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Archive for the ‘Kensington Brava’ Category

SL_TheUnleashing

Kera Watson never expected to face death behind a Los Angeles coffee shop. Not after surviving two tours lugging an M16 around the Middle East. If it wasn’t for her hot Viking customer showing up too late to help, nobody would even see her die.

In uncountable years of service to the Allfather Odin, Ludvig “Vig” Rundstrom has never seen anyone kick ass with quite as much style as Kera. He knows one way to save her life—but she might not like it. Signing up with the Crows will get Kera a new set of battle buddies: cackling, gossiping, squabbling, party-hearty women. With wings. So not the Marines.

But Vig can’t give up on someone as special as Kera. With a storm of oh-crap magic speeding straight for L.A., survival will depend on combining their strengths: Kera’s discipline, Vig’s loyalty… and the Crows’ sheer love of battle. Boy, are they in trouble.

Excerpt can be found here.

 

www.shellylaurenston.com

 

Available March 31, 2015

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slowburnHE’S FEELING THE HEAT

Evan Donovan is a big muscled giant of a man, whose size and strength make him uniquely qualified to be a smoke jumper. No matter how great or how treacherous the challenge, he gets the job done. But when he agrees to look in on a friend’s ex-wife after a suspicious brushfire, Evan learns that some jobs are too hot to handle. Especially when it involves a scorchingly sexy woman…

SHE’S PLAYING WITH FIRE

Faye Duncan is a photographer on a mission, shooting fires for a magazine. But her first encounter with a wildfire isn’t nearly as wild as her first night with Evan Donovan. The moment she meets the bigger-than-life hero, the sparks begin to fly. But things really catch fire when Evan learns she may have taken a photo of the arsonist setting the fires. Evan is determined to keep Faye safe. But if he expects her to trust him with her life, he’ll have to open up his heart—even if someone gets burned…

 

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

SLOW BURN, the second in The Smoke Jumper series, released earlier this week on March 26th.  The minute I read about smoke jumpers, I knew I had to make them the heroes of a series. The elite of the wildland firefighters, smoke jumpers parachute into the very heart of the smoke and flames. The first and last line of defense between small town Northern California and the fires that burn there every summer, the smoke jumpers are protectors to their core, putting their lives on the line with every jump. Hard-bodied, rough around the edges, and absolutely determined to do whatever it takes to hold the line between the wildfires and civilization, smoke jumpers are the ultimate bad boys of summer who ride into town to protect and defend—and leave as soon as the flames are out.

 

Of course, I like setting things on fire, in no small part due to the firemen who show up—and Jack Donovan is one heck of a firefighter. Together with his brothers, he runs a smoke jumping operation and parachutes into danger without hesitation. There’s nothing he won’t do to keep Strong, California safe.

 

Whether you  want your firefighter dark and gritty, or whether you’re looking for a sweeter read, I have plenty of favorites parked on my keeper shelf. There are plenty more books that could go on here, but these are the ones that stuck in my head and that are my go-to reads. After all, it’s hard not to fall in love with a fireman!

 

  1. Bromance. Reading J.R. Ward introduced me to the term, but I’m hooked. Smoke jumpers, hotshots, firemen—they come in packs of the non-furry sort and they share a close bond with their brothers-in-arms. Some talk more than others, while others would settle for an emotive punch-in-the-arm and passing of a beer, but they always, always have each other’s back. The firefighters of Station Five in Jo Davis’s TRIAL BY FIRE are a delicious example of this.
  2. Action. There’s plenty of action when things keep going up in flames. Buildings, forests—and the heroine. That works for me. It’s amazing how close two people can get, both physically and emotionally, when lives at stake. One of my favorite parts of Cynthia Eden’s DEADLY HEAT is the intense attraction between Special Agent Kenton Lake and Lora Spade. Plus, anytime the heroine rescues the hero? Love it!
  3. Uniforms. I admit it, I’m a sucker for a man in uniform. And getting him out of that uniform? Is even better. Kensington did a fabulous job on my covers stripping the hero out of his clothes (and there’s video of it too! http://ti.me/vACN6w)
  4. The villains. When you start setting things on fire, you get some complex, twisted villains. Nora Roberts’ BLUE SMOKE, anyone?
  5. Honor. These are men—and women—who do the right thing. Who ride out on the truck or jump out of the plane, because there’s a job that needs doing and they’re willing to do it. No matter what it takes—and even if it takes everything. Lindsay McKenna’s wounded hero in DEADLY SILENCE isn’t easy to forget.

 

And my favorite part of firefighter romance? The welcome home, when the fire’s out, and he’s coming home, sooty and tired and victorious. When the hero of SLOW BURN, Evan Donovan, lands after a tough fight against a stubborn wildland fire, he heads straight for Faye Duncan’s arms:

 

“I need a shower,” he growled. “Something to eat. And sleep. Sleep would be real good right now.”

She sat there. What else did he need? What did he want? He prowled closer, as if there was something, all right, and despite the guys all around them, it was as if they were alone in their own little space. That, or maybe Evan’s jump team had more manners than she’d given them credit for.

He leaned over her, caging her in his arms. “You want to know what else I need right now, Faye?” His smoke-blackened face was fierce and triumphant.

“You tell me,” she murmured, “and I’ll make sure you get it.”

“That sounds good.” He was close enough now that his mouth was only inches from hers. The good manners were fading now; some of the jumpers called good-natured jibes, watching the two of them getting up-close and personal on the stairs. “I want that shower. You want to know why?”

She looked at him, but, God, his thumb was caressing the corner of her mouth, and she didn’t have anything more to say.

“Because,” he continued, his voice rough and low, “I’m taking you to bed, Faye, unless you say no. I want to hole up and make love to you and forget all about this damned fire for a night. I don’t even want to talk about it.”

“No talking, just kisses. Got it,” she said breathlessly.

He backed her into the stairs, letting her feel the hard metal railing at her back. “So you up for kissing me all better tonight, Faye?”

He didn’t wait for her answer. Instead, he kissed her, hard and raw and primitive. His mouth devoured her, his fingers threading through her hair. She was pinned in place. There was no shame, no worry about any audience. Only him and her. She gave back as good as she got. She wanted this connection. His mouth on hers and hers on his. He was alive, and he was there, and, in that moment, this homecoming was all that mattered.

 

 

Have a firefighter book to suggest to me? I love adding to my TBR pile! Name names for a chance to win a $20 gift card to the online bookstore of your choice (Amazon, B&N, Kobo… winner’s choice!)

annemarsh.wordpress.com

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Wheee! Cynthia Eden revealed her newest cover on Facebook today. AVENGING ANGEL, from The Fallen series!

Avenging Angel

I haven’t found a blurb yet but this is what Cynthia said about it on FB.

AVENGING ANGEL will be out on 5/28/13. This book focuses on Marna and Tanner (if you read ANGEL IN CHAINS, then you met these two!). He’s a shifter, she’s a fallen angel. Trouble *must* be coming their way.

I am so excited about this one! If you’ve read my reviews for this series (Angel Betrayed and Angel in Chains) you know I’ve developed an almost fan-girl love for these books. They are dark and gritty with so much angst! And Marna and Tanner played a big part in ANGEL IN CHAINS so my anticipation level is through the roof! Is it May yet?

(Also, I think I used my monthly allowance of exclamation points on this one post. Oops 😉 )

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LIKE A WOLF WITH A BONE by Shelly Laurenston

Quiet little Darla Lewis couldn’t be happier when the most-feared member of the South’s rowdiest pack kidnaps her. A girl gets real tired of being overprotected by her own shifter family, and there’s nothing like an oh-so-big bad wolf to start a pack feud, unleash her instincts—and have her surrender however and whenever she wants…

WED OR DEAD by Cynthia Eden

Gage Ryder knew his human bride had her wild side. But spending their honeymoon night on the run from hunters out to finish him and his pack is sure not the kind of fun he was looking forward to. No problem—Gage will do whatever it takes to lay bare Kayla’s secrets and find the truth. If he can keep from being captured by his own seductive game…

LIKE A WOLF WITH A BONE

This story was everything I hoped it would be. I’ve been a fan of Laurenston’s shifter series for years and Eggie has been a favorite since he was first mentioned. When I saw that this would be his and Darla’s story, my anticipation level hit code red.

It’s the summer of 1974 and Egbert Ray Smith is on leave from the military when he meets pacifist Darla Mae Lewis. Chaos immediately ensues when Eggie saves her life and rushes her off to Smithtown to keep her safe, with their families hot on their heels. Eggie is already the stone-cold killer we know from other books (once you meet his mom, you’ll understand why) and watching him soften and worry about how Darla sees him is so sweet. And seeing Darla embrace and except Eggie is beautiful.

The various family interactions provide the hilarious moments that puts Shelly Laurenston books on my keeper shelf and has me going back for rereads. I loved every moment of it!

Favorite quote:

They’re not a Pack, they’re a hillbilly cult filled with criminals and ‘shine runners.

WED OR DEAD

Kayla is a hunter and her only mission in life is to stop supernaturals like the one that killed her parents. Her current job is to get close to wolf shifter Gage so her team can eliminate him and his pack. When Gage proposes after a whirlwind courtship, Kayla says yes. Not just because it will get the job done but because she wants a night with Gage. Gage knows his bride is keeping secrets but it doesn’t matter. The wolf has found his mate. After a passion filled night, their honeymoon is interrupted when Kayla’s team shows up and she realizes that all the things she’s been led to believe may be lies.

WED OR DEAD hit all my happy reader buttons. Steamy hot sex, secrets, violence, angst, and a HEA that made me smile. It even has a hero that not only accepts the heroine’s ass-kicking side but he counts on it to make his pack safer and stronger. This book pushed Cynthia Eden from “author I enjoy” to auto-buy status.

Favorite quote:

Kayla had her secrets. So did he. The time for the big reveal would come later. The time for fucking – yeah, that was now.

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: August 28th, 2012
Format: Print and digital

Preorder:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

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A year after their family was brutally torn apart, the Graham siblings begin to put their lives back together at their ranch in East Texas. With their parents gone, their bonds will truly be tested…

Olivia Graham has worked hard to take care of her family at the Circle Eight Ranch. But their family circle was broken when their young brother Benjy disappeared. Liv can’t shake the feeling that he must be out there, somewhere.

Brody Armstrong, a handsome but rough-around-the-edges Texas Ranger, has been working on their case for months, and now he has a promising lead.

As Liv follows him across the rugged Texas landscape and into Mexico, she’ll begin to find the answers she needs—as Brody finds a passion he didn’t know he wanted…

 

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

A spine of steel, a heart of gold.  I tend to have strong-willed heroines in my books, sometimes they are more than stubborn, they can come across as rough around the edges. Sometimes really rough, like a diamond waiting to be tumbled around until it shines. Yet they are all women with integrity, honor and a heart of gold.

The heroine in my newest release, CIRCLE EIGHT: BRODY, is definitely one of those gems. Olivia Graham has suffered through some tragedies in her life, not the least of which was losing her parents to murder, her brother to kidnappers and her fiancee because he was a lousy jackass. It’s made her somewhat hard, the wall she’s built up around herself is nearly impossible to breach. She fires on anyone who tries. Yet Ranger Brody Armstrong doesn’t want to scale her walls or be subjected to her sharp tongue. Yet she sticks to him like a cockleburr, determined to find young Benjy Graham.

Thus begins a road romance that brings back fond memories of THE BOUNTY, my first book and road romance between Nicky and Tyler. Yet Olivia and Brody’s story is darker, more violent and much hotter. Olivia doesn’t give in or melt into a puddle. Oh no, she takes what she wants, never giving an inch but taking a mile. Brody is as strong as she is, but he isn’t prepared for the force of nature called Olivia.

I know it was atypical for women to be so strong-willed in the 19th century, but I’d like to think there were ladies like mine. Those who led the suffragette movement, argued for women’s rights and pushed their way into the “men’s club” of medicine and law. While Olivia isn’t a famous woman, she is stronger than steel, made to survive the harsh realities of life in the Republic of Texas. Made to be a fitting mate for a Texas Ranger like Brody Armstrong. My favorite strong woman in history has to be Eleanor Roosevelt. What about y’all? Who is your favorite?

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

To find out more about Emma Lang, visit www.bethwilliamson.com.

One lucky reader will win both MATTHEW and BRODY in paperback. To be entered, leave a comment answering Emma’s question. The winner will be drawn on Sunday. Good luck!

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The Book

 

The Tease

“What the hell are you doing?” The ranger’s growl startled her badly. She nearly fell face-first into the fire but, lucky for her, he grabbed her hair and yanked her back in time.

Her pride and her scalp smarting, she gulped down the lump of fear lodged in her throat. Before she even caught her breath, he was kicking dirt onto the fire.

“What the hell are you doing?” She threw his own words right back at him. “You told me to start a fire, Ranger.”

“I didn’t tell you to build a bonfire you could see from twenty miles away.” He kicked enough dirt onto the flames to shrink the merry fire into a weak pile of embers.

“How was I to know that?” She scrambled to her feet, righteous fury coursing through her veins. “You bark orders at me and walk away.”

He scowled down at her, his expression as dark as thunderclouds. “You’d do well to listen to those orders. I said get a small fire started. The important word there was ‘small.’”

“You are a bully and a jackass.” Olivia poked him in his chest, which was so hard her finger smarted. Was the man made from an oak tree?

“You are a know-it-all and a loudmouth.” His hot breath gusted over her face as he yanked her close.

Their lips met in an apocalyptic clash. Her breath stopped in her throat, trapped by the rush of utter astonishment.

His arms tightened around her waist, bringing her even closer to his incredibly firm body. Each nerve ending sang a different song, some in pleasure, some in horror, others in hunger. Her arms crept around his wide shoulders as the kiss deepened. She knocked his hat off, not caring where it landed.

His tongue slid into her mouth like a conquerer’s, guiding her tongue along with the rest of her. She was swept along by a wave of uncontrollable passion. Her nipples budded against her chemise, rubbing deliciously against the cotton fabric and his chest.

 

The Blurb

A year after their family was brutally torn apart, the Graham siblings begin to put their lives back together at their ranch in East Texas. With their parents gone, their bonds will truly be tested…

Olivia Graham has worked hard to take care of her family at the Circle Eight Ranch. But their family circle was broken when their young brother Benjy disappeared. Liv can’t shake the feeling that he must be out there, somewhere.

Brody Armstrong, a handsome but rough-around-the-edges Texas Ranger, has been working on their case for months, and now he has a promising lead.

As Liv follows him across the rugged Texas landscape and into Mexico, she’ll begin to find the answers she needs—as Brody finds a passion he didn’t know he wanted…

 

Available June 26, 2012

www.bethwilliamson.com

 

Preorder:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
B-A-M
Chapters
IndieBound
Powell’s

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There’s a place where the ocean meets the shore, where kicking off your shoes and baring some skin is as natural as sneaking under the boardwalk for an ice cream cone and stollen kisses.

But life isn’t all beach for Shaye Cates, even if her idea of an office is a shady umbrella at the water’s edge, equipped with cell phone and lap top.

Trace Saunders is her upstanding, button-down albeit handsome nemesis. He thinks only of business.

A century-old feud has separated their families. Yet a volleyball tournament and kids’ baseball games draw them together. Beneath the twinkling lights of the ferris wheel, the magic of sea and sand soon sweep away their rivalry.

Suddenly it’s summertime…and the lovin’ is easy.

 

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

I appreciate the opportunity to blog today. May 1st was the release of Sweet Spot, the final book in the Richmond Rogues’ Baseball Series. May 29th is the publication date for the first book in my new Barefoot William Series. It’s bittersweet. Out with the old and in with the new.

 

I think an author should end a series on a high note. Over the past five years the Rogues became ‘my team’. The guys had a great run. I loved the players and did my best to find each one a worthy heroine. Psycho McMillan was my favorite character. He was a wild man and very vivid in my mind. The team became as real to me as the Cubs, Yankees or Red Sox. I may do a novella down the road, but I’ve no immediate plans for a second generation of ballplayers.

 

Now I move on to No Tan Lines. First you had the Capulets and Montagues, then the Hatfields and McCoys, and now there’s the Cates and Saunders of Barefoot William, a fictitious beachside town in Florida. The Cates and Saunders live at the opposite ends of a boardwalk in cold disdain over a hundred year old feud.

 

Shaye Cates is a natural beauty, happiest in shorts and flip-flops. She runs her family’s faltering business from under an umbrella on the beach. Trace Saunders is rarely seen without a suit as he manages a dignified and profitable real estate empire in a traditional office.

 

A volleyball tournament that straddles both sides of the beach forces them to work together, and instant sizzle leads to eventual romance, despite the disapproval of both families.

 

I’d like to give away a $25.00 Amazon digital gift card in a random drawing. Fatin will notify me as to the winner.  Happy Summer Reading, Everyone!

 ~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

To find out more about Kate Angell and her books, visit www.kateangell.com. And just leave a comment below to be entered in the giveaway. Good luck! 😀

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Flying from sin…

Andrew Rossiter has used his gorgeous body and angelic face for all they’re worth—shocking the proper, seducing the willing, and pleasuring the wealthy. But with a tiny son depending on him for rescue, suddenly discretion is far more important than desire. He’ll have to bury his past and quench his desires—fast. And he’ll have to find somewhere his deliciously filthy reputation hasn’t yet reached…

…into seduction

Miss Gemma Peartree seems like a plain, virginal governess—or so she hopes. True, she has a sharp wit and sharper tongue, but handsome Mr. Ross wouldn’t notice Gemma herself. Or so she hopes. No matter how many sparks fly between them, she has too much to hide to catch his eye. But with the storms of a Scottish winter driving them together, it will be hard to keep her secrets. Keeping her hands to herself might prove entirely impossible…

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

Master of Sin releases today! Some of you might remember the exclusive excerpt that was up on a Teaser Tuesday last month. MOS features damaged hero Andrew Rossiter and Gemma Peartree, a determined governess who teaches him that he is worthy of love. She’s a big believer in Fate, for why else would she wind up on an isolated Scottish island in the Outer Hebrides with such a man if not to change both their lives?

If you read Mistress by Marriage, you’ve already met Andrew—beautiful, corrupt, yet with his own kind of honor. He has no expectations of ever being truly happy. Being normal. His life’s goal thus far has been to make others satisfied, and if he experiences a moment or two of pleasure himself, all the better. But his world is upended by an assassin and the need to rescue his toddler son from certain death.

Amoral Andrew is no one’s idea of a father. And to make matters worse, the boy speaks only Italian. No matter how well-meaning Andrew is, he cannot even communicate with his own child. He needs an Italian-speaking governess, and Gemma, the daughter of an Italian courtesan, fits the bill.

Both Gemma and Andrew have made mistakes and lived to regret them. But here’s what Andrew thinks in the very last chapter:

Normal. His heart stuttered, corrected and resumed its steady tick. “I’m not a normal man, Gemma.”

“No,” she said, “you’re not. You’re so much better.”

Andrew shut his eyes. He knew nearly perfect happiness at this moment, in bed with his wife, his newest child, Marc dozing next to him. He’d never trade one misstep of his past if it meant being robbed of this present. Present in terms of time, present in terms of the gifts that had been bestowed upon him. He’d been bent and hammered, torn and mended. With Gemma beside him, he’d been given another life. In this new incarnation, anything at all was possible.

Sigh. Andrew definitely deserves his HEA after all I put him through. 🙂

I’ve got a signed copy of Master of Sin for one commenter. Do you sneak ahead and read the last chapter of a book? Or are you mad at me because I included an excerpt from it? 😉

 

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

For more info about Master of Sin, visit www.maggierobinson.net. And don’t forget to comment for your chance to win. Good luck!

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The blurb:

Lou Crushek is a reasonable, mellow, easygoing kind of guy—especially for a shapeshifting bear. But once someone starts killing the scumbags he works so hard to bust, that really gets under his fur. Especially when that someone is a curvy she — tiger who’s bringing his passion out of hibernation…

Marcella Malone is a member of an elite feline protection unit, and Crush is proving one major pain in her gorgeous tail. The only reason she’s joined forces with him is to track down the wealthy human who’s got her entire species in his ruthless sights. But there’s no denying that beneath that big, burly exterior is a man who knows how to rub her in all the right ways…

~~~*~~~*~~~

Crush and Cella were both introduced in previous books, Crush as Dez’s (The Mane Event) co-worker. Cella is Dee-Ann Smith’s (Big Bad Beast) … I’m not sure how to explain their relationship. Friends who like to beat the hell out of each other? We’ll go with that. The interactions between those two and Dez  helps make this book shine and provided more LOL moments than I can count.

Add in the smoking hot relationship of Crush and Cella, and this book was as close to perfect as it gets for me. Crush is a bear that likes his life the way it is and hates change. Of course, Cella turns his nice, orderly life on its ear when she convinces him to pose as her boyfriend and save her from match-making relatives.

Favorite quote:

“How do you get rational, well-respected people involved in your insanity? I mean is it something you taught yourself to do or is it part of your sociopathic nature?”

Bear Meets Girl was easily a 5 star read for me and one that I know will be getting many rereads.

You can find more information, including an excerpt, at www.shellylaurenston.com.

For a chance to win a print copy of your own, just leave a comment below. The winner will be drawn on Sunday. Good luck!

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The Book

 

The Tease

 

Crush started to laugh but the sound—and happiness—died in his throat as she—she!—suddenly appeared in front of Crush. Grinning.

Why was she here? Why? And why could he not shake this feline? Was this how antelopes felt when a cat ran them down? And why was she here ruining what should be one of the greatest nights of his goddamn life?

That was it. That was it! Never again would he ever have another Jell-O shot. In fact, no more liquor. Ever. Because clearly Crush would never be allowed to live down that one goddamn night—and he blamed the goddamn Jell-O shots!

Letting out a breath, Crush snarled, “You.

“Baby!” she cried out just before she attacked him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “Oh, baby, I’ve missed you!”

“I am not your baby.” He tried to pull her arms off him. “Away, female!”

“Aren’t you glad to see me?”

“No.”

Still wrapped around him like a spider monkey, the feline rested her chin on his chest and asked the small group, “Have you guys met the new man in my life?”

Blayne’s eyes grew wide, her smile huge, and Crush immediately knew he had to stop this.

“I am not the new…would you get off!”

“He’s shy,” the female felt the need to explain.

“I am not shy. You’re insane.” He finally pried her arms off his body and pushed her back. “Now stop harassing…” Crush studied her, his heart dropping. “Why…why are you dressed like that?”

She had on a Carnivore jersey, shoulder pads under that, hockey pants, socks, and shin pads.

“Why do you think I’m dressed like this?”

“Because hell has come to earth?”

She laughed and Novikov said, “You’re such a fan, figured you’d know Bare Knuckles Ma—”

“No!” And the grizzly and the hybrid male snarled a little at his outburst, both pulling their females back from the hysterical polar. “No, no, no, no!”

The feline’s grin was wide and happy. “Come on, baby, don’t be like that.”

“No! You cannot be Bare Knuckles Malone. You cannot be. You”—and he pointed at her with an accusing finger—“cannot be the daughter of the greatest player ever. And you cannot be the most feared enforcer in the league right now. You? No!

“I’m sensing I should be insulted by that tone.” The feline grinned. “But I’m not! Because I have such a giving and loving nature and you are just so cute. We will have such adorable cubs. And since I’m never home, my little girl”—she raised her hand barely to her waist to illustrate her child’s height—“can raise them.”

“I am not cute and I’m not having kids with you!”

“You guys, you guys.” Blayne slipped between the pair. “There’s no reason to be angry.”

“I’m not angry.” Flinging her arms out and turning in a circle like a little girl, the feline exclaimed, “I’m in love!

“That’s it.” Crush stepped away. “I’m leaving.”

“You can’t run from our love!”

 

The Blurb

Lou Crushek is a reasonable, mellow, easygoing kind of guy—especially for a shapeshifting bear. But once someone starts killing the scumbags he works so hard to bust, that really gets under his fur. Especially when that someone is a curvy she — tiger who’s bringing his passion out of hibernation…

Marcella Malone is a member of an elite feline protection unit, and Crush is proving one major pain in her gorgeous tail. The only reason she’s joined forces with him is to track down the wealthy human who’s got her entire species in his ruthless sights. But there’s no denying that beneath that big, burly exterior is a man who knows how to rub her in all the right ways…

Available March 27, 2012

shellylaurenston.com

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