Spotlight: The Secret Life of Avery O’Dea by Elise Marion

The Secret Life of Avery O’Dea 

Elise Marion

A famous actress with secrets. A photographer moonlighting as a paparazzo. A few shutter clicks and their lives will never be the same again.

When a daring photographer catches "America's Sweetheart", Avery O'Dea, in a lie, the picture threatens to expose the truth of Avery's relationship with her boyfriend and co-star, Ryan Sanders, to the world. When her carefully constructed world is starting to collapse around her, Avery realizes just how tired she is of the elaborate cover-ups. It’s a burden she no longer wishes to bear.

When she locks eyes with handsome Dominic Ramsay at a gallery showcasing his photographic work, she is shocked to recognize him as the paparazzo that set her world on fire with a single photo.

Avery longs for more from life: passion, love and the freedom to live her as she pleases.

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Details:
The Secret Life of Avery O’Dea is a contemporary romance novella of 28,000 words. It tells a story of an actress who has been playing a part permanently since she’s graduated from kid’s roles to her first mature role in a love story. The benefit of her being portrayed as “America’s Sweetheart”, and a champion of the vegan lifestyle, is starting to wear thin for Avery. The lies, the subterfuge, the lack of a real love life are getting her down.
After a particularly hard week, Avery decides she is in need of comfort food and ventures to the Pink Dot, dressed down and with a cap pulled low over her signature red hair, to get her idea of heaven - Haagan Dazs Vanilla Swiss Almond ice cream. It doesn’t hurt that a gorgeous blond is checking her out, making her feel like an ordinary girl again.
Dominic Ramsay is busy gearing up for what he hopes will be the start of his art photography career with his first showing of his work in a gallery within the week. In the meantime, to pay those pesky bills, he has taken the job of a paparazzo. It’s something he hates doing but his distaste for the work is overshadowed by the lack of food in his fridge and the near undrivability of his car. In the back of his mind also are the scathing words of his recent model ex-girlfriend as she walked out his door.
After a particularly gruelling and unproductive day cruising celebrity haunts on Sunset, he calls it a day and enters the Pink Dot to pick up some essentials with what little cash he has on him. He spies a gorgeous girl and checks her out … then it dawns on him who she is.
… An actress with secrets and a paparazzo in the right place at the right time …
Avery walks away from the unexpected encounter raging at the paparazzo and scared that one of her secrets, little as it may seem, will be the catalyst for her constructed life to fall down around her.
Dominic walks away, covered in watermelon and with a broken camera, with the view that Avery is a spoiled bitch and just like everybody else in the industry. When he finds the picture that will pay his bills for a while he has no hesitation in selling it.
Little do they know that the encounter will have long term repercussions for both of them. Avery is forced to double her efforts to keep her lies hidden now that one of her secrets has been exposed, and when her publicist suggests attending an art exhibition with her on-screen and supposedly off-screen boyfriend, Ryan Sanders, they come face to face again.
Will their opinions of each other change now that each sees a different side to the other, especially since the initial spark of attraction has not gone away?

About the Author:

Elise Marion is a lover of books and has a special place in her heart for sweet and sensual romance. Writing about love across all walks of life is her passion, as is reaching people through the written word. Elise writes across a range of genres including Contemporary Romance, Historical Romance and Paranormal Romance.

The army wife and stay-at-home mother of two spends most of her time taking care of her children. Her second job is writing stories about characters that readers can fall in love with. When the Texas native isn’t caring for her family or writing, you can usually find her with her nose in a book, singing loudly, or cooking up something new in the kitchen.

Elise’s links are:

Webpage - http://www.elisemarion.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bottom-Drawer-Publications/317250684999151#!/elisemarion86

Twitter - https://twitter.com/elise_marion

A little about Bottom Drawer Publications:

Bottom Drawer Publications is a new publishing house that specialises in romantic and erotic romance fiction across a range of genres and with both het and gay characters. Our genres include: Contemporary, Historical, Literary/Drama, Alternative Lifestyles, Paranormal/Sci-fi/Fantasy, Mystery/Thriller and Steampunk.

Our books are available for sale on our website as well as over 8 booksellers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple iBookstores, All Romance and a range of others. All of your reading devices are covered.

We are always on the lookout for fresh and interesting manuscripts within these genres, and from time to time will put out calls for anthology submissions.

Vist our website, www.bottomdrawerpublications.net for our new release information and our writing submission guidelines.

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Spotlight/Review: The Navy Seal's Promise by Soraya Lane

The Navy SEAL’S Promise

Soraya Lane

With only 48 hours back on home soil for Christmas, United States Army Corporal Saskia Cullen is desperate to spend every minute with her young son. So when heavy snowfall closes JFK airport and she misses her connecting flight to Buffalo, she’s devastated. Until Navy SEAL Luke Gray offers to keep her company… and then personally escorts her home.

Luke is back in the US on leave, waiting to hear the details of his next mission, and Saskia proves to be a pleasant distraction. And when he hears that she needs to get home to see her son, he’s prepared to do anything to help the sexy single mom. Trouble is, he hadn’t planned on falling for anyone, let alone a beautiful soldier about to return overseas.

Review:

I really enjoyed this book such a romance-filled sexy story and a perfect read for the Christmas period.

This book makes your heart wrench at what military members have to do to get to their family and how little time they actually get with them. Makes you want to personally thank each and every one for what they sacrifice.

The chemistry between Saskia and Luke was wonderful and heartfelt and makes you want a Luke Gray all for yourself.

Overall I give this 4 out 5 a heart-warming read that will leave you feeling all gooey when your done.


About the Author:

As a child, Soraya dreamed of becoming an author. Fast forward more than a few years, and Soraya is now living her dream! Working as a freelance writer and now a professional author too, she writes every day and loves her job. Soraya describes being an author as "the best career in the world", and she hopes to be writing romance for many years to come.


Soraya loves spending her days thinking up characters for books, and her home is a constant source of inspiration. She lives with her own real life hero and son on a small farm in New Zealand, surrounded by animals and with an office overlooking a field where their horses graze.
For more information about Soraya, her books and her writing life, visit www.sorayalane.com or follow her on twitter @Soraya_Lane. She would love to hear from you.

Website / Facebook

Excerpt:

                “Luke?”

                He raised his eyebrows but didn’t look at her again, the snowflakes suddenly falling with more insistence on the windscreen, making it hard for him to see.

                “Shit, hold on.”

                She did as she was told, obeying Luke’s command. “How the hell can you see through that?” she asked.

                He grimaced. She could see a tightness in his face that hadn’t been there before.

                “I can’t, but I need to find somewhere safe to pull over.”

                Her heart dropped. They weren’t even half way there and the storm was coming in so bad she was starting to think they could be snowed in for the rest of the day. Or worse.         

                Luke had slowed the vehicle to a crawl, but now they’d come to a dead stop. He opened his door and jumped out before she could protest, disappearing into the whiteout without a jacket on, before reappearing and leaping back into the truck.

                “Luke you must be frozen.” She unbuckled herself and reached out to him, hand hovering before closing over his arm.      

                Luke stayed still, his body no longer shivering like it had been when he’d stepped back in. She hesitated, stayed still, wondering if she’d done something wrong.

                “I don’t think we’ll be going anywhere for a while,” Luke told her, his voice husky and low, turning away only to flick the hazard lights on.

                Saskia swallowed then nodded. “Okay.”

                They both stayed still, staring at one another. Until Luke reached out a hand, broke the silence and stillness and reached for her, his palm cupping her cheek. “I will get you home, Saskia. No matter what happens, I promise.”

                She gulped again, not able to break their gaze, staring into the depths of Luke’s dark chocolate eyes like a spider trapped in its own web. Saskia didn’t answer him, just slowly nodded. He still hadn’t moved his hand, and it was no longer cool, warming up from its connection with her skin.

                It seemed like she wasn’t breathing, like she couldn’t have breathed if she tried, as if there wasn’t enough oxygen to even make it possible. Until Luke moved closer to her, his mouth hovering over hers, and suddenly all she could do was suck back short, silent bursts of air.

                “Saskia…” As he murmured she leaned closer, couldn’t help herself.

                But it was Luke who kissed her. His lips grazed hers so gently, so carefully, that she thought she’d imagined it. She reached her hands up, cupped his face with one, mirrored his action, and clutched at his shoulder with the other. A shiver licked its way down her spine, made her lean closer into him, and Luke didn’t need any further encouragement.

                “Hey,” he suddenly said, pulling back slightly and looking down at her.

                Saskia knew she was blushing – her face was burning. “Hey,” she whispered back.

                They stared at one another again, like they had before. Not saying a word, but Saskia’s mind was racing. Was she actually doing this? Making out with a guy she’d known for less than 24 hours, and ready to rip her clothes off it meant staying close to him?

                “We might be stuck here for awhile,” he said, voice low as he glanced out the window. They were surrounded by white. “Maybe quite a while.”

                Luke cleared his throat, but Saskia didn’t miss what he was trying to hide. His eyes flickered past her, only for a second, but not fast enough for her not to keep up.

                She glanced over her shoulder, made certain there was nothing else there, that he was actually thinking what she was. That he was struggling to look at her for the same reasons she was struggling to look at him.

                Luke’s eyes said it all. They were inquisitive, mesmerizing… hungry. And her fingers were itching to touch his face again, her lips tingling, ready to be covered with his.

                She was having that problem with not enough air again. Because she wasn’t this kind of girl. She’d never had a one-night stand, never done anything reckless with a man before, never done anything risqué in her personal life. Not ever.

                Screw it.

                Saskia flicked her tongue over her lips, nervously moistening them, before closing the distance between Luke’s body and hers. She leaned in closer, kissed him full on the mouth, and pushed back his shoulders as she landed in his lap, straddling him.

                She’d flown halfway across the world for a 48 hour trip home, and she was damned if she was going to waste it. She might not be able to make it to where she was supposed to be going, but she sure as hell could make it a trip stuck in the snow that she’d never forget.

Spotlight: 7 Day of Seduction by Jenna Jaxon

Blurb:

Ashley Thompson had a wild time at her party last Friday night. Maybe too wild. She wakes to find a video of her in the middle of a ménage a trois with her ex-boyfriend and a gorgeous stranger. Unable to remember anything about the night, other than the hot sex she sees on the computer screen, Ashley begins a search for Mr. Hunk. She has no luck until he unexpectedly shows up–in her shower.

Hunter Hopewell intends to introduce Ash to a variety of sexual experiences he finds fun and exciting. He proposes a week long series of “colorful” encounters designed to seduce Ashley out of her kink comfort zone.

As their week of escalating pleasure intensifies, Ashley must choose to let go of her inhibitions or risk losing the best damn lover she’s ever had.

Excerpt:

The bathroom door opened and closed. Her hands froze.

"Damn it, Sam. Why is it every time I take a shower you have to pee? Couldn't you just hold it for once? Or pee in a cup, for God's sake?"

"I'm not Sam. And I don't have to pee."

Ashley's eyes popped open and the bottle of body wash hit the tub with a loud thunk. The husky voice she'd heard on yesterday's video and in this morning's dream was richer in person. Sexier. Her heart took off like a deer after a shotgun blast. She peered at the shower door, seeing only a shadowy figure through the opaque glass. Well thank, God, for that. He couldn't see her either.

"Hello? Are you there, Ash?" The amusement in his tone brought her back to earth.

"Yeah, I'm here. And just who the hell are you?"

"I'm Hunter Hopewell. Sorry we didn't really get introduced the other night."

"No shit." Damn. The all-important name meant nothing. The spray from the shower roared in her ears and Ashley took a step toward the shower door.

"So who are you? I mean, you say Hunter Hopewell, but I don't know you. And you know me."

"Yes, I do. I've never met you, but I've been interested in you for a while now."

Despite the hot water, chills raced over her body, standing her hair on end. Oh, my God. A stalker. I've attracted a stalker. And I'm shut in a bathroom with him. Suddenly, she couldn't breathe.

"You work over in English at the university." He knew where she worked. "And I've seen you around the campus." He'd been watching her.

She wrapped her arms around her chest, shielding her body as best she could. Maybe Sam would come in.

"You're a beautiful girl, Ashley. With lots of potential."

Potential for what? Needing to breathe or pass out, she gasped in air.

"I think you should leave." Where the balls came from to utter that sentence, she had no idea.

"Why?" His voice rose an octave.

"Because you're scaring the crap out of me."

Buy Links:

Amazon New DawningBookfair ARe Bookstrand Smashwords 

Spotlight/Review: More Than a Fantasy by Sara Daniel

More Than a Fantasy

Sara Daniel

Regina’s fantasies about her hot marketing assistant, Gabriel, are interfering with her focus at work. In desperation, she turns to Madame Eve to give her a one-night stand with a man who looks just like him. When the Gabriel arrives in her hotel room, she must choose between walking away and playing out her daydreams with the real thing. Their one night becomes a wrestling match for control as Regina strives to keep the upper hand. But Gabriel is just as determined to show her how to work together for business and for pleasure.

As passion trumps protocol, their one night stand quickly becomes much more than a fantasy.

About the Author:

Sara Daniel writes what she loves—irresistible romance, captivating drama, and quirky characters. She writes to entertain and to give people hope and a belief that everything can and will turn out happily ever after.

On the personal side, she’s a frazzled maid, chef, chauffeur, tutor, and personal assistant (aka mom). She was once a landlord of two uninvited squirrels. She’s crazy about country music and the drama of NASCAR. And she has her own happily-ever-after romance with her hero husband.

Website / Blog / Facebook / Facebook Fan Page / Twitter / Goodreads / Pinterest

Excerpt:

The balcony door slid open. The trim, broad-shouldered backside of a man with Gabriel’s basic frame entered. He was dressed in jeans and a dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up his forearms. Her fingers tingled at the prospect of touching his hard, muscled body and claiming it for the night.

The man secured the glass door then rotated toward her. Backlit by the setting sun, he had the same profile as Gabriel. Perhaps his hair was a tad darker, but she could overlook that. The lack of dimples was more disappointing.

He strolled toward her, blocking the sunset and bringing his gorgeous blond curls into the full view of the overhead lights. A charismatic smile lit up his brown eyes, denting tiny grooves on each of his cheeks. “Regina.”

No. Not possible. Not funny, either. She hadn’t wanted the Gabriel. She wanted a fake, one with no career ambitions and a staggeringly low IQ. She’d spelled out her wants on the matchmaking form. “How did you get in here?”

 “I checked in, same as you.”

Her mental agenda said she should be heavy petting her way to a blowjob. It did not include arguing semantics with her assistant or a potential sexual harassment suit.

She had to get him out of here before he ruined the match Madame Eve had set up. No matter how much the other guy looked like him, the more time she spent with Gabriel, the less she wanted anyone else in his place. “Where’s the man who’s supposed to be here?”

 “I’m him.”

Desire hit her hard. Everything she wanted was in her reach. And as far away as ever.

Review:

What do you do when you can't stop thinking about getting into bed with a co-worker? Ask Madame Eve to set you up on a 1 Night Stand with a guy who looks exactly like him. 

Regina is a smart woman who likes to be in control but her fantasies about her sexy assistant Gabriel are starting to get in the way of their working relationship. 

This is a short sexy read, as are all the 1 Night Stand books. I really enjoyed this story and the way Gabriel doesn't let Regina get her way no matter how hard she tries.

Overall I give this 4 out of 5  a great read for before bed. 

Good news!!

Fall In love got it's release date this week. Coming soon to an e-reader near you on December 3rd.

 Michael Dunbar runs his family's cattle station in the far north of Western Australia. Station life is lonely and he wishes there was a way he could find a companion that wouldn’t mind living the outback life with him. In hopes of finding a woman, Michael heads to Broome for a few weeks holiday. What he finds is something he never expected. Mia Mason is a Perth girl who longs to leave the city behind for a life in the country. Can two like minds fall in love? Only destiny knows.

There will be a release day party with a give away so keep an eye out.

Spotlight: Tied Down by Kacey Hammell

Tied Down

Kacey Hammell

The time has come for Brady Jacobs to grab hold of the woman he loves and their future. But his lady, Isabella Knowles, is skittish. She’ll bolt at the mention of a future with him. He needs to handle her with precise planning, tools to seduce and never give her a moment to flee.

Brady will tie her down, pleasure her, push her farther than she’s ever experienced…then ask her to marry him. But no amount of planning can ensure Bella’s answer won’t include the business end of her Glock.

About the Author:

The writer: Canadian author, Kacey Hammell is a multi-published erotic romance author who writes mainly in the Contemporary Erotic/Romantic Suspense genres.  She is a true romantic at heart.

The Wife and Mom: Born, raised and still living in her hometown in Ontario, Canada, Kacey found true love with her husband.  As a Mom of three, Kacey has made certain that each of her children know the value of the written word and the adventures they could escape on by becoming book-a-holics in their own right.

Website / Facebook / Facebook Author Page / Twitter / Amazon / Goodreads

Excerpt:

Isabella stirred at a tug on her ankle. She shifted, not in any way eager to wake up.

Snuggling her cheek deeper into the pillow, she sighed. The web of slumber curled around her as she relaxed again.

At the shuffle of footsteps and a thump, she stirred. Her eyes flew open and she lifted her head. As she shifted to her side, she gasped.

Why couldn’t she move?

Jesus, what the hell?

Danger screamed through her mind while she took in the room around her. Right where she’d fallen asleep, in Brady’s bed.

No need to fear for her safety. Right?

“What the fuck is this?” Damn the bindings around her wrists and feet. “Brady!” she screamed. She’d kill the bastard who dared to enter their personal space. Cripes, if he’s been hurt, she’d carve out their hearts and throw the bodies in the ocean.

“Brady!”

“I’m right here, babe.”

His head appeared over the foot of the bed. Her heart skipped a beat. Safe. Her head fell back in relief. She’d die if something happened to him. Could never relive him ever being hurt again. She’d barely survived once before when he’d been stabbed and almost blown to bits. She did not ever want to go through anything like it again.

“You okay, babe? These scarves aren’t too tight, are they?”

So lost in her own thoughts, she forgot she lay there, tied like some prisoner.

“What the hell? What’s going on?” He knelt at the end of the bed. She gaped as she took in her naked body, the scarves holding her legs and arms captive. Her heart rate accelerated. She had no control over any of this. Desperate to get out of the ties and the situation, she pulled hard, jerked her limbs to escape their captivity.

“Fuck! Goddamn it. Let me loose.”

Purchase Illusions & Awakenings, which precede this story, at Decadent Publishing

Review: Meant To Be by Karen Stivali

Blurb:

Sometimes you’re already committed to the wrong person when fate finally brings you the right one.

When NYU professor Daniel Gardner’s career-obsessed wife convinces him to move to the suburbs, he hopes it’s a first step toward starting the family he longs to have. Instead of domestic bliss he finds his neighbor, Marienne Valeti. She loves her freelance design job, but must contend with a growing sense of isolation created by her husband’s indifference. A penchant for good books, bad movies, and Marienne’s to-die-for brownies sparks a powerful bond between them. Passion simmers, but they resist its lure, surrendering only in the seclusion of their minds. Their friendship helps them weather every hardship, from divorce to widowhood, leaving them both secretly wondering if it can survive a first kiss.

Review:

So where to start? The beginning of this was a little slow for me and books I find easy to put down I quite often don't pick up again. Because however, I agreed to review it I forced myself to pick it up and I'm glad I did because somewhere along the line I got hooked. Then I just couldn't put it down and I'll admit when I read the words THE END I wanted to yell and scream and say where's the rest. Thankfully there is a preview of their continuing story at the end of the book and it is due to be published in November.

I love Daniel and Marienne they are two very realistic characters to me and I found myself hoping and praying that  they would find their way too each other even though there was obstacles a plenty in their way. I must admit a couple of time I would forget that Daniel and Marienne were actually married to other people but this is not a story about cheaters and they never cross the line.

Overall I give this 4 out of 5 a very enjoyable read and I look forward to reading the next book Holding On

Bio:

Karen Stivali is a prolific writer, compulsive baker and chocoholic with a penchant for books, movies and fictional British men. When she’s not writing, she can be found cooking extravagant meals and serving them to family and friends. Prior to deciding to write full time Karen worked as a hand drawn animator, a clinical therapist, and held various food-related jobs ranging from waitress to specialty cake maker. Planning elaborate parties and fundraisers takes up what’s left of her time and sanity.

Karen has always been fascinated by the way people relate to one another so she favors books and movies that feature richly detailed characters and their relationships. In her own writing she likes to explore the dynamics between characters and has a tendency to craft romantic love stories filled with sarcasm and sexy details.

Karen has published three erotic romances with Ellora’s Cave: Marry Me (June 2012), Long-Distance Lovers (co-written with Karen Booth, March 2012) and Always You (Passionate Plume First Place Novella Winner, RWA 2012).

Karen’s first full-length novel, Meant To Be, will be published by Turquoise Morning Press on August 26, 2012. Its sequel, Holding On, will be released on November 26, 2012. A prequel to these novels, the short story All I Need, appears in the Foreign Affairs Anthology (Turquoise Morning Press, August 2012).

For more information about my current and upcoming projects please visit my website: http://karenstivali.com

I can also be found on:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/karenstivali

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/karenstivali

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5170527.Karen_Stivali

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005KWSFGO

Coming in 2013 Karen will have several contemporary romances releasing from Samhain Publishing and Turquoise Morning Press.

Buy links for Meant To Be:

Amazon AllRomanceEbooks Barnes & Noble
Publisher's site: Turquoise Morning Press: