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Blog Tour: My Wicked Gladiators by Lauren Hawkeye - Guest Post


Hey guys! Here's the blog stop for today! I know I was supposed to write a review and I am in the process of writing it. My apologies I couldn't finish it on time, I'm having a fever:( Will try my best to write it! :) And let me just say its a really enjoyable book published by Avon Red. Normally, I don't enjoy eroticas, but this isn't something full of sex, the storyline was really well developed and I really appreciate that. So yep, let me just stop my rambling! Enjoy the post! ;)



My Wicked Gladiators by Lauren Hawkeye


Alba has spent her entire life pleasing others.

As an upper-class plebeian woman in Ancient Rome, that is her place in life. But when her husband Lucius, the owner of aprestigious gladiatorial school, uses her body as a bargaining tool to increase his fortunes, she is faced with doing as he demands, or finding herself on the street.

Forced to lay with masked gladiators chosen by Lucius, Alba is surprised to discover pleasure in being powerless. Only in the forbidden arms of Caius and Marcus does she find comfort, however temporary it may be.

But with Lucius’ demands looming and the threat of death for her gladiators ever-present, will Alba’s fleeting pleasures be enough? Or will Alba finally grab hold of her happily ever after, no matter the consequences?


Lauren Hawkeye


Lauren Hawkeye is a writer, theatre enthusiast, knitting aficionado and animal lover who lives in the shadows of the great Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada.

She’s older than she looks—really—and younger than she feels—most of the time—and she loves to explore the journeys that take women through life in her stories.




And now, let's welcome Lauren to the blog for a short guest post!


When I hear the words “historical romance”, gladiators are not usually what pop into my head. No, I tend to think of English society in the 1800’s, or even slightly earlier. Maybe some Scottish highlanders. Mostly naked men running around with swords in an arena (tongue in cheek double entendre!) is something new—which is, perhaps, why it interested me.

When I first broached the idea of writing an erotic gladiator book my husband wondered if anyone would read it. I wondered that myself—after all, there aren’t many novels set in that time period, and maybe there’s a reason.

I decided to go for it anyway. Half naked men with weapons, arranged marriages, slaves, wine—the scene seemed, to me at least, to be ripe with erotic promise. My agent and editor agreed—I have yet to see if readers will. I hope so, because the era is richly interesting and I would love to visit it again!

What other time periods would you like to see in stories? I’ve contemplated Arabia and Persia, Japanese Samurais… the possibilities are endless. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

So yep, that's about it for today! Go here to check out the other tour stops! You'll find loads of awesome stuff on the other tour sites too! :D

Book Feature: Stone Cold by Karina Kantas

Hey guys! Today, I'll be featuring Karina on my blog! She has written a supernatural YA suspense novella, Stone Cold, and from the excerpt, and what I have read about it, it sure looks interesting! Apart from the supernatural elements and the gruesome murders, most of Stone Cold is based on Karina's own experiences. Cool right?


Stone Cold by Karina Kantas

A hostel in a secluded part of Scotland. The residents start dropping like flies.
Billy knows who the murderer is.
Shane knows he's next to die.

Buy it from Amazon UK | Amazon US

Karina Kantas


Karina Kantas originates from the UK, but now resides in Greece.

She has over thirty publications in numerous electronic magazines and printed journals, as well as a three urban thrillers novels, In Times of Violence, Lawless Justice and Huntress. She has also published a flash and short story collection called Heads & Tales and a YA supernatural thriller called Stone Cold.

When her imagination is working over time, she writes thought provoking/dark flash fiction.

Her new novel, Road Rage is in the hands of literary agents and she's presently working on a MI5 thriller called Broken Chains.



Time for a short excerpt!

One moment, Billy was on her way to the bathroom, the next she was standing outside the hostel covered in mud. She couldn’t remember having a shower, let alone going outside.

Why on earth would I go outside in my pajamas, barefooted? Billy wondered bewilderedly.

The iced chill of the air stabbed through her clothes like daggers. She’d never felt so cold before. She was about to make her way back, only after taking one step, she stopped. A sharp pain pierced the bottom of her left foot. When she lifted it up to have a look, she was surprised to see the sole bleeding.

“How on earth did that happen?” She said aloud.

Billy limped her way back to the hostel, but stopped when she reached the front door.

If I walk through the main entrance I’ll have the supervisors and Professor Brian on my case, and I don’t particularly want to answer their questions.

The last thing Billy wanted was for everyone to know about her sleepwalking escapades, if that was what it was. So she decided to enter from the back. Luckily, her dorm was not far from the backdoor.

It appeared that everyone was asleep, and she managed to creep past without waking anyone. Carefully sitting on the edge of her bed, she lifted her foot up to have a closer look.

“Where have you been?” Susan whispered loudly, making Billy jump. “Jesus what happened to you?”

“Ssh, I don’t want to wake the others,” Billy answered. “Listen can you swipe some dressings and antiseptic and meet me in the bathroom in five minutes? Don’t tell anyone, okay?”

“Sure,” Susan agreed and climbed out of bed.

Billy grabbed clean nightwear and then limped to the bathroom. She noticed her toiletries lying on the floor under the bathroom mirror. As she bent down to retrieve them, she caught a glimpse of her reflection and couldn’t understand how she’d gotten into such a state. Dried mud covered her pajamas and most of her hair. Maybe I decided to have a mud bath instead, she laughed at her joke.

Billy took a quick shower and reflected on her dilemma.

So far, only Susan knows about the incident. I hope it stays that way. I can’t get it straight in my own head, let alone having to explain it to anyone else. How am I supposed to explain why I was outside in the first place without sounding nuts? I’m glad Susan knows, though, as I really need her help.

Dressed in clean nightwear, Billy waited patiently for Susan, and giggled when she turned up minutes later with her hands full of medicants.

“What did you do, raid the first aid box?” Billy laughed.

“Well, I didn’t know what you’d need,” Susan replied uncomfortably. Dying to know what had happened, she held her tongue until Billy finished cleaning and dressing the foot.

“So, where have you been?" Susan asked impatiently.

“Don’t laugh, but I was sleepwalking,” Billy said.

“You couldn’t have been sleepwalking; you haven’t been to bed yet.”

“I know. I fell asleep in the bathroom.” Billy smiled falsely

“No!” Susan laughed.

“I guess all the hard work and fresh air has finally caught up with me. I’m totally shattered.”

Billy was relieved that her explanation had worked. Actually, Susan had quite a giggle at her expense. Luckily, she didn’t question her any further.

Billy got through a restful night without anyone else finding out about her little escapade, and in a couple of days, she totally forgot about the incident. That was, until it happened again. In fact, it happened twice.

The second time she found herself huddled in a corner of a small broom cupboard. Again she had no recollection of how she got there, especially as the last thing she remembered, she was sitting down at the dinner table eating and drinking with the others. Imagine her surprise and fear, to suddenly discover being in a dark cupboard as though no time had passed at all. That episode freaked her out. Billy wanted to ask someone if she said or did anything strange at dinner, but of course she didn’t dare to inquire.

What really concerned her was the third occasion where she misplaced time. She was standing over the sink washing plates and thinking of nothing in particular, when the next instant, she tasted a rusty, iron flavour inside her mouth that could only have been blood. When she pulled her hands out of the cold, soapy water, she noticed they were dyed with caked blood. Billy quickly wiped her mouth, but neither her teeth, nor lips were bleeding. She searched the bottom of the sink, but couldn’t find any broken pieces of china or sharp knives that could have cut her hands. In fact, Billy couldn’t find any evidence of any cuts at all. Hastily, she scrubbed off the blood and finished the washing up, almost in a daze as she tried to reason out what had happened. It was a mystery that couldn’t be solved by Billy alone; but she wasn’t about to involve anyone else, especially as she assumed the others were already questioning her sanity.

The night terrors continued, and on a couple of occasions, the other girls in the dorm woke her. Billy apologized profusely, blaming it on something she ate. Still, it never got to the stage where she was too scared to sleep. Although her dreams were traumatic, they were also strangely comfortable. It was as though another was sharing her experiences, and she was not alone.



And now, let's welcome Karina to the blog to join us for a short interview!


Hi Karina, it’s lovely to have you on the blog today! Welcome!

For starters, why not you tell us a little about yourself? Perhaps something not many people know?

I’m an author of five books, four are independently published the other is published traditionally. I live in Greece, but I’m from the Midlands UK, where most of my stories are based. Most that know me, know I’m an open book. I do have a talent for singing and I love it as much as writing.

What made you want to become a writer?

I have a weird and vivid imagination. I have to get the ideas out of my head or I just can’t sleep. Some were born for art, some to dance, some to teach. I was born to write.


As I understand, Stone Cole is a supernatural YA thriller. How did you come up with the plot for it?

Most of the novella is based on my own experience as a teen; apart from the murders and the supernatural element. I was able to get a lot of closure writing this story. It was my way of getting finality from the years of being bullied and intimidated at school.

Are your characters based on real people, or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

The characters from Stone Cold are based on people I have met or unfortunately got to know. The names have been changed to protect the NOT so innocent.



Billy couldn’t have been an easy character to write, given that she kind of guesses who the killer is. How did you, in a way, “get into her head”?

Actually, she was very easy to write, as I was writing about my emotions, my experiences. Of course I have never been possessed (at least I don’t think I was) It was fun to write. I was able to play out my fantasies.


And as for Shane, how could he have guessed that he was going to be the next to die?
Well Shane was the last one standing. The last in the group of students that were mean to her. He wasn’t stupid. He knew what was coming. And he knew why?

Could you tell us a bit about your book and why it is a must-read?
It’s a fast exciting novella. That will have you gripped from the first page. Most will be able to relate to the characters and their experiences and Billy is a very easy character to understand as her emotions are real.

What do you love most about the writing process?

I love holding the finished product in my hand, to see the cover with your name printed on it, is an awesome feeling. I feel sorry for the e-book authors, that don’t get to experience that feeling. I love getting feedback from my readers. To know my work is being enjoyed, is the only thing that keeps me going.

And of course, do you have a particular favorite character? I know an author will love most if not all of the characters he/she creates, but I’m sure there must be a favorite of yours! So who is it, and why?

In Stone Cold, it has to be Billy. She gets to play out her revenge without any remorse, as she never learns the truth.  My fav character in all my novels is Ice, from Lawless Justice, (she my alter ego.) Ice is tough and smart and she gets to lead a double life.

And now, just some little random questions!

Favorite colour?
Black

Favorite place?
The world is a pretty big place and I’ve not seen much of it. For Christmas my fav place is with my family in the UK and for Easter I wouldn’t want to be anywhere except Corfu Greece.

Favorite book?
Of all time: The Outsiders by S.E.Hinton.
From 2011: Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
So far this year: The Hunger games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

Favorite thing?
Spicy tomato soup with cheese on toast.

What you do when you’re free:
I’m a mother of two young girls and I spend around 7hr s a day promoting my five books. But when I do have any free time I love getting lost in a great book.

Favorite day?

Late at night when everyone is asleep and I get to watch what I want on TV and to catch up with some reading.

Hmm, I think that should be about it for today! It was a pleasure to have you on the blog today! Wishing you all the best in your career! :D

It’s my pleasure and thank you for having me J

So yep, that's about it for today! I do hope you'll consider getting the book! :D

Blog Tour: Sexy in Stilettos by Nana Malone - Guest Post


Hey guys! Welcome to today's blog tour! Sexy in Stilettos is a interracial contemporary romance. It looks really good and something a little different than normal! So yep, enjoy!



Sexy in Stilettos by Nana Malone


What’s worse than having to watch your sister marry your ex fiancé? How about when that fiancé fires you from the family business?
Hyper-organized, event planner Jaya Trudeaux is used to doing things by the book and never making waves. It’s a strategy that’s served her well until she finds herself in failure alley with no fiancé, no job and her thirtieth birthday looming. Maybe it’s time to change her methods. Starting with an unlikely date to the wedding from hell.
The only thing that can tie carefree playboy, Alec Danthers down is his formidable step mother. When she calls him home to help find his wayward brother, he never imagines an uptight, list making, sass- talking woman would make him think about putting down roots.
Can Jaya put the lists down long enough to enjoy the ride that is Alec? Will Alec stop running long enough to recognize true love?
Warning: Sexy, sass talking women will make you laugh, cry and want a pair of killer footwear.





Nana Malone


Nana's love of all things romance and adventure started with a tattered romantic suspense she borrowed from her cousin on a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana at a precocious thirteen. She's been in love with kick butt heroines ever since. With her overactive imagination, and channeling her inner Buffy, it was only a matter a time before she started creating her own characters.
Waiting for her chance at a job as a ninja assassin, Nana, meantime works out her drama, passion and sass with fictional characters every bit as sassy and kick butt as she thinks she is. Though, until that ninja job comes through, you'll find her acting out scenes for hubby and puppy while catching up on her favorite reality television shows in sunny San Diego.





And now, let's welcome Nana to the blog!


Are you tough enough?


I write because I have to. I see no other options but to be successful as a writer. To do that, I write every day. Even when I don’t want to. Even when my muses have flitted to some fabulous locale and abandoned me. Even when it’s Thursday night and Grey’s Anatomy is on and followed by Scandal and I’m dying to see what happens with that sassy Kerry Washington and her hottie President. I write. I write because I have to. I see no other paths to fulfillment for me. I love the way characters interact in my head and the way the dialogue comes to me in the shower (Yes, I keep a notepad on the toilet seat so I can lean over and write it down). If I didn’t write, I’d soon be committed because that’s what happens to people who hear voices in their heads.

That said, it’s not always easy. With a day job, husband, two year old, dog, friends who complain about never seeing me, and a myriad of other hobbies and interests and television shows that need watching before the DVR erases them, I sometimes get discouraged and want to slack off.

I’m usually great at kicking myself in the butt. I’m a little hyper and type A, so the idea of failing literally gives me a nervous tick. The idea of not accomplishing something I set aside to do keeps me awake at night.

But sometimes I need an extra nudge to make it happen, to keep my booty in the chair with my hands on the keyboard. When I need that nudge, I think of a friend of mine who ran her first triathlon not long ago. She prepared for months and jumped in feet first for charity.

For the uninitiated, doing your first triathlon can be as daunting as a leap off a ledge at the Grand Canyon.
The big day rolled around, and armed with her numerous bike workouts, ocean swims and miles ran on her pretty little sneakers, she donned her singlet and number, and dove right in....literally. For those of you that don’t know, the first leg of a triathlon is the swim. And, in San Diego waters, you battle some chilly water temps and rough water, not to mention the hundreds sometimes thousands of other swimmers.
Long story short, the swim didn’t go as well as she’d hoped. For all her training and preparation, she needed a rescue from the lifeguards.

95% percent of the people I know, would have cried, ranted and raved at the abject grief and hopelessness of it all. Not her. After swallowing mouthfuls of water, thanking her friendly neighborhood lifeguard, she hopped on her bike, then ran her miles and finished the triathlon. Thereby telling the ocean to kiss her black ass....well, she’s white, but you get the idea.

That’s huge! Yeah, she’s disappointed, yeah she’s pissed, and yes she’s carrying what she sees as a failure around with her, but guess what, she signed up for another triathlon. Now that’s what I’m talking about. That’s the true definition of courage and strength to me.

The next time anyone tells me they can’t do something and proceeds to give me a litany of excuses, I’m going to send them to her so she can beat some sense into them. No quitters allowed.

Find the strongest person you know, put a picture of them on your desk and next time you think you’re going to quit because it would be easier than pushing through, picture them telling you to kiss it.

No one ever wins the race by quitting. I have her picture on my desk. Along with that of my autistic little brother who doctors told my parents should be institutionalized because he could never care for himself. He has his own job now.

That’s who I think about every time I want to quit or slack off. Those two are good effective kicks in the butt for me.



So yep, that's about it for today! Go here to check out the other tour stops! You'll find loads of awesome stuff on the other tour sites too! :D

Blog Tour: Barcode: Legend of Apollo by Kashif Ross - Excerpt + Giveaway


Hey guys! Welcome to today's blog stop! Sorry this is so late, I fell asleep before I could post it! Anyway, Barcode: Legend of Apollo is an urban fantasy and science fiction novel with romance! Read the blurb, it does sound really different! And guess what? There's an awesome giveaway at the end of this post! Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form and you're well on your way to winning and ecopy of this book!


Barcode: Legend of Apollo by Kashif Ross


Spencer's an infamously well-known “god” uninterested in his own fate. He turns nineteen-years-old on the first day of his last year at Colt Academy, the academic institution for gladiators. To celebrate, he unwillingly mentors a mysterious nerd, watches his family's helicopter plunge into the ground, and meets a strange Louisianan boy that may want to kill him. With the future of his family's fortune on the line, Spencer not only has to fight the occasional trip to Hades, but also train with his most hated childhood friend, discover the truth about his mother's death, and reestablish his legend as America's savior.



Kashif Ross


For the past three years, Kashif Ross has been mainly known as a teacher. Yet, he's managed to pick up very random titles along the way. Previous jobs include Student Molecular Oncology Researcher, Camp Counselor, CGI Animator, Character Designer, and Professional Geek.
Now he's an author living in California's Bay Area. You can find posts about his random thoughts and adventures on his blog.



Time for a short excerpt!

I’m such a failure.
My instructors say I’m the first of the bloodline that isn’t naturally a top ranking student. Therefore, professors are inclined to boost my grades in order to keep “the great Apollo” at the top of his class.
I apologize dear ancestors. I will honor you by falling on my sword.
Damn. I don’t have a weapon yet. Give me a few days, folks.
I find a seat on a stone bench next to a small pond and watch as several lizard-fish swim and crawl through the shallow water. One has the flesh of a koi fish but the body of a garden lizard. The gold and black colors blur as my heavy eyes close and my head drops. I’m still jet-lagged.
As I open my eyes, a sharp kick lands between my ribs. Before my attacker can remove her foot, I grab it tightly and swing her into the pool.
The plague sitting in front of me with her butt dipped in an inch of water, and her arms folded neatly around her legs, just so happens to call herself Hannah’s best friend, though I knew her long before the two met.
This tomboy has a kick that’s out of this world. Her barcodes are powered by the goddess Atalanta. Every god and demigod has a code that they’re born with. That’s what separates us from Apes and humans. Some gods bond well with their bodies, while others pump so much power into their flesh that they can hardly stand. Ever. It can be a gift or a curse.
“You got my panties wet, jerk.”
“Why would a boy wear panties?”
“Don’t call me a boy, you ugly pig.”
“You walk like one, talk like one, but wait, you kick like a girl,” I tease, but my ribs scream in pain. Even more, I’m defiantly conscious that Michelle’s beauty competes closely with the most attractive girl on campus, Hannah. Still, she and I are mortal enemies that will one day battle to her death.
I’ve seen these visions in my sleep. Any morning I wake up after slaying her just so happens to be a great day. Yes. I’m very aware that many people consider these dreams, but if they are prophetic, The Writer does truly love me.
“What does Hannah see in you?”
“What do you mean? She said that in our first year you always gushed over my blue eyes, and wouldn’t stop raving about my face.” I watch the wicked witch’s eyes nearly leap out of their sockets, and her face turns pale. If the tattoos on her legs shine, I’ll need to flee for my own safety. “Geez. You look so upset; I almost think it’s true.”



And now, time for the giveaway! Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form and you're on your way!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


So yep, that's about it for today! Go here to check out the other tour stops! You'll find loads of awesome stuff on the other tour sites too! :D

Blog Tour: Taking Shots by Toni Aleo - Guest Post + Excerpt

Hey guys! Welcome to today's blog stop! Alright, I know this is really late and I apologise! I just got home after a super tiring but very fulfilling day at school today! Hmm. I was supposed to do a review for this book but the review isn't complete yet! I'm in the process of writing it. But can I just say this book is really amazing? Definitely 4.5 stars from me. It is so so sweet and the hero is just everything you want in a guy! Sweet, hot, strong, loving, you name it, he has it! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I had just so much fun reading it. It's honestly a very good read and just so easy to read. Just escape into this world for a little while and enjoy it as much as I did! Oh yes, Taking Shots is the first book in the Assassins series! It's about hot hockey players:P hehe, so yep, let's get started!


Taking Shots by Toni Aleo


Elli Fisher has never thought she was good enough. Let it be her job, her weight, her love life, nothing, she was convinced she couldn't do anything right. She had walked through life for the past six years in a daze, never thinking that life could be good again after the abuse she endured from her ex boyfriend. She is lonely, sad, and depressed, that is until she meets Shea Adler. After doing a promotional shoot for the NHL team, the Nashville Assassins, she meets the hunky hockey player who shoots a puck, shattering her world.

Shea Adler was tired of the life he was living outside of the rink. The girls, the money blowing, the drinking, everything had to stop and it all did when he met Eleanor Fisher. He had never met anyone like her. She is feisty, witty, shy, and simply gorgeous. When he laid eyes on her, it was as if he was taking the hardest hit of his life into the boards, and he had to have her.

Elli is a little skeptical of Shea, but he knows that they were meant to be together, and he needed her in his life. But Elli just doesn't understand what Shea could see in her. She is overweight, loud, and not even that pretty, so why would someone so gorgeous and so amazing want to be with her? It seemed that no matter how hard she tried to shake Shea off, he wasn't going anywhere, and for the first time Elli didn't feel alone.

But could Elli throw her insecurities out the window and love Shea with everything inside of her? Or will she let a past relationship, and her family ruin any chance of her being happy?

Would Elli miss her shot at love?

Buy it from Amazon | Barnes & Noble | LULU



Toni Aleo


My name is Toni Aleo!
I am a wife, mother, and hopeless romantic.
I have been told I have anger issues, but I think it’s cause of my intense love for hockey!
I am the biggest Shea Weber fan ever, and can be found during hockey season with my nose pressed against the Bridgestone Arena’s glass, watching my Nashville Predators play!
When my nose isn’t pressed against the glass, I enjoy going to my husband and son’s hockey games, my daughters dance competition, hanging with my best friends, taking pictures, and reading the latest romance novel.
I love things that sparkle, I love the color pink, and did I mention I love hockey?
I hope to hear from you on here, my Facebook, or my twitter! Thank you so much!



Time for a short excerpt!

“What is it?”
“Okay, so I know I’m not your regular type. I’ve seen you with the leggy blondes and never with the same girl twice. I even read somewhere that a girl isn’t allowed to sit in your box more than once. So I guess what I’m trying to say, or ask, is... um ..”
Elli took a deep breath, and he couldn’t help but smile at her, she was so sweet.
“We’ve been out four times now. I’m not seeing anyone else, and I’m not saying that you can’t see anyone else. That’s definitely not what I’m trying to say, it’s more like.. ah .. “
He could tell she was nervous and flustered, but he patiently waited for her to say whatever it was that she needed to say.
Finally, Elli asked, “Why me? You know? I mean, I’m pretty sure you’re not seeing anybody else. If you are, I would like to know. But why are you interested in me?”
He shook his head.
“There isn’t anyone else.”
“Okay, so why me? You can have any girl you want with the flick of a wrist. I mean, I guess it’s just hard for me to believe that you want to spend time with me.”
“Why is that so hard to believe?”
“Because I’m me and you’re you. I am just a normal person, while you’re a celebrity. I’m ordinary, while you’re gorgeous, and-”
“Okay, shut up,” he cut Elli off, since he had heard enough. She looked over at him, stunned. He smiled, and then reached for her hand, kissing her knuckles.
“I want to see you because I like you. I like you because you are amazing, sweet, and understanding. If I ever hear you say you are ordinary again, I might smack your ass. You are gorgeous, Elli. So freaking beautiful that sometimes, like tonight, I find myself speechless at your beauty.”
She looked down at her hands, then back up at him with a shy smile.
“I don’t know. It’s just so hard to believe.” Elli said softly.
He smiled before bringing her knuckles to his lips again.
“Then I’ll just have to work hard to make you believe me.”


And now, let's welcome Toni to the blog!


Inspiration for being a Writer
I never thought I would be where I am today. When I was younger, I wanted to be on Broadway singing to millions with my amazing talent. I was sure it was going to happen. But the Lord had a different plan for me.
I met my husband when I was 14. He gave me a cute little smile, pushed me against a school bus and kissed me.

I’ve been in love ever since.

I wrote a little bit more through high school, but nothing worth my time. A week after we graduated high school, we got married. A year later, we had our son, and three years after that, my daughter came. I will never forget the day that I was standing in my living room, a two and half year old running around the living tearing stuff up, newborn on my boob, and my husband laid up on the couch with a broken neck. I closed my eyes for only a second and suddenly this couple was arguing. I sat down in front of the computer and out poured this story a dancer that was in love with her brother’s best friend. I never finished that book or the 20 after that.

Then I met Shea Weber from the Nashville Predators. He was amazing, he was sweet, he made me giggle. When I got home, this story of this girl that meets and starts dating her hockey crush, poured out of me and I had it done in 7 months. So what is my inspiration?

My husband, Michael and Shea Weber.

Michael is the most amazing, sweetest, patient man ever. He is also the best dad. I love him more and more each day. We are coming up on our 9th year anniversary and I know in my heart that we will die old together. I am able to write these stories of love because he loves me the right way. He tells me every day that he is proud of me, and that I am sexy, and beautiful. He makes me laugh, he turns me on, and madder than hell, but I love him. I always say that our Love Story is my favorite and it is.

Shea Weber is this manly, scary, beast of a man that is my hockey crush. He inspires these hot, gorgeous hockey guys that I write. I love the way he skates, the way he smiles, and the way he crushes people on the ice.

I am lucky to have these two amazing men as my inspiration. I enjoy writing what they bring into my head. I wouldn’t be able to write such lusty, sexy, men that know how to love women if I didn’t have my husband’s love, and Shea Weber’s brashness.

So yep, that's about it for today! Go here to check out the other tour stops! You'll find loads of awesome stuff on the other tour sites too! :D

Blog Tour: Almost Perfect by Jenna Jaxon - Guest Post + Excerpt



Hey guys! Welcome to today's blog tour! Sorry this is so late, I just got home. Crazy day, I say. So yep. Presenting... Almost Perfect! Oh! One really important thing to note! All proceeds for Almost Perfect for the month of May will be going to Relay for Life! So you see, get the book now!



Almost Perfect by Jenna Jaxon



Pamela Kimball’s birthday present, a 1Night Stand adventure, promises jump-start her life, put a new man in her bed, and help her forget her past. Unfortunately, movie-buff Pam’s Pirates of the Caribbean fantasy takes an alarming wrong turn when she’s abandoned on a not quite deserted island—with ex-husband Roger Ware.
Forced by hunger to accept Roger’s offer of dinner, Pam realizes the geek she married has transformed into one of the most charming, sexiest men she’s ever met. His newfound confidence—and hot body—re-kindles old fires. A simple kiss leads Roger to challenges her to discover how much his lovemaking skills have improved, leaving Pam torn between self-preservation and burning desire.
With time running out before they’re rescued, Pam must decide if her heart can survive the consequences of becoming Roger’s “almost” perfect 1Night Stand.

Buy it from Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Decadent Publishing | All Romance Ebooks

Jenna Jaxon



Jenna Jaxon is a multi-published author of historical and contemporary romance who has been reading and writing historical romance since she was a teenager. A romantic herself, Jenna has always loved a dark side to the genre, a twist, suspense, a surprise. She tries to incorporate all of these elements into her own writing.
Jenna lives in Virginia with her family and a small menagerie of pets. When not reading or writing, she indulges her passion for the theatre, working with local theatres as a director. She often feels she is directing her characters on their own private stage.
She has equated her writing to an addiction to chocolate because once she starts she just can’t stop.




Time for a short excerpt!


She inched into the lapping surf, searching for movement. Reflection off the water made this task harder than expected. Wasn’t the Caribbean supposed to be teeming with fish? Now that’s something she’d had a lot of instruction in. Almost every marooned-on-an-island movie had a scene where the heroine learned to catch fish. Six Days, Father Goose, Blue Lagoon. All you needed was your hands and patience. She could do this.
Pam waded out further then stopped just before the water hit her now dry shorts. “Not gonna to have a damp crotch all night.” The words reminded her of exactly what she had hoped for tonight. “But not from wet shorts!” She headed back to shore to remove and drape them next to her shirt. The bandeau was a different story. Still damp, even after several hours, and uncomfortable. Might dry better if not next to her skin anyway. “Screw it! Live dangerously.”
Standing as good as naked on the deserted beach, Pam smiled as the warm breeze caressed her bare body. The sense of being slightly naughty added to her delight in the sensual feel of the air as it dried her breasts. Her nipples peaked as the wind cooled them. She strutted down to the water’s edge to sink her toes in the sand, the salty tang in the air adding to the perfect moment.
“If you’re skinny dipping, you forgot to remove one very important piece of clothing.”
Pam whirled around. Roger stood on the beach behind her, a green bottle of Perrier in one hand. His gaze played up and down her naked torso and his salacious grin widened. “Mind if I join you?”


And now, let's welcome Jenna to the blog!


Different Strokes: When A Relationship Comes Apart


It always happens. You’re in a committed relationship, everything is sunshine and roses (especially in a romance novel) and then something happens. It might be a big something (like cheating) or it might be a little something (realizing he likes action films and she likes romantic comedies) but usually there comes a time when a couple begins to realize they might not be meant for each other. In one of my previous blog posts, I talked about the process of relationships coming together and specifically about memorable meetings. Today I’d like to explore the flip side to that, and take a look at what happens when a relationship begins to come apart.

According to Mark Knapp, there are five stages of a relationship coming apart, just as there wee five stages of coming together. The first stage of the coming apart process is called differentiating. During this stage, couples begin to realize the honeymoon is over. They begin to emphasize a focus on “I” rather than “we.” They spend more time focused on individual pursuits and prefer to have their “own space.” Whereas in the early stages of coming together they focused on things in common, now they can only see how they are different. As this stage progresses, the couple must address the underlying problems in the relationship if they are to keep it from advancing to the next step.

I chose to look at the differentiating stage, because it is so often apparent in relationships in romance novels. Often, novels open at the point where the relationship has started to go sour. Or the lovers meet, fall in love and marry, only to have second thoughts later in the book. A good romance novel will mirror the back and forth nature of the relationship stages. These stages aren’t achieved in a precise march toward the inevitable. Couples in the differentiating stage may stay there for a while, jockeying for a position in the relationship where they can be both themselves and part of the couple and so reverse the trend downward. If one or the other of the pair, however, is unwilling to negotiate things like personal time and space, then the couple may descend to the lower levels of termination model.

At the beginning of my novella, Almost Perfect, the couple has already achieved the termination stage and divorced two years before. During the course of the book the reader finds out how their relationship slid down that slippery slope. And readers see first hand how the couple’s personalities and circumstances helped bring about the demise of the marriage. Here’s an excerpt of one of their early meetings on the island that illustrates some of their differences:

Excerpt from Almost Perfect:

“So what’ve you been up to the past two years?” The question, on the heels of those carnal thoughts, made her scowl. Staying celibate, that’s what. But she wouldn’t admit it.
“I tried teaching for a while.” Not one of her successes.
“You didn’t like it?”
“Not really. I substituted at an elementary school. Thought I might pursue a Masters so I could teach full time, but it didn’t seem right for me.” She shrugged. “Then I worked at an advertising agency.”
His prolonged silence irked her. Was he waiting for a confession of some sort?
“Why advertising?” His eyes never left hers. Jesus, was he going to give her the third degree?
“I thought it would be fun. And there was this guy.…” Now that was an excellent way to lead him to the wrong conclusion. Her friend Greg, from high school, needed an assistant after his previous one quit. She filled in for six months, until the initially exciting and fast-paced job wasn’t so exciting anymore. “Unfortunately, that didn’t work out.” Let him think she meant the guy, not the job. For some reason she didn’t want him to know about her lack of boyfriends.
“You’ve just had all the bad luck with jobs, haven’t you?”
She raised her chin. “I haven’t had to struggle to make ends meet.”
“Thanks to the alimony I deposit into your account each month.” He picked up her water-stained sandal, pointedly staring at the name emblazoned down the middle. “Gloria Vanderbilt? I do remember some of the designers you used to frequent.”
She sprang onto her knees and snatched the shoe out of his hands. “What I do with my money is my damned business. You wanted out of the marriage bad enough to pay substantially for it.”
“I think any man would want out of a marriage where his wife compares him to a lukewarm Pee-wee Herman, then likens his lovemaking skills to ‘Pee-wee’s Big Top Adventure with the good bits taken out.’” Spoken in a soft, even tone, the words made her squirm. But there was no way to deny it—those were her exact words the night he’d thrown her out.
“I just called it as I saw it.”
“And you saw it so infrequently I’m surprised you remembered.”
“You can’t put it all on me! You were at the damned office all day and half the night. Can I help it if I was too exhausted to stay awake to ‘service’ you when you got in at 3 am?”
“Why were you so exhausted, Pam? You didn’t work. You sat around and watched those damned movies all day long. How tiring is that? Unless there were additional ‘coming’ attractions in between show times?” The mild manner of his voice suggested disinterest, but his eyes focused on her face, alert for any hint of guilt.

Is there any wonder these two got a divorce? They didn’t just slide down the slope, they galloped! And seem willing to take termination to a new low now. But, as I said above, these stages can go forward or reverse and given the right circumstances (as so often happens in romance novels) even a lost cause can be given a new chance at love.


So yep, that's about it for today! Go here to check out the other tour stops! You'll find loads of awesome stuff on the other tour sites too! :D Remember, the proceeds for this book is going to Relay for Life for the month of May! I know the month is ending but there's still time! Look at it this way. You get to read a great book at the same time doing your little bit for charity. What's not to love? ;)


Donna Grant Sooper Dooper Blog Hop



Hey guys! So today, it's gonna be a blog hop. Basically, what you have to do to stand a chance to win... an autographed copy of Darkest Highlander, a brand new copy of Midnight's Master (eBook or Print, winners choice) AND a 10.00 Amazon Gift Card. (I know, awesome right?!) is just follow these simple rules!

1. Read through the blog post.
2. Find the Warrior Fact. A follow and comment would be loved:)) ;)
3. Go to the other blogs on the Linky list and find all the facts!
4. Collate them and send them to Shauni_qotu@innovativeonlinebooktours.com


The person with the most number of correct answers win!

Note: Please don't leave the answers in the comments, you'll be giving the clue away, meaning one less chance to win!



Donna Grant


Donna Grant is the bestselling, award winning author of more than twenty-five novels spanning multiple genres of romance.

She was born and raised in Texas but loves to travel. Her adventures have taken her throughout the United States as well as to Jamaica, Mexico, and Scotland. Growing up on the Texas/Louisiana border, Donna’s Cajun side of the family taught her the “spicy” side of life while her Texas roots gave her two-steppin’ and bareback riding.
Her childhood dream was to become a professional ballet dancer and study under the amazing Mikhail Baryshnikov. Though she never got to meet Baryshnikov, she did make it to New York City and performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Later, Donna’s love of the romance genre and the constant stories running through her head prompted her to sit down and write her first book. Once that book was completed, there was no turning back.

Donna sold her first book in November 2005 while displaced from Hurricane Rita, a storm that destroyed portions of the Texas Gulf Coast. Since then, Donna has sold novels and novellas to both electronic and print publishers. Her books include several complete series such as Druids Glen, The Shields, Royal Chronicles, Sisters of Magic, Dark Sword, Dark Warriors, and her new series, Dark Kings.

Despite the deadlines and her voracious reading, Donna still manages to keep up with her two young children, four cats, three fish, and one long haired Chihuahua. She’s blessed with a proud, supportive husband who loves to read and travel as much as she does.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads





Wicked Highlander by Donna Grant



The Dark Sword series unleashes the magic, passion, and fury of three legendary brothers – cursed by fate but bound by desire for the women they love…

A HEART IN CHAINS…

The most reckless and fierce of the MacLeod brothers, Quinn is a prisoner of the god inside him, tormented by his inability to save his family from slaughter. His fury governs him, and day by day he loses himself to the darkness in his soul. But Quinn has a profound yearning for a woman’s love…

Warrior Hop Fact! What is the name of the MacLeod's god? Apodatoo.

A PASSION UNBOUND…

Raised by Druids, the achingly beautiful Marcail is as spellbinding as the ancient magic that surges through her body. To Quinn, she is the most desirable woman he has ever known. But to his enemy Deirdre, she is the perfect bait to lure Quinn into her trap. Once the two lovers are in her wicked grasp, their passion will be put to the ultimate test…



Let's find out a little about one of the characters, shall we? Quinn, from Wicked Highlander Book 3 in the Dark Sword Series! Here's a little about him.



The most intelligent of the MacLeod brothers. But he’s close to losing himself to his god forever.

Born: June 1280
Turned: March 1301
God: Apodatoo, god of revenge
Warrior Color: Black
Abilities: Control over animals




Midnight Master by Donna Grant



From the acclaimed author of the Dark Sword novels comes a thrilling spin off series in which ancient magic in the modern world ignites a timeless passion…

A MYSTERY OUT OF TIME

Gwynn Austin has no idea why her father has disappeared on a mysterious trip to Scotland. When she goes on a desperate mission to search for him she finds more than she bargains for in a ruggedly handsome, wickedly exciting Highlander who exudes danger and mystery. And when she discovers her own link to Scotland, she’ll have to trust her heart to help lead her….

A LEGEND IN THE FLESH

Propelled through time by powerful Druid Magic, Logan Hamilton uses his immortality and powers of the god inside him to help prevent the awakening of an ancient evil in the modern world. He never expects to find help in the form of a beautiful, alluring, and all too tempting woman whose passion and strength matches his own. Together, Logan and Gywnn must fight for their love—before a demon from the past destroys them both…




Buy it from Amazon

Time for a short excerpt of Midnight Master! This is the 1st in the Dark Warrior series!


The blackness, the unending void ate away at Logan as he was yanked out of the year 1603 and thrown forward in time. He felt himself falling and desperately reached for something to hang onto

The wind rushed by him, hurting his ears with the high pitched sound and drowning out any noise. The wind took his breath, making it difficult to breath. He was tossed first one way, and then the other. Determining which way was up was soon forgotten.

Where were the others? Ramsey, Arran, and Camdyn? The Druids had told him they didn’t know where any of them would end up. All Logan could pray for as he felt the years and decades pass by was that he landed in the right time.

Around him, the inky darkness began to shimmer – the same shimmer that had appeared when the Druids cast the spell to send Logan and the others traveling through time.

Almost instantly, he was dumped out of the abyss onto his hands and knees into the midst of a vicious rainstorm.

Logan swallowed and gave himself a moment to let his head stop spinning. He pushed his fingers into the wet ground and smiled when he felt the dirt between his hands.

He sat back on his heels and looked around. It was day, but the storm had darkened the sky. An urgent need pulled at him, called to him to return to Eigg, but he pushed it aside. He had to find Ian. That was his duty.

Logan wiped off his hands and took stock of his whereabouts on a hillside, the tall grass swaying with the howling wind. But what grabbed his interest were the dots of light below him.

Logan blinked through the cold, torrential rain and climbed to his feet. Those weren’t fires he saw flickering in the valley. What they were, he didn’t know. Yet.

He rose to his feet and ran a hand through his hair to get it out of his face. It was time to discover just where the Druids had managed to toss him in the future.

On his way down to the valley, Logan crossed a road that had been covered with some hard, black substance with bright white lines painted on it.

He squatted down to touch the surface and felt the rumbling of the ground beneath his fingers. Logan rose and stepped back as something large and loud came rolling down the lane.

As the object passed, Logan spotted a person inside who looked like they controlled the loud contraption.

More confused than ever, Logan walked over the road and down to the town. He could hardly believe his eyes when he reached the village to find buildings lined down the street, one right next to the other. They were all painted the same bright white with many more of those noisy contraptions lining the road as well as traveling down it.

Logan kept to the side of the road where he saw other people walking. A few gave him odd glances but most paid him no heed.

He passed store after store, trying to learn the language written on the signs. The fact that he had a primeval god inside him, a god so ancient his name had been forgotten, was the only way he was able to pick up this new language so quickly.

“You’re soaked through, lad,” said an elderly woman as she opened a door to a store Logan was walking past.

He gave a slight nod and felt the knot in his belly loosen as he heard her brogue. He was still in Scotland. Now, to determine when he was.

“Ah, not much of a talker,” she said and laughed.

Logan smiled. “What year is it?”

She blinked and cocked her gray head at him. “You’ve quite the brogue, lad. It’s been many a years since I’ve heard one so thick.” She smiled, a far away look stealing across her face.

Logan took a step toward her. “The year, lady?”

“Oh.” She chuckled and patted her chest. “Forgive me. It’s 2012. What an odd question.”

“I’ve been living by myself…away from everyone.”

“And everything,” she said as she eyed his kilt.

Logan looked around him and shrugged. “What village am I in?”

This time the old woman frowned as she watched him. “Salen, not far from the Isle of Skye.”

He knew the village, but the last time he had seen it, there had barely been anything there. It had grown tremendously since then.

What else had changed in the four centuries since he had left his friends behind at MacLeod Castle?

“I thank you,” he said to the woman and walked on before she could ask more questions.

Logan looked at the town of Salen with new eyes. If this almost nonexistent village could grow so much in just a few centuries, what had become of Edinburgh or Glasgow? And did he even want to know?

He paused as a young woman ran in front of him to one of the contraptions sitting on the side of the road. She jerked at the handle as she held a bag over her head in an effort to keep from getting wet. It wasn’t working.

“Rory! You wanker! Unlock the bloody door so I can get in the car!” she yelled over her shoulder.

Logan turned his head to see a thin man come out of the shop, walk around the…car, insert something small into the door, and open it.

The woman yanked on her door again then banged on the window above it. “Rory. Unlock the bloody door now!”

After another moment, Rory leaned over the door and pulled on something. A moment later, the woman got in. She was still yelling as the car rolled away.

So, the contraptions were called cars, and apparently people rode them much as Logan rode horses. He sighed and continued forward. It wasn’t just the landscape that had changed. The people had changed as well.

No lady Logan had known would ever have spoken as the woman with Rory had. Not even whores spoke so crudely.

Logan heard footsteps coming fast behind him. His muscles seized and fangs filled his mouth. Logan spun around, claws lengthening as he readied himself to behead whoever thought to attack him.

He pulled his hand back, stopping himself just in time as two young lads who ran past him, laughing and soaking wet. Logan stepped into the doorway of an unused building and took a deep breath.

Was he so used to fighting that he would attack anyone? Even children? He shook his head and struggled to tamp down the god inside him.

Athleus. He was the god of betrayal inside Logan, an ancient god who wanted nothing but death and destruction. It had taken decades for Logan to gain control over his god.

But sometimes, that control slipped.

Logan carried enough burdens. He didn’t need to add the death of two young lads to the weight.

Once his fangs and claws had retreated, and Logan was sure his skin wasn’t the silver of his god, he stepped out of the shadows and lengthened his stride as he exited the town. The urge to return to Eigg was sharp and true in his chest.

If anyone found out that he had a monster inside him, that he could release the god and become a beast, Logan was sure they’d kill him.

But he didn’t just have a god inside him. He was able to use Athleus’ power, a power able to control water. And Logan was going to the Isle of Eigg, an isle surrounded by water.

He wasn’t sure when he had made that decision, only that he had. Logan couldn’t hold back the desperate need to return there as soon as possible.

The last time he had been to Eigg, which to him was just a matter of hours – not centuries – earlier, he had been looking for an artifact hidden there by the Druids.

Not only had he not found the artifact, but his friend and fellow Warrior, Duncan, had been killed by Deirdre. Deirdre was a drough, a Druid who had given herself to evil and black magic. She was on a mission to take over the world, and as great as her magic was, Logan feared she might just win.

It had been Deirdre who had unleashed the gods inside the Warriors. And it would be Warriors who would help end Deirdre once and for all.

But first, Logan had to find Ian, Duncan’s twin.

He couldn’t imagine what Ian was going through. Ian and Duncan, as twins, had shared a god, and with Duncan’s death, the full power and rage of their god would overtake Ian. If he couldn’t control his god, his god would control him and he would be ripe for Deirdre to claim. Which is just what she had wanted when she killed Duncan.

Logan had no idea where Ian had gone, but he knew Deirdre. She had leaped forward in time to 2012 in order to thwart him and the others in their mission to find the artifacts before she did.

He frowned. Or had she?

If Deirdre could travel through time whenever she wanted, why hadn’t she done so before now? She could have changed the outcome to anything that hadn’t gone her way, including gaining the artifacts before the MacLeods.

If Deirdre hadn’t traveled through time on her own, that meant someone had to have helped her.

But who? And, more importantly, why?

Logan wasn’t sure he’d have those answers anytime soon. Regardless, in order to defeat Deirdre, the Warriors would still need the artifacts. The one he had been sent to get was on Eigg.

He paused and looked around him. None of the other three Warriors who had volunteered to look for Ian had landed with Logan. He wasn’t even sure if they had been taken as he had.

Yet, he knew the Druids at MacLeod Castle. Each one was powerful in her own right, and together, they wielded magic and quite literally took his breath away.

He had no doubt they had succeeded in tossing the others forward in time along with him. He had no means of communicating with anyone, nor could he take the chance of traveling to MacLeod Castle yet. He had to find Ian before Deirdre did.

If she didna have him already.


So that brings me to the end of today's post! Found the Warrior Fact that you need? Go on to the other blogs to find the other Warrior Facts! Enjoy:) sorry its up a little late though, was super busy!



Blog Tour: A Little Sumthin Sumthin by Imani True - Excerpt



Hey guys! Welcome to today's blog tour! A Little Sumthin Sumthin is a Contemporary Romantic Drama/Suspense with about 212 pages/37,500 words! Today, I'll be doing a book feature so yep, without further ado, just read on and enjoy! :)



A Little Sumthin Sumthin by Imani True



How do you start over when you never thought you’d have to?

Fatimah Briggs is tired of the games, tired of the lies.

Tired of her husband.

Malcolm has spent his entire marriage thinking only of himself and getting “a little sumthin sumthin” on the side. Plus, when he’s angry, he lashes out at the one person who’s always believed in him, even when it tore her heart to pieces. But after one confrontation too many, Fatimah decides that enough is enough. When her bruises heal, she refuses to return home, choosing instead to start a new life without Malcolm.

Enter Xiomara, Fatimah’s sexy new boss who wants so much more. That’s when Fatimah is forced to face some truths of her own, and finally take charge of the situation.

But more than a few people aren’t going to like the ‘new and improved’ Fatimah. And dealing with “a little sumthin sumthin” may prove to be more than anyone should be expected to handle.

A Little Sumthin Sumthin is a story of staring over, and finding strength when you thought you had none. It’s a tale of karma, truth, and ultimately, survival because sometimes, what goes around, really does come around.

For Fatimah, the trick will be staying alive long enough to see it happen.


Buy it from Amazon

Watch the video trailer here!



Imani True




Imani (“True”) has been writing her entire life. Early works consisted of poetry and short stories written under the name C. Highsmith-Hooks. Her 2010 collaboration with Ms. Dreama Skye produced Strawberries, Stilettos, and Steam, a collection of erotic stories published by NCM Publishing. That same year, one of Imani’s stories was published in Delphine Publications’ Between the Sheets anthology. Both books won literary awards.

In February 2012, True released A Little Sumthin Sumthin, the story of Fatimah Briggs, a woman trying to start a new life. But when Fatimah packs her bags to leave, she has no idea what secrets, lies, and indiscretions will unfold as she tries to make her own way.

A native New Yorker at heart, True currently resides in Las Vegas, where she works a traditional 9 to 5 until the pen pays her bills. When she’s not writing, she enjoys watching crime thrillers, traveling, and sports. The mother of one grown son, Imani is currently working on several e-books, screenplays, and novels in the genre of erotic crime thrillers.

Website | Facebook | Twitter


Time for a short excerpt!


There it was…...the truth slapping me right upside the head: another damn receipt! And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t ignore it, deny it or wish it away.

My husband had bought condoms!

How in the hell can he do this to me again? I asked myself. And how will he explain himself when I confront him about it? What will he say?

Thoughts raced through my mind at warp speed. I tried to make sense of it all. But I kept coming back to the same conclusion: Malcolm had cheated.

Again.

“You must be devastated, girl,” one friend told me.

“Devastated, my ass! She should be pissed the hell off!” my best friend Sashasaid in her straight-to-the-point manner. “It’s almost like he didn’t care if you found out, like he wanted to get caught. What fool buys that many condoms?”

Sasha always had my back.

Sounds crazy, but the more I thought about it, the more clearly I could see Malcolm cheating. The images were just too much. My head exploded and I hit the ground.Through my state of semi-consciousness, I could hear voices.

“Pulse, steady at sixty-two beats per minute…we gotta’ get her to the hospital NOW!”

“Fatimah, hang in there girl,” someone said. It sounded like Sasha.

“You’re going to be fine,” another voice said calmly.

My friends are such liars. I didn’t feel like I would be okay.

“We’re almost there, Miss. Hold on!” The EMT was doing his best to save my life. “Is there someone we can call for her? A husband, a boyfriend, another family member?”

Sasha gave them Malcolm’s cell number. I remember wishing that she hadn’t, even though I knew she meant well.

I was struggling to keep my eyes open. And I had no idea how I even got into the ambulance, or who called for help. But I knew one thing -- if I survived this, I was finally done with Malcolm’s sorry ass.

An hour later, they checked me into a room.

“Your husband is on the way down, Mrs. Briggs. He’s very worried.”

Worried? I thought to myself. He should be -- he’s the damn reason I’m here in the first place!

Seconds later, a tall blurry figure entered the room.

“Hey, baby,” Malcolm whispered in my ear. “Are you okay?” He smiled the wayhe always does when he knows he’s being watched.

As I stared up at him, I became hypnotized by his sexy voice.

“Fatimah, I asked you a question.” Malcolm started to raise his voice, but remembered that we weren’t alone. “I mean, um……can I have some time with my wife, doctor?” he asked. “Alone?”

The doctor left the room, but kept the door cracked.

“So how are you doing?” Malcolm asked, waiting for me to answer as he paced around the bed with angry feet.

“As good as can be expected, I suppose, especially when you consider the day I’ve had so far. And the monster headache I still have right now. How are you, baby?”

How are you, baby? What the hell was I thinking?

Here I was, lying in the hospital near death, and I was worried about how Malcolm was doing!

That was so typical of me during our marriage.

“Malcolm, why did you buy condoms? And don’t you even lie, because I found the receipt!”

“Just being an asshole, I suppose.”

Definitely the right answer, I thought. And it came out of his mouth so damn smooth! Unbelievable!

But there was no way he was getting off that easy. He stared at me, as if trying to look right through me, and into my soul.

“Malcolm, I trusted you, even after that last time you cheated!” I screamed. “Now you’ve abused that trust by doing it again? How am I supposed to believe anything you say to me? How?”

“I don’t know. But I swear to you, I haven’t had unprotected sex with anyone else since that last incident. I might be guilty of getting a little sumthin’ sumthin’ on the side, and a few other things, but I haven’t slept with another woman in a really long time.”

He paused, and then continued.

“And even when I did,” he chastised,“at least I used condoms! Wasn’t that your complaint the last time? That I was jeopardizing your health?”

What the hell…? Oh, no he didn’t just try to flip this shit around! And for the record, Mr. Can’t- Keep-It-in-his-Pants, my complaint was that you were screwing every woman you met!

I shook my head,struggling to wrap my mind around what Malcolm was telling me.Subconsciously, I could hear Sasha screaming: “Hello? Anybody in there? Wake up, Fatimah -- he cheated on you! AGAIN!”

Malcolm’s words rang even louder. Haven’t had unprotected sex…..in a really long time? I thought.Why was my husband being so careful with his words? What were these “things” he may or may not be guilty of?

And what the hell is “a little sumthin’ sumthin”?


And now, let's take a look at some reviews of this book!


“Author Imani True writes a powerful, heartfelt, gritty novel. Her story explores the realities of life, the ones no one wants to talk about - spousal abuse and lesbianism. Ms. True takes these topics by the collar and yanks them headlong through the streets for all to see. Her heroines are strong and proud. You cheer them on every step of the way. Her villain is a man you have no trouble seeing get his own back when karma finally catches up. A solid storyline and intensely written characters with intriguing subplots makes this a great read in my opinion. I will be looking for a little more sumthin, sumthin from this author!”~Lee-Ann Graff-Vinson, Author of Georgia's Smile, Love's Trust, Callie's Fate, and her most recent release - Love And Liberty (now also available in print).

“’A Little Sumthin’ Sumthin’” is a seductive blend of mystery, sensuality, and drama. A well-crafted novel that invites the reader to not just peruse the first few pages, but it invites them into a world where motives and secrets are exposed in an erotic, but thrilling way.”~Gaiven Clairmont, Author of Reality, Dreams, and Nightmares.

“’ALSS’ is captivating and very well-written. Imani True did an awesome job at combining sexiness with the right amount of suspense and twists. Fatimah is definitely a bad chick, and Malcolm…let’s just say he’s definitely NOT the ladies’ man he thinks he is!” ~Queen B.G., Author of Dealt the Wrong Hand and Bridge 2 Destruction.

“’A Little Sumthin’ Sumthin’” is a very sexy story with fully developed characters in realistic situations, which makes this intriguing story a must-read. It’s what happens when high finance collides with low-life crime. It’s not so much ‘whodunit,’ but why they did it that will keep readers on the edge, and turning pages late into the night. This one is a winner!~Terry B., Author of The ‘E’ Collection: A New Definition of Erotica: Volume 1, Dancer’s Paradise: An Erotic Journey and At Midnight: Choice Fowler's Story.


So yep, that's about it for today! Go here to check out the other tour stops! You'll find loads of awesome stuff on the other tour sites too! :D

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