Wicked Takeover (A Wicked Brand Novel – Book 1) by Tina Donahue (@tinadonahue)

Wicked TakeoverBlurb:

She’s just inherited a tattoo parlor…and the hunk who comes with it.

Lauren’s in a helluva mess. Not only has she lost her corporate HR job, she’s just inherited Wicked Brand, a struggling West Palm Beach tattoo parlor…along with the virile dude who runs it. Lauren’s full-figured, sorta pretty, and wanting him badly. Dream on. She’s here to sell the place as quickly as possible for some much-needed cash and score a new position in the corporate world.

Dante’s sinfully hot with a killer smile and beautifully inked biceps. He sees the heat in Lauren’s eyes despite her conservative appearance, recognizing the dynamite woman she could be if she’d just loosen up and have some wicked fun. Dominance and submission. Making love in a public place. Having her lush body always accessible to and ready for his.

Unwilling and unable to keep their hands to themselves, Lauren and Dante turn to carnal games and seduction. Until lust turns to surprising need and friendship to something deeper that might just change their futures.

Available from: Amazon UK | Amazon US

*****

Excerpt:

Dante considered asking her for ID.

She was Frank’s little girl?

He had expected Frank’s daughter to eventually show up and claim her inheritance. However, he hadn’t been prepared for anyone like the woman who stood before him.

She and her dad looked nothing alike, not even within the same family tree or forest. Frank had been short for a man, no more than five-five, and painfully thin even before his heart problems. His hair had been curly and red, his features on the homely side, given his big nose and protruding teeth.

Lauren’s mouth was exceptionally nice. Plush lips tinted a delicate rose and further enhanced by a tiny mole to the side.

Something shifted inside him, and he tried to ignore the pleasant feeling but couldn’t. It nagged and kept building. Her delicate features were sweet and pretty rather than sensual. Her deep blue eyes went really well with her honey-blond hair. Cut shorter than his, a few strands brushed her cheeks.

He wanted to ease them back. Good sense warned him against touching her and coming on too strong.

Lauren’s blush had gone from pink to bright red, which gave her some color. If she lived in Florida, that was a major surprise. She was as pale as a corpse and dressed like a modern-day nun.

Dante inhaled deeply. Thankfully, she didn’t smell like incense but rather a subtle floral fragrance tinged with musk.

Heat pooled in his groin.

Lauren blinked rapidly and lifted her face, her lips not far from his. For a woman, she was tallish, probably five-seven, five-eight, without her heels.

She stepped back.

He resisted the urge to follow. Wasn’t easy.

Her prim clothes didn’t hide her lush, womanly figure. He’d never been into the skinny women that advertisers coveted. He liked Lauren’s curves and the innocent yet sexy vibes she gave off. Still waters running deep and all that.

He edged closer.

Her fingertips touched his abs.

Not to stroke him. She was reaching out to shake hands.

Her fingers were soft and moist, a delight to hold. He squeezed them gently.

New color flooded her face and throat. A soft smile touched her lips.

He liked that. “So you’re Frank’s little girl.”

Caution replaced her earlier sweetness. Hurt filled her eyes. “We’re related.” She spoke barely above a whisper. “Or were.”

Her reaction wasn’t a surprise. Frank had told him what had happened long ago. Stuff Dante wasn’t about to bring up now. Not his place. He called himself a fool for bringing attention to her relationship—or lack of one—with her dad.

Her tightly bunched shoulders eased from their protective stance, but she didn’t fully relax. “And you are?”

He’d forgotten to tell her. “Dante Avana. Your dad hired me on as manager, though I do my share of piercings and tats.”

Lauren stared at his left biceps. She got a dreamy look. So did she like the design or his arm?

He puffed up, strangely proud about the possibility of either.

She shifted in place and glanced around, taking in the parlor.

Before their silence grew too uncomfortable, he took command. “Want me to show you everything you own?”

Lauren slanted him a look.

He gave her one right back. She’d be fun to tease and share laughter with. “You know—furniture, equipment, computers, other stuff?”

She got soft and feminine again, then composed herself quickly, like she’d flipped an internal switch.

In his experience, transformations like that generally happened with cops or attorneys. He suspected she might be a lawyer.

She smoothed her suit jacket. “Can I ask you something?”

He hoped it wouldn’t be about her dad, given the history Frank had revealed. “Shoot.”

*****

About Tina:

Tina is an Amazon and international bestselling novelist in erotic, paranormal, contemporary and historical romance for traditional publishers and indie. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised her work. Three of her erotic novels were Readers’ Choice Award winners. Another three were named finalists in the EPIC competition. One of her erotic contemporary romances was chosen Book of the Year at the French review site Blue Moon reviews. The Golden Nib Award at Miz Love Loves Books was created specifically for one of her erotic romances. Two of her titles received an Award of Merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competition. Another two won second place in the NEC RWA contest (different years). Tina is featured in the Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. Before penning romances, she worked at a major Hollywood production company in Story Direction.

FB Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/DonahueTina1/

Email: tinadonahuebooks@gmail.com

Website/Blog: http://tinadonahuebooks.blogspot.com/

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Dirty Birdies: http://dirtybirdiesauthors.com/about/

Mid Week Tease: The overwhelming arrogance made her blood boil… #MWTease

mid-week-tease-buttonHi everyone,

Welcome back to Mid Week Tease! As I mentioned last week, I’m switching up to something new for a while. My latest novel-length work, Hiding in Plain Sight, released on the 27th July, so I’m going to share snippets from that for a while. I hope you’ll check out this sexy spy thriller!

Hiding in Plain SightMallory Scott spotted the people she was looking for as soon as she walked into the hotel bar. Hell, she hadn’t even needed to search; they were being so loud and obnoxious they were practically screaming for attention.

Stupid, in Mallory’s opinion. If you were running an international diamond scam, surely you’d want to keep a low profile? But no, apparently these guys didn’t give a shit. Not only were they screaming for attention—and getting it, she noticed, as other patrons of the bar shot them the occasional glare—they were also projecting the fact that they were filthy rich. They were supping on the most expensive champagne money could buy and demanding oysters and caviar be brought in. The overwhelming arrogance made her blood boil, but she consoled herself with the fact that by the time she was done with them, they’d be taken down by more than a peg or two—they’d be at rock bottom.

Heading for a table in a position where she could watch them, but remain partially hidden behind a pillar, she shook her head. She could hardly believe they’d kept their multi-million-pound enterprise going for so long. If they ran their operation as sloppily as their current behaviour indicated they might, it was a miracle indeed.
Not that it mattered. They could be running the tightest ship ever known to man, and she would still find a way to take them down. It was what she did. For years now, she’d been successfully infiltrating illegal operations of varying kinds, then gradually dismantling them from the inside. Before the criminals realised what was happening, it was too late—their wrists were practically in the handcuffs, their arses on their way to jail.

This project was different from the ones she usually handled. Her past takedowns included terrorist plots, kidnappings, drugs, people-trafficking… that kind of thing. She’d been involved because sending in police or military personnel wouldn’t work. Not in those particular circumstances. To be truly effective, Mallory needed to infiltrate the organisations at the top, gain their trust—or at least enough trust to allow her to snoop—and acquire evidence of their involvement to ensure their convictions. Otherwise, rushing in and stopping the terrorists, saving people and so on, important as that was, would only affect a tiny part of the organisation. It was vital to dismantle the whole thing, from the big bosses and the money men, right down to the minions doing the leg work.

Get your copy of Hiding in Plain Sight here: https://www.lucyfelthouse.co.uk/published-works/hiding-in-plain-sight/

Don’t forget to check out all the other blogs taking part!

Mid Week Tease: “I know he can be a bit intimidating, Quentin…” #MWTease

mid-week-tease-buttonHi everyone,

Welcome back to Mid Week Tease! This week I’m sharing another tease from my MM paranormal erotic romance story, Winning the Campaign Manager, which released on 3rd July. However, this will be the last snippet from this book, as my latest full-length novel, Hiding in Plain Sight, releases tomorrow, so I’m going to be switching over to that for a while.

Winning the Campaign ManagerThere was a click, then the door opened. Quentin Rayworth looked up as Mary Summers re-entered her office.

She smiled and walked over to where he sat to one side of the room. “All right, he’s ready for you. He took some persuading, and I had to lay out a few harsh truths for him, but once he got it, he understood. He’s agreed to work with you, and I’ve told him he’s got to do exactly what you tell him.”

Quentin gulped. He was well aware of what a fantastic opportunity he’d landed in working with Cade Avery, and how good it would be for his career, but he wasn’t at all sure about the idea of telling the man what to do. Quentin had seen him on TV, and he was terrifying. Not only was he almost as wide as he was tall—and that was in muscle and bulk, not fat—he had a formidable personality, too. But then, he reminded himself, that was precisely why Cade needed him, Quentin Rayworth, to be his campaign manager. He needed, to coin an oft-used phrase, to win friends and influence people. And Quentin could help him do exactly that.

Pulling in a deep breath, he stood up and forced a smile past his nerves and onto his face. “Thank you, Mrs. Summers. I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me.” Then, hoping he sounded much more confident than he felt, added, “I won’t let you down.”

She nodded. “I know. And I’ve told you, it’s Mary. You make me feel about a hundred years old calling me Mrs. Summers. Now, go get him. Out the door, turn right, and Mr. Avery’s office is second on the left. You can’t go wrong—his name is on the door. Relax, and be yourself. And, most importantly, don’t let him walk all over you. I know he can be a bit intimidating, Quentin, but in this situation, you are the expert. So be confident in your abilities. If he’s difficult, just remind him you’re here to help him. To make sure he wins this campaign. And, if he gets to be too much, just come and tell me.” She tipped him a playful wink. “I’ll sort him out for you.”

Get your copy of Winning the Campaign Manager here: https://www.lucyfelthouse.co.uk/published-works/winning-the-campaign-manager/

Don’t forget to check out all the other blogs taking part!

A Different Kind of Cosplay Now Available in #Audiobook Format! #audio #audible

Hi folks,

I’m delighted to announce that my Marvel-geeky-goodness tale, A Different Kind of Cosplay, is now available in audiobook format. The fabulous Xanthia Bloom, who has narrated several audiobooks for me, also did this one. I know it seems like I’m releasing lots of audiobooks all at once, but the nature of the process means it’s impossible to know when things will get finished, from the narrator’s end, from my end, and from ACX’s (the company who puts it all together and distributes the audiobook) end. I literally find out when an audiobook is released when I get an email saying “your ACX audiobook is now available for sale!” Then it’s panic stations 😉

Anyway, enough of that! Here’s what the book is all about, if you haven’t read it already, and where you can buy it from:

Blurb

Zachary has a dilemma. His girlfriend, Reese, has a special birthday coming up soon and he has absolutely no clue what to get for her. It doesn’t help that Zach does not share or really understand Reese’s biggest hobby—comic books, superheroes and everything that goes with them. Zach raids Reese’s DVD collection for inspiration, and what he finds there gives him an idea…possibly the best one he’s ever had.

Sure, Reese has fantasized about her favorite superheroes. All those muscles and rakish smiles are to die for. She didn’t think Zach would ever really understand, though. But he proves her wrong in the best way possible.

Note: This book was previously published elsewhere. The title and content remain the same.

Audiobook:
Audible UK
Audible US
Amazon UK
Amazon US
iTunes UK
iTunes US

The next audiobooks that are coming out are Classic Felthouse and The Beauty and the Badass. So watch this space 😉 All my currently available audiobooks are here.

Happy Listening,

Lucy x

Mid Week Tease: Mary’s face shifted into a wide smile. #MWTease

mid-week-tease-buttonHi everyone,

Welcome back to Mid Week Tease! This week I’m sharing another tease from my MM paranormal erotic romance story, Winning the Campaign Manager, which released on 3rd July. I hope you’ll check it out – politics has never been so sexy!

Winning the Campaign Manager“I know that, Cade, and the rest of the team knows that. Nobody is doubting your abilities, not one iota. But I’m afraid it’s a simple fact that unless you win people over, you haven’t got a cat in hell’s chance of winning this election. So all of this will have been for nothing. And I, for one, am not willing to allow that to happen. Therefore, I have appointed you a campaign manager. You are going to work with him, you are going to do what he tells you to do, and together, you are going to boost your public image. And you are not, I repeat not, going to frighten him off. You need him, Cade. Do you understand?”

Even if he hadn’t been able to see her chest heaving with the rapidity of her breaths, the flush on her cheeks, and the intensity in her eyes, Cade would have known just how strongly Mary felt about this. His superior shifter hearing easily picked up the sound of her fast respiration and elevated heart rate. He could also smell the tang of the light sweat she’d broken out in. She put up with a lot of his shit, and had done for many years now, but it was rare for her to put her foot down like this. She was, after all, his employee. He was the boss, not her.
So for her to talk to him like this, to lay it all out in such a blatant fashion, knowing that it could, in fact, inflame his infamous temper and cause him to fire her, meant that she believed in what she was saying, one hundred per cent. Two hundred per cent. She’d never take such a risk otherwise.

Nodding to show her he had listened to and understood what she’d said, Cade mulled over her words. As their meaning slowly sunk in, shock and realization filled him in equal parts. Was he really that bad? He knew he wasn’t exactly Mr. Popularity, but everything he did, he did to improve the lives of local people. Surely that counted for something? But no … according to Mary, it wasn’t enough. He needed to … Christ, what the hell did he need to do?

“All right.” He cleared his throat, then repeated, more loudly, “All right. I want, more than anything, to win this election, and I’ll do anything—legal—to ensure that. So if I need to work with this campaign manager to, I dunno, make me more likeable or whatever, then I will.”

Mary’s face shifted into a wide smile. “Good,” she said, taking a step back towards the door, “because he’s here.”

Get your copy of Winning the Campaign Manager here: https://www.lucyfelthouse.co.uk/published-works/winning-the-campaign-manager/

Don’t forget to check out all the other blogs taking part!

Lost Faith by April Zyon

About Lost Faith: 

Gabriella Moreno was just a job, in and out to gain the objective, the death of her father. She turned out to be far more than that to Tobias Casey, however, from the moment he laid his hands on her too hot for words body.

Gabriella had just come home from a two-year stint abroad. The first night home she snuck out, never dreaming for even a moment anyone would be stupid enough to take her. Boy, was she wrong.

Faced with brutal truths, Gabbie followed her gut, and her heart, which, it seemed, all led to one place, Tobias. The heat of her homeland was nothing compared to the touch of this man. In his arms, she found something she had craved all her life, the other half of her soul.

Yet, how can she ignore the fact that the man who owns her heart is also the man who wants to take the last of her family?

Find it here: 

Kindle Unlimited for FREE! 

Amazon US     |     Amazon CA     |     Amazon UK     |     Amazon AU

*****

Teaser

Another day, another dollar. Only these days, Tobias and his team were getting paid a hell of a lot more than they had been in the military. Now they could set their own fees for doing the jobs that no one else wanted to do, or maybe couldn’t do, since they did on rare occasion work for their government’s shadier sectors. But there was no oversight, no backseat driving, and they paid big to get shit done.

Their current operation was one they’d been working on for nearly three weeks now with no success. The first week had been recon, getting oriented, and making sure they had their exits memorized for when they achieved their strike.

The only thing was, as they’d discovered during week two, the target they were after didn’t ever leave his super secure compound. Not that Tobias could blame the guy. Their target was a dictator, an arms dealer, a drug dealer, and a mass murderer. There were people worldwide hoping that Tobias’ team finally managed to do what no one else had to date.

Now it was week three and they were still watching the compound to figure out their way in. Or as Tobias was beginning to believe would be easier, how to get the asshole to come out. They’d tried forty different ways to infiltrate the compound. None had worked. Which actually made sense, given the target, Juan Moreno, or Senor X as they referred to him over com, had hired himself an ex-Special Forces soldier to be the head of his security. Tran Quan was American born but had ties to the Yakuza. Extra weight to be brought to bear should it be requested.

Taking a small drink from his canteen, Tobias ignored the sweat trickling down his spine. His attention was locked on a small group of vehicles approaching the compound. Binoculars up, he brought the lead car into focus and easily recognized one of Moreno’s drivers.  His attention moving to the second car, he was surprised to see Quan in the front passenger seat. The man was normally glued to Moreno’s side so to see him out without Moreno… this was big.

“Ripper, we have four cars approaching the compound. I need to know who exits the second car once they stop inside. Get pictures.”

“Roger that, Rogue.”

Ripper and Cherry were up on the mountain using some seriously high-powered tools to stare down into the compound. Their position was treacherous since they were, literally, dangling off the face of that mountain. One wrong move and they’d be headed straight down toward death.

“They’re turning toward the gate now. Not stopping either, they’ve been waved right through,” Tobias reported. The gates slid shut but not before he spotted a slender leg wearing a dainty shoe at the end slipping out of the door being opened by a guard. Instantly, he felt his gut clench in need to see the body went with that limb.

A soft whistle came through the com. “Damn, she’s fucking hot. Think she’s banging senor X?” Herc asked.

“Too young for him, you oaf,” Cherry said.

“Like that would stop the old fucker. We all know he doesn’t care about age. One of the reasons why we’re here to see him shot,” Herc told her. “Personally, it’s my only reason to see his head explode under the impact of my bullet.”

“Cut the chatter. Tell me you have photos for everyone that came in those vehicles.”

“Confirmed,” Ripper said.

“Good, get your asses down from there. Scout will be here to relieve me soon, then we need to get back and review everything.” Tobias was hopeful that somewhere in those photos he might find a way to pull Moreno away from his security blanket.

* * * *

“It’s his daughter, Gabriella Moreno.” Rainer said. His words had everyone’s attention. Tobias couldn’t figure out who was more shocked. Turning in his seat Rainer shook his head. “I had to dig, and dig deep. The old man has her buried.”

“Makes sense,” Winston muttered. “She’s his Achilles.”

He was right. “We need to keep eyes on her. If we get the opportunity, she’ll be the one we grab. I have a feeling that even with all his enemies gunning for him, he’ll do anything to protect her.” All they had to do was get their hands on her and use her to bait Senor X.

Picking up the picture Rainer had printed out Tobias stared at it. It wasn’t a shot from the compound but one he’d pulled from social media. Gabriella had her head tipped back, laughing at something or someone. She looked carefree and totally at ease. Young, too.

The young woman was just over five foot three inches but those come fuck me heels made her closer to five feet seven, she was thin but not waiflike like so many of the women today. Her hair however, was a riot of auburn red curls that seemed to have a mind of their own, and she didn’t bother trying to tame them. Which said something about the woman herself. She might not have the largest breasts that he had seen in his life but hers seemed to work her body perfectly, like a perfect handful, that distracted him completely.

“We need everything on her from birth until the moment she went through those gates, Rainer. Leave no stone unturned. I think we’ve just found our hot button for daddy Moreno. We grab her and he’ll deliver himself right to us.”

“You sure you want to do that, boss?” Cherilyn asked. At his sharp look, she held up her hands. “I’m down with it, but even if she does leave the compound, you know she’ll have a taskforce worth of guards with her. No way is Moreno letting her out in this country without protection up the ass.”

“And we’ll be ready for that. Our best shot will be if she goes into the city. It’ll allow us to blend in and when the time’s right, grab her up.” At Cherilyn’s snort, Tobias turned a glare on her. “What?”

“Dude, no offense or nothing, but you do not blend.”

Rainer was shaking his head. “I have to agree with her, boss. You tend to stick out.”

“I can blend just fine, I’ll have you know.”

“You keep thinking that. In the meantime, I think I’ll update the other boys and we can add their hilarity to the vote count against you.” Cherilyn patted his chest, walked past, and promptly burst out in laughter.

“I can and will fire your ass,” Tobias called after her.

“No, you won’t,” she bellowed back.

No, he wouldn’t, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t think about it, in great detail.