REVIEW: A SEAL'S COURAGE by JM STEWART

A Seal's Courage

Military Match #1

By JM Stewart

Releasing July 11th, 2017

Forever Yours

 

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In A Seal's Courage (Military Match #1) by JM Stewart, all Lauren Hayes wants to do is lose her virginity. At her age, she should have lost it by now, but after years of being told sex is sacred, she's waiting for Mr. Right. However, the only man that matches up is her best friend's brother, Trent Lawson; a gorgeous man haunted by his time in the military. So, when the pair are matched up through a dating service, and then come up with a plan to spend a month together exploring their chemistry, neither expected to fall in love. Can Lauren help Trent heal from his past, or will Trent allow his past to continue holding him back from finding happiness?

The pages of this hot and steamy read really flew by and this story started off Ms. Stewart's new Military Match series wonderfully. The way this story started had me amused because of the conversation going on between Lauren and her friends. They're determined for Lauren to finally lose her virginity, so why shouldn't they take matters into their own hands by doing what they do. Poor Lauren! However, she can't believe how hard it's going to be to get up close and personal with her date, considering the man she's been matched up with. 

The main characters back stories made for some intense dialogue, especially that of the hero, because of all that he's been through while he was in the military and losing friends that he believes he should have been able to save. However, the dialogue wasn't all intense. There were also some really good light-hearted moments and some dirty talk that had me loving how this couple's relationship progressed, as Lauren is the only one that's ever been completely capable of getting past the walls Trent put up when he returned home for good.

As for the hero, I absolutely loved him. He's been through so much and is haunted by his past, so it's understandable why it's hard for him to get close with anyone. I also liked how he was hesitant to get involved with the heroine, as she means a lot to him and he doesn't want to lose her. Yet, what I liked most about the hero is how he treated the heroine when he learnt the truth about her lack of experience and didn't judge her. While Lauren, she's kind, caring and I enjoyed how Trent opens up to her about what happened that ended his career and has left him isolated from those that love him. I also liked the advice the secondary characters gave her, as it was sound advice that she definitely needed to act on. Yet, what I enjoyed most about the heroine is how she helped the hero heal from his past and in return he helped her too.

Overall, Ms. Stewart has delivered a wonderful read in this book where the chemistry was off-the-charts, the romance scorching and the ending had me cheering for this couple's happy ever after, as Trent needs Lauren in his life if he's to ever fully heal from his past. I would recommend A Seal's Courage by JM Stewart, if you enjoy the sister's best friend trope or books by authors Christie Ridgway, Elle James, Cat Johnson or Sarah Robinson. 

   

 

BLURB

A sizzling new series about three friends looking for love-and the sexy SEALs who are ready to fulfill their craziest fantasies.

He's a man on a mission.

Navy SEAL Trent Lawson isn't a man to back down from a challenge. Ever since he opened his eyes in that army hospital to learn the men from his unit were gone, Trent has been determined to live life in their honor. Even if that means facing his most terrifying mission yet . . . dating.

She's done playing games.

Lauren Hayes has standards. In fact, she's got an entire list of them. There's only ever been one man to come close to making the cut-Trent Lawson. Except her best friend's too-sexy-for-his-own-good brother is strictly off-limits.

When Trent and Lauren find themselves matched up by a dating service, the chemistry between them is nothing short of explosive. They both know getting involved is a huge mistake, but life is too short to walk away from something this good.

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RELEASE BLITZ: TARGETED by MARISSA GARNER includes REVIEW

Targeted
FBI Heat #2

By: Marissa Garner

Releasing June 7, 2016
Forever Yours

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In Targeted (FBI Heat #2) by Marissa Garner, FBI Special Agent Marissa Panuska knows that the undercover assignment she's on could very easily end with her being shipped home in a body bag. Still, nothing is going to stop her from risking her life to bring down those that wish to set off a dirty bomb and kill hundreds of people. However, it's getting harder and harder for her to maintain her cover when the group she's infiltrating is so filled with hate, until the mysterious Ameen Ali comes to her rescue when she gets herself into a precarious situation. 

 

Former Navy Seal Ameen Ali lost the most important people in his life when terrorists killed his family during an attack on American soil. He's determined to take down those that threaten people's lives, even at the cost to his own. Saving the life of the gorgeous woman that seems to be part of the group he's looking to take down, he's determined to take advantage of her gratitude. Except she's more stubborn than he could have imagined, and convincing her to join forces may prove harder than he thinks. 

 

Having really liked the first book of this series, and being introduced to Marissa in it, I was looking forward to reading what Ms. Garner would put the strong and brave woman, through in this story on the road to happy ever after. And honestly, it was everything I'd hoped for and more. Right from the beginning, this book was highly entertaining and gripped my attention immediately with it's strong plot, solid characters as well as a narrative and dialogue that kept me flipping the pages wanting to see how this story would develop. Especially after what happens to Marissa in the opening chapter, and the danger than Ameen saves her from.     

 

I really liked both the main characters as well as the secondary ones, even though I thought that there were too many characters narrating the story. However, in saying that, all those characters narrating was necessary, as it illustrated how big of an investigation Marissa was on was, and that she couldn't do it alone. The friendship the heroine shares with her friend, Ben, proves that she needs someone she can trust to help her. Besides, they have a unique connection that was beneficial to her when she needed him most.

 

Marissa is strong, brave, determined, and stubborn. Being back in the field, she seems more alive than what she would be like working behind a desk. Her determination to take down the terrorist cell, even though everyone believes it's too dangerous for her to keep going, was what I liked best about her. She couldn't allow for the bad guys to hurt innocents without doing everything in her power to make sure she was the one that would take them down. Especially after all that she's witnessed infiltrating the terrorist cell, which seemed to be having more of an effect on her than she thought it would. As if a virus coursing through her that may prove difficult to get rid of.

 

While Ameen, he's confident and determined. No way could allow innocent lives to be lost when he could do something about it. Yet, what I liked most about the hero is that he didn't allow Marissa's stubbornness to get in the way of what he had to do. He was going to protect her, no matter what she threatened him with. They also have an incredible connection, which is proven by the fact that it's hard for her not to trust him. Until eventually, the strong chemistry they have spills over onto the pages in scorching sex scenes. Marissa needed Ameen, so she didn't feel so alone and to make her realize that there was light at the end of the dark tunnel she seemed to be caught in, if he was willing to explore their connection more when the case was over.

 

Overall, this was a very good addition to the FBI Heat series by Ms. Garner, and I can't wait until the next one, considering one of the secondary characters lost someone important. The way this story ended was perfect, despite what happened to the main characters and the fact that I thought all hope was lost when it came to the hero. I would recommend Targeted by Marissa Garner, if you enjoy the mysterious strangers trope or romantic suspense.

 

OVERALL RATING: 

 

 

 

 

BLURB For San Diego's elite FBI agents, risking their lives is standard procedure when it comes to capturing the city's most dangerous criminals-but falling in love is the greatest risk of all.

 



RIPPED FROM THE HEADLINES . . . 





FBI Special Agent Marissa Panuska faces the most explosive case of her career when she impersonates a female terrorist to infiltrate an al-Qaeda cell. Her dark hair, olive complexion, and Arabic fluency make her the perfect imposter, but each passing hour raises the risk of discovery. Can she stop the dirty-bomb plot-alone-when the Feds don't even know the target? And should she trust the mysterious man who bursts into her life when her cover is blown?





SO CLOSE TO REALITY . . . 



Former Navy SEAL Ameen Ali has a very personal reason for hating the terrorists and vowing to stop them. But when a beautiful woman joins the sleeper cell spreading death-to-America propaganda at his mosque, he doesn't want to believe she shares their evil goals. Can he convince her to join forces before it's too late?

 

 

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Night had fallen when Samir parked the truck in front of the dilapidated house in the drug-infested Tijuana slum. Once he killed the headlights, the moon provided the only illumination along the crumbling asphalt road. Wedged between Samir and Omar on the seat, Marissa Panuska scanned the neighborhood of decaying buildings, hoping to catch a reassuring glimpse of the two agents who were out there—somewhere—following her, watching her back.

On five previous occasions, the terrorists had brought her to their hideout in Mexico, just across the border from San Diego. Marauding drug gangs ruled the area where crackling gunfire was as common as barking dogs. The constant smell of weed permeated the air and stung her nostrils. The residents were rarely visible, preferring relative safety behind walls.

Marissa’s gaze swept over the run-down house, checking for any signs of change or trouble. Boards protected the windows from prying eyes, and a padlock secured the door against thieves. The electrical connection dangling from the sagging overhead lines was one of the few in the slum, and the satellite phone antenna on the roof was definitely unique.

After an anxious look around, Omar jumped out to unlock the door before all three darted inside. Samir switched on the lamp that sat on the floor by the door. Ignoring the stench from the barely functioning bathroom, they hurried past it and the bedroom on the left. A narrow archway separated the front room from the larger back room, which included a rudimentary kitchen along one wall. The furnishings consisted of six metal folding chairs, a wooden table, and three tall lamps. Several boxes of electronic parts, including a new one, were lined up near the rear door. The place was filthy, but no one cared.

The stifling heat in the closed-up house stole Marissa’s breath. Sweat dampened her skin beneath the long, black abaya and niqab, the Muslim robe and veil she wore over her other clothes. While the men turned on the lights, she sank onto one of the flimsy chairs, morbidly wondering if she was more likely to die from heat stroke than at the hands of the terrorists.

Holding the niqab away from her face, she drew slow, deep breaths and grimaced at the pain in her lungs and stomach. The stress of impersonating Baheera Abbas, of pretending to be the female terrorist previously unknown to the US intelligence community, gnawed at Marissa’s nerves. If only she could determine Baheera’s role in the planned attack, she might be able to finish the covert operation, might be able to survive. Every passing minute held the threat of discovery and diminished that possibility.

Marissa wiped the sweat from her face and watched the two men admire the sword-like knife Samir had purchased in a shop along Avenida Revolución on their way through Tijuana. On previous visits, Samir’s first priority had been to unlock the metal gun cabinet bolted to the floor in the bedroom closet and to confirm the delivery of additional bomb components. But tonight, the sleeper cell’s leader and Omar were distracted by the massive blade, which they took turns brandishing menacingly at each other.

Samir’s satellite phone lay on the table. The phone never left his sight because it represented the cell’s umbilical cord to the Middle East, the only method of communication between the terrorists here and those at home. Homeland Security couldn’t fathom why just one means of contact existed, why no alternate options were in place. They suspected the men in charge didn’t trust anyone except Samir and wanted to minimize the risk of the plot being traced back to the source. Unable to determine the terrorists’ reasons, US officials decided the terrorist mind was impossible to comprehend and worked to exploit the obvious weakness in the cell’s strategy. The Bureau and other government agencies had simply taken advantage of the situation and monitored the terrorists’ calls with ease.

Until two weeks ago, Marissa had been one of the agents monitoring those calls, listening to and translating many long distance conversations between Samir and his bosses. Discovering the true identities of the people had been a frustrating, and often futile, process. No one used a last name, and even the first names were suspect as they were frequently aliases. Husaam was the name used by the man who seemed to be at the top, but the common Arab name made it impossible to positively identify or trace him.

The sat phone’s ring interrupted Marissa’s thoughts.

Everyone froze.

Samir shot it a startled glance. The call seemed to confuse him for a moment, suggesting he didn’t expect to be contacted tonight. He grabbed the phone, answering warily in Arabic. His face tensed, and his tone turned respectful when he launched into a detailed status report. As usual, he lowered his voice and walked into the front room so neither Omar nor Marissa could hear.

She prayed that someone in Washington would be listening in real time—not hours later to a recording.

Only five minutes passed before Samir, wearing a Cheshire cat grin, strolled back through the doorway and held out the phone to her. Her stomach knotted. Only Samir talked on the sat phone.

Saying nothing, he thrust it at her again.

Hesitantly, she put the phone to her ear and spoke in precise Arabic. “Allahu Akbar.”

The man on the phone greeted her affectionately—as his wife.

 

I'm a wife, writer, chocoholic, and animal lover, not necessarily in that order. As a little girl, I cut pictures of people out of my mother's magazines and turned them into characters in my simple stories. Now I write sexy paranormal romantic suspense, steamy contemporary romance, and edgy romantic thrillers. I live in sunny Southern California with my husband, but enjoy traveling from Athens to Anchorage to Acapulco and many locations in between.

 

Author Links:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

 

 

 

 

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: ONE NIGHT WITH THE CEO by MIA SOSA

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One Night with the CEO
Suits Undone #2

By: Mia Sosa

Releasing May 3, 2016 
Forever Yours

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In One Night with the CEO (Suits Undone #2) by Mia Sosa, Karen Ramirez doesn't have time for romance, not when she'll soon be putting herself through medical school. Yet, the charming and gorgeous Mark Lansing seems like a good choice for one last fling, before she needs to buckle down and concentrate on her future. Besides, he might be the perfect guy to show her just what she's missing out on when it comes to great sex, if only she can keep herself from falling for him. 

 

The moment the gorgeous Karen Ramirez runs into him, Mark Lansing wants her. But he's hesitant to pursue her because she'll be his best friend's sister-in-law soon. How would he ever be able to face her, if things turned out badly between them, and they couldn't end up being friends? Still, it doesn't stop him from going after what he wants, and what he wants is Karen. If only what happens in Puerto Rico stays in Puerto Rico. Except that's impossible, especially when Karen is the only woman he can see himself having a future with.

 

I haven't read any of Ms. Sosa's books before, but after reading this second story in her Suits Undone series, I'll be reading more of her work. Right from start to finish, this book was engaging, fast-paced and drew me in with it's well-written dialogue and charming characters. I really liked how this book started with Karen hanging out with her sister and having a good time, then later finding herself having a very personal conversation with Mark. A conversation that comes to an abrupt end when he discovers just who she is and how young she is. No way could he pursue her after that discovery.

 

There were some light-hearted moments between Mark and Karen as well as the heroine and her relatives that made me smile or laugh. She's close with her family, and they're really proud of her. They also want her to be happy, and see that she is with Mark. Indeed, the heroine is smart, strong and brave. She goes into the relationship, knowing there's an expiration date on their romance, yet I felt sorry for her when things fell apart in their growing relationship. She didn't deserve the way Mark treated her. However, in saying that, I did like the confidence she gained through their being together. He made her feel cherished, an emotion she hadn't felt much of from men.

 

While Mark, he's kind, caring, hard-working and it was no wonder he didn't do relationships after the kind of marriage his parents had. His mother is a bit eccentric with the way she expects him to treat her. They have more of a relationship as acquaintances than as mother and son. It made me feel sorry for him, but at least he has a decent relationship with his dad.

 

Hot sex scenes heated up the story at the right moments throughout this book, and illustrated the intense chemistry these two had from the moment they met. Mark is looking to settle down while Karen doesn't believe she can because she needs to focus on her studies, and all the hero would be is a distraction. Yet, they're so right for each other.

 

Overall, this was a really good book that didn't fail to entertain me, and quite frankly a story I wanted more of. The way it ended was brilliant with Mark being there for the heroine when she needed him, and then Mark impressing Karen with his determination to win her back. Truly, his speech was perfect. I would recommend One Night with the CEO by Mia Sosa, if you enjoy a story where the couple try to keep their relationship casual but soon realize just how right they are for each other.

 

OVERALL RATING:

  

 

 

 

BLURB:

After some disappointing dates, Karen Ramirez has concluded that great sex is for other people. Especially since medical school won’t leave her much time for romance anyway. Then she runs into tall, dark, charming, and ridiculously wealthy Mark Lansing—and quickly reconsiders celibacy. Adding to temptation? Mark will be the best man at her sister’s wedding and the nuptial destination is sultry Puerto Rico. Now this trip might just be sensory overload—or the perfect chance for Karen to find the groove she’s never had.

For CEO Mark Lansing, his perfect match would be smart, sweet, and funny, with long legs and silky hair the color of dark chocolate. In short, someone a lot like Karen. But Mark’s looking to settle down, while a relationship is the last thing on Karen’s mind. So Mark proposes a plan: he and Karen will use their weekend in paradise to sizzling advantage—before downshifting to friendship. The only problem? Karen is all Mark can think of when he gets home. Now his most challenging negotiation will be for the one thing money can’t buy . . .

 

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Well, that had escalated quickly.

Mark’s mouth captured hers. She tasted salt and a hint of sweetness on his lips, a heady combination that made her moan in appreciation. She arched into him, wanting—no, needing— to feel his body against hers. He responded by snaking his hand under her hair and caressing her neck. Seconds later, he wrapped his other hand around her middle and stroked her back. Mark’s kiss promised a full-body experience, and she shivered in response to all the points of contact. Finally, he drew back, gulping in air. Oh, right. She needed to breathe. Funny how easily he made her forget a minor inconvenience like breathing.

She pressed her face against his chest and held on to the lapels of his suit jacket as she took in air. “What’s happening?”

He brushed his fingers against her hair. “I’m sorry for acting like an ass.”

She looked up at him then. “That’s your version of an apology?”

He stepped back and ran a hand through his hair. “No, that’s my version of being selfish. What I should have done was apologize for being a jerk to you. You didn’t deserve it.”

She nodded. “You’ll get no argument from me there.”

He stepped toward her and reached for her hands. “I wanted to kiss you, but I didn’t think it would be a smart move, so I took my frustration out on you.”

“And the kiss?”

He dropped her hands and shoved his own in his pockets. “The kiss is harder to explain.”

“Um, unless I’m missing something, the phenomenon is called attraction. Your pheromones and my pheromones are sending chemo-signals to each other. Totally normal.”

He gave her his trademark half smile. “Totally not a good idea, either.”

She didn’t disagree with him. Doing anything with Mark didn’t figure in her plans, no matter how much he’d nearly owned her with a single kiss. “Again, you’ll get no argument from me. Still, that kiss was pretty freaking hot.”

Mark closed his eyes and raised his head to the night sky. “Stop doing that. I’m relying on you to be the voice of reason in this situation.”

Ha. That was cute. But she’d oblige him anyway, because she needed to put the kiss in its proper place: a momentary lapse in judgment not to be repeated. If she didn’t, he’d consume her thoughts, and she couldn’t afford the distraction. “Mark, look around. We’re in Puerto Rico. You look hot. I look hot. It’s hot, period. And we’re standing in front of a garden. You hear that?”

“What?”

“The coquis.”

“What’s a coqui?”

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “Only one of the most important cultural symbols of Puerto Rico.” When he stared at her blankly, she continued. “The tiny frogs, Mark. You must have seen them everywhere at the airport. T-shirts, mugs, hats, you name it. Listen.”

They faced each other in silence. “That’s their mating call,” she told him. “They’re practically begging us to lock lips. You can’t be faulted for wanting to kiss me under these circumstances.”

He bridged the distance between them. “What if I told you I’ve wanted to kiss you every single second I’ve been in your presence? Can you explain that?”

She gulped. “Well, that’s a little harder to explain.”

He pressed his hand against the back of her neck and pulled her flush against him. “And I’ve never wanted to stop at kissing. I want us to do more than that. A lot more.”

 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mia Sosa is an award-winning writer and 2015 Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® Finalist. She writes contemporary romances that are funny, flirty, and a little dirty. Ahem. Her first book, Unbuttoning the CEO, was published by Grand Central Publishing in December 2015 and garnered a starred review from Library Journal, which called it “a sparkling romance debut.”

Although Mia once dreamed of being a professional singer, practical considerations (read: the need to generate income) led her to take the law school admissions test instead. She practiced First Amendment and media law in the nation's capital for ten years before returning to her creative roots. Now she spends most of her days writing love stories about smart women and the complicated men who love them. Okay, let's be real here: Mia wears PJs all day and watches more reality television than a network television censor--all in the name of research, of course. She lives in Maryland with her husband and two daughters and will forever be on the hunt for the perfect karaoke bar.

Mia is represented by Sarah E. Younger of the Nancy Yost Literary Agency.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

 

 

 

WEDDING DATE by KELLY EADON RELEASE BLITZ includes REVIEW

The Wedding Date

By: Kelly Eadon

Releasing April 5, 2016
Forever Yours

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In Wedding Date by Kelly Eadon, all Kate Massie wants is to work her way into her dream job as a lawyer prosecuting child abuse cases, but with the economy not doing so well, the only job she's managed to get is working as a clerk for a judge. However, it seems her dating life might be taking a turn for the better when she runs into the young man that once took her to the junior prom, James Abell. Except he's totally changed from the shy boy he was into a handsome, confident man.

 

What a delightful, fast-paced, riveting read Ms. Eadon has written, encompassing the fake relationship trope, a heroine determined to achieve her dream, and a hero desperately in need of a date to his sister's wedding to get his mother off his back. I really liked how this story started with what happens to the heroine in the elevator amongst her work colleagues. What a ringtone her phone has.  

 

As for the dialogue, the secondary characters certainly know how to put the hero and the heroine on the spot. They want this couple to be happy, especially Jame's friends and they think the heroine is perfect for him, would fit in with his family and win over his mother. Then there's the playful banter between James and Kate as well as the main characters and different members of the Abell family. The competitiveness of James and his brothers made me smile or laugh, because it seems to bring fun to Kate's life just as much as the men's.

 

I really liked both the main characters as much as the secondary ones. The Abell family could be a bit much at times for Kate, but I liked how she fit in with them. They treated her like family, which was surprising the way everyone talked about his overbearing mother. Kate is strong, brave, independent. But what I liked most about her was her willingness to help James because he needed her. Not just because of his mother, but because of his ex; a woman that doesn't know how to let go. His ex seems to use him all the time; to help decrease her stress since she's shy and doesn't like crowds. Yet, now that Kate has come into his life, he realizes he can't continue to help her.

 

While James, he's kind and caring. He's tired of his mother constantly annoying him about his love life. What business is it of hers. He can find his own woman. Just not his ex. That is finally over, and there's no going back to her. Knowing his ex needs to find a way to help herself, instead of using people to help with her condition. Luckily, his ex surprises him with her decision to get help.

 

Overall, this was a really good book where the couple's intense chemistry, which was there from the moment they came face-to-face again, for the first time in years, spilled over onto the pages in hot sex scenes. Kate is uncertain whether she's ready for a relationship, considering her stay in town is only supposed to be temporary. Yet, spending time with James has her falling hard for him. He's everything she'd want in a man if she was looking for a chance at happy ever after. 

 

Ms. Eadon wrapped this story up nicely, despite the fact that they both reacted badly when James discovered the name of the heroine's ex-boyfriend. Apparently, her ex's father and James's dad are at odds due to business. However, the epilogue shows this couple are meant to be and that Kate is really good and happy at her new job. I would recommend Wedding Date by Kelly Eadon, if you enjoy the fake relationship trope, small town romances, or stories where a tight-knit family and the couple's friends want happiness for someone they care about, so they're determined to match-make.

 

OVERALL RATING: 

  

 

 

BLURB: 

A LITTLE FAKE RELATIONSHIP NEVER HURT ANYONE . . .

Kate Massie has big dreams-they just haven't worked out. Yet. In the meantime, she spends her days clerking for a judge and her nights fantasizing about her tall, dark, and sexy gym crush. So when she runs into him one night, she's shocked to realize he was her shy, nerdy junior-prom date. But that isn't where the surprises end . . .

James Abell needs a date to his sister's wedding. So when Kate agrees, he's relieved . . . until one little lie turns their wedding date into a full-blown fake relationship. Only it doesn't feel fake-not the toe-curling kisses and definitely not the electricity. Neither of them is looking for something real . . . but they just might fall for their own little white lie.

 

Buy Links:    Amazon | B & N | Google | iTunes | Kobo

 

Kate stared at herself in the mirror.

This is just pretend.

What was wrong with her? She’d spent all week fortifying her internal defenses. When he’d offered to bring her dinner or keep her company, she’d assured him Beth was taking good care of her. Now, with only a few words from Margaret, she’d let herself slip back into fantasy.

A fantasy where she could kiss James whenever she wanted. Where his strong arms held her at night.

A tremor passed through her.

No! She was stronger than this. She needed to convince his family and the other guests they were dating, not herself. She tore her eyes from the bathroom mirror and unzipped the garment bag that hung from the shower curtain rod.

She shimmied into the blue lace dress.

She had to admit, Ainsley had been right about it.

The fabric skimmed over her body and showed precisely the right amount of leg. Or it would, once she got it zipped. She twisted and turned and wiggled, but couldn’t reach the zipper.

Crap. She had to ask James for help.

She took a deep breath and knocked on the door leading back to the hotel room.

“I’m dressed.” His deep voice sent goose bumps over her skin.

She cracked the door and poked her head through. “I hate to ask you this, but I’m stuck. I need you to zip me up. Please.”

He kept his attention on the cufflink he was hooking through his button hole. “Sure.”

She only hesitated for a moment before she stepped from the bathroom and spun, to give him access to her back.

There was a zipping sound as his fingers skated over the fabric.

She exhaled sharply. There. It was over. She turned back to him. “Thank you. I’ll be ready in one minute. I have to find my necklace first.”

“You look amazing.” James' voice caught as he stared at her, his eyes a vivid, brilliant gray.

Kate couldn’t tear herself away from him. His gaze pierced her, suspending her in time and space.

He stepped toward her, curled his palm around the back of her neck and lowered his mouth to hers. A delicious tingle surged through her blood and down to her toes as their lips met. He snaked his other arm around her waist and pulled her against him as his tongue swept into her mouth.

She tilted her head back and gave herself over to him, reveling in the feel of his lips against hers. His kiss turned rougher, more urgent. Her knees went weak and her head swam as she clutched him.

Her tongue tangled with his, matching him stroke for stroke. All rational thought fled her mind and she was engulfed in a cloud of James: his smell, his taste, his touch.

He pulled back for a second and his eyes glinted as he traced his thumb over her cheek. Then he tightened his grip around her waist and took the fullness of her lower lip in his mouth. A tiny moan escaped her as he sucked gently. With every stroke of his tongue, her body melted further into his. His fingers dug into her back and she could feel his heart pound through his dress shirt.

A knock sounded on the door and she stepped back abruptly, breaking the kiss.

His eyes burned with an intensity that sucked all the air from her lungs. She shifted her gaze to the floor.

No one had ever kissed her like that.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kelly Eadon is a romance writer living in Richmond, Virginia with her husband and a house full of rescue animals, aka "the kraken". She swears like a sailor and says whatever pops into her head. In order to counteract her big mouth, she wears high heels whenever possible. In her spare time she spins, kick boxes and attempts to renovate her farmhouse. She hates sanding drywall, loves to cook, drinks lots of wine, gets scary competitive at trivia, and enjoys time spent exploring with her rescued beagle mixes. 

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