been too wild, and too drenched in conflict and shame for me to appreciate his beauty. He's large, thick and ruddy, and my mouth waters with the desire to taste his hardness, to tease him and drive him crazy. I sit up and slip out of my own slacks and panties then tug him to the edge of the bed and pull off his jeans, then his briefs.
"You're gorgeous," I say, my voice catching on the praise. And then I take him in my mouth, tasting the salt of skin and the sweet of precome. He groans and buries a hand in my hair, not pushing, but caressing. His hips pulse up into my mouth, nearly gagging me, and I shove down farther, taking him deeper, wanting to feel him come unglued.
"Oh," he gasps, and I double my efforts until he pulls me off him, his callused hands rough on my arms. "You're way too good at that, princess. But it's your turn."
I laugh—are we keeping count? If so, it's way his turn—and let him push me back down on the bed. His lips find my breasts again, trailing from one to the other, stubble scratching, one big hand pressing against the wetness between my legs, a finger sliding unerringly through my heat to rub my clit. The first time we did this, it had been an act of fighting and desperation, trying to forget the world around us. This time, I relax into his touch, trusting him to take us wherever we need to go, letting him make me feel good.
And oh, oh, oh. His strong, capable hands, hands built and trained to fix things, they set themselves to the work of taking me apart until I finally gasp out a single word.
He looks up at my face, his eyes warm with lust and something more. "Please what?"
"Make me come," I demand, and his grin turns feral.
Vanessa North is a romance novelist, a short fiction geek, and a knitter of strange and wonderful things. Her works have been shortlisted for both the Lambda Literary Award and the RITA© Award, and have garnered praise from The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Publisher's Weekly. She lives in Northwest Georgia with her family: a Viking, twin boy-children, and two large dogs.
Connect with Vanessa:
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https://books2read.com/ap/RJkD5n/Vanessa-North
Giveaway: Vanessa North is celebrating the release of HARD CHROME with a big giveaway! Three prizes are up for grabs: (2) $10 Amazon Gift Cards and (1) Signed Paperback of Hard Chrome + some serious auto-shop inspired swag!
Leave a Comment · Filed Under: Author Spotlight & interview, Excerpts, Giveaways · Tagged With: excerpt, exclusive, Vanessa North
Review, Guest Post, Excerpt & Giveaway: A Lie For A Lie by Helena Hunting
A LIE FOR A LIE
Series: All In #1
Author: Helena Hunting
Sometimes I need an escape from the demands, the puck bunnies, and the notoriety that come with being an NHL team captain. I just want to be a normal guy for a few weeks. So when I leave Chicago for some peace and quiet, the last thing I expect is for a gorgeous woman to literally fall into my lap on a flight to Alaska. Even better, she has absolutely no idea who I am.
Lainey is the perfect escape from my life. My plan for seclusion becomes a month long sex fest punctuated with domestic bliss. But it ends just as abruptly as it began. When I'm called away on a family emergency, I realize too late that I have no way to contact Lainey.
A year later, a chance encounter throws Lainey and me together again. But I still have a lie hanging over my head, and Lainey's keeping secrets of her own. With more than lust at stake, the truth may be our game changer.
Lainey vs. Puck Bunnies in A Lie for a Lie
A Lie for a Lie is a heartwarming, sexy, emotional romantic comedy. It's a second chance romance, filled with secrets and there are definitely some exciting, fun twists. It's also a story of empowerment, self-discovery, and independence.
Rook Bowman, aka RJ or Rookie as he has been known as previously, has recently taken on the role as captain of Chicago's NHL team, and with that role comes big responsibility and more fame than he sometimes knows how to handle. As with any professional sport, the NHL lifestyle can often be full of excess and decadence; money, fame and an endless stream of women who will do just about anything to get into bed with them, and it's not always easy to avoid that kind of temptation.
When we meet Rook in A Lie for a Lie we learn that he has a less than shiny past when it comes to the excess and the puck bunnies (hockey groupies). NHL players are often drafted quite young—just watch a game and you'll notice that the rookies can often barely grown peach fuzz, let alone a full beard. They're still teenagers when they start their careers, and Rook was no different. Having grown up on an alpaca farm in rural New York, his focus was mainly hockey and the family farm, but once he hit the pros he found himself surrounded by women who literally threw themselves at him. And being young, attractive and full of testosterone, he fell headfirst down that rabbit hole. At least until the drama found him in the form of a fake pregnancy and a social media firestorm. Because of that, and the impact it had on his relationship with his family, Rook swears off the bunnies and refocuses on his career, rather than extracurricular activities.
He meets Lainey on the way to Alaska, where he's gone every summer since he was a teenager with his dad and his brother. He lost his father a few years earlier, but kept the tradition with his brother because he craves the escape from the demands of his life as an NHL superstar. Lainey encapsulates everything he misses about being a "normal guy." She doesn't recognize him or seem to even know anything about hockey, and that makes her even more alluring. For once, he can just be himself. He doesn't have to worry about ulterior motives or being used. Lainey is refreshingly innocent, incredibly smart, genuine and overwhelmingly sweet and Rook finds himself enamored with her sense of adventure. As they get to know each other, Rook learns about her traumatic past and realizes that despite the challenges she's faced, Lainey possesses a quiet strength and resilience. Add some insane chemistry and you've got a recipe for love. Unfortunately for Rook, he built their entire fragile relationship on lie he can't take back.
When Lainey excuses herself to the bathroom, I rush upstairs and throw on a T-shirt. I know she said whatever makes me comfortable, but sitting around shirtless is such a douche move.I make it back to the kitchen and pour her a fresh drink before she returns from the bathroom.
"How can I help with dinner?" Lainey drapes her sweater over the back of a chair.
And my mouth goes dry. Like I ate an entire sleeve of saltines and chased it with a tablespoon of salt. So far I've only seen Lainey in a giant parka or an oversize sweater. Under all that bulky fabric is one hell of a body. She's wearing a simple white waffle shirt that conforms to her curves. A pair of dark-wash skinny jeans encase her toned legs.
I'm used to bunnies throwing themselves at me, often in questionable states of undress. I stopped getting excited about miniskirts and revealing tops a long time ago. There's something infinitely sexier about a woman who can show off her body without actually showing it off at all.
Lainey tips her head to the side. Her teeth press into her full bottom lip. I want to do that. Suck that pouty, full lip between my teeth and bite it. I want to do a lot of other, far more explicit things than that, but a kiss seems like a good place to start.
"RJ? Is everything okay?" Her eyes dip down to my chest. I'm wearing a shirt from one of my endorsement campaigns. It afforded me the extensive renovations on this cabin a few years ago.
"Huh?" I give my head a shake. "Oh. Yeah. Everything's good. Sorry, zoned out there for a second."
She smiles and pushes up on her toes, her eyes twinkling—like, they legit light up, and her excitement makes her entire body vibrate. It also makes her boobs jiggle. I try to keep my eyes glued to her face. It's not easy, though.
"I do that all the time! Sometimes my brain is busy with so many thoughts I miss entire conversations. Does that happen to you too?"
I grin. I love that she seems to say whatever is on her mind. "All the time."
"It's actually a helpful skill when you're being lectured, because I can sort through stuff in my head, but it's not so great when your supervising professor is telling you what's wrong with your thesis." She pulls her hair over her shoulder and finger combs it.
"I take it that's happened to you."
"It did. Thankfully he also emailed all his criticisms, so missing out on it the first time wasn't that big of a deal." She divides her hair into three sections and deftly braids it without looking at what she's doing even once. It's pretty damn impressive. I almost want to pull it apart so I can watch her do it all over again. "Anyway, enough about that. Let's get started on dinner!" She nudges me out of the way so she can wash her hands. She dries them on her jeans and moves over to the fridge, opening it to check out the contents.
I kind of like that she makes herself at home. I'm used to women who expect to be catered to. It's refreshing to meet someone who doesn't want me to pander to her.
I start pulling things out of the fridge as she starts naming items she'll need and set them on the counter. I manage to locate most of what she asks for.
"What about garlic? Do you have any of that?" She leans over, peering into the fridge beside me. Her braid slips over her shoulder, skimming my arm.
"Uh, maybe we could forgo the garlic?"
"Are you allergic? My oldest brother gets bloated when he eats it. It took us forever to figure out what was causing it. Sometimes I'll still put some in when he's coming for dinner, because it's funny to see him look like he's expecting." She tips her head to the side. "Or you just don't like garlic?"
"I like it sometimes, but it depends."
Her brows pinch together. "On what?"
"Who I'm eating with. I mean, if I'm going out with buddies, you bet I'm gonna order the honey garlic wings, or the cheesy garlic bread, or the pasta Alfredo. But if I'm eating dinner with a pretty girl, I'm gonna pass on the garlic."
"Oh." She twists the end of her braid around her finger.
I hope I'm not reading things wrong and making her uncomfortable.
"Does that mean you think I'm pretty?"
That she sounds genuinely curious as to my answer is unexpected. "You see yourself in the mirror every day—what do you think?"
She averts her gaze, still playing with the end of her braid. "My eyes are too big, so I always look like I'm surprised. My nose is small, and my lips are too full, so my mouth doesn't really fit the rest of my face."
"Wow. I think you need a new mirror, because all I see is a whole lot of gorgeous."
She snorts a laugh and waves me off. "Once, I took a portrait class, and we learned all about proportion and symmetry of the face. Those are just my flaws based on what I was taught."
"Well, I'm a big fan of all your flaws, and I think they make you more beautiful, not less."
"Thanks. I think you're beautiful too." She cringes. "I mean handsome. You're very nice to look at, with or without a shirt on. When I fell in your lap on the airplane, I remember thinking, At least I fell on someone nice looking."
"Mm-hmm." She opens a drawer, maybe to avoid looking at me. "And as much as I was mortified when you sat beside me on the Cessna, I couldn't complain about the view, inside or outside of the plane. That you turned out to be really nice, and just so helpful, was a great bonus." She hands me a roll of foil. "Why don't you wrap the potatoes? They take the longest, so we should get started on those first."
I put the potatoes on the barbecue and let Lainey order me around. She definitely knows her way around a kitchen. When I was growing up, my mom did most of the cooking, but my dad could make a mean Saturday-morning brunch. He also made great bread, which I miss a lot.
An hour later we're seated at the table, plates full of steak, twice-baked potatoes, and crispy brussels sprouts cooked in bacon fat. I open a bottle of red wine and offer Lainey a glass.
"Just a little bit? I'm not sure I like red wine."
"Maybe you just haven't had the right red wine." I pour a little into her glass.
She picks it up and gives it a swirl, then sniffs it. "I've seen people do this in the movies, but I don't really know what the point is," she admits, then tips the glass back and takes a tentative sip. Her expression turns thoughtful; then she takes another, slightly more robust sip. "This is actually really nice. I like it. Maybe the red wine I had before was bad."
"Maybe. Some of the cheap stuff tastes pretty awful." I pour more into her glass before filling mine. I hold up my glass and wait for her to raise hers.
"To chance meetings."
"To new adventures and great company to share them with." We toast and take a sip, each smiling behind the rim.
My skin burns.
My heart stutters.
I should tell him my own truth.
But for now we're tied: a lie for a lie.
ALL. OF. THE. SWOONS.
This series couldn't have started with a better book. I'm totally hooked, line and sinker, and already salivating for more. I'm head over skates in love with Rook and this swoony hockey romance about a reformed NHL star playboy and the quirky nerd that makes him fall.
On this plane I'm not the NHL forward and team captain with a history of being a player on and off the ice. I'm just a guy, and she's just a girl.
Rook is an NHL star and a former manwhore. He's a man that's used to puck bunnies doing anything to get his attention and then getting even crazier to keep it. So when he meets a beautiful woman on his flight to Alaska that ends up being his neighbor, he loves the anonymity of getting to know someone as just him. Lainey is a bit of a nerd and a lot of adorable. She's a quirky, shy, sweet, and although slightly sheltered in her home schooled ways has also seen things that changed her irrevocably. They don't see the other one coming but it doesn't take long at all for them to being a whirlwind romance in the small town of Alaska. But then Rook has an emergency that forces him to leave and as fate would have it they lose touch due to a number of circumstances. Only to be reunited 14 months later in Chicago. This time, Rook knows that he'll do anything to keep Lainey, if only he can get her to forgive him for the lie.
This was so wonderfully sweet. It was brimming with emotion and sweet heat. I couldn't get enough of Rook and Lainey. I also loved Lainey's friendship with Eden, who made for a wonderful secondary character. All of your favorites make a cameo here and I loved how Helena brought it all together. I loved this sweet second chance romance and can't recommend it enough for all Helena Hunting fans. And if you haven't read any books by her yet, this is a great one to start with!
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. Helena writes everything from contemporary romance with all the feels to romantic comedies that will have you laughing until you cry.
Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Author Spotlight & interview, Excerpts, Giveaways · Tagged With: Book Reviews: 4 stars, Guest Post, Helena Hunting
Spotlight, Excerpt & Giveaway: Rough Terrain by Annabeth Albert
ROUGH TERRAIN
Series: Out of Uniform #7, *Final book in the series*
Publisher: Carina Press (Harlequin)
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Male/Male Romance, Military Romance
The camping trip from hell may be the first stop on the road to happily-ever-after in Rough Terrain, the final book in Annabeth Albert's critically acclaimed, fan-favorite Out of Uniform series.
Navy SEAL Renzo Bianchi has a soft spot for Canaan Finley, and not only because the man makes a mean smoothie. He's the first guy to get Renzo's motor revving in a long time. But when he agrees to Canaan's insane charade—one all-access fake boyfriend, coming right up—he never expects more than a fling.
Creating a hot Italian SEAL boyfriend to save face seemed like a good idea…until his friends called Canaan's bluff. Now he's setting off into the woods with the very man who inspired his deception, and Canaan is not the outdoorsy type. The sparks are already flying when a flash flood separates them from their group, leaving Renzo and Canaan very much trapped…very much alone in the wilderness.
Working together to come up with a plan for survival is sexier than either of them expects. But back in the real world, being a couple is bringing its own set of hazards…
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"Big plans this weekend?" Canaan asked while he made the drink.
"Working out with a friend tomorrow. Gonna film some new moves."
"Please tell me you put those clips online." Thinking fast, Canaan grabbed a blank stamp card and a pen and thrust it at him. "I'll fill a stamp card for you if you give me your handle."
"Well…" Rooster's eyes shifted to his friends, who were deep in conversation. "Navy doesn't exactly approve of me being on social media…"
"Not gonna tell a soul," Canaan promised. "I just like workout videos and fitness pics." And how.
"Yeah?" Rooster gave him an appraising stare, one that had Canaan damn near preening. "That so?"
"Yup." Canaan set the blender going and returned to the counter. He filled a stamp card and waved it at Rooster. "So how about it?"
"Okay, okay." Rooster scribbled something on the other card and pushed it at Canaan. Their fingers brushed as they traded cards, thick callused fingers rubbing against his, and Canaan swore his toes curled from the contact.
"So how about you?" Rooster asked as Canaan poured his drink into a purple plastic Smoothie Palace cup.
"How about me what?" Canaan was still busy celebrating getting his username and felt a little punch-drunk on the contact to boot.
"Big plans?"
Here was the opening Canaan had been waiting months for, and no way was he missing it. "Dunno. I get off at nine. Wanna help me find trouble?"
"You make that offer to all your customers?" Rooster studied him intently, and Canaan straightened his spine, trying to pass whatever test he was giving him.
"Just my favorite ones." The more honest answer would be just you, but Canaan didn't want to seem too desperate, so he kept his voice light and easy. "How 'bout it?"
"Rooster!" Bacon called out before Rooster could answer. "Come on. We've got that meeting in ten."
"Sorry. Gotta head out. Thanks for the card." Rooster gave him a smile but no answer before hurrying over to join his friends.
Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she's not adding to her keeper shelf, she's a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer. Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Her critically acclaimed and fan-favorite LGBTQ romance series include the #OutOfUniform, #Gaymers, #PortlandHeat, #RainbowCove and #PerfectHarmony series.
To find out what she's working on next and other fun extras, check out her website: annabethalbert.com or connect with Annabeth on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Spotify! Also, be sure to sign up for her newsletter for free ficlets, bonus reads, and contests. The fan group, Annabeth's Angels, on Facebook is also a great place for bonus content and exclusive contests.
Connect with Annabeth Albert:
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1) Paperback copy of any back catalog Out of Uniform series book. Open Internationally.
2) e-copies of any back catalog Out of Uniform series book. Open Internationally.
· Filed Under: Author Spotlight & interview, Excerpts, Giveaways · Tagged With: Annabeth Albert
Spotlight, Guest Post & Giveaway: Quick Fall by Michelle Dayton
October 18, 2018 by Lana ·
QUICK FALL
Series: Tracy Brothers #2
Author: Michelle Dayton
Justin Tracy, the perennial life of the party, is used to being teased by his friends about his success with the ladies. Not that he'll ever get serious with one. Why should he? His life is absolutely perfect the way it is. But at his brother's bachelor party, a drunken bet about his womanizing skill gets a little out of control. Before he knows it, his friends have invited his new tenant – a woman he's never even met – to go to his brother's wedding with him.
Single mom Maddy Trainor has just moved back to Chicago, ready to reclaim her life and conquer the city. Maddy's determined to get her new business off the ground and build a happy home for her son, Teddy. She didn't expect a gorgeous landlord, but ogling Justin Tracy is definitely a bonus to her new apartment.
Justin intends to apologize to Maddy for the out-of-the-blue wedding invitation and get gone, but his new neighbor turns out to be funny, whip-smart, and sexy as hell. Why not take her to the wedding for real? Just as friends, of course. To Maddy, the wedding – one night of champagne and dancing with a self-admitted Peter Pan – sounds like amazing no-strings fun. But the sparks that blaze between the two of them can't be contained to one night. And two people who think they have life figured out are about to realize they know nothing about love …
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Inspiration Behind the Tracy Brothers Series – Michelle Dayton
Once upon a time, I was driving home from a crappy day of work and I almost rear-ended a Porsche right in front of a seedy-looking hotel. So, of course, my writer's brain said, "Hey, what if …"
I started drafting the very next day and soon I had several chapters of what would eventually be the first book in my Tracy Brothers series, Fast Ride. The heroine, Jen, rear-ends a red Porsche on her way home from an awful day at work –right in front of a roadside motel. When unexpected chemistry flares between her and Garrett, the Porsche driver, they decide to indulge in a one-night fling in the motel.
I loved writing the beginning of Fast Ride because it's ultra-sexy … but as I kept going, I wanted it to be more than just a steamy story. As I got to know the characters better, I wanted the book to also be sweet and emotional. My goal is always for readers to feel like my characters are real people that they know and like, and I wanted them to believe in Jen & Garrett as they transitioned from a one night stand to friends-with-benefits to their ultimate happily-ever-after.
I'd always thought of Fast Ride as a standalone book, but as I was writing it, Garrett's younger brother Justin became a really important character. (He's the one who helps pull Garrett's head out of his ass when it comes to seeing his feelings for Jen clearly!) Naturally I decided that Justin needed his own love story. ☺
In Quick Fall, I wanted to have the same balance of sexy & sweet, the same push & pull between two characters who initially seem to be opposites, but who are actually perfect for one another. Justin is a self-admitted Peter Pan, the life of the party who never wants to settle down. His new tenant, Maddy, is a single mom who owns her own small business. If you went by lifestyle alone, these two seem like the last people on earth who should be in a relationship.
But people are always more than one thing, right? Yes, Maddy is a hardworking mom. But you know what else she is? An outgoing extrovert who can "work the room" as well as Justin can. And yes, Justin is a guy who dates a lot and goes out on the town every night of the week. But he's also sentimental and introspective and very in touch with his emotions. As readers get to know them, I hope they feel like I did – that these two falling head over heels for one another was inevitable.
Please let me know what you think of Garrett & Jen, Justin & Maddy. I LOVE hearing from readers!!!
Meet Justin's older brother, Garrett Tracy!
FAST RIDE is on sale for $.99! Grab your copy today!
There are only three things Michelle Dayton loves more than sexy and suspenseful novels: her family, the city of Chicago, and Mr. Darcy. Michelle dreams of a year of world travel – as long as the trip would include weeks and weeks of beach time. As a bourbon lover and unabashed wine snob, Michelle thinks heaven is discussing a good book over an adult beverage
Follow Michelle: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | BookBub
Enter HERE for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card + ebook copy of Fast Ride
· Filed Under: Author Spotlight & interview, Giveaways · Tagged With: Guest Post, Michelle Dayton
Exclusive Excerpt, Guest Post & Giveaway: Secrets of a (Somewhat) Sunny Girl by @karenbbooth
SECRETS OF A (SOMEWHAT) SUNNY GIRL
Genre: Romantic Women's Fiction
Author: Karen Booth
As sisters, they tell each other all their secrets…except one.
With divorce and infidelity hanging from nearly every branch of her family tree, Katherine Fuller sees no point in marriage. Boyfriends? Sure. Sex? Of course. Wedding vows? No, thanks. Still, when her younger sister Amy gets engaged, Katherine gathers all the enthusiasm she can. She won't let Amy down. She's done enough of that for a lifetime.
As the sisters embark on wedding plans, Katherine's college love resurfaces. It nearly killed Katherine to part from sexy Irish musician Eamon more than a decade ago, but falling under his spell a second time forces her to confront everything she hid from him. The secrets surrounding her mother's death are still fresh and raw in her mind, but one has haunted her more than the others. She can't bear to tell anyone, especially not Amy. It could ruin far more than a wedding. It could destroy a sister's love forever.
Katherine and Irish musician Eamon had a super-steamy relationship 11 years ago. Now he's back in her life, but out on the road, leaving them to talk on the phone every day. This is the night of Katherine's sister Amy's engagement party, an event Katherine has been dreading."How did the party go?" Eamon asked. "You don't sound drunk, so it must've been at least tolerable."
"It was okay. Everyone was really nice, but I definitely did not feel comfortable. Their whole family is like pod people. They're all so happy and normal."
"Why does that make them pod people?"
"I don't know. Because that's nothing at all like my family? And there's no family dirt, which I find a little impossible to believe."
"You went digging for dirt at your sister's engagement party?"
"Hey. You're the one who told me not to drink too much. I had to entertain myself somehow."
He unleashed the laugh I find most disarming. In my head, I could see his off-kilter smile. "There's always dirt somewhere. Trust me."
"That's what I was thinking."
It got quiet on the other end of the line and I wondered what he was thinking about or whether he was maybe tired. I would've given anything for him to be waiting for me at home right now, rather than thousands of miles away. I couldn't escape the loneliness of that fact.
"Katherine, can I ask you something?"
"Of course. Anything."
"What exactly is it about that situation that makes you so deeply uncomfortable? Your sister getting married. I know it's not just that you feel like you're losing her. There's something more to it, isn't there?"
It felt like my heart was doing a bad impression of an old clock, ticking away at an unreliable pace. There was so much about this for me to unpack, probably because I'd devoted so much of my life to keeping it hidden. "My parents didn't have a great marriage and they did a lot of things to hurt each other. It's hard as a kid to witness that. It definitely sours your opinion of the institution."
"I suppose."
"No. You're not. I just think that's not the only way to look at it. Some people might go through that and decide that they can do better. Maybe that's the way your sister feels."
Was he right? Had Amy taken things one way while I'd run with it in the opposite direction? She'd definitely seemed comfortable at the party, acclimated to the idea that marriage was this normal thing normal people did, and that she was a member of that group. Maybe I needed to accept that just because I saw her one way, and I saw myself the same way, perhaps I'd been completely wrong. After all, she had been younger than me. She'd witnessed less than I had. And of course, she hadn't been the catalyst for the ultimate bad. She hadn't set the demise of her own family in motion. Amy didn't have to live with that.
"Maybe you're right. Maybe I need to stop looking at it like that." I knew then that I needed to get my attitude straight. Amy deserved better than a maid of honor who was being a complete pain in the ass.
"Nope. It's a great suggestion. You make me a better person, you know. You always have."
"Do you really think that?"
I thought back to the way I'd been with him the first time, so full of sunny optimism, not at all the way I was right now, but I could admit it was a place I wanted to get back to. "I do, Eamon. I really do."
2 Truths and a Lie with Katherine and Eamon from Secrets of a (Somewhat) Sunny Girl
I'm so excited to be here today and let Katherine and Eamon, the main characters from Secrets of a (Somewhat) Sunny Girl, play Two Truths and a Lie. Katherine and Eamon met eleven years ago when she was studying abroad in Ireland. There was instant chemistry—as Katherine says, "The first time we did it, we were so hot for each other we didn't even use a condom. We were half-naked in his front hall. I was out of my mind." But their romance didn't last long the first time. Katherine had to return to the U.S. Eamon left for his first world tour. Hearts were broken, big time.
Now they're back together after a chance run-in in New York, and although they were recently engaged, there's still a lot they don't know about each other. Let's begin!
Katherine: I already have my list. You know I plan for everything.
Eamon: I do know that much.
Katherine: Number one: I have never eaten a Big Mac. Number two: I'm terrified of spiders. Number three: I lost my virginity to a guy with the name Eamon.
Eamon: Are you joking with me right now?
Katherine: I can't answer that.
Eamon: Were you really a virgin when we met?
Katherine: This isn't Twenty Questions. Make a guess.
Eamon: (grumbles) The one about spiders has to be true. You don't seem like a woman who would do well with those. And I don't want to think that you've never had a Big Mac, but I suppose it's possible. Number three has to be the lie. You were not a virgin when we met.
Katherine: Wrong. I'm ambivalent about spiders, Big Macs do not excite me, and I did lose my virginity to a guy with the name Eamon.
Eamon: You're lying.
Katherine: It was his middle name. His first name was James. His mom was Irish. Eamon was her father's name.
Eamon: You cheated. And how long have you been waiting to tell me this?
Katherine: I did not cheat. I just very carefully worded my statement. And I thought you would think it was a cute coincidence.
Eamon: I don't want to think about James Eamon who took your virginity.
Katherine: Believe me, I don't either. Your turn.
Eamon: Number one: I was at the top of my class in secondary school. Number two: I broke my leg in a motorcycle accident when I was thirteen. Number three: my favorite candy is black licorice.
Katherine: This seems like a trap. If I say the first one isn't true, you'll never forgive me.
Eamon: No hints. It's not like you helped me.
Katherine: This is hard. I can totally see you breaking your leg in a motorcycle accident. You seem like the type who would like black licorice. You probably like black jellybeans, too. (shudders) So I guess I'll say that the one about school is the lie. I bet you were in the top 25% of your class though.
Eamon: Nice job hedging your answer.
Katherine: But did I get it right?
Eamon: No. You did not. I was top in my class. Despite my musician ways, my mam was a schoolteacher and wouldn't take anything less of me. She also did not want me to get the motorcycle I broke my leg riding. And I despise black licorice. Vile stuff.
Katherine: Wow. I was not top in my class. Not even close.
Eamon: It's not a competition. And I don't love you any less for it.
Katherine: Good.
Eamon: Might take me a while to come to terms with James Eamon and your virginity though.
Karen Booth is a midwestern girl transplanted in the South, raised on '80s music and repeated readings of Forever by Judy Blume. An early preoccupation with rock 'n' roll led her to spend her 20s working her way from intern to executive in the music industry. When her kids came along, she traded late nights for early mornings, writing contemporary romance and women's fiction. Karen was a finalist for RT Magazine's Series Romance of the Year and Gold Seal of Excellence, and the 2018 National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award. Her books have been translated into seventeen languages.
Connect with Karen: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest
Giveaway: Win a signed print set of Karen Booth's three Romantic Women's Fiction novels: Secrets of a (Somewhat) Sunny Girl, Bring Me Back and Back Forever, or 1 of 2 e-copies of Bring Me Back!
About Bring Me Back:
Nearly forty, Claire Abby had thought life would be a whole lot smoother by now. Single parenting her college-bound daughter is trying, her journalism career is fading, her sister's a handful, her dad is worse, and her mom has been gone so long it's hard to remember what it was like when she was here.
So it's both a lucky break and a jaw-dropping distraction when Claire lands an interview with British rock star Christopher Penman. Claire spent her teenage years fantasizing he was her boyfriend. In person, Chris is everything Claire feared—off-the-charts sexy, ridiculously charming, and utterly nerve-wracking. He's not about to discuss the rumors he's dodged for a decade. She must earn his trust and unearth the truth, but she never banked on the heartbreaking secret behind it.
His blockbuster story is her first priority when she returns home, a nearly impossible task when Christopher starts calling. And flirting. There's no denying his wit or his buttery British accent, and once she agrees to see him, it's beyond anything her teenage brain ever imagined. But when Christopher's painful past repeats itself, can Claire smooth out her life and save the man she could never forget?
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Spotlight, Guest Post & Giveaway: Counterpoint by Anna Zabo
September 23, 2018 by Lana · Leave a Comment
Series: Twisted Wishes #2
Genre: Contemporary, MM Romance
Genre: MM Contemporary Rockstar Romance (with a bit of kink)
Quirks & Warnings: Contains D/s and bondage. Also discusses anxiety and depicts a panic attack.
Author: Anna Zabo
Twisted Wishes lead guitarist Dominic "Domino" Bradley is an animal onstage. But behind his tight leather pants and skull-crusher boots lies a different man entirely, one who needs his stage persona not only to perform, but to have the anonymity he craves. A self-imposed exile makes it impossible to get close to anyone outside the band, so he's forced to get his sexual fix through a few hot nights with a stranger.
When computer programmer Adrian Doran meets Dominic, he's drawn to the other man's quiet voice and shy smile. But after a few dirty, demanding nights exploring Dominic's need to be dominated, Adrian wants more than a casual distraction. He has no idea he's fallen for Domino Grinder—the outlandish, larger-than-life rock god.
Dominic is reluctant to trust Adrian with his true identity. But when the truth is revealed prematurely, Dominic is forced to reevaluate both his need for Adrian and everything he believes about himself.
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ANNA'S FAVORITE ROCKERS
Musical Influences for Twisted Wishes and Favorite Rockers
(or take a walk through music in 80s with Anna Zabo)
I've been asked a few times what bands I used to base Twisted Wishes on, and the answer to that is that I never had a specific band in mind when I created the look and feel of Twisted Wishes. I just knew I wanted a band that was a little outrageous, a little hard and punky, very queer, and that also had a high level of musicality.
The best description I can come up with is that Twisted Wishes is what you'd get if you smashed Erasure, Depeche Mode, and King Crimson together. Queer chaotic punk with a musically sophisticated edge.
Though I do suppose my favorite rock stars have something to do with how Twisted Wishes turned out.
My own favorite rockers tend to be much more pop-oriented and heavily based in the 80s, because that's when I grew up, and I'll admit to clinging to the music of my youth.
My very first musical crush was Howard Jones, with his big hair and his orange outfits, ala Things Can Only Get Better. I have so many Howard Jones records—actual 12 inch vinyl records—it's a little embarrassing. I also spent a lot of time sketching all that hair.
I also adored Eurythmics and had such a crush on Annie Lennox, especially that whole outfit in Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), black gloves and crop-like pointer and all, but if you want a clue to some of Mish's sassiness, check out Would I Lie to You.
Speaking of women rockstars, there's Kate Bush and her amazing voice and lyrics. Hounds of Love is a fantastic album, though my favorite song from there probably one most people don't know: Jig of Life. I also adored all of The Sensual World.
Or Chrissie Hynde from The Pretenders. There are so many good songs, but I rather like My Baby from Get Close.
I was also a huge fan of ABC and still rank The Lexicon of Love as one of the best albums I ever listened to. It's put together so well, and each song reflects the others. Yes, I'm a huge dork for thinking this, I know. I also kind of wanted to look like Martin Fry (and that really should have been a rather large sign about my gender, honestly). A lot of people know Poison Arrow and Look of Love from that album, but I really enjoy All of My Heart.
I was also a big fan of Marc Almond (who was probably best known for the song by Soft Cell, Tainted Love), and the album The Stars We Are probably racks up there as one of my favorites, as well. It's also strangely apropos to now, even though it came out in 1988. Go figure. It was the song Tears Run Rings that grabbed me and didn't let go.
And yes, as I mentioned earlier, I adored Erasure, especially that they were oh so obviously queer. I mean, the opening lines of Chains of Love: How can I explain when there are few words I can use… I think I probably know every lyric to their first several albums.
As for Depeche Mode, if you want a little glimpse of them in concert, here's a live version of Never Let me Down Again, a song I adored then and adore more now.
My love of King Crimson veers away from pop into progressive rock. There's not a lot on YouTube, but Red is a good taste for some of that crazy syncopated rhythm stuff I love. The album Discipline is a masterpiece. Sadly, there isn't much online to link to.
I could keep going for pages, especially since I left out SO MANY of my favorite rockers. And I could do a whole other post just on progressive rock, and probably another about what I love now. But I will spare you all more of my ramblings about music.
Anna Zabo writes contemporary and paranormal romance for all colors of the rainbow. They live and work in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which isn't nearly as boring as most people think.
Anna grew up in the wilds of suburban Philadelphia before returning to their ancestral homelands in Western Pennsylvania. As a child they were heartily disappointed to discover that they couldn't grow up to be what they wanted (a boy, a cat, a dragon), so they settled on being themself whenever possible, which may be a combination of a boy, a cat, and a dragon. Or perhaps a girl, a knight, and a writer. Depends on whom you ask. They do have a penchant for colorful ties and may be hording a small collection of cufflinks.They can be easily plied with coffee.
Anna has an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, where they fell in with a roving band of romance writers and never looked back. They also have a BA in Creative Writing from Carnegie Mellon University.
Anna uses they/them pronouns and prefers Mx. Zabo as an honorific.
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Exclusive Excerpt: Restless Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan
September 20, 2018 by Lana ·
RESTLESS INK
Series: Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs #2
Author: Carrie Ann Ryan
The Montgomery Ink series continues with the so-called sensible sister and the one man she never should have fallen for.
For Thea Montgomery, baking isn't only therapeutic, it's also her dream job. She's worked countless hours keeping her bakery afloat, and now that it's where she wants it to be, she's ready to expand and take the next step. When it comes to work and her family, she's on top of her game. Her personal life, however, is a different story.
When Dimitri Carr isn't teaching and hiding his ink under long sleeves to keep the bosses happy, he's trying to be the best brother and friend he can be. After his divorce, he'd thought he would lose Thea from his life forever because she's his ex-wife's best friend. But now that he's free, and the two of them realize they want to keep their friendship. Then he finally sees what he's been missing all this time.
But there are more problems than the fact that Dimitri is Thea's best friend's ex. And when accidental touches and flirtations aren't enough for either of them, and they're finally ready to take the next step, they'll find out exactly what that cost is for crossing that line. And will need to find the strength to face it.
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They said their goodbyes to Abby and headed over to the bar next door to Kaylee's studio. Kaylee herself couldn't make it since she had a later event but told them all to have fun as they strolled to the other building. Soft guitar music drifted out of the open door, and Thea glanced at the sign next to it on the sidewalk claiming it was open mic night.
"This could either be amazing or horrible," Adrienne said under her breath as Roxie laughed.
But Thea didn't laugh, she couldn't, not when she heard that voice.
She knew that voice, dreamed of that voice. Oh, hell, that voice was one that kept her awake at night and sent delicious warmth between her thighs.
"Is that…?" Adrienne's voice trailed off, and Roxie sucked in a breath.
Thea just blinked as they stopped right inside the door, the three of them standing stock-still, their mouths dropping open.
Dimitri sat on a stool in front of the crowded room, his fingers strumming the guitar as he crooned a song about love and loss with that deep growl of his.
And when he lifted his head, and his gaze met hers, he didn't pause, didn't break his concentration, but she knew he saw her, understood that he wanted her there from the glint in his eyes. Realized that this meant something.
And she knew… she knew she was lost.
And so damn screwed.
About Carrie Ann Ryan
Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, and Gallagher Brothers series, which have sold over 2.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn't stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over fifty novels and novellas with more in the works. When she's not writing about bearded tattooed men or alpha wolves that need to find their mates, she's reading as much as she can and exploring the world of baking and gourmet cooking.
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· Filed Under: Author Spotlight & interview, Excerpts · Tagged With: Carrie Ann Ryan, spotlight
Exclusive Excerpt: Unlocking Shadows by Kennedy Layne
UNLOCKING SHADOWS
Series: Keys To Love #4
Author: Kennedy Layne
The next book in Kennedy Layne's KEYS TO LOVE is available now – romantic suspense lovers do not want to miss this!
About UNLOCKING SHADOWS
Gwen Kendall spent ten years in the Navy and used the last four to create a life for herself she could be proud of away from the confines of her overprotective family. Being the only woman in the Kendall clan tended to be a bit overwhelming at times.
Chad Schaeffer had been hired on to help restore an old farmhouse for one of the returning Kendall siblings. He'd heard about the trouble the family had encountered and honestly didn't want to go anywhere near their properties. He had a change of heart when he saw the most recently returned Kendall sibling stepping out of her car with a key in her hand.
Gwen had waited a very long time to have a place to call her own, just as she had waited for the right man to share her life. One night of seduction convinces her she's found both, but someone wants to take it all away. It's been said that old houses retain a piece of each person who has lived there, but she never counted on the dark shadows wanting a piece of her.
"Did you actually cook for me, city girl?"Gwen would have probably screamed like a little girl at the sight of a spider bouncing on its web had she not first heard the faint sound of her cell phone chiming as the proximity alarm announced Chad's presence. The security firm who'd set up her system had the surrounding area of the house monitored for any movement. It came in handy for times like this, but for some reason, blood rushed to her cheeks and her heartbeat accelerated as if she'd just run a mile or two.When was the last time a man affected her in such a manner?
Too long to count, which was the sole reason she'd refused to take back her key earlier this afternoon. It wasn't like they were making a serious commitment to one another, and he would ultimately need to be able to come and go while working on her house.
"City girl?" Gwen opened the fridge and pulled out two bottles of beer to give time for the flush of color to leave her face. "Since when do you consider me a city girl?"
"Well, let's see." The intoxicating scent of Chad's cologne told her that he'd moved into the kitchen and was now in close proximity. "You put in excessively long hours at your new firm, you complained that there wasn't one of those fancy coffee places in town open twenty-four hours for your convenience, and today was the first time I've seen you in a pair of jeans since last weekend. I'd say that qualifies you as more city than country."
Gwen silently handed over his beer, giving herself time to study him before responding to such a ludicrous claim. Well, it did have some merit, but she'd address that at the appropriate time.
It was obvious he'd showered recently. The ends of his hair that curled slightly were still damp, and her fingers itched to brush them away from his face. He was freshly shaven with a slight sheen where he'd put on his aftershave. She fought the urge to rest her hand against his cheek. She still wasn't sure he was here for reasons other than he didn't want to stand her up on her invitation.
"I wasn't completely sure you were going to show up here tonight," Gwen finally said rather quietly.
She was unusually tentative to start this conversation considering all of this had been her idea to start with. She also wasn't usually so cautious with what she wanted.
If she wanted something, she bought it.
If she craved something, she ate it… within her own limitations.
She was a natural born go-getter, but that wasn't unusual given that she was raised with four brothers. This thing with Chad? She wasn't quite sure what tactic to take for fear that he'd want nothing to do with her or her offer for more.
"I wasn't sure, either," Chad responded honestly, the cap on his beer still secured to the opening. "I'm pretty certain Tobias was about to come out of his house to check on me when I stood by the driver's side door of my truck for ten minutes debating the idea."
Many times over the course of the past two weeks they'd had random debates over the silliest of things. She enjoyed a spirited conversation of opposing ideas and listening to his opinions, which were not much different than her own. Well, other than his preference of Dodge over Ford… which was totally insane.
"What eventually changed your mind and had you deciding to hop in that thing you call a truck and drive over here?"
Gwen wasn't expecting Chad to move in for the kill quite so quickly, but he did so with grace and lethal intent. She was a goner the moment his lips brushed over hers. The result was a foregone conclusion before she could take another breath.
Chad must have set his bottle of beer on the counter, because both of his hands were cradling her face. There was no hesitation. There was no uncertainty that he spoke of earlier, and she decided she'd have to take stock in whatever brand of aftershave he used before coming over tonight.
She was now addicted.
How could Chad Schaeffer— the skinny boy she remembered having freckles— turn into a man who could buckle her knees with a single kiss?
"Are you sure about this?" Chad asked, his tone a little breathless. At least he was able to talk. Her lips were still tingling, and she wasn't nearly done savoring his taste of mint mouthwash. "There's still time to—"
"This is exactly what I've been dying to do since I pulled up to the house and saw you standing on my porch," Gwen managed to say, setting her beer down next to his. "The only thing missing was a big red bow."
Chad lifted her underneath the arms, causing her to lose her breath at his obvious intention. She wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck, not wanting to waste any more time than they already had.
"Did you put any precautions on that list that Reese took to the store today?"
Gwen smiled against his neck, getting the gist of where this very brief conversation was headed. They wouldn't be talking for long.
"No," Gwen answered with a laugh, not expecting him to set both hands on her ass and hoist her over his shoulder. "Chad! Put me down!"
"It's a good thing they were on mine."
About the Keys to Love Series
Their homecoming wasn't so welcoming. Four brothers and one sister each gave twelve years of their lives to serve their country and fulfill their family's legacy of service. As each of them return to their home of record, they weren't prepared for what awaited them—an unforgiveable sin that has been hidden for twelve long years. Secrets and lies are concealed in the dark shadows of the very town they were raised in, and the Kendall family will have no choice but to rely on one another to unravel the sinister evil that they all hold the keys to unlock.
Kennedy Layne is a USA Today bestselling author. She draws inspiration for her military romantic suspense novels in part from her not-so-secret second life as a wife of a retired Marine Master Sergeant. He doubles as her critique partner, beta reader, and military consultant. They live in the Midwest with their teenage son and menagerie of pets. The loyal dogs and mischievous cats appreciate her writing days as much as she does, usually curled up in front of the fireplace. She loves hearing from readers–find out how to connect with her at www.kennedylayne.com.
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· Filed Under: Author Spotlight & interview, Excerpts · Tagged With: exclusive, Kennedy Layne, spotlight
Spotlight, Exclusive Excerpt & Giveaway: Hard Trigger by @sexlifehannah
August 27, 2018 by Lana · Leave a Comment
HARD TRIGGER
Author: S.L. Hannah
Publisher: AOH Publishing
"Your mother's opiates are coming from Jose Herrera's distribution network."
My pulse races as my stepfather speaks these words. Because taking on the Herreras also means taking on Diego.
Reckless, and hardened by a volatile past, Victoria does not see a future with Diego Herrera as a realistic option.
As their childhood friendship ignites, they find themselves on opposite sides of a bloody feud between the two most powerful families in Mexico City.
And she's a Moreno now—brought up to be the secret weapon nobody suspected.
But Victoria can't deny the attraction.
Diego's commanding muscles, the coarse, dark hair of his solid chest, that rugged scar above his sensuous lips…
Loyalty is in the eye of the beholder.
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HARD TRIGGER ExcerptCopyright © 2018 S.L. Hannah
He smacks the seat with a fist. "Stay away from José. This is not your problem. It's ours. The Herreras."
I place the cool water bottle against my neck. "I'm just here to make deals for some sugar transport. For the Morenos."
Diego lunges towards me, grasping at the straps of my dress. I gasp at his sudden nearness.
"I'm fucking serious, Victoria. José isn't some malandro with no family, friends, history, or name. He isn't Teresa." He lets go. "You should never have gotten involved with…this."
He grunts and slides me into the corner. His face is as close to mine as it's ever been without us breaking into a passionate kiss.
"José is the second in command." He grips my shoulder. "In my family."
Pressed between the hard leather and Diego's hard torso, I can't decide whether this is an invitation to fight him or fuck him.
My breathing hastens.
"That's not what I heard," I tell him. "I heard he lost that position, which is why he's turned against your family."
Diego tugs again at my dress straps, his knuckles digging into my chest, until one of them breaks.
"They will kill you, eventually," he urges. "You know this."
I attempt to create some space, but my struggles just intertwine us more.
His hand wanders into my hair and breaks loose the band holding the knot. I breathe in the familiar musky scent of his neck as his face burrows in the dark-brown waves.
"Do you understand me?" he pleads. "They will do it without checking in with me. They will do it despite what I say or do to defend you. And once they decide, they will do it so swiftly, you won't have a chance to reach for your weapon of choice—like tonight. You won't be able to outmaneuver or outthink. You will just be dead."
The seam of the seat digs into me, my emotions hanging off the edge of a cliff. My hand fumbles for balance until it lands on the thick, hard outline of his cock. A jolt of heat shoots through me.
Diego reaches around my ass and slides me further underneath him.
I lock my thighs around him, the dress tearing further as the SUV continues to rumble. He pulls down the top of my dress, exposing a round breast. My nipple is already pert in anticipation of his hot breath and flicking tongue.
When he performs just that, my hips circle beneath him. My moan is no longer silent. His stiff cock grinds into the last few layers of fabric between us as he sucks fervently at my nipple and I twist a lock of his hair between my fingers. The muscles of his back ripple as he pulls me tighter into him, trying to mold us into one. My pussy pulses to the rhythm of his insistence.
He looks up with his big, dark eyes, trying to figure out how to quell a storm he can't control. His thumb draws across my lips.
"Stay away from José," he begs. "Promise me."
S.L. Hannah was born in Poland, grew up in Canada, and moved to Southern California to pursue her love of single-engine airplanes. Her latest rogue romance, Hard Trigger, will be published on August 28th, 2018. Visit her online at www.slhannah.com to learn about her other books, to get updates about her new release, and to connect through social media. S.L. Hannah lives in Los Angeles, CA with her husband and garden of succulents. When she's not writing fiction, she continues to solve the aviation problems of the world.
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Exclusive look at Anyta Sunday's Surprise New Series!!
August 2, 2018 by Lana · Leave a Comment
Most. Exciting. News. EVER!!! The super fabulous New Adult author Anyta Sunday just released a super secret new three book novella series in one go on July 31. This will be the start to what will be a 26 novella series all featuring titles that play on letters of the alphabet. And I'm so excited to be able to share this peak into the first three books (letters A-C) with you today!
Feisty. Nerdy. Sexy. Secretive.
Greenville has them all.
Oh, how I love the guys in my "Love Letters" series! There all very special to me – the millionaire bad boys just as much as the hard-working strugglers. You can meet them all in the first three books of the series that were just released on July 31st.
Today, I want to introduce you to a couple that might just be my favorite – Landon and Ben from "Begging Ben". Not only are they super sweet, but they are the biggest nerds – geeking out over science and throwing the funniest puns at each other. To give you a taste, here are my Top 5 Landon and Ben puns!
No 5: "You're really on fire in the kitchen," Ben said, scraping charred toast.
No 4: About electrostatic attraction: "The higher the charges, the stronger their cohesiveness when they . . . join." Ben yanked his gaze back from straying down Landon's body.
No. 3: "Isn't that us in a nutshell, honey 3.142?"
No 2: "Kiss me. I bet we'll have chemistry together."
And my number one Landon and Ben pun, an amalgamation of equal parts bad word play, sweet over-the-top romance, and sincere feelings…
He opened the buttons on his lab coat, swept it off his shoulders, and revealed his T-shirt. Ocean blue with Landon's scrawled handwriting over it. "Are you a carbon sample, Ben?" Ben breathed in so hard, he choked. His eyes watered as Landon turned around. The back of his shirt read: Because I want to date you.
If you want to see these two sweet geeks fall for each other, "Begging Ben" is OUT NOW! And while you're at it, why not also grab the other two "Love Letter" books? All three are available via Amazon and also on KU.
A small town with big hearts, Greenville awakens at the mercy of Millionaire Row, the wealthy neighborhood across the tracks from Poplar Low.
Bad-tempered boys meet cheeky lovers.
Colliding worlds spark a fire of emotion. Heat rages. Hearts mend. Love is lost. And found.
Love Letters are playful, sexy, contemporary M/M stories that can be read as standalones.
Welcome to Greenville. Come for the sexy boys. Stay for the HEA.
Admiring Ash
Series (name + # in series): Love Letters #1
Release Date (Print & Ebook): July 31st, 2018
Length (Print & Ebook): 41600 words / 222 pages
Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance
Subgenre: Light-hearted, sexy gay romance
A is for Ash Heartford.
Adorable, strong, and independent.
Abandoned by his parents and attached to only one person—his little sister.
Attracted to River, the sultry man who saunters onto his doorstep with startling news.
Always yearning for more River, yet afraid to let him in.
Should he play it safe, or claim his legacy and risk losing his heart?
A is for Admiring Ash.
Tropes: Slow burn, virgin, one true love, happily ever after, related but not, hurt/comfort, forbidden love
Themes: Sudden inheritance, broken family, insta-dad
Begging Ben
B is for Ben Spengler.
Brilliant. Bashful. Burned.
Brimming with desire for his BFF Landon, who is beyond compare.
But they aren't the same Ben and Landon anymore. Not after what Landon did. And didn't do.
Bitter about his unrequited love.
Bound by a night of drunken promises.
Will the chemistry between them change, or will Ben break first?
B is for Begging Ben.
Tropes: Pretend boyfriend, friends to lovers, virgin, brother-like, jealousy
Themes: Science, geek, alcohol induced oblivion
Challenging Chance
C is for Chance Roosevelt-Sutton.
Chiseled jaw. Smug attitude. Wild ways.
Chained to his ego—or so everyone thinks. Except his personal assistant, Brook. He knows better.
Chance is challenged to make his father happy for once, but he needs Brook's help.
Choosing honesty is too risky, so instead they choose secrecy.
Choked by their pasts, they dream of a better life . . . and
Charm each other into submission.
Will their pasts ruin what they have, or will they grow together?
C is for Challenging Chance.
Tropes: Alpha male, millionaire bad boy, athlete, help/comfort
Themes: Basketball, coming out
Clenching the folder tightly against his chest, Brook kicked up a half smile. "I know you are a playboy, and charmingly faulted," he said. "Didn't think you'd be sexist too."
Chance slung the towel around his neck, stretching it taut by pulling the ends. "There you have it," he said. "I'm all those things."
He sounded cocky, but the follow-up swallow and downward glance had Brook pausing. The glimpse of vulnerability quickly vanished as Chance strode off the court.
Brook hustled after him, matching his long stride easily since Chance was only a hair taller.
"I can do the job as good as anyone," he said. "I'll be at your beck and call, whenever you need me. Most importantly, I'll keep my mouth shut."
Chance abruptly stopped and whisked around. "What do you mean you'll keep your mouth shut?"
"Public intoxication, public indecency, driver's license revoked two years ago for accumulating too many fines. None of it is my business. I'll help you navigate whatever paperwork comes with it, of course. But outside you and me? My lips are sealed."
He would never blurt Chance's mistakes in a crowded café. Though he'd been grateful to overhear the ex-PA, he didn't condone being unprofessional and blabbing about an employer's affairs.
Everyone made mistakes. They didn't need those mistakes defining them.
HEART-STOPPING SLOW BURN
A bit about me: I'm a big, BIG fan of slow-burn romances. I love to read and write stories with characters who slowly fall in love.
Some of my favorite tropes to read and write are: Enemies to Lovers, Friends to Lovers, Clueless Guys, Bisexual, Pansexual, Demisexual, Oblivious MCs, Everyone (Else) Can See It, Slow Burn, Love Has No Boundaries.
I write a variety of stories, Contemporary MM Romances with a good dollop of angst, Contemporary lighthearted MM Romances, and even a splash of fantasy.
My books have been translated into German, Italian, French, and Thai.
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At Keble I teach a wide variety of courses in British and European medieval history, and in historiography and historical method. I am also Tutor in Church History at St Stephen's House in Oxford. My research interests centre on the medieval church and especially the effect its teachings (in particular its law) had on people's lives.


Mary Catherine (Cathy) Downen founded Christian Counseling Connection, LLC to provide resources and support for licensed professional Christian counselors in private practice. Christian Counseling Connection has grown to become a flourishing collaborative group of Christian counselors dedicated to creating a Center of Excellence for mental wellness in our community.
Cathy Downen is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Missouri and a National Certified Counselor. She earned a Master of Arts degree in counseling from Missouri Baptist University and a Master of Arts degree in English from the University of Missouri-Columbia and has extensive teaching experience as a college adjunct instructor. She is also a Certified SYMBIS Assessment Facilitator for premarital and marital counseling. Her professional memberships include the American Counseling Association and the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Cathy trusts in the guidance of the Holy Spirit to help individuals, groups, couples, seniors, and young adults improve their lives as they work through issues of mental wellness. Her therapeutic interests include: depression, anxiety, anger, stress, grief, regrets, relationships, self-esteem, boundaries, life transitions, women's issues, career, education, goal-setting, premarital preparation, marriage enhancement, and other areas on the road to healthy living.
Using concepts and techniques that are a blend of several therapeutic strategies (including cognitive-behavioral, dialectical behavior therapy, narrative, positive psychology, existentialism, person-centered, and solution-focused), Cathy works within a Christian framework that is mindful and respectful of the individual value systems and diversity of her clients.


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Supreme Court Rejects Plea To Ban Social Network; But Asks Govt Can WhatsApp, Facebook Be Prosecuted For Offensive Content?
By Mohul Ghosh Last updated Dec 5, 2015
A very interesting question has come up before our judicial system:
Can social networks like Whatsapp, Facebook be prosecuted for the spread of hateful, vulgar and offensive content via their platform?
A Hyderabad-based NGO, Prajwala, has filed a PIL in Supreme Court, asking these social networks to be banned as these portals/apps are not checking the content which is being shared on their platform, and thereby causing harm to the society.
Two specific cases have been mentioned: the case of circulating videos of rape in Mumbai using Whatsapp, and a case wherein a pedophile racket in Kerala was busted on Facebook.
Although cases were filed against the concerned persons, but no action was taken against the social network for 'enabling' the sharing of these content and activities.
Pleas to Ban Social Network Quashed
A social justice bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and U U Lalit has quashed the move to block these social networks, as this is certainly not the solution; and it will reflect a very poor judicial image of the country. The bench said, "You are now asking blocking of sites. You may later on ask for banning mobile phones. Its not a solution and it cannot be done,"
However, this bench has asked the Government whether these social networks can be prosecuted for enabling the share of such content.
The two above mentioned cases have been mentioned by the Supreme Court, and asked the Govt. to respond. Head of the Prajwala NGO, Sunitha Krishnan have demanded that Govt. should ask these social networks to put a control on the content which is being shared via their platform, and to regulate it.
Responding to the PIL, Supreme Court has asked Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh find out why Whatsapp and Facebook were not booked under these cases from Mumbai and Kerala.
The bench said, "Let the government first respond to the issue and then we will consider"
Is Govt. Helpless on Offensive Content?
In the past, Govt. has acted recklessly, whenever it came to porn or offensive content. In 2013, Indian Govt. put a blanket ban on several porn sites and forums; which also included several of those sites which allowed only uploading and downloading of content.
The same year, a petition was filed to amend IT act in order to permanently ban porn in the country.
Last year, Govt. asked all ISPs to ban porn access, which created huge uproar in the nation, as the freedom of choice was directly threatened. This year, Govt. again ordered all ISPs to block 857 websites, which was termed as 'Talibanization' Of Internet Freedom'.
Later, Govt. passed the responsibility to the ISPs, as they asked them only block child porn, and all all other types of porn access.
In the past, Govt. has expressed their inability to identify those who upload offensive or vulgar content on these social networks as they said once the content is uploaded using a mobile, it becomes almost impossible to track the offenders.
In September this year, Govt. created a special task force called Cyber Crime Coordination Centre or IC4 and allocated a budget of Rs 400 crore to curb the menace of child porn in the country.
It would be interesting to observe how Centre responds to this fresh salvo from Supreme Court regarding offensive content, and how this menace can be stopped or controlled.
"Supreme Court Rejects Plea To Ban Social Network; But Asks Govt Can WhatsApp, Facebook Be Prosecuted For Offensive Content?", 5 out of 5 based on 1 ratings.
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Mohul Ghosh 3721 posts 3 comments
Mohul keenly observes the nuances of Indian startup world; and tries to demystify the secrets behind Technology, Marketing, Mobile and Internet. He is a Writer by passion, Marketer by choice and Entrepreneur by compulsion. Follow him on Twitter here: @_mohul
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INOC | Outsource Monitoring says 4 years ago
Hi Mohul,
A very interesting and informative article! Although I agree with the sentiments of the people behind banning social media sites for allowing posts that aren't supposed to be made public, it would actually do more harm than good. As what the bench of Justices said, blocking these site isn't the solution as it is impossible to be done. This can't be any truer. Our world revolves around these social media sites, and having them turned down would be devastating. Sometimes, the posts aren't really offensive — people just find it offensive because its the truth. People should learn how to accept reality instead of sweeping it under the rug. I think what can be done is for these sites to impose filters on posts or have them turned down as soon as someone protests against it.
Santokh Singh Saggu says 4 years ago
Amazing and Interesting !! Ban everything and make India like North Korea or some Islamic country.What about people who use vulgar language on the road or Park . So, Ban Road and Park also .Should Government and the contractors who built the Road and Park be prosecuted ?
I somebody uses paper to spread hatred then prosecute the Paper Manufacturer !!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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A plane's door flew open during takeoff, raining gold and silver over 16 miles of Siberia
A plane carrying a cargo of semi-pure, gold-and-silver alloys dumped more than three tons of the bars on the runway and parts of Siberia after a problem during takeoff, authorities said. (Yakutia Media/AFP)
Marwa Eltagouri
March 15, 2018 at 6:11 PM EDT
One of the coldest regions of the world saw some rain Thursday — a shower of silver and gold, that is.
A plane carrying 9.3 tons of precious metals lost part of its cargo Thursday as it was taking off from Yakutsk Airport in Siberia, scattering treasure across the runway as it gained height. Gold bars fell out of the Nimbus Airlines Antonov AN-12 cargo plane and landed as far as 16 miles from the airport, according to the Siberian Times.
The plane had been taking off after refueling at the airport when its cargo door flew open. At least 3.4 tons of doré bars — semi-pure alloys of gold and silver — came tumbling out, according to the Tass news agency. The precious metals had come from the Kupol mine in Russia's Chukotka region and in total weighed about 18,600 pounds.
The plane was headed for the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, according to a statement from an investigative committee, Tass reported.
In the coldest village on Earth, eyelashes freeze, dinner is frozen and temperatures sink to -88F
The plane had been forced to turn back to the airport, and police quickly closed off the area to prevent a gold rush, according to media reports. A video shows the remaining bundles of the alloy bars inside the plane and the door from which a third of the cargo appeared to have fallen out.
The bundles looked like large white bricks, according to a video taken of the runway.
Stanislav Borodyuk, a Russian spokesman for the Canadian mining company Kinross Gold, which operates the Kupol mine, told the Interfax news agency that the fallen cargo had been recovered in full.
Couple gets engaged on the floor of the House of Commons
China's fight over the Catholic Church, and 5 other stories you might have missed


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Music Box Label
chevron_right SWOON
Music Composed by Nathaniel Méchaly
Music Box Records • Sold Out
By buying this product you can collect up to 1 point. Your cart will total 1 point that can be converted into a voucher of €0.25.
Nathaniel Méchaly's Swoon won the Guldbagge Award (the 'Swedish Oscar') for 'Best Original Score'.
World Premiere CD Release.
8-page CD booklet with liner notes by Gergely Hubai.
Music Box Records releases the CD version of Nathaniel Mechaly's score to the Swedish romantic period musical Swoon (Eld & Lågor) (digital version available through MovieScore Media).
Directed by Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein, the story is a new reimagination of the Romeo and Juliet story with John (Albin Grenholm) and Ninni (Frida Gustavsson) growing up in resentment of each other due to their families' competing amusement parks. When they meet again as adults in 1940, their attraction is undeniable, but soon enough they must face much harsher enemies than their past…
Following their success on Midnight Sun, French composer Nathaniel Méchaly (of Taken fame) returns for another collaboration with Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein. On the one hand, the music underscores the classic Romeo and Juliet idea with an unabashedly romantic theme, but there are several carnivalesque sections that pay homage to the period and the setting of the story. The album also includes the new song from Lily Oakes entitled "The Keep".
French composer Nathaniel Méchaly studied music at the Conservatoire National de Région de Musique de Marseille. He started his film music career as an assistant to Oscar-winning composer Gabriel Yared. He is best-known as the composer for the Taken trilogy, starring Liam Neeson. Méchaly, with Japanese composer Shigeru Umebayashi, won Best Original Film Score at the 33rd Hong Kong Film Awards and Best Composer at the 8th Asian Film Awards for The Grandmaster.
The 8-page booklet features liner notes by Gergely Hubai, discussing the film and the score, based on an original interview with the composer.
1. Swoon (3:11)
2. Welcome to Gröna Lund (1:31)
3. John and Ninni's Waltz (1:07)
4. A Spy at Gustaf's Office (2:22)
5. Ninni's Roller Coaster (2:01)
6. At the Rooftop (1:25)
7. Awareness of Love (1:20)
8. The Dream (2:09)
9. In Love (1:15)
10. Gustaf's Story and Ghost Kiss (2:45)
11. Speaking the Same Language (0:59)
12. The Flower Bouquet (1:25)
13. John Can't Wait to See Her (0:56)
14. Sad Love (3:44)
15. Saving Them (2:00)
16. Lennart (4:14)
17. Ninni Leaves (3:55)
18. Don't Go (2:49)
19. Love Kiss (1:29)
20. Grand Finale (2:31)
21. The Keep (4:24) - Performed by Lily Oakes
Brand Music Box Records
Reference MBR-161
KAUFMAN'S GAME
Music Box Records is an independent record label company dedicated to film and television soundtracks. The online store also offers CDs and LPs vinyl soundtracks and DVDs from other labels.
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Q. How would you describe Crystal's CSR initiatives and practices?
A. While Crystal is a development platform with a mission to defeat poverty in Georgia, we try to spread and promote entrepreneurship in a financially, socially and environmentally sustainable way. To pursue the above-mentioned desired outcome, Crystal directs its CSR activities and initiatives towards 3 Ps: Profit, People and Planet. Our strategic goals are set to reach these outcomes, and most importantly this customer-centric and solutions-based approach helps Crystal to move away from the sole emphasis on credit and to focus on customers' needs.
Therefore, I can describe our CSR initiatives and practices as customer-centric, people-oriented and environment-friendly.
Q. What is the main challenge that Crystal is facing at present in the field of financial education?
A. Financial education, largely, is definitely one of today's big global challenges.
The world we live in keeps on evolving and growing, and financial literacy is the economic foundation of financial well-being. Moreover, the World Bank estimates the world will need 600 million new jobs in the next 10 years just to keep global employment rates. The problem is even greater in rural communities.
At Crystal's level, evidence shows that the main challenge in the field of financial literacy is lack of interest in financial knowledge and skills. Evidence also shows that some key demographic groups, e.g. the elderly, migrants, females, etc., are characterized and affected the most by financial illiteracy and unawareness.
But being the financial development platform for entrepreneurs, we believe that one of the main objectives of a financial inclusion institution - like ours - is creating value with entrepreneurship programmes, and Crystal's Youth Entrepreneurship School serves this belief. The School has existed for 3 years already with the goal to provide youth with financial skills and knowledge that is compatible with best practices in adult and lifelong learning and benefits from technological developments and new capabilities.
Studies confirm that raising financial awareness can be a powerful tool to help fight unemployment, as financial literacy is directly linked to financial stability.But because the challenge itself is not only related to financial institutions, it also requires the involvement of a wide range of government, private, third-sector, local and international institutional partners.
Q. How have CSR activities helped Crystal? Can the experience of Crystal in CSR be helpful to other organizations in Georgia?
A. CSR activities have always been an integral part of Crystal's business and helped us to reach our customers faster and more effectively. Additionally, Crystal's comparative advantage is that we view and offer ourselves as a platform for development, which provides customers with services they need for their development, economic and human. Our CSR activities were and are the reflections of this belief.
With this belief we are giving birth to and implementing our CSR activities. Furthermore, being aligned with the UN SDG goals - with our CSR activities - helps us do our business more responsibly and sustainably.
What's more, last year we became the Most Responsible Business Award Grand-Prize winner at the Meliora 2018 nation-wide competition. This is a great recognition, indeed, but an even greater responsibility and we think our CSR activities and sustainable development beliefs led us to this victory; this can be inspiring for other companies in Georgia.
Q. In terms of social projects, what have you implemented already and what have the results been?
A. From the already implemented CSR projects of Crystal, I would mention some recent ones, namely: Women's leadership workshop (conducted by the Canadian trainer - Adriana Greenblatt) as a result of our fruitful cooperation with the UN Women Georgia for years already. This was the first time Crystal participated in a workshop of this nature, drawing on a participatory approach, with the main goal to build trust, collaboration, confidence and motivation amongst women at Crystal, to define gaps and barriers to participation of women in decision-making processes, including difficulties for women in accessing professional development and leadership opportunities within Crystal and to generate ideas for piloting a women's mentorship programme.
On the same note, half of our 100,000 customers and 1,000 + staff members are women. We are also very proud that we are one of the first 5 companies in Georgia who signed the WEPs (Women Empowerment Principles).
Another important project, especially while talking about financial literacy and well-being, is Crystal's Youth Entrepreneurship School "YES Georgia". It started 3 years ago in cooperation with the USAID, PH International and Crystal Fund. In total, in Tbilisi and in about 20 municipalities of Georgia, around 150 young people were admitted to the Youth Entrepreneurs' School (out of 1,000 youths, who took part in the training programmes), 35 of which were funded by Crystal. It's worth mentioning that all these businesses were/are environmentally friendly, and do not cause any harm to the environment. Those youth start-ups are quite diverse, varying from web-based projects/applications focusing on education to tourism development to agricultural products to digital services.
On top of it all, I would mention our innovative Green Products and Green line, which started in 2016 in collaboration with the Dutch Development Bank - FMO. It had already generated more than GEL 4.5 mln and disbursed more than 5,000 'Green' loans.
Crystal aligns its CSR objectives to the chosen UN SDG goals, and with those particular above-mentioned CSR actions we are aligning with the UN SDG Goal 5 (Gender Equality), UN SDG Goal 8 (Good Jobs and Economic Growth) and UN SDG Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).
Q. What is Crystal doing to help social enterprises in today's market?
A. Because social enterprises are businesses with primarily social or environmental objectives, they add value to their local communities. The ways social enterprises differ from traditional businesses can be extremely beneficial to the community as a whole in a multitude of ways. Crystal - as a development platform - while trying to make a positive impact on the communities where we are represented (62 branches and boutiques around Georgia), supports social enterprises in different regions. Some of the social enterprises Crystal is cooperating with are: Arabuli ArtHouse, Green Gift, Tsnuli, Hangi, Knowledge Café (Tsnori), Babale and the Mziuri Café.
Q. Can you share one brief story about how Crystal's CSR practice is helping Georgian businesses thrive?
A. Corporate responsibility is a way for businesses (whether in Georgia or anywhere else) to take responsibility for the social and environmental impacts of their business operations. A robust CSR programme is an opportunity for companies to demonstrate their good corporate citizenship.
To illustrate how critical CSR has become, a 2017 study by Cone Communications found that more than 60 percent of citizens hope businesses will drive social and environmental change in the absence of government regulation. Most consumers surveyed (87%) said they would purchase a product because a company supported an issue they care about. More importantly, an enormous 76% will refuse to buy from a company if they learn it supports an issue contrary to their own beliefs.


A Machine Learning Scientist is responsible for solving complex big-data problems in online advertising space using data mining, machine learning, statistical analysis and computational economics.
An ideal candidate should have strong depth and breadth knowledge in machine learning, data mining and statistics.
The candidate should have reasonable programming and design skills to manipulate unstructured and big data and build prototypes that work on massive datasets.
The candidate should be able to apply business knowledge to perform broad data analysis as a precursor to modeling and to provide valuable business intelligence.


The 2019 Kit Kat Sugar NCHA Super Stakes has been one to remember for many of our riders and that continued on into the Classic Non-Pro Finals and the Derby Limited Non-Pro Finals last night! It was an impressive group and the scores throughout reflected just how serious our Non-Pro riders are about the sport.
Megan Miller made a statement marking a huge 226 aboard Carolena Reyn (Dual Smart Rey x Carolena Moon), owned by she and her husband Matt, early in the first set of the Classic Non-Pro Finals! It is no surprise that she and her great mare "Lucy" took center stage having already claimed a number of Championships including the Derby Non-Pro Co-Championship last year at the NCHA Super Stakes. Lucy has earnings in excess of $206,000 adding another $16,442 last night for this win. That being said you know she has had big run after big run for both Megan and Matt in the Open, but this run was something else! Everything fell into place and the cows were tough enough to challenge the young mare but still gave enough time for her to show off everything that is so unique about her. It was this duo's night and when the buzzer went off Megan took a huge breath with a smile on her face both relieved and excited to have such an amazing run in the big pen!
This mare is extra special to this family because she came out of their exceptional breeding program they are known for. They often sell the babies at some point in their careers and they continue to be successful in other programs but Lucy is at the Miller's to stay! Her mother, Carolena Moon, is now 19 years old so Lucy will continue on her legacy as time goes on. It is such a heartwarming story for this family and we are excited to see what the future holds for their program.
Reserve Champion was Kristen Galyean riding Duramax Dually (Dual Rey x That Catomine), owned by the Glover/Galyean Partnership, marking a 222.5! This duo laid it all on the line and the quick stallion made the most of the two and a half minutes. "Dually" is an unconventional, athletic mover making it look like a challenge to ride but Kristen was not intimidated. She showed him aggressively like she wanted to win and was also all smiles when the buzzer rang! Dually was also raised by this family who is building quite the breeding program as well in both the cutting and pleasure horse world. They took home a $14,969 check to go along with their title and wonderful memories for all involved!
Third Place was Paula Wood riding Suen To Be Black (Boon Too Suen x Chitas Blue Boon), marking a 221 first out in the finals! Paula collected a $13,496 along with another $6,261 aboard her second finalist Cool N Hot (Hottish x Donas Cool Cat). Not a bad evening for the Wood family!
The Gelding Division Champion was High Stylin CD (High Brow CD x Stylin Playgirl) ridden by Langston Pattillo marking a 218.5.
The Senior Division Champion was Julie Clarke aboard Betchalou (Bet Hesa Cat x Louella Again) marking a 215.5!
Next to go was the Derby Limited Non-Pro Finals where Alannah Chalmers also started the finals off marking a 221 riding Metallic Made (Metallic Cat x Medelena) taking home a $8,672 check for the Championship! She and "Bubbles" made sure to make an impact from the start making impressive cuts and controlling her cows in the middle of the pen. When Alannah has a chance to really show her horses she always does an exceptional job making it look easy! In this sport with so many variables, opportunities have to present themselves and it is up to us to take advantage of them when they do. She did just that last night allowing her to hold on to the lead throughout the class. This was her second win in the Will Rogers but we are sure there are many more left to come!
Reserve Champion was Scott Chartier riding Pharrell (High Brow Cat x Ricochets Chick), marking a 218.5. Alannah is actually Scott's longtime girlfriend making for a pretty cool story for these two. Both he and Alannah have full time jobs making cutting a hobby, granted a serious hobby, but it is not what they work at every day. It is fun to see these two hard working people do well as they are very deserving. Scott took home an $8,160 check for the evening to go along with his title.
Third Place was a tied between Jennifer Foland who rode Hiss N Vinegar (Dual Smart Rey x Hissy Cat), and Jaylee Brown riding One Time Legend (One Time Pepto x HR Playin Legend) both marking a 218. They each received a $7,392 check!
There is one more Non-Pro Finals left to go this evening then our Amateur riders will close out the show. Congratulations to all of the finalists and go luck to everyone throughout this next week!